Tainted Innocence
Chapter 5
Sleep didn't last long…for either of us. It wasn't nightmares that kept Riddick tossing and turning tonight. It was something else and I was feeling it too. There was a lot of sexual energy in the air, hanging heavy and humid all around us.
My body tingled and warmed every time he bumped into me and the scent of him in the rising heat made me light headed. By three in the morning we were both on our backs, staring up at the ceiling…wide-awake.
My mind was filling with all the possible ways we could burn off this energy including a little in and out action. That thought made me laugh and the sound of it made Riddick prop up on his elbow and look at me. I turned my head to him and put my hand on his cheek.
"I can't sleep, can you?" Riddick just stared at me, pressing his cheek into my palm. "How 'bout we get up and do something." I had an idea as I pulled myself out of bed. I walked across the room and picked up Riddick's shoes and tossed them to him. He took them and started to put them on, glancing at me frequently, his brow furrowed.
I went to the closet and searched for my oversized black hoody that I absolutely loved and threw that to him as well. "I figure a run might do us some good," I said as I found clothes for me. We dressed in silence and when we were through Riddick followed me to the front door. A run was risky but it was dark and I was feeling a little adventurous. Plus, the adrenaline rush might help us burn off the excess energy. I turned to face him and reached up to his shoulders and pulled the hood over his head
"Guess we're ready," I said as I opened the door. The night air was warm and the sweet scent of lilac filled my nose. I stood on the landing and breathed it in, closing my eyes and enjoying it. Riddick stood behind me and waited patiently. When I was through I headed down the stairs and heard Riddick follow.
He was on my left when we got to the street and we started jogging, slow at first until our muscles adjusted to the strain and then we went faster. I let Riddick set the pace but he let me lead and we ran through the dark neighborhood, not a soul was out, not a soul was awake. My lungs were on fire and my thighs and calves were burning but I pushed on. Riddick on the other hand had hardly broken a sweat. His breathing was even, his long powerful strides sure, and he just seemed to really like the fact that he was outside. Running but not running from anyone…free for once in his life.
Everything seemed perfect and I let my mind go and just ran wherever I felt. There was an intersection up ahead and I decided we would go right so I veered that direction but Riddick grabbed my shoulder and stopped me. I looked back at him as he swiftly pulled the hood off his head, his eyes trained on something down the street, and I turned back to have a look for myself but it was too dark for me, I couldn't see anything.
Riddick's hand remained on my shoulder as he sniffed the air; searching for something only he could smell and I watched in curiosity for a few seconds until he stopped. A low growl pierced the dark night and my breath caught painfully in my throat but I quickly realized that it was Riddick who had made the sound. He reached across me and put his hand on my waist, guiding me behind him, keeping his hand where it was so I wouldn't try to move.
I grabbed his arm with one hand and a fistful of his sweatshirt near his side with my other and moved in close to him. I could feel it now, the danger that lurked in the deep shadows beyond my vision. There was something down that street, what it was I didn't know, but I did know that Riddick didn't like it. I remained so close to him that I could feel his muscles tense up, heard his breathing, which was so quiet and so calm I couldn't believe it. Mine was short and raspy and only got worse as the thought of death filled my mind. How could anybody control their breathing like that?
What a strange moment for tears to spring up in my eyes but as scared as I was feeling, I couldn't stop them. Riddick didn't hesitate when he sensed danger to put himself in front of me and I couldn't explain the onslaught of emotion that was tearing through me. He was protecting me from whatever it was that he saw or sensed; using his body to shield me and I felt touched. Darren was right again. If there is danger out there Riddick would make sure I was safe. Was it that he cared? Or was it some kind of instinct to protect someone weaker than him? Whatever the reason, it only proved to me just how human Riddick really was. Whether he's like this for real didn't matter, I knew that he did have a soul and it did exist, somewhere deep down inside him.
Riddick's grip on my waist tightened as he nudged me back. I took careful steps, watching the path behind me so I wouldn't fall and guided him slowly back around the corner. After a few feet Riddick turned to me and without having to tell me, we both ran back the way we came, taking the shortest route back to my apartment and we didn't stop until we were through the door and it was securely locked. I pressed my forehead to the door, breathing loud and hard, feeling hot tears running down my face.
Yeah, taking a little run in the middle of the night won't be a problem. So fucking stupid. I have to admit though, it did manage to crush that excess energy problem I was experiencing before but the adrenaline rush zapped all my energy, leaving me feeling weak and emotional.
Wiping the tears away with my hands, I turned around and took a deep breath; building myself back up again and there was Riddick, standing right in front of me. His eyes glowed cold and bright but there was something flitting across his features that drew his beautiful mouth into a frown. A worried expression that totally clashed with his seemingly soulless eyes. He reached out for me, sweeping his fingers over my cheeks, wiping away my tears with his thumbs; curious about what caused the wetness in my eyes and the carefully constructed wall that I had always thought was there…broke
I bit my lower lip to try and hold back but it was too much. More tears appeared in my eyes, slipping down my cheeks and over Riddick's thumbs. It was a release I didn't know I needed until the tears were running freely. Everything that I had been holding back was coming out now. The worthless feeling Ned had left me with, the worry that I would be stuck in bad relationship hell the rest of my life, the thought of never feeling actual love from a man, and just being alone.
Without thinking or caring, I wrapped my arms around Riddick's waist and buried my face in his neck and cried. I wasn't overly surprised when I felt his arms go around me but it was definitely a huge relief. He held me in his strong embrace making me feel instantly safe and calm but I continued crying. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because everything I've always needed to feel in my life was right here in this man
My whole life has been empty; something's always been missing even when I wasn't alone. I guess I never realized just how empty it was until now. Wrapped up in Riddick, he made me feel full, a warm ache inside my chest that chased away the cold feeling I always had inside.
His body was almost hot against mine, his hands roamed over my back; through my hair almost hesitantly as he found a new emotion, curious, exploring it but there was nothing sexual about it. It was all innocent, loving, comforting and I lost myself in it. He didn't pull away first, it was me. I needed to see his face, to see what expression he wore. And I wasn't disappointed. It looked as if he understood what I was going through, that I needed to let it out. For a split second the shine of his eyes couldn't hide the depths behind it. The warmth found a way out and I was able to see what lay beyond; the real man behind this killer façade, the man who could tap into anyone's feelings and somehow connect it with something he held deep inside himself.
Ned could never show anything real in his eyes. As clear and as bright as his blue eyes were, I could never see into his soul, maybe that's because he didn't have one. He would look me straight in the eyes and lie to me and I wouldn't know the difference, I couldn't see anything in them that told me otherwise. That should have been my first sign. But here was Riddick, surgically altered eyes that effectively hid his true feelings and thoughts and I was able to catch a glimpse of real humanity. I was shocked at how it affected me emotionally, I guess it was the first time I've ever seen anything like it before. Now that's really sad. It only means that all the guys I went out with had no real feelings about me or anything else in their lives.
"Thanks," I whispered hoarsely. Not only was I thanking him for showing me his true self but for caring enough to hold me when I really needed it, for protecting me, and for not pushing me away. The strong arms that were around my body slipped away in a slow lingering caress. Riddick's twinkling eyes moved over my face before he backed away and walked over to the balcony window; standing guard over my place until the sun came up.
The golden light spilled across the land, spreading like warm melted butter, seeping into every crevice of rock and man made structure until no shadow remained. As the world came to life, Riddick slipped his goggles over his eyes and continued to watch. I, on the other hand, was tired and was now going to bed. I think I was out before I even got settled. But that didn't last long. I didn't stay comfortable and I shifted around in bed until the sheets were all messed up.
I got up a few hours later, seeing everything in a weird haze. A heavy thick haze because I barely remember using the bathroom and seeing Riddick, still by the window. I needed more sleep and ended up climbing back into bed, pulling the sheets half-assed over my body. My dreams were different this time. Not nightmares. They were filled with Riddick. He was in bed with me, running his hands over my heated skin, clamping down on my neck with his luscious lips and sucking gently until I could feel that familiar throb between my legs. I shifted to the side so I could feel more of his body against mine, reaching out for anything to hold onto. I think I got his thigh and I squeezed as he broke the suction on my neck and moved over me, straddling one leg and pressing himself to me. My eyes were closed in my dream so I was going off only sensation and it was enough to bring a sexually dead person to orgasmic relief.
I felt his mouth on the other side of my neck, not sucking this time, just dragging his lips over my skin down to my collarbone, flicking his tongue over to the center of my chest. I arched up to him and forced my leg out from between his so he was now directly between mine. He kept his lower half away from me until I hooked my heels behind his legs and forced him closer. The shock of the steel hardness of him against my sensitive flesh tore me from my sleep in a panting, forcefully silent groan. I was shaking all over from the nearness of my orgasm that I could feel it ticking away between my legs. If I reached between them now I could probably finish it off. I didn't…still afraid to feel what I would feel.
I reached up to my neck and absently rubbed it, feeling the dampness on my skin, assuming it was sweat. My thoughts returned to my dream and I stayed in bed for a while after. It felt so real, the weight of him on me, the feel of his lips, his hands all over my body. Seems like Riddick has awakened something in me that has long since been dormant. I was kind of afraid to pursue this new sensation because the only man available was Riddick and I couldn't do that to him…could I?