1. Morning After
LA.
Two little almost seemingly meaningless letters that could change the course of one's life trajectory. And they had.
A couple nights ago they had been in New York on what would have been a routine case except that it wasn't routine at all. It was Mike Royce, Beckett's former boss and the man she had looked up to and had that typical rookie-superior crush on.
She had been ordered to stay off the case, that it wasn't in their jurisdiction and that most of what they had was supposition, her boss had said she was torn up but she hadn't been able to let it go. Not when it involved the very man who understood her obsession to catch her mother's killer. And so she had used her vacation days like Montgomery had ordered except it wasn't a vacation at all. It was another vendetta.
And she was going at it alone. At least she thought she was until she had been upgraded to first class only to find her New York partner and annoyance Rick Castle waiting for her.
Why had he come? Why couldn't he have left her alone? Did those questions even matter now?
Lying in the bed, Beckett turned to her left side and watched as he slept.
One moment was all it took. A moment of innocent conversation last night had turned into a quiet moment of starring into each other's eyes.
She had backed off, made an escape to her room. Had she stayed across town at her own hotel like she was supposed to this moment of vulnerability around him wouldn't have happened. She wouldn't have stood with her back against the door, her hands running through her hair, her finger tips over her mouth, pondering on the moment that had just occurred, somehow knowing that he was still on the other side, waiting for her.
She hesitated for a moment but she twisted the handle of the door anyways. He must have heard the sound of the door because as it opened, she watched as he stood up, their eyes meeting one another, both frozen for a moment as if making sure they were really seeing each other.
Beckett had taken a step closer and Castle had done the same, both walking slowly to meet each other, their bodies drifting by the same force that had brought them together on the same flight.
Their lips meet lightly at first and then fiercely, their tongues caressing the inside of their mouths. They'd kissed before but this felt brand new to the both of them. There were no misconceptions, no deceits and acting under cover. Beckett rolled her head back as Castle began to kiss her neck. Her fingers tightened against his shirt, pulling him in closer to her as close as they dared with their clothing still rubbing against each other.
Their mouths found each other again as she wrapped her leg around his torso keeping him close. Castle lifted Beckett easily and took them to the bedroom.
Closing the door behind them, Castle pressed Beckett up against the door. She reached for the buttons on his shirt and fiercely ripped it apart, sending buttons scattering across the floor, his lips nibbling on her ear as she helped him get out of his shirt. Once his shirt was removed Castle raised Beckett's arms above her head so that he could remove her shirt, tossing it aside.
Castle paused for a moment and looked at Beckett. He smiled as he stared at her, staring at her white laced bra. Beckett reached out for his hands and put them forcefully on her chest. He was grateful that the bra she was wearing had the hook in front. Castle easily unhooked the clasp and Beckett moved her arms behind her so that the straps could come down easily and the bra was sent to the floor behind her. Castle looked at her once again and this time instead of waiting for her permission he placed his hands on her breasts, feeling them get hard beneath his fingers.
As he twiddled her breasts, Beckett ran her lips across his chest, feeling the taste of his skin, and feeling the sensation as she gently bit one of his own nipples. Her fingers made their way down to his pants where she unbuttoned and unzipped, bringing his shorts down with them. Beckett looked at Castle and smiled as she cupped her hands, feeling his form, outstretched and ready for her. His body felt nice in her hands and she could only quickly imagine what it would be like to have him inside her.
She let go of him and let Castle take the lead. He picked her up and took her to the bed, leaning forward gently as her back met the softness of the bed. As she caressed his chest, his hands made their way down her hips to the center of her jeans where he unbuttoned and unzipped, pulling down her pants and matching panties. She was completely soaked and this satisfied Castle, the pulse of his being more than ready.
Beckett's knees and legs were in position and Castle glided himself inside the wetness. As he pumped hard Beckett wrapped her legs around his waist, keeping him locked in. The more he pumped the more she groaned. His being reaching parts of her, satisfying her in a way that no other man had. Castle kissed her neck, fondled her breasts, ran his tongue over them and then up to her mouth where she locked him in, catching a breath occasionally so that she could ravage his skin and his nipples in a similar fashion.
She could feel herself getting wetter, feeling as if she were about to com-bust. Castle thrust himself harder and Beckett let out her loudest groan of the night reaching her climax just as he was reaching his.
How anyone could survive such an act was the power of the human condition. And neither of them complained.
One round simply wasn't enough for three years of built up tension and so after a five minute break, the pair was at it again and again, only this time being more adventurous and trying out all new positions that they had not yet done with each other, each time better than the last.
Castle stirred and as he opened his eyes he turned to meet hers.
"Morning," he said with a smile.
"Morning," Beckett smiled back but only slightly.
"You okay," Castle asked.
"I'm fine," Beckett replied though she was anything but as she sat up, wrapping a sheet around her body.
Castle knew her all too well. He knew when a woman used the word 'fine' it was code for there's a lot in my head but I don't want to talk about it.
He sat up revealing his bare chest. "So you're not regretting this are you," he asked.
Beckett turned to look at him, "No, are you?"
"No," Castle quickly replied with a smile.
Beckett smiled back, "Okay."
Castle smiled again, "In that case is it safe to say you were right?"
Beckett brought her knees up and hugged them, "Right about what?"
"About me having no idea. That was…that was really something."
"So you enjoyed it," she asked knowing full well how much he enjoyed it, having proved it more than once.
"Yeah, I more than enjoyed it."
"Well you were right too, it was great."
Castle pushed back some of Beckett's hair, "We should have done that when we first met."
Three years. It had taken them three years to get to this moment. A moment Beckett never wanted to leave but this wasn't her so called vacation. She still had a case to solve and there was still a reality she had to deal with back home.
Castle reached over and took Kate's hand, the movement causing her to look at him.
"I love you," he said to her.
The words had flowed so easily off his lips. He'd wanted to tell her for three years since he'd first laid eyes on her.
Beckett twiddled her thumb over his hand. "I know you. I love you too," she admitted.
"Then talk to me, Kate, what's going on?"
Beckett took a breath, "Rick, what happens when we leave?"
She couldn't have this conversation in bed. Without saying another word she got up and silently got dressed in only her shirt and pants, not even bothering with her under clothes, and then opened the door to the main sitting room. Castle had followed both in getting dressed and following her into the other room.
"Rick, I love you," Beckett began, "but we still have our lives back in New York." Castle knew where this was going but he knew now was not the time to interrupt. "I never planned to be that girl. I never wanted to be her."
"We're talking about him aren't we?" Beckett remained silent giving him the confirmation Castle needed. "Well for what it's worth, I always thought you could do better."
"Yeah because you were jealous of him the entire time."
Castle walked closer so that he was inches from Beckett. "Well lucky for me it seems my jealousy paid off."
"Castle, I'm trying to have a serious conversation here."
"About motorcycle boy, I know. Look Kate, we can't change how this thing happened between us. I know it's probably not how either one of us expected and I know it's not fair to Josh so if you want to call things off with either one of us I'll understand."
"You tell me you love me and then you're okay if I walk away?"
"I want you to do whatever makes you happy."
Beckett took a step closer, closing the several inched gap, and placed her hands on his chest.
"Walking into the living room last night wasn't a mistake. You're who I want," she said with a smile as she reached up to kiss him and he leaned down to meet her. Their tongues meeting for what seemed like more than ten minutes but was only less than one as she pulled back. "Truth is I've wanted to break up with him for a while. Guess I just needed the right incentive."
"So now that we know where we stand," said Castle, "Let's get justice for Royce and then go home. We can figure out the details about us on the flight back."
"Sounds like a plan."