Where Would You Like It?

a "Flowers For Your Grave" story

Castle sighed, shifting on the barstool as he gazed down at his 15-year-old daughter. So responsible. So innocent. She knew so little of how disappointing the real world was. How… boring it could become. Derrick Storm had become so tedious and tiresome. Everything was the same. There was no excitement, no eager anticipation left with him. Castle scrubbed his hand across the stubble along his jaw. What he needed was a change. Something unpredictable. Something… new.

"Just once," he breathed out, regaining Alexis's attention. "I'd like someone to come up to me and say something new."

"Mr. Castle?"

Oh great, another fan. Probably seeking a signature. He'd lost track of the number of chests he'd signed his autograph on. He loved his fans, he really did, but he hated when they intruded on his time with Alexis. Still, this autograph-seeking fan did have a lovely voice. Perhaps the rest of her would be just as lovely. The thought brightened his mood. He did like the ladies. Page Six didn't call him a playboy without good reason. And there was something about this woman's voice that had him… intrigued? Castle reached inside his jacket, plastering on his signature charming smile as he pulled out a pen, ready—if not as eager as usual—to sign another pair of breasts.

"Where would you like it?"

Castle's mouth dropped when he saw the piercing hazel eyes. His gaze widened as he took in the rest of her: Short hair—adorable—high cheekbones, kissable lips… all in all a classic beauty that was timeless. He swallowed and flicked his eyes back up to hers, so captivating.

She plucked something shiny and golden off her belt and shoved it in his face. "Detective Kate Beckett, NYPD. We need to ask you a few questions about a murder that took place earlier tonight."

Alexis leaned over to whisper in his ear, "That's new."

Castle couldn't look away from this startling beauty with a badge. Badge. He stared at it for a long while, pen still clutched at the ready. And then, with a slight shrug and, in retrospect, without any thought, really, he leaned forward with the Sharpie, and with a flicked of his wrist, a habitual motion ingrained as a result of countless book tours and personal appearances, signed his name across the shiny badge.

The woman—Beckett—gasped in surprise and shock, before registering what he'd just done. He could barely believe it himself. Her nose wrinkled as her brow furrowed into an adorable frown—what's with this woman and being adorable? And then before he knew what was happening, she was grabbing him by the scruff of his neck and hauling him up off the barstool. With expert skill, she had him spun around and face planted on the surface of the bar.

Okay, he probably shouldn't be so turned on by this, but he was. Helped, too, that this Kate Beckett was model hot. He strained his neck to look over his shoulder as she pulled out her handcuffs.

"Richard Castle, you are under arrest," she growled, eyes blazing with a fury that was seriously sexy.

"For what?" he hooted in mild outrage. After all, his daughter was sitting right next to them, witnessing the entire exchange.

Her nose wrinkled for a second as she formulated an answer, finally settling on, "Vandalism." She huffed indignantly, and then she slapped the cuffs around his wrists, twisting them tight. Oh God, this is seriously hot.

"Ooh, bondage!" he grinned, waggling his eyebrows at her as she yanked him back up. "My safe word is apples."

"Oh, don't worry, Mr. Castle, I wasn't planning on being gentle," she gritted out, gracing him with a smoking hot glare.

"My kind of woman," he winked.

"Eww, Dad, I'm sitting right here," Alexis shuddered.

"Right…," he bobbed his head. "Hey, Alexis… don't tell Gina, okay? Just… er… tell your grandmother," he hollered over his shoulder as Beckett curled her fingers around his arm and started to haul him away from the bar, an adorable scowl on her face. "I might need someone to post bail."

Prompt from MsMorg: Castle shrugs when Beckett pulls out her badge and signs it. like when she shows up at the book launch party the first time.