CH27

It is now one month later: (March 1, 2000)

There is a small amount of sexual situations in this chapter. For that reason this chapter is rated "M" since it exceeds the listed parameters of being "T" rated. Reader discretion is advised.

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Presently February 14, 2000

Kate thought for sure Castle had forgotten today was Valentine's Day, since he spent the day writing leaving Kate in the Mezzanine, reading and feeling down. It was supposed to be a day of love for lovers and Castle was writing.

Kate had had enough of doing nothing and closed her book. She had barely read two pages of it. She dropped it on the table and went to look for Castle. Kate found him coming up the spiral staircase while she was going down.

"You should take a shower and get dressed, we have dinner reservations at 8:00." Castle told her.

"Dinner reservations? Since when?" Kate no idea what he was talking about.

"I told you we had Valentine's Day dinner reservations almost a week ago…didn't I?" Castle suddenly looked concerned and then hung his head low. "I'm sorry Kate, I didn't mean for it to be a surprise, I know how much you hate them." Rick didn't know how he had screwed up.

"We don't have to go if you don't want to, I can cancel them and we can do something else." Rick offered.

"You have reservations Castle, we might as well go. …Maybe they'll have popsicles." Kate suddenly brightened up, she had liked that place, it was fun.

"We can only hope. Shower and get dressed and then we can go." Castle replied. Rick went back down the stairs and followed Kate to their bedroom. "Jack?" Rick needed Jack to save him since he had planned on going someplace fancier. Maybe that was his first mistake.

"Reservations made and the others are now cancelled." Jack tried to be quiet. Rick never saw Kate smiling on the way down the stairs.

Kate was working on her second popsicle while listening to the same band as last time and smiling, since she liked this place. "Happy Valentine's Day." Rick suddenly told her and held out an envelope for Kate to take.

Kate wasn't sure what to expect as a gift from Castle, especially since he seemed to be fond of giving her jewelry. Deep down inside she was hoping that Castle was going to propose today.

Kate took the envelope and started to wonder what Castle had done. Was it a check? Kate discounted that since it just wasn't Castle's style. Was it a spa treatment? Like another trip through the mud pits again? This time she would lather mud all over Castle's naked body.

"You can open it," Castle told her, watching Kate just hold it and look it over.

Kate took her time opening it relishing in watching Castle squirm, seeing the emotions that played across his face. Kate pulled out two little slips of paper. Panty of the month for one year and bra of the month for one year.

Kate held her breath as she read each one. Kate knew that all of her underwear was mostly simple and inexpensive. She had never had to purchase anything nicer before, not until Castle. Now Kate felt bad that she wasn't buying something sexy just for Castle.

This gift also told her that Castle wanted her to feel good about herself and look sexy while doing it. Kate instantly loved him more for it. "Thank you Castle." Kate got up and leaned over him to kiss him deeply in front of everyone who was watching.

"Happy Valentine's Day Kate." Rick smiled, happy that she liked it. Hopefully she liked what each of the companies sent.

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Rick and Kate had gone through and filled out the application package. Some of it had tested Rick's memory since they wanted to know the name and location of every school he had ever attended. Thanks to his mother moving them around a lot, forcing him to change schools constantly, it was something of a challenge.

"You didn't tell me you spoke Russian." Rick had watched as Kate checked that box.

"I don't tell you everything Castle. A girl has to have at least some mystery in her life." Kate teased and then snatched up the same page that Castle had filled in. "You didn't tell me you could speak Chinese Castle." Kate countered back.

"That's why most of my deployments were on the Asian side of the planet." Rick smiled at Kate and took his paper back out of Kate's hand. "I don't tell you everything Officer Beckett. Besides, you never asked." Rick went back to filling out his paperwork.

They had both gone through their interviews by some poor lowly FBI agent in the New York field office. One week later they both received a conditional offer to attend the first 10 week course that started March 1.

What they didn't know, however Rick suspected, was that the FBI would do an in depth background investigation. It was only days after the in-person interviews that they were called in to complete an initial background investigation paperwork. This was followed by a security interview, polygraph examination, urinalysis test (pee in a cup), as well as being fingerprinted.

They were told at this time that there would be an agent or agents who would contact former and current employers, check their references, interview social acquaintances and neighbors as well as review school, credit, arrest, medical and military records.

Rick wasn't sure what the FBI would think of his military record or what they would be allowed to view of it anyway. He wasn't even sure the Director would get a peek at all of his military record. Still it was March 1st, their EOD date, and here they were parking in the parking lot and headed for the main building.

"You really didn't have to do this Castle." Kate reminded him again, even though secretly she was glad to have him by her side in this.

"If we're going to work together to counter the other two AI units, we need to learn how to work together and this is perfect. Not sure why I didn't think of this earlier." Still he had thought of it and hopefully this would teach them a lot about what was to come.

A 10 week course here followed by hopefully a follow up 10 week course had caused Rick to use Jack to find them somewhere to stay near Quantico during that time. The FBI would reimburse them for travel expenses, however they didn't pay for housing. Still Jack had found them a completely furnished high-end executive rental unit in an apartment complex that was only a 17 minute drive up the highway from the Marine Base where the FBI course was being held.

15001 Potomac Heights Place, Woodbridge, VA. The Elan Potomac Heights Apartments. In this case the Steel floor plan was 1,458 square feet. All they had to do was go grocery shopping. It was expensive from Kate's point of view at $2854 a month. It was a little modern for her taste. Still it came with a resort-style pool with tiki bar, that didn't open for a few more months, outdoor grills and a fitness center where they could keep up with their daily workout schedule. There was even a pool table that Kate had her eye on. She was going to challenge Castle at while wearing another button down shirt. A girl has to have some fun, right?

Their unit was on the fourth of four floors. Thankfully it had an elevator so they didn't have to lug all those grocery bags up stairs. Kate, over the last week that they had lived there, was beginning to miss her kitchen and all its equipment. This one, even though it was open to the living and dining area, was kind of dark, and the dark cabinets didn't help any. The balcony was just a sliver of a place with not even enough space for a single chair. However it was March so it was still cold outside.

The morning was spent with orientation and security reminders about what they did here. Kate had seen a statue representation of the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima and a lovely sculpture of a pair of bald eagles landing. They had been ordered to report to building 2076 which it turned out to be part of the Marine Corps University.

Kate was amazed at what was on a Marine Base. It had a Bank of America, McDonalds, Marine Federal Credit Union, a chapel, medical clinic, motor pool, activity center, a thrift shop, and they hadn't even been through half of the base yet. There were little buildings all over the place. Even armed with a map they still got lost.

They finally got to see the FBI men and one woman who would be instructing them for the next 10 weeks along with a schedule of what will be happening each day for the next week. And Kate thought the Police Academy had been hard... However Castle just seemed to be cruising along, as though he had done most of this before. It was only when they got to the more technical aspects and less physical items that Kate seemed to shine above Castle.

It is now 6 weeks later:

They had fallen into a rhythm or perhaps rut would be a better term. Get up, shower in the tiny shower, and go to the base. Come home, cook and eat dinner, then sit and watch TV, only to do it all over again tomorrow. "We need to get out of here." Rick suddenly announced. He had had enough of this.

"Come on." Rick held out his hand to Kate. She took his hand and allowed Rick to pull her up. "Where are we going?" Next thing Kate knew they were standing in their bedroom back in New York.

"Pack some bikinis and something to wear, we are out of here." Rick informed Kate who was now smiling widely. She practically ran for the closet with Rick right behind her.

Three bikinis, wraps, flip flops, a dress and heels later, and Kate was all packed. Kate had watched a suit, swim trunks, sunscreen and toiletries go in his bag. Kate knew her period wasn't for another couple of weeks so that left out needed protection. "Where are we…?"

Next thing Kate knew they were standing just outside of their hotel in St. Lucia again. Kate squealed, launched herself into Castle's arms, and kissed him. Two days of paradise with Castle wearing nothing but swim trunks.

They didn't need a two bedroom and two bathrooms; one bedroom with one bath was perfect. This time Castle got them a room that was still high up in the mountain, however this time it had its own infinity pool. It was actually in Jade Mountain resort that was a resort within Anse Chastanet. It had an extravagantly-sized infinity edge pool that opened up directly onto the sitting area with no wall. Like the other room it did not have air conditioning, only ceiling fans. It offered views of St. Lucia's twin Pitons and the shimmering Caribbean Sea.

Kate wasted no time in stripping off her clothes and diving into the pool, naked. "You coming Castle?"

They could explore the 12 miles of walking and hiking trails into the valley, 3 restaurants, 2 bars plus the Jungle Grill. Rick had gotten the Jeep at the car rental desk on the property. There was also a water sports center, art gallery and library, along with a computer room for guests only.

Kate knew just what she wanted that she didn't get the last time they were here, which is why Kate resisted Castle's advances to have a little fun in the pool. Kate had other plans.

Kate was happy to go to the mud pits again when Castle had suggested they could use some down time and just relax, however his suggestion did nothing for the smell. Still it allowed Kate to coat Castle with mud, only this time Kate didn't stop where his swimsuit started and reached her hand down deep inside and slathered his erection with mud. "Kate, honey, you need to stop." Kate pulled her hand out and kissed him before coating his face with mud.

Problem was Castle retaliated. Kate found her breasts and her ass coated in mud and she was soaking wet by the time Castle finished. This was followed by Castle kissing her while grinning at his revenge before coating her face with mud.

They both however got back at each other when it came time to wash the mud off each other. Kate was stroking his erection to get the mud off followed by Castle slid two fingers down Kate's hot folds while washing the mud off of her. "Hotel …NOW CASTLE!" Kate couldn't take it anymore.

Kate had just finished coming for the second time with Castle's head planted firmly between her legs. He was working his way up her body, kissing every inch of her along the way, till he reached her mouth where Kate could still taste herself on his lips. "I have a confession to make babe." Kate loved him and had screwed up just enough courage to tell him.

"When we were here last time, I was up in the kitchen looking for some ice water since I was hot and couldn't cool down when I heard you in your room. It made me curious so I peeked in. I was initially worried that you were having a nightmare, but you weren't.

You were in bed stroking yourself while calling out my name. I watched until you climaxed. It was the single most sexual thing I had ever seen before or since; it was beautiful. It was the first day that I understood that you were interested in me." Kate confided one of her secrets.

"You should have opened the door and come inside. You and your bikinis were driving me mad with desire. What did you do since you didn't?" Rick was curious now.

"I was a coward so I ran to my room and finished myself off, screaming into my pillow imagining that my fingers were your erection. We went up to that mountain view the next day." Kate told Rick giving him a quick kiss.

"Since you saw me, seems only fair that I watch you." Rick countered and started kissing his way back down Kate's body till he was off the bed.

"You want to watch me?" Kate had never done that before.

"You saw me Kate; show yourself to me. You know that I love you and would never use it against you or abuse what you give me." Rick tried to assure her that it would remain just between them.

Kate pushed herself back toward the head board, moved pillows around, and started touching herself like she used to do before she ever met Castle. From her position she could watch Castle while she moved her hands to stimulate herself.

It was so sexy and Kate found herself getting into it trying to give Castle a show. Kate tried to keep her eyes on Castle especially when she noticed him holding his erection in his hand, slowly stroking himself just as he had done that night. However her fingers and her vision of Castle stroking himself were too much and she kept closing her eyes.

Rick was watching Kate writhing all over the bed, lifting up her hips as she moved her fingers. It had Rick squirming in his chair as he stimulated himself, watching Kate's fingers and the look on her face as she started moaning loudly with her breath becoming labored.

Rick watched as Kate climaxed while she writhed all over the bed as her fingers got even faster, stroking her clit till she finally screamed. Rick removed his hand and watched Kate have secondary muscle spasms as she calmed down.

Rick got up out of his chair and crawled his way up Kate till he could kiss her. He reached down to lift Kate's legs up and slammed himself into her already wet core, getting Kate to cry out in pleasure. It only took Rick a few strokes before he could no longer hold off climaxing inside of her; she came again when he did.

Rick and Kate were relaxing snuggled up close. "That was the most sensual thing I've ever seen. I may be a writer but I don't have words for what I felt watching you. It was simply amazing. Thank you for sharing yourself with me. I'm going to remember that till the day I die. …I love you." Rick pulled Kate in just a little tighter.

"I've never done that for anyone before. I never even wanted to. It was always such a personal thing, exposing myself like that. I love you too, babe." Kate took one of Castle's hands and moved it so she could kiss it.

"What do we do tomorrow? We have all day before we have to get back." Rick asked.

Kate knew just what she wanted and now wasn't afraid of asking for it. "Can we go back up to that mountain view? I want you to take me while we are up there. You talked me out of it last time and I want it this time." Kate wasn't afraid of asking Castle for what she wanted.

"I think we can do that. I've noticed that you've not tried to use your little toy again. Did you not like it?" Rick was curious.

"It was fun, but I don't want to wear it out. I want it to be special. Did you really enjoy it that much?" Kate twisted her head to look up at him.

"It was unusual and I'm only asking since you were the one that brought it into our love play. I can wait for you." Rick just wanted an answer, not so much as do it constantly and was silently happy that Kate only wanted to do it as a special occasion.

"You seem to like it here. We could look for a house here. We could come here every weekend if we wanted since we have no need to fly." Rick pointed out. "Or we could look at another island. Find one more developed or less developed. With a mountain view or right down on the beach. We have the money, especially if the new contract comes through."

That had Kate up and looking at Castle. "You would be willing to buy an island vacation home?" Kate had never even thought of that; staying at a hotel was good enough.

"Why not, we could treat it as our second home, stay here almost as much as we do our home in New York." Rick offered. "We could find a real estate agent and look at two or three tomorrow. Then move on to another island and look there before buying one." Kate's answer was to kiss him. Getting fucked on her mountain top was now a distant memory.

Kate and Rick were dressed in only their swimwear with Kate having a light wrap at her waist as they found a real estate agent who actually did have some homes they could see. She was more than happy to drive them to two or three when Rick told her that the price range was $1 million to $3 million.

"This is Villa La Falaise at Mount Hardy, it is 5 bed, 5-1/2 baths, it has three floors at 6,217 square feet and is offered at an even $1 million," she told them.

It had a pool outback with an incredible ocean view up on the side of the hill. It had dark tile floors everywhere with dark wood beams crossing the first floor ceiling. It was kind of far away from an inhabited area and they would need another car. Outdoor dining, outdoor patio, the kitchen had solid wood cabinets, however all of the appliances needed to be replaced as far as Kate was concerned. All of the bedrooms were really simple and nothing to talk about.

"This is Erie Heart Villa, 3 bed, 3-1/2 baths, it has two floors at 4,893 square feet and is offered at $995 thousand," their real estate agent said.

The exterior walls were made of rock and it had a gated driveway. All of the windows had dark wood. It had a small pool with a dark wood deck, the living and dining area was two floors tall with lots of windows looking out over a wooded area. The kitchen was better except for the major appliances again. The master bedroom was massive with two sitting areas. Kate loved the tub in the master bath and the patio with a picnic table. Like the last house, there really was no yard, just hill.

"This is Anantha Asmani. It is 4 bed, 4 baths, it is near Rodney Bay, it has two floors at 3,385 square feet and is offered at $3.95 million," she informed them.

It was located in a gated community with 16 total villas. It had an infinity pool out back off of a covered patio area. The main living room could have one entire wall opened out onto the deck by the pool that offered a view of the ocean beyond. There was a Jacuzzi on a lower level just past the pool. The kitchen was much better than the other two. It even had a yard, which was a first.

They told their agent they would get back to her. "What did you think?" Rick knew which one he liked.

"The first two were okay, and the price was nice. The last one was gorgeous and that open wall looking out onto the pool with the ocean view…plus it was the only one that actually had a yard." Kate had made her choice too.

"We don't have time to move to another island and look for more houses," Kate pointed out. "And we need to choose an island and see it before we start looking."

"More developed or less?" Rick asked. "Same or less maybe?" Kate wanted the view, everything else was secondary.