"Beckett," Castle said as he opened the door. He almost made a wisecrack until he took in her appearance. She wore flats, making the height difference apparent. She didn't look as well put together as she normally did. The tip of her nose was red and her eyes were rimmed with pink and puffy.

She'd been crying.

"Come in," he stepped aside and let her walk in. He immediately pulled her into a hug without a word. "What's going on?" He asked softly.

"I'm sorry I came. I don't even know why I'm here," she laughed nervously, fresh tears beginning to spill.

"Kate, what is it?" He asked softly, his hand rubbing the length of her arm to comfort her.

"Can I ask you an honest question? Partner to partner? No lies?"

He held his hands up in mock surrender. "Always."

It took a few minutes for Kate to speak. When she did her voice was so shaky it broke his heart. "Am I really that unlovable?" She asked, her voice barely audible. He rushed to her but she put her hands up, stopping him. "I don't…" her voice got so choked up she needed a moment before she continued, "I don't need to hear that it isn't true or that I have other redeeming qualities. It's just—"

"It's okay," he said softly. He knew it wasn't easy to get Kate to open up about things and that he'd have to go as slow as it took.

"It's just that I'm an only child—"

"O…ok?" His voice was more question than statement as he was confused where she was going with this.

"I can't stand the thought that my dad might think he failed as a dad just because I'm—"

Castle took a step closer. When she didn't back up he took another step closer.

"What are you doing?" She asked, hating how breathless she sounded.

"I'm coming to your side and I'm going to kiss you until you stop talking," he said flatly. Before she had a chance to respond or process, his lips were on hers. He felt her tense in his arms but she quickly relaxed. She made a soft hum before giving in, letting her tongue brush over his. He forced himself to let her make the moves. He needed this to be on her terms.

She finally pulled back, taking a few deep breaths. She stared at him, wide eyed. He was concerned with her reaction, but mostly he was happy her tears had dried.

"Demming told you that you were unlovable?" Castle's voice was hoarse and dark. Hearing him speak so sternly gave her chills.

"It doesn't matter," she muttered.

"Beckett I want his address and I want it now." His voice was dark. Dangerous. Kate didn't know if she was worried for him or aroused by him. Probably a mixture of the two.

"No. I won't give it to you. Nothing good will come from it," she warned.

"If you don't give it to me Ryan will. And if Ryan won't, Esposito will. And if he won't the captain will."

"They aren't going to give you an officers address!" She laughed incredulously.

"If I tell them what he said to you all three of them will side with me."

"Castle, why can't we just drop this?"

"Because you are the furthest thing from unlovable that I've ever known. Do you know how long I've spent trying not to love you? It's impossible, Kate. You're impossible not to love."

"Castle," she breathed.

"Why can't you see it?" He asked honestly. "Kate, you're smart. And you have heart. And courage. And integrity. This city is safer because you're here. I'm safer because you're here. You're a hero and you deserve a man who will make you feel that way."

She opened her mouth to speak but quickly shut it.

"His address," Castle repeated, his voice brooding.

Kate stepped closer to him, dangerously close. "Stay here," she whispered as she stroked his cheek. She left a few kisses along his jawline. "Stay here with me. Please."

Castle grabbed the nape of her neck and pulled her into a heated kiss. The minute she deepened the kiss his hands were all over her. He quickly ripped her shirt to shreds. "I'll buy you a new one," he grunted. When her bra didn't immediately come off he ripped that, too.

"Castle!" She half laugh, half cried.

"I'll buy you a new one of those, too. A whole new wardrobe…" he grabbed her and lifted her so her legs wrapped around his waist. He nipped at her neck and collarbone. She dipped her head back, craning it to give him better access as a moan slipped through her lips.

That moan was his undoing.

He carried Kate to the bedroom, plopping her down on the bed. He watched her hazel eyes darken with desire as she licked her lips. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "What about Demming?" He asked.

"Castle, forget him. Just stay with me," she begged.

"No, what about him? Are you going back to him?"

She sat up on the bed, thinking. "I don't know," she admitted. "At the moment I don't even want to think about him…"

"Someone has to!" Castle shouted, louder than he anticipated. "I don't want—" he stopped, shaking his head.

"Tell me," she asked, getting off the bed to join his side.

"I can't just be a fling, Beckett. If we do this—" he pointed his finger between the two of them, "I can't undo it. I can't go back to how things were before. I've tried to go back to before I fell in love with you and I can't even do that. It would kill me to see you go back to him after a night with me."

"So you've flirted with me relentlessly, hit on me constantly and now that I'm in your bed you're saying you can't handle just sex?"

"I can. But not with you. I want it all. And if that's too—"

"It's sweet," she breathed, swaying closer to him. "And sexy..."

"I don't want you with him," he growled, his voice low. "Whether you're with me or not, just don't be with him…"

"Castle you can't tell me what to do," she said softly.

"So you're going back to him?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "When I woke up this morning I thought everything in my life made sense. And then we got into this stupid fight and we both said things we didn't mean and the next thing I knew I was on your doorstep. I don't know what to do or what to think. I just know…"

"Know what?"

"I just know I want to be with you tonight," she whispered, barely audible.

Castle took a deep breath. He knew she wasn't thinking clearly and couldn't decide what to do just yet. But she'd said it herself, she wanted to be with him.

He watched her, studied her. The way she bit her lower lip. The way her brow furrowed when she thought. Demming didn't deserve her. He didn't deserve her at her worst and he sure as hell didn't deserve her at her best. The more he thought of Demming, the angrier he got. Suddenly, he liked the idea of Kate cheating on him. Even if Kate went back to him, the damage would be done. Tom would have to know, or at least suspect that Rick and Kate had slept together. Rick hoped that Tom already thought they had.

In one swoop Rick had Kate in his arms, slamming her back against the wall as he kissed her wildly. Her slender fingers slid under his shirt and ran along his chest. Not wasting any time, he peeled his shirt off and removed the slivers of clothes he'd shredded. His thumbs found the hem of her leggings and slowly pulled them down.

They locked eyes, silently pleading with the other for confirmation that they both wanted it. She bit her lower lip and gave a soft nod. Castle's mouth curved into a smile and he offered his own soft nod.

Castle laid her back on the bed, hovering over her. "I've wanted you for so long," he whispered. He lowered himself, kissing her softly. His hands ran along her arms. He smiled when he noticed the trail of goosebumps he'd left in his wake. "You're so beautiful," he whispered. He bowed his head, kissing the tops of her breasts before taking each nipple in his mouth, sucking and nipping. His mouth moved lower, kissing her stomach. A moan escaped Kate's lips.

Kate had never felt like this in her life. She'd had men fawn over her based on her looks, sure. But no one had ever taken so much time to caress her body. She'd never felt so loved or so beautiful in her life. She'd always skirted past Castle's flirting because of his reputation. She didn't want to be another conquest for him. She didn't want to lose her friendship over a night of pleasure. But being here with him, feeling his touch and his affection, she couldn't think of one reason not to give in. After all, it was just one night.

Castle stopped rubbing Kate's leg so quickly that she sat up as if something was wrong. "Why'd you stop?" She whispered breathlessly.

"I want to make sure you're okay with this," he said sheepishly. "I was going to… you know…"

Kate chuckled softly. "It's okay, Castle." She inched closer to him, kissing his jawline before planting her lips on his. "I want this as much as you do," she assured him. When he smiled and squeezed her thigh. He lowered his head and let his lips brush against her intimacy once before carefully spreading her folds, giving him easier access. He gave Kate one more questioning look. When she nodded again with a smile he held her hips as his mouth invaded her. He licked and sucked at her clit, sending a series of moans echoing through his apartment. Her hands buried themselves in her hair as her hips bucked wildly, desperate for more. He continued on, even after he felt an orgasm ripping through her.

While she struggled to regain her breathing he let his fingers lazily explore her, brush against her folds and her slit.

Finally Kate sat up, slowly fiddling with his pants, eager for him. He grabbed her wrists, stopping her. "I want you in my mouth," she whispered, glancing up at him.

"Tonight is about you," he said, his blue eyes darkening to a navy hue.

"And I want this," her voice was slightly raised, just as her eyebrow was. "You've made me feel so beautiful and loved—"

"You are loved," he said quickly. He didn't care how many times he needed to say it. He just needed it to sink in one time.

"Are you really going to deny me this?" Castle said nothing but released her wrists.

She freed him from his pants and he couldn't ignore the small gasp when she saw his size. She gave him a few pumps with her hand, her thumb brushing over his sensitive tip. She let her tongue circle over the tip, eliciting a moan from him. When she took his entire length in her mouth he grabbed her hair roughly, his head tossed back. "Kate," he groaned, his hips bucking. To finish him off, she dipped her head and took one ball in her mouth before doing the same to the other, her hand still pumping him. "Jesus Christ, Kate," he groaned. Growing close, he tried to pull back but she grabbed his ass and pulled him to her. Castle dropped a string of expletives as he spilled inside her.

As she wiped the corners of her mouth he stared at her, open mouthed. "Where in the fuck did you learn to do that?" He asked breathlessly.

"You like that? You should see what I can do with ice cubes," she winked with a wide smile.

"That's the first genuine smile I've seen from you all night," he said with a soft smile.

"Thanks for… answering the door. For being here for me."

"Kate?" His voice was low. She looked at him, waiting for him to continue. "You're lovable. And you're worth loving."

"You don't have to keep saying that," she whispered, knotting her hands together.

He placed his hands over hers in an attempt to comfort her. "I do," he whispered. "I'm terrified you'll believe what Demming said." Just uttering Demming's name reignited his rage. "I could kill him," he growled.

"Hey," she stroked his cheek gently. "I don't want to talk about Tom anymore. I want tonight to be about you and I." Castle let out the breath he didn't know he had been holding. He wrapped his arms around Kate's small waist. He buried his head in the crook of her neck, inhaling the cherry scent of her shampoo. She clung to him, one hand stroking the back of his head. "I'm okay," she promised.

"I don't like seeing you hurt." His voice was low and husky. It worried Kate that he'd want to fight Tom again. She wouldn't have minded seeing Tom get a smack but she knew it wouldn't help anything. And she didn't even want to see Tom. Maybe not ever again.

"Shhh, it's okay," she whispered. She took his hand and lead him back onto the bed. When she guided him to lay on the bed he followed her cues. "I just want tonight to be about us," she repeated. She straddled him, her hands roaming his chiseled chest. His hands were on her hips and she could feel his erection pressing into her. She gave him one slow kiss before adjusting him so he was at her entrance. She slid down him, taking all of him as they both released a moan. He held her hips, pushing and pulling her at a quickened pace. His hands moved to her chest. He kneaded and pawed at her breasts.

"You feel so good," she whispered, lowering herself so she could brush her lips against Castle's ear.

"I've wanted to be inside you since I first met you," he managed. The two stopped for a brief moment, sharing a smile. Suddenly, he didn't feel the need to go as fast or as rough as he had been going. With his hands still on her hips he pushed and pulled slowly, making her moan.

They continued at a slower pace, enjoying each other and exploring what the other liked. Their hands freely roamed the other's body and their eyes never left each other.

"Can I hold you?" He asked nervously when they'd finished. Kate's heart melted at his nervousness and the way he blushed when he asked.

"What if I wanted to hold you?" She teased.

"No, that's not how this works. Look at me! I'm too big and tall to be the little spoon. I've always been the big spoon."

She sat up, a smile forming. "You've never been the big spoon? Not one time?" He shook his head. She let out a small laugh. "Lay down," she ordered. And he obeyed. She laid down next to him, wrapping her arms around him. She rested her face along his back, closing her eyes to feel her head rise and fall with each breath. "This isn't so bad, is it?" No response. "Castle?" She started to sit up, worried but stopped when she heard the soft sounds of his snores. She kissed the side of his head. "Guess you like being the little spoon," she whispered although he wasn't awake to hear her.

She returned her head to his back and closed her eyes. Within minutes she was asleep, too.

The end.