Part 2
Feeling soft, moist lips against her collarbone, Beverly gradually rouses, her lips curving into a smile.
Kneeling on the edge of the bed in Beverly's tiny bedroom in the small off-campus residence, Jean-Luc peppers kisses along her neck, one hand softly caressing her abdomen as the other peels back the bedsheets.
Moaning in delight and protest to the cool air licking her exposed chest, Beverly's eyes flutter open. Momentarily surprised, Beverly gasps, her eyes dilating.
"It's alright," soothes Jean-Luc, rubbing her hip beneath the bed sheets.
Relaxing, Beverly exhales deeply, the memories of the previous night flashing through her mind, instantaneously rousing her consciousness.
"I'm sorry." Jean-Luc leans over to brush his lips against hers. "I didn't want to disturb you, but I thought you'd be uncomfortable on the sofa."
Shifting up, Beverly puts a hand on his chest, covered in his uniform. "I'm sorry. I fell asleep. Did you sleep?"
Nodding, Jean-Luc takes her other hand. "Oh, yes. Quite well. I woke up a while ago. I took a stroll down the street to that little cafe. I got breakfast. Would you like to come sit and have coffee?"
Glancing at the chronometer, Beverly stretches her arm over her head. "Jean-Luc, it's…seven. You…got breakfast? Why didn't you use my replicator?"
Smirking, Jean-Luc shakes his head and tugs Beverly up and off of the bed. "I'm on Earth. I want the real thing." He takes Beverly's terrycloth bathrobe that he had collected from her minuscule washroom and slips it over her shoulders. "I promise you won't be disappointed."
Barefoot, Beverly follows his lead through to the small counter space and table that pass for a kitchen, securing the sash on her robe.
"This cafe has the best pastries in San Francisco. Have you been?" Jean-Luc retrieves a paper bag and two large coffees in paper cups off of the counter and hands one of the cups to Beverly.
Accepting the proffered coffee, Beverly smiles gratefully and gestures to the sofa. "No. I haven't. I mean, I usually have a simple breakfast."
"You're in for a treat," promises Picard, perching on the sofa. He puts his coffee and the bag on the coffee table in front of him and unwraps a pastry from the bag as Beverly settles in beside him on the sofa.
Smiling lightly, Beverly's shoulder brushes his as she tilts forward to take stock of the breakfast Picard had brought back, setting her coffee on the coffee table. "Oh, that looks good."
Jean-Luc tears off a piece of a cherry danish and rotates to face her directly. Grinning, he brings the bite-sized piece of danish to her lips and commands, "Open your mouth."
Surprised but intrigued, Beverly complies, parting her lips. Jean-Luc slips the small morsel onto her tongue, and Beverly scoops it into her mouth. Entirely satisfied, Jean-Luc smirks, grazing her bottom lip with his thumb.
"Mmmm. Delicious," hums Beverly, skimming her tongue over his thumb.
Playful, Jean-Luc drops his thumb to stroke her cheek. "Would you like to try more?"
"I'll try anything," answers Beverly teasingly, playing along, resting one hand on his thigh.
Jean-Luc reaches over to the coffee table and retrieves another pastry from the paper bag, placing it on a napkin on the table. Enthralled, Beverly watches as Jean-Luc breaks off a chunk of a butter croissant, a real chocolate layer dribbling out of the core of the pastry.
Raising the piece of chocolate croissant to her lips, Jean-Luc leans in almost close enough to brush noses. "I hope you like it a little sweet and sticky."
Beverly devours the morsel of croissant, swirling her tongue around the tip of Jean-Luc's chocolate-stained finger. Letting out a small groan of pleasure, Jean-Luc drops his free hand to her waist.
"Mmm, my favourite," moans Beverly against Jean-Luc's lips. "I'll lick it all up."
A low growl escaping his lips, Jean-Luc draws her onto his lap.
Giggling, Beverly wraps her legs around his waist, brushes her pelvis against Jean-Luc's. "You hungry, Captain?"
"Famished," hisses Jean-Luc, gripping her hips, claiming her lips in a greedy kiss.
Throwing her arms around his neck, Beverly is lost to the sensations, her body abuzz as Jean-Luc's tongue plunders her mouth and his already growing erection presses against her core. She can hardly formulate a rational thought and is powerless against her conflicting emotions, until the chirping of his communicator badge startles her out of her spell.
Caught off guard, Picard grumbles, disengaging and loosening his hold on Beverly's waist as she gazes up at him wide-eyes and alarmed. Putting up his index finger, Picard nods assuringly.
"Picard here," answers Picard, tapping his comm badge and straightening on the sofa.
Blushing, Beverly disentangles herself, sitting next to Picard as an officer across the comm links advises Picard that they will be ready to meet his transferred officers in one hour.
"Acknowledged, Lieutenant. One hour. Picard out." Picard ends the comm link, frowning apologetically at Beverly.
"You're going?" Beverly states, rather than asks. Blinking rapidly, she realizes that he has to leave, and this entire affair will be over.
Sighing heavily, Jean-Luc takes Beverly's hand between his, rubbing her fingers. "I'm afraid it's time."
"I'm, I'm sorry, Beverly. I don't want to leave." If Picard had it his way, he'd stay here forever and prolong this fantasy.
Swallowing the hard lump in her throat, Beverly feels hot tears sting her eyes. "No, it's okay. You have to go back to the ship. And, I have to go back to Jack."
Face falling, Jean-Luc detests the look of remorse flicking through her eyes. "Beverly…"
Standing off of the sofa, Beverly averts her eyes. "Go, Jean-Luc."
Taking her elbow in his hand, Jean-Luc studies her grief-stricken face, struggling not to cry, looking at the door so as to avoid his eyes. "Beverly, please. Let's talk about this."
"I don't want to talk," sniffles Beverly, every ounce of will fighting to keep her tears at bay.
"Beverly," sighs Jean-Luc frustratedly, tugging her elbow, pulling her flush to his chest. "Tell me what you want to do now."
Cracking, Beverly chokes out a sob, hand flying to her face. "I don't know!"
Wrapping one hand around her back, Jean-Luc sighs, pulling her hand away from her face with the other. "Beverly…"
Burying her face in his neck, Beverly sobs. "Oh, God, Jean-Luc. What have I done?"
Kissing her hair, Jean-Luc rubs her back. "It's okay, Beverly."
"I've ruined everything!" cries Beverly, staining Jean-Luc's uniform in tears.
Rubbing circles across her back, Jean-Luc shakes his head. "It's going to be fine, Beverly."
Tilting back, Beverly shakes her head in bewilderment. "Yeah? You wanna tell your best friend that you just slept with his wife?"
Wounded, Jean-Luc feels a chill reverberate down his spine.
Clutching her chest, Beverly hangs her head. "I'm sorry. I…I just don't know where to go from here."
Inhaling sharply, Jean-Luc enfolds her in his arms, dropping a tender kiss to her forehead. "I know where I'd like to go from here."
Glancing up, Beverly is curious, resting her left on his chest. "What?"
Smiling, Jean-Luc takes her left hand in his and toys with the gold band on her ring finger. "Leave Jack. Come with me. Please."
Flabbergasted, Beverly's jaw drops. "Jean-Luc…"
"Please, Beverly," begs, Jean-Luc, clutching her close. "We'd be incredible together. I want you so badly. I'd do anything to make you happy. Just, please give me a chance."
Heart palpitating wildly against her chest, Beverly flushes hot, overwhelmed. "Oh, God, Jean-Luc. I…I want you, too. But, but…I also want Jack. I…I can't just…leave him! I can't destroy our marriage. We made vows!"
"Beverly," intones Jean-Luc seriously. "You broke those vows last night."
Whimpering, Beverly bites her lip, averting her eyes to the ground.
Tilting her chin up to look at him, Jean-Luc searches for her eyes. "You can't have both of us, Beverly."
Warms tears cascading down her cheeks, Beverly gazes helplessly into Jean-Luc's hazel eyes. "I don't know what I want."
Thoroughly conflicted and truthfully disappointed, Jean-Luc sighs in resignation, releasing his hold on her. "I had best be on my way."
Sniffling, Beverly steps out of his arms, almost wincing at the loss of contact.
"I'll call you once I'm back on the Stargazer," Jean-Luc promises, making for the door to her suite.
Barefoot, Beverly pads across the tiny open-concept room to the door, where Picard is gathering his case into his hand.
"Jean-Luc, I….I just don't know," whispers Beverly desperately, plagued in turmoil. "I…I was so lonely, full of so many doubts about my marriage."
Raking his eyes over her, Jean-Luc's lips are set in a tight line. "I'm sorry if you're conflicted, Beverly. I'm sorry if you regret our actions last night. I don't regret it."
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Beverly trembles.
Jean-Luc takes a step forward, leaning in to peck Beverly's lips. "I'm here when you want to talk."
Gazing at him with watery eyes, Beverly nods.
With a fleeting look back, Picard slips out of the door and into the corridor of the apartment building, leaving Beverly alone with nothing but her self-loathing.