I don't own the boys, obviously, and I don't own the song that I'm playing and inserting as dialogue. The song is "Nasty Naughty Boy" by Christina Aguilera. If y'all have heard it, it gives the right sort of feel as to what the atmosphere is tonight at the Horse Shoe Saloon (Dentelle WHY did you let me give it such a cliché name??).

(Dentelle: Because it was SOO cliché that I thought it was cute. And it's something that Rashid would come up with, really.

The Queen of Hearts

Chapter 3

Night fell and with the disappearance of Quatre, a myriad of people poured into the saloon. Apparently, tonight was a scheduled event if the excitement in the room was anything to judge by. The band was even different tonight… or perhaps yesterday's band was only temporary. Trowa didn't have much time to think about it because as the music started up and the lights fell, all attention fell onto the lone chair at the center of the stage, and the pretty woman who stood behind it.

The Queen of hearts was dressed as she was last night, with the exception that instead of a blue and black outfit, tonight's was blood red and black, making her look pale and glowing in a room full of dark, drab figures. She was very much a flame and Trowa felt like the moth that just couldn't get away.

"Well, we all know what tonight is, don't we boys?" She purred as she began to walk around the short stage as the crowd went wild, wolf-whistling at her and the other ladies that stood a little further to the back. Those girls, while pretty, weren't as alluring as the headliner. Q-baby daintily stepped off the small platform and began walking around among the patrons. "Tonight's show is going to be different than usual," the crowd cheered her on as she continued, "That's right, tonight I'm going to pick a very lucky man to come join me on stage…"

The men practically jumped out of their chairs to be picked, but she only gave them a coy smile as she shook her head, "No Darlings, I've already made my choice… and no one ignores the Queen of Hearts." At that, all eyes turned to Trowa, the town stranger, who was sitting at a poker table, waiting impatiently for the game to start, and squirming inwardly at the attention. She went up to him, and took his arm to lead him away from the table, which was just as well; the playing had stopped the moment the lights dimmed and she had stepped out on stage, "Come here, big boy."

As she walked up to the stage, the music became more sultry, and Trowa couldn't help but follow the woman, and sit on the chair, where indicated. She then circled around him, touching him with her satin-gloved hands, and singing in a very throaty bedroom voice, "You've been a bad, bad boy… I'm gonna take my time so enjoy…"

She stood behind him then, running her hands down his chest, over his shirt and making the men watching infinitely jealous. She continued to sing, Trowa's mind short circuiting as she touched him, but came back with a jolt as she sat on his lap and practically moaned out, "I'm going to give you a little taste, of the sugar below my waist, you nasty boy…"

That last line got them both a lot of cat calls and generally caused a commotion amongst the spectators. "I'll give you some Ooh la-la… Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?" then she shifted on his lap and his mind took a second vacation. He was busy trying to translate that last line, when she was suddenly behind him again, "I got you breaking into a sweat, got you hot, bothered, and wet, you nasty boy…"

Trowa gulped and shifted, trying to hide what Q-baby had already noticed. The men in the audience whooped and whistled, and soon enough, she was taunting Trowa into spanking her. She stood in front of him, her backside pointing in his direction and leaned a little further forward so that he could now see the satin panties underneath the layer of feathers. Trowa gulped, and reached out. She did have a very nice ass…

The men cheered him on as he touched the soft material covering her, then pulled his hand back and let a resounding slapping sound echo throughout the room. Trowa couldn't help but be attracted to the very determined female before him, and ignored the sounds of the others around them as the number ended and the rest of the show girls took their places on stage, giving both him and Q-baby the chance to escape out though the stage entrance.

"You did well," Q-baby said as she caught her breath from running off stage with him.

Trowa just nodded, not knowing what to say to that. She'd definitely worked her magic on him and he was thinking very ungentlemanly thoughts toward her, which further upset him because he felt he was betraying the piano man, Quatre.

"That performance wasn't all an act," Q-baby said as she came closer to Trowa and pretty much pinned him against the wall. She knew that everyone else was at the bar or performing, so none of the staff would be around to see this.

"What do you mean?" Trowa asked, his mouth suddenly dry and his heart picking up its pace.

"I mean…" Q-baby said, pressing up against him and placing her hands on his shoulders, "that I enjoyed that just as much as you did." She leaned up and kissed him fully on the lips. Trowa pushed her away, leaving her blinking startled.

"I… can't," Trowa ground out.

"Oh? And why is that?" she asked haughtily, affronted at being so coldly turned down by the only man she'd ever actually wanted, "You're too good for The Queen?"

"That's not it at all," Trowa said and gave her an infuriatingly cocky look, "You're beautiful, but I've had my eye on someone else."

She stepped back a little and gave him the once over, "So it's true. You're pining after the piano man that plays in the afternoons, aren't you?"

Trowa glared at her, becoming a little defensive, "What's it to you? And what would you know?"

"One of the girls saw you almost kiss the boy. It'd be a shame if word got out about the two of you…" she teased.

"It's not socially acceptable to love a man, you know."

Trowa growled at her then, grabbing her by the shoulders and shoving her against the wall, pinning her with iron strength, "Are you trying to threaten me? I don't take threats very well. If you hurt him, I swear I'll -"

"Don't you threaten me," she hissed, "I was merely going to suggest that you can have the both of us."

"What do you mean?" Trowa asked, completely floored. What was this girl implying? He couldn't be with two people morally. She was beautiful, sure. She wasn't busty and had a very modest shape… that was part of why she was attractive to him; but still, if he had even the slightest chance with Quatre, he didn't want to mess it up for a one night stand.

Q-baby leaned in and gave him a heated kiss, "I don't do that for just anyone, you know. You're just… special."

Suddenly, she was gone, and Trowa could taste her lipstick on his lips and the fire of her touch on his skin. He'd never met anyone who lit his spark like she did. Hell, Ifif he hadn't met the piano player before the Queen, he may have even taken her up on the offer. She sure got him interested. But, he couldn't have both together. He couldn't believe that she would say such a catty thing about the pianist!

It was bad enough to like men in these times, but to say such impropriates against the blonde pianist? Perhaps they were feuding; he always seemed to leave before she came out. Perhaps they were related-- they were both radiant blondes... with deep blue eyes... Both were short...Both beautiful… but…

Just what would Q-baby look like without all that makeup?

Jess' rant:

Thank you to all who reviewed and special thanks to Dentelle Noir, who not only betaed this chapter, but pretty much wrote the closing paragraph. hugs I'm glad y'all are liking this fic so far!