A/n. And here is the final chapter. Fair warning. It definitely is M rated. I hope you have enjoyed my story as much as I have had a pleasure writing it. Thank you to my wonderful and insightful betas PenguinOfTroy, Trinxy and Dave-ck. Is it Monday yet?
Disclaimer. Thank you, Mr Marlowe and Terri for creating them. I want Monday now!
Red
Chapter 9
The sharp intake of her breath resonated in the room. Rick's fingers tightened around hers almost to the point of pain. He feared she would let go of his hand. She took a few hesitant steps towards the murder board and stopped right in front of it. Her palm remained in his. A lifeline. For both of them.
She stood there for a few heartbeats, lifted her hand and with a swipe of her fingertip shocked the murder board to life. Rick could see the reflection of it in her eyes that were rapidly taking in all the information that he had gathered. Her expression changed at a rapid pace. Shock, surprise, inquiry, confusion. Her soft lips moved silently going over the facts, a perfect eyebrow rose, she didn't even blink. Her delicate fingers traced the photos, the letters and the numbers. Her gaze lingered on the photo of her mother and a heavy sigh escaped from her lips.
Time dragged for him at a snail's pace, though probably it didn't take her very long to skim over the information laid out before her. When she was done she lowered her arm and turned towards him. Her gaze was guarded. He couldn't tell if she was angry or hurt. When their eyes connected the silent plea for an explanation was evident in her green orbs.
"A man contacted me when you came back to work after your shooting, telling me that I had to keep you away from investigating it or else the next bullet would not miss. Montgomery had forwarded him some files that held information valuable enough to keep you alive, but you had to step back and let it go. Mr Smith is the name, but I don't know much about him. That is why I asked you to stop digging … for now. I had to protect you, seeing you hurt again will finish me. I can't experience anything like that ever again." He closed his eyes for a brief second, pushing back the memories of the event.
"After our talk on the swings .. I knew you needed closure. And the wall, I want that wall gone so badly. I want to help you knock it all down. You said yourself, you need to know who is behind all of this. But the warning mr Smith gave me was loud and clear. Either you stay away from the investigation or they put another bullet in you, and this time they'll make sure they don't miss. So I convinced you to let it rest for now. I decided that I would continue investigating in the shadows. I have been gathering information here and there. Little tidbits. It's not much and it is definitely not enough to bring them down. Just a few small steps closer to whoever is behind all of this." He ended his monologue and turned his face from the screen face her.
She took in all that he was saying. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and bit down.
"Why didn't you tell me, Rick?" The lack of anger in her voice surprised him.
He sighed. "At first, you just were not ready. If I'd told you when you came back to work, you would have just jumped right in and there would have been no way of pulling you back. You were to vulnerable and I couldn't let you go down that rabbit hole again. I know how much you want the bastards to pay, but I simply can't let you do it when it would most likely kill you. Why I've kept it to myself all this time? To protect you. I can't lose you. No matter what." He applied gentle pressure of reassurance to her fingers.
"I thought you'd be angry, Kate, for keeping this a secret," his tone was hesitant.
She shrugged and answered "Honestly, I just don't have it in me anymore. Anger, I'm all out of that. I … I understand where you're coming from, and I understand your reasons, Rick." She squeezed her fingers around his hand tighter, pleading for him to understand. "From now on though, no more secrets. I promise not to jump into things, but you tell me everything there is to know. We do this together." She paused and continued in a low voice, almost a whisper, "I know we will put it to rest. With time."
"Thank you, Kate," he sighed in relief.
She looked down at the tiny remote in her hand, pointed it at the murder board and with a click shut it off.
The darkened screen signified the finishing touch to their mutual catharsis.
She raised her eyes to meet his, deep green meeting blue. Their eyes spoke volumes. They both knew that the moment they had been craving for so long, since the very beginning if they were being truly honest, had finally arrived. The heat and electricity flowing between them was almost tangible. The air rose in temperature.
Even though the only contact they had with each other was through their clasped hands, it was enough to set their skin on fire. Rick pulled her closer. She came willingly. Their breathing quickened in unison. The close proximity increased their heartbeats and they could feel blood surging faster through their veins.
Rick placed his warm hand on her hip and slid it around to settle on her lower back. The move brought them a lot closer. Feeling the contours of her body under his fingertips elated him.
Finally.
He was touching her.
Even this small amount of contact through layers of clothing was enough for his groin to tighten and skin to flush. He felt her tremble. The faint vibration made his mind spin. The hitch in her breath was a sign that she was affected by this just as much. The faint smell of her shampoo - or was it the body lotion - entered his senses. He buried his face in her hair inhaling deeply. Her scent, her heat, the feel of her body replaced any other rational thought in his mind.
She was intoxicating. Like a drug, the best drug a man could ever get his hands on.
Kate could feel his warm breath tickling her neck and the sensitive area behind her ear. Goosebumps rose on her body sending a tremble down through her arms and legs. He was smelling her, she knew. She tilted her head to give him more access which he readily used sliding his nose from behind her ear down to her collarbone inhaling deeply.
She didn't even know when her palm had landed on his chest. The firm muscles felt wonderful, so strong and powerful. She could feel his stubble scrape her neck. The sensation sent a signal straight to her fingers which grasped his shirt firmly as she needed to ground herself somehow. She doubted she had ever felt like this. No man had ever made her tremble with need.
They let go of their clasped hands simultaneously. They no longer needed that connection as they had cleared all the obstacles keeping them apart. It was time to let their hands touch, feel and explore. Hers went to the back of his neck, his tangled in the locks of her hair. He reluctantly pulled his face away from that sweet, warm spot where her neck met the shoulder and lifted his head to reconnect his gaze with hers. The smouldering heat radiating from from their eyes shocked them both. But the love shining though, finally out in the open, undid them. An invisible force pulled their faces closer together. Breaths mingled, eyes slid shut in unison.
No going back now.
They froze when their lips were about to touch, parted, panting. So close. They just needed a second. A pause to deliberate and remember the before and the after.
The lightest touch of their lips and they were gone.
That first initial spark, that first contact was all that was needed for the floodgates to open. A deep guttural moan reverberated from Rick's chest and he planted his mouth over hers. She moaned, pressed herself impossibly closer and ran her tongue across his bottom lip. He captured her bottom lip with his teeth nipping lightly and soothed the sore by taking the offended lip between his and sucking on it.
They sighed as if a heavy weight had been lifted off their shoulders.
Their mouths fought for dominance but somehow it worked. Tongues slid against each other, lips pulled and tugged. His hand sneaked its way under her sweater. He dragged his fingertips up and down the smooth planes of her back. She arched her back under his touch but never let go of his mouth that was currently stealing all her air. But she couldn't care less. The lack of oxygen made her dizzy, his mouth made her weak in the knees, his hands spread lava wherever they touched her. She'd longed to run her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck for so long and now she was finally doing it. She scratched his scalp and felt him shiver.
"More," she breathed into his mouth.
His response was instant. He tightened the hold on her waist and lifted her up. Her legs went around his hips instinctively placing her right on top of his hardness. He spun them around and slammed her body against the door of the study never stopping, devouring and exploring every corner of her mouth. She couldn't believe that the growl came from her. She sounded almost animalistic. Her arms were now wrapped tightly around his neck and their hips started creating a rhythm of their own.
He couldn't believe they were still fully clothed. That had to be remedied this instant. He needed to feel her skin under his fingertips. Needed her bare against him. He pinned her to the door with his lower body and slid both of his arms under her sweater raising it upwards and revealing the smooth expanse of her stomach. Her muscles tensed under his hands.
He gave her a small peck and let go of her lips. The loss of contact was almost painful.
They took in gulps of oxygen.
He grabbed the hem of the sweater and yanked it upwards over her head dislodging her arms from around his neck. The garment soared through the air and landed somewhere behind him while her hair tumbled down her shoulders in soft waves. Rick couldn't tear his eyes from her. She was perfect. The muted light of the study cast shadows across her features while illuminating her eyes. He saw the desire and love shining through.
"You are stunning, absolutely stunning, I've never in my life seen anyone as perfect as you, Kate", he confessed.
He simply couldn't believe that there she was, pinned against the door of his office, with fire in her eyes, her chest heaving with laboured breathing their kissing had created, with her legs wrapped tightly around his hips and her hot center radiating heat over his hardness.
He leaned back slightly and slowly slid his gaze down her exquisite long neck, over the delicate line of her collarbone, down the front of her chest. The bra covering her breasts was black, smooth and shiny. His fingers itched to free her from it.
And then he saw it. The place where the bullet had entered her body. He put his arms under her ass and lifted her higher. He leaned forward and placed his ear over her heart and listened to its frantic beat for a few moments relishing in the sound, reaffirming her being alive.
"I'm here, Rick, with you, right here, and I'm never leaving," she whispered while stroking the side of his face. She felt his jaw slide against her sensitive skin and then his lips placed a gentle kiss on the scar tissue. He stayed there for a second and suddenly she felt him bite the side of her right breast gently, he soothed the pain with a lick of his tongue and then pulled a generous amount of skin in his mouth and sucked.
"Are you giving me a hickey, Richard Castle?" Her laughter echoed around them. She felt his answering grin against her breast.
His fingers maped her ribs, making her gasp. They traveled across her side and around to the middle of her back where he nimbly undid the clasp of her bra and then slid a strap down her shoulder. He removed the bra and it joined her sweater on the floor somewhere. His mouth found its new target instantly, warm lips wrapped around her nipple and tugged. She threw her head back and moaned, electricity sparked from the tip of her breast straight to her core. Dampness pooled in her underwear, and she thrust her hips against his. He sucked and pulled, teased her sensitive flesh until she was thrashing against him needily. Her hands roamed his wide shoulders and tugged at his shirt, silently begging to feel his heated flesh. She dragged his head up towards her mouth and kissed him with all that she was worth. Their mutual groans, sighs and the wet noises of their mouths dancing together filled the room.
"Please," she begged right into his mouth. "Please, less clothing. I need you."
The kiss he gave her then was tender and slow. Rick eased her legs down, so she was standing again. He traced the line of her cheek with his lips and whispered, "Follow me."
He laced his fingers through hers and started walking backwards while placing open mouthed kisses on her cheek, behind her ear, tasted the pulse on her neck. His steps were deliberate and sure. He knew where he was going. He was drawing circles on her bare back. Up and down, creating intricate patterns. She loved his hands and now the tools of his trade were writing on her skin.
Her fingers were busy trying to unbutton his shirt. Not an easy task as the high coursing through her made her feel sluggish. She managed to get the damn shirt open and finally her hands could slide over the tightness of his chest and stomach.
She dragged her nails over his pectorals. The slight stumble in his steps made her grin. He was so wide and manly, she moved up to his shoulders and slid the shirt down his arms smoothing over the muscles and tendons until she passed his hands and fingers. The shirt soon pooled on the floor forgotten under their feet. Their upper bodies glued themselves together. Her breasts flattened against his broad chest while one of his hands slid up to pull at her hair and the other to palm her ass.
His knowledge of the layout of his home brought them to the entry of his bedroom. The dimmed light of his study only partly penetrated the darkness the room that lay beyond. Rick continued walking, they stepped over the threshold and were soon engulfed in the darkness which only enhanced their senses. The sounds coming deep from within them seemed a lot louder now, the touches smoldering, the kisses deeper. The air was vibrating around them.
They reached for each others belts at the same time, the movements quick and efficient, knowing their target was just out of reach.
He was faster. He worked the zipper of her pants down, his knuckles pressing intimately into her. He could feel the heat radiating from her most intimate of places. He traced the edge of her underwear and slid a finger just underneath, her muscles tensed and she took a shaky breath.
The anticipation was killing her. His movements distracted her to the point of almost forgetting her own task of getting him out of his clothes. But the hardness pressing against her hand jolted her back to awareness and she resumed on working open his belt and the button of his pants. As soon as there was enough room she plunged her hand inside and wrapped it around his erection. He gasped and growled into her mouth. The sensation of her delicate hand on him almost undid him. He roughly pulled her roaming fingers away, eased first hers and then his own pants down, taking their underwear with them.
Time stood still. Finally no barriers between them. No secrets, no lies, no flimsy pieces of fabric. Just love, desire, need.
In a blink of an eye they were back on each other. Mouths connected, hands caressed flushed skin. Bodies molded together slick with perspiration, a hot blaze surrounded the two.
Rick lowered her delicately on his bed. Her head hit a soft pillow and the cool sheets underneath shocked her inflamed, sensitive skin. But only momentarily as mere seconds later his body followed and settled on top of hers.
He trailed a row of kisses and nibbles down her neck, her collarbone, bit her nipples. His tongue left a slick line across her abdomen and damn him, he left another hickey on her hip. She bit her lip trying to hold in a bubble of laughter. The giggle died in her throat when she felt his fingers slide between her thighs and apply pressure to her bundle of nerves. Her eyes slid shut and a deep moan escaped through her lips. She bucked her hips upwards seeking more contact.
He couldn't think. He could smell her, could feel her wetness on his fingers, could feel her quivering under his touch. He wanted to taste her so badly. But next thing he knew, her hand had stilled his fingers and was dragging it up her body. He followed willingly slightly confused.
"Plenty opportunities for that later, Rick," she breathed. "Now I need you to make love to me."
His body pressed her deeper into the soft bed underneath her back, his breath whispered against her parted lips. She tried to catch his mouth with her own, but he evaded her skillfully and moved to scrape his teeth across the line of her jaw.
She moaned.
He was twisting and applying pressure to her nipple making her push her breast into his hand. He followed the smooth line of her side, skimmed his fingertips over her hipbone, palmed her slender, quivering thigh. Hooking his fingers behind her knee he urged her to move her leg up and around his hip. She placed her heel on his backside and pulled him in. He sank without hesitation. His erection pressed intimately against her dripping core. They groaned at the same time. His hands slid under her hips and applied pressure grinding their bodies together.
She wound her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a searing kiss. She nibbled on his cheek, loving the feel of his rough stubble against her lapping tongue, grazed the outline of his ear with her lips.
"Now, please, Rick. Now. I love you. I need you. Now," her plea penetrated his brain loud and clear.
That last syllable had barely left her lips when he was already rising her other leg over his hip. He rose up on his elbows, looked deeply into her eyes that shined full with love and lust in the darkness of his bedroom. He finally had her where he wanted her. After all this time.
Rick positioned himself at the entry of her slick folds and with a heated "I love you, Kate" slid inside.
What followed next was almost too difficult to describe.
The profound sense of fulfillment and contentment took over. Her tightness engulfed him. His hardness put pressure on all the right places. They completed each other.
They both knew they were not going to last long this very first time. Their lovemaking was fast and passionate. The world around them ceased to exist. It was just the two of them, their love and their connection. There was no stopping now, most basic of needs took over and the speed increased. Tension was building with every thrust, muscles tightened in anticipation, getting ready for that final release of energy. Her legs tightened their hold around his hips, her back arched in preparation. Their lips brushed frantically, incapable to fully latch on, but it was enough, the slight brushes, the deep moans and pants mingling.
She could feel impossible heat building at the base of her belly and spine. Her vision blackened and it became difficult to suck in air.
"Please, please, more …," she rasped.
One more hard thrust and she was soaring. Her nails dug into his back and she clung to him for dear life. Stars exploded behind her eyelids. She was gone.
As soon as he felt her muscles clench around him in her ecstasy, he was done. His conscious mind left him and all that was left was the feel of them joined intimately and disappearing into the abyss of pleasure.
Minutes or was it hours later, they lay tangled in the sheets of his bed spent. He was on his back, she was glued to his side with her head resting on his shoulder. Their limbs tangled together fitting perfectly, fingers stroked bare skin gently, soothing and calming.
They were at peace. All that had been there to be confessed and revealed was left behind them. A new beginning, new challenges, more stories to be told lay in the future.
Except there was one difference.
They would do it together now.
The end.
End notes. I have had so much fun writing this. Seeing how this was the first time I've written any kind of story, especially fan fiction, it has been very exciting and interesting to be on the other side of the fence (as in – the writer, not the reader). The story of this Tv show is inspirational enough to bring out the writer in me. Thank you again for reading. And leave a review! Thanks! Foox
