The Start of Us
Thanks so much to everyone who read, reviewed and put this on their story alerts. I was totally blown away by how full my email inbox was. You guys are awesome. I felt I owed you a second chapter right away, so this one is pretty short but a longer third chapter is in progress. Once again, reviews are love. I like knowing what you liked, what you didn't like and what you would like to happen.
Vikki xxx
Chapter Two: The Right Choice
Later, at the pool, Castle couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy as Beckett flirted with Gaines. He knew it was all an act; a honey trap but part of wanted to; was itching to get this poisonous man away from his Kate. 'His Kate', he liked the sound of that already.
As much as he was enjoying the view, he wished Beckett would put on some more clothing. It was worse now that he knew exactly what was underneath that 'barely there' one piece swimsuit. He was trying to keep his cool for the sake of the case but the penning LA heat and Kate's slim figure were not helping.
"LA Heat." He mused, already thinking about his fourth Nikki Heat novel. He would have to rethink the sex scenes between Nikki and Rook after last night though.
Kate's face was inches from him before he even realised what was going on. He blushed, hoping that he could blame it on the heat of the day and glad that Kate wasn't a telepath.
"You look hot." She commented.
Rick let his gaze slide up her long, toned legs, over her slim hips, her flat stomach and the curve of her breasts, droplets of water from the pool still cleaning to her skin. "So do you."
Kate laughed. "I mean, you look very warm. How about a swim?"
"This isn't our hotel, Kate." She shrugged in response. "I don't have a change of clothes."
"Fine." She replied, reaching for her bag and leading the way out of the hotel.
"Did you book the flight?" Beckett asked, pouring herself a cup of coffee back at the suite. The case was officially wrapped up now and it was nearing time to go back home to New York.
"Yes. Two seats on the 8:05 flight to JFK tomorrow morning." Rick confirmed. "Anything you want to do to celebrate our last night in LA? Maybe a fancy dinner..." He stopped, open mouthed as Kate began to undress.
"I'd prefer room service." She said, tossing her shirt in his direction and heading for his bedroom.
A while later, as they laid entwined in a post-coital haze of bliss, Kate realised that she wanted to make the best of the time they had left here together. Back in New York there was work, his family and Josh to face. Here, it was just them.
"Shall we have that swim now?" She asked.
They made their way down to the pool hand in hand like they were any other ordinary couple only vacation in the City of Angels. The pool was vacated when they arrived, with everybody either at dinner, at the theatre or already in bed. Kate slipped into the warm water, plunging under the surface and swimming a length.
"Come on, Castle." She called out to him, when she came back up. He was still standing at the edge of the pool, wrapped in his robe. She splashed water in his direction.
"No, not the robe!" He cried. "Don't get it wet!"
"Take it off then!"
"But it's so soft." He protested, finally untying the knot , taking it off and folding it neatly. He turned around and Kate took in the view appreciatively, wondering how she had stayed immune to his good looks for almost two years. He threw himself into the pool with no grace at all, causing a tidal wave of a splash that sent Kate scrambling away from him.
They shrieked and giggled, splashing around together like two big kids and Kate felt so at ease, like she could really be herself. There were very few people she was this comfortable with.
Castle backed her up against the side of the pool, kissing Kate deeply as their limbs tangled together. This was strangely close to perfect and he wondered if he would ruin the moment if he told her that he was in love with her. He had almost told her that he loved her the day they had been trapped in the freezers, but then Josh had turned up and he had said nothing. Josh. Oh, crap.
The thought nearly made him drop Kate, had he inadvertently led her to cheat on her boyfriend? When they returned to New York would she go running back into Josh's arms? Was this just a holiday romance for her?
He hated how desolate these thoughts were making him, but it made him determined to show Kate the time of her life before they went back home, so that she'd realise picking Josh was not the right choice.
