ALL'S NOT FAIR IN LOVE
Chapter 10 - Vacation At the Hamptons
They pull up outside a beautiful and stately house. Rick exits the car and Kate just looks for a moment at the mansion and it is mansion! Rick walks around to her side of the Mercedes to open the door. She's impressed. Alexis and Martha had spent time here on Rick's direction to be safe from the possible dirty bomb attack, so they left the house ready to receive still more guests. His mother and daughter made sure the refrigerator was stocked and their pantry filled.
"And here we are."
"Oh my gosh, Castle. This is your summer home. Wow!"
His beach 'home' had turned out to be a mansion, "Sometimes I forget how rich you are", Kate tells him.
"Well I'm not James Patterson rich, but I have done well with my writing."
Kate is looking at the huge mansion with long driveway and beach for a backyard. It is simply, in one word, stunning. She cannot find the words to describe it. Words were not adequate for the view of the home now before her.
"C'mon. I'll show you around."
He heads for the front door. She takes a second and keeps looking at the exterior. It's impressive, but something's off in her as she follows him.
Rick is giving Kate the grand tour of the interior of his Hampton Home and explaining how he decorated it, "After I finished remodeling the kitchen I swore I was done. But then my interior designer called, she said I had to tie in the living room so I did that, too. That led to the second floor and the guest bedrooms …", Kate hears Rick trail off his narrative.
Rick continues speaking, finishing his account of what he has done with his summer home. As they come down the stairs Rick speaks on, but Kate stops. She looks around. It's a grand place, beautiful. But there's still something off. She sighs, and Ricks realizes she's no longer behind him.
"You coming?"
She turns to him and forces a smile before following him outside.
"Yeah."
He holds the door open for her, but notices something is on Kate's mind.
"This is actually my favorite part. The sound of the ocean, completely private. Oh, yes, not to mention the serenity of this place. The pool is right down here. Most people find it magical. There's …"
He trails off again as he gets farther away from Kate when she doesn't follow him again. He stops and turns to her.
"Everything okay?"
She's almost startled that he's asking.
"Yeah. It's um … (she turns to look at the house again) … spectacular, Castle."
He walks back toward her. He's confused.
"And is that a problem?"
She takes a second to reply, "It's just … It's just that I can't help thinking how many other of your female guests have gotten this same tour."
"Oh, well, ... right!...(he lets out a breath)... look I'm not going to deny that I've brought other women up here. But ummh … (he takes her hand tightly) … none of them were you."
His comments pull her out of her angst. All during the tour, Kate could not but think of Gina and that last summer. Gina had come here when Kate missed that Memorial Day Weekend and was there in Kate's place. Kate should have been impressed by all this that past summer, if she had not wavered on her decision to be with Rick that holiday weekend. But now, Kate's the one here. She will enjoy this time with Rick and make up for what they missed that last summer.
She gives a small and affectionate kiss to Rick's lips, "But I think too much, so let's just leave that memory behind and enjoy this vacation together". Her remark lifts the tension of the revelation to Rick about her feelings for that last summer.
Their vacation days are relaxed. They started usually with a breakfast prepared by Rick and then dined in the backyard patio to the sound and sight of the waves hitting the beach. Afterwards they would go for a leisurely walk on the beach. Lunch found them also taking it on the patio, or, in town, at one of the posh restaurants that the Hamptons were known for having. Then on evenings when they did not dine at the mansion, it was a night out on the town, dinner, then on occasion, clubbing.
Evenings after dinner at the beach home are filled with DVD marathons, or reading from Rick's more than very adequate library. They were still sleeping in separate bedrooms. Kate using the best guest room with her own private ensuite with a tub! Rick knew how she loved taking long and leisurely baths, so made sure she got the room with the tub.
Kate one night realizes that Rick had not made any moves on her and wondered if it was because of what had happened with Josh. She wondered if she should make the first move and then decides not to force it. She would go with the flow and see where it went.
One morning before breakfast Rick tells her to pack a bag of change clothes, her bathing suit, and toiletries. He does not tell her why, it is a surprise he says. When they have collected what they needed, Rick has them head out.
They find themselves at the marina. The boats there are impressive to say the least. They walk down a pontoon section of the pier just admiring all the yachts docked there. Finally they come to one catamaran. It is a 47 footer, stateroom in each armas with ensuite head and shower. It is motorized and is driven by two large 450HP outboards one on each stern of the two hulls of the catamaran. The cockpit has galley, dining area, outside rear seating that can be adjusted to face forward or aft, and even unfolded for a sunning deck. The bow has seating facing each other on both sides of a central walkway. Those seats can also convert to sunning platforms.
"This one is mine", says Rick.
"Really? You own a yacht Castle. Now I am really impressed!"
"Well it is not a large yacht, but it will do for what I want", he gives her a tour.
"So where have you taken your yacht?"
"Up north to Boston and pass up the ST. Lawrence to the Great Lakes and Back. Down to Florida and the Keys and then the Caribbean?"
"Wow Castle, never figured you for a sailor. Why am I just now finding out about this?"
"Well, you will see it today. We will explore the coast going north, anchor in a little cove I know of and spend the night there before returning."
They quickly get under way. It is a beautiful day for a boat trip.
A Day And Night At Sea
They head out of the Marina with Rick at the helm. The sounds from the powerful outboards are not as loud as Kate expected. She learns later Rick had them fitted with silencers to lessen the engine noise. Once out of the marina and in open seas, Rick lets her steer, giving her a quick lesson on the basics.
"That's your compass, come to a heading due north, 360 degrees. Your throttle controls are there on your right. This boat can do 28 knots top speed but a that rate has only a range of 150 miles. At cruising speed of 6 to 8 knots the range more than doubles, about 320 miles. Throttle back to 3 to 5 knots for max endurance and get a range of 380 to 400 miles."
Kate steers and watches the compass come to the heading they want.
"Over here on this monitor is your GPS navigation showing your course and the surrounding seascape. The boat is equipped with 360 degree radar and that is what is shown on the screen. The boat is that ship emblem in the center of the display. Off to the left on the monitor screen is the coast, and dead ahead it looks clear", says Rick pointing at the image on the screen, "This is the auto pilot which I have set with our present heading. It will steer for us, so we can sit back and relax and just monitor our navigation and propulsion systems. Just stay here and monitor."
The galley is aft of the helm and Rick goes there to start breakfast. Twenty minutes later he comes back with two plates of bacon, eggs, hash browns, toast and two coffees. They eat at the helm station as they watch the progress of their journey.
Kate finds the boat ride exhilarating and driving the boat gives her a thrill similar to when she drives her Harley. She could get used to this as she sits back and monitors her controls. The catamaran is equipped with radios, and they were listening in on the Coast Guard frequency for any alerts that might affect them.
"So can this boat make an ocean voyage?, asks Kate.
"It was not meant for deep ocean trips but more for coastal trips plying the Inter Coastal Waterways. When I made the trip down to Florida and the Keys and then on to the Caribbean, we stopped at many marina's along the way to refuel and also to stay overnight. In the Caribbean this boat is ideal for island hopping which it was made for and does well."
By late noon they made it to the cove that Rick had spoken of and it had a small beach that was isolated and had dark sand. The beach was surrounded inland by high cliffs that had no natural path down to it so the only way to access the beach was from the ocean. They anchored and took the catamaran dingy to explore the beach. They had it to themselves and although far from the idylic white sand beaches of lore, it was still a good beach for relaxing. They had a picnic lunch on the beach. As the evening approached, they head back to the catamaran to take in the sunset. It was stunning and the view they had was spectacular.
Rick again cooked dinner. This time it was fried cod in a slight beer batter, rice pilaf, salad with breadsticks and topped off with wine. Dessert was carrot cake. The galley although small was fully equipped with even a small dishwasher. They eat in the dining area, which was directly opposite the galley on the starboard side.
Kate's wearing her French bikini which showed off her gorgeous body, and Rick's in beach shorts, no shirt, which revealed his wash board abs, manly chest with strong shoulders and arms. Kate found herself staring at Rick on several occasions. This was the closest they had come to seeing each other not fully dressed and Kate had to hold back her excitement. They had caught glimpses of this at the mansion when they tried out the pool, but now they had a longer and closer glimpse of each other in this abbreviated state of dress.
After dinner they talked and continued to finish their wine They were in the forward bow seating area, on the starboard side. Then they started making out. It began as innocent kisses between sips as they finished their wine. From there it had escalated. This time, however, Kate was not holding back. She normally stopped them before they went too far, but this time was different.
"Rick", she says, "make love to me."
"Are you sure Kate?"
"I want this, I want us. I'm ready Rick. I think I have been ready for this a while now."
Rick takes her hand and leads her down to the starboard armas and the cabin there. They shed their beach wear and then get in bed.
Their First Time As One
It is a night filled with passion and desire. Rick had waited patiently for Kate to get to this point that they were now at and the flood gates had opened. Their kisses are lustful with lots of tongue. Rick's hands are roaming all over her and Kate is doing the same. After almost four years of denying each other, the emotions erupt. It is like a spark igniting the flames of a wild fire. They cannot stop the strong desires that they had held back.
Kate had indeed taken her time to realize that it was Rick all along. But still, she had paraded men in front of Rick. First, her once carnal lover, Sorenson, then Demming, and lastly Josh. Rick knew them all. But she too had seen Rick with other women, including his ex's, Kyra Blaine the one who got away, and the woman who got Kate most jealous, Ellie Monroe. Rick had slept with Ellie before Kate found Demming. She felt hurt from Rick's actions with Ellie. Kate realizes now that Ellie had caused her to find comfort with Demming, so jealous had Kate been about Monroe's hookup with Rick.
Kate could not fathom how she had managed to stay away from Rick all this time. How she had managed to keep Rick at a distance. She had been both hot and cold for Rick not wanting to be a conquest, but still wanting to be with him. It had been ying and yang for them. Ellie Monroe and Tom Demming had been a bump in the road to her being with Rick. When she gave up Tom for Rick, she had been replaced by Gina. Then Josh became yet another bump in the road to becoming them. It was only when she realized that her strong affections were indeed love for Rick that she knew she needed to commit.
So here they are now. Kate had finally surrendered to her feelings for Rick. Their bodies are close together as they faced each other in bed. The feel of themselves so near has both of them softly panting and wanting more. They embrace and the touch of Rick's hairy chest pressing against her bare breasts feels so natural as Kate holds him tight against herself. She is safe and secure in his arms .
"Rick", she says breathlessly, "I want you. I need you inside me now!"
"Kate", he tells her, "let's not rush it. We need to savor this moment, it took so long to get to this place in our relationship. I want to relish this first time with you. We need to be slow and sensual and make our first time an event to be remembered."
Rick took his time at worshipping Kate's body, paying homage to her physically and getting familiar with her feel. Rick's hands are all over her, exploring every inch of her. Rick is storing that feel to muscle memory. His touch ignites Kate, and she senses the heat surging through her body and to her core. Her breathing is labored and occasionally let's out a sexy moan. Rick kisses her on the mouth and then explores her neck with his lips. He finds she is sensitive to those lips on the back of her neck between the space just at the base of her neck and before her back shoulder blade.
He moves down her body, slowly, touching every part of her; planting kisses all the way along her front until he reaches her core. He teases her there with both his tongue and lips as Kate's body responds when he finds her sweet spot, that most sensitive spot of hers. Rick feels her body shaking with desire, her groans so wanting now, so needy, as Rick continues to pleasure her there. Kate's arms at her sides now grab onto the sheets. She is hanging on but just barely. Kate is on fire, every part of her feels Rick's presence. God this man will be the death of her yet!
Rick loves the touch, taste, and scent of her. Rick is simply relishing this moment. He wanted to experience it slowly and make it last as long as he could. The feel of Kate's body, her sexy moans and groans, the jerk of her body shaking with desire, all drive his libido even higher. She is gorgeously naked and so much more seductive and sensual than he had dreamed she could be; a feast for his eyes. Her slender frame, her long sexy legs, the flat tummy, ample breasts, round hips, are more than a work of art. She is real and she is now with him. This woman is the only one who could affect him so strongly. After two ex's wives and numerous amorous encounters, Rick wonders how he had not found Kate sooner.
Finally, Kate cannot stand it any longer, she says in a subdued yell, barely getting out her words, so out of breath is she, "Rick please! I need you inside me. I want you, please stop teasing!"
"Patience Kate, all in due time."
Kate thinks again that she will not live thru this. Rick is making her feel things she has never felt with any man before. When Rick finally does enter her, he too can no longer hold back. After a short time his strokes become labored, unsteady, and he releases into her driving Kate over the top at the same time. Kate feels Rick spill his seed inside her and sees white, like a blinding light, her brain in a haze. She nearly passes out from the pleasure of her release. Their mutual climaxes are intense and heightens the moment, giving both a stronger sense of joining. They had now become as one in body and spirit.
It is an experience that neither has had with any past partner. It is the first time for both of them in having a mutual simultaneous orgasm with a lover. Both now know that this is it for them. This is what both had been waiting for in their lives. Their union confirms that theirs is meant to be. The universe had spoken and finally had brought them together! Despite all the turmoil, the ups and downs of their relationship, it all lead them to this one very incredible moment.
Their relationship had prevailed and now was consummated. None of Rick or Kate's other past 'first time' couplings could ever equal what they both had just experienced. This is their first night together in a carnal joining, celebrating their love! There could be no one else for each of them after this one union. It was so intense, leaving an indelible mark on their psyche, now affirming their commitment to one another. Never again would they remain separated, they now belong together.
As they descend from their high, they are laying exhausted in bed, spooning, as sleep comes to the two of them. They fall into a deep sleep to the rythmn of the ocean waves rocking their boat. They are both physically and emotionally spent; wrapped entangled with each another's body, arms and legs interlaced. It seemed so intimate, so natural, and so right!