Closing her eyes and sighing quietly to herself, Helena felt John’s fingers, laced together with hers, slowly relax as he drifted further into sleep. She listened to his gentle breathing, now and then a soft snore, and mentally shook her head. She was beginning to think it was time for drastic measures.
Disengaging John’s relaxed grip on her hand, Helena sat, reached for her bathrobe and pulled it about her as she slipped feet into slippers and stood, walking away from their bed. It had been too many weeks to count since she and John enjoyed any… spontaneity or creativity in their sex lives. Sex was still good – it always had been – but it was also routine. There was no longer any challenge in finding time to be alone. Their relationship was no longer a closely guarded secret or even a secret. All of Alpha knew they were in love with one another, accepted it, and went on with their own lives.
Moving into the lounge area of their quarters, Helena sat on the couch, the bottoms of her feet resting on the edge of the coffee table. She folded her arms over her middle, closed her eyes and leaned back against the cushions. It hadn’t been an abrupt change in their sex life, but a slow one, brought about by extensive knowledge and research into what each other liked, and a content, familiar feeling, knowing that neither of them would be displeased with anything the other did. It was good, reliable, comfortable sex, but it was… routine. The intense passion was gone. Helena desperately wanted to regain some of that passionate spontaneity they’d experienced in the early days of their relationship.
It wasn’t that they hadn’t tried. She had. John had. She’d surprised John in several different ways on several different occasions. She’d borrowed lingerie from friends, reasoning something new and different would help. She’d even enticed John and seduced him in less than completely private – but well secured – areas. He’d arranged romantic getaways for them, had wined and dined and seduced her at the most unexpected times. Each of these variations worked – temporarily, but after a day or two, sometimes a week or so, they fell back into the same comfortable routine.
Helena opened her eyes and glanced back over her shoulder to where John slept soundly. She loved him desperately, did not want to be with anyone else, and would not trade the solid, secure relationship they shared for all the universe, but she also wanted variety, excitement, passionate surprises. Lowering her feet to the floor, Helena rose and walked back over to the bed. She stood beside it, watching John for a long moment. There was one thing she’d not yet tried – wasn’t sure she dared to try, but… it was a last resort. If it failed, she would resign herself to being content with what she had, but if it worked, it could remind them both of the intense passion she knew they were capable of… Yes, it was time for a last, desperate attempt to revitalize and re-energize their love life.
Smiling slowly, Helena dropped her robe on the end of the bed and crawled back under the covers beside John. He turned on his side toward her, reaching out for her even in sleep. Helena kissed the side of his head tenderly, but with determination reflecting in her eyes.
“Tomorrow night, John Koenig, will be one to remember.”
She smiled to herself, closed her eyes and cuddled close to John, drifting off to sleep.
* * * * * * * * * *
Sitting behind the desk in her Medical Center office, Helena studied the data displayed on the screen before her. It was a minute, detailed chemical analysis of Taybor’s perfume, and she wanted to be absolutely certain there would be no permanent or harmful side effects before she proceeded with her plan. Everything seemed to be well within safety factors, and Helena made her decision. She was going to do it. She was going to use the perfume Taybor had given her in an attempt to spark things up between John and herself.
Sending her computer screen to sleep, ignoring the screen saver adventure unfolding on her monitor, Helena sat back in her chair, clearly recalling the effect that perfume had on John – and herself – the one time she’d used it. They’d never learned what else it could have done for them, as John realized it manipulated the senses, and overcame its effects before Taybor could permanently abduct Maya. Later, when John asked her about it, she’d firmly told him they didn’t need Taybor’s perfume. And they hadn’t – then – but that was when their relationship was still relatively fresh; new to them both. Now… just a very small drop or two, to see what happened; a variation on the sexual experiments most every couple undertook to discover what worked best for them.
Sitting forward, Helena reached to her bottom desk drawer and pulled it open all the way. In the far back corner, behind some rarely used data file disks, in a strong, locked box, was the container of perfume. Helena placed it there for safe keeping when she realized the potential it had, the possibilities it could create, and the confusion, perhaps danger it could cause should the perfume somehow be introduced to any of Alpha’s environmental systems.
Gently removing the box from the drawer, Helena placed it before her on the desk, her hands resting gently on the lid. Not for the first time she wondered why Taybor hadn’t taken the perfume back when he returned all the other items that Alphans traded to him. Perhaps because it was a gift rather than a trade. Or perhaps because it suited his purposes to have the perfume on Alpha – in her possession. Maybe he thought… Helena shook her head. Who knew why Taybor left it, or what the trader thought might happen to it. The fact was it was still on Alpha and at her disposal – if she had the fortitude to use it. Nodding firmly to herself once, Helena keyed the lock combination and opened the box. She had the fortitude, the courage… and the desire.
Gently Helena Russell lifted the delicate perfume bottle from the cushioned storage box and studied it. She only needed a very small amount – a drop or two -- and did not want to risk taking the entire bottle from the safety of her office. Reaching across her desk, Helena brought the items she would need closer and arranged everything carefully.
Taking a deep breath, Helena placed the perfume container on the desk. With the same care, precision and absolute accuracy she would use when operating on a patient or administering medication, Helena proceeded to transfer a small amount of the glistening liquid from the bottle to the very small vial she would use to transport the perfume from her office to her quarters.
The task finished, Helena re-stoppered the bottle, and returned it to its cushioned safety inside the box. She closed and locked the box, unaware a minute drop had fallen from the end of the eye-dropper she’d used. The tiny bead soaked into the sleeve of her blue jacket, but did not penetrate to touch her uniform sleeve.
Satisfied with the accomplished effort, Helena discarded the eye dropper, making certain it would not be re-used and thus possibly contaminate something else. She sat for a moment, then put the tightly sealed vial into her jacket pocket and returned to her duties. She had patients to see, so removed her blue jacket and hung it on the back of her chair. Reaching for her white lab coat, Helena pulled it on and headed for the office door, taking one glance backward. The vial would be safe in her jacket until she got off duty and could return to her quarters.
* * * * * * * * * *
The bustle of shift change over with, Helena left her office ninety minutes later than she normally would. She’d deliberately waited for the halls to be less busy, for most of the Alphans to be where they were going, so she would risk meeting very few and risk an even smaller chance of endangering the vial she carried.
As she stepped into the travel tube, Helena smiled quickly at a couple of Alphans who were getting off. The man’s eyes grew wide and he turned to intently watch her as she moved further into the car and the doors closed behind her. Taking a seat across the aisle from two Eagle technicians, Helena smiled a greeting to them, then turned her gaze on the now memorized map of the travel tube system that was displayed on the plastic panel above the seats.
Helena was having momentary second thoughts about her plans for that evening. How would John react when he learned she’d seduced him with an aphrodisiac? And not just any aphrodisiac, but the one Taybor had given her in order to keep them both distracted from his true intentions – of kidnapping Maya. John would probably be less than pleased but, Helena hoped, the pleasures of the evening would counterbalance – perhaps even outweigh – his irritation. Unable to prevent herself, Helena smiled, her imagination taking over. The one and only time she had used the perfume, she and John had been interrupted before anything could even begin to happen. Tonight, she hoped, would be much different.
Aware of restless movements in the car, Helena blinked and glanced across at the two sitting opposite her. They were both staring at her with wide, intense, almost desirous gazes. There was clearly lust in their eyes and it was aimed at her. Taking a deep breath, Helena met their gazes levelly, until they blinked and finally glanced away, but they were still restless and continued to stare at her, although not quite so obviously.
Knowing her stop was nearing, Helena sat forward, prepared to stand when the car slowed to a halt. That movement caused one of the men to gasp and from the corner of her eye, she saw his hands clench while the other just stared openly. Ignoring them, Helena stood and moved to the door, relieved when the car stopped and she was able to leave them behind.
Wondering what was going on, Helena stepped to the far side of the hallway and slipped her hand into her jacket pocket. Her fingers wrapped around the perfume vial and she checked to be certain the top was on securely. It was. Beginning to fear that simply being around the perfume could cause a reaction, realizing that two others passing her in the hallway were giving her long, lingering stares, Helena nodded to them and walked past, headed in the direction of her quarters. As she passed, she could feel their eyes on her and over heard their whispered exchange.
“I never realized how hot Doctor Russell is. And she doesn’t even try, not really I mean. She’s just… hot.”
“Yeah, too bad she and Koenig are so tight, otherwise I’d like to get her between my sheets.”
“I wonder just how tight she…”
Helena was grateful she’d moved out of ear shot. This was not supposed to be happening. But obviously it was. The pilot who’d stared at her when she boarded the travel tube, the two Eagle techs in the car, and now these two… All were having a reaction to her that could only be caused by the perfume. These men had all known her since before Breakaway. They had casually checked her out but never shown more than mild interest and immediately backed off as soon as her relationship with John became apparent. Yet now… It had to be the perfume, but how? She’d taken extreme care not to spill the perfume, not to get any on her skin. The perfume’s scent wasn’t that strong or cloying, it wasn’t so overpowering that it could be clinging to her hair or clothes. But something was arousing their interest.
Rounding the corner to the hallway leading to her quarters, Helena Russell removed her comlock, holding it ready so when she neared her door, she could open it and slip quickly into the safety of private rooms. Isolated from the rest of the base, Helena smiled. John was in a late meeting. She still had time to make everything just so. Turning her full attention to her plans for the evening, Helena temporarily pushed aside all thoughts but those of preparing for John’s return.
* * * * * * * * * *
Unaware of the full impact just being near her had on those she passed, Helena continued her preparations in her quarters. Elsewhere on the base, the effects of Taybor’s perfume were being experienced. Several had sought out their mates or significant others and were re-kindling the passion of their relationship – whether it needed it or not. In private quarters, a number of erotic fantasies were being enjoyed and for some, erotic thoughts and desires were being explored.
As he left his meeting and headed back toward his quarters, John Koenig was a bit puzzled by the reactions he got as he passed two Eagle techs in the hallway – the same two who had shared the travel tube with Helena a bit earlier. They first gave Koenig long, knowing, meaningful smiles, then turned away. He could have sworn they were blushing and giggling.
When John turned down the hall leading to his quarters, he began to forget how tired he was and wondered if Helena were off duty and back in their rooms. He was anxious to see her, to be with her.
Opening the door to their quarters, John stepped through, closed and locked the door behind him. Impulsively he engaged the privacy setting, which would keep them from being disturbed except in extreme emergencies. It was then the romantic setting Helena had established registered on his brain. Quite suddenly he was in the mood for a long, slow, romantic, passionate evening.
Hearing movement across the room, John stepped further inside, his gaze resting on Helena. She was standing near the couch, hair falling softly about her face. The room lighting was set to a subdued, romantic level – bright enough so he could see her clearly but low enough so the sheer negligee she wore shimmered in the pale light, hinting at but not fully revealing what was beneath the fabric falling suggestively about her figure.
“… Helena…”
She gave John a long, slow smile, stepping toward him gracefully. As she moved nearer, John felt his earlier thoughts and desires strengthen and re-enforce themselves.
“Good evening, John.”
She stepped close enough for John to wrap her in his embrace, their mouths meeting in a slow, passionate kiss. John felt his legs begin to tremble when they separated, and he deeply breathed in the scent she wore. It was so familiar to him yet slightly, erotically different.
“You look so beautiful tonight, Helena.”
“Hmmmm, thank you.”
She was nuzzling his neck while her fingers deftly released the catch on his belt and allowed it to slide to the floor, pushing it aside with her foot. Nearly before he realized it, Helena had slipped John’s jacket from his shoulders and was working on his uniform tunic. John was hoping she would move to the fastening on his pants next, but instead Helena stepped back and met his gaze, her eyes smoldering with desire. John reached out to her, but she caught his hand, entwining her fingers with his, then slowly walked away from the couch and toward the bedroom, pulling him along with her – not that John needed any encouragement to follow.
Koenig hazily thought to himself – as he watched Helena before him – that he vaguely recalled feeling like this once or twice before, but never with this intensity, and at the moment he didn’t care to pursue the memory. He had far more immediate things on which to concentrate.
Helena stopped just short of the bed, smiling to herself when John stepped up behind her, pressing his chest against her back. She drew his arms about hr waist and leaned back against him. His lips were caressing the side of her neck, her shoulders, the nape of her neck. She lightly ran her fingers along his hands and arms, gently guiding his hands higher, until they cupped and caressed each breast. She moaned softly, with intense pleasure, and allowed the thin straps of her negligee to fall from her shoulders. The material slipped to the floor, no longer a barrier between his gentle but ardent caresses and her highly sensitive skin.
Reaching around behind her, Helena began to unfasten John’s pants, feeling his readiness for her straining against the cloth. But not yet. This was to be a long, slow, passionate seduction. They had all night. There was no need to rush anything.
Taking a deep breath, John moved away from Helena long enough to step out of his pants and shorts. He wanted to take her right then, but forcibly controlled himself. They wouldn’t be disturbed, they had all night and there was no reason to rush anything. Smiling gently, John reached for Helena’s shoulders and turned her to face him. Her eyes glinted with a desire equal to his own, and he stepped closer again, enfolding her in his embrace.
Light, gentle, teasing caresses played up and down his back, sending a tingle through John’s body. The magic Helena worked with her hands and fingers on his back was mirrored and echoed by the light, tantalizing kisses she placed on his face, neck and chest. He moaned in ecstasy, fearing he could stand it no longer. Helena met his gaze slowly, smiling with understanding, but she did not cease her caresses or kisses.
“Helena…”
It was a whispered plea but she was in no mood to be rushed and simply smiled at John when she raised her gaze to meet his. Instead of verbally answering, she grasped his hand and guided it to where she wanted it, encouraging him to return her caresses. He sighed heavily with pleasure. He was at her mercy and in ecstasy.
Sensing her own needs were nearly on the edge, Helena kissed John ardently, then lowered them both to the bed, stretching out beneath him and welcoming him into her embrace. Their mouths met again, tongues seeking, encountering. When the moment finally came, John’s penetration of her was agonizingly slow. He slid into her centimeter by centimeter, waiting, gauging, adjusting, to give them both as much pleasure and passion as possible. Helena gasped when his entrance was complete, knowing the sensations had only begun.
Kneeling over Helena, her legs about him, John stared down at her, brushing the hair back from her face. Her eyes were half closed, waiting, anticipating, savoring. With deliberate slowness John began to work his magic on Helena, kisses and caresses accenting and intensifying the movements of his hips. Her gasps of pleasure only encouraged him.
“John…”
Helena’s voice was a throaty, breathless caress and John felt a surge rush through him, but did not allow himself to release it. Instead he moved rhythmically, pausing briefly now and then to place a kiss or caress where he knew it would inflame her. Helena in turn fondled and stroked John, arms and legs holding him to her tightly. Not enough to restrict his freedom of movement but enough to make the lubricated friction between them intensify. His answering moans and grunts let her know their climax was steadily building. She tightened herself around him, resisting and welcoming at the same time.
The ecstatic agony surged through John with a force he’d never before experienced, and he hazily realized it coursed through Helena with equal intensity only a breath later. It drove them together with a force that caused a silent cry of expected but more intense than anticipated ecstasy to escape them both. Then it repeated itself, Helena convulsing around John as he pushed into her again and yet again.
As the passion slowly abated, Helena held John to her firmly, his mouth caressing her face, neck, chest and breasts; tongue teasing already extremely excited nipples. A breath caught in her throat as she felt John leave her and stretch out along the length of her body. She turned on her side, into his embrace, and met his wide, intense, disbelieving gaze.
“Are you all right?”
“Hmmm, I’m wonderful, John.”
“I can honestly say I have never before experienced anything like that.”
Helena chuckled softly and began to trail soft kisses across his chest.
“Mmmmmm,… Good.”
The deep intake of breath from John let Helena know she was doing just what he wanted her to do, and she reached for his hands, entwining his fingers with hers, then rolled him onto his back. Slowly Helena stretched out on top of him. She kissed him deeply then raised slightly to meet his eyes.
“May I have the honor of this seduction, sir?”
John could only nod as Helena trailed her kisses down his chest, along his sides, her tongue flicking across his nipples. He groaned with pleasure, feeling himself respond to her stimulation. Helena moved upward again, seeking his mouth. He raised his head to meet her kiss, then nuzzled against her neck, tongue trailing along her ear, across her jaw and down to her shoulder. As he kissed the pulse on her throat, John felt his passion and desire levels take a jump. Helena chuckled slightly as she held him to the bed, anticipating and savoring the sensations she too was experiencing.
Sitting slightly, Helena straddled John, still holding his hands firmly with hers. She leaned forward, just far enough to dangle her breasts over his mouth, his tongue darting out to flick against her erect nipples, now and then placing a nip or nibble where it would entice her even more. When Helena finally lowered herself onto John, his control was nearly gone and they tumbled into sated relief more quickly than before. Breathing slowly to calm her racing heart, Helena met John’s gaze with a slow, seductive smile. He took a deep breath and reached to pull her into his embrace, holding her close until his breathing had slowed enough to allow him to speak.
“I need to rest.”
“Mmmmmhmmmmm.”
She nodded drowsily against his neck and wrapped her arms about him. It wouldn’t be for long. She didn’t want to waste any of the perfume’s potency.
Exhausted by their night of passion, marveling at each others’ seemingly endless reserves of energy and desire, John and Helena finally drifted into a light sleep in the very early ours of the Alphan morning.
Startled awake by the erotic dream he was having, John glanced over at Helena as she lay beside him, feeling himself respond to her nearness. He reached out to fondle her naked breast, having lost count of how many times they’d made love in the last few hours. He’d been truthful when he told Helena he’d never before experienced anything like what they’d shared that night, and vaguely, in the back of his mind, wondered about it; curious as to the stamina he exhibited, but it was a fleeting thought. Helena was awake now, returning his caresses.
Their passion and need built slowly, with more gentleness and less urgency than earlier, but with as much intensity and desire. When he finally eased into her, there was no overwhelming explosion, were no cries of nearly unendurable ecstasy, but soft moans of deep, intense pleasure. Their climax was gentle, satisfying, mutual, then they slept curled in each other’s embrace for the rest of the night.
* * * * * * * * * *
Waking slowly, reluctant to move, Helena cracked her eyes open and looked across at John. He slept on his stomach, face turned into the pillow. She smiled and ran a light finger over his back. That caused him to stir and turn over, opening his eyes to her gentle kiss.
“John…”
“Please tell me last night was not a dream.”
“Hmmmm, it was all very real, John.”
“That means this morning is also real and we have to be back on duty soon.”
“… Yes.”
Koenig sighed heavily as he studied Helena’s face, watched her contented gaze wander over him, fingers gently caressing the areas she knew caused him the most pleasure – and arousal. Reluctantly he caught her hands, brought them to his mouth and kissed them, slowly shaking his head.
“You take the first shower. It’s going to be awhile before I can move.”
Helena smiled, then slowly, seductively rose from the bed, glancing over her shoulder with an inviting look as she walked toward the bathroom. She heard John groan in response, but he did not join her.
Stepping into the stream of warm water, Helena allowed it to wash over her, almost relieved John had not joined her. She wasn’t sure she could take any more. She’d wanted passion and excitement – and she’d certainly gotten it. Helena used only a very small, miniscule amount of the perfume, and the results far exceeded her hopes and expectations. But now it was confession time. She must tell John what she had done and hope he wouldn’t be too upset with her. Reaching for the soap, Helena began to wash herself, taking special care with the areas where she’d applied the perfume. She didn’t want a repeat of the incidents in the hallway and travel tube from the day before.
John met Helena at the bathroom door and gave her a long, appreciative kiss as she stepped out and he entered. She heard the shower go on and sighed, glancing about the room a bit. They’d confined their activities pretty much to the bed. Picking up her negligee, Helena shook it out, then folded it and put it away. She moved to the closet, reaching for her uniform. Both it and her blue jacket were still clean enough to be worn a second time, and she had just finished dressing when John emerged from the bathroom, his towel dried hair still in need of combing.
“Do we have time for breakfast? I seem to be extremely hungry.”
Helena chuckled as she adjusted her uniform belt, then slipped on her jacket.
“So am I. We’ll just have to make time.”
Koenig smiled and crossed to her, arms encircling her waist as their gazes met. He shook his head.
“Helena, I… I don’t know where to begin, what to say. Everything that comes to mind sounds so clichéd, or trite. I do love you.”
She smiled and slipped her arms around John’s neck, feeling his embrace of her tighten.
“And I love you, John. That’s why I have to tell you that last night…”
Her statement was silenced when John covered her mouth with his, allowing his bathrobe to gap open. Amazingly he was becoming aroused again, almost as quickly and strongly as early in the evening when the perfume’s effects had been at their peak.
“John…”
“Oh, Helena, I want you.”
She felt herself responding as well and quickly helped John to get her out of her uniform. The urgency was back as they sank to the floor, arms and legs entwining, mouths meeting in hungry and passionate kisses. As soon as they were both ready, John took her there on the floor, bodies moving in unison until the climax soared through them both, slowly, gradually fading to only a distant need.
Her breathing nearly returned to normal, John looked over at Helena to see sudden comprehension in her eyes. That puzzled him and he sat slowly, reaching for her, helping Helena to sit up as well. Before he could speak, Helena raised a hand to his mouth to still his question.
“John… last night I used some of Taybor’s perfume.”
His eyes grew wide, suddenly comprehending himself.
“I know we agreed it should be kept under lock and key, but…”
“Helena, I understand.”
“You do?”
“Yes. I’ve been frustrated by the lack of passion in our sex life lately too, but… I hesitated to say anything, not knowing how to remedy it.”
“I should have told you I wanted to do this before I did it.”
“Yes, but I’m not sorry about any of this, Helena. It certainly gave us both a generous helping of the potential we have. How much did you use?”
“A drop, maybe two.”
John whistled long and low, shaking his head.
“Talk about potent, and long lasting.”
He cast his gaze over both of them as they sat on the floor, clothing strewn about them. Helena smiled ruefully as she shook her head.
“Not quite that long lasting. I took a shower, remember?”
“Then… this was just us?”
Regretfully Helena shook her head and pointed toward the discarded jacket.
“Maybe, but I’m more inclined to think I may have accidentally gotten some of it on my jacket yesterday when I transferred the little bit I used from the perfume bottle to a vial. It would explain the… interest I attracted from several men when I came back here after duty. I couldn’t figure out what was causing it yesterday, but seeing your reaction when I was wearing the jacket brought it all together for me.”
“Helena, don’t you dare wear that jacket outside these quarters again!”
She shook her head, chuckling, giving John a smile that made him slightly nervous.
“I won’t John. This is for you alone.”
She rose to her knees, leaned forward and kissed him gently. He caught her head with his hands, pressing her close, then met her gaze tenderly.
“Last night was wonderful, Helena, but I hope it never happens again. I hope we never need Taybor’s perfume again.”
“I understand what you’re saying, John, and we won’t need it again. The memory alone will be stimulation enough.”
He raised his eyebrows at her pun, then handed her uniform back to Helena as she began to gather up the various pieces, making certain to leave the jacket unused. When they were both dressed and nearly ready to leave, John stood near where the blue jacket hung in the closet, contemplating it. He turned to face Helena.
“Why do you suppose Taybor left that perfume behind when he took back everything else?”
“I’m nearly afraid to consider the possibilities, or his motives, John.”
“Helena, should we permanently dispose of the rest of that perfume? I mean, if it should accidentally be introduces into the water or air filtration systems…”
Helena had moved up to stand beside John, her arms about his waist as she leaned into his embrace.
“Do you really want to get rid of it?”
He glanced away from her, toward the jacket, then back to meet the smoldering fire in Helena’s gaze. He shook his head.
“No.”
John kissed Helena and held her close, believing he could almost detect very faint traces of the scent still on her skin. Maybe it was just in the air of their quarters. And it wouldn’t be so terribly bad if some small trace of the perfume reached other areas of the base. It would be diluted, the potency much weaker. It was selfish not to share. John smiled with the thought. It would be a great boost to morale. When he eased away, Helena smiled into his eyes.
“Still want breakfast?”
“Yes. Come on.”
He took her hand and led her to the door, putting his arm about her waist as they left. Helena glanced back over her shoulder and smiled. She was certain their relationship would never suffer for lack of passion again.
Amanda Russell
January 19, 1998