JAG LAWYERS
Chapter 5 - The Santa Barbara Safari
Kate was getting ready for her Harley Safari ride to Santa Barbara with Dr. Josh Davidson. One of the main attractions for Josh that drew Kate's attention was the fact he drove a Harley. They both were Harley riders, Kate having bought a Harley Softail with the money made from her one and only modeling gig the summer before senior year of high school. Another draw Kate had with Josh is that little bit of a bad boy image in him, despite, him being a surgeon. Also apparently the doctor was well known with the female hospital nursing staff. Josh had dated most of them, Lanie had told her. Kate had always a thing for the leader of the pack which apparently Josh appeared to be.
So for the safari ride, hoping to capture Josh's interest, she wore skinny jeans with a bare midriff shirt that fit tightly on her and accentuated her figure and emphasized her breasts of just right portions, neither too small or too large. Fortunately she had packed her leather jacket which she wore over her revealing blouse. That gave her a teasing looking as if you caught a view when the front opened, you could spot her bare seductive tummy. To finish the outfit she wore low cut boots that she by luck had also packed thinking it a perfect accent to her leather jacket. She had dropped by the base exchange the other day and had purchased a two piece bikini for the beach as Josh had mentioned.
She recalls the advice Lanie Parish had once given her about choosing a bikini, 'it had to show enough to be interesting and revealing, but yet cover the bare essentials'. In matters of men and dating, Lanie had always been her go to gal during their college days.
That advice had been given to Kate when they had planned for their celebratory trip to Atlantic City after college graduation. This after they had also received their commissions upon completing NROTC at NYU. The Hotel they were staying at had a pool and she wanted to get Castle's attention when they used it! It did the job and by the time they headed back to their hotel rooms, both were eager for more. That night proved to be one of passion and surrender. Both had given in to their desire for the other. The morning after, both had tried to act normal, but Lanie caught on to it when she joined them for breakfast.
Upon seeing both Kate and Castle, Lanie says soft and low to her, "Girl, tell me you got your freak on with Castle!"
Kate does not respond but gives Lanie a look.
"Ah ha, I see that look, girl, way to go!"
Lanie turns to Rick and decides to tease him, "So how was your night Castle? Anything happen to give you that smile that you are trying so hard not to show?"
"I really don't know what you are trying to imply there Ensign Parish with that question", Rick reverting to Rank as they had just been commissioned as officers only days earlier.
"Okay be that way, but you know you can't fool me. I know what's going on here", Lanie says looking at Castle and then at Kate.
"What?", they both say in unison.
"Right!", Lanie replies to their query and gives them an eye roll.
Both Kate and Rick give out together a small laugh, almost a giggle, one might say.
After the Atlantic City celebration, they had met one last time before each of them heads out to their next assignment. Rick to Law School, Kate to Flight School, and Lanie to Med School.
That had been years ago and here Kate was now getting ready for a date with a man who is not Castle. Why were Rick and her not dating? Military regulations on fraternization was one reason, and they had followed that regulation to the letter during NROTC days. But yet Kate is set to go on a date with a military doctor. Rules related to fraternization within the military were easier to follow when the people involved were from different military units. The rules did not prohibit military personnel from dating and marrying one another as long as they keep professional on job, which was easier to do when each were from different military commands.
Yet the rules were often relaxed or rather circumvented by keeping the relationship hidden and being discreet about the union, particularly if the couple are in the same military unit. The show of Professionalism at all times had to be present to avoid talk and the gossip that one of them was getting preference due to the relationship, particularly if one of them was in a leadership position. Relationships between a very senior and a junior member was almost always a red flag for fraternization. With the junior often rumored to be sleeping one's way to the top or for favors on the job. Couples of equal rank normally did not send out an alarm, particularly if they kept it well hidden and the couple always behaved in a military manner when working together. PDA's at the unit were always to be avoided as it was a sure way to raise the issue of fraternization.
Both both Kate and Rick had followed the regulations on fraternization strictly when they were in the same NROTC unit, except for their one night together after commissioning. Both had never forgotten that night. It had relieved some of their longing for one another, but their unresolved sexual tension had always been with them throughout their NROTC time. They never sought to continue afterwards their joining from that one night into something more lasting and stable. The truth of the matter was that military relationships were more complicated than most relationships due to long separations, either by deployments, or overseas assignments in distant locations, and other such events that put a strain on a military couple's relationship. So the two had gone separate paths after their one night together. Still here was Kate getting ready to date a military man looking perhaps for a different outcome.
Kate had long avoided any such liaisons with any man, not only with other military, but also with her male friends who were civilians. That made for a solitary life and lonesome at times. So at this point in her life, Kate decided on a different course. So when the good doctor had shown interest in her, she returned it mutually. The dance between the two had begun! Still Kate was a little apprehensive as to where it might lead with the handsome surgeon.
She hears the knock on the door and grabs her backpack before answering the knock.
"Morning Kate, are you ready for this?", asks Josh, eagerness evident in his voice.
He is also wearing bike leathers and cuts a great profile. Although a surgeon, one could tell he kept in shape. They all had to as they needed to pass the annual Physical Readiness Test, but Josh was looking so hot in his leathers.
"Ready as I'll ever be, so let's head out", Kate replies to Josh.
They take the elevator down and head out to the parking lot.
When they get to his bike, Kate sees two bike helmets attached to the bike.
"Which one is mine?", she asks.
"This one", Josh says taking the helmet intended for her and handing it to Kate.
As Kate puts the helmet on, Josh helps her by brushing away some of her hair so she can get her head and into the helmet without her curls covering her eyes. When Josh does so, his fingers brush against her forehead and cheeks. With the touch, Kate feels the arousal in her core, it had been so long since a man had touched her in this manner, or any manner.
"Your skin is soft for a Marine. Isn't one of the names for Marines that of 'Leathernecks'? You don't fit that label."
Kate blushes from Josh's comment. There is a brief moment when their eyes meet and it is eye sex for the two.
"Well", says Josh clearing his throat, "let's get started."
"It's a beautiful bike Josh."
"Yes it is, but my passenger is even more beautiful", says Josh as he mounts the bike and Kate climbs on board behind him taking the back seat.
With his comment, Kate once again blushes and hopes Josh does not see the blush. Kate is often immune to such comments from her dates, but with Josh it is different.
Josh starts the bike and then says, "Hang on, here we go."
Kate hangs on tightly to Josh as they accelerate away. She grabs him around the waist and then leans into him. She can feels his back against her upper body. It is close and intimate and one reason why riding a bike as a couple could be almost erotic depending on the couple. A few minutes later they come to a location filled with other bikers on the safari who had gathered there. Quick introductions are made and then the Safari heads out to Santa Barbara.
Once at their destination the Safari group stops by one of those 'quick and go' stores to pickup supplies for the beach outing: hamburgers, hotdogs, buns, charcoal, chips, portable BBQ grill, some drinks, both soda and beer, and other items needed for the their beach party. Once at the group's favorite beach, they set up with military efficiency, volleyball net, fire pit and grill, shade canopy, chairs, and the like. Several of the bikers were towing small haulers made just for bikes and those carried the items too hard to carry on a bike in bike saddles, like the chairs and shade canopy. Once settled in, the beach party begins in earnest. It turns out to be an enjoyable day of fun and sun, lots of sun as is typical for Southern California.
Josh especially liked Kate's swimwear, which is precisely the reaction Kate had wanted. She undressed in front of Josh as she had the bikini under her street clothes. As her outfit came off, she could feel Josh's eyes on her. Not just Josh's eyes, but many of the male riders who had come unaccompanied. Fortunately for Josh, she was his date, so the other males stayed away, but the looks from them told it all. Kate was just simply one gorgeous woman who any man would have been pleased to be with her, let alone feel her hanging on to the man from the back of a Harley.
The day finishes quickly, much to the disappointment of many. They had not thought to bring tents and camp out on the beach then leave the next morning. This particular beach did allow camping on a first come first serve basis. As the group started to pack up and leave, others not of their group, were already pitching tents and getting ready to enjoy the sunset. They return to the Base hours after it got dark. Most of the ride had been at night. Once at the BOQ, Josh sees Kate to the door of her room.
"Thank you for the great day, I really appreciate you inviting me for the ride and beach outing", says Kate.
"The pleasure was mine. I would like to see you again Kate, maybe even start up a friendship."
"Let's just keep it simple for now. Remember, you are still part of my JAG investigation so we have to keep it professional, at least for now."
"So after the investigation?"
"Well, maybe. You do know what you are getting yourself into, right?"
"You mean the fact we are both military, I here in Camp Pendleton, and you in D.C."
"You got it Josh."
"I'm sure we could work it out if you are as interested in this as much as I am."
"Let me get back to you on that."
"Say you'll consider it seriously, Kate."
"Did I imply otherwise?"
"No."
"There you go then."
Josh makes a move to kiss her on the lips, but Kate puts her hand out and stops it.
"Professional till after the investigation."
"And then what, Kate?"
"I leave that to your imagination Dr. Davidson."
Josh smiles at the tease and then says, "Thank you for accepting my invite. See you later at the hospital?"
"Sure, why not!"
They say their good-by's and Josh heads to his room on the sixth floor of the BOQ. All in all it had been a great day. A day quite the likes of which Kate had not had in a while. That night the events of the Safari play out in a dream, but with one big difference. Her partner for the ride is Rick and not Josh. When they get to her room after the ride, Rick joins her in her room and they wind up in bed. But now Kate, in her dream, recalls how it was that one night with Castle. That tension that they had all thru college and how they had tried to relieve that tension with one night of mind blowing sex!
She wakes up in a cold sweat.
'My God', she thinks, 'did I just have a sex dream of being with Castle?'.
She feels like she is back in college, longing for Rick, but keeping it hidden. It seems her safari ride with one Josh Davidson may have awaken some latent desires she had about Rick Castle. What did her dream mean for Josh? What did it mean for Rick? And by all the gods in heaven, what did the dream say about her? She had not had a dream about Castle in quite a while, she had thought she was over him, but apparently not!
She tries to get back to sleep, but she tosses and turns for the remainder to the night. She wakes up that morning not ready for the day. She attempts to come out of it so she can function. She does not want Castle noticing her confused mood, but fortunately it is Sunday and she has a day to recover. She dresses for the day. Kate no sooner is dressed when she hears a knock on the door. She looks thru the peephole in her room door.
It's Rick Castle!
She opens her door and greets him, "Morning Castle, why are you here?"
"Thought maybe we could have breakfast and plan for Monday's activities. Jim will join us."
"Sure thing, let me grab my bag and we can head out."
'Oh my God', she thinks to herself, 'hope I can function and not seem out of it.' She was still recovering from her sex dream about Rick. So much for having a day to recover, she needed to pull herself together and quickly.