She woke up to the beaming sunlight on her face and rubbed her eyes, before opening them. She knew it hadn't been a dream. She had spent the night with Richard Castle, her one and done.
Her head and hand rested on his bare chest. She could smell his cologne and feel his arm around her waist, holding her closer and keeping her warm. The sheets spread over them were keeping the heat in. After a cold rainy night, that was all she needed.
"Good morning, beautiful." he said, pressing a kiss on the top of her head and bringing her back from her thoughts.
"Morning, handsome". She lifted her head, her lips curving in a smile before kissing his soft ones. "How are you doing?"
"Never better... You worn me out last night, Ms. Beckett."
"Good to know!" she replied sarcastically.
"So..." he said, sitting up and bringing her with him, so her head could rest on his shoulder. "You wanna tell me about how you got all of those bruises?"
She looked up at him for a couple of minutes before explaining everything he had missed when he left. The strong lead, the rooftop fight with Maddox, the way she was hanging from it, the way she could only think about him, how she resigned, the swings, the way to his apartment in soaking clothes...
He stood there, listening, paying attention to every detail, though he wished to kill the son of a bitch who hit her, sympathizing, worrying, regreting leaving and not being there to save her. He knew from the look she gave him at the end, that she expected a reaction. He stood up, out of bed, picked her up, bridal style, her naked body against his, and led her to the bathroom. He sat her down on the edge of the tub. "I'll take care of you, Kate." he said, taking bandages out of the medicine cabinet.
Rick treated each and every bruise, kissing them after wrapping them up nicely with the bandage he'd picked up, which made her giggle. "I didn't know you were the giggling type, detective" he joked.
"I don't giggle." he gave her a daring look. "Oh, don't you dare, Richard Ca-"
He did. He tickled her, making her giggle and flinch. "CASTLE! Okay, okay. I giggle, I giggle!" As soon as he heard the magical words he stopped and kissed her.
"What would you like for breakfast, Kate?"
"Right now, I just. Want. You..." she kissed him. "But, for later, you can choose."
"Pancakes it is, then" he said, and led her back to bed.