Thank you for the feed back. There's some great comments. Make me smile for hours. The pink chair is real and recently acquired by me. Found it in a second hand place. I often put key things I like or own in stories.

Chapter 21

It was father daughter cook time and they were making salad to have with grilled lamb chops. Although the evening had been planned the day before, Rick was thankful for the distraction. His girlfriend was on her way out for dinner with her best friend and he had to admit he was a little concerned she might meet a guy, or rather, another man might crack on to her. Even though he knew she was totally devoted and committed to them, he couldn't help but feel moderately insecure. She was gorgeous and other men would see that. She'd also sent two photos of herself to his secret phone, one in her lingerie and the other in her dress, short, dangerously short dress.

"I don't get it, Dad." Alexis said interrupting his thoughts, as she sliced onions, her eyes protected by goggles. "If Creason didn't do it, then how does the rug fit in?"

"Killer probably heard about the feud between the two of them and tried to shift suspicion, which is stupid because without the rug it would just look like a mugging gone wrong." Rick replied.

"So, by trying to look smart they were actually being stupid?" She summed up with a smile looking at her father through the goggles.

Rick paused, "I think you just described the human condition."

"Speaking of the human condition, how's it going with Detective Beckett?" She casually asked.

Instantly Rick felt guilty for hiding his relationship with the brunette from his daughter, but he had to keep it quiet, "What do you mean?"

"Oh, come on, Dad, you are basing a character off her, and you always say you have to love your characters."

That caused Rick to pause and give that thought. "Well, yeah, she is a character." And now Alexis pointed that out he had to agree, she was right, well he was right. He did have to love his characters. He pictured Beckett with great fondness, then said, "But, ah, just research, nothing more." It didn't stop him from wishing he could share with his daughter that he'd met a woman who was making him so happy of late. He needed more time to be sure before he would let Alexis in.

"Yeah. I'm sure. You've been gone some nights." She hinted.

Rick stopped cutting, "You know I don't …"

"Bring women here nowadays. I know Dad. But maybe you can now I'm older."

"Thank you."

Martha approached the kitchen counter flapping a sheet of paper. She quickly inspected what they were doing then said, "Well, I've found out why your books aren't selling, listen to this review. His work has become so hackneyed, so cliché, that we wonder if Mr Castle has anything new to say. It appears the magic, if there ever was any, is long gone." She touched her son's shoulder, "Ahh darling I know, it's awful, it's awful I'm sorry, daggers to the heart."

Alexis peered at the piece of paper Martha held, "The Syracuse Times Reader. Really Gran?"

His mother continued, "Now don't you worry. I'm going to write them a piece of my mind, and who cares if they say the magic has gone? Harper Lee only wrote one book, you've written dozens. Of course, hers was literature, but still I…" she said walking off.

"How long do you think it took her to find that review?" He asked his daughter once Martha was out of hearing range.

"Probably all afternoon."

"Oh yeah," he solemnly agreed, but he continued to chop the unions. They were almost ready for Alexis to start mixing the salad while he cooked the lamb.

"Oh come on, you know she does it out of love, right? I mean she thinks it's her job to keep you grounded." Alexis said.

"Well, I certainly feel grounded." He said as his phone began to ring in the back pocket of his jeans. He reached for it and pulled off the goggled. He said, "You have the bridge, Number One?"

Alexis gave him some sort of salute as he walked away.

Rick accepted the call. "Hello?"

"Is this Richard?" A female asked.

"Yes, it is, who's this?"

"It's Tiffany. You called me for a date."

Rick sat on the sofa, then laid down. "Yes I did, Tiffany, and I am so glad you called. Just out of curiosity, what are you wearing right now?"

Beckett found Lanie first, her height giving her a clear advantage, about a minute after she walked into the bar, "Hey, Lanie." She waved an arm capturing her friend's attention.

Lanie soon saw her and they immediately closed the distance between them, and greeted each other with a quick hug and press to the cheeks. Lanie said close to Kate's ear, "Damn, girl, you look great and you smell expensive."

"New perfume." Kate replied and stood back to take in the sight of the doctor out of scrubs and in evening attire. Of course, the girls were out on show and the dress was tight.

"So jealous of your height, Kate."

"It's just height, Lanie. You're dressed like you might be meeting someone after our dinner date."

Lanie laughed, "I might be catching up with a potential boyfriend. He's on shift at the hospital right now."

"A doctor." Kate pointed to a table that had just been vacated. They made a quick beeline to the table.

"Why aren't you going on a date after we part company?" Lanie asked as they sat down at the table.

"Because I'm not dating anyone." She casually replied as she picked up the menu. "Wanna share or you really hungry?"

"We'll order two and share?"

"Sure." Kate mulled over the menu.

"Just how long has it been since you went on a date, Sweetie?"

"Christ, I haven't dated in ages," Kate replied, "Not since, Sorenson?" She screwed up her nose, trying to recall the last date without thoughts of dating Rick interfering with her concentration on the conversation.

"That was like a century ago."

"Really? Doesn't feel long ago and I've forgotten about dating lately." Beckett said flipping over her phone in case Rick decided to start texting immature or dirty messages as he frequently did when they were apart. She'd sent him selfies of herself dressed up so she was expecting a response. He was probably busy with his daughter.

"You deserve to be with someone, and speaking of dates why aren't you dating Richard Castle? You are aware he's got eyes for you, right?"

Kate blushed, thinking about the way Rick did look at her, when they were making love, when he gave her a coffee in the morning, while she worked and he stared at her. That one she didn't particularly care for and she often felt like he was undressing her with his eyes. And he probably was. Just like she found she wasted a lot of time imagining him in various stages of undress or positions. She was particularly fascinated with the fact she couldn't remember how he felt inside her. It was like pain. Humans forgot. But she knew she liked it, and that's all that mattered. She waved her hand dismissing Lanie's comment. "He's not interested in me." She said, and put down the menu. "I'm ready to order."

"He is and I'm ready to order too." Lanie said. "You should date him." She stood up and grabbed her wallet, "My shout, what's your poison?"

"Chicken burger and a scotch please." Kate replied. Lanie gave a nod then went to the bar to order. She was back in no time with a table number she placed on the center of the table. She sat back in her chair leaned over the table and said, "There's a guy at the bar who asked me if you're single."

Kate frowned, "Really? I hope you said no." She couldn't resist a search for the guy Lanie was talking about but none of the men near the bar were paying them any attention.

"I told him he would have to ask you himself. He's drop dead gorgeous, Kate."

"Which one?"

"Tall, dark. Older."

"Forget it. Older." She waved it off.

"Well then, let's go back to what we were talking about. "Why aren't you fucking the brains out of writer boy? He's so good looking, Kate and he really wants to take you out."

Kate coughed, almost choking on a sudden intake of air catching saliva. She furrowed her brow. She was trying her hardest not to give up the truth; that she was doing exactly what Lanie recommended. She replied, "I want long term, Lanie, and he's not interested in long term. He's a player. He has a family. I've seen him in the newspapers…"

"Yes, girl on each arm. So have I, but they're just snap shots of minute seconds of his life."

"How do you know that? That he's not dating bimbo or floozies."

"Does he share with you he see's women?" Lanie inquired. "He doesn't hide much so I imagine he would tell you if you didn't shut him down."

"No. That his private life. I don't want to know that. So I would shut him down, but to answer you, no he hasn't mentioned dating."

"Because he wants to be with you, Kate."

"No. He has been married, has a family. I haven't done any of that."

Lanie rolled her eyes, "Denial, Kate. Do you not see what we all see? He's always with you lately."

"It was an order from the Mayor."

"Whatever." Lanie blew that off. "He divides his time between you and his daughter. So with you two sharing his time, when would he get time to date women?"

"I don't know. He's with me a lot, whether I like it or not."

"Mm. He's mostly with you and he happens to look like he's getting properly laid." The doctor thought aloud. A barman delivered their drinks along with a bottle of water and two glasses.

The detective momentarily got stuck in Lanie's comments. She stared at the bottle of water. Her mouth was so dry. She reached for the bottle as it was left on the table and poured to glasses. She skulled her water. Pouring another glass, she said, "I mean Lanie, he's had a string of women. Admits he has. He's a celebrity and can have any woman he wants. So maybe he gets it from a regular."

"I doubt it." Lanie leaned in closer, "Rick is very cute. I'd love to fuck him." She sat back with a satisfied look on her face.

For several seconds Kate stared at Lanie's brown eyes, almost of the understanding that Lanie was sending her a message that she knew it was Kate who was sleeping with Rick. The doctor's head tilted a little to right. Kate's heart was beating hard inside her ribcage. She felt a pang of jealousy too. There was a chance in hell Lanie was going to get an opportunity to try out the Castle merchandise. However, the doctor was right, but Kate had to push on. Lanie knew. Out of her trance, Kate asked, "You would do it with him?"

"In the blink of an eye if he wasn't so into you. When you guys come to the Morgue he's smitten with you."

Kate bit her lip trying not to laugh because it was Rick who said she was the dead give away.

"And he's been chasing your tail and here you are getting a drink with me after work instead of getting your freak on with Writer Boy? You might enjoy it too." Lanie said, casting her eyes towards Kate's hips. "I think you are enjoying his company, Honey." She picked up her glass.

"Yeah, well," Kate rolled her eyes, trying her best to put on a good performance. "You can have him." She said picking up her glass in desperate need of a drink. This was worse than grilling a criminal.

"To new relationships and having fun with boys." Lanie said. "Cheers."

"Cheers," They clinked glassed, and Kate took a healthy mouthful. The alcohol burned all the way down. Then she started. "He is annoying Lanie. He's self-centred, egotistical and completely…"

"Fun." Lanie butted in. "And take it from me, girlfriend, ya need some fun. I mean, how bad can he be?"

Kate was about to answer but glanced to her phone, when she felt it vibrating on the table. She flipped it and saw it was Rick. She looked over the table at the doctor. "Its him." Pure exasperation was all over her face.

"Answer it." She urged.

Kate rolled her eyes, accepted the call and said, "Beckett."

"Guess who's got a date with a prostitute!" Rick gleefully said.

With her eyes staring into the Lanie's large brown eyes, she responded, "Castle, what?"

"I got a call back from the prostitute."

She growled, "I said not to call."

He laughed, "Oh, I see, you're putting on a show for Lanie."

"Yes, I am. I'm on a date, Castle, not sitting at home waiting for you to call." She rolled the eyes and put on her expression of impatience. Her mother used to tell her she'd make a good actress, so she put forth a might effort.

"Good girl. She wants to sleep with me right? I've seen her show off the girls, the impressive girls." He said with a laugh.

"Castle. You are so full of yourself."

"I know. I've set up meet, Beckett. Lunch time tomorrow."

"Ok. I'll talk to you tomorrow. I'm with Lanie so I have to go."

"Can I come watch?"

"Oh my God. I'm hanging up." She squawked and laughed, "Pervert." She squeaked and hung up, looking aghast at Lanie.

"What did he say?"

"He wants to watch us do it."

"Of course he does, he's male."

"Yeah, well. See? Like a man-boy."

"Still fun and you need fun outside of work."

"I need another drink. A big one. I can't believe he's arranged to meet with a prostitute."

"He wouldn't need to if you would give out for him."

Kate rolled her eyes. "Rick Castle is too much boy and not enough man for me," she said hoping she was selling this enough. Her body was actively responding to the conversation and to hearing his voice, his laughter and teasing. She knew her nipples were hardened, and her groin was aching. She'd had a damn good taste of the writer and her body longed for more of him. There was the greatest urge to share her secret with Lanie, but she knew it would then breach their current status. No one knew they were dating. She crossed her legs and put the phone down. There was a guy at the bar and she'd noticed he'd been casting his eyes at their table in the past five or so minutes.

"Is that the guy Lanie. Blue shirt, dark brown hair. My three o'clock?"

Lanie took a discrete look in the general direction and gave a nod. "That's him."

Kate smiled, "Maybe we should have some fun."

When they were tired and no longer interested in dancing or drinking, Kate and Lanie decided to call it a night. They shared a cab back home, Lanie dropping Kate off at her apartment. She was tired, a little hungry and, definitely tipsy. It was a certainty the last Scotch had effected Kate's sensory system. She unlocked her door and slipped inside placing the locks into position to secure her home. As she turned about she seductively called, "Castle?" She could already smell his expensive aftershave.

"Here. In the bedroom."

Kate smiled hearing his voice. "Wait till you see what I'm gonna do for you." She walked across the living room her heels clacking on the floor boards. As she walked past the coffee table she snatched a chocolate bar from the glass bowl Rick had placed there a couple of weeks ago.

"Hurry up, already." He called.

She mustered up her sexiest voice, "I hope you're ready, Ri …kyyy." Silenced by what she saw, she stopped in the doorway to her bedroom. Rick was seated on a pink chair by her bed. The pink chair. He was fully naked but for a pink tie hanging around his neck, his knees well apart, his large claim semi aroused. "Castle?" Her hands shot to her mouth. "You got the chair?"

Rick smiled at his girlfriend in the simple black dress with the shabby denim jacket and high heels, and those legs that went for miles. He'd completely forgotten about the chair he was perched upon. She unwrapped a chocolate wrapper and popped the sweet in her mouth. "Chocolate," she muttered with a full mouth

"You don't know how hot you look, do you," he commented and saw her smile broaden, her cheeks blush. She was excited. She was a little intoxicated.

She broke down the chocolate, studying his face, before she replied,"I can see it in your eyes," she answered giving him a soft smile. "It's all I care about, that you want me," she said staring at him on the pink bedroom chair. She giggled and clapped her hands. "The chair."

"Shit, you really are drunk, Baby," he said with a laugh. The last check of his phone he had read a text from Kate letting him know she was on her way home, and was feeling tipsy. He liked her tipsy. She really let down her guard.

"I like your tie. Matches," She pointed at the chair. "Castle, that's the chair."

"The chair?" He asked appearing confused.

"Our pink chair." She gleefully said playing along. She shrugged her jacket off and threw it to the bed then stepped out of her heels. "How did you get it?"

"What do you mean?" He saw her hitch her dress up high revealing a tiny piece of her red panties.

She stepped to him, putting her hands to his shoulders as she straddled him. He put his hands to her waist drawing her in. She kissed him, pulled back and bit her lip before she whispered, "You got our chair."

"Mm." She tasted of chocolate and scotch. "And it is the chair."

She stroked her fingers over the pink velvet, "How? They said no."

"Everything has a price." He replied watching her face.

"Thank you." She said and followed it with another kiss then she leaned in to hug him, her fingers feeling over the patterns in the dark wood. It brought back that evening, that particular moment when she had been sitting on the chair. The room smelt of smoke from the open fire, of his cologne, of them. They'd been on the chair when something incredibly significant had surfaced in her conscious thoughts without a hint of warning. Awareness had brought a warmth, but later, she'd been fearful. The chair was her grounding point, her reminder of a realisation that had internally changed her life.

"I can't believe you got this." She whispered sitting up so they could talk and see each other. She put her hands to his collar bones. "No one's ever done something like this for me."

"Well, get used to it." He replied with a deep voice, "Arms up." He lifted the dress from her body. He tossed it where the jacket had landed, his eyes taking in her pale skin, from her clavicle to her belly button and south from there. She was wearing a plain red bra with matching panties. Simple, but elegant.

"You are beautiful." He rested his arm about her waist when she leaned against his body.

"Mm," she closed her eyes. "I'm drunk, Castle."

"Nothing wrong with that." He pushed back her hair, noting how warm she was.

She whispered. "Us."

"I wanna do us." Rick whispered into her right ear then pressed his lips to her temple. Kate moved on his lap so her body was pressed harder against his.

"Castle," she whispered, her tone telling him exactly what she wanted.

"Same. Did you have a good time with Lanie?"

She sat back and nodded, and smiled in thought, "She didn't break me if that's what you're thinking. She tried. She laced me with alcohol. Lanie is suspicious because you're with me much of your time and look like you're getting laid." She pressed her lips together and swiped her hand across her lips. "My lips are sealed." She sang with an intoxicated vivacious laugh that caused Rick to do the same.

"You didn't cave."

"Not at all. A guy hit on me. I pretended I was interested which caught Lanie off guard."

"Guy?"
She shrugged her shoulders, "Some guy bought us drinks."

"You accepted?"

"Never drink anything someone buys me, except you. Could be spiked." She murmured breathlessly because his hands on her body, just caressing her were taking her to another level of bliss. He had magical powers in his hands. She understood why cats purred when they were caressed.

Kate slid along his thighs then stood before Rick, leaning her hands on his knees, not saying a word. She felt intoxicated, relaxed and had an overwhelming desire to drop to her knees for him. Staring into his eyes she saw how bright blue, full of want they were. He gazed back seemingly aware of what she was thinking.

"On your knees," he whispered.

She instantly dropped to her knees between his thighs. "I'll show you how much I like you on this chair." She said grasping the pink tie. She slid it from his body and let it go to the floor. "Now you're naked, Mr Castle."

Rick closed his eyes as Beckett lowered her head, take him in her hands. He rested his head to the back of the chair. "Jesus, fucking Christ, I love it when you do that."