30
Richard knew he should be in a serious mood. The day had been hugely serious, they were probably in the middle of something huge and dangerous, something he barely even understood... and yet Kate was behaving in just the same way as he was. She held out her hand to pull him through the window after her but pulled a little too hard, so he stumbled and fell right into her kiss.
"Are you sure we have to go out?" he mumbled as he reluctantly allowed her to disentangle their bodies.
"Yes," she said playfully, taking hold of his hand and pulling him to run along the roof with her. He glanced at the night rushing by, trying to take it in, but he only had a moment before his gaze was pulled back to her, wavy hair rippling behind her in the cool breeze, beautiful body so agile and elegant in her tight fitting black clothes.
Kate looked back at him, openly ogling her with those shining blue eyes.
"Isn't this a bit boring now that you've seen into my soul?" she asked. He chuckled, she found the sound strangely arousing. She found everything he did strangely arousing. Or perhaps not strangely. Perhaps it was natural, perhaps this was being in love.
"This will never get boring," he said, looking her up and down as if to illustrate his point further. Kate did the same to him.
"Good," she said softly.
She looked down into the alleyway that they were now beside.
"Are we stopping here?" Richard asked. Kate shrugged.
"It's as good as anywhere. We might see something."
Richard was getting better and better at reading her every day. Now, he could see she was frustrated. She wanted to be doing something about Sally, she hated having to wait for Sally to get better, but she felt guilty for wanting to use the girl at all.
"It's not going to go away. We'll beat them, Kate. Just not today."
Kate balanced herself so she was sitting on the highest part of the roof. Richard sat down beside her as she stared intently into the alleyway.
"That's been my whole life," she said quietly. "I'll do it one day, just not today. I've been so resigned to it..."
Richard put his arm around her. "It's soon. We have a plan. Things are moving."
"I know," Kate murmured. "I just thought... when I finally did have a way... I want to run at them screaming, waving my sword, cutting them all down... Some kind of heroic battle where I can finally take my revenge. But I don't think it's going to be like that. And... there are things I care about more, now. I wish we could just leave. But I can't leave people like Sally with no one to fight for them. And if I run away, I'll never be truly safe."
"I'll keep you safe," Richard promised. "If you want to leave, I can take you somewhere safe."
Kate turned to look at him. "I want to leave. But I won't. I cannot spend my life simply taking what I want. I have to do it right."
Richard nodded. "And you will. You have a few days... Maybe... they can be our few days."
The way he said it, so hopeful, yet so undemanding. He didn't believe she would say yes. He wanted so little from her, but he deserved so much. She put her arm around his waist and looked deep into his eyes.
"Yes," she said. "They can be."
He leaned down to kiss her; she braced herself on the roof so they didn't tumble down the slope on either side of them. Every kiss he gave her was different, every kiss was the best, every kiss was a kiss she wanted to remember for the rest of her life. His mouth was so soft, moving in just the way to make her feel light-headed. Their bodies melted together effortlessly and...
"There's someone in the street," Kate muttered into Richard's mouth. They moved apart slowly, not wanting to attract attention, keeping completely silent. Kate looked down. It was such a cliché; a suspicious looking man following another man, this time, in the street. Kate slithered down the roof, surprised to find Richard completely able to keep pace with her. She dropped off the roof and down the two storeys to the ground, landing with cat-like grace. Richard managed not to make a sound, but he did stumble a little as his feet hit the cobbles. He dissolved into the shadows, following Kate as she darted after their target.
A swift punch to the back of the neck and it was all over. After the rich young man had thanked them profusely, they escorted their mugger back to the gaol.
"Now what?" Richard asked. Kate looked him up and down with an expression that set his heart thumping in his chest.
"Run," Kate said, a grin twitching at the corner of her mouth.
They were almost racing each other back to her apartment, taking back streets, getting up on the roofs and leaping between buildings.
They were kissing and undressing before they were even properly through the window. Kate felt every cell in her body tingle with delightful anticipation as Richard ripped her out of her clothes and she helped him out of his. His hands on her, even the thought of what they were going to do was enough to make her knees feel weak. And knowing she was doing just the same to him...
"I love being in love," Kate said quietly. Richard was tracing patterns on her skin again; she was thoroughly worn out.
"Me too," Richard said happily. He knew Kate was about to fall asleep. But God, that woman had stamina. He almost wanted to say something complimentary, but there was no need.
Kate was falling asleep in the arms of someone she loved. She felt so safe, so satisfied, so protected. The world might be cruel and dangerous, she might have bucketloads of unresolved sadness, but right here, right now, nothing mattered but Castle.
"What do you want to do tomorrow?" she asked him quietly, wanting to stay awake just a little longer to enjoy the warm feeling that surrounded them.
Richard shifted a little in the bed so he was lying flat on his back, making sure Kate was comfortable as she snuggled into his side.
"Where I am right now is pretty close to perfect," he said. Kate sighed.
"I know what you mean," she said quietly. "But we should do something..."
"We could go for a ride," Richard suggested.
"A ride?"
"Do you ride?"
"I... I used to. But I haven't for years."
"I'll get you used to it again. Would you like to?"
"Yes," Kate said. "But... not all day."
"Not all day," Richard said, kissing her, smelling her hair with its sweet cherry scent. "There are definitely some other things that we have to... fit in."
Kate had been so tired. About to fall asleep. But the tone he used, the slight lowering of pitch, the almost imperceptible rasp in his throat... She still wanted more? She laughed, just softly. Because it was funny. That she could need so much of him, so constantly. That exhausted, spent, collapsed in bed, hardly able to move, she wanted to stay awake just a little longer to have him again.
"What?" he asked, wondering why she had laughed.
"I... I didn't think it was possible. But I still want you."
Richard chuckled. "I'm glad. I'd be rather worried if I'd put you off."
Kate ran her fingers down his chest and over his stomach. "No, I mean... Now."
"Now?"
He couldn't help but be surprised. She was already the best, most energetic lover he had ever been with. But she had been so tired... He wasn't one to turn down a challenge, though. He blinked hard to wake himself up. It wasn't hard; just looking at her got him in the mood again.
"We don't have to," Kate said. "I can sleep first."
"Oh no. You are going to sleep satisfied, Lady Beckett. It's my responsibility that you do."
"But I was, I'm just-"
He cut her off, putting his mouth on hers, kissing her deeply, his hands holding her strongly as his knees nudged her legs apart and he settled between them, on top of her. She purred with pleasure as he rocked against her. She had never been with a man like this, so selfless yet so powerful, so good, yet prepared to give her some control.
"Good morning," she said, putting a steaming cup of coffee on the bedside table, sipping her own contentedly. Richard propped himself up on his elbows and allowed his eyes to wander over Kate's body, covered only with his shirt.
He picked up his coffee and raised his cup to her, nodding in thanks. His eyes twinkled when they caught hers.
"What is it?" she asked, seeing a cheeky smile creep to his lips.
"Well... there's a way even better than coffee for getting you wide awake and ready to start the day."
Kate set her mug down and took off the shirt so casually Richard almost spilled his own drink.
"Oh really?" she asked, pretending she didn't know what he was talking about, going to sit beside the bed.
"Really..." he said, putting down his mug and shuddering as her hand crept under the sheets.
"And... what would that be?" Kate asked, her eyes wide and innocent, so much so that he could hardly believe they belonged to the same person as the hands that were-
"It's... something we like doing," he managed to say.
Kate raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you tell me how you'd like me to wake you up? And then I'll do it."
Richard grinned at her. She grinned back, tilting her head to one side, moving lower down the bed and throwing the sheet out of the way. She looked up at him expectantly, biting her lip, relishing every second of what she was doing to him.
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