Author's Note: Okay folks, sorry for the delay on this one. the silly season struck, and it's been hell finding the time to stop long enough to eat, let alone write. That being said, I'm very happy with how this chapter worked out :-)
Thanks once again to the awesome Manuxinhace, beta and Muse extraordinaire, for proofing and being there to bounce ideas off, and crack the whip when needed.
Spoiler alerts for... Rise, Cops & Robbers, and some others probably.
Fair warning, dear readers: last chapter was angsty and dark, this one had adult themes. Very adult themes. If you dont like smut, then it's probably a good idea to skip thos bits when you get the them. If, however, you are into such things, read on, but have a cold shower or ice-water on stand-by. Apparently, those scenes are a little... steamy.
Reviews = love, folks!
Previously, in Choices:
Turning her eyes to the mirror she had touched, she saw that it was shattered, shards of glass still clinging to the edges of the ruined frame. Glancing at the ground underneath, she was only a little surprised when she failed to find any broken glass on the strange sand.
"Choose..." The voice from before sounded in her mind again, echoing around inside her, growing in volume until she was sure her teeth were vibrating with the feeling.
Drawing a shaky breath, she faced the second mirror, her heart hammering as she braced herself for the experiences she knew she was about to live through.
The smell of antiseptic filled her nose as she breathed in. If that wasn't clue enough, the rhythmic beeping of the machines, and the hushed sounds of people trying not to make much noise were a dead giveaway: she was in hospital again. Drawing a deep breath, she winced in pain as her body let her know just why she was there. Her head aching, she felt it swirl with memories, the sounds of people talking quietly prompting the movie reel of emotions and feelings to begin again.
For the third time in her life, Kate sat on the swings, next to Castle and explained why she can't be in a relationship 'right now'. It was... heartbreaking the first time, trying to explain it to him, knowing that he was angry with her, knowing that he had every right to be and yet still hoping that he would understand, that he would wait for her, still be there when the wall came down.
The second time, she'd found it a little easier, after all, she'd already lived through it once.
The third time was the hardest by far. This time around, she knew the consequences of her actions, she'd lived through the agony and the emptiness, and the ending, dying in his arms once more yet so alone, all because of her damned walls.
She felt her lips move, the air leaving her lungs as she tried to make him understand, and again, she felt that swelling in her chest as he understood her meaning. He always had understood her better than anybody else ever had, better than she knew herself at times.
Something felt.. different this time though. Instead of mentally running her fingers along the walls of her heart, checking to make sure they were still solid, impenetrable, she eased her fingernails into the cracks, picking out the moss that grew there, testing, probing, and finally looking up at the top, wondering how high they were, and for the first time that she could recall, she wondered what the view was like from the top.
The sense of freedom, of fresh air that she got from just thinking about peeking over her walls was enough for her, for the moment and it must have showed on her face, because Castle picked up on it. Maybe it was the sparkle in her eyes, maybe it was the faintest of Mona Lisa smiles, teasing her lips, but somehow he knew, he just knew that the wall would come down someday.
Her heart hammering within her chest, she leaned forward, a smile breaking out and covering her face with unrestrained joy as she straightened the collar of his jacket, the dust still hanging in the air from the explosion. Their eyes locked, filling the air with words, feelings, emotions unspoken, until Martha cut them off.
"He's not the only one here, you know." Holding her hands up, the diva shot them a knowing smile.
Later, after dinner and more wine than she probably should have had, Kate found herself on the couch with her partner, her eyes running over his face, as if trying to imprint his features into her memory forever. She'd come so close to losing him today, she honestly thought her heart had stopped when the explosion shook the van. Finding him alive and unharmed, her heart beat again, the iron bands of dread falling off as she reached out and touched him, needing that physical contact to make sure she wasn't just dreaming it.
Placing her empty glass on the coffee table, she reached over to him and took his hands in her own, squeezing them briefly.
"Castle, I..." She paused, still stuck for words. Knowing he'd read the subtext anyway, she spoke her mind. "I'm so glad you are okay. I don't know what I'd have done if I lost you..."
"I hope you never have to find out, Kate. I plan on sticking around for a good long time yet." He smiled at her softly, the words he'd said all those months before tingling on his tongue. No he decided, it will happen when it is time.
Topping their glasses up, he handed hers back. Raising them, they clinked the crystal together, their quiet toast fitting the warm, comfortable atmosphere of the loft perfectly.
"Partners, always."
Glancing across her desk at her partner, Beckett fought to keep the grin off her face. Castle was sitting in his chair, notepad in front of him, pen scribbling away as he wrote rapidly. The small frown as he concentrated, the determined focus, yet light-hearted cast to his features told her he was writing more Nikki, and he was having a blast doing it. Unsure if it was her alter-ego chasing down a bad guy, or tossing of a snappy one-liner, or just bantering with Rook, Raley and Ochoa, she relaxed and just watched him work.
It's only fair, she mused. Why should he get all the fun watching me work all the time?
His spidey senses tingling, he paused and looked up from his writing, a twinkle in his eyes.
"See? Not creepy." His teasing tone pulled a chuckle from her as she leaned back in her seat, one arm across her stomach, the other elbow resting on it as she cupped her chin in her hand, the same pose she used for studying the murder board, a wordless hum her only response.
Putting his pen down, Rick turned his full attention to her as he eased his back. Glancing at his hands for a moment, he looked up, meeting her eyes.
"I've been thinking..." He said, his tone studied, casual. Seeing her raise one eyebrow in response, he continued. "If you don't have any plans, would you like to grab dinner with me tomorrow night? There's a showing of the original Planet of the Apes on at the Angelica we could catch afterwards..." He left the invite out there, waiting with baited breath.
The question hung in the air for a moment before she threw caution to the winds. Reaching out, she logged off her computer, grabbed her bag and stood. Heading for the elevator, she called out over her shoulder as she went,
"Pick me up at seven..." A faint blush staining her cheeks, she couldn't keep the silly grin of her face, already nervous.
A teasing smile on her lips, Kate leaned back against her door and looked up at her partner, batting her eyelashes.
"Is this the part of the date where I invite you in for coffee, Rick?" Her heart in her throat, she waited for his response, pulse thrumming. Eyes darting from her own down to her lips and back, Castle inhaled deeply through his nose, the scent of cherries filling his senses an instant before he stepped closer to her, one hand resting lightly on her hip. The heat from his fingertips spreading through her rapidly, she gasped slightly at the contact, the thin black satin of her dress offering no impediment to the sensations flooding her skin. His thumb stroking small circles across her hip bone, he held her gaze, not answering. Her lips parting slightly, Kate could feel the pull between them intensify as they drifted unstoppably closer together. Their bodies separated by only a fraction, she could feel the heat of his body, achingly close. His lips almost brushing hers, she heard him whisper softly.
"I want to do this right, take our time… This I can do though…" He closed the last of the distance confidently, his lips ghosting across hers as if they had done it a thousand times before. Tasting the traces of red wine and desert and lipstick, he felt her sigh into his mouth. Her body melting into his, Kate's arms snaked around his neck as she deepened the kiss.
Her tongue lapped at his swollen lips, begging for entrance even as her fingers threaded through his hair, pinning him in place. A satisfied rumble slipping from him, Castle opened for her, their tongues duelling as their breaths mingled in the cool air of the hallway. Wanting, needing more, he ran his hand up her back, fingers dancing across the bare skin of her spine, teasing, leaving a trail of heat in his wake, even as his other hand cupped her backside, pulling her close enough for her to feel the evidence of his arousal pressed between them.
Panting heavily, he broke the searing kiss off, his pupils black with desire. Feeling like a giddy teenager, Beckett drew a shaky breath, trying to unscramble her thoughts, no small task given the raging fires burning within her. Foreheads touching, still wrapped tightly in their embrace, they stood there, hearts thundering, reveling in the fact that they could do what they had both wanted for so long now.
The kiss in the alley had been intense, heat fueled by the adrenaline of the situation. This time, there was nothing to distract them, no reason they had to hide behind the heat of the moment, and the fireworks were still going off inside.
Running the back of his fingers across her cheek, Castle uncurled his fingers, brushing the shell of her ear as he leaned forward once more, trailing down her jaw until he reached the point of her chin. The barest hint of pressure from his fingers, and he touched their lips together again, feather-light for a moment before he stepped away, the edge of a smile teasing his lips as she let out a small noise of protest as she found herself bereft of his warmth.
"Until tomorrow, Detective…" With his enigmatic farewell, he left her there, one arm wrapped around her middle, her fingers tracing the ghost of his lips on her own, her face suffused with a dizzy happiness.
She remembered waking up the next morning, the smile still on her face, the faintest trace of his taste still in her mind, the memory of his kiss still tingling on her lips.
A tight grin on her face, Beckett sat straighter in her chair, her fingertips tingling with the sensation of a fresh lead. This wasn't a little hint of what she'd been chasing for most of her adult life, a glimpse of a face, a vague recollection of a conversation barely remembered. No, this was solid evidence, something concrete to follow. This was blood in the water, and the shark had just caught the scent.
Noting the change in her posture, Castle locked his phone and slipped it into his jacket pocket.
"You got something, Beckett?" He asked, the atmosphere held an edge that he could sense.
"Castle, I..." Unable to for the words, she settled for passing the folder over the desk to her partner. A brief glance, thanks to his speed reading abilities, and his jaw dropped.
"This is..."
"I know, right?"
"But he..."
"Yeah. And all this time, we..."
"We have to..."
"Of course. Goes without saying." Their habit of finishing each others' sentences had progressed as their personal relationship had deepened. Outsiders had found it freaky before, and despite all the ribbing from their colleagues, they enjoyed it immensely.
In the six months that they had been dating (the first three of which they had managed to keep a secret, even from Ryan and Esposito), the connection had only intensified. Now, when they were building theory, they had a tendency to speak only in half-sentences, their thoughts so in tune they didn't need to finish before the other would understand and respond.
Standing in unison, they casually made their way from the desk to the break room, the folder still casually grasped in Castle's hands. Making them both a coffee, Beckett was unusually noisy in her preparations, conveniently covering the sounds of her partner spreading the contents of the folder out on the table in front of him. Taking a quick photo with his phone camera, Castle immediately forwarded the picture to Beckett's phone as well as to a secure email address, before slipping the phone away and reassembling the file.
Her attention on the espresso machine, Beckett grinned as the sudden warmth behind her let her know that Castle was standing close to her. One of his arms reaching around to pick up the hot cup from under the coffee spout, she didn't miss the gentle intake of his breath as his face brushed lightly against her hair.
A quick glance to either side showing they were still unobserved, Kate relaxed her shoulders into his chest briefly a she turned her head and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. The feeling of safety she got from simply leaning against him was something she still wasn't used to. The feeling of his solid presence behind her, his arms wrapping around her stomach as he just held her for a moment was just what she needed.
They might officially be a couple, but the captain still wasn't Castle's biggest fan, and she frowned on open displays of affection in the precinct. They had managed to keep their hands to themselves for the most part, and had so far gotten away with only the occasional stolen kiss in work hours.
Grounding her, settling her jittery, adrenaline-fueled nerves, the simple act of a brief hug was all that was required to sharpen her focus, to harden her resolve. Not to solve the case, that was never in doubt, but instead her resolution to take it slowly.
Her words from the bank robbery came back to her, and she smiled, slow and confident.
"I don't chase... I hunt." She'd said, and it was the perfect description of how her and Castle had shifted tactics when it came to her mother's case, to her own case. Gone was the overwhelming desire to rush headlong into it. Between her therapist and her boyfriend, she'd realised that that way would only lead to more heartache and probably their deaths. Instead, they moved slowly, carefully. Each piece of evidence was assessed, weighed, and carefully slotted into the jigsaw.
Unhurried, they looked at the things surrounding the evidence first, before easing their way forward with all the care of a bomb disposal expert. This new piece was a big one, and they had to be extra careful when doing the digging around it, in case they triggered the red flags they knew would be in place.
A soft sigh escaped her as Castle relaxed his hold on her slightly, his coffee cup completing its interrupted journey to his lips. There was a quiet rumble in his chest as he spoke.
"We'll get him, Kate. The net is closing, and he doesn't even see it."
"Goofball!" Kate's hand slapped his chest playfully. Capturing her hand with his own, Castle raised to his lips, pressing a courtly kiss to her knuckles. His manners completely at odds with the cheesy grin on his face, he straightened, keeping her hand in his own. Raising it above her head, he spun her around, then dipping her gracefully.
Arms snaking around her waist, he held her close, rubbing his nose against hers.
"Yeah, but I'm your goofball..." He grinned at her for a moment before kissing her playfully. Not bothering to hide her answering grin, Kate relaxed into his embrace, her hand fisting the smooth fabric of his shirt as she lost herself in the kiss.
Breaking for air, she ducked her head, resting in against his chest. Reassured by the sound of his heart beating solidly under her ear, she let out a contented sigh.
"That you are, Rick." She snuggled against him, her arms under his jacket, spread against the muscles of his shoulders. Pressing a tender kiss to her hair, Rick let himself simply hold her for a few moments.
"Hey, Kate..." He asked, finally. He waited until she removed her head from against his chest, looking up at him, a soft, happy glow filling her face with contentment.
"Yeah?" Her voice lazy and quiet, she blinked slowly, still getting used to just how much she loved him. It shouldn't have surprised her since they had been officially together for over a year, and she knew that she'd been in love with him even longer than that, but it had taken a while for her to admit it even to herself.
"Marry me?" The words floated across the cozy atmosphere of the loft. Her heart hammering in her chest, Kate's mind whirled. She recalled with perfect clarity the events surrounding Ryan's proposal to Jenny at the precinct. She remembered Castle's extravagant suggestions (mostly something to do with air travel, for some reason), and her reply that most women want something simple and intimate.
Being held comfortably against the chest of the man she loved, in the lounge room of their home, and the simple question hanging in the air between them certainly qualified, she mused. She had a fair idea that Rick was going to propose at some point, and she was more than prepared to admit to herself that she was done looking. He was her one. Getting married was the next logical step, and yet somehow they had never really mentioned it.
Maybe it was his previous marriages (or more to the point his ex-wives, and his post-divorce relationships with them), but Kate never felt comfortable talking about it with him. The heartache that surrounded his summer in the Hampton's had long ago faded, once they had talked about her break-up with Demming, and Castle's hasty decision to invite his ex-wife along. Somehow, the discussion had tailed off after that, and the topic hadn't come up again... until now.
Her head resting once more against his chest, she heart the thrumming of his heart, the pace startling her somewhat, before she realised just how long she had been standing there in his arms, silent, the question unanswered. Smoothing her hand across his shirt, she looked up at him, blinking as tears filled her eyes.
"Yes, Rick... yes." She captured his lips softly, her hands cupping his face as she poured herself into him. Kate could feel it in his kiss the moment her words registered with him, his lips spreading beneath hers to form a grin he couldn't control. Breaking for air, she was surprised when she felt Rick shift slightly, his hands slipping from around her. One hand darting into his pocket, he pulled out a dark blue velvet box as he went to one knee and took her left hand in his. Flipping the box open with his thumb, he withdrew the ring from inside and slid it gently onto her finger.
His face filled with love, he looked up at her as he pressed his lips gently to her knuckles before standing up, her hand still lightly clasped in his own. An answering grin on her lips, Kate ran her eyes over the tasteful white gold band now adorning her finger, tracing the flowing lines, noting the exquisite workmanship for several seconds, before turning her gaze on her fiancée. The word struck her suddenly: Fiancée. Her heart skipped a beat as she tried to repress the joy bubbling up from within, but she realised there was no point holding back. She was engaged. No, they were engaged. Something which she would later swear definitely wasn't a giggle slipped from her lips an instant before they crashed against those of her husband-to-be. Shortly thereafter, she let out a surprised squeak as her partner picked her up and carried her down the hall to their bedroom to continue their celebration in a more private setting.
Kate smiled slowly, a predatory glint in her eyes as she stalked across the room towards him. Hips swaying, she was combined lethal grace and sensuality as she approached him, fingers slipping the top few buttons free on her shirt.
Reaching out for her, Rick placed one hand on her hip, fingers gripping her firmly even as he closed the distance between them, his free hand weaving through her auburn hair with practiced ease. Their mouths only inches apart, he paused for a moment, savouring the feel of her pressed against him for an instant, before capturing her lips with his own. Well used to each other's bodies, he knew the effects his kisses had on her, and was planning on making the most of it. Judging from the way her slim hands slipped between them, rapidly undoing his shirt, her fingers spreading across the swell of his chest, she had certain ideas along the same lines.
Pulling his bottom lip between her teeth, she nipped at him, her thumb caressing his nipple an instant before her free hand slapped into his chest. A wicked grin on her lips, she shoved him backwards, hard.
The back of his calves hit the edge of the bed, upending him. Barely having time to let out a small 'oof' of surprise, he found himself pinned to the bed. Straddling him, his wrists firmly gripped with one hand, Beckett leaned forward and ground herself onto him, rocking her hips as she tossed her hair back over her shoulders, a purr of appreciation spilling from her lips. Reaching down, she untucked his shirt from his pants with one hand, trailing wet kisses across his collarbone and down his chest.
"You, Rick, are wearing too many clothes." She stated in a low growl. Leaning back onto his thighs, she undid his belt. Not to be outdone, Castle let her finish with his belt before he flexed his thighs, the movement tossing her forward. As she caught herself, her arms braced, he reached up between them and griped the collar of her shirt. Ripping the edges apart, he raked his eyes appreciatively over the lacy bra she wore, the sounds of the scattered buttons on the floor bringing a small chuckle from him. Rolling his wrists, he quickly stripped the shirt down her shoulders and paused, her arms still in the sleeves, pinned to her sides. Leaning upwards, he took advantage of her restricted movements, capturing a nipple through the lacy material in his teeth.
The heat burning through them both flaring, Castle knew that this wasn't a night for slow and gentle. He had suspected as much, given the heated looks she had been giving him all day at the book signing... The usual crowd of fangirls thrusting their ample chests at him had guaranteed the return of possessive-Beckett. The fans had known about their engagement since the announcement several months back, but some of the more determined women thought that perhaps he could still be tempted to sign something more intimate than the inside cover of a book. The looks of disappointment on their faces had been poorly-hidden, but the simple fact that they were throwing themselves at her fiancée had Kate seeing green. Accustomed to women flirting almost automatically with him, the sight of them openly pressing themselves up against him brought a heated look to her eyes, forcing her to cross her arms and glare so she wouldn't be tempted to reach for her cuffs, or her gun.
A victorious smile stamped itself firmly on her face as he stood and casually wrapped an arm around her in front of the entire crowd. Her glare spurring his own protective instincts, Castle introduced her to them as his fiancée as well as the inspiration for Nikki Heat. The faces of the eager women in the crowd had fallen flat at the pronouncement, but with his hand resting on her hip, the length of her body pressed to his side as if she were made to fit there, he couldn't bring himself to care about their dashed hopes.
His mind returning to the present, he rocked his hips into her, keeping her flesh between his teeth as he bit down a little harder, pulling his head back slightly. The movement pulled a throaty moan from Beckett, her eyes rolling slightly, before meeting his own, the intensity building between them.
Shrugging her arms free of the shirt, Kate tossed it aside, one hand cupped the back of Rick's head as she pulled him hard against her chest, fingers gripping his hair tightly as his mouth worked against her breast. Arching into him, she reached behind and unfastened her bra. His eyes black with desire, Castle gripped the lace in his teeth and pulled it form her, tossing it to one side with a flick of his head.
Before the bra hit the floor, he had latched back onto her breast, drawing a mouthful. Running the broad pad of his tongue over the rapidly-hardening nipple, he growled his appreciation around her, the vibrations sending a jolt of pleasure through her as she bit back a moan, her hands grabbing a fistful of his unruly hair. Kate gripped his hair firmly, pressing his face to her chest as he lapped at her nipple, teeth marking the delicate flesh, the slight coarseness of his stubble slipping against her sweat-slicked skin. Abandoning herself to the sensations he was stoking within, she ran her free hand down and cupped her other breast, squeezing, fingers rolling the rosy peak between her thumb and forefinger, matching the pressure his lips and teeth were exerting. Her breath coming faster, she tossed her hair back over her naked shoulders and rolled her hips, working herself against his groin.
Castle let her moistened nipple slip form his lips as he ran his nails down her back, tilting his head back to admire the naked vision atop him. Her chest flushed with arousal, eyes black with lust and her lips swollen from the intensity of their kisses, she was everything he could want and more. A wicked grin stole across his lips as he ground his hips into her core, watching as her eyelids fluttered, knowing that he was the only one who got to see the wild, uninhibited side of her.
He let out a purr of appreciation as she rocked her hips against him, feeling her wetness soaking through his pants already. Surprised at her eagerness, but certainly not complaining, he curled his fingers, nails sliding up her toned back muscles as she slid down his body, trailing hot, wet kisses from his jaw down his chest. Her fingers deftly undoing his button and unzipping the pants, she let out a throaty chuckle as she brushed her nose against the tenting in his boxers, the scent of her arousal meeting her lips as she turned her head sideways and placed her teeth around his length through the thin silk.
Lips wrapped around his shaft, Kate let his body take her weight as she ran her hands down her side, fingers slipping under the edge of her pants. The wiggling of her hips as she eased the clothes free driving him deeper into her mouth, she sucked hard on his length, the wet silk sliding against his skin as she let her teeth snag the material. Pants around her ankles, she nibbled her way up him, letting her saliva seep through the material, the heat causing him to twitch between her lips as she smiled around him. Hooking one hand into the back of his pants, she slipped the other between his thighs. The tip of her nose running the length of him, she drew the head into her mouth at the same time as she cupped his balls, the tip of one finger lightly stroking the base. His hips jerking forward into her, she let her teeth graze their way back up him as she used the movement to shimmy his pants down.
His wordless groan all she needed to know her attentions were having the desired effect, Kate trailed her hands slowly up his well-muscled legs, fingers teasing the top of his boxers for a moment, before stripping them from him, her mouth capturing him the instant he was free of the material.
Without warning, she took him all the way into her mouth, lips working as she relaxed, letting him fill her, brushing the back of her throat for an instant before she swallowed reflexively. Her moan muffled, she felt the moisture running down between her thighs at the feeling of him filling her so completely. Her free hand reached down, caressing the slickness that coated her folds, the lace of her dampened panties causing a delicious friction against her sensitive core. Stroking herself, she worked the tips of her fingers in a tight circle, pushing the lace between her folds, as she ground herself onto her fingers. Shifting the fabric to one side, her fingers circled her nub. She slipped one finger inside, before adding a second a moment later. Pressed hard against his abdomen, she worked him with her mouth, lips and teeth clamped firmly around him as her tongue stroked him in time to the flickering of her fingers both wrapped around him, and buried deep inside herself.
Speeding up, she let him slip almost free of her lips, then brought her hand up from his balls to wrap around his shaft, gripping tightly. Rolling her wrist, she worked her tongue around him, lapping at the sensitive underside as she pumped him faster, feeling her walls clenching around her fingers. Thumb circling her clit, she panted through her nose as drove him into her mouth in time to her frantic caresses. She exploded seconds later, squeezing him hard as she came, the vibrations of her wordless satisfaction bringing him close to the edge.
His breathing ragged, Rick looked down his body at her. Their eyes locked, he sucked in a shaky lung full of air, trying to control himself as she sucked hard on him, teeth dragging their way up his length. Her expression sill unfocused from her orgasm, Kate felt him twitch in her mouth. Seeing him nearly come undone already, she smiled wickedly around him, letting her body raise from his thighs. The soft light of the bedroom sparkling from the sheen of sweat on her breasts, she let her nipples graze up his legs as she gave his head one last flick of her tongue before letting it fall from her swollen lips with a wet pop. She raised her hand from between her legs, replacing his hardness with her dripping fingers. Humming loudly as she slowly cleaned her juices from her hand, she kept eye contact with him as she rocked back onto her behind, slipping her drenched panties off in one smooth movement. She shrugged her shoulders slightly as she straightened up, letting the movement set her breasts to swaying, running her hands up her belly, cupping them, stroking them, watching him watch her enjoyment. Pinching both nipples firmly, she moaned, squeezing her breasts together, her tongue tracing her lips wetly as she half closed her eyes.
Leaning forward again, she crawled up him, her breasts grazing their way up his body. Settling herself astride his hips, she reached behind her and lifted his length, rock hard in her eager fingers before running the head along her folds, coating it in the slickness there. Watching his eyes, she placed the tip at her entrance and held it there, gyrating her hips, letting her inner lips stroke him, feeling his hips jerk in response.
One hand braced on his chest to steady herself, Kate felt his abs clench as he bit back a needy groan. She held herself still for a split second, waiting until she saw him relax slightly, then drove down onto him, impaling herself on him without warning.
"Fuck, Kate!" His exclamation brought a wicked smile to her lips as she felt the breath rush out of him as he twitched inside her. Clenching her inner muscles, she rolled her hips around him, keeping him buried deep inside her as she leaned forward, the pressure parting her folds and bringing her clit into contact with his pelvic bone with every rock of her hips.
Her mouth parting as the desire rapidly coiled tighter within her, Kate raised her hips, almost pulling him out of her, before slamming herself onto him again, repeating the movements with increasing intensity, the wet slap of their bodies meeting a sharp counterpoint to the sounds of their ragged breathing. Sounds of wordless encouragement falling from her as she threw herself into the moment, she felt the world spin as he gripped her hips tightly to him with one hand and rolled.
Cupping her ass with his hand, Castle pressed her into the mattress, barely breaking their rhythm as he pounded into her, his control slipping. Spurred on by his taking control, Beckett fisted his hair once more, turning his head as she sank her teeth into the side of his neck, hard. Her lips sealed against his skin, the taste of his sweat mingled with the tang of blood as her sucking drew it to the surface.
Her deliberate marking of him pulled something primal from within him. Mirroring her actions, he nibbled his way down her neck and bit, losing control as her legs wrapped around his hips and pulled him close. His breathing shaky, he sped up, her inner walls gripping him tightly as he worked himself into her, hot and wet. Her voice a continuous, needy moan, she felt her juices running down her, sliding between her cheeks as his hand slid between her backside and the drenched sheets, gripping her ass. The extra leverage working to his advantage, he held her tightly against him, grinding into her with wild abandon for several stokes, before the hot slap as he filled her sparked her own orgasm. Kate let herself go as their bodies writhed together in ecstasy, mouths slipping free of skin as they reached blindly for each others' lips, nipping, caressing as he moved within her. Slowing, their breaths mingling, he took his weight on his elbows so he didn't crush her.
Out of breath, but refusing to collapse, he stared at the woman beneath him, watching as the unfocused look faded slowly, her scattered thoughts finally gathering once more.
"That was..." She paused, her eyes noting the love-bite on his neck, pride and possessiveness warring within her. He grinned at her, his voice still thick with desire.
"Oh hell yes..." Easing his hips back slightly, Kate felt her walls clench around him, her body as unwilling to let go of him as her mind. The fires only just sated flared to life again between them, a slow, lazy coil of heat. A wicked grin on his face, Castle looked on as her eyes widened, feeling him harden rapidly inside her, moving slowly into her again. Biting her lip, she let out a moan of pleasure as he laced his fingers through hers, raising their joined hands above their heads, pressing her solidly into the bed.
Her reaction all the sign he needed, Rick gave himself over to the rising wave of need that filled them again. Their lovemaking lasting most of the night, neither of them gave any thought to the empty packet of pills in the bathroom drawer...
Castle slipped his shirt over his head and turned, running an appreciative look over the figure in front of him. Bending down, Kate was shimmying into a faded pair of jeans. A lecherous grin on his face, her fiancée sat on the edge of their bed and admired the view. The top of her jeans finally easing over her hips, Kate did the button up and turned around, hunting for the emerald green top she had tossed onto the bed earlier. His eyes taking in lacy black bra that was the only thing covering her torso, Castle stood, sauntering casually over to her holding out the top in question.
Feasting on the gorgeous curves before him, the slightest of frowns creased his forehead. Blinking, he tried to shake the thought crossing his mind. Seeing his distraction, Kate paused, one arm already into the shirt.
"Rick?" She asked, a little concerned. Forcing his expression to smooth out, he answered his question with one of his own.
"This is one of the bras you brought from your apartment when you moved in, isn't it?" He reached out, running his fingers down the strap, ghosting the tips across the delicate mound of her breast, which seemed to fill the lacy garment more than the last time he had paid it such close attention. Her breath catching, she leaned into him and dropped the shirt from her fingers, letting the swell of her curves fill his hand. Purring to herself softly, she stepped closer, bringing his other hand up to her chest, cupping herself with his hands, biting her lip as she stood before him, shuddering with want as his thumbs drew lazy circles, caressing her through the thin lace. Gone from zero to horny in the space of less than a second, Kate dropped her hands to his hips and pulled him close, fingers hooked through his belt-loops. Dragging her mind out of the front of his pants for a moment, she replied, voice husky.
"No, this is one of the ones you bought me for our anniversary..." She grinned wickedly at him, her voice dropping lower. "I know you were just watching my pull my jeans on over the matching panties, Rick." She dragged his name out as she leaned forward, the tip of her nose brushing his freshly showered skin, reveling in his scent. She pressed a delicate kiss to the corner of his jaw. "Just like..." She kissed a little lower. "I know..." She licked the taste of him from her lips, before trailing a series of wet, sucking kisses down his chest. "You wanted them..." She flickered the tip of her tongue around his nipple, nipping it lightly. "Off me..." Whatever had been on his mind fled under the onslaught of her attentions. His fingers weaving through her chestnut hair, he groaned as he cradled her head against his chest. Running his hands down her shoulders, he glanced at the clock for an instant.
Loads of time... He thought, throwing restraint to the winds. Hooking his fingers through the straps of the bra, he slid them off her creamy shoulders, unsnapping the clasp with a deft flick of his wrist. He felt, rather than heard the low purr that rumbled from her as the delicate lace teased her sensitised flesh when he pulled the bra out from between them.
The hard peaks of her nipples pressed into his chest, grazing his skin for an instant before their torsos welded together. Fingertips walking the length of her spine, Castle smiled against her skin. He thought that perhaps she was getting a little more curvy in the last few weeks, putting it down to their regular, healthy meals. Far from complaining, he relished the feeling of her under his hands. Sliding them down her back, he cupped her backside as he pulled her closer. Whilst he was far from not attracted to her before, the way she filled out her jeans now made his mouth go dry, and the bra? He purred as he leaned back, caressing her chest. Curving his hands, he let her breasts fill them, thumbs circling her nipples, his eyes darkening with desire as she threw her head back. His eyes might not be totally reliable, but his fingers knew their business. There was definitely more there, his hands told him clearly. A throaty moan easing from her parted lips, Kate pressed herself forwards, letting him know wordlessly that whilst she was enjoying the delicious sensations he was sparking within her, she needed more. Now.
Her hands resting on his broad shoulders, she spun him around to face the bed. Slipping one down the front of his pants, she wrapped her fingers around him, caressing, as the other hand undid the button with practiced ease. The sound of her undoing his fly was smothered by his groan when she squeezed, her breath hot on the back of his neck.
"Get these off, Rick." Flicking her wrist, she eased his pants down, nipping his shoulder playfully as he stepped out of the clothes. Naked and willing, he turned to her, wrapping his arms around her and falling backwards onto their bed. A cheerful growl and a husky whisper in her ear later, and they lost themselves in each other once more.
"Kate?" He asked, glancing at her empty plate.
"Hmmm?" She replied, her mouth full of his salmon. Her fork already reaching across the table towards the remainder of his dinner, she paused when he didn't answer immediately. She looked at her own plate, scraped clean, then at her hand halfway back to her mouth already. A puzzled look on his face, Castle asked,
"Since when do you like salmon?" Her expression mirroring his, she glared at the food on her fork as she replied.
"I don't..." Curiously, she raised the food to her nose, sniffing delicately, before hesitantly placing it into her mouth. Shock flashed across her features as she chewed, the flavours hitting her tongue. She swallowed, her eyes meeting his as she spoke. "Until tonight, apparently."
Her mind whirled as she thought frantically, assessing the evidence, afraid to even think the words that she could see on Rick's face.
The way her jeans fit tighter than they ever had (not that she minded his eyes glued to her ass when she walked, not in the slightest).
How uncomfortable her bras had been recently.
The increased appetites, for food and sex.
Oh god... was she?
Gently, Rick reached across to her, picking her hand up, thumbs caressing softly, calming her frantic heart. Squeezing gently, he used his free hand to pick up her wine glass, and shifted it out of reach, repeating the movement with his own.
The tears that threatened to spill from her eyes spoke of a gnawing fear. What if he didn't want any more kids? They hadn't even spoken of the possibility... Hell, the wedding was only two months away, and they had been focused on the organisation of that for almost as long as she could remember.
"I think we had better steer clear of this, at least until we know for sure..." He spoke softly, the words carrying far more meaning for them both. Blinking rapidly, she looked over at him and her heart settled almost immediately. Far from looking unhappy at the prospect of hearing the patter of little feet again, her husband-to-be was... radiant? She could see the unbridled joy filling him, his smile pulling an answering one from her.
"Can we..." She started to ask.
"Of course. There's an all-night pharmacy on the way home." He answered her unspoken request, knowing that the sooner they knew for sure, the calmer her mind would be. "Did you want to..." She nodded, placing her cutlery together on the plate even as Castle signaled the waiter for their cheque.
Offering his fiancée his arm as she stood up, Castle couldn't help but grin as he ran his eyes across her still flat tummy, thoughts of a mini-Beckett running around the loft filling his mind. Popping the last of his salmon into her mouth, Kate sucked her fingers clean with a cheeky grin, before resting her head against his shoulder for a brief moment. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she felt him shift at her side, stepping forward at the same instant she did, as in synch as they ever were. Leaving the restaurant arm in arm, they stepped out into the chilly New York air, nervous, hopeful and wondering.
A/N: And there we go folks... :-) The next chapter is in progress, hopefully the wait wont be as long this time round. I now have a lot more free time, so the fic should be flowing thick and fast.