Chapter 20:

Hurtful Comparisons

Castle had been mesmerized by the sight of her on his kitchen table, open and so ready for him. She taunted him with her words and actions, goading a response from him. She knew perfectly well what she was doing. She knew that she had him wrapped perfectly around her little finger. All she had to do was snap her fingers or look at him, and his brain was mush. He didn't think that was a normal reaction for guys, either. No guy he had ever met even began to insinuate how whipped they were. It was a pride thing.

So when he finally found himself snapped out of his reverie and saw her still reclined on the kitchen table, spread before him and idly playing with herself, it only took him seconds to act. He yanked her hand away and proceeded to begin taunting back, receiving positive feedback in response.

"Did you plan this, Kate? Did you know that I could never possibly have enough of you? That you're driving me positively crazy? Seeing you here before me like this, so open and trusting-it completely amazes me. I keep wanting to pinch myself to make sure that this isn't a dream, and that you're really here in front of me, allowing me to love you the way I do."

"Stop talking and love me then," Kate replied, giving him a devilishly sexy smile. "I'm not going to stay here like this all day. I would like to explore more of the area at least sometime before we have to go."

"Who says we ever have to leave?" Castle inquired, cocking an eyebrow. "We could always just stay here for the rest of our lives and live in the lap of luxury. I could write my books, and you could happily wait on me and fix me sandwiches…AHHH! Apples! Apples!"!

Kate had chosen at this point to grab ahold of his nose in a firm grip, giving him her best menacing glare.

"I'll tell you what, Richard Castle," she said through gritted teeth, "Katherine Beckett waits on no one. If anyone is going to do anything of the sort, you're going to be waiting on me! After all, I didn't exactly willingly agree to this trip, anyway."

He leaned toward her then, his breath fluttering hotly against her lips. Just for a moment, her eyes fluttered shut, certain that he was going to kiss her and end this sweet torment.

"Ah, but you're still here," he replied, shortly before lightly touching his lips to hers. It wasn't quite a kiss, but it still sent warm shivers down her spine in anticipation.

She let out a groan of frustration, wanting him to touch her, or do anything to her, so badly.

Seeing her frustration, he chuckled. "Problem, Detective?"

She sighed heavily, rolling her eyes in annoyance. "As a matter of fact, yes. Why do you insist on toying with me, thus torturing yourself as well? Seems a tad counterproductive, if you ask me."

"Maybe I just like to drive you crazy," he replied. "You make it so easy. I've never known anyone who reacts the way you do. Meredith and Gina were never this fun…"

Kate stopped him mid sentence with a harsh glare. "I don't ever want to be compared to any of your other conquests, Castle. I would like to think that I'm different…no, better….for you than they ever were. I don't think that they really took the time to get to know you. From what I've seen, I don't think they even cared for you at all! And what of Alexis? Do they even realize what a treasure she is? How much you value her? And Martha, despite her faults, is a good mother to you. She's there when it counts. I don't think Meredith or Gina have ever taken the time to get to know the people dearest to you. I love them both because they treat me with respect and dignity. Hell, Martha has been gunning for us to get together since we first met! So don't ever compare me to them."

Castle recoiled for a moment, as if she had slapped him in the face. "Are we really having this conversation right now? While you're naked on my table? Seriously? No offense, but I really don't want to be talking about my mother, much less my daughter, right now.

Kate shut her eyes against the hot tears that were beginning to form, not wanting to let him see just how upset she really was. Without preamble, she slid off the table and practically sprinted to the bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Castle stood there alone, gaping like an idiot, wondering what happened. One minute, she was naked and teasing them, being the sexy vixen he had come to love. The next, they were fighting. He knew better than to confront her again, but part of him wanted to so badly. He hoped that when she was ready, she'd come to him. He promised himself then, that he'd never hurt her again.

Upon entering the bedroom, Kate seemed to spring into action. She got dressed and began to busy herself with packing all of her belongings, intending to go home. She knew she was being irrational for getting so upset with Castle, but she couldn't exactly make him understand how much he had hurt her. She felt insignificant, so small and meaningless. She called Lanie.

"Girl! I haven't heard from you in days! Did you finally stop canoodling with Writer Boy and decide to come up for air?" she teased.

Kate couldn't hold back a slight sniffle. "Lanie, I need your help. I want to go home."

There was a long pause, and Kate checked her phone to make sure she hadn't dropped the connection. "Lanie?" she tried. "Are you still there?"

"Kate? What happened? Why do you want to come home? Did he hurt you?"

"Yes….no. I don't know. I just need to get out of here," Kate answered, beginning to get frustrated with her friend's interrogation.

"Okay, but as soon as you get home, we're going to talk about what happened. There's no way I'm letting him get away with hurting you."

"Alright, fine! I was naked on the kitchen table, and I was teasing him. I was trying my best to get him all riled up. Then he mentions that no one can drive him crazy quite like I do."

"Uh, Kate? I'm failing to see where he supposedly hurt you here."

"I'm not done! He then starts telling me about Gina and Meredith, and about how not even they could drive him as crazy as I do. I don't know why, but I thought he was comparing me, our relationship, everything….to them! And so I thought, how long will it be before he decides he's done with me?"

Lanie was silent on the other end for a moment. "I can't think of a good thing to say right now. I wish I could. If you want to come home, I'll help you. Call a cab, and I'll meet you at your apartment as soon as you get there with ice cream and chocolate. We'll watch those sappy girl movies you love so much."

"Thanks, Lanie. There's a reason why you're my best friend."

"I know. Now go on and come home."

The line went dead after that, signaling Lanie ended the conversation. Kate quickly found the number for a cab and had one on its way. Thinking better of it, she also went in search of Castle, but even though she searched through every room in the house, he was simply nowhere to be found. The cab showed up fifteen minutes later, so she grabbed her bags and headed home, never daring to look back.

Castle sure had a surprise waiting for him when he came home that night!

A/N: I know it's been a while, but I was having some serious writer's block. This chapter came to me in a dream, and I couldn't resist writing it out. Hope you enjoyed it, and sorry again for the delay! What do you think Castle will say or do when he finds out Kate left? You know what to do! REVIEW!