Leilani had the vague feeling of floating. Weightless. Like she was a feather wafting along on a serene, warm summer breeze. She could hear her own breathing, her own heartbeat. She could also hear someone else's breathing, and someone else's heartbeat.
Her eyes popped open and she found herself in the dark. It was cold. A milky-white mist swirled around her. Around them. She could feel his arms around her. Her own hands rested against the hard planes of his chest. He was snoring, she thought, as he emitted a low, grumbling noise.
No, maybe not snoring. Growling was a more appropriate word.
"What are you doing awake?" he rasped, holding her more tightly to him.
"I—I honestly don't know. I just—woke up," she replied, her throat painfully dry.
"I'm upping the dosage. Go back to sleep. We've got a long while yet."
"Wait a minute," she gasped, keeping his hand from punching the button and dispensing the sleeping agent. "Why are you awake?"
"I'm not," he growled. "The animal is."
This statement perplexed her. She moved to argue but his eyes flashed before her. His lips curled back in a snarl. She could swear his teeth had turned to fangs, but she admittedly had an overactive imagination when the situation called for it. It was why she was a writer in the first place.
"Trust me—you don't want to deal with the animal," he growled, a ferocious, menacing sound that swiftly quelled any arguing on her part.
She watched silently as he punched the button. Within seconds, she'd drifted back off to cryo-sleep.
That feeling surfaced again. She felt as if she were resting on a cloudbank that was climbing perpetually higher. That weightless feeling again, where she could float as high as she wanted. Her awareness gradually returned. Again, she could feel her heartbeat and her breathing returning from its deathly lethargic pace to normal. She could hear his again.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry—I'll try to go back," she whispered, fighting the awakening for fear that she'd have to deal with "the animal".
"Go back where? C'mon, wake up. We're almost there."
Leilani opened her eyes and met his silver gaze. He never lost that predatory aura, though she was quite sure that whatever she'd seen in them when she'd accidentally woke before was now buried beneath the surface. The ship's hold was still dark. The cryo mist still swirled around them.
"Have you ever been in cryo-sleep?" he asked, holding her more tightly to him, his gaze intensifying.
"No. I've never traveled off Helion Medialis, actually," she shakily replied.
He grunted, releasing his hold enough to let her breathe better. His eyes never left hers. It was if he was studying her, trying to figure something out, as if she were some sort of intriguingly difficult puzzle he was hell-bent on solving.
She inhaled, about to say something, when his mouth was on hers. It was a kiss like he'd given her before in the hotel suite. Commanding. Dominant. Hot. She couldn't help but respond. As the cryo mist dissipated, he unzipped the jacket and lifted her up, pressing her body against the chamber, forcing her to wrap her legs around his waist. He buried his face between her breasts, holding her arms above her head with one hand while unclasping the bra with the other.
Just as he was about to expose her breasts, the ship shuddered out of hyper drive, nearly forcing them to the floor. She landed on top of him. With her faculties returning, she was quick to stand. He followed, pushing her back against the cryo chamber walls, pinning her arms to her sides. His breath was heavy with restraint. He was holding himself back. From what? Ravaging her? Killing her? What exactly was he holding back? The animal she'd previously met?
To her surprise, he pulled her to him, reached around her back, and re-clasped the bra. He allowed her to zip up the jacket again before he took a seat in the pilot's chair. He began punching at buttons and adjusting dials, the ship responding with each of his actions.
Taking his silence as indication to leave him alone, she walked about the hull in the instrument panel's dim, neon lights. She looked out the windows, seeing asteroids all around them.
Riddick was busy maneuvering the small ship so that they didn't hit any of the big ones. The smaller ones simply bounced off the ship's thick hull, not even leaving so much as a dent. In fact, most simply disintegrated upon impact in small little puffs of icy dust.
"Where are we?" she asked after a moment.
"Headed for the Milky Way."
"The Milky Way? Their sun burnt out five hundred years ago. There's nothing-"
"I know where we're going."
Leilani sat in the co-pilot's chair with a small sigh. Resignation or indignation, she didn't know, but she sighed all the same. She watched as he swerved every now and again, the field getting thicker. After a few tense moments and near misses, it thinned out again.
Up ahead, to her utter amazement, bright light split the blackness. Riddick slid his goggles over his eyes and smiled.
"You see, the problem with intergalactic communication is that it's slow. People from Earth and Venus relit their sun with a nuclear bomb nearly two hundred years ago. The news just hadn't been important enough to extend to Helion Medialis. In fact, no one past the Milky Way really knows. They'd like to keep it that way. Keeps their system less crowded," Riddick replied, guiding the ship towards an especially large red planet.
"Mars?" she queried.
"Yep. Two hours on full thrust and we'll be in orbit. I've got some friends here I'd like to drop in on," he replied, his tone not at all friendly as he slammed the throttle down. He set the ship's autopilot and sat back, looking out the windows, his face away from the sun.
The ship lurched and went back to full throttle, space whirling by in black, white, red, and blue streaks. Leilani watched in sullen silence, feeling very alone and very cold. She wondered what Alana had done when she'd found her car stolen and her friend gone. She wondered what her family would do now that she was gone. She wondered what her life would be like now that she'd run away with this man on a whim. Well, maybe not just a whim.
It wasn't like she'd had a choice. She remembered what he'd said before she lost consciousness. He'd have to find a way to keep her quiet. This was how he was keeping her quiet
She was snapped from her own little world by the sound of his voice.
"How can you hate cryo-sleep if you've never done it before?"
"It's something new—who doesn't hate something new and scary?" she defended, not looking over at him and pretending to be immensely interested in the goings on outside.
He stood and walked to the rear of the ship where the food supplies were. "C'mon. You need to eat."
Leilani begrudgingly got up and walked back to the mess bay. Riddick had already started cooking something on the small gas range. He was standing so that she couldn't see what it was, but it didn't matter. It smelled good.
"You woke up from cryo-sleep."
"Twice. Once by accident. No big deal."
Riddick turned to face her, keeping one eye on the pan. "It is a big deal. No one wakes up early from cryo-sleep. No normal person, anyway."
"Then you're saying you're not human? You told me the animal was awake. What did you mean by that?"
He turned away at this question, busying himself with turning whatever was in the pan.
"Riddick?"
"It's not a big deal. Just part of who I am. Love it or hate it, it's not going anywhere."
"Fair enough, I guess," Leilani replied, opening the refrigerator to scope what sort of drinks there might be. She was severely dehydrated, as evidenced by her sore muscles and their sluggish reactions. Her mouth felt like she'd swallowed a bag of cotton balls mixed with marshmallows. And she was very cold.
A row of fruit-flavored waters greeted her thirsty eyes from the top shelf. She pulled one out for herself and one for Riddick before scoping out the rest of the refrigerator's contents. Some MRE's advertising tuna and chicken casserole sat behind the waters. There were some vacuum-sealed steaks stacked in ample amounts on the second shelf, next to several rows of various canned vegetables. She guessed that Riddick had snatched up one of the steaks. An excellent choice in her eyes. She snatched one for herself and grabbed a can of corn.
"Here," she said, proffering one of the bottles of water.
He took it, nodding his thanks, and flipping what she was sure was a steak. He took hers out of her hand, zipped it open and tossed it in the pan next to his. She moved around behind him and took a look through the cupboards to his left. She found plates, bowls and glasses in one, and pots and pans in the one below it. She pulled out one of the smaller saucepans and took a burner, popping the can of corn open and slopping the golden kernels into it. Once that was going, she popped the top on her water and drank the whole bottle within a few seconds.
"Take it easy. I know your body is dying of thirst, but if you don't rehydrate slow, you're gonna pay for it later."
Leilani nodded and went to the fridge for another bottle of water. "I'm not a horse that's been starved, Riddick. I'm not going to gorge."
"Better not. Wouldn't want that beautiful flat stomach to pop out."
"Well at least now I know you're not going to enslave me to have your children," she snidely commented, moving back to the stove to check on the corn. "Do we have potatoes?"
"Meat and potatoes girl. Gotta love that," Riddick growled, pointing to the cabinet above her head on her side of the stove. He watched her stretch and pull the box of dried potato flakes down. "When we stop, we'll get you some new clothes."
She turned to look at him. "And shoes too."
Riddick looked down at her feet then back up at her. "We didn't have time."
"I know. You were too busy killing."
She hadn't meant it to sting, but it did nonetheless.
"When you've—"
"I'm not judging you, Riddick," Leilani said with a simple, understanding sort of smile. She shrugged and went back to preparing the potatoes in a large bowl, opting to use the microwave to the right of the range as her cooking medium.
Riddick watched her, baffled by her response. She'd known he'd killed those men—in cold blood even—and still she wasn't judging him? She should be terrified of him. Especially after that incident in the cryo-chamber. No, he'd never have killed her, even with his untamed, animalistic, Furyan side out in full force—unchecked. All he would have done is branded Leilani as his own little plaything.
Which, ironically enough, was something the human side in him just didn't have the stones to do right now. Yeah, he'd love nothing more than to toss around the hold with her, naked and committing absolutely unspeakable acts of ravenous lust. It was how he was. He caved to that animalistic side more often than even he himself liked to admit. He held back on her for some reason.
For what though? He'd done his fair share of rookies, tallying up an obscene number of virginal conquests. He'd done even more with more experienced women. Then again, none of them had really been anything more than toys, and they knew it. They played the part. Leilani—she conducted herself in a manner that taciturnly demanded respect. Even though he was pretty sure she wasn't aware of it, she'd commanded his respect. Perhaps it was because he also commanded hers?
"What are you so lost about?" Leilani said, waving a spoon in front of his vacant stare.
"Just planning."
"Am I staying on the ship while you pay your little friends a nice little visit?" she asked, "Or am I free to meander about so long as I pay attention to a curfew?"
Riddick laughed. He liked how she put things. She made her intentions known all the while honoring what she knew his expectations to be. She was intuitive, intelligent, and innocently cunning. He knew he'd have to watch it with her. She had an eye for detail that almost made him nervous.
"So long as you don't stray too far from the ship and get back when I say so," he replied.
Just then, the ship's instrument panel lit up and started beeping. He jogged over to the cockpit and began pushing buttons. He backed off the throttle quite a bit, only going about half speed.
"That explains a lot," he said as he returned to the kitchen a moment later.
"What about?" Leilani asked, removing their steaks from the pan and depositing them on plates.
"This ship shudders a lot in hyper drive. Her engines are long overdue for an overhaul. We'll have to wait til the cores cool off a little bit before we can gun it for Mars. Might have to spend overnight in the docks before I can conduct business."
Leilani rolled her eyes. "I'm not sleeping in the cryo-chamber with you again."
"We aren't sleeping in the cryo-chamber. There's bunks."
"Bunks. Plural. So I can—"
"We'll shove two together."
"But what if I—"
"You're not arguing, are you? Good. I didn't think so."
Leilani sighed. The microwave timer dinged, and she tended to the nuked mashed potatoes. Riddick spooned half of the corn onto his plate, and half onto hers. She did the same with the potatoes. Together, they went back into the cockpit and ate.
"You're just making sure I don't slink off in the night, aren't you?" Leilani said after they'd eaten most of their meal in silence.
"Partially."
"Partially?"
"You do realize that at some point, I'm going to fuck you."
Leilani coughed on the spoonful of potatoes she'd just shoveled into her mouth. She took a swig of her water to help get it down before replying.
"You'll fuck me only when I want you to. And buddy, that ain't gonna be anytime soon," she saucily replied, cutting a chunk of her steak off and tearing into it with a gusto of which any man would've been proud.
"Do you always eat your meat so raw?" he asked.
She quirked an eyebrow at this, wondering just what kind of trap he was laying for her. Surely his next remark would be something crude.
"Why?"
"It isn't healthy."
"I'm still alive."
At this, Riddick nodded. "Which answers my question. A simple 'yes' would have sufficed."
"Then yes. Although, I wouldn't put it past you to hit me with some cheesy, crude punch line about taking my meat raw."
Riddick laughed. "Didn't have to. You just did it for me."
Leilani flicked a piece of corn at him, hitting him square on the cheek. He laughed and went back to eating, satisfied that he'd barbed her.
"How long have we been gone?" she asked after a few moments.
"I don't think you really want to know the answer to that question."
"If I didn't, I wouldn't have asked."
"Well, you've officially been in my company for about a month now. Sad, but of that month, you've only been awake for three days."
"So have you."
"I was awake the whole time. Just in an—altered state."
Leilani stood, her plate empty and walked back towards the mess bay. She rinsed her plate and utensils off, followed closely by Riddick. Ignoring him, she set to touring the ship, walking out of the mess area and into the engine room. It was extremely hot in here. He hadn't been kidding when he said the engines were overheating. She wanted to stay here and let the heat chase away the chill through her body that seemed to be getting worse, but she wanted desperately to take a shower. She proceeded from there further aft, as this particular ship's engines were located at midship, and into the crew's quarters.
She realized then that it had been a mistake. Riddick was right behind her, just waiting for her to get near a bunk.
"Where's the bathroom?" she asked, trying to find a way out of this predicament.
He pointed to the left at a narrow hallway.
"I'm a big girl. I can go by myself," she saucily stated, making her way towards the bathroom. To her amazement, he did not follow.
Grateful, she took the opportunity to be away from him, with a locked door in between. She set about to cleaning up. Cryo-sleep slowed the body's functions down to deathlike state. She hadn't showered in a month, and she was becoming all too aware of her own odor.
She looked over the shower set up and was thankful to find that there wasn't just a free-standing stall, there was also a tub. She grabbed the liquid, manly-scented body wash from beneath the sink and proceeded over to the tub. She poured in a copious amount of the soap and started the water, ignoring the knock on the door.
"You know, you're not the only one here who has to use the facilities," Riddick hollered from the other side.
"I know. But I need girly alone time."
"Let me take a piss and I'll leave you alone."
Leilani laughed. "I'm not stupid Riddick."
"I asked nicely. Don't make me break down this door."
"I'm quite sure you're more than capable of picking that lock. No need to bust a perfectly good door," she hotly replied, testing the water's temperature. She waited until she heard his footsteps fade before she stripped down and lowered herself into the hot water.
She'd almost forgotten he was there when she heard the slight tinkling noise of the door lock being tampered. Smiling to herself she slipped beneath the surface of the bubbles, holding her breath until she heard the door open. She came back up and found him standing over her, holding the bottle of body wash.
"No. Sleeping next to you I can handle. You are not washing me."
"Relax, half pint, and keep your fantasies to yourself. I was just reading the label."
With that, he set the bottle down, and without so much as a second glance back, he went to the toilet and took his piss. She disappeared under the water again, thankful for effect of the heat on her muscles. When she came back up, he was sitting next to the tub. He handed her a feminine version of the body wash that he must have rummaged up, along with shampoo and conditioner.
"There was a woman on this crew. And no, I didn't kill her. I let her get away."
He said nothing else and walked out of the bathroom. Stunned, she grabbed the body wash and used it. After a month's neglect, her hair looked like crap. And her legs were in dire need of a shave. She stepped out of the tub momentarily to look for a razor and shaving cream. She didn't have to look long, and returned to the tub, razor in hand. She proceeded to reclaim her feminine identity. After another half hour or so soaking in the beautifully warm water, she emptied the tub. She immediately turned on the shower and rinsed off, taking the opportunity to wash and condition her neglected hair.
Once done, she stepped out of the shower and found that Riddick had laid out towels and fresh clothes for her. She wrapped herself in one of the towels and proceeded to use the lotion she found on her legs. She was just about finished when Riddick entered, sans clothing save the towel around his waist. He wordlessly stepped into the stall and shed the towel, not displaying any modesty. He turned on the shower and shut the door.
Leilani was perturbed by his sudden sullenness, though she wasn't going to complain. She grabbed her clothes and went into the bunk rooms, looking for two bunks put together. She found none—only two separate bunks with the sheets turned down. Smiling, she took it upon herself to put them together and link the sheets in such a fashion that it looked like a queen-sized bed. She donned the tee and shorts he'd brought her and crawled into the bed, her head still wrapped in the towel.
A few moments later, she heard the water turn off. She sighed and removed the towel from her hair, waiting for him. She heard the sink turn on, and guessed that he must be shaving his head. He'd gotten stubbly, and she knew from his previous appearance back on Helion Medialis that he preferred to keep it shaved.
Leilani allowed sleep to overtake her before Riddick appeared in the bedroom. He was confounded at finding that she'd shoved the two beds together. He'd thought she'd really wanted to sleep by herself. He was willing to give her at least that much dignity for the night. And here she was, making it quite obvious that she'd relinquished that dignity—or at least, maybe, there was the off chance that she wanted to sleep next to him. He guessed it made sense. She'd slept in his arms for a month prior. Why would she stop now?
He listened to her breathing, trying to determine if she was really asleep or just playing opossum. After a few seconds, he knew she was truthfully slumbering. He couldn't allow her to go to sleep without more water, though. She had to drink, or there would be hell to pay once they woke up in the morning.
He went back to the kitchen area and grabbed a bottle of water for each of them. When he came back, she'd woken up and was sitting on the edge of the bed.
"I thought you'd gone someplace else to sleep," she laughed, her tone nervous.
"You didn't want that?" he asked softly, handing her the bottle he'd brought for her.
"Not really. Kinda used to it at this point, you know?" she sheepishly replied, cracking the bottle open and drinking slowly.
He followed suit. "I'm going to anchor here for the night. I don't want to be detected before I'm able to counter attack."
Leilani's eyes grew wide at this, though she nodded agreement. He looked her over, noting that she'd shaved, breathing in the soft, sweet floral scent of the soap she'd used. It meshed well with her chemistry, almost producing a heady effect.
"I'll be right back," he said before turning and going.
Riddick went up to the cockpit and stopped the engines. He engaged the stationary hover drive and brought up the ship's defense shields. If so much as anything larger than a small asteroid came within a 10 mile radius, the alarms would go off.
He returned to find her just as she'd left her, slowly sipping her water. He stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame.
"You confuse me," he said at last. "Typical woman."
At this, Leilani laughed. "I'm anything but, and you know it."
"No, really. You're so adamant about getting away, I give you the chance, and then you just—"
"Shut up. I'm tired. You're tired. Let's go to sleep," she said, finishing off the last of her water and tossing the bottle onto one of the unoccupied bunks.
Riddick smiled. "Now you're speaking my language."
He hopped into the bed next to her, dragging her body against his, tossing his own empty bottle onto the same bunk as hers. She was asleep before his head even hit the pillow.
"You just wait," he whispered. "Your time's comin' sweetheart."