Thank you to everyone who alerted this story and to everyone who left a review. It's nice to know people are reading.

A huge shout out to Educate for her beta work on this one. Can I just say that I know there are lots of people out there who would be as thrilled as I am if you found yourself on the other side of that writer/beta relationship?

This story is rated M, so if you're underage, go away.

Present day

The snow continued to fall outside, coating the city in a blanket of white, while the fire burned hot in the fireplace. The couple on the couch was oblivious to it all as they flipped through the pages of the scrapbook, the memories bringing both laughter and the occasional tear.

"Do you remember this one?" Castle asked as he pointed to a picture of Kate looking more than a bit disheveled.

Kate groaned as she took a closer look at the picture. "Where did she get this? I thought you took it on your phone."

"I may have saved it on the computer," Castle offered sheepishly.

"May have?" she asked as she turned to look at him.

Castle shrugged. "What can I say? I wanted proof that you'd actually spent the night."

"And you kept it all this time?"

"It was a very memorable night," he replied with a waggle of his eyebrows.

The past

Kate awoke slowly, her mind replaying images of the night before. It was the first night they'd spent together even though they'd been dating for a couple of months. Castle had insisted that they take things slowly and in spite of the fact that she knew she loved him, that night was worth the wait. She stretched as she felt his fingers trace along her bare arm.

"Good morning," he whispered.

Kate rolled to her side, the sheet covering her body slipping to her waist and leaving her exposed to Castle's gaze. The coolness of the air coupled with the intensity of his gaze gave her goose bumps.

"Good morning," she replied as his fingers moved to the top of her breast. Enthralled by his ministrations, Kate glided her fingertips up his arm, around his shoulder and slowly down his side.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, his fingers tracing idle patterns on her skin.

Kate thought back to the last time she'd awoken and couldn't help but smile. It had been late when they'd finally gotten back to Castle's and even later by the time they'd drifted off to sleep, sated and spent, but that hadn't stopped Castle from waking her before dawn to make love to her again.

"Best night I've had in quite a while," she replied.

Castle arched an eyebrow even as a smirk appeared on his lips. "Yeah, but how did you sleep?"

Kate laughed and leaned in to kiss him. "That part was good, too. You have a great…bed. The more important question is this: how is your coffee?"

Chuckling, Castle deepened the kiss, his hand moving to cup her breast, squeezing gently. Kate moaned into the kiss, her body responding instantly to his touch. She rolled to her back, bringing him with her, loving the feel of his body pressed against hers.

Castle trailed his lips across her jaw until he reached her ear, and then he sucked the lobe into his mouth. Kate twisted beneath him, her hands gripping tightly to his biceps even as she gasped in pleasure.

"God, Castle. I love it when you do that."

"I know," he whispered. "That's why I do it."

He continued to tease her earlobe as he trailed his hand down her body. Her legs parted to allow him access and he rewarded her by first circling her clit and then dipping into her entrance. At her soft moan, he repeated the action.

"You like that?"

"Very much."

Castle did it again, this time setting up a rhythm that had Kate squirming. When she finally shifted away from him enough that she could turn and capture his lips with hers again, Castle couldn't help but smile.

When she pushed him to his back and sat up to straddle his hips, she smiled back with a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Enough teasing," she stated breathily as she slowly lowered herself onto him.

"Someone's feeling feisty this morning," Castle commented as he moved his hands to her waist.

Kate leaned forward and brushed her lips against his again. "I don't think I'm alone in that category. I also hope this isn't your way of telling me you're out of coffee."

"Definitely not, to both," he declared as he pulled her in for a deeper kiss even as they began to rock together.

Their rhythm was slow and even, leisurely building the tension between them. Even though it was their first night together, they were already in sync, each one knowing how to please the other.

When she placed her hands on Castle's shoulders and pushed herself up for better leverage, Castle took advantage of her position and cupped her breasts in his hands, his thumbs rubbing over her nipples until they were tight peaks. She moaned in pleasure, the intensity increasing.

"You're beautiful, Kate," he said softly.

"You make me feel…extraordinary," Kate replied as she brought her hands up to his forearms, slowly stroking him as he continued to caress her breasts. In the glow of the morning light, Kate reveled in the love in his expression. She hoped he recognized the same adoration in her eyes.

It wasn't long before they were both spiraling out of control, clinging to each other as they slowly came back down.

Kate shifted to Castle's side, one hand coming to rest on his chest as she draped her leg over his.

"I could get used to waking up like this," she murmured.

"I could, too," he agreed as he leaned over and pressed a kiss against her forehead.

They lay there contentedly until the beeping of Castle's phone broke the silence. He rolled to the side to check the text message and brought the phone back to show Kate. "Alexis wants to know if we'd like join her for breakfast."

Shock registered on Kate's face. "Oh my god, Castle. Alexis knows I spent the night?"

"Apparently. Is that a problem?" he asked.

"Yes!" Kate rolled out of bed and started searching for her clothes.

"Why?"

Fastening her bra and pulling on her blouse, she turned to face him. "Don't you think it's a little weird that your daughter knows you had a woman stay overnight?"

"No," Castle replied as he watched her shimmy into her jeans. "For one thing, I didn't have just any woman spend the night, I had you. Alexis is very much aware of the fact that you and I are in a relationship, so it's not like it's going to be a shock to her. Besides, it's not the first time you've spent the night here."

"It's the first time I've shared your bed though," she replied. "It's not…it's…awkward."

"I can guarantee you that Alexis won't mention that part," he assured her.

Kate sat beside him on the bed, still not totally convinced.

"It will only be awkward if you let it be," he stated as he took her hand in his and placed a kiss in her palm.

"Are you sure?"

Castle nodded. Then he grinned and said, "And maybe if you go out there looking like that."

Kate looked down at herself, afraid she'd buttoned her blouse wrong or something. When she looked back up, Castle snapped a picture on his phone and turned it around so she could see.

Kate gasped in horror when she saw it. Her hair was sticking out in several different directions and the little bit of makeup that she hadn't bothered washing off the night before was smeared under her eyes.

"I'm thinking maybe a shower before we head out," Castle suggested.

"Yeah, I'm thinking that might be a good idea," Kate agreed. "You know what else is a good idea?" she said yawning and stretching.

"What?"

"Coffee."

"I'll let Alexis know we'll be out shortly. She makes a killer cup of coffee," Castle replied. "Why don't you go get the water warmed up?"

Kate got to her feet and started towards the bathroom, peeling her clothes back off along the way. When she reached the door, she turned to face him. "Are you coming, Castle?"

"Every chance I get," he replied as he made his way towards her.

Kate shook her head. "You are so bad."

"But you love me anyway," he stated as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Yes, I do," she agreed as she leaned up to kiss him.

The present

Castle took a sip of his wine and then placed it back on the table before he met Kate's gaze. "You do realize that by then I'd already had a conversation with Alexis about how serious I was about you, right?"

"Why didn't you tell me that?" she asked.

"To be honest, it was too much fun watching you freak out," he replied, which promptly earned him a punch to the arm.

"Owww."

"You are a sneaky man, Mr. Castle."

"And you still love me anyway, Mrs. Castle."

"Yes, I do," she agreed, leaning in for a kiss. "More every day."

As always, thank you for taking the time to read. If you would be so kind as to leave a review, it would be much appreciated.

Softer, it's got to be your turn by now.