She was passive at first. Just let him kiss her, while he ran his hands lightly over her body, over her clothes. Finally, she relaxed into the kiss. Began to respond, shyly.
Very carefully, he broke off the kiss. Looked down on her, tenderly.
"I just figured out something," she said.
He groaned, softly, and nuzzled her neck. She forged ahead. "Dame Vaako hates you. Every time we talk, she tries to drive a wedge between us."
He pulled back from her neck, slowly. "Jackie, are you always going to think about a woman when I kiss you?"
She blushed scarlet. "Uh--"
A massive finger was on her lips. "Shhhh. You're going to give me issues." He started kissing her throat, slipping his hands inside her clothes.
"Riddick--"
"I know she hates me, Jackie. I woulda snapped her neck, except it would break her husband's heart."
"You care about Lord Vaako's heart?"
"I like him." He caught her hand, pressed it to his chest, above his heart. "Not as much as I like you. Don't you like me?"
She took a deep, shuddering breath. "I like you."
"And didn't you say I'm beautiful?" he teased.
Her eyes were boring into his. She went very still. "You are everything I have wanted since we met. I wanted to be you. Then I wanted to be with you. I have trouble imagining being with anyone else. Even when I hated you. Even when I thought my whole life would be about hiding from your enemies.
"But first, it's always hurt."
He groaned again, softly. "It won't hurt. We'll take it slow." He ran his hands lower, very conscious of the rush of heat and scent. At least part of her wants this . . .
She took a deep, shuddering breath. "And second, if we do this and you leave me again . . . I'm scared there won't be anything left of me."
He nuzzled her, hands slipping lower again. "Not my plan. Jackie." I don't think I could leave you again. Could barely do it when it was the right thing to do. Now, it would be wrong . . . Then he was kissing her, more insistently. Hands slipping further inside her clothes. Her breath caught. She wriggled away, slightly.
"Are you saying no, Jack?"
"No? I'm not saying no. Not to you."
"Let's stop talking now." Then he was carrying her towards the bedroom, and if she said anything else, he could not hear it.