JUST ON THE SURFACE
CHAPTER EIGHT (FINAL CHAPTER)
Letting Castle back in her life is a mistake.
It's not that she doesn't enjoy having him around - she does, but she'll never admit that to another soul - or that they've crossed the line into a personal relationship again - despite his flirting and her damn libido making a comeback, she goes home alone every night.
It's that being close to him again, having coffee appear at the most convenient times, and hearing his cheerful greeting every day, is almost making her forget that she needs to keep him at arm's length to protect her heart.
She sees reminders of him everywhere: the chair that's taken up residence next to her desk again, the subtle scent of his cologne in the air, his handwriting on the murder board.
She can't get away from him, and it's driving her crazy.
Even when she goes home, she sees him in her apartment. The downside to mostly using her place for sex, she supposes. But even innocent things like her stove and coffee maker remind her of the times he'd stay overnight and cook breakfast.
It's fucking annoying.
It comes to a head in early September, when they catch a case involving missing organs, drugs, and the Russian mafia. Castle is thrilled with the discovery of an underground poker club, and despite her attempts to find literally any other solution, they send him in with strict instructions to observe only, and take no action.
Which he, of course, ignores.
When she realizes he's in danger, she panics. She tells herself it's just because she doesn't want to explain to his family what happened, and she doesn't ever want to lose anyone on her watch, especially a civilian who, despite everything, she cares about.
Even as she struts through the alley towards the poker game, though, she admits to herself that her worry also comes from her concern for his well-being.
She doesn't want to lose him.
Aside from his comment about her changing, they don't acknowledge her lack of clothing, but even so, she feels his eyes on her the entire time they wait for backup to arrive.
It takes time for them to break up the poker club, and although putting the rest of her clothes back on helps refocus everyone, Castle's eyes don't leave her.
Jeez, it's like he's never seen her bare legs before. Or her entire naked body more times than she can count.
Her cheeks warm as her mind wanders to just how much he appreciates her body…and how much she misses him.
Get a hold of yourself, Beckett, she tells herself as she shoves the murder suspect in the back of the bus. It's neither the time nor place to start lusting after her…partner? Ex-fake-boyfriend?
God, how confusing.
She and Castle barely say a word to each other on the way back, but as soon as she hands off the suspect to booking, she grabs his jacket lapel and drags him down the hall.
"What the hell were you doing?" she hisses, shoving him against the wall. "You almost got yourself killed."
He smirks. "I knew you wouldn't let that happen. And it worked, didn't it? We got the guy."
She rolls her eyes and steps back to lean against the opposite wall. "No thanks to you almost blowing the whole thing," she snaps, crossing her arms. "What if we hadn't been able to come in? Or I couldn't find you, or he shot you before I got there?"
"And what if you weren't wearing a sexy bra?" he teases, glancing at her chest with darkening eyes.
"Not the point, Castle." She sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. "No, you know what? This was a mistake. I never should've let you back."
"Back in the precinct, or back in your life?"
She lifts her gaze back to his, and for the first time since they met at the café last week, she sees regret in his eyes.
"I don't know," she admits, dropping her hands to her side in defeat. "We might still be looking for the killer if you hadn't provoked him, but I also hated seeing you in danger."
"Because you didn't want the case to go wrong, or…"
"Because I still care about you, dammit!"
They both fall silent, the air between them thickening with tension, his dark gaze boring into her. Her name falls from his lips in a deep husk, and she closes the distance, grabs his jacket, and surges into him.
Kissing him is a terrible idea. She knows this, knows that giving him even a shred of hope could eventually lead to him worming his way back into her heart. But she can't bring herself to step away, not when his lips are soft against hers and his hands are firm on her waist.
When her tongue teases the seam of his lips he turns her, pinning her to the wall, sweeping his tongue against hers. She moans at the press of his body against hers, and she hooks her ankle around his calf and rolls her hips against his.
"Kate," he gasps, tearing his mouth from hers, "wait."
She manages to step away from him and runs her fingers through her hair. There's a loud shout from the booking room around the corner, and she shakes her head in disbelief.
She shouldn't have done that, kissed him in the middle of the hallway. She let him in once before, and it almost broke her.
"I can't," she eventually whispers, wrapping her arms around her stomach, hugging herself.
"Kate-"
"How do I know you won't do it again?" she interrupts, her eyes focused on the floor, refusing to meet his eyes. "That you won't get the file again, or do anything I expressly ask you not to do?"
He's silent for a long time, long enough that she starts to wonder if maybe her doubt is justified. But eventually, she looks up at him, and she recognizes the apology in his eyes.
"You don't know, because I haven't given you a reason to trust me. So whatever you need me to do to prove it, I will." He holds his arms out in a gesture of surrender. "Search my place for the file, make me take a lie detector test, whatever you need."
She draws her bottom lip between her teeth and leans against the wall, putting space between them again.
"My feelings for you haven't changed, Kate," he says in a low voice. "If anything, they've only grown since our time apart."
She snorts. "Right, and that's why you flirted with every pair of boobs at that party." When his brows furrow in confusion, she clarifies. "That Black Pawn event a couple of weeks after we ended things?"
"Oh, that? Most of it was publicity." His lips curl in a smile. "Don't tell me you were jealous," he teases. When she just rolls her eyes, he turns serious. "I did go on a couple dates, and yes, I signed a bunch of chests at that party. But that's all. It was all to try and get over you, and it failed, miserably."
He takes a cautious step forward and takes her hand in his. "There's no getting over you, Kate. I thought there might be, but there isn't. Like it or not, I have feelings for you. Now, I won't push you. I'll let you lead. But I want to be clear that I want a relationship with you." He pauses. "Again."
She takes a deep breath, her mind a jumbled mess. When she sorts through it all - the heartbreak, the longing, the joy she feels when he's around - there's one thing she knows without a doubt.
She wants it too.
"Okay."
He blinks. "Okay?" he echoes.
"Okay," she repeats with a nod. "I'll give you another chance."
He cups her face in his hands, and she smiles and sinks into his embrace when he lowers his mouth to hers.
TWO MONTHS LATER
Kate swipes her palms on her thighs, nerves beginning to take over as the limo approaches the bookstore and she notices the press crowded near the door.
A warm hand covers hers, and she slips her hand and squeezes. She looks over to meet Rick's concerned gaze, and she offers a reassuring smile. "I'm okay."
He raises his brows, clearly not believing her. "Is that why your hand is clammy and you look like you're about to run away as soon as the car stops?"
She sighs and leans back in the seat, careful not to mess up her hair. "Okay, maybe I'm a little nervous," she admits.
"Why?"
"I don't know, I just…" She shrugs. "It's our first time out as a couple. A real couple," she clarifies. "And it's for the book you based off of me. It feels a little high pressure."
He reaches over to brush his thumb across her jaw. "It'll be okay, Kate. I won't leave your side."
"Thank you," she sighs, leaning into his touch.
When they decided to become a couple again, they did so with two clear boundaries: no secret investigations into her mom's case, and no paparazzi.
The fact that their previous relationship began as a publicity stunt was never publicized, and they agreed that they didn't want their second chance to become fodder for Page Six, either.
Rick finished Naked Heat, the first Nikki Heat book, in record time, so the late autumn release date was moved up to mid-October, and Black Pawn organized a party for the new book. This event is the first time they're presenting themselves as a couple, and she's nervous.
They already agreed not to admit to the nature of their previous relationship, or why it had ended, so if anyone asks, they're sticking to the most basic version: they had a fight, broke up, and later reconnected.
Aside from a select few trusted friends and family, nobody else knows the truth.
Kate takes comfort in the warmth of her boyfriend's smile and his hand squeezing hers, and before she realizes it, the limo is pulling to a stop and flashbulbs are blinding her through the window.
"Ready?" he murmurs in her ear.
She nods. "Let's go."
As soon as Rick opens the door, she hears the reporters exclaim and start bombarding them with questions, and she meets Rick's eyes and takes his outstretched hand.
Why did you break up?
Are you back together?
Is this a new series?
Why did you turn down Bond?
She feels Rick's grip tighten at the last question, and she leans into him. "Bond?" she murmurs in his ear.
He squeezes her hand and brushes his lips against her temple. "I'll explain later," he whispers before turning to face the reporters. "To answer your questions, the nature of our breakup and reconciliation is our business. Suffice it to say that we're very happy together."
"Bond was the opportunity of a lifetime. Did you turn it down to write more Nikki Heat?" one of the reporters asks.
"Yes."
Kate looks up at him in surprise, not expecting him to answer so bluntly, but he just looks down at her and smiles.
"Being offered to take over the Bond franchise was a dream come true," he continues, his eyes softening as he gazes into hers. "But it wasn't the opportunity of the lifetime, not for me. Being with Kate is a privilege I'd be stupid to give up."
She feels her cheeks flush, and she forgets all of her misgivings about being in public, reaches up to press her palm against his cheek. She draws his mouth down to hers for a long, chaste kiss that has the reporters and photographers clamoring for pictures.
Once they're inside, she pulls him away from the crowd already mingling and the champagne freely flowing. "What's this about Bond?" she asks before he has a chance to say anything. "And when were you going to tell me?"
His ears turn pink. "After this party, I swear. I don't know how they found out, it was all supposed to be confidential." When Kate just raises her brows in a silent request to continue, he sighs. "A couple days ago, Paula approached me with an offer to write three new Bond books. It's been a dream, ever since I picked up a copy of Casino Royale when I was a kid. I was also offered two more Nikki Heat books, which I took instead."
"You-" She pauses, taking in his words. "Rick, did you give up Bond for me?"
"Yeah. They were going to send me to London for a year." He takes her hands and rubs his thumb across her knuckles. "We just got back on our feet. I wasn't about to put us at risk just for a few books."
Kate uses their joined hands to pull herself closer, and she lifts her mouth to his. "I can't believe you did that," she murmurs, kissing him again. "But I'm glad you did."
He chuckles and wraps his arms around his waist. "I love you, you know. In case I haven't told you yet today."
She loops her arms around his shoulders and bumps his nose with hers. "I love you too, stud. Now let's go. You have a book to promote, and later, I have plans for you."
He slides his hands down to her ass, and he tugs her into him. "Do those plans involve this dress coming off?"
She just laughs and leads him to the party.
-FIN-
A/N: Thank you all for the continued support! Keep an eye on my page (and Twitter...you know what, just sign up for email notifications) for potential future fics!