Baseline

They didn't talk. Leading him into his bedroom there isn't a need. The warmth of Rick's hand surrounding hers, the hungry and amazed look in his eyes says more than words ever could. She understands his amazement. She has her own sense of astonishment going on. Hours ago she'd been facing her death. Now she's holding hands with Rick, her mouth swollen from his kisses, her emotional walls stripped away, and about to bare her body to him as well. There have been so many nights she's woken up from dreams of this, of being with him, only to find herself alone in a tangle of sheets

She stops at the side of his bed. Rick's breathing is still heavy from their kissing, his eyes a deep smokey blue. He's drinking her in, his attention going from her eyes, to her mouth, her chest, and back to her eyes. However, aside from his hand holding hers, he doesn't try and touch her. He is waiting for her, holding back. She's never realized just how much he has held back: not until the explosive passion of him slamming her into the door and the fire of his mouth on hers made it crystal clear. Even as he'd unbuttoned her shirt, kissed the scar of the bullet that had nearly killed her, he'd started pulling back again, hesitating. The feel of his lips there still burning, she'd been the one to put his hand on her breast, needing him to know it was what she wanted too.

Watching Rick through lowered lashes, she finishes unzipping her still damp shirt. A quick shrug of her shoulders has it peeled off and it falls to the floor. With a tiny smile she unsnaps the front clasps of her bra and it joins her shirt. Castle makes a sudden exhale, heavy and loud.

"Kate..."

Closing the distance between them she starts unbuttoning his shirt, letting her fingers brush against his chest with each button.

His sharp breathing increases as she pushes the shirt off his shoulders, lets her breasts graze across his chest. He gasps, but then pulls back.

"Kate..."

His eyes are tearing up and his lips are pressed together tightly.

"Rick -"

"What did he do?"

Rick's voice is almost a whisper and it takes her a moment to realize he's looking at her torso. There's more light in his bedroom and she'd forgotten how black and blue the left side must be...probably a bruise when he socked her in the gut as well. Her back, too, she'd been thrown enough times. Possibly there's some bruising around her neck and collar bone... She doesn't want to think about this, not now. The medics had checked her out and nothing is broken, so she goes for being blase and hopes he'll drop it.

"We fought. He won.

His hand reaches out, ghosts a big purple spot across from her navel.

"You said you almost died."

"Not from the fighting. Although, he could have killed me there if he wanted to. You were right. I didn't know what I was up against."

"I shouldn't -"

"Don't Rick. If you'd been there..."

Kate remembers calling for him, hanging by a thread, wanting him there. However, now, thinking of the sniper's ruthlessness, the way nothing she did phased him...

"...He would have killed you, Castle. And then you'd never know how much, how long...

The thought of that man with his hands on Castle, of herself hanging off that building, and seeing his body fall... She doesn't want to cry again, so instead she pulls him to her, crashes her lips against his. Instantly his arms are around her and he's kissing her back. When they break apart for air Rick lets one hand climb up her side and cup her breast. She gasps in pleasure at the unexpected touch. Her hands drop to his belt without thought, driven by the need to get him undressed, to touch him, to be with him...

They don't really talk again for quite a while, although Castle does...talk. He asks if she likes where he's touching her, and when she touches him he says when things feel good - which is is basically everything. When it's REALLY good, so good he can barely breath, Kate hears him murmur "Baby." She smiles at that. Somehow, knowing he'd never call her that if he wasn't going out of his mind makes the endearment okay...sweet actually.

She doesn't talk at all. Words are his thing, not hers, and the sensation overload has turned that part of her brain off. At best she's got vowels, "ah" & "oh" - an occasional "I." She's all soft sighs, loud moans, and keening cries. Although when he's french kissing between her thighs, tongue inside her as his lips suck that little pink tip, she does say, "Castle" over and over until she screams it, hands on his head, hips arched up, and her entire body quivering.

That's when he flips them over so she's on top, and she's able to (finally) have him inside her. It doesn't take long after that. They move together perfectly, slow then fast, slow grind, fast thrust.

"I'm so fucking close, Kate."

Kate smiles briefly at his rough-voiced whisper as they stare into each other's eyes. She wants him to see it this time, and rotates her hips, her "Oh..." soft on her lips. He thrusts up again, hard. Kate pushes down and finds another word. She moans, "harder," so he grips her ass as he moves, the angle taking him deeper. Faster, harder, over and over...it's perfect, and too much. Kate arches and screams as Rick is groaning, stuttering her name, releasing into her.

Collapsing on top of him, her face fits perfectly between his neck and shoulder. She doesn't realize she's crying, crying hard, until Castle's voice breaks through to her.

"Where does it hurt, Kate? God, I'm sorry, we - "

"I'm. Not. Hurt."

She manages to get that out, the tears still flowing down her face. Kate isn't in physical pain; there are way too many endorphins and "happy" hormones running through her system for that. It's an emotional overload causing her tears. All of the events and feelings that went with them are swirling through her too quickly too name - all except for her overwhelming love for Castle and her happiness at being in his arms. She kisses his neck before pushing herself up to look at him. He's all concerned eyes, and she doesn't want that.

Smoothing his hair back she manages a tremulous smile.

"I've dreamt about this, wanted this, wanted us. So much, Rick. It just..."

"Feels surreal? Like you'll blink, wake up and find it's just another dream?"

"Yeah."

Rick chuckles, kisses her, and then laughs.

"Me too!" He kisses her again, flips them so she's beneath him, and then starts blowing wet raspberries along her neck and chest, all while seeking out places where she might be ticklish.

"Castle! What are you -"

Kate starts laughing and squirming as he finds a spot right below her ribs.

"RICK! Stop it!"

She grabs for his hand, but his lower body has her effectively pinned. Still laughing she slides a hand in his armpit and tickles back. Castle yelps and starts laughing too. They wrestle for a bit before he yells.

"Apples, Apples!"

He rolls off her onto his side - still laughing and trying to catch his breath. Kate is too, but mock scowls at him.

"Rick, what the hell was THAT?"

"Tickling. What, you never -"

Kate smacks his chest.

"You know what I mean!"

"No need to get violent, Dectective."

It flashes through her; she's not a dectective anymore.

"Kate?"

Rick props his head up on his hand, his blue eyes clear and curious.

"Why the tickling, Castle."

He pauses, before giving her a wry half smile.

"I figured a tickling session was never part of either of our dreams, so -"

They finish his sentence together.

"- this is definitely real."

Oh, Rick... Kate's thought remains unfinished as she lets herself fall into the darkening blue of his gaze, brushes her fingers against the slight stubble on his cheek.

"I want you again."

She whispers it, breathless, her hand already pulling him down for a kiss.

"I can arrange that."

Kate smirks at him.

"And I can give you a hand."

He chuckles, then gasps against her mouth; her other hand has slipped south and found him.

Pretty soon she's got him murmuring "Baby" again. However, he's also stopped her from talking.