This story makes me smile. So does feedback.


The material clung to her curves in the cliché of all the right places. Behind him a soft breeze swept in from the open window and she grinned before turning back to the mirror and her loosely pinned curls.

"Close your mouth."

"Um. Yes."

A chuckle sprang forth and she dropped the piece of hair she had attempted to wrangle up into the loose mass. Castle managed to comply as he wandered past her and into the bedroom behind the wall where she worked.

"I often wish I could pay you back," he called out in explanation.

"For what?" Kate questioned.

"You are much hotter than I am."

With this she came around the corner. Her face looked serious. "You are charming and handsome. Ruggedly handsome," teased from her lips before she pressed them against his still bare chest.

"Hey, none of that," he attempted to evade, but his smile proved otherwise. "We'll be late for dinner."

"We won't," she promised as her hands slipped into his towel. "Just don't wrinkle the dress."

His answer was to pull it from her body, and lay it gently over the end of the bed. Rick paused, his hands aching to sink into her hair. He thought better than to disturb the work she'd done so instead he slowly skimmed his hands down the curve of her body, finally coming to rest at her hips. The act was calculated and left Kate squirming beneath his fingertips. Their lips met and parted in a dance that arched them both higher than what seemed possible. When they finally found themselves amongst the fluff and flow of the bed, he slipped protected into her warmth.

The slow slide of him in and out of her body was almost more than she could bear. The quiet of their little island, other than the gentle wash of the ocean against sand and rocks, seemed to engulf their entire existence. Neither closed their eyes as their bodies rocked and crashed together. Other than a soft groan as he emptied himself and her gasp as she came with him, the quiet remained.

The intensity of loving each other this way surpassed the emotional surge she'd experienced the first time they'd made love following his confession of feelings. It wasn't just sex between them after that, though she didn't doubt there would always be frantic coupling after some type of tension.

They lay together, hearts racing despite their gentle pace.

"I'm always going to love you." Rick hushed softly beside her ear.

"I completely agree." Kate promised back with similar reverence.

He sat up slightly, before pressing a kiss to her lips, encouraging the words she often fought. "Say it."

"I love you."

"Good," he replied, rolling from the bed, tossing the garbage and returning with a damp cloth. "Guess we wrecked our showers."

"It was worth it." Kate replied taking the offered cloth as he took items from his carefully planned pile of clothing he'd picked out for dinner.

Rick slipped on his watch and smirked before announcing, "We're going to be late."

"Shut up, Castle."


Beckett sat in the front of the boat suspiciously as Castle whirled the engine to life. They had several hours before the sun would set but for safety and ease of finding the little island, the solar powered deck light was activated.

"Do you really think you can drive this thing?" she asked with concern.

"Relax, I've driven plenty of boats. I've actually got one out at the Hamptons."

"Somehow, I'm still not sure," Beckett added, her twinge of nerves still present as she watched him unhook the boat and troll carefully around the small sand bar on the inhabited side of the island. The water darkened quickly and despite her swimming skills and the comfort she'd gathered playing in the shallow waters on the other side of the island she shifted her foot against the life preserver tucked beneath the seat to reassure herself. With care, Rick drove the boat with the guide of a mounted compass. Within moments the tiny slip of land, barely visible from their island came more fully into view.

It was equally isolated, just as their tiny piece of land was, but as it grew it became clear it was larger than their own. On opposite sides of a cove, two bungalows similar to theirs came into view while central in the curve of land, was a large dock. The bigger boat they'd come in on from St. Lucia with their guide sat tied up. Two other small boats just like the one Castle was quite expertly steering in were tied up beside it. The water lightened to a friendly turquoise color as the came into the little bay.

"What was his name?" Beckett asked, trying to remember if he had ever introduced himself during the short drive and boat trip.

"Marcus." Castle added, remembering the name from when they'd booked.

"I don't remember him telling us?" She pondered as they pulled to the dock and shut down the motor.

"I remember from the arrangements."

"Glad I'm not losing my touch." Kate smiled as she stepped from the boat. Her dress riding up further on her thighs and causing Rick to bang his knee against the dock's post as he followed her out.


The main building had a small lobby that split into two different directions. One clearly led towards the little bar and dining room, the other direction seemed to produce a small room utility room. It was filled with various equipment and supplies for guests to borrow and Kate thought she caught a glimpse of a washing machine. Marcus lit up when he saw them come through the door.

"You've made it!" he grinned. "My wife will get you an amazing dinner." He patted his stomach out of reflex.

"I'm starved," Castle confirmed, "busy day."

"You got out for a little sun," the caretaker pointed out, as Kate wandered in to look at the gear. There was scuba equipment, but she knew for a fact neither of them were certified. The washing machine was whirling about and she followed its cord to an outlet.

"We snorkeled," Kate explained as she studied the machine at work. "How do you get power out here?"

"We've got a bigger generator, but just this building has power," He explained. "Bring in your towels when you run low and we'll wash them while you eat."

"Food," Castle demanded impatiently.

"Okay, okay." Kate replied as Marcus chuckled.

They wandered into the little bar; behind its length of smooth oiled wood was a small kitchen. Four tables sat in the open space, each a draped in a cloth with a flare of island color. Along a small portion of the back wall, several more sat stacked, top to top. The legs of the upper pair, pointing proudly into the air and proclaiming they had purpose on occasion.

Marcus' wife, Vivianne, stepped from behind the bar and little kitchen. She introduced herself as they found a little table in the corner.

"It's a pleasure," she smiled. "I make two things each evening; I put them on the chalk board."

"The Green Figs and Salt Fish is my favorite." Marcus added.

"Oh, yes. I want that," Castle explained, "It's the local dish."

Kate pondered the other option, a jerked chicken with lime. "I'll have the same. As long as you promise there will be jerk another day."

"Yes," Vivianne smiled, "I only make so many things, but I try to put different twists on them. It will appear again."

"Good."


Before long, an amazingly fragrant plate appeared in front of each of them. They dug into the warm sliced figs and the salty mix of fish and seasoning vegetables and spice that covered the slices.

"Thank you for bringing me here." Kate offered as she hummed over the food.

"Thank you for coming."

"This was definitely worth the ugly renewal passport photo," she grinned in return. He laughed, before setting down his fork and touching her leg beneath the small table; he gave a little squeeze before releasing it.

They'd nearly finished their meal, when another couple came through the doors laughing wrapped in each other. Marcus stepped from behind the bar where he'd been cleaning up beside his wife.

"The new mister and missus," he greeted. "You made it out for dinner."

Kate's body shook as she held in the laughter. The pair both lacked a tan.

"At least we've gotten out," Rick offered and Kate was unsure if his comment was meant to calm her shaking body or if it's intent was to spring the noise free. They couldn't quite make out the conversation from across the large room, until the three of them stepped closer. Marcus introduced them as Caroline and Robert. They were staying in one of the little bungalows on the cove and had been married the week before.

Having finished their dinners, Vivianne let them browse the pantry for anything they'd like to take back as a dry store. She promised them a basket filled with fresh local fruits and gave specific instruction to where inside their little jungle island they could find some wild bananas. She warned them that the skins of these bananas may be marred with spots from insects, but the insides would be fine and would be the best they'd ever tasted. Rick could see Kate taking careful notes inside her head, as she so rarely needed a notepad for anything.

They left with a small canvas bag filled with dried peas, a dried fruit mix and some thick square crackers that were loaded with spices. Castle had also slipped an additional flavored bag of coffee into the package, claiming it for variety since they'd never finish what was already at home.

When they pulled up to the dock, the sun was hanging low in the sky and the little deck light glowed its welcome. Kate hopped from the boat and helped tie it up before they headed up towards their little hideaway as Rick chomped on the crisp dried peas.

"You just ate."

"They're good!" Castle defended, before she snatched a handful from the bag herself, spilling a few in the sand during the process. "Now look!"

"Stop pouting," Beckett mumbled as she crunched her prizes.

A quick stop to stash the food items and they made their way back to the little beach on the quiet side of the island to watch the sun let go. Castle so desperately wanted to wade back into the water, but gave into Kate's protest about salt and the fabric of her dress.

They sat on the weathered steps, crammed side by side as they bodies pressed into the tiny space. Despite the fact that they were dry, Rick still hissed softly into her ear as the sun slipped below the water line for the night and Kate kissed his lips softly before they got up and headed home.