A/N: Once again, gratitude to Kylie for the beta. And to you guys, for reading. Your response to this story makes me so, so happy! Two more chapters after this one. x


"Are we really going back?" Castle asked, and Kate turned from where she was kneeling; her efforts to pack up the tent interrupted for what seemed like the hundredth time this morning.

"Unless you want to learn to fish, yeah. Except for a few snacks, we're out of food."

At the mention of snacks, Castle visibly brightened, grinning as he sat down on the ground beside her, stuffing his sleeping bag into his pack with renewed speed. "There were still cookies left at the cabin, right?"

"Of the dozens you made? Yes."

"Well what are we waiting for? Let's get back there!"

"Uh-huh." She folded the tent once more, sliding it into its bag, and handing it over to Castle. "Can you carry this?"

He nodded, gazing happily at it for a moment before strapping it to the outside of his backpack. "I really like this tent," he proclaimed, and she chuckled.

"Oh yeah? Or do you just like what we did in the tent this morning?"

"Well, that too," he agreed, releasing his hold on it before he could finish fastening it to his bag, and leaning over to press a gentle kiss to Kate's mouth.

She dropped the sleeping mat she was rolling up almost unconsciously, letting her fingers entwine with his and returning the kiss, gently at first, but his lips had fused with hers, and she opened her mouth, allowing him entry, gasping as their chaste caress became heated. She protested though, as he started to lie her down on the ground, pushing him away before his hands could find their way beneath her shirt.

"I've already packed the blanket," she reminded him, half tempted regardless; if he pushed the point she knew she'd give in. Just a day, and she'd already become addicted to his touch.

"Don't need it," he grumbled, but he tore himself away from her, his eyes still dark with lust as he watched her wrestle with the mat. He looked away at last, attaching the tent securely before pulling his own pack onto his back and looking around to make sure they hadn't forgotten anything.

Kate grinned, standing and hefting her own bag onto her back. "Come on. Let's go."

He beamed excitedly, taking her hand. "Back to the cookies!"

"And the real shower," she reminded him.

He nodded, a dangerous smile on his face. "And the real bed."


"Thank you for planning all of this," Castle said, when the cabin came into view.

Kate bumped her hip into his with a chuckle. "I didn't plan everything, you know?"

Castle laughed. "Are you sure? Because I was under the impression you brought me out to the woods to seduce me."

"Yes, that's right," Kate teased sarcastically. "That was my plan from the beginning. Bring you out here to seduce you."

Castle smirked, reaching out for her hand and linking their fingers as they made their way up the path to the front door. "Well, for what it's worth, this was your best plan ever."

"Uh-huh." She shook her head, dumping her pack down on the ground once they were under the eaves. She fumbled around in the side pocket of her bag until she'd successfully found the keys and twisted them in the lock, forcing the door open and smiling at the sight of the familiar room.

"Home, sweet home," Castle commented, stepping over the threshold after her and casting a curious look at Kate's closed bedroom door.

"What?" she asked, following his gaze.

"Just wondered when I get the tour of Kate Beckett's girlhood room," he teased.

"Never," she said, but her actions betrayed her as she took a step toward him, closing the gap between them. "I have no intention of showing you anything."

"Really?" He raised an eyebrow, sliding a finger beneath the strap of her tank top and letting it slip down her arm, revealing her bra strap. He pushed that down too, his hand squeezing her shoulder for a second before replacing his hand with his mouth, his lips beginning their indecent descent to the delicate skin of her chest. "I think you've already shown me quite a lot, Kate Beckett," he murmured, and she smiled, arching her head back to allow him to nip at the base of her neck.

She let him walk her backwards until she was pressed up against the bedroom door and dropping her hand from where it had found purchase on his shirt, she reached around for the door handle, stumbling a little as the door swung open. A heady mix of adrenaline and arousal pumped through her system as she stepped into her bedroom, bringing Castle with her.

She took his hand, letting him walk her to the bed, and pull her down with him. He smiled down at her as he lay her on the covers, his hand pushing the loose strands of hair from her eyes and coming to rest lightly on her jaw.

She stared back at him, his blue eyes overwhelming, before darting her gaze to his mouth; God, she needed that mouth on her again, and she leaned in to kiss him, gasping when his fingers skimmed her waist and inhaling deeply as he broke the kiss to tug her shirt over her head.

He unhooked her bra slowly and deliberately and she blushed when she looked at it in his hands; no, she certainly hadn't planned this no matter what he said. In her ideal world, the first time Castle saw her underwear it would have been a sexy lace bra and matching thong, not the utilitarian bra she'd packed for a camping trip.

"You okay?" he asked and she shook her head, clearing the thought; no matter her underwear, their first time had been nothing if not memorable. Not to mention fantastic, and at that memory, she grinned.

"I was just thinking… our first time was in a tree house."

He chuckled. "I'm aware," he reminded her, his eyes darkening, and she shifted, letting him slide his leg between hers, welcoming the much needed pressure. Yeah. She smiled. He was aware alright, and she closed her eyes almost automatically as he shifted, his mouth hot on her breast and his tongue finding her nipple.


Kate swept her hand across Castle's chest, and he stirred, rolling and throwing an arm around her, but he didn't open his eyes. That settled that, then; apparently she wasn't going anywhere. A shower would have to wait. She reached for the book on the nightstand, nestling into Castle's embrace and flipping through the paperback to where her bookmark held her place.

"One of mine?" Castle asked, the sound of pages turning apparently rousing him, though his eyes remained closed.

"Yes. I'm re-reading page one hundred and five for comparative purposes," she told him, deadpan, grinning as his eyes flew open and he grabbed the book from her hands.

"Aw, it's just The girl with the dragon tattoo," he complained, and she wrenched it from his grasp.

"You're too easy," she laughed, swiping at him and reopening it.

"Is this how you usually read?" he asked. "You know, for future reference? So I can picture it later, if I need to?"

"What, in bed with my boyfriend?" she asked, freezing as the word spilled from her lips. Damn. It was one thing to accept that this thing between them was something, but to name him her boyfriend- she clenched her teeth, wishing she could undo it and snatch the word back.

Castle paused a beat too, before recovering. "Uh- no. I mean, do you usually read naked."

Kate smirked. "Mostly, Castle? I read in the bath." She watched with satisfaction as his jaw dropped, before returning her eyes to the page; smiling at the heat in his gaze as he stared at her.