morethanamuse here, again!

This turned into a huuuuuuge continuation of 'Eleven...' hence why it took me a bit longer. So I will save you from my babbling, and get right to the point. G is for 'Game'!

Enjoy!

(If I owned Castle, I think I'd probably be writing for that, not here, don't you? Well, that might be a lie, because this is fun as hell! ;) haha!)

Game

9:45 pm

Kate leaned over the pool table to line up for a shot, well aware that Castle's gaze was attached to the way her jeans were hugging her backside. She had caught him staring many a-time before, and decided that, just for tonight (because of the alcohol fuzzing her brain, of course), she wasn't going to do anything to deter him. Sinking another ball, she stalked to the other side of the table and took her extra shot, just barely missing the intended pocket.

"Your turn, Mr. Castle," she purred. Although he snapped-to quickly, her trained eye didn't miss his nearly undetectable internal shake to clear the fog he was in from staring at her. He moved swiftly and efficiently, sinking two more of his own solids to her stripes.

"I do believe that makes us even," he said smoothly, glancing in her direction. He knew exactly what game she was playing with him. The game she had started from the moment she had started undoing her blouse downstairs; a game that was definitely not pool. Two could definitely play at this, and that was exactly what he was doing. He had watched her, more than once, falter just a touch, after something provocative had escaped his mouth. He had felt her shiver when his breath had grazed her ear when he had leaned into her space (for absolutely no reason other than to be heard over the noise of the bar, of course) to ask her if she wanted to 'rack 'em or smack 'em' to start off the game.

From Kate's point of view, her plan, so far, was working. Or so it seemed. She was doing a fantastic job of distracting Castle from his goal of getting a story out of her. They had kept pretty even; Kate only being ahead by three for a short while, and Castle had had quickly caught right back up. She had recognized that he was playing with her right back, brushing up against her when he could, and sending seductive looks across the table from time to time. He smoldered, and Kate could feel herself melting. But it was all a game, right? Nothing more than him continuing to pry, and her continuing to defend her secrets.

But what exactly was he trying to pry from her? Did he really want to just hear a wild story? Or was he prying in a different fashion?

Before she could get too lost in her philosophies about the subject, he nudged against her again, his hip bumping hers playfully.

"Kate, your turn." His voice dripped from his lips sweet and dark, like chocolate. She wondered for half a second if they would taste as good as they sounded. She slunk around the table towards the cue ball. There were only three balls left. In addition to the eight ball, his lucky number seven against her unlucky thirteen; an instance not unnoticed by him. "Unlucky thirteen. I do believe I have the advantage here, Detective."

"I prefer to make my own luck," she smirked, sinking the ball cleanly. She looked up at him, the teasing gleam fighting to shine through the darker look that lurked in her eyes. "This could be it. I sink the eight ball, and it's all over. Then you'll realize you were sorely mistaken to think you even had a chance to win over me," her words flowed languidly, still keeping up what she was still trying to convince herself was a clever ruse.

Not missing a beat, he stepped towards her. "We never talked about what your prize would be if you happened to win," he smiled. Her insides did a flip flop. That smile always did funny things to her, because it was the smile that she had never seen him direct at anyone else. It was her own secret smile, and whether he knew he was doing it or not, she could detect it every time, and every time, it turned her a little bit mushy. She blinked and regained her composure before speaking.

"Don't you worry about that. We'll talk about it after I kick your ass," she winked. He did a double-take. Not only did Beckett barely ever swear, but she definitely never winked.

Pulling out the big guns, is she now? He thought.

He had long since removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, so removing more clothing was pretty much out. What could he do to even the playing field a little more? His eyes followed her as she lined up for her next shot. His mind moved in a flash, and his feet moved to catch up with his thought. He leaned beside her, nearly trapping her between himself and the table.

"What is your fascination with withholding information from me?" His low voice and his timing must have been perfect, because she completely missed her target.

She turned excruciatingly slowly, a glare in her eyes, and her lips formed in a perfect pout. She raised her eyebrows. "Really? You're going to sink that low to win?"

"Oh Detective, I don't think you know how low I plan on sinking tonight."

Beckett couldn't help it; her jaw dropped in shock. He was being incredibly forward tonight! While she was standing there, dumbfounded, he took the opportunity to make his shot and sunk his last ball, but missed sinking the eight ball just as Beckett did.

"Well it's good to know that I didn't even have to distract you for you to miss," she quipped, fully recovered once again. He made a face at her and she took her turn, forcing herself to focus on her shot, and not on how impossibly close he still was. Taking a breath, she called the pocket, and clipped the ball into the one she predicted.

"Game," she said, leaning the pool stick against him, as he stood there taking in the fact that he had lost. She sauntered back to the bar, grabbing a beer on her way back to the table. He hurriedly followed, only to find that she wasn't sitting, and instead, searching her pockets for something.

"Lose something?" He asked.

"Certainly not the game," she said saucily. "I think I left my phone downstairs in your office." She looked at him. "But I really have to go to the restroom; those drinks are catching up with me. Can you run down and get it for me?" He started to protest but she cut him off. "C'mon, Castle. It's the least you can do. I did win, after all." He sulked as she headed towards the bathroom, and when she heard his footsteps head in the opposite direction, she turned to look over her shoulder. When she saw the top of his head disappear down the stairs, she turned on the ball of her foot to follow him.

She stealthy descended the stairs for the second time that night, lingering a moment or two on the stairs before actually arriving in the office.

"Did you find it?"

"Beckett! Geez. You gotta stop lurking in the stairs. You're going to give me a heart attack!" Castle sputtered.

"Sorry," She laughed. "That is the second time tonight, I guess."

"You guess?" He huffed playfully. "But no, I didn't find it. Are you sure you left it here?"

"Pretty sure," she half sing-songed. She began to half-heartedly 'look' too.

"So, you won."

"Yep, I kicked your ass."

"Hey, I put up a good fight!" He said, mocking hurt.

"Eeh, I can't admit that. I have an reputation to uphold."

"Yes, but it's just you and me down here."

"That it is," she agreed, leaving out the part where that was exactly how she planned it.

"So, what's my punishment for losing? Another story? A foot rub? A strip tease?" He waggled his eyebrows.

"You wish," she said simply.

"C'mon on. You won, fair and square. If I'd won, I would have held you to telling me one of your stories."

"Yes, but I never stated a prize for myself. Let's just say I get the satisfaction on winning," she stated, still pretending to look for her 'misplaced' phone.

"You're no fun!" He stopped looking and pretended to pout.

She rolled her eyes. "Am I not?" She took a decisive step towards him, then another.

He picked up quick. "Your phone isn't down here, is it?"

"Nnnn-nope." She dug it out of her pocked and waved it in front of his face.

"So you told me to go down here in order to get me alone, now didn't you, Detective? Very sly." She smirked. "You got me alone, and now I have to wonder; why?"

"I decided what I want."

"For your epic win today on the battlefield of the pool table?" He smiled broadly and took a step towards her.

"Among other things."

"So Detective, please enlighten me. I'll do what I can to give you exactly what you want."

The corners of her lips began to twitch slightly upwards. She took one more slow step, and suddenly, the distance between them vanished, and her lips pressed against his. He was noticeably thrown from the pounce she made, but recovered quickly, his hands flying up to wind in her hair, pulling her as close as he could. She had one hand hooked on his shoulder and the other was on his neck, her fingers playing in his hair. Their lips moved together, tongues venturing out tentatively to taste the other. She swept her tongue across his bottom lip, causing him to groan softly and open his mouth just enough for her to explore more of him. She latched on more intensely, pulling the same lip in between her teeth and nibbling a little before releasing it and pulling back for a moment to study him.

"Kate, I—" He started.

"Shh. No talking." She saw the look of genuine affection in his eyes, and took that as enough of an excuse to keep on kissing him. That was all she really needed, because to be honest, she wasn't ready to stop.

The clouds in her head gathered once again as she grabbed his collar and pulled his mouth to hers once again. This time, he was more assertive, dipping his tongue against her lip and in to touch hers, and after a moment, drew away from her lips to plant languid, open mouthed kisses down her jaw and to her neck. She let out the most beautiful and breathy moan as he found her pulse point and sucked on it when he felt her shiver in indication of the sensitive spot. He felt like he knew her inside and out, from the way he was so easily able to read her the first time they really kissed. Her fingers wound in his hair as she tossed back her head and let out another sigh that was pure music to his ears. He began to work his way across the collar of her tank top, and back up the other side of her neck. He moved to her jaw, peppering it with sweeter, smaller kisses, and back to her mouth, dragging his lips lazily against hers once more, teasing, tasting. She whimpered, an audible plea that indicated that her body was getting ahead of her mind.

Reluctantly, he pulled away as their kisses slowed to a stop. He didn't want to go to fast; not with Kate. If they slept together right now, on the couch that they had somehow backed up and fallen onto, it would only confirm her fears that he just wanted to 'get her out of his system,' and be done with her. He wanted to show her that 'getting her out of his system' was the absolute last thing he ever wanted to do.

"Kate," he whispered again, against her lips.

"Mmm?" She couldn't form words at the moment, so a hum of acknowledgement would have to suffice.

"Not that I'm complaining, but… Well, what in the world was that all about?" He winced, knowing that he probably shouldn't ask any questions at the moment, but he was so damn curious.

"What?"

"I mean, I liked it, and I have to admit, I've been wanting to do that for a while, but—what made you—"

"Castle." She cut him off.

"Yeah?"

"What did I say about talking?"

"To not to."

"Yes." She claimed his mouth with hers again, but only for a moment, hoping to convey what she wanted to say, but couldn't quite form into words yet. She wanted to be kissing him. She liked him. Yes, 'like that.' Hell, she was well on her way to loving him, but that was something she couldn't even think yet. They would have a conversation, and they both knew it, but just not yet. She knew all of that would come across without her saying it, because he could read her eyes like a book.

"Okay," he said in affirmation when she pulled away. They stayed there for a minute or two, before he spoke again. "I know I'm breaking the rules, but it's been a hell of a week, and I think I should be getting home." He faltered, unsure of how to say what he wanted to express. "But I don't want to leave you quite yet," he admitted.

She smiled. Truthfully, she didn't want to leave him quite yet either. She decided that since he probably deserved a break tonight, of all nights, she would give him one.

"As long as I get to pick the movie, we can go back to your place." She wanted to be clear that she would go home with him, but not go home with him. She knew he would respect her wishes, but she had to make sure she was understood.

His face lit up and he said, "Okay! As long as we can have popcorn!"

She laughed and kissed his cheek audaciously. "That works. I'm going to need something to soak up the alcohol I drank tonight."

"You're not—"

"No, Castle. I'm not drunk and kissing you wasn't a drunk mistake," she clarified, watching the panic melt from his face.

"Alright, Detective. Let's go." She smiled, took his hand and stood up, marveling at how easy the shift from 'partners' to 'something more' was… at least so far.

11:00 PM

As Kate sat in the booth, waiting for Castle to ring out and get ready to leave, the implications of what she had just done began to settle in her brain. It was 11PM, and there were eleven reasons why she was freaking out. Reason numbers one through eleven were exactly the same: she had just kissed Richard Castle. She had just kissed Richard Castle twice. Well, three times if you count— Kate shook her head to clear her worry. Everything was going to be fine… right?

They took a cab home, and she was still on edge the entire way. At his loft, they settled in, Kate picking the first 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie, saying that way, they could watch the second and the third if they so chose without having to decide what movie to play after the first one was over.

At first, they had tentatively sat next to each other, but as the film wore on, boundaries and lines blurred much as they had earlier and they ended up wrapped around each other. Her freaking out had long subsided, and eventually, they fell asleep together, halfway through 'Dead Man's Chest.'

1:45AM

Alexis and Ashley snuck into the Castle loft, after having fallen asleep to their own movie at Ashley's place. He had insisted on taking her home given the late hour, and Castle's failure to answer his phone. Now they found both him and Kate curled into each other on the couch, a blanket half hanging off of them. Alexis had to cover her mouth to suppress a squeal. She had been waiting for her dad and Kate to make some sort of advancement in their relationship for a while now. Ashley looked over at her.

"That's the detective he's always going on about, isn't it?" It was more a statement than a question.

"Yup," she answered in a whisper.

"I'm guessing from the look on your face this is a new development?"

"Yup," Alexis whispered again, the only word she could manage.

"Well, new or not, they sure look like they've got it bad, don't they?" He smiled at his girlfriend, pleased to see her so happy about her dad.

"Yup, they sure do," she smiled, leaning into him. She kissed him quickly and thanked him for bringing her home. Once he had gone, she locked the door and tiptoed past the sleeping couple on the couch.

When she got upstairs she tapped on her grandmother's door, seeing her light on under her door. When the older redhead murmured a 'Come in, dear' she entered with a huge grin on her face.

"Grams! Dad and Detective Beckett are curled up on the couch!"

"Oh I know, dear. I heard them come in," she smiled back at Alexis. "I know. Finally, right?"

"Finally," she agreed, hugging her tightly before practically skipping to her room.

2:00 AM

Downstairs, Beckett shifted. She felt like she had heard something, but quickly dismissed it in her half-asleep stupor. She was too ridiculously comfortable to even think about moving. She felt Rick tighten his arm around her and couldn't help but smile. All of those thoughts she had before they left the bar were so childish and frankly, outrageous. She didn't trust anyone more than him, and his arms around her just made her feel even safer. She smiled again, and nuzzled against him a little more. Since she didn't have anywhere to be tomorrow for once, she just let herself be, and slipped back into a warm, inviting sleep.

I hope you loved it! Let me know what you think- I spent a bunch of time trying to get it right for you, dear readers! :)

~MTAM

ps- wow, I must have been more tired last night than I thought! I fixed the mistakes that I found, but be sure to let me know if there are more.

pps- we see you out there, yeah. don't think we can't see you. we've got connections, you know. we have a ton of hits on this story and a bunch of alerts too... and only a fraction of reviews. tell me why that is? ;)

but seriously, though. reviews really help us out! :)