Getting closer to the end...Not much more...They needed a little loving time...Enjoy

XXOO,

Melody

Chapter 7

Once they got everything they needed, they talked to the detectives who had been assigned to the case, explaining what they were looking for and suggesting they explore every aspect of Rosa's life, even your relationships within the local Philippine community, it would be presumptuous to only just look at her employer and his family.

As they finished with the two Chinese Detectives who left, Castle was sitting next to her on the desk and poked her side.

"Do those guys remind you of anyone we know?"

"Yes." Kate laughed, shaking her head. "They are the Chinese equivalent of Ryan and Esposito, nearly to a T. Michael is as dapper as Ryan ever could hope to be, and so into everything you say, he actually believes each part of your crazy theories."

"While Alan is the spitting imagine of Espo, a tough, cocky guy and certainly a ladies man. Who knew that a Chinese man could be so cocky. It's scary, Castle."

By the time the detectives had departed, the pounding in Kate's head was accelerating, her body was stiff and she was a little sick to her stomach, but she couldn't or wouldn't let up.

Castle began observing her actions and noticed a brief tremor of her hand as she hung a picture on the board, these tremors were her tell when she was pushing herself over the edge.

"Kate, I think its time to go back to the hotel." He tactfully suggested, she glanced over at him, her eyes in a quizzical stare, but she immediately got the message.

"Okay, everyone has their assignments and they'll call me if they have a question."

As they made their way to the elevator, she stumbled slightly. Castle reached out, placing his hand on the small of her back to stabilize her, but she brushed him off.

"Stop it. Not here, not now." She growled. The last thing she needed was the local detectives thinking she wasn't capable of doing the job.

Once they were in the elevator, Castle moved closer, his hand rubbing her arm, trying to calm her down. He reached into his jacket and pulled out her pain pills.

"No, wait until we're in the taxi. Geez." Kate was gritting her teeth as they made it to the taxi, he stuck them away, but once they were in the taxi, his hand reappeared with the pills in front of her.

"We're in the taxi. Take these now, please."

Kate snatched them from his hand and popped them into her mouth, glaring at him the entire time.

Traffic was very heavy and their commute would take a while. Castle pulled her feet into his lap, knocked off her shoes and started to massage her feet, causing her to moan a little, a sure way to get her to relax.

By the time they arrived at the Conrad, she was fast asleep, her breathing slow and regular. Rick slipped her shoes back on, shook her softly, "Kate, time to get out." brushing his hand over her face.

They entered the hotel, Rick's arm firmly around her waist, as she sagged into him, Kate was busy focusing on walking, not falling over and didn't say a word.

In their suite, Rick guided Kate to the bed, sat her on the edge and began removing her clothes, she didn't bother to help, nor did she care, the pills had taken away the worst of her pain, but not completely. The stress of the day had pushed her over the edge.

Once she was laying down, Castle crawled in behind her, spooning her, trying to keep her warm and soon she was back asleep. Rick dozed off some, but eventually got up, moving towards the murder board, flipping his business scenario to the other side, he began laying out the information they had about Rosa's murder.

The shadows had begun to fill the room when Kate began to move, a groan slipped out as she turned over, her eyes searching the dim room for Rick, who was sitting in his usual chair, computer on his lap with a frown etched on his face.

She smiled, he was such a darling and so good to her. She had decided once they solved this case, finalized his business, she would address the question hanging over her head, actually over both of them. It was important to remember, they didn't need to get married to be hopelessly committed to each other, but maybe it was time.

Rick had explained once to her, he could lavish his wealth, his fame on her, but the one true gift he could give her, something only for her was his last name. Telling her this story was so sweet and tender. He said calling her, Katherine Castle, made his heart soar and brought tears to his eyes. She remembered how sincere and hushed he was when he explained this to her.

She exited the bed, very stiff, her side had really taken a beating today, though she wasn't sure why and her headache had eased some. She softly moved over to him, tilting in, wrapping her arms around his neck, her hands running through his hair.

A soft growl escaped her lips, he was so incredibly sexy with rumpled hair. Kate actually preferred his tousled mop to his usual restrained, perfect hair do.

"Feeling better?"

"Hmm and I'm starving."

"You want to go downstairs or have a bed picnic here."

Her lips barely touched his as she answered, "Here, of course."

Rick managed to order a number of delectable foods and within thirty minutes, the food had arrived. Kate had taken the time to shower, helping wash off the filth and disgust of their time in the police precinct.

She decided she would start working on the murder in the morning, tonight she just wanted to eat and cuddle with her partner.

They laid in bed, feeding each other some of the wondrous foods they had, Rick took his chopsticks to put a piece of ahi tuna in her mouth, then he licked off the sauce he had dripped on her chin, bringing chuckles from Kate, he was such a little boy.

Once they had finished the bed picnic and cleaned off the bed, they laid back relaxing. Kate picked up her IPAD to continue reading the latest JD Robb book, while Rick pounded away on his computer, Hong Kong had inspired him to write.

Kate was growing sleepy again, putting down her IPAD, she wiggled over to Rick, slipped her hand onto his chest, down his abdominal wall, rubbing circles on him.

"I think, I'll go to sleep now." Kate announced.

"Okay, a few more minutes for me, then I'll join you." As he finished, he noted, she had stopped moving, she must have nearly fallen asleep mid sentence, smiling to himself, his hand touched her face, running over her eyes and down her cheek.

Her beauty never failed to astound him, he was a lucky man, yes she was a lot of work, stubborn, independent, single minded, but she was also loving, bright and marvelously sexy.

After a while, he shut down his computer and snuggled down, wrapping Kate in his arms, she stirred slightly, responding with her legs intertwining with his.

Rick was the first to wake up in the morning, showered, ordered coffee and juice, then woke Kate up, gently, rubbing his face on hers, kissing her neck, encouraging her to open her eyes. She responded by burying her head away from her persistent partner.

Rick stopped, deciding to let her sleep until the coffee arrived. Once he had gotten it exactly how she liked it, he carried the cup to her position and knelt down by her side of the bed. Placing the cup where she could smell it, he proceeded to rouse her again.

"Kate, love. Your coffee's ready and It's time to wake up." Rick's free hand stoking her cheek, sweeping the hair off of her face.

Kate opened one eye with a delicate smile appearing on her face.

"Mmm, that's smells perfect. Thank you."

She knocked off the covers and propped herself on one elbow as she took the cup. After a long slow sip, she sat up more, motioning for him to join her on the bed.

Kate bumped his shoulder as he pulled her to him.

"I really overdid it yesterday. I got caught up in the case, just like old times. I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

"I wont let it. I take some responsibility for this. I pushed you to take the case knowing you're not one hundred percent. It was a lesson for both of us."

"Can I talk you into a massage?"

Rick jumped up and returned with lotion in hand.

"I'm ready." His eyes wagging with excitement. Kate gave him a half smile, took off her sleep shirt and flipped over onto her stomach.

Rick squirted lotion into his large hands, rubbing them together and began the slow massage she loved. He first worked her shoulders, moving down her back and concentrating on her healing left side. She jumped slightly as his hand touched her sensitive side.

"Tender, eh?" Rick scowled, though Steve had warned them she would have tenderness, stiffness for months, he still worried.

"Yeah, a little." Kate turned her head away from him, not wanting to see his concern.

He methodically worked his massage over her entire body, he paid special attention to her long lithe legs, they were magnificent, strong, yet well proportioned and her hips were curved perfectly.

He finished with her legs and slowly proceeded to her feet, her arches never failed to arouse everything in him. He massaged them expertly, he lightly ran his tongue over her feet, nipping at her toes.

Kate was becoming aroused by the massage, he knew exactly how to get her excited, she turned over and couldn't help but see the smug confident look on his face.

"I'll give you a week to stop this." Her hand touched his chest, beckoning him closer.

"Your side better?" Kate nodded, pulling him onto her chest, her mouth searching for his. Soon they were lost in each other, completely captivated with caressing the other.

After an extended round of making love followed by a long hot shower, they went up to lounge for breakfast before leaving for the precinct.

Rick wanted to talk about how they were going to proceed with the business transaction with his publisher, but Kate reminded him, first they needed to try and solve a murder.

Kate got up, ready to go, went to the doorway of the lounge, looking back and jerked her head towards the elevator

"Let's go catch a killer."

Short...But did you like it?...Rick will ALWAYS take care of Kate...That's what people who love each other do...