Chapter 7
Beckett woke in the gray pre-dawn light with a smile. She'd had the most wonderful dream. In it, she and Castle had finally…but wait, it hadn't been a dream at all, had it, because he was there beside her, kissing her shoulder. That's what woke her. She rolled over in his arms and he stroked her cheek. She could just barely see the twinkle in his eyes. She reached around and started running her nails along his back, then lower. He chuckled and grabbed her hand. "Believe it or not, that's not why I woke you so early, though I admire your positive attitude. Come, I want to show you something." He led her from the bed to the window seat, sat and pulled her against him, then pointed out the window. "Now just wait," he said. The sky was already turning a beautiful shade of pink, then orange, and a sliver of light became visible on the horizon. They sat and watched a dazzling sunrise. "Thanks, that was amazing," she said. "It's been too long since I stopped to appreciate things like that. I seem to always be either working, or sleeping because I worked late."
"You are most welcome," he said warmly, "I ordered it especially for you". So as not to give her the chance to comment on his egotism, he changed the subject. "However," he said, his gaze changing from warm-fuzzy to far less innocent "I believe you were about to try and have your way with me again?"
"I was, but the mood has passed…" She walked away out of his embrace and crossed the room, bending down slowly to retrieve her nightgown from the floor. She looked over her shoulder at him sitting there, slack-jawed and a little depressed. "You're not seriously gonna do this to me again, this will be the second time in less than 8 hours" he whined, then cocked his head as she started giggling. "Ohhhh" he growled, crossing the room in three strides. "I was right, you ARE a tease!" She let him drag her back into bed.
A few hours later they decided to get up and make breakfast together. Down in the kitchen, they talked about plans for the day. They decided to keep things low key, since the previous day had been so busy.
He invited her on a stroll down the beach. As they were approaching the house on the return trip, Kate noticed something that had not been there before. There was now a canvas cabana on the beach. "Where'd that come from?" she asked, her brow furrowing. "I asked the caretaker to get it out of storage and set it up for us. This way, if we want …privacy…, we have it," he replied. Inside the cabana were two chaise lounges, plus a stack of towels. There was also a tray with glasses and a pitcher of ice water.
Since it was getting pretty warm they decided that lounging on the beach was an excellent plan. They went inside to get changed into bathing suits. On the way back through the house, Kate stopped at a wall of bookcases, to see if there was anything good in Castle's library. It would be entirely too weird reading one of his books with him sitting right there. Nothing jumped out at her, but she remembered she had seen a book on his nightstand and went up to get it. When she read the back cover, her eyes got wide. She put it back and went downstairs, grabbing a book at random from the first shelf. She went outside, where he was reclined in the lounger. "Sooooo" she said, causing him to jump. "The thrill master has to read about female sexuality and erogenous zones? And here you had me believing it was all first hand knowledge." She was gesturing with the book in her hand, and he was smiling, alternately watching her face and the waving book. "First of all, I didn't hear you complaining last night. There were some loud noises, but certainly not complaints. Second, speaking of reading about experiences as opposed to having them, care to explain why you are reading 'Lady Chatterly's Lover' ?"
There was a small noise when her mouth closed, then she laughed along with him. She sat down on the other chair and lay back to relax and read. After a time he said he was going inside to prepare a snack for them.
Kate looked around, bit her lip trying to decide, then untied her bathing suit top. She arranged her chair so she could sunbathe. She closed her eyes and lay back, enjoying the hot prickling, then suddenly she felt cooler as a shadow fell across her. "You know," Castle said, his voice both amused and husky with desire "I would have been more than happy to put the sunblock on for you." Beckett's eyes flew open. She started to cover herself, which made his brow furrow. "Modesty, really? After last night and this morning?" he asked. She honestly was not sure herself at first, why she reacted that way. "I guess because we have been just playing cat and mouse for so long. It was a knee jerk reaction." "Well my reaction will come as no surprise." He put the snack tray to the side, then knelt beside her. They kissed and fondled for a while, building the tension. "You are certain we have privacy?" she asked. He nodded, swallowing hard. She stood up and gestured for him to do the same. She slid her hands along his sides down to his hips, then peeled the Speedo off. She pushed him back to the lounge chair and pointed down. When he was sitting he reached up and pulled on her bathing suit bottom. When she was free of it she climbed into his lap. They rocked back and forth until they could take no more. She stiffened then collapsed on him. His release was only seconds later. "Oh baby" was all he could manage. She dozed against his chest without unjoining. In slumber, neither was aware of the strong beam of sunlight angling through the window of the cabana and falling across her exposed bottom.
Later she got up and wrapped herself in a towel, then fetched the snack tray. She sat back down on his lap. He took a piece of fruit and held it up to her lips. She accepted it with a smile. "Did you know that kissing is thought to have originated in the animal kingdom?" Castle asked. "No, do tell."
"Well, it is very common for the male to offer gifts of food to the female during the courtship. Since birds don't have hands, per se, the male give her a piece right out of his beak. It's his way to prove to her that he can keep her supplied with energy for, um, making babies". "Really…" she drew out. "That must be why the chocolate companies make out like bandits on Valentine's day.
"Exactly. So feel free to drop hints when you think you might require extra energy. I would be SO happy to accommodate you…" His hand had been on her back and drifted to caress her backside. "Oh honey, you are hot." "Thanks, Castle" she said, a little self conscious.
"No no, I didn't mean.. well, yes it's true if you take it that way but…for once that wasn't actually a come-on line. I mean you are physically hot. Stand up and let me see something." She did it, not convinced that this wasn't a creative bit of foreplay, particularly when he pulled the towel aside gently.
"Uh Oh. Evidently the parts of you that don't normally see the light of day have seen TOO much of it today. You, my darling, have a sunburned bottom. Come, let's go inside and get some aloe on it before it tightens up too much. He pulled his suit back on and led her inside.
Upstairs he started a cool bath for her, suggesting that she soak to draw some of the heat out. When she got out he found a bottle of aloe gel with anaesthetic in it. He asked her to lay down so he could apply it. He smoothed the cool gel on her sunburn, but far more sensually than she could have thought possible. He loaned her a pair of his boxers, as he figured all her underwear would fit too closely for comfort.
She put a sun dress over them and went downstairs, where he was cueing up a movie. They relaxed and ate popcorn, just at ease with one another. He paused the movie and excused himself. When the doorbell rang, she was surprised. She called out to him about it but he didn't seem to hear her. She shrugged and got up to open the door, getting the surprise of the year, at least. Standing before her on the doormat was James Patterson. Beside and behind him were Michael Connelly and Stephen Cannell.
"Where's Ricky? We're here for the poker game." James said. Speechless she stepped back to admit them.
"Kate? I thought I heard a voice. You didn't start the movie up again without me did…" Castle faltered as he came down the hall and saw… 'Crap, crap, crap, HOW could he have forgotten?'
He recovered. "Guys! May I introduce the lovely Detective Kate Beckett. Kate, I gather from your stunned expression that you know who these gentlemen are?
She shook each of their hands in turn, still flabbergasted, for more than one reason. "May I speak to you for a moment, Ricky?" 'Uh oh' he thought. "Sure. Guys, make yourselves comfortable. We'll be right back"
She led him into the kitchen. "What the Hell, Castle? Was this your plan all along, get me out her knowing your buddies were dropping by, so you could show off your conquest? I bet you were even hoping they would show up while we were on the beach enjoying our 'privacy'. She fumed at him.
She watched his expression for a tell, some sign of guilt. Instead she saw hurt and anger. "First, stop interrogating me like one of your suspects. I totally forgot I had invited them. Second, HOW could you think that I have so little respect for you. That hurts!" Kate was completely deflated by that. She had no idea why she had over reacted so badly.
"Oh Castle. I'm sorry." She ran her hand through her hair. "The only guess I have is that I was feeling a bit jealous at the thought of sharing you. Crazy, right?" She opened her arms for a hug. He accepted it. He could never stay angry at her.
"Come on, we'll grill some steaks and veggies, then have the game. You should sit in. I've seen what a mean player you are. I'm sure the guys won't mind."
