Just a short one, my take on the couple waking up in the beginning of Cuffed, and why I think it would be better if Castle woke up first instead of Beckett
Castle slowly opened his eyes, feeling a strange combination of comfort and a little apprehension. As he shifted slightly on the mattress he realized he was lying on his side, his left arm draped over the figure beside him. Wait, he thought, this is odd. Having spent the last couple of years sleeping alone, it felt strange having someone right there. He opened his eyes only slightly and realized that Kate lay asleep beside him, her chest rising and falling with even, deep breaths. He could feel her hand in his.
He smiled softly, appreciating how her soft curls lay gracefully down her back. She was so close that the smell of her was intoxicating. He leant a little closer, and without thinking placing a delicate kiss on her bare shoulder, simultaneously breathing her in. It felt so new and exciting, this level of intimacy, yet so familiar and comfortable. It was too good to be true; maybe he was dreaming, he thought to himself.
He wanted to reach his hand up and run his fingers along her neck, her shoulder, her arm; but as he tried to do so he realized something was restricting his hand. Something was wrong.
He wondered how they had ended up in bed together, but he could remember nothing from the previous night. It was at this point he felt the sharpness of the cold metal around his wrist, and realized why the sensation felt oddly familiar. As his eyes began to focus in the dimly lit room, he realized it was neither his nor Kate's bedroom. In fact, it was not a bedroom at all, but a cold, stone room. With no visible exit.
He leant over and whispered warily, "Kate," his concern steadily growing.
"Mmm," she groaned. Instead of responding to him further however she just shifted her body backwards, effectively snuggling even closer to him. He groaned, trying to concentrate on the situation at hand but all he could think about was how he could feel every inch of her body pressed up against him. His heartbeat quickened and he regretfully realized that, as little as he wanted to at this precise moment, he had to wake her.
He shook her with his left arm, still draped across her ribs. "Kate," he tried again.
This time she rolled towards him, resting her head under his chin so he could feel her lips against his neck. He held his breath as hers caressed his skin and sent involuntary shivers down his spine. Her proximity left him frozen in place. A moment later her body tensed in realization. She slowly raised her body until she was sitting upright, and looked around the room, terrified. She lifted her hand and her eyes darted from the handcuffs to Rick. "Castle, what the hell is going on?"