170. Chapter 170

After A Rose For Ever After, Again

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: if I did own Castle, I'd know that everafter is two words. See? Rating: M Time: See above and below.

Author's note: You may notice that this takes place mostly during the episode.

They stood behind the wedding cake, facing each other. He gently stroked her hair and then her cheek. She moved a step forward and rested her head on his chest. Then, he put both arms around her, stroking her back. Gradually, he moved his hands forward until he was touching the sides of her boobs. She smiled and stood on tiptoe to kiss him. His mouth opened when he felt her tongue press against her lips. Slowly, he pushed the top of her wedding dress down to expose her large, firm boobs. Her nipples were already taut with desire. He rolled them between his thumb and forefinger, first one, then the other. His other hand was squeezing her tight ass.

"Rick." She whispered, "I've wanted this for so long." She reached behind her and undid the zipper on her dress. It fell to the floor. She was now wearing only a pair of white bikini panties. As he pushed them down her legs, she worked on his belt buckle and the zipper on his pants. They, too, dropped to the floor. She pushed his boxers down until his erection was free. She grasped it and moaned.

She pushed him back against a table, so that he was closer to her level. She spread her legs and prepared to mount him.

"Kyra." He breathed, "Are you sure this is what you want?"

"More than anything else." She pushed herself down on him, impaling herself. Up and down she moved in perfect synchronization with his upward thrusts. They climaxed together and she slid down to rest her head on his broad chest.

"We're perfect together." They said in unison, then laughed.

"Beckett! Hey, Earth to Beckett!" Espo said.

Kate Beckett shook her head. What the hell am I doing? Letting my imagination run wild like that. Nothing happened in the ballroom. "Sorry, Espo." She said. "Just trying to get things straight in my head. What've you got?"

"The list of hotel employees from hotel security. They ran backgrounds on all of their people and Ryan and I looked over it. Didn't see anyone that rang a bell. We thought you might see something we missed."

Kate took the list. "Thanks. I'll look it over." Espo walked back to his partner. Kate looked at the list. Nothing stood out.

Castle did do something in the ballroom. When Kyra left he looked like a little boy whose dog had died. I didn't expect that. Rick Castle? Millionaire playboy, womanizer and Page Six denizen? Not the sort of person who'd give a second thought to some woman who'd gotten away years ago.

Why the hell does Castle act like that? One minute he's bragging about sex with his ex-wife and how many lonely single moms he met taking Alexis to the park and the next he's telling me he can't rest unless we know why Jeremy Prestwick committed murder. And finding out that he didn't. It's like there are two Castles and both bother and confuse the hell out of me.

A day later Kate Beckett was sitting at her desk, wondering if Castle would be honest with her. He had gone to see Kyra after being told not to. Of course he'd gone to see her. How could Rick Castle possibly do the intelligent thing and stay out of a case when he was so obviously emotionally compromised?

Then Castle confessed to seeing Kyra. Kate felt a sigh of relief. She wasn't sure why she was relieved, but she was.

But Kate had a confession, too. "She's real. I didn't think you went for real." I assumed every woman in your love life was like Meredith. An empty headed sex toy. Someone that you could have fun with, someone who wouldn't bring anything difficult into your life. But Kyra's not like that at all. She's more like me. Kate inhaled quickly, hoping Castle didn't notice. More like me? What am I thinking of? The only thing we have in common is that we are both KB. And we have Rick in common. NO! Not Rick. It's Castle.

Castle chuckled. "Real, huh? I guess you're thinking about Meredith, right? She's the only one of my ex-wives you've really met and I agree with you. Meredith is unreal. Shallow and self-centered. Isn't there someone else you know that you described like that?" He teased her.

Kate just nodded. Not sure she could trust herself to speak.

"Did you ever meet Gina? My second wife?"

"Yes. I met her very briefly at the book launch party when we first met. She's the blonde, right?"

Castle nodded. "She'd probably be real enough for you. Too real for me, though. I think."

"And Kyra?" Kate asked. Again, I'm seeing some of Richard Castle that doesn't show up on page Six. But I still don't know what all this means. The more I know about Castle, the less I know him, it seems.

He just shrugged. "Like I said, that was a long time ago."

Kate laughed as she caught the bridal bouquet. She didn't believe in the old superstition that she would be the next to get married, but it was fun.

"Congratulations, Detective Beckett. Can I buy you a drink?"

She frowned slightly. "At an open bar? "

He smiled at her. "If it makes a difference to you, I could take you to the bar in the hotel and pay for a drink."

"That's fine, Castle. I'd like a vodka martini, if I could?"

"Shaken and not stirred?" He asked teasingly.

"Any way they'll serve it, thank you."

As Castle went to the bar to get the drinks, Kate thought back to her argument with Lanie. Okay. I am a little jealous of Kyra. She apparently got the Castle that wanted real. I'm stuck with the one who wants lots of phony glamour and glitter. Except when he with me sometimes. Or with Alexis. He's real then. As real as I could ever want. But then in a second he's…"

"Here's your vodka martini, Beckett." He interrupted her. As she took her glass, he raised his glass. "To Kate Beckett. She'll be a remarkable wife someday."

She nodded and drank. Maybe.

Author's note: So, after a twelve hour drive, the relatives were not in a mood to party hearty, so here's another story from me. But, there may not be one tomorrow.