AN: This story was and still is being written by ButtonUpKitten you can also find her on twitter, she is ButtonUpJuno. I did not write it, I'm just translating it! Also, I'm not an English native speaker, so, as any human being I will have mistakes but if you tell them to me I will try to fix them as quick as possible!
People on the street seem so familiar and different at the same time. I have to accept that being a year outside New York once again has made my mind change in many aspects, however, there is one that does not change. I still love this city, my city. Its people, its noise, its lights. I look at the Empire State from where I am and sigh satisfied.
This past year I have learned so many things on campus, in class. I have met so many people, I have made so many new things, I feel different.
And even though I'm back I did not tell my parents that I would come today because I wanted to surprise them.
I take a taxi on Fifth Avenue that leaves me in front of my house. Is as usual as always. Then a sense of nostalgia invades me, as if I had never really gone.
I pay the cab and grab my stuff entering the house. A sweet smell fills my nose. I wonder what will be, it does not seem familiar.
- Mom? Dad?
I say out loud, realizing that the house was too quiet.
-No, but I am here.- said a voice that makes my heart paralice.-I think someone has come by surprise.
It can not be.
I think and I turn, facing him.
He smiles at me funny and blue eyes steal my breath, as always.
-Your father has left a moment and left me here. He does not lose the habit huh?. He crosses his arms still smiling.-Well, I guess I'll be the one who gives you your welcome.
Richard Castle.
The exclusive client of my father and his best friend.
The man I've been secretly in love since I was fifteen. The man who is at least twelve years older than me and who has always seen me as a little girl.
-Hi, Castle- I say. With half a smile trying my nervousness not to be noticed.
I thought that if I went away for so long, it would help my silly crush disappear, but apparently is not so. The way he looks at me and his tousled hair continues to devastate me and still seems the most attractive thing in the world.
My friends in college were wondering who he was, who was the mysterious man who had once mentioned as we shared shots of tequila in my room. This silly game of truth or dare made me confess that I had a huge crush on someone who was much older than me and it was anything but allowed for me.
Because I had to be aware that the writer who had stopped in front of me was far from being a reality, he would never feel what I felt for him, he would never look at me the way in which I secretly watched him.
And that is why his name was never mentioned, even though all insisted me for hours.
I realized as I watched him that it was not just a silly teenage crush. Now that had grown up it was more than that, now I desired him, I noticed it by the way my stomach shrank so much and my nipples stiffened and brazed the bra.
-You're different.- he says perceptively coming to give me a kiss and a hug.
Not the first time he does. And is not the first time his masculine scent and his beard are brushing my cheek leaving me breathless.
-Mmm.-He looks at me with narrowed eyes .-Ah. You have longer hair.
-Such an observer-I say rolling my eyes .-Actually I have long since last summer.
-But now you have longer don't you?
-A few centimeters, Castle.
-If you had it longer I would have noticed.
-Well, you didn't notice.
And that statement that comes out of my mouth hurts me secretly because Richard Castle hardly noticed me as the daughter of his friend.
He chuckles.
-You look beautiful, Kate -He said that, frankly. And I try to downplay his words, because he surely does not say that, the way I want to.
-You're not so bad yourself, although you are fifty years or so -I say sounding indifferent.
He's actually more handsome than ever. Tall, with messy hair and that mischievous smile. My mind is put into action and I imagine running my fingers through that silky hair.
I awkwardly clear my throat and look away.
This is silly, I say to myself. Having this kind of crushes is not like me, but it just happened.
My mother always seems to say that the heart is not commanded. And I know that by firsthand.
-Are you going to help me with the bags or not -. I say to him in a funny way.
-Depends -. He watches the suitcases inspecting them -. Did you bring something there for me?.
-Does my fist work?. I tell him with narrowed eyes.
- Your fist is in the bag? -. He says with graceful and seemingly alarmed voice, looking at my hands and it makes me laugh.
He always makes me laugh.
-No, really, help me to bring that upstairs because I have some things there that weigh a lot -. I tell him biting my lip. - And where is Lola?.
I ask then, referring to the service lady who actually is more than a service lady. It's like an aunt to me, it's practically family.
Oh, she is doing some shopping, I think -. he says and picks up two of my bags and his strong arms are marked in the white shirt he is using. I try to look away, but I just can not, and when he starts climbing the stairs that are barely five steps away, my eyes look that adorable round ass that makes my belly shrink again.
-Seriously, Kate, What have you got here? Stones? -. He said turning to face me.
It takes me a few seconds to look up to meet his eyes. If he noticed where my eyes were before, he did not say, and just kept going, I follow him blushing, I grab the only suitcase left and go behind him.
-Only clothes and some other things.
-Well, your clothes do weigh a lot -. He tells me heading to my room.
Surely this would look really weird in another context.
A man who is not my father coming into my room when the house is completely alone.
But Rick has spent so much time at home that even I, with my silly crush, I see normally.
Secretly I wish he'd come up to my room for other reasons, but that quickly fades away from my mind.
-Well -. He says with a groan leaving everything on the floor -. Home again huh?- She smiles -.. How about the campus? Many crazy parties? -. He tells me funny.
I chuckled leaving the smallest suitcase on my bed.
-Some -. I say biting my lip and then stare at him.
His eyes sparkle with interest.
-Wow ... a story worth telling?.
-What? do you think I'm going to tell you? ha -. teasing him .
- Why not?.
-Because you're going to run and tell my father.
He opens his mouth pretending to be outraged.
-You've seriously offended me. Just so you know.
I smile.
-I'm sorry, Castle, what happens on campus stays on campus.
Castle smiles and looks up as if remembering something with nostalgia.
-Ah, the college years -. Sighs -. I could tell you some things ...
- You?, but you probbably don't even remember. How long ago was that? Twenty Thirty years? -. I joke.
-Ha ha ha. - He says in a bitter voice standing with his hands on his hips, a gesture that uncontrolls me 're learning too fast how to _ tease me.
I laugh triumphant and walk to the door.
But then I remember that I have left the phone on the bed so I immediately turn to look, not knowing that he was stepping on my heels.
My body crashes against his immediately, who takes my arm so that I don't fall .
His smell makes me dizzy suddenly. Such a masculine and sweet smell and while I realize that it was the smell that I found to get home. A scent that I wish to find everywhere, every day.
His eyes look at me a few seconds and I can not decrypt in what way. As if suddenly surprised, but I do not know why. Maybe just because I'm so dumb that I stamped on him for no apparent reason. The hot air from his mouth reaches my face and I can smell the aroma of coffee on him as I wish with all my heart that his face came closer and he kissed me I stamped.
I can feel his hot hard body against mine, and it's too much, too much to process.
He suddenly releases me and looks away.
-If you wanted to hug me you just had to say.
I cough so he would not notice my breathing is accelerated.
-You wish -. without looking at his face as I walk to get my phone. -Just getting back to grab this.
I say and leave the room.
-Thanks for helping me -. I say still not looking at him.
-Whenever you want.
- Kate? -. Lola's voice makes me release the breath I'd been holding, and saves me from having to look at Castle in the face after that awkward moment.
- Hi, Lola -. Smiling as I say while coming down the stairs, I am aware of that he is behind me, but I just looked at Lola's face.
-Oh my God, come here - She says and hugs me when I reach the bottom of the stairs -. You're still pretty -. She tells me grabbing my shoulders -. Oh, hello Mr. Castle.
- I told you just to call me Castle, Lola -. Says Castle.
Lola brings me to the kitchen almost dragging me and I look over my shoulder to Castle.
- Are you coming?
-No, I'll wait for your father in the study.
He said with a half smile. That smile that I so adore.
AN2: Thank you to ButtonUpKitten for letting me translate her wonderful story!