Miracle at the 12th Precinct

Chapter 21 Title: What Christmas Means To Me (Song by Stevie Wonder)

Disclaimer: Rick Castle and Kate Beckett are not mine. They belong to ABC and Marlowe, but dang, they're fun to play with!

A/N: Grab a glass of wine; herein lies smut, smutty, smut. I think I might still be blushing. If you're under 18, please don't read further.

It was nearing midnight when Kate returned to the loft and it was dark except for the light coming from beneath Rick's bedroom door. It appeared as though he'd had waited up for her - just as he'd promised. She hung up her coat and made her way towards his room, opening the door carefully, peaking in. Her eyes immediately fell on his gorgeous form fast asleep on his back on top of the covers. His eyes were closed, he was breathing peacefully, and she cherished the moment; a rare glimpse of a man she normally thought of as in perpetual motion. She entered and then closed the door quietly behind her trying not to disturb him.

At the click of the door closing he sprung to attention and placed the book he'd been reading before falling asleep on the nightstand next to him. He ran his hands over his face and through his hair attempting to rouse himself awake. "Hey. I was hoping you'd be back soon. What time is it?" He stuffed a pillow behind his back.

The gravelly timbre of his voice when he first woke up always made her toes curl – tonight was no exception. She couldn't wait to cuddle up next to him - a favorite pastime. "Hey. It's almost midnight. Sorry, I'm so late. I didn't mean to wake you."

"No, it's fine. I just dozed off for a few minutes. How'd it go down at the station?"

"Good." She smiled, coming over to him, giving him a light lingering kiss before gently pulling away, leaving him wanting more. "You look tired." She said, stepping away, toeing off her shoes and then kicking them aside.

Let's see just how tired you are.

"I am a little, I guess, but I didn't mean to fall asleep. We said we were going to talk - unless you're too tired now? Did you want to table it for tomorrow? You're probably exhausted."

"No, no, I'm fine – had some coffee earlier. We can talk." She tilted her head. "I mean, if you're still up to it, that is."

"Absolutely." He replied, sitting up straighter, wondering if he'd imagined her emphasis on the word up. It wouldn't be the first time. He'd often found himself twisting the innocent things she'd said to him, adding in his own personal sexual connotations.

"Good." She said, quirking a brow and then turning around, her back towards him. She bent over to pick up her shoes, providing him with a crystal clear view of her intriguing ass encased in sinfully tight blue jeans. She then sauntered (he had no other word for it) over to the corner of the room and dropped her shoes on the floor.

He couldn't peel his eyes away.

"It went well – things with Balboa." She continued casually, turning back around, once again facing him. "He's been processed and is being held in lock up for tonight. His partner, Vinny Costa, and Tommy Frost are still at large." She removed her socks, tossed them by her shoes. "No confession yet from Balboa, but now that Kris remembers witnessing Timmy's shooting it should be easier to get him talking."

She paused to make sure he was paying attention and then began removing her sweater. She pulled it slowly up and over her head and tossed it across the room where it draped over the arm of his chair. Then she crossed her arms over the front of her shirt, lifted them up and shimmied out of it, tossing it so it also landed on the chair. His eyes fixated on her creamy white breasts sheathed in black lace and he cleared his throat. December or not, his bedroom was getting warmer.

She rolled her eyes. "Wait until you meet this guy, Castle. I only talked to him for a few minutes, but he's a total weasel." She continued to undress and his pupils dilated at the sound of her zipper lowering. She wiggled her hips, slowly drawing the jeans down over her long, sleek legs, and then kicked them off, leaving her standing before him in only a push-up bra and matching black panties.

He let out a sigh, licked his lips. "Mmmm..." He missed the corner of her mouth turning up.

Stretching, she undid the ponytail holder from her hair, shook loose her long locks, ran her hands through her mane. He records the image in his head, saves it for a rainy day. "I'm going to take a quick shower." She announced, hands on her hips, pretending not to notice his mouth hanging open at her half naked body. "You don't mind, do you?"

She'd asked him a question. "Um, no, of course not." He uttered, seemingly mesmerized by her impromptu striptease. "Go ahead."

"Great. Thanks." She smiled, before strutting into his bathroom.

His eyes followed her, and like a kid with his face pressed up to the window of a candy store, an invisible force pulled him to the edge of the bed. He was now fully awake and as hard as a rock. She turned on the shower and left it running while she spoke to him from inside. "Jordan's guys are still questioning the men we arrested earlier at the hospital. We're hoping they'll pin Drago Mangosa as the one who hired them. I told Gates I want to bring him in for questioning tomorrow. He's probably freaking out right about now, knowing we have one of his main guys in custody – might give us an edge."

He frowned. It didn't look like he was getting an invitation to join her anytime soon. "You're probably right." He agreed, vaguely on edge himself. "By the way, you should probably write up Kris' testimony..." A black lace bra followed by barely-there panties suddenly falling to the floor by the open doorway were cause for distraction. "...um, tomorrow."

She suddenly popped only her head out from the door frame, surprising him. "Why?" She asked, her brows furrowed. "I mean, we can, but he'll also be testifying in court." And then she was gone again from view and he was left imagining her naked.

He tried to shake it off. Here he was ogling her when the woman just wanted to take a shower after a long, hard day. He tried to use his words. "With Christmas right around the corner," He said, straining his neck hoping to catch a closer glimpse of her mile-long, smooth legs. "You should definitely do it tomorrow. Once this is all over, he'll need to leave in a hurry, you know...for obvious reasons." He looked down at his crotch and wondered if she had any idea what visions of her naked do to him.

"Right." She agreed, not wanting to debate the subject of Kris' pressing schedule. She hadn't come back to the loft tonight to argue with him. She had better ideas. Besides, she'd already arranged to obtain Kris' written testimony tomorrow, right here in the loft, but not for the same reasons Castle was concerned with – they'd need his written testimony to present before the judge so he'd allow them to bring in Mangosa.

Wrapped only in a towel she moved to the doorway and leaned casually up against the frame posing like a pin-up girl from his dreams, waiting while he looked his fill.

His lips parted, he swallowed hard. "Wow..." He said, his voice dropping an octave lower. "First thing tomorrow, smaller towels."

Confidence boosted, she gave him a knowing smile, moved to the center of the doorway, released the towel, and slightly parted her legs. Judging from the sizable bulge in his sweats he liked what he saw. She licked her lips. Yeah, she was bad. And he loved her for it.

She started to turn around as though she was about to walk away, but then stopped, looked over her shoulder at him. "I think I may need someone to scrub my back." She lowered her lashes. "Interested?"

Oh, thank God. "Hell yeah." He jumped up, removing his clothes at warp speed, tossing them everywhere as she watched, her eyes glued to the manly hard length of him, her mouth watering.

When he realized how she was looking at him he froze. Kate Beckett wanted him. And since his credo read: What Kate Beckett wants; Kate Beckett shall have; she was in luck. "That was quite the little striptease, Kate." He said, hungrily, slowly advancing towards her, primed and ready, causing her heart rate to spike, the glean in his eyes and signature smirk revealing exactly what he planned to do to her.

They locked eyes, he gradually moved closer. Her mouth went suddenly dry. "Thanks. I'm glad you liked it. Next time, I'll hum a few bars."

"No need. Stripper music was playing in my head." He replied. "You may have missed your calling."

From there, the joking ended. She'd unleashed the beast; tonight – would be rough and fast.

She reached for him and the moment they touched she was on him like a queen bee to honey, fusing her lips to his.

His hand grabbed her around the waist, the other gripping the back of her head pulling her to him, while his tongue explored the terrain of her mouth. Their kisses were wild, feral, provocative; raw emotions quickly spinning out of control. Loving when he took her this way; she held on for the ride.

Not wanting to stop for a minute, he kicked closed the bathroom door with his foot, and walked her backwards pinning her up against the wall while he continued his assault on her mouth. He moved her arms above her head, holding them both in place firmly with one hand, his other not letting go of her waist.

She moaned into his mouth, the cold tile against her naked back a stark contrast to the heat he generated at her front where his body was molded to her own. She gasped for air as his moist kisses left her mouth trailing lower and lower still as he nipped and nibbled at the side of her neck, the coarseness of his stubble leaving goose bumps on her delicate flesh.

He grazed down to her chest rediscovering the firm bare breasts and hard erect nipples he so often day-dreamed about, running his fingers over them, playing with them, teasing her, kissing their tips. He could listen to her soft moans and hitched breathing all day long and still never get enough of her.

One hand lingered at her waist while his lips trailed upward, stopping at her ear. "So hot..." He whispered, in no way referring to the steam the shower had now generated throughout the room. He released her hands and made his way back down her body taking a breast in his mouth, licking, suckling, her eyes shut tight as he moved from one to the other, over and over again. Just when she thought she'd die from the pure exquisite pleasure of it all, he stopped and fell to his knees before her.

She caressed the sides of his head, ran her fingers through his soft wavy hair, over his unshaven cheeks, the anticipation of how the coarse stubble would feel against her center making her ache. He spread her thighs further apart and her back arched, her body leaning further towards him of its own accord.

She wondered if he'd mark her, as if it were necessary...his name practically tattooed on her pelvis since the day they'd met. She moaned in ecstasy and he didn't think he could be any harder for her. He parted her folds, breathed her in, drunk with power over how wet she was for him. He ached to be inside her.

She grasped his head with both hands for support when her knees began to buckle and forced her eyes open to watch him worship her. He knew exactly what she needed and at last they were finally here.

She clenched the rippling muscles of his shoulders as his tongue found her clit and swooned at the divine friction. He was home again; suckling, licking, swirling, feasting on her with a vengeance, his one intent - make her succumb to desire. "Rick...please don't stop." She whispered, squeezing his shoulders, encouraging him to go for it, as though stopping were even an option for him.

She pulled his head closer to her hot, slick center and held it there, never wanting him to leave. She needn't worry - he was just getting started. He growled in response, the vibrations taking her higher. Her scent intoxicated him; vanilla, cherries, heaven. His mouth locked on its target, he cradled her ass in his hands and squeezed, holding her firmly in place, conveying in no uncertain terms he was in it for the long haul.

Her head lolled back against the tile as she panted and moaned overwhelmed by the power he held over her. Orgasm on the horizon, she gripped his hair urging him to slow down, wanting him inside her body. He looked up, confused. "Take me now, Rick." She begged.

"Not yet." He insisted sucking, stroking, sliding his tongue over her swollen nub again and again, and not letting up until her legs began to tremble. She was close, so very close, on the verge of one hell of a release. Wanting the freedom to watch her spiral out of control he replaced his mouth with his thumb, not missing a beat.

He rose, pressing her against the wall as he continued to pleasure her with his fingers. "Let go...Kate. Come for me." He commanded, kissing her hard, the sound of his voice setting in motion tremors that began in her toes and worked their way up, escalating again and again until finally she allowed herself to surrender, gripping his shoulders, holding on for dear life, crying out in ecstasy. Her arms hung around his neck; she dropped her head to his chest while she attempted to get her breathing back to normal.

"I've got you." He whispered cradling her tight, prepared to give her time to recuperate, however, waiting apparently wasn't on her to do list.

She looked up, smiled at him; her very own midnight snack. "Damn straight, you do." She plastered her lips to his, eager to return the favor.

Kissing him fervently, she backed him up slowly towards the shower stall, slid open the glass door, and then spun them expertly around guiding him inside. Warm, steady streams of water cascaded over them both. "Don't move." She ordered. Her wish was his command.

He stood still as she kissed him everywhere, moving lower and lower down his long solid body before finally getting down on her knees and taking him in her mouth. He threw back his head and moaned.

Bracing himself with a hand against the shower wall and the other in her hair as pulsing beads of warm water pounded down on his chest, he was overwhelmed by the amazing sensations. She knew exactly how he liked it. His eyes clamped shut as she continued her ministrations on his manhood and he moaned her name and stroked her hair, feeding her power, urging her to continue her assault on his defenses. Her fingers roamed over his ass, up and down his thighs as she steadily teased him, first quickening her pace and then slowing down when she sensed he could take no more. She squeezed his ass while her other hand found its way beneath to fondle his balls. He watched as she licked him from top to bottom swirling her tongue around his tip, again and again finally capturing him in her mouth, sucking harder and harder, driving him wild with need. He wouldn't last much longer.

He suddenly pulled out and helped her to a standing position. She never had a chance to speak as his mouth came crushing back down on hers and his muscular arms drew her impossibly close. He grabbed her ass, pulled at her cheeks, and she quickly caught on to his plan, lifting her leg, rubbing her upper thigh along his as the hot water massaged her back. He lifted her up easily with both hands and she wrapped her long limbs around his torso, holding on tight. Foreheads pressed together, his massive erection pressed into her belly, he backed her up against the wall and entered her in one long, hot, hard, stroke filling her completely. They both let out moans of utter satisfaction; took a moment to revel in it.

She clenched the muscles of her inner walls tightly around him encouraging him to get a move on and he groaned, but in a good way – a very good way - happy to oblige. His strokes were long, slow, and steady at first, her body gladly accepting his thick member with vigor, but then she pushed back, urging him to go faster, deeper, to grant them both the release they yearned for. He wanted to make their union last forever, but she was squirming and nuzzling his neck and squeezing his cock so hard he half expected to lose consciousness.

Sensing her impatience he changed the rhythm, sinking greater into her depths, his strokes quickening; becoming harder, faster, more erratic, the friction so intense she thought she'd implode right there and then, in his shower stall, where authorities would later uncover her body; a soggy, yet sated, well-ridden mess.

Her breasts firmly against his chest, she feasted on his neck and then sucked on his earlobe, nipping it with her teeth. "Harder, Rick." She begged. He drove into her, stretching her, changing the angle and hitting her in just the right spot until she finally cried out his name and God's as her walls contracted around him.

His name on her lips and the vibrations currently enveloping his engorged cock from her release were more than he could take and prompted him to desperately pound into her. A few more strokes and he was right there with her, letting go, giving himself over to her, as she held him safely in her arms.

They held each other as they caught their breath and then he gently pulled out and placed her back down on shaky feet. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. "That was amazing."

"You're the amazing one." He replied, kissing her back and then reaching behind her for the body wash and sponge. The water was getting cooler so he turned the knob to heat it up. "I do believe I agreed to scrub your back."

She took the bottle from him. "You're right, but I think it's even more fun to scrub each other's backs, don't you?" She wiggled her brows, poured some soap in the palm of her hand.

"I've always liked the way you think." He replied, grinning.

They proceeded to get very, very clean...

XXXXX

Afterwards, they cuddled up next to each other on the bed, relaxing.

"I missed you today." She said, pulling the blanket over them.

"Yes, I noticed." He joked, smugly and she playfully swatted his chest. "I missed you too, or couldn't you tell?"

"Oh, I could tell." She replied, unsure of how to begin what she knew would be an important discussion. "Rick, we still need to talk."

"Agreed." He said, smiling and feeling perfectly sated. "You'll find I'm very agreeable right now. Sex does that to a man."

She propped herself up on one elbow. "Yes, I know." She grinned. "It was my evil plan all along. You see, I wasn't avoiding our talk, I just thought it would be better to have it when we were both a bit more relaxed." She ran a finger over his bare chest.

"Well, kudos then...mission accomplished. My girlfriend's an evil genius." He laughed, surprised he could still make her blush after what they'd just shared.

She ducked her head. "Okay. Here goes. And let me just get this out, okay?"

He nodded, not saying a word.

"I know you've noticed I've been acting oddly lately." He didn't bother denying it and she knew by his expression she was right. "It's just with all this talk of Christmas and the holidays, meeting Kris, has made me think a lot about the past; specifically it's brought back a lot memories of my own Christmas', those growing up; spent with my parents...my mom."

He worked hard to remain silent, to let her finish, though he wanted so badly to apologize for not being more sensitive.

"And the thing is Rick they're not all bad memories; most of them have actually been good ones, really good. But at the same time it almost feels that by allowing myself to smile over them again, that I'm in some way letting go of the anger, letting go of her." She paused. "And I'm not sure I'm ready to let go of those things yet. Can you understand that? Does it make any sense?"

"Yes, actually it does." He said, taking her hand.

She let out the breath she'd been holding. "Good."

"Okay. I'm going to say something now...," He sat up, leaned up against the headboard. "I owe you an apology. I should have been more sensitive to how you might feel but instead I've been pushing you to spend the holidays with us. And I may have been, let's just say, slightly overzealous, at the prospect of making this the best Christmas you'd ever had."

"Overzealous? You?" She joked.

"Seriously, though. I admit it's been somewhat of a challenge not to be excited about the holiday, especially after meeting Kris."

She tilted her head, raised her brows.

"I know, I know...you have not yet hopped on the bus of belief, but you will – I have faith. But that's not what this talk is about. This is about you - and us. And if you still need time, if you're still not ready for the full-on Christmas-with–the-Castle's extravaganza, then I'll respect your wishes. Work that day if you need to. I'll make some excuse to Alexis and Mother. No harm done. I promise not to push you on it if this is truly what you want. All I've ever wanted is for you to be happy, Kate."

"You do make me happy, Rick." She squeezed his hand. "I've never been happier, which is why this has been so hard. Those feelings, about my mom, they've been in a head-on collision with wanting to spend more time with you, with wanting to spend the holiday together, with wanting to be like a normal couple."

"So then do it! Spend Christmas with us. We'll make new memories - together. Your mother would want you to be happy, Kate. Let me prove to you I'm right. As for letting her go...that's not possible. She'll always be in your heart. Besides, the Kate Beckett I know and love would never give up until justice was served."

This time, she promised herself she wouldn't ignore the fact he'd once again told her he loved her, but she had more to say first.

"And what happens when I suddenly get depressed, say right in the middle of the main course? It could happen, Rick. And I would never forgive myself if I ruined your family's day."

"You'll have no time for moping and I'll tell you why. Your palette - besieged by the scrumptious, sublime meal I'm planning to seduce you with, and your mind - so enraptured by my overwhelming wit, charisma - and charm - will be keeping you entirely too busy. And if that doesn't work, then Mother and Alexis will understand, because - they love you too." He smiled.

About to break down, unable to find the right words to express how she was feeling, she fought back the tears. He had to be the sweetest man she'd ever met and

Sweet Castle got her every time.

Unfortunately, he took her reaction as a direct result of his telling her he loved her again when she still hadn't said it back. He began to panic. "Kate...I'm sorry. I went and did it again, didn't I? I just said I wasn't going to push you, but then..."

She captured his next words with her lips which confused the hell out of him, but she tasted so damn good he found he didn't care, he was too far gone; there was no turning back. Convinced clarity was a thing of the past, he kissed her back, matching every ounce of her passion and when he re-opened his eyes he found hers reaching deep down into his very soul. He rolled them both over so he was on top, his body fully covering hers. "What was that for?"

She ran her fingers along his brow, brushed the locks from his eyes. "That...was because I love you too, Rick. Always." She said, taking him by surprise. "And I'm sorry...I know, I should have said it back sooner, but I was scared - although I realize now that must seem ridiculous - regardless, it's true - I'm in love with you. I can't explain why it took me so long to tell..."

With all he had, he kissed her hard, erasing the need for further apologies. "Looks like we're finally on the same page." He whispered. "I love you too, Kate."

She nodded, running her hands through his hair, pulling him close, and wrapping a leg over his. "Castle?"

"Yes?"

"If the offer still stands, I would very much like to spend this Christmas with my boyfriend and his family."

He smiled ear to ear. "You know it does."

"Good, thanks." She replied, happy with her decision, glad to have her fears out in the open with the man she loved. "In that case, I look forward to being overwhelmed, once again, by your vast arsenal of wit and charisma."

He shut out the lights and spooned up against her. "Don't forget charm."

"Right - the charm – you'll be charming my pants off. How could I forget?" She agreed, drifting off to sleep, the grin he'd put on her face still firmly in place.

She didn't doubt it for a minute...

A/N: I've always believed Kate told Rick she loved him back, earlier than they let on in the show when she was standing on top of a bomb. I mean, how could she not – he's Rick- freaking-Castle and she's highly intelligent. Thanks for reading! Karen