Hour 67

"Kate!" I call out.

"Yeah?"

"Food's ready!"

"Ok, I'll be right there!"

Ok, so I'll admit it. Three minutes shouldn't make me curious enough to go looking for her, but I do so. "Hey, what're you doing?"

"Uhm, nothing."

I get there just in time to see her close the home made print out of Frozen Heat. She's leaning over one side of the couch, her legs in front of her. I push her a bit and I sit right behind her, my arms immediately enveloping her. It feels amazing. My shirtless chest grazing her back, dressed only in my shirt, knowing she's braless. I could stay here forever.

"Kate, the rules said you weren't allowed to go back to it last night. There was nothing about you not being allowed to go read it today."

"I know...but I loved hearing you reading it to me. So I was thinking that maybe later today, you could read it to me while I iron our button up's."

"Oh so now they are ours?"

"Do you enjoy seeing me wearing them?"

"I most definitely do!"

"Then I don't want to hear you complain about them being ours!"

"Fine, you won't. As far as I'm concerned, you can take anything there's in this place and claim it as your own."

"Good, cause tonight I'm claiming you. Now let's go eat that mac before it goes to waste and after that, I want to have my very own private reading with my all-time favorite mystery writer for the second day in a row." She stands up and gives me her hand.

"I love this side of you."

"Which side of me?"

"The side that's open, willing to share secrets with me and shows me the small things, regardless of me not having a badge, you really see me as your partner. During the last four years you've shown me glimpses of it, but suddenly seeing it come out and play with me for three whole days proves to me just how deep we dove in less than 72 hours."

"I'm planning on making it my only way to address you Rick, so you better get used to it."

"And that's yet another thing you won't hear me complain about."

And I once again find myself hugging her by impulse and just because I'm now allowed to do so. And it feels so damn good. "C'mon, we have to move on if we want to get anything done before everyone gets here."

"I know. That doesn't mean I'm happy about it."

"Since you're doing me a favor by co-hosting this dinner while we could simply enjoy the last hours of our first clothes optional festival, how about I make it up to you by playing footsy with you while we eat?"

"I believe that's the least you can do." Kate says and we stand up.

When we arrive the table, she sees the pain killer I left for her next to her glass of water. She doesn't say anything. She silently takes the thing between two fingers and pushes it down with a big gulp of water. Only after she's done she says: "If I fall asleep while ironing, it'll be you fault."

"Sounds fair. But if tonight we finally get to push that last brick out of our path by sharing the last first night of our life, I'll still be the one to blame."

"Oh, trust me Castle, when we tear down that brick tonight, it'll be you fault. Resisting jumping you while you walk around half naked is a bit too much, but I'd better manage because once I get you in that bed, I won't be letting you go any time soon. I'll even use my cuffs if necessary. And convincing to guys to come only to allow them to kill each other in the hallway seems too cruel, even for me..."

"Beckett! You're going to be the death of me and we haven't even been together yet, so I can only fantasise about how good we'll be! I don't want to think about what you'll do to me by threatening to withhold sex from me."

"I'm a tease Castle, but I'm not that cruel. Besides, it'll be much more interesting to make you beg once I've put you to bed."

"Is it tonight yet?'

"Nope, not yet."

And when I feel her toes running over my calf, I can't avoid thinking how good her poker face is. "Remind me to never play cards with you again, unless we're betting with clothes."

Her laugh fills the loft and my heart. I meant every word I told her on the couch. I've loved Detective Beckett for years now. But I'm enjoying every second of falling in love with Kate, the girl who broke down after her mother's murder only to lift herself up to become one of the strongest women ever.

"Where did you go?" She asks me gently.

"I was just thinking how enjoyable the ride of getting to know Kate will be."

"Not as fun as getting to tame Rick Castle will be."

"Oh trust me Beckett, I've already been tamed. Between my mother and daughter, I've had to learn how to cook, what to do when you're in those days, the importance of shopping therapy and most importantly, I'm even potty trained to get the lead down."

"That's all good Mr. Castle, but that's not the taming I was talking about!" And for effect, she gives me the most amazing leer I've ever been allowed to witness.

"Ugh woman! You'll really be the death of me!"

"Oh but what a way to go…" She teases.

"What did Jenny say?"

"Smooth topic change Castle!"

"It was either that or grabbing an ice pack..." I'm afraid once we actually get to do the horizontal mambo her chuckle will make me embarrass myself.

"She was very Jenny about the whole thing. You know, saying it was a great idea and thanking us for trying to fix the hatch between Ryan and Espo."

"Good. We'll need all the help we can get."

"That we will. Now, why don't I take care of the dishes while you set up the ironing board so we can get right back to reading the book."

"Sounds like a plan. I'll even set it up out here so we can work in the living room." It seems I did something good because she smiles, places her arms around me and kisses me softly and thoroughly. "What was that for?"

"For not arguing with me when I claimed dishes duty."

"We're a team, remember? Besides, if you are allowed to take anything there is in this place, then you own them, and if you're the owner then you're not a guest. More like a temporary roommate. Even if it's only temporary. And I'd like nothing more than for you to feel this comfortable when we get to the Hamptons. I don't want for you to feel like you have to clean, but know that you're welcomed to feel at home, whatever that means to you." And she silently kisses me again, as if suddenly loving me more for my honesty.