A/N: This feels like the end and it's kinda sad. I've had an absolute blast writing this and your kind reviews, enthusiasm and constructive criticism have been an added and much appreciated bonus. I'm so happy people seemed to enjoy it. Please come and visit me over at The Alphabet of Rick & Kate – new chapter coming soon.

Thanks again!

Disclaimer: I borrowerd them for a while Mr Marlowe. Hope that's okay?

Chapter 8 – Rick & Kate Alone… for real!

Kate is making coffee as she glances around Rick's beautiful Hamptons house. She fell in love with the place the minute she walked in - the bright airiness, the understated style with splashes of bold colour and the little hints of Castle everywhere; his books randomly placed on shelves around the four bedroom structure, photos on the walls, the superhero figurines on the mantle and the smell of him in the master bedroom. And then there's the ensuite. His bedroom is gorgeous with its beautiful fireplace, enormous bed and amazing views of the beach, but the ensuite is magnificent. Castle confessed that it's what made him choose this house over two others, and Kate can see why.

It's tiled predominantly in white with large amounts of natural stone. There's a huge shower with dual shower-heads as well as one of those rain-shower nozzles, the size of a dinner plate, hanging from the ceiling. Then there's the oval carved-stone bath in the centre of the room which she has yet to use, but fully intends to do so before dinner. Last but not least is the wall of huge floor-to-ceiling windows facing the ocean. They are clear glass since they face a private section of beach and you can be in either the bath or shower and fully appreciate the view. But if you really want to bring the outside in, one section actually slides completely into a wall recess, leaving open access to the pool deck.

As she pours her coffee Kate looks forward to sliding into the huge tub, but as much as the ensuite does it for her, it's the deck that has become her favourite part of the property. She loves the sound of the ocean, loves its power but also its ability to calm and soothe her. Reading, sleeping, swimming, eating, fooling around; they had done all of the above out there since their arrival and then this morning she did almost an hour of yoga outside before the sun was even up. It was an almost perfect way to start the day; especially being interrupted by a sleepy, rumpled Castle who paused briefly to admire her calm focus, strength, balance and amazing flexibility before his desire to take full advantage of that flexibility resulted in him dragging her back to bed.

After his calls to Paula and Meredith, Castle finds Kate sipping coffee on the deck; she's cross-legged, relaxed, staring at the ocean with just the hint of a smile on her face and he indulges briefly in one of his favourite past times - watching her. He's liked doing it since they met and yes it might just be as creepy as she's always teased, but now that they have no secrets, now that he knows all of her, inside and out; and he doesn't mean in a carnal way... well there's that too, which is incredible but... Geez Rick, focus. Now that he knows she won't kill him if she catches him, he often gets completely swept up in watching her graceful movements, her expressive face, finds himself wondering what's going on in that brilliant mind of hers. But, most of all he loves seeing the look she gives him when she realises he's doing it. There's mock anger, eye rolling, mild embarrassment and her smile, but mostly there's just love; unfiltered and clear and it takes his breath away every time.

"Did you talk to both of them?" she asks without turning around and Castle wonders as always, how the hell she knows when he's watching her.

"Yep. As much as it horrifies me, they are now both fully abreast of the status of my love life. I have fielded a series of embarrassing and completely inappropriate questions from both of them, I have reassured Meredith that Alexis is fine with us, I have convinced Paula that I will not be so distracted by sex that I can no longer write and I have sworn them both to secrecy until we decide to share it with the public."

She grins at him, equal amounts of amusement and sympathy in her eyes and then she makes his day by saying, "Wanna help me get acquainted with your tub?"

He doesn't answer, just grabs her by the arm and hauls her against him, kisses her senseless and leads her by the hand to the bathroom. Once the giant window is open, the tub is full and the water scented with a heady combination of ylang ylang, patchouli and vanilla they sink into opposite ends with long grateful sighs. They soak in silence for a while; the only sound, besides the birds and the ocean outside, is lapping bathwater as Castle rubs her feet.

"I can hear you thinking," Kate says without opening her eyes.

"Hey," Castle chuckles. "Isn't that my line?"

"C'mon, out with it. What are you thinking about?"

"I'll freak you out if I tell you," he blurts before he can censor himself but hey, they're supposed to be honest about everything now. Right?

"Okay, so that sentence in itself could possibly freak me out if you don't back it up with a bit more information," she says, popping one eye open. "Come on, spill."

"Okay, but let me preface my statement with assurances that I mean hopefully, sometime in the future."

"Okay," she says warily.

"I want to marry you. Here, in this house," he confesses in a breathy rush.

Kate's eyes widen briefly, a flurry of thoughts and emotions swim in her head and then she smiles at the panicked, hopeful and excited grin on his face. God she loves him and every day that gets less scary and more amazing.

"You know, we seem to do everything backwards," she says and notices his brow furrow questioningly. "We trusted each other with our lives long before we trusted with our hearts, we went straight to the sex without the dating, and we had the kid conversation before the marriage talk."

"Your point?"

"If we can have the kid conversation without me running for the hills, then the marriage conversation is probably safer than you think. So stop looking so worried."

"Okay," he grins, "Does that mean you'll think about it?"

Kate moves towards him then and stretches her legs over his. Once they're almost chest-to-chest she wraps her arms loosely around his neck and leans in to kiss him. "Castle, would it shock you to know that while you were watching me on the deck earlier I was actually thinking what a perfect spot this would be for a wedding."

"A wedding in general or our wedding?"

"We'll see, Rick," she answers softly and tries to kiss him again.

"We won't get out of this tub in time for dinner if you get me started."

"Looks like part of you has already started," Kate chuckles with a pointed downward glance.

"Nothing a bit of cool water won't fix," he says and springs out of the tub, dashes onto the deck and in all his naked aroused glory, dives gracefully into the pool.

"Can we get the cheque please?"

"Certainly Mr Castle."

"You sure you don't want coffee?" Castle asks for a second time.

"I'm sure." Kate grins, "Lets just go for a walk and work off some of the incredible food we've eaten. Particularly that dessert."

"I told you this place is amazing."

"Spectacular. Thank you for bringing me here."

"Thank you for finally letting me wine and dine you the way I've always wanted to. It's been everything I imagined and more; spectacular food, amazing wine, intelligent conversation, laughter and you in a dress… my fantasy date come true."

"I thought your fantasy date would include me being naked," she leans in and whispers.

Castle inches forward and says in a low bedroom voice, "Oh, in my post-date fantasy you're definitely naked, and in my bed. Do you want me to tell you the part of the fantasy where I get you naked because that part's pretty hot."

"Oh, I have a plan for our mutual nakedness. We'll see if it lives up to the fantasy."

Kate blushes slightly when their waiter clears his throat as he delivers the cheque and Castle barely looks at it; just tosses his credit card down with mumbled instructions for an extremely generous tip. Once settled they stand to leave and Castle notices several pairs of eyes in the room turn to them.

He's used to whispers, covert glances, even open staring and he usually just smiles. He will make polite conversation if approached and sign the odd autograph but there's been no gushing fans tonight. Tonight it's been mostly open staring, and when they first arrived at the restaurant it had taken him a few minutes to realise there were no signs of recognition; nobody had recognised him. No, all the glances were directed at Kate.

She looks stunning in a black and ivory dress. It has a black fitted bodice and low square neckline bordered by an inch of black lace. The lace is backed by ivory satin, accentuating the otherwise barely-visible detail. The skirt falls to just below mid-thigh and is bordered by a wider section of identical satin-backed lace, creating an uneven, delicate hemline. It fits her like a glove, shows just the right amount of cleavage, the perfect amount of leg and is complimented by a red clutch, ruby-red lips and killer red heals; it's an eye-catching combination.

And then there's the underwear. He knows she's been saving something; he caught a glimpse when she was climbing out of the Ferrari, and since then, the anticipation has kept a certain part of him in a state of semi-readiness the entire night. He's seen her sans underwear, in pretty, sexy and sensible underwear, but tonight she's wearing something he knows she bought to tempt and tantalize him, and he loves the idea.

Despite not looking too shabby himself, in his beautifully fitted custom-made Armani suit and ridiculously expensive Brioni tie, tonight he almost feels like he's punching above his weight. But hey, he's the one taking her home and he feels like the luckiest guy on the planet. They walk hand in hand toward the beach, but after he leans in and kisses her softly Kate suddenly pauses.

"Take me home Castle."

"What about our walk on the beach?"

"You've got a beach. We can go for our walk later. After."

"After what?"

Kate gives him a very Castle-esque quirk of her eyebrow and watches his blue eyes darken. "After we see if reality lives up to fantasy."

Despite his desperation to get her home, Castle resists the urge to take full advantage of the power and speed of his Ferrari but as soon as they are inside the house he takes her hand with lightening speed, intertwines their fingers and leads her directly to the bedroom. The only light in the room is from moonlight and the blue-green glow of the pool lights but when Kate reaches for the bedside lamp Castle whispers, "Leave it."

She looks towards him and watches with a smile as he lights the four candles on his dresser.

"Are you trying to woo me Mr Castle?"

"Woo you," he whispers as he kisses her long and slow. "Seduce you. Wow you. How am I doing so far?"

"Kiss me again and I'll tell you."

He takes her face in his hands and lowers his lips back to hers. Their mouths open and their tongues languidly explore now familiar territory, but despite this familiarity the feeling never gets old. Kate loves that he loves kissing her and she loves that she can tell what mood he's in by the way he first kisses her; tender, passionate, playful, impatient, desperate, she has a soft spot for all his moods and tonight that first kiss is full of passionate reverence.

He moans softly when she presses herself closer to him and he tangles his fingers in the loose tendrils of hair that have escaped from her up-do. Kate flattens one hand against his chest and caresses the back of his neck with the other as the kiss goes on and on. They are panting, completely breathless when they eventually separate and they both smile.

"Definitely wowing me, Castle," she breathes.

"You look so beautiful tonight."

"And here comes the seduction."

"You ready for it?" Castle smiles provocatively.

"Are you?" Kate asks, pressing her hips against his. "Hmm, I'd say more than ready."

"I've been at least half ready since we got to the restaurant," he admits and slides his hands down her back to her butt and pulls her firmly against him. "Now I seem to vaguely remember a conversation about our mutual nakedness. Any objections to getting that underway?"

Without a word Kate presses her mouth to his and her hands move to swiftly slide his jacket off before her fingers start on the buttons of his shirt. Once his shirt is open she tosses it aside, presses both palms to his chest and just breathes him in. She loves the way he smells; whether he's fresh from the shower, wearing cologne or covered in the smell of them, there's always the underlying scent of him. When she reaches for his belt however, he stops her.

"Mutual nakedness remember. And I'm so ready to see what you're wearing under that dress."

"I hope you're not expecting a peekaboo bra and suspenders," she says as he slips the straps of her dress off her shoulders and rests his hands in their place. He strokes the back of her neck with his index fingers and reminds her, "I'm more of a 'La Perla' or 'Victoria's Secret' than a 'LadyStrange dot com' kinda guy, remember."

"Will 'Jezebel' do?"

"Jezebel sounds perfect to me," he says and slowly slides the zipper of her dress all the way down as he kisses her just below her ear.

Kate tilts her head to the side, loving the feel of his lips and tongue on that sweet spot and she laughs when he growls in her ear and tugs at the lobe with his teeth. He silences her laughter though, when he suddenly tugs her dress down and laves his tongue across the entire width of her left shoulder, until he reaches her throat.

"I love undressing you," he breathes against the hollow there and drops feather-light kisses down her sternum until his lips are between her breasts. The soft fabric of her bra brushes against his cheek and he lifts his head to meet her gaze. "It's not only about the goal; it's about getting there. That's what does it for me."

As he kisses his way across the top of each breast his palms splay on either side of her torso and his thumbs trace back and forth over the curve of her bottom ribs. He meets her gaze again and she leans in, a silent signal to lower his lips back to hers and she lets out a soft moan once she gets what she wants.

She feels like he's worshiping her; with his gaze, his touch and his words and she wants more. With barely veiled impatience she strokes him through his pants and tugs firmly at his belt. He stills as she divests him of his trousers but when she reaches for his boxers he grabs her hands.

"Let me look at you first," he says, his tone low and husky as he steps an arms-length away from her.

Initially she looks at him, his gloriously defined, almost-naked body and obvious arousal has her biting her lip in the way that makes him just a little crazy; and then she looks at him looking at her.

"This right here is in the top five of my Kate Beckett fantasies," he confesses in a husky, breathless rush as he drinks in the sight before him. She's standing there, in an ivory lace bra trimmed with just a touch of black along the scalloped edges where her breasts spill delicately over the top, a matching thong that he just knows is damp with her arousal, and those killer red heals. Her hair has spilled messily from atop her head, her skin is flushed, pupils dilated and she's trembling with anticipation. There's nothing like pale underwear against sun-kissed, flawless skin he thinks to himself and suddenly realises he's been holding his breath. He takes a ragged breath and whispers "If you knew how many times in the last few years I imagined you exactly like this…"

"And if you knew how many times I fantasized about being undressed by you, naked in front of you, loved by you…" Her voice trails off, she meets his gaze again and this time she can't look away.

"But this Kate, this is infinitely better than any fantasy," he whispers as he steps closer and finally puts his hands on her again. His body is against hers, his mouth at her ear and his voice is low and intoxicating. "Because back then I didn't know how you react to me. In my fantasies the details are unclear. I can't see how your eyes darken and your skin flushes when you're aroused. I can't hear your breath quicken when you think I'm about to touch you. I can't feel you trembling when I kiss my way down your body. I can't smell you or taste you. I can't hear the way you whimper as I slide slowly inside you after making you wait. I can't hear you moan my name when I do something you like. I can't feel you tighten around me when you're about to come. And I can't hear you whisper 'I love you' when you're sprawled over me all sweaty, limp and love-drunk before you fall asleep. That, Kate is why fantasy can never live up to reality."

And there they are again, his words. The man brings new meaning to using his mouth because he almost brings her undone without using his lips or his tongue. Jesus, he almost made her come just with his words.

They unhurriedly remove the rest of their clothes, Kate sliding his boxers off and Castle toeing off his own footwear before tossing her bra aside, slowly dragging her thong down her legs and reluctantly slipping her shoes off.

Their gazes are locked as they land on the bed and their hands and mouths begin an eager exploration of each other's bodies. Castle is on his back, propped on his elbows and Kate straddles his upper thighs so she can stroke him while she kisses his chest, neck and eventually his mouth. Castle watches in lustful fascination as her hands move up and down his length, alternating soft and firm pressure and eventually her gaze follows his until they are both watching her small hands work their magic. She loves the silky-smooth feel of him, warm and hard in her hands and she grins as she swipes her thumb over the bead of moisture on his tip. He moans and collapses onto his back when she puts her thumb to her lips and runs her tongue over it.

As she presses her wet centre against him he lifts his hands to stroke up and down the front of her thighs and when she raises her hips, he shifts one hand to the back of her thigh to keep her elevated, moving the other to firmly stroke her. A soft moan escapes when he circles her clit with his thumb and instinctively she tilts her hips towards him.

Kate tries to lower herself onto him but Castle wants to see her come first and rasps, "Just let go Kate."

As he presses his thumb more firmly to her, she lowers her face to his and as both their mouths open he slips a finger inside her, eliciting a low satisfied moan.

"Don't stop," she whimpers against his lips and as he reassures her he won't, he kisses her deeply, adds another finger and she shatters immediately. With her arms unable to support her and craving relief for her overheated and over-sensitised skin, she flops to her belly on the smooth cool sheets.

Castle rolls to his side and she turns her head slightly so she can see his face. He smiles as he brushes strands of damp hair from her forehead and when she returns his smile he begins stroking her back, making slow random patterns with his palms and fingertips. Eventually his hands begin to wander, to the sides of her breasts, the curve of her hip and the back of her thighs and five minutes in, she's literally purring.

"You like that?"

"Hmmm," she hums in response and Castle lifts himself to straddle the back of her knees. She's still purring as he begins caressing the insides of her thighs, encouraging her legs just a little further apart. With one hand stroking tantalizingly close to her centre he slowly begins to kiss his way from the dimples on either side of her tailbone, along her spine to the back of her neck.

As he leans forward Kate can feel his erection brush the back of her thighs, and she begins to crave the feel of him inside her so she starts to turn over.

"Stay there," he whispers softly and covers her body with his, tucking his chin into the curve of her shoulder so their faces are close.

She can feel every inch if him pressed against her inner thigh now and she lifts her hips towards him. This provides just enough access for one hand to sneak between her belly and the mattress but when he doesn't touch her, she wriggles impatiently and presses her hips more firmly against him. This additional pressure is his undoing and using the hand next to her shoulder for support and the hand underneath her to guide him, he slowly sinks into her.

They sigh in unison as he begins moving and Kate counters every forward thrust with a backward tilt of her hips. It's unfamiliar but they soon find their rhythm and when his fingers begin exploring her centre as he moves, she fists the sheets with one hand and entwines the fingers of the other with his.

As is the case every time they try something new, they eventually end up perfectly in sync. Castle is loving being able to feel their connection with his own hand as he moves inside her and he wants Kate to feel it too. He grabs the hand that's still gripping the sheet and slides both their hands back under her, his large one covering her smaller one.

"Feel us Kate," he says against her ear and she tightens around him, moaning low in her throat. It's almost enough to fling him off the edge and he takes a deep steadying breath and lets the rest of the world disappear.

She is in a haze of new sensations and it's wonderfully intense. The heel of her hand is pressed against her clit, her fingers are touching both of them and she's about 30 seconds away from coming. When she feels the familiar tightening low in her belly, the warm tingling spreading though her body she drags both their hands from under her, intertwines them tightly against the mattress and uses both her arms for extra leverage to push back against him. His pace quickens as he feels her movements, anticipates her release and when he feels it, when he hears her whimper his name he squeezes her hands, drops his face to hers, and lets go. Ragged and breathy cries leave both their mouths as the tidal wave hits and carries them away.

Castle takes his weight on his forearms, their hands still entwined as they catch their breath and when she turns her head slightly and smiles at him he kisses her and nips playfully at her shoulder. She retaliates by bucking her hips slightly.

"Is that the best you've got?" Castle chuckles. "Not even you could pull a martial arts-inspired move to flip yourself out of this position."

"Oh Rick, I bet I could pull something and have you off me on a second," she challenges and Castle gulps, seriously in fear for the well being of his manhood. But his parts escape unscathed; it's his ear that is on the receiving end of a less than gentle pull.

He yelps and rolls off her but apart from letting go of his ear, Kate still doesn't move and he teases, "Are you just going to stay like that 'til we're ready for round two?"

Quick as lightening, her hand shoots out again and this time his other lobe is the recipient of a painful tug.

"Owww. Okay, Apples, Apples, Apples."

The End... or maybe just the beginning.

Mr Marlow says Season 5 will see a return of the fun, so it felt right to end things with a hint of how I hope they'll be as a couple... passionate and intense one minute (please give us some love scenes), playful the next. Bring back the banter I say.

If you liked it (or not) please take this last chance to review. It means alot... really!