Hello everyone! We're back to a Mere-Sposito fic, and we're picking up literally hours after the end of 'Fireworks on the DL'. And the opening chapter, I must say has a little for everyone! Enjoy!

Meredeth stretched her arms up, eyes still heavy with sleep as she blinked, focused on her husband as she woke up from her siesta. They'd spent the afternoon playing beach volley-ball, with Lanie as score-keeper and Honey-Milk as referee to keep an eye on their children; when the clouds rolled in and the thunder threatened rain, everyone had used the time to recuperate from the sun-drenched sports before dinner. They were planning on having a very juvenile-yet-grown-up night around the campfire - smores and a midnight corn roast while drinking fruity, rum-laced drinks and beer, maybe play a few rounds of 'never Have I Ever'. Since they had the newlyweds to tease about their sex lives, Meredeth could see the night ending up like her bachelorette party.

She turned toward him, could see he was still drowsy. It was one of her favourite looks on him, that half-awake relaxation. She leaned over, kissed him once. 'Javi, time to wake up, cari.'

Even have asleep, he felt his blood swim a little hearing her use the Spanish term of endearment on him. She spoke Danish herself, but there was something about hearing his Meredeth use his own second language that was just smoking hot. 'Why? It's nice and cozy here.'

'I think it's almost time for dinner, baby.'

'Oh yum, but no. We have other things to do much more important than food right now.' He wiggled his eyebrows at her as she sat up.

'They'll notice we're not there, you know.'

'IF they're truly concerned for our safety and health, they'll send a search party.'

So saying, he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her back into bed. She smelled fresh and natural, like ocean-water, and her skin was just as soft. He ran his palm up her stomach, in between her breasts. Esposito had sent many a heaven-ward thank you since Friday night for the great notion of bikinis, as Meredeth had spent most of her time in one working on her tan that day. It left little room for error as to just how female his wife was and it never failed to turn him on when he touched or tasted those delicious curves of her body.

Reaching a hand behind her back, he tugged on the strings and slid the fabric away so she was only wearing her bottoms now, running his thumb along the underside of one breast. He felt his mouth go dry as he literally watched her nipples harden; shifting so she was flat on her back underneath him, he brought his other hand up to her other breast and simultaneously scraped his thumbs over those wickedly heated points. He loved this move as it brought him one of his favourite reactions: she arched her back so her breasts pressed into his hands as her hips bucked backwards, then up against his, already anticipating where this would go. He kissed her, his tongue tangling with hers as she hummed in her throat when his fingertips replaced his thumbs.

'I love it when you do that, baby,' she murmured against his mouth.

'I know, I can tell.' He left her lips to trail his down her throat in a series of linger open mouthed kisses, over where her pulse jumped and began to race. 'Just like I know you love this one too.'

He made his way down her body, her skin heating as he kissed the curve of her breasts, then pressed his mouth to the center, teeth grazing lightly as he suckled at her, his tongue flicking over her nipple at lightening speed.

Meredeth felt desire roll through her veins like lightening. Even after two and a half years together, it was still as exciting as that infamous first tiem on her kitchen floor. The ability to think soon evaporated as he moved his mouth to her other breast, his hand replacing his tongue on the one he'd just left. She wrapped her legs around his hips, vaguely remembering he'd slept naked so there was no barrier of silk on him, just little Javi at full attention.

'Javi,' she groaned, the need to be touched and tasted everywhere taking over every fibre of her being. 'Touch me. Use your fingers on me.'

It made Esposito ache to hear her breathy demands, but she wasn't the only one who knew how to tease. He slid his hand down her body, tugged on the strings holding her bikini in place and tossed the swim bottoms over the side of the bed. He ran a hand over her thighs. They weren't toned like some women's nor were they small, but damn she knew how to use them and they were soft, creamy white, and smooth as silk. he stroked his index finger up, retreated as he watched her eyes burn with frustration. He finally reached the edge of the heated lips between her legs, and whispered in her ear, 'Here?'

'Closer.'

He traced his fingers over her, found her devastatingly hot and slick already. 'Here?'

'Closer.'

This time, he sank one finger into the tight welcoming wet heat, watched her eyes glaze over as he moved inside her. 'Like that?'

'God, yes. Just like that.' She arched against his hand, putting her own on the back of his neck to kiss him as she felt the pleasure gather inside.

'I think you'll like this-' he manouevred another finger inside her '-even better.'

This time she let out a strangled gasp, arching her back again as her eyes slammed shut in reaction. 'Javi,' she managed to get out on a breathy moan. Her nails dug into the skin of his shoulders, kneaded rhythmically as he stroked her towards the zenith of pleasure. As he felt the muscles contract around his fingers, he muttered, 'Say it.'

'What?'

'I want to hear you say it. I love hearing you say it.'

She felt the orgasm start to flood her cells. 'I'm coming.'

She repeated it over and over, each time a little quicker until she thought her brain would explode; she felt him draw his hand away from her and in anticipation of what was next, locked her legs around him to pull him close. She cried out a little when she felt him ease inside her, an automatic sound of pleasure.

Esposito pressed his lips to her shoulder. This was always his favourite moment of making love with Meredeth, the first momentof union with her. He braced his hand on the back of her knee, drew it up towards her chest as she moaned in his ear, 'Deeper, Javi, go deeper.' He pushed himself so he was all the way in, her moans growing louder.

'Mere, I know you like it, but that screen door isn't sound proof,' he told her, making her laugh a little.

'I know, I just...oh, god,' she trailed off as he began to move inside her, that delicious friction building again. He was so good at this, at making her feel like the sexiest woman in the world; to him, she was, she knew though she didn't always understand how or why. With each stroke her senses heightened, her body growing tighter and tighter with pressure until finally, it ripped through her; this time, the orgasm wasn't sudden like a hurricane, but a wind-up like a tornado. Her nerves felt electrified as it swamped her senses; she wrapped her arms around his shoulders to keep him close as she murmured, 'I love you,' over and over, faster and faster until the words blurred together in her mind.

Esposito felt her shudder underneath him, the sensation more precious to him than gold; he drove her up a second time and as she told him she loved him, he said it back to her. 'I love you, Mere,' he told her, watched her bite her lip to keep the scream from escaping and embarrassing Castle's exclusive neighbours. He covered her mouth with his and let himself go over the edge inside her.

They lay on the bed, still joined and legs tangled, trying to catch their breath and regain some working brain power. Esposito snuggled against Meredeth's breasts, listened to her heart rate come down. He could have joyfully spent the rest of the night on those perfect soft female pillows of hers.
'You think we did it this time?'

'Did what?'

'Made a baby?'

Esposito turned to look at Meredeth, questioning hope in her blue eyes. The news back in March that they might have to try harder than they thought to procreate had left Meredeth feeling guilty, he knew, that she'd somehow let him down. So he'd shown his commitment to her by giving up the things she was giving up as well - alcohol, caffeine, red meat, even certain kinds of cheeses and fish he knew she loved. But they were more in love with becoming parents and woudl do whatever was necessary to make it happen.

'If we did, that's amazing. If not, well, nothing wrong with a little batting practice.'

'You do have an amazing swing.'

'As do you.' Esposito scooted up, kissed the tip of her nose. 'I want a quick shower before we head over. Want to join me?'

'No funny stuff.'

'As much as I love you, I'm not powered by Duracell.'

They showered together, dressed and headed into the main house kitchen where they saw Ryan had his head in the fridge, and Lanie was dicing onions on the cutting board while Dell pushed Cheerios around his high chair's built-in table and dropped some over the side onto Arturo's head.

'Hey, there you are, we thought you'd gotten lost.'

'Just took a longer nap than we thought. Ryan do you want a hand with anything?'

Meredeth tapped the Irishman on the shoulder, then jumped as he jumped. When he glanced around the door of the fridge, she could see that his ears were turning bright pink. 'No, I've got everything under control here. Beer?' he asked, holding one out to Esposito.

'Thanks but I'll stick to Coke.'

Ryan passed him the bottle before he slammed the door of the fridge, muttering about checking on the food and all but sprinting for the patio.

'What's with him?'

'Oh, he's probably cranky Jenny stuck him on Dell-duty while she and Beckett went into town to pick up campfire supplies for later.' Lanie picked up her board of onions, slid the rings into a waiting glass dish. 'Take these out to the table. Castle's almost got the burgers and sausages ready.'

As if on cue, Castle stuck his head in the door and hollered, 'Soup's on!'

Lanie unhooked Dell from his chair, telling him about barbecues while he grinned and clapped his hands as they walked outside. Behind her, Meredeth gave Esposito's arm a quick squeeze. 'Let's get some of those eats before they disappear.'

Dinner was an enjoyable affair, with Beckett and Honey-Milk arriving just in time for the second round of burgers to come fresh off the grill. Lanie had used the afternoon-nap time the grown-ups had all taken to pump out and had fed Carey a bottle of breast milk so she could remain at the dinner table with everyone. There was laughter and conversation and debate, however Meredeth noticed throughout the meal, Ryan made a very specific point of avoiding her gaze; any time she caught him so much as looking at her, he'd quickly glance away.

By the time the sun was down, the little ones had been tucked into bed with Alexis and Sloan watching over them. The campfire was roaring away and once again, Ryan was carefully avoiding all interaction with her, but by now Meredeth had had enough. She parked herself in the chair between her husband and his partner, who was staring at the fire with far too much intensity to be enjoying himself.

'Okay, spill it.'

'What?'

'Why have you been avoiding me since dinner? You can't even look at me.'

Ryan shifted, took a sip of his beer. 'I have no idea what you mean.'

Before Meredeth could smack him, a campfire stick appeared under her nose, with a twin stack of marshmellows on it courtesy of Esposito.

'That how you want the double-decker?'

'Yeah just like that.'

The words were barely out of her mouth before Ryan gagged and sputtered, and was forced to spit out his mouthful of beer before he choked on it. She slapped him smartly on the back while he coughed, making all heads turned towards them.

'What the hell, Ryan?' Lanie asked, her curiosity now piqued.

'Yeah, you've been kinda squirrelly all night,' Castle added from the other side of the campfire.

'It's nothing,' he said hurriedly. He tried to get up, but found Meredeth's iron grip had him staying put.

'You're not going anywhere until you tell us what's up.'

'Well...' Ryan trailed off, thankful the cover of dark would partially hide his reddened cheeks. Blushes never looked good on him, as it was always obvious. 'When I went to get you two for dinner, I walked in when you were, um, definitely not asleep like I thought you'd be.'

What the hell was he talking about? Then, like being run over by a Mack truck, she realized what they'd been doing that would have made him turn so red. She began to laugh, a little giggle at first, then full on snorting guffaws as she realized just walked he'd walked in on when he opened the door of the boathouse.

'Definitely not...' Esposito trailed off as he realized what his partner meant, and began to laugh with Meredeth. 'Oh, bro, you didn't!'

'Oh yeah.'

Esposito set aside his marshmellow stick, pressed his fingers to his eyes as his laughter turned a little hysterical. 'Oh, you poor unlucky Irish bastard.'

'I don't think it's so fuckin' funny! Do you know what kind of nightmares that's going to give me?'

Around the campfire, the others began to join in the glee while only Castle remained confused.

'I don't get it,' Castle said immediately, though the site of Meredeth and Esposito howling like loons was making his own lips twitch. 'What happened?'

'Ryan walked on Esposito and Meredeth doing the mattress mambo.'

'Oh. Oh!' As it snapepd into place, Castle sat up from his lazy position on the bench with Beckett, pointed at Ryan. 'You walked in on them-'

'Yes.'

'Were they really-'

'Oh they'd have missed a nuclear bomb going off.'

'And you saw-'

'Far more of Esposito than anyone that isn't Meredeth or a doctor should,' Ryan cut Castle off, grimacing. 'It'll take a long time before I get the image of his bare ass out of my head.'

R&R&Enjoy!