Thanks to Beetlebug and Scully223 and Mark C and everyone else who shared their suggestions for this chapter. You guys had so many wonderful ideas and unfortunately I wasn't able to include everything, but I think I squeezed most of it in here!
Vampire Weekend
As much as Kate had reveled in the events of the last thirty-six hours, in reading the journal here, away from the distractions of family and friends and the city and work, Alexis, Martha and her father had arrived this morning, and that meant she and Castle needed to be dressed and behaving as hosts for the remainder of the weekend rather than hanging around naked all day, alternating between reading and talking and sleeping and ravishing each other.
It was lovely, having everyone there with them. It really was. After the initial bumps in the road, Jim, Martha, and Alexis now got on splendidly, and while it was unorthodox, they were very much their own little family. It'd been a few months since their last gathering, and everyone was enjoying the opportunity to catch up, to soak up the sunshine and ring in the summer.
As expected, the rest of the weekend was filled to the brim with activity – exploring, beach volleyball, enjoying the sunshine, and a lot of good food and good company. It was a fun and relaxing couple of days, and a very welcome vacation, especially for Martha, who'd been incredibly busy with work, and Alexis, who'd just recently completed her second year of college.
With everyone around, though, Kate and Castle didn't have much time to themselves, only what they could manage after the others headed off to bed. They hadn't read any more since Friday, but they'd be headed back to the city tomorrow and Kate wanted to read at least one more journal entry here, in the peaceful atmosphere of the Hamptons. Once they were back in Manhattan, back to work, there was no telling when they'd next have any extended amount of free time.
She grabbed the journal from the nightstand as she slipped beneath the covers for the last night of their getaway, snuggled up to Castle. He was propped against the headboard with his laptop making final edits on his next chapter, but he set his computer aside when Kate joined him, opened his arms to her. She folded herself into his embrace, curling up against side.
"One more?" he asked softly, silently following her train of thought. As always.
She nodded, smiled, tilted her chin to press a kiss to his jaw.
"One more."
Kate,
You know, for someone who spent all week pretending not to be all that into Halloween, you sure looked like you were having fun watching me be attacked by a guy who thought he was a vampire. You get far too much enjoyment out of watching me get scared, don't you? Next time, I just might have to enact some sort of revenge. I'll have you know I'm the master of such plots.
By the way, thanks for saving me before he had a chance to completely devour me or turn me into a vampire. After visiting that coven I think I'd rather stick with writing and shadowing you.
I like being at the Twelfth, helping uncover the mysteries, even when the answers are incredibly depressing. This case was like that for me. I just – I can't imagine killing someone at all, let alone family. I can't imagine harming a child. It's awful and horrifying and just plain heinous that someone would do that. Hell, I couldn't even bring myself to harm Alexis's baby egg.
I know that's why you're a cop... so you can take people like this off the streets and find justice for the affected families. I just wish there could have been a happier ending for that family. I guess that's why I'm a novelist and not a real cop.
On a happier note, I'm glad you showed up at my Halloween party. I was starting to think you wouldn't be there. And I have to admit, your costume was pretty good. You actually, maybe, kind of, almost scared me (though if you tell anyone, I'll deny it).
However, I think you missed the point of dressing up – you were wearing far too much clothing. Halloween is supposed to be a time for skimpy outfits and high heels. You could have been a bunny or a nurse or a sailor or a cop. The kind that wears a much more revealing uniform.
That's now my goal for next year; convince you to have some fun with your choice of Halloween costume. The more skin, the better.
Oooh, I know – maybe you can be a vampire. You'd be much better at it than Morlock, and a lot better looking, too. A tight black dress, fangs, fake blood painted on your skin. You can bite me any time (and I won't even make you buy me dinner first).
And after the party, I'd be more than happy to help you wash off the fake blood.
-Castle
Oh, now that brought back memories. He'd yet to convince her to dress up as a vampire, but the costumes she'd chosen instead had more than made up for it.
Their first Halloween together was a fantastic success, though not entirely a result of Kate's costume. Castle had whined and begged and pleaded in an attempt to convince her to wear a sexy nurse outfit to his Halloween party; she'd vehemently ignored his protests, instead arriving dressed as a female rendition of a pirate.
She'd donned a black and white off-the shoulder dress with a tattered hemline that fell to mid-thigh... far too long for Castle's liking, a point which he'd made abundantly clear. The sleeves were loose and flowing, the bodice low-cut and corseted up the front. Various other red adornments decorated the fabric, adding a splash of color. She wore tall black boots and a bandana, eyes lined darkly, and hair falling around her shoulders in waves. In short, she looked amazing. And sexy.
And yet she'd still caught Castle mock-pouting over the fact that she'd refused to parade around his Halloween party in a midriff-baring nurse outfit.
However, once the party ended and he caught a glimpse of what she was wearing under her costume, every complaint vanished.
She may have dressed as a pirate for the party, but in his bedroom, illuminated by just the soft glow of a lamp, she'd dressed up specifically for him, clad in red lingerie that was orders of magnitude sexier than any slutty nurse costume could ever be.
"You didn't bring that outfit, did you?" he asked suddenly, voice laced with arousal, clearly having just replayed the same memory as her.
"What outfit?" Kate asked innocently, looking up at him through dark eyelashes. It'd been a last-minute decision to throw in something sexy, and a total coincidence that particular outfit was on the top of the pile. But he didn't need to know that. Watching him squirm was so much more fun.
Castle pulled her up and over to straddle his thighs, hands spanning her waist, eyes darkening. "You know exactly what outfit."
She smiled demurely, flicked her eyes briefly over to her suitcase, then back to his. "And what if I did?"
He groaned, pulled her in for a hot kiss.
"Go put it on. And then come back here so I can tear it off with my teeth."
Thoughts?