Disclaimer: Don't own it.

The rest of the day was spent in near silence. Castle hadn't said anything else about Gian since the elevator. As a matter of fact, he hadn't said much of anything at all, but he didn't have to. Kate knew that their morning was still eating away at him. He was sulking, he wouldn't look her in the eye and every now and again his fist would clench shut for a moment. She had known this was going to happen, but if he had just listened to her for once, none of this would be a problem. Her frustration with him grew the more she thought about it and eventually, to keep from screaming at him, she just went to bed, telling him that she needed to rest before the night to come.

He must have watched her for hours, downing in his thoughts as his eyes followed the steady rise and fall of her chest. He couldn't get that picture out of his head. She was in another man's arms, with another man's lips on hers and not because she wanted to be, she was forced to be. Sure she acquiesced to the whole thing, but only because the role demanded it. He liked this whole thing less and less the more he let himself dwell on it. The only thing that broke his thoughts was the absolutely obnoxious alarm of her phone.

It was Five o'clock. Her arm shot out from the bed and smacked the phone. She must have done it before, a thousand times, because it only took one shot for the annoying ring to stop. Castle watched as she stretched, arching her back, before pulling herself up. She didn't say anything as she shook a tiny white pill from a small bottle, labeled 'anti-venom'.

A thought crossed his mind as he watched her take it. No, she would never. His brow furrowed. She might. A grave look came over his face. She so would. He waited until she stepped into the bathroom, before diving for the bottle.

Kate stepped out of the bathroom looking gorgeous in a deep purple mini dress, with a swooping neckline. Her hair was pulled up and only a few small curls fell down the side of her face. Her lips were stained with a light natural color and the glossy venom she had on made them shine.

He wanted to tell her just how beautiful she looked, but that was not at all close to what came out. "You're wearing that?"

She glared at him. "Yes, I'm wearing this. Is that a problem?"

"Isn't it a little," He motioned fervently at his own chest. "revealing?"

Her eyes rolled. At least he wasn't sulking anymore. "I have to go. You're staying here."

"The hell I am." He grabbed her arm as she tried to pass by him. "I'm not letting you do this alone."

She sighed; there was no time for this. "Castle, do we really have to play this game?"

"Yes, because if you think for one second that I'm going to let you walk out into a pack of wolves dressed like that you're crazy!"

A coy smile spread across her face "You sound jealous." She replied, stepping into his space.

"Well," His back straightened awkwardly. "maybe I just don't want anyone ogling you that's all. It's disrespectful." He swallowed hard as she continued to move closer.

"Anyone except you right?" She spoke softly as her hands slid over his chest. Her eyes were filled with desire and determination as she pressed her body against his, biting her lip.

His breath was shaky as he made his reply. "I don't ogle you. I admire you."

"Ahh," Her arms went around his neck bringing them even closer together. "And how much do you admire me, Castle?"

Her seductive whisper went through his head like a hurricane. It left no trace of organized thought save one, how much he desperately wanted her. He could have died as her lips brushed his ear and finally couldn't take any more. "Kate," He had her shoulders to push her away, but it was too late, she had his lips.

There was no stopping it now. He had completely forgotten about the potential threat that she caused. One had slid to the small of her back as the other reached into her hair, both drawing her as close as humanly possible.

Kate focused hard as she deepened the kiss, opening her mouth to him. She had to keep her emotions at bay. Everything about him felt so good and she wanted him desperately, but pleasure would have to wait. This was business.

Something almost metallic tasting reached his tongue as he bit her lip gently. He pulled away from her sharply, sense finally coming back to him. He could taste the venom on her lips, but it was hidden well, behind a sweet cherry gloss. His heart sank for a moment as he realized that the kiss they had just shared had nothing to do with how they felt and all to do with keeping him here, but then, he had expected it, which was why he had taken the anti-venom in the first place. He gazed into her eyes with a fiery passion. Fine, if she wanted to play dirty then they'd play dirty. His arms slid around her back, picking her clean up off of the floor as he met her lips again with a crushing kiss.

Her bare legs wrapped around his waist and she moaned losing herself as one of his hands slid up her thigh. "Castle," She breathed.

"Shh," He took a step back, finding the edge of the bed, and toppled backward with her. She was straddled across his waist, supported by the bed now and his hands were free to roam, but how far would she really let him get? His fingertips found the thin strap of her thong and he gripped her hips tightly in a desperate attempt to keep himself grounded. He could feel her trembling as his hands slid further up, now caressing the bare skin of her stomach beneath the dress. He nearly choked with shock when he bumped something small and cold. She really did have a navel ring. It was just then that he felt a tingling in his fingers. He groaned inwardly, knowing that that was probably the sign to stop and 'play dead'.

She felt the tell tale change, the distinct lax of every muscle. Tears welled into her eyes as her lips moved on his one last time, even though he wasn't responding. She breathed deeply trying to calm herself as she leaned down to his ear. "If I'm not back by the time you can move again, come looking for me." Her warm lips pressed gently against his cheek. "I'm sorry, Rick." She stood from the bed and a moment later was gone.

He was alone. A smile crept to his face. Out of all the good moments in his life, that so far, was the best. He lay still, reveling in the memory of her sweet lips against his own. It was his phone that pulled him roughly back to the present.

"Castle, where's Beckett?" Esposito sounded frantic.

"She's just left. She tried to leave me behind, but I was going to follow her."

"Well you better go fast. Gian knows she's a cop."

His eyes widened. "What? How?"

"We're still trying to figure that out, but we've been keeping tabs on him since this whole thing started. Our girl has a bounty on her head." There was silence for a moment as both of them worked to calm their panic. "I'll put a trace on her phone for you."

"No need. I may have shared her tracking app with myself when she wasn't looking." He replied as he walked out the door. "I know where she is."

Esposito paused dumbfounded. "She's going to kill you bro."

Castle smiled. "She never has to know."

He laughed before taking a more serious tone. "Be careful out there and don't let her out of your sight."

"Don't worry. I'll get her home in one piece."