The next morning Castle was gone when Beckett woke up. Not necessarily because he wanted to be, but because he enjoyed spending the mornings with Alexis before she went to school and if he managed to get home before she woke up, he'd be able to avoid the whole what were you doing last night scene. She rolled into the empty space beside her and sighed, sleepily; aching in places she hadn't ached in a very long time. She had to admit that it felt really good.

Then the crinkle of paper under her hand drew her attention from those aches, and she found that he'd left her a note. His handwriting was neat and precise and the note was short.

You're amazing.

She smiled, stretching, and allowed herself to lounge for a while longer before she decided it was time to get up and get a shower. Remembering what had happened in the shower only hours before certainly gave her something to think about as she lathered up, rinsed off, washed her hair and finished her regular morning routine.

OOOOOOOOO

He was at the precinct before she was. Sitting in her chair like he normally did when she wasn't around, he was drinking coffee and joking with Esposito about something. Both wrists were wrapped in gauze, and she felt just a little guilty about that.

Right up until he noticed her coming in and smiled in welcome as he stood up to give her her chair back.

"Good morning, Detective Beckett."

"Castle." She looked at Esposito, who was still grinning.

"Check out his wrists," Esposito told her. "Allergic reaction to new cufflinks. Ain't it a bitch being rich?"

She smiled, shaking her head and feeling her cheeks warm slightly at the look of adoration that he gave her when his back was to Esposito.

"Anything new today?"

He shrugged.

"The usual."

"Want some coffee?" Castle offered.

"Yeah."

She knew she was a little short, but it was morning and that was how she was most mornings. Luckily, he didn't take any offense. In fact, he grinned when he brought her a mug and set it on the desk in front of her. Since Esposito had left to show something to Ryan – who was just walking in the door – she offered him up a real smile in return.

"How are your wrists?"

"They're fine. A little sore, but there are other parts that ache a lot more than my wrists. You?"

She blushed just a little.

"Me, too."

"What are you doing tonight?"

"Depends on what you're doing…"

"Mother is taking Alexis to a spa. I'm alone. Unless you invite me over."

"I could probably do that."

He grinned, noticing just how uncomfortable she looked and more than willing to tease her when he could. She was way too self-possessed most of the time. Only last night had he actually seen her completely out of control and he'd liked it.

"When's dinner?"

"Seven?"

"Sounds good. Dessert at eight, then…" Now her light blush was a full-fledged flush, because she knew he wasn't talking about eating pie. It excited her and he noticed. He leaned closer, pretending to show her something, but whispered very softly in her ear. "I'll bring the handcuffs – yours hurt too much."

She felt her breath catch in her throat, but she didn't get a chance to say anything because Esposito returned, this time with Ryan, and they started their day.

OOOOOOOOOO

Their day was fairly easy. Not that they didn't have bad guys to chase and crimes that needed solving, but no one shot at any of them – which was always a plus. They even managed to get everything on their agenda cleared in time for them all to leave at a decent time. Which was always nice.

"What are you guys doing for dinner?" Esposito asked as they all headed out.

Beckett looked over at Castle, who shrugged.

"I think I'm going to go home. You?"

"Same."

Ryan looked over at his partner.

"Pizza and a game?"

"Sounds good."

The two of them left and Castle grinned.

"Close one."

She nodded.

"As much as I would have enjoyed a night with the guys, I'm really looking forward to a night with you."

His eyes twinkled with good humor.

"Why, Detective Beckett, I do think you're addicted to me."

She rolled her eyes.

"Don't flatter yourself, Castle."

"I'll be at your place by seven."

"Sounds good."

They both left, going different directions.

OOOOOOOOO

He was early, but she didn't mind. She answered the knock on the door with a slight surge of anticipation that she tried to hide. No need to fuel his ego any more than necessary, after all. Instead she gestured him into the living room and closed the door.

"Smells good," he told her, holding out a bottle of good wine. "I didn't know what we were having, but this'll go well with it."

She took it with a smile of thanks.

"We're having take out," she told him, leading him into the kitchen where she'd been unpacking the bags that had just been delivered to her door. "Italian."

"Sounds great."

It was, too. Chicken with Fettuccini Alfredo, fresh rolls and salad. Nothing too heavy, and even better, easy to clean up. They finished eating, threw all the garbage away and then went into the living room and sat down on the couch with the rest of the wine.

She settled beside him, leaning into him with one hand resting on his thigh and the other holding her wine glass. He put his arm around her shoulders, and sighed in complete contentment. It was hardly where he'd ever have imagined being only a day before, but he definitely liked it.

They talked about little stuff while they finished off the wine, and it was so casual that he hardly even noticed when her hand started moving on his leg, sliding back and forth right next to his groin. Once he did, though, the ensuing erection was inevitable. She smirked, and slid her hand along the bulge in his pants.

"What have we here?"

He sighed in pleasure at her touch, but reached for her hand.

"I get to be in charge tonight. Remember?"

"I know. But not yet. There's something I want to do, first." She met his gaze, her eyes dark with something he couldn't recognize. "Do you mind?"

"Pfft. No. I'm all yours, Detective."

She undid his pants and he helped her slide them off – along with his boxers. He held his breath as she slid her hand along him, her fingers setting him on fire and making him even harder.

"Oh, that's nice…" he murmured, closing his eyes and giving himself up to her ministrations. She parted his thighs and slid down onto the floor between them, which made him open his eyes again. Just in time to see her lower her head over his lap and feel her run her tongue along the entire length of his erection.

He groaned, and had to resist the urge to tangle his fingers in her hair and hold her where she was. Instead, he gripped the cushion he was sitting on and held his breath.

She smiled and the effect she had on him.

"Breathe, Rick," she told him.

"Yeah."

He didn't, though. He gasped instead as she took him in her mouth and started to do to him what he'd done to her the night before. He forced himself not to buck under her as she alternated between sucking on him and licking him, and he almost lost it completely when she started to caress his testicles in time with the motion of her tongue and mouth.

"Kate… oh… God…"

Since he couldn't actually see what she was doing – her hair and head blocked his view - he closed his eyes again, leaning back into the cushions and focusing entirely on what she was doing to him.

Suddenly he felt a tensing that made him sit straight up and try to push her away. She didn't budge, unwilling to stop.

"Kate!" He tried to pull away, but her fingernails dug into his hips, holding him still while she sucked even harder. There was no way she could miss his reaction, and now he couldn't hold still as his hips jerked and he writhed under her. "I'm going to-"

Her hand started pumping on him as she sucked just on the head of his arousal and he bit back his cry of pleasure as he came.

Her hand moved even faster on him as she continued what she was doing, milking him until he had nothing left to give her. He gave a final gasp of pleasure as she took a couple of final licks before she kissed his thigh once more and then moved out from between his thighs and joined him on the couch once more.

He pulled her against him, hugging her close as he tried to catch his breath.

"Wow…"

She grinned, her hand reaching for him and giving him a few experimental pumps. He groaned, but he didn't react immediately and she stopped.

"Liked that, did you?"

"Oh, yeah… very much. But-"

"You didn't think you were the only one with a love for oral, did you?" she asked him.

"Well, it's not really something that's come up so I guess I didn't think about it."

"Obviously." She was clearly pleased with herself that she'd driven him so crazy.

Castle kissed her, tasting himself on her lips.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Now get undressed. I can't wait to show you what I have in mind for the evening."