Return to Darkness Chapter 25, a pitch black / riddick fanfic

A/N: I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year! Thanks for all of the well-wishes, too!! You're the best and I so appreciate each and every review and comment you send my way!!

Disclaimer: Only Micah and Drake belong to me, although there are many who would dearly like to challenge that claim.

Chapter 25

The pictures, although horrifying, were still difficult for her to accept as justification for her killing spree. They were also the catalyst for her nightmare plagued sleep. The very same nightmares that she used to hope were only bad dreams, but now she acknowledged them for what they were – memories and that made them all the worse. No matter how she tossed or turned, no matter which good thoughts she tried to focus on, the images always broke through.

However, the one constant throughout it all had been Riddick. He never let her go, often whispering words of comfort in that rumbling voice of his that made her feel safe. She awoke ensconced in his arms, her body practically half atop his. Although she wasn't quite sure how she ended up like that, given how erratically she was sleeping, she assumed he had put her there to keep a hold of her. His body warmth was threatening to lull her back to sleep, too.

Right now, that's all she wanted to do was stay there with him, sleeping and not because she was tired. She simply didn't wish to face the day, reality, and the censure or worse that she expected from Micah. Drake she could handle, but having Micah turn away from her would be devastating.

As she lay there thinking, her fingers were unconsciously moving in an aimless swirling pattern across his skin. Riddick woke when she did, sensing the change in her breathing pattern, but he kept silent in case she fell back asleep. Though when she managed to tickle his ribs, he couldn't fully suppress the chuckle, which came out sounding more like an indignant huffing noise. Surprised, she raised her head and met his silver eyes.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake-."

"It's okay and you didn't wake me. It was your fingers."

Jack eyed him curiously. "I didn't realize you were ticklish."

"Neither did I," he smirked.

"Still, it's kind of a nervous habit – needing to keep a hand moving or doing something. Didn't mean to disturb you."

"Too late for that, Princess. I'm way beyond bein' disturbed."

"I wasn't referring to your mental state," she said dryly, but slightly smiling because it felt good to joke around.

"Neither was I," he replied, his tone overly suggestive. She gave him the eye, so he gave up on that particular topic for the time being. "Did you get any sleep?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that? I know how much I got and it wasn't a lot, which means I kept you up, too. I'm so-."

His hand over her mouth cut her off. "Stop sayin' you're sorry," he growled.

She pushed his hand off her mouth. "But I am," she insisted. "If it wasn't for me-."

Pissed off, he had enough. He took her by the shoulders as he sat them both up and made her look at him.

"You don't have a god damn thing to be sorry about."

"But-."

"Jack! What did those fucks do to you?"

He didn't want to use this tactic on her, and from the horrified expression on her face she didn't want to talk about it, but in his mind she needed to face exactly what they did that made her snap. She had to accept that given the situation she was in any other choice would have resulted in her death or slavery. If she didn't, she might never get past this.

"Answer me, Jack."

She shook her head, "No. I don't want to-. I-I can't."

"Did they rape you?" She meekly nodded, but that wasn't enough for him. "Words, baby. Tell me."

"Yes," she finally answered, her voice not much louder than a whisper.

"How many times? Once?"

"No, more…a lot more."

"Did you bleed, have bruises?"

"Yes."

"Did they laugh at you? Call you names?"

"Riddick, please," she begged.

"Answer me, Jack."

"Yes."

"Did they let you clean up?"

"No."

"Not ever?"

"No."

"Did they give you clothes?"

Her forehead wrinkled as she tried to recall. "I can't remember. I was just cold. My skin was against metal all the time. No, I don't think they let me wear anything."

"Did you eat with a spoon or drink from a cup?"

"I remember a bowl. That's it."

"Did they cut you, beat you?"

"Yes, and more."

"Did they break you, Jack?"

"No." That answer came out with some resolve in her voice.

"Because you were stronger than them."

"No. It was you."

"What?" Stunned, he didn't know what else to say.

"You kept me going, talking to me. You made me strong."

"I wasn't there for you." And it cut him to admit it because he should have been there to protect her.

"In my mind you were, and that's why I didn't give in. It's not that I can recall anything specific, but I know you gave me the courage to fight back. You would have done the same thing - fought back?"

"Got that right, baby. Strong survival instinct. I admire that in a woman."

"You might, but what will Drake and Micah think of me? Of what I did?"

"You've got nothin' to worry about." He was certain of it.

And he had been right. Micah didn't blink an eye when she told him. In fact, he chided her for not serving Steven's ass to him on a platter after what he tried to do. And Drake? He vowed to never ask her what she would be cooking again. Her anxiety, it turned out, had been unnecessary and it was a huge relief to her. Dealing with these newest memories was difficult enough. She couldn't have taken it had Micah turned his back on her. He was irritated that she thought he would.

"I can't believe you would even think that I would give up on you like that! How long have we been friends?"

"It was a stupid of me. I know. You've always been there for me."

"Just like you have for me. Besides, you haven't gone commando on anyone since we met, so I'd be hard pressed to hold that one incident against you."

"Commando?"

"I like homicidally insane, myself," Drake quipped.

Jack shot an icy look up at Drake. "How do you like your balls, Drake?"

His hands dropped to cover himself. "Hanging behind my package, thank you." He turned and tried to leave but a chuckling Riddick caught him by the upper arm.

"Where are you goin'?"

"To the galley."

"Why?"

"To lock up the knives."

"Don't forget the teacups," Riddick retorted.

"Speaking of tea cups," Micah began, "that reminds me of parties and-."

"Tea cups remind you of parties?" Drake asked laughing while mimicking drinking tea in a girly fashion with his pinky finger extended. "It's a gay thing, right?"

But Micah didn't bat an eyelash. He smiled as he leaned forward, as if he had some secret thing to share. "Ever been invited to a Malorkan party?"

Drake immediately sobered. Malorkan was easily one of the wealthiest men around and the baron of a huge media empire. The man was renowned as were his parties. Drake had tried unsuccessfully on several occasions to get into one. Not even bribing had earned him a coveted invitation. The parties were rumored to be a weekend festival without limits, a hedonistic heaven, which of course he wanted in on.

"Malorkan? No fuckin' way! How in the hell did you get invited to one of those?"

"It's a gay thing," Micah retorted.

"Oh, now I know your bull shittin' me! Malorkan ain't gay. There've been too many homemade sex vids floating for him to be."

"No, but his personal photographer and stylist are, and they happen to both be good friends of mine. They invited me, I met the guy and we hit it off. He put me on his permanent list. And you're right, he's not gay, but he is bi-sexual."

Micah had Drake's complete interest now. "So are his parties really like what I hear about?"

"That and more."

"Can you get me into one?"

While the conversion had gone off on its little tangent, Riddick slipped away for a few minutes and returned with a couple of small wrapped boxes. He reached over her shoulder to set the first one in her lap. She just stared at it for a few seconds until it dawned on her why he was giving it to her.

"Oh!"

"You forgot it was your birthday?"

"Yeah, I guess I did." There was a card on the package that she opened first, and when she saw that it was from Iman her mouth dropped open. "How?"

"He left me a message and asked me to pick this up for you."

She took her time getting the wrapping off, savoring that part of the unveiling. Lifting the top off the box she simply stared at the silver bracelet inside, her eyes clouding with tears as she recalled a similar one that Iman had given to her when she turned sixteen. There were three charms already attached; a letter 'J', a heart, and a pair of linked circles. There was also a smaller folded card in the bottom of the box that explained what the three charms represented. As she read them and smiled, Riddick came to sit beside her on the sofa.

"I get the 'J', and I think I get the heart, but what's the circles for?"

"You didn't read this?"

"No. He ordered this on his own. I knew what it was, but that was it. All I had to do was pick it up."

"Well, the heart is Iman's and the two circles are supposed to be us – entwined souls is how it's explained."

"Kinda corny."

Jack slapped him on the arm for that remark. "I like it. Will you put it on me?" He rolled his eyes, but did it anyway. While she turned her wrist to admire it, he placed the second box in her lap.

"Another one?"

"This is from me."

She smiled broadly, the first one since her breakdown from the previous night and he loved the way it lit her entire face. "You didn't have to get me anything."

"Fine, I'll take it back," he said as he grabbed it from her, but she was quicker and snatched the box back. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

"Ass."

"Just open the damn thing," he grumbled a little more testily than he had intended. In truth, he was a bit uncertain about his gift to her. Here was this woman he had known for a decade, yet there was still so much to learn about her and who she was now.

Anxious to see what was inside, she tore the paper off of this one and then the lid. Inside was a charm, but it was larger than the others and had a small hinge on the side. The shape of the locket was unusual. She thought she knew what it was but wanted him to confirm it.

"Is this what I think it is?"

He nodded. "An eclipse. Not quite the same as the one we went through-."

"No, but I get the idea."

"Open it."

"There aren't monsters inside are there?"

"Just a little one."

Since the charm was so small, it took her a second to get it open, but she laughed out loud at what she found inside. When the latch disengaged, it activated a small chip which displayed a projected image of her and Riddick, and she couldn't have been more than twelve or thirteen. She had her arms around his neck and was peering over his shoulder. He appeared less then pleased.

"Oh my god!! It's us! You do not look happy."

He was smiling now, her excitement contagious. "Listen and watch. Play video."

She squealed then as the projected still image began to move and she could hear him bitching and complaining about sitting there so she could get a picture of them together. He called her a royal pain in the ass among other things, but in the end she whispered something into his ear that eventually got a smile out of him and then the movie ended. Misty eyed, she hooked her hand behind his head and drew him down for a kiss.

"I love it, but where did the video come from?"

"Archives from my old ship."

Her eyes really lit up at that point. "Archives? Are there more of us? Of me, maybe?"

"There are, and I'll show 'em to you later." He had already reviewed the clips and knew that they were meaningless fluff that wouldn't give away anything, so there would be no harm in allowing her access to them.

"I do have one question though."

"What's that?"

"What did I whisper in your ear to get you to smile?" The corner of his mouth curved upward from the recollection. Unfortunately, he couldn't share it with her just yet. "It must be good. You're smiling."

"Can't tell ya yet."

Jack frowned and then pouted. "Let me guess. I need to remember?"

"Afraid so."

"My turn!" Micah announced now that his and Drake's Malorkan discussion had finally ended. "As I was saying, er, trying to say when Scruff Muffin got me side tracked, tea reminds me of parties and-."

"You never did say why or how by the way," Drake interjected. He got dark looks from both Jack and Micah. "Okay, shutting up now."

"Malorkan always serves hot tea. No matter where you go there is hot tea. Happy now?"

"Absolutely, PB. Please continue."

"PB," Riddick questioned. "What the hell does that stand for?"

"Pretty boy," Jack supplied, and then just to irritate Drake she added, "Ain't it cute how they have names for each other?"

Drake glared at her. "Rick, I'm gonna-."

"Scruff Muffin, sit your ass down and let Micah talk," he growled.

"Thank you. Anyway, being on a ship and it being your birthday, we can't go out to celebrate it, but I did get you something."

"Micah, you didn't have to."

Riddick snorted. "But she ain't gonna turn it down."

"When he wants your opinion-," she quipped before Riddick could clamp his hand over her mouth.

He hauled her back against him and dropped his mouth next to her ear, which caused her to flinch. "And I know exactly what was about to come out of that trap of yours. Better watch yourself, Jack."

Micah suppressed a chuckle because she was rolling her eyes as he threatened her. After a well-placed elbow to his stomach, he let her go so she could get her gift.

"Here you go. Hope you like it."

"When have I ever not liked something you've given me?" She literally tore off the ribbon and lid of the small gold box to find a small black velvet box inside. She carefully shook it and heard something moving around on the inside. Grinning, she met Micah's eyes. "You didn't! Did you?"

"Dunno. Open it and find out."

Biting her bottom lip in anticipation, she flipped open the lid and gasped, "Micah!"

"You like?"

She threw her arms around him and gave him a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek. "They're even more beautiful in person!"

Riddick leaned over her shoulder to see what she opened and then almost purred. "Mmmm. Can't wait to see those on you."

Drake scratched his head. "What's the big deal about earrings?"

"Not earrings, belly rings," Micah explained.

"With emeralds to match my eyes, no less," she said as she held them up for comparison.

Drake was a bit surprised that she was pierced, but decided to have a little fun with it to see if he could get a rise out of Riddick. "You have your belly pierced?"

"Yep. Wanna see?" she offered.

"Sure."

Jack stood up to take off her robe giving Drake his first look at her morning attire. Riddick had told him what she wore, but seeing it first hand was altogether different. Tight little tank top and boxer shorts? He was thankful that he had already put on his jeans. Tenting his own boxers because of Riddick's woman in front of Riddick wouldn't be cool. Then she made it worse by pulling up her shirt and folding down the already low-riding boxers to show him her piercing.

"See?"

Now it was time to prick Riddick. He smiled and reached his hand out to touch her ring, knowing he wouldn't make it. "Well isn't that the cutest-." He was still a good foot away when his wrist was slapped down.

"Keep your fuckin' hands to yourself," Riddick snapped.

"Damn! You stopped me quicker than I thought you would," he smirked.

"Fucker," he muttered under his breath.

"Grouchy," he countered. "Someone needs to get laid – in addition to me that is."

Riddick grumbled, "Workin' on it."

Embarrassed by the direction the conversation had gone, she pulled her robe back on, cinching the front extra tight. "Well you both have hands," she declared, her exasperation showing. "Use them. I'm hitting the shower."

Riddick let her get well out of earshot before adding, "I'll go see if she needs her back washed."

Micah shook his head. "Poor guy is just gonna make his situation worse than it already is."

"Not if he gets 'creative'," Drake retorted.

And that was his plan exactly. With her already in the shower, he stripped his boxers off and quietly crept into the bathroom. Then he slowly pulled back the curtain. Her back was to him and he stepped in behind her. She reached for her body wash and bumped right into him, shrieking in surprise.

"Relax," he told her.

She remained facing forward, not daring to turn around. "What do you think you're doing?"

"What's wrong?" he chuckled. "You shy or somethin'?"

"No, I just don't know why you're in here…with me…naked. You know we can't-."

"No, we can't. But there are other things we can do."

As her mind raced, he was wondering if she'd turn him down like she had the day before. But then she asked one very important question.

"Like what?"

And he smiled, knowing he had her.

Leaning down next to her ear, his voice deep and laced with promise, he said, "Think I'll start by tellin' you a few of the things I'm gonna do to you, but not today."

"That sounds cruel."

His lips whispered down the side of her face. "You won't think so when I'm done with you." In spite of the hot water she shivered from his words alone. "Cold, baby?"

"N-No."

"Do you wanna know?" He lightly kissed her shoulder "Do you want me to tell you?" He had barely touched her and she was already on fire. She squeezed her eyes shut and leaned back against him, his voice was caressing over her like a lover's touch, and then the barest whimper escaped her lips. "Words, Jack."

"Yes."

He spoke against her throat. "Yes, what?"

"I want to know."

"Thought you would. First, I'm kinda thirsty. I could get water, but I want somethin' sweeter, only I don't plan on leaving the shower to get it. I'll turn you around, so I can watch how the streams of water run off your body." He let his fingers leisurely run from her shoulder down between her breasts to her stomach. "Then I'll nudge you a bit to get it right where I want it to go.

"Where?" she asked, the word popping out of her mouth unbidden.

"Where? Mmm. Here maybe?"

He ran his fingers down the swell of each breast, right to the nipple's peak, which he lightly circled. Jack bit down on her lip and moaned deeply, her back arching into his touch.

"Can you guess what I'll do next?"

"Tell me."

"I'll put my mouth right here," he said, stroking just beneath her nipple. "And have it open, ready to drink. Maybe I'll roll my tongue around your nipple a little, teeth it-."

"Oh, please," she begged.

"You like when I do that, baby?" he asked as he worried her earlobe with his tongue before lightly sucking on it, mimicking what he'd do to her nipples.

"Yes."

"Or maybe I'll just tease you a bit, flicking my tongue out to taste." And then he did the same with his fingers, absolutely tormenting her.

"No," she gasped, grabbing the sides of his thighs.

"Or maybe I'll get on my knees and drink the water as it runs down your stomach? And then when I'm done, I'll take you out of the shower, but I won't dry you all the way off. Instead, I'll lay you on the bed-."

"Still wet?"

"Mm-hm. You on your back, your body spread out before me. Starting at your ankles, I'll lick every last drop of water off of you."

The erotic image he had just put her in mind almost had her ready to beg for some kind of release. Her knees felt a little weak and that's when she fully leaned back against him and finally felt his rock hard cock pressed into her ass and lower back. She heard him groan as flesh met flesh, and when he rocked his hips into her, he felt huge.

"Oh, my god."

Then a moment later he broke the contact between them, leaving her nothing but the wall to lean against for support. And she would need it, too since Riddick was now down on one knee, his hands slowly stroking down her legs, and he was tasting her skin, starting at her ass.

"Fuck!"

"Somethin' wrong, Princess?"

"No," she said in a higher than normal pitched voice.

He smiled loving the way she reacted to him; openly, honestly, without artifice, and unreserved. Not that she would ever be any other way, which he found especially arousing. There had been many women before her, but not a one had completely given herself over to him, until now. And Jack? She needed something to dig her nails into in the worst way.

"W-What are you doing?"

"You mean what will I do?"

"Mm-hm."

"I'm showing you where I'll lick the water off your body. Think I'll start right here." He traced a light trail up the inside of her ankle to her calf with a finger or two. "And keep goin' up, gettin' the insides of both legs." And he was kissing the backs of her legs as his fingers moved up the insides. By the time he got to her knees, she was trembling. "And I'll have to make sure I don't forget back here." He flicked his tongue along the back of her knee and she cried out loud. "Keep workin' my way up the insides where the water tends to stick around longer."

As he slowly stood, he drew his fingers along her inner thighs in sensual circles. His cock brushed along her inner thigh before resting against her ass, the tip brushing along her lower back. She whimpered as he wrapped an arm around her waist to hold her against him, a leg poised between hers.

"Wanna know what I'll do next?"

"Yes," she breathlessly whispered.

"I'll take my mouth and nibble on you right here." He touched just inside her upper thigh and she jerked in his arms. "Then right about here." He grazed the inside of her other thigh.

"Oh, god," she gasped, squirming in his arms. Unconsciously her hips pressed back against him, the movement deliciously sliding his length against her ass and back, almost causing him to come right then.

"Fuck," he grumbled lowly, his body on the precipice of release. Gritting his teeth, he inhaled deeply to calm himself. This wasn't about him. Not yet.

"And then Jack…"

"There's more?"

"A lot more. I'll run my tongue right along the inside of here," he whispered, indicating with his finger the skin at the apex of her thigh. His leg moved hers a little further open. "Before I kiss you here, taste you."

He slid his fingers over her silkily shaved mound – a pleasant surprise in itself – parted her and found the hard little bud, which he lightly stroked.

"Oh, my -." Jack cried out in surprise and nearly jerked out of his grasp.

"I've got you."

Desperate to hold onto something, she laced her fingers behind his neck as her hips began to move. "Riddick!"

"God damn, can't wait 'til I can taste you."

Then his animal took over, growling as he scraped his teeth down her neck, thirsting for a more intimate taste it was being denied. He pressed his hips forward, his cock resting snugly at the cleft of her ass as he ground it against her soft skin. Her mewling moans and gasps for breath intensified as he pushed her to degrees of pleasure before unknown to her. He reveled in that fact. That he was the first man to touch her like this, to give her pleasure like this.

"Riddick?"

"Let go, Jack."

"I-."

"Let go, baby. Come for me." The hard nub throbbed and swelled beneath his touch as her nails bit into the back of his neck. "That's it."

Her back slowly arched until she went rigid, her mouth open, but without sound until her scream of pleasure split the silence. She fervently bucked against him, his hand still working every last ounce of pleasure from her until she pleaded for him to stop. Wracked with spasms, she sagged against him for support, and he wrapped his arms around her, free now to seek his own release. Pumping his hips, he ground his cock between their bodies; once, twice was all it took before he all but roared finding the same blinding satisfaction.

His mouth clamped down at the juncture of her neck, intent on biting. The animal in him was ready to sink his teeth and mark her as his. Jerking back on the leash, he swiftly released her neck, but gave it a long lick before burying his forehead there to avoid the temptation. His animal might be ready, hell, he might be ready, but she wasn't. Not this Jack at any rate, but he could at least have her mouth. Turning her to face him, he pulled her into a kiss, a firm hand on her back to press their bodies together. Jack roamed her hand up and over his back at leisure until she grew bold enough to lightly smooth them over his tight ass. The effect was anything but calming on him, but he managed to show enough self-restraint to break the kiss. That and they were running out of hot water.

"Jack-."

She shook her head before meeting his eyes. "No, please. Don't. Don't say anything…smug, arrogant even though I know you're dying to. Let me enjoy this for another minute or two."

"I was just gonna ask you to hand me the body wash so I could clean us both up before we freeze our asses off."

"Oh."

With a sheepish smile she handed it over and allowed him to turn her back around so he could wash away the pleasurable mess he made on them both. He reached around to get her stomach because he couldn't deal with her watching him right now. He was already half-aroused by their kiss, and if he wasn't careful he'd be right back where he was before he got in the shower with her.

He leaned down and nuzzled her neck before he turned off the water. "Done." She opened the curtain and grabbed a couple of towels. He took one and wrapped it around her shoulders before taking the second one for himself. As he did, he caught Jack stealing a glance at his semi-flacid self and chuckled.

"What?"

"You. If you want a good look at me, just ask and I'll let you take your fill."

"See, that's exactly the kind of arrogant comment I was referring to."

He cupped her face and kissed her slowly. "It ain't arrogant if I know that what I got is in demand."

She snorted. "You're unbelievable."

And he purposefully misinterpreted her comment as a compliment. "Told you I was a god in bed."

"I meant your ego, and we've hardly been in bed yet." She pushed the curtain open and stepped out, removing the towel from around her shoulders and using it to tie up her wet hair thus giving him a sustained look at her naked body. He shouldn't be thinking about touching her, but he was.

"You tellin' me you didn't enjoy yourself?" he asked, slipping his arms around her middle before she could get another towel on.

She blushed furiously. "I think that was obvious."

He peppered kisses on her shoulder as his hands roamed over her stomach and hips. "Gotta admit, I'm pretty impressed with myself."

"I'll probably regret asking this later, but why?"

"'Cause I made you come with words and by barely touchin' you."

Jack turned to face him, appearing puzzled as she wondered if she was hearing him correctly. "Are you saying you've never done something like that before?"

"No. Never needed to do it."

Jealousy suddenly left a bitter taste in her mouth, and unfortunately she wasn't good at hiding it. "Why? Because every woman has fallen into your bed on the first try?"

She had stiffened in his arms and he caught the change in her mood. It was time for some reassuring lest he dig himself into an uncomfortable hole. He took her chin in hand and tipped it up to make her look at him first though.

"Most women I meet don't resist me because I've paid for their attention or they're wantin' something from me in exchange. And-."

"There's more?" she asked incredulously.

"And, I've never wanted to do that before."

That gave her a little boost, but she still wanted to know more. "So why now?"

What to do? Whitewash it or shock her with the truth. His animal was pushing for the truth, and he was inclined to agree. Besides, she was past due to have her cage rattled a bit and it sure as hell wouldn't hurt either of them.

"Why? Because I've never had a woman I wanted, but couldn't have. Never had to fuck one woman, much less two to try and get a third woman out of my head. Never had a woman make me wait so god damn long to touch her much less do anything else. Never had a woman I've had half undressed or kissed who I didn't fuck the same day. Never had to jack myself off over one woman this many times. Never fantasized so much about getting a woman in bed." Then he pointed into his room. "Never, ever had a woman in that bed before." Her mouth dropped open at that one, which pleased him immensely. "And I've never had a woman's scent burned into me so deep that every time I breathe her in, I get hard. That's why."

She swallowed almost convulsively. "I-Is that all?"

"That ain't enough?"

"Just checking. I didn't want to interrupt."

"And?"

"It sounds like you're sexually frustrated and it's all my fault, so you mind fucked me in the shower so I could suffer right along with you. Am I anywhere close?"

He shrugged. "Sounds about right."

Jack poked him hard in the chest and then snatched a towel once he let her go. "Then why didn't you say so in the first place? Good god! What a tirade!"

"Tirade?" he growled, scowling deeply as she laughed. He had practically bared his soul to her – Riddick style at any rate, and she was laughing at him. "Woman, I oughtta throw you a beatin'."

Jack took a couple of steps backwards toward the bedroom with her arm out between them to keep a distance. "Down boy!"

"Boy?"She's gonna pay for that remark.

Enjoying himself now, he slowly unknotted the towel at his waist and unwrapped it while Jack wrapped herself. Her eyes got larger the closer he came to taking it off and he was eating up every second of it.

"Boy?" he repeated and then dropped the towel. "Is there anything on this body that looks like it belongs to a fuckin' boy?"

She kept telling herself not to look, over and over again, but her eyes dropped regardless. She gasped and covered her mouth, feeling like some kind of naïve, virginal fool and hating herself for it. Then again, this was only the second time she had seen his cock in person. Adding to that, just a few minutes ago when she stole her first look, it had been half the size it was now, and she thought it was big then. And Riddick? He wanted to remember this moment and that look on her face forever.

"Oh my," she sighed, before she could bite her tongue.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," she almost shrieked, planting her eyes anywhere but on him. She even took the towel off her head to give herself something else to concentrate on. "You're absolutely right, and I regret the error of my ways. You aren't even close to resembling a boy. I don't know what I could have been thinking."

"You sound like you mean it-."

"I do!" she insisted.

"But I ain't so sure," he continued, now so close his body was brushing against her towel. "I'm think-."

"God, I hate it when you do that."

"What?"

"Think! It never went well for me when you started 'thinkin' of ideas."

"That's because you had usually gotten yourself in trouble and deserved some kind of punishment."

"And you liked to get creative as I remember. Well, sort of remember. But you can't do that to me now because I'm not a kid anymore that you have to jerk back in line."

He thought for a second or rather acted as if he was to give her a false sense of hope. "True." Her shoulders dropped in relief. "But I still think you need some first-hand experience. Just so I can make sure you really mean what you say."

Never breaking eye contact, he raised both of her hands, lightly kissing the palm and down the inner wrist of each one. She had no idea how sensitive her skin was there, and his feather-light kisses completely captivated her. She let her breath out in a rush, not even realizing that she had been holding it. A pang of disappointment echoed through her that he stopped, but he had other plans. Taking both hands, he placed them on his chest.

"Touch me, baby."

And he lightly caressed her throat, shoulders, and arms – slow, languid, almost hypnotic touches which she mimicked on him. Before long, she went off on her own, remembering the things he had talked about and done to her in the shower and returned the favor. Going to his nipples, she caressed them with the pad of her thumb and rolled them between her fingers. Glancing up, his eyes were closed so she leaned in and flicked the tiny bud with her tongue, smiling when he sucked in a sharp breath.

"Jack."

He rumbled her name and she switched sides, giving the other the same attention as her hands wandered down his stomach then lightly over his thighs. His cock was now throbbing and wavering slightly up and down as if begging for her attention. Up until then, what she had done wasn't anything she hadn't done before, but the rest would be entirely new for her and being honest with herself, she was nervous. What if she did something wrong or worse, he didn't enjoy it.

Sensing her uneasiness, he lowered his mouth to hers, but before kissing her offered some quick advice.

"Don't over think it."

That and his kiss helped calm her nerves, but the anticipation was about to get the better of him. If she didn't touch him soon, he might very well wrap her hand around his cock himself.

Soon fingers danced along the inside of his thigh, progressing agonizingly slow. He rocked his hips forward in spite of himself, causing her knuckles to brush against his sac. And that's where she went first, barely making contact, the tips of her fingers exploring, roaming all over the skin whisper light. His breath literally catching in his throat, he had to pull away from her mouth for air. She was killing him.

"More, baby," he uttered, sounding almost like a plea.

She smiled as he rested his forehead against her damp hair, readying himself. Biting her bottom lip, Jack finally looked down at his thick cock jutting proudly out from his body. Taking a moment to think about how she wanted to progress, the lack of contact for Riddick dragged on for ages. But it was only a heartbeat later that the tips of her fingers ghosted along his length pulling a hiss of air from him. She caressed him once again, this time with slightly more pressure and softly gasped, amazed at how incredibly soft his skin was. She would have never expected it to feel like steel wrapped in silk. Fascinated, she explored him more, yet still somewhat tentatively. Reaching the tip, her thumb brushed over it, spreading the bead of moisture that had formed over the hyper-sensitive skin.

Teeth clenched, Riddick shuddered. Her curious, but feather-like touch was having indescribable consequences. Women took a look at him and naturally assumed he liked it one way, thus handling him with a firm grip, but this? He couldn't have imagined how erotic it would feel or how such a simple touch could bring him to the precipice so quickly. His cock was throbbing and unknowingly she was bringing him tantalizingly close to losing it and then cruelly leaving him hanging there. Her own inexperience would be his undoing. He had to either put a stop to this or get her to finish it.

"Fuck, Jack. You're gonna make me come," he groaned.

Her hand halted and he almost begged her not to quit. Almost. And then she shocked him, his old Jack rearing her head. "Can I?" she asked and then lifted her face to meet his.

"Can you what?" His forehead was wrinkled with uncertainty. Surely she wasn't asking him what he hoped she was.

"Make you come?" she asked with a sexy little grin on her face.

Both eyebrows shot up and his animal was growling loudly, "For fuck's sake, let her finish it."

Well, fuck me, he thought. Cradling Jack's face, he kissed her before growling against her mouth, "Hell yes."

While Riddick and Jack were enjoying themselves, Drake decided to see if Micah was game for a couple of wagers at their expense.

"Hey, Micah."

"Yeah?"

"Do you think she's gonna…well-."

"Let him play?" he finished for him. Drake nodded. "I've never seen her this worked up, so I say she will."

"Then what do you say about a couple of little wagers?"

"About?"

"How long it takes the two of them to get off."

Micah chuckled. Drake was a like a starved, sex-crazed animal that thrived off of any opportunity to feed itself, even if mentally. "And how exactly would we know that? Tell me you don't have access to a camera-."

"No, no. Nothin' like that. If my hunch is correct, I think we'll have plenty of audio evidence to judge them by."

"You think she's a screamer?"

"A spitfire like her? Oh, yeah. If not, we'll cancel that bet."

"And him?"

"He's wound up so damn tight I know we'll hear somethin' out of him."

"And you know this how?"

"This stays between the two of us?"

"Does this have to do with screwing other women?"

"Yes."

"Then yes, I won't tell her."

"Good. That's basically what he and I do when we're in the same port. Get dinner and fuck. We've even shared a few women together so that's how I know. And even when we aren't, he's pretty vocal when he's been without a woman for a while. All that pent up sexual energy can get loud when he lets it out."

"So you propose that we wager on the 'when'?"

"Exactly."

Micah shrugged. "Okay, I'm game. What are the stakes?"

"I say cooking dinner. I hate to cook."

Micah, on the other hand, had no problem with it at all. He actually liked cooking. "Deal. One dinner for each one we lose?"

"Two each, and the winner gets to chose what the loser cooks." Micah nodded and they shook hands. "Good, now onto the guesses. I say five minutes for her, eight for him and we'll start timing in sixty seconds."

"You've got a lot of confidence in him, that's for sure."

"I've seen the man in action. That's why."

"Makes sense, but I say ten for her, six for him."

Drake snorted. "You think he'll go first?"

"You said yourself he's about to explode and I know what she looks like in a bikini."

"Hot?"

"Smoking. Wet, she looks even better. I think your man won't be able to hold himself back. She'll be a bit more apprehensive about it."

With his watch on the table in front of them, they idly chatted until Jack's scream caused both of their heads to jerk in the direction of the sound.

"Ha!" Drake yelled, jumping up from his seat. "Five minutes, thirty seconds and I want ricotta and spinach stuffed chicken breasts with white sauce just like my mama used to make for my first of two meals. You can choose the sides."

Micah hauled Drake back down into his seat by his forearm. "Don't get cocky. He'll be right behind her." And less than a minute later that they heard a dull, almost roar of satisfaction from down the hall.

"Aw fuck," a sulking Drake cursed. "Keep it simple will ya? I can't cook worth shit."

"I'll be happy to tutor you," Micah politely offered. "I dated a French chef for nearly a year and learned a lot from him."

"Lucky me," he drawled. "But at least I still get two meals out of you!"

"I'll cook the first two if that will make you feel any better."

"Aw, Micah. You'd do that for me?"

"Yes, but not because I like you. I have an ulterior motive. You'll stick around as I cook so you can pick up a thing or two. Since you've professed that you can't cook worth shit, I'd like to make sure what you do produce is edible."

"And you'll show me what exactly?"

"We'll start with something simple that won't overtax you. Like how to measure, how to adequately prepare foods before cooking them, how to identify choice cuts of meat."

"Hey, I'm a man. I know a choice cut of meat when I see one."

Micah couldn't stop the smirk on his face. "Do you now? This is news to me."

The innuendo in his voice was clear and Drake began to get flustered. "Now cut that shit out! I mean that I'm not a sissy vegatabletarian or whatever they call it. I eat meat! I'm a first class meat eater!" Micah didn't have to say a word. His raised eyebrow did it for him, and then he began to laugh making it all the worse. "God dammit, Micah! Get your fuckin' mind out of the gutter."

"I didn't say a word."

"Ya didn't need to," he growled. "Go flirt with someone else."

Micah sat up straight. "Is that what you think I'm doing?"

"Ain't you?"

"Actually no." It was a fabrication on his part, but the last thing he wanted to do was make Drake uncomfortable. He enjoyed their somewhat feisty camaraderie, and it had been a long time since he'd had that with another man. He wanted to hold onto it for as long as he could. "I'm simply having a good time at your expense. You're fun to tease, Drake."

"How's that?"

"Because you get all puffed up and flustered so easily when I question your sexual orientation."

Drake reflected on what Micah had told him for a few seconds. He still found it a little difficult to believe. "So you really aren't comin' on to me?"

Micah got up and walked over to Drake who was leaning back against the counter. He placed one hand on the counter himself next to his hip, just to invade a little of his personal space. All the better for what he was about to say.

"Drake, I'll promise you this. If I take an interest in you, and if I think you might be receptive to it, I would leave no room in your mind to question my motives." He remained there a heart beat longer before straightening himself up, returning to his chair, and behaving as if absolutely nothing had passed between them. Drake, however, was still rooted to the spot. "Now what was it you said you wanted?" Micah innocently asked.

Drake took a good thirty seconds of scowling before he sat, but as he did they heard Riddick yet again. Smiling he shook his head and chuckled. Micah's jaw was almost on the floor.

"Again?"

"I'd say that's a big yes."

"But he just-."

"I know."

"It's been less than-."

"Quick refractory period," Drake explained.

"He's like that all the time?"

"Quick, but never that quick. I'd say that's probably a record for him. Then again, look at the woman. He's got himself a nice motivation package."

"Which I'm sure she would love to be referred to as such."

"We'll keep that one to ourselves."

"Ya think?"

Riddick walked back into the bathroom after he dressed to find Jack still naked and finally drying her hair. He was scowling as he walked up behind her.

"Would you put some fuckin' clothes on woman?"

His hands went right for her hips and followed the countour of her body until he reached her breasts, which he cupped and then teased with light strokes. She groaned, turned off the hair dryer, and set it down.

"I don't like to get dressed before I dry my hair. My clothes get wet if I do."

"And I can't keep my hands off of you if you don't."

"Hello? It's called self-control?"

"Like what you were showin' when I made you come the second time?"

Jack's cheeks went scarlet recalling her own behavior. Stroking him to an explosive orgasm had been the most erotic and arousing things she had ever seen, and working in a strip club, she had seen a lot. She recalled his hot kiss of gratitude once he came down from his high, and vaguely remembered a little begging on her part. Then there was his scalding mouth at her neck, on her breasts. The next thing she knew, she was lifted up on the counter and was standing between her legs, his fingers once again bringing her to another breath-stealing release as they fiercely kissed. Then he growled something before he smacked her ass and stormed out of the bathroom. She wasn't quite sure what it was, but she could have sworn the word 'addicted' was in there somewhere.

"Jack?" He snapped his fingers in her face to finally bring her back to reality. "Where the fuck were you?"

"Nowhere," she said a bit defensively.

He moved the hair off her neck so he could nuzzle her. "Yeah, I'll bet. Somethin' tells me you were recalling my mouth bein' right about here," he proclaimed, his fingers softly teasing her nipples into hardened peaks. "Weren't you."

"Beast," she hissed as she pealed his hands off her breasts and turned around, pushing against his chest to back him toward the door. "Now out with you so I can finish drying my hair and get dressed!" She whipped back around once she got him to the threshold and was rewarded by her robe smacking her in the back of the head.

He quickly exited their room after that stunt feeling much more under control. Granted, he wasn't anywhere near sated, but remarkably better off than he had been before, and his lazy, but unconscious smiling gave him away when he got to the gym. Drake and Micah had beat him there by five minutes, both men deciding it wouldn't look good if they appeared to be hanging out within earshot of his room. Drake ribbed Micah when Riddick walked through the door and the room went dead silent. Well, for as long as Drake could keep his big mouth shut, which was about fifteen seconds.

"So," he began as he swaggered toward him, "did you get…creative?" Micah turned away so he couldn't see him smiling.

"Son of a bitch," Riddick muttered. "What'd you two do? Put your ears to the fuckin' door?"

"Didn't have to, my friend. She's a screamer and you're even louder."

"Only a baritone," Micah bravely chimed in.

"You got yourself some balls Micah from clear across the room," Riddick huffed.

"What the fuck do you have to be complainin' about, Rick? Sounds like you had a good time – twice."

"Ahem," Micah cleared his throat. "Her, too for that matter."

Riddick pointed a warning finger at them both. "And it's a good thing, too or I'd be tempted to string you both up by your balls and see what kinda screams I'd get out of you!"

After being warned by Riddick that they were heard, Jack managed to avoid both of the boys until dinner that evening. She walked into the galley starving and looking for a snack and found Drake and Micah shoulder to shoulder preparing dinner. A smile lit her face at the sight of the two of them.

"Well isn't this cozy," she cooed.

Neither man turned around, but both stopped what they were doing. "Is she talkin' to us? About us?"

Micah nodded. "Sure sounds like it."

"Sounds….sounds…hmm."

"Sounds? There have been lots of sounds around this ship today."

"Strange sounds."

"Loud, unfamiliar sounds."

"No, somewhat familiar sounds," Drake correct him.

"The higher pitched ones. For you anyway."

"Yeah, those."

"Enough!" Jack yelled. Both of them turned around with smug grins on their faces. She threw her hands up and turned around to run straight into Riddick's chest. "Is nothing sacred?"

"Hey, I warned you."

"Not strongly enough. This-." She pointed to the two other men. "-is a disaster! Your best friend is turning my best friend against me! Call me when dinner is ready. I'll starve until then."

The following morning Jack awoke long before Riddick feeling somewhat anxious, but not wanting to face the reason for it. That was something she wasn't quite ready to do yet, but it all could be boiled down to one word – sex.

Her period being behind her, she knew exactly what Riddick would expect to happen, and thinking about it was beginning to weigh on her. The night he had been drugged she was ready, but also caught up in the throes of lust. Thinking wasn't involved. But now it was different. In no way had she changed her mind about giving herself to him. He wasn't the problem. Everything that would lead up to it wasn't the problem. However, the thought of being penetrated scared her to death.

The only recollection she had of the act was horrible, searing pain. Riddick would never hurt her, not intentionally, but he was big. How he'd fit without causing her pain was a frightening unknown. What should she do? How might she react? Would she panic like she had done before when Steven tried to touch her?

Needing some space of her own, she decided to go up to the bridge. She enjoyed watching the stars, and since it was so early she didn't believe any of them would be joining her. Armed with a cup of coffee, she was enjoying the view when a thought struck her, instantly taking her mind off of her anxiety. She knew they were going to see Iman, but also knew that Drake was picking up a shipment on the way. The question was where and when.

"Wonder how far we are away from the planet. I'd love to get out of here, even briefly."

The first time she had looked at the control panels they seemed foreign to her, but the more she frequented the bridge, the more familiar they became. She had either spent a lot of time up here with Riddick, watching him or he had possibly taught her how to fly. The very thought made her smile with excitement. Looking over the controls she found the navigation functions and brought them up on the screen. Soon she found the coordinates that mapped out their destination - Koriax. According to what she read, they would be there possibly today. She would be setting her foot on a brand new planet for the first time since she was sixteen, and she would get to see the sky.

Now hungry and pumped up on caffeine and anticipation, she decided to make breakfast for her three men. It didn't take long for the tantalizing smell to lure them in. Riddick was the first to arrive and he was frowning.

"Good morning," she told him.

"Is it?"

Now she was frowning, too at his bizarrely rude response. "What crawled up your ass and died?"

"I woke up to an empty bed," he growled.

"So sorry your little sunshine wasn't there to greet you."

She tried to keep her tone light, but there was a distinct edge to it. He nuzzled her neck and she flinched. When he drew back, his frown had deepened.

"You were avoiding me."

Her mouth dropped open. He was right, of course, but it hadn't been a conscious thought on her part. "I was not!"

"It wasn't a question, Jack."

Hearing the footsteps of the other two men, he brushed past her to get his food. All three eventually commenced to eating and talking amongst themselves. She helped herself before they got there, but remained in the kitchen to chat and savor another cup of coffee. Truthfully, she didn't wish to continue her conversation with Riddick nor was she ready to be alone with him. Micah noticed her odd mood and wondered if she and Riddick had argued.

"Why don't you sit down?" asked Micah.

"I'm fine."

"You're fidgety."

"I am not," she snapped.

"Something is up with you."

"It's nothing."

"Nothing is something, so what is it?"

She loudly sighed. "I just started really thinking about landing and realized that I'm anxious to get out of this ship."

"Why?" Riddick asked. "The accommodations ain't good enough for you?

"Trouble in paradise already?"

"They're fine, thank you. Everything is fine." She chose to not grace Drake's comment with a direct reply. He knew good and well that she was still perturbed with him after the previous night's antics. "So when will we land?"

Her mood made a little sense now to Riddick. He figured she had found out they would be landing soon and was fishing for more information. He cast a look at the other two men. Neither appeared as though they were willing to help.

"Tonight," he finally admitted.

She smiled brightly. "Wonderful. I'm looking forward to visiting a new place."

Riddick dropped his fork and mentally prepared himself for the storm that was about to follow. But he wasn't exactly happy with her at the moment, so what did he care?

"Who said you were gettin' off this ship?" Micah and Drake both groaned. He could have put it a much nicer way and had purposefully chosen not to. They exchanged looks that said things weren't right between Jack and Riddick.

Her mouth dropped open. "Excuse me?"

"When we land, you will remain on board," he calmly, but firmly stated.

"This is asinine!"

Riddick finally fixed his eyes on her. "Look, Princess. You won't be in Kansas anymore. The port where we're docking doesn't welcome you with a smile and hand you some spending credits."

"My god! Is that how you see me? As some helpless little ingénue?"

"Told ya I don't speak French."

"Then here it is in plain English. I am not some half-witted, naïve, girl who needs to be sheltered from the big, bad world by a brave knight with shining eyes. When I woke up in that hospital bed with a broken body I ceased believing in the possibility of fairy tales."

He reflected on her words for a moment and then proceeded to take a rather large bite out of his slice of toast. "Are you thinkin' I still see you like you were at fourteen?"

"Aren't you?" she shot back.

He slowly looked her over and she wished she had brought a different robe with her, a very thick robe. When she began to blush, more out of anger than anything else, he stopped and cocked his head to one side.

"If I'm seein' you at fourteen and havin' the kind of thoughts about you that I am, they need to lock me away."

Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of red and Micah started coughing after his coffee went down the wrong way earning a slap on the back from Drake. Jack was getting pissed. He had a definite gift for twisting conversations, innocent conversations into something sexual. She thought they were past that, but obviously not. No, of course not. He had an audience to impress and on top of that he was angry and taking it out on her.

"I wasn't referring to how I appear physically."

"Maybe next time you should be more specific." He took another bite of toast and purposely licked the jam off his bottom lip instead of using a napkin. He almost laughed when she cut her eyes away from his mouth.

"You never answered me," she bit out.

"Sorry." He gave her a confusing look. "What was the question again?"

Jack did her best to remain calm. "Do you still 'perceive' me as being fourteen?"

"No. You're not an ingénue. You never were."

"Well I'm happy to at least have that settled."

"Good. But you're still staying on board and that's final."

"The fuck I am. Who the hell do you think you are to order me around like that? That's final? Like hell that's final!"

She was almost yelling at him and he gritted his teeth to keep from jumping in her face. "It's for your own good," he growled.

Jack slammed down her cup of coffee, sloshing it across the counter and took a step forward. "I'm the one who determines what's good for me, Rick Bryant. Not you!"

He wanted to wring her fucking neck. The palms of his hands were actually itching to wrap around it. He shoved his chair back so fast it fell, and before she could even consider moving he came around the table and backed her against the counter. So much for gritting his teeth.

"God dammit Jack! You're still the same stubborn little shit that you were at fourteen!"

"Ha! You think that's an insult? If I've still got it in me to drive you up a wall then I fucking LOVE it!"

"Enough! You're not fucking going!"

She crossed her arms over her chest and smiled up at him. "And how were you planning on stopping me?"

He took another step closer and leaned into her with his hands on the counter, thus forcing her to lean back to prevent their chests from touching. He loved it when she gave him an opening to fuck with her.

"I have my ways, Jack, and I swear I'll enjoy doing it."

Heat suffused her face again as random images popped into her head. That and the way he was now speaking to her were unsettling. It was all in the delivery, and the silky seductive tone of his voice that hinted at what could be. In spite of her anger, he could still arouse her with little effort, but right now she didn't want that, anything but that and cursed herself for being so weak. She had to pull herself together.

"You're bluffing. I know you are." She inwardly cringed at the unsteady tone of her voice.

"You still got a lot to learn about me," he countered, his lips ghosting over the side of her face. "We should work on that."

Her heart rate was escalated, breathing pattern off the norm, and her pheromones were working overtime. Perfect, he thought. Then he abruptly pushed himself away from the counter leaving her completely aroused while he acted as though absolutely nothing had just passed between them.

"Go ahead, Jack. Test me. See what I'll do."

And with that he took his plate to the sink and began to refresh his cup of coffee.

She was absolutely furious. Livid, in fact. Fucking prick! She wasn't sure what pissed her off more; telling her she was staying put or arousing her while he remained like a block of ice. Her eyes fell to the bowl full of hard boiled eggs. Knowing she had a fairly good aim, she smiled as she picked one up, tossing it in her hand to judge the weight of it. Micah saw what she was about to do, his eyes got huge as saucers, and he nearly choked on his food.

"Don't do it."

Too late. She drew back her arm and threw it as hard as she could and hit him squarely in the back of the head, causing it to jerk forward.

Oh shit! She had just pegged the beast and now nervous laughter was about to bubble forth.

"Run." Micah said under his breath, but she was frozen in place.

Riddick felt the back of his head where a few pieces of egg and shell were still sticking to it, and wiped it away. What the fuck? She did not just throw a god damn egg at me. She slapped her hand over her mouth to smother any sound. He turned around and headed for her, and she didn't like the look in his eyes one bit.

"I highly suggest you take Micah's advice and run."

And she did. But on a ship there were only a finite number of places she could go. The gym was her first thought. Maybe she could get inside and lock the door. Her robe hindered her ability to run and she tore it off as she neared the stairs. She hit the bottom step and the ship went pitch black. Not even the emergency lights were working.

"Fuck!"

Fortunately, the gym wasn't that much further and she could feel her way there. She kept waving her hand, hoping she could get lucky and the panel would read the motion and open the door. She finally heard the hiss of the door and ran inside, waving her hand again over the panel as quickly as possible.

"Lock the door. My voice override only."

"Door locked," the computer voice replied.

Jack sighed in relief and felt her way to the large mat where she couldn't trip over anything and sat down. A few seconds later she threaded her fingers through her hair and chuckled to herself.

"What the hell am I doing?"

From the corner, shrouded in the darkness which he loved, was Riddick leaning against the wall. Waiting and watching. He had taken a set of stairs that only he knew about – one of three secret passages, and beat her to the gym. Yes, he was taking a risk that she would choose somewhere else to run to, but he was fairly certain she would come here, and she didn't disappoint him.

He smiled when he heard the door open and wanted to laugh as she locked herself in with him. But when she sighed in relief and sat on the mat not ten feet away from him, he shook his head. She had been so much like her old self back in the galley, but he was disappointed to see her let her guard down. His Jack would have never done that. Then she chuckled and asked herself 'What the hell am I doing?' and it was time to answer her.

"Been wonderin' that myself."

"Shit!!" Jack scrambled to her feet and turned toward the direction of his voice, but he had already moved behind her. "How in the hell did you get in here?"

"That's my little secret," he told her and was close enough to blow air into her hair. Her hand flew the back of her head as she whirled around.

"Bastard, this isn't fair!"

"First rule of battle, always use your opponent's weaknesses against them."

"I would if you had any!" she spat, still turning around to try and locate him.

"I've got one, Jack. One that I'll admit to."

"Oh yeah? What's your weakness then, Riddick?"

He waited until she had stopped moving before coming in from behind and trapping her in the cage of his arms. She stiffened immediately, but chose not to struggle knowing it wouldn't do her any good.

"My weakness, Jack? Haven't figured it out by now?"

"No."

"It's you."

All he heard was her sharp intake of her and the pounding of her heart. But what he didn't see was how she clenched her eyes shut to ward off the obnoxious tears that threatened to pool up and fall down her cheeks. Again, he wasn't being fair. How could he piss her off and then tell her something like that, which he knew would get to her.

He called for the lights to come on as he turned her around. Then cupping her face, he brushed his thumbs over the soft skin of her cheeks, forehead wrinkled and appearing deep in thought. His eyes dropped to her mouth, their lips meeting a moment later in a kiss that almost wasn't for it was so brief.

He was testing her. Being unable to put his thumb on her behavior didn't sit well with him. It pissed him off. It was like he had gone to bed with one woman, but woke up to another. He thought he scented something close to fear on her, but why? Was she scared of him for some reason? That's why he had kissed her, and when she didn't flinch or pull away he should have been relieved, but he wasn't.

"Why are you scared of me?"

"I'm not!"

"Somethin' ain't right. You sure as fuck are skittish and don't want me near you."

Jack closed her eyes and shook her head. "That's not true."

"Then open your eyes and tell me what istrue."

Although she did as requested, she kept her focus elsewhere. "I'm not scared of you. I swear."

"But."

"It's stupid."

"Not if it's gettin' to you like this."

"Can we sit?"

It was a delaying tactic on her part. One which he'd let her get away with once and only once, but he refused to let her go.

"We're sittin', now talk," he commanded in a tone of voice that said he wouldn't tolerate anything less than the truth from her.

She took a deep breath and let the truth out. "I left your bed-."

"Our bed."

Damn if his possessive correction didn't make her heart flutter. She gave him a weak smile and nodded. "Our bed. I left it because I-. I wasn't ready."

"Ready for what?"

The way she regarded him, you would have thought he had grown a second nose. "You can't be serious!"

The light bulb finally went off. "Sex?"

"Yes. But it has nothing to do with me not wanting you, so there's no need to question that."

"Not that I woulda believed it," he smirked. Then cradled the side of her face and got serious again. "Did you think I was gonna jump you this morning?"

She averted her eyes. "My mind did head in that direction," which she was ashamed to admit.

"If I was that hell bent on getting' me some ass, I woulda fucked you when we went to bed." She flinched and he somewhat regretted his tone and choice of words. "Jack, I knew last night you weren't bleedin' anymore." Shocked, she opened her mouth to ask how, but he silenced it with a well-placed finger on her lips. "I just know and I can't explain it. Do you get what I'm tryin' to tell you?"

"That you're not a sex-crazed maniac like I've made you out to be in my paranoid head?"

"I could fill a damn book with the diff'rent ways I've fantasized about us fuc-." Her annoyed look stopped him short and he chose a different word to use instead. "Fine," he growled, "I could fill a book with the diff'rent ways I've fantasized about us having sex."

"Thank you."

"Even though I've done that, I never forgot what happened to you. What they did to you." He then picked up her hand turned the palm toward his mouth and slowly kissed it. "And if you ain't ready, then as much as it will fuckin' kill me, I can wait until you are. But you will be getting' me off with this hand again, and again, and-."

"I think I got the idea," she laughingly said.

He smiled and brushed the hair off her forehead and frowned again. "Do you trust me?"

"I know you'd never hurt me."

"But?"

"You're big!" she blurted out and then immediately buried her face in his shoulder as he laughed.

"It's never been a problem before. Just gotta take it slow. But I still want my question answered. Do you trust me?"

Without pausing a second to think, she told him what was in her heart – consequences be damned. "I love you, Riddick. I have for a very long time. So yes, I trust you."

Hope you enjoyed this installment! Although I haven't been giving titles to my chapters, you could call the next one "It's about damn time". Just a little hint!!

Don't forget to R&R!

Thank you, thank you for the awesome reviews from last chapter!!

Chapter 24 Reviews

Janna R.: "This chapter pissed me off...and then it broke my heart. Riddick still didnt get any. Why god why?"
- Then I guess this chapter didn't make you much happier? Sorry, but you'll be happy very soon – promise! As for them (Riddick and Jack) winning the bet? Don't count on it : D
"When is Micah going to kiss Drake?"
- Ummmmm, not sure yet.
"My love life is in the toilets...I'm living through your characters."
- Is this some kind of veiled ploy for smut?? Hee hee.
"You are the queen of fanfiction. I worship at your feet. I am currently on my knees bowing to your greatness."
- Aww Janna, thank you dear! You gave me a big grin for that one and worry not, your action is coming soon enough. Thanks!!
The Enforcer "I love the way this story has gone, the progression of Riddick and Jacks relationship, not to mention I'm positivity in love with the idea of Drake and Micah pairing up drools."
- I'm so glad you're caught up with it and thank you for sharing how much you love the story!! Another Drake and Micah fan I see!
"I'm so very glad to see some of the old jack peaking out form behind Kyra, this include the Marylin bashing episode."
- This chapter she especially comes through. We're seeing more and more of our old girl.
" Oh and geez when they were making out after that I just kept thinking OMG I hope they don't have sex without him taking a shower first to wash off what Marylin left behind if you know what I mean."
- I would have never done that to either of them – ick!
"wonders casually if Jack gets knocked up"
- Keep wondering for I will never tell!! Thanks Enforcer!!
FluidDegree "I love the reasoning behind the shooter not killing him. Genious yet again."
- I haven't had a twist in a while so I had to throw that in there – was going through withdrawals.
"I understand why he dint tel her the whole story I just think it might come and bite him in the ass later on."
- He's a man and they are prone to do stupid things that generally do come back to bite them in the ass later! It's inevitable.
"Love the convo on the bridge with the feeler comment."
- I am definitely having fun with these two. They've been a nice surprise for me.
Thanks FD!!! As always!
JD Lady : "Hey, have only been reading this amazing for 2 or 3 days and I'm hooked! Just finished ch 12, so trying to catch up."
- Hopefully by the time this is posted, you'll be all caught up with the rest of us. Although I love new readers, you always get off easy when I throw in evil cliffies because the next chapter is already posted. No fun for the author by any means!! But I LOVE new readers all the same!
"Have to tell you I love what you are doing, just as everyone else says."
- Thank you so much for that. It's always nice to have what I do reaffirmed!!
"Its like she can't deny her reactions or feelings for him no matter what happens (like after being converted in COR, I think?)."
- What she feels for him is definitely ingrained in her and she can't deny it even without a memory. Even in TCOR they couldn't convert that out of her.
"Also, am loving, loving, lusting after Riddick like this - this is the Riddick we deserve to see at the cinema!"
- Woo – hoo! Amen to that! LOL! Thanks JD Lady!!! Hope to hear from you again!
NightmareMonster : "Huh, I never thought that Snipes was a friend of Riddicks, sneaky."
- Yes, I loved that little twist.
"That soup and tea cup moment reminded me of "The Chronicles of Riddick"."
- I'm barely able to give pay that movie homage here so I work it I where I can. I just SO loved that scene in the movie.
"I never expected Riddick to slip up, your very good at keeping your readers guessing."
- I try , I try!! I hate being predictable! Thanks NM!! Love hearing from ya!
ShyRomantic "DEATH BY TEA CUP STRIKES AGAIN... haha sorry that was my fav scene in TCOR. "
- OH yes!! It ranks up there for me, too! Loved it!! Thanks you for continuing to love what I write!!
dragonmamma : "I'm fairly new to this site, but I've read a few stories that I absolutly love, and this is one of them."
- Thank you very much for that and welcome to Fanfiction! I discovered this site a little over two years ago and haven't been able to keep away since then! Thrilled you're enjoying my story, too! I have another finished fic as well – a REALLY long one that you might like, too. Thanks for reviewing and hope to hear from you again!
Katty Noir : "I only began this story last night but now I'm addicted! Poor Riddick... poor jack... poor micah... no, actually, he had drake."
- After one night and you're addicted already?? Gee, I just love that! Thanks KattyNoir and hopefully I'll keep you hooked to the end! Happy new year to you, too!
vinlovedroolwish "Had plans. They got fucked instead of me." This just makes me giggle. I can just picture Big Evil's grumble, pouty face and voice."
- Yes, he's really beginning to show the strain of forced celibacy. Definitely not in his character to abstain. He did a little better in this chapter though I think.
"What's next no birth control and Drake and Micah used up all the condoms? Hahaha"
- OMG!! LMAO – You made me snort! Thankfully I was alone. Damn you!
"My mental Micah looks at mental Drake 'What is your middle name?' he asks. 'What's the matter? You tired of screaming, 'Oh God! Drake! Please don't stop!' You looking for new material?' Drake snickers. (and two grown men in their skivies, start chasing eth other around my neural cortex)giggle when they run in their skivies things jiggle-giggles"
- I've already PM'd you and told you how dangerous you are to my driving. I vow here and now that after I post this, I will NOT read reviews on my blackberry while driving. God help me, woman!! Your mental Drake and Micah will cause me to wreck one day and THEN how do I explain that to the officer??
Actually, your mental men have had me thinking about a one-shot "inside" look at their antics inside your head – might be fun to pen together : D
"Ha! Thought so!" Again, no need to read into it here. Drake is obviously triumphant that he has finally gained Micah's notice, and all it took was a few comments about liking to have his ass nibbled on. hahaha"
- What is so bad is that when I write about these two now, I sit there and ponder things like "Gee, I wonder what they'll read into this one?" I find myself writing things just to tease their followers. I just love dragging this out, too. Hee hee.
"ROTFLMAO! Love the nod to TCOR and the teacup murder. Once again so Jack!"
- Ah, so glad you loved that little bit. I had to get creative to work that in there, but I couldn't resist since TCOR won't rear its head in this fic.
"Now for the serious stuff. Jacks memory of the murders she committed. You had me gasping for breath during her falshback. So good, so descriptive and so very disturbing. Poor Jack, having to relive a nightmare like that without the context to put it in."
- I know how I feel when I write scenes like that so it always makes me wonder if it affects readers the same way. I always hope that it will to some degree, so thank you for that affirmation. Yes, it is horrible to go through that and not have any context in which to frame those memories. He feels guilty for the slip up and for more (as you will read in the chapter after you get finished nosing around here. No spoilers here!)
"There was a moment there when she didn't trust herself, he is afraid she will see him that way too."
- After the way she reacted about what she had done? You bet. And it will be very interesting to see how she'll react when she realizes that Toombs did all that to her because of Riddick.
"Riddick is afraid that Jack will lay all the blame at his feet. After all Riddick already blames himself."
- Absolutely. Again, without the context of their past relationship to frame things, that is a real possibility.
"We love you and all of your fiction."
- Is that "we" as in you and mental Drake and Micah, too?? Just asking :D
"Vibrator flys throught my brain and smacks my frontal lobe. Drake stumbles after it. "Sorry, my bad! Too much lube!" Micah's histerical laughter echoes against my skull."
- Now there's an image that I won't soon be free of!! I don't think Jack will want the damn thing back either! Thanks sweetie! Looking forward to the next "mental drake and Micah" episode!
iluvriddick : "no! not doubly evil! i can barely take evil cricket, doubly evil cricket and i just might pass out from holding my breath one of these days."
- Damn! What did I do that time? I thought the last chapter wasn't that bad.
"well, fine, but i won't give you the satisfaction of telling you about it. hmph..."
- And you call ME evil??
"stupid riddick! just tell her. idiot! leave her with that kind of guilt hanging on her. that's just rude. poor jack though. that would be a horrible thing to remember"
- I was screaming at him, too believe me. Men can be such chicken shits!! Ha ha
"micah, sad sad, very sad. nice of drake to 'be there for him' cough cough hint hint he got a bit too much enjoyment out of that feeler. which i consider a good thing. ;)"
- Now why is that not a surprise?? Hmmm??? Go figure!
"he better watch his step around jack though. death by teacup, still one of my favorite COR lines."
- Mine too. I just had to work that in there somehow.
"oh! pitch black was on last night, made the hubby watch it, he was less than pleased. he just kept saying 'you just have a thing for vin diesel'. to which i replied 'well, yeah.' why does he still sound surprised about this? i don't know"
- Stupid men!! They just don't get it do they??? Thanks dear!! Love the review and name calling, too!!
NotAfraidToLive : "this chapter was good! i can't wait till jack finds out who riddick really is! the suspence!"
- I've yet to plan that whole part out yet, but it will be coming sooner rather than later.
" im am so gunna laugh my ass of if micah and drake get together"
- They've definitely been a force to reckon with. Never would have imagined they'd turn into the pair that they have. LOL!
"ur story is the best thing ever! keep up the good work!"
- Thanks so much NATL!! Always great to be supported!!
BurningTheMidnightOil : "It is better than Caramel Pecan Chocolate Cheese Cake."
- Hmm. Never heard of that dessert, but it sounds ultra yummy!
"Oh majestic Queen of Riddick Fan Fiction, I eagerly await the next succulent chapter from the writing genius of you brilliant mind."
- And I packed in a little more sugar into this one. Hope you enjoy it!
"Have a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie... they're soft and a tasty and delectable just like your story."
- Did you say peanut butter?? Mmmmmm.
"ooh sexy men flexing... stare, Drool, Stare Sorry, I couldn't help it!"
- men flexing or peanut butter chocolate chips cookies – not sure which makes me drool more – oh, hell who am I trying to kid? The men of course!
Thanks my chef of deliciously decadent reviews!!! I may have to hijack a couple of recipes from you. I don't like to cook, but I will bake on occasion.
unknown beedee
"it seems like riddick is still having trouble with letting his entire past come out."
- He's not ready for the shit to hit the proverbial fan! That's why!
"it was an awesome chapter and it seems like the story is developing really well!"
- Thanks UB!! Always a nice thing to hear!
FitMama : "I love the homage to COR with the whole "I'll kill you with my tea cup" scene."
- It took some doing, but I just had to fit that in there.
"You had me tearing up again I was laughing so hard at the part with the men doing their best poses for the camera."
- Those are her silly boys, whether she wanted them or not. Well, maybe Riddick isn't so silly, but Drake definitely brings out…something in the other two.
"It's about time that Jack learned the truth about what happened to her. But, I can't wait for her reaction when Riddick comes clean about who he is."
- Haven't mapped that out yet, but it's coming soon. A few other minor things need to play out first.
Thanks FItMama!! Happy new Year to you, too!
Vampiress-06 : "and getting her memories back like that...damn...that's a tad bit freaky as hell"
- With memories like those I'm sure she would have rather NOT remembered at all.
"now riddick not being able to say what he needs to now that's just like him"
- Here , here. He thinks he's doing the right thing, which is scary.
"okay but now that riddick and jack are out of the way back to micah and drake...i'll say this again and as many times as i have to you NEED to get those two together because that's the way it should be...they belong together and i loved the feeler comment and Drake walkin right into it"
- Yep, those "feeler" comments had to come back in there at some point. I love to tease. It's SOOO much fun! He he he. Thanks chica!
runningwild22 : "Riddick has to tell her every thing"
- Eventually he'll be caught or forced to tell her something. That's when it will get interesting.
" Hm Tequila? What could go wrong with Tequilla..."
- Nothing, that's what!! Thanks Kia!
dogo : "aw...poor jack! I still find riddick really endearing in regards to how he handled jack when her memories came back"
- And things will begin falling more into place now that she has reached that threshold. Yeah, I know it was fluffy, but sometimes the transition chapters can't be avoided.
"omfg ususally i wait until the end of the chapter to review, but that scene with riddick and jack was just too much! It was unbelievably adorable. My love of riddick has reached new heights and even with sweet moments like this you still keep BOTH riddick and jack in character!...i am in awe of you!"
- How sweet of you to say so. Sometimes he even surprises me and I scratch my head and ask where it came from. Don't question the man though!! Thanks Dogo!!
Claudzion : "Hello my love. I have caught up in the story finally"
- Yeah!! Glad you're back up to date!! And thanks for all the muses and well wishes. The same to you!
"Sweetie, like I always say you have me laughing, and sad all in the same chapter."
- It's a nice balance and I love it when I can reach a variety of levels like that in a chapter.
" I am just waiting for some action between Drake and Micah...LOL, hopefully that is what you have planned."
- Wait and wonder. Wait and wonder.
"Poor Jack, I don't know if it's better for Riddick to wait or tell her everything now, she seems strong enough. Guess you will take us out of our misery next chapter."
- Hmmm. Maybe not. Love ya, too!! Thanks!!
Furyan Goddess : "Great chappie... I can't believe you gave her her period LOL. You'll do anything to keep them apart. Bad bad woman."
- I just didn't think the sexual tension had gotten bad enough yet. snorts loudly
"I'm still rooting for Drake and Micah to hook up... maybe?"
Yep….maybe. ha ha.
"I feel for Jack. I'm the same way when I get my period but I can't take the BC to help... it makes my system all wonky... :( SO no fun."
- don't you love those fun female problems?? And men wonder why we can bitchy??
"Now as for Jack finally getting some memories... it's good and it's bad. She's gonna have a lot to deal with soon and Riddick NEEDS to tell her who/what he is. What she is. How they met. Come on Riddick, don't chicken out now"
- Too late. What's that?? Do I hear a baritone clucking sound in the back of my brain? creeps back there to take a peek and sees Riddick, then quietly turns around as she shakes her head.
"And I knew Riddick and Snipes had to know each other :)"
- I figured I wouldn't fool everyone on that, but it was fun to throw that twist in there! Thanks so much FG!!!
Honey76 : "Ok I try not to cry. This chap was very intense and I can just feel Jacks emotions while watching the images... And maybe Riddick doesn´t tell her everything because he don´t want to lose her?"
- Give yourself a prize. He's very apprehensive about how she'll react so he's protecting his own ass, or so he believes. And I'm pleased that I could present you with such a vivid picture.
Thanks Honey!!

January 10, 2008