CHAPTER 11
It was late enough to actually be close to being called early morning. Ronon couldn't sleep. He hated enforced inactivity and had been sitting around doing virtually nothing for two days. People had been coming and going silently throughout the day making him suspicious. Suspicion made him edgy. He was wandering around the cavern complex trying not to look to threatening while trying to burn off energy.
He paused at the entrance to tunnel five, but restrained himself from going down it. Whatever the plans were, they were down that tunnel. He knew it. The answers to the questions buzzing around in his head would be found at the end of that tunnel. McKay called him a caveman. Teyla thought him young and impulsive. Sheppard figured he was a act first, think later guy. It bothered him sometimes that they thought of him in those ways. He was a soldier; he was a thinker. He just processed situations quickly and didn't feel the need to talk about it before acting.
If they could stay out of trouble until tomorrow morning, they should be back in Atlantis before nightfall. Teyla would kick his butt if he let his curiosity jeopardize their safe return. Perhaps it was his fault they thought that way about him. He loomed and growled and intimidated people into doing what he said which gave credence to McKay's opinion. He did let his temper get the best of him at times which caused him to react impulsively leading to Teyla's opinion of him. What bothered him the most was Sheppard's opinion. He talked to Sheppard; spent time with him. He thought Sheppard should have a better idea of the real Ronon by now.
He went to the last tunnel and thought about checking it out. A mile or so long and then out into the open that distance might tire him enough to let him sleep. Just as he was about to step into it he heard a light step behind him. He whirled around his hand automatically going to the butt of his weapon.
"Easy, Big Guy. Didn't mean to startle you." Drea said softly, holding up her hands.
Ronon glared at her as he shoved his weapon back down in its holster. Big Guy. She never called him by his name. She just called his every bluff with a tart rejoinder. And laughed at him before dismissing him with her eyes. "Couldn't sleep. Thought this tunnel was okay."
She grinned. "It is. I don't sleep much either. Want some company?"
Ronon stared at her noticing, not for the first time the lines of worry and the haunted, pained expression in her eyes. He shrugged and turned toward the tunnel. When he started walking she fell in beside him.
"Don't tell Olin." She said wryly. "He'd have a fit."
"What? You walking alone with me?"
"With any of you. I'm not to be risked." She said with a twist of her lips.
"Brains of the operation?" Ronon asked letting his curiosity out a little.
"No. Hu and Olin are definitely the brains. Why can't you sleep?" She asked, redirecting the conversation.
"Restless."
"And you still don't trust us?" She asked without heat.
"Been lied to, set up, and betrayed a lot."
Drea made a soft sound of accord. "Betrayal. Makes you doubt almost everyone."
Ronon glanced down at the hurt in her voice. "That's what keeps you up? Someone betrayed you?"
"On our world, the eldest child inherits the throne. Our last ruler wasn't even buried before the 2nd child tried to have the rightful heir killed. If it weren't for several very loyal and canny members of the guard, she would have succeeded. I can't fathom killing your sister for the throne."
"But you're trying to get the eldest back on the throne." Sheppard had been right about the revolution.
"It's rightfully hers."
"So she'll have to kill her sister to do it." Ronon said pragmatically.
Drea stopped, stricken. That was what kept her up at nights. "How? How do you kill someone you grew up with? Shared secrets with? Played games with? How do you kill someone you love?"
"Why doesn't she let her sister keep the throne?" Ronon asked trying to see more of the picture.
"In the past six months, Vena has increased the tax burden on the people, taken away liberties, imposed harsh laws and harsher punishments, cut ties with long standing allies putting us on very shaky ground, and scours the country for her sister imprisoning or publicly beating those she suspects of hiding her. And no one has seen the two younger children in three months. How can we let her stay in power?"
Ronon saw in the flickering light of the sconces of the walls that tears were streaming down Drea's face. Without really thinking, he stepped closer and gently swiped away her tears.
Startled at the tender gesture, Drea looked up at him and froze. Ronon stared back down at her desire slamming into him. In the next moment he was kissing her. Moaning, Drea returned his kiss, her hands bunching into his shirt. He pressed her against the wall with a low growl. The tension between them transmuting into desire. He had not felt this overwhelming desire to comfort as well as pleasure a woman since Melena.
Drea was swept away in the unexpected tide of pleasure that washed over her. Instead of feeling threatened at being hemmed in by his bulk, she felt protected. She pulled her mouth from his. "Come," she whispered raggedly and pulled him back up the corridor.
It was only a matter of minutes before Ronon found himself halfway down the first corridor in a small room. A small brazier burned in the far corner warming the room. As soon as the curtain fell closing them off from the rest of the cavern, she pulled him down for another breathtaking kiss.
Part of Ronon knew this was crazy while another part, the part apparently in control, was only concerned with getting their clothes off, of gaining access to more soft skin, of making her say his name. If Olin didn't want her walking with one of them, he definitely would not be happy about her sleeping with one of them.
Drea knew this was crazy; knew it was most likely a very, very bad idea. She also knew she had never felt this attracted to anyone. No one had ever treated her the way he did. There was no pandering, no deference, no fawning. He tried to intimidate her. He threatened and glowered. He treated her like she was just another person. He destroyed her concentration.
Panting softly and tugging clothes, the tumbled down onto the pallet. As soon as he managed to get the last of her clothes off he gave himself permission to explore her body. His hands roamed over every inch of skin while his mouth followed tasting, teasing, pleasing. Her moans encouraged him while her own hands and mouth followed his example.
"Ronon, your side." Drea gasped, her fingertips lightly skimming over the ugly mottled bruising.
"It's nothing," he murmured against her skin as he worked his way back up to her sweet lips, kissing her hungrily as he pressed a knee between her legs.
"Your ribs…" Drea broke off with a moan as his hands stroked her. Her legs fell open and she arched up against him as impatient as he was to be joined together. "Are fine," he stated as, with a soft growl of desire, he plunged into her. "Yes, oh yes," she moaned as he filled her.
He braced himself on one elbow and looked into her eyes as he began to thrust in and out slowly at first, but faster as her eyes glazed and her body matched his rhythm. Her legs wrapped around his hips pulling him in deeper. "Ronon," she moaned, letting her head fall back in ecstasy. "Please."
He quit holding back at the sound of his name on her lips and swooped down to capture her mouth as he brought them both over the edge to completion.
They stirred a little later just enough to get under the blankets. He tugged her up against him, wrapping an arm around her waist as he sleepily stroked her belly.
Sometime later, Drea awoke to Ronon's slow, tender lovemaking. She held on to his broad shoulders as she wrapped her legs around his waist and let him make her forget for one night who she was and what she had to do.
