A/N: Okay, so I know this took a while, but good news is that I'm already a 1/3 of the way into the next chapter. I just want to thank all of you for your patience and perseverance as some of these chapters take longer than I'm sure you'd prefer. Hell, I'd prefer to crank them out faster, too, but RL and all that. Do hope you enjoy.

Oh, and the official Drake-Micah Pairing fan club is now taking applications. Ya'll are killing me with your Drake-Micah chants. Too funny. Keep in mind the boys haven't even met each other yet. Soon though.

Love you guys!! Responses to reviews are at the end.

Chapter 21

Jack tore her lips from Riddick and had to place both hands on his chest to push him back, but she was laughing the entire time. "I gotta get back to the bar," she groaned.

He growled, grabbed her by the waist and deposited her on her feet. "Fine. Go."

"Okay, that seemed a bit too easy. You tryin' to get rid of me?"

"Yes," he bluntly replied. "Every time you get near me, I get a b-."

Jack's hand on his mouth prevented him saying anything further. "I get it."

"That's the problem. I ain't getting' it…any of it." And I won't be gettin' any for seven fucking nights starting from when we board my ship. Why the fuck did I make that bet?

What he didn't realize was that Jack's thoughts were running along the same lines. "I'm not one of them, remember?"

"I didn't forget and quit bringin' that shit up!"

"I'll try."

"Not hard enough," he grumbled as he scooted out of the booth.

"Where are you going?"

"To take a piss. Why? You wanna follow me an' watch?"

She rolled her eyes. He loved to be crude around her, but it simply didn't have the effect that it used to, which to her meant it was something he had always done around her. "Don't be crass."

"What? What the fuck is that?"

"Don't be an ass!"

"Hell, you shoulda said that in first place."

"Next time I will. No doubt you'll give me plenty of opportunities." He smacked her on the ass for that remark, causing her to shriek, but he walked away too quickly for her to retaliate. "Damn him." But she was smiling all the way back to the bar.

Nelson Cox walked into the club shortly after Riddick left his table. He quickly surveyed the club and upon seeing no sign of 'Big Evil' headed to the bar. Luck being on his side, there was an empty stool in front of Jack where he planted himself and never took his eyes off of her.

Chez Mon Desir was a classy club and its clientele reflected that for the most part. Cox, of course, had not considered his own appearance before entering and stood out like a sore thumb. In fact, he was completely oblivious that his scruffy exterior was drawing looks. Jack noticed the man immediately, and didn't exactly wish to serve him, but the other bartenders were busy leaving her no choice.

"What can I get you?"

Cox eyed her, slowly raking his steely gray eyes over her. She took a cautionary step back and slightly frowned. He smelled like cheap cigars, nothing like the pleasant kind that George and Jean-Pierre would smoke from time to time. The odor was so strong she could taste it. All other scents escaped her save the disgusting stench that was rapidly making her nauseous. But this wasn't new to her. She recognized it. Somewhere in the back of her brain, she knew it, could feel the smoke coating her hair and skin, permeating her pores, almost suffocating her. Every instinct she had was screaming for her to run and she listened.

"E-Excuse me, please. One of our other bartenders will assist you."

Then she, as calmly as she could, walked straight to the small storeroom behind the bar, shut the door behind her, and fell apart. Shaking uncontrollably, she paced the small room, hands fisting her hair. Her chest was tight and it burned horribly, but no matter how many breaths she took, it didn't help. In fact, it was making it worse.

"Oh, god! What's happening to me?"

She sank to the ground, gasping for air. It finally hit her that she was having a panic attack, much like how she felt when Steven had pressured her for sex. She frantically searched for a bag to breathe into and brought it to her mouth, concentrating on taking long, slow breaths.

Riddick walked out of the men's room, his eyes naturally gravitating back to the bar, but he didn't find Jack. Instead, he zeroed in on Cox who was sitting on a stool watching the strippers while he drank his beer. Although he had encountered many mercs in his day, most of whom were forgettable, this was one he'd know anywhere. Carving Jack's name into his chest had a lot to do with it.

"Fuck!"

His first priority was to get to Jack. He didn't know where the hell she was and that bothered him more than anything. She had never met Cox that he knew of, but the fact that the man was sitting there at the bar was no coincidence. He had to know who she was, had come here for her, and it was all thanks to Steven. The question that remained was did he know about him? Seeing a bouncer at the foot of the stairs leading up to the bedrooms, he casually walked over to him, keeping his back to the bar.

"You're Tom, right?"

"Yeah. Rick isn't it? Kyra's friend."

"That's right. You see that guy at the bar. The one that doesn't fit?"

"Scruffy guy? You know him?"

"I've run into him before, and trust me when I say he doesn't need to be in here. I wouldn't put it past him to try somethin' he shouldn't with one of the girls."

The last part was a tiny fabrication, but he had Jack in mind when he said it. Tom merely nodded though and touched his ear piece. "This is Tom. The guy at the end of the bar, scruffy one who looks like he needs a shave and a shower, he needs to go and right now. No, he hasn't done anything, but I've been told he's capable of it. Thanks."

Less than a minute later Cox was quietly tapped on the shoulder and escorted out of the club. He was at least smart enough not to cause a scene. He'd gotten what he came for regardless. He surveyed the club, all of its exits, and now he would walk to what Steven told him was her home and case that out.

Riddick headed straight to the bar. He was torn between following Cox and ending the fucker's life for good, but he highly suspected that something had happened when she saw the man, and it couldn't have been good.

"Where's Jack?" he demanded of Trey.

"Jack?"

"Kyra. I call her Jack. Where the hell is she?"

"I think she's in the storeroom."

He walked behind the bar and into the room, shutting the door behind him. He found her huddled in a far corner on the floor. Taking a few steps toward her, he called her name. "Jack?"

"N-No! Lights out!" she commanded and the room was sent into total darkness. "I-I don't want you to s-see me l-like this."

He didn't bother to remind her that he could see her regardless. Instead he walked over and sat on the floor, stretching his legs on either side of her before drawing her toward his chest to envelope her with his arms. Jack clutched at his shirt collar and buried her face in his neck, inhaling sharply. It took him a moment before he realized that she was scenting him.

"Baby, wha-."

"N-no. I need this. I need to do this. I don't want to smell him. I've got to get rid of it. I've got to. I've got to before it swallows me."

He sat there for what seemed like forever, letting her take in his scent. Allowing her to do whatever it was that she needed to do even if he didn't understand it. She wasn't crying. He didn't think she was crying at least. He hated her tears and what they did to him, but what she was going through now was bothering him just as much if not worse. Stroking her hair, he pressed his lips to the top of her head, her forehead, anything he could make contact with just to assure her that he was there for her.

After a very long time her grip on his shirt relaxed as did the rest of her, and she emitted a long sigh. "Riddick?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"The men I was with on the ship. One of them… he..he smoked cigars. Horrible smelling cigars that made me sick, because every time I smelled it, he would show up. It was never a good thing when he came to see me. I can't remember what he did, but whatever it was I was terrified."

"But you know you're okay now, right? That he's gone?" She nodded against his chest as she drew in an unsteady breath. "What brought this on?"

"A man at the bar. He smelled like those cigars. Exactly like those cigars."

"He's gone. The bouncers took him out."

She looked up at him in surprise. "Gone? But how do you know which one he was?"

"Ugly, scruffy lookin' guy at the end of the bar who wasn't exactly dressed for this club? He was easy to spot."

"That sounds like him." She tried to stand, but he stopped her.

"You goin' back to work?" he demanded, a bit incredulously.

She nodded. "I need to just to get my mind off of that guy. But first I need you to tell me that I don't look like a nervous wreck."

He tilted her face up. "Your colors are back to normal. No tear streaks. Your hair's a little messed up, but if they see us both comin' outta here, they'll come up with their own reason for that happenin'."

"Hardly amusing," she drawled. He stood up and brought her with him as he called for the lights and then spent a little too much time brushing non-existent dust off her ass. "Yeah, I think you got it."

"There you go spoilin' my fun." He kissed her, but briefly. More of a gesture to reassure her than anything else.

"Thank you."

"Don't than-."

"When I remove my hand, just say 'You're welcome, Jack.'"

He peeled her hand off, frowning and quite perturbed told her, "To hell with that. I don't do it because I'm lookin' to get thanked."

Jack rolled her eyes, thinking, Here we go again. "I know that. You do what you want, but that won't stop me from saying it. I want you to understand what it means to me that you're here."

He brushed his lips across her cheek and damn if she didn't shudder. "Words are overrated, Princess. Why talk when there are so many other ways you can thank me?"

Desire lanced through her. It was his voice that did it…again. Bastard does not play fair. "Stop it," she groaned.

But his lips were still moving down the column of her throat. "Stop what, baby?"

"Using that voice."

He smiled against her neck, and she could feel it. "Only have one."

"You do not. You know you don't," she insisted.

"You're gonna need to explain then, 'cause I don't understand."

The hell he didn't understand. Riddick knew exactly the effect his voice could have. Learned that fact not long after his voice had matured as a teen, and had used it as a weapon ever since. He just wanted to hear her explain it.

"It…changes. You change it."

"Change it how?"

"It's deeper."

"Yeah?"

"Seductive…sexier."

"Sexier? So you think I have a sexy voice in the first place?" he asked with a slight grin on his face.

"Didn't I tell you that when I was drunk?"

"Nah, guess you overlooked it."

"How remiss of me. Micah and I both think your voice is sexy as hell."

"Micah?" Like a bucket of ice water, that killed the mood real quick. Her barely suppressed laughter told him she had done it on purpose, too. "Cut that shit out," he growled as he turned her around and walked her to the door.

"Sorry."

"The hell you are."

Jack saw Drake coming down the stairs as they exited the store room. "Wow, that didn't take long."

"Not long? We were in that store room for forty-five minutes easy."

"We were?" He nodded. "Well, I'm sure he's thirsty after the work out they no doubt gave him. I'll send over two cold beers."

He cradled her face in his hand and studied her for a minute. "You sure you're okay?"

And there went that burst of warmth emanating from her heart once again. She nodded. "I am now."

When that feeling…sensation first manifested itself, it caught her by surprise. Having never experienced it before, she wasn't sure what to make of it, but sensed that whatever was happening to her was significant. Now she knew. She wasn't half in love with him at all. The time for that had passed. She was head over heels, totally besotted, one hundred percent in love with the man, but she was also scared to death. She didn't doubt that he cared for her, wanted her, but did he feel anything beyond that? And if he didn't, would he ever?

Drake met Riddick back at the booth looking quite relaxed and wearing a lopsided grin.

"Man, what's up? You look…I don't know...tense."

"I'll get to that later, after you tell me how it went upstairs."

Drake chuckled. "Needing to live vicariously through my sex life, eh?"

"Fuck you. Just comparing notes. So how was it?"

"Hot. Dirty. Fucking sweet. How many rounds did you say you went with them?"

"A few."

"A few?"

He shrugged. "At least three."

"Shit. As hard as they made me work for it, twice was all I was good for. I don't see how you coulda' fucked 'em more than that."

"You forget. It wasn't them I really wanted to fuck in the first place."

"Tryin' to exorcise yourself of Jack?"

"Exactly. Then she caught me with them."

"And you went back for more just despite her?"

"You got it."

"If she drove you that crazy before you kissed her, then you must be about to bust a nut by now since you've tasted her."

"I've got one good hand," he reminded him.

"Which I'm sure you've already used. Knowin' you that'll get old real fast. Just be sure you use plenty of lube. I'd hate for you to get a blister."

"Is this the mouth of experience talkin'?"

"It ain't pretty. Trust me. All kidding aside, I've got to hand it to you. All these beautiful and naked women ready to fuck at a moment's notice, and the only one you seem to have eyes for is her."

Riddick frowned. "I've been lookin' plenty," he rebutted almost defensively.

"Lookin'? I don't think so. That requires a good thirty seconds of concentration. Those were quick glances. She's a magnet and you are without a doubt attracted."

He leaned across the table, now scowling. "So what are you gettin' at?"

"You've got it bad for her. That's what."

"You already know I want the woman, Drake."

"Oh, so this is all about fucking her then? Spread her legs and take a joy ride between the sheets?"

His vulgarity was all in an effort to elicit a reaction. He was instantly aware just how effective his tactic had been when Riddick's eyes bore into his and in a calm, but deadly voice told him, "I'd like to suggest that you stop while you're ahead."

Drake held his hands up in mock surrender. "Message delivered and understood." But he couldn't resist on last parting shot on the topic. "From what I've heard, gettin' your heart in the act for the first time takes some gettin' used to."

In the meantime, Marilyn moved to the bar under the pretense of helping out before her next set. Although Jack planned to deliver the beers herself, the bar had suddenly become swamped and the once ice cold drinks were rapidly losing their crisp edge.

"Actually, your timing couldn't be better. Could you take these beers to table twenty-three?"

"Sure thing."

"Thanks, Marilyn. You're a doll!"

"Don't mention it."

Marilyn grabbed a lime slice and stuck it on the rim of the beer destined for Riddick before adding a few drops of the drug. Knowing she couldn't deliver them herself, she passed the tray off to the next waitress she saw with explicit instructions to give the beer with the lime to the man with the stubble. It was then she realized that Drake had returned to the table.

"Shit!" Her mind raced to come up with a way to get Drake away from Riddick, but her panic was short lived. "Silly me," she chided herself. "He's a man and what's his biggest weakness? His dick."

There were a few dancers who would do just about anything for credits, and she headed straight for the closest one. "Monica. There's a guy I'm interested in, but he's with a friend. I'd like to get him alone. Do you think you could do me a favor and occupy him for say, twenty minutes?"

"Cut to it, Marilyn. What do you want me to do?"

"Take him to one of the side rooms. Give him a lap dance, a blowjob, I don't care. Just keep him happy and occupied."

"Fifty credits."

"Forty and I'm not going any higher than that."

"Deal. Which one is he?"

"Table twenty-three, the guy with the head of hair. Don't even think of going after the big guy or the deal is off."

"Twenty minutes and then I'm done with him. Not a minute more."

"Agreed."

Monica headed straight to the table and practically sat in Drake's lap, whispering into his ear how she couldn't keep her eyes off of him, and was dying to get a little taste. He was out of the booth and following her within a few minutes. Now it was all a matter of time. Steven had said the drug should quickly take effect, so she waited nearby and watched for a sign that he was under the influence.

Riddick's beer was half empty when it began. A languid, peaceful feeling washed over him, leaving him nice and relaxed. He leaned back in the booth, stretching his legs out across the bench seat and propped one arm on the table while the other rested along the back of the seat. He wasn't sure what had overcome him, and truthfully he didn't care.

Then Marilyn made her move. She walked up to the booth and stood before him. "Hi there."

He didn't even lift his head. "Hey." Then he frowned slightly. "Do I know you?"

Even though the words sounded fine to him, to her they sounded slurred as if he was drunk. The fact that he even asked if they had met emboldened her.

"I'd like to join you. Can I?"

Under the complete influence of the drug, he was overly amendable to suggestions. He nodded and didn't protest when she pushed his legs apart so she could climb onto the seat and settle herself between them. Wasting no time, she slid her hands up his thighs, lingering to rub his crotch before continuing up his chest. She maneuvered herself closer until she was straddling his lap.

"Who…are….you?"

Marilyn undid his pants as she kissed his neck on her way to his mouth. And once she got there, she whispered against his lips, "I'm the woman who is going to do my best to wreck whatever you've got going with Kyra Rimbaldi."

"Mar….lyn."

Her name came out as nothing more than a couple of grunts. He had finally recognized her, but in his drugged state could do nothing to stop her. Wrestling against the drug's effect did him little good, but he wouldn't allow himself to totally succumb. Though his hands felt like lead, he had to try. She had already slipped her hand into his briefs and pulled out his flaccid member by the time he could get his own hands to his lap. Marilyn looked down at his limp cock and sighed.

"What's wrong? You're not happy to see me?"

"Bi..tch."

"Had you not left me, I wouldn't doing this right now. So whatever I am, you made me into it."

She easily brushed his hands aside and proceeded with her task. His lack of erection wasn't a problem. Four months with him and she knew just how to make him ready. She began with light, teasing touches, a little use of her nails, and making sure not to neglect that sensitive patch of skin just under the head. In no time, his dick twitched in her grasp and began to expand.

"That's right. You like that don't you," she gloated.

"N-No," he weakly grumbled, but his intent was to shout it.

"Doesn't matter anyway."

She constantly kept an eye on the bar, waiting for Jack to look in her direction, but she was kept too busy.

"Kyra just won't look over here yet. Guess that means I'll have to take this further than I thought I would. Not that I haven't been there and done that before. Besides, you still have the biggest cock I've ever had and do love a good ride."

Easing herself down, she licked him from base to tip several times, circling the head with her tongue before slowly taking him into her mouth. Time after time he groaned or grunted, however it had nothing to do with her ministrations. These were sounds born out of frustration and rage that he had been so easily turned into her puppet. His frustration was her delight. She could control everything to gain the outcome she and Steven desired.

Satisfied that he was sufficiently hard, she hooked a finger in her g-string to pull it out of the way and wrapped her other hand around his cock. Reveling in the power she had over him, she slowly rubbed the tip up and down the center of her, circling her entrance.

"Maybe if you beg me for forgiveness, I won't do this. Can you do that, Rick? Hm? Can you tell me how fucking sorry you are that you left me without so much as a word?"

In his mind he was yelling at her to 'fuck off', in his mind he was listing the ways he'd like to slowly kill her, but all his mind could produce was a few angry sounding grunts and short growls. He jerked under her, again another attempt to get her off of him, which only made her laugh because it was nothing moe than a slight movement to her.

"Nice try. But I'm in control here. Me and Steven." She lowered herself down just enough to take the head of him inside her, ignoring the rage in his eyes. "You ready for this?"

However, other variables were present that she could in no way manage. Drake and Monica's twenty minutes had only taken ten, and he was on his way back to the booth. He detoured by the bar to grab a cold beer for them both, and that's when Jack finally had the opportunity to look in Riddick's direction to see Marilyn enthusiastically bouncing up and down on him. Between the look of sheer ecstasy on her face and him with his eyes closed and head laying completely back, it appeared to both Drake and Jack as if he was a very active participant.

Jack threw her towel down, and between clenched teeth swore, "That mother fucking bastard!"

Drake managed to get a hold of her before she went storming over to the booth. "I'm sure this isn't what you think!" But even to his own ears he didn't sound believable.

"Go sell your bullshit somewhere else Drake. I'm not fucking blind!"

Jack snatched her arm from his grip and would have led the way to the booth, but he cut her off and got there first. Had Marilyn been paying more attention, she would have run long before either of them made it there. The idea was for Jack to see them, and then flee to let the fireworks begin, but she was far too absorbed in her little game. Drake and Jack had not only noticed what she was doing, they were closing in. The red hair and contacts didn't fool him for an instant. When Drake saw who was fucking Riddick, he almost lost it.

"Marilyn!"

Her eyes flew open, and the murderous look on Drake's face sent a chill of fear down her spine. She scrambled off of Riddick, and in the process fell on the floor, but her escape was thwarted by Drake's iron grip on her forearm.

"You fucking cunt!" He glanced at Riddick who, even amidst the commotion, had yet to react. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Not wanting Jack to see him like that he literally shoved Marilyn at her and growled, "Do NOT let her go! She's done something to Rick!"

Leaning over his friend, he mumbled an apology and as quickly as he could re-dressed him. Not even Drake shoving his dick back in his pants, somewhere they should never be, earned him more than a few unintelligible sounds. Something was worse than wrong.

"Drake!" He turned and Jack shoved Marilyn back at him so she could get to Riddick. "Mother fucking son of a bitch!"

She heard Drake yell for her to stop, but it was too late. Overcome with anger and the pain of his apparent betrayal, she was completely focused on sharing her anguish first hand. With her fist pulled back and primed, she let it go, striking Riddick as hard as she could in the face. She hit him once, twice, and had planted her knee in his groin before realizing something wasn't right. There were no acts of defense, no iron grip on her arms, no yelling, no anger, not anything she would have expected. Then she finally heard Drake's tirade as he verbally attacked Marilyn, digested the words, and turned her attention to them both.

"You know her?" she demanded.

"Remember the story I told you about? Not the one with the rats either." She nodded. "This is her."

"What? You can't be serious!"

"As a heart attack. She obviously followed him here, for what purpose I don't know."

Marilyn, hoping to engender some form of sympathy, turned on the tears. "Rick abandoned me! I had nothing but my clothes to my name and what few credits I had saved, and he left me without a word! Four months we were together, and he didn't give me so much as a goodbye! Of course I was angry! I was desperate, but not because he spurned me. I-I'm pregnant!"

Drake snorted in disgust. "IF you are pregnant, and I stress the word if, I think the appropriate question is who the bastard belongs to because it sure as hell isn't his." Furious, Marilyn's hand whipped up to slap Drake, but he caught her wrist in mid-air. "Nice try. Tell Jack exactly where you came from."

"Why?"

He wound his hand into her hair and jerked hard, pulling a cry of pain tinged fear from her. "Tell her."

"O-Ornea," she stammered.

"And when did you get here?"

"The day I applied for the job," she lied, unaware that Drake knew for a fact that wasn't true.

Drake turned to Jack and asked, "Do you know anything about Ornea and the shuttles from there?" In his head he was hoping she would figure it out on her own and make the connection between Steven and Marilyn.

"Ornea?" she echoed, and then nodded. "Unfortunately, I do. My ex-boyfriend, works there. He flew in the day before you applied for the job and there hasn't been a transport from there since." Filled with rage, she seized the smaller woman by the forearms and slammed her back into the wall while Drake stood there with a rather smug look on his face. "But you already know that, and my gut is telling me that you also met him on the ship. How else would you know about our opening for a dancer so quickly? You were the first one here that next morning and fit the type perfectly. Something he would have known as well because he's been around long enough to know what we look for!"

"You're crazy!" Marilyn shouted. "I don't know what you're talking about, and I don't know any Steven!"

Jack slowly smiled, released her, and took a step back. "I never said his name was Steven." Then she pulled back her fist and slammed it into Marilyn's face sending the woman sprawling to the floor with a broken nose. The impact loosened the small vial from her bra. It dropped and rolled in front of Drake's feet, who picked it up and handed it to Jack.

"I bet you my left nut that what's in here turned Rick into the mess he is now."

She closed her fist around it and nodded. "There's only one way to find out." The vial was still almost full. Having taken more than her fair share of drugs while she was in the hospital, she concluded that it had to be potent if most of it was left. She turned back to the table and placed a few drops in the remainder of Drake's old beer. "Hold her."

Marilyn began to scream, which brought one of the bodyguards running, and he almost attacked Drake, but Jack called him off in time. "No Tom! He's with me."

"You sure Kyra? How'd her face get that way?"

"The nose job was courtesy of my fist."

Tom blinked twice and his mouth dropped open. He had known Jack for years, even before she began working full-time and this was very unlike her. He even knew the blade she carried was a fake, too. "You did that?"

"Yes, Tom. Now, if you're done gawking, I need you to get a funnel if she refuses to drink this willingly."

"Can I ask what for?"

"Take a look at Rick. She drugged him, and we're going to see if this is what did it. She's about to be our guinea pig, willing or not."

"Y-You can't do this to me!" she screamed as he struggled against Drake's grip.

Jack shrugged and got right in Marilyn's face. "See, that's where you are so very wrong. I can and I will, Marilyn. If you think for one minute I won't pour this down your fucking throat you have severely underestimated me!"

"There are laws against this! There has to be!"

"You want to play that card? Fine. Let's talk about the penalty for rape, shall we?"

Marilyn snapped her mouth shut after that, her eyes shifting nervously between Drake and Jack, and then Tom returned with the funnel and she caved immediately.

"It's a drug used on patients who are in shock. It puts them in some kind of deep state of relaxation so they don't panic and they'll cooperate, but it doesn't knock them completely out."

"My how the little bird can sing with the right motivation. Who gave it to you?" Drake growled into her ear from behind her.

She didn't hesitate. "Steven did."

"Tell her why, Marilyn!"

"He wanted to get the two of you apart. He said he still cared for you and was afraid of what Rick might do to you after the way he attacked him, so he wanted my help. The man is some kind of saint given how you were cheating on him!"

Jack couldn't believe the bullshit she was hearing. "Cares for me? Cheating on him? Is that what he told you? He's a fucking liar, Marilyn. He tried to rape me, Marilyn, and had it not been for Rick,Marilyn, he would have done it, too! So any marks he had on him were the least that he deserved!"

"Is the fuck still here?" Drake demanded.

"I'm not telling you anything else! Can I go now?" she sneered.

"Yes. But you have twenty-four hours to vacate this settlement or I will have you charged with rape. Do I make myself clear?"

Her jaw dropped. "Twenty-fou-."

"DO. I. MAKE. MYSELF. CLEAR?" she repeated, this time more slowly and sounding a shade like Riddick himself. Drake was impressed and Marilyn shakily nodded. "Good. Let her go, Drake." He released her, she took a step, and Jack's fist came out of seemingly nowhere and slammed into her face one again. "The first time was for me. That was for Rick." She allowed Marilyn to get out of earshot before she turned to Tom. "I'll double your hourly wage for the rest of your shift tonight if you follow her. She's staying in a hotel, but I want to know if Steven is there, too."

"Hey, who am I to argue with the boss lady, especially after the way you took care of her. Damn, did not know you had that in you, Kyra."

"Neither did I."

Jack cringed before turning around, knowing exactly who was behind her. He was the last person she wanted to face especially after what she had just said and done. "JP. How long have you been there?"

"Long enough, ma petite."

"This got so out of hand. I'm sorr-."

"Don't you dare apologize, ma cherie!"

"But-."

"But nothing! I always knew there was more to you, and that it would only be a matter of time before you saw it yourself."

"But I bet you weren't expecting this."

"Eh, perhaps not. There was always a quiet inner strength about you. Even though it didn't always show, I saw glimpses of it."

"Inner strength? JP, I beat up a woman and threatened to force a drug-laced drink down her throat."

"From what I could hear, she deserved it – both for what she did to you and Rick, and for her stupidity. Maybe inner strength wasn't the right way to explain it, eh? Per'aps fire is much better?"

"I'll second that one," Drake interjected as he offered his hand to Jean-Pierre. "I'm Rick's friend, Drake."

"Jean-Pierre. So nice to finally meet you." JP took his first good look at Riddick. "What do you say we get Rick home?"

"You better get another body guard," Drake suggested. "He weighs a ton."

"It doesn't look like he'll be walking either. Not a problem. You take him home, ma cherie, and I will wait for Tom to report back."

She kissed Jean-Pierre's cheek. "Je t'aime, JP."

"Bah, I know you do girl. Now get him home."

Jack left it to the men to get Rick up the stairs and into his bed. In the meantime, she began searching for drugs that had the effects Marilyn had explained and had it narrowed down to three when Drake came back down.

"Did you get him in bed?"

"Shoes off, but left the rest in place. I figured you would be better suited to do those honors."

"Thank you, Drake…for everything."

"Meaning?"

"For getting to him before I did, so I wouldn't see him like that."

"Yeah, let's not mention that to him, shall we? I doubt he'd be too understanding about my hands on his manly parts."

"Given the circumstances, I think he'd look past it, but how will we explain how he got dressed?"

"We won't have to if he doesn't remember."

"And if he does?"

Drake glared at her. "Would you quit playin' the devil's advocate!"

"Better to have an explanation ready now just in case than to fumble for one later."

"I'll tell him that I made Marilyn do it."

"You better hope he can't tell the difference. Is he asleep?"

"No. At least he doesn't look like he is, but the elevator ain't goin' all the way to the top either. The only thing I was gettin' out of him was some grunts. So what did you find out?"

"I've got it down to three. Do you still have that vial?"

"Yeah, right here." He pulled it out of his pocket.

"Open it and tell me if you smell anything."

"Just how do you know I won't be affected by it from sniffing?"

"I don't, now will you open it?"

"Only if you promise some heavy TLC if I end up like Rick," he smirked.

"I have a great beside manner, now open the damn thing."

He carefully popped the lid and took a whiff. "Nothing."

"That eliminates one."

"Why? What was it supposed to smell like?"

"Rotten eggs. I guess we can assume it's tasteless since he didn't notice it in his beer?"

"I'd have to agree. He finished half of it."

"Then that leaves us this last one. It's a powerful drug that requires only a few drops to put the patient into a mostly catatonic state, the effects of which can last up to four hours. All body functions remain normal to allow doctors to fully examine and assess the patient though. Once it does wear off, it's almost instantaneous. Sounds like he'll be back to normal."

"Woah! Hold on. Did you read the side effects? Skim down the page. Male patients may suffer from temporary erectile dysfunction for up to twenty-four hours after the drug's effect wears off."

Jack rolled her eyes. "Why doesn't it surprise me that you pointed that out?"

"Hey, just lookin' out for my friend," he replied with a grin.

"Even if it does happen to him, he won't be missing out on anything."

"He may have a word or two to say about that!"

"Drake!"

He laughed, but it was her bright red cheeks that did it. He couldn't recall the last time he saw a woman blush when talking about sex and thought to himself that Riddick would have quite the good time teaching her the ropes, so to speak.

"Still, you better tell him when he comes to. He's half-cocked anytime he's around you and he's likely to think somethin's seriously wrong if the equipment doesn't respond like he'd expect."

Half-cocked when he's around me? She liked the sound of that. "I won't let him suffer in ignorance."

"So he's pretty much out for the night?"

"As you said, he only drank half the beer, so maybe not. I guess I'll have to wait and see."

"I'll leave you to him then."

"Drake wait! I have something I need to ask you."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"Um...when Marilyn said she was pregnant, you were pretty adamant about it not being Rick's. How can you be so sure?"

"Easy. He doesn't leave that responsibility to them. He takes care of himself, just like I do to avoid shit like what she tried to pull. If Rick's got a bastard child out there, which I highly doubt, the kid would have to be pretty old. He told me that he's been watchin' after himself since he was in his early twenties."

Drake gave her a comforting smile as she released the breath she had been holding. "Thanks again, Drake. I really appreciate it."

"No problem. I'm sure he'd do the same for me…except for probably touching the manly bits. I'll come by in the mornin'." She kissed Drake's cheek and was a little surprised to see him blush. "I definitely won't tell him about that either."

"Good night."

"Night."

Riddick, flat on his back in his bed, laid there festering in his own anger. Steven, as far as he was concerned, was living on borrowed time. The merc would have never showed up had it not been for his interference, and he wondered if Cox's appearance and being drugged had been planned together. Perhaps not. If Cox was to make a move, then taking advantage of Riddick's incapacitated state would have been the best opportunity to do it. For that, at least, he could be thankful. He had to have spoken to Steven though. How else would he know right where to go to find Jack?

Then there was Marilyn. He had never killed a woman before. Hell, he had never struck a woman – female mercs in his mind not counting as real women anyway. But Marilyn? He might just make an exception for her. His fingers twitched at the thought of wrapping his hands around her neck and squeezing until her eyes bulged as the last breath of life escaped her. Wait! His fingers twitched? He moved his hand, then his arm, then a leg, bending it at the knee. It was a slow, laborious process, but he could move again. Drug must be wearin' off. Sooner the better. I gotta find out what they did with that bitch and then make plans to get the hell outa here.

Exhausted, Jack climbed the stairs and changed from her work clothes into a t-shirt and boxers. Then she went to Riddick's room and stood just inside the door, watching him for a moment to see if perhaps he was aware that she was even there. It was painfully slow, but his head turned toward her and he met her eyes. She gasped and quickly sat next to him.

"Riddick?"

"J-Ja..ck."

"Oh my god! You've been conscious the entire time!" He grunted twice prompting a bubble of laughter from her. "Is that two grunts for 'yes' and one for 'no'?"

This time he made some kind of noise that sounded close to a drawn out 'yes.' If he was lucid now and had been the entire time, then he was aware of what Marilyn had been doing and knew everything. She wasn't quite sure if the news was a relief to her or not. It certainly did nothing to lighten her guilt for hitting him, but this was the perfect time to explain herself and while he couldn't talk back, interrupt, or walk away.

"I'm sorry I hit you…twice…and kneed you, too. I looked up and saw her and you and-." She clenched her eyes shut against the crystal clear image of them together. It still hurt even if he hadn't been a willing party to it. "I-I snapped. I thought you had-. Well, I guess you can imagine what was going through my mind since I came over there and beat it into you." She leaned over him, peppering kisses from his forehead down to his lips.

"Did I hurt you?"

He grunted once – short and with a huff of air.

She raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess what that meant. 'You, hurt me? As if!' and she had mimicked him to the letter. It took a lot of concentration on his part, but he managed a small curl of his lips. "Uh-huh. Thought so. You know something? You should really be on your best behavior while you're in this condition."

Another grunt.

"No? Now, see that's where you're wrong. You're at my mercy, Riddick." She lightly kissed his lips before adding, "At least until this drug wears off, so I think I'll make the most of it."

Her hands went to the buttons on his shirt, and she slowly unfastened them, allowing her fingers to brush against his skin. With his shirt open, she tentatively slide her hand down the middle of his chest, marveling at how taut his muscles still felt even in his state. His skin was so smooth, silky almost, and she was sure he didn't use any kind of moisturizer either to make it feel that way. The very image of Riddick slathering on moisturizer almost made her giggle. Definitely not him, but it simply wasn't fair. No man should feel that good without at least having to work at it.

"You've got the most amazing skin," she commented more to herself than to him. "I could touch you for hours." She caught his eyes and mischievously smiled. "Mind if I play?"

Hell no! One grunt.

"Didn't think you would."

Feeling a little bolder, she pushed his shirt completely open. She didn't touch him again. Not quite yet. Not knowing when she would get the opportunity to inspect, no, examine, no, not that either. Absorb? Yes, that worked. Absorb. She didn't know when she would get the opportunity to absorb him like this again so she looked her fill. Using both hands now, she explored him at her leisure, completely unaware of the slight smile on her face as her fingers traced over his sculpted abs, pecs, and any other muscle group she could find. When her fingers grazed over his nipples, he grunted slightly and her eyes flew to his, which were now closed. Had he fallen asleep? Just to be sure she checked.

"Riddick?"

Nothing. With him asleep, she felt guilt tugging at her for taking advantage of him like this. Would she want him doing the same thing? Probably not. She'd much rather be awake to enjoy it, but she had a bet hanging over her head. And with him in the state he was in, she could take some personal pleasure without worrying about things getting out of control. Only he wasn't asleep – more like playing possum while he ate up every touch of her hands.

"God, you're beautiful."

She chewed on her bottom lip, contemplating if she should give in to her own urge to get closer to him.

"The hell with it."

She straddled him, but kept her ass away from his 'manly bits' as Drake had called them. Lowering her face to his neck, she scented him again. That was something she could never get enough of.

"Doing this started out as a way to get you off of me, but I really do love the way you smell. Just in case you were wondering."

Sandalwood was one thing, but on him it was sexy as hell, intoxicating, and made her want to eat him alive. Now her mouth was on him again, tasting him, and she even left a mark when she concentrated a little too long on a patch of skin. She simply couldn't help herself. Micah had called her a nympho, and if this was what she had turned into, so be it. And god help her, she wanted to feel her skin against his again. Sitting up, her hands went the hem of her shirt. She hesitated only a moment and then pulled it off, but wasn't quite bold enough to strip off her bra as well. She lay back down, chest to chest, skin to skin, and sighed at the warmth radiating from him. If only she could have his arms around her, have his hands on her that would make this even better. Hell, anything he would do would make it better.

She stretched her body out over his, sucking in a sharp breath when she slid over his erection. "Oh, god," she gasped as she was flooded with wet heat. She had to stop. This was insanity torturing herself like this, but she really, really wanted more.

"I should not be doing this."

"Don't let…. that stop ya," came a groaning, groggy voice.

Eyes wide as saucers, she froze on top of him, not daring to move, hoping to convince herself that she had merely imagined that was something he would have said. But then a strong hand grabbed her ass and pressed her down onto his hardened length while he moved under her, and reality quickly set in.

"Oh, fuck."

He chuckled, "We'll…see."

She slowly lifted her head up, her cheeks stained pink. "I can explain."

"Why you'realmost half naked and layin' on top of me? This oughta be good."

His speech was still on the slow side, but rapidly improving. "I thought the drug had finally knocked you out."

"And you were taking advantage of me in my helpless state?"

"Seemed like a good idea at the time," she smirked.

His hand moved up to the back of her bra and with a flick of his wrist he had it unfastened. Her back now free of obstacles, his hands were able to roam where they pleased. Then without warning he sat up, forcing her to hold onto his shoulders and plant her knees on either side of his hips. He kept both hands pressed against her back as he trailed his mouth up and down her throat. Her nails lightly raking his back told him how much she liked it.

"You probably thought I'd be out of it a lot longer, too."

"I was kinda hoping it-." His teeth grazing her collar bone broke her train of thought. "You could have at least warned me the drug was wearing off," she finished in a rush before he could do it again.

"Now where would be the fun in that? So, what did the bitch slip in my drink?"

"Drake and I looked it up and it's relatively harmless. It's meant for patients in shock so doctors can work on them in a relaxed state."

"Relaxed," he snorted derisively before pressing his hips up into her. "Does this feel relaxed to you?"

She shut her eyes and stifled a groan. "Not at this moment."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"The drug can produce a side effect among men that renders you relaxed whether you want to be or not."

"What? You gotta be fuckin' kiddin' me! For how long?"

"Up to twenty-four hours."

"Fuckin' beautiful!" he snarled.

Jack lifted her head up. "Why? Did you have plans?"

Smiling he leaned in and slowly kissed her, but pulled away before things got carried away. "Not sayin' shit, but even if I did they wouldn't have involved you." Her mouth dropped open and he quickly added, "Or any other woman."

"Just five fingers and some of my body wash?"

"Somethin' like that, so don't get your tiny little panties all in a wad."

"Tiny panties? Now how would you know what size my panties are?"

Busted. He shrugged it off though. "You saw my ass the first day, but I saw you first."

"Did you now?"

"Yeah," he began, grinning like a fool, "you came outta your room in a tight little tank top and those things you call panties – not much better than strings if you ask me. Not that I'm complainin'."

"Of course not."

"I 'bout camped in front of the bathroom to pounce your ass when you got out, but lucky me my brain finally kicked in."

"Good thing, too. I wasn't exactly pleased to have you under my roof."

"Roof? Fuck. There wasn't a thing about me that pleased you."

"True. But I've had time and re-discovered memories that have allowed me to re-evaluate my position on you."

"And?"

Jack would have answered him right away, but his mouth had moved to her shoulder where he was tasting her skin. That and his hands were roving up and down her back, lightly exploring the indentions of her spine.

"I-. I, ah, judged you too harshly."

"Good to know I'm off your shit list," he quipped and then flicked his tongue at the base of her throat, which made her shiver. "Now tell me what happened to Marilyn," he demanded between nibbles.

"God," she groaned. "I can't think anymore and you expect me to talk?"

He pulled his mouth away. "Should I stop?"

"N-no."

"Keep talkin' or I will," he playfully commanded.

"Bastard. How much did you hear or know?"

"She drugged me, she fuckin' raped me, but I couldn't keep up with what you were sayin'."

Her breath caught in her throat as his fingers skated up her ribs. "I punched her."

He stopped completely then, a smile splitting his face. "Well ain't that some shit?"

"Mm-hm. Twice actually. The second one was for you. She – Oh, my god! What the hell are you doing to me?"

He chuckled. "Keep talkin', Jack. What did she do?"

"Lied to me," she said, half gasping from the combined effect of his hands and mouth. "She's been with Steven. He gave her the drug."

"She told me that fuck was involved, but how'd you make that connection?"

"Um… she….mmm…oooh..Drake!"

Riddick pulled back enough for her to take in his less than pleased, if not sour expression. "I've got my hands and mouth on you and what do you do? You call out another man's name."

"But that was my answer."

"Drake?"

"Hey! I'm talking and you've stopped. What's with that?" He nibbled her shoulder between kisses. "Better," she sighed. "He recognized her and totally went off on her. He could tell you weren't right, too."

Riddick tensed momentarily, wondering who had seen him first – Drake or her. Then he lowered her onto her back, settling between her legs, and was acutely aware of how she had pressed her bra to herself to keep it from slipping. His palms were sweating to feel her breasts skin-to-skin, and his mouth was sure as hell watering to taste and tease them. He was so very close.

"Do it. Pull it off of her and feast away. You know she wants it."

Gritting his teeth, he nuzzled her neck to hide his brief internal struggle from her. Just long enough to mentally beat the animal back into its cage. He'd touch her when she wanted it and not before – even if it killed him. Forehead to forehead, he brushed his lips across hers before he found his voice.

"Jack, I wanted to feel your back without anything in the way, but the bra stays on until you say otherwise. You got me?"

She nodded, and finally let out her breath. "Yeah." And now it was his turn to groan because she had pushed his shirt off of his shoulders so he would remove it, and now her fingers were exploring his spine as they headed down his back. "Is that all you wanted to know?"

Oh, he'd much rather get on to other, more pleasurable pursuits, but he didn't quite have all the facts yet. However, answering the questions that remained could be uncomfortable for them both.

"Who found me first – you or Drake?"

She blinked, a little thrown by his question. "Found you or saw you?"

Then she wouldn't exactly meet his eyes, and her entire body had tensed. Riddick didn't care one bit for the sick, festering sensation growing in the pit of his stomach because of it. "Both."

"I imagine we both saw you at the same time or close to it."

"And you thought I was fucking her," he almost snapped, stopping himself short of sounding sour, but she caught his tone regardless.

"Look, just because I haven't had sex doesn't mean I don't know it when I see it! Have you forgotten where I've worked almost nightly since I was eighteen? JP and I have had our share of girls who wanted to fuck a guy, but didn't want to pay for the room, so they do it in the booth, which we don't permit. So when I saw her riding you with your head thrown back -."

Clenching her eyes shut, she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying over it. He hadn't done anything wrong, but it still stung to see him with another woman.

"You can ask Drake," she continued, now a little more in control. "He thought the same as I did or he never would have cut me off to get to you. I don't know if he pulled her off or if she fell when she was caught in the act. All I know is that he looked like he wanted to kill her. Then he shoved her at me and told me not to let her go because she had done something to you."

"But you got to me 'cuz you hit me – twice."

She sensed what he wanted to know, and hoped he wouldn't go through the roof because of it. "Not before Drake made you…presentable."

"He fucking touc-," he began to roar, but nipped it short by yelling right back at him.

"Would you prefer that he left your dick out so I'd see you like that?"

He growled, more to himself than at her. She had a point. A good point. "No."

"He wanted me to tell you that he made Marilyn do it, but I didn't think you'd buy that."

"Hardly. You wouldn't have let her."

"Got that right!"

"So what did you do with her?"

"Told her that she had to get her ass off planet within twenty-four hours or she would be charged with rape. That was after I threatened to pour some of that drug down her throat, which prompted her confession."

He was incredulous. "You let the bitch go? Just like that?" Jack got a hold of some loose skin and pinched. "Ow! Fuck!" That got her swooped back up to straddle his lap with both of her hands pinned behind her so quickly it made her head spin.

"What the hell was that for?" he thundered, but she didn't even flinch. In fact, she moved in closer and tried to jerk her arms out of his grip.

"Because you big, fat dick head, I didn't let her go! I had one of my bouncers follow her ass back to her hotel to see if Steven was still in town with her! I thought you might wish a word with him if he was still here." she yelled back now thoroughly pissed off.

The corner of his mouth twitched as he raised a brow. "Dick head?"

"You were acting like one," she growled at him, still struggling as well, "and my exact words were big, fat dick head!"

Prickly Jack was back.

No. Not Prickly Jack. She was the one who ran away. This is Pissed-Off Jack who gets in my face, and damn if she isn't sexy as hell. Her scent a mélange of anger and arousal being a bit too much to ignore, his animal sat up, took notice, and was now at full attention. He released her hands, which she immediately brought up and planted against his chest to shove herself away, completely unmindful of the fact that his eyes shad dropped to her chest. The rapid rise and fall of her angry breaths had drawn his eyes downward, and her breasts were now barely covered since her bra had slipped during her struggles.

Pushing herself back had been a fruitless effort. His hands had gone from binding hers behind her back to holding her firmly in place on his lap. Irritation setting in she begrudgingly raised her face, but met with his forehead instead of an amused smirk like she expected. Looking down she discovered what had captured his attention and rolled her eyes, her earlier display of nervous modesty now completely forgotten. Seizing his chin in a not-so-gentle grip, she tugged his face back up and shot him a venomous look.

"You owe me an apology!"

"Don't think so. I've got other things on my mind now," he silkily replied.

And you'll just have to wait until next chapter to see what he has in mind.

Love you guys!! Thanks so much!! I have the best readers in fanfictdom!!

Je t'aime – I love you.

Review Responses for Chapter 20

Riddickluvsme "Ok damnit I'm really into this story...Its about time that somebody wrote a story worth reading again"
- Muah-ha-ha-ha – suckered you in did I? All the better to torture you by :D And yes, I remember that you weren't too pleased with my evil cliffies in A Kid Like Her so you put off reading chapters. Hope you finished it – all 70 of the and great to have you on board here!
"i've read your's all the way through and i'm thoroughly enjoying it..."
- I'm so glad and thanks so much for reviewing and letting me know how much you like it! It means a lot!!
Dhampir Elf"i'm finally caught up.. yay for me."
- Glad to have you back on track. Been missing seeing your reviews!!
"i love micah!! i so hope drake is a closet gay.. they'd be soo cute together! then they could all team up on riddick! haha.. they'd love that to no end"
- You aren't the only one who hopes Drake is a closet gay guy, but having him and Micah gang up on Riddick? What an image!! Oh my! I guess you can see that Riddick unfortunately didn't see what was happening to him until it happened. Don't worry though, he'll be avenged.
"every things coming to a point.. i hope that with the introduction of the mercs an everything, jack will really start to remember.. but it's going to be an incredibly tense time once she realizes exactly who riddick is, and what she's done herself, and whats happened to her"
- I couldn't have put it better myself. Being faced with the cigar smoke that reminded her of Toombs did a number on her and as more things come across her path that jar her memory, she might very well have issues, especially with what she's done and who Riddick is…but we'll see. Thanks so much DE!!!
jensen's Angel: "Aw when drake was sick from what riddick showed him and told him, it made me wanna hug him :)"
- Drake's a man-whore with a heart. : D
"i think it would be funny if drake and micah got together once, just to make it fair on micah cause he aint had any yet in this story lol"
- Yes, I know…poor, poor Micah needs some ass in the worst way. Hee hee.
"i know ive already told you this but i love this story :D"
ALWAYS nice to hear it though!! Thank so much JA!
FluidDegree"So will the merc use what Marilyn is doing to his advantage?"
- Obviously not, but had Steven been as smart as he thought he was, he would have arranged it to happen that way. We'll see just how far they get with the bet. Right now my odds are on Micah and Drake, what do you think? Hee hee. THanks FD!!
BurningTheMidnightOil: "your story is more delicious and tempting than a varitey cheesechake platter"
- Hmmm cheesecake. Sorry, got distracted there, but hmmmm variety. Dammit, now I want cheesecake in the worst way!! Ugh!! Oh well, feasting on your yummy reviews will have to satisfy me for the time being. Thanks as always and I will endeavor to live up to your expectations!!
Kimmae "I'm catching up now! And yikesies!"
- hey, that's a good think, right? Hope so and glad you're still hanging in there!
NotAfraidToLive: Ugh. Computer crashes suck!! I would die without mine, but luckily I have spares because of my job. But glad you're back and up and running! Thanks!!
dogo:"i loved it the whole tension between riddick and jack is awesome."
- The tension is still there, too. These two just aren't having much luck! Hee hee. Glad you love Drake. He's really grown on me and right now I give him and Micah odds on their bet. Thanks Dogo!!
FitMama: "Oh, I love both the bets going on. Let me guess, a lot more hot teasing foreplay is in store for us--I can't wait--it's almost better then them actually having sex. Prolong it as long as you can (even though you're killing me)."
- Careful FitMama! Someone reads that and you might just get flamed!! You do have a point though. So much of it is the build up to the big 'bang' – snerk.
"You're the only writer I know that has managed to make Riddick pussy-whipped (insert whipping sound here) without taking him out of character. Great job with that! I think having Jack be such a smart-ass helps balance him."
- Pussy whipped but still in character – Thanks!! Leave it to Drake to point that out to him, but of course he wasn't pleased with being presented with it either. You know Drake will push that as much as he can though.
"My favorite phrase used to be "open-access pussy", but now my new fav is "personal pussy picker". LOL! Where do you come up with these witty lines? They're are so perfect"
- I blame them completely on Drake. He's such a man-whore and I think he enjoys seeing Riddick laugh – something few people can make him do. It's all the Drake running around in my head who's doing it. I'll let him know you're getting a kick out of those. Thanks so much FitMama as always!!
Running-Wild22 Yes, Kia – Marilyn did have it blow up in her face, but not before sampling the goods one last time – the little slut. Riddick might still face her though so she may not be out of the woods yet. Thanks for the review!!
Vampiress-06 "oh hot damn...hahahahahahahahaha...damn Micah is just too freakin adorable"
- You're so not alone in your thoughts about that and about him hooking up with Micah. Only the future will tell though. Hee hee. Thanks Vampiress!
vinlovedroolwish : "Hahahahahah Jack called Riddick "Prick Head!" Hahahahaha snorthahahaha
Okay now that that is out of my system giggle well mostly."
- Yep, Jack is most definitely coming back.
"Seriously, I was like a drug addict wanting to page my dealer."
- So how big of a hit do you need? I can cut you a deal – snerk.
" Swear to God I squealed. (I have no dignity left)"
- Damn, could you podcast that? Hee hee
"You are evil, woman!"
- That was a foregone conclusion a LONG time ago!! Muah ha ha ha ha
"These last two chapters he has really stole the show."
- Who would have thought a man-whore would steal the show? Hee hee
"I absolutely love the conversation between Micah and Jack about Drake. "He's a truffle." giggle (and Riddick's a prick head!)giggles, falls out of chair, rolls around on the floor-gets it under control again, gets up, dusts self off and tries again"
- Oh, you are too much. You've got me giggling now. Stop it, woman!!
"Listen to the characters in you head-Micah is begging you for a little Drake loving-Drake is standing there trying to look innocent, whistling, hands in his pockets, checking out Micah's ass-SEE THEY WANT IT!"
- ROTFLMAO – Oh, can't breathe!! You're killing me, really!! gasp, gulping air What is this? If you make the character in the writer's head talk for her, it will happen? Hmm. Could work.
"You created these two--YOU tell them to stop doing the nasty in my head-they won't listen to me!"
- Drake and Micah, dammit!! Get the hell out of her head!!! Hands to yourself along with every other body part, too!! - there , hope that helps.
"SEE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE! I LOVE IT! DON'T YOU DARE STOP!"
- Mental tourette's syndrome? Have to tell you that I had tears rolling out of my eyes while reading your review. Too damn funny!! I'm so freakin' glad I didn't read it at work or I would have been in serious trouble trying to explain this to co-workers. Oh my! BTW – you do realize your review was mostly about sex, right? Yes, there was the 'prick head' line, but otherwise it was naked Drake-naked Micah-Prick Head-naked Riddick-flying olive-Drake-naked-Prick head-kisses on the train-naked Riddick-liquid body wash-prick head – see a pattern sweetie? LOL! I'll try not to make it any worse for ya. Love, love, love your reviews!! You talk about making YOU giggle? You've got me snorting and trust me when I say that it is NOT an attractive sound!! Thanks again!!
NightmareMonster: "oh snap, double bets ;p EVIL CLIFFIE"
- yes the bets – right now I put my odds on Micah and Drake and I don't think I've had an evil cliffie in a while so it was looooooooooong overdue!! Thanks NM!!
greenfaire: "seven days!! seven effing days!"
- Eeek sorry. I know his was even longer or I think it was. Hell, I DO have to work ya know! LOL! Believe me, my finger tips are growing sore from typing and it's all for you….and everyone else, too but you get the idea : D
"Drake and micah stating to look like an even more appealing and cute couple, how would riddick react?"
- I think there is an official Drake-Micah movement afoot. How would Riddick react? Who knows. Shock? Maybe, but he knows how much Drake loves sex. I think as long as they didn't try and pull him into it, he wouldn't let it bother him…at least not for long.
"Don't leave it so long next time i'm dying already and i've only just finished reading the chapter!"
- I'm trying, but RL is a bitch sometimes!! Hope you enjoyed this one though!! Love ya!
mimi86"micah i love. He's just this cute puppy i want to squeeze."
- Gotta love that – you made me giggle!!
"bows to the humble queen of jack and riddick pairings absolutly the best stories I read in a LONG time."
- Thanks so much!! You can't imagine how much I appreciate that!
iluvriddick"i like knowing riddick realizes he fucked. wonder how long until he realizes what it really means"
- Who knows. Drake has pointed it out, but as stubborn as he is, not to mention that he's new to the whole emotional investment concept, so it may take him a while to actually understand. He can get that she loves him, but recognizing it in himself is something altogether different.
"i think i raised my eyebrows right along with riddick when drake said he'd be all over micah if he was a woman."
- I had you in mind when I wrote that. I think you were the only one to catch it or at least say something about it. Hee hee
" you're teasing us again. i can almost picture the evil little smirk you get when you do that. too much pleasure from it i think."
- Dammit – she's catching onto me!! snerk
"dumb ass marilyn better get a ass whooping curtousy of jack too. at least that's what this little ole reader wants to see"
- Was that good enough for ya?
"also so looking forward to jack getting more memories. like how she wasn't freaked about remembering him teaching her to shoot and throw at targets. good sign"
- Yes, it was a good sign, but the smell of the cigars wasn't. cue dramatic music
"pre-smut. that's my new term. i'm gonna use it often. maybe. people might just look at me funny"
- No, don't you dare NOT use that term – I love it!! Thanks sweetie!
PagingDrHouse-Furyan Goddes... "Cox is a dumb ass. Riddick should have killed him when he had the chance."
- You can see that he most definitely regretted leaving him alive.
"Jack and Riddick both making bets, that's funny. Wonder who will be ready to cave first? Riddick is so sexy but he's got it bad for Jack."
- They have it bad for each other, hence the begging on her part. Guess that outfit she wants from Micah is looking less and less important.
"I REALLY hope that Drake is a bi-sexual and he and Micah can hook up :) That would be some yummy slash!"
- I think I should keep track of the votes for that pairing – it's been rather overwhelming how many want to see these two together.
"I don't want Jack and Riddick to separate and I know you like to torture us w/ the cliffies."
- Yes, that I do….no further comment. We'll see what kind of mood I'm in though.
"I'm loving this. I had to take to reading A Kid Like Her again to get my fix :) sigh truly one of the best writers there is :) Thank you."
- No, OMG!! Thank YOU!! What a wonderful thing for you to say!! Yep, this smile won't be leaving my face anytime soon!!
Thanks so much FG – Love ya!

November 13, 2007