Hi guys! Long time no update…I'm sorry. But here is the next chapter! Hope the Esplanie and Caskett fans will enjoy it. Thanks in advance for your reading and again, thanks for your patience and your indulgence about our Frenglish! ;) xxx

Lanie closed the door carefully behind her. It was around 5.30 in the morning and she didn't want to wake anyone up. The night had been short enough. She quickly glanced at her left side to check her neighbor's door, Javier's. It was closed.

Wearing a simple black décolleté baby doll, the M.E was holding her toothbrush in her right hand. She stepped towards the bathroom as silent as possible where she had left her toilet bag. She had forgotten her toothbrush in the bottom of her suitcase and it had taken her a few minutes to find it. A few steps later she was standing in front of the bathroom's door, which was located on the opposite side, at the same distance from her room and Javier's.

Lanie distractedly put her toothbrush in her mouth to free her right hand and open the door. She started to hum, in a good mood.

But she couldn't make a move as she suddenly saw the door opening itself. She stopped humming and startled, as well as Javier who appeared right in front of her.

"Lanie", he just said as he didn't expect to see her awake at this late hour. Lanie didn't reply and opened her mouth, surprised as well. Her toothbrush was still hanging there; she had completely forgotten to take it out. Needless to say she was too busy eying him to speak or think about her brush.

His ex was standing in front of her, shirtless, his skin still soaked, only wearing a white towel around his waist. From the scent of cherry shampoo she could smell in the bathroom and according to what is was wearing –or rather not, Lanie guessed he had just taken a shower. Still unable to speak, the beautiful brown girl started to gaze at his muscular torso where beads of water still clung to his skin.

She shivered as she imagined herself throw her toothbrush away and run to him, capturing his mouth and melting her tongue to his savagely, until both of them would lack of oxygen.

She perfectly imagined herself jumping at him so hard he would step back into the bathroom. Then she would let the door close behind them and she would push him against the wall, their lips still joined together. The towel would slip away in the heat of the moment, and her lips would finally kiss his tan and soaked skin, from his neck first, then his shoulders to slip down on his torso and way lower…

As she suddenly realized she was still focusing on the part of his body hidden by the towel for a long time, her toothbrush still hanging into her mouth – which made her look like an idiot, Lanie raised her eyes to him, feeling her cheeks were on fire. Thank God her caramel skin helped her hide her blushing but she still felt hotness rushing through her whole body.

She finally took her toothbrush off her mouth quickly and swallowed hard.

"I…" she managed to say, her voice barely audible. She didn't even know what to say. He was driving her crazy.

She was driving him crazy.

Javier didn't reply either. The way she had been looking at him made him confused. He did notice the intensity of her gaze, the passion he was trying hard to fight back himself. Although when he had seen her, the toothbrush in her mouth and he had found it more amusing than exciting, his eyes had quickly dropped to her décolleté. Then he had swallowed hard, gazing at the perfection of her breasts. She was wearing one of his favorite baby dolls, that night. The soft black satin was perfectly matching her curves and enhanced the natural tan of her skin. As he gazed at her buxom body, some lustful pictures started to invade his mind.

If it was one of many of his reveries, Javier would lean on her quickly, grab her waist and lift her up, joining their lips into a passionate kiss, melting their tongues and breaths together. She would wrap her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist, holding him as tight as she could. In no time they would end up against the wall of the shower, under the hot water. Javier would not only make love to her, savagely and quickly. No, he would take the time to kiss her whole body, caress every inch of her soft skin, driving her crazy just the way she was driving him crazy. His hands would touch her body everywhere, his lips would taste every inch of her chocolate skin…He would love her like he never did before, oh yes he would.

Shaking his head slightly, detective Esposito stopped fantasizing and raised his eyes to Lanie's. Her gaze was so mischievous, deep, and intense. Their eyes were locked and wouldn't blink, both of them attracted to each other, both of them holding their breath. At that moment, he realized how much he loved her. He had never felt something like this before. He had known many women though. But Lanie Parish had beaten them all, hands down. The way she laughed, the charm she had. Everything about her was perfect…Even when she turned him down, a scalpel in her hand, when he tried to flirt with her at the morgue a few years ago…At that time he already got her under his skin.

If they were still together at that very moment, he would have done probably the thing he loved the most with her: stroking her long dark hair and cuddling her. He knew she loved it. Javier would have replaced her hair behind her perfect little ears, to see her forehead and her cheeks. Then he would have studied every part of that face he already knew by heart. Her sparkling dark eyes, her cute little nose, and her perfect lips he couldn't help kissing every second.

He would have gazed at her for long minutes, amazed by her beauty. That awkward situation right now made him realized he hadn't told her enough how beautiful she was for him, how crazy he was when they were together. At the crime scenes, the morgue, the street, her apartment, or his. In bed…she was driving him crazy, everywhere, all the time, whatever she did.

Javier tried hard to control his thoughts and not admit his feelings as he regained the ability to speak.

"You want…I guess you want the bathroom", he managed to say as he chuckled nervously.

"Yeah…I…um…need to brush my teeth", she said awkwardly as well.

He stepped aside to let her enter. Their bodies brushed past each other and they both hurried to move away, resisting the urge to jump at each other. Lanie stood in front the sink and couldn't help looking back at the hallway one last time. Esposito was already heading to his room. She watched him go, her eyes still full of desire, before she looked back at the mirror above the sink and sighed heavily. She really had to get those sinful thoughts off her mind.

As he arrived at his door, Javier turned his head to the bathroom. He regretted not saying anything but that stupid phrase when he had left her the bathroom. He sighed heavily, full of remorse, as he pushed the door and entered the room. When he closed the door behind him and leaned back against it, he closed his eyes and waited for a few seconds in the dark and the silence…He needed it to clear his mind. His heart raced in his chest as he thought that taking another shower –cold this time, wouldn't be a bad idea after that nighttime encounter.

...

Rick Castle turned around in his bed for the millionth time and growled as he put his blanket away. He glanced at his watch, which indicated 5.40 am. It was impossible to sleep. The room was too hot and he felt beads of sweat on the back of his neck. He put his hand on his chest and repeatedly pulled on his navy blue pajama t-shirt a little bit, hoping that it would help him cool off, in vain. He wondered whether he'd better take it off completely or not.

What's wrong, Rick? It's only May. Maybe it was because of all those cocktails he had drunk tonight. Or maybe it was just too hot for the season. Whatever it was, that heat was becoming unbearable, he really had to do something.

As he got up from bed, he readjusted his boxer that was too tight on the crotch with one hand and walked towards the window. He opened it and took a deep breath of fresh air from outside for a moment…until his bladder asked for his attention. Frowning, he headed to the door, opened it and checked the hallway. It was completely dark. Then he started to walk silently to the stairs in order to use the bathroom downstairs, not to disturb his sleeping guests.

…

The young woman was in the kitchen, letting the open door of the fridge cool her off, as she couldn't decide yet what to choose. There were various bottles of different colors, for different beverages. Nope, too much drinking for tonight. She was thirsty, but drinking more alcohol wouldn't help at all. She wanted to grab a glass bottle that seemed to contain some orange juice but finally changed her mind as she wasn't sure of it and took the bottle of milk instead. At least, she thought she wouldn't have any bad surprise.

…

Rick closed the door of the toilets with a heavy sigh. Now that it was done, he was about to go back to his room when his attention got caught by a soft light that seemed to come from the kitchen. Curious, he frowned to check it wasn't an illusion and slowly stepped forward in its direction. At the door, he froze when he saw the silhouette of the young woman that was right in front of him, leaning on the fridge. He could see her beautiful, long legs despite the weak luminosity. She hadn't even put the kitchen lights on, the fridge was enough. One could guess the silhouette of her naked body underneath her purple silk baby doll. Rick watched her take the bottle of milk and drink directly out from it. He found it incredibly sexy. He stopped breathing when he saw a drop of milk slip from the corner of her mouth and slip down into her neck before it disappeared between her breasts. He couldn't help but gaze at her perfect tempting curves and swallowed hard as he eyed the two tiny bumps he could guessed underneath the soft silk of the fabric. He knew he had to look away and run, but he just couldn't move. He felt his heart beat faster as she let escape a moan. She had dropped some milk on the floor. He watched her put the bottle away and lean forward as she was trying not to spill some milk on herself. Oh damn. The blood that was in is brain rushed through his body…way down to the south. Oh God. The vision of her body…that was too much for him. He really had to get out of here. Fast. As he turned around to run away, he let escape a girl scream as he felt something moving suddenly brushing past his knees.

Kate suddenly straightened up and her head bumped into the door of the fridge.

"Damn it Royal! You scared me to death!" she whispered.

The golden retriever had entered the kitchen. He joined her and then started to lick the floor, attracted by the milk drops. Kate rubbed her hair and sighed, relieved, before she turned her head to the kitchen's entrance. Her smile faded as she saw the person standing right in front of her.

"…Castle?"

She turned away fast and closed the fridge, taken aback. She had already been in pajama in front of him before but what she was wearing tonight was way different and not really appropriate. All things considered, he had already seen her almost naked when some crazy guy had wanted to blow up her apartment but then again, the situation was different. She wasn't in her apartment now, and she had done inappropriate things, wearing an inappropriate outfit.

Rick was feeling awkward as well. He had grabbed a kitchen roll as fast as he could and was now holding it in front of his crotch, trying to sound natural.

"Um…hey," he said, trying to look anywhere but the young detective's chest. "Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you, I…I…thought everybody was asleep."

"I…I was thirsty", Kate managed to say, trying to justify herself too. "So I came here and opened the fridge and…"

"And you forgot to use a glass", Rick finished her sentence.

Kate's eyes widened and she blushed like a little girl caught in the act.

"But don't worry," Rick said. "Just make yourself at home here, whatever you wanna do, just… don't bother," he said to make her feel comfortable.

She nodded and slightly smiled as she crossed her arms around her chest to regain her composure.

"If you want to drink from the bottle, eat in your room, jump on your bed with your shoes on…" he said, making her laugh.

"Walk in the hallways half naked…"

She stared at him, opening her mouth. Castle stopped for a second before he stammered. "And…I think I said it aloud" He cleared his throat before he added: "And I better shut up, now."

Feeling her cheeks on fire, Kate just dropped her eyes to Royal who was still licking the milk on the floor.

"Give me some kitchen roll", she said as she lent her hand forward without looking at him, in order to change the subject.

"Um…I don't think it's a good idea," Rick said nervously as he shook his head, trying to find an excuse.

"Don't be silly Castle, milk is bad for dogs, we have to clean it all before he gets sick. Royal, no, stop", she ordered the dog who wouldn't listen to her.

"Nah, it's okay, don't bother. Here, you see? He drank it all, it's too late," Castle said as he pointed the floor.

Royal licked his chops and raised his head to them, glad he could help cleaning the kitchen. Then he managed his way to the door and disappeared into the darkness.

"Well…well…I guess I should get back to sleep," Kate said as she smiled awkwardly. She took a step forward but when she walked past him, she suddenly felt he was grabbing her arm. She stopped breathing.

"Kate…" he said, with a husky voice.

She slowly raised her eyes to him, their faces so close to each other, getting even closer. She could feel his warm breath brushing her lips. She instantly felt the urge to taste his. Right now, right here. Oh God, what was happening to her?

"Rick…"

The dazzling light interrupted them suddenly, bringing them back to reality, and they stepped back from each other as if both of them had received an electric shock.

"Darlings, aren't you sleeping yet?" Martha asked, in a sleepy voice, unaware she had interrupted something big. "Don't bother, I was just looking for a glass of water", she said, her eyes half-closed as she grabbed the bottle on the counter, still not paying attention to them.

Kate took the opportunity to run away. She managed to say a last "good night" before she rushed out like a thief. Rick watched her go and told himself it was time for bed for him too. Their moment of almost kissing had been interrupted. Maybe it was for a good reason.

He wished his mother a good night and walked to the stairs. As he walked past Kate's closed door, he could see the light of her nightstand was still on, before it switched off quickly.

He finally reached his room and jumped on his bed with a heavy sigh, as he thought of how hard it would be to find some sleep tonight…

...to be continued