Thank you to those who take the time to send a review. Please enjoy. Just a fun story and I'm not taking this one too seriously ….

Chapter 3

"I must escort you to your door, Kate," Rick peered out of the car's window at the suburbs of Tribeca passing by. He didn't get to this area very often. Soho was his home and generally he didn't need to venture much further. "Besides, my mother would kill me if she heard I hadn't done so."

"I'm a cop, Rick, I don't need protection."

"I know." He turned his head from the window to look at Kate having understood the sharp tone of her voice. She really was a tough nut, but he was gonna break her down. He cast his eyes, up and down, from her hair to her knees in the black jeans. She was worth it. He licked his lips, took in a breath, then said, "But, I'm not disputing that and its irrelevant."

"Why's it irrelevant?"

"Because you're on a date with me. I make sure my date is safe within her home when I leave her." He dropped his gaze to their hands. About a mile back, her left hand had secretly crept its way into this right hand. She had surprised him. He had welcomed her show of affection without a word and now had Kate's hand surrounded by his. He was enjoying every bit of it. He was also right. Her fingers were cold and he was keeping her warm. He would have to let go soon as they were only a block from her apartment. He was however already reluctant to break their connection.

"Your mom?" She suddenly asked, jolting him from his thoughts.

"Huh?"

"Kill you?"

"Oh!" His eyes opened wide and he nodded, "Oh yeah, she'd kill me if I didn't escort you to your door."

Kate laughed, "I can't wait to tell the boys you are scared of your mother, Ricky."

"Isn't every boy scared of their mother?"

"I dunno Rick, who are you scared of?"

"Well," he thought about it, "Definitely Martha Rogers and I reckon I'm scared of you, and your gun of course."

Kate burst into laughter. "I am so telling the boys."

"Hey… make fun of me, but you will be safely tucked inside your home when I bid you farewell."

"That's very sweet of you, Rick," she said, with a soft smile and moist eyes, "and I will let you come up to my apartment door to bid me good night, but remember, I carry a gun." She raised her right eyebrow almost as though she was challenging him then released a giggle.

"Thank you." Rick raised his eyebrow right back. Challenge accepted. Her eyebrow dropped but her brow creased and the eyes narrowed with suspicion. He glanced down then up her slender body, "Where the hell have you hidden the gun? Those jeans are tight. I mean, you look great in them but there's barely room for you in them… you know.. and I'll shut up now," he trailed off noting the frown increased, her dark eyes bored holes into him. She was so cute when she looked angry. "So where's the gun?" He meekly inquired, still curious.

"Never you mind." She held the stare which unnerved and thrilled him.

"I won't stop thinking about now. Just sayin'."

"Keep guessing, Mr Castle."

"Is that a..?"

"No."

"Ok. I'll just think it out."

"Are you gonna hold the cab while you escort me to my door?" Kate inquired dropping the cold stare.

Rick breathed in, enjoying the momentary dizziness. "Well, that depends," he replied with new found confidence.

"Depends how?"

"I could really do with a coffee," he hinted.

"Seriously?"

"Yes. You like coffee, don't you?"

Kate chortled, "Love coffee. Gets me through the day and many nights."

"Well then, there must be a coffee shop or a diner open somewhere close to us tonight."

Kate thought about where they could go and quickly decided it was too cold and late to be out, She also wanted her boots off. And she was ready to take the clothes off, especially the jeans. After the meatballs her tummy needed more room to expand than what the jeans offered. "You know what, Ricky? Why don't you ditch the cab and come up to my place for a night cap and a coffee? Finish off a nice date?"

"Nice?" He squeaked, cleared his throat and tried again, "Nice?"

Kate Beckett rolled with laughter at his expense. It was like music to Rick's ears. He laughed too. His voice had sounded ridiculous.

She glanced out the window as the cab pulled to the curb. She squeezed his fingers. "C'mon, Ricky." She let go of his hand to step out of the car.

Rick passed the driver a $20 then scrambled across the seat and out of the vehicle, following Kate across the pavement to the steps of her apartment building. He paused on the pavement gazing up to the brunette woman half way up the steps wondering if she was experiencing that same internal buzz that his body had had going all evening in her company. He didn't think he'd ever felt so right and at home with any other woman. When she turned about and waved her fingers at him, a come hither look upon her face his heart pumped harder and faster.

"Jesus Christ, help me," he whispered to himself.

"C'mon Ricky, what's keeping you?" She summoned.

A grin broke over his face. "Watch out. I'm coming after you," he gleefully shouted before he flung himself up the steps after her. He heard her squeal as she took off through the entrance, and he just caught the door before it closed. Her laughter echoed in the foyer. He learned then that he loved this woman's joyous laughter. An elevator was available that Beckett entered quickly followed by Castle who moved to the back of the box, breathing heavily from the exertion.

"How the hell do you skate about in those boots so easily?" He asked.

"Practice," Beckett replied as she scanned a security card then hit the floor to her apartment. As soon as she was done, she spun about. "Were you teasing me earlier?"

"Which part? I tease you a lot." The doors slid shut. Rick pushed himself off the wall towards her.

"Miss Chatelaine part."

"Too soon?" He inquired.

"Maybe."

"Then I was teasing you, forget it. Were you teasing me with the meatballs?" Rick wrangled Beckett to one of the side walls. His palms rested against the mirror to each side of the woman's head. Her eyes were teary and glistening from laughing.

She chortled, "I like meatballs."

"I saw that, the way you ate them."

"Delicious." She licked her lip.

"Geez." He took a breath in, "So, Kate, you rated our first date as nice," he stated, then licked his lips. "That's like what, a four out of ten?" He leaned in a little, lingered there, fascinated with the way her eyes flicked between his eyes and lips. In fact, it was another thing about her that really turned him on. Her scent aroused sensations he didn't believe he'd ever felt before. She was smiling, almost anticipating that he was gonna kiss her. "Four outa ten. Not good."

"It's been nice so far," she softly said, her fingers playing at his shirt. He glanced down to his chest, to the slender fingers twisting in his shirt. "It was more than a four," she said and followed it with a nervous giggle.

He drew closer and whispered, "I anticipated your report to be great, like at least a nine point five."

Kate fisted her hand in his shirt. She bit her bottom lip then said, "I still stand by, you have no idea."

"I'm getting the picture." Rick pulled away, stepped back, his eyes on hers. She tilted the red rose softly against her lips. It was almost like she was teasing him, perhaps imagining it was his fingers brushing her skin or giving her a tender kiss. It certainly had the desired effect on him. He wanted to be that rose. He smiled, wagging a finger at her. "We still have time, Ms Beckett as the night is not over."

The elevator stopped.

"Let's start with the coffee, Mr Castle," she said in her cop like manner and stepped forward, nudging him backwards with her left index finger poking him in the chest, "Wow Ricky. That chest is quite hard," she said as they exited the elevator.

"I work out sometimes," he replied playfully snatching her fingers inside of his much larger hand. He stopped, glanced about, doing a half circle in the corridor.

"Where we going?"

She pointed with her free hand behind him. "Third door on the left."

"Oh." He spun about, she fell in beside him and they strode along the hallway to the said door. They only then broke contact so she could find her keys.

"I'm so full from dinner," she mumbled, her hand jammed in the right front pocket of her jeans.

"Not enough room for your dinner and you, and now your hand?" He calmly inquired.

She snorted. "I was only thinking before how much I want to get changed, to make room for those meatballs."

Rick raised an eyebrow. "I don't know where you put all that. I barely got through it and you're under half my size."

"I love food, Rick and I'm more than half your mass."

"I doubt it. Good about the food. I'll take you out somewhere different next time. You must have hollow legs. Nice legs, but hollow."

"That's confident."

"What? My compliment about your legs or my belief there will be a second date?"

"Umm." Kate contemplated his question her face screwing up in thought. "Um, the bit about the second date. You know, this has been nice and all that, but…"

"Oh, so here we go with the nice again. I'll show you a good time, Kate, I promise. Now get this door open so we can make coffee."

"Promises, promises," she mumbled and turned to the door.

"Mmm hmmm," he replied. "You wait."

As she went to insert a key, she looked over her shoulder at him. "Don't get any ideas, Rick. This is only an invitation for coffee and a night cap."

"I know. I promise I will remain a perfect gentleman until you tell me to be otherwise, but the ideas were there in my imagination days ago," he confessed and smirked boyishly, causing her eyes to roll. "You have a heads up on my safe word."

Kate smirked, "Well, I will set you down on your ass if you and your imagination make any moves," she said as she turned the key in its lock, then twisted the handle.

"Duly noted, Detective Beckett," he replied, looking right into her eyes when her head spun back in his direction. "I have to tell you one more time today that you really do have beautiful eyes, you know."

Kate paused, clearly contemplating how to process and respond to his compliment. That time he had been nothing but spontaneous and honest. No filter between his brain and mouth. An intake of breath relaxed her facial muscles and she gave him a shy smile.

"Thank you, yours are quite nice too. I mean, I really like blue eyes and..." She became awkward and fidgety, her eyes unable to settle, which caused Rick's heart to skip a couple of beats. Her fingers touched her own lips before she muttered, "Your lips. They are quite beautiful."

Rick touch his lips, their eyes locked. On the job she acted confident, almost full of herself, but tonight he'd seen a softer, a far more reserved, feminine and enchanting woman.

"Thank you, Kate," he sincerely responded. She looked away to unlock the door.

The door opened presenting an apartment already lit up with soft lamps scattered about the living area. Kate Beckett was a woman who left the lights on when she went out. Taking her cue, he extracted the key from the door, closed it and locked them inside the apartment. He searched about him, soon finding a small silver bowl he discarded the keys in.

Meanwhile, Kate removed her jacket and hung it in a recess by the door. "Make yourself at home, Rick. I keep it probably too warm in here but I can turn off the heating."

"It's fine. I'm comfortable in a shirt," he said and pulled off his jacket. She was correct. The apartment was warm but not overbearingly hot. The tall brunette walked through a second doorway into the living area ahead of him, her heeled boots striking the hardwood floor. Castle stole several seconds to admire the woman's ass in the tight jeans. He followed her, glancing about the reasonably sized apartment. He guessed there were two bedrooms, and the living area was open planned. She had a good collection of books, and knick knacks from many countries scattered about on display.

He followed his date to her kitchen, where she filled a vase with water to drop the rose in. She placed the small pink vase in the middle of the counter stealing a moment to admire the flower. Her attention returned to Rick who was having a look about.

"It's a lovely rose, isn't is," she murmured studying the rose as though she had never seen one, "Beautiful colour. Thank you."

"Yes, it is lovely. You're welcome. Next time it will be a dozen."

She laughed. "A single rose extends the same message, Rick."

"Quite true." He had watched her take care of the single rose, completely unaware that given a few days, when the rose was expiring, she would press that rose inside a book to keep it for the rest of her life.

"Will you excuse me a moment? I wanna change into something more comfortable and get my boots off."

"Certainly. Take your time," he said.

"There's a bathroom through there if you need to use it."

"Thanks," He followed where her arm pointed to a closed door, "I'll fix up the coffee."

Walking away, she said, "Everything's on the counter, Castle. I think there is cream and milk in the fridge."

"I'll be right," he called after her, watching her ass once again walk away from him. It was a beautiful ass.

No longer distracted by the woman, he began arranging the coffee machine. He found a bag of coffee beans while he made every attempt to shut his imagination down. He landed his hands on a coffee been grinder in a cupboard beneath the machine, and filled it with enough beans for a couple of decent mugs of coffee. He plugged the grinder in the wall wondering about what she was changing into to, what did Kate Beckett consider was comfortable clothing that she could also wear in his presence. He was still thinking about that when he also remembered the milk. His inspection of the fridge left him aghast. Raising a teenage daughter, his fridge was filled with healthy food, some junk food, but full nevertheless.

He peered inside at the empty shelves. There was a box of Asian food that he tipped enough to see inside of. Kate had a science project going on in that box. He screwed his nose up. There was a carton of full cream milk he gingerly lifted from the fridge door. He anticipated he was going to find yoghurt or sour cream, but to Kate's credit the milk was fresh. Happy with that he returned to the gurgling coffee machine to prepare the frothy milk.

Alone in the bedroom, Kate had quickly rifled through her drawers of nightwear and casual clothing until she found clothing that wasn't sexy but had some appeal to it. She now stood in front of her bathroom mirror staring herself down. She looked fine, and if she wanted to really turn him on, she had kept on her black lace teddy. She ruffled her short hair then smoothed it so it didn't look like she had toyed with it.

She leaned into the mirror, and whispered, "You have Richard friggin Castle in your home." She couldn't stop the smile and the girlish squeal that escaped her as she did a bit of a swirl. She stilled and covered her mouth afraid he would hear her, then focussed on her reflection.

"I cannot believe you just did that," she muttered to herself. She studied herself, wondering what he saw in her hazel eyes. Why she had such a strange reaction to his company.

"What will you do?" She dwelled on that question. Rick Castle was making it quite clear he would like to take things further with her in many ways. His level of commitment at such as early stage was spooking her. She'd had her share of one night stands and they were fun but she felt a lot hinged on this night. She wanted to push him out the door and send him home for the night. Make him work for what he wanted. On the other hand it was her who wanted to grab him by his shirt collar and drag him to her bed. She longed to kiss his lips. She desired every bit of him. He had acted like such a jerk the night she met him. His behaviour hadn't altered how her body had reacted. Her loins had ached the entire time she had questioned him. In fact, her desires were putting forward a good argument as to what she should be doing with the man who was making coffee in her kitchen. A wicked smile appeared. Her eyes glistened. What would it hurt to be naughty for a night bit a famous writer. Who would believe she had slept with a celebrity of sorts. She just a cop.

Kate pushed her hands against the vanity and stepped back. It was time to make a decision.

"You found the stuff," Kate said disrupting Rick minutes later.

He turned about, gazing upon his date who had indeed changed. The sweater, jeans and boots had been replaced with a loose t-shirt, black leggings and sheep skin slippers. She had certainly grasped the concept of comfortable, but still looked bloody sexy.

"Yeah," he vaguely replied, "I've got the stuff." But he wasn't thinking about what she was.

"Snap out of it Romeo, I only put on this old t-shirt," she ordered leaning with her hands on the counter to inspect his progress. "If you knew what was beneath this, I think I would be afraid," she said, raising her right eyebrow.

Rick's hand hit his chest and he staggered, implying he was unable to breathe. "Let me guess, black g-string and lace bra, or or or…. Lace teddy, in black," he declared pointing a finger at her.

She laughed at his boyish behaviour, "If only you knew, Ricky … this is killing you not knowing."

He sobered, "Nope, I can wait. I have an excellent imagination that feeds my ferocious appetitie." He waved a hand at the fridge, "You have nothing in your fridge, Kate," he commented mainly to shove his naughty thoughts to the back of his mind. He was now on the hunt for coffee mugs, and Kate, seeming to understand, pointed to the fourth cupboard over the coffee machine. He opened the door to find half a dozen mugs, all different.

"I eat out a lot," she explained, "And I don't particularly like to go grocery shopping."

"Do you have a favourite mug?"

"The red one, thank you."

"Red one it is," he selected a blue mug for himself.

"The blue is my second favourite."

"I bet your food pantry is practically bare too," he said keeping an eye on the mugs filling with the dark liquid. The aroma of the coffee told Rick she splashed out when she bought her beans.

"It might be." She smiled coyly her eyes shooting to the pantry door in the corner of the kitchen to Rick's left.

He placed two mugs of coffee on the kitchen counter. "Where do you keep the sweeteners?"

Kate pointed to the third overhead cupboard from the left. "I have sugar free vanilla."

Rick opened the cupboard to find a single bottle of sugar free vanilla syrup, almost full. The rest of the cupboard was bare. "I'm embarrassed for you, Kate."

"Why? Food goes off. I throw it out."

"Well yeah, but you don't have standard stuff, like white or raw sugar? What about your guests?"

"Funny, Rick."

It then occurred to Rick that Kate didn't bring people home or host guests. She met them in coffee shops or restaurants. This apartment was her private universe, her recluse. No one came here, except perhaps the medical examiner she was good friends with. He would not make fun of her privacy. It was a privilege she had invited him in to her lair.

"Well next time I'm over, I will bring sachets, and some stuff to put in these cupboards" he said.

"Are you expecting a next time?"

Rick poured a short stream of vanilla into a coffee and stirred, thinking about her query. He decided to go for it and with a good dose of confidence he said, "Yep, Beckett, there will be a next time, as we are going to be best friends for sure." He chose to go without vanilla in his coffee. He pushed the cup toward her and set the bottle of vanilla on the counter. "Try it. It's gonna be good."

"You sound pretty sure."

He chuckled, "Honey, once you've had a taste of this you will be begging me for more."

Kate burst into giggles, "Had a taste of you? Please!"

"Not me!" He laughed, "I'm talking about my coffee. Try it. Get your mind out of the gutter, Ms Beckett. I will allow you to taste all of me given time." He had to hold his laughter in when she suddenly sobered. Her cheeks blushed yet again and she messed with that damn bottom lip.

"What makes you think I want a taste of you?"

"Instincts do," he replied swallowing the saliva she had caused a build up of.

"Instincts," she echoed.

"Yes." His body desired her, but he knew he had to shut that down. She twirled her fingers in a strand of hair. "And you will come back begging for more of that too."

"Begging?" Seemed she couldn't resist the temptation to look at his body. It was done shyly but she definitely sized him up as a potential mate. She was teasing but he went with it.

"Begging," he confirmed. Suddenly, he wished the coffee was an alcoholic beverage, something to relax her, calm him. She was a little cautious. He was as nervous as a school boy. Each time she relaxed, he found she was very capable of the art of seduction. Then she would withdraw and be serious. However, he had to let her feel fully comfortable with him and he concluded he knew how to fix that. He too was a little wound up but knew how to fix that too. Scotch.

Another glass of Scotch would be good. They should have crawled onto a bar for a social drink after they left the restaurant.

He noticed her eyes were dilating. She leaned a hand on the counter and unconsciously swayed her hips. Now that was hot. He concealed his groin that was on its own agenda.

"You sure about those instincts, Ricky?"

"Yes. Drink your coffee," he quickly said, needing the coffee as a distraction. It was time to stop flirting.

She picked up the mug and took a sip. Her eyes widened. "You're right, Rick. Out of this world," she exclaimed, laughing.

He couldn't help but smile in response to her laughter. "Did I say that?"

She smiled broadly, "No." She had another sip. "But you're right. You make great coffee." It was far better than how she prepared it with the same damn machine.

"Remind me what it was that I said?"

She bit the lip again aware he was teasing her and she was enjoying every second of his boyish attention. She continued to humour him. "You mentioned something about once I've had a taste of it I will have you back for more." She stopped talking as the tall, handsome man rounded the counter, closing in on her. He came in so close she could feel heat radiating off his body. His jacket was off and his muscles flexed beneath the cotton shirt as he moved. It would be exciting to peel that shirt off his back, push it down his powerful arm. His eyes were brilliant blue, intoxicating. His veins thrummed in his neck and she found herself wanting to suck his throat, to feel the power of pulse against her lips. Then she considered his strength, contemplated how he would use it when making love sent her to another level of sexual tension. In fact, she didn't remember ever feeling what was going on inside her right now.

She put the coffee down before she dropped it, sliding it across the counter out of the way. Coffee wasn't the something her body desired any more. He certainly didn't care for coffee.

Using only the fingertips of three fingers, he touched her left cheek. She shied, a little spooked by how her body reacted. He broke contact. She felt his exhaled breath over her skin. He waited, watched her, hardly moving.

"Sorry," she whispered and gave him consent by shyly making eye contact.

"I'm not sorry," he replied barely audible as he stepped in even closer, his face closer to the side of her heard and he inhaled deeper.

"Don't stop." Her hand found his other hand and slipped into it.

"Only when you tell me to." He closed his fingers around hers.

Only when you tell me to.

That sounded serious. It sounded committed, long term, short term, right now.

He's referring to the present. Kate felt her cheeks heat just as he resumed his touch near her beauty spot. Her body shuddered.

"Don't stop," she repeated.

His fingers traced a path to her chin and onto her bottom lip. Afraid he would stop, she kept still and her breathing shallowed. Their contact felt like electrical currents soaring through her. It was captivating, thrilling and terrifying, and caused her to forget to breathe. At first, she shied from his touch then found herself crowding him so he didn't stop.

Slowly, he leaned in to kiss her. It was light. His lips were hot from the coffee, soft, moist. He pulled away maybe to assess the situation. Coffee was on his breath. Kate's mind raced a100 miles per hour but nothing stayed in it. Her lips tingled. It's all she felt. She drew in air she badly needed.

"Little more, please" she said on her exhale of air.

"Yes, more is good." He gave her more. He kissed her harder, gently sucking on and pressing her lips between his. Her mouth opened for him. His fingers combed through her hair. The need for oxygen broke them. Panting, their foreheads met.

"I can't believe you're single. You're single, right?" He asked between breaths, his tone genuine and playful.

She chortled, "Of course."

"How are you single?" He asked between breaths.

"I always say no," Kate closed her eyes, suddenly nervous. She did reject offers to date more than she accepted. "Except for you."

"Lucky me." He combed his hand through her hair, which almost caused her to buckle at the knees.

The brain was arguing about whether to ask him to stay the night. She wanted to sleep with him in her bed, she wanted to make love with him. It had been a long time since she'd shared a bed with a guy. Were there condoms in the bedside table? She couldn't remember. Did he carry them assuming he would end up in her bed? He softly kissed her face, holding her in his hands. The kisses were delicious, and she tilted her head back exposing his neck and throat for him. He went there, burning her flesh with his tongue and mouth.

"What is happening?" she asked.

"Not sure, but it feels fantastic."

"I feel drunk."

"Same. Gloriously so." He kissed a path up her neck. The feel of his lips brushing against her skin almost sent her crazy. His lips touch hers. She pulled him closer by his shirt, kissing him harder.

His hands left her head, slid down her back to relocate cupping her buttocks, lightly squeezing her. Her arms fell about his shoulders.

He easily lifted her off the floor, then sat her on the kitchen counter where she was closer to his height. He maintained kissing but his hands slid beneath the t-shirt, roaming her waist.

"Lace teddy," he mumbled between kisses and groaned his approval. He was between her knees, their hips close enough for her to wrap her legs about his body, He moaned and moved in closer.

"You do you feel that, right?" He asked.

Kate nodded, "If you're talking about the crazy flood of hormones making me all dizzy, then yes."

"Its new to me," Rick confessed, stroking his fingers up and down and over the contours of her collar bone and neck, watching the back his own hand traced, because he couldn't think with clarity and needed to tunnel his attention. A part of his mind was screaming too fast, go home whilst another part him sensed that he had finally found her, that this was the start of something special. Parts of him were on their own agenda. His finger traced the dip of her clavicle. Her skin was incredibly soft and smooth, she had the most beautiful shoulders he'd ever seen. She must have used body moisturiser.

"Me too," she whispered, disrupting his thoughts. His eyes shot to hers.

It was time to stop or to take it all the way. She scanned his face, his dilated eyes, messed up hair and full pink lips. She touched them ever so lightly. She smiled, captivated by him and whispered. "Hello."

"Hello," he responded as quietly, his fingers combing through her hair. He thought that was so cute. "Are we moving too fast, Kate?" He asked.

She nodded, "Only because you're a celebrity, I'm not."

"I'm not a celebrity here. I'm just a guy named Rick, who has spent a great evening dating and charming and kissing a beautiful dame named Kate," he chuckled at his own humour, at the way she responded with a big smile, then gave her a gentle, slow kiss. He pulled back looking over her face, into her eyes, "Seriously Kate, I don't want my status or our careers blocking what we seem to have …."

She stopped him with a finger over his lips, "Chemistry," she stated, "We have chemistry."

"We certainly have that…"

"So, we're not moving too fast. I'm spooked by what I'm feeling but want more. Much more."

He smiled, "Me too. Much more too."

She stroked his hair, whispered, "I want you to be otherwise, Rick."

"Huh?" Confused, he thought about her statement. "Oh okay." He smiled, pressed his lips to hers again. "You sure?"

"Mm. Yuss." Her brow furrowed, "I don't know if I have …"

"Protection?"

"Mm."

"I don't carry but I can run down to the …."

"No…" she leaned to him, wanting more of what his mouth could do. Hands to his head she drew him back kissing him harder, more urgently. His hand cupped her breast. She wanted clothes off and any physical contact with this man.

His palms made their way back to her buttocks. He picked her up, hustled her up and turned about.

"Where's the bedroom? I'm happy to kiss you all night."

Kate laughed, holding onto his shoulders with her right arm and with her left, she pointed to the closed door near a large painting.

"Good, we're heading that way. This is better than great already."

For those of you who disagree/dislike/ with them getting together, please remember that the theme of this story is exploring their getting together at the beginning "The Secret Life …" and concealing it. AU.