"Beckett," Kate answered curtly, too busy to care if she sounded rude.
It has been a rough few days. She got called out for a double homicide at some ungodly hour four days ago. And they're still struggling with it. She and Ryan on their own because Esposito is only coming back after the weekend. They were close to closing it, but that last piece of the puzzle was still evading them.
Where are the crazy theories when they need them?
To top it off, she's feeling a little off colour today because she only slept for about five hours... and because she and Rick had an argument about how little she is sleeping. They went to bed angry and she got up before they could talk. A carnal sin for a marriage. And to make it worse, she's feeling guilty. It's her baby's birthday in two days' time and she cannot give it her undivided attention.
So, in short, the last two weeks have been... an adjustment for everyone. To put it mildly.
"Uh, hey, Kate," Rick greeted hesitantly. "Is this a bad time?"
Great.
He probably thought she was still pissed at him. She sighed tiredly, feeling affection seeping into her being for her husband who was, at the very least, an incredibly sweet man.
"Hey, no, it's fine. I can talk, Honey," she responded, her voice flowing in gentler tones. Rick let out the breath he didn't know he was holding, a smile cracking open over his face as excitement crashed over him in waves.
"Okay, good. So, I'm here at Party Land, which by the way is huge and freakin' awesome!-"
Ah, there was the Castle she knew. A big kid in a grown man's body. Kate bit her lip to stop from laughing. He was just so damn adorable when he got excited.
"-And they've got these cute lady bug outfits. Don't you think we should get Lizzy one?"
"And embarrass her on her big day? I don't know, Castle. She might never forgive us," Kate said teasingly, grinning as she twirled a piece of her hair. She was flirting with her husband over party plans for their daughter, the previous evening's argument forgotten. He always did that - fight off the shadows lurking in her mind. He always made it light.
"Oh come on, Babe! She would look so adorable! Can you just imagine?"
Actually, she could. And yes, he was right, her daughter would be completely adorable in such a silly outfit.
Awwww.
She felt a little painful tug at her heart strings because she wasn't there with him, picking out an adorable outfit for their adorable daughter. She was standing outside the morgue waiting to look at the mangled bodies of the victims again. She was surprised about how much that affected her, how much it stung.
"Alright, go ahead. After all, you're in charge of this shindig, Daddy." He was of course because she wasn't there. She wasn't there when Lizzy gave her first independent steps last week. She wasn't there when she fell and hit her head the other day. Hell, she wasn't even there to help plan her baby's-
No. No, no, no. She didn't want to go down this rabbit hole again. Her daughter was fine, she didn't lack in anything. She was healthy and happy and loved. She was fine.
But was her mother?
Rick could hear the guilt in her voice, the apology in the roll of her tongue. She didn't need to feel guilty or to apologize. But this was Kate. And she wasn't Kate if she wasn't stubborn.
He sighed. "Kate..."
There was a moment of silence on the other end. "I know, I know," she said softly, almost meekly.
It broke his heart.
"Honey, we've talked about this. You have been helping me. We have been doing this together."
"Yeah, but you're the one who's-"
"-Who's shopping for a cute outfit for our daughter while her mother is out there risking her life to try and create a better one for her little girl."
Oh. Oh, wow.
"Please Kate, stop beating yourself up about this," he said, his voice low and soothing. Comforting. "It's not helping anyone, okay?"
"Okay," she breathed quietly, feeling the weight on her chest ease slightly.
"Good. Let Daddy handle this."
She laughed, her eyes sparkling, the sound sprinkled with loveliness. It wrapped around his heart, the ringing of her delight. He was proud of that because the joy was because of him, because of what he did to, for her.
He made her happy.
"I love you," Kate said suddenly, the words bubbling out, her heart in her voice and words.
He smiled with his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Love you too."
There were a few beats of silence.
"So, did you get the balloons?"
He grinned. "Yeah and party hats."
Oh, Castle.
She smiled and shook her head. "I bet you did."
"Oh, and I also got her another big teddy bear. A white, smiling one with a cute bow tie. Who, thank God, doesn't sing."
He always did this. He always gave more than was asked, than was needed. He always gave more of himself.
She loved him for it.
"Ri-ick," she admonished on a laugh. "She's already got like hundreds of teddy bears. And we got her birthday presents. Remember?"
They had bought her a pink rocking pony - who could sing songs, unfortunately - because their daughter was completely obsessed and in love with ponies. Rick made a promise to buy her a real one once she was old enough to ride on it.
He still had to convince his wife of that particular idea.
In addition to the rocking pony, Lizzy also got a whole stack of books (mostly Dr. Seuss) and classic children's movies that her daddy was going to enjoy with her.
"Yeah, yeah. I just... I want to spoil her. It's her birthday after all."
"I know, Honey, but she's only turning one. She's still going to have many more. We don't want to spoil her too much."
He sighed despondently. "Yeah, I know. But I already compromised on this."
Kate bit back her laugh; she could practically hear the pout in his voice. "Compromised? How so, Mr. Castle?"
"Well, I didn't buy her a puppy."
[][][]
He was handsome, even more so in person. Especially when he smiled. She was almost tempted to walk up to him where he was standing in the aisle, picking out what seemed like some sort of outfit. He was talking on the phone with someone and laughing. She wondered who-
Kate. She heard him say Kate. Her stomach twisted. God, she hated that woman. Kate Beckett was all wrong for him. Couldn't he see it? He was left to play Mr. Mom while she was out gallivanting. Why didn't he see her? She was right here, with him. She was helping him, making sure that he was safe, that he had everything that he needed.
She loved him.
Not like that stupid bitch who left him alone with her brat all day while she was out playing cops and robbers. Kate Beckett didn't deserve him.
She did.
She was going to prove to him that she was worthy of him, that he had made a mistake. She was his soul mate, she knew because he told her that. He was always writing her secret messages in his books. Even in the dedications. Those weren't meant for Kate, they were meant for her.
Because he loved her.
[][][]
"Honey, I'm home!" She was in a good mood. They finally closed the double homicide by that afternoon and got the paperwork done before six. She got to be home with her family, she got to see her little girl, spend some quality time with her husband.
"Hey, we're in here," he called out.
Kate frowned and shrugged off her coat and walked towards the office from where she heard his voice.
"Hey, what are you-"
She stopped abruptly when Alexis appeared from behind her father with Lizzy in her arms.
"Alexis!" Kate exclaimed, her beautiful features transforming into a wide smile, lighting up her whole face. She greeted the young woman with a fierce hug, Lizzy in between them.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were only coming tomorrow."
Alexis beamed at her. "Well, I couldn't wait any longer. I wanted to see you guys and come party with my little sis," she said, tickling Lizzy's side causing the little girl to succumb to shrieking giggles.
Kate laughed and wrapped her two girls in another tight hug. "I'm so glad you're here," she whispered. "We've missed you."
Rick cleared his throat, making his presence known. "May I also join the family group hug? Or does this one only include the female members of our clan?"
Kate turned her head towards to her smiling husband who was leaning against the desk, watching them with soft, affectionate eyes. She grinned at him and opened an arm to him. He practically jogged over to them, pressing all of his girls to his chest.
"Grroouuuppp huuggg!"
Kate huffed out a laugh. "Castle, you're crushing me."
He kissed the side of her head, nuzzling her hair. "Shhh, no talking during group hugging."
"Uh, Dad, you're kinda crushing me too," Alexis said. "And also remember I'm holding the tiny human here."
He sighed. "Fiiiiine." He loosened his hold on Kate and dropped his arm from his daughter's shoulders who was still holding a babbling Lizzy.
"Hey baby girl," Kate said, brushing a hand over her daughter's head and kissing each of her cheeks. "I missed you today," she continued, stroking Lizzy's soft, curly hair while the little girl gave her mother a large, adorable smile.
"Is she the only one you missed today?" Rick asked with a quirked eyebrow.
She shared an eye roll with Alexis before glancing back at her daughter and quickly sticking her tongue out, making a face at the little girl. Lizzy cackled loudly in delight. She loved it when her mother made silly faces.
Mommy was the best.
"No, Castle. I didn't just miss her," Kate said turning around, a playful glint in her eyes. He grinned, cocky and confident, while pulling her closer. "I also missed Reggie the doorman terribly."
His smile fell while Kate and Alexis shared a high five, laughing at the expense of the only male in the family. To add insult to injury, his youngest was giggling as well.
"Oh, ha ha. It's good to know where your loyalties lie, dear daughters," he grumbled, pointing a finger at his offspring. One amused, the other one blissfully ignorant and much more interested in sucking on her big sister's necklace. He turned his attention to Kate. "And you. You've turned them against me."
She slapped his hand away. "Please, there was no need. I've always had them on my side."
He looked at his daughters in mock horror, again pointing an accusatory finger at them. "Traitors!"
Alexis rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Come on Lizzy Bug, let's go put on your pajamas." She stopped at the door. "Hey, should I order us some pizza or something?"
"Yeah, thanks, Lex, that would be great. I'm starving," Kate answered.
"Okay, cool. So, I'm going to order pizza and then go and change Lizzy." She glanced between them, her expression turning serious and stern. "Now please behave yourselves while we're gone."
"Yes Ma'am," Rick quipped with a mock salute.
Kate laughed. "I'll try my best, but can't make any promises for him," she said, jerking a thumb in her husband's direction. Alexis left with Lizzy, her laughter ringing out throughout the loft.
When Kate turned back to her husband, he was still sulking. She sighed. "What is it, Castle?"
He pouted. "You haven't kissed me yet."
She rolled her eyes again. "You're such a child." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hello - she was thorough in her exploration of his mouth, reacquainting herself with the movements of his tongue, languid in her appraisal of his soft lips.
She loved kissing him hello.
"Well, hello there, Mrs. Castle," he murmured against her mouth. "Miss me?"
"You have no idea," she breathed, her mouth sizzling against his, her words molten in his mouth. Her lithe body like liquid heat burning against his. He cupped the back of her skull and kissed her with abandon, his other hand darting downwards to pull her flush against him. They made out like a couple of teenagers for a few minutes.
A couple of frisky teenagers.
Kate choked on a wave of desire when he left her mouth and moved to her jaw and neck; nipping and sucking at her skin.
Marking her.
She wanted to do dirty things to him. She wanted to rip his clothes off, clear his desk and proceed to-
But then she heard Alexis' voice and Lizzy's babbling getting closer.
Shit.
"Castle." It was meant to be a warning. It sounded like a breathless, pleading whimper that sent a jolt of arousal straight to his groin. He grunted his approval, his hips insistently and instinctively rocking against hers, picking up speed. She had to resist the moan of pleasure that wanted to escape.
He was just so, so good at this. At loving her. At making love to her.
"Castle... T-the kids." He wanted laugh at her choice of her words and point out that Alexis was not a kid anymore. But he was much rather interested in getting rid of her shirt.
"Rick," she said firmly, finally pulling away from his grasp. Panting, heart pounding, mouth swollen, eyes wide and dark and feral as she worked to close the few buttons he had managed to open. He could see her pink, lacy bra.
Holy hotness.
"Later," she promised, her voice dark and husky. Her bedroom voice, the voice he heard gasping wordlessly in is ear while her nails dug into his back, while her body arched against his and just before she-
"Hey guys, are you done making out in there?" Alexis called from the living room.
Kate let out a startled laugh and dropped her head to his collarbone. Rick just groaned.
"We're coming, Lex," Kate called out after a moment.
"In more ways than one," Rick muttered, his hands itching to grope something, his eyes dark and dilated.
It's been a lean two weeks.
She bit her lip and watched him from beneath her lashes, leaning up to whisper promises into his ear. Hot and heavy. "Later, Stud. I'm not on call this weekend. So, I'm yours... All. Night. Long," she purred before sucking on his earlobe causing every last drop of blood in his quivering, needy body to rush south.
Holy shit.
He dropped his head and closed his eyes, trying to control his breathing, his erratic heartbeat, every throbbing pulse of desire. The primal urge to rip her clothes off and take her on the desk or any other surface for that matter. He would never, ever win this game. Not that he minded. But, damn, she always got him to unravel so easily.
He loved her for it.
When Rick looked up again, she was standing at the door and watching him with a smirk.
"I'll just... give you a few minutes," Kate said, pointedly glancing at his pants.
He narrowed his eyes at her, stopping himself from chasing after her. "Katherine Castle, I'm gonna make you pay." She resisted the shiver that ran down her spine at the dangerous, gruff tones flooding his voice. At the way he wanted her so completely, the way his body burned for her, the way his eyes slowly perused her - hungry and commanding and all-consuming.
Like a predator. A sexy predator.
Oh, she wanted him. Badly. But Rick Castle didn't need to know how much he affected her.
So she resorted to her age-old weapon of choice: teasing. And it worked.
Every. Delicious. Time.
Her grin grew wicked. "I'm looking forward to it, Mr. Castle. So very, very much."
He growled - literally growled - and stepped towards her. She laughed and darted out the door, infinitely pleased by her womanly guile to turn her husband into horny teenager who was unable to control himself.
Ah, victory was sweet.
[][][]
I'm gonna start a fire
You're gonna feel the heat
I'm gonna burn for you
You're gonna melt for me
Come on, Come on in to my arms
Come on, Come on
Give in to me
The title at the beginning is the Kelly Clarkson song of the same title and the lyrics at the end is from a lovely Faith Hill song, "Give in to Me".
No comments:
Post a Comment