Disclaimer: Same as first 12 chaps. I own only my creativeness (which means original characters and places, etc.)
A/N: I am supposed to be in New Orleans right now but my cousin had back surgery and I had to help her…it was pretty painful for her. Don't lift heavy objects!
Anyways, ENJOY, and the next chap should be up tomorrow or the next day.
HAPPY 2006!
- - -
The fight with Jherice was the last thing I wanted on my mind. I emerged from the room feeling defeated, like I had expected to win this fight but got KO'd. Jherice had retreated back up to her captain's quarters, leaving the rest of us down in the pit to ourselves. I sat back down beside Imam and sighed.
"How are you feeling?" his voice was deep and smooth and I smiled, shrugging.
"A little down, but I knew it was going to happen."
"What was going to happen?"
I sighed. "They slept together." Imam arched an eyebrow, not exactly surprised. "Yeah, I ain't surprised either," I added, kicking off my shoes and picking up one of the catalogs Jack had been absent-mindedly flipping through. I opened it and began reading, admiring the brand-new computing systems. They were getting nicer, faster, and a hell of a lot smaller. A door opened and I looked up. Riddick slipped through the area and then went to the food chamber, opening it quickly.
"Are you going to speak with him?" Imam whispered and I didn't even look up.
"Already did." I flipped a page.
"Why don't you try again?"
"Nope." Another page.
"Come off it, holy man," Riddick spoke up, "she's being a bitch. Let her bleed it out for a while and then we can have a real heart-to-heart."
"What the hell would you know about a heart-to-heart? The only thing you seem to understand is dick-to-pussy." I didn't even miss a word in the paragraph I was reading about processors.
His grip cracked the flimsy plastic of the door of the eating unit. "Sweetheart, you're takin' this too personally. You think you're the only chick?"
"Oh no," I laughed, "I don't get jealous. You ain't gonna see me get green over my old cellmate. You can try, but it won't work."
He turned around. Yeah, I was still afraid of him. But I wasn't going to put up with bullshit I knew how to treat. He was great in bed and I'd miss it bad, but I had other things to consider. Like keeping my ass out of Slam and away from those rogue mercs.
"You scared that she mighta pleased me more than you could?" He tilted his head, a menacing smirk crawling across his lips.
I shrugged. "Not really. I'm not that good, anyways." I turned another page in the catalog and almost predicted his movement before he made it. I moved the catalog to the side before he could snatch it away from my face. I smiled and looked at Imam, "See? I'm getting better at it..."
Imam forced a smile and then slid off the couch. Yes, best to leave us alone to duke it out. Might turn bloody. Riddick didn't watch him leave but kept his eyes on me. Even behind those goggles, I knew part of him was burning with rage.
"You'd do best just to stay out of my fucking way." His tone was signature pissed Riddick and I swallowed. Scared, but I wasn't giving in. I hated the way Riddick thought he could predict things before they happened. Last I had checked, it didn't say 'psychic sociopath' on that psychiatry report.
"You know, I thought you were better than her," I replied, wetting my lips, "I thought you knew her signals before she even pushed them your way." He came slightly into the light as I spoke, and I could see the welt near his eye. She'd socked him good.
I continued, "She does that to people. Did it to me so I'd sell myself for just a hit of morphine. I'd let myself be fondled and prodded by these sex-deprived lesbians just for a shot up the carotid. And she made me believe I could trust her. So, after I kicked the hype, I played along, so that after I got out of Slam and was in a tight spot, she'd remember how much a profit I got for her. I play her like a fucking trumpet, Riddick – she just doesn't know." I paused to let it all sink in. That big fucking skull of his had to have a brain.
"Maybe I'm playin' her too," he replied, licking his lips, "maybe I'm playin' you both."
"If you were playing me, I'd be crawling on the floor for you. Most of the time I would, but not for this girl. I may be naïve and weak, but I'm not stupid."
He leaned in closely, his nose almost touching mine. "Never said you were stupid, Kate."
"Remember you aren't the only one reeling from a lack of conscience from being in Slam," I whispered back and he moved his head slightly, inspecting my face. It was dead quiet and he looked my face over, like he was trying to find something. I sat still, letting him do this routine.
He sniffed. "It's gone."
"What?" I answered dryly.
He sniffed again. "That fear smell." He grinned. "Kinda cute."
"Don't call me cute." I turned my head away from him and he stood up.
"You still not want me to touch Jack after we get offa this thing?"
"Yes. She's mine. You're not gonna hurt her."
"She was both of ours on that planet. You forget?"
"Well, you're a lousy parent, Riddick. I hope you never have children."
"Me either."
I crossed my arms across my chest. "Lemme ask you a question."
"I think we've talked too much right now. How about you save that thought for later when I'm not so fuckin' tired from you runnin' your mouth."
"Fine." I scooted myself off the couch and he walked out, heading for the hatch.
- - -
"Wanna play?" Jack held up a pack of playing cards as I pulled a fresh pair of pants on. I shook my head.
"I'm not very good."
She frowned, "Please? Riddick's playing."
"He's gonna cheat, you know."
"So? He won't if we're on the same team." Her smile was eating at my heart. I rolled my eyes.
"Okay. Deal me in." She ran out and I sighed. Cards and I did not mix well; I rarely ever won, even with a severe advantage, and then I just squeaked past. I folded my dirty pants and exited the bed chamber, walking out into the brightly lit compartment and seeing 4 people positioned around the table: Jack and Jherice, Riddick and another man I assumed was the captain.
"Where's Imam?" I asked, taking a seat beside Jack and Jherice looked up from her hands.
"Said somethin' about Lord not wantin' him to do it," she replied and I nodded. Our eyes met and then broke as the captain dealt the cards. He wasn't an ugly man, more of a boy actually, blonde curls framing his face and bright blue eyes. A cigarette hung from his lips and he looked at me before setting down the cards, and then turned his eyes toward his hand. I glanced at the hand Jack and I had been dealt. Fluff cards, every single one. We'd have to bluff.
Jherice and her captain tossed in their money chips, Riddick followed with a raise in the betting. I motioned for Jack to match the bet and she obeyed, tossing the right amount on top of Riddick's.
"You gotta cute kid there," Jherice grinned at Jack and then looked back at me, "you pop her out?"
"Yeah," I replied and Jherice cocked an eyebrow.
"Ain't you a little young to be nursing a kid, Kate? Didn't see any scars on your stomach in Slam."
"There's other ways to have a kid without them having to cut it out of you," I cleared my throat, "I was young and stupid." Jack didn't say anything and I was pretty sure Riddick was laughing behind those stupid goggles of his. But I was protecting Jack, not trying to make myself look better in some asshole's eyes. There would be pissing contests later for that.
The next few rounds were slow. We won a few, lost a lot, and the whole table was silent through the whole thing. Jack dozed off and I carted her to bed, her sleepy protests having no effect on me. As I pulled the covers to her chin, she yanked my arm.
"Why'd you say I was yours?"
I smiled. "Because you'll fare better being my kid then some runaway with a couple of convicts on a ship with a hype and her captain."
"Like you protect me?"
"Yeah, kid. I made a promise a long time ago to take care of you."
Her brow creased in confusion, "When?"
"Remember when Riddick figured you out? We decided to cover you. He hasn't really held up his end of the bargain but I plan to stand by mine. Now, you sleep and come get me when you wake up in the morning." She rolled over at my words and I stood, clicking out the light and walking out of the bunk. The rest of the group was still huddled around the table, cards in hand and I took my seat again.
"Your turn," Jherice said and I looked at my cards. I made the bet and then looked up. Cards shifted and Jherice cleared her throat, "You wanna talk about last night?"
"Last night?" I feigned interest, looking back at my cards, "Oh, you mean how you fucked everything in Creation and then lived to tell about it?"
"I thought you were my pal, Kate," she smiled, "when'd you become such a little cunt?"
"Sweetheart, I've always been a cunt. I just need a reason to be one." A sugar smile and she was biting her lip.
"You need a hit?" she extracted a morphine gun, liquid dripping from the end.
"I quit that shit," I answered, crossing my arms across my chest. Jherice grinned, flashing all her pearly teeth.
"Remember the last time? Begging for a hit...I gave you to that old one..."
"Yeah. She didn't have the teeth. I remember," I cut in, "and I remember the way she slapped me around. And as she fucked me with her mouth, I figured my way out of there. And look at me now."
"You forgettin' I could call a merc ship?" she was threatening me now. But like Riddick had said: The fear smell was gone.
"And why not do it? They'd probably give you the freedom papers on the spot for me and Riddick."
"Why not just you? Riddick could come in handy."
I laughed. "Why not? Seems to be the pattern of my life: treated really nice until someone decides to screw me over. Hell, my own mother did it to me so I don't expect anything better from someone like you."
She gritted her teeth and put a knife on the table. I set down my cards and eyed the blade, then her deep-set blue eyes. "I don't any guns around here, Kate. How'd they teach you to handle a knife?" she asked quietly.
"Can't say I learned. Got out of Tangiers before anyone had the chance to make me use one."
She grasped the knife and quickly pressed the blade under my chin. "I don't know what the fuck happened after you climbed the Wall, but all I know is that they beat the shit outta me. Prices went down and I got cut up a lot worse than you did by Roy." She pressed it harder and my heart was trucking, trying to burst from my ribcage. "I can kill the kid. Or maybe the Chrislam. But I'd rather see your dead ass swimming out above I-8 and I'll make sure no one comes to your sad-ass funeral," she spat, "because you fucked up, Kate. You forgot about me, you forgot about the Slam, you forgot about trust." I tucked my hands under my folded arms and took a deep breath.
Jherice's eyes didn't change their malice as another blade slipped quietly into view and right next to her throbbing vein. The captain cocked his shot gun painfully and Riddick tilted his head, pressing the sharp end of the shiv next to Jherice's neck.
"What the fuck are you doing?" she gritted through clenched teeth and Riddick looked at the captain. He froze, finger on trigger. He turned back to Jherice and answered her.
"Makin' you think twice before you fuck up again." He tilted his head to the other side. "Put that toy away. You ain't even holding it right."
"Fuck off." Sweat was beginning to form at her hairline. The shiv pressed harder.
"Think real hard before you say anything. You know anything about me?"
She rolled her eyes. "You killed a few mercs, big fucking deal."
"That way a thinkin'll get you killed. Body floatin' somewhere over I-8...isn't that what she said, Kate?" I couldn't hold back a smile. Jherice's eyes came to mine.
"You weren't even a good fuck once, Kate."
"I don't like girls, Jherry. Of course I'm a bad fuck."
Her eyes turned from me to Riddick, who's grip hadn't changed. She suddenly relaxed and Riddick allowed her to push his shiv down. Eyes on the knife she held at my neck, she leaned in close to Riddick, teasing his lips open with her tongue. He opened his mouth and offered his tongue back, meeting in the middle and mouths melding together as one. Riddick's hand crept to her breast and he kneaded it firmly then wiggled his fingers up to her neck.
In a swift move, she was tossed on her back and Riddick's boot crushing her chest. She gasped for air and the captain kid stood up, but was stalled by the point of Riddick's second warning shiv on the side of his nose. He flopped back into the chair and Riddick turned to the woman pinned under his foot. He leaned down slowly and swiped her cheek with the shiv, leaving a small cut to bleed on her cheek. She gasped, holding it and Riddick bent down low, grabbing her cheeks and making her pucker.
"I been in Slam longer than you been lickin' cunts. Don't fuck with me. You stay away from the kid and holy man and we got a deal." He let her face go. "And don't ever pull the kissin' shit. If it happens again, I'm gonna give you a second hole to screw with." He let her go and quickly sheathed his weapon.
It was my cue to leave. I put the cards down and stood, loudly scooting the chair back and slamming it against the table. I walked into the empty bunk and shut the door. I shivered. I had almost died but where was the adrenaline?
I shook again. No use in trying to figure out something I didn't understand immediately. I started to undress and the door to the bunk shut quietly again. I hugged my shirt to my bare chest and turned around.
"You're a fuckin' contradiction, bitch. I don't know why the fuck I still like you." Riddick removed his goggles and set them on the opposite bunk. "Had me fooled with the whole big-doe-eyed shit then I find out you were fuckin' girls to get some morphine. Real cute, Kate."
"Don't call me cute."
He stepped closer and peeled off his shirt, chest raised and inches from my covered breasts and face. I tried to slow my breathing but I could tell it was causing his skin to break out in goose bumps and his chest to start puckering. Was I really turning him on? Could it be possible? I raised my eyes to his and began to bat my eyelashes, making sure they were glazed over enough to seem turned on; I didn't really need to fake that – just watching him fluster was making me all hot and bothered in the right places.
"I know other things you can call me, but cute isn't one." My voice was low and hot breath blew over his collarbone and left pectoral. He swallowed quickly. I titled my head, mimicking him, and slowly wrapped my hand around his waist. Fingers traced over the tiny dimples in his lower back, over the point of his hip and then back around to the bottom of his stomach. Something pushed against my palm and I looked down.
"I guess I owe you for saving my life," I looked back up at his eyes and he wet his lips. My fingers slid from the bottom of his stomach to the growing heated erection between his legs and he growled. I squeezed slightly and gauged his face for a reaction.
"Turns you on when we fight, doesn't it?" Another soft squeeze and even more heat. "Makes you so angry you wanna chain me to the bed and fuck me senseless...I'd be lying if I said it didn't get me hot too." He made a sound low in his stomach. He was aching now; it pushed against my hand incessantly but I pushed right back. "What do you want? Gentleman's choice."
"Sweetheart, you know what I want." His fingers were under my jaw and he tilted my head up. I smiled.
"I'm not very good. Not had much practice."
"Won't make you swallow." He paused. "This time."
I grinned, slowly lowering myself on my knees and undoing his pants.
- - -
"Did you really say my name?"
He took a long breath, still reeling from the orgasm. Everything was still wet, stuffy, and blissful, our bodies lying under the sheet and trying to adjust to the cool air that was hitting us for the first time in hours.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" he said, his voice strained.
"Don't play dumb," I sat up, turning to him, "you know what I mean."
"Ain't playin' dumb, I just don't know what the fuck you're talkin' about," he sat up , swinging his legs over the side of the bunk.
"With Jherice."
"Oh, that shit? Got confused. Had my eyes closed. Guess I was thinkin' about the last girl I had screwed which was you."
"Thanks," I replied sarcastically, "that really makes me feel better."
"See you're not workin' on that temper."
"Fuck you and your view of women. I happen to be attached to my temper."
"Kinda cute too."
"Don't call me cute." But he grinned anyway.
"Want me to call you something else?"
"Like what?"
"Fat-Ass."
I rolled my eyes. "You already wore that one out on the planet. Try again."
"Cry Baby."
"Now you're just being an asshole."
"How about I just call you over like a dog? You know, pat the leg and whistle. Kinda like that one too."
"I'm not your bitch."
"Yeah, you are."
"Then you're my bitch."
"I can't be your bitch, Kate. It doesn't work like that."
"Who gave you a place to live? Fed you? Screwed you? Kept you from being found out? Got you this ship?"
"Who kept you from being beaten to dog food in that fuckin' alley?"
"One thing you did for me, while the list keeps growing on things you owe me."
"I ain't your bitch, Kate."
I smiled. "You don't have to be my bitch, I just want you to stop being such an asshole sometimes. Like if Jack is crying or scared, that is not the time to be an unbelievable shit head."
"Fuck your damn rules. I'll be an asshole whenever I want."
"And I'll be a whining bitch all the goddamn time. Can't have your cake and eat it too, Riddick." I climbed off of the bunk and began to redress, pulling my hair back. Riddick watched then put his goggles back on, reclining naked on my bunk.
"Where you goin'?"
"Hack."
He laughed. "Into what? Ship ain't got shit."
"But the Intergalactic Network does."
"How the fuck did you break into that?"
"I could tell you but I'd have to kill you."
He smiled. I liked it when we joked around. It was Riddick's way of after-sex cuddling or the way he patted you on the back. No physical contact, but verbal prodding and poking. I looked at him.
"You wanna learn my secret?"
"Nope." He crossed his ankles. "Gonna sit in that hatch and figure out how far we are."
"Whatever."