The pair spun slowly around the dance floor, so close to one another that their bodies seemed to meld together. Katherine mused over the scent she has previously been curious about. She had been right in her assumption that the closer she got, the more she could smell the real Richard beneath the mask of his Armani cologne. Although the latter was quite attractive, the former was what really sent Kate over the edge. Her mind was full and yet she could make sense of nothing but the feeling of contentment she acquired within Richard Castle's warm embrace.

"Kate?" Castle murmured directly into her ear without even the slightest movement. Anyone who were to observe the pair would assume that they were in a long term romantic relationship. Beckett sighed, her deep breath constricted by the firm material of the slim dress he had so generously bought for her.

"Yeah?" Kate closed her eyes, simply listening to whatever he had to say. The crime investigation was far removed from her thoughts. All she wanted at the moment was to preserve this moment of happiness and security for as long as was humanly possible.

"I…" Castle slowly began, trailing off after one simple letter as he mindlessly caressed the bare skin of her upper back. Kate couldn't help but smile at the sensation.

"You what?"

"This," Castle pause, punctuating the word, "is nice."

"Yeah." Kate bit her lip as they continued to sway to the beat of the music. "You know, Castle…" She too cut herself off, unsure of how to continue.

"Yeah?" he urged, elated to hear anything she had to say at the moment, something that was always not the case during general investigations.

"Never mind," Beckett countered. Castle almost stopped their little dance as he pulled back from the embrace. Just enough so that he could see the expression on her face, but not so much that they lost the other's body heat. Their torsos were the only things that were no longer touching.

"No, really," Richard implored, removing his hand from her upper back in order to cup her face in it. "What is it?" Castle began to rub slow, soft circles on her cheek as he gazed into her desire filled eyes.

"It's… it's nothing." Kate couldn't tell Castle how she felt. She just didn't know how, but it could wait.

"Okay." Pulling her even closer to his body, Castle cradled Kate against himself. Their bodies were touching at almost every point. Kate had never been one for closed dancing, but the feeling of her body pressed up against Richard Castle's as they swayed rhythmically across the dance floor was something that she could imagine herself getting used to. Beckett soon noticed the slight sensation of something rubbing against her neck. Just as she was about to turn her head to investigate, she felt a hot, moist burst of air breeze across said area. Richard's breath cascaded down her back as it chilled, causing a shiver to follow it down her spine. As his lips made contact with her skin, she bit back a moan. They danced across her neck and made their way to her earlobe before taking the tip into his mouth. Katherine's breathing deepened and grew louder as his mouth worked its magic.

Opening his eyes for the first time in minutes, he focused his attention not on Kate, but on an odd motion across the room. Pulling back from his work on her neck, he noticed Paul Reynolds, boyfriend of Rachel, head of donor development. "Kate," he muttered, pulling back even farther.

A humming sound escape Kate's lips, a smile forming on them. "Castle," she nearly moaned before opening her eyes to his. The look of concern she found there quickly changed her mood. "What is it?"

"Donor girl's boyfriend," he informed her, as if this information alone would explain the look of apprehension on his face.

"So?" Beckett could still not will herself to look away from her companion, counting on him to explain his sudden change in behavior.

"So," he stressed, "he's taking pictures."

"Pictures?" she wondered aloud, studying his face for answers.

"Of the crowd." Kate spun quickly to find just that. Donor girl's boyfriend was snapping photographs with his cell phone of different women throughout the room. This was definitely not a coincidence – he was their guy.

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Detective Katherine Beckett strutted into the ballroom, this time on a mission. Castle was at her side, matching her step for step, Esposito and Ryan trailing not far behind. She was back in her element. Even though she still wore the beautiful gown, she had returned to police mode, something that brought with it comfort and familiarity. This was something she knew how to be. "Paul Reynolds, you're under arrest on suspicion of theft and conspiracy to commit murder," she informed him, flashing her badge as they approached.

As she came to a stop, Esposito and Ryan overcame her, roughly grasping the unattractive young man by his arms and cuffing him.

"Let's go," Esposito said as he and his partner began to shove Reynolds away. Beckett followed the trio with her eyes until it was no longer possible, returning her gaze to the area before her.

"Where was the badge?" Castle inquired, a look of confusion filling his countenance and a furrow between his brow. Kate glanced sideways at him, her lips pursed.

"Don't ask," she insisted and began to turn on her heel. Castle caught her before she could make it anywhere, a quick hand reaching out for her forearm.

"Hey, whoa, look… You're not getting away that easy, Katie." Kate scowled. She could deal with that nickname if the situation was right, but at this moment, she was not in the mood.

"Wanna bet, Kitten?" She stressed the last word, attempting to get a response in order to deflect him from the current topic of conversation. She got just what she ordered.

"Hey, I thought we agreed against the use of that name." Castle pouted but retained his grasp on her arm.

"You agreed," she reminded him, attempting to loosen his grip on a body part she didn't particularly want to lose. "I said nothing."

"Yeah, well I took that as assent." Instead of letting Katherine go as it was clear she wanted, Castle grasped her other arm, turning her to face him once more and pulling her carefully toward his body.

"You know what they say about people who assume things, Castle." Kate could feel her head becoming fuzzy at the proximity, but she would never let Castle know that.

"No, what?"

"That…" Beckett struggled for a witty response, knowing what she wanted to say, but unable to form the correct words due to her defective mental reasoning. "You know what, I don't have time for this conversation. We have a suspect to interrogate." She attempted to turn and make her point, but her arms were still in Richard's tight, but not marring grasp.

"Fine," he complied, releasing her. "Fair enough. But, you do know that we are only sticking a pin in this conversation to save it for later. How about tonight? After we're done at the precinct. Let me buy you a drink." It was not a question or even a suggestion. It was more of a kindly demand. Kate sighed.

"Castle, all I want to do tonight is pin down a final suspect, put in a request for a warrant, and go home." She turned on a dime and proceeded to walk out as last as the constricting material could take her. Castle was fast on her heel, jogging to catch up.

"Sounds great," he murmured into her ear as soon as he was close enough. Curiosity got the better of her.

"What does?" she asked, glancing momentarily over her shoulder as she rounded a corner toward the main entrance.

"I'd love to go home with you, Katherine." Beckett stopped dead in her tracks, Castle running directly into her for the second time that night.

"Excuse me?" The death glare she shot at Rick seemed to go right through.

"Are you trying to tell me that that wasn't an invitation?" Kate closed her eyes, taking in a large breath through her nose. She was not going to let this man get to her – at least she wouldn't let him know that he did.

"Do me a favor, Castle."

"Anything," he responded, just a little too eager for her liking.

"Be quiet for just five minutes." Castle pondered her request for what seemed like a millisecond before responding.

"I don't think that's possible, but I'll give it a try." As she turned once more to continue the small trek to the squad car she had made Esposito leave her for just this purpose, Castle continued. "Only 'cause I love you so much." Beckett rolled her eyes. She just couldn't help it.

"I'm sure you do," she mumbled, shaking her head as she made her way through the great doors onto the busy city streets.

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The interrogation didn't last long. Reynolds was scared shitless. Beckett was gathering her things at her desk when Castle approached from behind.

"Let me help you with that," he murmured into her ear, leaning his body into hers. A great gasp escaped Kate's lungs. Dropping the things in her hands out of shock, she spun on the spot.

"Jesus, Castle!" she exclaimed, placing a hand on his chest to push him backward. Her effort was hindered when Rick's fingers wrapped around her waist and pulled her even closer.

"Castle! What the hell do you think you're doing?" she questioned as his face approached hers to close the dangerously small distance.

"Please have a drink with me tonight. It's only midnight and we won't be able to pick up the warrant until at least nine." Richard placed his long fingers beneath her chip, pulling it gently upward and willing her to look at him. "Just one drink. We can do it at your apartment, that way you're already home." She had to agree that his logic was sound and that a drink seemed like an incredible idea. The only difference was that she had expected to have her glass of wine alone.

"Just one drink?" she asked. Clarification was key; she was dealing with Castle after all.

"Cross my heart." Not wanting to remove his hands from her body, Rick did not accompany his childish promise with gestures.

"Fine." Kate sighed, knowing that she had let him win, but not willing to bargain all night long. She really did just want to get home. Kate tried to look down at the objects she had dropped moments before, but unable to do so due to his restricting hands on her body and face. "Would you mind letting me go now so I can pick these up?" She gestured toward the files on the floor.

"Ah, allow me." Releasing her, Richard quickly bent to retrieve her things. Once he had the articles in his hands and arms, he rose once more to face Kate. He slipped them quickly into her open purse and handed it to her.

Placing her new dress over one arm and offering his other to Beckett, he waited for her to join him. Rolling her eyes, Kate brushed past his arm toward the precinct's elevator. Smirking to himself, Castle followed.