CHAPTER EIGHT: Carpe Diem
Adrenaline racing, Kate launches herself at Castle, throwing her arms around him as she realizes he's somehow managed to disable the bomb. Crushed in his embrace, overwhelmed with relief, she lets out a half-laugh, half whoop of delight, as they get yet another reprieve from death. Letting him go, she jumps with excitement as she realizes they've done it. They've managed to cheat death and save the city yet again. Shock, joy, awe and a million other feelings race through her as she struggles to understand what just happened. Castle is pumping his fist and spinning circles, shouting out, unable to contain his joy. The numbers counting down to the explosion have halted, forever stalled by his desperate pulling of the wires from the bomb.
Eyes locking with hers, he doesn't think, he just acts. Dropping the wires, he grabs her again, pulling her in for another hug, before lowering his mouth to hers. Unable and unwilling to let another moment pass without taking a chance with her, he lets out all of his pent-up longing and overflowing joy, transmitting it all through the simple touch of his mouth to hers, his body automatically lining itself up, fitting her into the hollows and curves of his. Feeling her still at the first contact, he persists, not letting her go. Thinking he's only moments from being rejected, he's determined to thoroughly taste her, silently communicating his love for her, giving her every opportunity to respond.
A moment then two race by, as he continues to gently press his lips to hers, his hands coming up to frame her face, delicately tracing the outline of her jaw, as he takes his time, savoring the feel of her. As his heart drops, chastened by her lack of response, he feels an inevitable wave of sadness overwhelm him. Just as he starts to pull back, breaking their kiss, an apology bubbling to the surface, he freezes, disbelieving, wondering whether his senses are playing tricks on him. Feeling her hands clutch at his shoulders, her mouth opening under his, his emotions stutter and skip, wildly caroming around in his head as she finally responds.
At the first touch of his mouth to hers, Kate's entire being becomes immobile, her body's awareness of his causing everything in her to come to instant and spontaneous attention. The fine hair covering her body stands on end, electric and sensitized to his touch, blood rushing everywhere. Her body tightens, acutely aware of every point of contact between them. All of the agonizing, overthinking, hesitation and indecision she's struggled with for weeks fade, shoved aside by a single touch from Rick. One kiss overcomes all of her resistance, doubts cast aside in favor of a single thought – YES! Her body's immediate recognition of how right this feels bulldozes over all of her fears and objections. She enthusiastically responds, heart singing at the feel of being in his arms.
Detached, floating, her mind catalogs what's happening even while her body takes over, consumed with the taste and feel of him. Their first undercover kiss was unexpected and exciting, her involuntary response storming her senses. Later, she felt both aroused and guilty for responding so fully to his advances. Now, everything she couldn't acknowledge on that long ago day has come brimming to the surface with the simple touch of his lips to hers. Throwing herself into her response, she answers the call his lips make to hers, letting herself feel everything fully for the first time, no guilt, no regrets hindering her response. Lust and love roar through her, so intertwined she can't separate what she's feeling for him. She just knows she needs more. More contact, more of him, the desire racing in her veins driving her to seek more of everything. Her tongue tangling with his, a moan involuntarily torn from her, she pushes her body into his, hands freely roaming over him, tasting and testing, the hard ridge pressing against her stomach proof of his feelings for her.
The sound of a car door slamming and the distant wail of sirens penetrate the cocoon they're wrapped in. Not wanting the moment to end, reluctantly, he pulls back, arms still tightly wrapped around her. Firmly, determined, Castle looks at her, eyes brimming with emotions. "We're not going to ignore this again, Kate."
Nodding in agreement, she steps back, eyes tracking towards the sound of footsteps. Amir's widow rounds the corner of the van, eyes frantic, wanting to know what's happening. Sighing, wanting only to walk away from everything but Rick, she steels herself for what comes next, knowing there will be hours of meetings before she's finally free.
"It's okay. We stopped it." she tells her, reassuring her. "We'll get you to your baby soon. Everything's going to be okay."
Looking back at Castle, she sees him hesitate, caught between their duty and what he wants personally. "Tonight. My place. I promise." She whispers, giving him a brief smile of reassurance, her eyes lingering on his lips before seeking out his eyes for his agreement. Seeing him nod, she relaxes, turning towards the other officers arriving on the scene, determined to get everything settled so they can leave.