Chapter 6 Morning After

Kate woke up feeling a slight buzz in her head along with a delicious ache that satiated the rest of her body. Her naked figure was intertwined with Rick's in a tangled mess underneath the sheets but she was warm, despite their lack of clothing. He was a human heat generator. He had his arms wrapped protectively around her, holding her tenderly, making her feel like she belonged.

Memories from last night flashed through her mind as she recollected in vivid detail the events that had transpired between them. She recalled him ravishing her lithe body in more ways than she could imagine in the wee hours of the morning. Kate bit her lip as she remembered his mouth leaving a trail of blazing kisses along her skin and her every nerve flaring as she arched in pure bliss. She had never felt more on fire.

And then it really hit her. Oh god, what did we do?

Frantically thinking to herself, she tried to rationalize her actions. It was late and we had a lot of wine to drink. We just closed the case, so we were both on an adrenaline high. As long as this doesn't happen again…

God, these morning afters are awkward. Well, I wouldn't really know because I've never had a one night stand…

She honestly hadn't. Not that she was a prude, but Kate selected her lovers carefully. Usually it took a long time before she trusted the other person enough to establish a romantic relationship, much less a sexual one. Nothing in her life was based on rash, impulsive decisions.

But then along came Rick Castle, who just had to upset the apple cart by driving her crazy and making her want him. After a year of swearing that nothing would ever happen between them here she was, in his bed after a night of incredible sex. Now how did this happen…

Blinking a few times groggily, Rick woke up, sensing the presence of a warm body next to him. He remembered the advent of the previous night where he and Kate took a huge, irrevocable step in their relationship. Things were a little blurry, but he replayed what he could remember in his head.

Closing the case, drinking some wine, talking about sparkling eyes. Then sheer unadulterated ecstasy.

Somehow they ended up in bed together for a night that neither of them would forget. He realized that he was spooning her like they had done many nights previously, but this time completely naked. Rick pulled her close to him, relishing the feeling of her bare skin against his.

"Morning," he breathed into her ear, interrupting her mile-a-minute thoughts, sending a shiver down her spine. His husky morning voice immediately turned her on, reigniting the heat that they had shared last night. It was incredibly sexy.

Kate turned around to face him.

"Morning," she replied tentatively. Kate blinked at him a few times.

"So we uh…" she stuttered awkwardly, motioning between them.

"Um, yeah. We did," he admitted sheepishly.

Eying her closely, Rick observed her expression to try and read into what she was thinking.

"That must have been some wine," Kate joked. "I might not have done this completely sober."

Her words stung. Was this a mistake? Because it definitely didn't feel like one to him. Did she think it was?

Rick started to apologize. "I'm sorry Kate," he said sincerely.

Kate cut him off. "Don't apologize. I think we've both been wanting this," she assuaged his doubts, admitting her long suppressed attraction to him.

"It was bound to happen with us living in such close proximity to each other." She looked up at him with a mix of embarrassment and happiness.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. It's just one night," she tried to rationalize.

"I hope this doesn't mess things up between us…" Rick offered carefully.

"No, no. I just can't believe… it's barely been a week and you already got me into bed," Kate said playfully, ashamed that she was unable to resist him. Apparently she wasn't immune to the infamous Rick Castle charm.

Normally she would be shy and reserved in this type of situation, but it was Rick, her partner of two years, and he was looking at her with such earnest eyes that was bringing out this girly, flirty side of her.

His ruffled bedhead, the morning-after glow, and his intoxicating scent were really doing it for her too.

"Well technically we slept together on the very first night," Rick chuckled, referring to their unconventional sleeping arrangements.

He cupped her cheek and brought his lips to hers readily, craving the feel of her soft lips against his. After just one night he was already getting addicted to kissing her and being completely tangled up with her.

If last night wasn't a mistake, which she didn't seem to think, he wanted more of that incredible pleasure. She could feel the smile on his lips as he kissed her.

Kate smiled into the kiss as she allowed his lips to guide her own. It should be awkward being with a brand new lover but for some reason she was already so comfortable with him, so ready to give herself to him and let him explore her body. He trailed his hand down the curve of her hip, brushing her hip bone with his thumb.

He deepened the kiss, begging for entrance into her mouth as he ran his tongue across her bottom lip. Granting it, she parted her lips as he delved in, rendering her helpless as he deftly explored her mouth with his tongue, expertly sucking and tasting her. A moan escaped her mouth and reverberated deliciously in his throat.

Rick reluctantly ended the drugging kiss with a content sigh. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes to look into her inquisitive ones.

"So what does this mean for us?" he asked quietly.

Kate hesitated with cheeks flushed from the deeply consuming kiss. She was dreading that inevitable conversation.

"I don't know…" she averted her gaze and gnawed at her bottom lip, a habit of hers he always found so sexy.

"So are we a thing…?" Rick questioned.

"We are..." Kate faced him again. "I don't know what we are. Let's not talk about this right now, please?" Her eyes implored him.

She was avoiding. Sidestepping all the questions that she couldn't answer. They would have to talk about it eventually, but that was something she really didn't want to do right now, especially while they were both still naked in his bed.

Kate needed time to think about the ramifications of their actions—how this would affect their partnership and relationship in general. If it was a one-time thing or something more. If she was ready to start something with him.

But no matter what, things wouldn't go back to what they were. Things were definitely going to change, and she wasn't quite ready to deal with it yet.

"Okay…" Rick acquiesced, caressing her cheek gently with his thumb. He accepted that she wanted to think things over first. It was a Kate Beckett thing and he respected that.

But there was still one question lingering in the back of his mind. He was almost scared to ask her because he was afraid of what she would answer, but his need to know got the better of him.

Hesitantly he asked, "You don't regret it, do you?"

"No, god no," Kate insisted. "It was amazing," she said, smiling. "I can't remember the last time I had sex as good as last night."

"Hmm… good. Last night was incredible for me too," Rick murmured as he brushed his lips to hers again. Kissing her was addicting. Her lips were a drug that he just couldn't get enough of.

He maneuvered himself so that he was on top of her, grinding his body into hers, maximizing their skin to skin contact. She loved feeling the weight of him press down on her, especially his bare flesh. Her hands roamed his broad back and exposed figure, getting to know the most intimate aspects of his physique.

The fire inside Kate grew hotter as their kisses became deeper and more passionate. He kissed down the column of her neck to her collarbone, making her moan. She grabbed his back in futility, finding only ridges of strong, well-developed muscles. There was something else already hard in between their legs.

"Care for a repeat of last night?" Rick asked breathlessly between kisses.

Kate replied by flipping them over so she was on top, straddling him.

"You bet," she smirked with a seductive glint in her eye.

And with that, the flame between the two was once more ignited.

Throwing all rational thought out the window, Kate let the passion consume her. Their bodies connected as one again with the heat of their lovemaking mixing together to match the sparks of their fiery relationship.

I'm on fire, when you're near me

I'm on fire, when you speak

And I'm on fire, burning at these mysteries