Beverly kept smiling.
Her facial muscles were aching with the effort, but, dammit she was not going to give in and let him see the boredom seeping through her.
Jean-Luc kept on talking, Nella this, Nella that, God almighty! She almost cracked a rib trying to stuff down the scream of frustration that welled up inside her.
Ever since that bloody woman had come aboard, Jean-Luc’s breakfast conversation had been a one track Nella-fest. If he had noticed that she had remarkably little to say on the subject of Nella Darren, it never seemed to register.
Just when Beverly had started to get a painful cramp in the side of her face, he finally shut up about her. The silence grew awkward. Oh shit, now he seemed to be waiting for some sort of positive Nella comment from her.
This was going to be difficult.
Beverly relaxed her cheek muscles as she said, “Um, Oh, that’s, um great!” She then clenched her jaw into another smile as he took her comment as an encouragement to launch into his favourite subject once more.
Beverly had never been so happy to finish a breakfast in her life.
She made her way to sickbay. She was glad to have a pile of work to sift though, anything to take her mind off of that woman and her ever growing influence in Jean-Luc’s life. She entered sickbay, and as luck would have it, there sat the very topic of Jean-Luc’s never ending conversation. Beverly put her head down in an effort to race by her unnoticed.
“Doctor Crusher,” Nella said, reaching out to her.
Shit! thought Beverly. But she was all sweetness and light as she turned back towards Nella. “Hello Nella, I hope you’re not unwell,” Beverly said, praying for just the opposite. Something fatal would do just fine.
Nella Darren smiled a very self satisfied grin. “No, Doctor I’m fine. I just stopped by on my way to duty to ask if you could implant a contraceptive device for me.”
Beverly was taken aback for a second or two, and then was all business. “Of course.”
The procedure took only a few minutes.
“Well, the implant is in place,” said Beverly.
Nella rubbed her arm. “Thank you Doctor. Jean-Luc has been waiting for me to get this done, but it seems he has limits to his patience.” She looked at Beverly, awaiting a reaction.
Beverly refused to acknowledge Nella’s spiteful barb. “The implant may not offer full protection for month,” she said coolly, citing the worst case scenario. “So I guess he will just have to be patient a while longer.”
“Oh I’m sure we’ll get around that,” Nella said. With a dismissive nod of her head, she left sickbay.
Beverly stood with the implantation device in her hand, thinking of all of the other places she would have liked to have jabbed it.
That woman was such a catty bitch!
Then she slung the device into a tray with a very satisfying clang. This was turning out to be one of those days.
She met Deanna for lunch in ten forward. After Beverly had sat for ten minutes with the same piece of lettuce on her fork, Deanna could stand it no longer. “Beverly, spit it out!” she said.
Beverly grimaced. “Is it that obvious?”
“Well, it is to me.” Deanna smiled at her friend. “You feel a volcano about to blow its top.”
Beverly threw her fork onto her plate. She seemed to want to throw things lately. It made her feel better. She sighed. “Nella Darren came to see me this morning.”
Deanna drew her chair closer. “Go on,” she said.
“She asked me for a contraceptive implant.”
Deanna inched forward. “And?”
Beverly scowled. “She told me point blank it was for Jean-Luc’s benefit!”
Deanna let her breath out in a rush. So that was it! “What did you say to her?”
“I told her the implant wouldn’t work for a month,” Beverly said, without a trace of remorse.
“Beverly!”
“It’s only stretching the truth a bit.”
Deanna laughed out loud. “More than a bit!”
“Well she deserved it, with her ‘Jean-Luc can’t wait to get in my pants’ act.” She did quite a reasonable impression of the other redhead.
Deanna smiled. “Beverly, I think you are jealous.”
“Is that your empathic skills at work?” Beverly asked sarcastically.
“No, that’s my green eyed monster scan at work,” Deanna said, deadpan.
Beverly sat back and crossed her arms defensively. “I am not jealous!”
Deanna didn’t believe her for one minute. “Does
the mere thought of the Captain and Nella Darren enjoying the pleasures
of the flesh totally piss you off?”
Beverly picked up her fork. “No, but it makes me want to jab anything I
have handy right up her—”
Deanna cut her off. “Ohh no! You’re not jealous at all.”
Beverly sighed. “Well, maybe I am a little. It wouldn’t be so bad if she was a bit nicer, but Deanna, the woman is a bitch. I don’t know what Jean-Luc sees in her.”
Deanna rested her chin in her hand, thinking. “Maybe she views you as a rival for the captain’s affections.”
Beverly laughed. “If he spends all his time in her company talking about me, like he talks about Nella over breakfast, she would see me as a serious threat indeed!”
“How do you know he doesn’t? Maybe Nella Darren is checking out the competition.”
Beverly thought about this for a minute.
Deanna sat back. “As I see it, you can do nothing, and live with the consequences or you let the Captain know he has a choice to make.”
Beverly smiled. “And how do you suggest I do that?”
Deanna gave her an old fashioned look. “If you don’t know how to get his attention by now, there’s no helping you.”
After lunch Beverly sat in her office thinking over what Deanna had said. Finally, she put through a call to an old friend.
“Nolan here,” the handsome man on screen said.
“Hello Mark.”
“Beverly Crusher!” Mark Nolan’s face broke into a huge grin. “Long time, no see!”
Beverly smiled. “Mark, do you remember that you owe me a big, big favour?”
Mark’s face became almost comically wary. “Yes, Doc. I remember.”
Beverly sat back. “Well it’s time to pay up!”
Jean-Luc Picard sat listening to Nella talk
about some small problems in Stellar Cartography. She really was an
attractive woman. Her lovely eyes shone as she talked about a new
supernova. Her fair skin and reddish hair were so lovely.
Almost as alluring as Beverly’s. He frowned a little as that thought
leapt unbidden into his mind.
Nella saw his frown. “I hope I’m not boring you, Jean-Luc,” she purred.
He cleared his throat. “No, not at all.”
Nella came and sat on his lap her hands around his neck.
Picard ran his finger down her cheek.
She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. “Shall I see you tonight?” she said lowly.
“How about dinner in my quarters?” he answered.
She nodded and then kissed him once more.
Beverly signed out of her communication. Mark Nolan would be here in under a day. She was so glad he had agreed to do her this favour. All of a sudden things were looking a whole lot brighter.
She had decided to fight fire with fire.
Chapter 2: Not on ya Nella!
Exactly 18 hours later, Beverly waited in transporter room two as Mark Nolan materialized in a glimmer of molecules.
“Mark!” she rushed to meet him.
Nolan grabbed her and swirled her around. He set her down and landed a big kiss on her lips. Arm in arm, they set out to Beverly’s quarters, their heads together, talking in intimate tones. To any passerby they looked like much more than just old friends and that was exactly the way Beverly wanted it.
When they reached her quarters Beverly stood with him outside. “Are you okay with this?” she said.
Mark smiled. “As long as you consider this favour well and truly repaid. My wife will never forgive me if I have to do this again!”
Beverly laughed. “How are Simone and the children?”
“Oh Beverly, the kids get taller every day it seems, and don’t tell anyone but Simone thinks that baby number three might be on the way!”
Beverly clasped his hands. “That’s wonderful news, Mark.”
He picked up his bag and grinned. “Let’s get this show on the road!” he said and followed her through the doors.
That night Beverly took special care with her appearance. The dress she had chosen was black and simple, the material shimmered across her breasts and clung lovingly to her hips. It had slits to thigh level and a low back. She added a final touch to her makeup and stood waiting for Mark’s appraisal. “What do you think?” she asked him.
He whistled appreciatively. “If I wasn’t married, I’d go after you myself.”
“Well mister you’re going to have to act like
you are ‘after me,’” she said.
“Just who is this guy you’re trying to knock some sense into?”
“Didn’t I tell you?” Beverly said innocently.
“It’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard.”
Mark spluttered. “Jeez, Bev, you are aiming high!”
Beverly punched him in the arm. “You’re just the ‘talent’ mister. Leave the rest of the plan to me!”
Mark looked doubtful. “He’s not going to hit me is he?”
Beverly rolled her eyes. “He’s not the type.”
“There’s not a man alive that’s ‘not the type,’” he stated.
The function in Ten Foward was already in full swing when they arrived. Beverly hung on Mark’s arm, sticking to him like glue. She saw Deanna’s interested look as they made their way to a vacant table. With luck it happened to be right next to the Captain’s. Beverly winked at Deanna and saw her smile.
“What would you like to drink darling?” Mark said, his voice rising slightly on the endearment for Picard’s benefit.
“Oh, I think I’ll have a white wine,” Beverly cooed.
Mark nodded and kissed her cheek as he left the table. “I’ll only be a minute,” he said intimately.
Beverly took a quick look in Jean-Luc’s
direction. She had his attention all right. She leaned back in the chair
swinging her leg back and forth slightly to emphasize the slit in her
dress. She ran her hand through her hair and then sat, not taking her
eyes off of Mark as he returned with the drinks.
Mark sat next to her and put his hand on her leg, running his fingers up
and down the exposed bare flesh.
Beverly saw Jean-Luc tense at the next table
and felt quite reckless.
She sipped her drink, and slowly ran her tongue along her top lip. Mark
took the signal and leaned in towards her, his arm going around her. She
felt his mouth on hers and kissed him as enthusiastically as she could.
Mark whispered into her ear. “Who’s the woman with him?”
Beverly whispered back. “That’s Nella Darren. The competition.”
“She looks like a very poor Beverly Crusher substitute to me.”
Beverly laughed seductively. “That’s exactly what I want him to realize.”
She felt Mark stiffen and looked sideways to see Jean-Luc standing at the side of the table. On his arm, looking very unimpressed, was Nella Darren. Beverly gazed up at him and smiled. “Well, hello, Jean-Luc. Nella.”
Jean-Luc was staring at her dinner companion.
Beverly cleared her throat. “Jean-Luc, I’d like to introduce you to my, er, friend. Mark Nolan. He’s one of the Federation cultural advisors to the J’loren colony.” As she spoke she leaned forward towards Mark, the movement designed to give the Captain a tantalizing glimpse down the front of her dress.
His voice sounded a tad strained as he said, “Pleased to meet you.”
“I am pleased to make your acquaintance also, Captain,” Mark said formally. “Would you like to join us?”
Beverly saw Nella’s stricken look. Jean-Luc, however, had already answered in the affirmative and had pulled a chair out for her. “Jean-Luc, I thought we were just leaving,” she said sulkily.
Picard smiled indulgently. “Just a few minutes Nella. I am very interested in the J’loren people and their customs.” He smiled at Beverly’s companion and sat down.
They discussed some of the more peculiar J’loren customs for a while, Picard taking his time to study Nolan. He steered the conversation towards the subject of Beverly. “How long have you known Doctor Crusher?” he asked. “I’ve never heard her mention you before.”
Mark smiled indulgently to himself as he thought of Beverly. “I’ve known Beverly quite some time. We make a point of getting together every now and then when I can get away. She always offers me something to look forward to after finishing a project. We often get together to relieve each other’s tensions.” He looked at Beverly with undisguised relish. “Usually she comes to me, lucky man that I am. But this time she made me an offer that was too hard to refuse. So here I am!”
Jean-Luc smiled weakly, feeling like he’d stepped into a nightmare.
Mark ran his hand along Beverly’s arm, pulling her closer and whispered something to her.
Picard saw Beverly smile. He watched as she whispered something back, her lips close enough to caress the other man’s ear. What ever she said to him had suddenly made Nolan itchy to leave Ten Forward.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s insides twisted viciously. Nella sat beside him, forgotten for the moment.
Beverly’s eyes lighted innocently on her
captain’s. He looked decidedly unwell.
“Well, it was nice to meet you Captain. Ms. Darren,” Mark said. “But
I’ve had a long trip and I’m quite looking forward to unwinding in bed.”
He stood, holding out his hand. “Coming, Beverly?”
Beverly kicked him under the table. He was really overdoing it!
Jean-Luc stood as they left. I will be very surprised indeed to see Beverly at breakfast tomorrow, he thought grimly.
Once in the corridor, Beverly burst out laughing. “Talk about overacting. Mark, you were outrageous!”
“I am deeply offended Beverly Crusher.” Mark smiled. “That was my best performance ever.”
Beverly snickered. “Yes, and that’s why you got
kicked out of the drama troop.”
Over his shoulder, she saw Jean-Luc and Nella leave Ten Forward and head
down the corridor towards them. “Don’t look now but they are coming
right towards us,” she whispered.
Mark laughed. “Now for the piece de resistance.” Before she realized what he was going to do, he grabbed her and backed her against the wall. “Work with me,” he said, his mouth inches from her own.
Beverly felt his lips on neck, his hands on her leg and in her hair. She clasped her arms around him and hung on.
Jean-Luc saw the couple up ahead, oblivious to
everything, so passionate was their embrace. He could see the long line
of Beverly’s leg and Nolan’s hand disappearing under her skirt, he
noticed the strap of her dress had slid off Beverly’s shoulder and down
onto her arm. Her eyes were half closed in pleasure.
He looked away unable to take anymore.
Nella’s voice sounded next to him. “Beverly Crusher is certainly a dark horse! What do they say about ‘still waters run deep’?”
Jean-Luc pretended not to hear her. He didn’t want to think about it.
Chapter Three: Nella Who?
The next morning Beverly was deliberately late for breakfast. She was, in spite of what the captain thought, determined to be there. As she entered she noticed Jean-Luc had set the table for only one person. She smiled to herself. No Nella Darren. Good!
“Good morning Jean Luc!” she said cheerily.
Picard turned towards her. She saw surprise in his eyes. He obviously wasn’t expecting her this morning. Mark must be a better actor than she thought.
Jean-Luc looked closely at Beverly, he noticed immediately that she seemed very relaxed. No doubt after relieving all that ‘tension’ last night…He clamped his mind shut on that thought. “Good morning, Doctor. I didn’t think that you would be available for our breakfast this morning.”
Beverly noticed his grim formality. “Why ever not Jean-Luc?” she said guilelessly.
She saw his jaw tighten.
“I had thought you might be sharing breakfast
with another,” he said tensely.
Beverly bit her lip. Throwing caution to the wind she said, “Oh, Mark
was feeling too tired out this morning to get breakfast, so I thought
I’d let him sleep and stop by here.”
The corners of Jean Luc’s mouth went down. Way, way down. “Beverly, may I talk to you openly?” he said.
“Yes, Jean-Luc. Always.”
He turned to pace up and down. “How well do you know Mark Nolan?”
Beverly answered truthfully. “I know him very, very well.”
Jean-Luc pushed a lurid image out of his mind. “Then you know he is married.”
He had expected her to be aghast. Instead she shrugged one shoulder nonchalantly. “Yes I am aware of that.”
Picard looked at her like she had just gone mad. “Beverly he has a wife! And you’ve just spent the night together relieving him of his ‘tensions’?”
Beverly looked at him. She did not confirm what he had said. “Have you been checking up on him?”
The captain had the grace to look ashamed.
“You have!”
“I was interested in his writings on the J’loren people. I just happened to notice that he had a wife.”
Beverly had to think on her feet. She had no idea he would check up on Mark. “He and his wife have an ‘understanding’ about me.”
“You are part of this ‘understanding’?”
Jean-Luc asked softly, incredulously.
Beverly didn’t answer, this was dangerous ground.
Unfortunately, Picard took her silence as an affirmative. “Beverly, he is a very attractive man, I know, but surely you can see there is no future in this relationship.”
Beverly was starting to get a little pissed off. Who did he think he was, the hypocrite! She remembered the Janice Manheim incident and fumed. Finally, her temper got the better of her. “Jean-Luc, why do you think I’m interested in a future with Mark Nolan? Maybe I just want to have hot and heavy sex!” She came closer to him, eye to eye and said, “Don’t you dare look down at me from your high horse and lecture me on how to live my life.” She poked his chest for emphasis. “You are not my damn father!”
“If I was your father, I would put you over my knee!” he said darkly.
“Ha! I’d like to see you try!”
Before Beverly had time to react, he had grabbed her. His face was only inches from hers. “Don’t tempt me, Beverly Crusher!” he hissed.
Beverly brushed his hand away. “So how come you can have Nella Darren to scratch your itch, but I am not allowed to do the same?”
“This is not about my relationship with Nella!”
“Oh, I see. So while you screw Nella, I am just supposed to hover chastely in orbit around you as you indulge, am I? Well, Captain, that is not going to happen! I have needs of my own and if you are not prepared to do something about them, then you can take Nella Darren and go to hell!”
Jean-Luc stared at her. He watched as her anger practically crackled around her like lightning. “And just what would you have me do about these needs of yours, doctor?” he said dangerously.
Too late, Beverly realized that she had let her anger get the better of her.
The captain saw her tense and knew she was
about to race for the door. As she moved, he grabbed her arm and pulled
her to him. She landed roughly against his chest and overbalanced,
pulling him down onto the floor on top of her.
She lay beneath him her hair spread around her like a fiery halo. She
was breathing hard and it only accentuated the feeling of her breasts
against his chest. He looked into her eyes, mesmerized.
The spark of attraction leapt between them like electricity.
He lowered his head and kissed her, savouring the taste of her mouth.
Beverly struggled underneath him.
He brought his hands up and grabbed her wrists, pinning them on the ground above her head.
He heard her frustrated groan.
He kissed her again more insistently this time and felt her respond. His lips left her mouth and he trailed his kisses down her neck. He felt her relax under him. Gently, he let go of her hands and eased the closure of her uniform down, tracing his tongue over her, tasting her scented skin.
He felt her hands on his back, fingernails scraping along his spine, her legs tightening around his, pulling him closer. Her soft voice urged him on. “Are you sure you want this, Beverly?” he said, his voice thick with passion.
“Yes,” she said simply. “Oh yes.”
The door chime rang out, shattering the moment between them.
Beverly regained her senses and was the first to move. She wriggled out from under him and ran. The door slid open as she approached and she sped past a shocked Nella Darren.
“Jean-Luc, what the hell..!” Nella managed to croak out.
But he dashed past her and left her standing in the doorway, hot in pursuit of Beverly Crusher. He chased her as she raced ahead of him like the hounds of hell were after her.
She made it to a turbolift, luckily it was empty. She threw herself inside and turned around bracing her back against the wall. Just as the doors almost slid closed she saw Jean-Luc’s arm reach across, stopping them from sliding together. She almost wept.
He walked inside and stopped in front of her,
his hands splayed either side of her head against the back wall. He
noticed her uniform still gaped open. Her hand came out in front of her
and rested on his chest, as if to ward him off.
“Beverly Crusher, what in god’s name is this all about?”
She laughed, a broken little sound. “Jean-Luc, go back to Nella.”
He grunted. “No.”
She sighed. “We’ll just tear each other apart.”
He lifted his eyes to hers. “No.”
“Jean-Luc, for god’s sake, I’m giving up! Go have Nella. Be happy.”
“No!” He slammed his fist against the wall. “Computer. Secure turbolift doors,” he said angrily.
Beverly heard the sound of the lock chirp. This side of her friend was scaring her. “Jean-Luc. Please, I’m not having an affair with Mark Nolan. He’s just a very good friend,” she said softly, desperately.
“Like you and I are ‘just very good friends’?” he inquired sarcastically.
Her hand left his chest and she pulled the
folds of her uniform together.
Picard watched her movements. Even in the act of rearranging her
disheveled clothing, Beverly was intoxicating to watch. It came to him
then in a moment of clarity that his need for her was so great that he
would take of her whatever she had to give him. She could keep Nolan, if
that’s what she wanted. He found he just didn’t care.
He reached up and stilled her hands. His fingers lingered on her skin, gently touching her, unable to pull away.
He heard her inhale sharply.
This time she was not going to get away from him. He lowered his head and captured her mouth roughly, possessively. He ran his hand up over her slender waist and then brushed the sensitive skin under her breast. Pressing his mouth against her temple he said vehemently, “I don’t want Nella Darren. I want you Beverly. God help me, I always have.” He kissed her again, tasting, exploring. His hands caressing her, going lower and lower.
When his mouth left hers, Beverly smiled enticingly. “Do you want us to do it right here, Jean-Luc?”
He nuzzled her neck. “Why not?”
Beverly moved her hips against his. She teased him, arousing him even further. Her hands reached for the closure on her uniform. She opened it further, let the fastener glide down, sliding oh so slowly, exposing more of her body inch by inch as he watched, fascinated.
“Why not, indeed,” she breathed seductively.
Chapter Four: All Nella’d Out!
He threaded his fingers through her hair. He looked at her, his eyes full of desire, before using her copper tresses to draw her against him. His kiss was one of hunger, demanding an equal response from her, and he got it. Beverly felt his hands on her body his fingers gripping the flesh on her arse almost painfully, she would have bruises there later. Her hands snaked up to hold the sides of his face, urging him on, her mouth hot and seeking, letting him know how much she needed this too.
This tension that had been between them so long, even when she had tried to pretend it hadn’t existed, exploded. There was no pretending any longer. His hands slid down her over the satiny slope of her breasts over her firm stomach to the centre of her heat. Her mouth left his and she let her head fall back, a soft pleasurable sigh escaping her lips.
His mouth found her breasts, making her nipples peak into sharp painful life.
Beverly let out a gasp.
He stilled. “Did I hurt you?”
“Oh god no, Jean-Luc, do it again.”
Her breathless plea rocked him. His breath was hot against her breasts as he drew forward again, caressing her with his tongue.
Beverly stroked him, her fingers taking him to the brink.
The captain gasped with frustration, so overwhelmed the words he uttered to her were in his native French, “Beverly, oh sweet Jesus, I need you now.”
She was so ready for him…it had been along time, too long for both of them.
She drew him into her, her legs hooked over his hips, but it wasn’t enough just to join, she needed to feel him fill her, take her hard with all the heat and passion she had missed for so long.
Their bodies moved in that hot sensual rhythm of urgent need.
Relief came bursting out from the centre of her. He went with her, his voice calling out. She cried out with him, their bodies blending in a hot fusion of flesh.
She felt his breathless voice in her ear. “You belong to me now.”
Her inner voice answered him. I always did.
“Well, I for one had thought our first time together might be a bit more romantic,” Jean-Luc said wryly.
Beverly had finished tidying herself, but her skin was still flushed from their exertions.
“Did you?” She smiled wickedly. “I don’t know. I had fantasies about you taking me up against the wall in the turbolift just about every time we got in one together.”
Jean-Luc pulled her against him again. “And where else have you had these fantasies?”
Beverly laughed. “I don’t think I’d have time to tell you them all here.”
“Can I see you tonight?” His voice was serious now, unsure of her answer.
Beverly’s eyes met his. “What about Nella Darren?”
He sighed. “I told you, I don’t want Nella.”
Beverly stroked the side of his face. “Does she know that?”
He leaned into her touch. “I’ll talk to her.” He placed his hand over hers and pulled it towards his mouth, placing a kiss on her palm.
“Can I see you tonight?” he said again.
Beverly turned back to him as she walked to the turbolift doors.
“I will have to come to your quarters. My quarters are a bit, um crowded at the moment.”
The doors shut behind her.
Jean-Luc Picard had never felt so out of control of a situation in his life.
“You did what?” Deanna’s mouth had dropped almost to the floor. She just couldn’t believe the mess that Beverly has got herself into.
Beverly sat shaking her head. “I know, I know.”
“Beverly, you mean that that hunky guy I saw you with in Ten Forward was just there with you to make the captain jealous?”
“It was your idea!”
“I said to get the captain’s attention, not hit him over the head with a boy toy!” Deanna laughed in spite of herself. “Did your plan work?”
Beverly blushed crimson, but said nothing.
“Beverly Crusher! What have you been up to?”
Deanna was really interested now.
She was being bombarded by the feelings coming from her friend. When she
could stand it no longer she came and sat next to her. “Do you need to
talk about it?”
Beverly sat looking at her hands. “Deanna, we, that is Jean-Luc and I, we…”
She was so tense, Deanna almost fell off the sofa. “You and the captain…”
“We had sex.”
Deanna slapped her thigh. “Well, it’s about time.” She moved closer. “Was it good?”
“Deanna!”
“Don’t you ‘Deanna’ me. Tell.”
Beverly smiled. “It was…” she closed her eyes remembering. “He was…”
“Indescribable?” Deanna offered.
“Unbelievable.” Beverly answered. “Uninhibited. Passionate. He speaks in French when he’s really aroused. He did things to me that…”
Deanna laughed. “Made your toes curl?”
“Oh yes! He’s a real toe curler alright.”
They dissolved into laughter.
Beverly sat back. “He wants to see me again tonight.”
Deanna arched an eyebrow. “And what did you tell him?”
“I told him I’d have to meet him at his place because mine was too crowded.”
“Oh, with all your men, you mean!”
Beverly laughed. “Well I wasn’t about to tell him that Mark had left this morning, after spending the night on the sofa. I felt quite wicked being the scarlet woman.”
“So are you going to tell him the truth?”
“I will…eventually.”
And she would, she told herself. Later. Much later. When Nella Darren had left the Enterprise. Permanently.
That evening she met Jean-Luc for dinner in this quarters. She noted the muted lighting and sweet music. The captain himself was looking very handsome in casual clothes, his shirt undone.
As she came through the doors he pulled her into an embrace. His kiss was full of the promise of things to come.
She felt her pulse quicken at the look in his eyes.
“I missed you,” he said
“Show me how much,” Beverly answered softly.
She heard the low lustful sound he made in his throat as he did as she asked. His kiss lit a fire in her and she found herself pulling his shirt out from his trousers so she could stroke the warm, firm skin underneath with her fingers.
Jean-Luc had eased her dress off of her shoulder and was kissing the skin there, his tongue tasting, his teeth nipping gently. He wanted her so badly that he pulled her closer, and began to slowly undress her.
Beverly felt his fingers in her hair undoing the clip holding up her copper tresses.
Her hair fell like a shimmering molten curtain around her shoulders.
Jean-Luc’s breath caught in his throat. “You are absolutely beautiful,” he said reverently.
She stroked the skin on his chest, and placed a kiss on his nipple, feeling it harden under her lips.
He lost control.
They moved together, still kissing and shedding pieces of clothing as they headed towards his bedroom.
Jean-Luc pushed Beverly gently and she overbalanced, landing on the bed, he watched her as she lay there. She was wearing only her underwear—black, sexy and impossibly skimpy.
He let his hands wander over her. He lowered his mouth and ran his tongue over the swell of her breast. His mouth covered her nipple and he sucked it gently through the lacy fabric. He then moved lower, his tongue tracing a path wetly down her body. He stopped as he reached the tangle of coppery curls at the apex of her thighs. He was too impatient to remove the black lacy undies, so he just pushed the crotch aside and let his tongue slide into her. He felt her move convulsively as he loved her with his mouth.
He grabbed her under her bottom pulling her
closer to him. Beverly groaned. He could tell she was close to the edge
and he kept going until he felt the ripple of her orgasm. He listened to
the sounds she made as he pleasured her, the sensual moans almost making
him lose control like an inexperienced teenager.
He gave her one last loving kiss and raised his head.
Beverly lay waiting for him. She gently brought him up to kiss her mouth, the fastening of his trousers.
He heard her voice pleading softly with him to take her.
Almost out of control, he slid into her.
Her body welcomed his, warmly, wetly.
He began to move, giving in to his need. He felt the overwhelming urge to release himself inside her and tried to slow down, but her legs surrounded him pulling him even deeper inside her. He cried out as he lost control and came hotly into her.
They lay together side by side, breathing
heavily. Jean-Luc smiled to himself. His second time with her had been
over as quickly as the first. He hoped she didn’t think that this was
all the finesse he could muster. He looked over towards her. Her eyes
were closed, her arms above her head in total abandonment.
He reached over and traced along her jaw with his finger. “Beverly?”
“Mmm,” she answered.
“I had hoped our second time together would have been a bit more romantic.”
Beverly giggled. “Jean-Luc, we’ve got a lot of stored up lust to get through before we start to get anywhere near slow and romantic.”
“I usually have a bit more self control. We didn’t even get all our clothes off,” he said sheepishly.
“Jean-Luc. I will take your lack of self control as a big compliment.” She rolled over towards him. “Besides you can always try and show me that famous Picard self control later if you want to.”
He smiled at her and then a shadow came over his face. “Is Nolan waiting for you?” he said gruffly.
Beverly turned away hiding her smile. “No. I’m all yours tonight.” She ran a finger lovingly over his lips and pulled him towards her again.
When he awoke, Beverly was gone.
He rolled over and thumped his pillow. “Damn.”
She had gone back to Nolan.
His temper rising, he sat up. He slammed his fist down on the table by
the bed. Despite his good intentions, he just didn’t know if he was
strong enough to share her. He had already been through this when she
belonged to Jack, his yearning for her then had almost killed him
emotionally. Could he stay in the background of her life when she felt
like having a fling with the another man?
A noise in the sitting room had him on alert. He got up not bothering to put on a gown and looked out.
He almost laughed out of sheer relief. There was Beverly at the replicator. She took the glass that materialized and went to stand by the window. The low light silhouetted her near naked body.
He softly crossed the floor and came to stand behind her. Then put his arms around her and nuzzled her ear, kissing her gently. “What’s the matter, my love, couldn’t you sleep?”
Beverly tilted her head allowing him greater access to her neck. “Jean-Luc, I have something I need to tell you.”
His lips stilled. She felt him tense.
She put her glass down and turned in his embrace to face him. “I have to tell you about Mark Nolan.”
He did not know if he wanted to hear this.
Beverly took his face in her hands. “I have a confession to make. It’s my guilty conscious that won’t let me sleep.”
Jean-Luc took a deep breath. “Beverly, you have nothing to feel guilty about. If the man is in an open marriage and his wife is accepting of the part you play in his life then…”
‘Shh.. Jean-Luc.” Beverly put her finger against his lips. “What I was going to say was that I was so jealous and insecure about your relationship with Nella Darren that I sort of exaggerated my involvement with Mark to get your attention. Force you to make a choice between me and Nella.” She looked down guiltly. “I’ll understand if you want nothing more to do with me…I’ve behaved childishly and…” Beverly felt Jean-Luc shaking with emotion.
Oh shit, she thought. I’ve really blown it this time.
Then she heard it. He burst out laughing, his face lit with the biggest smile.
“Oh, Beverly!” he said between chuckles. “I guess I have a confession to make too. You see I was using Nella to make you jealous, as well. All that time talking non-stop about her at breakfast, trying to get a response out of you. You must have learnt your poker face from Will Riker, because I honestly couldn’t tell if all my efforts were for nothing.”
Beverly hit him in the arm. Hard. “You bastard!”
“Now, now Beverly you did it too.”
She looked at him indignantly. Her breasts rose and fell. “Yeah, but you did it first!”
Jean-Luc grabbed her and ran his hands over her creamy skin. “Beverly, do you know that you are wearing the sexiest underwear I’ve ever seen.”
“Just trying to test your self control, Jean-Luc,” she said, baiting him.
He then dragged her squealing into the bedroom and proceeded to show her just how long his famous self control could last. But he found out, even with all he’d learnt, he was vastly outclassed by her Crusher maneuver.
Finis.