Chapter 36
"So what do you want to do today?" Rick asked Kate in between kisses. It was late morning and they were still making up for lost time in the form of deep, passionate kisses against the granite kitchen countertop. Kate could feel Rick's warm breath against her mouth and the low rumble of his voice when he spoke.
"Hmm… I'm up for anything," Kate mumbled in response. She just wanted to spend some time alone with him on a personal level, just the two of them together. It had been months since Rick and Kate had last been with each other outside of work without fighting and spending some quality time together was long overdue. They needed to find their way back to each other, back to the good place where they had been before his extended overseas trip and their tumultuous breakup. They also needed to build their repertoire of trust back up in order to move forward together in their relationship confidently. Kate was hopeful that things would be better this time now that they had agreed to work on trusting each other. She was happy that they were both willing to give them another chance and she wanted to do everything she could to make things work.
Kate's fingers played at the hair at the nape of Rick's neck while her thumb traced gently behind his earlobe. "Do you have to write today?" she questioned with inquiring eyes.
"No, I can take a day or two off. I have the rest of the week to work."
"Mkay, good." Her eyes crinkled into a smile and she drew forward to kiss him.
Rick hummed thoughtfully, thinking of fun things to do in the Hamptons with Kate. It took him longer than usual for his mind to come up with something coherent, as he was rather distracted at the moment by Kate's kisses. Rick pulled away and broke up their make-out session in order to formulate their itinerary for the day.
"How about a tour at the winery that I suggested?" Wine tasting would be the perfect activity for Rick and Kate to participate in together. A leisurely stroll through a vineyard would be low key and just intimate enough without putting any pressure on them. It would be relaxing and fun, especially since they both loved quality wine.
"Yeah that sounds great," Kate agreed readily, leaning in to meet his lips once again. He let her steal a few more kisses before protesting.
"You know we're going to have to stop kissing if we're going to do anything else today," Rick explained. "Not that I'm complaining," he grinned into her mouth. "At all."
"Mmm you're right." She pulled back and smiled at him. Hunger finally registered in Kate's mind as her stomach growled. "I'm kind of hungry though. Can we get a bite to eat first?"
"Yeah, I'm getting hungry too. We shouldn't taste wine on empty stomachs anyway." Rick checked his watch and saw that it was nearing noon already. "It's kind of late for breakfast, so how about brunch?"
"Perfect. Let me get changed then we can head out."
"Sure thing."
Kate gave him one last smooch with a fervent mwah then hopped off the counter and headed off to find a change of clothes.
Rick turned and watched her retreat, sighing contently to himself. Kate Beckett was really something. She had such a strong hold on his heart and along with that, the power to make his happiness or break his heart. With her, he experienced the highest heights of happiness while they were together, along with the lowest depths of sadness when they were apart or fighting. She was difficult to be with at times, but for some reason he kept coming back for more. It was the good times they shared, the pure unadulterated joy that she brought him by being together as partners, friends, and lovers, which made it all worth it.
Last night and this morning had been a wild roller coaster ride of emotions for Rick. They had been on the verge of calling it quits once and for all last night and now here they were, just the morning after, starting all over again. They fight and almost break up. They kiss and then make up. From fear and anger to elation and hope in less than 12 hours. It had all happened so fast, barely in the blink of an eye. Rick really hadn't expected any of this to happen. This trip was meant for them to get on better terms with each other and just be friends again but instead, they had rekindled their relationship after a night of passion and now were giving it another shot.
Although Rick was excited that they had a chance to be together again, he still had some doubts and apprehensions lingering in his mind. Things still weren't completely okay between them yet and they certainly wouldn't be for a while. Neither Rick nor Kate technically had said that they were actually back together in a relationship but based on last night and this morning, they were at least something again. They were back in that indefinite state of something between friends and lovers. Somewhere between unsure and a hundred. But who's to say that it was wrong, that they couldn't be there for now? Rick and Kate were finding their way back to trusting each other, step by step. They had a long journey ahead of them before they could fully trust each other and let each other into their respective hearts again. For now, this would be enough.
Rick thought about the state of their relationship and its potential for the future. Was he doing the right thing by letting her back in? After everything she had put him through? She had pushed him away so abruptly after he got back from his book tour, citing irreconcilable differences as justification for ending their personal relationship. Kate had shut him out completely, claiming that they were just too different for this relationship to work out. Rick suspected that it was subconsciously also a fear of them becoming something real—a fear of investing in this relationship and getting her heart broken. They hadn't addressed these concerns yet, which were something they definitely needed to talk about. Did she still think that he didn't belong in her world and she didn't belong in his? Hadn't their past few years of working together proved that they worked well together and could be with each other in a personal capacity?
He wondered if this was just a temporary change of heart. Maybe Kate just missed him and wanted him back for now. Maybe those doubts and worries of hers would resurface and cause them to have another fallout. Rick didn't know if he could survive that kind of heartbreak again. Their partnership and friendship surely wouldn't. These concerns gave Rick pause regarding how to go about restarting and repairing their relationship.
Rick still loved Kate and was more than willing to give their relationship another chance. Rick sincerely wanted their relationship to work out, but his better judgment was telling him to guard his heart more securely this time around. He needed to properly protect himself by not jumping into this relationship again headfirst. Rick needed to reserve his love and affections for Kate until she reciprocated them back if he wanted to avoid suffering the pain of getting his heart broken by her all over again. After their breakup, Rick had built some walls around his heart to protect himself from future heartache. Those walls would have to stay up until she made the effort to breach them and tear them down. Kate needed to prove that she was willing to fight for them, that she believed in them and that he was worth it. Rick couldn't fully give Kate his heart until he knew that she could give him hers too.
Kate's return to the kitchen found Rick in meaningful thought. A smile lit up his face when he caught a glimpse of her fresh outfit, a red floral sundress with an accentuating sweetheart neckline. It was pretty yet casual, perfect for their day out and about the Hamptons.
"Ready to go?" Kate flashed a smile back at him.
"Yup let me grab my keys."
They spent the day together as planned. Rick drove them to a little café nearby that was a favorite of his for brunch. The establishment was a quaint and homey eatery which had a pristine interior with verdant, organic-themed decor. Though it was late morning, the restaurant was still bustling with hungry patrons enjoying a late breakfast or early lunch. Rick and Kate were seated by a window table which offered a pleasant view onto the street. Rick ordered a frittata with sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella, and pesto and Kate ordered a smoked salmon benedict. They also got a small plate of chocolate pancakes with raspberries to share along with freshly squeezed fruit juices to satiate their sweet tooths.
After the scrumptious meal and light chit chat, Rick and Kate made their way out of the restaurant into the bright daylight. Since the winery wouldn't be open until after noon, they aimlessly ambled down the street looking around and observing the lives of others. They wandered past some name brand outlet stores and did some window shopping from the outside. A few blocks away, Rick and Kate happened upon a farmer's market that was selling fresh produce and organic goods. Rick thought it would be a good idea to pick up some groceries for a home-cooked meal or possibly a picnic another day during the week. They spent a good hour and a half selecting ingredients to make creative entrées and healthy snacks. Rick swung by the house again to drop off their groceries before driving out to the winery.
Pindar vineyards, Long Island's largest vineyard and wine producer, was Rick and Kate's destination for the day. The vineyard boasted a 500-acre lot that grew 17 types of grapes used to make the 23 blends of award-winning wine that this winery offered. Rick and Kate entered the main reception building, an expansive red-roofed white building in the foreground of a seemingly endless green array of carefully sown grape vines. Rick approached the front desk to arrange a tour and wine tasting adventure while Kate lagged behind, looking at pictures and reading up on the history of the winery from various informative plaques arranged on the walls. The receptionist, a handsome older gentleman dressed in a sharp suit, greeted Rick warmly.
"Good afternoon sir, my name is Abraham. How may I help you today?"
"Hi, I'd like to arrange a tour and wine tasting for two today" Rick replied.
"Absolutely. Would you prefer to join a group or take a private tour?"
"I think we would prefer a private tour," Rick motioned towards Kate who was a little ways off. Kate rejoined him at the desk and listened in on their conversation.
The man clicked a few keys on a computer to check for available time slots for a private tour. He adjusted his spectacles and leaned in closer to the screen to read the information. "We have a few time slot openings today. In fact, you're just in luck; Alex is in today to do some private tours. As you may know, this is a family-owned winery. Alex is one of the sons of the vineyard's founder, Dr. Damianos."
"Oh really? Wow, that's great."
"Yes, he is very knowledgeable about the vineyard and all the wines we produce. Feel free to ask him anything about the winery's history, our specialty wines, or even about the wine making process in general."
"We definitely will," Kate assured.
"Now, the private tour will begin with a journey around the vineyard where Alex will show you our various types of grapevines and the harvesting process," Abraham started to explain. "Then you will head to a small tasting room where you can sample some of our award-winning wines. You can stop by our exclusive wine shop to purchase a bottle or two of whichever blends you like. Afterwards, you can enjoy our indoor wine bar with live music and refreshments or perhaps a light meal. Would that be to your liking?"
"Yes that sounds perfect," Rick consented.
"Alright then. May I get a name sir?"
"Richard Castle."
The receptionist typed a few more things into the computer to complete the registration and swiped his credit card for the transaction.
"You're all set. If you and your wife would follow me Mr. Castle," Abraham gestured.
Rick squirmed a little at hearing the term. "Err… she's not my wife," he clarified. Rick looked over at Kate nervously and the two shared an awkward glance.
"Oh my apologies," Abraham quickly redressed his error. "I just assumed so, since most couples who visit here are either married or engaged. Our vineyard is a popular venue for weddings."
"Well we're not married," Rick emphasized. Kate blushed lightly at the simple misjudgment.
"Oh okay. Well then, right this way." He led the pair beyond the mahogany doors into another room and introduced them to Alex, their tour guide.
For the next couple of hours Rick and Kate followed Alex around the lush vineyard, learning about the wine-making process all the way from planting and harvesting to bottling. They enjoyed the natural scenery, wandering around amidst the tranquil and serene landscape. It was fascinating to learn how a simple fruit was transformed into the luxurious elixir that they so often enjoyed. Rick and Kate learned more about the various flavors and undertones of wines and how to distinguish them based on basic wine tasting descriptors.
During the whole tour, Kate noticed that Rick was a little less affectionate than how they used to be when they were around each other. He kept his hands to himself and maintained a normal distance from her, much unlike when they had been together before. Rick was keeping to himself mainly because he didn't know on what terms he was with Kate, not because of his self-imposed arm's length rule. He had violated that rule thoroughly with her last night. Dissatisfied, Kate instead tried to initiate physical contact in a natural way, a brush with his hand here, a gentle caress there. Kate just wanted Rick to know that she that she missed his touch, missed being near him. Kate wanted things to slowly go back to how they were before and this is how they could start. Rick didn't mind when Kate leaned her head against his shoulder or rubbed his back gently; in fact he welcomed the affectionate gestures.
After the tour of the vineyard, Rick and Kate ventured back inside the main building into a wine tasting lounge. The room was a rather large, open venue which allowed the relaxing music played by the live band to resonate. Improvised melodies and snappy trills floated through the air as the jazz band forged their intangible art. The sharp fruity smell of wine mixed in with the hearty scent of lacquer from the woodwork polish permeated the air. Rick and Kate sat at a private end of the bar, secluded from other patrons. The pair casually sipped at various flavors of wine, appraising the tastes and aromas while being serenaded by jazzy tunes. They decided on a couple of their favorite flavors and purchased a few bottles to bring home to enjoy.
Later in the evening after a sumptuous meal at an upscale ocean-side restaurant, Rick and Kate retired to his backyard deck to unwind over a bottle of their favorite wine that they had purchased earlier in the day at the winery. They made their way in tandem to the spacious bed swing suspended from the ceiling of his porch overlooking the expansive, glistening Atlantic. Kate set down two wine glasses on the wicker table as Rick uncorked the bottle and poured the libation into the respective glasses. Rick sat down and settled himself against the plush pillows on the bed swing as Kate followed suit.
Kate desired more intimate physical contact with Rick, but she thought cuddling up to him automatically would seem too forward. She could tell from observing his actions throughout the day that they still weren't completely comfortable with each other. Kate settled on sitting on the couch perpendicularly to Rick so she could face him. Her legs were retracted with her toes snuggled just beside his legs. Rick made a quizzical face at Kate, confused as to why she was sitting like that. Rick didn't know if she wanted to be that close to him, but the way she was sitting didn't look very comfortable. He reached under her legs, extending them so that she could sit with her legs stretched across his lap. Kate scooted to get closer to him and reclined against the swing bed cushions, content with their position. Rick leaned forward to pick up the wine glasses and offered one to Kate, who graciously accepted. They clinked the glasses together ceremoniously and then indulged in the sweet wine.
The sound of waves rhythmically breaking on the shore coupled with the gentle rocking motion of the swing created a soothing atmosphere for relaxing. Rick and Kate sat in comfortable companionship, sipping lazily at their wine while swaying gently to the simple harmonic motion of gravity. The scene was serene and perfect in every way. Rick ran his hands up and down Kate's smooth legs absentmindedly with an affectionate touch while Kate leaned sideways against the cushions with her head propped up by her arm, intently gazing at Rick.
"I feel like it's been ages since we sat down to talk like this," Rick remarked.
"Yeah it's definitely been a while," Kate agreed.
Rick missed this easy company between them, something he truly cherished with her. He loved how they would often spend time together talking honestly about whatever was on their minds. It was nice having someone to share his deepest thoughts and feelings with, having someone who cared about him and someone he could care for in return. Rick was glad that they were finally willing to open up about their problems and find their way back together. This was an opportunity for them to reconnect with each other and develop an intimacy of emotion again. Months of being apart, both geographically and emotionally, had changed and affected both of them in ways that the other wasn't completely aware of. Pain, anger, fear, insecurity—it all had to come out into the open. Communication is key to a healthy relationship after all.
"So what's been on your mind?" Rick inquired.
Kate thought for a bit, swirling the wine around in her glass. Where to start? There was something that had been gnawing away at her mind that she wanted to ask him. "You never really told me how your book tour was," Kate began. She was curious as to what Rick had been up to those few months he had been gone, but not in an accusatory or judgmental way.
"Honestly? I kind of hated it," Rick admitted. "I hardly got any time to myself to sightsee, visit museums, or just wander around in the historic cities. Whenever I wasn't at a book promoting event, I was cooped up in a hotel room working on my novel. It was all work and no play."
Kate was quite surprised by his revelation. "Really? You seemed like you were enjoying yourself in those photos…"
"That was all forced, half-hearted smiles for publicity. You know how it is; I have to keep up my image for PR purposes. I actually used to like going on these tours when I was younger. It was all new and exciting and a lot of fun for me being just an up and coming author at the time. I would fly to exotic cities, attend to parties where I was the center of attention, have all these beautiful women flaunting themselves at me…" Kate winced at that last one. "But honestly, I've grown tired of all the parties and fanfare. It's exhausting meeting and greeting so many strangers, especially in a foreign country, for extended periods of time. I had to use Gina as arm candy just to keep the fangirls at bay. And catching trains and flights to new cities every few days was hectic and physically taxing. After two weeks or so I really just wanted to go home…"
Kate hummed with understanding. She could tell that Rick was being honest about how he felt about the trip and not saying these things because the tour had separated them for so long and caused a huge rift in their relationship. He wasn't just giving excuses for his behavior and lack of communication the past few months.
Rick frowned. "Speaking of Gina, she practically held me hostage most of the time. I had to follow her schedule to a T all the time and she wouldn't let me have my phone or the Wi-Fi password in most hotels. She said they were a distraction to my writing, which I was behind on. And we were constantly on the move between hotels and cities, so I didn't have much time to myself to do other things. That's why I couldn't keep in contact during the tour…"
"Oh…" Kate sipped at her wine as she mulled over the complexities of his trip. So Rick did have valid reasons for not keeping in touch; he wasn't just using Gina as a lame excuse. The revelation made Kate feel guiltier about cutting things off with him so abruptly when he got back.
"You two seemed like you were getting along when she came by the precinct to pick you up for your flight," Kate observed.
Rick shrugged. "Yeah we have been getting along better but she's still my publisher and she likes to keep things on a tight leash when it comes to work."
"Ah…"
Rick set his wine glass down and paused for a moment, considering how he should tell Kate about the details of that one night with Gina. "Can I tell you something?" Rick asked, looking at Kate earnestly.
"Of course," she assured him.
"I want to be completely honest with you and tell you everything."
"Okay…" Kate said apprehensively.
"There was an… incident between me and Gina while we were on the tour," Rick tried to paint the event as delicately as possible.
"What kind of incident?" Kate inquired, borrowing his term. She pulled her legs back instinctively and sat more upright to listen to his ostensible confession. Kate set down her empty wine glass on the wicker table next to Rick's.
"Well, we had to share a hotel room for a few nights in Paris because the hotel was overbooked. After a party one night, Gina was a bit drunk so I took her back to the hotel."
This didn't sound good. Kate could feel the jealousy and despondence starting to churn in her stomach. She bit her lip in anticipation of being let down by a lapse in judgment on Rick's behalf.
"She kissed me and well, tried to come on to me…" Rick admitted awkwardly. "But I told her no," he stated firmly.
"Oh." A huge mental wave of relief washed over Kate. She kept quiet to see if Rick would continue, but he didn't say anything further. "That's it?" Kate questioned.
"Yeah. I promise nothing else happened. I mean, we've hooked up a few times after our divorce, but this time I didn't want to because… my heart was somewhere else." Rick looked at Kate sincerely. "Please don't be mad." His eyes entreated Kate for understanding. She couldn't be angry at him at all for the incident, which wasn't even his fault. Rick had done the honorable thing by turning his ex-wife down in favor of staying faithful to Kate. Maybe he did think of their relationship as something more than just casual…
"It's okay, I'm not. I don't think I'm allowed to be mad even if you did do something with her…"
"Why not?" Rick wondered aloud.
"Because of the Demming thing…" Kate admitted slowly. Hearing Rick's admission made Kate feel all the more guilty about how she had been trying to forget about Rick by seeing Demming occasionally.
"Oh."
"Yeah…" Kate's wispy voice trailed off. Rick's demeanor shifted at the mention of Demming's name. A deep frown spread across his face, unpleased at the reminder of Kate's other suitor. Kate could sense Rick tensing up and pulling away from her physically. He reached over to the table to refill both their wine glasses and took a generous gulp from his, needing the alcohol in his system.
"The Demming thing wasn't okay…" Rick stated plainly after a long pause, gazing broodingly into the distance.
"I know," Kate replied in a quiet voice. She picked up her wine glass and held it close, intently observing the red liquid slosh in the crystal glass while avoiding eye contact with Rick.
Rick's jaw clenched as he thought about how to approach the topic while they were being honest and open with each other.
"What happened between you and him?" he finally asked.
It was Kate's turn to be honest with Rick about Demming. "Remember that robbery-homicide case we were working when you left for your tour? Well Demming joined our team to help us with the case since it involved a stolen phone prototype. He eventually tracked it down and helped me get a confession from the suspect."
"And then what?" Rick prodded.
"And then… we saw each other a few times after that over drinks or dinner. Nothing serious."
Rick considered the lack of details Kate was offering. He didn't want to ask the next question, but he had to know the whole truth. Rick turned to look Kate squarely in the eyes. "Did you sleep with him?" His voice was strained, clearly tinged with jealousy.
"No, no we didn't go that far," she declared.
"Phew." Rick let out a breath of air that he didn't even know he was holding.
"But if we're being honest," Kate began. "We did kiss," she admitted ashamedly. "Once."
"When?"
"When he was helping me move my stuff out of your apartment. I'm sorry Rick," Kate offered genuinely. "I should have honored what we had even though you were away…"
Rick nodded in somber agreement. His face was etched with tension, but didn't betray much emotion beyond that.
"Honestly, I was using him as a distraction from you. That's why I continued to see him even after you got back. I just wanted to forget how hurt I felt and how much I missed you," Kate confessed. "Are you mad?" she asked.
Rick sighed longingly and turned back to face Kate. "Kind of, but I forgive you. What's done is done. It's in the past and all we can do is move forward."
"Okay." Kate was incredibly grateful that Rick was willing to forgive her so readily. He really was such an amazing man with a good heart like that. She still wanted to make things right between them somehow though. It was something that she felt she had to do.
Rick leaned back against the couch swing, reclining against the soft cushions. Kate still had her legs pulled back close to her body, away from him. She played with the stem of her wine glass and observed Rick carefully in silence.
The sea breeze brushing against beach grass filled the silence of their lull in conversation. Kate wanted to know how Rick was doing, how he was really feeling inside. Rick was pretty good at concealing his emotions and maintaining a professional demeanor whenever they were at work, but Kate knew that there was so much more intense emotion brewing beneath the surface.
Kate moved closer to Rick and reached over to take his hand in hers.
"How are you, really?" she emphasized. "I know these past few months have been rough on both of us and we haven't had a chance to really catch up. I want to know how you're doing." Kate squeezed his hand with a gentle touch.
He pondered for a moment, thinking back to all the emotional turmoil he had been through in the past half a year. Everything with Kate had been fragile from the start, the Europe trip had interrupted a lot of other things in his life, and Alexis was going off to college soon… there was so much craziness going on and Rick was struggling to juggle it all. Rick hadn't really opened up to anyone else about any of this. There just wasn't anyone else he felt close enough to confide in. As he held Kate's hand, he found that genuine, deeper companionship they had since lost once again. The simple physical gesture connected them more intimately than what one could observe on the surface.
Kate studied his eyes intently, wondering what complexities and struggles lay behind those eyes.
"I'm… not that okay," Rick finally conceded.
"Why not?" Kate asked with concern.
"Well, Alexis is leaving for college soon. She's growing up so fast and I'm just not ready for her to leave. And after the Europe tour… you left right when I got back. I just feel like everyone that I lo-care about is leaving," Rick sighed defeatedly. He barely caught himself before using the L-word. The thought of them both leaving brought Rick a heavy sadness again. Everything was changing so quickly and he wasn't ready for it.
Kate's heart broke for him. She didn't realize that her leaving had affected Rick so much. That coupled with Alexis going off to college would surely take a toll on him emotionally. Two people Rick cared about so much leaving at the same time would be devastating to him.
"Oh Rick," Kate breathed with compassion. She set down her wine glass and embraced him instead. Kate ran a hand through Rick's hair and cupped his face with her hand, gently cradling his cheek and caressing him. He let her hold him, relishing the warmth of her loving touch. She tilted his head to face hers, their faces inches apart, and looked deeply into his eyes.
"I know things are changing and it's scary, but that's life. Everything changes," Kate started to explain. "Alexis got into a lot of schools around New York so there's a good chance that she'll still be in-state or relatively close to home. She's a responsible girl and you know that she can handle herself. Plus I'm sure she'll come home and visit during the holidays or breaks. You have to let her grow up sometime…" she said in a soothing voice.
"I know…" Rick acknowledged begrudgingly.
"It's going to be okay. Just because Alexis is going off to college doesn't mean you're going to lose her. She'll always be your daughter."
Rick nodded with affirmation, feeling comforted by her words. Cognitively, Rick knew that he had to let Alexis leave the nest eventually; he really just needed to share his worries out in the open with someone.
"As for me," Kate continued, addressing Rick's other concern. She couldn't stop Alexis from leaving or growing up, but this one she could fix. "I'm here now, and this is exactly where I want to be." Kate took his hand in hers again and squeezed it reassuringly with a confident smile.
Rick's forlorn demeanor softened as he gazed upon Kate's kind face and he considered her words. They were encouraging yet vague at the same time. He still wasn't clear on what terms they were with regard to their personal affairs. Rick and Kate still both had doubts and fears about each other and their nebulous relationship.
"But what are we even doing?" he asked her.
That she didn't have an answer for. "I don't really know…" Kate admitted honestly. A pensive expression crossed her face as she thought about their past history together.
It was high time they addressed the meaning of their relationship. They were both still afraid of what would happen if things didn't work out, but they needed to put these fears out in the open and face them together.
"It's like we've been doing this dance with each other for the past two years…" Kate observed thoughtfully. "What happens when the music stops? What if all we were in love with was the dance?" That was her greatest fear—that things weren't serious between them. That they would fall apart eventually, which would break her heart.
"What if we continue being extraordinary together?" Rick countered with another hypothetical. "We'll never know until we try…."
They gazed into each other's eyes intently, captured by each other, both considering his proposition in silence. Rick wasn't sure if what they had was real, but he knew exactly how he felt about her. That he knew was real and he wanted her to know.
"Kate, this was never about the sex for me," Rick finally remarked. "This is more than just sex to me."
Kate's heart sped up when she heard his words. "Me too," she breathed quietly, still with Rick in an intimate embrace.
"We never talked about us being more…" he pointed out. "I think we both deserve more than this," Rick stated firmly.
"I agree."
"What you said not belonging in my world," Rick began, recalling what Kate had claimed when she ended things that day in the precinct. "The whole literary rock-star scene isn't really my world anymore. I want to be here. I choose to work together with you every day and I hope that us being partners for the past few years proves that I can belong in your world too."
"I know that's not you anymore…" Kate expressed. "I'm so sorry for how harshly I judged you. You're an amazing man and I'm beyond lucky to have known you, much less to have you as a partner and a friend… and as more than that. Our partnership, our relationship, is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me," she realized out loud. Damn. She was falling for him. Or had fallen for him. Kate didn't know. Whatever the case, there was definitely some falling involved.
Rick's heart swelled with joy as the woman he loved confessed how much he meant to her too. Radiant grins spread across both of their faces respectively at the new development in their romantic relationship.
"You know I'm bad at letting people in. But I'm going to try. I'm going to try and trust you," Kate declared. "Because I believe that we can be extraordinary together rather than ordinary apart."
"That's all I'm asking for," Rick accepted. He picked up their wine glasses and offered Kate hers, proposing a toast.
"To us," Rick grinned with hope sparkling in his eyes, raising his glass.
"To us," Kate echoed.
They clinked glasses and finished drinking the last aliquots of red wine. After setting down their glasses, Rick turned his attention back to his love and pulled her in for a deep kiss. His lips met hers effortlessly and their eyes fluttered shut to feel what the eye couldn't see. His tongue sensually explored the caverns of her mouth once more, licking, tasting, and dueling with hers. Rick wove his fingers through her luscious hair, bringing his hand down her jawline to cup her cheek. Kate's hands eagerly roamed Rick's neck and chest, needing to feel every inch of his body and claim him as hers.
"Mmmm," Rick mumbled, letting out a low hum of satisfaction that reverberated against Kate's mouth. He could feel her grin against his mouth and saw that she was indeed smiling when he briefly opened his eyes. Kate broke the kiss to climb onto Rick's lap, straddling him suggestively. She resumed kissing him again, this time more deeply and forcefully. They hungrily sucked and nipped at each other with fervor, the passion and desire between them escalating rapidly as they devoured each other's mouths. Hearts were racing, pupils were dilating, and hands were wandering to hidden places.
They took each other's breath away, now both panting and gasping for air. Rick broke his mouth from Kate's to lead a blazing trail of kisses down her neck, paying special attention to her sweet spots. Lust burned like molten lava in her loins as Rick tasted her sensitive flesh. The deep desire for him only grew hotter by the second, now leaking onto her panties.
Kate ground her hips into his while he grazed her neck, eliciting a groan from Rick. She could feel the signs of his arousal caused by her wicked actions growing more and more evident.
"Do you want to?" she asked breathlessly, as if the answer wasn't so obviously pressing against her lower body.
"Mmhmm," Rick acceded with a low growl against her neck. He was already pushing down the thin straps of her dress and unclasping her bra.
"Inside? Or… uhh," Kate could hardly form words as Rick moved his attention to her breasts, now free of their confines.
"It's a private beach," Rick explained tersely. "The closest neighbors are a mile away."
"Oh, okay. Good."
Rick buried his face in her topless bosom, relishing the feel of her soft milky flesh. He took one nipple in his mouth, sucking gently, and pleasured the other with his skilled fingers. Kate moaned as he stimulated the sensitive mounds, the titillating sensations only arousing her further.
When Rick resurfaced, he captured her lips once more. Kate unbuttoned his shirt as they kissed, expertly removing it without breaking their connection. Her hands moved down to his pants, massaging the massive bulge that was straining for release. She felt his erect member with her hands, hard evidence of his desire for her. Kate undid his buckle and removed his pants and boxers swiftly, finally freeing his pulsing cock. She kneeled in front of Rick between his legs, taking his shaft in her hand and stroking it a few times. Rick watched with mesmerization as Kate ran her hot tongue up and down the length, preparing to take him in her mouth. She licked the sensitive head with quick flicks of the tongue, sending tingling pleasure through his loins.
Kate finally went down on him, taking a good length of his cock in her mouth. She bobbed up and down, alternating between sucking with her mouth and pumping it with her hand. Rick moaned with pleasure at her incredibly satisfying performance.
The need to feel him inside her was becoming unbearable. She stood up to face him. "Rick, I need you" Kate demanded.
Rick consented by reaching under the skirt of her dress, pulling down her soaking panties and discarding them quickly. Kate mounted Rick on the bed swing once more, positioning herself with his shaft at her entrance. He guided the tip of his cock into her as Kate held onto his shoulders for stability. They both groaned with immense satisfaction as she descended onto him, taking his length into her pussy. She shuddered at the first penetration, feeling him stretch her deliciously.
"Oh god, Rick."
"Oh Kate" he sighed, feeling the hot walls of her sex envelop him.
Kate starting moving up and down gradually, enjoying the sensation of him repeatedly filling her to the hilt. Rick let his hands and mouth roam her naked flesh while he watched Kate pleasure herself with his body, equally enjoying every carnal movement. Though they had been together many times before, each sensation was none the less titillating. She sped up her movements, now bouncing up and down at a faster pace with shallower strokes. More friction accompanied this increase in tempo, giving them each more pleasure.
Rick met Kate's lips for a quick kiss as she rode him vigorously, both panting for breath as they climbed the mountain of consummation together. Shockwaves of ecstasy rippled through their bodies every time she slammed down onto him, bringing them both closer and closer to the peak of eros. She looked right into his eyes as she continued riding him, her hot breath and slick body overwhelming his senses. Rick held onto her hips firmly, now taking over control of generating movement. He thrust upward into her forcefully with an even faster rhythm.
Kate was starting to lose herself to passions of the flesh, close to the edge of climax. Rick was right behind her on the trail to euphoria, his heart thundering in his chest. Just a few more powerful strokes sent Kate over the edge, her body shaking with pure, unadulterated pleasure.
"Oh Rick," Kate cried, throwing her head back in reckless abandon as the temporary state of incredible euphoria overcame her body.
The feeling of her walls clamping down on him sent Rick into ecstasy too, finally reaching his climax.
"Oh Kate," he exclaimed. Rick moaned loudly as he came, shooting off his hot seed into her.
Kate slowly milked out his load, riding out the last waves of their orgasm. Their panting breaths and rapid heartbeats slowed down to normal rates. They finished up this round of sex with long, drugging kisses and satisfied sighs, the motion of their bodies reaching a standstill. After coming down from that wonderful high and regaining her breath, Kate dismounted Rick and started gathering their clothes.
"Come on let's head to bed," Kate suggested. "So we can do that again," she enticed with a naughty grin.
"As you wish," Rick smiled back at her.
Kate took his hand with her free one and navigated into the house with Rick in tow. Back in his bedroom, they climbed into his luxurious bed and proceeded to make love to each other again and again all throughout the night.
Even though they hadn't said it in so many words, this time they knew where they stood and how they felt about each other. Who was to say they couldn't be here for now? They were one step further from unsure and one step closer to a hundred.
So this is where you are and this is where I am
Somewhere between unsure and a hundred
A/N: Merry Christmas everyone! My gift to you, this LONG chapter. FYI, the song lyrics for this chapter are from "Hundred" by the Fray, which is where the title of this story comes from.