Disclaimers: 'Castle' still isn't mine.
Summary: Castle and Kate celebrate their wedding announcement in the newspaper. Contains spoilers for episode 6x13 'Limelight.' There will be Castle sexy, happy times in this chapter, thus an M rating.
A/N #1: Kate has been so cute since the engagement. Every week she seems to be getting happier as the walls continue coming down. I hope that this trend continues until the actual wedding, although the pessimist in me thinks that won't be the case.
A/N #2: The song for this chapter is 'Still the One' by Orleans. This song is so catchy and it's so Caskett.
Chapter 26: The Whole World now Shares Our Joy
We've been together since way back when
Sometimes I never want to see you again
But I want you to know, after all these years
You're still the one I want whisperin' in my ear
You're still the one – I want to talk to in bed
Still the one – that turns my head
We're still having fun, and you're still the one
"Hey, there's another article about you in the paper," Ryan announced to the guys and Kate.
"Great. Who am I hooking up with now?" Castle asked in disgust.
"Wait. Listen to this. 'Bestselling mystery novelist Richard Castle has announced his engagement to New York City Police Detective Katherine Beckett—'"
"Who leaked that to the press? I didn't say anything—"
"That would be me," Kate held her finger up in the air as the three men turned to stare at her in unison. She got up from her chair and grabbed Castle's hand, putting it around her waist, yanking him closer. "I decided that if the press is going to write things about you, I want it to be the truth. I want it to be about us."
"Have I told you how much I love you?" He leaned in to kiss her, only to look to his right to see Ryan and Esposito looking on expectantly. "Never mind, I'll tell you later," he whispered to her.
Kate smiled when she moved away from Castle and returned to her desk. He had wanted to announce their engagement to the press for months, but she'd been reluctant. For the most part, the paparazzi left Castle alone, but when they did come after him, they were like sharks smelling blood. Kate had witnessed it more than a few times in the more than five years that they'd been together.
But since they'd finally agreed on a wedding date of the 27th of September, Kate had been rethinking the whole 'not wanting the world to know' angle. And after seeing what the press had done to young Mandy Sutton, her mind had been made up. If Castle was going to be in the news, at least from here on out, she could at least have a hand in making sure that they had the truth. Her phone rang, breaking into her thoughts. She smiled when she answered it. "Hi, dad," she smiled.
"Katie, my secretary just brought me the paper. Do you know that there's a wedding announcement about you and Rick?"
"Yeah, dad. I'm the one who made the announcement. It's a long story, so please tell Aunt Theresa that Castle isn't marrying anybody but me."
"Okay, Bug. I didn't believe the whole thing about him getting back together with his ex, but you know how your aunt and uncles get. So, are we having brunch Sunday?"
"Of course. Don't we always? Why don't you come by the loft and I'll make breakfast for everybody?"
"Sounds good. Is 11 okay?"
"Perfect. I'll see you Sunday morning. I love you."
"Love you too, Bug."
"So, your dad saw the announcement," Castle sat in his chair.
"Yeah. He's going to come for brunch Sunday morning. Why don't you invite Alexis and Pi?"
"Do we have enough fruit?"
"Castle, be nice."
"So, are you going to be all right with us being followed by the media?"
"Well, I'm going to have to, because it's a done deal."
But when they left the precinct an hour later to go home for the day, Kate began to have serious doubts. There were about half a dozen reporters camping outside when they walked out of the front door. "Mr. Castle! Det. Beckett! Over here! We just have a few questions! When is the big date? When did the two of you become serious? Where is the wedding going to take place?"
"No comment," Kate said, as she held tightly onto Castle's hand as they proceeded toward her Town Car.
"Could we just get a couple of candid shots of the two of you? Just to back up your announcement?"
"Not today, guys," Castle opened the passenger side door and ushered Kate in. "Trust me. I know how to get away from these guys without running them over," he whispered as she slipped the keys into his hands.
"Will you set up a time for us to get a more in-depth interview with the two of you?"
"I'll have my agent call you," Castle quickly moved around to the driver's side and slid in before starting the engine. Keeping his foot lightly on the gas, he managed to drive away from the throng without so much as running over a foot. "Are you okay?"
"How do you deal with that?"
"Well, at first I thought it was pretty cool," he couldn't help but grin at her. "But I soon found out that when they started snapping pictures of my then six-year-old daughter on the playground at school, that it wasn't so cool. But I found out that if you set the ground rules with a select few, then the media can be your friend. That's what we'll do regarding our engagement."
"Ground rule number one: no asking questions at crime scenes."
"Oh, goes without saying. But actually we can make that ground rule number two. Because ground rule number one is family is off-limits. That now includes your father and other relatives. But, you also need to point out rules to them, as well."
"As in no talking to the press without our consent?"
"Exactly."
"Also, punching them in the face ala Sean Penn is not cool. These guys have lawyers on speed dial."
"But, you know something, Castle? Every time I read about an actor or other celebrity doing something like that, I almost want to give them a medal. How can they sleep at night being so intrusive?"
"Well, I was intrusive and look at where we are," he smiled, pulling into the garage at the loft.
"You still are intrusive, Castle," she shot him a look back after he pulled into the parking spot that had been reserved for her and shut off the engine.
When they walked into the loft, they found Martha and Alexis with a huge stack of newspapers. "What is all this?" Castle asked as they took off their coats and put them away.
"Alexis called and said that she'd seen the announcement in the paper. So, I hit the newsstands and bought enough copies so that everybody in the family can have a copy. Is this really official? Who leaked it? Paula? Gina?" Martha kept rambling.
"I called the media," Kate admitted. "I figured that if they're going to write about who Castle's with, it's going to be the truth."
"Way to go, Kate!" Alexis smiled.
"So Alexis, I'm glad that you're here. I'm going to make breakfast for my dad Sunday morning, so I would like for you and Pi to join us," Kate said.
"Uh, about that," Alexis looked at her father, grandmother, and Kate. "Pi and I have decided to take a break from each other."
"You're breaking up?" Kate looked at Castle, who was barely containing his glee at the news. "Sweetie, I'm so sorry to hear that."
"Alexis, what about the apartment? Are you going to be able to afford it on your own? Breaking a lease can cost a fortune," Castle pointed out to his daughter.
"Well, I did a lot of thinking about that when I was following Mandy around. She was great, dad. She really helped me see things for what they really are. Anyway, one of the girls at the morgue has a roommate that's getting married, so she's been looking for a new place to live. I showed her the apartment and she loved it. So, she's going to move in next week. So, I'll be okay until then."
"So, how did Pi take the breakup?" Kate asked.
"Well, he was upset, but we both agreed that it was for the best. I think we both kind of entered into all of this for the wrong reasons."
"I'm sorry, pumpkin," Castle walked over and enfolded his daughter into his arms. "But one day you're going to meet the one guy that will make you happy and will treat you like a princess. That's my wish for you. I admit that I never thought that Pi was that guy, but I never thought that he was an awful guy."
"He told me to thank you again for the recommendation letter. He said it's the nicest thing anyone's ever done for him."
I looked at your face every day
But I never saw it 'till you went away
When winter came, I just wanted to go (wanted to go)
Deep in the desert, I longed for the snow
You're still the one – that makes me laugh
Still the one – that's my better half
We're still having fun, and you're still the one
You're still the one – that makes me strong
Still the one – that I want to take along
We're still having fun, and you're still the one (yes you are)
Kate was lying in bed reading later that night while Castle sat in his office writing. The click-clack of his fingers on his keyboard was a sound that she didn't think she'd ever get tired of. It was the sound of his imagination and his incredible love for her at work. She heard him get up and go into the kitchen, so she guessed that he was getting ready to come to bed.
She looked toward the doorway moments later when she saw him standing there, with a huge smile on his face. "What?" She wondered what he was thinking as he began slowly walking toward their bed.
"Bestselling mystery novelist Richard Castle is pleased to announce his engagement to New York City Police Detective Katherine Beckett," he crawled into bed and reached for her. "The couple met in March of 2009 and became engaged in May of 2013. Their wedding date has yet to be announced."
"Wow, you already have it memorized," she smiled as he slipped his hands around her ankles and pulled her toward him.
"I have everything about you memorized," he moved between her spread legs and leaned down to kiss her neck.
Kate gasped as heat instantly engulfed her. He was good at this, so very good. She moved her hips, seeking friction for the growing ache between her legs. He moaned when she pressed herself against his growing erection. Castle's scent surrounded her; the combination of cologne, body wash, and his own unique scent. It was an intoxicating, arousing mixture that never failed to arouse her to a fever pitch in what always seemed to be record time.
He nipped at her ear lobe, taking it between his lips and lightly biting it before soothing the bite with gentle swipes of his tongue. He then moved back down to her neck, sucking on her pulse point, feeling her writhe under him. She was so responsive to his every touch. She'd told him on many occasions that she'd never been with someone who knew her so intimately before. He knew exactly what kind of caresses she wanted and when she wanted them. It was if he could read her mind as well as her body.
He kissed her, gently biting her lower lip as she opened her mouth for his tongue, her tongue eagerly dancing with his. The noises that were coming from her throat were sending all of his remaining blood south. Castle loved those sounds. His only mission sometimes was to hear those sounds coming from her every night for the rest of his life. "Castle," she whispered desperately against his mouth. "Oh god, Castle. Touch me. Please." He groaned when he felt her arch her pelvis against him, rubbing against him desperately.
He kissed her throat and down to her still clothed breasts. She sucked in her breath at the feeling of him taking her breast into his mouth, the heat of his mouth ramping her even higher. She hissed when he slipped his hands under her camisole top to caress the breast that he wasn't torturing with his mouth. He stood up and helped her to sit so that he could pull the top over her head, leaving her naked from the waist up. Her eyes were greenish-brown with desire. She reached her hand to the back of his neck and insistently pulled him back down on top of her, her erect nipples rubbing against the soft cotton of his t-shirt.
His mouth once more covered her now naked breast, swirling his tongue around her nipple as she pressed him closer to her, urging him to take her in even deeper. He rose up to look into her eyes, his deep blue gaze meeting her brownish-green, his desire mirroring hers. She could feel his heart thudding against her own. She curled her hands on either side of his face, tracing his cheekbones and down to his jaw. He kissed her palm before reclaiming her lips with his own in a soul-searing, toe curling kiss. "I can't wait to make you my wife," he whispered against her lips.
"I can't wait to be your wife. But right now, there's something that I want more," she took his hand and moved it down between her legs. He could feel the warm, damp heat of her through the pajama bottoms that she was wearing.
He reached inside of her pajamas and swirled his fingers into her wetness as she arched against him and gave out a whine of desire. She let out a whine of disappointment when he removed his fingers, but then she felt him impatiently yanking on the bottoms as she lifted her hips to assist him in his endeavor.
He stood at the end of the bed and pulled his shirt over his head before following suit with his sweat pants and boxers. Kate panted with desire as she admired his naked body. He was so broad, solid, and all hers. Her eyes wandered down, taking in his blatant arousal. She sat up and moved closer to the edge of the bed, wrapping her hand around him, moving her hand slowly up and down his length, feeling the weight of him in her hands as she stroked him, watching his eyes watching her. She loved watching him when they made love. She loved watching his eyes darken the more aroused he became.
"Kate," he swallowed thickly. "What're you doing?"
"If I have to tell you, then I'm not doing it right," she teased, releasing his hard cock and reaching around to his ass, pulling him closer to her.
He was never sure how she moved as quickly as she did, but the next thing he knew he found himself sitting on the edge of the bed with Kate on her knees in front of him. She stuck out her tongue and flicked at the head of his cock as he let out a loud groan. He was so hard, so close that he knew it wasn't going to take much to push him over the edge. "Fuck, Kate," he groaned even louder when he felt her take him into her mouth, her tongue licking up and down his length even as she sucked him in deeper. Then she started that humming thing that she did, that thing that along with the ice cube trick, always took him back to that first night. The humming sent the most erotic feelings up and down his entire cock. The harder he tried to hold back, the more she would hum. It was the most incredible, erotic form of torture that he could imagine. "Shit, Kate. I'm going to explode."
Kate smiled around his length, caressing his balls as she continued using all of her skills to bring him to an exquisite climax. She loved the feel of him in her mouth; she loved the feeling of power that it gave her over him; that sense of control. His groans and curses got even louder as he got closer. She felt his testicles tightening up as he cried out, spilling hot and wet into her mouth. She didn't release him until he completely softened in her mouth. She kissed the insides of his thighs before slowly kissing her way back up his body, pushing him flat on the bed as she crawled up his body.
Changing, our love is going gold
Even though we grow old, it grows new
You're still the one – that I love to touch
Still the one – and I can't get enough
We're still having fun, and you're still the one
His arms wrapped around her, drawing her into his still tingling body as she kissed his neck, his jaw, his throat before softly kissing his lips, smiling against him. "You are truly amazing," he breathed against her mouth. "One day you'll . . . have to tell me where you learned that humming trick. It's mind-blowing."
"Cosmo. The same place I learned the ice cube trick."
"I'll get you a lifetime subscription," he lightly ran his fingers down her sides, feeling the shivers that ran through her. "Now, I'm going to return the favor." He flipped her over so that he hovered above her. He kissed his way down her body, paying homage to every inch of her.
Kate felt her pulse rate and her breathing speed up, her muscles clenching in anticipation as she felt Castle's lips worshipping every single inch of her, slowly and methodically, taking his time, building up the arousal that was pooling up in her loins, making her writhe and want for him. For his mouth, his hands, his hard, straining length pressing into her, filling her, making her arch and ache for him.
She felt his fingers close around her knees, spreading her, pinning her flat to the bed, making it impossible for her to move. She moaned at the feel of his mouth skirting just below her naval before sliding down lower, his breath hot against the wet heat of her. She was practically begging when she felt his lips on the insides of her thighs, kissing and nibbling, making her ache and want for him to move his move higher, to ease the urgent throb between her legs. She was so close. "So close, Castle," she could barely breathe as she felt him gradually move higher. She gave out a keening cry and arched her back off of the bed when she felt his mouth clamp over her entire mound. "Castle, oh shit." And just like that, she was flying, unraveling under his expert mouth. Her voice didn't even sound like her own as she screamed out his name and several choice expletives.
Instead of allowing her to come down, Castle kept up his oral ministrations, quickly bringing her back to the edge once again. He hummed against her clit, feeling her tense under him. "Kate, come for me again. Please?" He raised his eyes to meet hers.
"I want to . . . with you," she breathed out.
"Please, Kate? I want to feel you," his breath was hot against her. Before she could answer, he went back to work, tasting and sucking. Her groans and whispers went straight to his groin, causing him to quickly harden once again. Reaching into her with first one finger and then a second, he angled toward her g-spot, feeling her clench around his fingers as he rubbed against it.
The tension was building in her pelvis, that feeling that she was going to come wonderfully undone once again. Her hands clenched and unclenched in the blankets as Castle kept up his assault on her clit as he massaged his fingers inside of her. She felt as if she was starting to fly once again and this time it was going to be huge. "Castle, please," she longed to be able to move against him, but even the grip he had on her with one strong hand was making that impossible. "Oh shit, Castle!"
Castle felt her clench around his fingers hard as she grabbed his head and held him in place, screaming and crying out once again, her internal muscles holding his fingers in a death grip. He gently brought her down from her massive orgasm before he pulled his fingers from inside of her. "Hey," he whispered as he crawled up her body.
Her eyes fluttered open when she felt his lips on hers, tasting herself on him, reawakening her senses. "Hey," she whispered back. "Do you think that you can make me come like that again? Talk about mind-blowing," she kissed him.
"Well, what's our record?" He rolled over so that he was staring down into her eyes.
"Who cares? Let's break it," she reached down and guided him into her as they began to move together.
Castle reached under Kate and angled her hips, changing the depth of his penetration. He knew that he'd hit the right spot when he felt her clench around him deliciously. "Fuck, I love it when you do that," he dropped down to tease and kiss her breasts, rocking against her as she continued to squeeze her muscles around him, bringing him closer to the abyss. "You need to stop or I'm not going to last."
She locked her legs around his waist, raising herself up so that the angle changed once again, eliciting a groan from her. "Oh, that's good," she bit into his shoulder. "So very good. Harder, Castle. There, right there."
She clutched at his shoulders and bit down as she came again, sobbing out as she rode out the waves of yet another orgasm. Castle reached for her hands as he began to move, sliding almost all of the way out before thrusting back in again, crushing his lips to her own as they moved together in a rhythm that they were both all too familiar with. She cried out when his pelvic bone crushed against her clit, sending sparks shooting through her already over-sensitized body. Letting go of her hands, he wrapped his arms around her and rolled them so that she was on top.
Giving him a wide smile, she took his hands and planted them on her hips, groaning as he guided her against him. Her eyes fluttered closed and her head tipped back as she began to move harder and faster on his cock. "Castle, please tell me that you're close," she breathed out. "I can't take much more."
"A little faster. I'm . . . almost there," he suddenly grabbed her hips, thrusting up hard as he spilled himself inside of her, hearing the small squeal of ecstasy that left her lips when she tightened around him once again.
You're still the one – who can scratch my itch
Still the one – and I wouldn't switch
We're still having fun, and you're still the one
You are still the one – and that makes me shout
Still the one – that I dream about
We're still having fun, and you're still the one
You're still the one, yeah, still the one
We're still having fun, and you're still the one
She collapsed onto his chest, feeling completely boneless and sated. She whimpered softly when she felt him soften and slip out of her. Still holding her onto his chest, he grabbed the blankets and pulled them over the two of them. "We didn't break our record, but that will definitely one day make our list of top 10 greatest sexual moments ever," he traced circles down her sweaty back. "How do you feel about round five in the shower or the tub?"
"Great idea, but you'll have to carry me," she mumbled sleepily against his shoulder.
"Ah, my lovely detective, I will gladly carry you anywhere that you want to go."
***CCC***
"So, I see that Aunt Theresa updated her Facebook status," Kate said over waffles and bacon on Sunday morning. "Did you give her a copy of our engagement announcement?"
"Yes, I did. Two, actually. She wanted one for her scrapbook," Jim Beckett smiled. "She expects you to, and I quote, 'bring your young man to dinner,' end quote. She also said that she sent you a Twitter request. I told her that I thought she was a little old for the social media craze."
"I'm not on Twitter very much, but tell her that Castle will add her. He tweets everything," Kate smiled at her fiancée.
"Are you going to go wedding dress shopping?" Alexis asked.
"Oh, definitely," Kate agreed. "We'll have to get together and make a girls' day out of it. You, me, Martha, and Lanie. Maybe even call Maddie. And I promise that there will be no ugly bridesmaids or maid of honor dresses. I've worn enough of those in my lifetime to know how it feels. I want my wedding party to look as beautiful as I do."
"That's not even going to be possible," Jim took his daughter's hand. "No one ever looks as beautiful as the bride does on her wedding day. And you are going to be stunning."
"I agree with your dad on that point," Castle told her.
After everybody left, Castle retired to his office to do some writing. He was deep into his world of Nikki and Rook when Kate walked in behind his chair, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. "I pinch myself every day."
"I wasn't aware that you were into self-abuse," he teased, closing the lid on his laptop and pulling her around to face him. "Why do you pinch yourself?"
"I can't believe that we're going to get married. I can't believe how much I love you. I can't believe how much you love me. I can't believe that I finally remember how to be happy again. You gave that back to me, Castle. I love you so much."
"Oh Kate, I love you too," he reached up for her, his mouth drinking the softness of hers. "I told you once that you deserved to be happy. I'm glad that you're in that place again."
A/N #3: This was originally going to be shorter, but that scene seemed to go on forever.
A/N #4: I want to thank my followers and reviewers for making this my very first 200 review story. Now my goal is to get to 300 reviews.
A/N #5: I made the wedding date the 27th of September because that's one of the Saturdays in Sept. of 2014. My thinking is that S-7 will premier on the 22nd of September, but I see a 2-part season opener.
I can be found on Twitter Caskett1960 and Tumblr at Caskett1960. I will be blogging as soon as I think of what I want to say.