Disclaimer: The wording is mine but the characters aren't
OOOOOOOOO
After a few seconds she felt the arm she had cuddled against move from between them. Her eyes flickered open, thinking he was pulling away from her but he just looped it behind her.
He was inviting closer and she raised her head taking the offer happily and letting his arm support her head while she pillowed her head on his chest just below his shoulder.
His jacket material was surprisingly soft against her cheek.
"Sleep, Castle."
OOOOOOOOO
Someone was tickling him. High up on his chest someone was drawing circles on him. Maybe writing. He tried to make out any words but his brain wasn't awake enough yet. He was warm though, like he had a heat pad on him. He had taken to using one that winter since his bed had been empty for so long. He was pretty sure Alexis had persuaded him to put that back in storage last week. Bad daughter. Just because she couldn't handle the heat. Give him as many blankets as you want, as long as he could still breathe.
He snuggled a little further into the warmth and got ready to go back to sleep. He was certain that if he drifted off now he would have rest. He couldn't remember the last time waking up happy. He was so comfortable he wasn't even sure why he was awake. That decided it, he should be asleep. But the tickling wouldn't stop. He absently tried to brush at the source but his hand was already there and heavy. Maybe he was typing on himself again. He had been told he had a tendency to type in his sleep. Meredith had said it was playing the piano though because that was more artistic. He made as much of a conscious decision as he was able to stop, but it continued.
He brushed at the source again and he hit something warm and hard under the covers.
He frowned.
"Castle."
He knew that voice. That smell too.
Apparently this is one his better day-dreams. He rolled over to get closer to the heat and her scent. Hopefully he would be able to throw off whatever had woken him up too.
"Castle." She sounded happy even with the rough edge of morning.
He could live here in this moment. It would be so easy here.
He felt fingers on his face and finally opened his eyes.
Ah, there she was.
"Hey," she smiled. "Mornin'."
He smiled back at her, trying to keep his eyes open.
"Kate." He moved the inch that separated them and kissed her nose.
Her eyes went wide but then the most beautiful shy smile crept across her lips.
"Rick, wake up."
"Don't want to," he shook his head and tucked her head under his chin, pulling her as close as he could.
There was a warm exhale against his neck as she sighed.
Best morning ever.
Then there was a sudden painful tweak.
"Castle! Seriously wake up. If you keep this up you'll have no chest hair left."
She sounded playful but his chest was still stinging so he released her in surprise.
"Beckett?"
"Yeah?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Trying to get you up."
"You really shouldn't say things like that when you're in my bed."
"You're in my bed."
"And Esposito collects ceramic teapots."
"Wow you really are not a morning person, are you?" she laughed and sat up. He blinked at her leather. Those couldn't be the most comfortable pajamas. Then she slid over him on her way out of bed. For a minute his face was curtained by her hair and he could see her amused eyes looking down at him. Then she slipped away and he felt himself dragged half out of bed too.
"Ouch, Castle!" She shook her wrist and looked at him grumpily. He liked happy better.
He looked at the steel band around his wrist.
"I'm in handcuffs."
He followed the short chain of metal links and found the matching band on the wrist she was rubbing.
"We're in handcuffs?"
He meant it as an observation but it came out more of a question.
"Yes, and now I'm going to have a bruise. Would you wake up already?"
"Oh, right."
"And I thought I needed coffee."