Thanks again to everyone reading this, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle or the characters.

Beckett was laughing when Castle caught up to her when she was already at the house, having won their little race. He couldn't believe that the woman that had just challenged him to a race on the beach, loser swims naked, was the same no nonsense detective he'd met as his book signing just a few years ago. So much had changed between then and now, and not just their relationship but he knew that they'd both changed too just for knowing the other. They made each other the best version of themselves and Castle couldn't be happier with the man he's become because of her and the woman she lets him see now.

Castle wasted no time in reaching down as she laughed at him, arms around her thighs as he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Beckett had been taken by surprise and was upside down before she even realised what was happening.

"Castle, put me down!" she said, the laughter still clear in her voice even though she tried to sound commanding. She tried kicking her legs and using her arms to get out of his hold as he began to walk but it was no use, he was really quite strong.

It only took Beckett a minute to realise where they were going as Castle rounded the side of the house and the pool came into view as Beckett still hung upside down over his shoulder.

"Castle, no!" she yelled, trying even harder now to get out of his grip, knowing exactly what was going to happen when he reached the poolside.

"You wanted to go swimming," Castle laughed as he still held her in his arms, now at the pool's edge. Managing to still hold on to her, Castle maneuvered the watch from his wrist, dropping it onto one of the pool side chairs, not wanting it to get wet with what he was about to do.

"I wanted to go swimming with you, not get thrown in by myself," she replied, her last effort at trying to get him to put her down and not throw her in.

"As you wish," Castle said before he jumped from the edge, surprising Beckett as he threw himself forwards into the pool too.

Beckett spluttered as her head came out of the water, Castle coming up a few feet from her and he laughed as he caught sight of her, wet hair stuck to her face and she was wearing a very unhappy expression. It didn't take long for her expression to change though, a smile breaking out across her face before she was laughing along with Castle.

"You're going to pay for that," Beckett said as she brushed the hair from her eyes, actually enjoying the cool water after their short run across the sand.

Her eyes turned predatory, the smile vanishing from her face as she kicked forward, propelling her in the direction of Castle who now looked scared at what might happen now.

Before Castle had time to react, it was his turn to splutter as Beckett hands shot out, hitting the surface of the water, showering him in water, distracting him until she was close enough to put her hands on his shoulders and push him under. As Castle's head broke the surface of the water again, he came face to face with Beckett who was giggling as she watched Castle go through what she'd just been through.

Castle wasted no time in reaching out to grab Beckett and pull her flush with him. Beckett closed her eyes and tensed, waiting to be dunked herself but when she opened her eyes, she saw Castle's face just a few inches from hers, face so happy and open that it sent Beckett's heart beating even faster than it had been from their previous exercise.

The look that he was giving her was one she'd seen more and more frequently since they'd started dating but it still took her by surprise. This man that was currently holding her to her chest as they floated in his pool loved her so much and she could see it written all over his face. He'd let her into his life and then into his heart and she'd let him into hers in return.

Beckett knew how serious things were getting between them and that both excited and scared her. But she loved him and anything that happened to them in the future, they'd face it together and that included the inevitable steps they'd take as a couple. She'd been spending more and more time at his loft and knew the question to move in was coming soon. In any other relationship in the past, that would've scared her, but not with him, she knew that they loved each other and were fully committed to each other, whether she had a ring yet or not.

Beckett smiled back at him, face as open as his as she leant forward to press her lips to his.

"I thought that you were meant to be naked when we swam since you lost?"

Castle couldn't help the laughter that bubbled past his lips, "I don't think I actually agreed to those terms but I'll swim naked if you will."

The way he was pressed up against her now, bodies sliding against each other in the water, it was hard to not just agree with him on the spot and lose their clothes but the back of his house wasn't exactly private and there was a much bigger risk of them being seen in the pool together while it was still light.

"Maybe once it's dark out," Beckett winked, Castle's mouth falling open as she did.

"You better not be teasing me," Castle replied, voice rough and eyes slightly darker as images of just what could happen after dark flashed through his mind.

"You'll have to wait and see," Beckett teased as she pulled herself from Castle's grasp and swam over to the edge of the pool, Castle right behind her.

"I'm adding swim naked together to my plan for this week and once it's on the plan, it can't be changed," Castle said as they walked back to the house to dry off and have lunch before they'd head back outside to lounge by the pool for the afternoon.

"I never said no, Castle," Beckett said, taking Castle's hand in her own as they walked inside, leaving a wet trail behind them.

Castle laughed at her response, using the hand that she was holding to reel her towards him until their bodies crushed together and they both shivered at the cold press of skin and wet clothes.

Castle pressed a searing kiss to her lips, pulling back to rest his forehead against hers.

"I thought we were going to dry off?"

"We are, I just really wanted to kiss you," Castle paused, trying to decide if he should say what he was currently thinking, something that had been running through his head for a while, "and I wanted to thank you for being here with me. And I don't mean The Hamptons, I mean in this relationship with me. I know we've had some tough times and we'll no doubt have more in the future but with you by my side, I know we can face anything together. Thank you for giving me a chance because I know I'd never have been this happy without you in my life."

Something about the sun, being alone with Beckett and the way she was so open with him now, so willing to just be with him and have fun together, had caused him to say all of this but he didn't regret it, not as he saw the smile spread across her face and the way she was looking at him again, the same loving look from earlier.

"I love you," Beckett replied, her chest swelling with joy as she once again pressed her lips to his, his words filling her with so much hope for them for the future, "now come on, I want to eat so we can go back outside and warm up in that glorious sun out there."

Thoughts?