Disclaimer: The wording is mine but the characters aren't
OOOOOOOOO
His grumbling broke off abruptly and was replaced by the widest smile. "You just called me baby."
Her mouth dropped. "No. No I didn't."
"You can't take it back now. Even Ryan and Esposito heard it."
She froze. Oh god- the wire. Ryan and Espo had heard everything. And Castle had just announced that their conversation was being listened to.
…
OOOOOOOOO
37.
Her silence was not unlike a bucket of cold water.
"Kate?"
Only two things he could think of would have made this worse. The first being if someone in the room had overheard their conversation and made them. The second would have been if they were broadcasting visual as well as audio.
He didn't know how this woman managed to sharpen his wit and make him go fuzzy between the ears at the same time. Tonight he had to get his head in the game.
But his mind kept going back to the feel of her around him as they tore through the streets. Like a ridiculously dangerous dance. The relationship between gravity and speed so temperamental. Relying on Kate to help them through it.
She had been alive - keeping them alive and it had nothing to do with their job. It was just them, together and flying. Instinctual and vital.
At that moment he had welcomed Kate Beckett back to stay.
And then the feel of her under his mouth. He was surprised he even managed words.
Considering what he had blurted out, maybe it would have been better for both of them if he hadn't been able to manage anything.
He should just stick to strong and silent.
She leaned forward, out of his arms and reached for her drink. He could see her eyes flick discretely out towards the bar and the back of the room. She must have been content with what she saw because some of the tension went out of her shoulders. But she didn't return to him.
Mere inches away and it was too far.
He had to get a hold of himself. Tonight he was supposed to be proving his manliness rather than sinking to new levels of embarrassment. More than that, they were here for a reason.
He took the bottle out of her hand, startling her, but he didn't wait to be reproached.
He threw a twenty on the bar, breaking the quiet conversation the barkeep was having with one of his regulars.
"Darts." He gave a small nod of acknowledgement to his fellow patron for interrupting. On the keep's first trip down the narrow strip between the bar and the wall he collected the bill. On his return trip he deposited two slightly grungy sets of projectiles.
Castle idly wondered if he was always this verbose, or if he was just having a bad night.
He felt Beckett closing in on his back, but he didn't wait for her, snatching up the darts and making for the boards just out of the gang's earshot.
He turned and tossed her a pack, watching with veiled admiration as she caught it smoothly.
"Stakes?"
Her eyebrow raised. "Why do there always have to be stakes?"
"Just keeping you on your toes," he shrugged.
"Right."
"Maybe you're not sure you can handle it. Don't worry, I wouldn't want to bet against me either."
Her eyes narrowed. "So what are we playing for?"
"Bragging rights?" he suggested.
"I already have those."
"Coffee? Paperwork?" He would have used the opportunity to secure some truths from her. Five honest answers. It still held appeal if he wasn't worried it would come back to haunt him. She was suspicious of him now; was starting to suspect he wasn't as over the summer as he made himself out to be. He was pretty sure he wouldn't like her questions.
"Pfff," she declined.
"Well what do you want?" Question of the hour.
She canted her head to the side, pursing her lips thoughtfully.
"Well when you decide, let me know. As for me, I'll take seven dinners at the loft. Your presence is mandatory."
"And if I refuse?"
He closed in on her, making sure he wouldn't be overheard.
"It's either that or I have your permission to go looking for your badge."
She laughed. "Is that what you were looking for before?"
"I was going to," he admitted, remembering his disappointment that he hadn't started earlier before he lost the element of surprise. "Until you broke out the torture skills and started testing my reflexes. But don't worry, I'll be very thorough."
She just nodded. "So who's cooking?"
He gave her a wolfish smile, unconcerned at her rejection. "Don't worry. I wouldn't make you cook."
It might have been his imagination, but she looked disappointed at his statement. Did she want to cook for him then? He reigned that dangerous thought in. She was probably just miffed that he had implied that she couldn't cook.
"Around the World?" she asked rhetorically.
"I was just going to race to 300."
"We're going to bet over a warm up?"
"Around the World it is."
"Doubles and Triples?" She sounded like she expected it and suddenly he was wondering if he had gotten in a little over his neck.
"Confident aren't you?" he tried to dissuade her.
"Doubting your mad skills there, Rick?" she taunted.
Damn perceptive evil woman. "What?" he blustered. "No. I just thought first game we'd stick to singles."
"You sure?"
"Positive."
"Well then you won't mind me going first then, will you?" she smirked.
He opened his mouth, his eyebrows almost meeting in the middle of his forehead, then he shut it.
"Why would I mind?" Except you just tricked me using my own words, he added mentally. So hot. "Ladies first."
She moved forward.
"Wait," he called lowly. "Changed my mind." He snuck an arm around her waist and hoisted her off her feet and turning her away from the board. She laughed as her feet lifted of the floor. A startled, happy laugh that had him fighting against a foolish grin, knowing his little stunt had probably attracted some attention.
"I'm not a gentleman tonight," he said quietly, letting her down. "Now relax and watch the mad skills, Beckett."