The Wedding Date
Chapter 9
Castle sat in the armchair in their room, brow furrowed, as he absently watched Kate scrutinize her reflection in the vanity mirror and apply some makeup for the bachelorette party she was due to attend that evening. He thought the afternoon picnic went well. And from what Kate had told him on the ride back to the Hurthshaw house, they had been successful in playing their respective roles. Though, to tell the truth, Castle really didn't find it all too difficult. Kate Beckett was an extraordinary woman, and he was more than happy to play the part of the loving boyfriend. It was easy.
Too easy.
He couldn't help himself. It just felt right. And that was a problem.
There were a number of important rules in his line of work. But there was one rule that was a must. And he was dangerously close to breaking it, if he hadn't already.
Castle was startled from his ruminations when his client smacked her lips together after applying some red lipstick. He tilted his head to the side and allowed his eyes to feast on the image of Kate Beckett in her costume. She was wearing an over-the-top sexy golf outfit—a pleated mini-skirt, a tight white oxford shirt, and a plaid vest that brought out the green in her hazel eyes. She looked hot, but judging from her expression, Castle would wager good money she felt anything but.
She caught him looking, and groaned, dropping her head into her hands. "I know," she sighed, mortified. "I look ridiculous."
"I wouldn't say that," Castle assured her with a mischievous smirk and a waggle of his eyebrows. "You look kinda cute."
Kate gave him a pointed look, clearly disbelieving his assertion.
"What's with the socks?" he queried, motioning to the knee high plaid socks that matched the vest.
"It's a golf themed bachelorette party," she offered with a shrug. "I have no idea why. As far as I know, we're just going to some pub and drinking ourselves silly."
"Drunk Beckett, now there's a sight I'd like to see," Castle asserted with a waggle of his eyebrows.
"In your dreams, Castle," Kate replied with a saucy little smirk of her own.
He grinned back at her, eyes sparkling, enjoying their repartee. He'd never had such fun bantering back and forth with someone before. Kate had a wicked fast wit, and she wasn't afraid to parry back. It was a nice change from his usual clientele. But it was different with her. Their verbal sparring was more than just friendly banter. So much more. It felt like foreplay.
"Well, then it's a good thing that my dreams generally come true," he quipped back with a wink.
Kate pulled her lower lip under her teeth and glanced at him from under her eyelashes. "Oh, you're incorrigible," she chuckled softly and shook her head, before turning back to the vanity so she could finish applying her makeup.
Castle sat back in the armchair with a smile on his face. He tried to ignore the way his heart quickened, and his chest swelled with emotions and sensations that he should definitely not be feeling.
XXX
Kate preceded him as they departed the bedroom, leaving the enticing scent of cherries in the air. Castle watched her ponytail bob as she descended down the stairs to the first floor landing. She looked absolutely adorable in her sexy golf costume, and he definitely appreciated the glimpse at her long legs thanks in part to the pleated mini-skirt. Kate arched her neck and peered into the living room. Bernard was seated in an armchair by the fireplace, reading a thick book, while Rebekah worried in front of a white board that featured an elaborate chart of information.
"I think Rebekah's trying to refine her strategy for D-Day," Kate said in an aside to Castle as they stood in the doorway, watching the woman pace.
"I heard that," Rebekah pirouetted around, smiling widely. She froze when she caught sight of Kate, and tried her best to stifle a laugh. Kate crossed her arms over her chest and tried not to glower. "Though," Rebekah continued after getting control of herself, and turning back to scrutinize the white board. "I'm sure General Eisenhower never had to master the finer points of the seating chart and centerpieces."
"I don't know about that, honey," Bernard said from his seat in the armchair by the fireplace. "Eisenhower did hold twenty-four state dinners as President. One for the Queen in 1957."
"And what do you think social secretaries are for?" Rebekah asked rhetorically with a dismissive wave of her hand and a laugh. She turned back to his white board, narrowing her eyes at the seating arrangements for the reception. "Oh, Kate, darling," she spun back around, "I forgot to tell you, that tomorrow afternoon you two lovebirds are carpooling with Mr. and Mrs. Wentworth-Thymes."
Kate gave Rebekah a mock salute as she slipped past the bride's overly dramatic mother. Castle watched the scene with amusement. He could just imagine teenage Kate doing just the same thing when she came over to the Queller house to visit Madison.
"Hey, Bernard, can we borrow your car?" she asked.
"Or we could always just take a cab," Castle offered.
"Oh no, no," Bernard waved off the idea with a shake of his head as he dug into his pocket. "You two kids are more than welcomed to it." He tossed the keys to Kate with a wink.
Rebekah clapped her hands. "Yes," she enthused in agreement. "Oh, and Kate, make sure you show Rick Regents Park. It's romantic at night."
Castle raised his eyebrows and turned towards Kate. "Sounds promising."
"I think you already had enough fun in the park," she deadpanned, though he couldn't help but notice the slight smirk tugging her lips upwards. Kate rolled her eyes at him, and held up the keys, dangling them in front of his face. "Never mind that, we're running late. We should get going."
Castle stepped back to make room for her as she stalked passed him towards the front door. He turned to follow her but was stopped when Bernard cleared his throat.
"Oh, Rick, my boy," the older man said, glancing up at him front behind his thick book. "Make sure she stays on the right side of the road."
Castle hesitated for a moment before responding. "Which is the left, of course," he said with a smirk.
Bernard grinned as his gray eyes sparkled with mirth, suppressing a laugh as he inclined his head in confirmation. "That's right."
XXX
Kate tried to concentrate as she steered Bernard's BMW on the left side of the road. It was a little unnerving. She was used to driving on the right side, but it really wasn't all that difficult, except for the fact that her companion was just sitting silently beside her in the passenger seat. If there was one thing Kate had learned about her escort in the short time she'd known him, it was that he was a talker. She pursed her lips to hide a little grin as she quickly flicked her eyes over at him before, just as quickly, returning her attention to the road ahead.
"You do know that the staring thing is creepy, right?" she asked, breaking the silence.
"Just admiring the view," Castle replied.
"Real smooth there, Casanova," Kate replied with an eye roll.
Castle shrugged and shifted to look at the window at the London shops and boutiques they drove pass. A comfortable silence fell between them again as Kate navigated the BMW through a roundabout.
"Can I ask you a question?" she asked, tightening her grip on the steering wheel as they came to a stoplight at a busy intersection.
"Always," came Castle's casual reply.
Kate nodded, casting a sideways glance in his direction. "Are you ever attracted to a client?"
Castle tilted his head to look at her. "I know you're curious about my business," he said. "But… uh… I really can't discuss other clients. It would be unprofessional."
"Is it always women?"
Castle cocked his head towards her and raised his eyebrows in surprise. He looked at her like she was crazy. "Are you asking me if I'm gay for pay?" he inquired with a small grin, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement.
She could feel her cheeks flush as she averted her gaze, grateful for having the distraction of driving on the left side of the road to delay her response. "I don't know," she answered with a shrug. "Just wondering."
He gave her another long look, before glancing back out the side window. "Well, the answer is no," he said. "Though, I'm curious, would it bother you if I did?"
"No," Kate was quick to defend herself. She bit her lower lip and glanced at his amused expression. "Love is love."
"I couldn't agree more," Castle said with a warm smile, gazing at her with a tender expression. "I love… love."
Kate let out a little anxious laugh, and shook her head, desperately trying to ignore how the way he looked at her made her heart beat beneath her chest. He really was nothing like she'd expected. Despite being paid to act a certain way around her, Kate felt like all of their interactions were genuine. There was nothing fake about the way he looked at her. And that both amazed and scared her at the same time. Taking a deep breath, Kate concentrated on driving. At the next intersection, Kate turned the BMW to the left, crawling down a small street, which bustled with activity. Patrons of London's many pubs spilled out onto the pavement.
"So… um… what about testing?" Kate couldn't stop herself.
It took Castle a moment to realize what she was asking. He let out a light chuckle and relaxed back into his seat. "There's a guy on 81st and Madison," he explained. "You get your results in 24 hours." He paused and knitted his eyebrows together in a mild frown as he glanced over at her. "Do you make all your lovers get tested before you sleep with them?"
Kate nearly choked, completely caught off guard by the question. "No," she stammered out. "Trust me, I'm careful." Not that she'd really had much opportunity lately to get that far, but he didn't need to know that. She sighed, and readjusted her hold on the steering wheel, gazing out at the street signs, trying to locate the next turn.
"I love that you're asking questions," Castle asserted with a calm tone, as if the topic didn't make him as nervous as it did her. "But do you really want to get into all this?"
"This is awkward for me," Kate admitted after a beat, activating the blinker and maneuvering into an empty slot beside the curb. She put the car in park and turned off the engine. "Talking about it makes me feel better."
Castle nodded understandingly. He reached out and placed a gentle hand on her thigh, nearly making Kate jumped with start. She glanced down at his hand resting on her skirt-clad thigh. "Hey," he spoke in soft voice, waiting for her to look up at him. "Don't stop asking questions, okay?"
She inclined her head, swallowing past a sudden lump in her throat. "Okay."
Castle smiled at her, giving her thigh a comforting squeeze, before pulling back, unbuckling his seatbelt, and climbing out of the BMW. Kate leaned back against her seat, and released a breath, trying to regain control over her quickening pulse. Her heart pounded profoundly beneath her breast. She chewed on her lower lip and watched through the windshield as Castle jogged around the hood to her side of the car. He smiled at her and like a gentleman, opened the door for her, and offered a hand to help her climb out.
"Do you do this for all the girls?" she asked as she accepted his proffered hand, playing for light humor to distract from her previous anxious questions.
He smirked and shook his head. "I swear... I don't have a signature move. And it's not always about sex, Kate. It's about having a little understanding of what people need."
"Please," she replied with a mild scoff and an eye roll. "You're like the Yoda of escorts."
"A Star Wars joke," he chuckled. "I like it."
"Yeah, well, getting you on the phone was harder than getting into college," Kate continued as if he hadn't spoken.
"No," Castle said with a shake of his head, answering her unspoken question. "I don't play games. No gimmicks. It's way more…" His voice trailed off as he glanced up at the sky in search of an appropriate word.
"Subtle?" Kate supplied with a soft smile.
Castle gave a tentative nod. "It's not about me. It's about you."
It was then that Kate noticed just how close Castle was standing to her. Almost involuntarily her eyes flicked down to his lips before she could force them back up. Thankfully, her escort seemed not to notice.
"It's hard to explain," he said, oblivious of the restrained desire boiling beneath the surface of his client.
"Then show me," blurted Kate before she could stop herself. Her eyes went wide in shock at the suggestion, but before she could retract the challenge, Castle was smiling at her with a look that made her heart do flip-flops inside her chest.
"Are you sure?" he asked, shifting to lean against the side of the car, eyeing her suspiciously. "Didn't you say you found what I do 'morally repugnant'?"
Kate urgently snatched his wrist with her hand, her mouth spreading wide, all teeth and gum in a delighted smile at his sense of humor. She honestly couldn't remember the last time a man made her smile like this.
"Oh, come on, Castle… show me," she coaxed, biting her lower lip as she gazed up at him from behind her eyelashes.
Castle pursed his lips and glanced around, checking to see if they were alone on the street. Kate furrowed her brow, thinking he was about to chicken out and decline her challenge, when suddenly he was pushing her up against the side of the car. It was a gentle movement, but firm. She let out a little startled gasp, breathing in sharply from the power of it. Such power. Attractive power.
"Close your eyes," he instructed in a smooth, hauntingly commanding voice.
Kate pursed her lips nervously, her gaze flirting around to double-check the absence of an audience. Castle moved in closer, raising a hand to cup her cheek, guiding her eyes back to his.
"Close your eyes," he repeated, softer this time, yet still very firm and commanding. His piercing gaze was hypnotizing, and Kate swallowed past a suddenly lump in her throat, feeling the power of his magnetism. His thumb gently caressed her cheek, as he once again repeated his instruction.
Kate hesitated but a moment before acquiescing, not sure why she put so much trust in this man she still barely knew. Castle leaned in closer, and her heart quickened at the feel of his warm breath against her cheek as he whispered into her ear with an almost hypnotic intensity.
"I'm not going to kiss you," he asserted. "You can relax. You're safe."
She believed him. She trusted his statements as fact. Castle palmed her cheek, slowly tilting her head to the left. Her breath grew heavy as she felt his lips barely touch her skin as they moved across the contours of her face. It was incredibly intimate. His mouth hovered over hers, but their lips never touched. They simply breathed each other in. And it was intoxicating. So primal and raw.
"I'm not going to kiss you," he repeated, voice barely above a whisper. "Trust me. All you have to do is listen to my voice."
Almost without her knowledge, Kate felt her body start to relax. Slowly, she slumped back against the car, freely giving herself over to Castle, trusting herself in his hands. His left hand came up to lightly brush up her side, leaving gooseflesh in its wake, making her quiver with anticipation.
"He's going to be so sorry he let you go," Castle murmured, his lips slowly moving across her forehead. "So… stop worrying." His left hand slowly glided up to caress the shoulder and neck. Kate unconsciously turned her head, granting him access as he dipped his head down, nuzzling his nose against the soft skin of her throat. Her mouth dropped on a silent sigh as her head lolled back against the car. "Forget the past," he breathed out against her neck, warm and enticing. "Forget the pain."
His other hand lightly grasped her hip as he leaned in closer. Her lungs filled with air, and she felt his chest hovering over hers. Her breath stuttered as his hand gently squeezed her waist. He brushed his nose against her pulse point, his breath heavy and sensual.
"And remember," he crooned quietly, "what an extraordinary woman you truly are." His fingertips danced up the column of her throat, brushing along her chin, tilting her head just enough to allow their lips to barely touch once again. "When you do, he'll see you the way I see you, and, in that moment, he'll finally understand what he lost."
He ran his hand down her cheek, the pad of his thumb tenderly brushing over her beauty mark. "But by then, the amazing thing is… you won't care," Castle finished. He gently coaxed her chin up towards him, and smoothed his palm down her throat and shoulder, before he released her and stepped back.
Kate let out a shuddering breath, her insides feeling all warm and wanting. Gradually, she flirted her eyes open to stare up at Castle, amazed and incredibly aroused. She felt a little off balance. Never in her life had she felt more wanted or desired than in that moment. Castle's piercing blue eyes seemed to stare directly into her soul, making her feel naked in front of him. Yet instead of feeling vulnerable or embarrassed, she felt powerful and more alive than she'd ever felt before. The feeling was intoxicating, like nothing she'd ever experienced.
"Holy crap," Kate gasped out, still a little dazed as she worked at regaining her breath and calming down her pulsing heart. "You're worth every penny."
Castle offered her a half smile, his eyes alight with an affectionate tint that straddled some invisible line that was not to be crossed, but Kate didn't care. She closed her eyes again, and relaxed against the side of the BMW as Castle rolled back away form her to further the distance between them.
"You should get going," he said in soft voice, still smooth and suave. "Maddie is probably wondering where you are."
"Yeah," she sighed out, still thrown off by aroused she was. "Yeah. You're right."
She tentatively pushed herself off from the side of the car and took two little steps forward, before faltering slightly. She placed a hand over her abdomen as she took a moment to catch her balance. God… it was almost like she'd just had the best sex in her entire life. She shook her head, both confused and deliriously thrilled at the notion. Castle reached out and placed a gentle hand on her arm to steady her.
"Easy there," he said in a quietly amused voice.
"Yeah, yeah," she huffed out, trying to lighten the mood with a laugh while she dug the keys to the BMW out of her purse and tossing them to him. "Okay, Yoda. I'm going."
Balance restored, Kate arched her neck and glanced at Castle before she dragged her eyes away from his. Wearing an almost dopey look of pleasure, she subtly attempted to adjust her underwear, and stumbled towards the pub as a sly smile crept across her face. She had never been more pleased that Lanie had been right about this trip helping her get out of the doldrums of her workaholic lifestyle and nonexistent personal life.
Yes. It was just what she needed.
And, perhaps, so was Rick Castle.
