Healing (7x03 AU)

In which Beckett's phone doesn't ring and they decide to watch a movie

"We could watch a movie."

"Yeah, if you want to."

"Well, not if you don't want to."

Castle paused, searching Beckett's face for answers. This felt like a test; he didn't want to watch a movie, but her eyes offered no clue as to what his fiancée was thinking. They had watched a lot of movies since he'd returned, almost every night that she wasn't working. He wanted to do something else, but his disappearance and amnesia had caused quite a bit of tension. They still slept together, well, in the same bed anyway, with her either curled against his side or them spooning.

But despite that, despite her often gripping his shirt in a desperate attempt to keep him from disappearing again, they had yet to be intimate. They almost had a few days before: he had just slipped his hands under her shirt when her phone had chirped, calling them to a case. They'd both taken it as a sign and slipped back to their recent pattern.

"Castle?"

He jerked back to the present to see her staring at him, brows furrowed. "Sorry. Um, yeah, a movie sounds good. Which one?"

In the end, they settled on a chick flick that had been released while he was gone. He despised most movies in the genre, but Beckett enjoyed them and seeing her happy made him happy, so he usually dealt with it.

Tonight, though, his mind was far from the movie. They were in their customary movie-watching position, lying on the couch, her back to his front, nestled between his legs. And while he'd been content to just fold his arms over her like usual, now he craved more. As the opening credits appeared, he slipped a hand under the hem of her shirt.

She stiffened in his arms. Besides hugs and their interrupted attempt days prior, they really hadn't had very much touching. Hand-holding and incidental touches, yes, but those were mostly a shoulder, arm, knee. Definitely not under clothing.

Beckett forced herself to relax. Castle's hand was just sitting there, not moving. Okay, barely moving. His thumb gently moved in circles, but it was more comforting than erotic. "I'm still here," it seemed to say.

They lay like that for most of the movie, both of them paying more attention to each other than the romance playing out on screen. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Beckett placed a hand on top of his and slowly moved it south. The slow burn inside of her had been growing, moving from her stomach much, much lower. And while the pain of his disappearance was still there, it faded a little more every day he was home.

As Castle's fingers played with the top of her slacks, she guided his hand to the button. The fire she felt had morphed into a raging inferno and, judging by the hardness pressing into her back, he shared her feelings.

"Castle," she breathed, head falling back to his shoulder. "Please."

That was all he needed to hear. He unfastened her pants, pulling down the zipper. "God, Kate," he whispered in her ear. He felt her through her panties, felt her wetness, slipped his fingers under the cotton fabric to touch her directly. "I missed this," was all he could say, slipping a finger inside her, rubbing his thumb against her sensitive nerves.

Kate was falling apart in moments. She groaned his name in the sexiest voice he'd ever heard, lifting her hips, shuddering once before collapsing into him.

Castle chuckled, sending vibrations through her body and almost making her come again. He definitely noticed her shudder and felt her additional arousal.

Once her breathing approached normal, she took his hand not otherwise engaged and lifted it to her lips for a soft kiss. "Thank you," she whispered against his fingers before settling comfortably on his body.

Well, sort of comfortably. Beckett was keenly aware of his arousal, harder than it had been minutes before, and shifted a little to provide some friction. It was her turn to chuckle at his groan, but her chuckling only made Castle buck his hips, looking for relief.

Kate turned his arms and threaded her fingers through his hair. "It seems you have a bit of a situation," she teased, leaning forward to place a light kiss on his lips.

Castle let out growl and lifted her, forcing her to lock her ankles around his waist. As he carried her to the bedroom, movie long forgotten, she worked on removing both of their shirts. Before she knew it, he was on top of her, pushing her into their bed, kissing her with a ferocity that literally took her breath away.

"Castle," she breathed when he finally gave her mouth a break, moving to her neck and that one spot behind her ear that drove her crazy. But suddenly he pulled away. "What—" She opened her eyes when she felt him reach behind her, undoing her bra and pulling it down her arms. He flung it behind him – she made a mental note of the general direction – and she watched his eyes turn almost black as he stared at her.

"Kate—"

Her name was but a whisper; how could he have left her, and on their wedding day, no less? He slowly pulled down her slacks and panties, brushing his fingertips over her exposed skin as he did so.

Kate lifted herself on her elbows and nodded towards his pants. "Your turn," she commanded, her voice dripping with passion and pure lust.

Rick complied, pulling off his jeans and boxers in one swoop, almost groaning as his erection was freed.

They hadn't seen each other naked since he'd disappeared. While before they had showered together regularly, after it seemed too intimate. Beckett wouldn't emerge from the bathroom until she was fully dressed, or in her robe if she dressed in the closet. He knew there was a part of her that doubted him; she'd pushed it down far enough that she'd forgiven him, but he knew it would always be there. So to see her sprawled on their bed, naked, staring at him for the first time in weeks – this was something.

They stayed frozen for what seemed like hours but was probably mere moments, drinking in the sight of each other, memorizing what each thought had been gone forever. Finally, after an eternity or the blink of an eye, Kate reached for her fiancé and pulled him down to her.

Castle protested when she gripped him, guiding him to her entrance. "Wait – are you still on—"

"Yes," Kate whispered against his lips. "Please, Castle."

"I want to taste you." Castle tried to detach himself from her lips but she threaded her free hand, the one not stroking him, through his hair.

"Later." Kate pulled his head back down to her and pulled him in for a deep kiss, tongues probing and tasting. She locked her ankles around his waist and flipped them over so she was straddling him. "Right now I just want you inside me."

Castle moaned when she finally lowered herself onto him and started moving, slowly. "Oh God, Kate," he groaned, hands gripping her hips as she moved. He wouldn't last long; he just hoped she could climax before he did. After a few short minutes and a very close call that had her stilling briefly, he turned them back over so he was on top once again.

They quickly fell back into their old rhythm, his hands under her ass, lifting her hips to give him the angle he needed to hit that spot that drove her nuts. And it didn't disappoint; as soon as he hit it she let out a noise that was part whimper and part scream, and threw her head back against the pillows. Her hands gripped his shoulders, pulling him down to her. Their lips met in a soft kiss that contradicted the erratic movement of their lower bodies.

He was close, dangerously so, wanting nothing more than to come together. He slowed his hips just enough to snake his hand between them, thumbing her clit; sometimes she just needed a little extra nudge. "Come with me, babe."

He shouted her name as she came apart around him, triggering his own orgasm, shuddering as he spilled inside her. He collapsed on top of her, his face in the crook of her neck.

Kate grunted when his full weight settled on her. "Castle, you're squishing me."

"Sorry." Castle reluctantly rolled onto his back, pulling her with him so she was snuggled against his chest. He was in heaven; sure, things weren't perfect, but hey, they were together. "I love you, Kate," he whispered, leaning down for a kiss.

Kate smiled against his lips and deepened the kiss for a few long moments. When they finally broke apart, she cupped his cheek. "I love you too, Rick." She paused. "But if you ever call me 'babe' during sex again, you're cut off for a year. Got it?"

Castle grinned. He liked when she called him "babe;" apparently she did not share his sentiments. "Got it."