With thanks to AlwaysCastle for the word, and apologies for the massive gap between posts.

He had collapsed against her minutes before, fitted now, with his body at her side, his hand finding its way across her middle, tracing lazy patterns on the arm furthest from him.

Ragged breathing slowing at last, indecent struggles for air becoming less harsh until they dropped away to nothing but the softest whispers.

It was the most intense and intimate thing he had ever witnessed, or been a part of, in his life.

Sex was never just sex with her, it was a revelation.

His chin rested, stubble scratchy against the silky skin of her shoulder, as he watched the steady rise and fall of her chest, the lazy flutter of her eyelashes.

When they had fallen back onto the bed he had moved away, his hand wrapped in hers needing some contact between them, but shifting sideways to give her space and breathing room.

The minute he had, she wormed closer chasing his body with a groan of annoyance. Steadily rolling across the bed with her eyes still shut, struggling into his side until she was convinced he knew to stay still, once she felt him pressed behind her with no where to go, she relaxed.

Thoroughly and completely.

He stared, watching her eyes from the side as they stayed glued to a point on the wall, it held her transfixed, some sort of canvas she allowed her imagination to play across.

He lay mildly confused, trying to draw her back, draw her in, trying to re-capture her attention, but she was steadfastly gazing into the distance, not ignoring him, just not there with him.

It was fascinating.

He wondered if it was merely the simple fact of being satisfied, rested and completely content, that held her away.

She wasn't dazed or dreamy, she just existed in peaceful silence, he smiled, for now.

He drew his hand up and along her shoulder to rest in the hollow of her neck, his thumb stroking her jaw and cheek simultaneously as he moved. Her exhale of breath was deeper, longer, but that was the only acknowledgement of his movement.

His lip dropped into a low pout against the warm skin of her arm as he waited for her to turn to him.

The stillness of her body had him mesmerized, he had never seen her like that, even in sleep she would toss and turn and twitch, talk, moan, mumble theories and words, but now she lay motionless next to him, apart from the slow, steady blinking of her eyes, the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the beating of her heart through the bare skin under his arm.

An immensity of cherished movement created and existing in nothingness, in quiet and calm, in peace.

It takes a hell of a lot to make her slow down and relax, silence he is used to, well he is getting used to it, but complete stillness, detachment, it's a little eerie.

Maybe that is the reason he likes it so much, because the stillness, the eeriness is just so…not her. Another facet of her personality, he smiled again, another layer to the onion.

Her eyelids started to droop, as if she was falling asleep, and he wanted to move, just enough to disturb her so she would wake up to look at him or talk to him.

Then again he wanted to watch her eyes flutter with un-told dreams. He wanted to watch her body relax even further into him, muscles releasing and unlocking as she sunk into the bed and her face contorted, a gentle surrender to slumber, seeing things only she could, things he could conjure with his writers imagination, painting a beautiful picture for her to inhabit as she slept.

But he was also selfish and needy, he fought the urge to smile at his own flaws, and he wanted her back with him, wanted to hold her tight, wrapped in his arms, and kiss her, all day, just…kiss her senseless all day long.

He was torn, but not as much as he should have been, and the selfish side won out, just this once, he lifted his arm, slowly, deliberately, to give her a gentle nudge, his fingers lightly moving over her arm when she spoke.

"Don't poke me Castle." There was no threat or malice in her words, just the low, steady, hum of her voice as she read his mind.

He dropped his arm back down, fingers falling against her in the easiest way, laughing as he was caught.

He was never going to be able to get away with anything easily ever again, oh she would keep him on his toes.

Sub-consciously mimicking a movement she often made, he scrunched his nose and burrowed further into her shoulder, lips pressing at the skin that rose to meet him.

She wasn't falling asleep, her eyes opened again and her cheek lifted in a tilted half smile.

He assumed the smile was for him and his incessant pestering, maybe for her inane ability to know him and catch him in the act. Maybe the smile was simply in response to his tender kiss.

She let out another deep sigh, her breath stirring the hairs on the back of his hand as he continued to cup her face. Lashes finding their earlier rhythm but her eyes moved, just once, to find him, before moving away again.

She gave him a look. His look, her look. Before she settled.

He trusted now that she wasn't falling asleep, but she must have been lost in thought, closing her eyes to gain a steadier image of whatever she was imagining.

He hoped she was picturing them, their future, or maybe, easier than that, just replaying all that had happened between them in the last hour.

It didn't matter if she was just casually flicking through her mental archive of the two of them in bed, it always meant more, what took place between them, no matter in what form or where, it always stood for more than the act itself.

She turned into his hand, her face finding the palm with a little nudge, so his large fingers opened and splayed across the cheek, holding up the weight of her head as she curled into him.

She turned, shifting backwards, bringing his arm around her body, pulling the one from underneath until she was wrapped in him, surrounded in warmth and comfort.

She pulled them onto their sides, her back to his chest, her ass pressing against him and if it wasn't for the fact he was so exhausted and depleted it would be causing a lot of distraction, hell if she didn't stop moving around it still might. The soft swell of her cheeks against his thighs as she rocked into the position were giving him very interesting ideas.

She settled then, lifting her face back so she could flick her eyes at him, her muscles too relaxed, her body too lazy to smirk or roll her eyes but the tease was there, he could feel it and he smiled.

He didn't know what he had done to her, well literally he did, he was the one doing it, but internally, mentally, there was looseness to her body, a free-flowing fluidity that could only come from one thing.

"Sated?" He whispered unable to resist, the perfect description for what he was feeling, hoping it applied to her as well.

The word floated between them for a long time, and he was starting to wonder if she had actually fallen asleep when she sucked in a deep breath and stretched lazily in his arms.

"More like sedated!" She laughed once, the soft ha that she only uses when her humour takes her by surprise or she catches him off guard. She laughs at her own silly joke, feeling him freeze completely against her in mild shock before he let out a deep rumbling laugh.

"And I didn't even have to handcuff you." He whispered again, a gentle reminder of all they have shared together, followed by a small noise of amusement from her letting him know she understood.

"Beyond sated…" She sighed again, as ever ignoring his misdirection and sticking to the point.

"What's beyond sated?" he asked smirking at her, even though she couldn't see "Comatose?"

She pressed an elbow back into him, no more than a huff of air in pressure as she silently told him not to gloat, he did anyway and she smiled because she knew he would.

"I don't know." She breathed the words into the room, tilting her head back into the groove of his neck as she spoke.

"Maybe you'll find out next time." he whispered his promise into her ear, dragging his lips over the lobe before inhaling deeply, his nose hovering across her skin and stopping in her hair.

He inhaled again, felt her shiver, her hair had still been damp from the shower when they fell into bed, now it was dampened with sweat as well, drying in straggles, twisted tendrils, around her face. Breathing it in assailed his senses with every possible scent of her.

Deep, tugging reminders of the way his lips had tasted every part of her body.

"Seriously," she said quietly, making him lift his head to hear her "I don't think I have legs anymore."

He laughed, a soft parting of his lips at the words that lifted his hand from her face, laying her head gently on the pillow as he ran it along the long, slim, contours of her body.

His fingers trailed the dividing line, where her forearm met her chest, finger tips and nails working in partnership across the delicate swell of her chest, thumb gliding over her breast and nipple in one swoop.

He trailed lower, his hands heated and aching against her skin, moving to the curve of her hip, the hip that was fitted snugly and securely into his groin.

His thumb ran through the groove of her waist, his long fingers reaching from the edge of her hip to almost skim the side of her belly-button.

He stayed still for a second, just enjoying the subtle changes to her body that told him she liked what he was doing. The way she turned the tiniest amount to give him better access, the gentle noises that escaped her mouth.

Then, unable to control the movement any long, his hands journey continued, dragging over the cheek of her backside, across her thigh and as low as he could reach without getting up, stopping just above her knee, before he pulled it agonisingly slowly back up the length of her leg.

He squeezed the naked thigh resting against his own when he reached it, fingers roaming in a happy torment across her skin.

"Oh you still have legs," he joked quietly "very interesting legs."

"Mmm" she moaned his teasing pulling her back from the lackadaisical atmosphere that had settled over her "I feel fluttery." she said softly, her eyes darting sideways to watch him, fighting the smile that rose when his eyes lit up in response.

"Where?" He asked, moving his hand without waiting for an answer, his fingers drifting from her thigh, over her hip and falling across her stomach. They slid low, lower, under her belly, fingers pressing and seeking response as they roamed.

"Here?" He asked. He spread his fingers as wide apart as they would go then drew them slowly closed over her, the soft muscle rippling under his touch.

"No tickling" she moaned, pout appearing and disappearing in seconds as she kept her eyes closed again. He drew his nails around her navel, before his fingers moved lower again, pressing at the join at the top of her legs, seeking entrance between her closed thighs with little prods.

She moaned softer still, denial at her bodies ability to still respond after everything they had already done to it, rolling her head into the pillow, she lifted her hip, shifted against his body, unable to close her self off from him.

He leant over her, his lips finding their way to the hollow of her neck easily as he dipped a finger between her legs, meeting wet succulent skin and thudding pulses that gave away her readiness for it to begin again.

"Here?" He asked, his lips moving against the pulse in her neck in the exact rhythm of his finger against the pulse at the centre of her body.

He kept the finger, one single digit, in steady swirling pressure over her, dipping and sliding against the ever increasing moisture.

So responsive so quickly, he laced kisses along the muscle of her shoulder, she started to shudder under his touch, small moans and her body pressed back against him hard.

He sunk his teeth gently into the meaty ball of her shoulder, pressing forwards to meet her surging hips, his finger moving faster as she came to the wall and crashed through it, falling apart, rippling against his hand.

The ache, build up and tumble down lacking nothing in intensity even though their arrival had been sudden. Short and sweet he thought as her head lifted, pink cheeked yet again, from the pillow and letting it fall back into solid mass of his chest.

Her arm came up from under her, her hand reaching back over her shoulder to trap his head against her, palm flat to his jaw as she held him and it was her turn to feel him smile.

He slipped his hand from between her legs, as she exhaled deeply, his fingers spider-walked her stomach, the length of her torso, before coming to rest between her quivering breasts.

"Here?" he asked his fingers finding a resting place at the centre of her chest. "Did I make your heart beat too fast?"

The fact he had for a very long time went unsaid, but the way he had touched her tonight had made her wonder if it was possible for her chest to explode with joy.

"I don't think I have a heart anymore." she answered her voice far away and dreamy as she remembered the way he had touched her, the soft sounds he had pulled from her mouth as he worshipped her body. The loud screams of his name that still left her throat sore.

"That's ok," he said, his words vibrated into her ear as he turned, lips pressing gently into her cheek as his fingers continued to move in steady circles "you have mine."

He felt her breath catch, her fingers twitch against him, saw her nose scrunch as another smile broke across her face.

She pulled loose of his arms and turned under him until they were face to face again, her hand lingering over his cheek, she watched the movement of her fingers over skin she couldn't stop touching.

She pressed the pads of her fingers into the prickly stubble of his jaw, he needed to shave, she didn't want him to though, she liked it, and tomorrow she would have stubble rash head to toe from his kisses.

That glorifying smile broke wide across her face, it was hard to resist the sense of completeness.

Her fingertips were happy, her palm, as it settled against his lips, rejoiced, the thudding pulse in her wrist picked up speed at the edge of his chin and she continued to smile just for him.

Moving slowly, she drew him down and raised herself up, her lips curling to open against his softly as she looked into his eyes.

It was a warm kiss of devotion, of knowing and tenderness and she felt him run his hand along her back as she kissed him, understanding completely as he intentionally drew her closer.

She wormed in as tight as she could, her breasts pressed into his chest, her leg lifting, new found energy sending it to curl over his thigh and pull him into her. She sighed into his kiss as she felt the warmth of his body engulfing her.

The hairs of his legs rough under her own, his hands soothing, one free to roam her side, slipping up and down, mimicking her, no single touch was enough.

The other hand stayed trapped beneath her as she lay on it, unable to do little more than cup her lower back, fingers opening and closing lazily. Somehow that singular sensation sent rolling heat through her stomach to settle between her legs. Again.

Everything was again with him, once was never enough, she needed more, had to have an endless supply of his love. She smiled through the kiss wondering if his love was her new coffee.

Sated they may well both be, their minds lax and dreamy, but their bodies were talking to each other in a language unknowable to any other soul. They want everything, they demand it, seeking it from the only source that makes perfect sense.

Her muscles are unsteady as she clings to him, a fluttering insanity of movement that tells her she needs him again. She wants that feeling of surrender to overwhelm her and pull her under.

One last ride to ecstasy before she sleeps.

Her hand drops, fingers gentle but firm as they slide downwards, across the muscled plains of his chest.

His tongue moves around hers with more enthusiasm as he realises where her hand is headed, she drags her nails across his abdomen, feels him suck in the heated breath still trapped in their joined mouths.

It's a sensation he enjoys, cant explain why, but the feel of her short, sharp nails on their journey to claim him send heated shivers straight to his heart, hell who is he kidding, straight to his groin, the very root of his shaft.

She draws her hand lower, twisting her wrist to lay the palm of her hand flat against his thigh, she slides it across and lets it settle over the resting length of his penis.

She feels him twitch to life under her hand, rising in greeting and she smiles breaking the kiss, her mouth widening in satisfaction.

"Show off." He mumbles hoarsely as her hand moves, tenderly enfolding him in her fingers. Her other arm rising until she can wrap it around his neck, draw him closer still. She may as well crawl inside him at times like this, she cant get close enough.

She laughs softly into his ear as her fingers, trapped between their bodies, wrap around him fully, it's a bit of a challenge, her hands are a lot smaller than his after all, but she manages and gives him a little squeeze, before she sets to work properly.

He tenses against the squeeze and release of her grip, the now hardening muscle she has come to love throbbing in her hand in such a perfect way, she laughs again at her choice of phrasing, 'come to love' and lets her hand continue to squeeze, glide and release, realising how much she has let this man corrupt her.

Not just bodily, her lets her thumb stray over the now moist head, the hardened tip that shudders in her hand.

It's not even mentally, when they connect for no other reason than it's what they do. Minds catching and holding each other in the exact same way their bodies do when they meet in pleasure.

It's the everything of him that has corrupted her, the words, the love, the happiness and yes, the sex. It all mixes in together, like rain water in oil puddles, different and separate, yet when they meet…rainbows appear.

She watched his eyes roll back in his head, a sense of understanding washes over her then, she sees why he loves making her do it. There is a feeling of power mixed with the sheer joy of giving someone you love pleasure, of knowing that their body was singing out just for you.

She felt his body jerk as if he could read her mind, everything in him leaping closer to her in a single movement, he bit back a fraught laugh as her hand moved again, her palm flush with his stomach as she circled him, applied pressure and drew him forwards.

Her hand stilled for a split second, she drew in a gentle breath before moving again, rubbing the glistening, wet tip up and down the moistened, welcoming folds of her lower half.

His eyes flew open in awe of the sensation, in awe of her as she welcomed him back into her body, lazy and relaxed, her eyes closing as she used his body to tease her own.

She shuffled ever closer, lifting her leg over his waist, draping herself across him as she sighed, the rotation of her hips and the guidance of her hand pulling him deep.

She felt him slide in and settle, just resting inside her, pulsation and throbbing and slow beginnings of her rippling muscles in response.

His grip suddenly tightened as he tipped her head up from where it had fallen to rest on his chest. Her eyes heavy with need and the aching desire to collapse into oblivion.

"You should sleep." His words instantly betrayed by the actions of his body as he withdrew, pulling away to the very edge of removal,, eager, now sweetly lathed in the evident pleasure he had given her, before he gripped her tight again and slid back in smoothly as deep as he could.

"I cant." she breathed out honestly, pulling his hand to her head as she lifted against him, rising to meet his heavenly thrusts with small answering ones of her own, "It's loooud in here."

"Loud in your head?" He asked, his lips dropping to the warm groove of her neck.

He felt her answering nod and the pressure of her lips as they found the similar spot on his throat, she whispered against his skin "Make the world go away Rick."

He felt her lips quirk up in a teasing smile as he slid in and out slowly, once, twice, unable to stem the tide, the ache in his stomach to plunge into her and the desire in his heart to watch her fall with him.

"Where do you want it to go?" He asked dreamily, his slow steady thrusts met with her eager rocking hips. The conversation isn't needed, but it's welcome, everything as it should be as they strain against each other.

"I don't care." She admitted her voice hoarse from screaming his name earlier, the more she spoke the more aware of it he became, it was sexy, dark and heated, it was close to his ear as she moved her head under him and whispered across the lobe "Just love me the way you do you crazy man, love me and make the world go away."

She pulled the soft, spongy flesh between her teeth, sucking it in time to the rolling of her hips and he shuddered against her hard, holding back just enough, but close.

"You just…want toooo see…stars again." he teased lightly, breathily, not bragging or gloating, it wasn't a point of pride she saw these things with him, it was an honour she chose him for the journey, a miracle every time she sought him out.

Still a surprise every time she asked for the love he had waited for years to shower her with.

So, if she wanted to see stars again, he would pull them down from the night sky with his bare hands and give them to her.

But she shook her head moving closer, drawing him deep, one hand at the cheek of his ass and the other resting on his face as she held him still, her eyes meeting his, tinged with a mild challenge.

"I don't just want to see stars" she said "I want yooou…to make feel free, I want to feel sedated again, I want to be comatose."