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It was perhaps six months later when Riddick decided to discuss Eldar's warnings with Nicola. It was on a hike one evening, Riddick having sent the children over to "Aunt" Ziza's for the night. Needed alone time, away from the kids, and not in the bedroom... too distracting. So an hour before sunset, he took her out over their property, since she still hadn't seen most of it, and he'd been too busy to give her this surprise before.
"So he yammered on about the universe again, and then he hinted at something with the kids, future is vague and all that shit." Riddick said as he looked down at Nicola picking her path over the rise below him. The land was mostly desert-like plains, rocky but passable. Nicola knew he'd picked the forest border because he liked to hunt, but all this open space, soil unsuitable for agriculture or even keeping ranging animals... why had he wanted this?
"He hasn't talked to you since then?" She took his hand and he lifted her up.
"No. And he made noises like Shirah is more than a ghost, that she's got Elemental magic on her side." He turned and surveyed the land before them, shadows lengthening as the sun set. Nicola sipped water out of her camel pack.
"Not good news," she commented, following his gaze to the next rocky ridge rising in the distance. "But it does jibe with some of the religious works I've been looking at lately. Like a lot of civilizations, seems religion and government ran concurrently. And the Elementals seem to have their noses in a lot of system politics, for all their 'non-interference' claims." She made a face. Riddick grunted, starting down the slope.
Nicola followed him down the hill, picking her way carefully, watching for stones loosened by his seemingly heedless tread. She was used to these several minute silences. Hard to stay on task sometimes, her own thoughts would wander in the lull, but it was peaceful. And watching her footing kept her mind focused.
"Those books say anything about names?" He was waiting for her again at the bottom. "Naming ceremony? Religious stuff?" Nicola stared at his goggles quizzically.
"No, but I can ask around. I'm hardly the only one working on this." Riddick nodded absently and turned. "Hon, how much longer are we gonna be out here? I know you can see fine in the dark, but..." He looked back at her, grinned.
"Don't worry. We're almost there. Got a surprise for you, just up the next ridge."
And it was worth it. The climb up that last slope wasn't easy, she was tired, not used to walking more than 2 or 3 klicks a day back and forth from work. But the mildly sulfur and salt smell gave it away before she topped the rise and saw it. Hot springs. They had mineral pools nestled in the rock depressions. This was why he claimed the property, she realized. And the smug grin as he shouldered off the pack he carried gave that all away.
"I... it's beautiful. Why didn't you tell me?" He shrugged.
"Savin' it. Anniversary or somethin'. "
"What?"
"Ten years, babe. More or less."
"I... we?" Had it really been that long? Aiden had just turned two. Jack was eight and a half. Good god, she was 38 herself. Nearly 40. She'd known him for a quarter of her life, give or take the four year absence in the middle. Still... a decade? She stared at the water, then him. He had already pulled off his shirt, was unlacing his boots. Gods, he didn't look a day over 30. Furyan bastard.
"What? You prefer jewelry?" He shoved his goggles up on his forehead, and pulled her into his arms. Nicola bit her lip.
"No. I... ten years, I just feel so old suddenly. And jealous of your genetics." Riddick laughed then, the deep baritone echoing off the rocks. He kissed her temple, rocking her against him.
"Oh baby," he purred, genuinely amused, "You're not old. If you were old I wouldn't still want to tie you to the bed and fuck you till you couldn't walk. " He let his lips trail over her eyelids a moment before he leaned down to her ear. "But that's for later tonight. Want a good soak first to loosen you up." He smacked her ass and let her go, skinning off his shorts. "Now get naked for me."
Nicola didn't know if she was blushing from his tone or his words. She stared at him as he lowered himself into the cloudy water, moving with the confidence of someone who had been here before. She shrugged off the camel pack and kicked off her boots, but glanced around apprehensively as she pulled off her shirt.
"Honey, there's no one around for miles,"he growled. "It's been a while since I've cut you out of your clothes, but I'll do it for old time sake if you keep stallin'." She sighed and shoved down her shorts.
"You would, wouldn't you? Ten years and still no manners." He smiled lazily at her as she stood there in her underwear, eying her up and down.
"Babe, I bought this place as a gift for you, and I'm trying to be very patient, not throwing you in the water..." He leaned forward, sweeping an armful of water at her, "So will you please get in here before I drag you in myself?" She complied, though more because it was cold standing there, dripping, than because he demanded it. Or so she told herself.
Oh, and it had nothing to do with having what amounted to a private hot tub with the goddamn hottest man in the sector. Who, after ten years, still wanted her. And was not going to wait till they got back to the house before having her, apparently. "So much for a relaxing soak," she muttered as he pulled her on to his lap.
"What? We're soaking. Hundred 'n four fucking degrees in here... should feel pretty good," he breathed into her neck, kissing her behind the ear. "Can't help that even when I'm relaxed I still want you." He made that low growling sound in his chest, running his hands over her body. She giggled to herself as she leaned against him, hand on his thigh. "What?"
"Nothing, just noticing you're still warmer than the water. Too goddamn hot-blooded" He rumbled again, bit the back of her neck. She moaned.
"You like it and you know it," he said through his teeth. His hands massaged her breasts as his mouth moved over her shoulder."Besides, if I wasn't Fire, you couldn't be my Water." Nicola blinked at that, it sounded too epic for him. He let her turn in his arms, gazing steadily at her, waiting for her to ask.
"That's too poetic for you, darling." He grinned.
"What? I can't be romantic?" He brushed her lips and trailed light kisses back to her neck. Nicola wrapped arms around him, but sunk her nails into his back in warning.
"No, you can't. And it smacks of Elemental." Riddick rolled his shoulders, chuckled, and brought his face even with hers.
"Busted. " His eyes glowed in the failing light. "More shit from the old wizard. But I like it, explains why I get off so hardcore when I've got you in the water." He kissed her hard, and stood suddenly, pushing her into the deeper water of the pool, gripping her bodily against him. She laughed and wrapped her legs around him.
"Oh, so this is another self-serving present, hmm? Just brought me up here to get your rocks off in a new way." He grabbed her hips, moaning deep.
"Dammit, Nicola. Ten years and I still want you as bad as that first night. If that ain't fucking magic, I don't know what is." Her back hit the stone wall then and he pressed his forehead to hers, breathing harshly. She looked at him through her lashes, drinking in his lust. His deep feral need, balanced with sharp intellectual control, always got her going in a way nothing else could. So much in his eyes... She slid a hand into the water between them, barely touching him before he moaned again. He shuttered. That was enough, she needed him just as bad.
He sighed deliciously as she slid over his cock, and Nicola smiled. He could say so much without words. He seemed content to hold her there, eyes closed, as he sought her lips again. Just making out with her while his dick was buried inside her. It was nice, but strange...
"What are you doing?" she asked finally when he let her breathe.
"Relaxing. Why? Thought that's what you wanted." She growled, kicked the back of his thigh.
"Bastard! Not right now." She squeezed her internal muscles over him, moving her hips to try to get friction. He held her there, eyes glittering wickedly.
"Oh, don't tell me you want this too? I thought this was just me, trying to get my rocks off." She kicked him again, dug nails into his shoulders. He chuckled."Not very ladylike, Nicola. Where are your manners?" She snarled in frustration.
"Dunno. Probably left them up there with my underwear." He laughed, and she could feel it thrum all through her body. Oh, that felt gooood.
"Still my little politician." he kissed her nose, purring again, making her squirm.
"And I want my big bad-ass predator." She grabbed the back of his neck. "I want him to fuck the shit out of me, now." His smile turned positively evil.
"And I don't even make you say 'please,'" his voice was thick as he punctuated the last word with a vicious thrust. Nicola moaned and bucked on him, wrapping her arms around his head. He worked her hard and fast then, biting her neck and making her scream as she peaked almost immediately. "Shit, get my rocks off, yeah right," he muttered into her breasts as he paused to let her racing heartbeat slow. She cuffed him with her knuckles.
"You didn't have to stop, you could have finished," she shot back.
"Nah, too much fun to watch your eyes roll back in your head. I get off mentally watching you do that." He swung her away from the wall, carrying her to the center of the pool again. "'sides, I've told you before I like your second orgasm best." He nuzzled her hair, breathing deep. "And the pheromones you give off right after you cum smell so damn good." He licked her neck. "Even better with the salt in this water."
Nicola shook her head, letting him nibble on her neck while she stared up at the stars. "You know, at this rate, we're not going to make it back to bed before sunrise." She heard him snort something into her collarbone, "Oh well" or "Don't care." Something typically Riddick. She sighed and stroked his smooth head.
She was surprised she could still see in the gathering dark. The water seemed to be... glowing faintly. So did the rocks, actually. Some phosphorescent mineral, or deposit of radium, she guessed, soaking up the sun's rays. Her mate started to move again, slowly, deeply, still sucking on her neck. She shut her eyes as he spun her slowly in a circle, just enjoying the motion. Maybe he was right about her connection to the water, it felt so good...
She was startled out of her reverie by a sharp scraping noise on the shore. Something moved on the rocks across the pool, near where they'd left their clothes. Nicola could see, but not well, and she had the sudden feeling of eyes on her. She stiffened.
"Richard..." He made a disappointed noise and raised his face.
"What?"
"There's something out there. I heard it." He smoothed her hair, and kissed her, unconcerned.
"Who cares? Nothing is gonna bother us." She looked at him, alarmed. He gave her that lazy half-grin. "You know damn well I'm the biggest, baddest predator out here. Besides, " he scanned the shore, and nodded to the right. "It's just one of those big cats. I kinda know him anyway." Nicola stared where he had indicated, still clutching him, half horrified when she saw the yellow-red glint of feline eyes staring back at her. She inhaled sharply. The creature was black as pitch, barely distinguishable from the rocks. And it was just sitting there. It yawned suddenly, displaying a mouth full of large white teeth.
"Riddick!" She hissed, heart hammering in her chest. She'd heard about the big puma-cats that roamed the planet, attacked livestock, but she hadn't seen one before. Riddick growled low, annoyed.
"I told you, he's not gonna bother us. I'm the goddamn alpha predator around here, and he ain't" he thrust into her, "gonna mess with me," he hammered her again, "when I'm mating!" If they hadn't been in the water, it would have hurt, but it just made her yelp, jolting her out of her fear. She heard a snuffling sigh up on the ledge as the big cat blinked and closed its eyes, laying its head down on huge paws. Riddick grunted at her, a territorial gleam in his gaze. See? Nothing.
"He's just a big stupid voyeur," he continued, stroking her back. "Like a goddamn house pet. Just jealous I got a hot alpha bitch to fuck and he don't."
"If that was supposed to be romantic and reassuring, you're failing," she muttered, laying her head on his shoulder.
"Hmm... well, bitchy is better than scared. Easier to get the mood back when you're bitchy."
"I am not bitchy! And if you're gonna make a comparison like that, the proper term for female cats is 'queen.' "
"I thought you were my lioness," he teased, gripping her ass. "But if you wanna be my queen, that's fine too. Where you learn this shit, anyway?"
"Someone has to help Jack with her homework. Don't remember you volunteering." Riddick snorted.
"Oh I teach her plenty of shit. Lot more practical than sexual terminology for animals. She could probably take that cat down if need be."
"I don't know if I approve of that."
"Eh, lot of stuff you don't approve of, but you still let me fuck you."
"You are so single minded sometimes."
"Says the naked woman riding my cock." Nicola gave him a look. He just grinned. "Can't argue with that can you?"
"No."
"So forget about the damn cat. Cuz I'm not getting out of this water till I'm done with you. And if he irritates me, we're gonna have a new throw rug for the den."
"Uck. You know I hate it when you come home smelling of dead things."
"But you like it well enough when I clean up and ride you till dawn." Nicola had to laugh, even though he was being smug.
"Fair enough. We'll skip the killing part tonight, if you can make me forget that thing is there." Riddick cocked his head, eyes narrowing to silver slits.
"Baby," his voice hit a very low octave that made her stomach flutter."You're about to forget everything but my name."