Path: newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net!stamper.news.atl.earthlink.net!elnk-atl-nf1!newsfeed.earthlink.net!in.100proofnews.com!in.100proofnews.com!border2.nntp.dca.giganews.com!border1.nntp.dca.giganews.com!nntp.giganews.com!newsread.com!newsstand.newsread.com!POSTED.monger.newsread.com!not-for-mail Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated Approved: ascem@earthlink.net Organization: Better Living Thru TrekSmut Sender: ascem@earthlink.net Message-ID: From: "Ida Vega-Landow" MIME-Version: 1.0 Mailing-List: list ASCEML@yahoogroups.com; contact ASCEML-owner@yahoogroups.com Subject: "A Small Circle of Friends" , P/Q, 1 of 3 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Lines: 571 Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 04:55:07 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 209.198.142.218 X-Complaints-To: Abuse Role , We Care X-Trace: monger.newsread.com 1097729707 209.198.142.218 (Thu, 14 Oct 2004 00:55:07 EDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 00:55:07 EDT Xref: news.earthlink.net alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated:85070 X-Received-Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 21:55:08 PDT (newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net) New: ST:TNG (P/Q) "A SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS" By Ida Vega-Landow, a/k/a Slasherfem Rating: NC-17=20 SUMMARY: While vacationing on Risa after "Star Trek: Insurrection",=20 to do it? Because I love it!=20=20 "A SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS"=20=20 "And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody, outside of a small=20 circle of friends." Phil Ochs, "Outside of A Small Circle of Friends" PART 1 OF 3 Captain Jean-Luc Picard sat quietly in a corner of the noisy,=20 crowded restaurant in a white, laced-front shirt open at the throat,=20 yellow slacks and sandals, sipping champagne while watching his=20 senior officers and their assorted friends among the crew of the USS=20 ENTERPRISE-D noisily celebrating the engagement of Commander William=20 Riker and Councilor Deanna Troi, which had just been announced. Will Riker, flushed with happiness and champagne, his yellow shirt=20 unbuttoned to cool his chest, was still beardless after their=20 sojourn on the Ba'ku planet where everyone had become more youthful=20 under the influence of that planet's metaphasic radiation. Troi, in=20 her long, blue sundress, was as lovely as ever, made even more so by=20 the metaphasic radiation; she was enjoying the music, the cheering=20 crowd, her fianc=E9's arms around her and the diamond ring sparkling=20 on her left hand.=20 //He certainly was generous,// Picard thought, admiring the size of=20 the gem. //If it were any bigger, she could use it to signal=20 passing aircraft.// He smiled as he watched the happy couple kissing=20 and dancing in place while they accepted their friends'=20 congratulations.=20=20 Outside the windows of the restaurant where this joyous gathering=20 was taking place, a heavy rain was falling on the pleasure planet=20 Risa. But it wouldn't last too long; rain seldom did on Risa,=20 thanks to the planetary weather grid. It usually occurred at night=20 as well, just before dawn, so that the guests at the resort could=20 enjoy their fun in the sun. The only reason this rain was falling=20 at sunset was so that all the night blooming flowers lining the=20 paths to and from the hotel and the guest cottages would be at their=20 peak. Considering all the inebriated guests who would be trying to=20 find their way back to their rooms and cottages tonight, Picard=20 thought it was a shrewd move. He could find his way back to the=20 cottage he had rented on the beach by the smell of the flowers=20 alone, or simply by following the glow of the luminescent alien=20 blooms growing alongside the more familiar Terran flowers like=20 honeysuckle and jasmine. Risa's moon was also full and bright=20 tonight, which would further aid the intoxicated in finding their=20 way home. All in all, it was a perfect night for romance.=20=20=20 //So why am I sitting here alone watching everyone else having=20 fun?// Picard stared into the depths of his champagne glass and=20 sighed. //I didn't use to be such a wallflower. I used to be able=20 to bounce back from failed romances a lot better too. Ah, `but I=20 was so much older then, I'm younger then that now'. What a pity the=20 effects of that metaphasic radiation wear off so quickly when you=20 leave the planet=85// He sipped his drink and thought of Anij, the=20 beautiful Ba'ku woman he'd become so attached to during his last=20 mission. If he could only settle down in one place, they might have=20 had a future together, despite their age difference. //Hell, in a=20 few years I'd be as youthful-looking as she is! But would I still=20 be content to remain on one world, when there are so many others=20 waiting to be explored?//=20=20 While the waiters were still serving champagne, Picard rose and went=20 to the terrace. He stood in the doorway and watched the rain=20 falling, forcing the tall feathertop trees and Terran palms to bend=20 beneath their onslaught. Gradually the rain began to ease up,=20 falling lighter and lighter until it was only a gentle sprinkling.=20=20 Then it stopped, allowing the trees to stand up straight in the=20 moonlight and sway gracefully in the evening breeze. Glancing back=20 over his shoulder, he saw the happy couple surrounded by well- wishers, shaking their hands, hugging and kissing them.=20=20=20=20=20=20=20 //`I don't want to spoil the party, so I'll go'.// Picard stepped=20 out onto the terrace, inhaling the freshly-cleansed night air and=20 exhaling with a melancholy sigh. //You know you're depressed when=20 you start resorting to lyrics from old Rock n' Roll songs to=20 describe your thoughts.// He leaned on the polished wood railing,=20 still dry thanks to the awning overhead, looking out at the verdant=20 grounds of the Risa Hilton Hotel. The strategically placed lights=20 on the garden path below showed a beautiful garden lined with flower- covered bushes in a decorative maze. All one had to do was follow=20 the scented flowers, along with the discreetly placed signs in three=20 major languages aside from Federation Standard English, to find=20 one's way from this restaurant to the adjoining hotel. If you had a=20 companion with you, you might be tempted to walk slowly.=20=20 But there would be no one on his arm tonight when he left. The only=20 one he would have wanted to escort to his beach cottage was Anij,=20 and she was back on Ba'ku. She had made it clear enough that she=20 was not interested in ever leaving her planet, not even for him.=20=20 Why should she? It had everything she needed, including eternal=20 youth. All he could offer was the stars and his own restless heart,=20 which still longed to explore them as much as it did when he was=20 still young and looking for something more fulfilling than growing=20 grapes and making them into wine.=20=20 He gave another sigh as he looked further out, over the roof of the=20 hotel to the view of the ocean beyond. He could smell the salt air=20 on the evening breeze and hear the rush of waves in the distance.=20=20=20 Out there it was peaceful and quiet, with no reminders of his past=20 and all the failed romances along the way. Perhaps he should excuse=20 himself and leave early, before he became drunk and more depressed=20 than ever. The last thing Will and Deanna needed at their=20 engagement party was a morose captain, wondering why he was still=20 alone after all his years in Starfleet when they had managed to find=20 each other. Was he destined to be alone for the rest of his life?=20=20 Was there no one out there for him, who could accept him and his=20 need to wander among the stars? Did anybody long for the security=20 of a relationship, while still maintaining their freedom, as much as=20 he did?=20=20=20=20 "Lovely evening, isn't it?"=20=20 Picard looked to the right and did a double take when he saw Q=20 leaning on his folded arms on the terrace rail beside him. The=20 entity was dressed as casually as he was, in an open-necked red=20 shirt and tan slacks. Picard looked at his champagne glass and then=20 at Q, hoping this was only a hallucination caused by drink.=20=20 "No, you did not have too much to drink," Q told him, continuing to=20 look out at the view from the terrace. "I'm really here. And no, I=20 am not here to mess up your life for my own amusement, or to put you=20 through some test by order of the Continuum." Picard was unsurprised, but still annoyed at Q's ability to read his=20 thoughts. "Well, if you're not here for either of those reasons,=20 what are you here for?" "Would you believe I came only to congratulate Riker and Troi for=20 finally getting engaged?" Q said hopefully.=20=20 "No, I would not!" Picard informed him. "You always have an agenda=20 of your own, even at your most benevolent."=20=20 Q sighed. "I knew I couldn't fool you, Jean-Luc. Out of all the=20 mortals I've ever met in this universe, you're the only one who ever=20 came closest to understanding me. You're also the only one that I=20 respect, because you were never afraid of me."=20=20 "You respect me? Well, you certainly have a strange way of showing=20 it." Picard took a hearty drink of champagne to fortify himself.=20=20 Now that Q was here, it looked as if the nice, quiet vacation he had=20 been looking forward to while on Risa was going to come to an abrupt=20 end.=20=20 "I did not come here to spoil your vacation, either." Q sounded=20 annoyed as he shifted his gaze from the view to his clasped hands,=20 as he raised his arms so he could lean upon his elbows. "In fact,=20 if you want the truth, I'm here on vacation myself. I want to=20 relax, forget I'm a Q, just go native and see what it's like to be=20 human. Completely human."=20=20 "Indeed? Well, you've certainly chosen a nice place for it. Risa=20 has something for everybody. If it's physical pleasures you wish to=20 sample, you'll find plenty of restaurants, bars, beaches, nightclubs=20 and their attendant activities. If all you want is sensual=20 pleasure, just carry a horga'hn around with you. I guarantee the=20 ladies won't leave you alone."=20=20 "It's not the ladies I'm interested in."=20=20 "Oh?" Picard raised one eyebrow. "I see." He shrugged. "Well,=20 don't worry, there are plenty of young men among the Risan=20 attendants who will be glad to attend to your needs. Just tell them=20 what you want and they'll be happy to provide it."=20=20 "There's only one thing I want." Q seemed to be having trouble=20 meeting Picard's eyes. He actually looked embarrassed.=20=20=20 "Oh, so you do have an agenda. All right, then, what is it?"=20=20=20 Picard lifted his champagne glass to his lips again. Q sighed. "Yes, you're right, I do have an agenda. It's you."=20=20 Picard froze with his glass poised before his lips. "I beg your=20 pardon?"=20=20 "I came for you," Q told him, finally turning his head to look at=20 him. He still looked embarrassed, but determined. "I wanted to=20 see if it was possible for us to be friends after all we've been=20 through." "After all we've been through?!?" Picard sputtered. "Don't you=20 mean after all you've put me through?" "I'm sorry for all that," Q told him awkwardly. "I was only=20 following orders-=97most of the time, anyway." "Yes, let's not forget the mischief you got up to on your own,=20 without the Continuum's blessing! Meddling in my personal life,=20 taking me to death's door and back, forcing me to relive my past and=20 become an entirely different person! To say nothing of making me a=20 Borg=97"=20=20 "I didn't make you a Borg, I only introduced you to them! The Borg=20 Queen was the one who decided you'd make a perfect Borg."=20=20 "Yes, and who do I have to thank for bringing me to her attention?=20=20 Not to mention making me solely responsible for the survival of the=20 human race! Twice!" Picard added bitterly.=20 "That wasn't my idea! It was the Continuum's! I didn't want to put=20 you through those tests at Farpoint, but they insisted! I was=20 desperate to get back into their good graces at the time." Q=20 sounded pretty desperate now as he tried to explain himself to=20 Picard. "And even after I did what they asked, they still exiled=20 me! If I hadn't found refuge on your ship, I never would have=20 survived!"=20=20 "For which you should thank Data, not I! Why am I the one you want=20 to befriend? His intellect is superior to mine, as well as his=20 strength, his reflexes, and everything else. He's closer to your=20 idea of perfection than I could ever hope to be."=20=20 "Yes, but Data is an artificial life form. He's not real. He's not=20 you," Q told him earnestly.=20=20 "And what have I done to deserve your gratitude and respect?" Picard=20 said sarcastically. "Like I said before=97" Q shifted position, moving a little bit=20 closer to the captain. "Out of all the other mortals I've ever met=20 here, I respect you the most, because you're not afraid of me.=20=20=20 You've never hesitated to tell me what you really think, even though=20 you knew I could wipe you out of existence as casually as you'd swat=20 a fly. You never backed down, never humored me or flattered me. I=20 could always depend on you to do the right thing, even when I=20 offered you an easy way out. You're a man of honor and integrity,=20 which is rare enough in your galaxy, let alone in Starfleet. Your=20 last mission proved that."=20=20 "So you know about the Ba'ku planet, do you? Then it shouldn't=20 surprise you that I chose to uphold the Prime Directive, rather than=20 follow orders."=20=20 "No, I wasn't surprised that you chose to defy Admiral Dougherty=20 because you preferred to put the needs of the many Ba'ku over the=20 needs of the few admirals he headed, eager to exploit their=20 planet." Q added softly, with genuine sympathy in his eyes, "I know=20 about Anij, too. She made you happy for a while. You could have=20 gone on being happy with her, if you had chosen to sacrifice your=20 career in Starfleet."=20=20 "Don't remind me," Picard said harshly. He finished his champagne=20 and stared out into the Risan night, seeing not the beautiful garden=20 or the distant seashore, but the face of a beautiful woman, well=20 over 300 years old, with whom he could have had a life. They had=20 parted friends, with a promise of frequent visits from him, but they=20 had both known he could never offer her anything other than brief=20 visits. Her life was with her people, on her world, and his life=20 was with his people, on his ship. He had chosen his lonely life of=20 command and exploration because he just couldn't see himself=20 settling down on one planet for the remainder of his existence, no=20 matter how long and blissful it might be. =20=20 "I know exactly how you feel," Q assured him. "Why should you give=20 up the life you love for the person you love? How can you share=20 your life with someone who has no concept of any life beyond the one=20 she's always known? You deserve better, Jean-Luc. You deserve=20 someone who shares your need to explore the galaxy, see new worlds,=20 meet new people, learn new knowledge." He put his hand on Picard's=20 shoulder, leaning close so he could whisper to him. "I can give you=20 what you need. You can give me what I want. We're perfect for each=20 other, Jean-Luc."=20=20 Picard stared at him in the moonlight, finally realizing that Q=20 wasn't interested in just a platonic friendship. His eyes were dark=20 and dilated, looking at him with the kind of desire he was more=20 accustomed to seeing in women's eyes. Not that men's desire was=20 anything new to him; as a schoolboy, he'd been the object of many a=20 classmate's affection at the British boarding school he'd gone to.=20=20 As he grew older, he still managed to attract male attention, even=20 after he began losing his hair. He'd toyed with it, even indulged=20 in some mutual love play, but it had never developed into anything=20 serious. So what Q was suggesting didn't shock him. It was the=20 idea of doing it with Q that shocked him.=20=20 "Q, I=97" he swallowed hard. "I had no idea you were interested in a=20 physical relationship. I don't mind trying to be friends with you,=20 even after all you've done, but I honestly don't think--"=20=20 He found himself cut off as Q slid an arm around his shoulders,=20 pulled him closer and kissed him. Picard froze, unsure of exactly=20 how he should respond. Fear and curiosity fought with one another;=20 curiosity won and he stayed still just to see what kind of kisser Q=20 was. He didn't feel threatened, much to his surprise. Even though=20 it had been unexpected, the kiss wasn't rough or forced. Q was=20 holding him firmly but not hard. He could break off the kiss and=20 move away if he wanted to. The question was, did he want to?=20 "Captain? Captain, are you okay out there?" Riker's voice sounded=20 so close at hand it startled Picard, causing him to drop his=20 champagne glass. It fell with a crystalline tinkle on the floor of=20 the terrace as Picard pulled away from Q at the same time.=20=20 Q looked annoyed at the interruption, but he just said in a husky=20 voice, "We'll talk more later." He snapped his fingers and=20 disappeared.=20=20 Riker appeared on the terrace moments later and found his captain=20 starring at a broken champagne glass on the floor. "Sir, is=20 everything all right?" he asked, a concerned look on his beardless=20 face. "I thought I heard you arguing with someone out here a few=20 minutes ago. When I told Deanna, she said she could feel how upset=20 you were and urged me to go find out why."=20=20 Picard shook his head and looked perplexed. "Yes, you were both=20 right. I was arguing with someone who got me very upset."=20=20 "Who was it?"=20=20 "Q."=20=20 "Q is here?" Riker rushed to his side. "What happened? Did he=20 threaten you? Did he hurt you?" "No, neither. But he did surprise me."=20=20 "Of all the times for him to show up!" Riker was furious with the=20 capricious entity for disrupting their vacation and ruining their=20 captain's peace of mind. "What does he want now?" "Me," said Picard, still a little dazed from the kiss Q had given=20 him.=20=20 "What?" Riker stared at him, blue eyes wide with shock.=20=20 "Yes, me. Apparently, he wants us to be friends despite our past=20 history. More than friends, actually."=20=20=20 "The nerve of him! I hope you told him where to go!"=20=20 "He left before I could tell him anything. But I'm sure he'll be=20 back."=20=20 "Of course he will. Q always comes back, like a bad cold! You'd=20 better come inside, sir. You'll be safer in a crowd." Riker took=20 him by the arm and steered him toward the terrace door.=20=20 Picard accompanied him back inside without protest. But inwardly he=20 was wondering why he hadn't felt threatened by Q's kiss.=20=20 **************** Later that evening, after the party had ended and everyone was=20 drifting back to their hotel rooms, Riker and Troi both insisted=20 upon accompanying the captain back to his beach front cottage.=20=20=20 Picard kept insisting that it wasn't necessary, but both were=20 determined to protect their captain from whatever mischief Q had in=20 mind.=20=20 "Really, you two, this is not necessary!" Picard protested in vain=20 as the lovebirds steered him along between them. "I'm sure you'd=20 both rather be alone together." "If Q is here, then none of us is safe," Troi told him, "whether=20 we're alone or together. But at least we'll present a united front=20 if he comes back."=20=20 "That's right, safety in numbers," Riker agreed. "Whatever he has=20 in mind for you, we'll do our best to make sure he doesn't=20 succeed."=20=20 When they got to the cottage, Picard used his key card to open the=20 door and Riker insisted upon going in alone and searching the place=20 thoroughly before letting him or Troi enter. When they were all=20 inside, Troi insisted that they all sit down on the sofa and discuss=20 the episode with Q further.=20=20 "Did he actually tell you that he wanted you, Captain?" Troi=20 questioned him gently, as she always did when counseling someone who=20 had been a victim of sexual abuse. "Or was it his body language=20 that gave you that impression?"=20=20 "Both, actually. First he told me that we were perfect for each=20 other, then he kissed me."=20=20 "Just like that?"=20=20 "No, first we had a discussion about our past=85" Picard gave them a=20 rundown on what he and Q were talking about just before the kiss and=20 what happened after. She listened to Picard's impression of Q, as well as Riker's loudly=20 voiced opinion of Q's audacity in propositioning their captain.=20=20 When both men had had their say, she questioned the captain=20 further. "You say you never felt threatened while he was holding or=20 kissing you?" Picard shook his head. "And he never tried to touch=20 you against your will, or force you into a position where he could=20 take advantage of you?"=20=20 "No, he didn't back me up against a wall or bend me over a chair,"=20 Picard said impatiently. "All he did was pull me close and kiss=20 me."=20=20 "I'm sure it must have been a shock to you," Troi said=20 sympathetically. "But did you feel at all threatened? Did he hold=20 you tight enough to hurt you? Did he leave any bruises? Did you=20 struggle or call for help?"=20=20 "It happened too quickly for me to do either, Counselor," Picard=20 told her. "Riker arrived in the nick of time, it seems."=20=20 "Well, it doesn't sound as if Q intended to force himself on you,=20 sir," Troi told him reassuringly. "I think he's just curious about=20 human sexuality and wants to explore it with someone he's familiar=20 with. He told you he respected you; it sounds as if he genuinely=20 likes you, as well. That could make him think he would be safer=20 exploring erotic behavior with you. Such an intimate act is better=20 undertaken with someone you know and trust." "Deanna, a lot of guys find it easy to have sex with someone they=20 don't know," Riker reminded her from across the captain.=20=20=20=20 "Yes, I know that, Will. But I don't see Q willing to step down=20 from his pedestal to be intimate with just anybody. In his own=20 mind, he's a deity, entitled to the best in our mortal world. I=20 suppose we should be flattered that he considers our captain to be=20 the best among mere mortals."=20=20 "Well, I don't consider it flattering! I'm sure the captain doesn't=20 either. And if Q tries to touch him again, I'll knock him into the=20 middle of next week!"=20=20 "Let's not be hasty, Number One," Picard told him. "When he shows=20 up again=97-and I'm sure he will-=97I'll just tell him no, thank you.=20=20 If he really holds me in such high regard, I'm sure he'll understand=20 that no means no." From the expression on Riker's face, he had his doubts. But if his=20 captain wanted to take a chance on Q's benevolence, who was he to=20 question him? "Just promise me you'll keep your comm badge close at=20 hand and call me immediately if he shows up again," Riker urged=20 him.=20=20 "I promise you'll be the first one I call, Will. Now why don't you=20 take this lovely lady for a walk in the moonlight, so that I can go=20 to bed?"=20=20=20 Troi smiled at the captain's gallantry. "Thank you, sir. Come on,=20 Will, let's let the captain get some rest." She got up from beside=20 Picard, walked over to Riker's side and stood there expectantly.=20=20=20 Riker was visibly torn between concern for his captain's safety and=20 the desire to be alone with his beautiful fianc=E9e. But Deanna's=20 beauty eventually won out; he got up, took her arm and walked to the=20 door with her, pausing to look back at the captain. "Remember to=20 keep your comm badge on, sir," he told him. "I'll get it out right now, Will. Now good night, both of you,"=20 Picard told them firmly. As soon as they were gone, Picard got up and went into the bedroom.=20=20 He got his comm badge out of the drawer where he'd put it, along=20 with a few other personal items, and took it into the bathroom with=20 him. A long while later he emerged, wearing only a white towel, the=20 comm badge whimsically pinned to the left side. He puttered about=20 the bedroom, getting out his pajamas and laying out clothes for=20 tomorrow, completely unaware that Q was watching him from the open=20 window, hovering silently and invisibly, just another shadow of the=20 night.=20=20 //I promised myself I wouldn't force you to do anything, Jean-Luc,//=20 Q thought longingly. //But I never said I wouldn't watch you.//=20=20=20 He looked longingly at Picard as he lowered the lights, stretched=20 and yawned, raising his arms over his head as he thrust his hips=20 forward, straining the towel wrapped around them until it looked as=20 if it would just burst open and fall off, leaving him gloriously=20 naked. But the towel remained in place as he resumed puttering=20 about, turning down the bed and fluffing the pillows, setting the=20 electronic alarm in the clock-radio that was built into the=20 headboard, then turning his back to the window and removing the=20 towel.=20=20 Q got a good look at his well-developed gluteus maximus before he=20 pulled on his short, blue pajama bottoms. Then he turned around and=20 reached for the top, giving Q a good look at his chest, lightly=20 thatched with graying hair, before he put on the blue top and=20 buttoned it. He started to get into bed, realized that the window=20 was open and went over to close it. Q started to move aside, then=20 remembered he was invisible and remained where he was. Picard=20 seemed to be looking right at him as he stared out the window into=20 the night, his hazel eyes wide as they searched the darkness for=20 something.=20 //Is he looking for me? Or just looking to see if Riker and Troi=20 are still in sight?// Q wished with all his heart that Jean-Luc was=20 looking for him, longing for him as much as he longed for Jean-Luc.=20=20 But that would have to wait until after he'd won his trust, gained=20 his confidence. He couldn't expect him to just fall into his arms=20 after a few whispered words of love, even though he did have the=20 power to make him do so. No, he wanted a real relationship, not a=20 quick roll in the hay. He respected Jean-Luc enough to let him=20 decide if he wanted to be intimate with a Q. In order to achieve=20 that level of trust, Q had to prove to him that he considered him an=20 equal. That meant no Q powers, no mental or physical coercion, no=20 lavish displays intended to impress him. He was determined to win=20 Jean-Luc on a strictly man-to-man basis, just one human man to=20 another.=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20 After staring out the window for a few moments, Picard gave a sigh=20 and closed it, pushing down the transparent aluminum panel set in=20 the imitation wood frame until it clicked shut, locking itself=20 automatically. Then he closed the curtains and went back to bed.=20=20 As he was settling down beneath the covers, Q popped into the room,=20 still invisible. He watched him lovingly as he lay back on the=20 pillows, closed his eyes and relaxed.=20=20 Q waited until he was certain Jean-Luc was asleep before going to=20 his bedside and laying a hand gently on his brow. "Sleep, Jean- Luc," he whispered. "Don't wake up till you hear the alarm go off.=20=20 Pay no attention to anything else you hear or feel. They're just=20 dreams. Just dreams=85" He knew it was risky, invading Jean-Luc's=20 dreams like this. There was always the chance that he'd become so=20 frightened, or so aroused, he would wake up. //Well, at least I'll=20 still be invisible. And I just can't resist the urge to touch him=20 anymore.// Q stroked the noble brow before him, then bent down to=20 kiss it.=20=20 Picard stirred in his sleep, but didn't wake up. Q stroked his=20 face, lingering on his cheekbones and patrician nose, poked a finger=20 playfully into his dimpled chin, then kissed it. He also kissed his=20 lips, lingering on them, savoring their softness and the minty taste=20 of his toothpaste and mouthwash. Picard felt the kiss, but he=20 thought it was a dream; his subconscious mind played back the scene=20 on the terrace earlier that evening when Q had kissed him. Q saw=20 the picture in his mind and played along, keeping the kiss light and=20 sweet, non-threatening. No tongues.=20=20 The human's mind lingered on that memory for as long as the kiss=20 lasted. He even started to return the kiss, then remembered who and=20 what was kissing him and turned his head away. Q let him go, spent=20 some time stroking his face again, then put his hands on Picard's=20 chest and stroked him gently through his pajama top. He kept=20 brushing his fingers over the human's nipples until he felt them=20 harden, then he rubbed them and pinched them gently until they=20 became visible through the thin fabric of the pajama top. He longed=20 to kiss them and suckle them, but decided against it. He settled=20 for kissing them through the pajama top, then reluctantly withdrew,=20 stepping away from the sleeping human's bedside.=20=20 "Sweet dreams, Jean-Luc," he said softly and vanished.=20=20=20 Picard slept on, mildly aroused to the point where he dreamed of Q=20 not only kissing him, but fondling him on the terrace in the=20 moonlight. His sleeping hand sought his penis and stroked it=20 through his pajama shorts, dreaming that it was Q's hand. He kept=20 dreaming of being kissed and stroked by Q as he stroked himself to=20 the point of orgasm. When he came, he gave a soft cry of delight as=20 he dreamed of being held closer and tighter in Q's strong arms.=20=20 TO BE CONTINUED... ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ASCEM messages are copied to a mailing list. Most recent messages can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCEML. NewMessage: