5. Date Night

It was mid afternoon Friday. The team had caught a case and the four of them sat in the conference room going over a couple of boxes worth of documents.

"Hey Castle," said Ryan, "Maybe you can weigh in on this: Beckett is leaving us with the grunt work for personal business."

"Oh what kind of personal business," asked Castle.

"She's got a date with Josh," Ryan said as he smiled at Beckett.

"It's not Josh," said Espo, "I got a buddy down at the hospital. They broke up."

"What, when?" asked Ryan.

"Around the time Beckett got back."

"Aw why, we liked him."

Beckett looked at the papers in front of her, "Yeah well he liked his job more. Anyways it's fine I'm more than okay with it."

"So does this mean you've got a new guy all ready," asked Esposito. "Come on you gotta tell us who he is."

"I don't have to tell you guys anything," Beckett said as she stood and grabbed her coat, "That's why it's called a personal life. 'Night boys."

"'Night," said Ryan and Espo.

Castle waited a few minutes before also standing up.

"Woah, wait," said Espo, "You're leaving too?'

"since when do I ever really help out with grunt work," Castle asked.

"True," said Ryan, "And to be fair his partner isn't here so technically he doesn't have to be here since he only really shadows Beckett."

"Speaking of your partner," Espo said as he grinned at Castle, "We're your bros so we gotta ask- now that Beckett is single, and her date with that unknown guy tonight doesn't count, are you gonna make your move?"

"The woman just got out of a relationship. I doubt she's looking for another one."

"Won't know until you ask," said Ryan.

"Yeah well I'm not going to," said Castle.

Espo pointed a pen at Castle, "That my friend makes you an idiot."

"I'm gonna go now," Castle said as he made his leave and didn't wait for a response.

Beckett half smiled to herself as she took one final glance in the mirror. She ran her hands down her dress that went eight inches past her knees.

The doorbell to her apartment rang. Beckett looked at the clock on her nightstand. 8:00 PM. Right on time. Smoothing her dress one last time she made her way to the door.

Castle stood before her in a tux and a red tie that matched her dress. Castle starred at her figure. The way the dress hugged her hips and abdomen were enough to make him feel like the luckiest man in the world, more so as he noticed the way the top of the dress cupped her breasts, showing some cleavage.

After lingering for a moment, Castle's eyes met hers.

"You look breath-taking," he finally said.

"And you look ruggedly handsome," Beckett said not being able to take her eyes off him.

"So you do see it," he said with a grin. Castle brought forward a hand he had behind his back. "These are for you."

Beckett smiled as she took the bouquet of red roses. She brought them to her nose for a quick sniff and the smell of them was wonderful.

"They're beautiful, Castle, thank you. Wanna come in while I find a vase for these?"

Castle nodded. It didn't take long for Beckett to find the right vase. She filled it with water and then placed the flowers in them and left them on the kitchen table.

Castle smiled, "You ready?"

"Just let me get my coat and my purse."

Once Beckett was set, Castle drove them to Toujours which translated to simply 'Always', a new French restaurant that had opened up on the far west side of Manhattan.

"I can't believe you got us a table," said Beckett. "This place has been booked for months."

"Well being a famous author has it's perks."

Beckett looked at him with curiosity, "The owner's kid used to go to school with Alexis. Thankfully Mr. Jans still likes me."

When the waitress, a girl in her mid twenties, came to take their drinks, Beckett ordered an un-sweet tea.

"No wine," Castle asked.

"I want to enjoy our night sober," Beckett said with a smile.

Castle smiled back, "Then make that two," he said to their server.

The girl smiled at the couple, "Coming up. First date," she asked.

Castle looked at Beckett, "It is," he answered.

The waitress smiled at them and looked at Beckett, "Lucky you."

"Yeah," Beckett said as she looked at Castle, "Lucky me."

The evening progressed casually and calmly. They dined over poached chicken and spinach salads.

Three years of being partners and they had been completely amazed by one another but their date had added a new layer to their relationship. Rick talked a little about what it was like to grow up without a father, something he rarely talked about. Kate talked about some of the happy times she'd had with her mom, and times spent at family cabin. They talked about their careers, their families; bits of information that they hadn't shared with each other before. It was easy but not in a dull kind of way. Beckett found herself thoroughly engaged in listening to him and in participating when it was her turn.

"How are you two doing," the waitress asked as she came over. "Can I get you anything else, desert?"

Beckett looked at Castle who smiled and said, "It's up to you."

Beckett smiled back and looked over the deserts menu before ordering it to go. She had ordered a chocolate mousse with sponge and ganache icing that would be shared by them later.

"Not a problem," said their server. "I'll be right out with it."

Once she was gone Castle had asked, "Are you sure you don't want to enjoy it here?"

"Later, I've got a different desert in mind," Beckett said as she ran her foot up Castle's leg and to his center which was covered by the long table cloth that reached the floor so no one could see. Castle jumped back but was clearly pleased by her action.

They had barely gotten inside Castle's loft and all ready Beckett was hot with heat and moaning at the feel of Castle's tongue across the side of her neck.

Castle, still with the doggie bag of desert in hand, messily placed it on an end table as he continued to pay his full attention to Beckett.

"You're mother and Alexis," Beckett said between her breaths.

"Gone," Castle said, his mouth moist from his persistent tongue movements on her skin, "They knew we had our date tonight, they won't be coming home any time soon."

"Thank god," Beckett said as she made her way to his lips.

Castle easily picked her up and Beckett wrapped her legs around him. Her panties were soaked through and Castle could feel the wetness of her by the skin of his shirt as she held him tight. With one arm Castle easily reached for her black panties and slid them off like a pro. The wetness didn't bother him, instead it made him curious. Though he and Beckett had had sex before, it was nothing like this. Hot liquid streamed down her legs and Castle gently caressed the area until he made his way inside her, sending out a loud groan from Beckett as she rolled her head back at the touch. Castle moved her to the bed so that he could take off her dress and bra and then quickly removed his own clothes much to Beckett's discomfort since she wanted him back inside her.

It didn't take Castle long to undress. He had continued where he had left off, placing his sticky hand back inside her. Twiddling with her, getting to know every inch and what sensations pleasured her most. The way his hand felt inside her made Beckett's body react in a new way. Removing his hand, Castle wanted to explore more but in a different way, he curled his back as he made his way downward, his mouth taking in her heat. Beckett had never allowed another man to feel her in this way before. She had never really been one for oral sex, it just wasn't her thing but with Castle it was completely different. She allowed it, she welcomed it. She wanted him to know every part of her, even the parts that were dark, murky, and wet. And she wants to know him too but that would have to wait.

Castle removed his lips from her center and traced them all the way until he met her lips once more. She could feel the hardness of him and with one quick pause the couple smiled at each other and Castle thrust himself inside Beckett whose body was more than relaxed and ready for him to enter.

Beckett let out a loud moan as Castle moved inside her, his form doing strange and inexplicable things to her. It felt like a dance that would never end.

Author's Note: Chapter 6 coming up sometime next week (I hope!)