DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything but this story.

This was a special kind of hell. All torture and temptation and his blood was boiling beneath his skin. She had to know what she was doing to him. She had to know how she affected him, wrapped up tightly in that dress and swinging her hips and shaking her shoulders. There was no way she didn't know what could be going through his mind while watching her.

It's becoming increasingly difficult to ignore her siren call the past couple of weeks, ever since Ryan and Jenny's wedding. Being each other's 'plus one' let him pretend for one night what it would be like for Beckett to be his. She even let him give her a kiss rather close to the mouth when he walked her home after the reception. Then there was the case with Royal the dog, when she allowed him to touch her. He was daydreaming about that for a whole week, that simple touch. Last week was the latest in their growing connection when Beckett couldn't contain her jealousy around Sofia Turner. As much as Castle disliked the awkward situation between the three of them, his heart did flips at the notion that Beckett was all green-eyed over one of his past relationships. Now there was this—a night out with their friends—the sensual way she was moving, drawing the attention of other participants on the dance floor and driving him crazy.

The hand resting on his thigh gripped it hard and the other holding his drink slammed the glass down on the bar, drawing the attention of his friends beside him.

"What's the matter, Castle?" Ryan smirked.

"Yeah, man. You look like you're about to combust."

Castle's eyes swung from the glorious body of Kate Beckett to stare at Esposito. "What?"

"You've been ogling her for the past twenty minutes. Why don't you just go over there and dance with her?"

Castle scoffed, trying not to look Beckett's way again, but the pull was too strong, his eyes slowly trailing back to her swaying movements.

"Alright, how about we help you out?" Espo got up from his seat with Ryan following close behind. The boys made their way to their ladies, both Lanie and Jenny breaking a sweat alongside the tall brunette. Each one pulled his girl away, leaving Beckett solo on the dance floor. She soon after spun on her heel and locked gazes with Castle. Heat pulsed between them as she slowly glided across the floor toward him. If he thought he was going to combust before…

Before he was ready, she was standing in front of him, sweat glistening on her skin, eyes gold and molten. She placed a hand on each thigh, stepping between his legs and trailing her palms up, up, up. He visibly swallowed, drawing her attention to his throat. She leaned in, bringing her lips to his ear. "Wanna dance, Castle?"

His hand slipped up to catch the sharp jut of her hip. He tugged her in closer, close enough to feel the hitch of breath within her chest. "Not sure I can handle your moves, Beckett. Just watching you has me arrested."

It was hard to hear over the booming music, but with her pressed to his chest, he could feel her hum against him. "I have my cuffs in my purse. I can arrest you for real if you'd like."

He slid his hand to her back and lower, almost cupping her bottom. "You're playing with fire, Detective," he growled into her hair. "That's a naughty notion."

"Hmm, maybe you should use the cuffs on me."

He gently gripped the back of her head and pulled her away to look into her eyes. His heart doubled in beats at the discovery of arousal swirling in its depths. Her hands trailed up his torso to wrap around his lapels, keeping him close. His hand came to her face, thumb swiping over her bottom lip. The tip of her tongue sneaked out and tripped over the skin of his digit, causing him to groan. "Beckett, how much have you had to drink?"

She grasped the hand at her jaw and pressed a kiss to his palm. "I'm not drunk, Castle, just buzzed, and I want you. So bad."

"Oh, Kate."

"Tell me you want me, too."

He couldn't help it; it was too much. He gripped her face and pulled her into a bruising kiss. It had been over a year since the last and only time he got the chance to taste her lips, and this was better than he remembered. She pressed in closer. "Of course, I want you, Kate."

"Then let's go, Castle," She pleaded. "Take me home and finally make me yours."

"Finally?"

Her eyes lifted to his, her fingers coming up to caress his cheek. "It's always been you."

He couldn't move fast enough, gently pushing her back and standing from the barstool. He grabbed her hand and pulled her through the throngs of sweaty dancers and out to the street, sending a flippant wave to their friends on the way out. He needed to get her home and bare and under him, now.

"Your place or mine?" she asked breathlessly as she trailed after him.

"Yours. I don't want any distractions once I get you naked."

She stopped and tugged him into her, capturing his lips in a passionate embrace, eradicating any thought from his mind with the gentle suckling of his bottom lip.

He gripped her waist and held her close, giving her just a moment before pulling away. "Come on."

Castle was able to hail a cab quickly and soon they were on their way to her apartment. The moment they settled into the back of the taxi, however, he hazily realized what a bad idea it was. It was difficult to focus on remaining publicly decent with Beckett draped over him, tugging at him, coaxing his tongue to play with hers. "Kate. Kate, wait."

"Mmno." She mumbled against his lips. "No more waiting."

"Kate, please. We can't here."

"Castle," she grumbled, almost whined really, which surprised him. She gripped his ear and caught his gaze. "I need you. Now."

He glanced out the window. "We're almost at your place. Just a few more minutes."

She trailed her lips across his cheek, down to his neck. She nipped firmly, sucked softly, making him groan. "I can't wait until you're inside me."

"God, Beckett," he growled. "What are you doing to me?"

She chuckled darkly against the skin of his throat and his fingers pressed hard into the thigh she slung over his lap. The cab finally stopped in front of her building and he let out a sigh of relief. One more minute and they could have been arrested for indecent exposure.

He didn't try to stall her in the elevator ride up to her apartment when she pushed him against the back of the lift. Luckily, they were the only people in the small space, so he kept an arm tight around her back while his other hand cupped her face, directing her where he wanted. She didn't break away from him when they exited or when they trailed down the hall.

He pressed her into her front door. "Keys, Beckett."

She moaned, slipping a hand down in the direction of her purse, but making a detour to the front of his pants. Her fingers brushed lightly against the growing length straining beneath his slacks, making him groan against her neck.

He gripped her hips firmly and spun her around, pressing his chest to her back. "Open this door now or I will take you right here in this hall."

Beckett bit her lip and scrambled for her keys. Once they were inside, he slammed her against the door, effectively shutting it. "Castle," she gasped.

"Why are you such a tease?" He tossed her purse away and clasped both her wrists in one hand above her head. He gripped a leg and lifted it around his waist, bringing their hips flush.

"Please." She clamped her leg tighter and rolled her hips roughly into his.

His lips found hers again as he tugged the tight material of her dress to her waist, revealing the lace of her panties to his questing fingers. They trailed lower and lower over her ass until he found the wet patch between her thighs. He groaned into her mouth, moving his hand to the front, separating their hips to get to her warmth.

"Oh, god, Castle," she groaned, her head falling back against the door, as he began rubbing a slow, torturous rhythm over her underwear.

"You're so wet," he murmured, a tone of amazement in his voice.

She opened her eyes to him and licked her lips. "For you."

"Kate," he breathed, his fingers stopping.

"You don't know how much I've wanted this, wanted you."

"When? Why now? What about your walls?"

She tugged her wrists from his grasp and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I can't tell you exactly when, but you barged into my life and just became everything, long before I could even admit it to myself, let alone you. But lately, it's been so hard to ignore. And as for my walls, Castle, they're in ruins. There have been so many times when I've had to stop myself from just jumping you right then and there." She chuckled and rested her forehead to his, attempting to hide her blushing cheeks. "And then tonight, I knew you were watching me. I could feel your gaze on me and it made me feel…alive. You came in like a wrecking ball and I don't want to live another moment without having you, without you knowing that I need you, in every way possible."

Castle was speechless, never expecting he would actually hear Kate Beckett express such feelings for him. Sure, he'd hoped, but the reality of it knocked him off balance. He couldn't breathe.

Long moments passed, and she was growing antsy under his unwavering stare. She bit her lip nervously. "Castle? Say something."

"I love you."

She blinked. Her heart stopped.

"God, I love you, Kate."

She blew out a breath and gripped him hard, kissing him with all she had. "Show me," she mumbled against his lips, her fingers flexing in his hair. "Show me."