I know it took me forever to finish this. I'm sorry. I finally found the inspiration to put the finishing touch on it. Hope you've enjoyed it!
Chapter 7-Epilogue
The sun's rays found their way through a gap in the heavy drapes, sliding across the floor and onto the bed where the trio slept. Kate stirred first, the detective in her ever-vigilant to changes in her environment, even in slumber. Rick's arm was still wrapped tightly around her shoulder, but Elara had rolled away, her back to them.
For his part, Rick was highly attuned to changes in Kate, even in his unconscious state, so the shift in her breathing away from the deep rhythmic pattern of sleep had him stirring as well. He brought his arm up (the one not currently pinned under the pleasant weight of Kate's upper body) and rubbed at his eyes.
"Good morning, you two," Elara murmured, rolling over. She'd always been a light sleeper, but spending the night beside a new man, an intimate stranger, really, made her doubly so.
Kate raised her head from where it had been pillowed on Rick's shoulder and smiled shyly. She glanced up at Rick, trying to gauge his mood. The contented curve of his mouth told her everything. The light of day had done nothing to change his opinion of what they had done, might continue to do, if the tent he was pitching under the bedcovers was any indication.
She met Elara's amused look, and by mutual silent consent they converged on him again. His expression went from 'content' to 'lottery winner' in a flash, as Kate inched downward along his body, taking the sheet and blanket with her. When her quarry had been exposed, she tasted him delicately, teasingly, until his full body shiver cued her to take him fully into her mouth. She felt his hand cupping the back of her head and knew, trusted, that it was purely about reciprocating the physical contact, not about control. Sure enough, his fingers stroked through her tresses, clenching only to signal that she'd found a particularly sensitive spot, before resuming his caress. He tapped her ear once, their 'pause' signal, and she heard him clearing his throat, struggling for words. "Slow, Kate. Make it last."
Elara, for her part, nibbled on his ear, his neck, his collarbone. Her fingers teased at his nipple until it, too, stood at attention, then she traced it with the tip of her tongue. His groans of pleasure escalated into a stream of unintelligible syllables when she drew the tiny bud into her mouth with hard suction. Allowing herself a small smile so as not to break the seal, she brought her right hand to stimulate his other nipple. She felt Rick's hand, which had been stroking up and down her spine, suddenly exert firm upward pressure on her back. She shifted in response to his command, coming face to face with him. He claimed her lips for one searing kiss, before urging her upward further, so that his mouth could avail itself of her breast. The strong pulling she felt was surely repayment for her earlier actions, and was causing an almost painful tightening in her loins. Unable to stop herself, her pelvis shifted against him.
Rick tapped Kate again, giving himself a moment to think clearly, an impossible task when she was doing that to him. He urged Elara still higher, encouraging her to use the headboard to lever over him and then brace herself. After his tongue had begun its work within her folds and his right middle finger had set her to a low keening, he cupped Kate's cheek with his other hand, their 'go' signal.
Kate waited until Rick let her know that he was ready before beginning again. She let her tongue glide along the shaft to moisten it, then massaged it with her hand, squeezing the head. His hips shifted, thrusting against her palm, just as his thumb traced her cheekbone once, twice. Another signal, equal parts granting and seeking permission. She took him in again, all of him, and her hand cupped his sac, thumb stroking the soft skin. The time for 'lasting' was over. She increased the suction steadily, then flicked her tongue over his contours. His hand gripped her shoulder in one final show of non-verbal communication (because, after all, hadn't he been taught not to talk with his mouth full) before his body stiffened in climax. She drank his release, until his body relaxed into the bed again.
Elara's grip on the wood of the headboard held firm, even as Rick's hand and mouth worked steadily, rhythmically, to drive her (she was sure) into madness. Whatever Kate was doing to him, however, had weakened his control and his movements had become almost frenzied. He sucked in her most sensitive flesh, even as he added a second finger. It was all so much, too much, and she screamed out her orgasm. Kate was right there beside her, gentling her, coaxing her to lay with them.
Once her heart stopped pounding, Elara considered the couple. "I'm sure you're both as hungry as I am. The hotel has a great breakfast buffet… You can even make your own waffles." Rick's growling stomach answered for both of them.
"Now you've done it," Kate replied. "Better hurry and get dressed, Elara, so we're not blinded by the dust cloud he kicks up hurrying down there."
Elara regarded Kate. "I know we're not the same size, but I think I have an outfit you'd be more comfortable wearing to brunch than your dress."
Kate nodded her thanks, and, like old times, raided Elara's closet. She dressed while Elara washed up, then she nudged a dozing Rick (after all, giving and receiving took a lot out of a guy) who needed exactly five minutes to dress in last night's pants and shirt.
Once ready, Elara led them down to the buffet, where they shared the meal and more (surprisingly) casual conversation. She told Kate to 'just hang onto' the outfit until the next time they saw one another, implying she'd be amenable to another encounter.
After brunch, Rick followed through the parking lot to where she'd left the car the night before. It had been an unusually dry winter thus far, and frost coated the still-visible fallen oak leaves like sugar. Sunlight glinted off the ice crystals on the cars and the untreated asphalt, as though the whole area had been sprinkled with diamond dust.
"So… interesting," Kate began. "We should do that again sometime."
"Yeah?" Her partner made no attempt to veil his surprise.
"Yeah. Only this time, we get a guy."
Castle said nothing, though the tight set of his jaw screamed "When hell freezes over."
Reading the look, Kate said "Oh, I see. YOU get to double your pleasure, but not me? Talk about a double standard."
"As I recall, you got a fair measure of enjoyment out of your interactions with Elara, so do not try to stand there and tell me that last night was all for me. Besides, another guy? Please. You know how territorial I get. Do you seriously see that ending well?"
"Oh so you don't trust me?"
"It's not a matter of trusting you. I just wish I could be sure that when it's over," he paused, struggling with the next words, "I'm still enough for you. God knows I wasn't for Meredith."
Kate scoffed. "The deep fried twinkie, you mean? You're not seriously still putting any stock in her opinion. The woman is about as deep as a puddle, that does NOT reflect on your…abilities, it reflects on her talent for doing what, or who, will further her career."
Rick grabbed her wrist and pressed her against the nearest car. He pressed a kiss to her mouth, pouring his passion and his gratitude into her.
"C'mon, let's go home."
