Disclaimer: I don't own Castle.

Prompt #16: Towel - His throat constricted as his eyes bugged out in shock. "Beckett? What the...?"

Words: 969

Going back to LA wasn't really that bad, Beckett thought, when your partner could foot the bill.

Once again, they were in a fabulous five-star hotel that had a spa package that was to die for. Beckett had immediately decided to sample said package, and felt herself relax in ways she'd forgotten in so many years. After an hour-long massage, facial, manicure, and pedicure, Beckett felt like a puddle of very satisfied goo. All she wanted to do was take a long nap and sleep until dinner.

Castle had spared no expense making sure they were comfortable during their stay in Tinseltown. Since there was no case to preoccupy them, he'd insisted that Beckett go with him as he surveyed the production of the second Nikki Heat movie. She'd been due for a vacation, and never one to turn down a free trip, Beckett decided to go along.

But first - a bath was in order. She'd been walking through Hollywood with Castle all day, and while the spa had been lovely, she still wanted a good soak to get rid of all traces of dirt and sweat. Filling the tub with warm water and her favorite bubble bath, Beckett slipped in and sighed with relief.

With the year she'd had, no wonder relaxing felt so...relaxing. What with hunting down killers almost every single day, Beckett sometimes forgot that she had needs of her own to fulfill that weren't case-centric. Sinking lower in the backtub until her shoulders were almost under the water, the homicide detective sighed again and slid her eyes shut.

The water was so warm...Castle sure knew how to holiday...she was staying in the same hotel room with Castle again...for some reason, it didn't bother her as much as before...

Maybe because it really didn't matter now. Castle loved her - she'd heard it now - and despite all his jokes and innuendo, he wouldn't risk their friendship by seducing her. He still believed she didn't remember the shooting and his confession. Honor and respect kept him from saying anything about it, and sometimes it broke Beckett's heart to continue the charade.

"Beckett? You in here? I'm back!"

...And sometimes he was just too easy to mess with.

"Beckett, I - " His voice choked out when his eyes bulged like a stress toy's. "Beckett?"

"What is it, Castle?" she asked, standing in the doorway of the bathroom with nothing but a white cotten towel between his eyes and her body. She had to fight to keep the smile from her face; all he saw was the look of thoroughly exasperated Beckett.

"Why - What are - Why are you - Huh?"

"My clothes are in my room, Castle, and I just got out of the tub. How was the studio?" she asked, taking three steps towards him.

Castle retreated hastily, still bug-eyed and gaping like a suffocating fish. "Fine - Okay - Just - Just put some clothes on!" he managed to choke out.

Beckett tilted her head to the side, playing the confused card. "What, does this make you uncomfortable?" she asked, a slow, sly grin coming to her face as she stepped even closer. He tried to retreat, but his legs bumped into the couch and folded to drop him onto it. He was effectively trapped. "I'd think that the famous playboy Richard Castle isn't flustered by seeing a half-naked woman walking up to him."

"Beckett - "

"I'm surprised," she continued. He tried to squirm backwards, but Beckett managed to corner him so he only had one place to go - towards her. "You're normally drooling at the chance to see some cleavage."

"Beckett, don't - "

"Whatsa matter, Castle?" Beckett asked coyly, leaning over slightly. "Getting a little hot under the collar?"

"Beckett, stop!"

The unexpected order wiped the smile from Beckett's face. Castle's eyes were closed, his face creased in a frown that showed just how hard he was trying not to give into his urges. A bead of sweat slid down his temple. His lips were white and pressed into a thin line.

I pushed too far, Beckett realized, backing up a few steps. She'd gone too far with her teasing and underestimated his ability to joke about stuff like that objectively.

She'd underestimated how badly he wanted her...and how close she'd come to pushing him to taking what he wanted.

"Sorry," said Beckett, heading for her bedroom. "I was just fooling around, Castle. Sorry if it made you uncomfortable." Her hand reached for the doorknob and whatever last shred of dignity had been left intact. "I'll just get dressed and - "

She never heard him move. One second her hand was on the doorknob. The next second, his hand was around her wrist, his arm around her waist, and his lips pressing against hers like that long-ago undercover kiss in the alleyway. Except now there was no guard to fool, and no way this could be written off as a ploy. Just Castle, and Beckett, in a hotel room, with her in a towel and him kissing her senseless.

"Castle," she gasped when his mouth moved to kiss her neck. "R - Rick..."

"Shh," he whispered, pulling her flush with his body. "Just shut up, woman." There was a boyish twinkle in his blue eyes when he looked at her and smirked. "You asked for it, Kate."

This was not supposed to turn steamy. This was supposed to be teasing, and flirty, and tempting, and...and...aw hell, it was already heading that way, so why not?

Review please!