Queen of Hearts

Synopsis:

This is a follow-up story to "Cold Feet". I hadn't intended to expand on that, but my muse had other ideas. And experience has proven that I'm best to just hand over the reigns to my muse and let her roam free.

They both want her. She wants them both. How many hearts will break? One, two, three? Or perhaps four?

* So, takes place in 2348. Makes Beverly about 23 and Picard about 42 (if I'm going with canon dates).

Rating: M

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to CBS, its parents and affiliates. Just taking the characters out for a jaunt around the galaxy, I warrant they will be returned in the same condition I borrowed them.

Part 1

"How long are you here?" Perched on the sofa in her tiny apartment in the off-campus residence outside the Academy in San Francisco, Beverly refills Picard's wine glass on the small coffee table in front of them. Her classes completed hours ago, Beverly had changed into leggings and a simple knee-length knit dress. She tucks her legs underneath her, giving Picard her undivided attention.

"We're leaving in the morning. I was only here to pick up the additional crew transferring to the Stargazer," explains Picard, accepting the proffered glass. "I am sorry Jack couldn't come, even for a short visit. He did pass along his regrets."

Souring, Beverly takes a long swig from her own glass of wine.

"He asked me to give you a note he wrote," Picard elaborates, watching her mood turn south. "I…uh…I have it in my case." Setting his glass on the table in front of them, Picard purses his lips. "What's wrong?" He had had to hitch a ride to Earth in order to coordinate receiving a few new transferred crew to the Stargazer. Tomorrow he and the new crew would be taking a shuttle to rendezvous with his ship. However, his best friend and shipmate, Jack Crusher, had been required to remain on the Stargazer while Picard had made the journey. Jack had wanted to visit his new bride, a medical student at the Academy, but unfortunately the timing wouldn't permit him. Jack had requested Picard check in on Beverly and deliver a message. So, Beverly had invited Picard over for dinner in her small residence before Picard left Earth to return to the ship tomorrow.

Downing her wine, Beverly rolls her eyes. "That's awfully sweet of him."

"You're upset?" surmises Picard, confused.

Depositing her glass next to his on the coffee table, Beverly fixes Picard with a pointed glare. "Upset? I haven't seen my husband since our wedding, Jean-Luc."

Face falling, Picard begins to understand Beverly's frustration. "Ah. I see. Well, uh…I'm sure Jack will arrange his next shore leave and come visit you. And, if our schedules permit, you may come visit on the Stargazer."

"I asked Jack about that!" retorts Beverly bitterly. "He can't take another shore leave for months. And, he isn't sure yet when I can come visit you."

Frowning, Jean-Luc exhales. "Well, hopefully you can coordinate something soon, Beverly."

Inching closer to him on the sofa, Beverly rests her hand on Jean-Luc's knee. "It's not just that I can't see Jack. I never hear from him. He promised we'd be in constant subspace communication. He never calls, never sends me messages. Some days I wonder if we're really married. One of my girlfriends forgot I was actually married!"

Sighing, Jean-Luc covers her hand with his. "Beverly, I'm sure that must be frustrating, but…"

"Jean-Luc," Beverly whines, squeezing his thigh. "This isn't right. I shouldn't have…I…I think I made a mistake."

Eyes dilating as Beverly looks at him with wide, open blue eyes, Jean-Luc shakes his head. "No."

Biting her lip, Beverly's eyes well with unshed tears. "I'm so lonely, Jean-Luc. It hurts."

Squeezing her hand, Jean-Luc sighs. "I'm so sorry, Beverly. I know it must be terribly difficult."

Forcing back her tears, Beverly takes a shaky breath and trails her free hand up Jean-Luc's chest, over his uniform. "I'm so glad you're here tonight, Jean-Luc."

Breath hitching in his throat, Jean-Luc's pulse quickens as Beverly's fingers fumble with the fastener around his right breast. "Beverly…."

Peeling the uniform back from his shoulders, Beverly shakes her head. "Shsh. It's okay."

Heart pounding against her chest, Beverly's cheeks redden. She's sad and angry and hurt and tired of being alone. She's twenty-three years-old and she never sees her new groom. It's not right. She loves Jack. She knows she can't hurt or betray Jack, but Jean-Luc is her friend. A friend that, admittedly, she is attracted to. And, she knows he's attracted to her. Jean-Luc has had a thing for her since they met and, secretly, a part of her has enjoyed watching him watch her. She knows it's wrong. But, her marriage feels all wrong. And Jean-Luc feels so right. And right now she doesn't know what's wrong and what's right and what she wants. All she knows is she wants Jean-Luc, and she wants him now.

Stilling her hands, Jean-Luc shakes his head. "No. Beverly, we can't."

Freeing her hands, Beverly straddles his legs, cupping his neck, her eyes boring into his. "Please, Jean-Luc. I'm here all alone every night and I'm lonely."

Groaning, Jean-Luc grips her forearms, his skin warming beneath her touch. "Please, Beverly. You have a husband, whom you love."

Whimpering, Beverly slides his uniform jacket off and discard it on the floor. "My husband isn't here. You are. I want you."

Closing his eyes, Jean-Luc hisses as Beverly's hands turn to unfastening his trousers. "Beverly, we mustn't. Think of Jack." Jean-Luc rationally knows he has to stop her. He can't be carrying on with his friend's wife. But, this young woman whom he is absolutely crazy about is lonely and she's coming onto him. Jean-Luc's brain clouds with desire, making it difficult to concentrate.

Beverly peppers a trail of hot kisses down his abdomen, slipping her hand down his briefs as she slowly slides his trousers down his legs. "All I can think about is having you inside me."

Grunting, Jean-Luc's resolve crumbles as Beverly strokes his growing erection, slipping his briefs down to join his pants laying abandoned on the floor. "Beverly…."

Bestowing a fleeting kiss to his chest, Beverly slides back up to kneel between his legs on the sofa.

Trembling, Jean-Luc cradles the side of her face, his face plagued in torment. "Beverly?"

Brushing her lips over his, Beverly grins. "Captain, I'm a little over-dressed."

Dropping a hand to her waist, Jean-Luc gazes questioningly into her eyes, slowly, gradually lifting the hem of her dress up her torso. He wants this, wants her like he's never wanted anything in his entire life. It had probably been a year since he had been introduced to the Beverly Howard, and Jean-Luc had spent every day since fantasizing about what it would be like to hold her, touch her, taste her. But, she had always been his best friend's, and he had chastised himself for even dreaming of the young woman that he could never have. And now, now she's giving herself to him freely and it's all too good and all too much.

Beverly tugs her dress off the rest of the way, tossing it carelessly onto the floor in a heap among Picard's uniform and underclothes.

"You're certain?" asks Jean-Luc tentatively, fingertips lightly grazing her ribs.

Bobbing her head, Beverly shimmies out of her leggings and toes out of her socks.

"God, Beverly, you're beautiful." Jean-Luc grabs her waist and pulls her in for a probing kiss. He slips his hands around her back and unclasps her bra, sliding it down and off.

"Yes…" moans Beverly in encouragement when Jean-Luc palms her breast, kneading it in his hand.

Already hot, Jean-Luc tweaks her nipple between his fingers as their tongues duet, his bulging erection trapped between them.

Breaking off, Beverly places a fleeting kiss to his lips, her hand ghosting around his navel as she attempts to regain her breath. "Sit back."

Panting, Jean-Luc watches as Beverly sinks to her knees on the floor in front of the sofa. First Beverly spreads his thighs, offering Jean-Luc a wicked grin as she takes his throbbing erection in her hand.

"Beverly…"groans Jean-Luc, reaching for her shoulders.

Stroking his shaft firmly, Beverly looks up at him devilishly. "Just relax, Captain. Doctor's orders."

"Merde, Beverly," sighs Jean-Luc, observing her through half-lidded eyes as Beverly runs the tip of her nose from the base of his rock hard penis to the head, then reverses, nuzzling around his testicles.

As a bead of pearl appears, Beverly scoops it with the point of her tongue, causing Jean-Luc to hiss between his teeth. Taking his pulsating member in hand, Beverly flicks her tongue over his head, giving extra attention to the rim and the sensitive

frenulum. Wetting the entire glans, Beverly slides her lips over his head, allowing her questing tongue to explore the slit. She repeats this move, squeezing his shaft firmly. Casting a glance up over her lashes, Beverly thrills at the sight of this straight-laced captain coming undone, his mouth ajar, his head lolling backwards, awash in a sea of sensation. Invigorated, Beverly takes him inch by inch, slowly and carefully into her hot mouth until his entire cock is engulfed. With her free hand she gently squeezes his testicles.

With a thin sheen of sweat covering his body, Jean-Luc groans continuously, threading his fingers through Beverly's hair, his hips gently bucking. "Oh, merde, Beverly…"

Taking his cue, Beverly grasps his iron hard cock firmly , scraping her teeth along his shaft as she rhythmically strokes and sucks. One hand gently tugging

down his testicles, Beverly drives him to the brink.

"Yes. Oh, merde. Yes, Beverly…" Grunting, Jean-Luc grips her hair tightly, stretching his legs as he swells in her mouth.

Tasting his salty fluid, Beverly knows his release is imminent. Continuing her almost tortuous cadence with her mouth and hand, Beverly releases his testicles and reaches behind them into the space between his sac and anus and presses her knuckle into the soft, sensitive flesh.

"Oh, Beverly!" Arching up from the sofa, Jean-Luc tugs her hair, his entire body trembling. Penis stiffening and, as Beverly continues to suck him, Jean-Luc releases entirely, squirting his essence into her mouth. Groaning continuously, Jean-Luc pumps, every emission accompanied by a thrust of his hips as he rides out his powerful release. With a last sigh, Jean-Luc relinquishes his grip on her head,

and she feels all of the tension leave his body as he relaxes back against the sofa cushion. Gently releasing him, Beverly kisses along his waning erection, caressing his thighs.

Finally having caught his breath, Jean-Luc sighs, reaching for Beverly's shoulders. "Beverly…"

Slowly rising, Beverly grins, crawling onto the sofa beside him.

Grabbing for her waist, Jean-Luc pulls Beverly into his lap. "Beverly, you are fantastic."

Smirking, Beverly snakes her arms around his shoulders. "You satisfied with that performance, Captain?"

Capturing her lips in a hard kiss, Jean-Luc takes her breast in his hand, roughly kneading it.

Returning the kiss with ardour, Beverly holds his neck.

Without disengaging, Jean-Luc tugs Beverly's panties down her legs, his tongue dancing with hers. Beverly shifts her legs to afford him the chance to roll them down her legs, and Jean-Luc flings them onto the floor with the rest of their discarded clothing.

"Lay back," commands Jean-Luc, pecking her nose before grabbing her hips and manoeuvring Beverly flat on her back on the sofa.

Pulsing, Beverly watches in anticipation as Jean-Luc straddles her legs and lowers his head to her chest. Palming one breast, he rubs his thumb over her pert nipple. Jean-Luc glides his tongue over her other nipple, circling the taut nub in a figure eight pattern. Beverly holds his head, pulling him tighter to her chest as he sucks her nipple between his lips and continues to massage her other breast.

"Yes…" purrs Beverly, running a hand down his back.

Trailing his hand down her abdomen, Jean-Luc makes Beverly quiver. His lips follow, blazing a hot, wet trail down the centre of her body right to her core. Jean-Luc inserts two fingers, parting her already slick folds.

"You're so wet, "Jean-Luc growls, nipping her hip as he begins to leisurely pump his fingers in and out.

Biting her lip, Beverly's hand covers her breast, watching Jean-Luc through her eyelashes. "You're teasing."

"Patience," orders Jean-Luc with a teasingly lilt, increasing the pressure of his thrusting fingers as he kisses her inner thigh.

Mewling, Beverly grasps for his head. "Touch me, Jean-Luc. Please…"

Thoroughly satisfied with himself, Jean-Luc glides his tongue over her clitoris, finally affording Beverly the contact she had been craving.

Crying out, Beverly arches her hips, gripping his head as Jean-Luc slides his tongue in a figure eight pattern over her clit. "Oh, yes. Jean-Luc…"

Holding her hip with one hand, Jean-Luc pumps his fingers rhythmically as he massages her clit with his tongue.

Gyrating her hips, Beverly moans continuously, skin ablaze and tingling with raw desire. "Jean-Luc, please…"

Unable to resist her plea, Jean-Luc decides to coax her over the edge. He takes her bloated nub between his teeth and sucks forcefully as his fingers thrust, and it's her entire undoing.

"Jean-Luc!" Screaming out his name, Beverly grabs his shoulders, bucking her hips against his mouth and hand.

Slowly, gently Jean-Luc withdraws his fingers as Beverly rides out her powerful climax. Easing her backside onto the sofa, he kisses a trail up her body as she catches her breath. Jean-Luc parts her lips with his index finger and plunges his tongue deep into her hot mouth.

Moaning, Beverly wraps her arms around his neck. "You're amazing."

Cupping her cheek, Jean-Luc stares heatedly into her eyes, his hazel eyes dark with desire. "Beverly, I want you so bad it hurts. If you're going to say 'No", say 'No'. This is the point of no return."

Rubbing her pelvis against his turgid erection trapped between them, Beverly sucks his bottom lip. "We're not going back. I want you, Jean-Luc. Now."

Pausing, Jean-Luc takes a steadying breath, stealing himself. Beverly pecks his chin before slowly manoeuvring him onto his back. While she would love to have Jean-Luc plunder her hard, Beverly already knows their union will be short-lived. They're both so would up she knows they'll come undone quickly. She anticipates the best way to prolong their intimacy would be for her to assume control and jump on top of him.

At first surprised, Jean-Luc grins as Beverly straddles his waist, bending down to kiss him passionately. Jean-Luc returns the kiss with equal vigour, running his hands down the length of her.

Tossing her head back, Beverly grinds her pelvis against him, wetting his penis in

the process. Jean-Luc cradles her face in his hands, kissing her again. Beverly raises herself up and takes his rock hard cock in her hand hand, slowly lowering herself on his turgid length. Gasping, Beverly adjusts as Jean-Luc settles in.

Gazing heatedly into her eyes, Jean-Luc traces her bottom lip with his tongue. "You're so beautiful."

Beverly plants a kiss to his lips, resting her forehead against his. "You feel so good."

Growling, Jean-Luc grips her hips, encouraging her to move. Beverly raises herself slowly, letting him slide through her wet heat , feeling his contours, his rock hard length. She lowers just as slowly, and Jean-Luc groans as she repeats her movement, finding a rhythm. Sweating, their breathing becomes ragged as their hearts beat wildly.

Caught up in the sensation, Jean-Luc is still amazed that she's here, that they're even sharing this moment. He massages her breast , leaning up to steal a kiss. "Merde, Beverly. I won't last long if you keep this up."

Returning the kiss, Beverly braces her hands on his shoulders. "It's okay. I'm right there with you."

Jean-Luc wishes he could prolong this moment, never wanting to let Beverly out of his arms. At the same time, he can't hold out, every fibre of his being is screaming for release. As she rides him faster, Jean-Luc thinks he'll explode. Gripping her hips painfully, he pulls Beverly forcefully down, arching his hips to meet hers. With a strangled cry, Beverly digs her nails into his shoulders when Jean-Luc repeats the action, plunging into her purposefully. Mewling, Beverly throws her head back as Jean-Luc plunders her, taking them ever closer to the brink.

"Yes! Please, Jean-Luc. Now!" screams Beverly, surrendering entirely, no longer able to maintain control.

Feeling her internal muscles contract around him, Jean-Luc moves a hand to Beverly's core and massages her clit, sending her into a shuddering orgasm, her rhythmic clenching coaxing him into his own euphoric release. Arching up from the sofa, Jean-Luc clutches her tightly to him, crying out her name.

As the waves of Beverly's cataclysmic climax reverberate and her heart calms, Beverly tenderly kisses Jean-Luc's scalp, catching her breath. Enveloping his arms around her lower back, Jean-Luc peppers her chest in lazy kisses. Sighing, Beverly relaxes, laying her head against his chest.

Jean-Luc kisses her hair, his hands stroking her backside. "Are you alright?"

Kissing the overheated skin of his, Beverly rubs his hip. "Great."

"Would you like anything? Water, something to eat?" suggests Jean-Luc, bringing a hand up to toy in her damp, tangled hair.

Giggling, Beverly massages around his navel. "I'm sorry, Jean-Luc. I should get up and take care of you. I'm a terrible hostess."

"No. Please don't move," requests Jean-Luc, squeezing her buttocks. "You're perfect."

Closing her eyes, Beverly stifles a yawn. "Okay. Just wanna take good care of you."

Jean-Luc smiles into her hair as Beverly succumbs to sleep. Letting out a long sigh, he stretches against the sofa. Over-sensitized, emotional and spent, his own heavy eyes drift closed. Jean-Luc instantly surrenders to sleep, blanketed by Beverly's body atop of his.