She's making coffee as he pads out of the bedroom, still trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes, the loft quiet and peaceful in the early morning with Martha and Alexis up at the Hamptons, preparing things for the wedding.
She turns and smiles, but doesn't say anything as he comes up behind her, pressing his lips to her neck. Her hair's done up in a messy bun, and he's tempted to tug loose the glorious waves, but she'd probably kill him if he did.
Instead he cradles the coffee she hands him, and takes a sip of the divine liquid.
"Morning."
She watches him carefully over the lip of her own mug, smiling up at him as he drinks, the word whispered out by her just for his ears alone.
"It's a special day, Beckett. We need to celebrate."
"You do know we're getting married in five days, right? That's not enough celebration for you?"
"Nope, can't wait that long I'm afraid."
He puts his coffee down on the counter, and she follows suit, so he takes her hands in his, running his thumbs over her long lean fingers. Interweaving their fingers, he tugs her into a kiss, deepening it till he can taste the coffee with a hint of vanilla on her tongue.
"What exactly are we celebrating, Castle?" She pulls back for a second, but only just far enough to open the tiniest of spaces between them, his forehead still leaning on hers.
"I know you remember, Beckett. It's our anniversary."
Green eyes glint with humour in the faint light of dawn, and he knows she's teasing, but it's fun to play along.
"Which anniversary? When we first met? The first time I arrested you?"
"You keep track of all of those?"
"You don't?" She mock-pouts.
"Well I remember the first time I saved your life. Our first kiss. The first time you came to the loft. The fi-"
"The first time you came to my apartment. The first time we went out for dinner. The first time you made me coffee."
He grins at her interruption, brushing a couple of knuckles down the soft, loose t-shirt she's wearing, then skimming his hand underneath it till it rests on her bare waist. Drawing patterns on her skin with his fingers.
"I'm going to need to set all of these reminders up on my phone's calendar."
She huffs softly with laughter, then reaches up to kiss him again, her teeth tugging on his bottom lip gently, her tongue soothing it afterwards.
"As if you don't already, Castle."
"You know me too well. See, this is why I'm marrying you."
"Mhhmmm…"
She moans appreciatively into his mouth as his hand works lower, hooking her leg around his waist, cupping her rear and pressing her body to his, squeezing gently.
"Well, uhh, why don't we move this party to the door so we can celebrate this particular anniversary in authentic fashion."
No sooner than she's whispered the suggestion into his ear, he's lifted her up and is already moving.
He crowds into her space at the door, her back pressed to it, her eyes like large green pools of love and affection and lust.
"What do you want, Beckett?"
"You, Castle. I just want you."
A little something written for the two year anniversary of 'Always', which just passed.