Disclaimer: All these characters belong to ABC and Mr. Marlowe

"I'm not going because I am utterly and completely in love with you."

Well that got her attention.

Castle kept silent, allowed his words to echo in the space around them, pour into the hidden corners and crevasses of her apartment as he basked in the afterglow of finally saying the words out loud. Because boy, it felt good.

He let out a deep exhale, a breath he'd been holding tight for six weeks, all of his emotions and feelings now shared between them. All the while Kate remained still. Quiet. A myriad of emotions crossing her features and her eyes wide as his words shocked her into silence.

Okay, so she was surprised.

He could see it in the way her shoulders had tensed, her body that was usually so strong and guarded suddenly exposed, as she tried desperately to rebuild the defenses his words had just bulldozed through. Her lips began to flounder as she tried to reshape each word, each letter, to assert some physicality to his confession, and her lungs deliberately expanded and contracted, like she was trying to breathe her way out of it. To reach the other side. The side where she wasn't lost amongst his words.

But Castle wasn't having any of that. His body was buzzing. Like a roll call of never-ending volunteers, the words which he had previously found so hard to even contemplate were now pushing, forcing their way to the front, and now that he'd said it- had given what was consumed within him a life- his head was dizzy with it, and all he wanted to do was tell her. Again. And again. And again.

But he didn't. He wasn't even sure how this was meant to go. He wasn't an expert in declaring his love like this. Although even if his brain had gone through every possible scenario, every outcome of his newfound bravery, he's pretty sure that her remaining silent would never have been one of them.

So he waited.

He waited for her, his gaze patient as he soaked her up, his body free and willing and open and now just waiting. Waiting for her to respond. To say something. Anything to get him off this tightrope of composure he was quickly losing balance on.

He wished he couldn't see so much of her. Her legs, her collarbones, her skin. All he wanted to do was reach out and touch, paint his fingers across the material that tapered down the curve of her breasts, his hands itching, burning to feel the exposed skin of her thigh that was shadowed below the bottom of her robe. The woman was wearing damn silk for goodness sakes. Why couldn't she have answered the door in a turtleneck?

His heart threatened to leap from his chest at the thought, and suddenly he couldn't handle it anymore. He was used to her not exactly being a willing participant in speaking her mind, but this was ridiculous. He was going to go insane.

Moistening his lips, Castle's eyes darkened as his body found it increasingly difficult to listen to his mind's instructions and all of a sudden the not knowing, the silence, was all too much. Surrendering to the magnetic pull of her body, he slowly lifted his foot of her floor and took a step towards her, as Kate's mouth opened and closed, her words still unable to find voice.

He continued, his steps measures and controlled as the distance between them began to disappear, when suddenly her body went rigid and her eyebrows tightened. "Stop doing that."

Castle paused, his feet coming to a stop. "Doing what? Saying I'm in love with you, because technically I've only said that once..."

"No. Well, yes, but- just stop coming closer to me like that. "

He would have listened to her. Honestly. But with the way she was looking at him, her face all scrunched up and adorable as she tried to think her way out of this, there was no way he was going to be held responsible for his actions.

"What, like this?" he questioned, taking a cautious step towards her.

"Yes!" she was quick to reply, her throat muscles tensing as she thickly swallowed. "And- quit looking like...like you want to-"

"Want to what?"

"I don't know, go all caveman on me."

"Go all- what does that even mean?"

Kate's arms briefly rose and then dropped back down by her sides. "I don't know, but- just stop doing it!"

Castle opened his mouth to respond, but stuck on exactly what it was that he was meant to respond with, he finally settled with just narrowing his eyes. "This is all very confusing."

Kate held up a hand, rubbed it across her forehead. "Just, give me a second."

"Why? You're not gonna try to assassinate me with flying carrots again, are you? Because I know I certainly won't appreciate it, not to mention the carrots, I mean, I think they've already been through enough for one night."

"Castle-" she cut in. "Just stay there. And try to refrain from talking..." she instructed, before quickly continuing, "although I'm guessing that's not really possible for you, so if you must open your mouth again at least think before blurting things out next time, and-"

"Wait, that's what-" He paused, shifting slightly and straightening his shoulders. "You think I haven't thought this through?"

Kate's eyes remained locked on his and then she let out a sigh and lowered her gaze. "Castle, we spent a lot of time together, I get it, but-"

"But what? You think I don't mean it?" he questioned, his tone serious and drawing her gaze back to his. "Kate, I don't go around telling everyone that I love them as some grasping at straws attempt to keep them in my life, and I'm not saying it as some spur of the moment thing that I'm going to regret later."

"Then why say it, Castle?" she queried, desperate for answers. "Why now?"

Castle's eyes softened as he swallowed. "Because it's true," he answered simply. "Watching you walk away from me tonight- it was like I was hit by a truck, and in that moment I knew that there was nowhere else I'd rather be than to be with you." He paused, gave her time to absorb his words. "So stop telling me to pack a suitcase. And stop trying to kick me out because I'm not leaving. Unless you really want me to, and I know you keep saying you want me to, but I don't think you really do, so I'm not...leaving that is."

Shit, he was terrible at this. Not to mention how difficult it was trying to construct a reasonable sentence over the rapid pounding of his heart, but he wasn't going to just sit back and let her walk away from this- from them. At least not without a fight.

"So what, you just think that you can come here and tell me that you love me, and then what, we live happily ever after?" she asked.

Her voice came out harsh, defensive, but watching as a light blush spread across her cheeks, he knew she felt it too. He wanted her. Wanted to be with her, and behind her walls and stubbornness, she wanted him too. Because there was no way he could be alone in this. No, what he was feeling was definitely not designed to be one-sided.

"Kate, no one can ever be sure about what's around the corner or what to expect tomorrow, or next month or even a year from now, but what I am sure of is the way I feel when I'm with you. The past six weeks meant something to me Kate, so stop telling yourself it isn't real, because it is," he pressed. "And I think you feel it too."

It had never been like this before. She'd never been in a situation where she wanted to run and hide and yet just jump into someone's arms at the same time.

His voice had come out strong, confident, but he was nervous, she could see it in his eyes. It provided her with some sort of odd comfort to know that laying his heart on the line wasn't exactly an everyday thing for him either.

She could feel her defenses coming down, the wall erected in front of her crumbling as her heart rate picked up and their gazes held, because the way he was looking at her- it was absolutely petrifying. A naked want in his eyes that she'd only seen hints of until now was on full display amongst a mixture of hope, and longing, and...

Love.

Oh God, it was love.

The words stuck, imbedded themselves within the fibers of her body, finding a new home. Her heart was heavy with it, weighed down by the force of finally admitting what she had denied for so long. What a part of her always knew was there.

Kate thickly swallowed, the lump in her throat however remaining. "It was only six weeks, Castle. How could you possibly-" she shook her head, let her eyes wander across the room around them. "This doesn't happen. People don't fall in love in six weeks."

I don't fall in love in six weeks.

"Who says?" He answered almost effortlessly, the heaviness she previously saw now gone. "Kate, there are no rules, no guidelines or some universal standards that have to be followed," he reflected, before a soft smile graced his lips. "Although, if it makes you feel any better, we could always go by dog years."

She lifted an eyebrow, the mood momentarily lighter. "Dog years? Really?"

"Yeah. One year to us is seven in dog years, so if you look at it that way, one could argue that we've actually known each other for a little over seven months."

Kate narrowed her eyes, a hint of a smile managing to break free. "Is this some kind of a weird way of you coming out and telling me you're a dog, because I must admit, the signs were kinda there from the start..."

Castle frowned. "That conversation didn't quite make the point I wanted it to, did it?"

Kate felt the corners of her lips lift and effortlessly curve into a grin. "No, not really."

She shook her head, her smile open and it took only a moment before it was mirrored by his and the gravity of the situation settled.

With her eyes unable to hold with his any longer, she looked away, her fingers smoothing down the ends of her robe, a warmth blossoming inside of her. She wasn't good with this stuff. Wasn't good with handling all of her emotions and feelings and this overwhelming sense of need. The need to be closer to him, but also the need to keep everything together and not fall apart. However, it wasn't long before her gaze returned to his, the action automatic and completely inevitable.

Suddenly Castle shifted, like he knew, like her eyes were a direct pathway to her soul and everything that she was thinking was just there for his private viewing, and a soft smile graced his lips. She could see it, see the moment where his mind was made up, his destination was set, and he lifted his foot off the floor and took a step towards her.

And then another.

And another.

She was on the absolute edge. The place of no return. And all she wanted to do was jump, let go and just sink into him. Kate let out a breath, instinctively took a hesitant step back, shying away from his predatory gaze and attempting to remain unflustered by his proximity.

"We wouldn't work, Castle."

"Why not?" he smiled, his tone light and doing absolutely nothing to help her in maintaining control.

Kate narrowed her eyes at him, her feet continuing to move herself away. "We are literally complete opposites. Make absolutely no sense on paper."

"So?" he shrugged, his feet continuing to move him forwards. "We don't live our lives on paper."

Kate continued to step back until she was boxed in, stuck between his predatory gaze and the impending refrigerator that was positioned behind her. "We hardly agree on anything."

"That's not true. We both like bear claws, there's something."

She swallowed, almost consumed by the need that was building in her chest. "Half the time I swear I want to shoot you in the face."

Hearing her, Castle stopped, his eyes narrowed. "Ahh, hopefully we can work on that one."

A beat passed as his lips lifted in amusement and he closed the remaining distance between them, coming to a stop directly in front of her. "Anything else?" he questioned.

She could feel her body sway towards him, unconsciously lingering, needing to be closer, as they both stood there, their eyes staring. Lightly shaking her head, Kate let out a surrendering breath. "No, I've got nothing."

And with that, she framed his face with her hands, surged into his body and pressed her lips against his.

Castle stumbled, but only briefly, as his palm found her cheek, holding on, keeping her there, as her lips were aggressive and heated against his.

And then he gave it back to her. Gave her everything.

His reaction was instant, his mouth opening as he sucked on her lower lip, his hands moving, gripping her hair before travelling, just wanting to touch all that he could.

He felt like his body was on fire, heat surging everywhere as his mouth took all that she offered, desperate and greedy. His hands travelled up the long stretch of her back and then lowered on return, encasing her waist, holding her tightly and drawing her hips directly into his.

He swallowed her moan, starved it of oxygen, as she rose into him, her hands fisting in the material of his shirt. His heart was beating to its own rhythm, calling to her, as the passion began to consume him, all of his feelings spilling out and pouring into her because God, he was so in love with her.

He suddenly needed to be closer, sink into her, so he crowded her backwards, kept his movements steady until he felt the press of her shoulder blades into her refrigerator, trapping her between the cool steel and the heat of his body.

Their lips broke briefly at the contact, a soft gasp falling from her lips before he covered them again to find her tongue equally as eager and impatient as his own. He drew himself closer to her, his hands rising to span her rib cage, couldn't help the light brush of his thumbs against the underside of her breasts as he felt her fingers pull and tug, desperate against the buttons on his shirt.

Pulling away abruptly, he released her lips and dove for the inviting column of her neck, sucking and marking the smooth skin, unrelenting. He found her pulse point just below her jaw, her skin rippling when he sunk his teeth into the soft flesh. He smiled into her skin as he felt her knees give way, her body like fluid in his arms as she succumbed to his onslaught and began to slide down the length of the fridge. His hands spanned over her hips and then down the length of her thigh, hitting her bare skin as they continued their downward path before settling behind her knee. He lifted, hiking her leg up high before he held it over his hip, holding her steady and keeping her upright. Pressing his body closer, his reaction undeniable, he held her knee in place as he slowly allowed his fingers to work up the length of her thigh, his fingers teasingly dipping under the material of her robe before finally settling on the new skin discovered.

Kate's hands moved to press against his newly exposed chest, the strong beat of his heart undoubtedly making its presence known under her fingertips as something shifted and their kisses began to slow. The raging fire plaguing his body dampening into a slow burn, the movements of their lips becoming more structured and deliberate.

On a sigh, he found the willpower to break away, their lips parting as he pressed his forehead against hers and gave them an opportunity to just breathe. Simply soak up the moment and refill their oxygen supply, their heaving breathing playing a duet with the soft hum of her refrigerator in her otherwise silent apartment.

Shifting, Castle's hands slowly began to move, lifting off from the curve of her hips.

Kate's eyes lowered, his soon following as they both became silent spectators, watching in anticipation for what was to come as his fingers slowly curled around, travelled across her waist and finally settled at the knot on her robe. Castle paused, gave her time to pull away, a sense of knowing that there was no going back after this, and slowly he tugged, allowed the material to slip through his fingers and collapse, her robe parting before him.

He let out a shaky breath, because God she was beautiful, as he slowly leaned back, provided himself with enough space to gaze in awe at the sight before him, the peak of her breasts behind the cups of her bra, her taught abdomen and the long exposed line of her legs.

He could appreciate her all night, but he was pulled from his thoughts as her fingers ghosted their way across his jaw and she guided his lips to hers for a sweat kiss.

"Rick." She eased her lips away, gave time for his eyes to lift and meet hers. "I love you," she breathed.

He felt like his heart was going to stop, but he couldn't care less as a grin spread across his face and he lowered his mouth to cover her smiling lips.

"Mmm," she mumbled after a moment in between kisses. "Bed-bedroom."

Castle broke away, moved to kiss down the line of her collarbone. "Mmm. Yep," he responded, before he gripped the back of her thighs and lifted.

As her legs locked around his hips and his hands settled on her ass, he continued to kiss his way down, settling at the soft curve of her breasts.

"Haha, wow," he grinned into her skin, blindly walking in the direction of her bedroom.

"Wow what?" she gasped.

"You have pieces of mushroom in your bra. Now I know I'm not the most athletic person out there, but seriously, I clearly have skilful aim."

"Ease up, Hotshot. Now I've gotta get them out."

Crossing the threshold of her bedroom, Castle smiled. "Well, I will be happy to provide you with some assistance on that."

I'm not gonna lie, this chapter simply did not want to cooperate at all.

But to everyone, thank you. And to the guest reviewer from the last chapter, I hope your day turned out to be better than expected.

BareWriter