Playing Hard to Get
Chapter 22
Today was going to be London. It was just a quick train trip under the Channel or called the Chunnel. It was going to prove to be a pitch black transit trip.
Rick knew Kate was busy brushing her teeth while still naked. She had been naked since the first day here, or so it seemed. She was seemingly always naked around Castle of late.
As she was spitting it out and then using mouthwash, she caught sight of the ring's brilliance, sparkling on her finger. That had her lifting it to look at it again in the bright lights of the bathroom.
She really did like the ring. She was betting it had cost Castle a pretty penny, but she had no intention of asking him how much. She did like seeing it on her finger. Though, there was one drawback that suddenly came to mind. If she put on her gloves at a dead body site or anywhere else she needed gloves, this big diamond would split the latex wide open. She was going to have to think about what to do about that.
"Kate, are you done yet? I really gotta go out here!" Rick was even dancing to keep from peeing on the floor.
Still naked, Kate sauntered out. Besides, he had seen everything already. "It's all yours." She noticed Castle didn't even bother to close the door, and she could hear him peeing. That had her grinning a little while she rummaged in her suitcase for some panties and a bra for today's trip to London. Kate's carry-on bag was packed. She just needed to figure out what to wear for this trip.
ɸΞ [|]ʘ[|] Ξɸ
"What's the plan for today, Castle?" He was in charge, and she was happy to let him be. So far, he hadn't disappointed her with his choices.
"First up is an underground rail journey to The London Eye. Then, we walk over to a Thames Cruise," Rick said. "Once we get back here, we can find some fish and chips or something more substantial."
"That's right, there's an underground metro system here. It should be interesting." Kate could compare their metro to the New York City metro and see which one was better. "And tomorrow?" Since she had him talking.
"Shopping and then Chinatown before heading home again," Rick told her.
Kate silently approved of spending time there, but she had a question about something else. "Then no Changing of the Guard?"
"I hadn't planned on it, but we can change our plans," Rick assured her. "I just assumed everyone in London would be there, and we might not see a thing."
"Good point. So how was your Christmas In Amsterdam?" Kate took his hand and headed for the door to start their day. It happened to be her left hand this time.
"It was marvelous! Did you see all those lights, not to mention Santa Claus?" Rick had been in love with the location for Christmas.
"I'm amazed you didn't try to sit in his lap and tell him what you wanted for Christmas," Kate teased him.
"I thought about it, but you didn't let go of my hand." Rick raised his to show her that they were holding hands yet again.
Kate just grinned while they walked to their train to get to London.
It was just another train, and they didn't see anything. While inside the train was lit, the tunnel itself was pitch black. The only thing the couple noticed yet again was all the graffiti outside the train station in Paris. It was about the only thing that, so far, had dampened her enthusiasm for Paris.
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
Now the Turret Suite had Kate opening her eyes wide. The bed was huge, and there was a sitting area in a curved wall of windows. There was even a gas-fired fireplace on one wall. It was stunningly beautiful!
"Wow, Castle! This is some room. You're sure there isn't a better one?" And by better, she meant more expensive.
"I'm glad you like it, and technically there were eleven different rooms that cost more than this one." Rick didn't think those were necessary.
"Seriously!?" Kate turned away from the windows and the view to look at him.
"Ready? I really want to see this Eye of theirs." To Kate, he sounded like a kid again, but she realized she didn't mind so much. It was just one big Ferris wheel that would surely have some incredible views.
ɸΞ [|]ʘ[|] Ξɸ
The cars of the Eye were rather large. And yes, they provided an amazing view. She took more photos then began to wonder if the card inside her phone would hold all those pictures. They still had one more city to visit before going home.
They ended up taking a taxi to get to the site for their river cruise and even that was interesting. Paris didn't have smelly yellow taxis, they used something else entirely. Plus, if you wanted to talk to the driver on the other side of the glass, you had to press a button on the side of the car. And he was driving on the wrong side of the street!
Rick bumped her to get her to notice him. "I can see the wheels turning from here."
Kate grinned when she looked at him. "I was just wondering what it takes to adapt to sitting on the wrong side of the car and driving on the wrong side of the road." That was all.
"Are you contemplating a move to London? Maybe working for the New Scotland Yard?" Rick would be more than happy to follow her around here too. But he didn't have anyone to call to try and get them to agree to that.
"No, I'm perfectly happy right where I am. I was just wondering, is all." Kate leaned over, kissed him quickly, and went back to watching where they were going.
ɸΞ [|]ʘ[|] Ξɸ
The river cruise was just that, a cruise down the river. Except this one came with a three-course dinner and some entertainment. The boat passed under some bridges, things were pointed out to them, and then they were back where they started and took a taxi home.
Then they started walking till they found a pub. Any pub would work for them. They both selected a pint of Guinness to drink and quickly found that beer over here was much more powerful.
"You've been looking at your ring a lot." Rick had noticed. It was what he did. Notice things, and he had noticed.
"I like it. I just need to figure out what to do with it when I put on gloves. It will rip the latex wide open, rendering them useless. That and I don't want to begin to think what Lanie's going to say." Lanie would absolutely jump to conclusions, sure that Castle had gotten down on one knee and asked Kate to marry him...when none of that had happened. He hadn't officially proposed, and she hadn't said yes.
Concerned, Rick asked, "You're not worried about what Alexis will think, are you?"
"No, not really," Kate replied. "She'll say something but nothing like what Lanie's going to do to me." Kate studied Castle's face as she asked, "Why did you get me a ring?"
"I told you. I didn't want someone getting any ideas and stealing you away from me," Rick repeated patiently. "At least until we're both sure this is what we want."
"And you're not proposing?" Kate needed to make sure.
"When I propose, Katherine Beckett, you will know it. The lights at Times Square will ask you at night. There will be a plane pulling a banner across the sky. The announcer at Yankee Field will ask you to marry me. Trust me, you'll know."
"How did you know I liked baseball?" She was pretty sure she hadn't said anything about loving baseball. It was the sport she loved most. Kate got her love of baseball from her dad.
"I have Jedi mind skills," Rick told her. But then he saw the look on her face. "Your dad told me while you were upstairs in Alexis' bedroom. We had time to talk a lot while you were up there."
"Oh, God!" Kate hid her face in her hands. Her dad could have told him any number of stories about her while she was upstairs. "They're all lies, Castle. Every one of them."
Rick grinned at her. "You don't even know what he told me."
"I don't have to. All lies." Kate just knew he wasn't going to believe her.
"Right!" Rick didn't believe a word of it.
"I'm going to kill my dad." Thankfully, Castle hadn't teased her about any of it yet. She could just bet he tucked them away for a special occasion to extract something from her.
Their evening ended with more sex and the use of two condoms now that they had found more on a shopping trip. Finding a pharmacy in Paris was amazingly easy. All you had to do was look for a big green X out front. It was a lot like shopping at a Walgreens. They had little of everything.
ɸΞ [|]ʘ[|] Ξɸ
They left their bags at the front desk, just like before, and went shopping. Rick was looking for a big flag that was British. After he finally found one, they headed for Chinatown but couldn't stay all that long. They were there just long enough for Kate and Rick to eat an early lunch, and since it was authentic Chinese, Kate loved it.
Next up was Geneva before they went back to Paris for one night then they would go home.
Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues
It wasn't London or Paris, but it was quite nice. They were right on the water and even had a balcony to enjoy the view. It had a restaurant, bar, and even a Spa. Rick caught her staring at the Spa information. "I think I know what you're thinking."
"Maybe." It wasn't something she usually did, but it would be nice to feel relaxed and pampered.
"Why don't you go to the Spa while I go shopping?" Rick suggested. Kate didn't respond, but he knew she would.
ɸΞ [|]ʘ[|] Ξɸ
Their bags were in their room. "What's first?" Kate queried since save for a room in Paris before their flight, this was it.
"Cathédrale de Saint-Pierre. I thought if your mother didn't respond in the last place, she might at this one. Then Jardin Botanique Alpin de Meyrin. It closes at 6:00, so your mother may have to talk fast," Rick warned her.
"Jardin what?" She didn't know what that was.
"Ever heard of Buchart Gardens in Victoria?" Rick asked her. "This one is in Geneva."
"Oh!" Now she understood and was willing to go see it. "And tomorrow?"
"Shopping before our train trip back to Paris. One last chance to see whatever in Paris before our morning flight home."
Kate liked the thought of being in Paris just a bit longer, so she didn't mind.
"Castle, what will we do when we get home?" She meant the two of them. They were having sex each and every night, and she didn't plan to change that while they were here.
"Go back to work." He didn't understand.
Kate tried to clarify her question. "I mean with us."
"I don't plan to stop seeing you, Kate. There will be more dates; I'll follow you around at work. What are you not telling me?" Then it struck him and his heart began to ache. He was afraid that after they got home, she wouldn't want to see him anymore.
"I know all that. I mean..." Kate tried her best to tell him. "I'm not any good at this, Castle. I'm just not."
"Do I get a hint?" So far, he didn't know what she meant.
"Bed," Kate blurted out. Suddenly she saw a wide smile on his face.
"Your bed or mine or both when we feel like it," Rick told her.
"Mine, more likely. I don't want Alexis or Martha hearing me scream, and I can't seem to stop that." She was vocal, and she knew it.
Kate watched as Rick moved close to her. He wrapped his arms around her, which had her doing the same to him. "I can handle that. I'm not giving up on you, Kate." Rick kissed her and felt her kiss him back.
"We need to get going. Six o'clock is going to come up fast," Rick reminded her, and Kate nodded.
ɸΞ [|]ʘ[|] Ξɸ
Like before, Rick gave her some time alone and let her talk to her mother here.
"Anything?" Rick sat next to her after he thought she'd had enough time. Kate just shook her head and felt Rick put his arm around her. He held her close to him while she wiped away tears. "Maybe she can listen better than talk. Or we just can't hear her. It doesn't mean she's not here like she wasn't there or at her marker at home. Just keep talking to her, Kate. It's the best you can do."
And at that moment Kate realized she liked him so much more, and that was when she saw the ring on her finger. She wasn't ready to say yes, but she was now a good deal closer.
"Do they light candles here?" Rick asked her, but Kate didn't answer him, so he just sat with her. If they didn't make it to the Gardens, it didn't really matter. They could find a place to go shopping, or they could find a restaurant and spend a lot of time there.
In the end, they only had just over an hour in the Gardens. It wasn't enough, but it was rather cold outside, so maybe it didn't matter. Now they just needed a restaurant to have dinner and drinks and just spend some time together.
Rick's phone had them at Marifah Thaï Restaurant. Kate selected it when she heard the word, Thai. They found seventy-nine different items on the menu for them to choose from. Even Kate had trouble picking something off of this list. Six desserts, not including ice cream, followed. They weren't in any hurry. Tomorrow was mostly a trip back to Paris.
They might be short-changing Geneva, but they were going back to Paris before going home. Who could argue with that plan?
ɸΞ [|]ʘ[|] Ξɸ
"Our train is a little before lunch. Is there any place you want to go in the morning?" Rick inquired and watched her shake her head. Coats were already off, and Kate was working on taking off everything else she was wearing.
"Too many clothes, Castle," Kate said impatiently as she tugged on his shirt. They had condoms that needed to be used up before going home.
ɸΞ [|]ʘ[|] Ξɸ
The train station had shops, so Kate went looking for something, even if it was just postcards. "Castle!" She had found something and started taking bottles off the shelf. "How do we get this home?" She had found her wine in Geneva, and they had more than three bottles of it.
The seller had brought out a wine box to put the four into for them to carry. Now they just needed to figure out how to get it home from Paris. That or drink it.
ɸΞ [|]ʘ[|] Ξɸ
Back in Paris again, they had time to do some shopping, eat dinner, and figure out how to ship wine bottles home before getting up in the morning and flying home.
They were in Kate's room per Castle's request, not that Kate cared. One bed was as good as another to her. However, she quickly found out that Castle had ideas.
"RICK!" He had found her G-spot again, and she was fast losing her mind and control over her body.
Rick still didn't count the number of orgasms she had and hadn't really tried. He was too busy to try.
"Oh, God." Kate was trying to get from her room to his, where they had a dry bed and could comfortably go to sleep. Once again, she had sprayed the bed. "I swear, Castle. That has never happened before this trip." Kate honestly didn't know that she could squirt like that or that much, let alone have someone find her G-spot.
She might be sore again, but she knew they were so doing that again eventually.
ɸΞ [|]ʘ[|] Ξɸ
Moving slowly, Kate had her hands full of suitcases, and she wasn't holding Castle's hand for a change. But the moment the checked bags were gone, she went back to walking everywhere, holding his hand.
They had two hours to kill, so they found something to eat and drink and just talked.
"Happy you came?" Rick asked her.
Kate smiled. "Very. Paris was an amazing city, and while I liked all the others, Paris was the best."
"Because of the sex?" Rick teased her since he knew what he had done to her twice in Paris.
Kate knew she was blushing. "Keep your voice down, Castle." They had people all around them.
Rick rolled his eyes. "They aren't paying any attention to us, Kate. I bet you could walk naked to Baggage Claim, and no one would notice."
"Oh, I'm pretty sure they would," Kate countered. "And I'll miss my flight because I'm in a Paris jail."
"Well, at least you could see how Paris Police works. Maybe you'll want to move and be a French Gendarme," Rick offered.
"I thought they were the Serte," Kate said, puzzled.
Rick smiled at her. "You've been watching far too many Pink Panther movies."
"Whatever." Kate then shot that idea down. "I don't have a French passport and have no idea what it would take to get one. Besides, I like our City."
"Except when the Twin Towers fell," Rick mentioned.
"That was a horrific day," she agreed. "But it still doesn't change my mind."
"That works for me." Rick didn't mind not moving.
ɸΞ [|]ʘ[|] Ξɸ
Kate watched Castle sleep almost all the way home. She didn't know how he did that.
A Town Car filled with suitcases got them to the loft. Rick stopped her at his door. "Do you want to spend the night? Lilly's already here, and you have clothes," he pointed out.
"All of which are dirty. And definitely not until we've had a chance to talk to Alexis and your mother." Kate could still feel the engagement ring on her finger. Then unexpectedly, the door opened, and both dogs came charging out. Lilly showed Kate that yes, indeed, she did know how to whine and howl a little because she had really missed her.
Kate's bags were still just inside the door while Rick took his to his bedroom so he could unpack. Kate was sitting on the sofa with Lilly in her lap who demanded that she be allowed to lick Kate's face.
Before she could even turn and look at her, Kate found her left hand in Alexis' hands. "What's this?" Alexis gaped as she looked at her. "Did Dad propose?" Color Alexis shocked because she was. Not sad or upset, just shocked.
"Not technically," Kate told her.
"Say that again?" Alexis didn't understand. She was wearing a gorgeous diamond on her finger. So how did that not equate to her dad proposing?
"Castle bought it while we were in Amsterdam, a place called Gassan. It has 121 facets to it, more than any usual diamond. He bought it and slipped it onto my finger, telling me he didn't want some guy stealing me out from under him. He hasn't proposed, and I didn't say yes or no. In fact, save for continuing to wear it, I haven't said anything at all," Kate explained tiredly. She was exhausted since she'd been awake the whole trip home.
"I can't bring myself to take it off." Alexis still was holding her hand and looking at her ring. "The center diamond is 2.71 carats." Kate listened to Alexis whistle at that one. "The stone's a little big, but the ring itself fits perfectly. I'm size 6, and Castle was told most rings were size 7, that they needed an hour to adjust it. Except this one turned out to be a 6, so he didn't have to wait an hour. I bought him a new watch at the same place."
"So Dad didn't actually propose," Alexis clarified and watched Kate shake her head.
"DAD!" Alexis was going to give her dad a piece of her mind. Still, Kate went home in the end, and she didn't have sex with Castle for the first time in ten days.