*A/N: This chapter straddles the line between T and M, but I don't think I crossed it, so I'm just saying this chapter's a very strong T.

Knowing You

a "The Time Of Our Lives" story

6. Loving You (part 2)

Her hands were everywhere, gripping and tugging at his shirt. He moaned, his entire body shuddering with the euphoric burst of pleasure as her hot mouth sucked along the slope of his neck. Her teeth grazed against his skin, and she moved back up, nipping at his jawline. Castle moved his hands up and cupped her face in his palms, tilting her head up to meet him. He found her mouth easily, and attacked, kissing her with an unrestrained passion and intent. She whimpered, her warm body melting into his embrace as he dipped his head to get a better angle, drinking in the sweet fragrance that was Captain Kate Beckett.

Unfortunately, they had to pull apart to breathe. Castle rested his forehead against hers, panting hard as he tried to replenish his supply of oxygen. His lungs retracted and expanded with each hot breath he shared with the woman he had not known a little over four months ago. It was almost impossible to remember a time when he did not love her. It was like they were fated for one another.

"You doing okay?" Kate husked, her nimble fingers deftly working loose the buttons of his shirt.

Castle bobbed his head, huffing out an affirmation. He wasn't about to tell her that the surgical scar along his side was throbbing from all the blood pumping through his veins. He could deal with the discomfort. They had waited long enough. It was time for them to take their relationship to the next level. Besides, he had been medically cleared for such activities.

His chest heaved as he watched her go about her task. He stole another kiss, and then returned the favor, though a little more clumsily than her. She laughed lightly as he fumbled with the buttons of her shirt, but did not complain. She rewarded him with little light kiss, tender and sweet… loving. His heart thumped profoundly at that last revelation. What they were leading up to tonight was going to be so much more than sex. It felt different. Special. Tonight, when they finally connected in that most intimate of ways two people could, they would be making love.

Rolling her shoulders, Kate shrugged her shirt off. She pirouetted in place, and he ran his hands up and down her bare arms, dropping a kiss or two on her naked shoulders. Her skin was soft and gorgeous. She was gorgeous. With hands shaking from excited anticipation, Castle unclasped her bra and helped her slip out of it. She turned back around, free and unencumbered. He greedily raked his eyes over her, relishing the exposed skin now available for his viewing pleasure.

"Extraordinary," he whispered, tentatively reaching up to palm one breast, feeling the satisfying weight of it in his hand. He gently massaged the flesh, flicking his thumb to tease her as he bent down to claim her mouth in a kiss.

Kate moaned, arching up into his touch. She reciprocated his kiss with the same passion and intensity, encouraging his hands to roam and explore her exposed skin. Castle hugged her close, pressing his chest to hers as his fingers flew up into her hair, clumsily undoing the bun and letting the rich brown tresses flow free, cascading down her neck and shoulders. He skimmed a hand down her back, and palmed her ass, eliciting a surprised gasp from the highly professional precinct captain.

Castle pulled back a bit, peppering kisses along the column of her throat and across her gorgeous collarbones. He moved his hand down to her waist, clutching her hip to hold her steady as he moved further down, intent on worshipping her breasts with his mouth, when Kate gently nudged him back just as he began working on the belt buckle keeping him from what lay beneath her charcoal colored slacks.

"Whoa, easy there, Rick… not yet," she chided softly, leaning in to brush a reassuring kiss to his lips, a promise. "It's my turn now."

Kate parted his shirt open, shoving it over his shoulders and tugging it down his arm. She tossed it down, where it joined her blouse on the floor. Castle held his breath, feeling her cool hands spread out over his hot chest. His heart beat with a nervous tick, and he pursed his lips, a little self-conscious about his appearance. He hadn't been in the best of shape before he'd been shot, and the ordeal had taken a lot out of him. Recovery and physical therapy had been trying. He'd lost some weight, gained some muscle mass, but still several scars marred his skin, from both the bullets and the surgery that had saved his life.

She tilted her head up and melded her mouth with his, kissing him reassuringly as her hand flattened over the scar above his heart. He sighed, relaxing into her as she nipped at his lips, dipping her head down to press a series of reverent kisses across the array of bullet scars on his chest.

"There is nothing to be ashamed of, Rick," Kate asserted in a quiet voice, warm and tender, as if she'd read his mind. "These scars are beautiful. They're a testament to your will to live, to fight back against the odds and survive." She stepped back and gazed at him with adoration shining in her eyes. "I love you, Rick… scars and all." She paused, keeping one hand planted on his chest, while the other caressed his side, soothing the throbbing surgical scar there. "If our roles had been reversed, would you have found me less attractive because I had scars."

"No, never," he declared without any hesitation, his voice firm.

She pursed her lips and smiled up at him, a serene and beautiful smile. "Then stop worrying, you big goof," she joked, gently poking him in his side. He let out an unmanly squeak, but bobbed his head in obedience. She kissed him again, quick and direct. "Now… I think it's time I take you to bed, Mr. Castle."

"Please do, Captain Beckett," he grinned back.

Kate took his hand, her eyes darkening with carnal intent, and she cast him a smoldering look before she led him to her bedroom.

XXX

"You hungry?" she asked softly, sweeping a hand across his sweat-slicked chest. He didn't answer. He was still to busy trying to catch his breath. Kate furrowed her brow, her nose wrinkling adorably as she contemplated her own question. "We should probably order in."

"Huh?" he puffed, blinking his eyes as he tried to recover from the blissful euphoria he'd been swimming in after—what was it?—round three? "What… what did you say?" he managed to breathe out.

Kate shifted, pressing her deliciously nude body against his side as she rose up on an elbow, gazing down at him with a satisfied smirk on her lips. "Wow! Did I render Richard Castle speechless?"

He swallowed thickly, his body still thrumming from his recent release. Wetting his lips with his tongue, he arched his neck to return her gaze. "You're incredible," he murmured, managing to move his arm around her torso so he could skim his fingers up and down her bare back.

"Hmm," Kate let out an almost feline like purr, arching into his touch. "You're not so bad yourself, Castle." She leaned forward, one hand on his chest for support, and kissed him, slow and deliberately. He sighed in pleasure at the promise in that kiss. She smirked at him, and snuggled closer, dropping a kiss in the center of his heaving chest, before settling in and listening to the steady beat of his heart. She hummed in approval at what she heard. "It's strong."

Castle reached up to comb her hair back from her beautiful face, still flushed with their recent activities. "Because of you," he declared. "I… I honestly don't know if I would have survived recovery without you, Kate. You've been with me for every step of the way. Your drive and tenacity—and love—encouraged me to get better."

"And you did," she grinned, biting her lower lip as she buried her face into his chest. "A lot. Rick, that little move we did, it… damn… that should have been impossible with where you are in your recovery. When you said the doctor had cleared you, I can honestly say I hadn't expected us to get so—"

"Enthusiastic?" he supplied with a blissful grin.

Kate bobbed her head as she chewed on her lower lip. She gazed up at him and frowned. "I… I didn't hurt you, did I?" she asked, worriedly. "During round two I sort of got a little carried away. It… it's been so long. And the wait was… excruciating. I'm amazed we both didn't spontaneously combust with all the pent up desire."

"No, no… don't worry," Castle assured, squeezing his arms tighter around her, dropping his nose into her hair and breathing in her glorious scent. "I'm good. Better than good. I'm great."

"Good," she smiled, rising up to kiss him again. Sighing, she pulled away and snuggled back into him. "So… did you want to get something to eat?"

"You know," he answered slowly, drawling out his words. "I am a bit peckish, yes."

Summoning up all his strength, Castle flipped Kate over onto her back. The indomitable police captain erupted in a fit of surprised and delighted giggles. Her face was alight with love and joy… it was beautiful. He hovered above her, silencing her protests with a heated, lingering kiss. Pulling away from her chasing lips, Castle peppered hot wet kisses down her undulating body.

"Hmm. Yep," he huffed out, teasing her navel with a flick of his tongue as he reached out with his hands and gently nudged her legs apart. "I could definitely eat something."

Her head lolled back against the pillows and she sighed his name as he found his desired meal.