Chapter Nineteen

Riddick's POV

There is it, Planet Dirkshire. I'm approaching the planet from left side. It's better to touch down head on, less questions that way. I've already thought of the plan, but now I've got to run it by you. I run a hand over my head. Stubble. Great.

You're in your usual seat, and silent. So, you're back to being quiet, only speaking when you need to. Guess you're still pissed at me. Don't blame you.

I'm thinking of how to best approach you with this decision I've made. I'll get my desired outcome. I have to.

"Sister?" It's a question I ask just to hear your answer. You jerk your head up at that thought.

"Hell no." I chuckle. It figures you'd say that. It would be too weird, even for me.

"Friend?"

"No way. Leaves me too open." Your voice is defensive now. Too open? You say that as if it's a possibility. No one's going to touch you again.

There's only one possibility left, and it's the only one that will keep you safe from other men. "Wife?"

You think on it and shrug. "No ring."

Not what I'd expected from you. Thought you'd jump at the chance of being my wife. I thought wrong, it seems.

"What then?" I ask hoping you'll come up with an answer I'll agree to go along with. Can't see any other way.

"Lover?"

That's a given Kyra. "You're already mine, woman. People just have to know that when I'm not there."

Silence. You think it over, as if debating. It doesn't matter anyway. You'll come to the same conclusion I've come to. You'll just do it a hell of a lot slower.

"Fine."

Your breathe comes out slow, yet smooth. You're telling the truth, shocker. I wait for you to continue, but it seems you've finished with your part of the conversation.

So, I take it that you're still pissed. Get over it and move on. "Fine what, Kyra?"

"Fine, I'll be your wife."

You say wife like the idea is beneath you. Trying to chip away at some wall, Kyra?

"What's wrong with being a wife?" Wanted to say 'my', but couldn't bring myself too. Fuck, what would you have said to that?

"Nothing, well everything…it's...and so…but I'm not…fucking final."

Coherent thoughts woman, join together coherent thoughts, then speak.

"Final what?"

"Just…together…you know."

I nod. Fuck, I've got no clue where your head is at.

"No going back?" I have to ask, just to make sure.

"None."

"Good. Then you'll be my wife." I wait for a response. You deliver.

"On Dirkshire, Riddick."

I nod again. I can't even voice my other thoughts to you. The thoughts of you and I actually being husband and wife. What a foreign idea. Never had that before. Before, it was life in the moment. Moment to moment. Never had to look back. Now it's constantly look back to make sure my future isn't screwed up with you, and that you're still in my future. What a head rush.

"Unidentified ship, please state your ship's name, passenger detail, reason, and duration of visit."

The message comes in clear. I open the frequency to respond.

"This is the Mystic Emerald. Passengers are two, one male adult, the other a female adult. It's our honeymoon and this is our first stopover. We'll be staying 9 days."

I release the button, closing the frequency.

"Mystic Emerald?" I can see the grin on your face without actually having to turn my head to see that you're smiling. Your voice, woman, it gives away too much.

I shrug at your question. "It came to me."

"Came to me my ass, Baldy."

You mumble it so I won't hear, but I do. In one fluid motion I have my shiv pressed to your neck. You remain still and alert. I remain blank and reserved.

"Mystic Emerald, please state passenger names."

"I want to be –"

I add the slightest bit of pressure to the shiv and you stop talking. Good idea woman, very good idea.

I press the button to reopen the frequency. "Mr. and Mrs. Jason Winters."

There's a pause. They're probably checking us out. Make sure we're legit. We are. I made sure of that.

A generic recorded message comes on. "Welcome to Planet Dirkshire. You are clear to land. There will be an entrance and leaving fee. Upon entering, you can pay both. Have a nice day." It's said so bloody cheerful that I want to squeeze something till it bursts.

With one hand I put the ship on auto pilot and allow it to manoeuvre its way down. Couple of minutes, tops, till we land. Now the fun really begins.

"Jason Winters?" I can hear the uncertainty in your voice.

I turn my head to take a good look at you. "Got a problem with the name?"

"No, I've got a problem with the shiv."

I allow the corners of my mouth to curve up into a grin, as I remove the shiv from your neck.

"So…what did we learn?"

"That you look better with a shaved head?"

I growl. What's with the sense of humour you've suddenly developed?

"And?"

Your eyes darken. I've pushed you far enough. "Don't even think that you will be making all the decisions in this relationship, Baldy!"

There you go again. What's with you and that name? As for the decisions, when it's life and death, you'll be damn sure I'll make them. You turn your head away, so that I can't look you in the eyes. Your eyes. I change the direction of this conversation.

"It reminds me of your eyes." I say it nonchalantly. You're too curious to let a comment like that pass you by.

"What does?" I'm right, as usual.

"The name."

You sigh. "What name?"

"Mystic Emerald."

I can see you thinking it over, letting it soak in. "Catchy."

I shrug. "Thought so."

"And Jason Winters?"

It's so easy to tell you the truth. We're close now. Real close to each other. "Jason cuz it's Hayden's middle name. Winters…cuz I love the cold."

"Probably because your body radiates so much heat, you big angry looking, completely non-cuddly, grouchy bear."

"Jack?"

"What? I mean –"

"Relax."

You take a deep breathe, and become silent. Finally, you're quiet and thinking on something other than what I did to you.

Kyra's POV

I'm not angry anymore. I'm still slightly pissed, but I'm not angry. It's amazing how quickly I got over angry and moved straight to slightly pissed off.

I do what you said. I relax. The hard part is just beginning, I know that. We have to fool everyone to blend in, to go unnoticed. Now I have to act as your wife. Your wife…on this planet…great. I'll be nothing now. I'll be less than Jack was. At least Jack was a girl pretending to be a boy. She was left alone, to a point. Now I'm going to be a wife. Looked at, jeered at, laughed at behind my back by the other men and their wives. How utterly degrading. How utterly hopeless. But how utterly fascinating to act as your wife, all at the same time.

I'll be chained to you now. Not physical chains, but the invisible ones that eat away at you. Your wife. What does that even mean to me? To you? On one hand I'd want to be married, but on the other, to be chained like that? It's fucking scary. Me and you, permanently. Of course I'd want that, but marriage is so final, so forever. I hate feeling crowded, and that's what marriage is, right? But marriage to you would mean that you'd finally accept having someone else in your life. It would be a chaining step for you too. A total reliance on another. It would be great.

Stop! Stop thinking. It's never going to happen. Riddick married? Yeah, can't see that happening anytime soon.

"Riddick?"

It came out so fast.

"Winters."

Right. Understood.

"Winters, I want a ring."

You nod. I notice it then, the shift in your body language. You're up and walking away. I remain where I am.

You couldn't be…I mean…did you think that far ahead…and what does that shit mean?

I rest my face in the palms of my hands. I'm so tired of being confused. I want clear answers, and I know now that I'm not going to get them with you. You test the very limit of my patience Riddick. Damn it.

I hear the depression of your seat cushion. Double damn. You're too fucking quiet.

"Here."

I look at the object in your hands. It's a ring.

"It's a ring."

"And?" I can see you shaking your head, ever so slightly. I'm not blind, I notice things like that too.

I grab it, noticing that you hold onto the ring for a fraction of a second that is more than necessary.

I slide it on my finger. "Too small."

You nod.

I look back at the ring. I mean, really look at it. It's an amethyst. A cushion cut, at least three carat equivalent, sparkling amethyst. Holy crap. Princess cut diamonds on the side to offset the rich purple. And it's all set in platinum. It's beyond beautiful. It's –

"I got it after." Real clear, Baldy.

"After what?"

"After the planet."

"On the necro ship?"

"No. On New Mecca. After I dropped you off."

Wait, that means – "After the planet where those sick creatures tried to kill me? With Imam?"

"Yes."

"You're full of surprises Rid – Winters."

You nod again. There, right there, you hold back what you're thinking. You've got to let it out sometime Big Guy. I'm not going to let this go.

"So you got it for Jack, and now Kyra's wearing it?"

"If you say so, Kyra."

If I say so! Fine. This isn't going to be easy, but I got to hear you voice it.

"Why'd you get?"

"Why not?"

"That's no answer, Baldy, I want – "

Wow, haven't been in this position in a while. Pinned to my seat, with a beefy man hovering just above. Any other time, and this would be kinky.

"Careful of the clothes, Winters."

"Shut up."

Shut up? Why?

You growl as you keep me pinned to my seat. You lean in close to whisper in my ear. I shiver, involuntarily.

"You imprinted yourself in my very being, Jack. I got the ring for the kid. Moments after we landed. First thing I did. Saw it, bought it, kept it. I was going to give it to the woman the kid would grow up to be, when I met her again."

"How'd you know for sure that you'd meet me again?"

"I'd have come looking for you. I'll always come looking for you, woman."

I feel your lips on mine. Soft, but demanding. My mind goes blank, and I let myself go in your kisses. You pull back. Your eyes seem to shine with anticipation.

"Show time."

I get it. We've landed.

"You're mine, woman. Now go get your new toys and stay close. Blend in, not stand out. Understood?"

"Watch the tone Winters, or you'll see just how sharp my new toys are."

You snort as you ease your hold up on me. I get up and leave to gather my shivs. Show time is right.