Ok, folks, it took me a while, but I think I have a chapter everyone will be happy with.

A companionable silence settled over the room, broken only by the sound of silverware scraping ceramic, or the occasional hum of appreciation for the flavorful food. At last their plates and utensils were rinsed and laid in the sink. The second Beckett's hands were free of anything fragile or otherwise dangerous, Castle spun her around and pulled her against him. For a long moment he simply held her, enjoying the feel of her curves pressed against his frame, until he could deny himself no longer. He pulled back just enough to find her lips with his. Beckett, for her part, gloried in the buffet of sensation, tracing his shoulder blades and the musculature of his back with her hands while soaking in his warmth. His broad hands mapped her body while his tongue skimmed her lower lip, beseeching entrance.

She opened for him, met his tongue with hers, swallowed his growl. She tasted the wine and the sauce and him. His fingers tangled in the hair at the base of her skull, holding her as though he were trying to fuse himself with her. At length she braced a hand on his shoulder, applied pressure, gently but firmly enough to get his attention. He broke away with a regretful moan, regarded her with confusion. She smiled reassuringly. "Hold that thought…" she murmured. She took a step backward and his arms fell away from her.

Castle watched her retreat, feeling dazed. She disappeared into her bedroom and closed the door. Minutes later it opened again, soft flickering light dancing on the frame, then on the waves of her hair, darkness woven with gold. A hand appeared, and something pink fluttered in his direction. He strode over, caught it just before it hit the carpet at his feet. Lace and straps and soft fabric, still warm from her body heat. He looked up just in time to catch a matching flying garment. His brain struggled for a few seconds, before he glanced up in wonder. If he was holding …then what was she…? His gaze darted down the hallway. Just her head was visible, hazel eyes teasing yet sultry. "A promise is a promise…"she stated. Eagerly he moved toward her bedroom. She retreated from view until he came to stand in her doorway. She was perched on the edge of her bed, clothed only in candlelight. Glass votive holders of all shapes and hues adorned every stable surface, giving her skin a warm glow He closed his eyes, trying to etch the image into his permanent memory.

He sensed her nearness, breathed in her scent, seconds before he felt her toying with his shirt buttons. He opened his eyes and was lost in her gaze, so earnest, so open. She worked the first button free, then the second, trailing a fingernail down the center of his chest. He picked up where she left off, hastily dispensing with the rest of the little discs and shrugging out of the shirt. Her hands explored his torso and he took a deep breath in, making his chest expand under her fingertips. Her digits danced along the band of dark blue denim that encircled his waist, slipping down into his back pockets. His eyes darkened to nearly the color of his pants, which he seemed frantic to remove, a task she'd made more challenging. The sparkle in her eyes told him she knew how she was confounding him. He dragged his thumbnails up her sides to her armpits, and she launched herself away from him with an explosion of giggles.

He made quick work of his fly, slid his pants down and stepped free of them. "There, all caught up," he grinned at her. Castle moved to stand before her, adrenaline flooding his system. The fact that they'd both had lovers before made him no less nervous. This would be their first time, the culmination of four years of foreplay. They reached for one another at the same time, her arms winding around his neck as she tilted her head up to meet his kiss. His lips brushed hers, sweetly at first, but the heat between them quickly grew to a fire that threatened to incinerate all of his good intentions to take things slow and savor the experience. He slid his lips off hers and found her earlobe, grazing it gently with his teeth. In payment she traced the furrow between his neck muscles with her tongue. His kisses traced down her jawline to the base of the column of her throat, where he let his tongue play in the notch between her clavicles. He continued downward over her sternum, pausing to drop a reverent kiss on her scar. His forehead rested for a moment just under her chin as he fought back the memory of how close he'd come to losing her forever. Her fingers stroked through his hair soothingly, as though she could read his thoughts. Shaking off the gloom, he continued his exploration across the soft swell of her breast to the nipple, already taut with anticipation. She groaned when he captured the bud between his lips, teased it with his tongue. He pulled away, chuckling at her whimper of loss. He maneuvered her backward and eased her onto the bed, crawling up beside her.

She pulled him down to her, longing emanating from her pores. She kissed him, coaxed him to open for her, and flipped them while he was distracted by her tongue. She straddled him, bending to explore as he had done to her. Her hair tickled his chest as she moved, as soft as it had been under his hands the night they'd rescued Ryan and Esposito. He tensed as she moved further down his body, everything tightening in anticipation. He shuddered as her hot mouth embraced his manhood, her tongue teasing in ways that would undo him in seconds. He reached for her, feebly at first but then with purpose, catching her arm and hauling her up to meet his kiss. His hands cupped her head but then smoothed over her shoulders, down her back to caress her bottom. He rolled them again so that she was beneath him (the only circumstance under which she would ever be so). His hand slipped out from under her, over her hip to the crease of her thigh, teasing around her opening. He dipped a finger in and her mouth opened wider under his, urging him to plunge his tongue deeper even as she shifted her hips up to meet his touch, try to engulf him by sheer force of will. He heeded her silent command, sliding his digit deep. He withdrew, added a second and pushed in, twisting. Her movement intensified, seeking relief from the tension that was building. Her hands clutched at his hips, fingernails digging into his ass cheeks

He pulled away, studied her flushed face, eyes clouded with lust. He glanced at her nightstand, licked his lips and chanced that his voice would sound stronger than he felt. "Kate? Do you have…?" he gestured to the drawer. She nodded wordlessly. He reached over and fished out a packet, ripped it open. Her hands reached to help him roll it on and he quivered at her touch, even through the thin barrier. He positioned himself above her and she guided him in, then added the total embrace of her limbs to that of her sheath. He held still for a moment, locking this memory away, too, before allowing his hips to piston as they were already straining to do. She met him, thrust for thrust, bringing her hand around to caress his jaw, draw his gaze to hers. Up, up they climbed, until desperate noises escaped her. He lowered himself to his elbows, freeing his hands to cover her breasts, pinching both nipples firmly, and her vocalizations escalated to a long cry of release. With a few final strokes, he found his own climax. He peppered her face with soft kisses until their hearts were no longer thudding palpably against one another's chests.

Since this takes place after "Headhunters" I am toying with the notion of taking them through the events of "Always" as a couple, if there is sufficient interest. Otherwise, I'll just add a sentence to this chapter sending them into the sunset. Cast your vote with the review button below ;)