After an afternoon of apartment hunting with Lanie's moral support, Kate decides coffee is in order.

And to Lanie's credit, it takes all of thirty seconds after they find a table before Lanie gets to the point. "So how's your roommate?"

"Alexis is great."

Lanie snorts into her hot chocolate. "Yeah. Because you know that's the person I'm talking about."

Kate just shrugs.

"So you're really ready to stop shacking up with sexy Writerboy? Please tell me you've at least 'accidentally' seen him in a towel."

"Not quite."

"Too bad. But at least - wait. 'Not quite?' No. I know you, Kate Beckett. And there's a story here." Lanie's got a delighted expression. Like she thinks she knows something. "You've got that look on your face. There's something you're not telling me."

"You're imagining things."

"Am I?" Lanie raises her eyebrows. "Then why are you not nearly as keen on finding a place as you were last week?"

"I'm not -"

"You weren't even paying attention at the first three places today. And that last place, the gorgeous one? Want to tell me why you didn't just drop everything and sign on the spot?"

"I just - wasn't sure."

"You like living at Chez Castle, don't you? You're getting all cozy." Kate shoots her a look, but Lanie's too smart to believe it. "In your defense, playing house with a hot guy who's crazy about you really doesn't suck. But now I'm thinking maybe there's more going on here."

It's not like Lanie won't find out eventually.

"I slept in his bed last night."

"I'm sorry. What?"

Kate just smiles.

"And?"

Kate flushes. "That's it. We just slept."

"No, you didn't." Lanie stirs her drink. "We're talking at least second base, right?"

"Lanie -"

"Okay, so second base was a good guess."

"It wasn't - I don't know." Kate isn't sure how to say it - it all sort of made sense last night, the playful atmosphere, the gentle sense of this is how it should be. "It was just - so easy. So comfortable. He's really sweet, when he's not being an idiot."

"Did you guys talk about it?"

"Not much."

"Hard to talk with Rick Castle's tongue down your throat, I bet."

"Lanie."

"Kate." Lanie fixes her with a solemn gaze. "I'm saying this because I care about you. You need to grab that man, rip his clothes off, and ride him like a stallion. Okay?"

When she gets back to the loft, Kate finds Castle on the couch, Empire Strikes Back on the TV, remote in his hand. His eyes are shut, head tipped back, and he's snoring a little.

It's so cute.

She pulls off her boots and pads across the hardwood floor, leaning over to gently press a kiss to his mouth.

He lets out a soft breath, his eyelashes fluttering against her cheek.

"Mmmm. You better go before Kate gets back."

He's grinning when she slaps him. His eyes blink open, sparkling with mirth, and she can't stop herself from leaning over to kiss him properly.

"Hey."

Castle catches her hand, tugging her down into his lap, and in a split second it all goes from playful to serious. His tongue is in her mouth and she's straddling his hips and his shirt is half-buttoned before she hears the footsteps out in the hall.

Shit.

Kate scrambles off his lap, batting away his hands. "Castle. Fix your shirt."

Castle fumbles desperately with the buttons as she scoots to a more respectable distance. He's only got one re-done by the time the door opens.

"Alexis! Hi." Kate clears her throat, wondering how her hair looks.

"Hey, Pumpkin." Castle's still trying to button his shirt. It's not going well. "How was, ah, the movie?"

"Guys." Alexis is smiling, her cheeks pink. "I think I interrupted something."

"What? No, Sweetie. It's -"

"No, Dad, it's okay." Alexis looks a little sheepish, but her eyes are bright. "Just - yeah. Never mind. Anyway. I'm heading over to Mandy's tonight. Her brothers are gone for the weekend, so her mom said she's going to make us tons of cupcakes and we can watch every girly movie she owns."

"That sounds like fun," Kate laughs.

"Yep. I'm going to go grab some stuff, and then I'm headed out."

Alexis trots upstairs, leaving Kate and Castle on opposite ends of the couch.

Kate lets out a breath. "Do you think -"

"She's purposely getting out of the way? Absolutely." Castle shoots her a grin. "Clearly, she thinks we might want some privacy this evening."

Her blood gets hot. He's got a wolfish look in his eyes. "Privacy? What are you thinking, Castle?"

"I'm thinking -" he catches her hand and tugs her back to him, staring at her mouth - "I'm thinking maybe we do something a little more...aerobic...in my bed tonight."