Jack couldn't sleep. Even after everything she'd been through; the fear, the stress, the fighting...her mind still whirred, her thoughts spinning in a constant circle. Every time she closed her eyes she saw Riddick's face. The pure steel in his gaze as he told her their kiss was a mistake, that he didn't want to hurt her.
"But don't you see Riddick," she whispered as she rolled over and punched her pillow angrily; "don't you see that you're hurting me right now?" Swallowing hard, she fought the rise of tears in her eyes. She'd promised herself she'd never cry over him and she wasn't about to break that vow. She'd never been the kind of girl to cry just because things weren't going well, if anything it just made her more determined.
Sighing, she flung herself off the bed, ignoring the sheet that slid to the floor in a rumpled heap. This couldn't go on. "Riddick?" she whispered softly as she padded into the cock-pit. A data-panel glowed in his hands as he reclined in his chair, features set and hard, eyes hidden by trademark goggles. A brooding silence lingered.
"Yeah?" Riddick's gaze remained focused on the panel as he scrolled through data.
A hundred different words rested on the tip of her tongue, things she could say, actions she could take, but she knew they'd only provoke the beast. The side of Riddick she felt she knew better than anyone. So she took the easy way out, "I can't sleep."
He didn't move and she wondered if he'd heard. "Riddick?" she repeated.
"What?" he snapped. "I can't do nothing for that Jack." A muscle flickered in his jaw, revealing his inner tension.
Eyes narrowing Jack slipped into the neighbouring chair, folding her legs beneath her and cupping her chin as she watched him. Remembering how it felt to kiss him...
"Jack," he growled "quit staring at me."
Jack blinked. "Why?" A flush crept into her cheeks at her petulant tone. She sounded like a child.
"Jack." He warned, a dangerous rumble underlying the single word.
"Fine," she muttered, turning to gaze out at the stars flashing past the viewing panel. Silence fell, only interrupted by the low clicking as Riddick scrolled through more data.
Jack shifted in her chair as she thought about what would happen when they finally arrived at Helion Prime. Even if she tried forever she knew she'd never be able to forget him and who could blame her? This was the man who had saved her, who had inspired her to become a flight pilot, in the hope that one day she could prove to him that she wasn't that helpless little girl he'd saved back on that dark planet. Instead, all she'd done was get herself involved in something that meant he'd had to come and rescue her, like some dumb princess in distress. Scowling, she found herself folding her arms at this realisation.
Although she wasn't looking at him, it was hard to ignore the sheer magnetism of his presence. He drew her senses like a lodestone and she soon found her eyes resting on him again. Skimming over him, burning his image into her memory for the time when he... when he, swallowing she looked away.
"Jack?" Glancing up, she was surprised to find Riddick's gaze ruffling her senses as he loomed over her, his hand held commandingly out.
Brow furrowing with confusion, she took his hand, eyes flicking to the data panel held in the other. She froze as he eyes raced over the headline that screamed, "Transporter crashes, two survive." Her eyes leapt to his face, knowing there was no need to ask what he'd been looking up, but wondering why.
"Riddick?" she queried softly, searching his marble features in bewilderment. Her heart crashed in her chest.
Ignoring her he rumbled lowly, "seven years ago I took two people off a planet. A kid, who everyone else thought was a boy and a Holy man, searching for New Mecca."
Jack stepped closer as he tugged her forward, his hand sending hot shivers through her.
"I took them both to Helion Prime and then," his arm wrapped around her waist, bringing her tight against him. "I walked away."
Jack couldn't breathe. Her lips parted to speak but he stopped her by tracing her lower lip with his thumb. A tremble of disbelief ran through her.
"Thought it would be easy, thought I could forget. Been lyin' to myself a long time." He removed his goggles, revealing eyes that glowed fiercely in the dim lighting. "Thing is," he continued, gaze dropping to her lips "I didn't realise-"
"Ridd..."
"-no Jack, you gotta...understand, I've killed people. A lot of people, and you...you deserve better." He rested his forehead against hers, his expression almost rueful. "Only," he chuckled deeply, his tone mocking "I don't seem to want to let you go."
Jack's heart leapt at his words, could he really mean..?
His arms tightened about her, "maybe it's the Furyan in me." She could hardly hear him, his voice dropping to a barely perceptible tone as he shrugged, sending his muscles rippling in a thoroughly distracting way.
Taking a moment to catch her breath, she studied his face, his features set like stone. He meant it; he obviously meant it, yet...
"What about earlier?" she asked, trying to ignore the thoroughly delicious heat radiating off him.
"Earlier," he said gruffly "I wasn't prepared. I needed time to think."
Jack arched a brow, attempting to overlook the intent gleam in his eyes as his arms tightened about her. "And now?" She shivered as his eyes dropped to her lips again, their gaze pure burning silver.
"Now I know. As much as I resent it, as much as I wanna run, I can't. For all that I want to protect you, leaving just isn't an option any more. Maybe it never was."
"You can't protect me if you're not here" Jack insisted fiercely, feeling fury flare within her, "and I'm not that little girl anymore Riddick. I don't need your protection, I just need..." her tone softened, "you."
Riddick's eyes closed, hiding the feelings that flashed in the silvery depths. "Don't say that Jack, don't put such...value on me. I ain't worth it. Being with me...you're at risk. They'll know you're my weakness. The one way they can get to me..."
"Who?"
"Any bastard who wants a piece of me."
Jack shook her head adamantly. "I don't wanna be your weakness Riddick. That's not me. I wanna make you stronger," she insisted. "Together we're stronger."
His eyes finally opened, a haunted look shadowing them. "If we do this, there's no going back."
Trapped in his gaze, she felt heat stir and rise between them. She paused to savour the moment, to remember the feeling that came hand in hand with finding what you've been looking for all along. "Never had a doubt," she whispered as his lips came down on hers. She felt his chuckle rumble through his chest, knew he understood what she meant.
The kiss itself was pure fire, racing beneath her skin and setting her alight. It was all consuming and undeniable, and nothing like the kiss they'd shared before. Riddick nuzzled her neck, pressing hot kisses across her already-flushed skin. Suddenly she was burning up in the tank and hoodie, flames of desire licking at her. With trembling fingers she reached for the zip, only to find him already there, easing it down with a surprising tenderness. Dropping it to the floor, Riddick stepped back, easing Jack into his lap as he sat in the pilot's chair.
Gazing into his shining eyes, Jack felt her lips curve as his arms tightened possessively about her. This was where she was meant to be. Always.
"How long 'til we reach Helion Prime?" Jack finally asked, shocked by the huskiness of her voice. Her hands traced the heavy, muscles on his chest and skated over his shoulders as she sat across his thighs.
"Hmmm" Riddick all but purred, hands stroking her in a thoroughly distracting way, "at least another half a day." His eyes hooded and Jack felt her stomach flip at his wolfish smile. "Long enough..." he pulled her closer 'til his breath was a warm caress across her lips "...to show you..." his mouth touched hers in an achingly incomplete kiss "...to convince you..." His voice dropped to a gravelly rumble "...that you're mine. Always."
"My own dark hero" Jack laughed, lightening the intense mood, moments before passion and desire rose in an overwhelming tide, sweeping them both away.
A/N. Kinda taking a risk on this one I know, but I'm looking forward to your reviews anyway.
I've read and re-read it numerous times and I've decided to finally bite the bullet and post it. Only one more chapter after this, so please tell me what you think!!