Chapter 8

It was one of those post storm days. The snow in the streets was ugly gray slush and what had melted on the sidewalks had refrozen into treacherous patches. None of this deterred New Yorkers from anything and the street noise was considerable, even at six A.M.. Rick groaned. The night had been too short. "Tired?" Kate asked.

"Mmm," Rick answered.

Kate stroked his hair and gave him a quick kiss. "You stay for a few minutes. I'll bring you a coffee." She climbed out of bed, pulling on her purple sleep shirt, and he caught and briefly grasped her hand as she went. Kate came back a little while later with two cups and handed one to Rick. On top was a lopsided something that looked a little bit like a branch or a leaf if Rick squinted really hard. Kate smiled hesitantly. "I'm trying to learn," she explained.

Rick smiled. "I love it!" he told her. "But," he said, setting the cup aside, "maybe I could give you some instruction on the finer points of creating Christmas cheer."

Kate put her cup down as well, using her finger to draw a pattern on his bare chest. "Maybe you could at that."

"First," Rick explained, pulling her sleep shirt from her shoulder, "you have to know where you are going." Rick nibbled at the bare skin before pulling the shirt over her head. "Then you need to figure out how to get there." Rick trailed his tongue across her collarbone. He lightly circled each nipple before kissing them to full attention and continued his way downward. His lips found their way between her breasts, paying special homage to the scar, and continued the path toward her navel. Kate gasped as the tip his tongue dipped into the gentle indentation before continuing on its way, finally reaching the focus of her sensation.

Kate thrust both her hands through his hair as she pressed upward to meet his seeking mouth. She closed her eyes to shut out everything but the damp warmth bringing her closer and closer to completion, but the need extended more deeply. "Rick, please..." she breathed.

Rick caught his breath. "Please what?"

"I need you inside, now!"

Rick pulled her against him hard, but she was open and ready. It was a perfect joining. They moved together, oblivious of everything but the sensual dance. The more they gave each other, the more they sought until the seemingly endless shock waves shook their bodies and they grasped each other through the onslaught.

The coffees were stone cold and when they finished showering and dressing, Castle made new ones: dark, rich, and flavored with energizing spice to get them out the door.

Beckett and Castle walked into the 12th to be greeted by breaking news. Someone had tried to take out Paul Brown, but had been caught by the protective squad assigned by Beckett. The uniforms were bringing him in.

Kirby Brockman, the man sitting across from Beckett and Castle in the box, was the giant they had met at the Jones mansion, minus the German shepherd. Even sitting down and cuffed to the table, at six foot seven and almost three hundred pounds, he looked formidable. His head was shaved and the gold hoops in both ears did not make him look the least bit feminine. Beckett didn't care.

"Mr. Brockman," she asked, "why were you trying to kill Paul Brown?"

Brockman stared silently at Beckett.

"Mr. Brockman, you don't have to say anything. You were caught in the act. We not only have the testimony of two police officers, we have it on video. The only way you can help yourself is to talk to us. If someone sent you. If someone asked you to do this. Give us your testimony and I can put the D.A. In the mood for a deal."

Brockman looked a little less sure, but continued staring. "I want a lawyer."

"Fine," Beckett told him. "I'll see you in about twenty years - if you're lucky." Beckett walked out of the room with Castle following.

"Espo!" Beckett called. "What do we have on this guy?"

Espo came to Beckett's desk with a file. His employer of record is LocIt, which is owned primarily by Sky High, J.B. Jones' equity company. He has a sealed juvi record, several arrests for assault, but the charges were dropped. Financials are on the way. He was driving a black SUV, a Jeep Grand Cherokee when he was picked up. Ryan is checking traffic video now to see if we can find his car the night of the murder. There was no luck with Jones' Range Rover.

Beckett and Castle sat and stared at the murder board. "Brockman could have done it, but if he did, Jones is behind it. We need Jones." Beckett said.

'When you know more about Brockman, you can break him. You're good at that," Castle told her. "I have some things to take care of. See you later?"

"See you later," Beckett agreed, too distracted by the case to ask Castle what he was up to.

Castle returned to the loft and spent some time leaning over his laptop smiling. He made a call to his accountant and another call to his business manager. Inspired, he finished the chapter of the latest Nikki Heat he had been working on and started dinner. He was determined to sneak the last of the turkey past Beckett so he ground it up with some beef, pork, and sausage and turned it into spicy chili. He added sweet corn cake, fresh tomatoes and avocado, and dark chocolate straws with strawberry filling for dessert. He was pretty sure he would win her over. While the chili was simmering, Castle made more progress on turning the loft into the wonderland he loved for Christmas.

Over dinner, Beckett announced that Ryan had video evidence both that Brockman was in the city the night of the murder and that he was in the vicinity of Leto labs. Brockman was silently awaiting a visit from his lawyer, who had yet to make an appearance. Esposito had checked on Brockman a couple of times and thought the man was getting nervous.

"That's good, isn't it?" Castle asked.

"It should be," Beckett answered. "We'll have to see what happens. I hope Jones doesn't make a run for it in the meantime. We don't have enough to charge him and we can't put anyone on him in Cherry Hill, New Jersey."

"How do you like the chili?" Castle asked.

"It's good," Beckett answered, "a little different." She caught the impish grin on his face. "Castle did you put turkey in this?"

"Whaaat?" Castle asked. "Would I do that?" Trying to feign innocence, Castle failed utterly. Beckett lunged for him as he jumped up running to the refrigerator.

As Beckett caught up with him, he stuck a chocolate straw in her mouth. As the chocolate melted sensuously on her tongue, she sucked the sweet red filling. "Oh Castle," she purred, "these are heaven."

Castle used the dessert container to lead Beckett to the couch, where he settled her with it while he cleaned up. Finishing quickly, he returned to Kate, who was lying against the pillows slowly savoring the perfect mix of chocolate and strawberry. "Let me taste," Rick murmured, licking a tiny dot of red from her lower lip.

"Here." Kate took a straw and stuck it between his lips, halfway into his mouth. She bit into it, lips touching his. "We can share."

Rick took another of the treats, placed it between her lips and took his share. As their mouths touched, he drew her to him, tongues tasting the enticing darkness. Dinner forgotten, they feasted on each other until Rick finally swept Kate into his arms, taking her to the bedroom to finish the meal.