AN: Well, at least it didn't take a month, right?


As soon as the ship's ramp lowered Jack threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and laughing. She'd meant to say hello, but somehow it hadn't gone exactly to plan...

"Thank you so much, I couldn't have done it, umf," she cut off when Dom kissed her, finding herself amazingly short of breath all of a sudden. Without conscious thought a small groan escaped her. Her body quickly relaxed into the familiar feeling of his and she didn't protest in the least when he turned and carried her into the depths of his ship.

"So I take it he's doing good," he commented raggedly when they briefly broke apart for air.

Jack nodded, her fingertips stroking the light stubble on each side of his strong jaw. "Uh, huh, he's great," she agreed, pulling him closer so she could kiss him again.

He was aggressive, wild, and just the way he could hold up her tall frame as if she weighed nothing told her all she needed to know about his strength. His palms were running up and down her sides, advancing and retreating, squeezing in all the right places.

Jack dug her fingers into his thick black hair, loving the softness of it, feeling it just as she felt his hard stomach between her thighs. She wrapped tighter around him, grabbing at his powerful shoulders when she suddenly seemed to fall, only to find she'd made a controlled landing on the couch. Dom joined her a second later, placing one knee between her legs before letting some of his weight come to rest on top of her. Before she knew it he'd made quick work of her jacket and his teeth were gently sinking into her collarbone.

Another groan escaped her lips, all her muscles clenched and relaxed before tightening again. Shivers went down her spine when Dom's hand found her right breast through her t-shirt and began to knead it. His mouth still worked along the column of her throat. The hot feel of his tongue and teeth on that sensitive skin followed closely by cool air blown softly in their wake did things to her body that no fantasy ever had.

Lord was he experienced. Jack had no idea how she was going to make him tremble and gasp in return.

"I'm not going to tell you never to have sexual relations with a man, Jacqueline. I will not force you to adopt my religion or my beliefs. You are not my child to badger and command. I merely leave you with this: In all my time as a 'holy man' as you so fondly call me, I have done much counseling of those who have taken for granted the sacredness of such relations. I have yet to meet a female of such a nature without a sad story to tell.

"It isn't easy to look into a teenaged girl's eyes and see such horrible heartbreak. Or even into a married woman's eyes and see such wrenching shame or scorn. Hardship, anguish, hatred. I do not prophesize these things, I have seen them. I ask you to choose wisely, Jack, because I do not wish to see you unhappy or worse--broken."

Imam's a million miles away and you still can't get him out of your head when you're being naughty, Jackie? Come on, give me a break. What's the problem?

What was the problem? She cared for Dom, deeply. She'd liked him since the moment she'd met him. He turned her on no problem. Why the doubt?

Because, you just realized he's done this a hundred times. Taking your virginity won't even be a notch on his belt. Heh, more like a stitch in his boxers... He could be gone tomorrow and you'd never see him again...

At that moment he pulled away from the hot kiss they'd just been sharing and straightened up, his powerful body towering over her prone form. The way he looked down at her, breathing hard, eyes half closed, it almost took her breath away. Especially when he reached over his shoulder and grabbed the back of his shirt, pulling it smoothly over his head and then tossing it away, revealing one of the most gorgeous torsos she'd ever seen.

Hesitantly she reached out, feeling the warmth of his stomach under one set of fingers and then under all ten. She splayed her hands across his belly, taking in all the sleek curves of muscle. His abs never wavered under her touch, not even when she brushed down them feather-light, in an attempt to find out if he was ticklish. He grunted a little, almost like an animal when her explorations neared his low-slung beltline. For the first time she noticed his jeans were becoming tight on him. Very tight, from the appearance of things.

You ARE in trouble now, Jackie girl. And it looks like BIG trouble.

His pleasantly warm hands settled over hers and slowly he entangled their fingers together, shooting her a small devil-may-care smile. "Think it's time to get you outta some o' those clothes, babe," he said, his half-lidded gaze locking with hers.

Say it, say it! Shit, Jackie, this is your only shot! Two more seconds and you'll be cooked!

He leaned down and kissed her again, using her own hands to work her shirt up and expose her to him. Jack let go, allowing his hands to continue their journey north alone before she let her arms wrap around his neck after a half second of hesitation. He didn't seem to notice. She wanted him to, but he didn't seem to realize she was having doubts...

Yeah, like playing tonsil hockey with him really sent the right signals...

"Incoming urgent message. Incoming urgent message," the female voice of the ship's computer informed them.

Dom swore against her mouth, collapsing on top her for a brief moment before taking his weight on his elbows. "Shit, I've gotta take it, it might be my boss," he said, rolling his eyes. After a second he cocked his head slightly to one side. "You okay?" he asked, his look suddenly turning to one of concern.

Jack nodded. "Yeah, I'll be right here when you get back."

If I don't bolt for the door the second you're out of my sight...

He smiled at her so genuinely it made her heart ache a little. She didn't exactly have to force herself to enjoy the energetic little kiss he gave her before he hopped up and over the back of the couch, walking off purposely to answer the call.

When she knew he was out of earshot she sighed heavily, straightening her shirt so it once again covered her midriff. Letting the heel of her palm rest against her forehead Jack tried to rebalance herself.

Was it too fast? Did zero to 'oo-la' in ten seconds turn your stomach? Please don't tell me you're 'waiting' for someone special, Jack, because it just isn't true. You were always hot for Riddick, but never quite like this. Dom's your age. You love him...

Did she? Could she honestly say she loved Dominic Conte? Well, she knew one thing, whatever deeply felt emotion she held for him, she knew for certain it wasn't mere childhood obsession. That counted hugely in his favor. With Riddick she couldn't always be sure...

So tell him you're not ready. Dom's cool, he'll understand. Just go find him, explain that you got caught up in the heat of the moment and it's just not time yet.

She sighed again, forcing her body off the couch and rising to seek out her companion. She'd never gone beyond the ship's small entertaining area, she wasn't exactly sure of the cabin's location.

A light under a slightly open door caught her attention and she walked toward it, still deep in thought. Still debating when she pushed open the door it took her a moment to realize the room was empty of human presence. Instead of the forward cabin she expected instead she found a small work room. A table sitting in the center of the room overflowed with small parts made of various metals and plastics.

Heh, must be where he builds his more explosive toys.

Jack carefully avoided touching anything on that table, not wanting to accidentally make herself go 'boom.'

From the wall on her left hung a virtual arsenal of firearms and blades. She'd known Dom packed heat, she'd never known he had such good taste in weaponry. As far as she could tell, not a single piece of his collection stood out as a cheap street-corner knockoff.

She whistled low with appreciation, turning to look at the other wall and see what goodies it contained. Her eyes immediately began to round, first with shock, and then slowly with horror.

Pictures, news articles. Pictures of her at school, at home, out with her friends. A whole mural dedicated solely to mapping out Riddick's daily life. There were even shots of Rick with Shella, and Shella with a man Jack didn't recognize. There were pictures of the strange man alone. And then, most frightening of all, the missing piece of the puzzle, were the news clippings. Apparently Dom had a virtual obsession with the crash of the Hunter Grazner. Especially with the survivors. The whole bloody scenario was pieced together right there on that wall from Riddick's escape from slam to the supposed burial of his body on T2. If she didn't know any better, she would've said Conte was engrossed with Richard B. Riddick.

He knew. He'd known all along.

Dom was a merc.

If he knew she'd seen this room, she'd never make it out of the ship alive. She was only good to him so long as she was useful in getting him close to his mark.

Jack silently turned and walked out of the room, looking both ways and finding the hall clear. She clicked off the light, leaving the door slightly ajar. She hurried back to the living area, being as quiet as she could and to her relief found the room completely empty. There was no sign of her temporary captor.

She sat down, her back stiff with fear. She'd made it, he'd never know she'd been in that room at all. Hell, why didn't she just make a break for it? Run home as fast as she could?

Because then he'd know. She'd seen what he could do in a fight. What if Riddick couldn't get them out in time? He couldn't stand up alone against the arsenal Dom was packing.

So she'd play it cool, pretend like she felt sick and excuse herself. He'd have to let her go then. There was no way he could possibly know she'd been in that room...

Jack's heart almost stopped.

She'd turned the light off, it'd been on when she'd found the door.

Could she make it back safely, or was it better not to risk it? What the fuck was she going to do?

Her breathing started turning rapid with panic. She began to whisper to herself, closing her eyes. "Jack B. Badd sat on a wall

Jack B. Badd had a great fall

And All the King's Horses, and All the King's Men

Could never put Jack back together again

Life's a real bitch, and that ain't no lie

But you'd better suck it up, Jackie girl

Cause if ya slip, you'll..." she swallowed hard, feeling the nervous sweat collecting at her brow. She tried to relax, tried to finish, but the words came out sounding choked. "Cause if ya slip, you'll..."

"Die," a low voice rumbled from the shadows behind her.

Jack's fingers clenched into fists and her green eyes flew open, widening with terror.