**A very special thanks to FDWojo for rescuing me & Diamond this past Monday**
...
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.
...
Rick doesn't like how the dark eyes of the swarthy Doctor keep cascading over Kate's body, doesn't like his eager laugh or zealous mannerisms towards her and he sure as hell doesn't like her flirting with the man.
And there's no other word for it than flirt as she bats her eyelashes at him and asks what his specialty is in the medical field, all in that delicious Diamond voice that makes every muscle in his body achingly aware of her.
He's trying to pay attention to the shy woman in front of him but becomes distracted as soon as he hears the Doctor ask her her name.
Kate holds out her slender fingers to grasp Davidson's in a handshake and replies, "Houghton, Houghton Beckett."
What the hell's going on?
But he doesn't have time to analyze why Kate's given this hoity toity gentleman her middle name because the Mayor's suddenly snuck up on him and slapped him hard on the back, saying how wonderful it is to see such a great citizen of New York willing to sacrifice his time, among other things, (cough) for the good of the Presbyterian Children's hospital.
He's grateful the Mayor whisks him out of line so he doesn't have to humor anymore man-hungry women and by the time they've talked about each of their families, touched briefly on politics, plus Rick's upcoming poker game, he slyly asks the Mayor for a small favor.
"No favor is ever small where your concerned," he chuckles.
"This one is just a tiny one, I promise. Do you see the striking brunette in the sky blue dress near the bar?"
"Yes, she'd be hard to miss." At Rick's quirked eyebrow and haughty grin, the Mayor continues, "and get your head out of the clouds as she's way out of your league."
Rick guffaws, "Don't I know it. Her name is Houghton Beckett and I need to know her auction number."
"Oh, you lucky bastard, you. You've already made a move on her, haven't you?"
"Something like that... I'm hoping I don't crash and burn tonight."
On the other hand, I'm hoping she burns beneath my fingertips all night long.
"Sure, I'll find out for you, but you owe me another MacCallan whiskey."
"It'll be on your desk tomorrow."
As Rick heads back stage, he sees Kate with a voluptuous African American woman who's thrown her head back and is laughing gaily.
Kate seems to be a bit peeved as she rolls her eyes dramatically and huffs something, but the next moment she's smiling warmly at the woman before linking her arm through hers. Together, they walk to the center of aisle three, a place he notices, with a great view of the men on display.
By the time he learns her number is 22, the auction is ready to begin and the last words she said to him, "Please trust me tonight," keep rolling around and around in his head.
...
When the announcer, a flamboyant gay man who's having the time of his life prodding and complimenting the bachelors, calls Richard Castle's name, her heart thumps like she's just sprinted a mile.
"Here we have a celebrity amongst our midst, ladies," the announcer declares. "Richard Edgar Castle, the master of the macabre, the author of the Derrick Storm mystery novels. And I have to point out," he dramatically gives Castle the once-over, "this man looks like he could certainly take a lady by storm." His hand quickly begins fanning his face which pulls a riotous laugh from the crowd.
"Turn around, big guy and show off the merchandise."
"Oh my God," Lanie hisses, "You've been holding out on me, Katherine Beckett. That man is beyond dreamy with those eyes and that bod. His sexual magnetism is off the charts. I could spend hours eating him alive, one sweet morsel at a time."
"I know you could," Kate chuckles, "but you certainly don't need the White Whale as you have your own bit of Hispanic paradise."
"I do and Javier keeps me very satisfied. Doesn't mean I can't look at some almond candy now and then and fantasize. Damn girl, he's one fine piece of ass."
If you only knew, Kate thinks, envisioning his broad chest looming over her, eyes scintillating with desire as his erect cock pulses against her pelvis.
A hot flash assails her, suffusing heat throughout her entire body, and she suddenly finds herself mimicing the announcer by fanning her own face.
"Now I understand why you needed my help tonight. You certainly don't want any other woman getting her claws into your man."
At Kate's exasperated look, Lanie laughs, "Don't worry, I won't invade your territory, just trample over it a bit."
Kate chuckles, "As long as you don't sample him, we're good."
She can't tear her eyes from the stage as Castle's actually preening, grinning like he's the man-of-the-hour, and with that coal black tuxedo fitting him like a glove, he looks like he deserves the title, like he just walked off the front page of GQ magazine.
He brushes his hand through his thick as molasses hair before unbuttoning the three buttons on his jacket and playfully removing it from off his shoulders, swinging it around in a circle before tossing it out into the crowd.
The announcer wolf whistles and pronounces, "This one is all man and I'm betting, dear ladies, worth every penny."
His Armani jacket lands on a seventy year old woman sitting across the aisle from her. She mutters, "Ohhh my," and Kate wouldn't be surprised if she happened to faint from the gesture.
Rick flexes his muscles teasingly and parades around on stage, making sure his hard ass is the focus of attention, simply entrancing the crowd, the edible man.
Lanie practically swoons as she says, "You have your hands full with this one, Kate."
"Don't I know it."
Castle finally catches her gaze and fearlessly winks at her, throwing her a, I'm-all-yours-tonight-if-you'll-just-have-me, smooth smile.
"We're going to start the bidding at $5,000.00 to purchase a date with a piece of New York history. Bidding will jump up in $500.00 increments."
Before the bidding begins, the older woman says loudly, "That man is a catch. If I was twenty years younger I'd be all over him. "
I couldn't agree with you more, and by the time the bidding's up to $7,000.00, Kate raises her number.
...
He's in his element, displayed like a piece of meat at the local farmer's market.
Forty pairs of feminine eyes are boring into him, watching his every move, basking in every smile, judging his physique and secretly wondering if the rumors about his prowess are true.
But there's only one pair of eyes he cares about.
Kate.
He's enjoying showing off to the crowd, making a spectacle of himself, unbuttoning his jacket and slinging it towards an elderly lady who looks like she hasn't been on a date in this century.
He's relishing showing off his muscular form.
For her.
God, it's a unique combination of thrilling plus challenging, trying to impress one particular stubborn, extraordinarily beautiful woman.
She's sitting on the end of a center aisle, next to the bubbly African-American and by her restrained smile, she's trying hard not to laugh at his antics.
Trying and succeeding.
He hopes to get a rise out of her by posing like he's a body builder but she only purses her lips, looking like she's wondering why she finds him so attractive, and shakes her head from side to side.
At least the gay announcer appreciates his efforts as he wolf whistles, inciting the crowd to laughter.
He strolls confidently across the stage, giving her a nice view of his ass, and notices her friend leaning into her and saying something which makes that brilliant, take-my-breath-away smile of hers break free, something she obviously agrees to.
Hmm, black beauty's face is alight with delight and mischief.
He may just have an ally in his corner he's never met, and he determines to find out more about her friend and their conversation.
By any means necessary.
By the time he's finally able to meet Kate's gaze, he winks seductively, trying to portray she's the only woman he wants winning him, the only one he plans on going home with tonight, and then the auction's begun.
...
He's getting nervous.
Poppy and Prissy are having way too much fun raising their number high in the air, not even giving the auctioneer a chance to breathe before they've outbid someone else.
And yes, thank the Almighty, Kate's been bidding as well, albeit non-enthusiastically, the she-loves-to-drive-me-crazy minx.
She's going to pay for being so nonchalant about it.
Pay dearly.
A vision of her cuffed to his headboard with purple fuzzy handcuffs wearing only fishnet stockings comes to mind and now, bloody hell, he has to try and hide a growing erection from prying female eyes.
The auctioneer's ranting off numbers as the bidding goes up. "36 bids $12,500. Number 4, (Castle cringes as it's the scary twins) bids $13,000.00. Number 22 $13,500.00."
And then something happens which he surely didn't expect and makes him pause. Kate's friend lifts her number, 41, to bid $14,000.00.
His eyes delve to Katherine's face, watch her reaction closely and there's only a brief tilt to her lips. By her calm demeanor and laid-back manner, she expected this.
Those two lovely women are up to something sneaky and I happen to be at the heart of it.
The thought alone makes a smile spread across his face from ear to ear, displaying pearly white teeth.
"Number 1 (the pretty redheaded Celeste) $14,500.00."
By the time the bidding is up to $25,000.00, (Oh my God, we're talking serious money now and his ego can't help soaring a bit) Castle's grabbed the mike out of the announcer's hand and is looking directly into Kate's hazel orbs as he promises a dedication in his new book to whoever happens to win the date.
By the time the winner is announced with a bid of $33,000.00, he doesn't know quite how to feel about it. The vibrant African American who seems to be close to Kate saunters up to the stage, head held high, flaunting her curvaceous hips, giving him a blatant 'come hither' smile.
The announcer holds the mike out to her and she purrs, "Sorry ladies, I'm going to steal this man for the rest of the night and see just how handsy this author can be."
He laughs outright at this voluptuous, bold woman who just might be difficult to impress, as well as impossible to handle...
His chest puffs out slightly as he notices Kate's response.
She annoyingly crosses her arms and her eyes turn a smoky hue while glaring at her friend, 'You're-going-to-regret-that-move-dearie.'
"Hi, I'm Lanie," the black beauty says as she links her arm through his. "Hang on Writer Monkey because you're in for the time of your life."