Disclaimer: The wording is mine but the characters aren't

OOOOOOOOO

She gave a tight smile, shutting up. She stood. "You ready? My brother's a sloppy kisser, so I hope Rick's as good at pool as he is with darts." Stacy collected her bottle and left.

"Boys," Beckett said quietly. "Run down Carrik's alibi again. Him and his girl."

…

OOOOOOOOO

Castle had just picked a cue. He was being careful, putting his jacket on so no one would see the wire when he bent over to shoot.

"Hey," he turned when he felt Kate at his side.

She smiled at him and leaned in. She was doing that a lot tonight, not that he could complain.

"Hey."

"You ready over there?" Stacy's brother called.

"Sure," he squeezed her hand.

"Wasn't talking to you," he was corrected. "Never did get your name."

She looks at the shorter man coldly. "Kate," she bites out the word. She hated that he was going to get to call her by that name.

"Tim," he volunteered his name.

"I didn't ask."

"But you're gonna need it."

"We ready?" Castle sounded remarkably composed but she could see his knuckles were white around his cue. "The host breaks, I insist."

"I ain't gonna complain," his opponent smirked. "Get ready, sweetheart."

She might actually be sick if she has to kiss this man.

He bent over the table and she could see his paunch pushed up against the side. Even from here she can hear the change in his breathing as he leans. Smoker then. This just keeps getting better and better.

He sinks two. From they way he shot, she would guess it was more sheer luck than anything.

"I believe you owe me two kisses, Katie." He sounds triumphant and she tastes something sour in her mouth. At her side Castle was rigid.

She made no move to leave Castle's side but Tim didn't seem worried about coming within Castle's striking range to claim his prize. He smelled like a brewery and something else. Looks like Sam wasn't the only one getting a little something extra with their beer. Explained his lack of still as well as over-confidence.

"Don't be shy, Katie-girl," he was beaming. She could hear Castle's teeth grinding against each other. She let her fingers dance across his knuckles and then reluctantly moved a step forward and gingerly pressed her cheeks against Tim's sweaty jowls, one on either side amongst the matted hair.

She stepped back into Castle's side with two seconds, her eyes daring Tim to follow her.

"Don't think you can short-change me," his eyes were angry but he retained his outward good humor. "Next time I collect my reward."

He returned to the table, presenting them with a front and center view of his generous behind. In his irritation or his influenced state he missed his shot.

She waited for anger but he just motioned Castle forward.

"Don't worry, sweetie," he winked. "I'll still sink my balls for you."

A sharp crack echoed through the room and she turned to see Castle straightening, his chosen target already safely secured in the far corner pocket and Tim's choice shot ruined.

He held out a hand for her and she went to him willingly, leaning up against him. She just wanted to be somewhere else. She was sick of being stared at. The scent and the feel of his somehow familiar embrace let her mind relax.

"Just one?" she asked.

"I won't complain." One was enough.

"Hmmm."

She threaded her fingers through the hair just behind his ear. Her heels weren't as tall as usual as they were her bike boots so she had to raise herself against him to reach his lips. He as hard and hot against her tank top, their jackets both open in the heat of the bar. He tightened his arm around her, the other holding the cue out of the way.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Don't be." She barely brushed her lips against his, rubbing them gently back and forth, tingling and letting their breath mingle. She pulled back and she saw the glazed look on him reflecting her quiet serenity.

"That was a promise," she told him, her fingers still bunched in his hair. "And you know I'm good for my promises."

He stroked his fingers over her cheekbone before he stepped away. The sincerity in his eyes and his touch lit a fire she had tried to keep banked for so long. But now she didn't care what the rest of her team heard through the wire and she didn't care that she would have to interrogate the people in this room if tonight went well.

He stepped back to the table and sent the white ball streaming across the felt again. The draw back and release of his arm was so smooth they merged into one fluid movement and he was standing before she could identify which ball he had been aiming for.

He didn't look at anyone but skirted the table and let fly again without pause.

She moved to the edge of the table as he came around waiting for him where she knew he would stand to launch his next shot. Tim had started moving too close.

He smiled at her, his eyes tight as he looked over her shoulder at his opponent. He reached out and ran his fingers down the skin exposed when she pushed the sleeves of her jacket back.

A sorry.

He made to turn back to his shot but she caught at his fingers and he paused to look at her.

"I think you owe me something," she prompted.

His face went a little slack, his eyes a fraction wider; his tells only noticeable to her. He obviously hadn't been prepared to hold her at her word but he couldn't do anything to avoid it under the scrutiny of over a dozen people.

She'd never thought she would have to bully him in to kissing her.

"You know, you're right," he rasped out.

She ran her tongue over her lips unconsciously, startled to taste him on them already. His eyes fixed on her and she could see a tinge of red climbing his neck steadily.

"You waiting for a written invitation?"

He discarded his cue and pulled her to him sharply. The air went out of her lungs on impact but he didn't pause to let her refill them.

Despite the vigor with which he captured her, his mouth came down on the corner of hers with surprising softness; a stage kiss. She growled in frustration and moved to take his bottom lip between hers, biting her disapproval at his caution, then soothing it.

He moaned and slanted his mouth sharper over hers, nibbling and then teasing them with a swipe of his hot tongue. She parted for him eagerly, but he disengaged.

She tightened her grip around his neck, pulling back only far enough to shoot him a serious look. This time she wasn't going to let him run away.

…