Author's Note: Here you go, loyal readers! :-D I'm sorry for the delay on this one, but I've been flat out with a bunch of stuff out in the nasty real world. that being said, I owe an enormous thankyou to Manuxinhace - thank you hun for cracking the whip and making me keep this moving. Your help has turned this from ok to something much better. *hugs* As for the rest of you, loyal followers, thanks for sticking with this one! :-D i think it's only got 1 more chapter left, but that's up to Kate and Rick, I guess. Feedback means you guys get faster updates... ;-) so when you see that big, shiny blue button at the bottom, give it a click and let me know what you thought about the chapter, yeah?


Previously, in Close Quarters:

"Come on, Rick..." She murmured, biting her lip as she let her eyes flutter closed for a moment, enjoying the swirls of pleasure he was already coaxing from her willing body. "Shower time, and since you got me all sweaty, I think it's only fair you scrub my back." A wicked smile on her lips, Kate barely suppressed the small whimper of loss as he slid free of her heat, the emptiness already feeling alien to her. Rolling out from underneath him, she caught his hand and helped him stand, his knees still shaky. Fingers laced together, she lead him to the bathroom, knowing his eyes were firmly fixed on her bare backside, swinging enticingly in front of him.

And now, the next bit...


Rick let his hand turn the lights on, the sudden glare causing them both to blink in the brightness. Flicking the fan switch, he kept his fingers threaded with Kate's as she leaned into the shower cubicle, twisting the hot tap on. The room filled with steam almost immediately, and she waited a moment before turning the cold tap up, adjusting the water temperature to something less than scalding.

Looking back at her partner, nibbling her lip as she flashed him a come-hither glance over her bare shoulder, she tugged on their linked fingers, pulling him in after her. Still a little stunned from their earlier activities, he willingly followed after her, running his eyes appreciatively across her backside. The length of her legs entrancing him, Rick stepped in close, his free hand slipping around the curve of her waist as he feathered delicate kisses along her shoulder.

Checking the temperature, Kate smiled softly, urging him to join her under the warm spray. Her lip sprang free of her teeth with a quiet pop as he closed the distance between them, the hard length of his body shaping itself against her back seamlessly. His teeth grazing lightly against the column of her neck, Rick grinned against her skin, his fingers drawing slow circles over the bones of her hip as he tasted her. Kate sighed as she relaxed against his chest, tilting her head to the side, allowing him access. Humming in approval, she let her head fall back onto his shoulder.

Rick paused, his attention caught by the rapidly darkening bruise at the base of her neck, his teeth-marks plainly visible. Placing a soft kiss against the marked flesh, he felt his arousal flaring between them, pressing against the curves of her backside. Turning her head to face him, Kate nuzzled his ear. Whispering just loud enough to be heard over the water and the fan, she spoke, her voice already breathy.

"I believe somebody promised to scrub my back..." She felt the muscles on his neck flex as he turned, his face so close to hers their noses brushed. Leaning in, he captured her lips, slowly letting the kiss deepen. Releasing her fingers, he ran his hands down her shoulders, his thumbs pushing firmly against the muscles of her back as he nudged her forwards. Watching her place her hands against the wall in front of them, he grinned even as the intimate contact between their bodies broke off. The water cascading down her naked body drew his eyes as they traveled down her form, lingering as he mapped her contours, fingers slowly tracing the path his eyes marked out.

A soft chuckle slipped from him as he realised that she had unconsciously adopted the pose used to pat down suspects, he let his mind linger for a moment on exactly how he'd go about that, before deciding that he'd just have to take it as it happened. Reaching past her, he picked up the loofah and poured a generous dollop of body wash onto it. Slowly, he ran it against her skin, starting at her shoulder.

Pressing the roughness into her skin, he scrubbed in gentle sweeps, working first one shoulder then the other. Cupping the back of her head with his free hand, shifting the mass of her hair over her shoulder out of the way, he lingered as he caressed the nape of her neck. Taking one hand in his, he lifted it to the side methodically cleaning his way down to her hand. Giving her soapy fingers a brief squeeze, he gave the other arm the same treatment. Griping the loofah in both hands, he scrubbed down the curve of her spine to her lower back, watching as she shifted under his attentions, arching her back towards him like a decadent cat.

Crouching behind her, Castle let his knees rest on the shower floor. Running one hand down the outside of her leg, he trailed his fingers slowly up between them, urging her thighs apart. Watching her shift as he directed, he grinned, his vantage point giving him a perfect view of her ass, the hint of her folds peeking through the apex of her legs. A jolt of possessive pride flashed through him as he saw the traces of their recent lovemaking on her lips, a slow drip running down the inside of one leg.

Resuming his duties, he ran the loofah across her cheeks, pressing firmly enough cause her to brace a little more. The muscles flexing under his hands, Rick grinned wolfishly as he let the roughness slide down her legs, sweeping over her calf, before caressing the inside of one knee. Lifting his hand, he urged her legs wider apart, his free hand gripping her hip as he let the soapy loofah brush against her folds, the slight quiver of her legs letting him know that he was on the right track. Holding her a little tighter, he grinned as he ducked his head forward, letting the tip of his nose brush her skin for a second before he tilted slightly, teeth flashing as he playfully bit her ass.

Her squeak of surprise was cut off as he pressed the loofah more firmly against her core, his arm darting between her thighs as he pushed it forwards, stroking the delicious roughness across her most sensitive areas. Rolling his wrist, he worked it over her for a moment. Kate moaned, the movement jolting her body wide awake. Her hips rolling slightly, she rocked into the loofah, the extra pressure parting her folds just enough to bring her nub into contact with the soapy scrubber. She sagged as he pulled the loofah free of her, quickly sweeping down her other leg down before she could complain.

Rick straightened up, a slow, wicked smile on his lips as he took in the flush spreading across Kate's chest, her nipples hard in the fine spray. Adding some more body wash to the loofah, he let his arm brush one of her sensitive peaks as he replaced the bottle. His free hand on her shoulder, he spun her around, her back connecting with the wall as he gave her a gentle shove. Adjusting the shower head so that the water hit the centre of her chest, he watched as the rivulets ran down her body, cascading off her nipples, before tracing their way down her stomach, disappearing into the neat curls between her legs. Starting with her collar bones, he worked the loofah across her chest, stepping back slightly so that he could watch as the bubbles slid across her skin, admiring the way her breasts shifted with every breath she drew. Gently, he cupped one breast in his free hand, the loofah brushing the outside once, twice, before sweeping across the top, then darting down to focus on her nipple. Letting go, his free hand skated across her stomach, cupping her other breast lightly. Dragging the loofah under her breast, he let his thumb brush across her other nipple, his eyes meeting hers as she watched his hands caressing her skin.

Rolling her shoulders, she arched her back, her torso pushing towards him as he stepped closer, his arousal brushing against her belly. His fingers circling her nipple, Rick brought his lips to hers, nipping the swollen flesh softly as he rolled her peak slowly, his tongue parting her lips as he delved into her. Needy, Kate pushed off from the wall, one hand cupping his backside as the other wound through his hair. Her tongue matching his, Kate drew him down to her, her body pressing against him.

Growling, Rick stepped forward, the movement slamming her against the wall, driving what little breath she had from her. Forceful, determined, he kissed her thoroughly as his hand wandered across her skin, the swell of her breast filling his palm. Breaking for air, he pulled back, his hand on her breast pinning her to the wall. Switching the loofah to his other hand, he rapidly cleaned the neglected skin, before crouching, pausing to capture the nipple between his lips. Sucking her breast into his mouth, he swirled his tongue around the peak, his teeth grazing it as it slipped from his lips.

Scrubbing lower, he let the water wash the bubbles from her before trailing kisses down her body. Running the loofah down her legs, he parted her thighs again, kneeling. Quickly scrubbing the front of her legs clean, he reached around behind her, parting her cheeks with the scrubber, rubbing slowly as he lowered his lips to her thigh.

Looking up at her, he saw the lust filling her eyes as she watched him kneeling there, face upturned, hands wandering across her skin with abandon. Dropping the loofah, he gripped her ass as he leaned in, tracing the inside of her thigh with the tip of his tongue, the sharp taste of the body wash filling his mouth for an instant,before he lapped at her folds. Pressing his face to her, he licked the length of her once, her juices coating his tongue, filling his mouth as he urged her legs wider. Panting Kate gripped his hair with one hand, the other splayed against the wall, helping her to stay upright.

Sensing her concern, Rick grinned into her lips, the tip of his tongue flickering. Releasing one hand from her backside, he ran it down the back of her leg, lifting as he placed it over his shoulder. Nipping the delicate skin of her inner thigh, he trailed his way up to the crease of her hip, his hand still locked on her leg, pinning her in place. Mouth working, he sealed his lips against her skin, sucking hard as he let the roughness of his stubble brush against her soaking lips.

Squeezing her backside, he nuzzled her intimately. Pulling back slightly, Rick brushed the tip of his nose against her curls, inhaling the scent of her arousal for a moment. Slowly, he ran his fingers up the back of her leg again, cupping her backside. Gripping, he pressed his face into her, capturing her lips with his own. Sucking them into his mouth, he flickered his tongue along her as he squeezed, the leverage letting his nose brush her nub. Feeling her thighs flex around him, he swirled the tip of his tongue around her bud. One hand easing between her legs, he teased her entrance for a moment, before sucking her sensitive bundle between his lips as he sank his finger into her. Above him, Kate groaned, rocking her hips into his face as he sent tingles through her body. Fisting her hand in his hair, she let out a shuddering breath as he slowly withdrew his finger, only to bury it into her rapidly, before adding a second. Stretching her, he pressed the pad of his thumb against her, the tip of his tongue flicking along the sides of her nub.

Beckett sagged against the wall, her legs turning to jelly beneath her as he curled his fingers deep inside her, stroking as she pinned his head in place. Her breathing ragged, she looked down the length of her body at him, her nipples hard in the swirling steam, the dark splash of his hair nestled between her thighs. Letting out a guttural moan, she let her head fall back, the first waves of her orgasm licking through her as he coaxed it from her with every talented touch. Feeling the fine trembling in her muscles, Rick kept his pace steady, letting her pleasure build slowly. Hearing her breathing stutter above him, he slowed slightly, his tongue lapping at her, tasting her slickness as it coated his fingers.

Gauging her reactions, he brought her to the edge and held her there, palming her backside with one large hand, fingers kneading as he thrust his fingers into her slowly, twisting, curling as he withdrew them drenched as her desire ran down his arm. Teasing her, he ran the width of his tongue along her folds, tilting his head back slightly as he looked up at her, meeting her gaze. Staring into her eyes, black with want, he grinned at her and pressed his lips more firmly against her apex, the rasp of his morning stubble dragging against her delicate lips.

"Oh, fu-" Her exclamation cut off by the wordless expression of her approval, Kate's thighs flexed, her hand pulling Rick's face hard against her as her hips bucked uncontrollably, grinding herself onto him. Her eyes slamming shut, she bit her lip hard enough to draw blood as he sucked her nub into the wet heat of his mouth, the roughness of his tongue a perfect counterpoint to the silky feel of his lips. Pressing his thumb to the underside of her bundle, he flickered the tip of his tongue over it rapidly for a moment, before pulling back.

The desperate whine that left Kate's lips as his fingers slid free of her core brought a wolfish grin to his lips, coated in her juices. Standing rapidly, he ran his hand around her thigh, lifting, bending her leg at the knee as he stepped forward. Her mouth still open as she lamented the loss of his touch where she needed it most, Rick captured her lips in a bruising kiss, his hand matching hers as he wove it into her hair and pinned her against the tiles. Her moan of satisfaction was swallowed as he ruthlessly plundered the depths of her mouth, his tongue writhing against her, the taste of her desire winding her need even tighter. Both hands gripping his hair, Kate held him to her as she wrapped her calf around his waist.

The head of his arousal brushed against her lips for only an instant as he positioned himself, before Rick sheathed himself into her with one smooth rock of his hips. Kate moaned as he filled her, stretching her again. The sensation of him inside her was all that she needed to push her over the edge, and she gave herself over to her satisfaction immediately. Her heels digging into his backside, she ground her hips down, working herself against his body as her walls clamped tight around him, clenching rapidly. Her breasts flattened against his chest, she marvelled in the smooth slide of his skin against hers, the water cascading across them as he slid out of her, before burying himself deeply again. Pinned in place, she was helpless to object as he worked her against the wall, the slow, deep thrusts dragging her orgasm out longer than she had thought possible.

Breaking the kiss off due to lack of air, Rick immediately nibbled his way down her jaw, his tongue lapping beads of water from her skin as her pulse jumped frantically under his lips. Taking her collar bone between his teeth, he bit down lightly, dragging across her flesh as his hands gripped her backside firmly, grinding their bodies together as he held her aloft, back to the tiles. His lips sealed against her skin, Castle placed wet, sucking kisses along her, until the angle made going any further inconvenient. The brief flicker of his grin against her flesh all the warning she got, Kate gasped as he turned, the shift driving him deeper into her than he'd ever been. Feeling the powerful flex of his thighs as he held her up, she let out a guttural groan as one of his hands slipped from her ass, supporting her back, fingers snagging the sodden mass of her hair. Leaning back slightly, Rick tugged on her hair, her body almost upright as she arched her torso, breasts thrust high as the droplets of water ran in small rivulets down her sensitive flesh. Taking one nipple into the heat of his mouth with a predatory grin, Rick laved at the pebbled skin, jaw working as he drew a mouthful of her breast.

Kate keened softly as he bit down, his head pulling back as he stretched her breast with his mouth, the suction keeping her between his lips, his tongue swirling across her nipple. Their hips locked together, Rick altered his rhythm, his thrusts becoming a slow, continuous motion as he slid in and out of her dripping core, sheathing himself fully with each movement. Speeding up slightly, he felt Kate start to clench around him again. His hand slipping up her back, he cupped the back of her head as he released her nipple with a wet kiss, before sealing his lips to hers once more. Her fingers weaving through his hair, Kate gripped him hard as she devoured his kiss, her tongue plundering his mouth as she poured the scalding wave of need into him, letting him feel just how much she was enjoying his attentions.

Nipping at his lips, she held his gaze, watching his face as she clenched her inner muscles around him, gripping his hardness tightly as it slid into her. Shifting her weight, she used the leverage of her legs around his waist to start grinding herself down in time with him, still flexing around him with every thrust.

"Oh, fuck, Kate!" He gasped out, her rhythmic gripping increasing the sensation tenfold as he struggled to keep his eyes open, nearly overwhelmed by the exquisite feeling as he pushed his way into her, hot, wet and tight. Grinning wickedly down at him, she felt him slide into her again. When she felt his pubic bone connect with hers, she began to writhe, a torturous, maddening figure of eight as she rocked against him, feeling every inch of him brushing against her walls. Before she could gloat at the look on his face, she found herself backed up against the wall again, his lips and teeth scorching a trail down the side of her neck as he ravaged her.

A little stunned by the sudden reversal, she bit back a groan as he flicked her earlobe with the tip of his tongue for a moment, before taking her pulse between his teeth. Biting down as he slammed into her, Rick felt the burn in his thighs from the exertion, but paid it no mind. Lost in the woman in his arms wrapped around him as intimately as possible, he threw his restraint to the winds. The frantic wet slapping of his hips as they met hers echoed around the cubicle, their breathing a harsh counterpoint as they spiraled towards the edge.

A throaty groan ripped its way free of Kate as she tensed, her nails dragging across Rick's shoulders as her orgasm tore through her, the delicious ache between her legs setting her hips to writhing. Clenching around him, she clamped down hard, her release triggering his. Fused together, he fought to stay upright as he poured himself into her, every twitch only dragging out her satisfaction, wave after wave crashing into her. Eventually, her vision cleared and she found herself still wrapped around her partner, nose pressed against the crook of his neck, pressing soft kisses to his sweat-slicked skin. Her fingers smoothing out the mess she'd made of his hair, Kate kissed him lazily, thoroughly sated.

When they broke apart, she brushed the tip of her nose against his, her smile somewhere between shy and amazed.

"Hey you..." He whispered, his hands slowly letting her slide down his body, finally slipping free of her warmth as he grinned at her, openly adoring.

"Hey yourself..." She replied, unable to keep the matching grin off her own face. Blushing faintly, she placed her hands on his chest as she leaned into his body, a flush of warmth settling in her as he wrapped his arms around her narrow waist, fingers curling softly at the small of her back. Idly caressing the dimples he found there, Rick rested his cheek against her hair, pressing a tender kiss to the damp tresses. Closing his eyes, he drew a breath and took in the scent of the woman in his arms. Without her regular cherry-scented shampoo, he could smell something uniquely Kate. Well, that and the distinct aroma of sex mixed with the complimentary body-scrub.

Even as Rick's heart rate was still recovering from their last bout, there mere thought of what they had been up to since they woke was enough to stoke the desire within him. With a determined effort, he dragged his mind away from the topic, no mean feat as his hands slid around Kate's waist, resting on the curve of her hips. Straightening slightly, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips as she tilted her head back to meet him. Gently, he broke the kiss off, noting the quick flash of confusion in the detective's eyes. Keeping their lower bodies pressed together with the weight of his arms, Rick dipped his head down once more, tenderly brushing his lips lightly against hers.

"Not that I'd mind spending more time in here with you..." He whispered, placing one finger under her chin and softly kissing her. "But I think we're going to run out of water shortly..." He chuckles, still reveling in the feeling of her body against his own. Her lips quirking into a soft smile, Kate was about to reply when her stomach grumbled, the sound seemingly magnified by the enclosed space of the shower. Blushing, she nodded.

"I think some food would be good too..." The answering grumble from Rick's stomach sent them both into a fit of laughter, until they both calmed down a little. A huge grin still firmly in place, he cupped her backside with both hands, still marveling at just how well they fit together. Giving her curves an appreciative squeeze, he stepped back, watching the way the water spilled across her chest.

"I'll let you finish up in here." He said, his hands resting on her waist, reluctant to let her go. "You want room service again, or did you want to grab coffee and a bite to eat on the way?" Reaching past him, Kate snagged the body wash from the shelf and uncapped it. Pouring a generous dollop into her palm, she rubbed her hands together briefly, before spreading the gel across her chest. Watching his pupils dilate rapidly as he tracked her movements across her breasts, her fingers deliberately lingering over her nipples as the bubbles sluiced down her body teasingly. Lifting her hands above her head as she turned under the spray, Kate flashed him a coy smile.

"Eat out, I think..." She ran her eyes down his naked form, noting the way certain parts were already responding to her teasing. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she met his hungry gaze. "If we don't get out of here soon, we're not gonna leave the room today..."

Castle groaned softly, warring against the urge to stay in the shower with her. Finally, he stepped forward quickly, one hand cupping her jaw as he leaned into her, their bodies fusing together when her shoulders hit the tiles. Kissing her hard and fast, he broke free before her arms could wind around him and he lost the will to escape. A flash of pride shot through him as he noted the slightly glazed look in her eyes as she blinked up at him, her lips parted slightly and her breathing hoarse. Closing his eyes briefly, Castle ducked his head under the spray and ran his fingers through his hair. Turning slightly, he let the water wash off the last traces of Kate's body wash that had transferred to his skin in the too-brief embrace.

Opening the shower door, he stepped out of the steam, careful not to slip on the floor. Reaching out for a towel, he nudged the door closed with his hip, casting a final quick glance over his shoulder at the woman behind him. Kate blinked slowly, her eyelids heavy as she relaxed against the wall, watching the play of Rick's muscles under his skin, unashamedly admiring his backside as he stepped out of her line of sight. Catching his eye as he went to turn away, she realised she'd been busted and threw him a flirty grin, completely unrepentant.

I guess I don't have to hide that any more... Kate thought, a pleased smile on her lips as the door swung closed. Through the fogged glass, she saw the silhouette of Rick as he roughly dried his hair, before spinning the towel around his shoulders, drying his back off. Still very pleasantly surprised by just how well-built he was, she tilted her head back and let the water cascade through her hair. Turning around, she turned the taps, shutting the water off. Ringing her hair out to get rid of most of the excess water, she opened the door and stepped out.

Completely unselfconscious, Rick finished drying his legs and wrapped the towel around his waist, tucking one end in to hold it in place. Reaching out, he snagged the second towel off the rail and passed it to her. Moving to one side so that she could use the mirror as well, he had to force his mind back on track as she repeated his earlier movements, the vigorous drying of her back doing fascinating things to her chest as he stared, transfixed. Blinking to clear his mind, he grinned at her as she saw the direction of his gaze and rolled her eyes, the hint of a smile that teased at the corner of her mouth letting him know that she wasn't exactly unhappy about his obvious appreciation of her assets, despite everything they had done that morning.

A little thrown by how easy it was to stand in the bathroom with a man she'd fought for so long to deny her attraction to, she let herself watch him just as much as he went through his morning rituals. Strangely enough, in all the fantasies she'd had involving her partner over the years (and there had been more than a few), she'd never considered watching him brush his teeth to be a turn-on.

It could have been the way the muscles in his shoulder and arm shifted as he scrubbed his teeth that filled her with a warmth that had nothing to do with the intense activities they'd enjoyed only minutes before, or the almost delicate way his lips wrapped around the toothbrush that put her in mind of what those lips were capable of doing to her, but... she shook her head, trying to get her mind back on the task at hand.

Focus, Kate. She thought. You actually need to get ready for work, remember?

She watched as he reached out to the bench, picking up a small can of shaving cream. before he could spray some into his other palm, she placed her hand on his shoulder, the contact sending tingles though her arm.

"Rick," She said, the sound startling him slightly. Her mind whirling, she tried to find a way to let him know what she was thinking without actually verbalising it. "Don't you think we should..." She trailed off as he looked at her quizzically. Before he could ask her what she meant, the alarm went off in the bedroom again, the sound muffled by the door.

"Shave later?" He asked, already putting the can down. He paused, studying the traces of her blush that hadn't disappeared as yet. Her hand rising unbidden, she dragged one finger down the line of his jaw as she stepped closer, the heat flaring as less than an inch separated them. Her fingernail rasping against the stubble, she pressed a lingering kiss to the corner of his lips, saying

"Or not..." Looking up at him, she saw the moment understanding sparked in his eyes. Her other arm coming to join the first, she cupped his cheeks, letting her palms brush against the coarseness of his beard. Her voice quiet, she admitted softly, "I've missed this..."

Capturing her lips with his own, Rick felt her sigh as she relaxed into him, their bodies leaning into each other as they kissed slowly. Breaking off, he rested his forehead against hers for a moment. The sounds of the alarm still audible from the other room, Rick winced slightly as the noise began to grate on his nerves.

"I'll let you finish up in here..." He said, regretfully letting her go. Pulling the door open, he quickly crossed the room and turned the irritating alarm off, grumbling under his breath. The cooler air of the main room keeping him moving, he went over to the wardrobe and selected his clothes for the day. Hanging his towel over the wardrobe door, he got dressed, doing the zip of his jeans up as Kate exited the bathroom. Tugging his tee shirt over his head, he slipped his arms through the holes and grabbed his towel again. Leaving the wardrobe doors open for Beckett to select her attire, he paused as she undid her damp towel, already moving to hang it where his had been only moments before. His fingers brushing hers, he took it from her with a quick grin, ducking into the bathroom briefly to hang them back up to dry.

Quickly grabbing the hair gel, he ran his fingers through his hair, leaving it slightly messy as he dragged it into something a little more under control than it was before. Glancing in the mirror, he grinned at his reflection, and tried (unsuccessfully) to wipe the smug look off his face.

Rick walked back into the living area in time to see Kate shimmy into her panties, the delicious curves of her backside only enhanced by the fabric. Aware that they were on a time-frame, he kept moving towards the bed, sitting on the corner as he slipped his feet into his shoes. Checking his phone, he made sure their escapades in the shower hadn't caused them to miss a call. Seeing nothing, he stood up and tucked his phone away as Kate finished fastening her bra behind her back. Slipping the straps into place, she shot him a quick look, her trained eyes noting the hasty application of the hair product. Chuckling quietly, she shook her head and stepped into her pants. Watching her pull her shirt on, Rick paused, a nervous expression on his face.

Sensing the shift in demeanor, Kate frowned, wondering what had caught his attention. Noting the direction of his stare, she brushed her fingers across the side of her neck, before flushing scarlet. In their lust-filled wake-up, neither of them had given much (if any) thought to covering up the more obvious marks of their affections. Shooting him a glare, although at least half the heat in her eyes was due to her remembering in vivid detail exactly how the hickey had been left there, Kate finished buttoning her shirt closed. Thankful that the collar covered the worst of the impressive mark, she flushed as she recalled that Rick would be sporting a hickey as well, in pretty much the same place as hers. Grabbing her handbag from next to the bed, she went into the bathroom and tossed it onto the bench. Popping it open, the detective dug through it rapidly, searching for the small stick of concealer she vaguely remembered throwing in there.

Eventually, her fingers closed around the small tube and pulled it free. Removing the lid, she tugged the collar of her shirt open wider, allowing her access to the hickey. Fighting her own grin, she dabbed at the skin, smearing the concealer around until it blended with her natural skin-tone. Nodding to herself, Kate was satisfied that the bruise was sufficiently covered for the moment. About to put the makeup away, she caught sight of a smaller mark at the corner of her jaw. Far less obvious than the one on her neck, she thought it best to cover that as well, lest it catch the attention of the officers at the station.

The last thing I need right now is one of them poking their noses into my private life... She thought, her face heating as she recalled the tingles that had spread through her body when Rick nipped lightly there, his teeth just dragging across the surface of her skin, lips pressed wetly against her throat as he- Kate shook her head, forcing herself back to the task at hand and away from things that would cause her to be late for work. Smoothly covering the mark, she closed the concealer and put it back in her bag. Her hand hesitating inside, she wondered if she had time to actually do her makeup, as opposed to simply hiding the evidence of their... activities that morning.

Ah, what the hell... She sighed internally. Her partner had already seen her sans-makeup already, but she had always relished the power she held over men in general, and him in particular. It can't hurt... She mused, fishing out the other couple of items she had in the bag. Years of practice taking over, she applied her mascara without thought, blinking rapidly to help dry it, before picking up her lipstick. Quickly tracing it across her lips, she pressed them together briefly, before tucking the makeup away once more. Parting her lips, she checked to make sure she hadn't gotten any lipstick on her teeth, then grabbed her bag and left the bathroom.

Tossing her bag back onto the bed, Kate walked over to the wardrobe and picked up her boots, slipping them on smoothly. Pulling the cuffs of her pants down over the leather, she straightened up and shot Castle a quick look, noting the way he was openly watching her backside as she finished adjusting the other leg. Striding over to the bed, she collected her gun from the bedside table and tucked it into place, before clipping her badge onto her belt. She turned around and went to grab her jacket from the coat hook, only to find that her writer already had the matter under control. Holding the jacket open for her to slip into, he let his fingers brush the back of her neck as she settled the leather into place, before he eased her hair free. The shiver that shot through her didn't go unnoticed by Rick, warmth seeping through to her back as he stepped closer to her. Closing her eyes, Kate leaned back briefly into him, letting out a soft sigh as she drew in his scent.

Wrapping his arms around her, Rick laced his fingers together across her stomach, his chin resting on her shoulder. Pressing a kiss to her hair, he straightened up, his fingers hooking into her pockets. Turning her around on the spot, he brushed his lips across hers as she tilted her head back slightly, enjoying the way she fit against his chest. Smiling, happy, Kate reached past her partner and grabbed her bag. Heading for the door, she opened it and paused, glancing back over her shoulder at him.

"You coming, Rick?" She asked.