Merry Christmas Castle fandom!

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God, he hated it when she went undercover. Scratch that, he hated it when Gates wouldn't allow him to go undercover with her.

Gates had forcefully told him that she wanted an Officer in the skanky, dive bar for back-up for Beckett, - not someone who fantasized about being a cop and carried around a toy badge. Her words had stung, (although he expected to hear them) and even though he hated to admit it, she was 100% right as Kate's safety was at stake.

Esposito as well as an Officer Walken from Narcotics were going in as her back-up… Oliver Julian was just too dangerous of a man for Beckett to deal with alone. The drug King had ordered the death of three teenagers who had botched up a $100,000 dollar drug deal when they'd dropped the stash in an empty stream bed while fleeing the police.

Unfortunately for the teens, that exact same day, NY experienced its first horrific storm of the season which caused a flash flood to wash away all the bricks of cocaine. Now, a 19-year-old was dead, (shot execution style in broad daylight) and his 2 young cousins were in serious danger. Gates had the other teens in protective custody and had set up this sting operation, working in unison with Narcotics, to take down the infamous Julian.

Castle was sitting in a non-descript police van with Ryan who was monitoring Kate's actions on video.

"How's it goin,' Beckett?" He said into the microphone and she turned to a nearby customer at the bar and asked him if he needed more ice in his drink.

Castle sat back in relief as 'ice' was their keyword that everything was okay. Rick didn't like the way the old geezer at the bar was leering at her. His brown eyes seemed to be following her every move and every time Kate came within a foot of him, he was checking out her cleavage. Damn the owner of the bar for not allowing his waitresses to wear a brassiere...Specific outfits were required to tend bar and Kate was in a tight spandex, navy blue camisole with wide straps that had the logo of the bar emblazoned right across her chest. It was obviously cold inside as her nipples were erect and on full display.

Normally, this wouldn't bother him as Kate was simply doing her job. Beckett was always a strict professional, but with her looking so fuckin' hot with her 'porn hair' and smoky make-up, gallivanting around in a leather miniskirt that barely covered her ass and the calf hugging, high-heeled boots topping off the sexy ensemble, he was on the cutting edge, knowing that most likely, every man in the bar was imagining having their dirty way with her… Just like him.

He didn't like this situation one little bit as he'd already seen one patron grab her ass and make a suggestive comment. – Something along the lines of wanting to take her home and open her as his Christmas gift. Seriously?

She'd immediately spun on the preppy college student and gave him a ferocious, 'Touch-me-one-more-time-and-you're-dead-look,' while Esposito, acting as a bartender, forcefully told him to keep his hands to himself or he'd happily escort him out of the bar.

Rick began to nervously twist his hands while keeping an eye on the monitor. It certainly didn't help his mood any to be fighting an erection while worrying about his partner.

"Julian at 9 o'clock," Espo's suave voice filtered through the speaker.

Oliver Julian was an imposing figure standing just over 6 ft tall. He was trim with dark, shoulder length hair sprinkled with gray. He had a commanding presence about him with hard, cold, assessing eyes that unnerved Castle. His eyes told a story of hardship and unmentionable evil in his past. He felt a chill run down his spine. This man feels like he's above the law.

"Welcome, Mr. Julian," the bar owner shook his hand enthusiastically. "We have your usual table ready for you."

Julian nodded curtly to the old man and walked confidently to the circular table. Two bulky, muscular men followed closely behind.

"Looks like he brought two goons with him tonight," Ryan observed.

"Didn't Gates say he only traveled with one bodyguard?"

"Yeah. That's not good as it could mean he suspects he's under surveilance."

Kate walked over to the table to take their drink orders. "What would you like, gentlemen?"

One of the henchman whistled at her. "You're new here aren't you, doll-face?"

"Yes, I'm Karen. Would you like your usual, Mr. Julian?"

Oliver's eyebrows lifted a tad and he looked her over curiously. "I see you've been informed of who I am and – " his eyes darkened with lust as he took in her endless legs and narrow waist and perky breasts, "what I like."

Castle groaned internally. It was going to be hell watching her flirt with this scumbag.

"Of course, Mr. Kellard told me all about his favorite customer and how you deserve the royal treatment." She looked at him shyly, "I've been told to keep you very happy."

Julian's devilish grin didn't have Rick feeling any better about the situation.

"We'll start with a bottle of Smirnoff Vodka."

"I'll be right back," and Kate smiled at him before flouncing away, putting an extra swing in her hips.

Castle watched warily as all 3 men stared openly at her ass.

"Beckett has some genuine acting talent," Ryan observed.

"That she does," Castle ground out. "That she does." Along with many other erotic ones that this S.O.B. isn't going to find out about.

"Mr. Kellard," Julian beckoned the bar owner over to his table. "I want Karen to be at my beck and call all night long. She's to be my sole waitress for tonight."

"Yes, sir. It's done."

"Good news, Beckett. He's requested you exclusively," Ryan hummed into the mic.

Yeah, fuckin' fantastic news, Rick thought sarcastically.

Espo handed the bottle plus three shot glasses to Beckett and silently communicated with her, "Way to go… I've got your back."

"Karen, you're at Mr. Julian's table the rest of your shift."

She nodded to the owner and hastily took the glasses and vodka over to the table. As she was filling their glasses, Julian purred, "I've found that a beautiful woman is a good luck charm for me, - before, during and after a business negotiation."

One of the bodyguards piped up, "And this one, Boss, is beyond beautiful; - she's irresistible." His beefy hand reached out and grabbed Kate just above the knee. She forced herself to be compliant as he pulled her closer to him.

"Marco!" Julian snapped his fingers and the bodyguard drew his hand away from Kate's leg as if he'd been burned.

"Sorry, Boss."

"Karen, you're obviously new here. Tell me a little bit about yourself."

"I've lived in New York my entire life. I grew up on the Upper East side. I attempted Fashion/Design School a few years back, but fell on hard times and had to quit. Since then I've been working in bars to make ends meet."

"Why, with your beauty, are you working in a dive bar like this?"

"I'm happy here with Mr. Kellard. He treats me good."

"But I'd treat you infinitely better." His meaning was perfectly clear by the raunchy tone in his voice. "Have you ever thought about stripping? I have a posh club in Manhattan where I'd bet you'd quadruple your income."

Oh, I just bet you do, Rick thought with distaste. But just thinking about Kate in a strip club brought an unbidden picture of her swinging erotically around a pole in just that tantalizingly leather skirt and then, Oh Gawd, she'd - ... Now he was practically bursting at the seams and still in a foul, jealous mood.

Fifteen minutes later after listening non-stop to the debonair Mr. Julian (who was definitely a player) flirt outrageously with Kate and try to convince her that she belonged in his night club where he'd make her the 'star' of the show, Castle couldn't hold in his frustration any longer.

As he watched Julian's hand rove up her inner thigh, he exploded, "Dammit Ryan, I'm ready to march in there myself and arrest his ass." He ran a hand distractedly through his hair. "What the hell's taking so long? Where is his contact?"

Ryan looked at him sympathetically. "Look Castle. I know it's hard seeing another man hit on her, but she's just doing her job. You know Beckett can handle herself."

"I know. I just wish that bastard would keep his hands to himself."

"I can only imagine what you're going through… If it was Jenny in there, I'd be itching to get my hands on the dirtbag, but you've got to keep it together… For Beckett's sake."

Rick nodded in understanding.

Ryan's eyes lit up as a tattooed patron entered the bar. "It's not going to be much longer as it looks like Julian's contact just arrived."

A man in his late twenties with a goatee and several tattoos approached Julian's table. Kate, who had felt pressured into sitting next to Oliver, hurriedly stood up to let the man take her seat.

"No sweetheart," Julian drawled, "You're staying with me." He grabbed her upper arm and pulled her down on his lap. "Remember Karen, you're my good-luck charm."

Castle clenched his hands together so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh. I seriously need this case to be over.

Kate scooted to the edge of Julian's knees, trying to put as much distance between them as possible. He kept a firm, controlling arm around her waist and then pulled her roughly back against his chest and whispered something in her ear that obviously offended her. Then his hands skimmed upward over the tight spandex top and resided just beneath her breasts. His fingers curled suggestively beneath the mounds.

"I need some air," Castle said, sounding strangled, before he ripped open the van door and rushed into the cold night.

"Javier," Ryan spoke urgently into the mic. "Castle's coming in," but Esposito only barely registered the words as he was strolling around the bar with a firearm at his side.

The drugs were out on the table and cash had just exchanged hands.

When Kate saw Javier approaching her, she elbowed Julian hard in the rubs and was off his lap in an instant. Esposito tossed her the gun in his hand and in the next second withdrew his own service piece from behind his back. Officer Walken, who had been cleaning tables, quickly joined them.

"Don't even try it." Walken's tenor voice reverberated throughout the bar as he pointed his weapon at Marco, who was trying to sneak his Smith and Wesson from beneath his pant leg.

"You're under arrest, Mr. Julian, for drug possession with the intent to distribute. You're also suspected of ordering the hit on Troy Mason and – " Beckett stopped speaking as Julian's throaty laughter sent a shiver of aversion down her spine.

"You're a cop?" and he looked at her in disbelief. "Tsk…Tsk… Such a waste of your phenomenal beauty and I'm sure, your phenomenal talent." His gaze fell longily to her breasts. "No wonder I find you so tempting… I've never had a cop before."

Kate firmly told him to stand up and put his hands behind his back. "You have the right to remain silent," and she deftly cuffed one of his wrists as she continued reading him his Miranda Rights. "Anything you say, can or will be used against you in a court of law…" Oliver suddenly whirled on her and his disgusting mouth was on hers as his fingernails dug into the back of her neck.

In a flash, Kate thrust her right knee into Julian's groin. He doubled over in pain and she immediately twisted his arm behind his back and then shoved her heel into the back of his knee. He landed unceremoniously on the floor with a thud; his face smashed into the carpet fibers. She happily cuffed his wrists together.

"Esposito, add assault of a Detective to his list of offenses."

"Gladly."

"I just couldn't resist," Julian said smugly. "I had to know what a cop tastes like."

"Walken, get him out of my sight!" she yelled and that's when Kate noticed Castle.

Shit! He's going to cause a scene.

Castle was standing rigidly near the bar with a murderous expression on his face, fire spewing from his eyes. His hands were balled into fists so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. He was obviously having difficulty restraining himself from attacking Julian and pummeling him to a bloody pulp.

Thank God Esposito said something humorous to him as he was hauling Marco's butt out of the bar. Castle's grim face softened a bit and a quirky smile flashed across his lips.

When Rick's gaze caught and held hers, her heart literally skipped a beat. His eyes were unnervingly intense, - portraying a conflicting array of emotions from anger and jealousy, to compassion and tenderness.

Ryan was in the bar at this point and was escorting Julian's scruffy dealer out the door. Kate said adamantly, "I need five minutes."

"You got it."

Kate's breath hitched as she approached Rick. Oh Gawd, she knew that look. His deep blue eyes seared into hers and left an indelible mark. It was dominating, possessive. She was his and only his. Liquid heat spiraled to her core.

"Rick," she breathed and was surprised by the breathiness in her tone. "I'm okay," and her pinky finger reached out and intertwined with his.

"But what if I'm NOT okay?"

She glanced around the bar before saying, "Let's find another place to talk." She turned on her heel and headed towards the storage room.

He groaned watching her taut ass swing before him in the skimpy leather material. As he followed her into the back room, he struggled to keep his feelings in check…Dark, wanton, predatory emotions ran through his veins like volcanic lava, making his blood boil.

When she closed the door behind them Rick immediately said, "Please understand, Beckett… Seeing you dressed like this," his hand swirled through the air, encompassing her from head to toe, "knowing that every guy in the bar is watching you, wishing you were his, - " He couldn't stop his gaze from lowering to her pert nipples. "Wishing they could take you home with them and touch you…" He took in a deep, strangled breath. "I knew it would affect me... I just didn't realize how badly."

Her eyes shimmered as she looked at him coyly. "Don't you know by now that there's absolutely no need for you to be jealous?" She sidled closer to him and her fingers reached out to adjust his collar. "I do find it extremely flattering though and down-right cute when your green-eyed monster surfaces."

He felt the familiar tightening of his groin as her fingertips brushed across his collarbone.

"Cute, Beckett?" He huffed, affronted by her light tone. "It tore me up inside seeing that preppy-pimply-faced-college-kid grab your ass like he owned it, and then that brute-of-a-body-guard clutching your knee and hauling you towards him as if he wanted to eat you for his next meal."

"Hmm… Is that how you saw it?"

"Emphatically, yes... Do you have any idea of the effect you have on men?"

"There's only one man who I care about having an affect on," she purred, but her words floated past him as he started pacing inside the small confines of the room, continuing his tirade.

"And then that bastard, Julian, touched you Kate – The low life had his dirty hands all over you. - He trapped you on his lap. His slimy fingers ran up your inner thigh. He copped a feel beneath your breasts and bloody hell," he ran his fingers through his hair, "It drove me completely crazy!" His face curled in anger and his voice dropped dangerously. "And then to top it off, he had the balls to kiss you... I wanted to go all Neanderthal on his ass and -"

"Neanderthal, huh?" She boldly interrupted him and her lips curved into a flirty, down-right sexy smile that she reserved just for him during foreplay. "I think I'd enjoy seeing bad-boy, Neanderthal Castle come out and play." Her sultry tone-of-voice stopped him dead in his tracks.

He gaped at her with wide, expressive blue eyes that darkened with lust as she prowled towards him, like a mountain lion stalking its prey.

"There's only one man I want feeling me up, - grabbing my ass like he owns it or groping me like I'm the last woman on earth." She bit down on her lower lip flirtatiously and curled her arms around his neck; her fingernails played with the baby-fine hairs sending tingles down his spine. "There's only one man whose lips I want on mine, whose lips I want devouring my body." She pushed her small breasts into his chest. "And that man is you, Richard Castle… Don't you know that by now?" Her eyes flamed passionately as she purred, "If we had the time, I'd prove it to you properly. – This will just have to suffice until tonight."

He lost all coherent thought as her lips crushed his.

It was electric, - the way her lips plundered his mouth, - grinding onto his own; her tongue forced its way into his pliant mouth, scraping along the roof, behind the front of his teeth and then intertwining and tangling with his own. She teased and tantalized him until he decided to roughly take control of the kiss.

He grabbed her upper arms and literally picked her up off the floor with their lips still locked together and launched her into the door.

Kate let out a quiet, "Oomph," as her back slammed into the wood, bringing back sinfully wonderful memories of their first night together when she'd appeared on his doorstep dripping wet and she'd begged his forgiveness, telling him, "I just want you."

She keened into him as his large, firm body pressed erotically against hers and held her immobile. His arousal was achingly evident pressed against the juncture of her thighs, and as he rocked into her, moisture pooled between her legs.

He pulled her bottom lip with his teeth, and bit down firmly, causing her to moan. Then he caressed the bruised spot with his tongue, swirling it over and over her bottom lip repeatedly.

His large hands gripped her hips, pulling her flush against him. His thumbs pressed deeply into her hip bones, along the leather fabric, circling and massaging the sensitized area.

"Say it again," he whispered huskily in her ear as he lavished kisses along her slender neck.

"There's only you, Cas – tle," and the way she dreamily said his name had all his blood shooting south and his heart racing frantically and – Oh Gawd, if she twisted her hips just so, he just might explode. "You're the only man I want touching me, – ever again."

He moaned before one hand cupped a round butt cheek and the other snuck its way beneath the spandex top searching for her bare breast.

Nooo. Someone's coming down the hall.

Rick somehow found the strength to let go of her enticing body. He grudgingly drew away from her and began to straighten his shirt. Kate readjusted her outfit and then with a sexy smile, leaned into him to wipe the lipstick smudges off his face. "We'll finish this later," she promised and then sighed as he pulled her finger into his mouth, tugging on it and licking it sensuously.

A loud knock resounded on the door and Ryan's voice filtered through it. "Beckett. Castle. It's time to go."

Kate opened the door with flushed cheeks and slightly disheveled hair, looking every bit like she'd just been having a forbidden tryst in the back of a seedy bar.

Ryan's smug smile beamed across his entire face. "Sooo," he drawled, "I'm assuming everything's okay again between Mom and Dad?"

Rick chuckled as he walked out into the hallway. "Yes," he said enthusiastically and fist bumped Ryan.

Beckett winked boldly at Castle before responding with a resounding, "No, it's not alright… But it will be by tonight."