He was stuck watching from the observation room as his girlfriend flirted in the other room. His hands were fists on the short counter as her lilting laughter trickled through the speakers to his ears. She was sitting on the metal table, leaning forward as she talked to the suspect, giving the two of them an alluring peek at the top curve of her cleavage. One hand came up to twirl a strand of hair.
That was when he knew he couldn't watch anymore. Castle turned, closing the door to the observation room with maybe too much force, judging from the rattle of glass that followed him.
Ryan and Esposito were chatting at their desks and he didn't want to talk about their Fantasy Football teams. The next safest bet was the break room, blessedly empty at the moment.
His hands shook a little as he pour a cup of coffee, stirring in cream and sugar before sitting at the tall table. Waiting.
The coffee was half gone and what was left had gone cold by the time she entered the room.
"Hey. Wondered where you had gone," she said, going to pour her own coffee. "You missing our suspect spilling-"
She was cut off when he spun her around, plucking the mug from her hands and setting it on the counter. The teasing eyes he had seen in the interrogation room were replaced by surprise.
"Castle, what're you-"
This time, he halted her words by kissing her. Not one of their gentle, sweet kisses. Not even a passionate one. No, this one was all about possession. Kate jerked back, but her lower back was against the counter and his hands had tangled in her hair, effectively pinning her in place.
Seconds later, he pulled away, both of their breathing heavy.
His eyes held hers as he pushed further against her. "You're mine, Beckett."
Shock had woven its way into the surprise. "What?"
"I had to watch you flirt, tease that man. Watch you giggle like a schoolgirl at his half-assed compliments and corny pick-up lines." His lips grazed down her jaw to her neck. Her head fell back against his hands. "Do you know how that made me feel? Do you have any idea?"
"God, Castle," she managed to gasp, her chest brushing against his, feeling heat even through the layers of clothing.
He nipped at her collar, not enough to leave a mark but enough to draw out a quiet moan from her throat. "That's not an answer, Kate," he admonished.
At some point, her eyes had closed. It took all of her energy to open them. His were swirls of anger, frustration, and desire.
"It was a strategy, Castle. Didn't mean anything."
It was clear he didn't believe her. His fingers scraped against her scalp, giving the strands wrapped around them a tug, his lips moving across her neck. "Not good enough of an excuse. Strike one."
"Castle," she breathed, finding it hard to keep words straight as he pressed kisses to the skin exposed at her shoulder. "Only way he would've broken."
Even the slide of his mouth as he spoke had her shivering. "Strike two.
She didn't want to know what he'd do if she struck out in this game. Mustering all of her brainpower, Kate pushed Castle's head back. She twisted her own fingers into his thick hair to hold his face in front of hers.
"Sorry."
The single word was the one he had been waiting for. "Accepted," he murmured, kissing her on the lips softly.
Kate ran a finger down the front of his green shirt before picking up her coffee and walking from the break room. "Good color for you today, Castle."