This one is bordering on M because how could I not? And because I haven't said it in a while, thanks for all of your lovely reviews/favorites, etc. And welcome to all of my new readers...you guys are brave for tackling all of this at once!

The Mistress Always Spanks Twice

Upon procuring tickets for the game, Castle set the tablet aside and settled back into bed with Kate cuddled up next to him. There was a soft smile on her face as she looked up at him from the pillows and he dipped his chin to drop a kiss on her cheek, wrapped his other hand around hers that still held the journal.

"Want to keep going?" he asked softly.

She shrugged. She was a bit sleepy, still sated, and not in the mood to do much beyond the confines of their bed. So why not?

"Sure."

He opened the book again, the flipping of the pages fanning air across Kate's skin, cooling her slightly. She rolled away from the faint breeze and onto her stomach, propped herself up on her elbows. Castle did the same and settled in with her, shoulder to shoulder beneath the blankets.

She tilted her chin to press a kiss to his jaw, felt him sigh in response and nestle his cheek against hers as they began to read.

Dear Kate,

You raided sex toy shops while you were in vice and learned all about leather quality and stitch patterns? Yeah, right. I don't believe you for a second. There's no way that just raiding a shop would give you that much knowledge. I think you're just being a tease and that you're somewhat of an expert on the subject, for reasons other than 'work.' The clues are there, Kate. The way you were so comfortable on the phone when you scheduled our appointment at the 'dungeon,' like you've made those kinds of calls before. How at ease you seemed in the shops and speaking with the people in that world. The way you knew what so many of those items were used for.

And the pictures on that website, those crazy positions, you nonchalantly saying, 'oh, it's possible.'

Kate nudged his shoulder with her own, winked at him as he looked over at her and her smoldering eyes and mischievous smile.

"Told you," she said under her breath, smug and far too pleased with herself.

But, oh, was it ever possible. In fact, Castle's mind was currently supplying countless images that proved exactly that. But he wasn't complaining, wouldn't ever complain, because he had first-hand knowledge of exactly how flexible Kate was.

When he glanced back over at her, she was smirking at him already, obviously enjoying being a casual observer to the mini fieldtrip on which his mind – and certain parts of his body – had just embarked. She'd rolled onto her side and her foot was now tracing tantalizing patterns on his calf. One hand slipped out to caress his hip, and her eyes were dark and dangerous as she looked up at him from beneath her eyelashes.

Castle hurriedly retrained his eyes on the page and skimmed the rest of the letter, barely registering the words.

Such a tease.

You know a lot more than you're letting on, and now I have to know, too.

I've been told my need for the story is a bad thing, that I tend to push too hard and in the end it backfires. And maybe that's accurate, in some cases. But this... I don't see how this could end any way but positively. For both of us.

-Castle

He closed the book then, carelessly tossed it aside and hungrily pounced on her. The blue in his eyes was almost invisible, replaced by something dark and feral and full of lust as he kissed her, trailed his fingers over every bit of skin he could find. Kate was just as aggressive and passionate, meeting him kiss for kiss, touch for touch, tease for tease.

Yeah, he thought as he hovered over her naked body, felt the heat and electricity flowing between them. This was definitely going to end well.

Thoughts?