- Damn, I hate ambushes! - Ryan tore open the paper bag, pulled out a chicken wing, and nibbled on it with an appetizing grunt. - While waiting, he almost died. I wonder how busy people like you and Castle cope with all that waiting. Leave you two alone, there'd be nothing left of the building. Or am I mistaken, and it all went very smoothly?
The question was clearly directed at her, and Kate coughed convulsively from too much coffee. Esposito rose from his seat and patted her on the back, giving her an approving nod.
- Strange as it sounds, Castle wasn't the problem today," Kate coughed and set the cup down on the table. Her voice was slightly hoarse, the endings of her words lost. - He behaved himself, stayed out of the way, and I didn't have to wrestle him away from the bandits.
Kate looked gratefully and secretly fondly into Castle's face, but he didn't even smile. His eyes stared at her with cold seriousness and even resentment, his face grayed and darkened, the cheekbones of dissatisfaction set.
- I don't know who got what, but it wasn't me," Castle shoved an enormous slice of pizza into his mouth and worked his jaws fiercely. - You had to do this to me - take me as your partner, and then throw me away as a useless thing!
At these words Esposito burst into a sudden and loud laughter. He pushed aside the bag of chicken wings and hammered his fists on the table, unable to utter a word.
- Shit, I know who's got it right, I know damn well it's Eddie Tongue!
Now Ryan laughed, too. He gestured animatedly, showing something on his fingers to Javier, and immediately a new burst of laughter shook both of them. It went on like that for a few minutes, until finally the laughter died down.
- You have no idea, bro, what was going on down there! - Esposito winked at Castle and clapped his hands together. - While you were out there wandering around, Beckett got in a fight with Tong, and you should have seen it!
- Especially brilliant was the masterful way she cracked him in the forehead with her heel from a U-turn, a blow Eddie never recovered from! - Wiping his greasy fingers on a napkin, Ryan held out his hand to Kate, who gladly shook it. - Beckett, you were on fire!
- I was just confused about one thing," Javi said as he calmed down and reached for his beer bottle. - If you'd have seen the look on Tong's face before he fell off her leg! It was just a mummy! A tin man! A clay warrior found in the sands! Did you say nothing of the sort to him, Beckett?
She was embarrassed, and so that no one could see her flaming cheeks, with both hands brought her coffee mug to her face.
-Well, I made him an offer he couldn't refuse...
She cut the sentence short, but the guys, who were busy eating, didn't pay any attention to it, and only Rick looked in her direction in amazement. She caught his gaze and smiled in a friendly way. The prickly ice in his eyes instantly melted into bright blue stars, and his lips quivered. Putting a hand to his forehead, Castle rubbed his temples, looking mischievously from under his palm, and Kate in response slightly bowed her head.
- Castle, can I ask you a favor? - she raised her empty mug above the table and, shielding her hand from her chewing friends, sent Castle a barely noticeable air kiss.
Rick instantly smiled understandingly. He stood leisurely, picked up his mug, and left without looking at anyone. Waiting a moment, Kate slipped out after him. Castle was already wizarding at the coffee machine, deftly clicking the levers. At the sight of Beckett, he grinned widely and meaningfully. Everything was very clear.
Looking around beforehand, Kate shut the door behind her. She lowered the blinds and approached Castle from behind. She hugged him across the chest, breathed on his neck, and reached over and nibbled lightly on his earlobe. Now her nimble fingers explored not only the tidbits of his body, but all his pockets, until they stopped at his thighs. Tenderly and invitingly Kate caressed Castle, and he, swallowing frantically and putting the incomplete cup aside, rested his hands on the edge of the table.
- What are you looking for there, Kate? Whatever it is, you're gonna need my help!
- Mm, Castle, I'm a big girl. I can handle myself. The only thing that's bothering me right now is the absence of one irreplaceable piece of my closet. Did you happen to find it?
- Accidentally? No, just purposefully, and you can look for it somewhere else!
- All right! - As her slender hand slipped into the inner pocket and pulled the finest silk with it, Castle's hand confidently intercepted her movement. Rick let go of Kate, only turning to face her. Her palm rested again on the bulging jeans, demanding and insistently stroking her aroused body. Castle hugged Kate tightly and fell to her lips with pleasure.
- You say you managed to discourage Eddie?
She snugged her cheek against his broad chest, and chuckled shortly.
- It was an accident, but it hit the bull's-eye! And, by the way, thank you, Castle, for my panties, - Castle kissed her touchingly on the mole on her cheek, and Kate, feeling small and defenseless, snuggled in his arms, trying to repeat himself all the curves of his body. - I wasn't thinking about them at all at the time, so I want to apologize profusely. I hope they'll make up for all the damage they've done to you!
When her strong and tenacious fingers pressed against his aroused groin, Castle moaned loudly and longingly, and Kate grinned with a sense of deep satisfaction.
- You know very well, Castle, what my work means to me - it is my weakness and my strength. And I'm very grateful for your understanding. Well," Kate patted his breast pocket lightly, "you can give this to me... somewhere around here. What about the old interrogation room?
