"I'm really proud of you," Rick said with a smile from Kate's bed. He didn't have an overnight bag with him, so he was just wearing boxers. Not that Kate minded.
She shed her jeans and shirt, picking Rick's white undershirt up from off the floor and pulling it on. She considered wearing pants, but decided against it, letting Rick be teased by her black lace panties. Then she turned to the bed and smiled back at him, blushing slightly. She still wasn't used to the look of blatant adoration on his face that he used to try and hide.
She pulled the covers back and slipped into bed, right into Rick's open arms. He kissed her hair.
"I know how hard it was for you to walk away from Bracken," he whispered. She nodded.
"But he and I have a deal. And I don't think he understands what I'm capable of."
"No one does," Rick said with a chuckle. "You, Katherine Beckett, are a force of nature."
"Thanks," she whispered, snuggling deeper into his chest. "And thanks for staying with me again tonight."
"Of course. I told my mother and Alexis that I'm refusing to get off your couch for the next few days, so we're covered."
Kate smiled but didn't say anything. She hadn't wanted to ask, because she felt bad, taking him away from his family. But she knew he wanted to be with her.
"And anyway, I wouldn't let you sleep alone," he said. "You are not leaving my sight for at least the next week."
"Fine with me," Kate said, turning her head to place a small kiss on his arm. After a few moments in silence, she whispered, "Rick?"
"Mhmm?"
"Thank you, for helping me get this far without losing my mind. I never would have gotten this far without you."
"Oh, you would have," Rick said confidently. "But you're welcome. I'm glad you and Bracken worked out a deal, because I don't know what I'd do if I lose you."
"Me neither," Kate admitted quietly. She craned her neck to place a kiss on Rick's jaw. He sighed happily.
"You know, it is suddenly very hard to ignore your hotness," Rick whispered. Kate bit her lip and grinned. She turned over so that she was looking right into Rick's eyes, instead of being cuddled in his arms.
'Then don't ignore it," she whispered seductively. She kissed him, tangling her fingers in his hair. He kissed back, sliding his back up her back under her t-shirt.
When the kiss came to an end, she hugged him close and rested her head on his chest. It felt so right, sleeping in his arms and sharing passionate kisses.
"Remember when you said you were grasping?"
"Yeah," he whispered, kissing her hair.
"I'd grasp for you, too."
He smiled and stroked her hair. "I know you would."