Sorry it took so long for the update. Just a very hectic time of year :) I hope you enjoy the update. I have changed the rating of the story from T to M due to the content of this chapter. I hadn't planned to take the story there, but alas, it went on its own accord. I would love to see some reviews. I think this is the first steamy scene I have written, so I hope I did ok.
Chapter 3: New Day
Rick's POV
Now this is the way to wake up. Kate is curled on my chest and sound asleep. It's still dark out, so I should try to get back to sleep, but I would much rather just lay here and enjoy the moment.
I start to draw light circles on her back. Just knowing that she is here, in my bed, makes me a happy man. She starts stirring with my touch.
"Rick?" Her voice is so sexy when she is half asleep.
"Sorry I woke you, go back to sleep," I whisper into her hair.
"What time is it?"
"I don't know, but it's still dark."
"Then why are you awake?"
"Just enjoying the moment." I could spend the rest of my life snuggled up to this woman and it wouldn't be enough. She quiets, but I can tell by her breathing that she hasn't gone back to sleep. I keep lazily tracing circles on her back and along her arm.
Now, that feels nice. She's lazily running her fingers along my chest. If she would just...stop it Rick. Don't ruin this moment with those thoughts.
"Kate, this isn't all a dream is it? I mean, everything that happened yesterday, it really did happen right?"
"Yes, it did." She pushes up on her forearm, turning to look into my eyes. "Things are going to be different now, between us." I can tell that she is searching for agreement, still wanting us to put a definition on what we are.
"Only as different as you want them to be. We take this all at your pace. I am by your side, here to support you, here to catch you if you fall."
"What about you Rick, what do you want?" The last time she said these words to me, I blew it. I tried to trivialize my feelings for her; I can't afford to do that any longer. Her eyes are boring into me, a window to her soul.
"I want you in every way a man can want a woman. I don't want to wake up alone again. I don't want to spend a day without you. I want to make love to you, hold you, kiss you, and get lost in you. I want to marry you, make babies with you...I want it all Kate." I see the look of panic in her face. "I want it all, I need it all, but I don't need it all right now. What we have, what we've built in the past three years, what we've gained in the past 24 hours...it's enough. It's enough for now."
A slight smile crosses her lips and she turns, laying her head back on my chest. "No." What? My breath catches, I feel like I have been punched. Have I really misread this whole situation? "It's not enough."
It's my turn to shift positions. I sit up, grabbing her chin to turn her to me. "What do you want, Kate?"
"Everything. I want everything you do." She leans in to kiss me, slowly, lazily, like we have all the time in the world. She deepens this kiss, passion radiating from her body. Her hand is sliding further down my chest. I catch her hand before it trails any lower.
"Kate, are you sure?" The last thing I want her to do is rush and then regret it.
"I've never been more sure."
I release her hand, and stop holding back. I bring my lips back to hers. I kiss her, slowly exploring her mouth. I trail my mouth up along her jaw line, coming to her earlobe and nibbling. She squirms beside me and I can sense the effect it has. I move down her neck, nibbling and sucking gently as I go. My hands slip beneath hem of her tank, my fingers trailing up her stomach to the swell of her breasts. She arches her head back as my finger circles her erect nipple, a slight moan escaping her lips. I slowly, teasingly remove her tank. It had been less than 12 hours since she first removed her top, unveiling herself to me. The sight then had been one of intimacy, but not one of a sexual nature. This morning, I took in her full glory. My lips trail down to her left breast. My lips brush her nipple, my tongue playing a sexual game. She is lost in the sensations. My lips move to her right breast, duplicating the previous movements. My mouth descends lower, leaving a trail of kisses along her stomach. I bring my hands to her hips, tugging at her shorts and panties beneath. I take a moment to fully appreciate the sight before me. She arches toward me clearly irritated at the sudden lack of sensations. My mouth continues its journey; she spreads her legs in invitation. I can tell that she is reeling, probably close to coming. My mouth finds her sweet spot. I gently suck her, my tongue exploring.
I feel her go over the edge. "Riiiccckkkk..." My name, a pleasurable moan on her lips, only serves to excite me further.
Once I feel her body relax, I bring my body beside hers. "I love you, Kate." I say as I kiss her. Her hand begins to explore my body. It takes her no time to remove my shirt, her lips against the hot flesh of my chest. Her hands are already removing my pants. Her mouth trails below, taking me into her mouth. The sensations are completely indescribable. I know full well that I won't last long like this.
"Kate, I can't..." I can't even finish my sentence, but she seems to understand. She moves to straddle me. I enter her, her warm wetness engulfs me. We move in tandem, our movements in sync with one another. As I near the edge of my own climax, I reach between her legs to apply pressure to that spot right...there. In that moment, we are one.
We give everything of ourselves to each other, time standing still. Our lovemaking had been slow and methodical, tender and passionate. We've spent more than an hour loving, kissing, touching, and holding one another. I want her to know the depths of my love and affection.
She lays wrapped in my arms, both of us exhausted. We lie there together in companionable silence, both falling back into a deep and wonderfully happy sleep.
This time, I wake to sunlight streaming in from behind the blinds. I sneak out of bed and out to the kitchen to make coffee. I pour a cup for each of us and head back to see if my sleeping beauty is awake.
"Kate?" I ask softly, kissing her on the check as I do so. I see her eyes flutter open, a smile plastered on her lips. "I brought coffee."
"Mmmm, thanks." She sits up groggily, takes the coffee and brings the mug to her lips.
Over the next two hours, we shower (separately as she had insisted), dressed, and had breakfast. After cleaning up breakfast dishes, I head into the living room to see her relaxed with a magazine in hand.
"May I join you?"
"It's your house, Castle," she says with a definite smirk on her face.
"Can I ask you something?" She nods, not that I was expecting anything else. "Yesterday, you said you were walking away from your mother's case and walking to me. Are you really giving up on her case?"
She sighs. "Castle, everyone associated with her case is dead. If I continue to chase it, it will kill me too. It's only by grace that I'm here as it is. My mom's murder has defined me, driven me in this quest to justice. So much has happened in the past year. Two men that I cared about and adored died this year. In their final days, they were both determined to get me to see the reality of my situation. They wanted me to see that I had to make a choice. I could die in the name of love, or live in the name of love, but I couldn't do both. I've spent 13 years chasing after something that was never really there. Catching my mom's killer isn't going to bring the justice or peace that I am seeking. It isn't going to change the past. The only way to find peace is to accept the past for what it is; a tragedy. I'm not saying I'm there yet, because I'm not. I want to live in the name of love though; in the name of ourlove. I want to find the happiness that I know awaits me in your arms. I don't know what I ever did to deserve you, but I'm not going to continue to deny either of us what we both deserve."
Wow, I never thought I would see the day when Kate brought so much clarity to the situation. So many of her words are echoes from our past conversations.
"You amaze me Kate, you simply amaze me."
"Let's go out for a bit? You can show me around town, buy me things." The tease in her eyes is obvious.
"Did you really just say I could buy you things?"
"I was teasing Castle."
"Oh no, you said it. And I will be holding you to it!"
"Me and my big mouth, always getting in trouble."
"Come on, I know just the places we are going to go. There is this great little boutique that Alexis loves, oh and the shoe store next door will be heaven for you. Then there is the..."
I didn't realize her hand had come up to my chest. "Whoa, there. Let's not go completely overboard. I'd love to look around, but this isn't a shopping spree."
I laugh. "Oh, Detective, you have no idea. Anyway, we can have lunch at this quaint little diner. Then we will have to see where the afternoon leads us."
The Hampton's are quieter this time of year. Summer brings the crowds, but during this time of year, life in the Hampton's slows down. We spend much of the morning at the boutique. She tried on half of the store. She picks out two outfits that she wanted and while she is changing back into her clothes, I have the cashier ring up all of her other favorites, and mine too. To avoid her arguing and because there was such limited space in the car, I ask to have it delivered later this afternoon. We head next door to the shoe store.
"The outfits will be delivered this afternoon."
"You had them deliver two outfits?"
"Welcome to the Hampton's, where it is all about pleasing the customers. Now, before we go in here, don't try to play things down like you did in there. Choosing two outfits, I mean really. I know how much you love shoes. In fact, I'm not sure I've seen you wear the same pair twice, so please, go to town."
