A/n. Thank you for reading and supporting. The imagination has been in a lull for a few days, but here is the next chapter of my story. Thanks PoT and Trinx. You rock.

Disclaimer. All yours Mr Marlowe. just borrowing for a little while.

Red
Chapter 6

The drive back home was uneventful.

Even though they were yet to utter a single word the mutual silence wasn't awkward. They were past that.

Tonight's encounter seemed to have cleared the air, it was easier to breathe. The stiffness, the cold had stopped choking the life out of them both. It felt liberating.

The car glided smoothly into Castle's underground parking lot and took its usual place between two heavy killed the engine. They sat there for a moment, the sounds of the busy city silenced by the heavy walls of the building.

The couple opened the doors of the Ferrari in sync and stepped out. The slam of the doors reverberated across the space and soon the twin echo of their steps could be heard as they made their way towards the elevator.

Castle called for the lift and they stood there waiting while it arrived. The silence enclosing them was not uncomfortable. The knowledge that they were finally moving forward in their intricate relationship gave them courage and a peace of mind that all would be settled tonight. No more hiding, no more lies, no more evasion. Just a steady pace forward.

The elevator doors opened with a loud ding and the duo stepped inside. They stood close. Shoulders brushing, fingers coming closer sending electric sparks all over their bodies. The air was charged, but not with anger, fear or hurt, but rather the anticipation of finding a resolution, a mutual agreement, clearing all that was left to be said.

The lift stopped on Castle's floor, the doors slid open and they stepped out.

Kate led the way and Castle assumed his usual position behind her, but this time he was closer, a lot closer. His hand had taken its usual spot on her lower back, but his body needed only a little bit more to be fully pressed into her back and side. They could feel the heat spreading between them, even through the many layers of clothing acting as a barrier between them. He was so close he could smell the intoxicating scent of cherries whirling around from her hair. She could feel his breath swooshing and whispering against the skin of her cheek.

The spark that had always been between the two had grown many-a-fold since the heated talk they had had this evening.

Castle and Beckett reached the front door of his loft. The mahogany coloured door loomed in front of them. They both knew that when that door opened, a lot more would be revealed, things discussed and then the finale or maybe the beginning of a new era would come.

Rick fished out his home keys, slid them into the lock and with a flick of his wrist unlocked the door.

They stepped inside without hesitation.

Being the gentleman he helped her out of her coat and took off his own. He neatly put them in the hallway closet. Meanwhile Kate slid off her high heels feeling the need to let go of her hard-ass persona and just be the woman. Even though she lost a few inches of her height by doing that, she didn't feel like she had given away her resolve to finish what they had started tonight. She glanced over her shoulder where Rick was untying his shoelaces. Her eyes met his and they exchanged a gentle smile at the easy, domestic bliss they'd found themselves in.

The house was quiet. Alexis and Martha had long since gone to bed. The lights were dimmed, the gentle hum of the fridge was the only sound disturbing the nighttime silence.

Castle stood up, took a few deliberate, determined steps towards the woman that had imprinted in his heart so deeply.

He placed his fingertips on her upper arm and slid them down leaving a trail of heat on her sensitive skin. His fingers finding their destination laced together with hers.

He tugged her closer. She smoothly glided over to him, pulled by an invisible force that radiated from him.

Their chests gently connected.

Castle lifted his other arm and delicately traced the line of her jaw.

The air rushed out of their lungs in unison at the gentle touch. They gazed at each other with openness, so relieved that they did not have to hide their emotions any more.

Castle spun around and never letting go of Beckett's hand purposefully strode towards his office. He tugged her inside, shut the door behind him and flicked the lock closed. The do not disturb sign was up.

The culmination is coming …

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