A/N: This was 100% Jo's (starstruk79) plot. I hope this was what you meant, Mistress. (I'm her bitch...)
Committed
Kate bit her lip as she looked at Erik. He was so handsome... he reminded her of Mr Fantastic from the movies... she'd always found that idea rather enticing... stretchy limbs with hands that can get everywhere. And he was so complimentary, so flattering. She hadn't thought he would be interested in her. And neither had Rick. He had laughed. Actually laughed.
She wished he would flatter her. But now he was more interested in video games. She still loved him, she just... wished... she didn't even know. She wanted him to be comfortable with her, she wanted them to be at home with each other. It wasn't as though she never wanted him to play video games, or that she thought his mind should be on her all the time, but...
She had been wearing his shirt. Nothing but his shirt. She had looked HOT. She could tell, she knew she had, and yet...
He should have dropped everything. The fact that he hadn't... she didn't know what it meant, but it had to mean something.
And here was Erik. Giving her champagne, telling her how beautiful and clever and amazing she was, wanting her to be with him. He was so handsome, so clever, so impressive. She couldn't help that his presence made her stand up a little straighter and twist her fingers in her hair. Could she?
He took another step towards her; she could taste his fresh, minty breath. He leaned in and his lips touched hers...
…She grabbed him by the back of his shirt, her body twisting around his as she pressed herself against him and crushed their mouths together in a frenzy of lust and anger. Her pupils swelled; her eyes black orbs of desperation. He was surprised; he hadn't thought she would do this. But he was more than happy to go along. His limbs might not have been elastic but his hands were doing some pretty impressive exploring nonetheless. She moved back and took off her shirt. Erik grinned appreciatively at her chest. At least someone appreciated it.
She disposed of the rest of her clothes while Erik slipped neatly out of his. He was even sexy when he took his socks off. Kate bit her tongue in an excited smile. Erik grabbed for her again, those skilful hands finding her ass as his mouth attacked hers again, more confident now that he had permission. Very confident... used to being in charge. They battled for dominance as they shuffled towards the bedroom; she thought they would fall onto the bed but Erik lifted her at the last minute and positioned her under him – no tangling allowed.
She liked someone who was a match for her. She pushed at his chest so he rolled off her and she could climb on top of him; she closed her eyes and enjoyed his touch, his educated fingers finding every sensitive place on her body, making her squirm as she planted soft kisses on his neck and chest. She moved lower – he might not have been a superhero but he had a superhero's abs. And arms.
He tugged her back up, smiling as he took hold of her hips and positioned her; she raised herself then guided him inside her. That was the effect she wanted to have on a man. Straight away. He was hard and powerful inside her; he steadied her motion, still holding her hips. His thumb – so long, maybe it was elastic! - found her centre and before long she was teetering on the edge of something so fantastic she almost forgot to breath. She moaned softly as his thumb and body continued to work beneath her; her back arched, her head tipped back and she finally screamed, the involuntary name that tumbled from her lips without her brain telling it to.
She gasped.
But.. wait! Had she said 'Erik'? Or had she just said 'Rick'? And Which should she have said? She shuddered...
…They were on the floor. There had been a gunshot. Kate blinked. She must have been shaken by the fall. She stared at Erik. He looked very embarrassed. She had... She had pushed him away.
"Are you okay?" he asked, helping her up off the floor.
She nodded. She wasn't hurt. Physically.
They had caught the killer and Kate had just watched Castle cut the chord of his Xbox. She gaped at him, but laughed as he explained that it was symbolic. She thought about her 'dream' from the day before and smiled. Because she knew what she had said. She had said Rick. No matter how long someone's fingers were... It was Rick that she wanted. Always.
He flicked on his romantic music and she smiled at the beautifully decorated bedroom. He might make mistakes, but he did know how to make a woman feel special. He pulled her in for a kiss as her body hummed in anticipation of that full body massage. But she had to talk to him, they had to talk...
"Castle, where are we going?" she asked.
"To the bedroom," he said, his eyes twinkling as he led the way. She stared at him. How could he not get it?
Every question that she had put out of her mind, every chastisement she had given herself for even thinking about being with Erik seemed to rewind; her mind filled up with all the questions she had just managed to stop and she just looked at him, pain flooding through her as she wondered if she would ever get through to him. If he would ever know, if he could ever grow up, if they were doomed-
"Kate?"
He turned around and rushed back to her.
"Wait, what's... Oh God. You were asking something else, weren't you? I'm so sorry, I was so caught up in my plan to make up to you from the other evening, I really am sorry babe."
"Babe?" she asked, raising her eyebrows, but she was smiling inside.
"Again, sorry. You mean..." he took her hand and led her through to the bedroom, sitting with her on the bed.
"You mean, where are we going."
"Yeah," Kate said. "I just... We're acting wrong for where we are. Aren't we? It almost feels as though we're married, the way we are around each other, and in a way I like that, but we haven't even moved in together yet."
Rick kept eye contact while he thought about what she'd said. It was one of the things she loved about him, the way he talked to her, the way he made her feel when those piercing blue eyes looked into her soul. He might be a kid sometimes but he could be so deep...
"I don't want to rush you," he said to her. "I've been a jerk these last few days and there's no excuse for that. But I... You know I'm completely committed. Forever. Right?"
Kate nodded. "I mean... I think so."
Rick waited for her to say that she was too. But she didn't. She knew what he was waiting for, too. She thought about her horrible, disgusting daydream that made her feel sick – and she'd even been thinking mostly of him. The idea of anyone else touching her, of anyone else being with her, of not coming home to him, even when he was playing his stupid video games with kids in India...
She got up off the bed. He looked terrified – she quickly smiled and dropped down onto one knee. He gaped at her.
"You were the first one to say I love you," she said to him, taking his hand. "You were the one to believe in me for so long, to wait for me, even when I lied to you, even when I dated other guys because I was too scared to do what I should have done so long ago... You've stood at my side, let me get ready in my own time, and sometimes you can be such an idiot but... I love you. I don't even love you despite that. I love your personality. I love all of you, Richard Castle, and I want to show you that I'm committed too-"
"I know you are," he said. "Don't rush into this because you're worried about me, or because you feel bad, which you shouldn't, or because-"
"Let me finish?" she asked, raising one eyebrow. He chuckled and she looked up at him.
"Marry me," she said. It wasn't a question. He tugged her up onto his lap.
"Okay," he said. "Now... will you please let me give you your massage? I even did research online!"
Kate giggled as he helped her out of some of her clothes. He paused once her top was off.
"I think I owe you a bit of extra admiration," he murmured, lowering his mouth to her chest. She smiled widely as she felt his appreciation straining his jeans as well. He scooted her onto the bed and tugged off her shoes and then her jeans – which took some time – they were tight. He looked up at her as he pulled them down her perfect legs.
"You know I know what you're worth, right? This isn't just... I mean, I've always known. You're the most wonderful woman I've ever met and I am so lucky to have you," he told her.
"You're engaged to me now," she reminded him. "And I feel just as lucky as you do."
He took off her socks; the jeans were finally dispensed with.
"Get ready to get luckier," he said to her with a wink. But then he paused. He was standing beside the bed now. She turned to catch his eye.
"You just asked me to marry you," he said. "And I'm still being childish."
She reached out and took his hand. "Not overly."
"Or... materialistic."
"If you call my body simply material again it might go off you," she teased. "Look, I want you to grow up a bit. Sometimes. But not too much!"
A small smile crept to his face at her joke and he wound his fingers through hers.
"You're really all good?"
Kate laughed. "I kind of want my massage. But, yes, apart from that, I am excellent."
Rick leaned back down to her. "We're engaged," he whispered happily.
"I know," she whispered back. "But if you don't start soon, I might have to massage myself," she warned, her hand creeping down her stomach towards her panties. He grabbed it and kissed her fingers before finally putting his hands back on her. She sighed. She could get used to this...
A/N: Please review. And read Lady Beckett!
