"Hey Castle?" I asked, had called him on the phone.
"Yeah Kate? Did a body drop?" He asked much to eager.
"No, I just wanted to tell you that I'm sick and I'm not going to go in today." I said my voice hoarse.
"Oh, I'm coming over, do you need anything?" He said this in a commanding voice that made me forget all the aching in my head and throat.
"Maybe some cherry popsicles? And some cough drops? But only if your already going to the store." I said in an innocent voice that sounded almost like a child's, vulnerable and nervous.
"Of course Kate. I'll be over in ten." I looked around my house and ignored the dizziness as I got up I immediately went to the bathroom, I looked horrible, my face was all pale, my hair was sticking up in every which way and my eyes looked bloodshot. I looked down at my clothes I was only wearing a tank top and bikini style cotton underwear. I quickly put on a tee-shirt that came to my knees and grabbed some slippers.
I quickly grabbed a pen and wrote a quick reminder to myself to tidy up my bedroom tomorrow, I couldn't leave it like it was now, what with undergarments all strewn about, and not all of them innocent. I quickly made my way to the couch when Castle walked in.
"Kate! H-How are you?" He asked looking me up and down. I blushed and realized my lack of clothing, to save myself from too much embarrassment I slid under the comforter I had previously placed on the couch.
"Eh, not well Castle." His eyes widened when he heard me speak, my voice was lower than normal, a pitch that would have surprised me as well had our situations been reversed, his eyes darkened and he shook his head as though he was saying no to someone.
"Whatcha got there?" I asked in my best attempt to sound normal.
"Well there's cherry, grape and orange popsicles and then I got you some cherry flavored cough drops, it was the only flavor they had left sorry, I didn't know what kind you would want." He said excited at the idea of getting me something, even something as mundane as cough drops.
"Thanks Castle, cherry's my favorite. Can I have a popsicle?" I asked timidly. He smiled and proceeded to pull out a pink ice pop.
"Thanks" I took the popsicle and looked at it, the back of my throat was burning, without thinking about what I was doing I hollowed out my cheeks and pushed it all the way into my mouth making sure the tip hit the very back of my throat that was aching. I moaned it felt so good. The cool relief of my inflamed throat was the best thing I had felt all morning. I took the Popsicle out of my mouth and started to lick it, with no regard to Castle until he made a strangled whimper like noise. I looked up at him. His eyes were closed tightly and his mouth was pressed into a thin line his hands were gripping the couch that we were sitting on and his knuckles had gone white from the strain.
"Rick what's wrong?" I asked quietly, unable to stop my voice from coming out low and breathy. He groaned.
"Kate, I can't take it. Get up go throw out that Popsicle put the box in the freezer and tell me when you get back under the blanket. I respect you too much to think inappropriate thoughts of you when you are sick." I did as he said, I didn't feel well and in that moment I was too weak to ask questions or disobey him.
"Rick, I'm under the blankets, safe from your lustful stare." I joked.
"Kate you have no idea how hard that was for me."
"I think I know how hard it is."
"I'm sorry Kate"
"For what?"
"I'm going to kiss you now."
"NO! You're not."
"Why not Kate?" He whined
"Don't get me wrong Rick; I'd love to kiss you to. I'm sick, and I am not going to baby you when you get sick from kissing me, so were waiting on the physical."
"Does this mean I can take you on a date?"
"Eh, we'll see." I grinned.
"This is the best sick day ever!"