Chapter 4: Chapter 4
A/N: If I planned correctly, this is chapter 4/13. Enjoy.
Chapter 4: Look At The Stars
He entered the loft to find her leaning by the large window in his living room, staring out at the snow covered streets of New York. He shrugged off his jacket, removed his scarf and gloves. He tossed his luggage to one side and locked the door behind him. He slowly walked over to her, he knew she knew he was there, but she remained focused on the scenery out the window.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. The scene was beautiful, but not as beautiful as she was. He pressed a tender kiss to her temple and he felt her relax against him, a smile blooming across her face.
"You're home." She smiled.
"Couldn't stand being away from you anymore." He responded, speaking into her hair.
She covered his hands with her own and locked their fingers together and he began to play with the engagement ring that she wore on her finger. They were getting closer to their wedding and he couldn't wait to trade out the engagement ring on her finger for the real thing, the actual wedding band and make it all official.
"That was the longest week of my life." She whispered.
He had been on a weeklong tour for the coming of his new, it should have been longer, but he couldn't stand being away from her for so long, he made a deal with Paula to cut it short. There was no where he'd rather be right now, than in New York City, with his arms wrapped around his fiancé, sharing his warmth.
"The first of many unfortunately." He said.
She sighed and turned in his arms, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face in his chest, breathing him in.
"I've missed you." She mumbles against his shirt.
"I've missed you too." He answers.
They stand there for a moment, allowing themselves to absorb the heat and love from each other that they so desperately missed this past week.
"Where's my mom and Alexis?" He asked, finally noticing the lack of a welcome home party in his living room.
"Martha had an emergency at her acting studio, Alexis went to a sleepover." She informed him.
He nodded, glad for the night alone with her. He had missed the rest of his family of course, but Kate, he just really wanted to be alone with her right now.
"Well, how about some hot chocolate?" He suggested.
She laughed, "Sure."
She unwrapped her arms from his middle and looped her arms through his as he led them from the window to his kitchen. He quickly took note of what she was wearing, yoga pants, a white T-Shirt and bare feet. The loft was heated, but even he still felt a little cold, but maybe that's because he was just outside in the snow and she was not.
"Aren't you cold?" He couldn't help but to ask.
She shook her head, "No and if I was, I know you'd heat me right up." She, her voice dropping an octave as she gave him a suggestive wink.
"It wouldn't be right of me to know you were cold and not do anything about it." He said, putting the milk on the stove and moving to get their mugs.
She leaned against the counter, watching him move around the kitchen, with an easy smile on her face and her arms folded across her chest.
"See something you like?" He asked, looking over at her.
She didn't look away, she had every right to stare at him all she want and after not seeing him for a week, that's exactly what she was going to do, but first….
She unfolded her arms and pushed her body up off of the counter, making her way over to him. He was watching her carefully as she took the mugs from his hand and rested them on the counter. She placed her hand in his cheek and stood up on her toes, pressing her lips to his softly, lovingly. The kiss changed course when he gripped her hips and her hands moved to tangle in his hair. She smiled as a soft moan vibrated through him and she pushed herself against him even more.
It had only been a week since they had kissed, but it had been a week too long and she missed him, the feel of him, the taste of him, the feel of his rough, but gentle hands caressing her body. The thought of him touching her, only made her crave him more and she wondered if they were even going to have time for hot chocolate, the way his hands were moving up underneath her shirt, sending shivers through her body.
At the moment, the kettle whistled and they broke apart, startled by the noise. She eased back, resting her head against his, breathing heavily, her face flushed and lips red from their kissed and she couldn't wait for the rest of their night.
"Welcome home." She whispered against him, pressing a light kiss to his lips, before pulling away, letting him tend to the hot chocolate.
"If that's the welcome home I get, maybe I should go away more often." He said, sounding a bit lightheaded.
Good. She loved having that effect on him, the same effect he had on her.
She rolled her eyes and smacked him in the chest.
"If you stay, you get a lot more." She said, her voice husky and smoky.
He stared at her for a moment, before she laughed, telling him to get back to their drinks.
"Right, drinks, hot chocolate. Right." He mumbled, pouring the milk and the chocolate into their mugs, adding his usual cream and cinnamon.
He rummaged around in his pantry before emerging with a bag of marshmallows and going over to his fridge for the whipped cream and hot fudge, topping each of their mugs.
He handed her mug to her and gestured to the living room. At that moment, the light shut off leaving the place in darkness. They both stood still for a moment, letting their eyes adjust to the dark before looking over at each other.
"What perfect timing." She mumbled.
He smiled, "I have an idea." He said with a gleam in his eye.
She raised an eyebrow at him, wondering what crazy idea he could possibly have now.
He placed his mug on the table and made his way to his bedroom. She could hear him running into things and she couldn't help the smile that crept on to her face as she thought of all the "boo boos" he'd make her "kiss it better", not that she minded. She definitely did not.
He appeared in the doorway with his hands full of blankets, sheets and pillows and cocked her head to the side, raising a questioning eyebrow at him.
He set down the pile on the couch and grinned at her.
"We're gonna build a fort!" He said, sounding too excited, for a man with a grown daughter.
"Seriously?" She asked, taking a sip of her chocolate.
How she missed this, Castle making hot chocolate or coffee for her. She'd do it herself, but it never tasted the same.
"Seriously." He said, spreading out blankets onto the floor for the base of their fort.
She stood where she was, watching him as she sipped her chocolate, before he looked over at her.
"Aren't you gonna help?" He asked.
"I was enjoying the view." She smirked and placed her now empty mug down on the counter and moved to help him.
In no time, they had covered the entire living room with sheets and blankets and the lack of heat began to take its effect on her.
"You cold?" He asked for the second time that night.
"The heat's gone." She shrugged, wrapping her arms around herself.
"Well let's get you warm then." He smiled and reached out to her.
She went to him instantly, laughing as he pulled her into the fort, settling down on the pile of sheets and pillows he had supplied them with.
She snuggled close to his side and he instantly wrapped his arm around her, and pulled a blanket over her to keep her warm.
"This is nice." She said after a while.
"Yea, yea it is." He responded, content to have this beautiful woman, cuddled against his side.
"Wait, I forgot something." He said, plugging his phone into the small projector he had carried under there.
Instantly the "ceiling" of their fort was illuminated with a star filled night sky.
"Look at the stars, look how they shine for you and all the things you do…" He started to sing.
"Wow Castle, that's... that's beautiful." She said in awe as she stared up at his makeshift sky.
"Like you." He murmured, looking down at her.
She looked up at him and grinned, rolling her body so that she now lay on top of him.
"Yea?" She breathed, her face inches away from his.
"Definitely." He said as she closed the distance, kissing him sensually.
He kept the kiss simple and soft, not wanting to take it further just right now, right now he just wanted to cuddle. There would be plenty time for other things later.
She leaned back and he was struck with the beauty that was Kate Beckett. She was smiling down at him, her eyes twinkling as she rested her head against his chest.
"You know your eyes turn green when you're happy?" He spoke.
She raised her head, giving him view of those beautiful eyes again.
"What?" She asked.
"I've noticed, when you're happy, your eyes, they get lighter and it's one of the most beautiful things about you." He told her, running his fingers lightly through her hair.
She grins and lets her head fall to his chest as a blush creeps up to her cheeks.
"No really, I love your eyes. They're deep and mysterious and just you." He said softly.
She looked at him again, noticing the sincerity in his eyes and she stroked his cheek with her thumb, smiling.
"You're amazing you know that?"
"I don't think you have ever mentioned that to me." He jokes.
"Well you are and I love you." She says seriously.
He tightens his arms around her, "I love you too." He kisses her.
"Your skin, oh yea your skin and bones, turn into something beautiful…" He sings again.
"You know, you know I love you so." She finishes, leaning down to kiss him again.
End A/N: 9 more chapters to go Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for reviewing.