Chapter 25
February 22, 2012
Kate opened the door to Castle, who was beaming and carrying an old game box and a pizza.
She stepped back to let him in and felt a flutter as he brushed by her. It had only been (exactly) 48 hours since he'd reluctantly driven her home.
"You look fantastic, Kate."
"That would be in comparison to me being tied to oxygen and looking like I was on death's door."
"I'd be okay if I never saw you like that again, but after the past week I am convinced that there is no situation in which you would not be breathtaking."
"Poor choice of words, Writer Boy."
"What? You think you were the only one hyperventilating?"
She shook her head at him. "Well, hopefully there won't be an pulmonary equipment necessary today."
"I don't know, you completely rocked the nasal cannula."
She couldn't help but laugh. "I bet you say that to all the girls."
"Nope, I can assure you that's an original line inspired by you and you alone." He paused and shifted almost nervously in front of her. "How pathetic would it be if I told you that I missed you?"
"Moderately." Her mouth slowly expanded into a smile.
"Hmmm, because if you said you missed me, I'd only think it was mildly pathetic."
"I can cop to mildly pathetic." He squinted his eyes accusingly.
Kate glanced at the box and looked at him incredulously, "I'm recovering from pneumonia and you brought over a word game to kick me while I'm down?" She had played the version of Boggle that had 4 lettered cubes across and 4 down, but not to be out done, Rick had the 5x5 'Big Boggle' game. "Unbelievable."
"Seriously, Kate, would you prefer that I humor you in your weakened state?"
The way her eyes leveled him, he knew that he'd made the right call, "You're on!"
Castle slyly responded, "I think we should make this more interesting. We'll play five games, if I win all five you have to work the knots out of my shoulders and neck, if you win any games I have to braid your hair."
"You had better loosen those fingers, Castle, because you are SO going down!"
Before she knew it she was frantically scribbling while shooting daggers at the sand which was slipping all too quickly through the hourglass. She was now 0 for 4 and fuming that Castle had offered to let her use three-letter words to give her a sporting chance. She refused and was more determined than ever to win this round.
"Time's up!" Castle exclaimed gleefully, looking over his list.
Kate groused, "You can start, or do you just want to skip to the part where you win?"
"No, you go, Beckett, I want you to feel like you're doing well."
"No, you want to savor your victory as I shoot myself in the foot with my paltry list of words."
"Well, there is that."
"Fine." Kate started through her list, Castle stating he had nearly every word. She ended her list with, "Exit"
"Got it."
"Trade"
"Yep"
"Order"
"Yeah . . . wait! I don't have that one! How do I not have that one?"
"Ordinal"
"No way, I have to have found that!"
"Ordinance."
He started to panic. "This cannot be happening! Where did you see that?"
She pointed out the progression of cubes, as he gulped. That gives me eighteen points.
"So, Writer Boy, what do you have left?" She flicked an eyebrow in his direction.
After he nearly exhausted his meager list of words he ended with
"Tyre"
"I said 'tire.'
"Not t-i-r-e, t-y-r-e."
"British spelling doesn't count."
"How can it not? Is it not the definition of English?"
"You can't have it both way so if you want t-y-r-e you have to cross off liter, for that matter, which is a 2 pointer. Check your passport, Castle, James Bond you are not."
"Fine. That leaves me with thirteen points," he growled.
"Now who has mad skills?"
He whined, "I haven't been beat at Boggle since boarding school. I don't understand."
"Don't worry, your mad skills with a hairbrush will never be contested."
"Thanks for that."
He stood to clear the table, smiling conspiratorially to himself as he threw away his list that had contained the 9-point word 'extraordinary,' which he had left unspoken.
Castle sat on the couch with Kate perched between his legs on the floor in front of him as they watched the next two Firefly episodes. During the shows he braided Kate's hair half a dozen different ways. He'd let her see his handiwork then lace his fingers through the strands to loosen the plaits, massage her scalp then give her hair a slow and thorough brushing before starting the next design. Kate was so relaxed from his attentions that she was yawning despite the early hour.
He kneaded her shoulders. "I should let you get to sleep."
She shook her head. "I'm sorry I'm not better company."
"Kate, I've had a delightful evening with a beautiful woman. I have no complaints." He kissed the top of her head.
"Castle . . . it's been really quiet without you around." She tipped her head back so she could see his face.
"I've missed you, too." He leaned forward and met her lips with his own.
He was kissing Kate Beckett. He decided it would never be possible to kiss Kate Beckett and not feel hopelessly overwhelmed. It was not their first kiss, but with each one he had experienced a new blend of fantastical sensations. His writer's mind started grasping at grandiose phrases to try to define what this woman did to him, but nothing as common as words could come close to reality.
As his mind reeled, he found himself seeking more and she didn't temper him. When he came back to himself, he remembered that she had been ill and as magnificent as caressing her tongue with his own felt, (and 'magnificent' didn't do the feeling justice), he did need to pace himself for her sake. He reluctantly stilled his movements and they stayed frozen in their intimate exchange for a few second before he broke contact.
Kate was well & truly stunned. Her cheeks flushed, her extremities tingled and this gorgeous man was staring at her with so much adoration that she couldn't find a coherent thought.
He cleared his throat. "Uh . . . I probably should let you get to bed."
She was breathing heavily. "Are you kidding me? You're going to make me feel like that then walk out the door?"
He slid to the floor and gathered her in his lap as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Why, Kate Beckett, what are you suggesting?"
She considered him and tried to come across as nonchalant. "I suppose you could stay."
"Really?" He really did try to tamp down his enthusiasm.
She casually replied, "Castle, my electric blanket's broken and I need to curl up with a heat source. You're already here so if you stay it's an easy fix."
"Funny you should mention that because my bed's been feeling chilly and way too big the past few nights." He pecked her lips lightly then rested his forehead against hers. "Are you sure?"
She placed her hand on his chest and felt the rapid heart beat from their kiss. "Castle, don't over think it. My intentions are to cuddle with you and zap all your heat. Once I'm one hundred percent again then you can harbor hope that I'll take advantage of you."
"Well, my hotness has been well documented so if all you want is to use me for my body, I guess I can live with that."
"Well documented, huh?"
"I know you're one of Richard Castle's most dedicated fangirls. Do you really need me to cite your words back to you?"
She rolled her eyes. "Like I'd need to keep up with your fan sites when I see you nearly twenty-four seven."
"I bet you're 'RookieHeat19,' no wait, 'RookLine&Sinker'! Either way I'm sure one could glean dozens of quotes about how I'm the most handsome man on the planet, if one were to Google me."
"Wow, I had no idea there are so many deluded people out there."
"I know! I mean, I never made number one on the list of New York's most eligible bachelors, so I couldn't possibly be the hottest guy on the planet no matter what 'Heatcrazed105' says. But, I have to admit, those misguided people have been pretty good to me over the years." He worked his fingers through her hair and massaged her neck. "But there's only one crazy fangirl's opinion that really matters."
"Yeah? Would that be 'NotaMused'?"
"Something like that."
She suddenly straightened. "Hey, uh, is Alexis okay with you staying?"
"Yeah, she pointedly said 'see you tomorrow' instead of 'see you later.' when I left. She's really not good at being subtle. I didn't expect to stay, but I didn't bother to correct her either. A man can dream, you know."
She twined their fingers together. "Well then . . ."
Castle stood and pulled her up by both hands. He walked backwards towards her bedroom and replied, "Well then, 'StormMyCastle', it seems I'm free to do your bidding."
"Watch it or "Stayinthecar4ever" will kick you out."
Kate got ready for bed then came out to see Castle wearing his t-shirt and flannel pajama pants and holding a toothbrush. He looked so cute that she couldn't help but tease him a little. "So, should I put away the toothbrush I bought for you to keep here?"
His eyebrows shot up. "No, no, that brush will no doubt be much more effective." He bounded to put his toothbrush back in his backpack then nearly strutted to the bathroom.
When he returned Kate was sitting against the headboard reading. He flopped on the bed and looked at her with utter glee.
"Ready for bed, Castle?"
"So, in your bed I'm still 'Castle'?"
"House rules."
"I'll wear you down."
"I have no doubt."
Kate put her book down and tugged at the comforter beneath him, giving him the green light to hop in. When they settled themselves beneath the sheets Castle leaned over her and glanced his nose over her ear, her cheek then nudged her nose, all while his breath kissed her skin. He gave her the proper goodnight kiss that he'd suppressed all the other nights they had shared a bed.
He took his time caressing her neck with his fingertips and lips then he tugged at her shirt and kissed his way down until he found the scar from the bullet. He feathered his fingers over the mangled skin then slowly lowered himself to pepper the sacred spot with kisses.
Each one penetrated profoundly.
Kate ran her fingers through his hair and kissed the top of his head. She had never felt so intimately exposed nor so intensely secure.
She loved this precious man.
Castle adjusted her shirt with care then rolled to his side and took a minute just to admire her. She blinked a few times slowly but kept her eyes trained on him as though she shared his unspoken disbelief that they had gotten to this point. She felt an arm burrow under her pillow and a warm hand on her stomach. She scooted closer to him, turned on her side and pressed her back against his chest. As he kissed her neck her cold feet snuck under his pant leg and found his shin.
"ARGH! You need a pair of socks, Woman!"
Kate dug her toes into him and he felt her gently laugh. "Are you having second thoughts about letting me use your body, Castle?"
She felt his breath on her ear as he replied, "No, I'd suffer through anything as long as you promise that you plan to use me for more than a foot warmer someday."
She hummed a reply then for the first time he experienced the joy of holding Kate Beckett, whom he knew to be 'StormHaven99', as she fell asleep in his arms.
A/N: Okay, I really would love to know your thoughts on this one - it's been reworded and edited to death. Every time I read it I add more to it or change the fan site monikers. If you have other ideas for those (Kate's or any of the teasing ones they threw around), I'd love to hear them.