Authors Note: heeeeee I am feeling wicked today... (blame the husband!) ;-)

Many many thanks again for the unbelievable response!


For the second time in one night, Kate Beckett found herself staring at Rick Castle in astonished shock. She felt herself flush at the obvious desire darkening his eyes…turning them to smoke.

She knew she should say something, but swallowing, she realized she didn't even know where to start. She'd felt less vulnerable when she stood naked, wrapped only in his coat after her apartment had exploded.

Castle waited for a response watching the emotions flicker across her face… He'd made it an art; watching for her subtle changes of expression. Still, he realized that he'd missed something vital before he had left for the Hamptons. It was only the knowledge of Demming's absence in her life that gave him the courage to take the few steps towards her; moving deeply into her space.

He reached up to place his hand on her silk clad hip. She half expected him to pull her towards him and kiss her again. Instead he kept his eyes locked on her and slowly…oh so slowly slid it up her torso. He traced just below her breast and fluttered down her abdomen coming to rest back on her hip.

Kate's pulse was erratic and she could feel her breathing hitch into a soft pant. Somewhere a small voice reminded her that he'd cut her to the quick; then his other hand came to rest on her other hip and both hands began their slow ascent. Thoughts fled like birds taking wing. Even beneath the dress her flesh burned where he touched her…igniting embers she'd rather have ignored. Her eyes became heavy and lidded and she allowed herself to lean gently into his hands. An offering.

Castle sucked in a breath letting one hand grasp her hip tightly as he bent towards her bared shoulder, scraping teeth along its curve and smoothing with his tongue. So much to say…and he; the writer of words, had no idea how to say any of it. The throb of loss at summer's start beat a pattern in his heart…aching. So, he said nothing; nothing to acknowledge the pain; nothing to ask why. He touched.

The sensation cascaded around her, blurring the pain into something else entirely; need. She brought her hands up to thread through his hair and bit her lip against a moan when his hands moved against her breasts, his mouth gliding along her collarbone to her neck. She gripped his hair tightly and let her head fall to the side when his teeth sank into her. He moved backwards and away from her and her eyes snapped open, fear rushing back for an instant, before the realization struck that he was only closing her apartment door. Castle's eyes burned into hers. He shook his head slightly, letting her know that he wasn't going anywhere.

Something inside her eased…relief?

He had stepped around her, but his hands were on her…and this time…oh, this time she could feel the pads of his fingers tracing the skin of her back…Flames drawn in circles on her flesh.

She had expected him to assault her senses in a flurry of quick action and brilliant explosions. She had not expected this slow melting deliberate pooling of heat…the flood of lava over her skin. When his hand came up to the back of her neck and he tugged at the halter tie of her dress, she didn't even consider stopping him. Need.

Castle paused momentarily and when she did not move other than to tilt her head down, his lips parted in a sigh. He pulled the tie loose and let the ends slip through his fingers. He was already beyond what he thought he could take from touching the smooth satin of her back, when the dress slithered to the floor revealing so much more of her…he couldn't stop from groaning.

She turned to face him, but made no other moves. Her eyes sought his. He could see the haze of alcohol on her…and it wasn't enough to stop him. Because beneath it he could see the flare of desire.

He took a moment to let his eyes wander over her. Her breasts were taut and the nipples were pebbled. Reaching out he cupped them in his hands, thrilling to her sharp intake of breath. His eyes flicked to hers briefly to see her reaction as he fondled and moved his fingers across them. Then bending he took one into his mouth and sucked.

Her legs went wobbly and she grasped his shoulders for support. He should not be able to make her this weak with want. As his tongue continued its assault, she realized she was mewling with pleasure. Startled at herself, she cut herself off and felt even more exposed when he flashed her a quick wicked smile before returning to her body.

His mouth may have been occupied with her breasts, but his hands were wandering freely across the rest of her. She became uncomfortably aware of the fact that while she stood clad only in black lace panties; he was fully dressed.

She pushed at him with her hands and he moved away; his eyes guarded. She gave him a slight smile in return and shoved his jacket off his shoulders. He blinked and then one corner of his mouth turned up. He let the jacket fall. Kate cocked her head and took a deep breath. She reached up and pulled on his necktie until she could slide it from around his neck and let it join the jacket on the floor. She watched him swallow, but refused to meet his gaze. Kate undid the first button of his shirt, then the second. When she reached the third; Kate Beckett leaned forward and pressed her mouth to his own exposed flesh. His breath hissed through his teeth. Each button was followed with her lips. When she was finished, she deliberately slid up his chest and slowly pushed the shirt from his body. She wasn't going to repeat a Nikki Heat moment here. Spreading her palms on his bared chest, she could feel the pounding of his heart. His own nipples were puckered with arousal and she leaned closer; biting gently as he'd done to hers. He breathed her name, ending on a groan. His hands gathering her hair. Palms spread and nails raked down his chest causing his hands to tighten reflexively.

They had both began the slow sway of bodies towards the bedroom…and they had yet to even kiss again.


Ok, my plan is to continue this...but we have something going on here and I have to break ...ppppfftt work!

Anyway, I figured a bit of a start...and then onto chapter five!