Chapter Four

Looking at Kate, the song "Hungry Eyes" started to play in his head. Any questions Rick had about how she really felt about him and what last night meant to her were gone. He didn't want to attack Kate but he wanted her so much, he was aching with need. Rick was wide awake now, every part of him. With a grin, he took his hand off the knot in the towel around his waist, thinking that two can play this game.

Rick took three quick steps back to her, right to the bottom of the bed. He sent her a smoldering look but then bent over to retrieve her still damp pants, shirt, socks and bra. "While you shower, I'll just throw these in the laundry now, so you'll have something clean to wear later." He turned to leave and hearing her huff of frustration, his grin became an ear to ear smile. Rick heard Kate move behind him, he expected to be attacked from the rear and braced for it but she never touched him.

"Hey Stud, you forgot something!"

Trying to be nonchalant, he turned back. "Really?" His mouth went dry; Kate was kneeling in his bed gloriously naked. Dangling from her index finger was a pair of black lace panties. He swallowed and fixed his eyes on the garment, not on her. "Oh, Sorry." He wanted to sound casual but he couldn't quite pull that off. Holding out a hand, he silently asked her to hand them over, not sure he could form more words. He was stunned when Kate coyly shook her head no.

"You want 'em, you come and get them."

Rick dropped the clothes he had been holding and his towel. "No problem!" Rick was worried about all her bruises but at least they both would land on his super soft mattress. With a lunge, he tackled her as gently as possible. After a brief struggle, he grabbed the panties and threw them towards the end of the bed. "I win, now what do I get?"

"Me."

"Been there, done that." He pretended to yawn and started to move off the bed. He expected that she would use some of her kick boxing moves and flip him but as usual Kate did the unexpected, she bit him. Rick felt her teeth connect with his neck on the pulse point, it felt like electricity entering his body and the current went straight to his groin. She nibbled on him for a moment then soothed the spot with her tongue and gently blew air on it.

"Last night was all about me, Rick. You were so gentle…..it was so different...I felt wonderful." Kate gave up and just kissed him. Rick licked her lips asking wordlessly to taste her. He traced her lips, tasted her tongue and the roof of his mouth. He could taste a hint of cherry from her lip gloss but mostly she tasted like Kate, the woman he loved. Rick reluctantly ended the kiss, he was on top of her and he was too heavy but she would not let him roll them over. Kate wrapped her legs around him, wordlessly asked him to fill her. He moved to position himself and saw more bruises on her hips and abdomen, so he entered her slowly, watching to see if he was hurting her. Kate eyes closed but there was a sweet smile was on her lips. She moved her hips urging him deeper. He lifted her hips and felt himself fill her completely. He closed his eyes and held them still, wanting to burn this moment into his mind. It felt so good, Kate was so tight…and hot …and so wet. He heard a whimper from Kate. Rick opened his eyes quickly and saw Kate still smiling with her eyes closed but she was biting her bottom lips and whimpering in frustration. Rick leaned over to lick and kiss that poor abused lip of hers. He pulled almost all the way out of her and filled her again. Rick felt Kate buck her hips up to meet him.

He repeated the move many times until he heard her hiss "yes" over and over. The sound made Rick fill her faster and Kate hips rose to meet him, her hands reached for his waist and tried to pull him into her deeper and deeper. "Now, please!" Rick knew they were both very close. He reached down between them and caressed her core. Kate screamed his name with her release. That sound and the feel of her body tightening all around him triggered his own release. He filled her again and again; Rick had never come so hard or so long in his life. The strength in his arms held his weight off her but now he was so tired. Rick crashed onto the mattress on his side, pulling Kate to him as he tried not to pant. "That was …."

"Amazing." Kate's breathing quickly returned to normal but she stayed resting in his arms, enjoying his touch until she heard his stomach growl. "Someone is hungry."

Wiggling his eyebrows at her, he looked at her with a evil gleam in his eyes. "I could eat...something."

Rolling her eyes, Kate pushed him away. "Coffee now, writer man...me later." She laughed at his little boy pout but he got up and then helped her out of bed.

"Shower is all yours, towels are in the cabinet. Do you want me to borrow something for you to wear from Alexis?" He walked her to the bathroom door.

"Can I borrow a clean shirt from you?"

Nodding, he turned to open a large walk in closet door. "Borrow anything you'd like. Pancakes, Eggs or French Toast?"

Kate gave him a quick kiss and a provocative look, "Surprise me." Smiling, she sauntered into the bathroom and closed the door.

Rick was left staring at the closed door, shaking his head. "Oh yeah, I'm a dead man but what a way to go."

He walked over to gather Kate's clothes again. Rick was going to put back on the towel but pulled on a clean pair of boxers instead.

Walking through his study he glanced at the clock. He was stunned to see it was almost noon. His daughter would be home any minute from her High School Graduation allnighter. The instant that thought popped in his head, the phone on his desk rang.

"Castle!"

"Hey, Dad!"

"Alexis, how is my beautiful graduate this wonderful day."

"Are you drunk?"

"NO! I am just happy. Did you have a fun at your party?"

"Yeah, it was great but I'm exhausted. I wish I could just come home and crash."

"Why can't you?"

"Have you looked out the window, Dad? It's been raining since just after my graduation exercises yesterday. The streets look like rivers and some of the subway stations are flooded."

"Do you want me to come get you, sweetie?"

"No, I'm good."

"If you change your mind, call me."

"I was just calling so you wouldn't worry. I'll be home as soon as I can, love you, Dad."

"Love you too, Pumpkin." Rick hung up and smiled at the picture of a much younger Alexis sitting on his desk. Whistling, he almost danced through the living room. Snapping on the coffeemaker, he walked on to the laundry room.