There was something different about Jean Luc that night. Beverly couldn't quite pinpoint what it was but he seemed different somehow. Jean Luc had always been an attractive man but she didn't think she had ever seen him be quite so charming and debonair before, or at least the full force of it had never been directed at her. He had always been courteous and attentive but never as urbane as he appeared this evening. She wasn't going to complain about it, but it was different.

As she stared across the table at him she noticed how he played with the stem of his wine glass, twirling it between his fingers. A couple of times during dinner she had caught him watching her and if she didn't know him better she would have thought that he was mentally undressing her.

Finally she could stand it no longer.

"Out with it Jean Luc. You've been staring at me all evening. What's on your mind?"

"Oh it's nothing. I have just been thinking lately about choices," he paused. "The choices we've made."

"We've both made choices Jean Luc" she said sitting back.

"Yes, but sometimes I wonder if they have been the right ones. Perhaps we have allowed ourselves to become too isolated."

She looked at him then. Was he about to open up to her she wondered? Were they finally going to talk openly about what was going on between them?

She looked down and swallowed before replying,

"Our positions necessitate a degree of isolation."

"But perhaps we have let that get in the way of things. Perhaps it has prevented us from getting closer."

She didn't respond straight away. Finally, not quite daring to look at him directly she responded,

"Is that what you want Jean Luc, to get closer?"

He stood then and walked over to the consul. Pressing a button he turned to her as the music started and holding out his hand he said,

"Dance with me."

"I thought you didn't dance," she said turning in her seat.

"Only on special occasions" he replied smiling.

As she stood she felt his arms pull her closer and they started to sway and turn in time to the music. Beverly was conscious of his body pressing against hers. She moved a little closer until they were almost cheek to cheek. His hand moved from her shoulder down her body to her waist whilst the one holding hers moved inwards until it was resting between them. Slowly their swaying stopped and she moved her head to look at him. She was no longer conscious of the music or even the room they were standing in. As she looked into his eyes all she knew was that she wanted him to kiss her more than anything in her entire life. Then it happened. He moved in towards her, their lips touched and she wrapped her arms about him pulling him to her.

She was vaguely aware of the rush of blood in her ears and the rapid beating of her heart as they parted. She felt a little dizzy and swayed as he released her to take her hand pulling her gently towards the sofa. Both were quiet for a minute and then she turned to him and said,

"Do you remember that night Jean Luc, after Jack's funeral?"

He looked at her and nodded.

"I'm sorry," she continued "I'm sorry that I left the way I did. I wasn't ready you see. I knew that you wanted me and that you were maybe even in love with me. I wanted you too and if truth be told I was a little in love with you but I wasn't ready."

Jean Luc didn't look at her, but he reached out and took her hand in his.

"I was so happy that night to have you in my arms but afterwards I felt even guiltier than I had before, if that was possible. I knew that what I was doing was wrong. There you were mourning your husband and all I wanted was to make love to you and make you forget him. I wanted to hear you cry out my name, not his."

His eyes were fixed on their hands as he spoke. She let go of him and reached up to put both her hands on his face. Holding it gently she looked into his eyes and whispered "Look at me Jean Luc."

As he focussed on her she tried to convey through her eyes all that she felt for this gentle, wonderful man and said,

"I wrote in my note that night that I would come to you when I was ready, where ever you were. I'm ready now, if you will have me."

She gently kissed him again and felt him smile against her lips and he pulled her towards him lifting her slightly so that she was on his knee. He pushed her hair back from her neck and she felt his hand caressing her. Slowly his lips moved from her mouth to her neck and then to her ear where he whispered the words she had heard that night so very long ago,

"Beverly, my love, my heart, my desire."

She whispered back "I love you Jean Luc, you are my soul, my dearest love and I cannot live another day without you in my arms."

With that he pushed her up and kissing her again he twirled her round slowly in the direction of the bedroom. As they kissed and turned they began to gently undress each other. Her earrings went first to be followed by her dress which he lifted up and over her head. His shirt followed and they both paused at the foot of the bed to remove their shoes. He pulled her to him again as she began to undo the clasp of his trousers and he pushed her leggings down. They both kicked the garments away and then paused to look at each other. Then smiling they lowered themselves to the bed and laid down.

For a few seconds there was calm. He very gently stroked her chest, brushing over her breasts as she moved her hand across his stomach. Then looking at him she whispered,

"Whatever you want, Jean Luc, I'm yours. I won't break."

With that he pulled her to him and rolled her over. The kissing became more urgent as he pushed his tongue against her lips until she opened and granted him admittance. His hands moved to her breasts and then down and behind her to grip her backside and pull it towards him. She could feel him against her and she opened her legs wrapping them round his hips and rubbing herself against him.

He let go of her then and moving his hands up he took hold of hers and moved her arms above her head. As he did so he began to nuzzle her breasts. One hand slipped behind her back and as she arched a little he expertly undid the clasp of her bra and removed it to free her breasts. Taking first one nipple and then the other in his mouth he swirled his tongue around each until they hardened. His hands moved down as he continued to suckle and pushed down her pants. She moved her legs from around his waist to help him free her legs. His head lifted and he paused to look at her.

"My god, Beverly," he breathed "you are beautiful."

Then he captured her lips again and very deftly rolled over to pull her on top of him. She straddled him and sat up, a mischievous grin on her face. She moved back a little and lifting herself up she pulled down his shorts to free him. She moved down his legs to remove them and as she moved back up she took him in her mouth and felt him harden even more at her touch. Gently but firmly she moved up and down, her tongue moving along the underside of his member. He moved his hand down to stroke her head and she heard him sigh and then say her name.

As she released him she smiled at him and moved back up to straddle him again. He opened his eyes and sitting up he kissed her and pulled her close. She lifted herself up slightly and felt his hand move under her and then touch her, parting her folds and rubbing gently back and forwards. He began to nuzzle her breasts again and she reached behind her and took him in her hand, moving up and down in time with his gentle stroking. She felt as he inserted first one, then two fingers and when his thumb touched her nub, she melted. As he continued to move in and out of her she pushed down onto his fingers and tightened around him.

He stopped then and moved her, pushing her to the side and over onto her back. Lifting her legs up and bending between them he took her in his mouth and she exploded, her orgasm crashing over her in waves. She felt him stop then and move up her body. As she opened her eyes she looked up and saw him poised above her. She looked down to watch as he entered her and felt as she closed around him. As he pulled out and then pushed deeper into her she cried out his name.

Arms straightened above her he moved in and out and she met every thrust titling her pelvis up to meet him and wrapping her legs around his hips to pull him down towards her. She spiralled up and up to meet him and as he paused and stiffened and came deep inside her she felt another orgasm rock her body and he collapsed on top of her. She held onto him and didn't let go as he rolled over taking her with him.

When he opened his eyes she smiled at him and he chuckled.

"Was it worth the wait?" she asked.

He grinned at her then.

"Yes," he replied "but let's not wait another 12 years this time."

They both laughed then and he pulled her to him and kissed her again. Pulling out of her he turned onto his back and she nestled up to him. Putting his arm around her he sighed and then said,

"Beverly, if I go to sleep now, will you still be here when I wake up?"

She pushed herself up on her elbow and turned to look at him.

"I don't intend on going anywhere my Captain, you are stuck with me now."

She laid back down against him and he pulled her closer.

"I love you Beverly," he said

"I love you too Jean Luc. Now go to sleep, I'll still be here in the morning."

As his breathing gradually deepened and his arm relaxed, she stroked his chest and closed her eyes and went to sleep content and satisfied for the first time in years.