A/N: The conclusion to my (first) short little story. I couldn't find a place to cut into another chapter easily so this one's a bit longer. And hopefully a bit steamier - figured I better change the rating too! Thanks so much to all of you who are following along. It would be great to get some feedback. Especially about the time-shifting from Chapter 1. Not sure whether it's really clear the order of events as it kind of jumped around a bit. Also, in regards to characters, do they ring true? I think I've got Castle figured out...frankly I think he's pretty obvious, easier to know. But Kate's a little harder to write. I find she's kept so much guarded about herself that I'm not really sure how she would react in certain situations. I gave it my best but thoughts are most definitely welcome.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately I don't own Castle. If I did, likely all the episodes would be fluffy (and steamy) like this! My highest praise goes to the writers, cast and crew at Castle who bring this 'verse to life every Monday. I continue to be addicted.

Castle set the now empty bowl on the coffee table and turned back to her. He watched as she slowly finished chewing on her last bite of the sundae and licking her lips, enjoying the last taste of chocolate.

"Mmm, that was really good," she said with a smile.

"See? I told you," he replied grinning back at her. She was amazed at how much he had visibly relaxed as he ate. More ice cream apparently equals less tension. He was so adorable.

"So, now, tell me Kate," she sensed a change of topic coming. Good, she thought, he's not dwelling on the events of the morning. "What have you been doing all morning without me? Did you miss me?" His eyes twinkled. Secretly he hoped she really did miss him. Not that he would ever want her to feel lonely, but it would be kind of nice to know she was thinking about him.

"Miss you? Well, I've been kind of busy." She winked at him, teasing.

"Busy? Really? What have you been doing with yourself?" He glanced over to the coffee table where his eyes landed on the open book she'd put aside when the ice cream arrived. He could see the pages of writing but he couldn't make out what the book was.

All of a sudden Kate felt a bit self-conscious about her chosen novel. She reached down and scooped it up off the table and pulled it behind her back.

"Oh, it's nothing," she said as a wave of color rose up past her neck, reddening her cheeks.

She's hiding her book from me. Why is she hiding her book from me? She knows I love it that she reads.

"Beckett? What are you reading?" He asked again. "Why don't you want me to see it?"

He suddenly lunged forward on the couch towards her, her slight embarrassment making him want to know all the more. She leaned back as he leaned forward, trying to block his move. But he countered by bringing his hands up to her rib cage and applying just the right pressure to just the right places.

"Ahh! Castle stop it!" She cried out trying not to laugh and failing miserably. He continued though, not letting her stave him off. Now he needed to know what she was reading.

"Kate, what are you reading?" He said with a lilt in his voice and continued moving towards her.

She squirmed and laughed and tried hard to fend him off and keep the book from him. She knew if he managed to get it away from her he'd be insufferable. But he was persistent, and strong, and he was gaining advantage over her.

Suddenly he stopped. He reached up with both hands to grab her face, his legs now straddling her thighs. He moved in fiercely, kissing her with such passion and lust. There was an eagerness that surprised her. She took a moment to catch up to him, the heat in her cheeks changing from embarrassment to desire. She began to return his kiss, her lips parting to allow his tongue to dart in and out of her mouth. She moaned low and quiet as she reached forward to press harder into him, the book all but forgotten. His hand slid from her face and slowly traced a line down her shoulder to the side of her breast, his touch so delicate and light. She shuddered as he continued to slide his hand down the side of her rib cage, past the point of his previous tickling, down to her waist.

Just as quickly as he started kissing her, he suddenly pulled back, leaving her breathless and lurching forward into the empty air where his lips had just been.

Her eyes shot open in surprise and looked at him questioningly. There was something out of place about the look on his face. Was it smugness? No. Pride? Not quite. It was almost…boastful. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the flash of red and black that she had been trying so hard to conceal from him.

The book! Oh my god! He took the book!

She couldn't believe that he had just used that passion as a rouse, a distraction, so she wouldn't see him grabbing the book. She opened her mouth and gasped in disbelief at his audacity, a bit disappointed in herself that she had fallen for his ploy.

He looked down at the book in his hands and suddenly his face dropped. Not to sadness, but to a humbleness she had not seen in him before.

"Kate, this is…" He licked his lips and swallowed hard at the lump forming in the back of his throat. "This is Kissed and Killed. This is my book. You've spent your morning reading my book?" He finally looked up at her with wonder.

"Yeah, well, I like Alexandra Jones. She's a tough chick." Kate replied referring to the main character. She was trying to cover her true motive, but eventually she realized that she couldn't hold back from him. "And, maybe I missed you." She smiled somewhat shyly.

All of a sudden his face changed again and there it was, that boastful pride coming back. "I knew it! I knew you missed me!" He exclaimed with delight. She was glad he wasn't getting too caught up in the deeper meaning of her reading choice, but she also wasn't thrilled with the teasing she was about to get. She needed to turn the tables on him, to get the power back. He had used her feelings for him to his advantage and that could not go unpunished. She made a quick plan in her head.

Kate shifted slightly under him, her legs still pinned under his weight. With a playful smirk on his face, he rose slightly so she could pull her legs out from under him, just to free her from what he realized could be an uncomfortable position.

"So, you spent your morning pining for me did you?" He laughed lightly.

Just as he lowered down to resume his seat on the couch Kate sprung forward placing both hands on his chest, and using his off-balance stance to her advantage, she pushed him back until he was lying on his back on the couch. She quickly sprang on top of him, straddling his waist now. She pinned his hands above his head and pressed down with all her weight, the book clattering to the floor.

"Hey!" He exclaimed in surprise. "Be careful with my book! You're going to want to finish that later." His eyes twinkled teasingly.

She immediately rolled her eyes at him and pressed harder down on his hands.

"Ow," he laughed out. She was incredibly strong and when he tried to move his hands he was surprised to find he actually couldn't lift them.

"What's the matter Castle? Can't you get up?" She asked as a smile formed on her lovely face.

God she was beautiful.

"I, um," he struggled again, to no avail. "Well, you see, it's the angle, and well, I could try harder, but, well, I really wouldn't want to hurt you. I mean you're going to need those hands later to hold my book." Huge smile.

Oh, he was taking this too far. This had to stop. She needed something to get the power back. Man, she was really competitive.

She tried changing tactics. "You're right Castle," she said sweetly.

"I am?" he said hesitantly. What was she up to? Why was she being so sweet?

"You are," she replied. "You're such a big, strong man. You could get out of this hold. I know you're just teasing." There it was, just a little condescending. She leaned down and placed a light kiss on his forehead, then his nose, his left cheek, then down to his ear where she lingered, nibbling gently at his lobe.

"Yeah," he gasped lightly as a jolt of electricity ran from head to toe. "Ju-just teasing…I'm strong…I could take you, but…" He moaned as she continued sucking on his neck, at the ridge of his jaw.

"You know, your books are good Castle, but I think maybe you need to work a bit harder, to make them more believable. I could help you with this next one. You know, so Gina and Paula would get off your back." She moved back to his ear and used her tongue to elicit more pleasured moans from him. She could feel the vibrations as they rumbled through his chest. Kate was getting her power back.

"Yeah?" He asked distractedly. He couldn't think of anything but what she was doing with her tongue.

"Yeah, I could help give you some ideas for the next time Nikki and Rook get together. We could, you know, try some things out, so you can get all the details right." She was whispering in his ear now, sending chills up and down his spine.

"Details?" He whispered back and swallowed hard. "What, um, what kind of details?" He was having a really hard time staying focused on anything as the waves of emotion threatened to overpower him. If he could just get his hands free…

She lifted her face above his and looked down at him, putty in her hands. She had the power back now and she liked it. She gently leaned down closer to his face. She grazed his lips with hers, not quite kissing him but letting him feel her touch, feel her breath around his face.

"Should I get a pen?" He asked breathlessly, leaning up to try to capture her lips, but she pulled back again.

She shook her head slightly. "I don't think you'll have trouble remembering this later Castle," she replied and his whole body shuddered.

He gasped at her response, a thousand thoughts racing through his head as he imagined so many wonderful things.

God he loved this woman.

She leaned down slowly but again as he lifted his head to meet hers she pulled back. He looked imploringly at her.

"Uh-uh," she said. "My way." She pushed down harder on his hands forcing his head back down to the cushion and reminding him that she had the power.

"Tease," he said with a hint of frustration and a hint of a smile. I am definitely going to enjoy this, he thought, if she would just get on with it.

She moved her hands so that she could press down on both of his with just one of hers, her left hand, now free to roam across his body. He realized that he could likely get free now if he wanted, but he was more interested to see where she would take this. She curled her fingers around to graze the side of his face with the back of her hand, ran the tip of her fingers across his lips.

Finally something to kiss, he thought.

He slowly opened his mouth and reached forward to encircle her finger with his lips. He sucked gently letting her know that he was really enjoying this play. He let his teeth drag along her finger as she slowly pulled it out.

She leaned down finally, letting her finger fall away and gently kissed his lips. She sucked on his bottom lip and then slowly slid her tongue inside. Castle shuddered again from the electricity he felt coursing through his veins, as their tongues danced around in his mouth.

She started to pull away again. No, he thought, please stay. "Beckett," he whispered pleading, hoping she'd take the hint and let him keep kissing her – forever.

"Patience." She looked at him teasing but loving. She used her free hand to push up his thin light blue shirt, the one that made the blue of his eyes so intense, like pools of icy water. She used the tips of her nails to drag lightly across his chest, sending chills down his spine yet again and raising little goose bumps across his entire body. He unconsciously arched his body into hers, aching with desire.

She leaned down and used her tongue on the now goosy flesh at the base of his neck. She continued lower over his shirt, bunched up now above his chest. She continued down to his slightly hardened nipple and drew a slow wet swirl around it, perking it up even more.

"Kaaate," he moaned with such pleasure that it became hard for her to continue taking her time. But this was her lazy Sunday – their lazy Sunday – and she wanted to make sure it was one they would never forget.

She reached down to his waist and unbuckled his belt, her arm grazing his firmness below. If his moans hadn't convinced her of his desire, she was now sure just how into her games he really was.

Kate looked up at Rick, batting her eyelashes, faint flicker of a smile, as she slowly unbuttoned his jet black dress pants. Without breaking eye contact, she finally released her hold on his hands, knowing he was unlikely to attempt escape. Her newly freed hand now traced down the side of his body as she kissed his chest, his stomach. She grasped the waistband of his pants and his boxers and pulled them down around his ankles. He quickly kicked them unceremoniously to the floor, still never breaking eye contact. Watching her watch him as she continued lower, kissing down one thigh to his knee and back up the other.

Kate paused, and then breathed deeply, slowly, knowing what he wanted her to do next, but not quite ready to give in to him so soon.

"Castle," she whispered watching his breathing, quick and short, almost desperate.

"Oh Kate," he replied, that desperation very clear in his voice.

What is she waiting for? I can't take this! She's killing me, such a tease.

She opened her mouth slightly and he closed his eyes, knowing what was coming next. He waited a moment but when nothing happened he looked down to see her slowly moving back up towards his face, her eyes shining.

Is she laughing at me? Is she really enjoying torturing me so much?

An idea clicked in his mind.

He slowly brought his hands down finally to her shoulders, not wanting to betray his plan. Just as he felt the softness of her sweater, he griped tighter and in one quick motion he flipped them both over so she was now lying on her back. She raised her arms in defense of his attack but he used her movement against her. He put his hands under her oversized sweatshirt and slid it up over her head, taking her hands with it.

Mmm, red, nice, he thought as his eyes quickly took in her mostly naked chest. Turn around was fair play, wasn't it?

"Castle?" She looked up at him. His greater strength allowed him to actually hold both her hands with just one of his.

"Uh-uh," he said almost mockingly. "My way." She raised her eyebrows at his reply as he slowly leaned down to kiss her forehead, her temple, her cheek. He pulled back enough so that he could gaze into her eyes, a mix of brown and green, lit by the lights above and her passion. He had truly never met a more passionate woman, both in the bedroom and out. He felt so lucky to really have her in his life now.

"Castle, what is it?" Her question brought him back to focus in the moment.

"Shhh," he whispered back, his eyes smiling down at her. "Patience."

She smiled then, sexily biting her bottom lip. God he loved that bottom lip. He leaned in to kiss her but stopped short just as she had done. He rubbed his nose across hers, brushed his lips, his tongue, over her lips. He kissed her cheek, her jaw, her neck, speeding up his efforts as he went. He tried so hard to slow down but then he found her ear lobe and took it in his mouth. He bit softly into the flesh eliciting a moan from Kate. "Oh, Castle."

His free hand slid down her side cupping her breast, gently rubbing her hardening nipple through her bra. Her back arched pushing her body into his as her heart rate steadily climbed to match his.

Rick lowered his head and opened the clasp at the front of her bra to expose her almost heaving chest. He pushed her breast up to his mouth and used his tongue to push her intense desire to new heights. The gasp that escaped her lips told him she was enjoying this just as much as he had been mere moments ago when their roles were reversed.

"Kate?" He looked up to find her eyes closed. "Kate?" He asked again. She looked down at him finally as he kissed her breast to get her attention. "Kate, why are you wearing my clothes?"

Her mind swirled as she processed his question, her heart pounding from his touch, her breath coming in short quick gasps.

As she tried to figure out how to respond, the corners of his mouth curled up to that adorable impish grin. "Can't stay out of my pants can you? I know, you don't have to say it. I'm irresistible."

But before she could come up with a quip in reply, he let go of her breast and with one last kiss, he moved his hand down to her pants – his pants – and untied the drawstring. Just as he was starting to pull at the waistband a thought struck him.

"Is it weird that right now I want to get into my own pants?" He asked.

"Castle." Beckett rolled her eyes at him.

"No, right. Not the right time," he said and resumed his work.

He pulled at the waistband and easily slid the pants down. As she worked to kick them off, he lightly ran his hands up her leg applying more pressure as he got to her thighs. He squeezed her butt as he kissed down the front of her stomach and his eyes caught on her panties.

"Mmm, matching. Red," he said this time out loud. He clearly approved of her choice, as she had known he would. She smiled and grasped at her bottom lip again with her teeth. He looked up to catch her eyes and continued kissing her body. He slowed when he reached her breasts again, kissing them both, still rubbing his hand up and down her thigh.

"Ohhh," she moaned again, her body alive, tingling from his touch.

He raised his eyes to meet hers. "Say my name," he stated as much as asked.

"Castle," she whispered back.

He applied more pressure to her thigh, squeezing, kneading. More aggressively he pressed his lips to her neck, moving up again to her ear lobe.

"No. Say my name." More insistent this time.

She smiled a taste of power on her lips. "Castle," she said again, sexy, lingering.

He moved his hand to the inside of her thigh. "You know what I mean Kate. Say it. Say it."

He moved his hand higher, felt the moisture building, the heat rising. She lifted her bending knee to give him better access, encouraging his touch.

"Castle," she gasped. She was losing her power, losing control. She wanted him inside of her. To fill her with his passion and have the heat radiate between them. "Castle," she said again, her voice getting louder, her heart pounding, body arching towards his. She tried to move her hands to hold his body, pull him onto her, into her. But he still had her pinned.

Sensing his gain in the power struggle between them he slid down her panties and moved his lips to her ear. "Say it," he growled deep, gravelly. This was easily the sexiest he had ever been with her in their time together and she knew that she couldn't hold out on him anymore. She wanted him, she needed him. She was willing to give him the power.

She looked up into his eyes, held his gaze, bit down on her bottom lip. As a smile began to blossom on her flushed face, her eyes radiating with desire, she finally whispered the one word he wanted to hear.

"Rick."

All of the passion they had built to that moment was finally released as he dove for her lips and kissed her with a ferocity that made her ache with desire. He released her hands and slid his body on top of hers, his hand moving up to grasp her heaving breast.

They continued kissing hard and fast, their tongues dancing together. Their hands grasping at any, every body part, not wanting to miss anything.

He moved his lips back to her neck, kissing, licking, sucking. "Oh Kate," he whispered again fervently. Unable to hold back any longer, he finally entered her.

"Oh Rick," she called out with a passion and joy he had not previously heard from her and it pushed him, he drove harder.

Their bodies quickly found their rhythm and both opened their senses to the full experience. The taste of his sweat, the touch of her hands on his body, the feel of his breath on her skin, the sound of her calling his name.

They tuned out everything in the world but each other. They allowed the stresses of life to fall away and moved together wrapped in the love they felt for one another.

In one final burst of emotion, he fell exhausted across her body. They breathed hard, together, slowly regaining their bearings. Panting from the exertion, Rick finally lifted up on one elbow to look down at the beautiful woman who lay below him. He smiled and kissed her face.

He rose up again and watched as a single tear rolled away from her eyes full of emotion.

"Kate?" He questioned not sure what she was thinking.

She reached up to place both hands on his face, her fingers curling behind his head. She smiled lightly and pulled him down, kissing him full and soft and sweet.

"Rick, I love you so much." She kissed him again, smiling into his lips. "I love you. I love you. I love you."

He pulled back and looked into her eyes, searching. He wanted to know that her words came from her heart and not just from the lust and passion they had both just experienced.

Her smile grew, her whole face brightened and her eyes shone. She spoke again, clear, steadfast and true. "Rick, I love you, with all of the love that I possess. Always." She repeated the words he had beautifully written on the note that he left her on the pillow that morning.

He saw it then, he knew she meant it, knew she truly felt it. Every time he thought he couldn't possibly love her more, she found a way to surprise him and it intensified in him all the things he felt for her.

His eyes welled up and he moved in to kiss her again, a long, slow, sensual touch. It was the opposite of the fierce lovemaking they had just enjoyed. It conveyed all of the love and care and desire he felt for her. It overwhelmed them both.

They lay for a few moments, bodies entwined in a perfect unity, foreheads connected, just breathing each other in and soaking up the peace they now both felt.

Slowly, they rolled together so that Rick lay on his back and Kate rested on her side between him and the back of the couch. Her head rested on his chest, their legs still intertwined. She could hear the accelerated beating of his heart as it slowed slightly with each passing minute.

As he held her close and she ran her finger lightly in an irregular pattern on his chest, he sighed with contentment.

"Hey Kate?" He closed his eyes and breathed deeply again.

"Yes?"

"Best. Sunday. Ever." She could hear the smile in his voice and couldn't contain her own.

"Yeah," she agreed.

"Oh, and Kate?" He continued grinning now looking down at her out of the corner of his eye.

"Mmm-hmm?"

"Don't think you're off the hook just yet. You still owe me…well, you know what you promised." Her head snapped up off his chest and she looked at him in surprise, mouth agape.

"Seriously?" Incredible. He is incorrigible.

"A deal's a deal Kate. You promised," he replied, his eyes twinkling with delight, his eyebrows playfully dancing above them.

God he was adorable, this man whom she loved with all of her heart.

She put her head back down on his chest and he stilled waiting for her response. "Fine," she said with a mock seriousness. "But at least let me catch my breath."

"Deal," he said with far too much excitement.

After a few minutes of snuggling on the couch, with Castle rubbing his hand up and down her bare arm and Kate curled into him, he sighed again, deep and content. She smiled knowing how happy they both were in each other's arms, how perfectly they fit.

Best. Sunday. Ever.