March
Whistler felt freer and happier in the last two months than she had since she started at the DIA Hawaii office. She wasn't exactly sure if it was due to her change of boss, her job, or if she was learning to finally relax a bit; maybe it was all three.
Whistler enjoyed working with GCIS. There was less pressure. The team would request information and she would provide what she was able to without much push back. Tom Carter seemed to know which questions to ask to keep getting information without breaking any rules. If she said she couldn't provide a specific source of information, the team took that at face value and tried to work around it without attempting to compromise her integrity or steal it.
GCIS wasn't the close-knit team of NCIS, but that helped her feel like less of an outsider. They even invited Whistler on the rare occasions that they made plans outside of work. And she surprising liked the awkward Neil Pike. He seemed to be one of the few people even more socially awkward than her. She would occasionally find herself missing Lucy's smile or Jesse carefree attitude, but she would shake it off. She had to move forward and not dwell in the past.
Even the DIA environment had become more relaxed and open. Peterson would often take several DIA officers for drinks after work or throw the occasional lunch party. There was casual Friday where staff was allowed to wear jeans, Whistler never participated in this activity but the other staff seemed to appreciate it. And Whistler had even gotten used to the familiar "Kate" whenever Peterson addressed her.
She occasionally ran into Peterson going in and out of the apartment or around the beach. It was awkward for her at first, but now she had gotten used to it. They would stand and chat for a few minutes if it was the weekend or just give a wave if they were headed into or back from work. Peterson had even suggested at one time that they carpool, but Whistler had declined, not comfortable with how that may appear if they showed up to work together. She, of course, told her boss she was declining because they both may need the car while at work. "Ah, but we have company cars if that is necessary." Peterson luckily hadn't pressed Whistler any further on this issue.
Whistler still didn't like the on call process. She wanted to be the one to help her team and loathed the thought of another officer handling any of her cases. But luckily CGIS and HPD rarely needed anything on the weekend. So she found it slightly nice that she could spend her weekends relaxing and not waiting for an inevitable weekend phone call that always seemed to have accompanied working with NCIS.
Today was one such relaxing Saturday evening. She was sitting on the beach outside her apartment, watching the sun set. She was a little startled when someone plopped down in the sand next to her, but gave a slight smile when she saw Peterson.
"Ma'am," Whistler stated.
"Kandi," Peterson corrected her for probably the twentieth time. She glanced out over the sunset and then turned to Whistler, "Mmm it's absolutely beautiful."
"I know," Whistler replied. "I'll never get tired of it." They sat there in silence for a minute. Whistler had been wearing a bikini, but started pulling on her shorts and a light beach robe that she had brought down for over top.
"Have you been having a relaxing Saturday?"
"Definitely," Whistler replied. "You?"
"Not quite. I had an event with the Deputy Chief of HPD and a few other higher ups. It's hard to relax at those functions, no matter how many drinks they provide. The Deputy Chief was very complementary of your professionalism and hard work."
Whistler blushed at the compliment. "Well, he rarely has to see me, so I'm pleased our few interactions have been pleasant."
"You have plans now?" Peterson asked. Whistler shook her head and she stood brushing the sand off her long legs. Peterson still sat on the beach looking up at her. "Would you like to come over for a drink?"
"Ummm," Whistler hesitated. She had never done anything alone with her boss before in a social aspect and thought it might turn things a little awkward. She would feel the need to be guarded and on edge, and Whistler just wanted to relax tonight. Whistler just didn't know how to politely decline after admitting that she had no plans.
Peterson jumped up and gently grabbed Whistler' wrist pulling her towards the building. "Come on, I swear I won't bite. And just one drink and I'll let you enjoy your evening."
Before Whistler knew it she was sitting on Peterson's couch sipping on a glass of Moscato. Her apartment was a little more disorganized the Whistlers, but not exactly messy. It just looked more lived in.
"Would you like something to eat?" Peterson came in from the kitchen with a bowl of cheese and a bowl of almonds.
"No, I'm alright for now," Whistler said as Peterson sat down on the opposite side of the same couch. She looked relaxed and she grabbed a handful of the nuts and threw them in her mouth.
"Don't mind me," she told Whistler as she then grabbed a few slices of cheese "I've already had too much to drink on an empty stomach. But when HPD invites you out for a celebration, you have to accept. Just like when your boss invites you for drinks…"
Whistler smiled at that. "Noted." Whistler wrapped her robe a little tighter around her, a bit uncomfortable in her casual attire. Peterson herself was still wearing black slacks and a simple blouse. "I am surprised you came down to the beach in that."
"Well, I'll admit that I wasn't planning on heading down. But I saw you through the window when I entered the lobby. Thought I might take a moment to pick your brain…"
"About work?"
"Oh, definitely not. I don't particularly like to talk shop on my days off and I already had to break that rule earlier today. No, I needed some advice about casual relationships."
"Casual as in…" Whistler waited for Peterson to fill in the blank. She had no idea what her boss was talking about.
"Casual sex… sort of friends with benefits."
Whistler had picked the wrong time to take a sip of her wine as she immediately found herself choking and coughing. She stood up, trying to gather her thoughts and her breath. Peterson quickly went to the kitchen and fetcher Whistler a glass of water.
"I'm so sorry," Peterson said as she rubbed Whistler's back trying to help her regain herself. "I didn't mean to shock you."
"No, no, it's fine" Whistler said in a harsh whisper as she finally got her breath back. She made a point not to sit back down. "Well, not really a topic of conversation I'd pick to have with my boss."
Peterson laughed, "Well, I do want us to be friends! There aren't many females in the office and it's hard to find time to talk with my girlfriends back home with the time change. I really just need someone to talk this one through." Peterson sat back down on the couch but Kate walked over to the island separating them from the kitchen to set her water glass down.
"Someone at HPD propositioned you?" The question was more of a delay tactic and she tried to rack her brain on how to get out of the conversation entirely. Whistler's only 'casual' relationship had been with Lucy and that had quickly turned serious before blowing up in her face. From Whistler's perspective, casual was not a good thing.
"No," Peterson replied. "Quite the opposite. I'm the one who plans on propositioning someone. But I wasn't sure how it might be received."
"Someone I work with?" Whistler turned around and saw Peterson motioning her to sit back down on the couch. Whistler glance for the door, but unable to think of an excuse to leave she reluctantly sat back on the couch, clutching her wine glass but taking smaller sips.
"Yes," Peterson tried to explain. "I'm not looking for a serious relationship, you know? I like my independence and I like being on my own… but sometimes you crave that touch of another person."
"Mmmm," Whistler murmured not quite sure how to respond. She thought through some of the single members of CGIS and HDP staff but couldn't picture anyone that Peterson would be interested in.
"You probably don't know too much about that. I'm sure you have a sweet guy already lined up that you want to spend your life with."
"Oh no, no, no," Whistler replied. "I'm very happily single." Whistler wanted to take the focus off her and get this conversation over with as quickly as possible and get home. "You know what? I say, just go for it, right? The worst the person could tell you is no and then you move past it. You're adults, you know what you want… done."
Whistler downed the rest of her wine like a shot and then stood up again. "Well, I'll leave you too it."
Peterson chuckled as she set her wine down and followed Whistler to the door. "Wow, I really made you uncomfortable," she teased.
"No, no." Whistler said reaching out her hand to touch Peterson's arm reassuringly. "Well, maybe a touch. I am just not the person to give out relationship advice."
"Well than, can I give some?" Peterson asked.
"Some what?" Whistler asked confused, still focused on getting out the door.
"Relationship advice." Whistler was shocked to find her back pushed against the wall. Peterson had one hand up by her head and the other hand was down at her robe pulling it open. She quickly slipped a leg between Whistler's pushing just the slightest pressure to her core. "don't over think things."
With that Peterson gave Whistler a passionate kiss, slipping her tongue smoothly over Whistler's bottom lip. Even though it had all been unexpected, Whistler couldn't help but react, feeling an ache growing in her center. She hadn't had any romantic entanglements since Lucy and the hand running over her abdomen felt so good. Whistler leaned into this kiss, her mind going blank.
It wasn't until Peterson's hand slipped inside her bikini top cupping her breast and pinching her nipple that Whistler's brain kicked in. This was her boss… and she really did not need to complicate her life with another misplaced office romance. Not to mention, while her relationship with Lucy wasn't against policy, she had no doubt sleeping with her direct boss at DIA was.
"I…I…," Whistler tried as she pulled back from the kiss and gently pulled Peterson's hand from her breast. It was one of the hardest things she had to do as her body just wanted to give in. "I really don't think this is a good idea. And, I think you might have had a little too much to drink."
"Mmmm," Peterson replied, looking up and down Whistlers open robe. "Maybe I have had a little liquid courage, but I haven't stopped thinking about you since the first time I saw you. Your absolutely gorgeous." Peterson leaned in a kissed Whistler again.
Whistler got lost again in the kiss. She had to admit that she did find Peterson attractive, though she hadn't given it much thought before this. Whistler didn't register Peterson guiding her hand into Peterson's now unbuttoned pants and down her panties into her slick heat. "I'm so wet for you," Peterson whispered into Whistler's ear.
Whistler groaned and went into autopilot. She wasn't sure if she pushed, or Peterson pulled but they both ended up back on the couch. Whistler pumping to fingers into Peterson's heat. They were still kissing passionately as Peterson's hips bucked frantically.
"More, Katie, please. More." Whistler added a third finger in. She tried not to arch back as Peterson ripped off her bikini top and palmed her breasts. Gently pulling and massaging them. Her breasts had always seemed to be extra sensitive and tonight was no exception. It wasn't long before Peterson tightened around Whistler's fingers. Orgasm complete, Peterson pulled Whistler closer, chest to chest. She whispered in her ear, "I can't wait to taste you."
Whistler seemed to wake up with those words. Her hand flew to her mouth as she quickly pulled back and stood up. She had just slept with her boss. Everything had been going so good and she had messed it up again.
"Katie?" Peterson said sitting up noticing the panic in Whistler's eyes. "Katie, take a deep breath."
Whistler frantically jumped up. She quickly closed her robe, grabbing her bikini top, she rushed for the door.
"Katie!" Peterson jumped up too trying to catch her, but Whistler was too quick and was out the door before Peterson could stop her. "Shit!" Peterson yelled as the door closed.
