Insight

"I'm no damn lap cat." Riddick growled.

Huh?

"Jack wanted tough, I treated her tough." Flat, but the anger was showing through.

Fuck, Jack again?

"I don't need another insolent little girl jerking my chains." Now Riddick was shaking; the urge to follow anger with violence nearly overwhelming.

"Keep this up and I'll take you over my knee." Heavy sarcasm.

Zemma's head snapped up to face him, lips pressed into a thin line, jaw clenched tight. A tiny disbelieving shake of her head: 'You wouldn't dare.'

The movement came so quick she had no chance to respond to it. She was face down over his lap, his hand flying at her in three rapid strikes. It stung like hell without really hurting, but it shocked her more than anything. She'd never been spanked in her whole life and now…

Riddick's hand stayed where it landed, she felt a gentle squeeze, then he tipped her up off his lap. One hand still held her by the arm and the other her backside. She found herself on her knees between his. The hand on her arm moved to the back of her neck.

"Talk to me." More orders.

She slapped him instead.

He slapped her backside again and his hand rested there, while the other still clutched the back of her neck, massaging the muscles there as he looked into her face.

"Talk to me." More softly, but still firmly.

Zemma unclenched her jaw and opened her mouth but it was tears that came first, silently streaming down her face. She leaned into the hand on her neck while his other hand gently massaged where he had struck her.

"Talk to me," he whispered.

The dam broke.

"I'm afraid of the future," she choked out in a rush before her breath hitched back into her throat.

Riddick pulled her forward into his chest, stroking her hair, and whispered, "Good girl. Talk to me."

Zemma was trying to control her breathing. "I don't know if I can…" she started.

Riddick swatted her again and Zemma's head came up suddenly. He laid a hand on her face. "Fight it."

Zemma nodded and felt here head clear a tiny bit. Like Jaron attacking her that first night; pain, shock, fighting back… that was the way back to the Now. He wasn't really hurting her, so there was no adrenaline kick to help her along.

And he wasn't going to knock her down like he did Jack. He wouldn't leave bruises like Jaron had.

'Fight it.'

Fight back.

'Talk to me.'

She remembered how telling Jaron about the night in Riddick's room, when he had nearly been poisoned by the lady, had hurt so much in her head but out loud she could nearly laugh at it.

"What if I can't step foot on Fury? What if I have to live on this damn ship forever?" More tears came.

"Good girl." He stroked her face and ran his other hand up and down her back.

It still sounded frightening to her out loud, and her breathing began to hitch again.

Riddick swatted her ass again hard, and she sucked in her breath. He immediately started rubbing the spot and tipped her face back up to look at him again. "Then we'll deal with it." He rubbed away tears on her cheek with his thumb.

Oh! Concerned look. She closed her eyes before she could break down completely, but nodded against his hand.

"Is that all?" Almost amusement in his voice.

She wanted to yell that it was more than enough; she just shook her head no instead.

And Don W'Rdah's threat? No, she couldn't go there. Riddick would over-react for sure.

'Don't keep anything more from me,' he had told her. The dilemma kept her mute.

"Zemma…" Warning in his voice. The hand on her backside massaged heavily- a reminder that he wasn't above using pain as a motivator.

She opened her mouth. "I'm terrified of losing you."

Holy hells, as Jack might have said. What was she thinking?

There was a soft chuckle in response. Riddick took her face in his hands and kissed her.

"Thought you'd chase me all over the universe?" His voice was light and as usual, mocking.

"All you'd have to do is go planet side to lose me."

"Don't tend to stay on planets long. Like to keep moving. Could be useful to have another pilot along." He sounded musing. He tapped his chin as if thinking about it.

"You're teasing me again." She tried a smile.

"You're talking again."

"Point for you." This time she did manage a smile.

Riddick reached around and slapped her backside once again.

Zemma gasped. "What was that for?"

Both his hands were back there now, rubbing. "I like making it feel better."

Zemma caught his face in her hands and bit his lip.