Kate picked the restaurant. He wanted to take her somewhere fancier, some place with five stars and a menu with no prices on it, but Kate said no. She also nixed his plans for dinner and changed it to lunch, but again, Castle couldn't argue since her reason was excellent: "Why should I wait till Saturday night to see you when we could spend the whole day together?" Good point, Kate. So here he is at what Kate calls her "friendly neighborhood diner" sitting at a small table outside waiting for her. It's a beautiful mid-April day. The trees finally have leaves again, the birds are singing, and the sun is shining down on Castle's head. It's an unusually warm day for spring and he's glad he went with his casual best—open-necked blue shirt and jeans. He looks at his watch impatiently. She's not late, he's just early and he can't wait to see her again.

"Wow," says the guy sitting at the table next to him. "That is one gorgeous woman." Castle looks down the sidewalk and sees Kate walking towards the restaurant. His breath catches in his throat. Her hair is a shiny mass of chestnut waves falling around her shoulders. She's wearing a strapless champagne-colored sun dress and her shoulders are kissably bare. The red heels she's wearing make her lovely long legs even sexier. She's scanning the cluster of people standing in front the restaurant, clearly seeking someone. Castle is once again amazed that this beautiful sexy intelligent woman is in love with him.

"I wonder if I can convince her to dump the guy she's meeting and have lunch with me?" Kate's admirer asks Castle.

"Sorry, buddy. That beautiful woman is with me." Castle gets up and walks toward Kate, unable to hide the big grin on his face. Finally catching sight of him in the crowd of people waiting to get in, she smiles and doesn't resist when he pulls her into his arms for a kiss. As always, every part of his body comes alive—sometimes too alive—when he is near her. She smells like sunshine and tastes like cherries and he has to resist the urge to throw her over his shoulder and carry her to his bed like a twenty-first century cave man. Finally she pulls away from him and from the look in her eyes he's thinking maybe she'll want to skip lunch too, but she just says, "Are we going to be one of those disgusting couples who engage in non-stop PDA?"

"I hope so," he says calmly while his brain is freaking out: Couple! She called us a couple! He's giddy. With any other woman that word would not be so monumental, but with Kate Beckett, who fought him every step of the way in this love affair, it was an amazing achievement.

"Well, we've certainly established a pattern." Kate looks at the crowded sidewalk. "Tell me you made reservations."

"I made reservations," Castle assures her. He takes her hand in his and pulls her through the crowd to the reservation desk. After being settled by the hostess at their table, Castle looks through the menu.

"So, Kate, what are you hungry for?"

Kate looks up from her menu. "You. Sweaty and naked. In my bed." She runs her tongue over her bottom lip and raises one eyebrow. Castle almost drops his glass of water on his lap, an area of his body which could have used a good cooling-off right then.

"Whaaa—?"

"Oh, you mean food? Well, let's see…" and she flips her menu to the lunch entrees. "Never a good idea to start with dessert anyway," she murmurs under her breath.

Castle sometimes can't believe that this Kate Beckett is the same woman he met four years ago; she's open, affectionate, and driving him wild with her teasing.

"Kate."

"Hmm?" She looks at him, her hazel eyes wide with innocence. "Do you want dessert first?"

It's on the tip of Castle's tongue to tell her exactly what he wants when he notices her lips curving in the barest hint of a smile. Two can play this game, he thinks.

"No, not me. I think the pasta looks good, though."

She laughs and he reaches across the table and captures her hand in his and raises it to his lips. He gently kisses her hand and looks into her eyes. They are both breathless and Castle may have pulled her across the table to him except the waiter chose that moment to appear.

"Hello, I'm Dan. Would you like to hear our lunch specials?"

Castle releases Kate's hand and turns to look at the waiter. "Dan, I would love to hear your lunch specials. But first I think we need a bottle of your best wine."

About an hour later, Kate and Castle are wandering around the neighborhood hand-in-hand. The unspoken agreement for the afternoon is to go back to his loft and boink like bunny rabbits, but now that the opportunity is upon them, both of them seem awkward about suggesting it.

"So, there's that naked people exhibit at MoMA," Castle says, stressing the word naked.

"Naked people?"

"Well, it's actually an exhibit showcasing the career of an artist, Marina Something-or-other, and nude models just happen to be a part of it. I read about it yesterday's paper."

"Uh huh. You stopped reading after the words 'naked models.'"

"Hey, it's MoMA. Naked models and weird art complement each other. What do you think?"

"I think," Kate says, tipping her head up and looking at the darkening skies, "that it's going to rain."

"It's not supposed to—" he says as a rain drop hits him in the nose. Soon there are many rain drops hitting him on the nose and there's a rumble of thunder as the rain pours down. Kate squeals as the sudden cold rain pelts her bare shoulders and they run for the nearest shop awning. They huddle under it along with a few other people waiting out the sudden downpour. Just a minute in the rain had wet her hair and drenched her sun dress. Kate is shivering. Castle briskly rubs her shoulders and arms with his warm hands. His shirt is wet and stuck to his chest but he doesn't seem cold.

"Come here," he says and pulls her into his arms.

"But you're wet too."

"Body heat," Castle replies. He meant it innocently enough but with her pressed so close to him, he can feel her flesh against his and when her nipples contract and harden against his chest it's as if they aren't wearing clothes at all. Oblivious to the people around them, he kisses her. She opens her mouth to taste his tongue with hers and her hands slide under his shirt to caress his muscled back. Castle bites her bottom lip, his hands cupping her bottom. She makes a small sound and moves her hips against him, enjoying the feeling of his hardness pressing against her. He squeezes her bottom again and groans when her right hand stealthily slides between them to feel the shape of his erection through the denim. Castle grabs her wrist and pulls his mouth from hers.

"Kate," he says, his mouth inches from her ear, "let's go back to my loft."

"No," she says, her one free hand under his shirt and stroking his chest. "My apartment is only five blocks away." Five blocks right now seems like miles when he wants her this badly, but her place is closer. And, more importantly, they can be alone.

"Okay. Let's get a cab." It's still raining, but not with the same fierceness of earlier. Kate looks at the shop whose awning sheltered them.

"Rick, look," she says and pulls on his hand. Castle glances at her, then at the name of the store displayed in hot pink neon lights: The Pleasure Chest. Dildos and whips are on display in the front window.

"Do we need anything?" he asks Kate, half seriously.

"Rick, you have the only toy I want to play with right now," she says and lightly brushes her hand against the hardness in his jeans.

"You just wait," Castle growls in her ear as a cab pulls up.

"Oh, promises, promises," she says, sliding into the back seat next to him and then gasps when his hand slides under her wet dress and presses hard between her thighs. His eyes are burning into hers and she can't concentrate on anything except his fingers stroking her silk panties and the tiny spasms of pleasure shooting through her. Somewhere, from about a million miles away, she hears Castle say, "Driver, please hurry."

Yes, hurrying would be good right now….Kate's last coherent thought as Castle's fingers manage to ease under the thin strip of fabric and gently probe the hot wetness of her. Kate stifles a moan by biting her hand, but she can't help squirming in her seat. They are both breathing heavily and very soon now she's not going to be able to control herself. Castle leans over and whispers in her ear, "In five minutes that's where my tongue is going to be." Kate can't look at him; if she even thinks about what he just said she's going to come and she tends to have very noisy orgasms.

Just as Kate grabs Castle's arm to stop the activity of his clever fingers, the cab pulls up to her building. Castle hands the driver much more money than he is owed and helps Kate out of the car. Her legs are unsteady. In the elevator, Rick pulls her back against him, his lips on the nape of her neck, his hands cupping her breasts through the wet dress, his thumbs brushing against her nipples. His erection is pressing into the curve of her back and she reaches blindly behind her to touch any part of his body she can. When the elevator doors open onto her floor they stumble into the hallway and try to continue caressing each other as they walk to her door.

She pulls her keys from her purse but before she can get the door open, Castle turns her to face him and kisses her roughly, his body slamming hers back against the door. His hands are under her dress holding her hips as she rubs against him. When his finger slides up into her, she cries out and her knees buckle. She pulls away from his kiss.

"Rick, please." The aching need in her voice is making him crazy.

Castle keeps her pinned against him as he reaches around her to open the door. His mouth is nipping at her throat and he hears her gasping in his ear. He kicks the door closed behind them and reaches for the zipper on her dress.

"No. Bedroom." Kate breathes into his ear and they stumble together towards her bedroom, Kate leading him by pushing and pulling on his shirt. Neither of them wants to let go of the other so it's a slow walk across the length of her apartment with several long pauses filled with gasps and moans and heavy breathing.

When they finally reach her bedroom, Kate pulls away from Castle. The rain is pelting against the windows and the room is dark.

"Turn on the light," Castle says. His voice is husky. "I want to see you."

She turns on the small lamp beside her bed and turns to face him as she reaches for the zipper on the back of her dress. Kate lets the dress slide down her body and pool around her feet. Her heart is pounding and suddenly she feels shy, standing nearly nude in front of Rick. Castle. The same man who squirts canned whipped cream into his mouth; a man who girly screams at crime scenes; a man who is looking at her now with desire and love and passion in his eyes. A look she knows is mirrored in her own eyes.

Castle soaks in the sight of Kate's body. She's so perfect. Her breasts are lovely and yes, they do fit perfectly in his hand. He kisses her collarbone then goes lower, his mouth tasting her nipples, gently nipping and sucking them. Kate moans and buries her hands in his hair. He strokes the silken skin of her flat belly and gently nudges her until she feels the bed behind her and allows herself to fall backwards. He trails kisses to the edge of her panties and pulls them over her hips and down her thighs until she kicks them to the floor, her heels flying off too. Kneeling before her, Castle pulls her towards him until she is on the edge of the mattress and her legs are resting on his shoulders. Kate unconsciously holds her breath as she feels his warm breath tickling her, then gasps in unexpected pain as his teeth sink into the soft flesh of her inner thigh. She tries to pull away, but his strong hands hold her down. Castle bites harder, feels her squirming and releases her. The area he bit throbs with pain but a second later she feels nothing but jolts of pleasure as his mouth settles firmly between her legs, sucking and licking. Her hips move against the pressure of his mouth and she moans, her hands gripping his head. When he slides two fingers into her and applies pressure from inside, the waves of pleasure peak and Kate screams, her orgasm flooding through her body again and again as Castle holds onto her bucking hips and doesn't stop until Kate calls out his name and begs him to quit. He kisses the inside of her thighs and lowers her legs off from his shoulders. Kate's whole body is trembling with aftershocks and her muscles have turned to butter, but she manages to pull herself up onto the bed. Castle collapses onto the bed next to her. For a few moments the only sound is their breathing.

"That was…amazing."

"Oh, I'm just getting started," he says. He reaches out a hand and strokes her hip. "Soon I'll have you begging for more."

"Don't get so cocky." Kate will never admit it, but he's probably right. He has the mouth and fingers of a skilled artisan.

"Speaking of cock…" he takes her hand and presses it to the fly of his jeans. "Do you think you can help me with this situation?"

"Wow." It's as if he has an iron bar in there. She sits up and gives the matter her full attention. Castle groans as her hand caresses him through the denim.

"Stand at the foot of the bed," she commands him. He does and Kate kneels on the bed in front of him. She kisses him, tasting herself on him, taking his tongue into her mouth. She pulls away and unbuttons his shirt, her hazel gaze meeting his dark blue one. She pulls his shirt off and kisses his shoulders, his neck, his chest. Kate's lips pause at his nipples and she bites first one, then the other. Castle sucks in his breath at the unexpected pleasure. She smiles and moves lower, tasting his salty, slightly sweaty flesh. When she reaches his belt, she changes position, moving forward to sit on the edge of the bed, her legs wrapped around his. With the button unsnapped, Kate carefully eases the zipper over his erection. She pushes his jeans down and he steps out of them, pulling off his shoes and socks. Now he's standing in front of her clad only in his boxers. Kate is eager to unwrap her present, but she first takes a moment to touch him through the dark blue silk. Again, wow. She'll never laugh at him for mentioning silk boxers again.

"Kate," Castle growls at her. She gives him a devilish look and pulls his boxes down over his thighs.

"Oh, my," she says. Castle stands before her in all his glory and how glorious he is. No wonder he brags. She wraps her hand around him, delighting in the velvety feeling of his skin over the rigid hardness. Her other hand cups his scrotum and she alternately strokes and gently squeezes and Castle breathes heavily and moans her name.

Suddenly she leans forward and takes him into her mouth as far as she can. She leans back a bit and concentrates on his head, running her tongue around and around and then licking up his shaft. Castle sounds like a volcano ready to blow its top and his hands are buried in her hair. Kate takes him deep into her mouth again and lightly uses her teeth, progressively increasing the pressure until Castle gasps, "Fuck, Kate. Apples. Apples!"

Kate laughs breathlessly—as much as she can with a mouth full of Castle—and stops. He pulls away from her despite her sounds of displeasure and leans down to whisper in her ear.

"Lie down."

She scoots back on the bed. He stretches out next to her and kisses her, his hands stroking her breasts and the curve of her hips. He's pressed against her stomach and she reaches between them to touch him as his hand slips between her legs. She moans and arches against his hand. Castle can't wait any longer and pulls away from her.

"Kate, my wallet, I need—"

"Wait," she says and without looking reaches behind her into the night stand drawer and pulls out a condom.

"Do you want me to?"

"No…your hands on me again would not be a good idea." He takes the condom from her, rips open the foil and rolls it on. He gently pushes her down onto the pillows and kisses her quickly, his mouth moving from her neck to her breasts, her stomach. He spreads her legs and cups her bottom, lifting her to him. His tongue and lips are magical and Kate moves against him, feeling herself once again on the brink.

"Rick. Rick. Please. I want you in me. Now."

A moment later his body is positioned over hers and he's looking into her eyes.

"I love you, Kate." Her hips lift to meet his thrust and they both gasp as he fills her. Her hands slide down his back and grip his buttocks, feeling his muscles flex with each thrust. She spreads her legs wider and raises her hips to meet him again and again. He kisses her, his tongue matching his body's movements.

"Kate, damn, you feel so good." His mouth moves to her breasts and she moans. Kate is beyond speech, her nails digging into his ass, urging him to be rougher with her and he responds, biting her nipple as he plunges into her again. Kate cries out, wrapping her legs tightly around his waist and shaking as she comes in a powerful series of tremors. For a long moment Kate is unconscious to any other sensation except the pleasure her body is experiencing. Eventually she returns to earth and takes a deep breath and realizes Castle is looking down at her, smiling. She can feel the tip of him just inside of her.

"Ready for another one?" he asks and in one powerful thrust is deep inside her again.

Kate gasps. He pulls her legs up over his shoulders and leans over her. His face is very close to her and they stare into each other's eyes as he pushes into her again and again.

"Oh, no." Kate reaches behind her and grabs the bed's headboard, arching her upper body and screaming as a second, more powerful orgasm storms through her. This time Castle can't hold out and he moves faster, excited by seeing Kate's face as she came. Soon he groans and calls out her name as he comes, his strong body shuddering and Kate watches him just as he watched her. He doesn't move for a long while, breathing heavily, then he pulls away from her and she lowers her legs. He throws the condom on the floor and pulls Kate against him, spooning her. They rest quietly, letting their breathing and pounding hearts return to normal. Finally, Kate laughs quietly.

"That was definitely worth waiting for. But…." She lets her voice trail off.

"But?" Castle says, thinking that she had a very sexy butt.

"Why'd you wait so long? We could have been enjoying phenomenal sex like that years ago."

"Why'd I wait so long? Good god Kate I wanted to sleep with you after our first case together. You've been the hold-up here, not me." Before Castle finishes his sentence he knows he is being teased. Kate's laughing into her pillow. He reaches down and pinches her ass. She turns her body to face him.

"You do that again and I'm going to get turned on," she warns him. "So I hope you're fully recovered and rarin' to go." She bites his ear. Castle rolls her back onto her side so they are spooning again.

"Give me a few minutes and I'll have you screaming out my name," he promises her. He pulls a blanket up around them and settles her back against him, holding her tightly. He's so happy to be holding her he doesn't think he'll ever let her go again.

"Kate?"

"Uh huh?" She's getting sleepy. The rain is still pounding on the windows and she's wallowing in that orgasmic afterglow that makes her feel as if her bones have turned into jell-o.

"I love you."

"Always?"

"Always."

Kate smiles and thinks she'll have to call Maddie and tell her that being in love isn't such a horrible thing after all.

"I love you." Silence.

"Rick?" A gentle snore answers her. Kate quietly laughs and turns her head slightly to kiss his shoulder. A few minutes later, they are both asleep. And for the first time ever, everything is as it should be in the Castleverse.

A/N The end! I hope everyone enjoyed reading my little story as much as I enjoyed writing it. If anyone has specific feedback regarding my sex scenes, that would be helpful since this is the first time I've written any. I tried to make them (reasonably) realistic without getting too technical with details. I have a few more Castle story ideas floating around in my head and I'll start working on another one soon.

The MoMA exhibit mentioned by Castle was a real exhibit. I wasn't in NYC to see it, but I heard it was veeeery interesting. Also, The Pleasure Chest is a real sex store (with an awning!); it's in the West Village. I saw it on my Sex and the City tour-it's a very, very naughty place. I'm no innocent, but I walked around the store saying to my husband: "What the heck do you do with this?"

Again, thanks for reading and thank you for your reviews. This was fun!