Closing the file, then the window on his computer screen, John Koenig sat back in the passenger seat of the Eagle. He frowned, not liking what he'd just seen. The data was a continuation of that which Helena had shown him a few months ago; medical information and test results she'd been keeping on the Meta probe astronauts. John was glad he was on his way to Alpha to see her, hoping that, together and in person, they might make some progress in figuring out just what the data indicated.
Koenig smiled. This was assuming, of course, they ever got around to talking 'business'. Officially he was headed to Alpha for more work on the Meta Probe. He was to be there for eight days, and he'd been careful to arrange his trip to the moon so it coincided with Helena's birthday, which just happened to be the next day, August 5. Unofficially he planned to make Helena's birthday a very memorable one, and had brought along several items to make sure of it. On his last trip up, John had learned of Helena's need for chocolate at certain times of the month. She'd been suffering a severe case of PMS, and the only thing she had really wanted was chocolate. She'd barely let him touch her last time, and there had certainly been no 'nookie', as Alan called it. But if his calculations were correct, this would not be 'that time of the month'. Still, just to be safe, the birthday cake he was bringing to her was something the bakery had named 'Chocolate Orgasm'. Considering Helena's fondness for both those things, John knew it was just the right cake for her.
The cake, which was supposed to serve four, was frozen, packed in dry ice, and encased in bubble memory to keep it from being damaged during transport. The package took up almost half of the room in his flight bag, and her gifts took up another quarter of the room, but he didn't care. John thought it more important to bring the cake and gifts for Helena than for him to have enough socks and underwear so he wouldn't have to wash out a pair of each every night.
Forcing his thoughts away from Helena and orgasms, chocolate or otherwise, John turned his mind again to the information he'd just reviewed. Alan had given him the disk during their brief twenty minute consultation on Earth. Their meeting was less than private and when John accepted the disk labeled 'Meta Probe Flight Training - Monthly Report', John knew it contained more information than the official reports he got through channels. He didn't like what he'd seen, and was anxious to talk with Helena about it, hoping she would have some further insights, or at least be able to make an intelligent guess or just have a hunch as to what the rising numbers meant.
It was still several hours until they reached Alpha, so John sat back, relaxed and closed his eyes. He hoped to catch a nap, because he had a feeling he wouldn't be getting much sleep that night.
Flight bag in one hand, his laptop in the other, John Koenig was about to leave the Eagle reception area when his commlock beeped. He moved off to the side of the room so he was away from the main traffic flow and answered the device.
"Koenig."
"Captain, this is Jenkins, down in cargo. May I ask a favor, sir?"
"What is it?"
"We have a package here for Doctor Russell - says urgent and immediate on it, but we're swamped down here. Since it's a personal item rather than a medical one, it could be a couple of days before we can get it to her. A note attached to the shipping orders says the bloke who sent it was very insistent she receive it immediately; surly and rude about it even. We were wondering... hoping... could you take it to her, seeing you're, um.. sorry sir."
John smiled and shook his head. It was not all that surprising that most of the base knew he and Helena were seeing each other.
"It's all right, Jenkins. May I ask who the package is from?"
"Says... Thompson, R."
John nodded. Helena's father. It didn't surprise him at all that Thompson had been surly and insistent about the package, considering his intense dislike of astronauts in particular and the space program in general. It had to really eat at the man that his daughter was part of the space program, and was 'dating' an astronaut, even though he and Thompson had reached a kind of understanding earlier that year. It gave John a kind of perverse pleasure to be able to deliver Thompson's package to Helena in person.
"That's Doctor Russell's father. Sure, I'll be glad to take the package to her. Be right down."
"Thanks, Captain."
Jenkins signed off, John returned the commlock to his belt, and headed for the lift. He would love to see Thompson's reaction when he learned Koenig had delivered his birthday gift to Helena.
===================================
Koenig keyed in the privacy code to Helena's quarters and entered quickly. He heard the lock click as the door closed behind him.
"John..."
Helena stood across the room from him. She wore a very short green satin and lace negligee. It accented her eyes. Their gazes met across the distance and John felt his breath catch in his throat, his heart begin to beat more quickly. He placed his flight bag and computer on the floor and hurried over to Helena, enfolding her in his embrace, knowing he'd been right before - he was going to get very little sleep.
Helena wrapped her arms around John's neck and kissed him hungrily. She took a step or two backward so she could lean against the wall, pulling John with her, then she guided his hand under her negligee and to her hot, moist, eager flesh. John knew what to do, what she liked, and Helena moaned deeply as he caressed and stroked her.
Helena's hands were at John's waist, removing his uniform belt, unfastening his trousers, lowering them and his undershorts. He was almost as ready and eager as she was, and it didn't take long before Helena stoked John's penis to a hard, throbbing erection.
"I've missed you, John."
"Helena..."
"Let me make up for last time."
He moaned and nodded as he slipped the satin straps of her negligee from her shoulders, exposing her breasts, her nipples hard with her excitement. His other hand remained between her legs, and Helena leaned back against the wall, raising her leg to wrap it around John's knee and calf. She felt her orgasm to be very near and whispered in John's ear as he sucked and nibbled her nipples.
"Oh, God, John... don't waste this... I want you inside me..."
He raised his head enough to meet her gaze, realizing she was very close to the edge. He looked around, but the bed was several feet away, and the couch even further. He kissed Helena deeply and lowered them both to the floor. Helena lay on her back and spread her legs wide. John entered her with a long, deep thrust and held her tightly as she cried out his name, her entire body shuddering as her orgasm thundered through her.
When Helena began to calm, John began thrusting into her more quickly. She gripped his shoulders and held on tightly as John exploded inside her, sending her over the edge a second time.
Slowly John regained his breath. He raised his head and met Helena's gaze. Her smile told him she'd only just started to make up for last time. He grinned, rolled off her, and shed the rest of his clothing. John stood, pulled Helena to her feet and wrapped his arms about her waist. He steered her over to the bed, where they spent the rest of the night making up for last time.
=========================================
John woke slowly. He glanced at the bedside clock, then smiled. It was early still, and neither he or Helena had to be on duty for a couple of hours. It was also her birthday, and he knew the perfect way to start the day off in a very good way. Turning on his side to face Helena, who was also sleeping on her side, John reached out to lightly caress her neck. She stirred and mumbled but did not awaken. Slowly John began to remove the sheet from her body. He eased it over the curve of her shoulder, down her arm and over her chest. Then he moved closer, rose up and began kissing his way down her body, starting with her cheek. By the time he reached her shoulder, Helena had rolled onto her back.
She smiled at the sensations she was experiencing and cracked her eyes open a bit, a delighted sigh escaping her parted lips. John glanced up and met her sleepy gaze, smiling.
"Happy Birthday."
"Mmmmm..."
John wasn't sure if her response was a protest at being another year older or encouragement for him to continue with what he was doing. He decided to take it as the latter, and if not, he was determined to distract Helena from the former.
Returning to his caresses of her exposed skin, John placed light kisses on Helena's collarbone, then across her chest. His hands gently stroked up and down her arms, his kisses finally moving to her breasts. He glanced up to see that Helena was simply laying back against the pillows, enjoying his attentions. He chuckled, then placed a long, lingering kiss on each nipple, smiling as they grew hard under the touch of his tongue.
Again Helena moaned, this time in definite encouragement. John's hands moved lower on Helena's torso, lightly caressing across her stomach, then lower still, gently parting her thighs as his fingers encountered her curly patch of hair. He kissed lower, following the path of his hands, tracing gentle patterns on the insides of her thighs. He felt Helena pull in a deep breath as he ran his thumb along the moist edges of her genitals. Smiling as she parted her thighs more widely, John rose up and his knees and moved to kneel between her open legs. He was already hard, and could sense Helena was ready for him, but he wanted to take his time. He allowed his hands to gently caress her thighs, her hips, moving up over her stomach and up to her breasts, then back down again. Helena moaned her pleasure and need, lifting her hips slightly to let John know she wanted him inside her.
Finally he was ready. John slid into her slowly, Helena gasping her pleasure and need as his first thrust sent shivers through her. She opened her eyes to meet his gaze, her fiery passion smoldering just below the surface, waiting for him to unleash it.
John moved within her slowly, deliberately taking his time, building Helena to her climax gradually. When he felt she was on the edge, he began to move more quickly, his thrusts becoming deeper and longer in duration.
Helena's bent knees parted further, and she brought her long legs up to wrap around John's waist, urging him inside her deeper still. Bending low, John brought his mouth down to Helena's breasts. He touched her nipples with his tongue, smiling when they became even harder. Gently he nibbled and sucked one, then the other, smiling as Helena moaned beneath him. She could no nothing but respond to the sensations washing over her. John pushed into her long and deep. Helena gasped, breath caught in her throat as her orgasm sent wave after wave of pleasure through her. She cried out John's name as he started to move within her again, prolonging her climax and heightening the sensations that swept over her, leaving Helena breathless and glowing.
When she could breath normally again, Helena opened her eyes and found John staring down at her. He smiled, kissed her, and once more began to thrust inside her. In a matter of moments she was feeling the beginnings of another orgasm take hold. She gasped loudly, and clamped her muscles around John's thrusting penis. They came together and rode the waves until both could once again breath normally. Opening his eyes, John smiled down at Helena and reached up with one hand to caress her cheek, push sweat dampened hair out of her eyes. He kissed her tenderly.
"Happy Birthday, my love."
"Hmmmmm,.... thank you."
John rolled away and gathered Helena into his arms, suddenly remembering the gifts he'd brought for her, as well as the package he'd picked up the day before that he was to deliver to her. He glanced at the clock and decided gifts would have to wait until later, for if they didn't get up soon, they would both be late for duty. John didn't want that, for it would interfere with his plans for a more formal but very private birthday celebration later that evening.
Reluctantly John sat up. Helena protested by reaching out and trying to pull him back down beside her, but he shook his head. He placed a long kiss on her mouth, then each breast and stood.
"Sorry. If we're late for duty, Gorski will have our butts in a sling." Helena made a face, disliking even the mention of the current base commander.
"That is definitely not where - or how - he wants my butt, but I see your point."
John frowned as he pulled Helena to her feet and held her close, trying very hard to ignore the feel of her skin against his.
"Is he still harassing you?"
"Not as badly as before. Your... discussion with him has made a world of difference. However, now he's being very... subtle, very discreet about it. I think half the reason he won't let me share most of my findings regarding the Meta Probe astronauts is because I won't sleep with him."
"I can initiate another dialogue with him -- it will be my pleasure."
Helena shook her head and wrapped her arms around John's neck, pressing her body against his.
"No. It will only make him angrier and more jealous, knowing that you are repeatedly getting exactly what he wants."
"Mmmmm, and I'm the luckiest man in the entire solar system."
Helena nuzzled John's neck as her hand slid down his chest to his groin and his partially erect penis. It didn't take much encouragement on Helena's part before his fully hard erection let them both know they'd have to skip breakfast. John met Helena's hungry gaze as he caressed her breasts.
"It will have to be quick."
Helena raised her foot from the floor to the edge of the bed and spread her thighs wide. She grasped John's penis, guiding him toward her readiness. "You talk too much. Take me."
Koenig smiled and did just that. He pushed Helena back to the bed, spread her legs wide and was inside her with one quick thrust. He pushed into her deeply, groaning as her response sent him over the edge moments before Helena felt her own climax hit. They rode each other hard, then John collapsed on top of Helena, spent. He breathed deeply for several moments before pulling out of her.
"You'd think you hadn't had any for years."
Helena smiled seductively as she stroked John's chest, her hand beginning to stray lower.
"What can I say, I know a good thing when I get it."
John grasped her hand just before it reached his groin and shook his head. He stood and pulled Helena to her feet. He aimed her toward the bathroom and gave her a gentle shove, following behind her.
"Get in there. You shower while I shave - and don't even think of suggesting a mutual shower or we'll both be so late they'll all think we have been doing exactly what we have been doing."
Helena chuckled, but stepped into the shower to do as John said. She didn't know what he had in mind for an additional celebration later that day, but didn't want to have to work late and endanger the amount of time they could spend behind closed doors.
John was first off duty and made it back to Helena's quarters before she arrived. He did a bit of birthday decorating, and grouped the wrapped gifts he'd brought along around the cake, still in the bakery box and, he hoped, thawed. He'd removed it from its protective packaging and the dry ice that morning before duty. Then he put on some soft, romantic music, checked the wine to be sure it was properly chilled, lit some candles and set the lights to a level suitable for dancing - either vertically or horizontally.
Helena arrived several minutes later, a slow smile coming to her face when she saw the birthday celebration John had prepared. She went into his arms and kissed him deeply, glad he remembered to lock the door behind her.
"John, this is wonderful. Thank you."
He just smiled and returned her kiss, then took her hand and led her over to the couch. Along with the wine, he'd laid out a plate of cheese, a loaf of bread, and some fruit. They ate slowly, savoring the wine, enjoying the rich, sharp tang of the cheese, the bread's crusty, whole grain richness, and the mellow sweetness of the fruit.
With dinner over and the remains cleared away, John kissed Helena slowly, then rose and crossed to where the cake and gifts were. He met her gaze and smiled.
"Birthday cake first, or presents?"
Helena considered a moment, then grinned impishly. She knew the cake was chocolate, she could smell it even though it was still enclosed in the box.
She also knew the confection would provide the energy she was sure she and John would need for their later activities.
"Presents."
Koenig nodded, gathered up the wrapped packages, and carried them over to the table in front of the couch. He placed them before Helena and sat beside her.
Helena grinned and surveyed the packages before her. She reached for the one that was obviously from her parents, unaware John had removed the note that had been attached to it concerning her father's attitude. She knew the gift from her parents would be far more tame than the gifts from John. As Helena picked up the package from her parents, she frowned slightly.
"Did they deliver this before I got back?"
"Um,... no, they asked me to bring it to you yesterday, but... well, I kind of got distracted before I remembered it."
Helena smiled a sultry smile, then turned her attention back to the package. She opened the shipping box and removed the slightly smaller gift box. She read the attached card, smiled, then unwrapped the gift from her parents. Opening the lid of the hinged jewelry box, Helena smiled and carefully lifted out the gold and diamond charm. It was a shooting star, moving across the face of the moon. She held it up to the light and chuckled.
"Mom must have chosen this without Dad's input."
John studied the small object carefully, understanding what she meant. He doubted Robert Thompson wold approve of a gift that even hinted at anything to do with space or the space program. Helena handed the charm to John, stood and crossed to her jewelry box. She returned moments later with a bracelet containing a number of similar charms. Helena looked for a place to attach the new token, and did so quickly, smiling as she held the bracelet in one hand, fingering the charms gently.
"Every year Mel and I get a new charm for our bracelets. The year I passed my boards and got my medical license, my charm was a caduceus. Mel got a tiny cruise ship the year she got her travel agents credentials. We both got car charms on our 16th birthday. Sometimes we get the same charm, but usually they are different, to represent something very special that happened in our lives that year. I wonder what kind of charm Mel got this year."
John chuckled, knowing her parents probably wouldn't consider special the same things Melissa did.
"You'll have to ask her, if she and Alan ever come up for air."
Helena smiled, knowing her sister and Alan were celebrating on Earth much as she and John were celebrating on the moon. Placing the charm bracelet on the table, Helena glanced at John, and reached for the larger of the two remaining gifts. He smiled with anticipation and watched happily as Helena opened the box, pushed the tissue paper aside, and gasped with something between delight and embarrassment. She carefully lifted out a set of lacy lingerie: bra and panties, along with a garter belt and pattern silk stockings, all in a shimmering honey gold color that matched her hair.
"Oh, John..."
She blushed slightly, then giggled. This was more like something Melissa would wear, but as Helena glanced at John, she knew she was willing to give it a try.
"Thank you."
She leaned close and placed a long kiss on his mouth, a promise of what was to come. He caressed her shoulder and neck, meeting her gaze, letting her know he was looking forward to it.
Sliding the lingerie box from her lap, Helena was tempted to crawl into John's lap and get things started right then, but she wanted that cake.
Smiling, she reached for the last gift, removing the paper and glancing at John when she found another, larger hinged jewelry box. Carefully, Helena lifted the lid and gasped, nearly dropping the box in her surprise. Cushioned on the velvet inside the box were exquisite emerald and diamond stud earrings, and a matching emerald and diamond necklace.
"John..."
Her voice reflected awe, delight and reproach, all at the same time. She met his smiling face and twinkling eyes with disbelief in her eyes. He reached for her hand and held it gently as their gazes met.
"When I saw them in the display case, they reminded me of the way your eyes sparkle in candlelight."
Helena shook her head as tears touched her eyes, then she moved into John's embrace and held him close. "You shouldn't have, John,... but I'm glad you did. They're beautiful."
"Not half as beautiful as you are, Helena. Happy Birthday."
She kissed him deeply, then sat back to admire the earrings and necklace, smiling happily. She had plans for the earrings and necklace, and the lingerie later, but not just yet. No matter what erotic thoughts popped into her head, they were pushed away by the aroma of chocolate coming from across the room.
As if reading her mind, John chuckled, placed a quick kiss on Helena's cheek, then stood. He retrieved plates, forks and a cake knife, placing them on the table by the couch. Then he retrieved the cake, pleased to see it had weathered the trip very well when he removed it from the box. He carried the cake back over to where Helena sat, placing it on the table by the couch as well. She leaned forward and breathed in the aroma, then sighed with satisfaction.
"It smells delicious, John."
Reaching for the knife, Helena sliced into the cake, cutting pieces for herself and John. She placed the first slice on a plate and handed it to John, along with one of the forks. She did the same with the second piece for herself, and smiled once again. The cake was a rich, moist, dark chocolate layer cake with smooth, double chocolate bavarian creme filling between the layers. The external icing was a chocolate butter creme sprinkled with mini- chocolate chips and drizzled with a dark chocolate glaze. Helena gasped in anticipation, just from the smell.
Helena studied her cake for a moment, then cut a bite from the wide end of the cake, a bite that would give her a taste of all the various forms of chocolate at the same time. John watched her, eagerly awaiting her reaction, wondering if she would agree the confection lived up to its name. Slowly Helena brought the forkful of cake to her mouth and closed her lips around the treat. She allowed it to sit on her tongue a moment, savoring the flavors and textures. Her eyes grew wide as she chewed and swallowed, then she closed her eyes as she released a moan that John had learned was a signal as to the closeness of her sexual peak. He smiled, watching as Helena thoroughly enjoyed the bite of cake. She groaned again, and finally looked at John, who was watching her intently, grinning broadly.
"Do you like it?"
"Ohhh... the only thing I can think of that is better than this cake... is having you inside me when I come."
Helena began to take another bite of cake, then glanced at John with a curious gaze as he put his plate on the table, deep laughter erupting from him.
"What?"
John continued to laugh as Helena stared at him, wondering what was so funny. Finally John caught his breath and grinned at her. "The bakery told me the name of this cake is 'Chocolate Orgasm'."
Helena chuckled and smiled, nodding her agreement and appreciation. She took another bite, savored it, and smiled seductively at John. "They weren't wrong."
Koenig grinned again, then reached for his plate. It was incredibly good cake, and for a chocolate lover such as Helena, it certainly lived up to its name. He'd be sure to go back to the bakery when he got back to Earth and let them know.
Saving the last of the cake for later, John put it back in the box and began to clean up. Helena stood, smiled at him, and took her lingerie box into the bathroom with her, after a quick stop at her jewelry box to put her other gifts away for safe keeping. John had the area by the couch all tidied up when he heard the bathroom door open. He looked up, eyes wide, a gasp escaping his mouth.
Helena stood just outside the bathroom door. She was wearing her new lingerie. The bra and panties fit perfectly. The stockings and garter belt added to the seductive effect, making her long legs even more sexy. Helena had slipped on a pair of high heeled shoes to enhance the look. Again John gasped, his body reacting to her immediately, and he slowly moved toward her, very aware of his growing need for her.
Helena smiled and raised one hand to tuck her hair behind her ear. She was wearing her new earrings, and they sparkled in the dim candlelight of the room, as did the necklace, as did her eyes. She held her arms out to John and he stepped closer, stopping when Helena placed her hands on his shoulders, their gazes locking. She smiled seductively.
"Oh, God, Helena, you..."
He shook his head, unable to find the words. She just smiled and touched his cheek.
"Did my sister help you select this collection, John?"
"Uh-huh...."
"Mmmm... Well now, Captain.... Since I put everything on, I think it only fair that it be your task to take everything off."
John silently nodded, his mouth suddenly dry. He swallowed hard and reached out to Helena, placing his hand on her hip. He drew her to him and into his embrace, kissing her deeply. John took his time removing Helena's lingerie, then shed his own clothing very quickly. When they joined, their pleasure came hard and fast, Helena re-affirming for John that he was indeed better than the cake.
Having anticipated a long and active night of celebrating Helena's birthday, John didn't schedule his first meeting until mid-morning the next day. A problem on the Meta Probe sent him up to the space dock for a 72 hour period. When he returned to Alpha, he found that Helena had saved him a very small slice of cake. He smiled and chuckled.
"You ate all the rest of it yourself?"
"Mmmmm, I had to do something to satisfy my needs while you were gone, and I had a brief case of PMS yesterday, but nothing like last time."
John frowned slightly, taking Helena's hand.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes. I know, the timing is off, but I think I'm still adjusting to being on the moon. My breasts are tender and I spotted a little yesterday, but I'm fine now."
John nodded, relieved. He grinned and glanced at the taste of cake she'd saved for him, flattered that she was able to leave any at all, considering her need for chocolate during PMS.
"Aren't you worried about all those calories?"
Helena trailed her fingers across John's shoulders, then down his chest and even lower to his groin. He moaned involuntarily as she smiled seductively.
"I have every confidence that you'll help me find the right kind of exercise routine to help me burn them off. Oh, and John,... I'm wearing your gift under my uniform."
He moaned again as Helena's hands continued to caress and arouse him.
"You are insatiable."
"A woman reaches her sexual peak between the ages of 35 and 45. You'd better get used to it because I'm just getting started..."
"If I survive..."
Helena chuckled as she slipped John's uniform belt from his waist, her eyes bright with passion.
"Oh, you will. I'm a doctor, remember."
John nodded mutely and surrendered to Helena's seduction.
Three days later, after having discussed the Meta Probe astronauts' health conditions and the fact Helena continued to see elevated levels on several counts, but still was not certain what it all meant, John returned to Earth. He promised he would see what he could do to get the powers that be to take heed of her reports, and Helena was prepared to step up the frequency of her reports, going around, over or through Gorski as needed. John promised he would be back on Alpha soon, but neither could imagine that when John did return to Alpha, their lives would soon be drastically and irrevocably changed.
* * * * *
* * * * *
Amanda Russell
April 11, 2000
