A/N: This was supposed to be a one-shot, but then this chapter came to life on its own. M rated.
Kate cut the cake while Rick procured two crystal glasses for wine. Once he poured the drinks, Castle joined her at the kitchen island where she was perched on a tall stool.
"So tell me about this wedding of ours," Kate instructed as she took a bite of cake.
Castle started painting a picture of the enchanting event, covering the who, what, where, and when of their magical day. She listened with rapt attention as he described everything in vivid detail.
"Well we picked fall, because it was the perfect season. Not too cold, not too hot, and it's your favorite season. And we got this great venue that was completely booked for months, but another couple had dropped out so we took the spot," he gushed.
"We had to trim the guest list down a lot to just our closest friends and family. But at the end of the day we agreed that the most important people that needed to be there were each other, of course."
Kate smiled at his sentimentality. For a guy who was known to be a notorious playboy, she was learning that deep down he was a big romantic.
"Ryan and Esposito fought over who would be my best man," Castle grinned at the memory.
That scenario made Kate almost snort out her wine. She could totally imagine the two of them fighting over the distinction and how it would really inflate his ego.
"Of course they did," she said, shaking her head.
"They both started bribing me with favors and gifts, trying to prove that they were the better friend."
She shook her head disapprovingly at their childish antics. "Who won?"
"Neither of them," he chuckled. "Alexis was going to be my best man, of course."
The thought of his daughter filling the important role brought a smile to her face.
Castle continued by describing the decorations, the choice of song for their first dance, and their honeymoon destination plans. He was such a good storyteller that she found herself engaged in the fantasy and even indulged in believing it a little bit herself.
He wouldn't tell her everything, however. He couldn't describe her dress, of course, because he hadn't seen it per tradition. He didn't want to talk about the vows with her; those were far too personal. And he stubbornly refused to give details on how he proposed.
"Gotta keep a few tricks up my sleeve Beckett," he insisted with a devious smile.
She didn't read too much into why he wanted to keep that tidbit to himself.
"Why, so you can re-use your proposal method?" she teased, without fully realizing the implication.
"You'd like that wouldn't you?" Castle challenged.
"You wish," Kate rolled her eyes in classic Beckett fashion.
A blush crept to her cheeks unintentionally, making her face flush pink. She blamed it on the wine.
"I know this all sounds pretty crazy. Thanks for believing me," Castle said earnestly as he wrapped up his exposition.
"Sometimes life is stranger than fiction," Kate shrugged. "It's so crazy that it could actually be true. Either that or this is the most elaborate scheme any guy has ever pulled to get into my pants," she remarked.
"That's not what I'm trying to do here," he pledged seriously. "I promise."
"I know," Kate assured him. She reached out and squeezed his hand in reassurance.
"I do really appreciate you coming here to cheer me up though. It means a lot to me," Castle expressed earnestly. It touched him that she cared enough to personally come to his home to check in on him.
"Of course," she smiled. "And to be honest, I was more than a little curious about our backstory after what you said yesterday. I wanted to know the details."
"Well there's a lot more to our story than just the wedding, you know."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. Six years of knowing each other, remember?"
Six maddening, challenging, remarkable years of being together and falling in love. She didn't know the half of it.
"When will you tell me the rest of it?"
"Guess you'll just have to keep me around to find out," Castle enticed, mischievousness dancing in his eyes. It was the writer in him, always the one to create some mystery.
"Guess I will..." Kate murmured thoughtfully. She definitely didn't mind another reason to keep the handsome author around.
"Or maybe we can start writing our own story," she proposed after a pause. The wine was making her feel bolder than usual tonight. And hot. When did it get so warm in here? Yeah, it was definitely the wine.
Castle gulped as he caught a devious glint in her eye.
"Yeah, we could..." he mumbled.
Kate quirked an eyebrow at him, picking up on his nervousness.
"You good Castle?" she smirked.
"Good, yeah. Great," he stammered.
Her eyes fixated on his lips and she unconsciously licked her own in response, studying him beneath dark lashes. She leaned in naturally toward him, eyelids heavy with desire. He gravitated to her at the same time, fueled by a want he had been fighting ever since he arrived in this alternate universe, always being pulled in by her gravity. Castle stopped short before their lips could meet, knowing that this Beckett wasn't his yet.
Kate huffed with frustration at his restraint.
"You, uhh, have a bit of chocolate there," Castle pointed out, giving himself an excuse for being so close to her.
He automatically brought his thumb to the corner of his mouth, wiping it off and caressing her jawbone at the same time. She shivered at his gentle touch.
She caught his wrist before he could pull away and then, in a wave of boldness, seductively sucked the chocolate from his finger while holding his gaze, knowing exactly what she was doing to him.
Castle gulped hard. He felt the heat between them increase by two-fold and his pants tighten uncomfortably.
"Thanks, Castle. Did you get it all?" she asked rhetorically. Kate had sneakily swiped some icing onto an exposed section of her neck as she innocently sucked the excess off her fingers.
"Kate…" he warned with a growl. The low timber of his voice set her even more on edge. She was playing a dangerous game and, by all accounts, winning effortlessly.
Castle crowded into her, hovering above the offending spot, breathing warm air over the sensitive skin that raised goosebumps on her flesh. He brought his mouth to the column of her neck, licking the icing off and gingerly kissing the milky flesh. Instinct kicked in, and he found himself trailing open-mouthed kisses down her throat, unconsciously finding the spot he knew she liked. He sucked at her pulse point, drawing a throaty moan from her that reverberated against his lips. The suction sent a searing need through her core, ratcheting it up to unbearable levels.
When he drew back, he saw her eyes had darkened several shades with pure lust. They came together again and this time, Castle didn't balk before capturing her lips. He kissed her deeply and it was everything he remembered, how she tasted, how her lips felt. He pried her mouth open with his tongue, and when she finally acquiesced, he eagerly explored the caverns of her mouth with months of pent up passion. She kissed him back furiously, fighting and dueling him for control like they did so often in the precinct.
She was now sure this man definitely had an intimate knowledge of her, one that could only have been gained by prior experience together in another lifetime.
When they finally broke apart, they were both heaving from that searing kiss.
Castle paused, looking at Kate to gauge her reaction, and was surprised at the level of confidence he found in her eyes.
"Come on Castle, let's go consummate our relationship," Kate prompted breathlessly as she took his hand. She dragged him in the direction of a bedroom she had caught a glimpse of on her way in.
Once they were in his room she stopped at his bedside and turned to face him, eager hands landing on his chest. He held her waist tentatively, gazing deep into her eyes, looking for any signs of hesitation.
"You sure about this?" Castle asked cautiously.
He saw Kate nod affirmatively in the dim glow of his bedside lamp. "Start of something new," she echoed her words from earlier in the evening.
"It is our wedding night after all," she added.
She attached herself to him at the mouth again, kissing him greedily as she peeled off his clothes, while he returned the favor. They separated only to take off their shirts and once exposed, her hands eagerly roamed the broad expanse of his chest and abdomen. She gulped as her hands wandered lower to the impressive bulge that had formed in his pants which only served to augment her anticipation.
She cupped him and stroked him a few times, feeling him grow harder to her touch. A soft grunt escaped his lips as she unbuckled his pants and pushed his trousers down then let him continue undressing her.
Using one hand he deftly undid the clasp of her bra, exposing her beautiful breasts. He bent down to suck eagerly on one nipple as he kneaded its pebbled twin with his fingers. The things this man could do with his mouth were already driving her crazy.
Without breaking away, he unfastened the button of her jeans and pushed them down as she stepped out of them without missing a beat, like a dance partner in perfect sync. He took the opportunity to grab a handful of her ass, appreciating the firmness and fullness of her flesh, and raised her leg up to wrap around his waist. This act brought them deliciously close, both enjoying the friction against each other in their most sensitive areas.
It came as no surprise to her that he was a tactile man, after having caught him rummaging through her office and desk on more than one occasion. He obviously liked to touch things. He evinced this same curiosity by trailing his hands over the planes and contours of her body, carefully appraising the topography like an exquisite, uncovered relic.
She anchored herself to him at the neck and shoulder and clung to him as he gently lowered her onto the bed. He draped himself over her and kissed her again, already addicted to the intimate act. She almost whimpered when he pulled away to depart for another pair of her lips.
He placed kisses down her body as he trailed lower and lower along her body. He hooked a finger under her panties at each side and she raised her hips in response to let him drag them down. He took a moment to scan over her fully naked form and regarded her with reverence, cherishing the body he had craved for so long.
Taking residence at the apex of her thighs, he placed kisses at the soft flesh on either side. She mewled with unbridled anticipation. He used a finger to trail along her opening, finding her thoroughly soaked.
"Fuck, you're so wet already Kate."
She whined incoherently in response.
Understanding the primal instruction, he brought his tongue to her clit and pulsed over it, causing her to whimper louder. His tongue lapped over her sensitive nub and swollen folds, tasting her unique flavor. He pushed a finger into her and began pumping into her rhythmically.
"Oh god, Castle," she moaned.
Without losing focus on the sensitive bundle of nerves, he slipped another digit into her and felt her thighs clamp down around his head as he relentlessly pleasured her. He knew it would be her undoing when he curled his fingers in the come hither motion, hitting her g-spot, and feeling her seize around him.
"Fuck Castle, I'm coming," she cried out. Her hips bucked violently as the orgasm ripped through her body.
He let her ride the waves of pleasure, smiling proudly to himself as he lapped up the evidence of her climax. It was always a treat watching her come undone like that, knowing he was the one to make her lose control. He gave her a few seconds to come down and recover before maneuvering himself back up to her.
"That was amazing," she panted, kissing him in appreciation.
"Knew you'd like it," he murmured into the kiss.
"My turn," she declared as she flipped him over. She straddled him and wiggled her way down his body as she kissed along the plane of his torso, stroking him from behind.
She kneeled in between his legs and tugged down his boxers, letting his cock spring freely from its confines. She grinned greedily, palming him and stroking his velvety shaft, admiring how hard he was already for her. While making direct eye contact, she swirled her tongue around the tip, fondled him at the base, then sealed her lips around him to take him eagerly into her mouth.
He moaned as she descended on him, weaving his fingers through her hair to encourage her. This was a dream come true indeed.
She hollowed out her cheeks as she traced the length of his shaft, twisting and weaving around him, as she enthusiastically serviced him. He groaned at the sensations she brought him, feeling pressure building up in his groin.
The delicious friction coupled with the sight of her going down on him was bringing him dangerously close to coming.
"Kate, you're going to have to stop if you want this to last."
She released him with an evil pout lingering on her mouth.
"Hmmph, fine."
He let out a huff of air before propping himself up by his elbows.
"You ready?" he asked.
Kate nodded.
He fumbled around in the nightstand to retrieve protection. When he found it, she took the foil from his hands, tore it open, and unrolled it along his hardened member.
He turned them over once more and climbed over her to nestle himself in the vee of her parted legs. They exchanged heavy breaths as he guided himself into her, sliding himself further into her until he was buried in pure molten heat. Their simultaneous moans melded together as she felt herself stretch to accommodate his size. She wrapped her legs around him, folding them high on his waist, and she cupped his ass to bring him as deep as he could go.
He would have almost been content staying like that, pressed impossibly deep and connected so intimately with her, but one word of admonishment told him she needed him to move.
"Castle…" she pleaded.
Heeding her cue, he started moving inside her, pulling out and sliding back in. He repeated the motion again and again, setting a moderate tempo. He looked down at her gorgeously flushed face, finding no trace of shyness or nervousness as she let him take the lead. She grabbed at the surface of his back, clawing at his muscles and drawing him close to feel maximum skin to skin contact.
His grunts only served to turn her on more and she gasped every time he drove his hips into her. He increased his pace, now pumping vigorously into her, over and over. Each powerful stroke drove her further into the mattress, bedsprings creaking as they moved together.
He claimed a few kisses from her lips, hot, needy ones that stole her breath away. She wasn't sure how, but somehow their passionate intercourse also felt like lovemaking at the same time.
Tension was building rapidly as they picked up speed again, driving frantically into each other in a frenzy of sweat and heat. The sensations were so overwhelming, bruising force, scorching friction, a medley of gasping and grunts, that she couldn't form coherent thoughts but only feel.
She knew he was getting close when his thrusts became shallower and sloppy. Her body started to tremble around him as he brought her closer and closer to the peak. Just a few more thrusts pushed them both over the edge, plummeting together into a canyon of pure bliss.
"Oh god, Kate," he cried out as he spilled into her.
"Oh Rick," she sobbed as she shattered around him.
They came together, hard, writhing in the sensation that overtook their bodies. It hit like a tidal wave, powerful, devastating surges of ecstasy that seemed to cause ripples in the fabric of time itself. He stilled, pulsing inside her as she arched into him, trembling and shuddering uncontrollably.
She clung to him as he panted heavily to compose himself, tremors of pleasure still coursing through their bodies. The weight of his body, solid and warm, was a welcome blanket of pressure that made her feel safe. They exchange a few more long, passionate kisses sprinkled with satisfied sighs.
After a few moments he rolled off her, humming contentedly. She missed his body immediately as he left the bed to make a quick trip to the bathroom to clean up. She was promptly rewarded by his presence again as he slipped back under the covers, snuggling up to her from behind to hold her close for the night.
Fitting together perfectly, they both drifted off to a peaceful sleep, finally in each other's arms.
The next morning Kate yawned awake lazily, knowing it was her day off. She observed the foreign surroundings, blinking to clear her vision, and quickly remembered where she was. She stretched her limbs, cat-like with a content sigh, feeling her body deliciously sated.
She really didn't mean to end up in his bed, honestly, yet here they were after a night of mind-blowing sex.
Kate turned to find her partner already awake with blue eyes intently watching her.
"Hi," he greeted gently.
"Hi," she replied in a sleepy voice, a smile forming on her lips.
"Sleep well?"
"Mmhmm… so well. You're comfy," she breathed as she nuzzled closer, relaxing into him. They lay together quietly for a few moments as she listened to his heartbeat and he ran his fingers through her hair.
"So this wasn't a one time thing, right?" Rick asked tentatively.
"It doesn't have to be," Kate mused thoughtfully. "An active sex life is conducive to a healthy marriage, or so I've been told," she smirked at him.
God, he loved this woman already.
"This wasn't just because it was supposed to be our wedding night and all that?"
"Nope, not for me." Honestly, she had been wanting to jump his bones for months and last night just felt like the right moment.
"Good. Me neither."
"But if you tell anyone at work about this I'll kick you to the curb so fast your head will spin," she threatened with deadly seriousness.
"Got it, captain," he nodded. "My lips are sealed."
She shook her head. "At work it's captain, but outside of work there's no need for titles. Unless you're into roleplay..." she cocked an eyebrow at him.
Castle's eyes grew wide and he gulped hard. This alternate universe was turning out to be not so bad after all.
She laughed at his loss for words and leaned in for a kiss. Their kisses were light and playful, interspersed with giggles and happy little noises.
When they broke apart, she saw his eyes brimming with love and adoration. Normally it would scare her, baring this intense level of emotion after one night together, but for some reason his eyes brought a familiar warmth to her chest that made her heart flutter. His soft, reassuring gaze made her feel like she was at home.
Yeah, she could see herself getting lost in those eyes for a while. If he kept looking at her like that, she was going to have to keep him around for a long time indeed.
He proposed eight months later on the swings of the rear porch of his beach house during a weekend getaway to the Hamptons.
Despite having done this with her once before, his hands were trembling with nervousness as he held up the ring to offer her his heart forever.
"You already know I'm going to say yes," she teased, eyes twinkling with mirth.
Her acceptance brought him just as much joy as it did the first time around.
From the outside, it seemed like a whirlwind romance to their acquaintances as they snuck around, stealing kisses in her office, trying to keep their relationship under the radar.
But to them it was inevitable, a foregone conclusion that had already been written in the book of time. Only the two of them were privy to the reality-defying secret—that they were destined to be together.
They wed four months later, like clockwork, right on a private beach in the Hamptons in a small, intimate ceremony that only included immediate family.
They made their vows to each other, newly written ones, which curiously included a promise to love each other for the entirety of this timeline or any other.
"I guess this turned out to be our anniversary after all," Kate observed as they swayed to the music during their first dance as husband and wife.
"Yeah. Life has a funny way of working itself out."
"I'm so glad it did."
"Me too." He couldn't have written a better ending.
"Happy zeroth anniversary, for real this time," Kate grinned.
"Happy anniversary, my love."