Apologies. I accidently uploaded the original chapter form Lore which this is a follow-up to. Oops.

When we last left Castle and Beckett in "Lore", Castle was having problems "getting in the mood"; afraid their new dog Sherlock was listening in.

She was having the best dream ever. Castle was making love to her, in some perfect, peaceful corner of the universe and it was amazing. She woke moments from release and sobbed in frustration. She grinned when she looked up and saw him next to her, albeit sleeping soundly.

She rolled over and planted soft kisses all over his face, coaxing him awake. He stirred, eyes blinking open, and fell easily into her arms, kissing her back, as if by reflex.

Her hand slipped down to find him hot, hard and ready -

Woof!

Castle froze.

Dammit, thought Beckett as she felt him soften instantly in her hand. So close.

"Castle."

He took a deep breath.

"Castle, he's a dog,. Dog's bark. Don't worry about it."

"I'm sorry, Kate,"

"No, stop it, Castle. Stop saying sorry. You need to grow up. This is ridiculous. You're in an adult relationship and one of your duties is to make sure your partner is sexually satisfied."

"Well, can't you take care of yourself?"

She glared at him.

"Hey, I'm not a piece of meat you can just... fry up whenever your horny, Kate."

She shook her head incredulously.

"You think that's what this is? Yes, of course, I can take care of myself – but that's not all I need. Castle, I can't give myself intimacy. I can't make myself feel the way you make me feel. I was dreaming about you. About us. And then I woke up and you were here and – Castle, I need you."

Castle let out a heavy sigh. "You need me?" he said in a deep throaty voice.

"Always," said Beckett.

"And you need intimacy?"

"Yes."
He nodded slowly. "Ok."

She sighed, exasperated. "You know what? If it's such a chore for you, don't worry about it."

"No, it's never a chore, Kate. Look, I may not be able to be there for you in the way I want to, and I can't pretend that isn't a blow to my ego, but it doesn't mean I can't still be there for you in other ways." He rested his forehead against hers and stared into her eyes as he reached her core, moving his fingers in soft,circular motions.

She let out a soft whimper and he smiled, speeding up slightly.

The repeated, vigorous motions of his hand had her back arching into his touch, all the while her eyes staying transfixed on his.

"Yes, Castle," she breathed. "God, yes. Mmm!"

One of her hands came up to grip at his shoulder as she came, his name softly falling from her lips as she shuddered, a soft tingle and goose bumps encasing her body. He slowed the movement of his fingers, eventually stopping when she kissed him.

"Good?'' he enquired afterwards.

"Mm, very good," she replied smiling hazily, reaching down to find him at half-mast and getting harder. "Time to repay the favour,"

"I want to take you with me," he gasped.

"Fine by me," she grinned -

Woof!

She slumped down against him and groaned.

"Kate - "

"You know what? This is ridiculous."

She took him by the hand, dragged him out of bed and led him to the laundry, where Sherlock was sitting comfortably.

"Ok, I want to make it clear that I'm doing this purely for your benefit, Castle. Dogs can't talk, and they certainly can't understand more than a few basic commands and their own name. But you believe they can,and I don't want some piece of Christmas Lore to hold you back from what you deserve. And I don't want to get rid of the dog over something so stupid. No offence. But you are being stupid."

She turned to the dog.

"Sherlock, I have no sexual feelings towards you whatsoever, Not that you aren't a perfectly attractive dog, but you're still a dog. You're not my type. I only go for humans – and right now, one human in particular. And if that excellent hearing of yours wasn't a clue, he knows how to keep me satisfied. If you keep interrupting us, I'm gonna have to let you go, and I don't want to do that because I think we could be a family – but it's gonna be sort of weird if you're constantly trying to mount your own mother. So what do you say?"

He said nothing.

She turned back to Castle. "Well, I tried."

"No, Kate, I think you really got through to him."

She narrowed her eyebrows. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, look at him, I think he's sorry."

She looked at him. "He looks the same to me, Castle."

"Agree to disagree. Come on," he said, leading her out excitedly. "Let's do it doggy-style!"

Beckett rolled her eyes – but if he was this excited now, she wasn't going to complain – and she didn't. Quite the contrary. And from that day forward, they had no more disturbances form Sherlock the dog.