Author's Note: Okay, not as big of a response to the Riddick/Jack smut as I hoped for, but all of the responses were positive. I'll also take this chance to do a little shameless promotion for my friend Matrix Taylor, who's writing a Christine Feehan fanfiction called Dark Silence. If you're a Christine Feehan fan, slip by and show her some love, as the story is really interesting, and highly unique. Plus, there's also the fact that she gives me props as her beta-reader/editor/poking muse or whatever. .

Oh, and the reader challenge of finding out what my chapter titles have in common will be CLOSED as of the posting of Chapter Thirteen. C'mon, ladies and gents (presuming there are some guys out there... hears crickets), won't anyone guess?

I also apologize for the long wait between chapter eleven and chapter twelve. I've been incredibly busy and have had my access to computers a bit limited. -.-;

I was asked what I bribed Riddick with? Well, it involved the painful murder of Dame Vaako, Toombs, and the Sheikh in this story, plus a few more fantastic sex scenes with Jackie-girl. Other than that... Heh heh... Might not be too wise for me to say more... After all, he does know where I sleep. -.-;

Chapter Twelve: Desert Rose

New Mecca

One day later

Riddick lay back on the bed, perfectly peaceful for one of the few times in his life. Well, one of the few times that didn't involve having ghosted someone, been in a bar brawl that involved ghosting someone, or any variation thereof. Then again, he could assume that anyone who had spent the fair majority of the past five days making their mate scream in countless ways, had cum so many times that he was sure that there wasn't a number high enough to enumerate it, would be as well pleased and peaceful as he was.

Riddick, the galaxy's ex-most wanted killer, couldn't have killed anyone at the moment, even if a Merc came in and pulled a knife on him.

Jack gasped for breath, her body still shuddering lightly. He had stopped counting her orgasms after three- or had it been four?-, but he knew that she was well-pleasured and exhausted. Hell, he was exhausted, and he had used to be able to ride a woman all night.

"Fuckin' hell... Riddick, you're gonna kill me," she panted. He turned over and looked at her, seeing swollen lips, glassy eyes, small red marks from his possession. He purred contentedly, delighted at the physical signs on her. She was well and truly claimed and he had done it. He was the only man to possess her and no other would ever take her from him. He had succeeded in fulfilling his chief desire.

She saw his smile and heard his purr. "No way in hell, Riddick. You've fucked me senseless, but there's no way we can go at it again tonight. Night is for sleep. Now, we sleep."

He roared out a laugh that had her smiling quietly. He saw that it was a Victoria Blanchett smile and held in the growl of discontent. He thought that it had been very clear that Victoria Blanchett wasn't allowed in their bed. Here it was supposed to be just Jack and Riddick. He tried to accept that she had lived seven of the last eight years as Victoria and had, in some ways, become Victoria...

He couldn't stop himself from rolling her on top of him and kissing her senseless. "Jack."

She moaned quietly, shivering. "Riddick."

He nodded. "No other. You're mine," he whispered for the millionth time, too exhausted to follow the words up with the usual intense fucking session that he'd given her every time he had said it over the past five days.

"I catch Chanel No. 5 on you that isn't mine, I'm slicing your balls off, understood, Riddick?" she yawned. Had she been fully awake and holding some blade or another, the threat would have been more effective, but he knew that she meant it. Jack never said what she didn't mean in the moment. He knew, though, that she would always mean this.

He had meant it when he said it. She owned him. She had made it where no other woman would satisfy him again. There wasn't a chance of him straying from her.

"Understood, Jack. Sleep now, baby girl. We've got to be at the ships in a few hours."

She yawned again and slid into slumber, one leg hooking over both of his so that he couldn't move without waking her. Not that he'd leave her in the bed alone here.

He slipped into a light sleep, thinking of how Jack had bloomed in this environment, much like a rose in the desert or a angel in the concrete. It was wonderful to see and he knew that he would have to be very careful to avoid destroying her. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he harmed her.

There was a light snort and he smiled slightly. He could kill without blinking but one little girl's light was beyond his ability to snuff out. And, more amazingly, somehow, it was alright with him.

She walked in nothing but Grace and a piece of white fabric some very generous soul might consider a dress... if he was half-drugged and a homosexual. Jack walked with her, chattering pleasantly. He relaxed, aware that the other woman wasn't a threat.

Jack was clothed in something that resembled old Earth light leather armor, her left bicep bearing a blue, glowing handprint. She wore a leather skirt with the armor, boots coming up to her knees. He noted where her blades were with pride. He had taught her well. Not even a Goddess got her unarmed.

"No, I'm not a threat, Riddick, but you will come across one soon," Shirai said, obviously plucking the thought from his head.

"Who?"

She laughed lightly. "I cannot tell you that, Riddick, and you know I cannot. I have given you all of the warning that I can in telling you that you are in danger. I have warned the both of you before, but never together. It is good that you are united at last."

"United? It's just sleepin' together. Nothin' big," Jack corrected Shirai.

"Is that so, Audrey Jacqueline? 'Just sleepin' together?' No. It is more than that, otherwise Furya is doomed. You're scared of anything more, Audrey Jacqueline. Unfortunately, I do not have time to stay here and relieve your fears. I can tell you this, though, you may think yourself abandoned, neglected, rejected, and unloved, Audrey Jacqueline, but you are more protected, loved, wanted, and needed than any other woman in this universe. There is no other like you, be you Jack B. Badd, Victoria Blanchett, or Audrey Richards."

There was a flash of light and an intense pain in his head, on his right bicep, before he returned to the darkness of sleep.

x-x-x-x-x-x-

Jack walked up to The Serenity Lost and keyed in her entry code. This trip was going to be incredibly lonely. She and Imam al-Walid had decided that it was finally time for Alex to stay on Helion Prime and receive a more formal education than what the tutors that traveled with the band could provide. Her heart screamed at leaving him here, but it was needed. Abu was rarely wrong about where someone needed to be at in a particular place in time.

Plus, it would make the transition concerning her and Riddick's... relationship... easier. No parent wanted their child walking in on coital activities, no matter how mind-blowing said activities were. She just couldn't believe it, though.

"Mama, Mama!"

At first she didn't stop, thinking that it was the need to hear it that had manifested Alexi's perfect little voice. Then, she froze and turned.

There stood the smaller of the Riddicks, his daddy beneath him as the big Riddick carried him piggy back, looking a bit pained, and every bit a proud father. She was certain that it was her fantasizing, but when Richard's hand touched her she saw that it was real.

"Alex, why did you not stay at Grandpa Abu's?"

He frowned and shook his head. "Can't leave you to defend yourself. You'll get hurt and I have to be there."

Jack looked at the big Riddick with a suspicious glare... Could he have taught their son that line that was so vaguely familiar and resonated with the memory of when he had left her the first time?

Nooo, not even Riddick was that evil. He wouldn't have.

She smiled and shook her head as well. "I guess that since you're here and your Papa is carrying your bag, you can come. This time. Next time, you're staying."

"You-"

Richard looked up at his son and shook his head. Alex shut up and Jack laughed.

"I guess that 'Papa' is better than 'Father'," Riddick said with a shrug, his face thoughtful. "But there ain't gonna be no callin' me by my real name, clear, boy?"

Jack and Alex both nodded. Jack's nod was before she could realize that Riddick wasn't speaking to her and he barked out a laugh.

"You ain't no boy, Jack. You and I both know that, yes?"

She blushed brightly and whistled innocently as she boarded the ship. "You on the Midnight Storm or are you coming on The Serenity Lost, sugar?" she queried, tossing the question over her shoulder like it didn't matter. It did, but she'd not let him know.

"I'm on the Storm. I've got to deliver Elizabeth to Furya. Then the Storm is being sold. Alex wants to travel with me."

She nodded, not entirely satisfied with the answer, but accepting it nonetheless. She was pleased that Alex wanted to spend time with his father, but it hurt that they both knew that she would have an empty ship and neither bothered to care that she would be very lonely.

"See you in a week, Big Evil."

He nodded and she closed the ship, her last sight on New Mecca being her son slapping his father upside the head and the ship rang with her laughter.

x-x-x-x-x-x-

Space Lane 211

Interplanetary Route to Furya

The Midnight Storm

"Prepare yourself!" Elizabeth barked at Alex, tossing a quarterstaff at him. Alex caught it and twirled it, testing the weight carefully before balancing his weight on spread legs. Riddick stood to the side, prepared to intervene if Alex proved too strong and/or rough for Elizabeth, though Elizabeth assured Riddick that she doubted that would happen.

"Ready?"

At Alex's nod, Elizabeth charged Alex. Alex blocked the staff easily, but was thrown back with the pure force of her attack. Riddick restrained the urge to go and see if he was okay, knowing that Jack would be upset if their son was injured. He wasn't sure if he liked Alex yet, as he realized that Alex was accustomed to being the top dog on The Serenity Lost.

Yet, Alex was still his son. His son by Jack, though he was still a stranger to fatherhood and trying to adjust to the state.

"Again!" Elizabeth stated, waiting for Alex to get up. And then, again, she knocked him to the floor. "You are not the Alpha here, Alex. You are the weakest member of this ship and you will act like it! Until you get stronger, you will respect your betters. Is that understood, pup?!"

Alex nodded, not looking at Riddick for support. He seemed to understand that dominance was earned, not just given by birth and that was something that made his father incredibly proud.

"Elizabeth, ease up on him. Remember, his mother is Terra human. She probably hasn't given him much strength training," Riddick said, finally interfering. Alex gave him an appreciative glance and Elizabeth just nodded.

"Alright, Riddick. Stand up, pup. I'll start you at level one."

x-x-x-x-x-x-

Space Lane 211

Interplanetary Route to Furya

The Serenity Lost

Jack turned on her music, gently rolling her shoulder. Who would have thought that Riddick could actually be a gentle, caring, considerate lover?

She laughed. She knew that she was special and that, had she just been an ordinary whore, Riddick would not have spent five days making her scream, been so gentle as to make her cry, and not have given a damn whether or not she enjoyed it. She had known about Riddick's whores when they had travelled together and had actually talked to one… or two. Riddick would have been so upset to find out that his fourteen-year-old ward, no matter how reluctant he was to claim guardianship, had been interviewing the women he fucked.

She began a small training exercise, designed to stretch her muscles and keep her as flexible as possible. It was great to be able to do backflips, crazy jumps, and other stunts on stage…. Plus her mate was a very adventurous, very vigorous lover. Gave a whole new definition to 'a freak between the sheets.'

Her mate…. She still couldn't believe she had finally caught the universe's most Alpha male. After so long, trying to convince herself that Audrey Richards was dead, that Victoria Blanchett didn't need Riddick, that she didn't need t be held, loved, wanted, needed….

And Riddick had disproved her in less than a month. One month…

She did a flip, not using her hands, and landed in a split, her thoughts growing troubled. One month wasn't enough time to fall in love. Plus, she had been in the middle of a strong hormonal upheaval when she and Riddick had reconnected this time.

She stayed in the split, thinking carefully. Did she love Riddick or was it just the better than fabulous sex, the need to be wanted and needed talking? And that dream she had last night… Shirai, the patron Goddess of Furya, a woman she knew better than she knew herself. If one could ever truly know a goddess.

She stood up, moving quickly in silent fury. This was unacceptable. Of course, Riddick didn't love her and she sure as hell didn't love Riddick. It was impossible, and she wouldn't love someone that didn't love her, but that wouldn't stop her from enjoying the physical aspect of their relationship.

x-x-x-x-x-x-

New Medina

Sheikh Hazad's Palace

The Sheikh watched Victoria Blanchett's exercise routine with hungry eyes and hardened loins, his hand moving against himself. What a lovely temptress. Those eyes… Yes, he could carve out her eyes when he was through with her.

Those eyes had been the first thing to seduce him.

He knew that they were headed to a small planet called Furya, mostly inhabited by women, and his own fleet of ships where headed to intercept The Serenity Lost upon arrival to Furya and force a hyperspace jump back to New Medina.

He hardened more at the thought of the torture that awaited Victoria Blanchett upon her arrival at his palace.

White liquid shot out and he leaned back in his chair, turning off the video feed. He wouldn't be using his hands on himself soon enough.

Patience, wise one. Patience.