Chapter 4 Playtime and Bedtime
After spending the majority of the day on the shopping spree, Rick and Kate finally returned to his loft with a multitude of bags in hand.
"Hmm… I'm going to go take a shower," Kate declared once she entered Rick's apartment.
Since it was nearly dinnertime, Rick decided it would be best to use the spare time to procure some dinner for them.
"I'll order in. What do you feel like?"
"Chinese?"
"Sure."
Kate put some of the shopping bags down and then went into Rick's bedroom to drop off the rest of the things she bought earlier in the day. Grabbing a few of her new items, she disappeared into the bathroom to shower.
Rick dialed the number to their favorite Chinese restaurant and ordered their usual entrées.
"Your food should arrive in approximately 40 minutes," the restaurateur said over the phone.
"Great, thanks." Rick finished placing his order just when the doorbell rang.
He opened the door to reveal his book agent, Paula, carrying a large box of his novels. She strode wordlessly into the loft and dumped the box into his hands with a loud grunt.
"Nice to see you too Paula," Rick greeted.
"Why did you have to write so many best-sellers?" she groaned.
Rick shrugged and in a rare display of humility, understated his talents.
"It's what I do for a living," he said casually as if having 26 best-selling novels under his belt were no extraordinary achievement. This unusual personality change didn't go unnoticed by Paula.
"Mmhmm... Tell me again why you suddenly needed a copy of all your greatest hits?" Paula huffed exasperatedly.
"It's a gift for someone special," Rick explained, perking up at the thought of the recipient. He had the bright idea of giving Kate a brand new set of his best-selling novels to replace the ones she had lost in the explosion.
"Ah, and I'm guessing these are for someone special too," she motioned to nearby shopping bags from stores that were way too girly for him.
"Unless you have a taste for… mango mandarin body splash," Paula said, eyeing the exposed contents of the Bath and Body Works bag.
"And cherry blossom bubble bath. Have you decided to get in touch with your feminine side, Ricky?" she teased.
"No. Those aren't mine. They're… Beckett's." Rick admitted. Ah, the detective.
"Hmm. So that's who the books are for? And I'm guessing that's who's in your shower right now too…" Paula surmised suggestively, picking up on the faint sound of a running shower in the background.
"She's staying with me because her apartment was blown up," Rick justified a little too quickly. "Nothing is going on."
"Sure hon," Paula said unconvinced. "Listen, I've got to run. I have a date, which I am now going to be late for because you urgently needed a copy of every single one of your novels."
"Thank you, Paula. This is important to her." Which meant it was important to him.
"Uh huh. You owe me."
"I'll make it up to you another time," he said, kissing her cheek.
"You'd better," Paula replied as she spun on a heel and left his loft.
Rick brought the box to the kitchen and gingerly unpacked the shiny hardcovers. He sat at the countertop with the novels, flipping through the crisp pages and ruminating over his past work, nostalgia dawning on him. He smiled at the dedications and the memories they brought, for each novel was dedicated to a special person who had greatly influenced his life.
He pulled out a sharpie and started autographing the title page of each book. He also took the time to write a special note to Kate in every single novel.
When Rick got to the brand new copy of Heat Wave, he wrote:
To Kate, because you inspired me. And you're my muse, but please don't break my legs.
Right as Rick finished signing the books, the doorbell buzzed again. The delivery guy dropped off the Chinese takeout and Rick paid and thanked him.
After he set the food on the counter, Rick began moving the freshly autographed novels to his bedroom to present to Kate. Bringing in the last stack of books, he couldn't help but notice the bright pink Victoria's Secret bags at the foot of his bed.
Curiosity getting the better of him, he decided to sneak a peek into the bags. He was so engrossed in his nosing around that he failed to notice the shower was no longer running and that Kate was standing in the doorway.
"Aha! I knew you couldn't resist looking," Kate exclaimed, as she walked over and snatched the bag away from him. He was caught red-handed like a deer in headlights, but quickly composed himself.
"You know," Rick said distractedly, "I said my favorite color was navy blue, not purple." His eyes roamed her under-dressed body appreciatively, as she was only wearing plum-colored lingerie and a floral kimono that was hanging dangerously open.
Kate re-tied the nightgown quickly before Rick could not-so-discreetly cop another look.
"I like the kimono though. Very sexy," Rick commented approvingly.
"Just like a good book: long enough to cover everything, but short enough to keep things interesting."
The hem of the garment barely covered her bottom, which afforded him a good look at her long, slender legs that would make a supermodel jealous.
Kate cocked an eyebrow at him. "Glad you like it. Pure silk. Cost $70."
"Worth every penny," Rick declared.
"Are you done poking through my stuff?"
"No, but I do have a reason why I'm here."
"And what's that, Rick?" Kate asked sarcastically. "To fantasize me wearing this stuff or 'research' for your Nikki Heat novels?"
"Tempting, but no." He pulled out a small, plastic box out of an Apple bag.
"I got you an iTouch at the Apple store while you were in Victoria's Secret. That way, you can get all the awesome apps they offer. Like the one Agent Shaw has," he said, referring to the high tech FBI gadgets.
"The fingerprint app? So cool. And of course, you can put your music on it. I already have 'Bohemian Rhapsody' downloaded onto it for you. Also, you can store your photos digitally. Your dad must have some pictures of your mother, and this way you can carry them around with you all the time," Rick explained his reasoning behind the gift.
"Oh wow. Thanks." She could tell he put a lot of thought into these gifts based on what she shared with him just that morning. It never ceased to amaze her how he could pivot from an immature playboy to such a sincere gentleman in a heartbeat.
"And…" Rick continued as he advanced towards the bed. "I got you books. My books," he said, gesturing to the stack of novels on the nightstand.
"I signed each one to you," he continued. "Paula dropped them off for me after I called her this morning. I know it's not the same as your old copies… but at least they're somewhat special."
Kate picked up the novel on the top of the stack: Heat Wave—the one that started it all. A smile tugged at her lips as she read the handwritten inscription made out to her. She loved how thoughtful Castle could be sometimes.
"Thank you Castle. That's so sweet." Her eyes sparkled as she smiled at him with a light hue of blush gracing her cheeks.
"It doesn't make up for what you lost, but I can try."
"This means a lot to me. Really." Kate moved over to hug him and tentatively wrapped her arms around him.
Pulling back so that she could see his face, only inches apart, Kate whispered, "thank you."
"You're welcome," Rick said. "And I'll get an advanced copy of Naked Heat for you once it's available. You'll be the first of the general public to read it."
"Naked Heat?" she frowned. And just like that, the tender moment was gone.
"Yep. That's the title of the next novel in my Nikki Heat series," he grinned giddily.
"Seriously? Now I am considering breaking your legs. Both of them," Kate threatened as she pulled away to make her way towards the kitchen for dinner.
"Oh, come on. It's the perfect title, now that Heat and Rook are together in both their unorthodox partnership and in bed," Rick argued as he accompanied her.
"How slutty are you trying to make me sound?" she chastised, opening the takeout containers. Kate deftly utilized chopsticks to dig into the meal.
"Artistic integrity," Rick levied in a sing-songy voice. "You didn't like the name Nikki Heat the first time you heard it either. But now, it has grown on you—admit it," he said cheekily.
"Ugh, you are incorrigible. How can you go from being a sweet, thoughtful guy to a juvenile ass in literally 5 minutes?"
"My readers would beg to differ," Rick defended.
"Half of your 'Castle groupies' are deranged fans. Why do so many people enjoy reading a novel about a detective hooking up with some hot-shot writer?"
"You tell me. You're a big fan of my work, aren't you?" Rick prodded.
"I am a fan… of the genre," Kate justified lamely. "I'm just saying, couldn't you tone down the promiscuity a little bit? The title is already exuding sex."
"No one wants to read about a boring, by-the-book cop. They like scandal. They like steamy, risqué scenes between two passionate, unlikely lovers," Rick described with a dramatic air inspired by his Broadway actress of a mother.
Kate rolled her eyes at his melodramatic description. They continued to eat their meals in between sniping each other over the merits of Castle's novel series.
"So what's coming up for them in Naked Heat? I hear there's a lot of hype for your next novel."
"You're a spoiler fiend?" Rick gasped. "I should have known; you subscribe to my website."
"Definitely not a spoiler fiend. Just a few details?" she probed innocently.
"I don't want to give away the plot. However, things between Heat and Rook really ignite. Page 105? There's a lot more of that in Naked Heat," he enticed suggestively.
A wave of boldness came over her. Kate got up to throw away her empty take-out box and sauntered over to Rick's chair. Two could play at this game.
Leveling with Rick, she reached an arm over his shoulder to grab the backrest and locked eyes with him, holding his gaze intensely.
"So since I am your inspiration, tell me Ricky..." she purred. "How exactly do I inspire you?" Kate said seductively, her lips inches away from his.
Rick had to flex his thigh to prevent blood from rushing to a certain body part.
"In so many ways, detective. In so many ways," he muttered. "You have more Nikki Heat in you than you think," Rick grinned.
Kate huffed, unable to get a rise out of him. "Hmmph. I'm going to go to sleep."
She backed off and headed to the bathroom to wash up.
After Kate finished brushing her teeth, she wandered over to Rick's room and found him arranging pillows on the bed.
Rick noticed her presence in the doorway. "You know... since my mother is out tonight and Alexis is visiting Meredith for spring break, you could sleep in either one of their rooms until they get back," he offered.
Kate chewed on her bottom lip and tried to think of a reason to stay.
"I like your bed better," she stated simply.
"Oh really? And why is that? Is it because of the person who's sleeping in the bed with you?" Rick grinned as he climbed in.
Kate rolled her eyes at him. Last night being cuddled up to him was really nice, but she would never admit as much.
"More like the 1500 thread count Egyptian cotton California king bed sheets," Kate retorted smartly as she climbed into the opposite side of the bed.
"Ouch I'm hurt," Rick feigned pain, clutching at his chest.
"What makes you think I would want to sleep next to you? You're a blanket hogger," she complained as he pulled the majority of the covers onto his side.
"Am not."
"Are too. Look, you're hogging all the sheets. I'm going to be blanketless at night," Kate lamented.
"What are you going to do about it?" Rick challenged. "You're going to have to move closer if you want to share the sheets." That was clearly the only feasible option.
"Maybe I will," she asserted defiantly.
Kate maneuvered herself closer to him as he draped an arm over her silk-covered waist and brought the sheets over the both of them. Rick enveloped her in his arms and pulled her close as she nestled into his body just like the night before, thoroughly pleased to be snuggled up to her again.
"Night Kate," he breathed softly into her ear.
"Good night Rick." She drifted off to sleep with a smile on her face.
I fell in love, in love with you suddenly
Now there's no place else I could be but here in your arms