Disclaimer:
All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Story/Author Notes:
This takes place, some time AC (After they became a couple) and is a fluffy little short story.
"At times like this I wonder what the heck I was thinking" Castle thought to himself.
"I never figured the leather would smell this strong. Can't say I understand the attraction to it." he said out loud.
"Castle, you need to close those zippers or you'll be sorry." Beckett said with that laughing lilt in her voice.
"Yes, I'm doing this out of love. I'm not scared or nervous." his internal narration continued.
"Yes dear" he said meekly.
"You ready Castle?"
"Umm... Yea. I guess so. This leather is very stiff."
"Yea, it will be for a while, the more we use it the better it will be."
"Ok, mount up, it's time to get started." she declared.
"Yes dear." he said again, meekly, somewhat mockingly.
"Hey, you said you'd try it didn't you?" a bit of hurt creeping into her voice.
"Yes I did. I guess I just didn't think you'd do it to me."
"Do you not want to go through with it?" she asked, concerned that he was backing out.
"No. I'm committed. Or maybe deserve to be committed but either way. We're doing this."
She smiled at the discomfort he was willing to put himself through for her.
"Ok, wrap your hands around my waist and keep your fingers interlocked ... or else."
She heard his quick nervous breathing in her ear and patted him on the arm to reassure him as they got started.
He flexed his fingers and she quickly said "Don't do it Castle. Keep your hands locked."
"Why?"
"Because I don't need the distraction you'll cause me. You know how it affects me." she said laughing as she turned the bike onto the main road.
"Yea..." he said in a low husky voice into the helmet intercom.
He could feel her abdomen muscles tighten and relax as she controlled the motorcycle. It was obvious that she was very much in control of the machine, her actions, and their safety and she was comfortably at ease with the all responsibility. He relaxed more and leaned against her back and hugged her a bit tighter trusting her authority fully. "What a strange juxtaposition this all is." said his internal narrator "To think of what Meredith would say if she saw me like this." it continued. "To hell with her, this is romantic."
"Y'know Castle, Martha didn't think you'd even get this far."
"Really? What'd she say?" Castle asks, hesitantly
"She was convinced you'd chicken out before we left the parking space. I bet her you would."
"What do you get for winning this bet?"
"What do you think I get out of it." she said. He could hear the smirk in her voice as she said it.
"Well, I'm glad. Yea, I'm uncomfortable but that's not a bad thing. As long as you don't make me grow up too much I don't mind it."
"Yea, we don't want that to happen." she laughed in his ear.
"So, remind me again, who's playing at this game?"
"Ok, Castle, this is important, you need to remember these two groups, first is our team, the Yankees, your friend Joe Torre used to coach them. The others, the ones everyone will be 'dissing' is the Boston Red Sox. Whatever you do, make sure you don't cheer them."
"Yea, Espo gave me some pointers so I know what to yell when we get a goal." he said to her (knowing darned right well it's wrong.)
"Oh great. Espo was yankin' your chain. There's no goals."
"Figures. I should've guessed it. Oh well, as long as I pay attention to you I'll be safe."
"Yea, pay attention to me." The warmth in her voice was pleasant.
"That's a given Kate." he whispered back to her through the intercom and gave her waist a small hug.
The vibrations from the bike and the feeling of the wind began to mesmerize him and his writer's mind began to run away. What a strange pair this was, flying down the road. The woman in charge and the man sitting back and being the passive one. He realized he'd not ever been in this position in a way that allowed him this sort of examination of the roles we have in our lives. Maybe this is another one of those "Learning experiences" we all should have. How many men are willing to set aside their macho view of themselves to let the feminine one control things. It's not so bad, all things considered. I guess I'd get ridiculed for it but what the heck, I'd rather be here than almost any place else.
"*CASTLE*!" crackled the headset.
"Huh? What?"
"Did you fall asleep back there?" she laughed.
"No, I was doing some of that writer thing. This adventure is giving me things to think about and examine." He says quickly trying to cover for his lack of attention.
"Well, good thing you missed that bikini team that were on the side of the road back there."
"What? Where? Really?"
"Gawd Castle, you're almost too easy." Beckett says laughing.
"Don't DO that! I almost hurt my neck looking around."
She smiled broadly at the joke.
"You know that I can hear you smiling don't you?" he said.
"Yeah, well, you're just guessing. Anyway, we're here at the stadium."
"Great! That wasn't so bad after all. I had nightmares of being stuck in this position." he laughed.
To Be Continued
