Chapter 40- Want and Need

Disclaimer: Not mine. If they were mine this chapter wouldn't have been such a struggle. Hope it makes the grade.

Kate curled her hand into his shirt, lured him closer and nodded towards the spread of food Rick had prepared. "Starving, aren't you?"

Bobbing his head in agreement, "Yeah – in more ways than one."

Her eye's flicked down below his belt buckle, "I can see."

He responded with a bit of a growl, "Well Detective – why do you think I wear those baggy coats to the 12th? You have the affect on me."

Shaking her head and rolling her eyes with delight. "Well Castle – if its confession time…it didn't go unnoticed."

It was Rick's turn to shake his head, "Is that what the eye rolls were about?"

"No, Castle those were because you were irritating."

"'Were'? Not 'are'?"

Shooting him ineffective death stare Kate threatened him, "Don't push your luck, stud."

Rick began nudging her towards the couch with his knees, "Red, White or Champagne?"

She followed his lead and crossed to the waiting gourmet spread of edible delights. Rick really had done an excellent job of preparing their picnic. Curling her legs under her Kateand settling into the deep comforts of the couch, Kate watched as Rick deftly flicked a Bic and lit the waiting votive candles. "Only two candles? I took you for an 'over the top more is better' candle kind of guy."

"Don't want to set off the smoke detectors…" his eyes brimming with want "…saving that for later."

"Hmm…white wine."

"Now who's changing the subject? I would have bet on red…" his face wore a puzzled little grin "… isn't it usually red or beer?"

"Red can make me sleepy. You didn't offer beer, but that makes me sleepy too."

"There will be no sleeping. For the record red does not make ME sleepy." He waited, he counted to three, and there it was, 'Beckett Eye Roll #4.' Castle laughed and pointed at her, "Do you know how long I have waited to share my analysis of the evolution of the 'Beckett Eye Roll' with you?"

Shaking her head and creating an all new one of a kind 'Beckett Eye Roll' . An eye roll full of amusement, one that filled up her eyes with glee and a smile twitch as her lips. Kate took her glass from him, letting out a seductive laugh, "What are you talking about? There is no such thing as a 'Beckett Eye Roll', everyone rolls their eyes."

Handing her a glass of wine, "Yours are special, everyone knows about them. If you want I can give you a timeline of the evolution of the 'Beckett Eye Roll.' It takes us from you loathing me to loving me."

Making a point of grazing his fingers with hers as he handed her a perfectly chilled glass of '2008 Peter Michael Chardonnay Sonoma County Ma Belle-Fille', with a cocked eye brow and what she hoped was a lustful stare, "Loathing? That's a bit strong, I never hated you – just found you horrible annoying."

Taking an appreciative sip of wine Kate patted the seat beside her. Without hesitation, Rick burrowed in beside her with a glass of '2007 Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2007'.

He extended his glass, chinking it with hers. His mouth began to form words for a toast. He stopped as he watched her dip her head and begin to form words of her own. Rick swallowed his words and waited.

The green flints in her eyes began to glow. The brown grew deeper with emotion. He heard little hisses as she slowly inhaled and exhaled tiny breaths of air. Kate's mood had suddenly shifted from playful to serious. His lids lowered, hooding his eyes from hers, fearing that his stare would intimidate her. Rick waited for her to speak, peering out between his lashes, drinking in way the light flickered off the green flecks that peppered her brown eyes creating a new color that was uniquely Kate.

Waiting because he sensed it would be all Kate, raw, open, honest, naked Kate. After waiting four years what were a few more moments?

Wheels of emotion turned in her heart as she collected her thoughts. She wanted to get it right. Ringing her glass to his, "I want you to wake up every day knowing I am in love with you, which is more than loving you."

He was right. She was naked.

Using his fingers to lightly trace a line across her collar bone, fighting to project a manly voice, "As long as you are here beside me letting me do this..." kissing her softly "…I'll know."

"Deal." And just like that intimate Kate was gone. Shifting away from him and taking a deep swig of wine and popping a grape in her mouth, "About your 'Beckett Eye Roll' comment, how many are there?"

While preparing a little plate Prosciutto di Parma and mozzarella di bufala topped with roasted farm grown cherry tomatoes to share, he began. "As of right now there are 5 that count. 'Beckett Eye Roll Number One' aka the one I hope I NEVER see again, brimmed with animosity. You glared at meand wouldn't meet my eye."

Then one day you came to your senses and saw that I had a certain attractive boyish charm. You stopped glaring and held my eye. Even snuck a look back at me to see if I caught the eye roll – that was 'Beckett Eye Roll Number Two'. It meant you tolerated me."

Feeding him a bit of meat and cheese from her fingers, letting him taste her fingers with the food, "I would say, intrigued by you."

The blue of his eyes deepened a bit. A smirk formed on his lips, causing the crinkles at the corners of his eyes to dance. "I intrigued you?"

Matching his smirk with one of her own, "It was the dichotomy between your public image as a skirt chasing playboy and your coffee delivering sweet self."

Smacking her thigh with glee, "I knew it! The coffee did it. It opened the door."

Covering his hand with hers, "Partially, really it was...is how great a Dad you are. You really should thank Alexis for raising you right."

Castle stretched his arm out across the back of the couch and tugged her closer until he had her nestled into his side. "Yes, she did."

"Number Three?"

"Eye roll followed by a smile. A smile you fought to suppress but got away from you. The one that said you might like me."

Kate ran a hand from his shoulder to his hand holding the empty wine glass, taking his glass from him to refill it. Briefly setting down their glasses she put her hands on her hips, "Number four?"

Challenging her he said, "Oh you know that one."

Teasing back, "I'd rather you tell me, after all this is your story." Pouring the wine and not looking at him she smiled privately to herself. He knows her, he pays attention.

"The eye rolls that starts at the same exact time as the smile, the smile that lights up your entire face. The smile that makes you duck your head and blush if you think anyone is watching."

Returning to nestle beside him with full glasses of wine and a plate of roasted veggies, "Number five?"

Plucking food off her plate, taking a swig of wine – Rick leaned in for a swift kiss, "My favorite."

"Do tell."

"Not sure I should tell you about it. It might embarrass you."

Running a finger along the rim of his wine glass, she all but purred. "Doubtful."

Rick had barely finished uttering, "I warned you" when Kate dipped her finger in his wine, only to run it along his bottom lip and flash him, 'Becket Eye Roll Number Five'.

Shit. His only thought 'shit'. That minx known as Detective Kate Beckett knew the entire time exactly what she was doing to him.

"Did you mean that eye roll?"

With lighting speed Rick set down his wine glass, snatched the plate off her lap, the glass from her hand and pushed her back. Crushing her into the pillows, covering her body with his, "Yes, THAT one. The one where your eyes smoke over and you smile at me with that, 'I double dog dare you' to come get me smile."

Giggling, giggling did he hear giggle? "Are you giggling?"

She snickered at him, lying all the way. "No. I don't giggle. Gave that up in junior high."

Whispering in her ear he said, "You do. You did." Rick couldn't have been happier than to have a secret with Kate, a good secret. "It will be our little secret."

They laid there, limbs entwined quietly breathing together. Sharing the silence as an overwhelming sense of calm washed through her body. Kate briefly shut her eyes taking in the moment and locking it away in her memory.

The soft drumming of fingers on her heart brought her back. She hadn't even felt him slip his fingers inside "V" of her dress.

Capturing her eyes, he asked without speaking, "Where did you go?"

Speaking softly into his mouth, her breath teasing on his lips, "Recording memories."

"Care to share?"

"Hmm…" stroking her free hand through his hair "… just thinking this was worth the wait."

His hand stilled over her heart. "Completely, lying here like this with you is…"

He felt her body tremble with laughter. "Just lying here together drinking and eating? Careful Castle, you're showing your sappy side."

Kate had called him Castle a couple times tonight. Uncertain how to take the name change, he asked, "Back to Castle?"

"I like it. "

He gave her a quizzical look, asking for more.

Her voice warbled a bit, "It's who you are to me…"

Rick watched as the blush started far below the deep "v" of her dress, from her core.

She finished with conviction"…it's who I fell in love with."

Rick repositioned himself to nuzzle against her neck, "Then I like it too."

"You're easy to please."

"As long as pleasing me is on your to do list…"

Instinct took over and she pulled on his ear and gave it a twist.

Pouting and rubbing his ear Rick scooted to the far end of the couch. "You are a little too talented at that."

Kate tucked her legs under her and crawled across the couch. "I have other talents."

He swallowed repeatedly as he looked down her dress at the elegant black lace of the bra that was calling his name. It kept saying "Oh, Ricky." It was taunting him. Daring him to introduce himself. To say hello.

Kate watched as his breathing grew heavy, his chest rose and fell in a new rhythm. A rhythm of arousal. She reached forhim. Pushing him back to rest against the cushions, she quickly executed an unlady like hike of the dress and straddled him. Leaning in she murmured "Can we pack this picnic to go?"

Gulping for air "What do you want?" Resisting the urging of his inner cave man to stand up and fling her over his shoulder, he politely asked, "Anything you need?"

Kate placed her hands on his shoulders to steady herself as she gracefully unfurled herself from his lap. Picking up his hand she bent and kissed the inside of his wrist, before gently dropping it.

"What I want is to have you to watch me walk over here."

Kate snatched the chilled unopened bottle of champagne from its bucket.

She looked over her shoulder "What I need is for you to wonder where I am going."

"Then what I need is for you to follow me and I tell me what you want."

And with that she was gone.