Back to Where We Have Never Been
Disclaimer: I don't own Castle, any of it's characters or Love, Actually. It is one of my favorite movies, though. Just wanted to throw that out there.
A/N: So, I apologize for the delay in updates, but here is chapter 10. It's a shorty, but don't you worry, things are going to be getting very interesting very soon. ;)
Thank you again for all of your awesome support and reviews. I am so happy you are enjoying this story. If you are new and just getting caught up, welcome!
Chapter 10
Kate begged off after lunch, leaving Castle to get ready for his dinner with Ashley's parents. She wandered the city for a couple of hours, finding herself staring at a painting that could either be extremely innovative and moving art, or a five year-olds scribbling with finger paint, as she sat on a bench in the museum of modern art. She couldn't decide which.
That was one thing she missed about Europe: the art. It was everywhere. You could just wander through displays in the street, exhibits in parks. Museums, galleries, street artists.
She brought a hand up to run through her hair and let her mind wander back to the last week.
Richard Castle. Columbia. Stanford. Russia. Mark.
She could feel her heart beat begin to rise as she chest constricted. She sucked in a deep breath and pushed herself up off of the bench. Too much. It was too much. She reached down, grabbing her purse and flung it over her shoulder. Her phone started to vibrate as she made her way towards the exit and she reached in to pull it out.
A picture flashed onto the screen and she couldn't help but quirk her lips.
"Yes?" She spoke into the receiver, the small smile still playing at her lips.
"Knight Light?"
She forced her lips into a firm line and worked to suppress the laughter bubbling up into her chest.
"No."
"Why?" His voice came out in a childish whine and she could imagine him standing barefoot in the kitchen a wooden spoon in one hand as he tried to perfect whatever dish he was trying to prepare for the evening.
"Because, it is asinine."
"Asinine? Really? Are you trying to show me up with your sophisticated vocabulary? Well two can play this game. I will find the quintessential designation for this epic narrative."
Kate let out a small chuckle as a click sounded from the other end of the line and she let the phone fall to her side. She made her way down the sidewalk, shaking her head in humor and disbelief. The little voice in the back of her head was nagging at her again; she shouldn't be doing this. She should tell him that she wouldn't be coming back and just go her separate way.
The phone vibrated again and she shook her head, swiping her thumb over the screen and lifting the phone to her ear without a second thought.
"Okay, Mr. Big Time Writer, what you got for me this time?"
"Knight Rider."
"Taken."
"Knight's Tale?"
"Too cliché. Come on Castle, you want something smart and witty. Call me when you think of it."
Kate shook her head as she hit the end button and her mind wandered to the story of Knight and Rook. She was itching to read the next chapters, even though she would never admit it. The banter between them, the tension, had been apparent since the first scene together. It wasn't a matter of if they were going to get together, but when. Despite the protests, the outside forces, the connection was there. Castle had written it beautifully, the underlying currents, the beginning to an epic love story hidden within the layers of a pop-fiction thriller.
Kate paused as she wandered out of the kitchen with a glass of water in one hand and her Kindle in the other. Her parents were out to dinner, some event for the office, which Kate had willingly begged out of. So, she found herself alone, in the dark apartment staring at the shelf of glossy hardbacks staring up at her. Her eyes swiveled to glance around the quiet room as she pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth and rocked slightly on the balls of her feet, bouncing up and down a couple of times before taking a hesitant step forward. No one was home. No one had to know.
She took another step forward and paused again, glancing down at the electronic stack of books in her hand. She rolled her foot around in circle, letting it dance on the floor as she stood in place, her nervous energy making its way out through her big toe. She pursed her lips, her nose crinkling up as her internal battle raged. Her mind wandered to the books on economic theory, which were still in the plastic bag beside her bed. She had more options, better options, more academically acceptable options. She let out a huff and took the last few purposeful steps to the shelf, pulling a random volume out and stalked back towards her room with it resting in the crook of her arm.
Her fingers traced over the cover of Storm Warning letting them run over the ridges of letters on the cover, bold colors shining back at her. Black, red, blue, green. Hard colors: manly. Her mind wandered briefly to how the cover for Jade Knight's first book would look. Would it still be the deep bold colors? Would it be green? Would it be more feminine? A small smile flittered over her lips as she traced the smaller letters reading Richard Castle. She couldn't see him doing that. Knight was going to be a badass; she deserved badass colors and an even better title.
Castle was listening with half an ear as Ashley's father, Colin, as he rambled on about something related to the economy. His mind kept wandering. Colin. He suppressed a smirk. He couldn't help but think: Hello, I'm Colin, god of sex.
He let out a soft snort and felt Alexis's foot connect with his shin as she pinned him with a look.
Castle shifted in his seat, suppressing a pout as he gave a polite smile to the couple sitting across from him. Kate would have appreciated his humor, not that he would ever admit to her that he would watch Love, Actually curled up under a blanket with a bowl of popcorn. She had already accused him of being metrosexual, he didn't need to add anymore ammunition to her teasing fire. Not that being metrosexual was a bad thing, he appreciated being clean and well groomed. Sometimes a pedicure was nice, and who didn't like smooth feet, really?
He briefly wondered if Mark got pedicures. He snorted softly and he felt Alexis's foot connect harder with his shin as Colin stopped talking to look up at him.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Castle stated. "I have something stuck in my throat."
Colin nodded slightly before lifting his glass to his lips and starting on a new topic. "So, Ashley and Alexis tell me you've been collaborating with Katherine Beckett on a new novel?"
Castle started slightly. "You know, Kate?"
Ashley's father nodded slightly, bringing his napkin up from his mouth to dab at his lips. "We've met a time or two. I've been collaborating with Dr. Alexander on a couple of different projects. Ashley was so disappointed to hear that he was going to be staying in Russia. I was slightly surprised, too. He loves California. He told me earlier this year that he was only taking the summer appointment to spend time with Kate. She's the one that wanted to go to Russia in the first place. I'd bet you he's staying there for her, also."
Castle stiffened in his seat and his head turned slightly to meet Alexis's eye. The girl gave him a knowing look and Castle looked away.
"So, Colin," he turned back to the other man with a smile, "What is your take on deficit spending in an economic downturn?"
Kate looked down as her phone chirped.
Darkest Knight?
She let out a small smile and glanced back at the book lying in her lap. She had been reading for hours, allowing herself to get caught up in the story of Derrick Storm and Clara Strike.
Too depressing. She replied before putting her phone back down and picking up the book once more, finding her place as her phone chirped again.
You coming by tomorrow?
She looked at the words for a moment. Her gaze flickered to the top of the screen, which boasted a missed call, several in fact. Not missed, so much as ignored. She sighed and let her fingers tap on the screen, writing out her answer.
Not tomorrow. I'll be there Monday.
She needed a day to herself. She sighed and picked back up the book, letting herself fall back into the world of Derrick Storm.
Kate let out a low moan, deep in her throat as he climbed on top of her and her back pressed into the soft warm leather cushion of the couch. His hands were inching up under her shirt as their lips duel, their tongues battling in a frenzied dance. One of her hands came up to run through his hair and her knees came up to cradle him against her body.
His thumb glanced over her ribs and her body arched up to meet him.
They had been battling over titles and character names for hours. She had taken up residence on his couch, sprawled out with her head resting on one arm and her legs falling over the other. She wasn't even sure how it happened. One moment they were arguing, the next he was leaning down over her to make his point and his mouth was fused to hers.
It was so wrong, but it felt so right as his hand inched farther and farther north, his fingers grazing the fabric covering the bottom of her breast and hers traveling up the plain of his back, fingers teasing the taunt strands of his muscles.
"Kate, I love you," his voice whispered in her ear, but the voice wasn't his.
Kate opened her eyes to find Mark staring back down at her.
"What are you doing Kate? I love you, why are you doing this to me?"
Kate's body jerked up in bed, her eyes flying open as her chest heaved. She looked around, her hair flying wildly as she blinked in the dark room.
6:23am. Sunday. Alone.
She slumped back against the pillow, hands covering her face as she struggled to slow her breathing.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me," she groaned into her palms as she blew out a sigh.
She glanced at the clock again. 6:25am.
It was time for a run.