"You came." Mary said, relieved. "Of course I did." Riker said, walking towards the girl. "Do you want to sit down?" Mary asked, pointing at the mattress laying ready. She sat down, Riker joining her in silence. "I know you got some questions. You'd be a fool not to." Mary said. "I do." Riker said. "But are you sure you're ready to tell me?" He asked. Putting his arm around her. Mary layed her head on his shoulder, moving closer to him. "I am. Ask away." She whispered. Riker was quiet for a moment, carefully thinking about his first question. "Who is Joshua?" Mary sighed, not very eager to re-live those memories. "Short version, he's a bad ex. Long version, he tricked me in thinking he cared for me, that he loved me, turned out he never did. He was after things I coud offer him." She explained. "What things?" Riker asked, shifting in his seat so he would face Mary. "You can tell me." Mary looked into his eyes and was torn. A part of her wanted to fall into those deep brown eyes, tell him everything, to melt into his arms, to trust him. But another part told her that she'd been down this road before, that she thought someone was to be trusted, but stomped on her heart.
Riker saw her internal struggle, it showed in her eyes. "Mary." He softly whispered, drawing her back to earth. "What did he do?" She swallowed, and made up her mind. "He played me. See, I'm a guardian. There is a very old book in the shop downstairs, and it's my duty to protect it and it's contents to those who mean harm. It's been passed down from generation to generation for centuries. When I met Joshua, I thought him to be an ordinary boy, a nice boy. But when he knew I had fallen for him, he tried to persuade me into giving him the book. I had never told him about it, he already knew about it before we met. When I refused he turned violent, he tied me up to search my room. When he didn't find the book he had his way with me and left. I never saw him again." Mary explained, fighting back tears behind her eyes when she remembered the thing he had done to her. Riker's grip was stronger now, he had pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her. "I'm sorry." He whispered. "It's alright, it's the burden of being a guardian. You didn't know me then, you never did anything like that to me, you never could've stopped him." Mary said. "That's not right, if being a guardian means being raped, then you shouldn't be one." Riker said. "I knew the risks when I signed up, it's our duty as a guardian to protect the artifact with our lives. Joshua could've killed me, I got lucky." Mary explained. "I don't like it." Riker mumbled. "I know it's hard to understand, but it's my life. I chose this path and I intent to follow it. And if it eases your mind, incidents like that only happen about once every century. The odds of me getting hurt again are very slim." Mary spoke, putting her hand softly on Riker's cheek again like she had done in the store. "I still don't like it." He said softly. "He hurt you, he raped you! How can you be so calm about this?" He ranted.
Mary simply smiled, looking at Riker's reaction to her story had proven her theory's "What?" Riker asked confused. "I was right. I'm calm like this, because I was right about you. If I had had this conversation with Joshua, he would have focused on the book, almost ignoring the assault. But you couldn't wait to jump to my side, ready to defend me. I was right about you, so I don't have to be scared anymore." Mary said, pulling Riker down to the mattress again. He had stood up in anger, pacing around. Now he was sitting next to Mary again, looking into her eyes. "Really?" Was all he could ask. Mary moved closer, placing a hand on his shoulder, feeling his muscles. "You make me feel safe." She whispered. Looking at him with big eyes.
Riker's eyes shot open, his heartbeat rose, and he was suddenly very aware of how close Mary was. He softly put his hand in the crook of her neck and pulled her even closer. Their lips met, and moved them together, working the same rythem. First slowly, then deeper and harder. Riker moved Mary down to lay on the mattress, never breaking the kiss. Laying on top of her, but careful not to crush her, he deeped the kiss even more. Hands were everywhere, and never stopped moving, until Mary broke the kiss.
"If you're not ready yet, I understand." Riker panted.
"That's not it, but thanks. I wanted to aks you if you were sure about this. I have a lot of baggage." Mary said.
"I know, but I am sure. I don't care if you are a guardian or not, it just means that I have a reason to be protective about you."
"I like it when you get protective." Mary said smiling. Riker was grinning, moving his head down to touch noses with Mary.
"Do you now." Pecking her lips, then moving his attention to her exposed neck.
"Hmmm, oh yeah. It's very, exiting."
"I love the way you talk." He sucked Mary's neck. "So smart." A kiss on the same spot. "So sophisticated." A small bite a little bit further up. "Makes me want to make you forget it all." His tongue easing the pain.
"Oh! Yes, like that!" He was driving her mad already.
"It's working already." Riker joked, leaving her neck and kissing her lips again. Soon the were intertwined with each other, pulling the other as close as possible.
When they came up for air, they stopped to look in each other's eyes. "Maybe we should stop now." Mary said softly, not blinking once. Riker simply nodded, knowing that if they started another one of those make-out sessions, they might not be able to stop themselves. "Yeah." He layed down next to Mary, letting her rest her head on his shoulder. They both just layed there, panting for breath, looking at the stars, in peace.