If It Takes All Night

Thanks again for the reviews/alerts/favourites! There was some issues with the 2nd chapter not loading, but I think it's okay now!
Here goes the final part, and it's quite steamy! ;-) xxx

Chapter 3: Tumbling Down

I just want to hold you
And kiss you until we forget
It sounds good to me
Why don't we put this thing to bed?
I'll fall into you, you'll fall into me
Oh let's make love till we lose all our strength

They moved through the darkened apartment to Kate's bedroom, not bothering to switch on the main light, but putting on the lamp on her night stand that she used for reading. The lamp cast a warm glow over the room, make it seem cosy and intimate. Kate's arms were still around Rick's neck, her fingers in his hair as they tumbled onto the bed together. Kate felt back against the softness of her mattress, the weight on Castle's body on her's a pleasant sensation. She pulled his face closer to her's and kissed him again, her tongue slipping into his mouth and finding the taste of whiskey that lingered there. His kisses were addictive and she craved more of them every time their lips parted company from each other's for just a second.

Rick supported himself with a hand either side of Kate's head, not wanting to crush her beneath him. He had wanted this moment right here, right now for longer than he could remember and it was hard to believe this was actually happening. He almost expected his alarm to sound at any moment and that he'd wake up in his own bed very much alone.

His lips kissed every inch of Kate's face; the face that had haunted his dreams and fantasies for so long. He felt Kate begin to undo his shirt buttons and knew then, for certain, that she wasn't going to back out of this and leave him desperate for her like she had done so many times before.

When his shirt was discarded, Rick pulled Kate's sweater off over her head and the look on her face when she reappeared from underneath the garment was almost Rick's undoing. She managed to look sinfully naughty and as innocent as an angel at the same time. He cupped and stroked her warm flesh with the same look of wide-eyed wonder as if he had never touched a woman before. It almost felt that way too because already it was different with Kate than it had been with any other woman whom he'd shared a bed with.

He unclasped Kate's bra and lowered his head to taste her soft flesh, gratified when Kate leaned her head further back against the pillow and let out a low moan of pleasure. They continued to undress each other until they were both naked, bare warm skin pressed against bare warm skin.

Rick wanted to take time over their love making, taking Kate to the edge one stroke of pleasure at a time. But this wasn't the right moment for that, he hoped there were plenty more occasions for them to leisurely explore each other in the bedroom.

Kate leaned over, her breasts brushing against Rick's bare chest as she reached into the top drawer of her nightstand to retrieve a foil packaged condom. She slipped it over Rick's erection and lay back down beside him, pulling him down on top of her. A giggle, a cry and then a moan filled the air as Rick slid inside Kate, inch by slow inch. His hands gripped her hips as he began to thrust into her, and Kate's wrapped her legs around his waist to pull him closer.

It had been a long while since the last time Kate had made love, but it wasn't just abstinence that made the union so special. When she had been dating Josh, sex had just become another part of their relationship but it wasn't fun or interesting anymore. With Rick it felt momentous, life changing and she realised as the first waves of climax claimed her that she really did love him.

They lay quietly for a while, their heavy breathing slowing and quietening as time passed. Rick held Kate protectively in the crook of his arm, almost as if he refused to let her go, and the sheet was draped loosely over their bodies.

"We should probably talk about that too." He finally quipped; running his fingers through Kate's slightly mussed curls.

"I was wondering why we didn't do that sooner," Kate admitted.

"I tried to seduce quite a few times, in fact I was beginning to think you were the one woman who was immune to my charms."

Kate hit him playfully in the stomach. "I tried to fight off my feelings for you for so long." She said, becoming more serious.

"Will you give us a chance?" He asked his blue eyes boring into her's.

Kate was torn in two. There was a part of her that wanted to stay like this, entangled in Rick's embrace forever while the rest of her went into panic mode. What if he was distracted by someone prettier than her; more fun than her? What if now they had finally succumbed to their physical desires he would lose interest in her? Then she remembered all the advice she had received that day, whether directly from Lanie or during the investigation. Life could end at any time. None of us knew when our last day on Earth would be. Johanna Beckett's murder had certainly proved that. Should she jump head first into a relationship with this man who in so many ways was her opposite but who understood her on her most basic level? They clearly connected on a physical level; the last hour had been proof enough of that.

"Please, Kate." Rick continued when it became clear that she either wasn't going to say anything or that she wasn't ready to speak.

It would be so easy to say yes, to give into him. She was just so scared of the consequences.

"I don't want to lose what we have." She echoed the words she had said to Lanie when her best friend had called her out on her feelings.

"What do we have? These last few days have been horrible. We didn't work together on the case in sync like we used to, and I know that you hated that I'd returned to my old ways with Jacinta."

Kate nodded, he was right. If things carried on the way that had been since he had found out she lied about remembering the shooting and his confession of love, then there might not be anything left to salvage.

"I love you, Kate." It was the first time he had said those words to her since Montgomery's funeral. "I won't mess this up, you can trust me."

She thought of the time he had delved into her mother's case without asking, how he had held her back when Roy had been fatally shot. He had done things she had expressly asked him not to, but she still trusted him anyway.

"I know." She said softly, but Rick wasn't sure which statement she was referring to. Under the covers she reached for his hands, linking her fingers through his larger ones. "Can we take it slowly?"

"I've waited so long for you to be ready for this; I think I can wait a little bit longer." He lifted their joined hands and brought them to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand.

Kate looked at him; saw the light in his eyes that seemed to shine with love. She wanted to tell him that she loved him, too, but the words wouldn't come yet. If Rick could wait for her; wait with her then she knew eventually she would be able to say them.

If that's what it takes
To make this thing right
Let's take our time
If it takes all night