Prologue
An orgasm came over them, pulling them closer together, and as she dug her nails into his back, she moaned contentedly. In response, he growled
something unintelligible and clutched her shoulders roughly. Kate cried out again, but more briefly and pitifully. Her disheveled hair spread across the pillow, her fingers cramped with love spasm, and she could neither unclench her embrace nor free herself from his. But Castle wasn't about to let her go, just relaxed her tense muscles a little. Burying his face in the silky strands, he noisily inhaled the exhilarating mixture of the aroma of tart cherries and the delightful smell of a heated female body.
Her body was still trembling from the sensation, her eyelashes fluttering, and a contented sigh escaped her wet lips. Slowly coming to her senses, Kate lazily slid her palms over his sweaty back. Barely able to unlock her eyes, Castle kissed her on the lips and, opening his arms, leaned back exhaustedly on the pillows. His chest heaved heavily.
- Wow, that's great! - Castle said when his breathing had evened out a
little. He kept his satisfied gaze on his woman, still hugging his thighs
with her knees. - Really, I had no idea what you were capable of.
Flicking the heavy strands from her forehead, Beckett leaned back and sniffed greedily at the spicy, musky scent that permeated the bedroom air. Helplessly delighted at the man's powerlessness, she squeezed her strong shoulders and leaned in slightly. His luxurious hair slipped from his shoulders and the soft tips touched his chest and face, which lit up with a blissful smile. The tension of passion subsided in waves, filling every cell of their bodies with lingering heat. Squinting contentedly, like a cat in the sun, Kate lay on her back beside Castle and then rolled over onto her side, propping her head up with her hand.
- Hey! Don't you mean to tell me you've shown me everything you can do? - she watched him with pleasure. - It seems to me that you still have a lot to hide...
Dropping an amorous glance from under her fluffy lashes, Beckett gently
stroked the tubercles of her ribs under her hot skin with her fingertips.
- I could say the same about you," Castle intercepted the thin hand and now gently stroked the velvet hollows between her knuckles. - You keep slipping away, just to get closer. But in the year of our relationship, I'm getting to know you more and more...
Rick fell silent, catching the changeable facial expressions, waiting for the continuation, while Beckett thoughtfully ran her nail over the barely visible cubes of his abs: though he looked athletic, but his figure was almost always hidden by suits, and the owner of the abs lacked seriousness.
- What about the other four years? - she murmured, intertwining her fingers and gazing fondly into his eyes. - Couldn't they be called a relationship?
- Ah, that... It was more like a secret physical passion without the reverse thrust.
- Without the reverse thrust, say too... - Beckett snorted and unhooked her fingers.
- Here's where I disagree, and I can think of enough moments when the sexual tension between us could have been cut with a knife. If you knew how my imagination exploded, imagining limitless power over you.
- Mmm, dream on," she sat up straight and threw back her tangled curls,
wrapping her arms around her knees. - But it makes me feel good to know that you wanted me then and you want me now. You encouraged me to open up...
The soft light of the nightlight allowed him to see only the blurred features of her face and left the contours of her supple body in the darkness. He raised himself slightly on his elbows for a better view.
- It seems that Miss Beckett has decided to share a deep secret," his lips stretched into a mischievous smile, and his eyes sparkled with amusement, indicating a burning and genuine interest.
That frank look embarrassed her a little. Kate bowed her head bashfully,
hiding her eyes, and spoke slowly, choosing each word:
- I know I can trust you," she wanted to blow off the playful curl, but the damp strand stiffened, and Beckett carelessly tucked it behind her ear.
- Secrets are hard to keep to yourself. They're destructive. After I was
wounded, I finally realized that, but the realization... it came much later. In the meantime, I've been trying hard to hide my interest in you. I wanted to be close to you and keep you at a distance at the same time. I was afraid of losing control.
- Me? - Rick licked his parched lips.
- Above myself," Beckett hushed and sent him a mischievous smile.
He took her hand and pulled her toward him. Kate leaned in so that her
breasts were touching his and reached up with her lips for a resounding kiss. The response was equally eager. Their tongues intertwined like playful snakes, teasing and enticing each other, and their mutual kisses grew more intense and sensual.
The lack of air in their lungs forced them to pause. Pulling away slightly, Kate took a breath and nestled her ear against the man's chest, and his hot, loving heart responded with heavy thuds from within. The lure of his beloved's closeness even made Rick mumble softly. Closing his eyelids, he murmured:
- You haven't told me everything yet.
- Sure," Kate agreed, and shielded her eyes, too. - I tried to keep my
distance, but I couldn't help the teasing. You know me.
- I know," she was ready to swear he was smiling.
- It's so great to watch you stare at my butt and quietly tell yourself, "No, not yet." Or when my breasts "quite accidentally" touch yours, you forget how to breathe. Oh, poor... - Beckett gave a sympathetic chuckle.
- Believe me, I noticed you and did everything I could to hold you back. It pained me to watch you get lost and retreat, giving me space and time. Your stamina finally won me over. Thank you so much, Castle.
- You were going to tell me this for a long time, Kate," his voice barely
trembled, "but I swore to myself that I would definitely wait for this
exciting moment.
- I'm ashamed," she covered her face with her hands, "because I saw your
attraction, but I was afraid to be one of many, so I kept doubting its
veracity.
- I've been honest with you," he said softly, revealing the beautiful but sad face of his beloved. - When you were being stubborn and running away, I thought we were playing a game that only we knew the rules of.
- We've been playing around. Four years, it's crazy... - Kate looked up at him sadly. - And you played it all the way to the end, never once breaking down. You know what you are? You're the most impossible, and arrogant, and insane person in the world. You've always been there for me, and I don't know what I'd do without you, honey.
- You'd be boiling in your own juice," Rick encouraged her with a smile, but he immediately furrowed his brow and ordered in a stern tone:
- Stop beating yourself up right now! You'd better remind me again, what was that accidental thing you did?
- Ah, that! - Beckett caught his thought with evident relief, and charming dimples appeared on her cheeks. - I swear it's not some kind of coincidence. On the contrary, there's even a certain regularity to it.
- A pattern? - he was a little dazed. - And why did I keep telling myself
that the magic of our feelings wasn't just a coincidence? I looked into your tired face and those sad eyes, and I wanted desperately to drag you to a secluded corner to prove that that was what was missing from our partnership.
- You took a big risk, Castle. It wouldn't have cost me anything to put down the overconfident type," she sparkled her eyes. - It's a good thing you didn't.
Seeing Castle push his lip back in offense, Kate hastily covered his mouth with the palm of her hand.
- Shh, don't give me any empty grudges. You better tell me how much you've been dreaming about me.
- I still remember vividly our first meeting and the interrogation," he
smiled, playing with the damp, tangled locks of her hair. - I'll never forget your stiff lips and your scratchy gaze. I was sure you were annoyed by my mere presence at the station. No matter what I did, all my actions wreaked total havoc on your life. Are you laughing?
She lowered her eyes and pressed her trembling lips into a thin line, and
Castle continued:
- My writing instincts... Don't laugh! So it told me that your unapproachable appearance is just a hard shell preventing you from being free. First in jest and then in earnest I thought of changing you, and here it is - the long-awaited result.
Here he smirked slyly.
- You were like an impregnable fortress, but what was to stop me from going military? - Rick paused for effect. - Just look at our argument at the shooting range.
- Oh," Kate bit her lip cheerfully and softly stroked the bottom of his
stomach, "that was quite a divorce! Honestly, I wanted to wipe that
triumphant grin off your face. I can't believe I had the guts to... So,
what's next?
- It was the best I'd ever dreamed of. Your figure drove me crazy, and that crimson blouse was so tight across my chest that I wanted you right there.
Imagining the unambiguous scene, Kate smiled wryly.
- Okay. (chuckles) Despite my unapproachable appearance, let's assume that in the shower I didn't mind at all. A hard day's work, a tough case calls for a good night's rest with a bath, some wine and a man, and then you just happened to come along... So, what did you do?
- It was as simple as Poseidon's trident. I would stand close, and while you were aiming, I would gently touch your neck with my lips, my heart swooning at the smell of your perfume, so intoxicating and arousing at the same time. My warm palms would rest confidently on your firm breasts, gently squeezing your nipples until there was a quiet moan and shiver throughout your body. Of course, I wouldn't stop halfway, and my proof of my love for you would have no limits. Unable to stop, I would caress and caress you, harder and harder, until I couldn't...
- Stop! Stop!" Kate jumped off the bed so abruptly that Rick stared at her in surprise as she picked up the scattered laundry from the floor. - Pack it up!
- Where?" Castle cocked his eyebrows.
- To the shooting gallery," Beckett clutched her clothes to her chest and
looked expectantly at her incomparable man, who for some reason wasn't
catching up now.
- Are you out of your mind? It's one o'clock in the morning! - and he looked at the electronic display of the alarm clock. The glowing numbers confirmed his amazement.
- When has that ever bothered us? - She snorted and rolled her eyes. -
Besides, it's our day off, and no one's stopping us from... Shoot," Kate
paused, her eyebrow twitching mockingly. - Or is my kitty shy?
- Who? Me!? Well, no," Castle took offence at the look, and got out of bed.
- Then let's get ready," Kate slipped her feet into her slippers and slid to the bathroom door. - For authenticity's sake, I'll dress as I did then.
She disappeared inside, and before the water poured, Castle heard a voice
muffled by the door:
- Well, in the meantime, you can...
- Make us some coffee," Rick muttered to himself, realizing it was no use
shouting, "I wonder how many sandwiches to make?