And then she's standing in front of the man who has her twisted up in knots, her heart yearning for the impossible, wishing she was a better person; her body tingling in awareness of him, desiring to just jump his bones.
"And here's the man of the evening," she jests, a smile lurking at the corner of her lips. "The one man whom I'm afraid will be in such high demand tonight that I won't be able to afford him."
His laughter's deep, booming and the definition of sexy; his eyes crinkling at the corners from his splitting grin, making him look even more dashing.
"And you, my lovely lady," his hand catches hers and raises it to his lips, "are the one woman I'd be afraid would have your wicked way with me and leave me utterly bereft in the morning."
"Mmm," she eyes him up and down like he's a fine piece of art on display. "I gather it would be extremely difficult for any woman to leave you in the morning, Castle, and if I happened to end up leaving you alone, all tempting and tousled asleep in bed, it would have to be for a very good reason."
"And I'd be willing to wait patiently for your explanation, as long as I knew you'd eventually open up and explain everything to me."
"What if I felt like I didn't have a choice? Or – " her lips quirk in a teasing fashion, "I didn't believe you could handle the truth?"
His eyes lock onto hers like a torpedo closing in on its target. "I'd be willing to handle anything you threw my way. All you have to do is let your guard down and give this humble author a chance."
"You, humble?" she chuckles, "That's certainly one of the last terms I'd use to describe you."
His eyes open wide and his mouth downturns into a quirky pout as if he's officially offended."Then how would you describe me?"
"Arrogant, intelligent, and with those gorgeous eyes you're definitely a pretty-boy, …"
"Take that back," he demands.
"Not on your life," she teases and then continues sincerely, "You're a man with a heart as big as his stature, and an unsurpassed way with women that makes them wonder where you've been hiding their entire lives."
"I haven't been hiding, Kate," and his voice softens, mesmerizing in its truthfulness. "I've been waiting for you."
Gawd, and there he goes again, spouting poetic words that strike her straight through the heart and inflame her soul.
Could the man get any more desirable?
"Are you always this smooth with the ladies, Castle?"
"Not always, only the ones who have captivated me beyond all thought and reason, and you happen to hold that honor. I've fallen under your spell, Katherine Beckett," and her blood sizzles as his words whisper along her flesh. "You have bewitched me both body and soul."
It takes everything in her not to grab his hand and haul his ass out of line, declaring to all these single, prowling women that he's officially off the market.
Mmm, maybe she should just haul him to the nearest alcove, beg his forgiveness for running out on him, and prove (the naughtier the better) just how much he means to her.
"I have to give credit where credit is due. You certainly live up to your reputation as a ladies-man."
His voice is as smooth and rich as creamy butter. "You should know better than anyone else that reputations can be misleading."
"I have to agree with you there."
Oh shit, the red-headed skank's moved on from Doctor Davidson and he's suddenly turned their way. By the way the Doctor's eyeing her up and down, eyes narrowing in appreciation, Montgomery had correct intel on him that he prefers long-legged brunettes.
"Please give me an honest answer, Mister Castle," she asks almost coldly, hating how she's suddenly forced into being more business-like towards Rick, but she honestly doesn't have a choice now as Davidson's listening intently to their conversation. "Why should I bid on you tonight?"
"Did you get my message?" he asks quietly, shooting death glares the Doctor's way.
"Yes," she chuckles, "half of New York saw your message… I don't think any man has ever been that creative before in getting my attention."
His hands curl around her waist, squeezing possessively while he draws her close to his body. His expensive aftershave, combined with his own earthy, masculine scent drifts through her nostrils and makes her heady, downright horny. She inhales deeply, craving to hold his particular scent with her as long as possible.
"That's why, Kate," he purrs seductively into her ear. "My life's missing something infinitely significant without you a part of it."
Her fingers trickle over the back of his hand as she looks at him passionately. "Please trust me tonight," and then she's turning away from, flashing a dazzling smile at the Doctor next to him who just happens to not be able to take his eyes off her.
… (Rick's POV)
Contrary to popular belief, he really hates wearing tuxedos. They're too stuffy and constricting plus difficult to remove in the throes of passion.
For all the times he's had to dress up and be the life of the party, entertaining fans plus high and mighty book publishers, you'd think by now he'd enjoy getting decked out and feeling dapper, but his heart's not in it.
Not tonight ... When the only thing on his mind is a scintillating woman with a tragic past who has him upside down and inside out, not knowing how to reach her.
How he wished he would've backed out of this Charity function, but the hospital board had contacted Gina five months ago and asked for his participation and at this late notice, it would be just plain rude not to attend. Couple that with the fear of the monstrous fallout from his ex-wife, canceling wasn't an option.
Now he's listening to identical twins (who have as many brain cells as a gnat) drone on and on about how big fans they are, how they read each of his Derek Storm novels together and what a travesty it was that he decided to kill off Big, Bad Storm.
"Yeah, it was the saddest day of our lives."
"Yep, the saddest but you can certainly make it up to us," Penelope whines while grabbing hold of his bicep, her fingers molding over the muscle.
"We've heard through the elite grapevine you're looking for inspiration for your new novel and who would be better than identical twins?" Priscilla smiles seductively, making her intentions perfectly clear.
"After we win you tonight, you can come back to our penthouse and ask us any questions you want."
"I'm flattered ladies, I really am," Rick replies, and pauses, because he can't very well say, 'and even if I was able to get out of my head a dangerous-to-my-heart-vixen, I wouldn't take you up on your offer.'
"If I was fifteen years younger I'd jump at the chance for a private session with you both, but I just don't think my middle aged heart could survive the attentions of Prissy," he flashes first Priscilla his signature smile, and then looks over at her twin, "and Poppie."
Penelope laughs gaily at his nicknames and before he can protest, she's grabbed him around the neck and her thin lips are pursed on his cheek. "Don't worry, Ricky, we bring our own supply of heart-safe Viagra."
Bloody hell, can the line please move a little faster?
He breathes a huge sigh of relief when a cougar in her late forties asks the twins politely to move forward as they're holding up the line.
He's actually enjoying the conversation with the spirited Scientologist when something draws his attention to the women waiting in line.
And it's certainly not just something which grabs his attention, but someone.
He wonders how it's possible for her to be even more alluring than he remembers her, but she is, - with minimal make-up, straight hair, wearing a simple, Grecian slip-on maxi dress that falls to the tip of her silver stilettos, the color of the fabric the same color as his eyes.
Gawd, he's never been happier to see anyone in his life and he's sure his smile reflects it as he nods his head towards her in acknowledgement.
He's finding it difficult to pay attention to the cougar in front of him as his heart patters out of control at the possibility she could have very possibly come here tonight with the sole purpose of buying him.
A smile cracks the corners of his mouth as turnabout is fair play, but the realist in him stamps out the idea and relies more on the possibility of coincidence.
Pure and simple coincidence.
Or, his romantic side argues, the fates are intervening in our lives.
No matter the reason, he's simply overjoyed she's here tonight and right now, he honestly doesn't care if she's here as Diamond or Kate or whoever, as long as he gets to spend some time with her.
He's pathetically antsy; he's rocking occasionally on the soles of his feet, and his palms are starting to sweat and since when did a woman make him feel like he's an insecure teenager all over again?
He's considerate to the pretty red-head who is obviously interested in him, but he strains to hear Kate's conversation with the fireman on his right who looks like he stepped off a Celebrity Calendar.
He grins outlandishly when he hears her say, "Sorry Justin, you aren't my type. I prefer a man with a stimulating intellect over one who spends half his day in the gym trying to impress Playboy-Centerfold-Wannabes."
The smoky red-head's voice draws him back to her and Celeste begins asking about his life as a writer, how many years has he been in the business, and exactly how many books has he written?
He briefly states he's been fascinated with writing since his early teens but didn't attempt to publish any of his works until college and today, he's happy to say, that he's written twenty six books.
He feels like gloating, as Kate is eyeing the strawberry blond cooly, assessing her assessing him, and by the impatient glare in her eyes and her stiff body language, she's not happy that Celeste is showing this much interest in him.
His cock throbs at the notion that she just might be jealous.
And yes, thank the Lord, her jealousy is confirmed when she growls through clenched teeth, "We only have three minutes with each bachelor and it happens to be my turn now to speak with Mister Castle."
Celeste breathes under her breathe, "the nerve of some women," and then moves onto the dark, brooding man to the left of him who he understands is a doctor.
"And here's the man of the evening," Kate jests, looking as sexy as a supermodel and as lovely as a bed of wildflowers dotting a hillside. Hell, he certainly wants to pickher flowers.
"The one man whom I'm afraid will be in such high demand tonight that I won't be able to afford him."
He can't stop the laughter from breaking free as she simply amazes him by keeping him on his toes, giving new meaning to the term 'verbal foreplay'.
Before he can think about his response, the words are falling out of his mouth, "And you, my lovely lady," his hand catches hers and raises it to his lips, "are the one woman I'd be afraid would have your wicked way with me and leave me utterly bereft in the morning."
"Mmm," she eyes him up and down like he's a fine piece of art on display. "I gather it would be extremely difficult for any woman to leave you in the morning, Castle, and if I happened to end up leaving you alone, all tempting and tousled asleep in bed, it would have to be for a very good reason."
"And I'd be willing to wait patiently for your explanation, as long as I knew you'd eventually open up and explain everything to me."
Oh,he's put her on the spot and he can see the wheels of motion turning around in that beautiful head of hers, frantically trying to determine what to say to him.
"What if I felt like I didn't have a choice? Or – " her lips quirk in a teasing fashion, "I didn't believe you could handle the truth?"
His eyes find hers, and he can easily see the underlying insecurity in their depths. "I'd be willing to handle anything you threw my way. All you have to do is let your guard down and give this humble author a chance."
"You, humble?" she chuckles, "That's certainly one of the last terms I'd use to describe you."
He plays like he's offended, the little minx,as he happens to be the most humble author in his elite circle of friends.
He can't resist the temptation of delving further and trying to find out just how deep her feelings run for him, so he asks slyly, "Then how would you describe me?"
"Arrogant, intelligent, and with those gorgeous eyes you're definitely a pretty-boy, …"
"Take that one back," he demands teasingly, secretly loving the give and take that comes naturally between them.
"Not on your life," Kate teases, all flirty voice and come-hither smile. "You're a man with a heart as big as his stature, and an unsurpassed way with women that makes them wonder where you've been hiding their entire lives."
His heart jumps at her words; a flash of hope,bright and immense, threads through his entire being.
"I haven't been hiding, Kate," and his voice softens as he throws caution to the wind, exposing his vulnerability. "I've been waiting for you."
Her eyes open wide in surprise, and her lips part softly as his words soak in, sinking home.
"Are you always this smooth with the ladies, Castle?"
He decides to go for broke by saying, "Not always, only the ones who have captivated me beyond all thought and reason, and you happen to hold that honor. I've fallen under your spell, Katherine Beckett. You have bewitched me both body and soul."
He doesn't think he's ever seen anyone so beautiful in his life as at that moment. Her eyes fill with moisture, making them glisten an unusual shade of green, reminding him of a rare emerald. The stars in the dusk night shimmer through the full length glass windows, making her skin appear ethereal, casting her lips in a tempting hue of pink; lips he knows he'll never tire of kissing.
It takes everything in him not to say, "To hell with this auction,"and drag her away somewhere, anywhere they can be alone.
"I have to give credit where credit is due. You certainly live up to your reputation as a ladies-man."
"You should know better than anyone else that reputations can be misleading."
"I have to agree with you there."
He's surprised by her quick and easy agreement but his thoughts are pulled away from her momentarily as they notice Celeste moving on from the Doctor. By the way the dark man's eyes alight on Kate, he's preferential to brunettes, (hell, a man who swears he only dates blonds could very easily change his mind upon seeing Miss Beckett) and in that moment, he senses a barrier going up around her, an immovable iron fence that cages Kate inside, bringing back to life the illustrious Diamond.
"Please give me an honest answer, Mister Castle," she says matter-of-factly. "Why should I bid on you tonight?"
"Did you get my message?" he asks quietly, shooting the Doctor a, didn't-your-mother-ever-teach-you-it's-bad-manners-to-listen-into-someone-else's-conversation, glare.
"Yes," she chuckles half-heartedly, "half of New York saw your message… I don't think any man has ever been that creative before in getting my attention."
He can't let her get away from him tonight without her knowing, undoubtedly, how she's affected him so he captures her waist, squeezing possessively while he draws her close.
Gawd, she feels amazing and the blood pours south as his fingers dig into her hourglass figure... If he lets his right hand slide just a little lower, his thumb would reside over her sensual tattoo.
"That's why, Kate," he purrs seductively into her ear. "My life's missing something infinitely significant without you a part of it."
Her fingers slide over the back of his hand as she pulls back from him. Her eyes blaze passionately as she whispers, "Please trust me tonight," and then she's turning away from, flashing a dazzling smile to the next bachelor in line.
And he's left with a hollowness he didn't expect as soon as her full attention is drawn elsewhere.
...
Coming up next chappie, the auction