Chapter 10: Desire
After conducting an extensive search, Richard Castle enters the break room to find Kate Beckett sitting at a table; file folder open, its contents spread out before her.
"Are you going to ignore me all day?" he says pouting, moving to stand beside her.
Kate Beckett looks up from her mug, "I don't know what you're talking about." Her eyes flutter for a moment, returning to the file. She takes a sip of the hot liquid.
"I'm talking about you running off without me. About you ignoring my input."
Kate swallows the liquid and looks up slowly. Cocking a single eyebrow she stares at him. "I'm sorry, Detective Castle. Did you have something to say regarding the case?"
Castle points in her direction waving a finger. "See? Now you're just being mean."
She smiles and leans back in her chair. "Am I hurting your feelings, Rick?"
"You are," he says flatly.
"I'll remember that next time I give a damn."
She reaches out bringing the mug to her lips again slowly, the smile still held on her lips. She looks into the mug and seeing it vacant pushes her chair back to stand.
His hands are on her shoulders quickly, turning her, pushing her back against the table. "Ok. Forget what I said before," he says. "Now you're really being mean."
"Castle," she says through clenched teeth. She twists her shoulders in his grasp. "Let me go."
"No," he says, moving, shortening the gap between them.
"No?" She looks up into his eyes.
"No."
"And why not?" she questions.
He shifts in his stance, drawing near so that way he may lower his hands to her hips. "I'm not letting you go until you tell me something."
She looks down from his eyes, sights set on his lips. "Tell you what exactly?"
"I think you need to tell me what you're so afraid of."
She smiles in front of him, rocks slightly on her heels. "I'm not afraid of anything Castle."
He scoffs slightly. "That's a load of crap and you know it."
She draws in a short breath, pursing her lips together. She looks over his shoulders. "Let me go, Castle."
He takes the opportunity to move his fingers on the fabric of her pants, slipping a thumb into the belt lugs at her hips.
"We both know you can get yourself out of this predicament with the slightest of ease." He smiles, leaning in toward her so she may feel the warmth of his breath. "But you won't."
Her face falls now, unable to force any emotion.
"So tell me, Detective," he says, rocking her slightly in his grasp. "What are you afraid of?"
"Nothing." She manages in a hoarse whisper.
"Nothing?"
And still staring at his mouth, she answers, "That's what I said."
He takes the moment allotted to him, leaning down to press his lips against hers and slowly draws in breath. Willing his heart to keep from racing, he moves his lips gently.
It is a moment before she answers him, the heat from their previous encounter returning fully to flush her cheeks, sending twinges to her middle. She inhales shakily, moving her lips in unison with his, accepting his tongue as it slides easily into her mouth. She greets him, suckling, the slight scratchiness of his scruff tingling on her lips. His hand moves to draw her into his body, pulling her close enough to feel his excitement. Desire throbbing within her, she breathes out against his mouth, causing him to smile against her lips.
A hand reaches up to grab the base of his hair line, and she attempts to lift herself on him, forgetting all reason, the environment she finds herself in. Castle's hands reach down to cup her and he lifts her onto the table.
World threatening to blacken at the sensation within her, she jumps up startled as an officer walks by in the corridor.
"Shit," she breathes out, turning to feverishly collect the papers on the table. She quickly places them in the folder.
He reaches out, missing her hand by inches as she walks from him, leaving him panting, willing his breathing to subside.
"Damn this place," he curses, taking long strides after her.