He'd wanted their first time to be slow. It almost was; the way she'd led him to his bedroom and let him lay her down gently on the bed, he'd been trembling with anticipation.

But then her shirt was off and her bra was who knows where, and he had her breasts in his mouth and hands and something snapped.

She snapped, actually; before long his pants were undone and she was reaching under his waistband. As soon as her hand touched him he was a goner. Within moments their clothes were scattered and he was touching her, slipping a finger inside, readying her for him.

He was kissing her, then, lost himself in the taste of tears and rain and that same taste from just last year that was just…her. It wasn't until she pulled her lips away from his with an unintelligible cry that he realized she was coming. He simply continued as she shattered around him, her face contorted in ecstasy, head thrown back against his bedspread.

She felt him shift on top of her, kneeling between her open legs, teasing her with his cock, but managed to shake enough fog from her brain that she could press on his shoulders, stopping him. "Wait—"

He groaned; he needed to be inside her, was relatively certain he'd come as soon as he entered her. "What?" he snapped. Then he saw the look in her eyes, the worry and a little bit of doubt, and stilled. "Oh. Shit. I don't have any condoms."

She shook her head. "No, that's not – well, that's important, but I'm on the pill. But – I mean – have you been with anybody? Lately?" she finally blurted out.

He stared at her, a small smile on his face, gazed for several moments before finally answering. "I didn't sleep with her, if that's what you're asking. The flight attendant. I haven't been with anyone since Gina." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm good."

She mirrored his actions, brushing a lock of hair off his forehead. "I'm good too," she said quietly, so quietly he almost didn't hear her.

He took her, then, both groaning when he was finally inside. Finally, four years of teasing, flirting, desiring, of jealousy and annoyance and anger, and they were finally together.

He tried to convey with actions what words could not, even with his writer's vocabulary: this was it. Forever. Despite his words the previous night, they weren't over. He could never be done with her. He was in it for the long haul; he hoped she was too, because he had no intention of letting her go.

They moved together, completely in sync as they always had been. He started slow, but within moments of them joining she was gripping his ass and twisting her hips in a way that made him jerk. He took her mouth in his, their tongues battling, fighting for dominance. She let him win, but as their bodies moved faster and they both got closer he pulled away. He wanted them to come together, and he was close; he reached down and pressed his thumb against her clit, finally stilling his hips as she came around him and he inside her.

They lay there for several minutes while they caught their breath. Finally he shifted, lifting himself on his forearms so he could look at her. Her hair was wild and what little makeup she had on was smudged but she was more beautiful than he'd ever seen. He kissed her, a long, slow, tender kiss so different than the desperation they'd only just felt. "I love you," he murmured. "You don't have to say it back, but I need you to know that." He kissed her again. "I'm sorry for last night. I was mad. But I have never stopped loving you."

She smiled against his lips. "I love you, too." Suddenly she shivered; he was warm on top of her, covering her body with his, but she had been in the cold rain not that long ago and she was still wet, not to mention naked. "Castle, I'm sorry, but can we get under the covers?"

He pulled away, apologizing, tucking the covers around them as he pulled her into his arms. "Maybe we can take a hot shower together," he teased suggestively, smiling into her hair.

She looked up at him, grinning, and took his lips in hers for a searing kiss. "I like that idea." She reached under the covers when she felt him twitch against her thigh. "Or, you could warm me up some other way."

She laughed until he flipped her onto her back and threw back the covers, trailing his lips down her body until he reached her core, sensitive and waiting.

"Like this?" he asked before lowering his head.

She relaxed into the mattress, her face breaking into a grin. "Exactly like that."

He drew out her pleasure until she came undone around his fingers and mouth, letting her climax only after she threatened bodily harm. As she came down, he held her in his arms, slowly stroking her back.

"Good?"

Kate sighed and kissed him. "You can do that any time," she teased.

He grinned. "Looking forward to it."