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imzadi-caskett-huddy · 8 months ago

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It Started With a Kiss (8/?)

Thanks so much, everyone for your reviews on the last chapter! I’m so glad you all enjoyed my take on the Alex Conrad situation. And now for one of my favorite episodes of the show, To Love and Die in LA. Seriously, this episode is in my top 5…maybe even top 3 depending on my mood that day.

Date wise, the last chapter took place around April 11, and this one takes place around May 2. So that’s a 3 week time gap. Wonder what our favorite couple got up to after the way Kate kissed him in the last chapter, hmm?

Again, I want to remind you that this will be the last update on this story until after I return from vacation on June 15…and Hell Hath No Fury will be due for an update first. So enjoy this one, because it will most likely be several weeks before I get around to writing the next chapter. I promise I’ll get it up as soon as I can though!

Also…there is a section rated M in this chapter. It is clearly marked where you will want to stop reading, and then when it ends. It’s sex heavy, but not smut heavy. Still, read at your own peril, lol!

I still don’t own Castle…

xxxxx

Castle had barely seen Beckett since that night 3 weeks ago when she’d kissed him. The first week she’d been tied up prepping with an ADA for a trial, which worked out with him needing to finish a couple of chapters for the next Heat book, as well as some edits. And then Gina and Paula had worked together to ambush him with some promotional book signings and appearances in an effort to drum up more presales for his newest novel, not to mention the graphic novel for Storm that was being put together.

He’d seen her exactly twice…both times at the precinct when he’d brought her coffee. Neither time for very long, so they hadn’t been able to discuss their relationship or if the kiss she’d given him was a sign she was ready to move forward, but she had made time to spend several minutes with him in the break room since he had come all the way to the precinct just to bring her coffee. They would spend those ten minutes or so in the break room together, innocently flirting and occasionally standing just close enough to brush up against each other. And it always ended with the most brilliant smile from her, thanking him for the coffee. Castle knew he would go out of his way to bring her coffee every day for the rest of his life if she continued to smile at him the way she had those two days.

They had, of course, chatted via text and twice over the phone, but neither of them seemed to want to discuss the kiss or their relationship over the phone or text messages, and rightfully so. It was a big step for them; when it happened, it needed to be in person. She had known he was returning to the city that afternoon, so when his phone rang, he didn’t bother to look at the caller

ID, simply assuming it was her. No one else usually called him after 9 anymore.

“Did a body drop, or did you just miss me so much you couldn’t wait another day to see me?” he asked with a grin.

“Castle, I’m going to send you an address, and you need to get down here,” Lanie said simply.

“Lanie? What’s wrong?” he asked, the smile falling from his lips. Lanie never called him. Kate was the one who called him about a body drop.

“A body was found…”

He swallowed hard. “Kate? Did something happen to her?” he had to ask, interrupting before Lanie could finish her sentence. He felt his heart sink. Was Lanie calling to tell him something had happened to Kate?

Hearing the worry in his tone, Lanie realized what he must have thought. “The body we found is Mike Royce. Espo is just now calling her, so she’s not here yet, but you need to hurry. I doubt she’ll admit it, but she’s going to need you on this one.”

“I’m on my way,” he said, already out the door. He’d watched her go through hell several months ago when she’d realized Royce was part of their investigation and she’d had to arrest her former training officer. He could only imagine how his murder was going to hit her.

xxxxx

Castle’s eyes were on her the moment she got out of her unit. He could tell, just in the way she carried herself…the tension in her shoulders, the firm set of her jaw...she was torn up and doing everything she could to not appear that way.

“Where is he?” Beckett asked as she approached.

Montgomery stood beside Castle, shaking his head. “Turn around, go back home, and let me handle this.”

“Sir, I’ve seen dead bodies before,” she insisted.

The captain studied her for a moment but knew it was better for everyone if he just let her through. He nodded toward the back of the alley where Lanie was standing.

Castle was immediately at her side as she headed in that direction. “Come on, Kate…you don’t want to remember him like this,” he tried to get through to her.

“Castle, if it were me lying there, would you just walk away?” she turned to look at him.

Just the thought of that possibility sent a chill through his body and made him nauseous. He didn’t have to answer her question; the look he was giving her was answer enough–hell no, he wouldn’t just walk away. He would find whoever had hurt her, and then no one would ever find the body.

“I’m so sorry, honey,” Lanie offered her condolences.

Beckett clenched her jaw and blinked, but Castle could tell she was struggling to hold onto her composure. “Tell me what happened.”

“He was shot in the leg. Judging from the blood trail, I’d say the bullet broke the bone. He tried to hide, but…” she trailed off with a shake of her head. “I found this in his pocket,” she handed Beckett an airplane ticket stub. “He flew in from LA this afternoon.”

Castle took a step closer to Beckett then. “What was he doing in LA?” he asked curiously.

“I heard he moved there after he lost his bounty hunter’s license. I guess he was trying to make a fresh start,” Beckett answered, looking over the ticket stub.

“When was the last time you spoke with him?” he asked her softly.

She swallowed hard, staring at the ticket stub before folding it back. “When I arrested him.” She took a deep breath. “Lanie, could I?”

“Sure,” Lanie answered, stepping out of the way and exchanging a look with Castle as Beckett approached Royce’s body.

Castle watched intently as she crouched down near the body and took a few minutes. He watched as her shoulders tensed a little more. He watched as she touched Royce’s hair and either sniffled or inhaled deeply…he couldn’t tell. He was ready to move to her side the minute she stood and headed back in his direction.

“Royce had something else in his pocket. It’s addressed to you,” Lanie handed her a note.

“Is it about the case?” Castle asked her as she opened it.

After reading for a few moments, Beckett folded the note and put it in her pocket. “No.”

Esposito approached them, carrying a gun. “I think we got the murder weapon. Found it in the garbage around the corner.”

“Gun was definitely fired recently,” Ryan added as he joined them. “Shooter took the time to empty the ammo before he dumped it.”

“Worried we’d find fingerprints on the bullets?” Castle raised the question.

Beckett took the gun and examined it. “This is a cheap street gun. It’s a throw away.” She studied the gun a little more. “There’s threading on the barrel.”

“Silencer?” Castle suggested.

Esposito nodded. “Yeah.”

“Allowing our killer to shoot Royce in broad daylight,” Beckett stated, handing the gun back to Esposito to bag as evidence.

“Listen, Beckett…we’re gonna get this guy,” Ryan assured her. “We got uniforms heading to every store and apartment within a 5-block radius.”

“This is New York. Somebody had to have seen something,” Esposito added.

Castle turned to her, placing his hand on her shoulder lightly after the boys walked away. “Kate…”

“Castle, I’m fine,” she insisted.

“You’re not fine,” he said softly. “Royce was your friend. It’s okay to take a few minutes to grieve,” he added. After a minute, he let his hand fall from her shoulder. “Why don’t you let me take you home? There’s nothing else you can do tonight. You can get some sleep and start fresh on the case in the morning,” he suggested.

Beckett was about to protest when Montgomery walked over to join them. “Alright, you’ve seen him. You paid your respects. Now go home, Beckett.”

“Sir,” she started to protest.

“There’s nothing else you can do here tonight. Dr. Parish won’t have anything for you until she does an exam. Uniforms are canvassing everywhere. Ryan and Esposito will handle anything else. They’ll call you if anything pops. Go home, Beckett. That’s an order.”

She looked between her captain and her partner and finally relented, wordlessly stepping away from them to go back to her unit. Castle was quick to follow her.

“Castle, you go home too,” she told him, stopping him as he went to get into her car. “You just got back from a book tour. I know you’re tired.”

“I’m okay. I can just sit with you. You shouldn’t be alone…you don’t have to be alone,” he offered.

“I’m fine. I’ll be fine,” she assured him.

“Kate…”

“Rick, please,” she said. She needed to be alone. She was going to fall apart when she got home, and the last thing she wanted was for him to see her break like that.

The way she said his name, coupled with the look in her eyes had him nodding. “Okay. I’ll go home. But if you need anything…you call me. Even if all you need is me to sit on the phone with you in silence, ok?”

“Do you even know how to be silent?” she teased lightly, trying to show him that she was okay.

“I do, actually, when it matters. And I’m serious. Call me,” he insisted.

She nodded. “Okay.”

xxxxx

“Beckett, I’m not sending you to LA. You have no solid evidence linking Neal McCauley to this murder,” Montgomery insisted.

“He came to New York for 6 hours. Who flies in for that short a stay?” Castle pointed out.

“Businessmen do it all the time,” Montgomery countered.

“Businessmen don’t use fake IDs,” Castle countered back.

“Or pack silencers,” Beckett added.

Montgomery shook his head. “That’s supposition. I need a lot more than that to justify flying a detective across the country.”

Beckett shook her head as well. “You and I both know the longer I wait to go out there, the colder this trail gets.”

“Take a day to shore this up. And then if there’s sufficient evidence, I’ll contact the LAPD.”

“You’ll contact the LAPD?” Beckett asked incredulously. “This is my case! This happened in our jurisdiction. You think the LAPD is gonna lift a finger?”

“Kate, you’re too close to this!” Montgomery insisted.

“No, Sir, I am committed. I am not compromised.”

“You’re torn up,” he interrupted her. “Kate, things between you and Royce ended badly. I get it. But that emotion is exactly why I need to assign this to someone else.”

Beckett paused then, taking a step back. “You know what? You’re right. I am too close to this. I have some vacation days coming up. I think now would be a good time,” she stated, turning to head out of the office.

“Kate,” he called, stopping her. “I hope you’re not thinking about doing something reckless.”

She turned to face him, meeting his eyes for a long moment. “No, Sir,” she stated, leaving the office.

Castle’s eyes met Montgomery’s and both men seemed to understand each other. Montgomery’s look told Castle to follow her…something he would have done anyway…because neither man believed she was stepping back and doing nothing.

“Where are you going?” Castle called after her.

“Home,” she insisted.

“The hell you are. I know you better than that,” he tried to stop her with a hand on her arm.

“Castle, please,” she pulled it away. “He was my training officer…my friend. I just…I really need to be alone right now,” she told him, making her way to the elevator.

Castle watched helplessly as the doors closed. Why did it always feel like they’d take one step forward and then something happened to make them take two steps back? He was really beginning to hate that dance.

“You know she’s going to LA,” Espo said, coming up behind him.

“I know,” Castle sighed.

“You really think she’s going to just willingly let you go with her?” Ryan asked as he joined them.

“She won’t have much of a choice if she doesn’t find out until the plane is already in the air,” Castle stated simply, already pulling out his phone to check for the next flight to LA, knowing she’d be on it. “Whether she likes it or not, someone’s got to have her back…and I’m her partner.” He headed for the elevator himself; he had a couple of hours to pack a bag and get to the airport, already calling to arrange a hotel suite for them.

xxxxx

Kate Beckett hated the middle seats in airplanes. Unfortunately, that was all that was available to her last minute. She knew she was lucky to have gotten on the flight at all considering she’d been on standby status. Still, being squished between two larger men was going to make for a very uncomfortable flight across the country…especially if the baby screaming in the cabin didn’t eventually tire itself out and fall asleep.

“Excuse me, Detective Beckett?” one of the flight attendants approached her.

“Yes?” she answered.

“You’ve been upgraded to first class.”

Beckett didn’t even question the reason. “Thank you,” she smiled, standing quickly. “I’m sorry…excuse me,” she said to the man, climbing over him to get out of the cramped row. She followed the flight attendant to the first-class cabin.

“Seat 3C,” the attendant told her.

“Thank you,” she smiled her relief. She stopped in her tracks when she saw the man she’d be sitting next to.

“Champagne?” he asked innocently with a smile.

She took the seat beside him, fastening her seatbelt. “Castle, what are you doing?”

He shrugged with a grin. “The studio’s been after me for weeks to fly down and do a set visit for the Heat Wave movie. Imagine my surprise when I saw your name on the standby list,” he took a sip of the champagne.

“You cannot be a part of what I’m gonna do out there,” she told him simply.

“I thought you were on vacation,” he pointed out.

“Castle,” she shook her head. “Look, it’s one thing for you to follow me when we’re in New York, but I’m not a cop in LA. I don’t have any authority or backup,” she told him.

“I’ll be your backup,” he insisted. Seeing her roll her eyes, he continued. “I’m your partner. Besides, going rogue is kind of my specialty.”

“Yeah, but subtlety isn’t,” she countered with a small smile. “I’m not going to get rid of you am I?” she asked him. Seeing him shake his head, she sighed. “Okay, if we do this together you have to promise me that we’re gonna fly under the radar.”

“Of course,” he smiled, offering her the extra glass of champagne.

She studied him for a moment before taking it with another roll of her eyes. She took a sip, offering him a small smile. “Thank you for upgrading me. I was kind of miserable back there.”

“You mean, you didn’t enjoy your seat sandwiched between two of the linemen for the Giants?” he asked with a chuckle.

“No,” she smirked. “The screaming baby didn’t help either.”

He laughed softly. “You’re welcome. Besides, how are we supposed to talk strategy with you in the back of the plane and me in the front?”

“We weren’t supposed to talk strategy at all,” she laughed, nudging his shoulder playfully.

“We have a 6-hour flight, Beckett. It’s going to be a long 6 hours if we don’t talk.”

She smiled and took another sip of her champagne. “Some people sleep on a flight.”

“Are you one of those people?” he asked with a smile.

She shrugged. “Sometimes. Probably not this flight. I’ve got too much on my mind.”

He nodded, placing a hand over hers. “I’m here for whatever you want to talk about,” he offered her a smile. “Or we could just drink,” he joked.

“I think one glass will suffice,” she chuckled, stretching her legs out.

He smiled and squeezed her hand before releasing it. The surprise was evident on his face when she took his hand back in hers a moment later.

“Thanks for coming with me, Castle,” she said softly, offering him a smile and pulling their joined

hands back into her lap.

“Always,” he smiled, stretching his legs out to get comfortable as well.

xxxxx

“Is this what you call under the radar?” Beckett asked, gesturing to the red Ferrari they were currently in.

“In LA, this baby fits right in,” Castle insisted. “So what’s our first stop?”

“My hotel. It’s on Ventura Blvd.”

Castle shot her a look. “That’s all the way in the Valley. How are we supposed to work together if you’re an hour away?”

“Castle, we weren’t supposed to work together at all,” she reminded him.

He shrugged. “Okay, well the studio comped me a two-bedroom suite at a 4-star hotel. You just stay with me,” he stated as though it were a no-brainer.

She snorted a laugh. “Yeah right!”

“What?” he asked, turning to look at her. “You’ll have your own room.”

“No! I am not staying with you!” she insisted, biting back another laugh.

He raised an eyebrow, almost in a challenge. “Worried you can’t control yourself when we’re alone together?”

Her smile faltered only slightly. It was a legitimate concern of hers, yes, considering the current state of their relationship and how close they currently were to crossing the line between friends and lovers…but she wasn’t going to admit that to him. “Actually, it’s not me that I’m worried about,” she replied.

“I assure you, Detective, my intentions are pure,” he insisted as the light they were stopped at turned green. He paused a moment before continuing. “Need I remind you that the last two times we were alone together, you were the one who kissed me,” he commented nonchalantly, keeping his eyes on the road.

She tugged her lower lip between her teeth. She couldn’t even deny that. Even though it had been months ago and she hadn’t ended her relationship with Josh at the time, she’d still been the one to kiss him on Valentine’s Day over wine in his loft. And now that they were both single,

she hadn’t been able to resist kissing him when they’d gone out 3 weeks ago after he’d been so jealous of Alex Conrad.

Yes, they were here to work…at least she was…but she also couldn’t deny the attraction and connection that pulled them together, couldn’t deny that they were one “Yes” from her away from becoming romantic partners in addition to professional ones. Here to work or not, she knew it was a very real possibility that when they were alone together she would give into the temptation that was her desire to be with him. Simply having her own bedroom didn’t guarantee she wouldn’t seek him out in the middle of the night without anything holding her back anymore.

“Fine, I’ll stay with you,” she finally agreed. She knew herself well enough to know there was a very real possibility she would find herself in his bed…or invite him into hers…before they left LA. She only hoped she was ready for everything that entailed. Because once they crossed that last line between them, she knew there would be no going back. If she messed it all up, if they crashed and burned, she would lose him forever…and she wasn’t sure that was a loss from which she’d recover.

xxxxx

“We’re so happy to have you back, Mr. Castle,” Maurice the concierge smiled. “I’ve taken the liberty of setting up the suite just the way you like it.”

“Thank you,” Castle returned the man’s smile.

“And I’ve scheduled a couple’s massage at 7,” Maurice added.

Beckett paused looking around the suite for a moment to cut Castle a look. “Pure, huh?”

Castle’s eyes widened slightly. “Uh, Maurice, you can cancel the couple’s massage. We’re actually here to work, so we won’t be needing that tonight.” He didn’t ask for the champagne or flowers to be removed, however.

Maurice nodded. “Very good, Sir.”

Castle handed the bellhop who handled their luggage a tip and offered Maurice one as well. “Thank you, Maurice.” He followed the men out and closed the double doors behind them. “The last time I was here, I brought this Parisian supermodel, so he…” he trailed off when he caught the look Beckett shot him and he realized bringing up the fact that he’d been with other women here was probably not the best idea considering they were working toward a relationship with each other. “You know, that is not important. Would you like to choose your bedroom?”

She rolled her eyes and went to her carry-on to get her jacket. “No, I would like to start the investigation.”

“But we haven’t even ordered room service yet,” Castle pointed out.

“Castle, I’m not here for room service, I’m here for justice,” she stated, heading for the doors.

“Can’t we have both?” Castle called as he followed her. “Wow. In LA for all of a minute and already she’s spouting cheesy movie dialogue. Must be something in the air.”

xxxxx

“Picture this: a gullible young actress, desperate to make a name for herself. She meets our mastermind at a club. He needs a pretty girl to help him get the voice code. He tells Violet he’s a producer, promises to make her famous if she helps him play a practical joke on a friend,” Castle theorizes. He turns to face Beckett on the couch in the living room area of their suite.

Beckett turns a little more facing him, her elbow resting on the back of the couch with her head resting on her hand. The bottle of champagne from earlier is opened and mostly empty on the coffee table in front of them. “She doesn’t even realize that she’s participating in a crime until afterwards. She can’t call the cops, so she contacts Royce.”

“But then, our Mr. McCauley finds out,” Castle continues to build theory with her.

“And Royce tries to change the game. He goes to New York; home-field advantage. Classic. Classic Royce,” Beckett smiled slightly. “I was so in awe of him, Castle when I first met him. I just hung on his every word. And then later, I realized he was just making up stories to mess with me,” she gave a soft laugh, but her smile faded. “I can’t believe that I’m never gonna see him again.”

He studied her for a moment, shifting just a little closer. “You know what I first thought when I met you?” he asked her.

She turned her attention back to him. “Mm?” she hummed the question.

“That you were a mystery I was never gonna solve. Even now, after spending all this time with you, I’m still amazed at the depths of your strength…your heart…” he trailed off as the faintest smile teased his lips, “and your hotness.”

She looked down for a moment and then met his smile with one of her own. “You’re not so bad yourself, Castle.”

Their eyes locked and they held each other’s gaze. He wanted to kiss her…so badly. Under any other circumstance, he would have. But she was vulnerable now. She was dealing with her grief over the loss of her friend whom he knew she cared for deeply. He wouldn’t be the guy who took

advantage of that. He cared too much about her to be the guy who did that to her. If there was a move to be made, she was going to have to be the one to initiate it.

“I should go. It’s late,” Beckett stood, finally breaking the moment between them as she headed for her bedroom door.

“Kate…”

“Goodnight, Castle,” she stated, stepping inside and closing the door. She leaned against it, running her hands over her face and through her hair. A hundred thoughts were running through her mind: She should have kissed him. Why was she running? How badly she wanted to kiss him. How badly she wanted to lose herself in his arms tonight, let him make her forget everything else but him and the way she knew he would make her feel. But was that fair to him to do it this way? Was it fair to either of them to spend their first night together under these circumstances? Was she ready to fully embrace the depth of her feelings for him? Was she ready to embrace the depth of his feelings for her?

Her hand lingered over the door handle for another moment as she hesitated. The words from Royce’s letter echoed in her mind: And now for the hard part, kid. It’s clear that you and Castle have something real. And you’re fighting it. But trust me, putting the job ahead of your heart is a mistake. Risking our hearts is why we’re alive. The last thing you want is to look back on your life and wonder, if only. A moment later, she’d made her decision. She wanted the comfort he would provide. She wanted to touch him, to taste him, to feel him. She just wanted him. She opened the door and met his eyes as he stood from the couch. “Castle…” she breathed from her doorway.

He wordlessly approached her, coming to stand in front of her in her doorway. In her bare feet, she was a good 5 or 6 inches shorter than him, and his eyes were soft as he looked at her. “Kate…” he murmured, unable to resist reaching out to run his fingers gently across her cheek.

Her hands moved to his chest and her eyes closed as she leaned into his touch. Her fingers tightened in his shirt and she pulled him closer against her, opening her eyes to look at his lips.

He leaned down, his lips stopping just before they touched hers. Swallowing hard, he had to make sure. “Kate, I don’t want to take advantage of you,” he murmured in a whisper.

Her nose nuzzled his, her lips moving the tiniest bit closer until they were only a hair’s width apart and she could feel his breath tickling her lips. “You’re not…” she breathed, her lips barely brushing his as she spoke. “If we hadn’t been so busy the past few weeks, this would have already happened…”

He swallowed hard again. She was making it so damn hard to think straight, to try to be the

gentleman. “I thought you wanted to wait…”

The last words from Royce played over again in her head. The last thing you want is to look back on your life and wonder, if only. “I’m done waiting,” she told him.

“You won’t regret this in the morning?” he had to ask her. Because he wouldn’t be able to handle it if she did.

“No regrets,” she promised, unable to take it anymore and closing the almost invisible distance between their lips with a slow kiss. She stepped back from him into her room a few moments later, her lower lip tugged between her teeth and the look in her eyes inviting, imploring him to follow her.

He was powerless to resist her now, and he knew it. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Opening them a second later, he followed her into her bedroom and closed the door behind him.

xxxxx

IT’S ABOUT TO GET STEAMY

SKIP THIS PART IF YOU DON’T WANT TO READ SEXY TIMES

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

Her eyes never left his as he approached her. She took the final step toward him necessary to close the distance between them again and took his face in her hands. This time when she kissed him, the dam broke; her feelings for him, their physical attraction to each other, the past two+ years…everything poured into her kiss. She was drowning in his kiss, in him, and for once she didn’t care.

Her tongue ravaged his mouth, and he let her take what she needed, what she wanted from him while his hands gripped her hips and pulled her closer. One hand slowly ran up her back and curled into her hair, deepening the kiss until both needed some oxygen. His mouth ran along her jaw to her neck and finally along her throat, grazing her skin lightly with his teeth as he tasted her.

Her hands moved to his plaid button-up shirt and shoved it over his shoulders, causing him to release his hold on her long enough to yank his arms free from it. She grabbed his t-shirt and tugged it over his head as well, her eyes and fingers traveling the lines of muscle across and down his now bare chest appreciatively. Her lips grazed against the hollow of his neck where it met his chest, her tongue darting out to taste his skin. Her arms moved around him, her fingers sliding up the muscles of his back as she pressed an open-mouth kiss to his chest, smiling against his skin at the low groan that escaped his throat.

When he felt her fingers at his belt before he’d even had the chance to get her shirt off her, he

caught her wrists and brought them to his lips for a gentle kiss. “Not so fast,” he murmured with a smile. He caught her playful look and returned it with one of his own before grabbing the hem of her shirt and bringing it up and over her head. His eyes darkened at the exposed skin, the black lace of her bra a stark contrast against her tanned skin. His fingers gently traced along the length of her bra strap at her shoulder as he circled behind her.

The feel of his lips on her shoulder and then her neck as he pushed her hair aside drew a gasp from her lips. His mouth lightly danced along the curve of her neck as his fingers unclasped her bra. She leaned back against him as his hands slowly slid the straps down her arms until the piece fell from her body to the floor. Her head fell back against his shoulder and her eyes closed as his lips slid to her shoulder, one hand flattening against her stomach to hold her against him, the other moving to her breast, eliciting a soft moan from her lips.

He bit her shoulder gently as he squeezed her breast. One of her hands moved to cover his on her breast, and her other moved to his head, pulling him into a smoldering kiss. As she tugged his lip between her teeth and bit gently, the hand on her stomach slid lower, dipping inside her pants, his fingers lightly tracing along her underwear. She moaned her approval into his mouth and released her grip on his hand to guide the hand in her pants lower until she could press his fingers into the heat between her legs.

Even through her panties, he could feel her arousal, causing him to groan against her lips. “Kate…” he breathed, his mouth moving to her neck as his fingers slipped past the barrier of her underwear to slide between her legs. The feel of his touch where she was already so ready for him caused her hips to buck against his hand and nearly sent her spiraling. The hand still joined with his on her breast flexed and squeezed, while her hand that had guided his into her pants gripped his hip, her fingers curling in his belt loops.

He continued to work her up with his fingers at her core, his lips gently sucking and nipping at her skin, and his other hand on her breast, alternating between massaging and rolling her nipple between his fingers. It wasn’t long before he had her a whimpering mess, his name escaping her lips in a breathless moan as she crashed over the edge. His fingers continued to work her through her orgasm until she couldn’t take it anymore and gripped his forearm, tugging his hand away. He smirked against her skin, moving his hand to her stomach to hold her against him as she recovered, his lips softly caressing her skin.

Once she regained her senses, she turned in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and meeting his smile with one of her own. “Hi,” she murmured, kissing him slowly.

“Hi,” he returned, resting his forehead against hers. He slowly walked her back toward the bed, easing her back and lowering her down on it when her legs hit the edge. He moved over her, capturing her mouth with his in a passionate kiss, his tongue slowly stroking hers. This time when he felt her fingers slide down his chest to his belt, he didn’t stop her.

She easily unfastened his belt and the button on his pants, and then slowly slid the zipper down. Her fingers teased just underneath the waistband of his boxers before her hands moved to his hips. She pushed both his jeans and boxers over his hips, her hands sliding around to grab his ass, squeezing the ample flesh as she pulled him into the cradle of her thighs. “Get them off…” she murmured, her lips brushing against his jaw as she pushed them as far down as she could.

He did as he was told, standing and removing his last remaining clothing. She pushed up to her elbows to watch, her eyes darkening as she took in the sight of him for the first time. She sat up, her hands moving to his hips as she pulled him to stand in front of her.

“Kate…you don’t have to…” he started.

“I know,” she met his eyes with a smile. She knew he would never expect or even ask her to do what she was about to do. But she wanted him, wanted all of him; she had for awhile. “I want to taste you.”

Her lips pressed a soft kiss to his stomach, glancing up at him as one hand moved to his length, her slender fingers stroking him slowly. She smirked against his skin at the low groan and moved her mouth to his hip, nipping playfully before blazing a trail of open mouth kisses across his skin as she worked her mouth further down. She looked up at him watching her and saw his eyes close as she ran her tongue the length of him before taking him in her mouth and sucking gently.

It took all of his willpower not to buck his hips into her mouth, but he somehow managed. He forced himself to keep his eyes open, watching her, one hand tangling in her hair…not to guide her movement, but to simply caress her. After a few moments, he hand to stop her. “Kate…” he managed to choke out her name on a strangled moan, his hand gently caressing her cheek. “I can’t…you’ve got to stop…or it’s going to be over to soon…” he managed to get out, trying to force his breathing to return to normal.

She raised an eyebrow, slightly amused as she leaned back on her elbows. He moved with her, leaning down to kiss her again, moaning against her lips as her tongue sensually tangoed with his. His hands gripped her leggings and pulled them down her legs slowly, standing to toss them aside as she shifted to push herself up on the bed, resting her head on the pillows.

He crawled up the bed to her with a grin, dropping soft kisses to the inside of her knee and trailing his tongue along the skin of her thigh. When he reached her underwear, he paused and looked up at her. “You’re sure?” he asked her again.

She pushed up on her elbows so she could gently caress his face. “Make love to me, Rick…” she told him softly, pulling him to her for a slow, deep kiss as she slid her body against his.

He groaned, wrapping her in his arms as he deepened the kiss. When he finally broke away, he pushed up to his knees and hooked his fingers in her panties, drawing them down her legs slowly before dropping them to the floor to the side of the bed. He swallowed hard as his eyes traveled over her body slowly. “You’re beautiful, Kate…” he murmured in awe. His hand slowly, lightly ran up her thigh as he settled between her legs.

He trailed kisses across her stomach before getting sidetracked by the tattoo on her hip, which she’d fully expected, tracing the outline with his tongue. His mouth continued it’s path, until his tongue dipped inside her, finally tasting her, and he knew at that moment he was addicted. Each touch of his fingers to her skin, each press of his lips, each stroke of his tongue was reverent, as though her body was a temple at which he was worshiping. He took his time as he worked her up, enjoying the taste of her, enjoying the soft moans and whimpers of pleasure as he explored her body, learning the way she liked to be touched so intimately.

It wasn’t long before she was moaning his name as she came, her fingers clenching in the comforter on the bed. He gently but firmly held her hips in place as mouth continued to work her through her orgasm, and then suck on her bundle of nerves until she quickly came undone again, his name falling from her lips in a strangled scream. Only when her fingers curled in his hair and pulled him away slightly did he move his mouth to her hip, biting enough to leave a mark and soothing it with his tongue.

His kisses were slow and gentle as they moved back up her body, giving her time to recover. It wasn’t until he was settled in the cradle of her thighs with her hips rocking against his as they kissed passionately that he realized–he didn’t have protection on him. “Kate…” he pulled away breathlessly. “I didn’t bring…I mean, I didn’t expect that we would…I don’t have condoms…”

“Neither do I…You don’t carry one in your wallet?”

“Not if I don’t think I’m going to need it…which I didn’t…because we weren’t together…and I did not come out here with the intention of sleeping with you…” he murmured, moving to shift off her.

She gently stopped him, her fingertips lightly caressing his jaw. “Castle, it’s okay,” she assured him softly, pressing a kiss to his chin. “I’m clean. And I’m on birth control. So I’m good without one if you are.” He was the only man she would ever consider doing this with, and only because she trusted him implicitly. She'd never even had unprotected sex with Josh. There was no one she trusted the way she trusted Castle.

He stared at her for a moment, because he knew the level of trust that she was putting in him with that statement, with that action. “I’m clean…” he promised. “You’re…you’re really sure about this, Kate? Because I can’t promise you I’ll be able to pull out before I…”

She interrupted him with a kiss. “I’m sure. I trust you completely, Rick…”

This time it was him who cut off her words with a deep kiss. I love you, was right on the tip of his tongue to say, but he didn’t dare say it now. He’d told her before…on more than one occasion, admittedly not always at the best moment. The last thing he wanted was to send her running now if she wasn’t ready to hear those words from him again. Instead, he’d show her.

One of his hands found hers and he laced their fingers, pushing their joined hands above her head. His other hand lightly caressed her thigh and shifted, meeting her eyes as he slowly slid inside her. She gasped softly, and his forehead rested against hers as they both took a moment to savor the connection.

Her hand squeezed his and her free hand caressed his cheek as her lips met his again in a tender kiss. One of her legs hooked over his hip, pulling him in closer, and a soft moan escaped her throat. Another moan escaped, this time from each of them, as she rocked her hips against his to get him to move.

They exchanged breathless kisses, gentle caresses, soft moans as their bodies moved together almost seamlessly, meeting each other perfectly, each knowing what the other needed or wanted as though they were in a well-choreographed dance and not coming together for the first time.

As he felt his climax approaching, he released her hand and shifted so that he had a deeper angle. “Kate…I’m close…” he warned dropping his mouth to her neck.

Her lips moved to his ear as her hands slid down his back, her nails raking across his skin. “Let go with me…inside me…” she panted breathlessly, tugging on his ear with her teeth as her legs pulled him in closer to reinforce her words.

Her breathless moans and the way she moved her body with his, the way her legs tightened around his waist, was enough to push him over the edge and pull her with him. He thrust a few more times until he was completely spent, and dropped down, rolling them so she was on top of him.

xxxxx

SEXY TIMES IS OVER

IT IS SAFE TO READ AGAIN

EVERYTHING BELOW IS RATED T

They stayed wrapped in each other's arms silently, both catching their breath. He caught her hand drawing patterns on his chest after a few minutes and brought it to his lips for a gentle kiss.

“You were right…I had no idea,” he admitted with a grin.

She laughed softly and pushed herself up on his chest to look at him. “You still don’t,” she grinned. Seeing his look, she kissed him as she laughed again. “That was just a preview,” she murmured against his lips before pushing herself up off the bed. “Be right back,” she promised, pressing one last kiss to his lips before disappearing into the bathroom.

When she returned, he’d gotten under the covers and made no attempt to hide his enjoyment in the fact that she hadn’t bothered to put any of her clothes…or his…back on to cover up. She met his gaze with an amused arch of her eyebrow, turning the lights off on her way back to bed. “Staring is still creepy, bud.”

He chuckled as she slipped back into bed beside him. “Can’t help it,” he shrugged, turning on his side to look at her. “I told you before…I’m still amazed at your hotness.” He couldn’t help but reach out and let his fingers trace along her curves.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” she echoed her own words from earlier, sliding closer to kiss him. She grinned against his lips as he deepened the kiss and threw her leg over his hips, quickly straddling him, running her hands over his chest as she stared down at him. “You wanna find out what you really had no idea about?” she asked in a husky tone, already sliding her body sinfully against his as she bit her lower lip.

He swallowed hard, his hands moving to her thighs. “Yes, please,” he managed to choke out. The way she was moving her body against his was similar to every fantasy and wet dream he’d had about her since that undercover date in the club back in February. Only now it was real…she was really here, it was really her body moving against his, and it was better than any fantasy.

She leaned down to kiss him with a wicked grin. “Your safe word still apples?” she purred against his lips.

All he could do was nod.

xxxxx

Okay, I am aware this is only the first half of the LA episode. I went a little crazy here…I told you guys it was a favorite of mine! And I am sorry, but you will have to wait until I return from vacation to get the chapter dealing with the second half of the episode. But I did make this a long one to tide you over in the meantime!

I really hope you enjoyed this one! And I look forward to reading all your comments for those who leave them!

#castle #caskett #kate beckett #richard castle #castle fanfiction

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dollycas · 29 days ago

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It took me right up to December 31 but I completed all of my 2024 Reading Challenges. I still need to write a couple of reviews. I will get those done soon. 2024 Reading Challenge LORI has read 190 books toward her goal of 190 books. hide 190 of 190 (100%) view books A. Antique Auctions are Murder by Libby Klein B. A Bean to Die For by Tara Lush C. A Crust to Die For by Toni LoTempio D. Deadly to the Core by Joyce Tremel E. The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes F. Five Furry Familiars by Lynn Cahoon G. A Ghostly Clue by Maryann Shanesy H. The Heir by Aaron Qualio I. Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow J. The Jane Harlow Bombshell by Mollie Cox Bryan K. Kill or Bee Killed by Jennie Marts L. The Lace Widow by Mollie Ann Cox M. Murder on the Geneva Express by JB Micheals N. A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen O. Off the Air by Christina Estes P. A Pie To Die For by Gretchen Rue Q. Queen of Hearts by Heather Day Gilbert R. Read on Arrival by Nora Page S. Shade Grown by Heather Day Gilbert T. A Twisted Skein by Sally Goldenbaum U. Undercover Babymoon by Karina Bartow V. Vanilla Chai and the Vanishing Victim by Victoria Tait W. The Wilderness Trap by Jodi Linton X. Brood X by Joshua Dysart Y. Yuletide Market Murder by Victoria Tait Z. And Now There's Zelda by Carolyn Clarke Completed 12/19/2024 Mini-Challenges January - 3 SYLABBLES - The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes February - Number Written Out - Five Furry Familiars by Lynn Cahoon March - 5Ws and a H - How To Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin April - Creepy Crawlies - Spider Lake by Jeff Nania May - Fruit - Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone by Sarah Graves June - Wedding - Veiled in Death by Stephanie Blackmoore July - U.S. STATE - Oklahoma's Gold by Kathryn Long August - Small Item - Requiem for a Mouse by Miranda James September - Money - French Quarter Fright Night by Ellen Byron October - Costume - Pumpkin Spice Peril by Laurien Berenson November - Spice - Gingerbread Danger by Amanda Flower December - Christmas Music - All God's Sparrows and Other Stories by Leslie Budewitz A. Kat Ailes - The Expectant Detectives B. Mollie Cox Bryan - The Jean Harlow Bombshell C. Callie Carpenter - Death by Demo D. Vicky Delany - The Sign of Four Spirits E. Ellie Alexander - A Smoking Bun F. Terrie Farley Moran - Murder She Wrote: Fit For Murder G. Sally Goldenbaum - A Twisted Skein H. Heather Day Gilbert - Shade Grown I. Ian Moore - Death and Fromage J. Patricia Johns - Murder of an Amish Bridegroom K. Kristen Perrin - How To Solve Your Own Murder L. Toni LoTempio - A Crust to Die For M. JB Micheals Murder on the Geneva Express N. Nora Page - Read on Arrival O. Olivia Blacke - Rhythm and Clues P. Paula Charles - Hammers and Homicide Q. Aaron Qualio - The Heir R. Ruth J. Hartman - Butterfly Betrayal S. Anna St. John - Doomed by Blooms T. Tara Lush - A Bean To Die For U. Lisa Unger - Fog Descending V. Victoria Tait - Vanilla Chai and the Vanishing Victim W. Peggy Webb - Black Crow Cabin X. Diana Xarissa - The Body in the Annex Y. Kate Young - Reading Between the Crimes Z. - Chad Zunker - The Wife You Know Complete - 9/27/2024 Alabama - Murder at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber Alaska - A Midlife Mountain Murder by Julie Ecker Arizona - Dying to Go by Marcy Blesy Arkansas - Trotting into Trouble by Amber Camp California - Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow Colorado - Black Crow Cabin by Peggy Webb Connecticut - Checked Out For Murder by Allison Brook Delaware - DM Me For Murder by Sarah E. Burr District of Columbia - A Colorful Scheme by Krista Davis Florida - A Bean to Die For by Tara Lush Georgia - A Crust to Die For by Toni LoTempio Hawaii - Molten Death by Leslie Karst Idaho - Five Furry Familiars by Lynn Cahoon Illinois - Murder on the Geneva Express by JB Micheals Indiana - Butterfly Betrayal by Ruth J. Hartman Iowa - Antiques Maul by Barbara Allan Kansas - Doomed by Blooms by Anna St. John Kentucky - Motorhomes, Map, and Murder by Tonya Kappes Louisiana - Muffalettas and Murder by Jann Franklin Maine - Murder She Wrote: Fit For Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran Maryland - Scam Chowder by Maya Corrigan Massachusetts - A Twisted Skein by Sally Goldenbaum Michigan - Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah Minnesota - Furever After by Sofie Kelly Mississippi - Requiem for a Mouse by Miranda James Missouri - Lyin' Eyes by Julie Mulhern Montana - All God's Sparrows and Other Stories by Leslie Budewitz Nebraska - Stripped Bare by Shannon Baker Nevada - Think Twice by Harlan Coben New Hampshire - An Escape Goat by Janna Rollins New Jersey - Antique Auctions are Murder by Libby Klein New Mexico - The Wilderness Trap by Jodi Linton New York - The Lace Widow by Mollie Ann Cox North Carolina - Death by Demo by Callie Carpenter North Dakota - Murder at the Library by Ellen Jacobson Ohio - A Pose Before Dying by Alex Erickson Oklahoma - Oklahoma's Gold by Kathryn Long Oregon - Hammers and Homicide by Paula Charles Pennsylvania - Murder of an Amish Bridegroom by Patricia Johns Rhode Island - Murder at Vinland by Alyssa Maxwell South Carolina - Murder in the Tea Leaves by Laura Childs South Dakota - Midnight Spells Murder by Mary Angela Tennessee - The Proof is in the Poison by Diane Kelly Texas - Magpie Maggie Takes the Wheel by Katherine H. Brown Utah - The Christmas Arrangement by Annie Adams Vermont - Brie Careful What You Wish For by Linda Reilly Virginia - The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis Washington - Death by A Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue West Virginia - Shade Grown by Heather Day Gilbert Wisconsin - The Heir by Aaron Qualio Wyoming - Mountain Town Murder by Sue Pepper Abroad 1. England - The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes 2. France - Death and Fromage by Ian Moore 3. Northumberland, UK - Daffodils and Deadly Deeds by Victoria Tait 4. Isle of Iona - Secrets of a Scottish Isle by Erica Ruth Neubauer 5. Indonesia - The Good, The Bad, and the Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto 6. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada - Murder She Wrote: Murder Backstage by Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran 7. Scotland - The Poison Pen by Paige Shelton 8. Italy - Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies by Catherine Mack 9. Caribbean Cruise - Undercover Babymoon by Karina Bartow 10. Ireland - Halloween Parade Peril by Victoria Tait 11. Tasmania - Alone with the Tasman Tiger by Jane Ellyson Ravenous Level – 101 – 125 Cozy Mysteries 1. Shade Grown by Heather Day Gilbert 2. Murder of an Amish Bridegroom by Patricia Johns 3. The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes 4. Vanilla Chai and the Vanishing Victim by Victoria Tait 5. A Bean to Die For by Tara Lush 6. A Crust to Die For by Toni LoTempio 7. Deadly to the Core by Joyce Tremel 8. Death by Demo by Callie Carpenter 9. Doomed by Blooms by Anna St. John 10. A Twisted Skein by Sally Goldenbaum 11. The Sign of Four Spirits by Vicki Delany 12. Butterfly Betrayal by Ruth J. Hartman 13. Murder She Wrote: Fit For Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran 14. Hammers and Homicide by Paula Charles 15. Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah 16. Cherry Pies and Deadly Lies by Darci Hannah 17. Clocked Out by Anna St. John 18. A Pie To Die For by Gretchen Rue 19. A Ghostly Clue by Maryann Shanesy 20. A Smoking Bun by Ellie Alexander 21. Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow 22. Crime and Cherry Pits by Amanda Flower 23. Checked Out For Murder by Allison Brook 24. Five Furry Familiars by Lynn Cahoon 25. The Last Word by Gerri Lewis 26. A High Tide Murder by Emily George 27. A Midlife Mountain Murder by Julie Ecker 28. Double Scoop of Murder by Lena Gregory 29. Murder in the Tea Leaves by Laura Childs 30. Read on Arrival by Nora Page 31. The Wilderness Trap by Jodi Linton 32. Double Grudge Donuts by Ginger Bolton 33. A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen 34. Dying to Go by Marcy Blesy 35. Mayhem in Circulation by Leah Dombrinska 36. Daffodils and Deadly Deeds by Victoria Tait 37. The Secret Ingredient to Murder by Terry Ambrose 38. Battered and Buried by Lena Gregory 39. Cats, Carats, and Killers by T.C. LoTempio 40. Magpie Maggie Takes the Wheel by Katherine H. Brown 41. The Witless Protection Program by Maria DiRico 42. Molten Death by Leslie Karst 43. Motorhomes, Map, and Murder by Tonya Kappes 44. Rhythm and Clues by Olivia Blacke 45. Murder She Wrote: Murder Backstage by Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran 46. The Poison Pen by Paige Shelton 47. Peril in Pink by Syndey Leigh 48. Off the Air by Christina Estes 49. Murder Marks the Page by Karen Rose Smith 50. Three Fudges and a Baby by Nancy Coco 51. Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off by Darci Hannah 52. Secrets and Scandals by Piper Glendale 53. Antique Auctions are Murder by Libby Klein 54. An Escape Goat by Janna Rollins 55. Trotting into Trouble by Amber Camp 56. Resort to Murder by Annie McEwen 57. The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis 58. Brie Careful What You Wish For by Linda Reilly 59. Death on the Shelf by Allison Brook 60. A Pose Before Dying by Alex Erickson 61. Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone by Sarah Graves 62. Muffalettas and Murder by Jann Franklin 63. Death Unfiltered by Emmeline Duncan 64. Purrfectly Framed by Ruth J. Hartman 65. Dead Tired by Kat Ailes 66. Kill or Bee Killed by Jennie Marts 67. A Cyclist's Guide to Crime and Croissants by Ann Claire 68. Clover Covered Corpse by Jackie Layton 69. A Lethal Lake Effect by Lorraine Bartlett 70. The Stranger in the Library by Eva Gates 71. Easier Dead, Than Drawn by Bailee Abbott 72. Veiled in Death by Stephanie Blackmoore 73. Torn Asunder by Barbara Ross 74. Murder at the Blueberry Festival by Darci Hannah 75. Photo Finished by Christin Brecher 76. Come Shell or High Water by Molly MacRae 77. Dewey Decimated by Allison Brook 78. A Whale of a Murder by Valerie E. Taylor 79. Peking Duck and Cover by Vivien Chien 80. A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron 81. A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death by Valerie Burns 82. Puzzle Me a Murder by Roz Noonan 83. The Body in the Bookstore by Ellie Alexander 84. Overdue or Die by Allison Brook 85. Death by A Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue 86. Requiem for a Mouse by Miranda James 87. There's No Murder Like Show Murder by M.S. Greene 90. Booked on Murder by Allison Brook 91. Peach Tea Smash by Laura Childs 92. Sticks and Scones by Ellie Alexander 93. A Fatal Feast at Bramsford Manor by Darci Hannah 94. Keeled Over at the Cliffside by Nancy Stewart 95. Murder at Vinland by Alyssa Maxwell 96. In the Event of Murder by Cynthia Kuhn 97. A Poisonous Palate by Lucy Burdette 98. The Jig is Up by Lisa Q. Mathews 99. Buried on a Sundae by Lena Gregory 100. The Body in the Annex by Diana Xarissa 101. French Quarter Fright Night by Ellen Byron 102. The Grim Steeper by Gretchen Rue 103. Undercover Babymoon by Karina Bartow 104. Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant by Darci Hannah 105. Halloween Parade Peril by Victoria Tait 106. Furever After by Sofie Kelly 107. Bell, Book and Corpses by T.C. LoTempio 108. Lyin' Eyes by Julie Mulhern 109. Reading Between the Lines by Kate Young 110. Murder in the Hidden Cargo Hold by Denise Jaden 111. A Colorful Scheme by Krista Davis 112. Barks and Clues by Sharon Michaels 113. Sleep in Heavenly Pizza by Mindy Quigley 114. Pumpkin Spice Peril by Laurien Berenson 115. The Corpse at the Witching Hour by Debra Sennefelder 116. Murder on the Page by Daryl Wood Gerber 117. MSW: A Killer Christmas by Terrie Farley Moran and Jessica Fletcher 118. Midnight Spells Murder by Mary Angela 119. Six Stunning Sirens by Lynn Cahoon 120. Fondue or Die by Korina Moss 121. Caught on Camera by Kara Lacey 122. The Mysterious Case of the Missing Motive by Michele Parize Wacek 123. In the Blick of a Pie by Catherine Bruns 124. Scam Chowder by Maya Corrigan 125. Gingerbread Danger by Amanda Flower 126. Murder at the Library by Ellen Jacobson 127. A Room for Murder by Michele Pariza Wacek 128. I'll Be Home for Mischief by Jacqueline Frost 129. A Corpse Among the Carolers by Debra Sennefelder 130. Murder at the Blarney Bash by Darci Hannah 131. Yuletide Market Murder by Victoria Tait 132. The Herringbone Harbor Mystery by Sally Goldenbaum 133. DM Me For Murder by Sarah E. Burr 134. Plausible Deception by Dwain Lee 135. Murder at the Lemonberry Tea by Darci Hannah 136. The Knife Before Christmas by Kate Carlisle 137. Blame the Beignets by Ginger Bolton 138. Mystery in Marseille by Nupur Tustin 139. Mountain Town Murder by Sue Pepper 140. I Thee Dead by Christine Lawrence 141. Booked for Murder by P.J. Nelson 142. Murder at the Painted Wings Cafe by Ruth J. Hartman 143. A Basket Case by Lesley A. Diehl 144. The Proof is in the Poison by Diane Kelly 145. The Christmas Arrangement by Annie Adams 146. Deadly Crush by Maddie Day 147. Antiques Maul by Barbara Allan 148. Cowabunga Christmas by Anna Celeste Burke 149. Gnarly New Year by Anna Celeste Burke 150. Mango, Mambo, and Murder by Raquel V. Reyes 151. Having A Fudgy Christmas by Nancy Coco 152. Chamomile Tea and a Copycat Crime by Victoria Tait Complete 12/30/2024 Please List the Title and the Author A BOOK BY AN AUTHOR WITH AN INITIAL IN THEIR NAME –Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow A BOOK PUBLISHED BEFORE 2000 – The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner A BOOK SET OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES –Vanilla Chai and the Vanishing Victim by Victoria Tait A BOOK SET IN WISCONSIN OR TEXAS – Cherry Pies and Deadly Lies by Darci Hannah A BOOK BY A NEW TO YOU AUTHOR – Murder of an Amish Bridegroom by Patricia Johns A BOOK SHORTER THAN 200 PAGES – Shade Grown by Heather Day Gilbert A BOOK THAT IS MORE THAN THE 6TH BOOK IN A SERIES –The Sign of Four Spirits by Vicki Delany A BOOK WITH AN ANIMAL ON THE COVER – Hammers and Homicide by Paula Charles A BOOK CLASSIFIED AS A HISTORICAL COZY MYSTERY – A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen A BOOK THAT HAS BEEN ON YOUR TO-BE-READ STACK FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS – Veiled in Death by Stephanie Blackmoore A BOOK ABOUT A GHOST OR A WITCH – A Ghostly Clue by Maryann Shanesy A BOOK ABOUT THAT INCLUDES RECIPES – A High Tide Murder by Emily George Complete 12/21/2024 Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge Level four (Sleuth Extraordinaire) - A)Read 40 cozy mysteries of your choice. B)Read two books from each sub-genre in level one plus an additional 20 cozy books of your choice (total of 40 books) - One from culinary (anything dealing with food: restaurants, baked goods, etc.) - A Bean to Die For by Tara Lush - Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah - One from animal-related (cats, dogs, birds, etc.) - Shade Grown by Heather Day Gilbert - Antique Auctions are Murder by Libby Klein - One from craft-related (any kind of hobbies - knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, etc.) - A Twisted Skein by Sally Goldenbaum - The Herringbone Harbor Mystery by Sally Goldenbaum - One from paranormal (witches, vampires, etc.) - Murder on the Geneva Express by JB Micheals -A Ghostly Clue by Maryann Shanesy - One from cozy mysteries based outside the US (example: Belinda Lawrence series (British)) - Vanilla Chai and the Vanishing Victim by Victoria Tait -Halloween Parade Peril by Victoria Tait - One career-based cozy mystery (housekeeping, wedding planner, etc.) -Death by Demo by Callie Carpenter - Mayhem in Circulation by Leah Dombrinska - One holiday-based (set during any holiday - Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentine's, etc.) - Veiled in Death by Stephanie Blackmoore -Peking Duck and Cover by Vivien Chien - One travel mystery (character could be on a cruise, touring another area, etc.) - Molten Death by Leslie Karst -Murder She Wrote: Murder Backstage by Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran - One historical mystery (any mystery not set in the present) - A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen - Secrets of a Scottish Isle by Erica Ruth Neubauer - One is your choice! (freebie!) - Rhythm and Clues by Olivia Blacke - The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis Complete 11/20/2024 Level – 26-35 books 1. Murder on the Geneva Express by JB Micheals 2. The Heir by Aaron Qualio 3. The Lace Widow by Mollie Ann Cox 4. The Jane Harlow Bombshell by Mollie Cox Bryan 5. Death and Fromage by Ian Moore 6. How To Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin 7. Figure Eight by Jeff Nania 8. Secrets of a Scottish Isle by Erica Ruth Neubauer 9. Spider Lake by Jeff Nania 10. Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies by Catherine Mack 11. Think Twice by Harlan Coben 12. At The Edge of the Woods by Victoria Houston 13. The Audrey Hepburn Heist by Mollie Cox Bryan 14. Black Crow Cabin by Peggy Webb 15. Over the Edge by Kathleen Bryant 16. Stripped Bare by Shannon Baker 17. Breach by Holly S. Roberts 18. Murder on Devil's Pond by Ayla Rose 19. One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day 20. Escape From Devil's Den by Bonnie Vanak 21. Queen of Hearts by Heather Day Gilbert 22. Oklahoma's Gold by Kathryn Long 23. The Wife You Know by Chad Zunker 24. The Tarnished Son by Elizabeth McKenna 25. Fog Descending by Lisa Unger 26. The Poseidon Project by E William Podojil 27. A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke 28. Hunted for the Holidays by Deena Alexander 29. Alone with the Tasman Tiger by Jane Ellyson Complete November 7, 2024 Silver – 25 Books Level 1. A Twisted Skein by Sally Goldenbaum 2. Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah 3. The Jane Harlow Bombshell by Mollie Cox Bryan 4. Checked Out For Murder by Allison Brook 5. A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen 6. Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off by Darci Hannah 7. Antique Auctions are Murder by Libby Klein 8. Trotting into Trouble by Amber Camp 9. Death on the Shelf by Allison Brook 10. Veiled in Death by Stephanie Blackmoore 11. Murder at the Blueberry Festival by Darci Hannah 12. Photo Finished by Christin Brecher 13. Dewey Decimated by Allison Brook 14. Overdue or Die by Allison Brook 15. Death by A Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue 16. Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant by Darci Hannah 17. Reading Between the Lines by Kate Young 18. A Killer Clue by Victoria Gilbert 19. A Colorful Scheme by Krista Davis 20. The Corpse at the Witching Hour by Debra Sennefelder 21. Midnight Spells Murder by Mary Angela 22. Murder at the Blarney Bash by Darci Hannah 23. The Proof is in the Poison by Diane Kelly 24. Mango, Mambo, and Murder by Raquel V. Reyes 25. Having A Fudgy Christmas by Nancy Coco Complete 12/27/2024 Level 3 – Read 13-20 Books 1. Shade Grown by Heather Day Gilbert 2. Hammers and Homicide by Paula Charles 3. Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah 4. Clocked Out by Anna St. John 5. A Ghostly Clue by Maryann Shanesy 6. Crime and Cherry Pits by Amanda Flower 7. Checked Out For Murder by Allison Brook 8. Five Furry Familiars by Lynn Cahoon 9. The Last Word by Gerri Lewis 10. Cats, Carats, and Killers by T.C. LoTempio 11. Rhythm and Clues by Olivia Blacke 12. Murder Marks the Page by Karen Rose Smith 13. Three Fudges and a Baby by Nancy Coco 14. Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off by Darci Hannah 15. Antique Auctions are Murder by Libby Klein 16. An Escape Goat by Janna Rollins 17. Trotting into Trouble by Amber Camp 18. Death on the Shelf by Allison Brook 19. Black Crow Cabin by Peggy Webb 20. A Pose Before Dying by Alex Erickson Complete 5/27/2024 21. Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone by Sarah Graves 22. Purrfectly Framed by Ruth J. Hartman 23. Easier Dead, Than Drawn by Bailee Abbott 24. Murder at the Blueberry Festival by Darci Hannah 25. Dewey Decimated by Allison Brook 26. Murder on Devil's Pond by Ayla Rose 27. A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron 28. A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death by Valerie Burns 29. Read the full article

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