Set between After the Storm and Cloudy with a chance of Murder.
May 9, 2012
10:30am
Precinct
"'No'?" Castle echoed incredulously as they walked to the elevator. "What does she mean, 'no'?"
"I'll have to serve out my suspension, " Beckett explained as he pressed the button, "same as Esposito."
The doors opened and they stepped inside.
"What'll you do in the meantime?" he asked, concerned. After the last few days most women would welcome a break. Not Kate Beckett. If she didn't have something to occupy her, he was afraid what it would do to her sanity. All this new information about her mother's death couldn't be easy to process; and they were still so new, he wasn't sure what the new boundaries were yet.
Beckett smirked, though of course he couldn't see her as he stood behind her.
"Oh, I'm pretty sure I'll think of something," she said, reaching over to grab his crotch.
Startled, he looked down at the firm yet gentle hold she had on him, and looked back up as the doors closed.
"Detective Beckett! There are cameras!"
"Oh, they won't tell anyone, will you, boys?" She asked the cameras. She waved. "Hey, Steve. Steve would be shifted on now. Steve owes me."
"I really don't think -"
She turned around and pushed him up against the wall.
"Come home with me."
"Oh, I kind of have plans with Alexis. She's leaving for Europe with her Grandmother next week - and then I swear, I'm yours."
She groaned.
"One whole week? That's half my suspension! "
Still getting used to Beckett openly expressing her reluctance to be away from him, he stammered. She was not playing fair, grabbing him in the elevator, getting him all worked up.
"Uh - uh, well... I'm free tomorrow. She's staying in Malibu for the next few days to make up for Meredith not being able to make her graduation."
"Tomorrow? What time can you come over?" she whimpered into his neck.
"Uh... lunchtime?"
Her eyes sparkled.
"Ok. Yeah. Come over tomorrow. I'll make you lunch."
Castle stood outside Beckett's apartment holding an overnight bag and a bottle of wine. Beckett had been very mysterious about what she was making him, so he wasn't sure what kind to bring; he decided to play it safe and go with a 1994 Californian Merlot.
He was a little apprehensive about the over-night bag, too. Would she find it presumptuous that he brought a change of clothes, a razor and his toothbrush? Would she be offended? She'd made it clear what her intentions were but...as he'd told her two days earlier, this was all still new to him. Kate Beckett had invited him over to have lunch and possibly sex. Because apparently that was something they did now.
Anxious, he finally built up the courage to knock on the door.
She answered, dressed in a simple t-shirt and jeans, relieving his fears that he might have under-dressed. It was only a lunch-date, after all. Was it even a date?
Oh, God.
"Hey," she said, smiling.
"Hey."
"I like your shirt. I don't usually get to see you looking so dressed down, Castle. It suits you."
"Thank you."
She looked down.
"Oh, you brought wine!"
"Yeah, I-"
She took the bottle from him.
"Thank you, Castle. Merlot. Good choice. That'll definitely work."
She looked down at his bag.
"Uh..."
"You can take that into the bedroom."
He blinked. Then, hastily complied.
Beckett smiled, shaking her head.
He came back out to find her standing near the table, on top of which were two freshly plated burgers next to every type of condiment hone could possibly want on a burger. Next to each plate was a glass of the Merlot he'd brought.
He smiled.
"You made me a cheeseburger?"
"I made us cheeseburgers," she said, correcting him.
"This is great, Kate."
They sat down. He picked up the top bun and smothered it with a healthy dose of ketchup before digging in.
"You like?"
"Mm-hmm," he nodded with much enthusiasm.
"I'm glad. I know cheeseburgers are important to you."
"Thank you," he said.
She smiled.
"You're welcome."
"So, uh... Senator Bracken."
She nodded.
"Yeah?"
"Are you ok?"
"Yes, I'm ok."
She squeezed his hand.
"How does it feel now, knowing? Is there a bit of closure now or is it even harder, knowing exactly who's responsible and not being able to do anything about it?"
Beckett took a deep breath and wiped her mouth with a napkin.
"I won't have real closure until that son of a bitch is behind bars. But I've decided not to focus on that right now. I'll deal with it when the time comes. We will deal with it," she corrected herself, her hand brushing his thigh. "For now I... I just want to live my life, you know? I just want to be happy."'
"Well, I hope I can help out with that."
"You already are."
He smiled and took another bite. Ketchup squirted everywhere. They laughed.
She gave him some napkins and he cleaned himself up.
"Did I get all of it?"
"Actually you..." she stared at him, her own napkin inches from his face. "Missed a spot," she said, her voice dry.
She bit her lip.
He felt like prey being sized up by a hungry predator. It aroused him.
She licked the underside of his jaw. He shuddered with desire and gripped the table to keep from throwing her on top of it and having his way with her. Because she had cooked for him. Sort of. And that would not be polite. Even if she was deliberately driving him crazy.
Beckett appeared to return her attention to her own burger, grabbing the ketchup bottle.
"Oh, no," she cried. "Clumsy me."
Ketchup ran down her fingers.
"Help me, Castle?"
She held her hand out to him.
His eyes darkened and he licked form thumb to finger until the ketchup was gone.
They stared at each other, both breathing heavily. Beyond pretence now, she tugged his t-shirt up.
"Arms, Castle."
He lifted them in compliance.
She pulled it over his head and without breaking eye contact, grabbed the ketchup bottle and squeezed, slathering the cool liquid all over his chest.
He shivered. With a wicked grin, she lapped up the ketchup from navel to neck, revelling in his body's reactions as his muscles bunched and his pulse accelerated. She swirled her tongue around each nipple, watching his cloudy gaze as she did so, waiting for him to break. He kept his resolve though, allowing her to lick him clean.
She looked down at his lap and back to his face. He followed her gaze, half-excited, half-terrified.
She unbuttoned his jeans and pulled them down. The boxers soon followed. She grabbed the bottle again.
He had a sharp intake of breath. Because it was cold. But not too cold. Captivated, he watched as she covered him there with ketchup, and he got even more aroused by the combination of the cool sensation and the look on her face. When she finally put the bottle down, Ketchup was dripping all over her floor - not that she seemed to mind.
She licked her lips as she stared at him, hot, hard and ready for her.
"This is really working for you, isn't it?" Castle asked.
Beckett grinned.
"You look delicious."
"But, Kate... it's Ketchup."
He gasped as she spread the sauce over his length.
"It's you covered in Ketchup"
He shuddered as she licked him from tip to base.
"Mmm," she said. She devoured the sticky substance. If he thought she'd be less enthusiastic once the flavour was gone, he was wrong. She became even more eager.
"Kate, you can - soon."
Her eyes sparkled and she replaced her mouth with her hands. He groaned a she sustained the rhythm.
"I want to eat you up," she said simply,taking him back into her mouth just in time to do exactly that as he clenched his fits,the words, "Oh God" and "Kate" spilling from his lips.
He lay back against the chair, spent. She rested her head against his stomach.
He stroked her hair.
"You're really swell," he breathed.
She smiled up at him.
"That was fun."
Once he'd recovered somewhat, he gently cupped her chin, knelt down to her level and kissed her.
"Thank you," he said, coming up for air, staring deep into her eyes. He kicked off his shoes, socks, jeans and boxers and lay her down on the floor, using his discarded shirt as a pillow.
He pulled down her jeans, sliding his hand into her panties, listening to her moans and sighs as he put two fingers right where she wanted them, caressing that special spot above with his thumb until she cried out in ecstasy and then slumped, sated. He looked down at her in utter adoration.
She pulled her jeans up, he put his boxers back on and helped her clean up their mess and they moved their lunch into the living room. Beckett put a blanket on the floor and they picnicked, finishing their cheeseburgers and drinking their wine.
Afterward, they took their plates to the kitchen and washed them. Beckett rubbed her hands together.
"Dessert," she said with mischief in her eye. "I picked up some whipped cream yesterday when I was getting the ingredients for our lunch."
Once she had the can in her hand he slammed the fridge door shut. She turned to face him.
"Good, 'cause I'm still hungry."
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a condom packet.
"Look what else I got."
He was already at half-mast but the fact that she planned this, and the giddy glee on her face, took him the rest of the way.
"Always prepared," he said huskily.
She grinned, taking him by the wrist and leading him to the living room.
They were both completely bare now, she in his lap on top of the blanket.
She hummed as he sprayed a generous amount of whipped cream on her breast and her hand fisted in his hair as he enjoyed his dessert. He paused. She giggled.
"What is it, Castle?"
He released her from his lips and placed his thumb on an oddly shaped discolouration on her skin.
"I didn't see this the other night," he said .
"That's a birth-mark," she said.
"On your boob?"
"It wasn't my boob when I was born, it was high up on my torso. But then I... developed."
"Mm-hmm, and very nicely if I may say so."
"You may. Speaking of things we didn't notice the other night..." she reached down his hip to stroke his tattoo. "What does this mean?"
"I'm still not a hundred percent sure on that. Peace? That's what I was told. I think it's an Egyptian Glyph of some kind."
She stared at him.
"I was nineteen and very, very drunk," he explained
"I think it's sexy."
He grinned.
"Well, I've shown you mine. What about you? Unless you were lying - "
She spread her legs.
His jaw dropped.
"I'm showing you the tattoo, perv."
He looked. It was a small black and white creature on the inside of her thigh.
"Is that a dolphin?"
"It's an orca."
His eyebrows raised.
"A killer Whale? Neat!"
"Orcas are very beautiful, strong, resilient, misunderstood creatures, Castle."
"Then I can see why you would be drawn to them," he said, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "What about your naval ring? I don't see any holes."
"Yeah, I was lying about that one."
"Damn."
"Well, I couldn't help it. You were asking for it, being such a sleaze with those x-ray specs saying you could see me naked."
"Well, I was picturing you naked. Does that count?"
She pecked him on the nose.
"So, how does the reality match up?"
"Nothing compares to the reality," he said, running his thumb along her surgical scar to the underside of her breast to her bullet wound, which he caressed softly.
Beckett gently tilted his head back by the chin and kissed him, wrapping her arms around him so that her breasts were pressed against his chest. She grabbed his shoulders, lifted herself up and lowered herself down onto his erection. She threw her head back as he filled her. He placed his hands on her cheeks as she straightened again.
She purred in contentment. He sighed in reply, his breath warming her skin. She inched her pelvis up, hands on his chest, and eased back down. Beckett inhaled Castle's scent, basking in every molecule of him surrounding her, loving her.
As she rocked against him, she peered down and watched their joining. She looked back up at him to find him seemingly stunned as she felt that this was actually happening. This was the first time they had made love in the light of day and it was beautiful.
It was also fucking sexy. But all of it, the love and lust and the pure energy of joining with him hit her all at once, the magnitude of them and what they were doing and what they had entered into just three nights ago when she'd showed up rain-soaked on his doorstep, and a tear escaped through the corner of her eye. He didn't skip a beat, capturing it with his thumb and bringing it to his lips. She kissed him again, still moving with a slow, even cadence.
She was controlling the movement, making sure he was hitting just the right spot as he reached down to touch her the way she'd showed him she liked the other night. She moaned as it hit her, bringing him closer to his own release, emerging from his mouth and resting her head against his shoulder for a moment before bringing her hands around his neck and increasing her speed.
He tensed, growing rigid, then relaxed, sighing her name against her hair. They stayed, sated, in each other's laps for a while. Eventually, he withdrew from her and she removed the condom from his now flacid length, disposing of it for him. They both reeked of each other and sex, not to mention the fact that he still had some remnants of ketchup in his pubic hair, some of which had rubbed off on her during their lovemaking.
They stood under the warm stream of the shower.
"I'm in Kate Beckett's shower," Castle said, in mild awe.
"I was in your shower the other day," she informed him.
His eyes bulged.
"Hope you don't mind."
"Next time, could you wake me?"
"I didn't want to disturb you."
"Disturb me, always disturb me if it involves wet, naked you."
"I was standing naked in your shower with the water running on my skin, thinking about you, standing in the same place, naked. Wondering how many times you'd touched yourself thinking of me. Wondering what it would be like for you to take me in there. You have a huge shower, Castle. Do you realise that? So many possibilities. And I wanted to touch myself. But I didn't want to finish without you. Had I known your mother and daughter were going to interrupt us and that Maddox had gotten to Smith... I probably would have just finished. Or maybe I would have woken you up, dragged you in with me and climbed you like a tree."
"Yes, yes, I pick that one. For future reference. Or the other one and you let me watch."
She laughed.
"You're so cute."
He kissed her.
"And you're beautiful," he whispered against her skin.
The warmth that came over her was indescribable. She was so happy. She hadn't allowed herself to imagine she could be this happy after everything - and if she was honest with herself, she would admit there had been a long time there when she didn't think she deserved this. She still wasn't entirely sure that she did. Now that she actually knew what it was like to be with him, the idea of losing this terrified her. But she had him now. He was here, they were together and honestly, she could go again right now - but she knew however willing his spirit was, his flesh wasn't quite ready.
Besides, this was nice, intimate, as they washed each other, skin, hair, all of it, stopping from time to time to kiss and soak each other in.
He spotted an open contraception packet on her bathroom shelf.
She followed his gaze.
"My new prescription. I went to the doctor's and the pharmacy yesterday. I'll start taking them - well, it's a little too early in our relationship to go into details about that. But let's just say I can't start taking them yet. So until then well just have to stick with rubbers."
He nodded.
"Do you want to use my hair-dryer?" she asked as they towelled off. "I used yours."
"Uh... I don't use a hair-dryer, for I am a man. That was my mother's."
"Then what was it doing in your bathroom?"
He sighed.
"Fine, I use a hair-dryer."
"There's nothing to be ashamed of Castle. I like the way it makes your hair look." She ran her hand through it and licked a droplet off his face.
"You make the water taste good."
He nibbled her wet earlobe.
"So do you."
Once they were dry, they lay enveloped in each other, legs intertwined, in her bed. What was happening? She had gone shopping for him. She had cooked for him (sort of). She was going on the pill.
It was like... like she was committing to him. At least in the short-term. Making room for him in her life. What did it mean? What were they?
"Are we lovers now?" he asked softly.
She smiled.
"I like the sound of that."
"Lovers," he tested it out.
"Luvvas," she said, grinning.
"Luvvas," he echoed.
"I hope that's what we are," she said.
"If this is how you intend on spending your suspension, you may very well kill me."
She turned to him, her expression suddenly serious.
"When I do go back to work, I want you with me."
"Of course."
"I don't want to stop working with you."
"Neither do I."
"It's important to me - our working relationship. "
"To me, too."
"But there are policies. Procedures. We'll have to keep it quiet."
"Ok."
It was important to her, and he didn't want to lose that aspect of their relationship either, so he didn't argue. At least not for now.
Form that day on, he couldn't ever watch Kate squeezing a bottle of ketchup without getting visibly aroused. It never really become an issue until about nine years later, at their son's fourth birthday party, when he had to be very strategic with his placement of the balloons he was carrying for fear of one of the mothers at the party getting the wrong idea as he walked past the kitchen to find his wife innocently making a smiley face on a small party-pie with ketchup.
