Kate Beckett doesn't sleep much during the night. She can't stop thinking about the way he looked at her, the way he tried his best to make her feel better through the pain of losing her training partner. Castle was so sweet and caring and, fuck, so hard to resist. She's tried so hard not to give in, knows just how bad he'll break her heart if she gives in, but it's hard. Especially at times like last night when he's looking at her with those ocean blue eyes along with those tentative words she can see comes straight from the heart. She'd been so close to kissing him last night and her mind keeps playing an alternative scenario if she'd just given in. It also kept playing a scene of him still sitting at the couch when she opened the door again, a scene that were most definitely the reason behind some of her insomnia.

Kate sits down by the murder board, writing new things they've learned, trying to focus her mind onto the case they came here for. When she hears the door to his room open behind her she waits a few seconds before turning around to greet him, her lips turning up in a smile as she takes in his morning look. He's in the hotel's white robe, shirt and pants underneath along with bed hair.

"Wow! Somebody's up early," he says with a yawn, a look of surprise and tiredness as he comes closer to her.

"Hey," she greets.

"What, did you pack a murder board?"

She smiles at that, shakes her head as she answers. "Concierge. I called down and then 10 minutes later, voilà."

"Maurice is amazing, isn't he?" Castle says with a small kind of excitement.

"Yeah," she whispers, biting her lip as her eyes glances over his body. All the night's thoughts comes rushing back into her mind and she curses herself for not being able to keep herself in control.

After a long silence she senses him start turning bit on his heels, restless under her eyes. "What?"

She realizes he's noticed her staring and shakes her head while clenching her eyes shut. "Nothing, sorry. Just… deep in thought about the case," she lies as she turns back to the murder board again.

He hums from behind her and she bites her lip with her eyes closed, hoping he can't see it or knows the lie she just told. Her mind goes to the letter Royce tried to send her multiple times. The fact that he'd seen the pull she feels towards Castle still jolts her heart, because she honestly thought she was great at hiding it. Then again, she knows Lanie has been going on and on and on about that connection ever since the writer started shadowing her. It just… hurts a little more knowing Royce had noticed it. Especially considering she won't be able to tell him he's wrong, even though he's right.

"How'd you sleep?" his question interrupts her thoughts and she turns her head slightly to see him come closer with two cups of coffee in his hands. When did he put on coffee?

"I-uh," kept thinking of you, "slept good. The bed is cozy." She accepts the coffee with a smile tugging at her lips. "Thanks."

He smiles that beautiful smile she finds herself falling for. "Always," he says and her heart melts at the sentiment.

Looking down she puts the cup to her lips, sipping carefully. When the hot black beverage goes down her throat she can feel her body relax just a bit more. She observes her coffee for a couple seconds before she carefully glances towards him, sitting at the couch with his eyes focused on the whiteboard and the things she's written. She can't help but wonder what he's thinking about, if he's truly thinking about the case or if there's something else occupying his mind. Catching Royce's killer should be her number one priority but she's finding her own mind betraying her as she once again starts to think about the moment they shared yesterday. What was she planning on doing when she opened the door again? Would she kiss him? Tell him she wanted to give them a try? Would he feel the same?

"What's on your mind?" Castle suddenly pulls her back again and she once again curses herself for her lack of focus.

She sighs, putting a hand over her face to quite literally show how exhausted she was. "Too many things," she admits and witnesses as he puts down his coffee to raise from the couch.

Holding her breath she follows his movements as he walks up to her and sinks down to his knees behind her. Before she can really think about what's happening she feels his hands land on her shoulders.

"Whatareyoudoing?" she says in one breath and he starts moving his thumbs around her shoulders.

"Giving you a massage, you look like you need it. You sure you slept well?" he explains as he starts kneading her shoulders.

Without her permission her whole body relaxes into his hands, she feels her tense shoulders melt into pudding. She can't help but hang her head down, her eyes closing at the pleasure, it didn't take much more encouragement for him to start using a little bit more pressure and it felt heavenly. She heard herself moan suddenly and felt her body betray her at the shiver going down her spine, making her bite her lower lip to try and gain some self control again. His hands starts to move towards her back, constantly kneading patterns into her skin and Kate feels herself lean forwards as if her body is preparing to fall asleep to the amazing way his fingers are tracing her back.

"If you want me to stop just say stop," her partner whispers into the silence and she hums.

She doesn't want him to stop, it's the first time since she saw her former friend lying on the ground with a gunshot in his body that she can truly feel herself relax. One part of her wonders how the hell he's able to make her feel so free, while another just tells her she should've known he can.

The sudden ring of her phone makes her jump and his hands immediately leave her. She quickly raises and picks her phone up from the table by the couch.

"It's Montgomery," she says pursing her lips.

"Don't answer?" he says and she shakes her head.

"Wasn't planning on it." He chuckles at that and she smiles, glad to know they still think alike. She starts to think about all the possibilities that are opening up for them, the fact that he decided to follow her here only to let her know he would always stand by her. That no matter what he is indeed always there for her. Then she remembers why they're here and she looks down to her feet, taking a breath in. "We should get back on the case," she murmurs and she can see his shoulders slump a bit.

Carefully she walks back to him, bites her lip as she takes his hand in hers, playing with his fingers. "After this case, let's talk. For real." She looks into his eyes the second they snap to hers. She sees the hope sparkle in those blues and she feels her insides fill with the same emotion.

"Okay," he whispers and they smile, searching each others eyes for a few more seconds before they let go of the moment to get back to the case that brought them there, the case that would end with a start of something new.

THE END