Maverick’s house was as neat and tidy as he was. Juliana stood in the front entryway, looking around, feeling somewhat like a trespasser, even though Maverick had given her his thumbprint on a temporary key card so she could get inside. He’d handed it to her while his partner wasn’t looking, also giving her twenty currency notes for a hover cab and his business card with his address and work number on it. She shivered, remembering how warm his hand had been when he touched her. Never one for fanciful thinking, Juliana had been surprised when she felt what could only be called a spark of desire striking her to the core.
“It’s definitely been too long since I’ve had sex if I’m thinking like this,” she said to herself. What was with her today? Her libido had suddenly gone into rocket launch after five years of abstinence.
Gaining her nerve, she began to explore deeper into the officer’s home. The place was extremely modest compared to the home she’d made with Jeff, but at least it was welcoming despite the unfinished hardwood floors and evidence of minor remodeling. Her house had become a cold, empty shell--one more focused on impressing others than being lived in.
From what he’d done so far to the walls and molding, she could tell Maverick had an eye for retro-Earth. However, the home definitely belonged to a single man if the lack of feminine touches were any indication. It was two stories, with a nice open staircase and hardwood floors. Thick, straight curtains hung over holographic windows, which gave pictures of lush green countryside and wide purple-tinted skies. The curtains stirred and she realized they were sense-enhancing holographic windows, very high dollar to have installed. They gave every impression of sights, sounds, feelings and smells of whatever alien landscape was programmed into them. She switched through the settings, seeing the scenes change over a dozen times—red earth and barren lands, high mountains with green tinted peaks, city landscapes, deep space. She even found a setting with graphic male content, where a humanoid woman slowly striped her clothes off. Juliana giggled to think of Maverick watching it.
A plain green couch was in the living room before a giant viewing screen. The pillows on it were slightly faded and the wrong shade to compliment the couch’s color. There were pictures on the wall of what looked like a big, close family and Maverick with other officers, but no one who could be mistaken for a girlfriend. The electronic calendar in his office had work shifts written down but no dates with anyone.
Juliana smiled as she pushed the selection button on the big viewing screen. A large collection menu of old Earth transmissions popped up, split into a variety of categories. The man had a lot of old action and horror films. There was also some porn but nothing more risqué than a humanoid threesome. Juliana could see the appeal of watching, but she wasn’t one for joining in on such a thing.
Juliana tried to watch movies for an hour but was too preoccupied to do much. Glancing around the home, she looked at the stairs. She hadn’t explored up there yet and though she knew she shouldn’t snoop, she couldn’t seem to stop herself. Curiosity got the best of her. Upstairs, she looked through his bedroom. Luckily, his furniture was of a very old style and didn’t require a hand scan to open. Everything was tidy, just like the downstairs. Even his dresser drawers were organized, every piece of clothing perfectly folded. Lifting a pair of tight blue underwear from the drawer, she smiled.
“So this is what a cop has on under his uniform,” she mused.
Going to the next drawer, she pulled out a pair of metal handcuffs. Great, like she needed the image of Maverick handcuffed to the bed, wearing nothing but a pair of tight underwear molding his perfect ass. It was bad enough she already had feelings of appreciation for him without adding erotic images of him in sordid positions. She again had the urge to get arrested. Jeff had never been into kinky stuff in the bedroom. Juliana wished she could say it felt strange thinking of another man in her bed. But the truth was, her marriage hadn’t been a marriage for nearly five years and she’d fantasized plenty in that time. There was no harm in fantasy, so long as she didn’t act upon it.
Running her hand along one of the walls, it didn’t take long to find the right spot to open the wardrobe hidden in the wall. There were a couple police uniforms hanging next to some dress shirts and an overabundance of leisure shirts and jumpsuits. The colors were muted, not at all like the bright yellow and orange ones that were currently in style.
Reaching to her neck, she lightly tapped her necklace as she glanced around. There weren’t any security knobs in the room, or in the house for that matter. A lot of people didn’t like to have their lives recorded, especially after the underground scanner thief ring was caught. People’s lives were recorded on security scanners only to have the images hacked and stolen. They were taken and sold at the Black Market on Torgan. She couldn’t imagine the most embarrassing, intimate moments being handed around to be watched at parties.
Not really thinking of her actions, Juliana slipped out of her simple blue day dress and pulled on a uniform shirt. It was big on her slender frame. She went before the mirror, checking herself out. Her black lace bra, matching panties and thigh high panty hose peeked through where the shirt fell open. Pulling the clip out of her hair, she let her long dark curls spill over her shoulders. She grabbed an officer’s hat off Maverick’s dresser and put it on, pulling it low on her brow as she picked up his handcuffs. Swinging the cuffs back and forth on her finger, she tried to give a determined, sassy look in the mirror. She still wore her high heel shoes. They made her legs look really long. She stepped her feet apart into an aggressive stance.
“You are under arrest. Spread ‘em.” Juliana giggled, mimicking the old-fashioned cop she’d just watched on Maverick’s viewing screen. She lowered her voice to try again. “I said to get on your knees, scumbag. You are under arrest. Officer Juliana is here to take you down.”
Watching herself in the mirror, she slowly ran her hand down her flat stomach. There was something very empowering about wearing the uniform shirt. She could easily understand why people wanted to be police officers. Seeing some of Maverick’s cologne, she sprayed it into the air. It tickled her breasts as it gently fell on her chest. The air instantly smelled like him. She took off the hat and walked around the room, aroused by the starched shirt against her skin. It brushed over her lacy bra, teasing her nipples.
Sitting on his bed, she pulled the nightstand drawer open. The first thing she saw was a laser handgun, but she knew better than to touch it. The thing wouldn’t respond to her hand anyway.
A slow smile crept over her face as she pulled the drawer out a little further. “Well, well, well, Mr. Officer. What do we have here?”
There was a half-empty tube of blue lubricant, a pair of padded black handcuffs, a leather cock ring and nipple clamps. She bit her lip. There was some kind of sleeve, the pink lips of a woman’s vagina molded in a synthetic skin on one side. A naked woman’s picture stared up at her from the outside of a magazine chip.
So, Maverick liked to play, did he? Closing her eyes, she could just see him on the bed, fucking the moist sleeve as he masturbated. Did he put on the nipple clamps, too? Or were the other toys for his lovers? Did the man have lovers? Or was this evidence that he was as alone as she felt?
Pulling the drawer open all the way, Juliana gasped as a small rubber dildo rolled into view. She’d never known a man to have one of those toys before. It was long and skinny, too skinny for any woman to pick out. She didn’t touch it either.
This was too much. Surely, Maverick’s hospitality shouldn’t be repaid with her snooping. What had gotten into her? She really shouldn’t be looking through his belongings and trying on his clothes. But, then, maybe he wouldn’t mind. He had given her the key to his home. Maybe he wanted her to look. People did snoop and she was only human. Maverick would know that, being in the people profession he was in. On the other hand, he wasn’t there to know she was doing it.
Feeling free for the first time in eight years, she couldn’t help but be aroused by the sheer naughtiness of going through a police officer’s private drawers. Just seeing the toys, knowing that Maverick had used some of them on himself, only excited her more.
Juliana lay back on his bed, wondering if he masturbated there often. It seemed strange to think a man as handsome as Maverick would resort to that on a regular basis. The man was drop-dead sexy and probably had women lining up to be with him.
Then again, maybe he didn’t take them up on the offer. She was married and she hadn’t been touched in nearly five years, except by herself. It wasn’t like she didn’t get offers. She did and often. What a fool she was not to take some of them! She’d been taking care of her own needs for so long just because of some marriage vows that had lost meaning long ago.
“Maverick,” she moaned, smelling his cologne. With the toys she found in the nightstand, he had to be a bit of a freak in the bedroom. Surely, Officer Sexy would know how to please a woman.
Juliana closed her eyes, almost desperate to be touched. It had been so long since she’d had sex that she couldn’t help but imagine what kind of lover Maverick would be. Would he be rough and aggressive? Did he like to handcuff his partner? Or did he get enough of that at work? Maybe he liked to be cuffed. Maybe his fantasy was to be the one being arrested, dominated. Was that why he didn’t have dates lined up on his calendar? Did he have trouble finding a woman confident enough to tie him up, strap on his dildo and ride him to release? Or maybe the dildo was for the women’s pleasure. Maybe he used it to tease while he had them trapped to his will.
Juliana ran her hand down her stomach, dipping her fingers down her lace panties. Stroking her body, she parted the wet folds of her sex. Just thinking of Maverick, the idea of him, was arousing beyond measure. He’d been so kind to her today, more so than he had to be. She wasn’t stupid. She had seen the interest in his eyes when he looked at her. The attraction was there. He might never take it further, but the attraction was there. If she were to prod him in the right direction, she’d bet she could get him to pull out his toys.
So what if it was wrong of her to wear this man’s uniform and pleasure herself on his bed? She cringed to think of how many years she had spent holding the torch for a dead marriage. Juliana knew she was still in shock over her marriage finally ending. She knew she had a rough road to face and that tears of frustration were in her near future. It wouldn’t be easy having to start over. At thirty-three she was hardly old, but try telling that to men like Jeff and his twenty-year-old aerobics instructor.
If she was honest, she’d known that this was coming. Juliana refused to let it get her down. She was pretty, mature and smart. And, best of all, it wasn’t too late for her. She was just hitting her sexual peak. Years of pleasure stretched out ahead of her and she was free to embrace them.
The realization hit her like a bright light. She wiggled her hips on the bed, stroking harder and faster, reaching a finger up inside her body to hit the sweet spot that always made her come. Her nipples ached and her body wanted more--much more. It was time to make up for lost years. She wanted to be dominated, tied up, pleasured, and she wanted Maverick to be the one to do it.
Seeing Maverick’s officer’s cap on the dresser where she’d left it, she stared at it as she grabbed at her chest. The pleasure of oncoming release felt too good. She couldn’t stop, even as she longed for Maverick to be there with her. Moaning in delight, she orgasmed against her hand.
Afterward, she slowly came back to her senses. She turned on her side, breathing hard. What was she thinking? Doing this? Here? Being human, it was natural to be curious and to have fantasies, but she did her best to suppress any such urges. No matter how much she wanted Maverick, she couldn’t go through with any of her fantasies of him. He would just have to stay in her head where he belonged.
* * * *
By the time Maverick got home from work, she’d tidied up his bedroom. Everything was back in place. He’d never know she had been in there unless she told him. She doubted she would. Juliana liked having the naughty secret.
She had taken a shower and cooked dinner. Food was always a great tool for saying thank you to someone. Most of her clothes were now in storage, but she did manage to dig a navy blue corset and matching thong underwear from her suitcase. The corset was perfect for her black spaghetti strap dress with the tighter waist. She’d started wearing the sexy underwear about four years ago, when she still wanted to make Jeff notice her. He’d never noticed, but she’d never stopped buying it.
Maverick pulled off his jacket when he stepped in the door. Juliana shivered. She’d been thinking about him in that uniform all day. Setting a bag on the floor, he nodded at her. His eyes lingered on her dress, slowly sweeping down before he caught himself staring and turned away. “Sorry I didn’t call to check on you today. There were a lot of calls and we were pretty busy.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Juliana said, letting her voice lower just slightly. Her body tingled and her panties were already wet with longing. She really wished her body would turn off once and for all.
Juliana hadn’t expected him to check in on her while he was at work. In fact, she hadn’t thought past getting him into bed—bad, bad thoughts she needed to banish from her mind. Curious, she glanced down his muscular frame to his trim waist. The slight bulge of his cock pressed against the dark material, but it was only a tease. She drew her eyes away. What was it about this man that made all coherent thoughts leave her? It was like she had turned into a sex kitten all of a sudden and could think of nothing else.
“Did you find everything all right?” he asked, drawing her attention back to the conversation.
“Yes, fine, thank you,” Juliana answered, hoping she hadn’t been too obvious in her inspection of him. “I hope you don’t mind, but I cooked dinner for us. It felt like the thing to do. I mean, you did take me in and all.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” Maverick said, “but I won’t complain. It smells great.”
“You make it sound like it was hard. You have a food simulator. Really, it was just pushing a few buttons. I did program some new codes into it, though. I hope you don’t mind.” Juliana smiled. It wasn’t the most graceful comment, but she didn’t care.
“Really?” He appeared surprised as he took off his belt and laid it over the back of the couch. “That’s wonderful. I’ve been meaning to get to that, but I don’t have any of the program codes. I was lucky to get hamburgers and chips in the thing. It’s been a good thing I’ve lived alone or my roommate would’ve gone crazy with the diet I have.”
Juliana smiled. It was as she suspected. He was single. “I was happy to do it. I’ll make a list of everything I put in, so you have it in the future.”
“Thank you.”
Juliana nodded. After years of running a household, it would only take her a few minutes to do, and if it repaid even a part of the kindness he’d shown her, it was worth it. “Dinner is ready and I already have the table set. I hope you don’t mind. I found your china and put it out instead of the trays that the food simulator materializes.”
“No, that’s great. It’s good to see they’re getting some use.”
Juliana led the way to the kitchen. The table was small but nice. She’d cleaned up after cooking, but his kitchen had been tidy otherwise.
“I’ve never been a roommate before,” she said, nervous to be alone with him. It was odd, she’d been alone with him earlier but now seemed different. “If I step out of line or don’t do some roommate etiquette, please tell me. I don’t wish to be a burden. And I know that you’re only giving me a place to stay, and I’m not saying I’m a roommate, per se, so much as someone you’re letting stay here for a night or however long, but …”
His slightly amused expression stopped her.
“I’m rambling, aren’t I?” She gave a weak laugh. “Sorry.”
“You’re welcome to stay here and you’re welcome to anything I have. Don’t worry about it.”
Juliana smiled and nodded gratefully, but in the back of her mind, she thought of her little tension release in his bedroom earlier. The memory came with a great deal of guilt for having invaded his personal space.
“Shall we?” he asked, when she didn’t move.
Juliana blinked, realizing she was getting lost in thought again. She nodded. “Oh, yeah, um, I mean yes, thank you.”
She had materialized green leaf salad with bread cubes and an old family favorite recipe for Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. It wasn’t fancy, but it was good. While they ate, Maverick’s demeanor was laid back as he made easy conversation. He even pulled out a bottle of wine from his cupboard, pouring two glasses for them. They talked about his job, her lack of a job, their families, books and old Earth rock music. She never would have thought it when they first met, but they had a lot of the same interests.
Okay, who was she kidding? Since they first met, she’d been thinking of things other than what they would have in common.
“How you holding up?” he asked when dinner was about over. He’d untucked his uniform and unbuttoned the top button, showing his white undershirt.
Juliana shivered. Thinking about him all day, of seducing him, had been very arousing yet exhausting. Each time she looked at him, she wanted to crawl over the table and demand he make love to her right there. She knew it wasn’t love but lust that had urged her to go to him. She wouldn’t be in the market for love for quite some time yet. He gave her a look of concern when she didn’t answer, the dimple showing in his cheek.
“I’m fine, really,” Juliana said, her voice a little hoarse. “Naturally, being thrown out of my house was a shock, but I’m not surprised. Jeff always was a bit of a solar head. As his wife, I taught myself to overlook his selfishness and other bad qualities. But, now that we’re not together, I’ve come to terms with it.” She gave a small laugh.
“Did you live in the house long?”
“A few years, so it’s not like I was too terribly attached to it. I mean, I am because I decorated it and designed the yards and garden, but then I’m not because it’s only stuff. It’s hard to explain.”
“I think I understand.”
“This might sound horrible, but all day I’ve just had this sense of relief that it finally happened and that the first step is done. My marriage has been over for a long time.” Juliana sighed, feeling relaxed and incredibly grateful to have someone to talk to. She hadn’t realized how lonely she’d felt over the years. Maybe because it was a gradual decline into solitude. “Does that make me sound like a horrible person?”
“I think it makes you sound like an honest person.”
Juliana had friends, but since they were the wives of his associates, she couldn’t discuss her marriage or feelings with them. There had always been that image to maintain. She didn’t have family to call and any of the off-planet friends she did have were no longer close to her and didn’t understand the lifestyle she led. To be truthful, she wasn’t sure she understood the lifestyle she’d led. It was like waking from a long dream to find she was right back where she started, only older and hopefully wiser.
“Jeff has started the comet rolling, so to speak. Being that he is a partner at his law firm, the divorce will be pushed through by the end of the week.” Juliana trembled. “It’s strange to say aloud.”
“I understand, really I do. But it will get easier.”
“If you don’t mind, I’m really tired of thinking about it. All I’ve done for the last five years is think about it.” She gave a half-hearted laugh, doing her best to keep the conversation light. “I’m just relieved that it’s finally happening. I’m scared because I don’t have any idea what I’m going to do with myself but mostly just relieved that it’s going to be over.”
He didn’t answer, just listened patiently.
“Okay, I’m done talking about it for sure this time.” She shook her body in a dramatic shiver, as if she could throw everything off her soul and cheer up.
“All right,” Maverick stood and started clearing plates. “But just so you know. I think you’re handling this very well. You seem like a strong person and I’m sure you don’t deserve what’s happened to you today. And I know it’s hard to talk about, but know that I don’t mind listening if you do need to talk.”
A small tear came to her eye when he wasn’t looking. How could she ever repay such sweetness? What great deed had she done to deserve this cop, this man, showing up at her door with the restraining order? It could’ve been any number of officers, but it was him. Maverick. Her savior. Her friend.
Was it too soon to call him a friend? It didn’t feel like it. Not when she felt closer to him than she had to anyone in a long time. There was the unspoken undercurrent between them, a connection, an instant easiness and understanding that made it feel like she didn’t have to explain herself to be understood. The conversation just flowed, and it was like they’d known each other for years instead of hours. There had even been a few times while they talked that they finished each other’s sentences. Surely that meant something. Or was she so desperate, so lonely, that she had imagined all this?
Juliana shook her head, pushing up from the table to help him clean up. No. She wouldn’t think like that. There was a connection between them. A strong, deep connection that had been there from the moment their eyes met.
They did the dishes together, their arms touching as he washed and she dried. The plates were a nice, antique china set she’d found in his cupboards. They’d been too pretty not to use. There was something cozy about being next to him, doing something so domestic and primitive like hand-washing dishes, but she was losing her nerve to seduce him—no matter how badly she wanted to. It had just been so long since she made the first move, she couldn’t remember how.
Maverick leaned against the counter and glanced down. His uniform shirt was wet from the dishwater. “I must’ve been busy today. I can’t believe I’m still in uniform. I usually take it off when I get home. Either that, or the smell of food distracted me.”
“It’s fine.” Juliana looked over the shirt. It was more than fine. He was more than fine. Her voice dipped. “I like the uniform. I bet you get a lot of dates with it.”
“Some.” His voice was a little hoarse and she saw his throat work as he swallowed. Their eyes met and she was sure she felt the sparks igniting between him. She unconsciously leaned forward, her head tilting as if she would welcome his kiss. He began to bend down, his face coming toward hers. She waited, breathless, her lips tingling for that first bit of contact. To her surprise, he pulled back. “I just got a new copy of an old Earth transmission. The movie was supposed to be something called a cult classic. I’m not sure what that means, but the guy who sold it to me said it had a huge following for years after it came out.”
“What’s it called?” she asked, curious.
“Ah, I can’t remember. The title was strange, but he said there’s singing, dancing and that it’s pretty scary. Could be interesting. Anyway, if you’re not too tired, would you like to watch it with me? I can’t promise it will be high-quality.”
“I’d like that,” she said, nodding. Maybe a transmission would take her mind off everything.
Moments later they were on the couch, a small distance between their bodies with the strangest Earth transmission they’d ever seen on the screen. But, despite the men dancing around in women’s lingerie and campy songs, neither one of them wanted to turn it off. Slowly, without Juliana knowing for sure who moved closer to whom, she found herself snuggled into his warm, strong side. His arm wrapped around her so she could feel each rise and fall of his chest, each subtle shift of his muscles when he moved. He didn’t make a move to touch her other than in comfort. Feeling protected and safe, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.