The bathroom lights shimmered in the mirror's reflection, as Kate Beckett gave herself a final once over, sweeping her hands down the bodice of the tight black satin hugging her hips. She looked damn good.
Slipping on a pair of black peep toe stilettos, she wandered slowly into her kitchen, plucking the wine glass she had been nursing, from the countertop and dropping her clutch on the counter in its place. The wine was amazing, some random expensive bottle Castle had left on her living room table at some point the week before, and Kate realized with a grin that she could get used to being spoiled by Rick Castle, for the wine alone.
When the knock to her front door came, at precisely 7 pm, she grinned. Checking the peephole, she confirmed that it was in fact her date, and flushed with anticipation at the evening ahead. She wasn't the only one who looked good.
Beckett opened the door slowly, watching with delight as the slack jawed expression crossed over her visitor's face, and she offered a shy smile.
"Hey, Castle."
"Wow. Beckett, you look…Wow."
"Thanks, Castle," she blushed, stepping to the side to allow him inside. She closed and locked the door out of habit and followed him towards her dimly lit kitchen. A bouquet of orange roses dangled from his fingertips, and Kate grinned as she approached. "Are those for me?"
Castle looked back sheepishly, before handing her the full blooms. "Sorry. Yeah."
"They're gorgeous, Rick. Thank you."
She moved around her kitchen as he watched, pulling out a vase and filling it with water before setting the still wrapped bundle inside.
"Does this feel weird to you?"
"A little," Beckett shrugged, tucking her hair behind her ear self consciously. "It shouldn't be though. We've gone out for dinner together dozens of times."
"We've already seen each other naked," Castle smirked. "You'd think that would make the first date a little less awkward."
"Why are we putting so much pressure on ourselves then? So, we got dressed up and we're going out, why does it have to be any different than any other time?" Beckett reasoned, wrapping her arms around Rick's waist and stepping in close.
"It's absolutely going to be different than any other time, Beckett," he scoffed, incredulous. "You're going to look at me over the menu and bite your lip and know exactly what you're doing to me all night."
Kate chuckled slightly and dropped her forehead to his shoulder, already feeling the arousal simmering through her body, but he continued to caress her with his silken voice. "I'm going to reach for your hand across the table this time, tracing my name on the palm of your hand with my fingertips, before I gently bring your hand to my lips."
He slid a finger under her chin, tilting her face up to meet his, before grazing her gently parted lips with his own. Barely a kiss. "You're going to slide your foot against my ankle, and the way you lick the chocolate tarte from your spoon is going to make me squirm in my seat. I'm going to want to get the check and take you home before I embarrass us both, Kate."
Beckett moaned softly in his arms, moving in for a deeper kiss, but Castle wasn't ready to end his seduction, and he held her face between his palms, caressing her lips with the pad of his thumb. "Tonight, we get to do the things we've imagined all those other dinners we've had together, when we've gone home alone afterwards. Tonight, when we're finished dinner, we're going to get in the back of a Town Car, where the driver I have paid very well to be discrete will drive us home together, while I slide my hand up your dress. Then, when we get back here, to your apartment, I'm going to take my time getting you out of this sinful dress, and we'll spend the rest of the night taking each other apart."
"Oh God, if you don't kiss me now, I'm going to hit you." He smirked once again and pulled her in for a deep, passionate kiss. Kate moaned again, backing herself into the kitchen island before slipping a leg around his waist and leveraging herself up his body, panting wildly. "What time is our reservation?"
"Not until 9," Rick gasped into her kiss. "I had a feeling we were going to need extra time getting out the door."
"Don't mess up my hair."
He pulled back and leered, settling Kate atop the edge of the countertop behind her while he slid the tight hem of her dress up around her waist. She made quick work of his belt, undoing his slacks and slipping her hand inside while her stilettos worked the pants down her partner's legs. Rick groaned, batting her hand away before dropping to his knees and draping her legs over his shoulders. His eyes darkened, meeting hers and she shuddered. He dove in, and she moaned, tossing her head back as his mouth worked its magic over her, taking her over the edge with a ragged shout. Kate panted, leaning back on her elbows as Castle rose to his feet, his hands caressing her thighs as he wrapped them around his waist. He slid inside her with a grunt, and she rose, wrapping her arms around his neck as he moved. Their moans reverberated across the planes of her kitchen, and Kate took Rick's earlobe between her teeth. He wrenched his head back, stealing her lips in a searing kiss as he let go, his stuttering rhythm dragging her over, once again, along with him.
"Oh my God," Beckett gasped, breathlessly, dropping her forehead against Castle's shoulder. "Oh God." He hummed his agreement into her hair, and they stood wrapped around each other for a moment longer, as their breathing evened out and the sweat cooled on their skin. "What time is it?" she finally asked, sated and sleepy.
"We've got to get cleaned up and fixed up, and then we should get going if we're going to make the reservation." He pulled back gently, kissing her forehead, before helping her slide off the counter. Clothing was adjusted and replaced, and Beckett wandered over to her full-length mirror to determine the damage control required.
"I'm impressed Castle. A little wrinkled but nothing that screams fucked in the kitchen."
"What can I say," he grinned, his reflection approaching her from behind. "I am a man of many talents. You on the other hand, have definitely done a number on me."
Kate wrinkled her nose apologetically before turning in his arms to help put his finger tousled hair back into place.
"I'd say I was sorry, but I'd be lying."
"If you wanted me to wear something that says, 'Property of Kate Beckett' on it, all you had to do was ask."
Beckett narrowed her eyes at him and shoved him away playfully. "I don't need to mark my territory. You do a fine job of marking it all by yourself, Mr. Love Eyeballs."
"You love it. Now, are we declared presentable enough to be seen in public? I've actually been looking forward to this date for a while now. And not just because I was going to get you to put out."
"What?" Kate laughed, slapping his shoulder gently. "Who says I put out on the first date?"
"The ass prints on your counter, mostly."
"Oh, wow, is that a headache I feel coming on?"
"None of that, detective. Your honor will not be besmirched by our naked activities later, or earlier for that matter. We've been dating for years; this is just a formality really."
She wrinkled her nose again. "That's just wrong. It's sweet, and weird and just seriously wrong."
Castle shrugged dismissively and offered her the clutch, gesturing to her front door. "I'm just saying, we know each other better than anyone else after 4 years, getting to know the outside is just the icing on the cake. And I do thoroughly enjoy getting to know your outside."
"Just the outside?" Beckett pulled her lip between her teeth seductively as she locked her front door.
"You're a tease."
"It's not teasing if I fully intend to follow through."
"God, I love you."
She laughed brightly, sliding an arm around Castle's waist as he slid his around her slender shoulder. "I guess it's probably a good thing I love you too."
"Now, let me take you out, romance you, and take you home to bed later."
"Okay, Castle. Romance me."
He grinned in appreciation as they approached the towncar parked outside her building. The driver gave them both a nod, before opening the door and allowing Kate and Rick to slip inside. "You really do look so astoundingly beautiful tonight, Kate."
She blushed and leaned across the seat to kiss him gently. "You look fantastic too, Rick. I'm so glad you're mine."
Their eyes stayed locked as he brought her hand to his lips.
"Always."
