Chapter 6: Just Teasing me, are you?
Disclaimer: I've decided I would really like to write for Castle, because that means I would be in LA and it would be awesome, I wouldn't be living in my small town in Canada that is not exciting and not warm like LA.
Kate and Rick walked along the streets of East Hampton, shoulders brushing. In the winter months the town was not nearly as busy, there were a few other people out and about, but most of the houses here were only occupied in the summer months. The streets were quiet and cold, as the winter chill had set in with full force now that the sun was no longer shinning.
Rick led the way, down the main street and then turned onto a few back ones, until the reached a small pub. It was named Rowdy Hall; Kate took in from the small sign that hung above. There was a vast empty patio, she was sure would be bustling with customers in the summer months, but clearly grew vacant in this winter cold. The place itself was a tucked into a little nook behind Main Street.
As they entered she took in the sights and smells of the place. The wood burning fire place in the back, the smell of whiskey hitting her nostrils, and Ricks hand finding the small of her back, as he led her to a comfy booth at the back of the pub, nodding to the man behind the bar.
"I knew you'd love this place Kate," He said slipping into the booth next her after hanging their jackets on the hook at the edge of their booth. She smiled at his comment.
"It seems really cozy," She replied.
"The food is great too." He said as the waitress came and brought them menus.
Kate decided on the mussels and Rick was getting the house burger, both of course with a glass of wine. He told her the story of how he found the place. Just generally discovering the town when he first moved here and he had seen it. Then after the divorce with Gina, a week when she had been taking care of Alexis and he had gotten away from the city he needed a drink and something to distract him, he found this little place and had been coming back ever since.
Their conversation continued to flow over dinner, talking about anything and everything. It has always been easy between them. One would assume that with the amount of time they spent together, they would run out of things to talk about, but that was never the case. Especially as they grew even more comfortable with each other over the past months, it seemed like there was no topic off limits between the two of them anymore.
When they had both finished their overflowing plates, feeling like they were so full they would never need to eat again, when their wine glasses were empty and the dessert plates were completely cleaned they headed back towards Castle's house.
They walked slowly along the street, her gloved fingers intertwining with his bare ones, and she could feel the heat of his hands even through the fabric. The glow of the street laps casting shadows along their faces. The partners were silent. Both of them lost within their own thoughts.
Castle's thumb was tracing absentmindedly along her hand. That was one thing she had noticed about him in the last few months, his hands were always moving; they were never still. Whether they were tracing patterns on her skin, drumming against his own thigh, or playing with the strands of her hair, they were always doing something. She never minded though, it was something simple that she really enjoyed about him. Feeling his fingertips run along her bare skin, it lit in on fire, gave her goose bumps, made her want to grab him and kiss him right then and there.
They turned down the street that Castle's place was own and Kate was extremely glad. The day with Castle had been amazing. But now there was nothing she wanted more than to curl up with him on the couch and get some sleep.
As much as Castle had promised her no funny business and she had promised to hold him to that one, dozing off in his arms last night had been something she never wanted to forget, and she wanted to do it every night from then on. She had felt safe in his arms, he had always been protective of her, at sometimes maybe a little too much, but when his arms were wrapped tightly around her as she headed towards sleep, she couldn't think of anything better.
The two poured themselves into the house, both clearly exhausted from the events of the day.
It was only a little after 9pm, far too early for the two to warrant parting for the night to sleep, so Kate decided on a bath and Castle had said he was going to go and read a little bit, he would be in his room, and she could come find him when she was done.
Kate found cherry scented bubble bath when she investigated the washroom. He knew her too well, and the large tub in here was too much for her to pass up.
She didn't spend long in the bath, soaking her muscles, relaxing a bit, but no more than 30 minutes later she had climbed out and threw on pajama pants and an old NY police academy shirt that fit her just a little small these days.
She padded down to Castle's room feeling completely relaxed. His door was half open so she poked her head in first. Sure enough he way lying on his back stretched out on top of the covers, his nose buried in the newest Patterson novel.
"Keeping up with the competition are you?" She teased from the doorway. He set the book down giving her his full attention.
"Got to see what the boys are coming up with these days, ya know," He replied, "Can't have them beating me out." He laughed.
She walked over sitting on the edge of his bed, and he gave her a puzzled look.
"What's that look for?" She asked him.
"Nothing, I guess," He replied, "But you know, you are always welcome right here." He said motioning next him.
"And what happened to no funny business Mr. Castle?" She asked, teasing him as she inched closer to sit cross-legged next to him.
"I swear to keep my hands to myself detective, if not you have full permission to cuff me." He said holding his hands up like he was innocent and sliding up higher on the bed to rest his head and upper back against the head board.
"I will hold you to that one," She said cuddling into his side, his one hand automatically moving to run up and down her arm.
"Rickā¦" was all she said, drawing out his name as long as possible.
"Really KB, you can handcuff me if you choose, but something tells me you aren't going to."
She smiled, turning to bury her face into his shoulder to hide her expression.
"I definitely won that one." He said placing a kiss in her hair.
"You did not, Castle," She replied. "If I had cuffs with me, you would be in them right now."
"Is that a threat, detective Beckett?" He asked, but she didn't miss the sultry tone of his voice.
"Mmm, it just might be Mr. Castle." She replied slowly running the tips of her fingers along his chest.
"Oh, now you are just going tease me are you?" He asked with a small laugh.
"Oh, I'll show you teasing, Richard Castle." She said moving to straddle his hips and lower her mouth to his own. The kiss was sweet and light at first, her teasing him, but when she felt his hands move from her back to bury themselves in her hair she lost all control. She felt his tongue run along bottom lip, just after he had pulled it into his mouth, teeth nipping at it. She opened her mouth to the kiss, feeling his tongue battling with her own. She moved to tangle her legs with his, her body running along the length of his. Their mouths battled for dominance, her nails running over his neck and scalp, his running along her sides to the back of her thighs and back up. He began toying with the hem of her academy t-shirt, and she felt his fingertips brush the small of her back. He was lighting her body on fire with each and every movement of his hands, and she wasn't planning on doing anything to stop him.
"Kate," He said pulling away from her. This could not be happening. They weren't dating, they were friends, heck Richard Castle didn't know what they were. Her forehead was pressed against his, and she lifted her chest off of his, straddling his hips once again, his hands moving to the back of her thighs.
"Kate, I mean as much as I want this, I think maybe we should take things slow. Ya know, figure out what we are doing here before we rush into things?" He finished, mentally kicking himself from stopping them. He had wanted this to happen for more than three years now, but now it was something more. He didn't want things to just be physical with her, he wanted everything. He wanted to her to fall asleep in his arms, and to be able to comfort her after a hard day at the precinct, to be able to laugh with her, he wanted it all.
"You are probably right Castle," she replied, "And I should probably get to bed," she finished as she began to get up but he grabbed her hand, pulling her back down to him.
"I didn't say you had to leave, I just said that taking things slow would probably be a good idea. That's all."
"And me staying in your bed is taking things slow?" She questioned.
"I wont make you stay KB, but know that you are more than welcome to stay if you want, and I promise no funny business this time, not that I started it last time." He said with a small laugh at the end, watching a smile grow across her lips.
"I think I'd like to stay Rick, you do make a pretty good pillow. And I guess I can keep my hands to myself," she sighed sarcastically, rolling her eyes, as she moved to cuddle back into his side.
He pressed a kiss to her temple, and his fingertips found her upper arm again, tracing patterns just as they were before.
She found herself drifting into sleep rather quickly. They had had a long day, and tomorrow would be even more eventful. They had to be up early to get ready and be at the hotel the wedding was being held at by 1 pm since the ceremony was set to begin around two. Castle would be standing up next to Ryan as a groomsman, and Esposito as the best man, leaving Kate and Lanie to watch the ceremony. And then dinner and the reception, which she was sure, would last well into the night. She found herself excited yet nervous for that part of the night, especially with the newfound, whatever it was, between her and Castle. They would definitely need to discuss that in the morning before the wedding. Because if they went around acting like they had been the past two days she was sure there would be some questions asked that she didn't know the answer to and didn't want to face yet.
So I have to thank all of you so much! You all deserve a 'we just saved New York from a dirty bomb' sized hugs. All of you and your reviews are completely amazing and it makes writing this story just that much better. I hope you guys enjoyed this one! It was a ton of fun to write. So just click that little blue button below this and let me know what you thought! As for chapter 7, we are most likely FINALLY going to get to the wedding, it may have to hold off until chapter 8, but know it is coming! Thanks again for everyone who read this, reviewed it, or alerted it or myself! You guys are awesome!
