The big date - part II
A/N: includes text from 'Heat Rises' that I cannot claim as my own, obviously. (Castle reads out loud - it's in italics).
Thank you for your patience! And thank you for the reviews. Very encouraging, thank you!
Enjoy... : )
Lanie jumped at the chance to assist her friend in getting ready. She knew that this was important - that Castle had slowly grown to become one of the few people Kate would allow in. And she could tell that her friend was anxious about the possibility of a failed romance ruining everything they had worked toward.
Kate had washed her hair and allowed it plenty of time to dry. The curls were wild, but Lanie tamed them expertly, pinning the stray tendrils that covered her face back behind her ears. She took Lanie's make up advice - a soft smokey eye, minimal bronzer and a natural lip shade - marvelling at how a few powders, when applied correctly, could make you look like you stepped off the page of a fashion magazine.
Lanie busied herself, packing up the hair and beauty products, while Kate slipped into the dress.
"Can you please tie it for me?" Kate asked.
Lanie threaded the ribbon ties through the 'loops' sewn into the fabric of the dress, beginning to fasten them securely at her waist. "How are you feeling?" She asked as she tied.
Kate looked at her reflection in the mirror and blew out a long breath of air. "Kind of excited. Kind of nauseous."
They heard the faint sound of a knocking at the front door.
"When has that man ever been early?" Lanie joked. Kate smiled knowing all too well that the timing of Castle's arrival was indicative of his enthusiasm for wherever he needed to be. Being early meant he was too excited to wait a second longer.
Lanie dropped the task at hand to answer the door. She opened it, said "almost ready" and walked away. With the door still open, Castle assumed that was his invitation to come inside. He stood awkwardly in the entrance. With Lanie's presence - something he wasn't expecting - he felt like a teenager picking up his prom date. He looked to the box in his hand - a little something he had picked up for Kate - and smiled thinking maybe he should have brought a corsage instead.
He puffed out a slight laugh, to which Lanie asked "something funny?" As she walked back into the room with him.
Busted, laughing at his own jokes. And a joke that he didn't even voice... so really, he had just laughed at his own thoughts. Lanie grabbed a shoebox from the hallway closet and took it into the bedroom before returning.
She eyed him carefully, examining his attire. He wore a classic tuxedo - white shirt, black vest, open jacket - complete with a black bow tie. He looked good... not that an event like this was anything new to him. This was probably an outfit he had on hand, ready for whenever he needed it.
As much as she wanted to hang around and watch Castle's jaw drop to the ground, she figured they could use some privacy. So she picked up her belongings and headed for the door.
"Don't mess this up, writer boy." She smiled and patted his shoulder on her way past him. She shut the door behind her and he was left alone again. But only for a few seconds.
Kate walked out of the bedroom and smiled at him.
"Hi." She said. He could hear it in her voice, she was nervous... unsure.
His eyes drifted from her face, down her body and back up again. She looked beautiful. His heart fluttered and he mentally told himself to calm down.
"Hi." He eventually managed to get out, regaining his composure. He must have looked idiotic, standing there with his mouth open, staring at her. "You look... beautiful."
Gorgeous.
Stunning.
Heaven sent... and yet sexy as hell.
Any of a million descriptors would suffice, he supposed, but none would be accurate. She was simply... perfect. After another moment of basking in her presence, he remembers the box in his hand.
"I-I got you something." He stammered excitedly. "I hope you don't mind." He held the box between them and opened it so she could see what is inside. He had bought her a simple diamond pendant.
"That's gorgeous, Castle. Thank you. But you really didn't have to."
"I know. I wanted to." He beamed. "May I?"
She nodded and turned her back to him, holding her hair out of the way. He froze, taking in the back - or lack of - her dress. He put the pendant on, his fingers gently grazing along her skin as he mastered the clasp. Once it was secured, he guided his thumb along the curve of her neck and shoulder, tracing goosebumps as they appeared. Once she turned back to him, he admired the gem that sat delicately in the space between her collar bones.
"Perfect." He said as he fixed a slight kink in the chain. That hand carefully made its way to rest on the side of her neck and he gently brushed his thumb along her cheek.
She stared into his ocean blue eyes for what felt like an eternity. He was taking his time, not wanting to rush any of this. Each touch was gentle... measured and attentive. Not at all like before, when their nights together would be fuelled by a sense of urgency... a need for human connection after a particularly gruelling case or personal defeat. Each time they had come together had been because of a mutual trust and respect... but in this moment there was more than that. There was adoration, too. This man - despite all her flaws - adored her, entirely.
"We could always skip the gala. Stay here, instead." She didn't want to leave the safety net of closed walls. She didn't want to go out into the world where she would have to refrain from gazing into his eyes. Where his touches would be limited, hidden from the prying eyes of strangers. She wanted nothing more than to spend the night wrapped in his arms... and she thought that now was a perfect time to start. The waiting... the having to control themselves in public... it grew tiring very quickly. Especially when he looked this good.
"You know, that's very tempting." He shifted his hand slightly and began playing with the hair that sat behind her ear. "Unfortunately I promised a reading from the next Heat book and if I bail... well, they might actually kill me."
His avoidance of Gina's name was noted. Past encounters between the women had always been the required amount of cordial... but that was when Gina was just ex-wife slash publicist. They hadn't had to interact with one another since the Hamptons debacle - to which, Castle was still oblivious - and now the thought of ex-wife slash publicist slash ex-girlfriend being in the same venue as partner slash occasional friend-with-benefits slash possible girlfriend if this all goes well was just too much.
Asking her out had been done on a whim. Well, not really. It was something he had thought about often... and knew he would eventually work up the courage to do. But the actual act of asking her out yesterday had been completely unplanned. The words spewed out of his mouth without a second thought. But when she accepted - no hesitation, no awkwardness - the rest of the day felt like he was walking on clouds. That was, until he remembered he had already committed to the gala. He had apologised profusely - he even offered her an out, if she wanted... a rain check - but she insisted that it would be fine. He was glad she didn't accept his rain check... worried that if she had, she would never 'cash it in'.
"We won't have to stay long, I promise." His reassurance was for his benefit, as much as hers. The idea of taking Kate into the lions den was unnerving. He just hoped Gina would play nice.
"It's fine, Castle. I'm fine... you're fine. We are fine." She wanted to make it clear that she didn't feel threatened. There may have been a slight, petty little niggle of jealousy in the past but they had come so far since then. And if she had any intention of this thing with Castle becoming anything more, she would have to get used to Gina's presence.
"I'll make it up to you." He pressed his lips against hers.
Softly...
Sweetly...
This is something else that is different. She could really get used to that tenderness.
"Keep doing that and we might not make it out of the apartment." She smiled, lingering close enough to feel his breath brush against her lips.
"Yeah... I'm starting to think it might be worth it." He pulled her back in, kissing her deeper than before. His hands found their way to caress her hips as she held hers steadily either side of his face.
He stepped forward as much as he could, causing the entirety of their bodies to lean into one another. She could feel the heat between them rising as her heart raced wistfully.
She ruefully pushed him away, her lungs yearning for the air he had so pleasantly kept her from. "Worth death at the hands of Gina?" She smiled.
"I mean..." Castle shrugged, unbothered. He leant in, eager to steal her breath away again. She laughed, but she placed her palm on his chest to stop him.
"No, Castle. You're not dying on me." She brushed past him - the carefully planned act of causing friction - and headed toward the door. She reached for the knob, then looked over her shoulder with a playful smile gracing her face. "If you're a good boy, you can play later."
His grin grew, both impressed and slightly concerned by how easily she could become the puppet master.
"Oh... okay. You think that's going to work on me?" They both knew it would. She pulled on the strings and on the other end, there he was, doing his silly little dance. She quirked her brow, knowing his question didn't need an answer. "Yes ma'am."
He saluted, then followed her out. He caught up to her at the elevator, where they rode down to the ground floor hand in hand.
Their Rolls-Royce Ghost joined the queue of luxury cars that lined the block, waiting to deliver a slew of notable and celebrated public personalities to the Black Pawn publishing house. They could see the flashing lights from spotlights and cameras, even at this distance and through the tinted windows of their car.
Kate instinctively grabbed Castles hand, an attempt to calm her racing heart. She was not used to this part of his world - the glitz and the glamour - and she wondered if it was something she could ever get used to.
"You okay?" He tried to find her eyes, but she was busy peering through the window.
Eventually she turned to him, "I don't know what I was expecting... but this is intense."
"Just say the word and we will leave. You don't have to do this. Graham here can just keep on driving."
The driver looked over his shoulder, giving Kate a smile that confirmed what Castle had just said. She contemplated it for a moment, but decided she couldn't leave. Castle had already given her so many opportunities to back out... she could do this.
She gave him her most reassuring smile. "I'm okay. Just..." she paused to take one more glance out of the window before looking at him again. He was studying her, listening so intently, waiting for her request so that he could undoubtedly give her whatever it was she needed, no hesitation. "Stay close?" The words came out almost pleadingly.
"I won't leave your side, I promise. By the end of tonight, you'll be sick of me!" He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"I don't know, Castle. My tolerance is pretty high these days." She joked.
They pulled up to the red carpet and both Graham and Castle exited their side of the car. Graham rounded the front of the car, opening Kate's door for her. Castle, having come from behind the car, was already standing there waiting. He offered his hand, which she happily took, and helped her out.
"Best of luck, ma'am. I hope you have a wonderful night." Graham said as he closed the car door behind her.
She thanked him with a smile, then looked back to Castle.
"You ready?" He asked softly, his eyes fixed on hers. She took a deep breath, widened her smile and nodded. He held his arm out and she looped hers through.
The lights are near blinding, as cameras flash from almost every direction. She can hear people calling out Castle's name, followed by a dozen 'look here' or 'to the left' being shouted simultaneously.
"It's Nikki!" She heard from somewhere in the sea of light, followed by a chorus of people echoing the name. Again, she heard the 'look here' and a string of different directions being called to her.
"You're doing great." The whisper broke through the chaos, calming her. If he could just keep doing that, whispering to her, that would be great. She took another deep breath, surprised by how shaky it was. She also became suddenly aware of the tension in her shoulders, realising Castle must have picked up on it and known she needed him.
He dropped his arm, unlinking it from hers, and nervousness stirred deep in her stomach. Here, in the middle of a press frenzy, she felt so exposed without his touch. When she felt his hand press against her lower back, relief surged through her. He took a moment, caressing the bare skin, before guiding her toward the small group of people waiting on the edge of the red carpet. The tags on their lanyards read 'media management'.
"Richard Castle and his date, Katherine Beckett." The woman reads off a list. She passed her clipboard to Castle. He took a quick glance and handed it back, smiling. "Perfect. Enjoy your night."
"Thank you, Laurel." He smiled before continuing on their walk toward the entrance. "Spell check, for the reporters." He explained to Kate.
They would take a few steps, stop, pose for a photo, and then repeat the process. The walk up the short carpet took them almost a whole ten minutes - but somehow felt even longer. Once they finally reached the end and joined the small group of people waiting to be allowed inside the building, he turned to her with a huge grin on his face.
"Nailed it!" He said proudly. He held his hand up, palm to her. She grinned before slapping her palm against his. Before she could pull her hand away, he curled his fingers, intertwining them with hers to keep the connection.
Once inside, they are ushered toward the elevator. They ride up with four other people, silently standing, just enjoying being in each other's space.
When the elevator doors opened, they stepped out into the small hallway that lead to the rooftop outside. In preparation for tonight's event, the rooftop had been set up as a sleek, modern lounge and bar, complimentary of the citywide views.
Caterers walked choreographed routes of the space, carrying trays of horderves and champagne. She noted two photographers doing the rounds, snapping candid shots of the guests as they mingled and networked.
"Watch out for them. They're sneaky." His message was warning, but his voice playful. She looked to him, confused. "After my first event, there was not a single photo of me that I wasn't stuffing my face with food or looking intensely bored. They capture everything."
She smiled, imagining a younger castle - fresh off the success of his first book - spending most of the party standing in the corner stuffing his face. "Noted. Thanks for the tip."
They hear Castle's name called, a familiar voice. Gina approached them, embracing Castle. They gave each other a quick kiss on the cheek, a familiar greeting reserved for the public.
"You made it!" She exclaimed, as if she was expecting him to bail.
"I didn't think I had a choice." He sneered, smile still plastered on his face.
The look Gina gave him, the truth that seared through her forced smile, was enough to make Kate nervous - but Castle was used to it. "Funny."
"You remember Detective Beckett, don't you?"
Gina looked at Kate for the first time - her elevator eyes taking in the entirety of the detectives appearance - she held out her hand. "Of course.Pleasure to see you again."
Kate shook the hand offered. "You too." She smiled.
"Is the NYPD forcing you to go to Rick's events now, too?" She laughed. Kate could tell she was uncomfortable, but she put on a good façade.
"Something like that." Castle answered on her behalf. Gina's smile faded, but only for a split second. If Kate hadn't already have been studying the woman's expressions, she would have missed it. Her eyes flicked to Castle. She recognised the look in his eyes... the silent apology that filled them.
"You're up in about forty minutes. Be ready." She took advantage of the passing group of guests, greeting them and walking off with them.
"Are you okay?" She asked once they were alone again.
"Yeah... just thinking that maybe I should have told her I was bringing you tonight." He kept his smile bright but she could see he was struggling with whatever thoughts were filling his mind.
Kate looked across to the woman who was keeping busy mingling with guests. "Is she upset?"
A caterer approached them with a tray of champagne. Castle took two of the flutes, thanking the man, and passed one to Kate.
"I mean... me being here doesn't necessarily mean anything." She accepted the glass and took a sip, hoping he didn't interpret her words the wrong way.
"It isn't your problem." He reassured her, sensing her growing concern. "She's fine, I promise. It's just..." he paused to carefully think through his next step.
Did he tell her that she was a point of tension in he and Gina's relationship? That Gina - one of the most secure women he knew - was insecure about where she stood in relation to Kate? That she felt as though they were in competition with one another for his attention? Not that that was Kate's doing... it was on him, entirely. He knew that he talked about her too much... that he gushed about how amazing she was, even when he tried not to. He reconnected with Gina when he was feeling rejected by Kate - and that set the standard for their relationship. Gina knew his affections were directly related to his relationship with Kate - fuelled by her ongoing rejection - and ultimately, that is why they couldn't make it work... again. She didn't want to wait around for him to leave her for Kate. Seeing them together outside of a professional setting must have been... uncomfortable, to say the least.
"She knows it means something. I shouldn't have blindsided her. But she's fine."
He took a long sip of his champagne, then motioned toward a free table for them to sit at. He pulled out a chair, waiting for her to sit before helping her position it comfortably, then taking the seat beside her.
"Shouldn't you be mingling?" She asked, looking at the many faces around them, worried she was keeping him from something.
"I'm really only interested in talking to one person here."
She looked to him, about to ask him who that person was. He was already looking at her, arm propped up on the table holding up his head. She smiled when she realised she was that person.
"You sap." She laughed, turning away to try and hide the rise of heat that turned her cheeks flush.
Slowly, people began to join them at the table. She was introduced to authors, publishers, investors, socialites and influencers. With each new person to join the table, the conversation shifted further and further away from her comfort zone. Soon enough conversation turned to the rise of social media fame and how 'new' money will never understand 'old' money - with the occasional 'no offence, Rick' thrown in for good measure, to which he would just laugh off.
Soon enough, Gina's voice sounded through the speakers. Standing at the podium at the very front of the crowd, she introduced herself and thanked everyone for coming. After a short speech, she introduced Castle. As he made his way to the front, the crowd applauded and cheered for him. Knowing there was cameras on them, he embraced Gina and they gave each other a quick kiss on the cheek, never allowing their smiles to waver.
He opened the book that was sitting on the podium and began to read.
"The thing about New York City is you never know what's behind a door. Homicide detective Nikki Heat pondered that, as she had so many times, as she Parker her crown Victoria and watched police cruiser and ambulance lights lick the storefronts of 74th off Amsterdam..."
He finds her face as he reads. He had held out on gifting her a copy of the book - having only been given his own copy yesterday - knowing that she would be here to hear his reading. He had never been given the opportunity to watch her reaction to the stories she inspired... and so, he wanted to watch her as much as possible while still giving a captivating reading.
He relished in the fact that her eyes never left him. She was hooked, hanging on his every word. He knew she enjoyed his books - but nothing would ever compare to the sight of her taking it all in, absorbing the information with that incredible smile on her face.
Maybe, just maybe, he would be able to read to her more often.
"... Nikki looked at her own watch and wondered what time it was where Jameson Rook was. Then she looked at its calendar. Rook had said he would be back in five days. The questions for Nikki was, by then when would they be?"
He closed the book and the crowd applauded again. He didn't waste any time, making a beeline to their table as soon as Gina dismissed him from his duties.
"We can go now." He bent down and whispered in her ear, not bothering to take his seat again. His breath against her neck sent a surge of desire through her body. She swallowed it down, determined to ignore it.
"You sure?" She didn't want him to feel rushed. "I'm happy to stay as long as you want."
"I appreciate that. But I have something special planned for you. So we really should get going."
She took his hand and he lead her to the back of the crowd - as to not draw attention to themselves - and back inside the building. Once they reached the elevator, he let go of her hand and she stood in the corner. He stood in the other, smiling politely at the usher as the doors close.
"So... where are we headed?" She asked once the doors were closed.
"No."
"No?" She looked at him, confused, only to be met with a smug grin.
"You can relinquish control just once in your life, please. I've put a lot of thought into this... I want you to be surprised."
He seemed very confident in himself and whatever he had planned - which made her nervous. Castle had a tendency to be... extravagant. Especially when it came to romantic gestures. Right now, she could be walking blindly into just about anything.
"You asking me on a date surprised me." She tried to bargain.
"Did it?" He asked, nonchalant. She wondered - had she missed the signs? He looked to her, noticing she was staring. "You can wait." He teased, before stepping closer to her, invading her space.
The way her heart raced when he closed that distance between them had her convinced that she would give up all control to this man if he asked her to. Never before had she felt so ready to just let go... the effect he had on her, the power he held... it was unparalleled.
He brushed a stray tendril of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. He stared into her soul, and her body begged, pleaded for more contact. His skin against hers - even in the purest ways - ignited a fire within.
She placed her hands on his chest and leant into him. He read her cues, and happily followed her lead, brushing his lips against hers delicately. His hand - still playing with the locks of hair behind her ear - shifted back, pulling her impossibly close as she parted her lips and allowed his tongue to trace the entrance of her mouth. The elevator door opened and he stepped back, leaving her yearning for more.
Graham dropped them off on Furman Street.
"We've got a slight walk, sorry." He took her hand and lead her toward the river.
"The pier?" She knew exactly where they were. You can't live in New York your whole life and not recognise the Brooklyn Bridge. Brooklyn Bridge park had been a place of comfort to her for many years now.
"I've done my best to secure the lawn for us. But... you know... public park, there's only so much I can do."
As the walked the path toward their destination, her mind went through all the possible scenarios... the crazy ideas that Castle could have possibly put together. When they reached the bottom of the Granite Prospect, they were greeted by a man dressed in a business suit.
"Mr Castle!" He greeted. "Welcome."
"Marty!" He shook the man's hand enthusiastically before drawing his attention to Kate. "This is -"
"Katherine Beckett!" The man interrupted, shaking her hand as eagerly as he had Castle's. "I've done my research. The mighty impressive NYPD detective that inspired one of my all time favourite series. Consider me a devoted fan, Miss Beckett."
"Oh wow." She laughed, nervously. She was getting used to occasionally being called Nikki... but this was next level. "Uh, thank you?"
He back-pedalled immediately. "I'm so sorry, I've made you uncomfortable. I'm like a golden retriever... I get over excited and put my foot right in my mouth!"
"That's okay. I should be used to that." She shot an accusing glance to Castle.
"Anyway... follow me, please." He lead them further down the path until they cleared the row of trees blocking their view of the lawn.
Her jaw went slack as she took in the sight. The set up was gorgeous - a large picnic blanket surrounded by cushions and throws - lit up by the lights along the city skyline. In the centre of the blanket there was a small charcuterie board and a bottle of champagne. Castle handed Marty some cash - presumably a tip - and he left them in peace.
"Castle, this is beautiful."
"Marty does a good job, doesn't he? He always manages to impress." He watched on as she looked around, taking in every detail.
He had spent weeks prior to tonight trying to plan the perfect date for her, hoping that she would say yes when he did finally ask her. He knew it had to be something that would take her breath away, without being too much... she was, after all, a girl who liked the simple things in life.
He held out his hand for her to take. When she did, he helped her step up the slight slope and led her over to the blanket, sitting down beside one another. The New York City skyline was lit up like a Christmas tree, providing a spectacular view for them. He popped the cork from the champagne bottle and poured them each a glass.
"Cheers." He said after passing hers to her.
"Cheers." She smiled as their glasses clinked gently. She sipped her drink, then picked up a strawberry and brought it to her lips. She could feel him still watching her. "What?" She let out a slight laugh before biting into the fruit.
To see her like this - letting her guard down, enjoying herself - brought him more happiness than he could have imagined. Usually, when they were alone, she kept herself guarded. She kept that wall there, to keep him at a distance. Everything was professional, or emotionless. This was neither. And he loved it.
"Thank you for coming to the gala tonight. It's always nice to have a friendly face in the crowd."
"Thank you for inviting me." She countered. "It was nice to get a little glimpse of your world."
"That's not my world." He said firmly. He knew 'her world' and 'his world' being so different was something she thought would work against them... so he wanted to be clear that the people she encountered tonight - minus a few - were not his people. "I was simply the gimmick to reel in the crowd. Even I was a small fish in that pond. The guests tonight were some of New York's richest... I don't fit in there."
She nodded, knowing exactly how it felt to be the one that was out of place. But it hadn't occurred to her that Castle had felt that way tonight. She had heard the sly commentary aimed his way, but he had brushed it off so easily, not showing - even slightly - that he had been affected.
"You being by my side made all the difference." He nudged her shoulder with his, bringing that winning smile back to her face. "Now... according to my very reliable sources..."
"Alexis?" She joked.
He looked at her, a combination of confused and impressed. "Yes, Alexis. Obviously. Anyway... insert a bunch of science talk here, something about atmospheric conditions and cloud cover, blah blah blah... we should be able to see stars."
He reached behind them and started digging through a small box of supplies. After a minute, he pulled out a small telescope.
"It's not what the professionals use but I think this might do." He held it up, adjusted the focus a little and then passed it to Kate.
She held the scope up to her eye and tilted her head back, drifting slowly from side to side to search the sky for any signs of natural light. After a few minutes, she saw a slight shimmer in the distance. She honed in on it and, sure enough, it was a star.
"I see one." She said excitedly.
Obviously this wasn't her first time seeing the stars at night. As a kid, she would watch the night sky with her parents when they visited the family cabin. And she had done so each time she had stayed at the cabin as an adult, too. But since her mother's death, this was the first time she had shared the experience with someone else, rather than it being an independent reflection.
She passed the telescope to Castle, and helped guide him in the right direction until he also found the lone star in the sky. They spent some time searching the sky, passing the scope back and forth between them with each new discovery.
As time passed, the pair got more comfortable in each other's space. It wasn't long before Kate shifted herself so that she was lying down with her head in Castle's lap, his fingers combing their way through the curls splayed across his legs while his other hand rested across her waist.
"You seem deep in thought..." while she had been taking in the views of across the river, his eyes hadn't moved from her. He studied the glimmer of light in the whites of her eyes, the curl of her lips when her thoughts amused her, and the fine lines that formed between her brows when her thoughts displeased her. Each expression was beauty... he couldn't look away, even if he wanted to.
She looked up at him, offering him a small smile. She took the hand at her waist, bringing it up to her face and nuzzling it, placing a gentle kiss against his knuckles. The act was sweet, but apologetic. He knew that whatever she was about to say... she was unsure about how he would react.
"This has been... perfect." She started.
"But...?"
She sat up, positioning herself by his waist, facing him. "But, I can't help but wonder... what comes next?"
Of course. Did their unspoken agreement of 'pretend this never happened' apply to tonight, or just the few late night trysts they'd shared in the past. Was this simply another case of fulfilling a need, or was this more? Once the sun rises, will they reset and go back to how things were before or is this the start of something new?
He placed his palm against her cheek, brushing his thumb along the bone. "I love the relationship we have..."
She bit her lip - an attempt to stifle any other reaction - and nodded her head. She loved it too, but that didn't stop her stomach from dropping. She swallowed the bitter pill that was the realisation that she had read more into this. That she had allowed herself to make assumptions without actually talking to him first. She tried to turn away - playing with the loose material of her dress pooling at her ankles - worried that her mask could slip and he would see her embarrassment... her disappointment. But he used the hand cupping her face to bring her attention back to his face.
"I want more." He stated firmly. "I would never want to pressure you into anything you weren't comfortable with. I just... I wanted to show you what we could be."
She let out a relieved sigh and laughed to herself. "Next time, can you lead with that part, please?"
"I think that's a reasonable request." He pressed his lips against hers. Her hand settled against him as his wandered the bare skin of her back and arms. She arched her back - pushing herself further into his embrace - the friction igniting a fire within them. He ran his tongue along her bottom lip, and she happily granted him access. She tasted like champagne and berries and lust.
"Castle?" She whispered breathlessly against his lips.
"Mm-hmm." He closed his mouth against hers again, just briefly before pulling away to look into her eyes. Her irises were dark... wanting. He saw a need that he was familiar with... a need that he would never deny.
"Take me home."