Thanks for the reviews guys. Here's the next chapter. Temperatures are rising...

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Bed time came and left Castle unsure where he would or should spend the night. Things had changed since last night. Definitely for the better but exactly that could be a reason for Beckett to keep some space between them. Taking the safe option he put his pillow and blanket on the kitchen bench, while she got changed in the bedroom.

When she reappeared, he sat on his sleeping quarter, looking up at her. What he saw in her face was first surprise that quickly changed to a look of hurt.

"Oh," she got out when she realized that he obviously planned to sleep away from her. Making her wonder if he might after all misinterpreted her request from earlier.

He sensed that he had made a mistake and quickly jumped up, "I didn't want to assume that it would be okay if we slept together again," he bit his tongue at his wording and blushed, which despite the dim light didn't went unnoticed by Beckett and let her chuckle at his obvious nervousness. Instead of saying anything, she pulled him with her like she had done it the previous night and he couldn't help the goofy grin that spread all over his face.

Slipping into bed next to her she immediately sought body contact and nestled her back against his chest. She had made a promise to herself, from now on there would only be progress, no more shying away, no more cowardliness. She cuddled even closer, when Castle's arm came to hold her close and started to draw circles on his arm with her fingers. There was one more thing on her mind that she didn't know how to approach.

"Castle?" she whispered, half hoping that he was already asleep so that she could post-pone this until tomorrow.

"Mmhhh," he mumbled into her ear.

She sighed, "You said, you'll wait as long as it takes."

She felt him nod, "I meant it."

"I know, but if you," she paused and he wished he could see her face.

"If I what?" he asked and popped himself up on his elbow to have a better look at her.

She turned on her back and started to stare at her fingers, feeling all uncomfortable, "If you need to …, you know what I mean."

Surprisingly it dawned on him what she meant, "I think so," he replied still sounding unsure.

"Just don't tell me, okay?" she quickly said and was about to turn away from him, but he stopped her.

"I'm not sure I understand," he said and tried to make her look at him.

"I'm aware that you're meeting women. That insurance lady," she said that with more disgust than she had intended to, "She was probably just the only one that I met. I just want to say I understand, but I don't want to know."

"I wasn't with the insurance woman," he said and somehow was surprised that she still believed that.

"You weren't?" It was the first time since this conversation started that she looked at him.

"No," he shook his head, "Truth to be told, I haven't been with anyone since I broke up with Gina."

Now she was seriously shocked. She didn't doubt him for a second but still she couldn't believe it, "Why?"

"I was waiting for you," he simply stated, "I still am," he added with a small smile.

There was something in her eyes, he had never seen before and then her hands reached up and cupped his face, pulling him down she let his lips crush down on hers. It took him less than a second to respond, rolling over he came to rest on top of her and deepened their kiss. Her hands grabbed his hair and pulled him closer, before they wandered further down his back, her nails digging into his skin. His tongue begged for entrance and she admitted it, while his hands cupped her face.

"Kate," he mourned and started trailing kisses down her neck. Her back ached towards him, while his hands started wandering down her body until they reached the hem of her shirt, the moment his fingers touched her bare skin, he heard her mourn his name. It was the sweetest sound he had ever heard and it made him stop in his movement. He looked up at her face and stared into these beautiful eyes of hers that had him fascinated from the first time he had laid his on her.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered and placed the softest kiss on her lips.

"You're not so bad yourself, Castle," she smiled, using the same words she had used once before.

"Is this real?" he asked.

"If your level of excitement that is pushing against me is any indicator, then yes! This is very real!" she bit her lower lip in that cute manner that told him she was nervous.

He chuckled and softly let his fingers dance over her face. Amazed that she was so close. That he was finally allowed to touch her, to look at her without the fear of being caught.

"You're okay?" he asked, while playing with her hair.

She nodded, "More than okay."

"Good," he said and rolled off her on his back and pulled her with him.

She was confused. A minute ago, they were heavily making out and now he just rolled over?

"Castle? Everything okay?" she slightly turned around, her head coming to rest on his chest.

"Yes," he replied, tilting his head to look at her.

"But?" she cocked one eyebrow.

His left hand that was holding her close wandered under her shirt and started to draw circles on the small of her back. "I want to do this right," he said sincerely. "I don't want you to regret this tomorrow."

"Rick, I won't regret it." She replied.

"I've never been old-fashioned when it came to women or dating or," he paused, "Sex. But with you; I want that, Kate."

She looked at him with a hint of amusement, "So what are suggesting? No sex before we're married?"

He shrieked, "NO! But no Sex until I took you out on a real date."

"You know, you don't have to do that on my behalf," she said and placed a feather light kiss on his chest.

"But I want to, okay?"

"Okay," she agreed and cuddled closer to him.

"God, I'm such a catch!" he stated self-satisfied, "OUCH! Don't pinch me!"