By the time they arrived at his apartment, Kate's mood had gone from nostalgic to really happy with what/who she had.
"Did you tell the others that you didn't plan on letting them go home tonight?" Kate asked as they were getting out of the car.
"Of course. I texted the guys before I came to pick you up. I told them they were going camping" he laughed.
"I'm not sure the dress I brought for your party is suitable for camping though …"
"You brought another dress, for me?" he asked, trying to get a peek inside the bag she was carrying
"Well … it's more for me and it's not really your size. But I know for a fact that you like it. And let me tell you something: this time not only will you be allowed to look, if your good you may even be allowed to touch" she whispered into his ear.
He was going to respond when the others joined them in the lobby. They all rode up to his floor and entered the apartment. As soon as they were in, Kate headed for Rick's bedroom to change but she caught Lanie's eyes on the way.
"What?" she asked
"Nothing" Lanie said, smirking. "You seem to know your way around here. At least to the bedroom."
"Maybe I do" she smiled before closing the bedroom door behind her.
She changed into her second dress. She had taken the one she had worn during their 'undercover club mission' a few months before. Before going back to her friends she went to the bathroom to re-do her makeup. When she finally got out of Rick's room, he was talking to Ryan and Esposito, a glass in his hand. He choked on his drink when he saw her. The boys turned around to see what was happening.
"Wow, looking good Detective Beckett!" Esposito said
"OK, we need some rules here" Rick said "First, we call each other by their first names when not at work, second, Javier, you don't look like that at MY girl, and third, are you trying to kill me?" he said, pointing at Kate
"Maybe" she answered, winking at him. "Where are the girls?"
"Upstairs, in the bathroom fixing their makeup I think" Ryan said, still watching Kate. "Why don't you ever dress like that to work?"
"Because you wouldn't have any work done" she laughed, getting closer to Castle and putting an arm around his waist.
"Wow girl! That's a dress you have here" Lanie said getting down the stairs with Jenny.
"Can we please change the subject. pleeaaaase"
"Why Rick, scared you cannot contain yourself?" Lanie asked
"As a matter of fact, yes. Now … make yourself at home, I'm going to get the snacks".
As everyone was going to the living room, he took Kate's wrist and pulled her in the kitchen with him. She was going to talk when his mouth crashed on her. She was so surprised that she put her arms around him not to lose her balance. Soon she could feel the kitchen counter against her lower back. She couldn't help but moan when she felt his hand on her butt. They were so engrossed in each other that they didn't hear the other come to see what was taking so long.
"Well … apparently he really likes the dress" Esposito laughed, hoping it will make them stop. But no … they didn't seem to hear him.
When Lanie saw one of Kate's hand slide under Rick's shirt, she decided it was time to do something she went to the sink and filled a glass of water and throwing it at them. This was efficient. They backed away from each other, not understanding what was happening. Kate blushed as soon as she realized that everyone was looking at them.
"Wel … uhm, let's get this party started" Rick said, acting as if nothing was wrong and taking some plates to the living room.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o
After two hours of talking, dancing, eating and drinking (responsibly, of course), the three couples were settled on the couches, watching a film on his giant screen.
"I swear, only Castle here can have the idea of making a big screen out of a shower curtain" Esposito laughed
"It's good quality too" Kate said
"How do you know that Kate? Seen many movies here before?" Lanie asked, smirking.
"No we were … working"
"Sure!"
"That's true. It was during the … big case" Rick said, not wanting to go in the details with Lanie and Jenny present.
"Can we talk about something else please. Or continue to watch the film?" Kate asked, trying not to shiver at the memory of the freezer
"Sure" Rick answered, settling more comfortably into the couch they were on and pulling Kate closer to him.
Half an hour into the movie, Rick and Kate were both fast asleep while the others were still watching the film. Esposito noticed them and mentioned it to Lanie.
"Well, it's not surprising. From what I heard, they had some pretty intense exercise this afternoon" she said, smiling at the sleeping couple.
"It's strange, Kevin told me they have been together for less than a week but they seem so … natural and comfortable with each other" Jenny said, studying their positions.
Rick laid on the whole length of the couch, an armrest supporting his head, the other his feet. Kate was lying on her side between the back of the couch and her boyfriend. Her upper body was nearly on top of his, her head resting on his shoulder, her face buried in his neck and her hand resting on his shirt. As if they knew that they were being watched, they moved. Rick pulled Kate completely on him, putting one hand in her hair and the other around her waist.
"Maybe we should let them sleep. It's after 3 anyway and I could use some sleep too" Ryan said.
"Where are you sleeping?" Lanie asked
"I don't know, I just put our bags in one of the guestrooms" he answered as the four of them were making their way upstairs.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
Kate was woken up by the fact that the mattress on which she was sleeping was moving, and making noise. She opened one eye to assess the situation. When she remembered where she was she opened her other eye and lifted her head from his chest. She just looked at him. He was so cute when he was asleep. He looked like a little boy. She smiled at the memory of how he had proved her he was no longer a little boy. She looked around for a clock and saw it was almost 10 already. Time to wake him up. She put her head back on his chest and started drawing patterns with her fingertips. Little by little, she unbuttoned his shirt letting her fingers play directly on him, moving dangerously southwards. She heard the change in his breathing before she felt his hands on her back, trying to unzip her dress. He was awake. Time for fun. She felt him tense when she started to undo his belt.
"Kate, we have guests upstairs" he said huskily.
"I don't care. I've waited too long for that, now I just can't stop anymore" she said getting off him just enough to slide her arms out of the dress, letting it pool on her waist. "Don't you want to see my special underwear Richard?" she asked him.
That made him finally open his eyes. The first thing he saw was her breasts, hardly covered by the navy blue bra she was wearing. Looking up to her eyes, he passed his hand under her dress. He stopped when he couldn't feel any material. There was no way she would go to her party for her mother without any panties on.
"Looking for something Mr Castle?" Kate asked
"Found it!" he said really proud of himself when he felt the really tiny piece of clothing
"You're good …"
"I know" he said, pulling her to him and kissing her passionately.
She responded more than willingly, getting rid of his shirt as he freed her of her dress.
"I think we should move this to the bedroom" Kate breathed against his lips.
"I think you're right" he said, pulling her so that she had her legs locked behind his back. He got up, walked them to his bedroom and locked the door.
"Bad image of the boss. Bad image of the boss. Bad image of the boss" Ryan kept repeating to himself in the middle of the staircase.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
Around noon that day, everyone was up. Everyone except Richard Castle and Katherine Beckett. When they finally got out of their room, their friends were in the kitchen, talking about their plan for the next week.
"Hey guys! Slept well?" Rick asked, filling a cup of coffee and handing it to Kate.
"Oh yes, the guestroom is absolutely fabulous" Jenny said
Lanie saw Kate look at the living room rather attentively.
"Looking for something Kate? A dress maybe?"
"Where is it?"
"I don't know, where did you leave it?"
Kate looked at Rick
"Well Rick, where did you throw my dress?"
Everyone laughed at his face when he heard her. She got closer to him and whispered in his ear "don't worry I don't want it back right now, I love what I'm wearing right now". She was wearing an oversize 'Richard Castle" T shirt he got on one of his book tours. As he was going to answer, the front door banged open.
"Richaaaaaard, I'm back !"
"Oh no!" he whispered before literally diving behind the kitchen counter.
"Who is it?" Lanie asked him.
"Meredith".