He's putting Lily to bed and she waits for him in the adjoined bathroom of their bedroom, looking at herself in the mirror. They've figured out a rhythm now. She goes in first for cuddles and occasional tickle fights, but Lily eventually calms down when Rick comes in for story time. Usually all three of them settle in to listen to his wild tales of dragons and princesses and pixie dust. But tonight she kissed her Lilypad early and told her to enjoy story time with Daddy.
She loves the way he loves their little girl. Loves him so fiercely it still takes her by surprise some times, how lucky she is to have this, have them. Their family is everything to her.
Lily's almost three now yet it all still feels so new. She can still remember with bright clarity their first Valentine's as a couple. How he'd royally screwed up and slipped her gift in Gates' coat pocket instead of hers. How he's been so in awe of her present, the drawer, how he'd neatly folded his clothes and put them in the drawer just as she'd instructed. How he joined her in bed and had her writhing before they'd even pulled down the covers.
Heat flares in her belly and she looks back into the mirror at herself. She's wearing a pearly white negligée that cuts off pretty high along her thighs, hugs her body in all the right places. Or so she hopes.
Kate knows Castle loves her, loves her body and God knows the passion is still there. But her body has changed from carrying their little girl. Her hips a little wider, her stomach a little less toned. She would never give that back for anything in the world, but sometimes, especially at times like these, when she'd planning to seduce her husband, she's plagued with a fleeting feeling of self-doubt. She's not what she was.
But tonight is special. She wants it to be special. Between work at the precinct, him trying to find time to write for his upcoming deadline and Lily at home, they've seldom found much time to themselves. And tonight she wants him, has been thinking of this all day really, his hands and his mouth. Her insides burn with an all too familiar yearning, one only he can satisfy.
Kate takes a deep breath and runs her hand through her hair one final time, making sure the long brown locks of her hair still have enough volume.
"Kate?" She hears him call for her as he enters the bedroom.
She urges her nerves to calm, this is her husband for crying out loud, she has no reason to be nervous. She opens her eyes and heads for the bathroom door.
"Hey, Castle," she murmurs, her voice low, the way she knows gets to him.
His hands freeze at his sternum where she notices he was in the midst of unbuttoning his shirt, his eyes going wide. "Wow, Kate."
"Yeah? I mean it's Valentine's Day and I wanted it to be special and I know it's really not- " Her nervous rambling is cut off by his lips, his hands both coming up to cradle her cheeks and she moans, can't help the way her body lists into his as her back hits the wall.
"God, you're so beautiful," he pants while his lips drift from her mouth to her cheek, her neck, nipping at her pulse point and her hips undulate of her own accord. He reads her, as always, and slips his thigh between her legs, provides leverage for the sway of her hips.
She reaches up to tangle her fingers in his hair, arching her back as he swipes his tongue across her collar bone. Castle groans as her hips begin to rock into his thigh, but she needs friction, needs him, God, she didn't know how much she needed this.
One of his broad hands reaches down and brings her right leg upward so that her knee curls up at his waist, her core rubbing his thigh in just the right way, the right angle and yes this is what she wants. Actually, no, scratch that, she wants him naked. Now.
He runs his hand along the expanse of her outer thigh, his thumb applying slightly more pressure, digging into her muscles just right. It sends frissons of electricity up her spine and she feels her nipples harden beneath the silky material of her negligée. She wants him naked but now she also wants his mouth on her breasts and she's lost the ability to compartmentalize or make decisions because the hand that's not curled up at her knee is brushing her abdomen, tracing patterns that are slowly driving her mad, unravelling her.
"Castle," she sighs his name and apparently he's made the decision for her, his nose nudging aside the thin strap at her shoulder which has the material dropping low enough to expose one of her breasts. She moans when his hot breath fans out over her peaked nipple and then his tongue darts out to circle it, teasing, before taking it into his mouth and sucking. He licks and nips and kisses in indefinite patterns that have her writhing into his palm.
Her fingers work furiously at his pants because suddenly she wants more than just his hand on her, though it works wonders. But tonight is supposed to be about them both and she wants to feel him come with her, wants them both lost to the oblivion of their passion.
He hisses out a breath when she palms him through the material of his boxers, feeling him hard and hot for her. She quickly pulls down his pants and briefs and works him up, teases with slow strokes and his breath is warm as it puffs out over her neck between kisses.
"Kate," he groans and she bends her head slightly to catch his lips with hers, tongues tangling in a dance they've perfected long ago, one which never ceases to light the embers within her abdomen to a full flame. She starts to unbutton his shirt and gasps as she's forced to grip his collar when he lifts both her knees up to his waist, carrying her towards the bed.
He nearly trips, not realizing his pants are half way down his legs and Kate lets out a slight squeal as she feels him off balance, tightens her hold on him wrapping her arms around his neck and climbing further up his body. He regains his footing, chuckles self-deprecatingly and toes off his jeans with her still in his arms.
"Richard Castle, you better not drop me," she warns but a smile is making its way to her lips.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Ms. Beckett," and oh, that does it for her. She's not sure why. She particularly loves it when he calls her Mrs. Castle reminding her that she's his, or the occasional use of her surname during one of their rougher rounds, but this, this makes her feel new. Makes them feel new and she knows she'd never be one of his conquests, never would have given him that satisfaction but she can dream, just for a night.
He deposits her on the bed but doesn't join her. He looks at her from the foot of the bed while she pushes herself up the mattress in a backwards motion, always facing him.
"You're truly stunning, Kate."
This beautiful man. She loves him and his words and how they still make her blush. She's not sure how that is after so many years but she's way past the point of caring. She wants to show him, to taste him and oh, that reminds her-
"You know, I was thinking," Kate reaches towards the nightstand and grabs the mason jar filled with a dark brown liquid. His eyes widen and she almost laughs. "It wouldn't be Valentine's day without some chocolate."
A/N: Part 2 should be up shortly!