Castle flipped the sizzling pancakes before rummaging around in the cupboard to get out plates. He set them down on the side and poured himself another cup of coffee. Turning to his right he looked at Kate who was perched on the marble surface, swinging her legs backwards and forwards. She had her eyes closed and was breathing deeply the smell of her coffee, which she was gripping firmly between her hands.
'You know Castle, you're right, you do make the best coffee,' she hummed in approval, raising the mug to her lips and draining it. 'I could live off it,' she smiled setting her mug down next to her.
'You practically do. You're addicted to it,' Castle retorted. 'That's why you're so thin, because you fill yourself up on coffee all the time,' he smirked at her poking her in the stomach with his finger. She giggled and wriggled away from him. He stopped what he was doing to turn and stare at her. 'Beckett, are you ticklish?' Castle asked with his mouth open in surprise.
'No!' Kate cried out, possible a bit too quickly. She watched Castle calmly put down the spatula he was using and move towards her. She quickly realised what he was about to do before squealing and jumping off the counter. He caught up with her surprisingly quickly before pulling her down onto the sofa and straddling her. His hands roamed under his shirt she was wearing before grasping her ribs and tickling her. 'Castle! No! Stop! I can't!' she laughed hysterically as she squirmed underneath him. She was laughing so uncontrollably that he started to laugh too and before long they were a mess of tangled limbs, quaking in laughter. Their laughter slowly subsided as Castle stopped tickling her and they were left grinning at each other.
'I love to see you laugh like that,' he said quietly before running his hands up and down her sides gently. She beamed at him before locking her arms round his waist and pulling him down on top of her with a grunt. Her lips found his and she could feel him smiling against her as they shared sweet kisses, between laughing and small bouts of tickling each other. Getting lost in each other, Castle suddenly leapt to his feet shouting,
'Pancakes. Shit they're going to burn!' Castle ran over to the griddle before turning it off and speedily turning the pancakes onto the plate. He smiled triumphantly at his rescue before looking over to Beckett who was walking slowly towards him grinning.
'Good save superman,' She teased as she jumped up onto one of his bar stools on the opposite side of the kitchen island. She raised an eyebrow before reaching across the counter to grab a pancake, pouring a huge dollop of syrup in the centre. Castle simply shook his head at her before sliding onto the seat opposite and tucking in.
'So,' Kate began through a mouthful of food. She swallowed and started again. 'What are we going to tell everyone? About this... about us?' She looked up at him through her lashes nervously. Castle placed down his knife and fork before placing his hands together in front of him. He could see the panic flashing in her eyes and he reached across the counter to tuck a lose strand of hair behind her ear, trying to soothe her emotions.
'I think, that right now, we don't need the additional pressures of everyone else, especially seeing as this is so very new. So, if it's all right with you, I'd like to keep this between us for the moment.' He saw relief flash in her eyes. She reached forward to clasp one of his hands between hers before saying,
'Rick, it's not that I don't want people to know about us, it's just that I'm scared I'll run as soon as things aren't perfect and I need you to stop me but I don't know if I can do all that while everyone is scrutinising our relationship. My wall is finally down and I've worked so hard to be better for you, for us, so basically I don't want to mess this up.' She burbled out. He looked at her and noticed her eyes shining with unshed tears and his breath caught in his throat.
'You are already perfect. You couldn't be better and I'm so proud of you for breaking down this wall and I love you so much,' his eyes were now shining too and he couldn't stand the distance before he walked round the island and she pulled him between her thighs and gripped onto him. She hugged him to her as their hands simultaneously rubbed each others backs, sniffing and laughing at their emotional inability to deal with this. 'God, you're right, I am so metrosexual,' he laughed pulling back before leaning in a nuzzling her nose with his. Her ankles locked round his hips pulling him even closer as they shared a sweet but brief kiss.
'I think we're doing the right thing by keeping this between us and besides, I don't think I'm ready to share my girlfriend with the rest of the world. They'd be too jealous that I have her all to myself,' he grinned before kissing a path from below her ear down to her shoulder. He felt her freeze and go rigid in his arms.
'Girlfriend?' she spoke quietly, her eyes wide and questioning.
'Yes, girlfriend,' Castle replied simply staring into her eyes. His insides were clenching in fear as he chanted to himself repeatedly 'Don't run, don't run, don't run, please don't run.' He watched her stay still for a moment before she sighed and reached up, pushing his hair back from his forehead and running her fingers through it.
'Well I suppose it is a good thing knowing that the only chest my boyfriend will be sighing from now on, is mine,' she smiled back timidly. She felt him relax against her before pulling her in for a bruising kiss. He broke their kiss before returning to the spot on her shoulder and unbuttoning the top buttons on her shirt to give himself greater access to her body. He heard her gasp as he pressed a kiss to the top of her breast and another as he ran his hands along the insides of her thighs. They continued to kiss and touch each other until Beckett mumbled out,
'Mmm Castle we've got to stop. I thought you had lunch with Alexis soon. I don't want her walking in and seeing us having sex on your kitchen counter,' she said breathlessly, putting her hands firmly on his chest and giving him a small push.
'Beckett,' Castle whimpered, rubbing his hands down her sides. He watched her skin erupt in goose bumps as she shivered at his touch. 'You always stop us at the good part,' he mumbled between kisses.
'I'm sorry Castle,' she replied kissing him. She couldn't get enough of him; she wasn't used to being able to kiss him whenever she wanted. She looked down to see his shirt half off her and a very visible tent in his boxers.
'Kate you can't keep leaving me hanging like this or I'm going to have to take care of it myself,' he gestured towards his boxers. She smirked before running a hand down his front and cupping him gently through the material. He groaned before thrusting slightly into her palm.
'Rick, what do you say we continue this in the shower,' she murmured in his ear before locking her heels even more firmly round his waist as her hips came into contact with his. They both let out gasps and Castle felt his legs weaken.
'Shower it is,' he said putting his hands round her waist as they stumbled back towards his bathroom. She felt her back hit the cold shower door and she gasped into his mouth at the feel of the cold glass. He reached into the shower and turned it on. He made sure she was steadied against the door before undoing the rest of the buttons and pushing it off her shoulders as she used one hand to push his boxers down. She felt him climb into the shower and she felt the warm spray of water run down her body. He gently placed her shaky legs down and picked up the bottle of shampoo, squeezing a dollop out before running it through her hair. She hummed in approval and closed her eyes as he slowly worked his way through her tangled hair before gently pulling her under the spray to wash it out. She repeated the action for him and the picked up the wash cloth and started to wash his body.
'Let's see if we can help you out here,' she said, pointing at his fully visible erection. Her nails raked down his chest before palming him. She could feel him throbbing as she sank to her knees and licked him up and down like a lolly pop. She took him fully in her mouth and bobbed up and down until he came in her mouth. She raised herself from the floor of the shower to kiss him fully on the lips. His hand slowly snaked down over her stomach until it reached her centre as she gasped and her knees weakened. Castle recognised her inability to stand properly and wrapped a hand around her waist to keep her upright as he slipped a finger into her. Her eyes rolled back as her head dropped onto his shoulder. He pumped in and out of her until she came crying out his name. She kept her head resting on his shoulder, panting and nuzzling against his neck. The water had started to get cold by this point so Castle reached behind him and turned it off. He looked down at Kate who was still relying on him completely, with her eyes closed and her hand gripping his shoulder. He used the hand wrapped round her waist to lift her slightly before pulling them both out the shower, grabbing a towel on his way out. He wrapped the towel around her shoulders, rubbing down her arms. He could feel her warm breath against his neck.
'I need a nap,' he felt her smile against him. 'We were meant to be hurrying Rick, not making me fall asleep in your shower,' she murmured. He grinned as he slowly dried her before combing his hands through her hair, gently easing out the knots. She hummed in pleasure and slowly raised her head to look at him, her happiness shining through her heavily lidded eyes.
'You're even more adorable when you're sleepy than when you're angry,' he spoke sincerely as they made their way into his bedroom. Castle donned a pair of sweatpants and a jumper as Kate struggled into her damp clothes from the night before. They both kept sneaking glances at each other resulting in then being caught out staring as they laughed at each other. After dressing, they made their way to Castle's front door.
'Have fun with Alexis,' she smiled up at him, leaning back against the door. He leant towards her, bracing himself either side of her shoulders.
'Thank you. I'm going to miss you,' he told her, a flash of fear shining in his eyes. He was scared she was going to run every time he displayed intense emotions. He quickly schooled his features before putting on his usual grin.
'I'm going to miss you too Rick,' she replied. 'Can I come over tonight, or will Alexis and Martha be here?' she asked. Despite her insecurity, Kate decided to take the lead on this one and let out a shaky breath as she saw the joy in Castle's eyes at her forwardness.
'You can come, I think Alexis has a 'going away' slumber party with Paige planned,' he said making a face. She laughed at his inability to understand his daughter's plans before leaning up to capture his lips. They eventually broke apart. 'That was one hell of a goodbye kiss.'
'Oh shut up Rick, you're such a drama queen. We're going to be apart for a few hours, not years!' she laughed at him before reaching up to cup his cheek. 'I'll see you later. I-' she started to say but couldn't finish. I love you. How hard is it to say? She closed her open mouth and pressed a firm kiss to his lips. He opened the door and watched her slip down the corridor as they both gave a small wave.
Sorry I know we haven't had any interaction with the rest of the gang/family but that will be coming soon. Definitely in the next chapter. Please review – I'm nervous as it's my first Castle fic.