A/N: Sorry for dragging my feet, will do my best to post sooner.

Chapter Five

He's standing on the side walk, watching her fold the sleeves of her shirt up her arms, as she talks to a uniform. Detective Beckett after closing a case. He can see the lightness in the way she carries herself. Unburdened. Amazing. He just wants to sit in his office with his laptop and write.

He honestly feels like he's going to burst. There is this thing between them, it started last night during dinner and just kept getting more intense and now he's buzzing with it. The way she looks at him, the way she touches him, even if it is to punish him, he just…he wants more. But this first, he has to ask her.

Their guy is on his way to the precinct, wrapped with a confession procured courtesy of himself and it was so cool to be part of it all, minus being held at gun point of course, although that was pretty cool too. Take that Patterson.

Kate smiles and nods at the officer she's talking to before turning to find him watching her, and he can't even bring himself to pretend he wasn't just creepily staring, but it doesn't seem to bother her, her gaze holding his for a few seconds before she says something to whomever she was talking to and starts walking towards him.

"You're still here," it's a statement but her tone is friendly, eyes alight and she's even smiling at him so she must not be all that annoyed at his presence.

"I still had to ask you," he smiles at her all knowingly.

"Ask me?"

"If you would like to come over for dinner at the loft. Mother and Alexis cooked and asked me to invite you."

She crosses her arms over her chest, "They did?" she asks not really believing him.

He lifts his hands in supplication, "I swear, they even said it's the least I should do since you've had to put up with me," he explains, his tone indignant.

"I think I deserve more than a dinner for that," she grins.

"Oh please. If anything, you should be buying me dinner, I got you a confession," he knows his grin is smug but he really likes needling her and he does feel awesome about that confession, "Admit it Detective, you wouldn't have solved this one without me."

She considers him for a moment then rolls her eyes, "Maybe."

"Why Detective Beckett, was that an almost compliment?" he asks with mock shock.

She grins again, "Don't get used to it."

"Wouldn't dare. So, will you come?"

"Did Martha and Alexis really ask?"

The way she asks it a little insecure, so unlike her, makes him just want to erase it. He steps into her space a little, "Trust me Kate, if this was my idea I wouldn't want to share you with them."

She hates how he can rile her up like that, how she can't help the way her eyes flicker down to his lips when he looks at her like that, but before she can say anything he steps back and grins at her infuriatingly, like he knows.

"Come on, a home cooked meal, although the quality will depend on who does the cooking, and I do promise good wine."

"Okay," she's been saying that to him a lot lately and it is definitely not okay.

It turns out to be so much fun. Alexis is sweet and intelligent and it makes her wonder what Castle must be like as a dad to raise such a great daughter; Martha…is this peculiar combination of elegance and dramatic that is both fun and a little exhausting to be around. But Castle is actually the one that surprises her most, he's quiet all through dinner and it's a bit unnerving. He keeps giving her these soft looks while she talks to his family and she doesn't know what to make of it, so she does her best to pretend that she doesn't notice.

Castel and Alexis end up taking care of the dishes while she and Marth hang close around the kitchen island sipping on their wine. It feels cozy and effortless…something she hasn't experienced in a very long time.

"You know I played a Detective once on a TV show," Martha informs her.

"Oh? How did that go?"

Martha smiles at the memory, "I think I had maybe three lines in the whole thing, and it was this god awful show that didn't re-,"

"As opposed to what mother?" Castle pipes in from next to them as he nudges Alexis with his elbow but Alexis shakes her head at him.

Beckett is biting her lip in an attempt not to laugh at their banter. She didn't think that this is how Castle's family would be like, but she likes them. She really likes them.

"Oh, shush Richard, you know TV was never my thing. I belong to Broadway," she defends with flourish.

"I think my parents went to one of your plays," her dad mentioned it when she told him about meeting Castle and his family over the phone a couple days ago, "He said they really liked it."

"Oh, we have to keep this one Richard," Marth smiles warmly at her, cheeks coloring a little.

Before she can even reply, Alexis jumps in, smiling at her over her shoulder, "I second that."

Castle chuckles and turns towards her grinning, hands still holding the dripping dish he was rinsing, "That's up to her."

She stays. She could have left once Alexis went up to her room to study and she could have left once his mother grabbed her coat and hugged her goodbye told her not to be a stranger. But she's still here, sitting on his couch with him, facing each other and she can't think of a single reason to leave.

"So how goes the book?"

"Finished two chapters already," he sips at his wine.

Her head jerks up, "Yeah? Can I read them?"

"No."

"Why not?" and she doesn't love the whine that crack her voice.

"It's a rough draft, I haven't even sent it to my publisher."

She purses his lip, "Fine," there is a lull of silence between them but then she starts tracing the stitching of the sofa's cushion with her thumb, "So…this character you're basing on me. How much do I have to worry about that?"

He gives her an amused look, reaches for her hand flipping it over and starts tracing the lines on her palm, he watches as she stares at their hands then back at him when he speaks, "You have nothing to be worried about. She's going to be this really smart, very savvy Detective…"

She blushes at the faraway look on his face as he describes the character based on her.

His eyes meet hers again and he lowers his voice to that tone that he knows effect her just by the way her eyes darken every time he does it, "With hunting good-looks, really good at her job and…kind of slutty."

"Castle!" She pulls her hand from his, frowning at him.

"I'm joking," he grins at her, "Sort of."

"You're such an ass."

"Yeah that seems to be a popular opinion these days," He says dismissively as he pours himself half a glass, offers to fill her empty one.

She purses her lips to hide the smile at his self-deprecating comment and covers her glass declining his offer, "I should go. It's getting late."

She can see it in his eyes, he doesn't want her to leave but he nods politely. She can't really say she wants to leave either, but it is getting late and no good can come from staying.

She stands and walks to the door after putting on her jacket, "Well Castle, it was good having you around for this one."

He grins and extends his hand for her to shake, "It's been the pleasure of a life time Detective."

She grins at the memory those words bring until he flips her hand in his and bends to touch his lips to her knuckles and her heart stutters.

When he straightens up he finds her gaze on his lips, her hand is still in his and he can't help it anymore, not when she's looking at him like that, not when she's this close. He gently tugs at her hand, still grasped in his, giving her a chance to pull away if she wants but that never happens. Their lips brush and he loves the way he can feel her breath catching.

"Castle," she whispers against his lips softly.

He's not sure if it's a warning or an invitation, "I don't want you to go," his lips brush hers once again before closing over her bottom lip softly, just for a second, but then she's right there with him, her hand finds its way around his nape to keep him in place as she brings him back to her, her lips incessant against his. She arches against him when he touches his tongue to the seam of her lips, can't help the way she moans into his mouth.

He groans in response, his hands squeezing hard at her hips. She's going to kill him.

Her hands fist in his shirt pulling him closer and he takes the hint and presses against her, lips detaching from his as her back hits the door behind her. His lips everywhere, already trailing the sharp line of her jaw, down her neck and then she feels him slowing down, sucking gently on her pulse and she bites back the whimper lodged in her throat.

Her hands slide up his chest threading through his hair to drag him back to her lips keeping him close even as she pushes against him until he starts walking backwards, the hands on her hips keeping her against him and suddenly the backs of his legs hit the sofa, he drops down on the couch and she doesn't even hesitate before she's straddling him, both of them groan at the pressure when she settles over him.

His lips find her neck again, "Kate," he husks against her skin making her dig her nails into the side of his neck; he drags his teeth against the column of her throat in retaliation, "God, I want you. I wanted to do this forever."

She can't help the way her hips jerk against him, how his words have the heat unfurling in her blood, "Me too."

He captures her lips at that, sucks on her bottom lip.

Her hands find the buttons of his shirt starts to unfasten them, and then her phone vibrates cruelly against her hip. She groans as she breaks the kiss, her forehead against his; her breath against his lips. "Phone," her voice comes out way breathier than it should be.

"Ignore it," he demands, hands already tightening against her hips, tugging her against him; she bites her lip. Jesus, she already loves his hands.

"I can't. On call. Just…let me see who it is, maybe it's not the precinct," please let it not be the precinct. She reaches for the phone clasped to her belt and then she jolts off his lap startling him, "It's the Captain," she clears her throat and presses the button. "Beckett."

"Yeah," she says tentative.

Castle drops his head against the back of the couch and sighs.

She's watches him as she distractedly listens to Montgomery going on about Precinct stats and how they are not at their best, but all she can think about is how she's aching to unbutton those two buttons she didn't manage to get to before, how she wants to get back to the warmth of his skin under her palms.

"Uhh yes. Yes, sir I know," she nods absentmindedly. Rick lefts his head to look at her, his eyes roam over her and she feels it as if he's touching her. Then she blinks at what the Captain is suddenly hurriedly trying to explain. "What?" she asks incredulous.

There is a beat of silence, "He did what?" she hisses into the phone but not before giving him a glare that feels like a damn bucket of ice water.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Bob must have made that call, he didn't even get a chance to explain. She has her back to him now, voice quiet but commanding as she argues with Montgomery. Yeah this's not going to end well for him.

She turns to look back at him but he carefully avoids her eyes, "Sir no. Absolutely not." She paces a couple of steps and he watches as her jaw tightens in response to whatever Montgomery says, anger seeping out of her and nostrils flared.

"Roy, I understand but why does it have to be me?" even as she says it she feels like a child arguing against some unfair punishment imposed by her parents. It certainly feels like a punishment.

"Yes, I did. But that didn't mean I wanted him to tag along every damn case," she exclaims.

She grinds her teeth, "Yes sir," then she ends the call; takes a deep breath before turning around to find him already standing by the couch where she was just in his lap. God, she feels stupid.

"Kate, I can explain."

"It's all a big joke to you, isn't it?" she can't even look at him, "You think what I do is just there for you to amuse yourself with."

"No Kate, I swear, I was going to talk to you about it," he takes a few steps towards her.

"Then why didn't you," she bites and he freezes.

"I was waiting for the right time, I was worried that you would just say no and this is important," he tries to tentatively explain but it doesn't sound right, not at all worthy.

"So what, you just go over my head?" she hisses.

"No, I honestly didn't know Bob would call Montgomery this fast, I thought I had time to discuss it with you first."

"You shouldn't have even talked to Bob before talking to me!" her voice gets louder, but then she sees his eyes flicker to the stairs. Shit Alexis. She completely forgot about his daughter. His daughter who is upstairs and she was just straddling her dad in the middle of his living room, what the hell is wrong with her. She pinches the bridge of her nose.

She turns around, looking for her jacket, finds it in a pile on the floor, she picks it up.

"No Kate, wait. Please. Let's just talk about this."

"Too late Castle," she says already half way out of his loft.

A/N: Thank you guys for reading and reviewing. You are awesome.

wendykw: Thank you for the review, I'm glad you're enjoying the story. Oh she would definitely smack him :p

MaryFan1: Thank you very much, I appreciate the reviews and you reading this story as well hope you liked this one.

Manxkid: Thank you! hope you liked this one as well.

DREAMWRITER 08: I hope you had a good weekend as well and thanks a lot for the review, hope you enjoy the rest of the story.

Guest no. 1: Many thanks :)

TORONTOSUN: I hope you liked this one

bponder: Me too my friend, me too! Thanks for the review

NYAZ: Thank you so much, I' glad for that and I hope you like the rest of the story too. :)

life's a mystery: Love shy Kate too. Thanks for reading and reviewing, hope you liked this chapter.

blodi52: Thank you! hope you liked the rest of it as well.

Castle4Eva: Welcome aboard! Thanks for the reviews! Made my day. I hope you like the rest of the story too. I think it might be two more chapters. Thinking of making some changes .

sasans: hey there! Thanks for the reading :)

BKeh: Thank you very much! I really appreciate it, hope you enjoyed this one too.

Guest no. 2: Thank you so much for the awesome review I hope you enjoy the rest of the story!

Guest no. 3: Thank you thank you

GT500RonSmith: Welcome aboard. Thank you for the reviews! Huh I thought I mentioned Remy's! my bad but yeah has to be that. I hope you liked this one.

3rdfah: Thank you very much :)

SusanCastleFan49: I'm really glad, thank you very much for the review and I hope you liked this one.