Disclaimer: I do not own Castle

Chapter 16

It was evening now, and Kate and Rick were getting ready for the party. Kate was running around in her bath robe, her hair tied up messily, looking for just the right dress to wear tonight. Castle was seated on the bed, clad only in his dress pants, putting on his socks and shoes, his hair uncombed.

Kate took two dresses out from her wardrobe and held them up for Castle to see

"Rick, pick one."

He stared at them with deep thought. And then said

"Bring them here"

She walked towards him and handed them to him, he held both up one by one and scrutinized them intently. Now and then, looking at Kate from head to toe. Kate assumed he was trying to imagine the dress on her. She waited patiently.

"This is a tough decision. But I've made my pick"

Kate clapped impatiently and smiled "Okay, which one?"

In a second, Castle, threw the two dresses behind him on the bed, and pulled Kate closer to stand between his legs, his eyes fixed on the lapels of her robe. He quickly untied the robe and said

"I don't want you to wear either. In fact, right now, I don't want you to be wearing anything" he had this look of pure mischief in his eyes and his hands moved fast, untying the robe and letting it fall open. He reverently kissed her torso, his hand making its way across her waist, then moving along her side and to her back.

Kate was taken by surprise with his move. A gasp left her lips when she felt his on her waist. She chuckled because it tickled. Her skin still felt warm and tingly after the hot shower and his kisses made it even more ticklish.

"Castle, I have to wear something for the party!" she ran her hand through his hair, the other softly caressing his bare shoulder.

"We'll dress in a while" he mumbled.

His lips were moving higher, towards the little bow at the center of her bra. She closed her eyes and smiled. His hair felt soft against her fingers and his scent was intoxicating. Softly she nudged at him and pushed him to lie on the bed, and crawled over him. She kissed him on the lips, softy and gently, drawing out his hunger for her.

His hands wandered on her back, under her robe. He turned her around then, made her lie on the bed beneath him, and he slid the robe a little bit off her shoulder. She watched him, moving slowly and ever so reverently. He leaned down and began to kiss her smooth creamy skin there, his lips leaving a beautiful sensation in their wake.

She pulled him in for a deep kiss again, taking as much from him as she gave. Nothing felt rushed right now. Both of them were being slow and gentle, soft caresses and kisses, gentle touches that awakened and aroused, but nothing too much either. She smiled in her kiss and it made his lips do the same.

"What?" He asked, looking at her with eyes of love and awe.

She traced his handsome face with her finger, her eyes following their direction until they touched his lower lip. She brushed her finger gently across it, feeling its softness.

He quickly caught it between his lips and sucked lightly.

A soft gasp left her lips and her gaze travelled to his eyes. They were dark with lust yet light with mischief. She drew her finger out from between those two lips of heaven and brought his face close for a short kiss again.

"There's something I've been wanting to tell you" she said.

"What is it?" his gaze was transfixed on her. He started to place soft butterfly kisses along her jaw and at the corner of her lips. She hummed her appreciation for the way he loved to love her.

"Listen now" she chuckled when he wouldn't stop.

He finally looked at her and said "what is it? Tell me"

"I wasn't going to tell you until later this evening"

"I knew it!" he said excitedly.

"Knew what?" she said, confused all of a sudden. He knew?

He sat up quickly and began looking around. His enthusiasm confused her all the more, what did he know, what was he searching for?

"You bought me a gift too when you went gift shopping for Kaylee, right? And you weren't going to give it to me until later this evening after everyone has left the loft and you and I were alone like this, right?"

"Well… uhh... Yea but…" She stammered.

"That's alright, it's completely okay if you want to give me a gift right now!" he interrupted.

His eyes sparkled like a child's on Christmas morning. Kate understood what she had to do.

"You know what? I changed my mind" she said.

Castle's expression changed. In fact his whole face fell.

"What? Why? Why won't you give me my gift now?"

"Cause I want to keep you in suspense" saying this, she got off the bed, tied up her robe again and said "Come on, we have a party to host."

"Oh come on! Kaaatee" he whined. But she just laughed and went on with getting ready for the party. He had no choice but to do the same.

When they were both ready, he crept up behind her all of a sudden while she was doing her hair and said "Can I at least try and guess what it is?"

She chuckled "of course"

"It's the new play station I've been wanting?"

Kate didn't say anything.

He looked at her questioningly.

"What? I didn't say I'd tell you if your guesses are right." and she walked away immediately with a teasing smile and a proud sway.

Frustrated Rick bit his knuckles and then followed quickly behind her. "You can't do this to me!" he whined as they left their room to go find the girls.

"Of course I can." She said.