Cold Feet Series

Part 2

She arrived breathless and twenty minutes late, full of apologies and good humor. Play rehearsal had gone well and she'd treated the cast to a celebratory drink in Ten Forward. She'd gotten distracted by one of her actors and had forgotten the time. It was a small indiscretion, one that Jean-Luc gladly forgave upon seeing her joyous smile.

She returned his kiss, giving him a playful caress before spotting the table. It was nicely laid out with her favorite china and a colorful spray of flowers but there wasn't a morsel of food.

"You've already eaten?" she asked with a slight frown.

"No, cherie. I just didn't want anything to get cold." He raised his eyebrows at her. "You do have a way of forgetting the time on rehearsal nights."

"Oh." She gave him another dazzling smile, followed by a deep kiss. "You are a prince, Jean-Luc," she informed him when they finally parted.

"A duke, actually," he replied, managing to keep a straight face.

"Really?" she responded, crossing the room to the replicator. "Well your highness, what shall we have for dinner?"

"All taken care of, my love. Order menu number 17." Beverly tapped a command into the replicator and waited. After a moment, the food appeared on silver platters. "And the proper form of address is 'My Lord'."

"That's interesting," she told him, sounding not the least bit interested, her attention focused on the fragrant dishes in front of her. "Shall we eat?"

"By all means. I imagine you're starved."

"Absolutely. What is this? Crythorian Crepes? Oh, I haven't had these in ages."

"Then it's past time," Jean-Luc assured her, smiling behind his tea cup as she savored her first bite.

Dinner stretched into leisurely conversation and finally into that comfortable silence they both enjoyed. At long last they retired from the table, leaving the dishes for later.

Beverly took Jean-Luc's hand in hers and led him to the sofa. She kicked off her comfortable shoes and curled her legs up under her, leaning against Jean-Luc where he sat. He reached around her, gathering her into an embrace, then taking up his book off the end table. Beverly loved hearing him read, and he'd delighted her by letting her choose the book several nights ago. There were just nearing the halfway point and Jean-Luc was looking forward to the next chapter as much as she.

It was an old story, written centuries ago, and full of heroes and princesses and the most evil villains. They had left off with the hero being set to three impossible tasks and Jean-Luc wanted to see how he accomplished them.

"..." she cried, grasping his arm, "You may not...." Jean- Luc's voice trailed off as he looked down. Beverly's head lay heavily against his chest and her breathing was deep and even.

*So much for the hero.* he told himself ruefully, placing a bookmark at the proper spot and laying the book aside. Gently, carefully, he shifted, gathering Beverly into his arms and carrying her to bed. She half woke as he undressed her and she roused herself enough to make a trip to the bathroom. When she returned he had her nightgown laid out for her and the bed turned down.

"Good night, my lord," she teased sleepily, then snuggled contentedly under the covers. Jean-Luc tucked her in and gave her a good night kiss before returning to the living area to clear away the dishes.

Resisting the urge to peek at the next part of the book, he returned to the bedroom and prepared for bed. Studying himself in the mirror he idly wondered if he should tell her that his great uncle really had been a duke.

Wandering back into the bedroom, he passed the bed and saw Beverly's feet peeking out from under the blanket. With gentle hands he tucked them in snugly before climbing in beside her. Beverly hated having cold feet.

Just before he drifted off he felt her stir, turning towards him as she slept. Taking her in his arms he smiled and twined his feet with hers, warming them. And after all, it wouldn't do for the duchess Picard to have cold feet.

::: end :::

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