A/N: File this under 'I hate it but I spent too much time on it to scrap it'!
It's been sitting for a while... and I haven't posted anything new recently so I figured I'd drop this and hope it inspires me to actually finish one of the many other things I've started : )
It's long... longer than my usual chapters, anyway.
UNTITLED
The tension of a long week - a long month, in fact - was affecting them all. Case after case, piling up. Lead after lead, falling flat. Fatigue, over-exertion, disappointment. She could feel herself leaning on the team more than usual, because she knew they were the ones who would pull her through this slump.
The precinct became home. Late nights and early mornings. Power naps in the break room, replacing a full nights sleep. Exhausted bodies fuelled by coffee, vending machine food and 3am Chinese takeout deliveries.
They were all riding the edge of burnout. Dangerously close to having pushed too far.
And then, finally, they caught a break. The bad guy's façade crumbled and his true colours were shown. He slipped up. And now they had exactly what they needed to close this case. It was all wrapped up in a nice, neat bow. It was worthy of celebration.
Still riding the adrenaline high, she proposed a dinner with the team... her friends. She loved these people more than anything.
These people get her. They understand the highs and lows of what she does, they understand why she does it. They understand the pain and heartbreak involved, that the end result - catching the bad guy, saving lives, getting justice for those who were taken too soon - it's only a temporary ray of light in an otherwise darkened world. Soon enough, that light will be replaced with a new darkness. So they celebrate it while it's there. They get it because they live it, too.
Jenny met them at the restaurant, keen to see her husband after what had felt like forever. Their embrace upon her arrival - the way her face lit up on sight, the way Ryan held her tight, not wanting to let her go - invoked certain emotions in all of them. Happiness that their friend had found a more permanent ray of light for his life... one that the darkness of their job couldn't take away from him... he wouldn't let it. But with that happiness came a twinge of something else. Jealousy, sadness, yearning.
A little wine with dinner definitely helped them push those feelings aside, however. It wasn't the house red. Castle sprang for something special, something worthy of a night like this. Something worthy of a girl like her. He wasn't trying to play it cool. He wasn't trying to hide.
He was showing off, as always, but tonight it was exclusively for her. He couldn't care less about the others in the room. To him, no one else existed. Usually she would tell him to reign it in... to control himself... he was too flirty, too bold, too comfortable. But tonight, she embraced it. Too tired to care what anyone else thought. She liked that he tried to impress her, she could admit that. She liked that a man like him - charming, handsome... and could have anyone he wanted - wanted no one but her. She was flattered - and she was sick of being ashamed for no good reason.
The rain began suddenly, right as they were clearing up the cheque. They hovered in the foyer, waiting for a cab to pull up. But managing to hail a cab in the city centre - in heavy rain - was near impossible. The six of them huddled together, trying their best to stay out of everyone's way. Her heart skipped a beat when his arm wrapped around her waist, holding her closer to him. Lanie's eyes drifted to his hand on her friend's waist, then to him. He flashed his charmingly devilish grin. She was amused by how unabashed he had grown over the course of the dinner, but chose not to draw attention to the uncharacteristically subtle display of affection.
"Here's one." Jenny pointed in the direction of a taxi that had just turned into the street.
"This isn't going to work." Castle muttered, looking around at the ever-growing number of people crowding under awnings, waiting for a free taxi. They would be here forever if they played fair.
He pushed through the door, braving the downpour to approach the curb. He hailed the cab, claiming it before anyone else could. When it pulled up in front of him, he turned back to his friends, who had moved from the foyer and huddled under the restaurant's awning.
"You guys get in." He called out to Ryan and Jenny, who were headed in the opposite direction to the rest of the group. "We'll grab the next one." He explained, opening the back door for them to slide in without getting too drenched by rain. He tapped the roof of the cab, sending them on their way.
He jogged back toward the awning, huddling close to his friends. Beckett grabbed his jacket, pulling him closer to her so he was out of the rain.
"I got you wet, sorry." He apologised, noticing the dark spots where water had dropped off of him onto her clothing. She wasn't sure if the innuendo was intentional or not, but she couldn't help but smirk when Lanie let slip a stifled laugh.
Face to face and closer than what she would usually deem as safe, she looked up to meet his eyes. "That's okay." She smiled more genuinely, realising he wasn't joking with her. A drop of water formed at his hairline, running down his forehead toward his brow. She reached up, wiping it away with her thumb before it could run into his eye. She wasn't sure why - his brow would have caught it, there was no risk of discomfort to him - and yet, her fingers lingered against his skin, knuckles grazing down his cheek.
Esposito exchanged glances with Lanie, trying to hide the smirk on his face. He and Lanie had had many private conversations about the tensions between their friends over the years, exchanging recounts of not-so-secret moments the pair had shared while in their presence. They had determined, quite a while ago, that they were what Lanie had called 'end game'. So, while he was obviously excited for this apparent step forward, he made a mental note to give them hell about this one day.
Beckett's eyes moved from his, looking over his shoulder. "Another one." He turned to see the cab approaching.
The group readied themselves, but another group of people rushed toward the vehicle. He was starting to regret his choice to run out into the rain and secure that last taxi... his jacket, drenched by the rain, was weighing heavy on his shoulders and the cool breeze on wet fabric was sending a chill right through him.
He could see Lanie inching closer to Espo as the breeze picked up and the rain fell heavier, mist spraying under the awning. In that moment, he wished he was dry so that he could keep Beckett warm... an excuse to hold her close. But as it was, he would do more harm than good right now. The men stood protectively, covering the women from the bulk of the spray. Beckett and Lanie looked to each other, sharing an amused smile at the chivalrous act.
"Wait here." Castle instructed, walking back to the curb. Beckett looked to the corner, spying the cab that was rounding the corner.
Once it pulled up in front of Castle, he opened the back door and signalled for them to pile in. Beckett slid in first, shuffling along the seat until she reached the other side. Lanie got in after her, sliding to the centre seat, followed by Espo. Castle shut the door behind them, rounding the vehicle and getting into the passenger seat.
Beckett leaned forward to address the driver, giving him her address first - as she lived closest - and then informing him there would be at least one more stop after that.
The drive was relatively quiet, in comparison to the loud restaurant and crowded streets. Esposito had casually slung his arm across Lanie's shoulders, whispering in her ear as she leant into him, giggling occasionally at whatever it was he was saying. Feeling like the ultimate third wheel, she focussed on Castle's small talk with the driver. This man could strike up conversation with anyone... asking questions about anything and everything. She watched him as he listened intently to the driver's answers. She couldn't help but smile at his genuineness. It didn't matter who he was talking to, he always showed the same level of respect, the same genuine interest in their stories... their life.
All of a sudden, she realised the whispering and giggling beside her had stopped. She straightened up, glancing from the corner of her eye and seeing that they were both watching her. She felt heat rise to her cheeks - busted with a dorky ass smile on her face - and turned to look out the window, watching the water stream down the glass.
The cab turned into Beckett's street, pulling up a few buildings down from hers, as close as he could get.
"Walk you to your door?" Castle turned in his seat, looking over his shoulder to see Beckett's face. She looked surprised, and he wondered for a moment of perhaps he had been too forward. If maybe he had read too much into this evening - her acceptance of his close proximity, her melting into his touch, her touching him every chance she got - maybe it was imagined.
"Um..." she looked at him, then at the now torrential rainfall outside and the distance to her building. Three new pairs of eyes on her, awaiting her decision, only added to the anxious flutter in her stomach.
He considered his options... how to offer her an 'out' and manage to save face in front of their friends.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that." She answered after what felt like a lifetime, but in reality only seconds had passed.
He smiled, more relieved than he had felt in a long time.
"Would you like me to wait?" The driver asked hesitantly.
Castle didn't want to make assumptions, so he looked back to Beckett. The other three pairs of eyes following suit.
"No need. Get these guys home." She looked across to her friends, who smirked at each other.
Castle pulled cash from his wallet, passing it to the driver. "This should cover the fare. Plus a little extra for yourself, thank you sir."
He pushed on his door, slipping out of the cab and opening Beckett's door for her. He held out his hand and she took it, pulling herself close to him.
The rain pelted down on them, cold and harsh against their faces. He wrapped his arm around her, trying to tuck her in under his arm and protect her from the rainfall as much as possible. They moved quickly, in almost perfect synchrony, toward the closest building on her side, only stopping once they were under the cover of an awning. They took a moment, wiping water from their faces. Castle shook out his hair, sending droplets flying toward her. The scene before her - reminiscent of a dog fresh out of a bath - provoked a child-like laughter as she held her hands out, guarding herself from the propelled water.
That sound was something he would aspire to draw out of her more often. The lightness behind it... the purity of it... he loved that sound. He stopped his movements, saving her from the onslaught of icy cold splatter, and watched her as the laughter faded. He was staring, but he didn't care.
"Come on, Kate. Let's get you inside."
They began to walk toward her building, shoulders brushing as they leant into each other playfully. She felt his wrist bump against hers, his pinky reaching out and hooking around hers for a brief moment before he pulled it away again. She could feel his nerves as he worked up the courage to hold her hand. His pinky reached out again, linking hers, but this time it stuck. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She shouldn't find that adorable, should she? The fact that he was nervous... the fact that an act as simple as holding her hand was such a calculated move.
The awnings that fronted the buildings lining her street covered most of their walk, thankfully. And for the few steps between buildings that weren't covered, he did his best to keep her tucked close to his body. He mentally thanked the downpour for providing the perfect excuse to hold her close.
After a few short minutes, they reached her building. She entered a six-digit code on the pin pad by the door - a new addition, he noted. The pin pad buzzed and he heard the mechanical click of the door unlocking. She pushed the door open, pausing for a moment.
"New owners are trying to secure the building a little more." She explained. She pushed through the entrance, holding the door open. "You coming?"
He stepped into the building, following her to the elevator and waited for her to push the button. He wasn't sure why, but his nerves intensified as they came closer to her apartment. Her home-ground. Was this becoming too real? Right now, an invitation into her apartment, into her space, didn't hold the same meaning as it did before. Something had changed. Something was different. And what if she hadn't realised that yet? What if she changed her mind? What if she didn't? What would happened then? The ding of the elevator pulled him from his internal panic. The door opened, inviting them in, but he remained still.
He felt her fingertips at his wrist, sliding down across his palm and then intertwining themselves between his fingers. She stepped into the elevator carriage, gently pulling him with her. She didn't let go, the whole ride up.
When the elevator stopped on the fifth floor, she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. The door opened and they stepped out together, walking hand in hand toward her door as if this happened every day. It felt familiar... comforting... and yet it was totally new and wildly exciting.
When they stopped at her door, she reluctantly dropped his hand and started digging in her purse for her keys. Missing the connection, he crowded behind her. His hands twitched by his sides, eager to feel her again. He risked reaching out for her again, placing a hand on her hip as she pulled the key from her purse and slipped it into the lock.
She leant into him - her back pressed against his body, wet fabric cooling between them - and rested her head on his chest, closing her eyes for a second. Just a second, one short moment, to savour this feeling. This exhilarating fear that was rapidly spreading through her body. The thrill and anticipation for what might be. The novelty of it all.
She opened her eyes, pulled herself from his body and opened the door. As she stepped through, his hands fell from her hips and she couldn't feel him anymore.
She turned to look at him. "Are you coming inside?"
He hesitated in his answer, looking back toward the elevator. Maybe he shouldn't come in. Maybe he should just go home. But he's too curious to see where this is going. How far will she allow this to go? He nodded and stepped inside. She locked the door behind them, tossing her keys back in her purse and walking to the kitchen to place it on the bench. She turned back to him, still standing by the door, and smiled.
"Would you describe me as impulsive?" She asked, her smile dropping into a more serious expression.
Her question caught him by surprise, it seemed so random. Impulsive. And his surprise at that seemingly answered her question for him. "No. Maybe with something frivolous. But in general, no. I'd go as far as to say you're the opposite. You're cautious. Deliberate."
She nodded, absorbing his words. He wasn't entirely sure if he offended her or not. Did she want him to think she was impulsive?
"So... hypothetically... if I had, I don't know, invited someone over," she smiled as he rolled his eyes, understanding where she was going with this. "You'd say it was pretty safe to assume I'd thought it over. That I wasn't being impulsive."
"I guess that would be a fairly safe assumption, yes."
"Okay. So... can you relax?" She began to walk back toward him, feeling entirely too far away. "It's not like you haven't been here before."
"But this is different." He countered, cutting through the haze that had apparently fallen over the pair at some point, leaving them blind in whatever this was. He still wasn't entirely sold on the idea that she had thought this through.
"It doesn't have to be. Okay? Not if you don't want it to be." She chewed at the inside of her bottom lip, carefully choosing her next words. "I just... I just wanted to be with you - in your company - for a little while longer. In whatever capacity... feels right. It doesn't have to be any different to usual."
He watched her as he mulled over her words. She stood a few feet from him, smiling encouragingly at him. Her hair, drenched from rain, clung to her face and neck and was beginning to frizz a little at the roots. His attention was caught by a drop of water making its way down her neck, gliding across her collarbone before disappearing under her shirt. He stepped forward, an involuntary action as the overwhelming urge to trace the path of that drop of water overtook him. He swallowed hard, regaining himself.
"I... I want it to be different."
She let out a slight huff of air, relieved by his revelation. "Me too."
His smiled beamed, heart pounding as if it was trying to beat right out of his chest.
Her smile faded, her elated expression replaced with worry. She stepped closer, bringing her palm up to his cheek and touching her thumb to his bottom lip. His lips had lost most of their colour, the corners of his mouth tinged slightly purple.
"You're cold?"
"Freezing. Aren't you?" She was just as drenched as he was now.
"You were in the wind before." She grabbed his hand and pulled him along behind her as she walked to the bathroom. "Take your clothes off." She instructed, dropping his hand once they were in the small bathroom.
He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again once he realised he was at a loss for words.
She pulled a towel out of the small cupboard in the corner and placed it on the vanity, piling a wash cloth on top. From under the vanity she pulled out a bar of soap and placed it on top of the cloth. She walked away without saying a word. He looked around the bathroom, a bit unsure of what to do. She told him to undress. The towel and soap suggested she wanted him to... shower? After a minute, she walked back in, holding what looked like clothes. She added them to the pile on the vanity.
"You okay?" She asked, seeing the confused look on his face.
"Um, yeah. Yeah, I'm okay."
She nodded. "Get warm, Castle. If you want to leave your clothes just outside the door, I'll run them through the dryer for you."
She waited for him to nod his understanding before exiting the room, pulling the door partially closed behind her. He began to undress, peeling the sticky clothes from his body and dumping them in a pile outside the door.
She headed to her bedroom, getting changed out of her wet clothes and into fresh sweat pants and a loose shirt. She heard the shower start up, and headed back down the hall to collect his clothes. She hung his jacket over the back of a dining chair, placing his socks, boxers, shirt and pants into the dryer. She set a low heat cycle and hoped her old, constantly-on-the-brink dryer wouldn't shrink his clothes. She entered the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water.
The shower shut off and after a few minutes the door opened. Castle walked out wearing the pair of boxer shorts and old NYPD sweater she had set aside for him.
"I'm afraid to ask..." he started as he walked toward her. "Why do you have mens boxers?" He couldn't help but assume they belonged to an ex. Or worse... a current man in her life. He knew she wasn't in a relationship, but it wasn't unreasonable to think perhaps she had some sort of arrangement... a friend that took care of her needs. He tried to ignore the self-inflicted jealousy that his thoughts had just invoked.
"They're comfortable to sleep in." She explained with a smile. She could see the relief in his eyes and she tried - and failed - to resist the urge to mess with him. "And the sweater is Espo's."
She pulled her glass of water to her lips, trying to hide the growing smirk.
His focus hastily shifted from the sweater he was wearing, to her, trying desperately to read her expression. "E-Esposito?"
"Do you... have a problem with that?" She asked, mustering as much seriousness as she could.
"I, uh, no. No. Of course not." He stumbled over his words. "I just... wasn't aware that there was a history there."
She couldn't hold her laughter in anymore. She turned to the sink, placing her glass in to be washed later, before turning back and walking toward him.
He sighed, realisation hitting him. "You're messing with me."
"It is Esposito's." She explained, still grinning ear to ear. "He gave it to Lanie. When I was at her place a few weeks ago I spilled wine on my shirt and borrowed the sweater. I've been meaning to give it back, but just haven't gotten around to it yet."
"You're mean." The words held no meaning. He loved her teasing, they both knew it.
"Sorry. But that was funny..." she shook her head, trying to shake off another burst of laughter. "Watching you try to be okay with that." She placed her hand on his chest and his fell comfortably at her waist.
"I'm glad I bring some comedic relief to your life."
"I appreciate it." I need it, she thought. Especially after these past few weeks.
Silence fell over them, but it was comfortable. There was no awkwardness, no urgent need to fill it with meaningless words. Just them, looking into each other's eyes, growing comfortable with this shift in their relationship... enjoying the company, the proximity, the touch.
She spoke first, after several moments, breaking their trance. "I was watching Ryan and Jenny tonight."
"Ugh, weren't we all? They're adorable." She let out a slight laugh, finding humour in how his words were so positive and yet his tone sounded... annoyed? She could definitely understand that contradiction.
"Ryan is relentlessly optimistic." She continued on with her thought. "I mean, what we do... it takes its toll. And somehow he manages to be so..." she paused, struggling to find the right word.
"So Ryan?" He offered, knowing exactly what she meant and understanding that there was no word that could accurately summarise it.
"Yes!" She agreed excitedly, glad that he was understanding her. There really wasn't any other way to describe what was so uniquely... Ryan. Her excitement faded quickly, however. "But lately... I've seen it getting to him. He hadn't been himself. But as soon as he was with Jenny, as soon as he could hold her, it's like everything was okay again."
Castle sighed, running his thumb under the hem of her shirt. "Yeah. I noticed that too. I'm glad they found each other." When she didn't say anything, he continued. "Is that... is that something you worry about?"
"At times." She conceded. "I've seen this job swallow people whole. We all have. But I have my people. People who make it all okay again."
"Yeah?" His voiced urged her to continue. It wasn't every day that she offered up some piece of personal information.
"I mean... Lanie deals with death every day and it... inspires her to live. Every day she does something new. Whether it's trying a new recipe for dinner or something crazy like bungee jumping... every single day she does something. And if she wants something she just goes for it... because she knows that tomorrow isn't promised."
"Sounds like a good philosophy to live by." He thought aloud.
"Since meeting her, I've done so many things that I never would have had the courage to do myself. She reminds me to live. That life isn't just about getting through the day."
"Remind me to thank her." He pulled her close and she rested her head against his chest, sliding her arms down and wrapping them around his waist.
She inhaled. He smelled like her soap, and that stirred something possessive within her, as if she had somehow marked her territory. She smiled at that thought... of him being hers.
"And then there's you." She muttered into his chest.
"Me?" His surprise was genuine. He never would have expected to be one of her 'people'.
"You make things... easier."
He pulled back, to see her face. She lifted her head from his chest, looking up at him. "I thought I was a pain in the ass?" He smirked.
"You are - let's not get that twisted. But you..." she shook her head, god this was frustrating. No words would come to her. None that worked, anyway. He was... magic. The power he had over her. His ability to just... make it okay.
He would know what to say.
He would know the perfect word to describe this.
"It's okay..." he pulled her back into his arms, and she placed her cheek against his chest again, listening to his heartbeat. "You don't have to say anything." He insisted, not wanting to push her. His fingertips rested behind her ear, playing with her hair and tracing idly across her skin in a soothing motion.
This, she thought. A simple action that was just second nature to him, something he didn't have to think about, something he would probably consider to be nothing... but to her it was everything. It calmed her... the frenzied thoughts of her mind easing, becoming clearer. He just... made it easier. Better.
"I can be having the worst day... and then you just show up and it's better. You don't have to say anything, or do anything, just being there is enough."
"I'll always be there for you, Kate." He whispered into the top of her head, pressing his lips to her damp hair. She smelled like rain, cherries and vanilla. He closed his eyes, breathing her in, hoping they could stay this way forever. "Always."
She pulled away from him, just enough to look up to him. She focussed on his lips, the purple had disappeared and been replaced with his usual shade of pink.
"You don't look like an icicle anymore." She smiled, smoothing her thumb across the curve of his lip.
She leant into him, pressing her lips to his ever so gently, as if he were a fragile glass sculpture that she didn't want to break. His hands found their way to either side of her neck, thumbs caressing her jawline as he kissed her back sensually.
He slipped his hand down, bringing it under her shirt and pressing his palm gently into the curve of her spine to bring her against him. Bodies impossibly close, tensions incredibly high, they began to explore each other. Their hands roamed - touching, learning, memorising one another.
She parted her lips when his tongue traced along the line of them, granting him access to the cavern of her mouth. Tongues dancing, she moaned into him, his kiss was intoxicating.
They moved, stumbling together, just a few steps until his body against hers pushed her firmly against the kitchen bench. Her hands drifted under the sweater, lifting it as she explored his bare skin - the contours of his abs, his chest. He broke away from her lips to lift it over his head.
Missing him, craving him, she crashed her lips to his again. Impassioned ecstasy. His hands busied themselves - gripping at her hips, pulling her close, lifting the material of her shirt and teasing at the waistband of her sweats - anything he could do to feel the warmth of her bare skin against him.
She placed her hands over his, encouraging him to slide her pants over her hips. He readily obliged, pushing on the waistband until the thick material dropped from her waist and pooled at her ankles. She kicked her feet free, discarding them to the side. His hands drifted lower, exploring the newly exposed territory, marking it with his touch, claiming it as his own.
He dipped himself down slightly, wrapping his arm around her lower back to hold her securely against him. Rising, he lifted her and propped her onto the bench behind them. Instinctively, her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer to her again.
His released her lips from his, moving his mouth across her jawline and down the column of her neck, enjoying the rousing sensation of her soft panting against his neck. When he kissed the sweet spot where at her collarbone, she moaned into his ear.
"Kate?" He spoke her name breathlessly, still reeling from the effects of her skin on his, her legs wrapped around his waist, her breath on his neck.
She looked up at him with wide, curious eyes, arching her back to lean against the wall. "Yeah?"
His eyes drifted, distracted by the notable rise and fall of her chest as she worked on steadying her breathing. When he redirected his focus to her face, he was met by a mischievous grin. She brushed her foot up the back of his thigh, inching higher and higher until her toes pushed on the material of his boxers. Her boxers. Her grin dropped as her eyes filled with desire.
She pulled herself forward effortlessly, her stomach flush against his again, faces inches from each other. Leaning forward slowly, she placed her lips over his, capturing his bottom lip between her teeth and tugging gently on it. He moaned into her mouth, bringing that mischievous smile back to her face. She released his lip, pulling away again.
"You were saying..?"
It took a second for him to regain himself, to clear the haze that clouded his brain and stopped him from forming coherent words.
"I want to take you on a date." He finally managed to string the words together.
She frowned. "Like... now?" The only thoughts that occupied her mind right now all involved never leaving this apartment... and he was planning a date?
"No. God, no. I kind of have other things I'd like to do right now."
She could feel her whole body lighten. "Other things?"
"Mm-hmm." He pressed his lips against hers. "But seriously, will you have dinner with me?"
"Yes, Castle. I will have dinner with you."
"Good." He curved his hand around the back of her neck, bringing her forward to kiss her.
"Now... about that other thing..." She slipped off the bench, taking his hand in hers and leading him to her bedroom, eyes glued to one another.
She pushed through the door, dropping his hand and turning away from him to walk toward the bed.
This was uncharted territory and the writer in him wanted to pry, to look around and study every inch of her most personal space, to ask questions and learn everything he could - from the significance of the chain that was draped over the lampshade, to the stories behind the two Polaroids tucked into the frame of her mirror - but his eyes were drawn back to her and all coherent thought flew from his mind when she pulled her shirt over her head, leaving her in nothing but her underwear.
His eyes traipsed up her body, taking her in. Her long legs (that he had always appreciated, but especially right now), the scant piece of material covering her derrière, cheeks peeking out underneath. He was hypnotised by the muscles of her back, the way they flexed with each movement she made. Caught off guard by the way her hair had fallen over her shoulder, baring the length of her neck, provoking him... stirring a need in him. Suddenly, he felt too far away.
He closed the distance between them, hands finding their rightful place on her hips, lips peppering kisses to her neck and shoulders. She turned into his body, capturing his lips with her own.
She moved back, gracefully climbing onto the bed so that she was kneeling, and moving herself back toward the centre. Her lips never left his, guiding him with her. The mattress dipped ever so slightly under his weight, forcing her body to lean closer into his.
He pulled away, hand cupping her face - palm resting on her jaw, thumb brushing along her chin just under her swollen bottom lip - he wanted to see her, all of her.
He placed another soft kiss to her lips, before laying her down on the bed and positioning himself by her side. Her hair splayed across pillows, he brushed a few stray locks off of her face with his knuckles, allowing his knuckles to continue down her face, her neck, her chest between her breasts. Once there, the flipped his hand to press his palm against her skin, fingertips applying just the slightest amount of pressure as they roamed her sides, her waist, her hips.
They hooked under the material of her underwear and began to slide down. She lifted her hips to assist their journey. Never one to waste an opportunity, he guided his fingertips across her flesh, learning the feel of her thighs, calves, the ticklish spot behind her knee and on the inside of her ankle, as he pulled the panties off of her.
And then the material is gone, discarded of on the floor. She felt vulnerable, more vulnerable than she had ever felt with any other guy before now. But this was different. This was dangerous. She had never felt like so much was at risk. And the others - well, they never looked at her the way Castle did. They never studied her body like she was a priceless masterpiece, too good even for the likes of the Louvre.
She pulled herself upright, bodies closing in on each other, touching his face to garner his attention.
"I'm staring. I'm sorry. I'll stop."
She smiled. "No, it's okay." She pressed her lips to his, holding their place for several seconds before pulling away again. "Was just making sure you're still with me."
"Definitely with you." He cupped her face with both hands, kissing her passionately.
He leant in, guiding her back down onto the mattress and settling his weight in between her legs. The pressure against her drew out a low moan as her hands glided along his body, finding the waistband of his boxer shorts and pushing at them hastily.
He reached down, taking her hand in his and intertwining their fingers. "Not yet." He panted against her jaw, kissing along the sharp line until he reached her ear. "Patience." He whispered before kissing her neck.
He ran the tip of his tongue along her, nipping at the soft skin before soothing the pain instantly with his tongue again. Alternating between soft, ticklish kisses and firm sucking, he made his way down her neck, her chest, her taut stomach... lightly leaving his mark on her... until he reached his planned destination.
She inhaled sharply and her whole body stiffened when she felt his tongue against her, her hands flying to the back of his head, fingers tangling in his hair. She relaxed into him, a quiet hiss escaping her.
A mischievous grin grew on his face. It may have been presumptuous, it may have been egotistical... but he knew it wouldn't be long until she would be writing beneath him, screaming his name.
And boy was he desperate to hear her voice, calling out his name, overcome with pleasure...
He woke exactly how he had fallen asleep - her head on his chest, arm draped across his waist as he held her close. He could feel each small puff of breath she exhaled skirt along his chest, warming his skin.
He pressed his lips against her forehead, his nose in her hair. She smelled like cherries and vanilla and something that was uniquely her.
His lips pressed to the top of her head and the gentle squeeze of his arm around her body stirred her from her sleep. She could hear his heart beating, rhythmic in his chest, and feel the steady rise and fall of each breath. His fingers traced patterns on her lower back and hip, the occasional graze of his fingernail sending shivers through her. She placed a kiss on his chest before rolling over to check the time on her phone.
Picking the device up off the bedside table, she groaned.
"Everything okay?" He asked, shifting to a more comfortable position now that his arm was free.
"Lanie's been trying to call."
"I didn't even hear it ring."
"Me neither. That's okay, I'll call her back later." She sat upright and typed out a quick apology message to her friend. Sorry, slept in.
He smoothed his thumb across the small love bite that was visible on her hip, wondering how many marks he had actually left on her body throughout the night. He propped himself up on his elbow, leaning in and placing a soft kiss over the bruise.
Her hand fell to the back of his head, combing her fingers through his hair. When he looked up, she was smiling down at him. Craning his neck, he puckered his lips and she happily obliged to his silent request, leaning down slightly to give him a swift but sweet kiss.
"What's the time?" He asked when she pulled away.
"Shit, 8:42." She tossed the blanket to the side and jumped out of bed, scrambling for clothes.
"Are you working today?"
"No. Day off." She replied, distracted, looking for something on the floor. She found an old oversized shirt and pulled it on. "I'm having coffee with my dad, but I plan on doing absolutely nothing for the rest of the day. I'm just going to shower real quick."
She crawled onto the bed toward him, giving him a kiss. "Laundry closet is off the kitchen." She looked him up and down with a smirk, his body exposed from her tossing their shared covers to the side. "If you wanted to get dressed."
When she disappeared from the bedroom, he pulled himself out of bed. He put on the boxers from last night and made his way to the kitchen. He looked around for the laundry closet, wishing he had paid more attention last night. It was a fairly discreet door, but he eventually found it. He pulled his clothes from the dryer and headed back to the privacy of the bedroom to get dressed.
Once dressed, he turned to the mirror, doing his best to tame his unruly hair with his fingers and no product. After a few minutes he settled for 'not horrible', knowing he definitely couldn't achieve any sort of 'styled' look. His eyes drifted from his reflection to the Polaroids he had noticed last night. He took a step closer to study them, while he had the chance.
The first was a picture of a much younger Beckett... fifteen, maybe... and a friend. The friend's face was very familiar. He honed in on the friend, brow furrowed, concentrating. When suddenly it clicked... Maddy.
He smiled to himself, imagining Beckett digging through old memories after that case. Reminiscing, maybe with a glass of wine. Perhaps Maddy was here with her. And, at the end of the night when they were packing away the photos, maybe she looked at this one and thought to herself this one is too good to pack away.
His focus moved down to the next Polaroid. His memory didn't need any jogging to recognise these faces. Beckett and her parents, smiling... happy... proud, on Christmas Day. His smile faded as he realised what a bittersweet memory this would be for her.
"Our last Christmas together." Her voice sounded across the room. She leant against the door frame - towel wrapped around her body, hair still dripping beads of water onto her skin - watching him for god knows how long. "Of course, we didn't know that at the time."
She pushed off the door, walking toward him.
"I didn't mean to pry." She shot him a look. The look. The 'sure you didn't' look. And he recanted. "Okay... I did. I'm curious... and you left me unattended."
"It's okay, Castle." She reassured him with a smile. Her phone vibrated on the bedside table, redirecting her attention. She picked it up to find a string of messages from Lanie.
Is writer boy still there?
I need details!
Don't hold out on me.
You guys were practically undressing each other with your eyes all through dinner.
So not subtle.
She smiled at her friends light teasing but ultimately enthusiastic reaction.
"Lanie okay?" Castle asked, assuming she had reached out to her friend.
"Yeah." She passed her phone to him and he read the messages.
"Can I reply?" He asked with a wicked grin.
"No!" She snatched the phone from his hands. "You know anything I tell her, she will probably tell Espo."
"So... what will you tell her?" He asked, more seriously now. "I mean... how is this going to work, if you don't want Espo to know?"
She took a deep breath, considering just how much she wanted her friends to know right now. This was so new and felt too fragile right now.
"I'll probably just ignore these messages for now. And... I guess we'll have to figure that out?"
He nodded, seemingly accepting her uncertainty... for now. "Quick shower." He noted, trying to change the subject.
"Didn't want you trying to sneak off while I was in there." She joked.
"I would never."
"Good." Her eyes dropped, searching the floor, and he realised there was truth behind her joke.
He curled a finger under her chin, bringing her focus back to him. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me to."
He waited for her to smile, to see the truth in his eyes and believe his words, before kissing her. She snaked her arms over his shoulders, crossing her wrists behind his head. Her body arched, pushing against him as their kiss deepened.
His fingers toyed with the towel, playfully tugging on the material. Feeling it loosen, she wrapped her arm across her chest holding it firmly in place.
"If I get back into that bed with you I don't think I'll ever want to leave it." She whispered her confession against his lips.
"Mmm, so don't." He captured her lips again, shamelessly needy.
It stirred deep within, the unrestrained and unrelenting passion that had grown between them. Any fears she may have had about being just another conquest melted away in that moment. She could tell... the way he kissed her, the way he held her, touched her... the novelty of them wasn't going to wear off anytime soon. Each kiss filled her with more confidence.
He pulled away from her as quickly as he had claimed her and even though she knew not to get carried away - not to get caught up in a moment of passion - she had, evident by the slight whimper that escaped her in the loss of him. He smirked, she bit her lip as her cheeks flushed pink.
"What time are you meeting for coffee?" She could see his eyes growing dark, anticipation building as he hoped desperately their time wasn't coming to an end too soon.
"Eleven... but we need to leave in, like, now if you want me to take you home first."
His eyes lit up and she could almost see that lightbulb idea flashing behind the ocean blues. "I can get a taxi. That gives you like an extra twenty minutes, right?"
She smiled at the optimism in his voice. "Twenty-five... thirty, maybe."
"I mean... I can get a lot done in thirty minutes."
His confidence made her laugh. Of course you can... she thought to herself.
"I can't meet up with my dad clouded by sex haze, Castle." She argued, albeit half heartedly.
"Twenty minutes." He bargained. "That gives you plenty of time to shower again."
She considered his offer. She wanted to decline as a point of pride. She didn't want to admit to being completely under his spell. But her body was already betraying her, heart beating increasingly fast, stomach fluttering and coiling in expectation. Pride be damned, she gave into him, removing the secure hold she had of herself and dropping her arm to her side. The towel twisted around her body as it dropped to the floor.
"Take your pants off." She ordered, making her way back to her bed.
"Yes ma'am."
