Disclaimer: No legitimate rights to Castle. Still doesn't stop me from loving them. Or admiring their work. :)
A/N: As always, thank you to Katie (the Lanie to my Kate). Thank you for the daily Caskett smiles, for your endless support and for being you. And, as always, thank you for being there to fangirl with me! And for Joana, you are the sweetest. Thank you for your encouragement and your reviews. I'm thankful for your friendship as well. And finally, a huge thank you to Stana Katic. Without you, Kate Beckett would not exist. There's no doubt your magic and talent brought her to life. xx :)
To you the readers: Thank you for your reviews (each and everyone). For those that find fault with Kate, I hope this chapter will change your opinion of her. She is beautiful and flawed and that is why we her fans LOVE her.
I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I hope...that it leaves you breathless. Always, E.
Chapter 13: Breathless
Her eyes skimmed the case file one last time, hoping her tired eyes would stumble upon a minor detail she'd somehow missed. On a sigh she closed it, stacked the file with her other pending cases and slipped the whole lot into her desk drawer. Kate glanced over at Castle, watching as he studied the murder board and smiled. He'd stayed with her long after everyone else had gone. He'd refreshed her coffee, tossed around theories, and made idle chitchat, all the while expertly avoiding assisting her with the paperwork. Some things never changed.
Her stomach growled angrily, interrupting her idle musings, reminding her it'd been ignored far too long. In fact, she'd not eaten since Castle brought her coffee and a sandwich just before noon. Belatedly, she realized he must be starving too.
"Hey, Castle." He turned to her, a huge smile alighting his face, his hair tousled, giving her a glimpse of the young boy he'd been once. "Let's get out of here."
"Alright. So I'll see you tomorrow then?"
Kate glanced at him, wondering if he had any plans for the night. He hadn't mentioned anything. "I was thinking I owed you dinner. Remy's?"
His smile returned. "Oh?"
Reaching for his hand, she led him to the elevator. "Yeah, I'll explain on the way." Not ready to go home to her empty apartment she grinned, thankful for the opportunity to spend more time with him. As she'd told Lanie, they were taking it slow. One day at a time. Though he'd never said anything, she knew it had to feel awkward at times. One minute he'd been engaged to Natalia and now here they were. Kind of, sort of, dating even though they'd not labeled it as such. And now here he was back at the precinct. Surprisingly, that suggestion –or offer- had come from none other than Gates herself. Regardless, they'd returned to PC-squared status (also known as pre-coma, pre-Caskett status) she thought rather sadly.
Sliding into the booth across from her, Castle teased, "Should I be offended that you assumed I'd be satisfied with twenty dollars' worth of food?"
Kate smirked, barely restraining her usual eye roll. "If you must know, I was hoping a strawberry milkshake with fries would make it easier to concede defeat."
"So you said Esposito and Lanie know…." He prompted.
"Which means Ryan and Jenny know."
He paused a moment while the waitress took their orders. Once she'd gone, he continued. "We can't forget Gates." When Kate's jaw dropped he chuckled and made an elaborate show of leaning across the table. Using just his thumb and index finger he lifted her chin thereby closing her gaping mouth. "Honestly, Beckett, your detecting skills have been a little subpar recently. Didn't you realize she knew about us when she said I was welcome to return the precinct?"
Unable to hold it in any longer, Kate interjected, "You can't be serious!"
"Oh, but I am. Ever since your accident she's grown fond of me. Respects me even. I'm not going to lie…it still kind of creeps me out." He shuddered adding emphasis to his words.
"Ignoring the fact that you so obviously cheated….Perhaps, it has something to do with your dad?"
The waitress returned with their orders before he could respond. The allure of their meals effectively distracting the detective and her partner until their empty stomachs once satiated forgave them.
Pausing to take a sip of his milkshake, Castle mused, "So now that the cat's out of the bag, I was thinking we could invite everyone to the bar for drinks. If that's okay with you…?"
A fry poised halfway to her lips, Kate chewed thoughtfully, "I'm sure Lanie will be thrilled. She's been looking forward to a night out."
"Will you wear that purple dress again?" He smiled hopefully.
"I don't think so, Castle. You didn't approve the last time, remember?" She smirked.
Rather dramatically, he clutched his heart and feigned a pained expression. "Excellent aim, Detective. Intended target found." Laughing at her 'I'm clearly unamused expression', he asked sincerely, "So are you okay with me extending the invitation?"
"Yeah, Castle. I'm okay with it. Invite away!" Her smile lighting up her face as she swiped another fry from his plate and dunked it into her strawberry shake.
Kate paid for their meal and reluctantly slid out of the booth. Spending time with Castle at the precinct everyday somehow made her miss him more. She felt like a silly schoolgirl with her first Valentine's Day crush. Something she'd only ever felt with him. She'd appreciated and enjoyed that feeling the first time, but now she embraced it. Thrilled with yet another beautiful reminder of what it meant to be alive and in love.
Stepping out onto the sidewalk with him at her side, a smile lit up her face as she caught his eye. He winked at her mischievously and grinned.
"I miss you, too." Before she could respond he added, "You were not saying it rather loudly."
Taking a leap of faith, Kate met his gaze brazenly and asked, "Will you come home with me?" She paused a beat at his nod, then added, "For the night?"
The darkness shadowed the lines of her face as the light from the diner cradled her in its glow. Castle's gaze fell upon her face, memorizing the sharp planes, the shadowed valleys and the hope and hesitation dancing within the depths of her hazel eyes. Katherine Houghton Beckett, fearless detective, was standing before him with her heart on her sleeve when he fell in complete and utter love all over again. Rick raised his hand to cup her cheek. Deftly his fingers slid into the silky strands of her hair, found their way to the back of her head and caressed the nape of her neck. A slight increase of pressure from his fingertips brought her closer to him. He dipped his head capturing her mouth with his own. She tasted of strawberries, sweet and salty from their meal, and of something entirely her own. A soft moan escaped her lips and her arms slid around his waist of their own accord. Kate's mouth opened beneath his granting him permission to deepen the kiss. He'd never felt so out of control so fast. Only with her. Reluctantly, he withdrew his mouth from hers. Holding her in his arms a moment more, he whispered in her ear, "Let's go home, Kate." Castle held her hand as he led her to the car. "Perhaps, I should drive?" He suggested rather cheekily.
"If you're talking about the car, the answer is no." She bit her lip seductively before sliding into the driver's seat.
He loved that she could so easily and so quickly turn the tables on him. Put him in his place. He just didn't know if his heart could take it.
Giddy with excitement and anxiety they held hands as they made their way through the lobby and into the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, shielding them from prying eyes, his arms went around her waist. He kissed the top of her head holding her close.
"Did you let Martha know you were staying with me?" Given all they'd been through over the years, she didn't want her to worry.
His lips to her hair, he murmured, "I did. And I updated my status on Twitter and Facebook as well." She could feel his face split in half as he grinned into her hair.
She elbowed him lightly in the ribs. "I'm not worried. I'm sure I still remember your password."
Leading him to her apartment, their fingers entwined, she smiled as he slipped the key from her hand and unlocked her door. He'd stepped to the side allowing her to enter first. As her fingers sought out the light switch, he entered behind her, his arms snaking around her waist. He spun her so quickly her breath caught in her throat. One minute she was standing in the middle of her foyer, the next her back was against the door. Castle pressed the full length of his body against hers, his eyes never leaving her face. "You're so beautiful. You take my breath away."
"I know the feeling, Mr. Castle." She teased as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
He slid a hand into her hair loosening the French knot until her auburn locks cascaded down around her shoulders covering his hand. He touched his forehead to hers needing a moment to gather his self-control.
Cradling his face in her hands, she said softly, "It's okay, Rick. I want you, too."
His voice rough with need, want, and desire, he told her, "Put your arms around my neck." When she'd complied with his request, he placed his hands at the back of her thighs applying pressure as his hands brought her legs up and out from under her. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist and his hands cupped her buttocks. Rick's mouth captured hers in a searing kiss, stealing her breath as well as his own.
Kate awakened in the middle of the night, her body tender and thrumming from Castle's touch. The sheets tangled around their bodies, she wasn't quite sure where his body ended and hers began. Watching as he lay sleeping, she smiled at the memory of their hands, lips, and tongues teasing, tasting and loving one another. She trailed open mouthed kisses along his jawline, his collarbone and his chest, scraping her nails along his pelvis not wanting to be wide awake without him. He stirred, eyes closed and smiling as he reached for her pulling her down on top of him. Her laughter bubbled out of her warming his chest.
"It's not morning yet, Kate."
"Why, Castle. Your age is showing."
Swiftly, and with what he would later refer to as his 'ninja-like skills', he flipped Kate on her back. "I'm still young enough to excite you, Beckett. That's all that matters." His hands slid beneath the sheets, his fingers trailing the length of her satiny skin arousing her. Her laughter reverberated against his chest. When his fingers found their intended target, her body tensed and she gasped. He winked roguishly as his smiling mouth, hovered just a hairsbreadth from hers. "I love you, Kate."
"I love you, too. Always."