A/N: Sooooo, this prompt was sent to me by /jin589 and can be read at the bottom. Thank you so much Jinette and I really hope you enjoy the story your prompt inspired! Until next time, xxxx


Kate rolls her eyes as she sees women throwing themselves at the shadow she can't seem to get rid off. She's not even sure why she's here, at a book-party, in the first place. Then again so is Esposito, Ryan, Montgomery and Lanie. Which reminds her Lane is the biggest reason why she's actually here. If it had been her own decision she wouldn't have been here.

"Urgh," she groans as silently as she possibly can as she walks to the bar.

She orders a drink, thinking if she drinks it somewhat slowly she can leave right after and still have been there enough time in order for it to be ok to leave. She sits down and accepts the drink, gazing around the room. She finds Castle almost immediately, talking to another woman who seemingly is asking for him to sign her chest. Which of course he does. Along with that smirk of his. Urgh. She wishes she could wash… no, smack it off his stupid face. He's so full of himself and thinks everyone wants him. His first words to her had been about her spanking him and if she hadn't been trying to solve a case she would've loved to arrest him. Which she'd done later in that case but apparently that hadn't helped at all. Because she's sitting here, at a book party invited by him, and even though he has plenty of women throwing themselves all over him she can't seem to get him to stop following her around. No matter how many times she's shown she's not interested in him or his glamour.

"Isn't he handsome?" a woman says beside her and Kate almost chokes on her sip.

"What?" she asks when she realizes the woman is talking to her.

"Richard Castle, isn't he absolutely amazing," she more says than asks and Kate rolls her eyes.

"He's not," Kate says without thinking and feels the woman's eyes bore into her skull.

"What? Of course he is! He's handsome, kind, wealthy and…"

"Self-centered, egotistical," Kate murmurs as she takes another sip.

"What? No!" the woman suddenly bursts into a lecture telling her all about how amazing he is and why he would be the perfect husband, to which Kate just states he's already had two failed marriages. To which the woman had gone nuts, saying that had been because they hadn't been "the one". Kate just managed not to say "and you think you are" and stayed quiet while she continued sipping her drink.

Once her drink is finally finished she turns to the woman beside her and holds up her hand for her to stop talking.

"You're right. He's a real catch. A real… gold rush," she states sarcastically before she stands up and walks away.

She quickly finds her friends and bids them a good night before she goes to get her coat. She's been her long enough, at least in her opinion, and she's more than ready to go home and take a long nice bath. As soon as she's gotten her coat she turns to leave only to jerk back when he's standing right there in front of her.

"Wait, you leaving?" Castle asks and she groans.

"Yes, I am and you can't stop me," she fixes her coat and starts buttoning it.

"But, I haven't… I… could I get you a drink?" She gives him a tired look. "Please?"

His eyes search hers and she gives him her look. His blue eyes softens and she feels her muscles soften along with them until she catches herself and stiffens her body again.

"No, thank you. I'm done for the evening." She picks up her phone to check for trains.

Just like always he invades her space and looks at her phone. "No, let me call you a car."

"Absolutely not. Castle, I can take care of myself. I don't need your money or rivalry," she says, the last part not meant to come out but guess the drink did have a little more alcohol in it than she had expected.

His ocean blues widens in shock before he gets confused. "I know you don't need it, you're extraordinary. And generous enough to let me see it, so I just wanted to pay back some of it."

Her heart clenches, his blues are so sincere and she finds herself drowning in them. Damnit. She shakes her head, and looks around to try and look at anything but him. She doesn't like a gold rush. She doesn't want him like everyone else. She's not falling for her shadow.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay? Please? I hate these parties," he only just whispers the last part and she's surprised because he actually looks like he's telling the truth.

She sighs and shakes her head again. "I don't want to stay here, Castle. It's giving me a headache just being here."

He looks around before quickly grabbing her hand and pulling her with him as he quickly makes for the exit.

"What are you doing?" she questions and he smiles at her.

"Taking you out of there so we can cure your headache," he says and she rolls her eyes.

She thinks about pulling away and going home but something about his behavior makes her curious, and so she just follows. Before she knows it she's accepting a warm cup of coffee as they continue walking down the street.

"So, you don't like book parties?" Kate asks after a long time of silence.

"Yeah, no, I don't," he says and she gives him a questioning look. "It's not like I can be myself around all those people. You saw how they were like, 'sign this'," he gestures with his hands, "'sign that'-"

"'Sign my chest'," she teases and he makes a face.

"I don't mind that one so much," he says and she rolls her eyes. "I'm joking."

She takes another sip of the hot coffee and moans at the taste.

"Good?" he asks and she hums. "Thanks for being my escape out of the party."

She chuckles. "Not like I had a choice."

"Oh," he looks down and she bumps her shoulder with his.

"At least I got coffee," she says and he looks at her and smiles. "Thanks."

"No problem."

They look at each other and she gets stuck in his blues again. She feels this pull against him and she's not sure how to stop it, she hates everything that is his "famous persona", but him as himself, like this, when they're alone… this him… this him she likes. Before she knows it they've stopped in their tracks, just staring at each other. There's a depth to his blue eyes that she hasn't noticed before and she can't help but lean in closer to look deeper. Drowning. She's not realizing how close she is until their noses are touching and she feels this tension increasing between them and she starts breathing harder. She can feel his breath on her and it's as strained as hers is.

"You won't shoot me?" he breathes and she reads his blues like a book before she shakes her head so slightly it doesn't disturb their noses still being in contact.

"No," she exhales and then he doesn't hesitate anymore.

His lips catch hers in a slow kiss, which she immediately reciprocates. And, god, there's a lot more tingles and tension than she's ever felt before. His hands land on her hips, pulling her closer as her hands slowly travel up to reach into his hair. One hand stays in his hair, tangling, and the other caresses his cheek. The slow kiss slowly grows hotter and stronger. They're not pulling apart until they both need air.

"Wow," she breathes out and he hums.

"Yeah."

She pulls away a little bit, bites her lip as she looks up at him. "No one can know."

He gives her a face showing him he's thinking about it. "On one condition," he eventually says and she narrows her eyebrows. "You agree to go on a date with me, a real date, and see where this could take us."

She bites her inside cheek. His hand seeks hers and his fingers play with hers, sending electric shocks into her skin. Fuck.

"Okay," she agrees before stepping onto her toes and kissing his lips again.

"Mm, good," he says kissing her back.

This time, when they part, they start walking towards her apartment again. This time while holding hands, their fingers tangled.

THE END


Prompt: "Gold Rush" by Taylor Swift. Brought to life Caskett style.