4x13 An Embarrassment of Bitches
"You smell like wet dog."
"You say that like it's a bad thing?" He shrugs, trying to sidestep the excitable mutt between them, laughing when Royal spins on the spot with him, tail wagging.
"Not necessarily a bad thing," Beckett smirks, "not necessarily attractive either."
She gulps, eyes electric as they dart to his own, but he lets it go, doesn't chase up her throwaway comment with snark or tease. He watches as she shakes herself out of it and drops to her knees, burying her face in the dog's neck.
"Hey babe, did you have fun? Did Castle take you for a walk in the rain? Did you - What?"
The force of her stare makes him realise his mouth is open and he snaps it shut, shakes his head, but his eyes remain wide as her role at his antics.
"Yes, Castle. I'm a pet name person."
He grins. "Pet name for the pet."
"Yeah."
"Our pet."
"Oh," she laughs, sounds pleased, "I guess he is." Her eyes lift from the dog, but she doesn't rise up, crossing her legs instead and pulling Royal closer. She gets lost in ruffling the dog's ears, stroking her fingers through his fur, and Castle gets lost in her. In the quiet way her breath flutters across the dog's nose, the gentle laugh that leaves her lips when a thick pink tongue darts out and catches her cheek.
"Think he likes you calling him babe," Castle comments, eyes over the flush that lights her skin.
"What gave it away?" She asks, smiling.
"Well, he's never kissed me like that."
She laughs loudly, a bark of sound making the dog's ears prick up, "You jealous, Castle?"
He pouts.
Her eyes narrow, "Of the name or -" she freezes, words trapped over her tongue, realisation stark.
His breath catches, and their eyes do the same, anticipation and longing so thick in the air he'd need to wade through it to touch her. And he wants to touch her. Stroke at the soft line of her jaw with his thumb and lean in to kiss her.
"Both," he hears himself answer, a little too honest, knees liquid and weak as he comes down heavily at her side on the floor.
He hears the sharp intake of her breath, toys with the dog between them but not rescinding what he said. No reason to, it's the truth.
The touch of her hand to his thigh startles him, "You know, Castle, there's a way to fix that."
She leans in close, rising to her knees.
Her hand coils behind his head and he only just registers the snap of her fingers. "Royal, up!"
His lips pop apart in confusion and the dog takes advantage, paws heavy on his shoulders, toppling him backwards, thrusting a slobbering, wet tongue over his lips. The dog's breath is hot, and heavy with the aftertaste of their shared steak dinner. Castle splutters and wrestles the dog away from his face, half laughing, half flabbergasted by the woman at his side.
She looks sheepish for a split second before it's washed away. Beckett cackles, falls onto her back, hands clutched to her chest and lost in a full blown belly laugh.
It's the happiest he's seen her in a long time.
She rolls onto her side, near hiccuping, a hand flitting out to his shocked face, glancing his lips as she mimes an apology. The words never make it out of her mouth as another burst of laughter trumpets its exit instead.
He finds himself unable to resist laughing too, especially when, distracted by Beckett, Royal sees an opportunity and dives back in for another lick.
It's not quite the kiss he imagined, he'd much rather be lost in the aroma of coffee and cherries than wet dog, but the sound of her laughter makes it all worth it. And it's enough. For now.