Author's Note: In which both Alexis and Martha find out.
The Best-Laid Plans
Chapter 19
The sound of footsteps on the stairs had them both jolting upright and Kate couldn't help but immediately drop his hand as if it had just burst into flames, retreating a little. But Castle immediately reached out to grasp her hand firmly again, just as Alexis appeared.
The girl smiled when she saw Kate. "Oh, Kate, hi. I didn't know you were he–," she began but broke off, as her eyes fell on their joined hands. "Wait, are you two together for real?"
Kate glanced at Castle. He returned her look but didn't answer and it was left to Kate to look at Alexis. "Are you okay with that, Alexis?" She wasn't worried, per se, but she was a little uncertain. She knew Alexis liked her well enough but liking her as her dad's friend was one thing and as her dad's girlfriend quite possibly another. And if Alexis felt at all uncomfortable, it would be hard on Castle.
Alexis gave a little laugh and Kate relaxed. "Of course it's okay with me. I told Dad days ago that I thought you guys should be together."
The girl bent to give Kate a quick, somewhat awkward, hug as Kate was sitting down. "Just take care of him is all I ask."
Behind her, Castle gave a protesting little huff, which they both ignored.
"I'll do my best, Alexis," Kate promised. She slanted a teasing look at Castle. "Although he is a handful."
Alexis grinned and turned to drop onto the couch beside Castle, leaning into him as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"I'll have you know that I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself," Castle informed his daughter with mock sternness.
"I'll believe it when I see it, Dad," Alexis returned pertly.
Kate smirked at Castle. "I think she has you there, Castle. You are always talking about how smart Alexis is."
Castle made a face at her and then turned to his daughter. "Speaking of being smart," he began rather too loudly, "how is the studying coming?"
Alexis slumped into Castle's side, heaving a sigh that might have come from the depths of her feet. Kate hid a smile; clearly Alexis had inherited a little of Martha's penchant for drama. "I've studied until I feel like my brain is about to leak out of my ears. So I thought I'd take a break and help you make dinner."
"I never turn down an offer of help," Castle responded before turning to Kate. "Will you stay for dinner?"
"I don't want to intrude since you weren't planning on guests," she began.
Alexis's quick "You won't be intruding," overlapped with Castle's equally fast "Don't be silly, Beckett. Of course we want you to stay."
She gave him a small smile. "Then yes, I'd love to stay for dinner."
"Great!" He leaned forward to kiss her but Kate flushed and turned her head so his lips landed on her cheek.
"Behave, Castle."
"Yeah, Dad," Alexis interjected. "I'm happy for you and Kate, really, but don't be gross."
Castle sat back with a wry look. "Not to be gross as you put it, but you are going to have to get used to seeing me kiss Beckett."
Alexis wrinkled her nose a little. "I know but still."
"It's okay, Alexis, I'll try to make him behave," Kate inserted. Aside from anything else, it would take her some time to feel comfortable with being kissed in front of Alexis. She'd never dated anyone who had a kid before, let alone a teenager and one with whom she already had a friendship of sorts, so that was another thing she would need to figure out.
Castle's expression softened as he looked at her, some understanding dawning. "Well, then," he began briskly, "I'm going to rummage around in the fridge and figure out what to do for dinner. Alexis, why don't you keep Beckett company and I'll call you when I need help, deal? Just don't tell her too many of my secrets," he added as he stood up.
"Only the embarrassing ones," Alexis told him impishly.
Kate laughed while he stopped and turned to shoot his daughter a mock-threatening scowl. "Don't you dare."
Alexis only grinned at him. "I'll think about it."
Castle gave his daughter a narrow-eyed look before retreating into the kitchen.
Kate turned back to Alexis. "Are you really okay with your dad and I being together?" she asked, keeping her voice so low she was reasonably sure that even Castle, who seemed to have preternaturally good hearing when it came to her, couldn't hear her.
Alexis, too, glanced back at her dad before meeting Kate's eyes. "Yes, I really am," she answered equally quietly. "You're more… real, if that makes sense, than the women who come up to Dad at his book parties and you treat him like he's a normal person."
"I get it and thank you." She gave Alexis a small smile but found she was oddly touched at this sign that Alexis trusted her. She already knew that Alexis was protective of Castle, worried about him, and of course, Alexis would have had a front-row seat to Castle's failed relationships with Meredith and Gina and seen how they had affected him. And Kate didn't want to hurt or disappoint Alexis anymore than she did Castle.
Alexis smiled, glancing towards the kitchen again, before she went on just a shade louder, "Be careful not to listen to Dad when he insists he has some brilliant idea because his brilliant ideas are usually not so brilliant in practice."
"Don't listen to her," Castle called from the kitchen, startling Kate since she hadn't realized he could hear them. "It's slander."
Alexis, on the other hand, didn't miss a beat. "That's what you get for trying to eavesdrop on a private conversation."
A little huff of a laugh escaped Kate. "You knew he was trying to eavesdrop?"
Alexis grinned. "He has a tell, in the tilt of his head and his expression and how still he gets. It's something you'll get to know about Dad, if you don't know it already: he's really not nearly as subtle as he thinks he is. He always has a tell, if you know him well enough."
"Castle as a subject of study, yeah, I guess I can sign up for that class," Kate quipped.
Alexis laughed. "I'm sure it won't take you long to learn all of Dad's tells. Which reminds me, I wasn't kidding about Dad's so-called brilliant ideas," she added, raising her voice just a shade and throwing a teasing look towards the kitchen. "His last brilliant idea was to deep-fry a turkey and the Fire Department ended up being called."
"I'll have you know, the Fire Department was a totally unnecessary precaution," Castle protested. "Everything was fine, totally under control, and there were no injuries, thank you very much."
"Unless you count Dad getting half his eyebrows singed off," Alexis interjected. "He was walking around looking like a lopsided jack-o-lantern for months."
Kate laughed. "Are there pictures of this?"
"No, there are not!" Castle returned loudly. "I banned all photography for that time."
"I might be able to find a few," Alexis told Kate in a loud whisper.
"Okay, that's enough," Castle decreed. "Clearly, daughter, you cannot be trusted to be alone with Beckett so come and make yourself useful instead. Help me cut up vegetables for a stir-fry. Beckett, do you want to pick out a wine?"
"Sure, I can do that," Kate agreed, exchanging smiles with Alexis as they both stood up. "And then how about I set the table?"
"Well, if you insist on helping…"
"I do insist and you did say that you never turn down help," she reminded him.
"Using my own words against me, I see how it is. Well, then, I guess I can't deny you."
"You really can't," she flipped back.
Kate was not much of a sommelier but she could hardly imagine that Castle would keep any bad wine in his house so she selected a Sauvignon Blanc from California, although she usually preferred red wine since she'd noticed that Castle was adding chicken to the stir fry. After that, Kate busied herself in setting the table, noting half-idly how easy, how comfortable, this already felt. She knew her way around the kitchen thanks to the week she'd stayed here after her last apartment had blown up and after that week, to say nothing of the weekend in the Hamptons, it was already starting to feel entirely natural (almost frighteningly so) to be engaged in such domestic tasks with Castle and Alexis. It was reassuring to think that while this romantic relationship with Castle was barely an hour old, they really had been in a relationship as friends for much longer than that and maybe, just maybe, the friendship could survive, even thrive, without much change.
Not that all change was bad, she thought, as Castle took advantage of her presence in the kitchen retrieving glasses for water to slide his arm around her waist and tug her in to press a kiss to her temple. She flushed but couldn't resist curving into him a little, warmth bubbling up inside her. Because this sort of thing was something they could do now. And she liked it, liked it all, liked the way she fit against him when she wasn't wearing her heels, liked how tall and solid and broad he was, the impression so much more obvious with them so close. Funny, she'd never realized before how nice this sort of affectionate gesture, just being close to someone even when there was no expectation that sex would immediately follow, could be.
"Thanks for the help," he murmured against her ear.
She fought back a little shiver of anticipation and arousal at the feel of his breath against her, the husky note in his voice. "It's not entirely altruistic since I expect to be paid in food," she managed, trying to sound like her usual, tart self.
"It's a deal," he mumbled, nuzzling her ear.
She indulged him for another second or two and then wriggled free of his arm, giving him a look of as much reproof as she could muster (which wasn't much). "Enough, Castle. Shouldn't you be cooking?"
He heaved a mock sigh. "Is it my fault if your proximity is distracting?"
Kate took an exaggerated two big steps back. "Better now?"
"No, because now I'm distracted by the distance between us."
She snickered. "I think the common denominator in all this is you so yes, it's just your problem that you'll have to deal with."
"Thank you, Kate," Alexis interjected. "Stop slacking off, Dad."
"Yes, ma'am." He threw a mock salute at his daughter and then glanced at Kate. "She's such a slavedriver."
Alexis heaved a theatrical sigh. "Trying to keep you in line is a full-time job, Dad, but at least now I have Kate to help me, right, Kate?"
"Right," Kate agreed, exchanging grins with Alexis as Castle huffed and bridled in a show of offense.
After that, Castle was diligent in making dinner, even shooing Alexis out of the kitchen once she had finished cutting up the vegetables saying he would take care of the rest.
Kate and Alexis retreated back to the couch although Kate couldn't help but angle herself on the couch so she could easily glance over at Castle in the kitchen. She liked watching him cook. As clumsy as he could occasionally be, when he was in the kitchen, he seemed different, capable, confident. And fine, yes, it didn't hurt that he had rolled up his sleeves, baring his forearms to her view. (What, she was allowed to admire her boyfriend, wasn't she? Oh lord, she'd just thought of Castle as her boyfriend and had done so naturally, as if it wasn't a brand new state of affairs.)
"Your dad's a pretty good cook, isn't he?"
Alexis too looked over her shoulder towards her dad. "Yeah, he is. He always says he taught himself when I came along because otherwise we'd have been living on takeout and canned soup. Except when he tries to get too creative," she added with a little roll of her eyes.
"Too creative?"
Alexis wrinkled her nose. "He had the brilliant idea of using chocolate syrup as salad dressing, which even he admitted was a mistake."
Kate made a face too. "That sounds disgusting."
"Believe me, it was," Alexis responded fervently. "He's tried adding barbecue sauce to tuna salad. I refused to try it but he did and insisted it wasn't bad."
"Point taken. No allowing Castle to get creative in the kitchen."
"Excuse me, not all my creations are failures," Castle interjected. "Don't make me start experimenting with dinner now."
"Do you really want to scare Kate away so soon?" Alexis returned.
"You know, Alexis, it's a little irritating that you're so sensible all the time."
"Someone has to be, since you aren't," Alexis shot back.
Kate had to laugh at Castle's look of mock outrage.
"Dinner is just about ready but after you've been so mean, I'm half-inclined not to give you any," he huffed in a show of petulance.
"If Alexis doesn't eat, I won't be staying," Kate declared, dropping a wink at the girl.
"You drive a hard bargain, Beckett, but you've got a deal. Come and eat, you two."
They did, with Alexis pausing to drop a quick kiss on Castle's cheek as if in apology for teasing him, making his expression soften as it always did when Alexis was around.
Dinner, a chicken stir fry with noodles, proved to be delicious, as she had already come to expect from meals with Castle (when he wasn't being creative, apparently). After the weekend at the Hamptons, it felt oddly normal to be sitting down to a meal with Castle and Alexis, with Castle asking Alexis about her finals and with Kate and Castle providing encouragement as Alexis fretted over her grades. It could have almost been a scene from Kate's own teenage years, she thought with a little pang, of family dinners with her own parents. As if the three of them–herself, Castle, and Alexis–were a family already and now, she didn't shy away from the thought, could only hope that it could last. Could it really stay like this, so comfortable? It had been one thing in the Hamptons, just a short weekend visit, but would it continue to feel so natural if it happened more regularly, every day even, coming home to the loft with Castle? Would Alexis continue to welcome having someone else around in her home?
Her heart clenched a little. She didn't know if she could believe that it would stay this easy, this natural. No relationship of hers ever had and this, with Castle, was from the start going to be more… domestic, more family-like, than any relationship ever had been, thanks to Alexis and Martha. But maybe, she thought, it would be a good thing that Alexis and Martha would be away for most of the summer, allowing her and Castle to ease into their relationship without the immediate jump into domesticity.
As if Castle had somehow sensed her incipient doubts, he reached out to rest his hand on her arm where it rested on the table and she glanced up at him, meeting his eyes. And felt oddly reassured just from the look in his eyes, the steadiness of his gaze. He wasn't worried at all, just looked… happy. She didn't usually think of Castle as being calming but somehow, at that moment, he was. He made her whirling thoughts slow down.
After dinner and a dessert of ice cream, Alexis insisted that she could take care of the dishes and clean up.
"But Alexis–" Castle began.
"Go, Dad, you and Kate can relax, finish up your wine. Besides, I'm using the dishes as an excuse to procrastinate before I have to go back to studying," Alexis added with a grin.
Castle laughed at that. "Well, far be it from me to interfere in your procrastination." He tugged his daughter in to drop a kiss on her hair. "Thanks, pumpkin."
"Yes, thanks, Alexis," Kate chimed in.
Alexis made a shoo-ing gesture with her hand. "Go relax, you two. I've got this."
Castle turned to her with a droll look. "I guess we have our orders." He held out a hand and she accepted it as he led them back to the couch.
She supposed she shouldn't have been surprised that Castle immediately slid his arm around her shoulder once they were seated, bringing her in against him. She'd always known Castle was a tactile person, liked to touch things, and that apparently held true for her now too. And although she'd never been one for cuddling before, at least for now, she found she didn't really mind, even liked it. This freedom to touch and be touched by Castle was proving to be very nice. Although she was still a little too conscious of Alexis's presence behind them in the kitchen to nestle against him completely.
"When will Martha be home?" she asked after a moment.
"With my mother, one never knows but if the last couple days is any indication, probably in the next hour or so. She and her fellow cast members have generally been having dinner together and then going for a drink afterwards." He paused and then added, "Planning so you can leave without having to see my mother again? I always knew you were sensible."
"I wasn't thinking any such thing. I like your mother."
"That's only because you haven't spent enough time with her," he returned dryly.
She elbowed him. "Don't be mean." The response was automatic as she wondered what Martha would say about Kate and Castle being together now. Martha had never been anything less than warmly welcoming so she had no reason to doubt Martha's reaction nor for that matter did she think Castle would be particularly influenced by his mother's opinion, but she did wonder.
And it occurred to her, too, to wonder how her own dad would get along with Martha since her dad and Martha were almost polar opposites in personality. At least, she had no fears about whether her dad would like Alexis; that much was guaranteed.
"You're not worried about what my mother will think about us, are you?" Castle asked, in one of those insights that were still a little surprising. (She almost doubted her vaunted poker face for how well Castle seemed to read her at times, but then there were other times when he didn't.)
"Not worried, exactly," she prevaricated. "Just curious."
He gave her a wry look as if he knew that she wasn't being entirely candid. "First, my mother does not get a say in my personal life, no matter what she might think. Especially because she hardly has a leg to stand on where relationships are concerned considering the last man she married ran off and stole her life savings, which I know you're not going to do. Although it would be kind of funny if you did, since then you'd have to arrest yourself."
She ignored this digression. "What was that about Martha's ex?"
"Didn't I ever mention it? It's why my mother moved in with us."
"No, you never mentioned it. That's terrible. What happened?" She had wondered why Martha lived at the loft but hadn't asked.
He sighed, sobering. "Just what I said. My mother showed up on my doorstep in tears and broke after her husband at the time disappeared, taking her jewelry and her life savings. And then it turned out he'd been living under a false name so I never found him. I was able to arrange for her to get a quick divorce, though, and, well, my mother moved in here and the rest is history." He finished with brittle lightness which didn't fool her.
"I'm sorry. Poor Martha. But at least you could and did help her." It occurred to her with a little pang that after all, she and Castle had this in common, that they had both experienced the helplessness of not being able to get justice when someone had hurt someone they loved. She inwardly flinched but it was true. And it occurred to her, too, that it was even more understandable that Castle had done what he had to help with her mom's case; aside from being someone who liked helping people, he knew the way the helplessness of seeing the person who hurt someone you loved get away with it could eat away at you like acid.
He made a face and then went on with a deliberate change in tone and expression, "Anyway, what I meant to say before was that my mother likes you. In fact, she told me months ago that I should, and I quote, 'kiss that girl while you're both young,' meaning you."
She flushed, a little huff of a laugh escaping her. "Martha said that? When?" It did sound like the sort of direct thing Martha would say.
"After the amnesia case with Jeremy Preswick."
"I'm not sure I want to ask the context of that but I notice you didn't take your mother's advice," she teased. "I think I'm offended. Didn't you want to kiss me?"
He narrowed his eyes at her but couldn't entirely hide his smile. "You know damn well I've wanted to kiss you since the moment we met. I just decided that I wanted to not get shot more than I wanted to kiss you."
She pretended to think about it. "I guess that makes sense. I probably would have hurt you if you'd tried anything the first couple months after we met." Which was a lie. She might not have been willing to admit it to anyone, even herself, but she'd always been attracted to him, wanted him. And she had no doubt that if Castle ever had kissed her, the passion that always existed between them would have exploded, incinerating any will she had to resist him.
He pasted on a pout. "Your ability to resist my ruggedly handsome good looks and charm is really annoying, you know that?"
"Keep up with the ego, oh Vain One, and see how fast I'm out the door," she warned tartly–and mendaciously.
He promptly manufactured a positively saintly expression. "I'll behave, I promise."
"To quote Alexis, I'll believe it when I see it."
He affected a sigh. "I see how it is. You and Alexis are just going to keep ganging up on me and I'll never be able to win at anything ever again, will I?"
"Yes, that sounds about right. Having second thoughts about letting me stick around?"
"Nah, as long as I get to spend time with you, I've already won."
"Nice line, Castle," she told him dryly.
"Too cheesy? Yeah, I guess it was. My bad, I'll do better. People say I have some skill with words."
"Well, that's news to me."
"Hey!" he feigned outrage and she snickered.
"Is Dad being silly again?" Alexis interjected, approaching them. "The dishes are done," she announced as they both turned to look at her. "And I should head back upstairs to get some more studying done before going to bed."
"You're going to do just great on your finals, I know it," Castle stood and wrapped his arm around Alexis.
Alexis momentarily tipped her head against his shoulder. "Thanks, Dad."
"I hate to say it but your dad's right, Alexis," Kate spoke up, slanting a teasing smirk at Castle before sobering. "Just be sure not to stay up too late. You want to get enough sleep before your finals. And good luck, although I'm sure you don't need it."
"Thanks, Kate," Alexis dimpled. She turned to give Castle a quick hug and a buss on the cheek and then moved to lean over and give Kate a half-hug as well. "Night, Dad. Night, Kate."
"Good night, Alexis." Kate returned as the girl vanished up the stairs.
Castle dropped back down onto the couch. "Now that we're alone again, there's something I've been dying to do."
She had a suspicion but responded with an interrogative "Oh?"
In answer, he pulled her towards him until she ended up half-sprawled against his chest, a little huff of a laugh escaping her, only to be swallowed by his mouth as he covered her lips with his. The kiss was slow, even leisurely, and she wondered fuzzily if his kiss would ever lose this ability to strip her of the ability to think. It was almost like she could feel her mind tipping over and her brain spilling out from the moment his mouth touched hers.
Some delicious minutes–or hours, since she couldn't have sworn to how much time had passed–later, a faint sound penetrated her consciousness but before she could identify it, the door opened and she and Castle didn't quite have time to break apart before Martha came breezing in, only to stop short.
"Oh, I didn't mean to interrupt!"
"Too late for that," Castle muttered under his breath.
Kate nudged him as she straightened up further, feeling her face flame. "Hi, Martha," she managed, attempting to sound normal.
Martha flashed her a bright smile. "But this is such a delightful surprise, Katherine darling! I had no idea you and Richard were finally together! When did this happen?"
"Ah, today, actually," Kate answered.
"Oh, I see. And no doubt that's why my son is looking at me as if he's wishing I were in Antarctica," Martha went on blithely, sounding amused rather than disturbed. "Well, I won't keep you but it's wonderful to see you, Katherine. Especially since I know you'll help Richard behave."
Martha bent and gave Kate a quick scented hug. "I'll leave you two to it and don't worry, I'll make sure neither Alexis nor I come down again tonight, give you your privacy," she added. "Have a good night, kiddos, and have fun but I imagine Richard will see to that."
With one of those dramatic waves of her hand that came so naturally to her, Martha sailed up the stairs, leaving Kate torn between mortification and amusement.
"An empty house sounds heavenly," Castle commented almost prayerfully.
"Martha really is one of a kind."
"Thank goodness for that. I don't think the world could survive another Martha Rodgers," he muttered. "I can't even handle the one."
"Stop pouting, Castle."
He made another face in response. "Well, now that my mother has effectively broken the mood, it does at least remind me that there is something else I wanted to talk to you about."
"And what's that?"
His expression changed, softened. "Will you have dinner with me?"
She bit back a bubble of laughter, even as she felt an undeniable little flutter in her chest. "Are you asking me out on a date, Castle?"
"Yes. Yes, I am."
"It seems a little redundant now, don't you think?"
"Okay, so we've sort of done things out of order but I want to make up for that, do this right from now on, if you'll let me. So, will you go out with me, Kate?"
"I suppose I can put up with being taken out to some fancy restaurant by an attractive man," she drawled, feigning some reluctance because the alternative would have been to sigh like some teenage girl with a crush.
Laughter sparked in his eyes. "It's a hard job but someone has to do it?" he quipped.
She had to laugh. "Sounds about right."
"You're too kind," he drawled.
"Better get used to it, Castle. I'm not about to start flattering you now."
"I'm counting on it," he returned and leaned in to kiss her again. But for the first time, she found that she couldn't relax into his kiss, the self-consciousness of knowing both Martha and Alexis were upstairs and knowing what she and Castle were doing getting to her, and she gently turned her face away. "Sorry. I just… can't. Not now, not with your mother and Alexis upstairs." She brushed a quick kiss to the corner of his lips in apology before straightening up.
He made a small rueful grimace. "My mother has impeccable timing."
She huffed something that was almost a laugh. If it had happened to anyone else–and she knew she probably would be able to laugh about getting caught by Martha at some point–but not yet. "Or something. But it's not entirely bad. I probably should go anyway."
He pulled an exaggerated pout. "You won't stay the night?"
She wanted to. In spite of Martha and Alexis upstairs, she did want to, wanted to feel his solid warmth against her, inside her, surrounding her. Wanted to spend the night in his arms, for real this time.
"I have to work tomorrow and was planning on working out before my shift starts as it is."
"You could stay and we could work out together," he suggested with a little smirk.
She flushed and nudged him. "Not that kind of work-out. Besides, shouldn't we give Alexis some more time to get used to the idea before I stay the night?"
He made a face. "I suppose, if you put it like that."
"Don't pout, Castle. We'll have plenty of time this summer."
"Just please tell me we're not waiting until after she leaves for Princeton."
She flushed. "No, I don't think that'll be necessary." They absolutely were not. She didn't think she could wait weeks before sleeping with him again but did not say that.
She pushed herself to her feet before she could give in to temptation and kiss him again.
Castle stood up as well, sliding his arm around her waist, and she tucked herself against his side as easily as if they'd been walking like this for months rather than this being an unprecedented action. But without her heels on, she fit against him. Just as nicely as she fit against him in bed, the errant thought flitted across her brain, and she tried to shove it aside.
They walked–well, dawdled, really–towards the door of the loft but even at their snail's pace, they did reach the door before too long. She turned to face him, his hand staying on her waist. "See you tomorrow?"
"Of course." He quirked an eyebrow at her, a smirk tugging on his lips. "Kiss me goodbye?"
She huffed a soft laugh. "If you insist." But her show of reluctance was entirely contradicted by the way she immediately tugged him down to kiss him.
His hands found her waist, bringing her in against him, as he deepened the kiss. Maybe she could stay the night, his bedroom was–but then through the haze of arousal fogging her brain, she vaguely heard the sound of footsteps upstairs, some distant voices, followed by a door closing.
Oh. Alexis and Martha. Right, there was that. Sneaking in when she knew Alexis was asleep for a booty call the way she had a couple weeks ago was one thing but staying the night, having sex, with Alexis and Martha both awake and all too aware of what she and Castle were doing was another thing entirely. She would have to get used to it eventually but it wouldn't happen tonight.
She gently pulled back, breaking off the kiss. "I'd better go. Night."
His expression was so over-the-top and woebegone that she had to smile. Ridiculous–and adorable–man. "Til tomorrow."
She gave him a last–really, a very last–kiss, just brushing her lips against the corner of his mouth before opening the door and almost fled to the elevator before Castle could reach out and try to bring her back–and before she could let him do so.
She glanced back, giving him a last smile and wave, before she stepped onto the elevator and then, as the elevator door slid closed, found herself sagging back against the wall, one hand coming up to touch her smiling mouth that felt, and no doubt looked, kiss-swollen. Oh lord, this whole thing–reacting like this, smiling like a loon, being so unwilling to leave a man–was not really like her and she rather doubted it would last long but for now, she found she didn't mind. Might as well enjoy it while it lasted–and really, it wasn't her fault that Castle's kisses were addicting.
~To be continued…~
A/N 2: Thank you, as always, to all readers and reviewers.
