Autumn Fires Chapter 13: The Calm Before the Storm, a pitch black / riddick fanfic

Exhaustion was something that I was struggling to understand. Having spent my entire life getting little to no sleep one would think that I would be used to it by now. Apparently, the more time I spent around Rick the more I wanted to get a decent amount of sleep. I blamed my animal. She was at peace for the first time in twenty five years and whenever my mate was around all she wanted to do was snuggle up to him and rest. Maybe this was what I needed all this time? Maybe it was just wishful thinking on my part.

Of course I knew that the big man who had claimed me as his knew the answer. My mind was a whirl of questions and I so badly wanted the answers but now wasn't the time to dig. I couldn't afford to be selfish, not one bit. I needed, wanted to make sure that we took care of Jack's situation first before we even delved into mine. Not that I knew that things were only going to get abnormal from here. I knew that the woman that had given me the disk had told me that someone was headed our way. How they would find us I didn't know but deep in my gut I knew they would.

With a sigh, I stretched before I tried to get out of the bed. At least that had been the plan. I was going to get out of bed, get up and move around the ship. Not that there was much to do. I could only eat so much, and watch so many vids before my mind exploded. Oh what I'd give for a ship with a workout room or something. Maybe I could still get some exercise. The main room was large enough that if we moved the furniture around I could still spar with Riddick. Would he spar with me though? We'd been close but we hadn't been joined since that first night. Not that I minded. I knew that neither of us really had time to delve into the sexual side of our relationship. We had too many other things going on in our brains.

As I tried to move from the bed I felt an arm press against me and myself being pulled back into a large warm chest. I knew the meaning behind the unspoken action. Stay put. That was the thing about the two of us. We didn't have to use words to communicate. A look, a touch, a brief passing of our bodies. We knew what each other wanted and reacted accordingly. Why I felt the need to comply to this action I don't know. My inner beast was conflicted. While I wanted to get up and shower and begin the day, I was also perfectly happy to do nothing but lounge around in bed with the man I loved.

"There ain't nothin' we gotta do today. Stay. Relax."

What was I supposed to say to that? He was right, like always, but could I let him know this? We'd already done all the planning we could for the expedition into Taurus 1 and now all we needed was to get there. Tomorrow was the day we would land and start our plans. Today, was just a day in between. Right now I was fighting a losing battle within myself to figure out what I wanted to do. At least I was until I felt fingers ghosting up and down my back.

I honestly don't remember falling asleep the night before. I just knew that I had been emotionally exhausted and when I reached my limit I simply fell into bed and didn't move. Someone, more than likely Riddick, had come in and tucked me in. Well what I might consider tucking me in. I was barely clothed right now as my chest pressed against his, allowing me to shift and our eyes to meet in the darkness. His fingers were ghosting up and down my back, making me shiver but not in fear. There was something gentle and soothing about his actions and I was at a loss for words.

Everyone that looked at the convict only saw the animal, the darkness but there was another side to him. He wasn't some evil being that was hellbent on world destruction. He just wanted to be free, to be left alone. It's what any animal wants in their life. To find love, have a family and be left alone. Though how much of the first two he had actually wanted I didn't know. Try as I might I couldn't say that I understand the man completely. No one would. Rick was his own type of creature and the world would either learn to deal with it, or they'd keep trying to take him out.

Letting my silver eyes bore into the matching pair that belonged to my mate I smiled at him. This, right here in his arms, laying in our bed, was heaven. I had needed this for so long that my animal was trying to make up for it. She purred in contentment at the very notion that his hands were on me, even barely as he stroked my back. I had no idea what he was planning on doing but today was a day to find out.

"There are always things to do Rick. We can't stay in bed all day, can we?"

"We can do whatever the hell we want. The other's they'll leave us alone unless we are crashin'."

The way his voice sounded told me that he'd already had something planned before I woke up. I wonder if he told them only to bother us if it was absolutely necessary. Still it was only around eight in the morning if the chrono was right and we had hours to kill. I really didn't fancy staying in bed all day long. If we were anywhere but on the ship flying through space I might suggest we go mingle in town or do something. We couldn't leave the ship at least not while it was travelling. There would be plenty of time to explore the land tomorrow.

Why was this so hard for me? Even the animal inside of me was content to simply be in the arms of the alpha, of the animal that claimed me as their mate; yet I was still fighting it. It had nothing to do with survival at this moment, because we were as safe as we could be out here in space. Our path was one that was least travelled by mercenaries and unless someone put a hit out on the ship we would be able to hide pretty damn easily. So why was I fighting an order? Why was I trying to find something to do?

That's what I couldn't understand, couldn't wrap my head around. In truth, growing up, all I'd wanted was a chance out of that damned prison and on my own. A chance to be free, or as free as an escaped convict can be. I just wanted to be left alone and yet my whole world had crashed around me simply because I boarded the wrong ship. Did I board the wrong ship? That's what I was trying to figure out. I knew that talking about it would probably help but who could I talk too?

Was Riddick even going to listen to me if I started rambling? Would he understand? I felt like I had so many questions that didn't have answers that I was going to go insane. Closing my eyes for a moment, I tried to will my body to relax and the fear and doubt to leave. It would do no good to be afraid of the outcome. I would survive, whatever was to come. How could I not? Survival gripped my very essence and wove itself down into my bones. I would do whatever I had to survive. It was not my time to die and the world needed to understand that.

As I lay there, trying to come to terms with everything I could feel the heat of Riddick behind me. He hadn't moved a single inch but somehow was still trying to shield me from the riotous thoughts. For someone that could kill so quickly and efficiently it was strange to see a gentle side of him. Not that I was complaining. I had no doubt that Riddick was only gentle around me, and well maybe Jack. When he told people it was an animal thing, he wasn't lying. Animals, by nature were rough and rowdy. They tended to be so dangerous to anyone but those they deemed pack. I was pack, I hoped.

Opening my eyes and staring into the silver ones that were looking at me. For a moment I was trying to penetrate into his brain, to see if I could even garner a fraction of what he was thinking. He was like this hulking wall of knowledge that was surrounded by an impregnable fortress. It unnerved me to know that the man was always smarter than anyone else around him. I wished I had some mystical power that let me read his thoughts, but he had assured me that as our bond grew I could at least feel his emotions.

"What?"

The question was more of a demand than a question. Something my inner animal was frowning at. When the alpha gives you an order you obey it or you face serious consequences. Even now I couldn't even fathom disobeying the request. The very idea of it made me cringe in pain and I knew that he could see it in my eyes. The thought that I might not actually open up and talk to him. I wanted too but I felt like a silly little girl who was in way over her head.

"Just all of this. How does one adjust? You've spent time outside of prison, you've been on the inside as well. You're the one that everyone fears, knowing that no matter what prison they take you too chances are you will escape. Me? I'm a nobody. I was born on a planet and left for dead. In fact if they had been able to kill me I wouldn't be here right now. Who am I really Riddick? I know what that chip told me but is it even true? Who are Furyans? What are we? Are we animal, are we human? Why would anyone even care to understand this? Why?"

For a moment I froze as the dam burst and my emotions came to the forefront. Inside of me the animal was quiet, contemplative for the first time in twenty five years. I wanted so badly to just go with the flow but that was even more dangerous than having the answers that one sought. I knew on a base level that we, as a people, would never truly understand the desires and thoughts of others. I had already learned to categorize people into threes. Those that sought nothing but greed, mostly the cops and mercenaries that came after us, Those that were stupid enough to believe everything they were told about someone, mostly every civilian on every planet. Those that were defiant, and punished for it. People like me who never bothered to understand why we should take something at face value.

"It doesn't matter, Autumn. The more you force yourself to adjust the worse it will become. Trust the animal inside of you, the one that told you that we'd be together. Do you trust that it knows how to protect you? I can sense it there, on the boundaries of your mind and your body. It wants to protect you, to guide you. Trust in it. It's what I do and look at where I am. We survive because we have that animal instinct to survive, because it is ingrained in us not just by us being Furyan's or whatever, but by the fact that life has demanded that we adjust. I won't leave you to handle this alone and your ass better not leave me. We are a team, we are the alpha's and we will overcome it all."

"I wish it was that easy to believe Rick."

"It is. You have to push your fear aside. It will consume you if you let it. Push it aside, feed it to the animal and let it not linger."

Why couldn't people see this man like this? Why couldn't they actually have intelligent conversations with the convict? If they tried they would honestly realize just who they were fucking with. He was not stupid and if he got caught, if we got caught it would be because we allowed it and nothing more. As I lay there, still sprawled across his body I could feel myself finally letting go. All of the rage and confusion, all of the fear. It was bleeding out of me and for once I was truly whole. Well almost whole. The first time I'd felt like everything was clicking into place had been when we had joined. We hadn't been that intimate the last few days but we didn't need to be.

Leaning forward I pressed a kiss to his chest and I could hear his mumbled purr through it. I could hear the animal inside of me telling me that he'd been right this whole time. I was letting the fear of the world outside the walls of the Bay cloud my judgement and my ability to function. Only when I let the animal instincts kick in had I been even somewhat effective. That would change. I was a whole new animal, one the world wasn't ready for but one I was damn sure that Riddick would have no problem with. He didn't need a whiny sniveling little thing, he needed a partner, an equal. I would be that equal.

"So Big Evil, what are we going to do all day."

"Absolutely nothin'."

Before I could speak again there was a soft knock at the door. It was our luck that the bed was situated right in the middle of the room. We could see anyone that tried to enter and for a moment I tensed, thinking I needed to get up and at least throw on some clothes; since Rick had undressed me over night. Feeling him wrap his arms around my waist and hold me tight, making sure the covers were covering me up to mid back and nothing was showing, I relaxed.

"Enter."

Came the command and a tiny head peaked around the door frame with a blush and a smile. As soon as I caught a whiff of the scent I knew why she was the one to be sent. Jack was standing there, blushing and nervous for having to interrupt us. They had sent the one person that we were less likely to yell at or attack. I didn't even bother to turn around and acknowledge her, not that I could in the current situation.

"So..Sorry to interrupt but we've hit a slight hiccup. We can't figure out how to change the course and if we don't change the nav we will run right into an asteroid belt. You're the only know that knows how to pilot Roddick."

"I'll be out in a few kid."

"Alright I'll go tell the others. Just hurry?"

I could hear the panic and fear in her voice but we'd be fine. It was a meteor storm that had taken down the Hunter-Gratzner and so I understood her concern. I watched a moment as Riddick slowly pulled himself from the bed and threw on some pants. With a hesitant look he also grabbed one of his black tanks and pulled it on before moving barefoot out of the room. I might be ready to see him shirtless but I doubted that he others could handle it. For now though, I was going to do as he asked and not move. He didn't want me leaving the bed and if he hadn't have had to leave to go address the possible crash issue I'm quite sure he'd have stayed too.

Glancing at the chrono and sighing, I knew it was close to lunch time. We'd already managed to take up at least three hours doing nothing but laying here talking to each other. I could hear the voices of the other survivors, as they talked about the noises. There was a growl, a whimper and then silence. I was curious about the latter two. What caused him to growl and why was Jack whimpering like she'd been struck? Riddick wasn't one to strike a child. So something else had to have happened.

My instincts were warring with the desire not to disobey an alpha command. I wanted to check and make sure the girl was alright. Before I could though, both Riddick and Jack made their way into the room. I sighed a bit at seeing that they were both fine but I wasn't sure what was going on. Turning my gaze so I could see and knowing that Jack was at a disadvantage because, unlike Rick and myself, she couldn't see in the near dark. The scent of blood was in the air and I wondered if she'd managed to somehow hurt herself.

Shifting, so that I was still covered by the sheets but so that Jack could come and sit by me I watched as she did so. The young girl rested her head upon my chest and sighed as I looked down at her hand. Even in the light that we had I could tell she'd done something stupid. Rick moved out of the bathroom and into the doorway with the first aid kit and I shot him a look. I knew that he'd tell me sooner or later so I didn't push the issue. Not that I was one to push issues, well this issue.

Carefully I watched as the big man moved over and sat down by us so that he could grip Jack's hand. Slowly he cleaned the wound and bandaged it. Whatever she had done it had burned her slightly and cut her. Both would heal and quickly. They weren't severe but they were still ways to learn that she shouldn't do whatever it was she was trying to do again. Leave it to someone knew the parts. With a nudge I forced her to look at me and all I could see was fear and trepidation. She was nervous about tomorrow, but there was something else. It was a fear that she might be taken from us, the only ones who seemed to show more than a passing interest in her well-being.

"Why don't you go get us some lunch, Jack, and leave the sparkin' wires to Shazza next time. Alright?"

"Go on you're fine."

I motioned for her to go. She was going to be fine. I could hear Shazza hovering in the doorway, hoping the girl was alright. I watched with a bit of a strange feeling, as the kid got up, smiled at both of us before sprinting from the room and into Shazza. I could hear the older woman scolding her again for her stupidity but it was done out of love. It wasn't like the type of scolding that Fry had done on the planet. No this was someone that cared about her and hoped she wouldn't hurt herself again.

"Got everything sorted?"

"They just overreact is all. Can't say I blame them what with the last ship goin' down 'cause of a meteor storm. We were still several hours away from impactin'. Just minor shift in the course and we should be fine."

"So what happened to Jack then?"

"One of the kids, Ali I think, was playin' with the vid screen and he dropped it. The wires started sparkin' cause he knocked somethin' loose and Jack went to go grab it. I wasn't able to stop her and Shazza was yellin' at her about it. Knew the kid would be alright and I don't think she'll go grabbin' anymore sparkin' wires for a bit. At least, I hope not. Damn near gave me a coronary, that one."

"Aww you going soft on me?"

The answering growl I got was more than enough queue that if he was going soft he wasn't going to admit it. Riddick was soft when it came to the two of us but then my animal knew why. We were pack. I was his mate, his equal and little Jack, she was a cub, like a sister to us both. She was someone to protect and we couldn't fight our natures on that. Staring up into his eyes I saw the spark of fire that raced across the silver as he leaned in and devoured my lips in a kiss. It wasn't in anger, not really, he knew I was right. Around us he was going soft but the world wouldn't see that, couldn't see that.

"I ain't soft woman."

"Nope, nothing soft about you, muscle boy."

I was playing with fire, that much I knew. From the smirk on his face I could tell I'd get it later and it would be worth it. Any more flirting with him was put on hold when Jack knocked again and brought in a tray with food. Shazza followed with a second tray, both smiled at us and waved before shutting the door.

Riddick climbed off the bed and went and locked the door so we wouldn't have anymore surprised interruptions and drug the trays back with on his return. I was leaning against the pillows now, resting and watching him. He stalked the room like a predator and that was partly why I loved him. Every move he took was filled with a feline grace that no one had seen before. Why else would it intimidate the others?

When he sat again, he was leaning right next to me the trays of food across my lap as we looked down at it. Shazza had been cooking again, not that I minded. The woman was a good cook as well, but then someone like her tended to be. What had me surprised was the amount of food on the tray. They apparently remembered that the two of us tended to eat far more than anyone else. Some of it I wasn't even sure what it was but I wasn't going to look at the food as bad. They had made us lunch and well I was going to eat it.

Slowly I started to nibble on the food, knowing I was being watched. On one level I wondered if it was a way for Riddick to control things. I'd seen the way he'd eye me critically as if he was making some judgement of my person. Most convicts by nature were scrawnier than they should be. If he was planning on fattening me up I wouldn't mind in the least. I happened to like food, and it didn't bother me as much as it should. When he seemed pleased enough that I wasn't going to fight him on the amount of food he started to eat himself. This was companionable silence, peace.

For now we had that. We had the peace and were being left alone. It was only a matter of time though, before someone else tried to come after us. Eating was the only thing I could do right now. In a way I knew that Riddick was right, we had managed to spend most of the day in bed, one way or another. He was planning something, that much I could tell but I wasn't able to pin what it really was. So many ideas ran through my head about what he was planning.

Soon enough the food was gone, the trays completely clean and the drinks were drained. It was an interesting day to say the least. I could handle this food in bed thing more often, especially if it included such lovely desserts as chocolate covered strawberries. I had seen the way his eyes lit up at my moans. It was such a delectable treat that I'd never had before. A part of me wondered if he remembered that I'd spent my entire life, up until this point, locked inside a prison. They sure as hell didn't have chocolate covered strawberries in prison.

When the trays were out of the way the mood in the room changed, shifted and honestly I was shocked I didn't see it coming sooner. I was flat on my back, staring up into calculating silver eyes and wondering exactly what he was thinking. I didn't have to wait for long as his mouth pressed against mine. It was gentle and yet demanding at the same time. I put up no fight, knowing that I wanted the same thing.

Allowing my body to relax under his, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. This was our time, a time for us to enjoy each other without the constant fear of someone attacking us. As his kiss deepened I didn't fight his actions. He moved us so that for the first time I had a chance to have the power. He was laying on his back, with me straddling his legs as he smirked up at me.

There were times I really hated how cocky and self-assured he was but I knew it was part of the whole package. All I could do for a moment was sit there and stare down at the fine specimen of a man that was in front of me. I must have sat there for too long because I felt him nudge me and then laugh a little. I wanted to smack him, but instead I just slid myself home and set a soft but gentle rhythm. I'd never get used to having him inside of me, not that I was complaining. He knew exactly what he was doing with that body of his.

Our lovemaking this time was sweet and gentle, nothing like the first time. There was no hurry, no need to rush our mating. We were joined, together, always and we could enjoy it this time. I hadn't been expecting the feelings to show up as quickly as they had this time. This feeling of bliss and harmony. There was no denying that Riddick could tell more about me than I could tell about myself. He could tell when I was close to the edge and struck with his teeth in his mark at that moment. The wail he pulled from me was not one of pain but of satisfaction. If I was entirely honest with myself I would know that I'd never come so hard in my life.

Our lives were intrinsically linked, there was no arguing about it. He knew what pleased me and I knew on some level, maybe not one as strong as his, what pleased him. I had a lot more to learn about the animal beneath me but I was willing. As I came down from the high that he always made me feel, I stared into eyes as I felt my body relax to the point of being jelly. I was so content and happy that I wouldn't be able to protect anyone like this. Not that it mattered. Riddick, no matter what state, always seemed to be able to take down the enemies.

Laying there, with my head on his chest I felt myself relax again. I wouldn't stay in the same spot for long. Riddick moved, laying me out on my stomach on the bed as his strong fingers started working the muscles up and down my back. He was working at the knots and the stress points and all I could do was moan in contentment. Whatever I'd done to deserve this I wasn't going to argue. I was so relaxed that my entire body and the animal inside of me felt completely at ease. I wanted nothing more than to close my eyes and drift off.

Maybe I would if it was the right time. Life was funny that way. I stopped trying to fight the idea of going to sleep, instead I just let myself relax further. I didn't care what time it was, all that mattered at the moment was that I was relaxed. I could hear my mate purring above me, appreciating my efforts to stay calm and relaxed. Now was not the time to push issues with him. Then again, there was never a time but I could feel myself falling into the lulling darkness of sleep. That much was clear.

I knew what it was like to be exhausted. I'd been there many times myself and sometimes all I could do was pass out and hope to still be alive when I woke up. This was different. I was watchin' Autumn struggle with it and it hurt. She didn't need to be so confused by the world. She was tired, she should rest. There was absolutely nothin' wrong with doin' that. I had plans for her today and the others had already been told not to bother us unless the ship was going to crash. We needed our time, just the two of us and for the most part I think they understood.

I could tell that Jackie girl was a little nervous about bein' out of our site but Shazza would protect her. It was a good choice at the time, really. Lettin' the free settler take care of the girl kept her out of our hair. 'Sides Shazza was always comin' up with some new invention and gettin' Jack to learn how to do it. Good for both of them. Right now, my time was foucsin' on the woman in the bed with me. She was the one that needed my attention.

I'd spent so long listenin' to the animal inside of me. Learnin' to control it and put it back in a cage when needed so I understand what it was sayin' to me. It wanted to to give our mate a little bit of tender care and hope that she relaxed enough to just enjoy the day. So many thin's could be done later, thin's that didn't really require our attention. She just tended to be one of those women that flit around and triple checked everythin'. I'd have to break her of that habit, eventually.

Layin' there with my arms wrapped around her and her now naked chest pressed against my front I couldn't help but smile. She had no idea the thin's I'd done sneakily to her overnight. Nothin' bad, just makin' it so I could feel her naked flesh against my own. It appeased the beast inside of me immensely and I could tell that it wouldn't be too much of a problem. Autumn was the kind of person that easily forgave, at least when it came to me.

As she stretched, I tried not to groan. The feelin' of her rubbin' against me made me harden far more than I should have, at the given hour. I could sense that she was tryin' to get out of bed and I wouldn't have any of it. Squeezin' my grip on her, I pressed her closer to the bed and pulled her back against me. I was sendin' her a silent message and I could tell that she understood. It was clear, the order. Stay Put. We didn't often need words in situations like this; a look, a touch, a fleeting moment. It was enough. I could feel her tense around me and I knew I needed to say somethin' before everythin' became all topsy-turvy on us.

"There ain't nothin' we gotta do today. Stay. Relax."

I didn't want her to feel like I was trappin' her but really she was movin' far too much for my liking. I was hoping to catch a few more hours of sleep but once she started to wake I knew I couldn't stay asleep. This day was about makin' sure she was comfortable and relaxed. I wanted to find a way to melt all that stress away from her. There was no maybe about it, I could, and I would find a way to get her to relax enough that she fell asleep again.

Ghostin' my fingers up and down her back was the only thin' I could do. I was tryin' to relax her and a part of me wasn't even sure how. This simple action, one I'd started unconsciously was the only thin' at the moment that made sense to do. As her head tilted up to mine I leaned down to look at her. The lights were kept low enough that neither of us needed our goggles. It was a heady enough feelin' knowin' that there was at least one other person who could see like I could. My animal was crooinin' at her. Tryin' to get her to relax. It wanted the same thin' that I did for her from the moment I'd marked her.

Her smile almost did me in right there. I don't know why but whenever she was around I felt weak. She was quickly becomin' my whole world and I knew the thought of survivin' without her would be unbearable. I wanted to make sure she had everythin' her heart desired. This wasn't a feelin' I was used too. Sure I'd looked out for people before, but this was somethin' new. It was a feelin' that I was sure I was goin' to have to dwell on at a later time. Right now, I needed her to understand that she wasn't leavin' the bed unless we started to crash.

"There are always things to do Rick. We can't stay in bed all day, can we?"

"We can do whatever the hell we want. The other's they'll leave us alone unless we are crashin'."

I couldn't help but put a little bit of anger into my voice. She was questionin' my plans and it annoyed me. I wanted her to just trust me, fully, without havin' to know every detail. So far she'd done that so why was now any different? I watched her glance at the clock and tried not to laugh. I didn't care what time it was, she was mine and if I wanted to stay in bed with her the whole day I would. It wasn't such a bad way of spendin' time was it?

Her animal took it for what it was, a slight command from it's alpha. I could see her warrin' with herself. She was fightin' the hold that her inner beast had on her. Most days, that'd be an accomplishment but not today. Not when I want her to just put herself in my hands and allow me this time. We weren't likely to get many. Our lives were always goin' to be dangerous, merc's always chasin' us and draggin' us into slams. So what little time we had between those events was time we needed to spend wisely.

I kept my gaze on her as she looked anywhere but at me, at first. When she did finally look my way I could tell she wanted to ask me somethin'. I wasn't gonna stop her, not when she needed to express this or it was goin' to eat at her for a while. I hadn't meant for my voice to come out as harsh as it was but she wasn't sayin' anythin'. I didn't like the silence, not when there was somethin' thick in the air that we needed to talk about.

There she'd said it. Quite a mouthful actually. I knew that she had questions and concerns and in a way it made me growl. I didn't want her scared, or unsure. I wanted her to trust that I had her back as she had mine. That in the end, when the darkness of the night came all the worries of the day could be left and picked up again the mornin'. Her fears, though, they made sense. In the grand scheme of thin's she wasn't anyone of importance. At least to anyone outside of myself and those on this ship. She was someone who by all accounts didn't even exist. That was a hard thing to swallow, I know. I wouldn't let it be the thin' that bothered her, not today.

"I wish it was that easy to believe Rick."

"It is. You have to push your fear aside. It will consume you if you let it. Push it aside, feed it to the animal and let it not linger."

It was true. Fear was not the way to get things to happen. Fear, if you let it would consume until you were nothin' but a weaklin'. I had fear, but I often fed it to the animal inside of me and let it calm me down. That's partly what it was there for, my animal. It was my guide, my moral compass and it had yet to let me down. When people started gettin' civilized is when they started to fall. I could see that my words were startin' to synch into her brain. She was startin' to relax and I trusted that in the end she'd shove away all the fear of the unknown. For all intents and purposes, Autumn was still a child to this world. She'd never had a chance to adjust like the rest of us, to experience a world outside the prison walls. I would change that; eventually.

Feelin' her press a kiss to my chest I couldn't stop the purr that escaped me. I liked that feelin' and wanted her to do it again. Her animal understood what it was that I was sayin'. It was guidin' her now and she was lettin' it. I wanted to jump for joy but that would be out of character for me. At least from what I could tell. She didn't want to see me doin' that and it might very well scar the others further than the past few days had.

"So Big Evil, what are we going to do all day."

"Absolutely nothin'."

I could tell that she wanted to say somethin' but she didn't get the chance. The moment she started to speak there was a soft knock at the door. I could tell who it was before they even got that close. They had sent Jack to come get us, afraid we'd go off on the others. Still there was a chance that we could yell at the child too. Just because she was the one we were the closest too didn't make her safe from our wrath.

"Enter."

There was no room for argument. My tone of voice spoke that I wasn't happy we were bein' interrupted. I doubted we were crashin' so I wondered what was up. I could see Jackie girl's head peek around the corner of the door. She didn't see anythin' that would damage her in any way, both myself and Autumn were covered. Still didn't stop the blush that ran up her cheeks. I could smell it on her, the embarrassment.

"I'll be out in a few kid."

"Alright I'll go tell the others. Just hurry?"

There was a slight edge of panic in her voice and I understood why. It had been an asteroid field that we'd run through and crashed the Hunter-Gratzner. Auto pilot could adjust for most thin's but sometimes you had to manually change courses. I knew that they wouldn't trust the ship to fly itself in a situation like this. When Jack left I sighed. It was close to lunch time but I needed to look all this over before I thought about gettin' us food. Slippin' out of bed and into some black pants, I threw on one of my clean tanks and left the room.

There wasn't a need for shoes as I was only goin' to the cockpit. I knew this ship better than anyone and I knew where the dangerous parts were. Movin' my way through the others as they congregated out of the door I pulled open the cockpit door and waited. They all hovered in close enough to see what was goin' on but not close enough to truly be crowdin' me. As I studied the nav screen in front of me I realized it wasn't as bad as they were thinkin'. We weren't anywhere near. The proximity sensors were just set extremely high.

"It's nothin'. We aren't even close to it. They just set the sensors far too sensitive for what they should be. I've adjusted that. We ain't gonna crash so relax please?"

I wanted to get back to the woman waitin' for me in bed. She was all that mattered right now. Not the ship, not the people on it, just her. She needed to be my focus for a moment and I was lettin' her down with that. With that all bein' said I watched as they scampered out of the room and towards the livin' room. That was when there was a commotion. Heavin' a sigh, I moved but I wasn't quick enough. Jack apparently thought it would be fun to try to grab a sparkin' wire. I couldn't fight back the loud growl that came from my mouth, or the shriek that came from Jack.

Grabbin' her by the arm I jerked her away, albeit gently, from the tangled mass. My grip wasn't one to hurt but I knew she wouldn't understand until I said somethin'. Castin' a glance at Shazza I pushed Jack out towards the master bedroom where I could go take care of her bleedin' fingers. The older woman came over quickly to look at the situation at hand. She would make sure that nothin' else happened and fixed it.

"C'mon, lets get that looked at."

I pushed the girl through the door and watched as Autumn stared at us. I kne that she wanted to know what was goin' on and I would tell her. I watched as the young girl went and practically threw herself at Autumn, burrowin' down and waitin'. I could smell the blood and the burnt flesh and I knew it needed to be fixed quickly. Without sayin' a word I moved into the bathroom. That was where the first aid kit was. When I had the items in my hand, I made my way back to the bed and gently grabbed the girl hand again. Cleanin' the wound I bandaged it and spoke to her gently.

"Why don't you go get us some lunch, Jack, and leave the sparkin' wires to Shazza next time. Alright?"

"Go on you're fine."

Autumn confirmin' that she was fine seemed to be the thin' to get Jack out of our bed. I didn't want to have to interrupt our time like that but I could see that the girl needed to be looked after. At the questionin' look I knew that I needed to give her answers. It wasn't like me to take that kind of care of someone, well aside from Autumn and Jack. Still I felt somewhat responsible for her hurtin' herself. I hadn't exactly been nice to them and she'd been out tryin' to get away from me.

"Got everything sorted?"

"So what happened to Jack then?"

"Aww you going soft on me?"

Growlin' at the woman I loved I leaned close enough for her to see my eyes. I was soft, but only on two people. She knew it, and I knew it but still I didn't want her speakin' about it. When people found out that the big bad con was soft they tended to hurt the ones I was soft on. I knew my face probably held fire, passion and a whole lot of other emotions that she seemed to flow through me.

"I ain't soft woman."

"Nope, nothing soft about you, muscle boy."

Her attitude was enough to make me laugh. Smirkin' down at her I understood what she was tellin' me. This was time for us. We needed this but we were interrupted again. I knew it was the food this time. Smilin' as I opened the door I waited for the trays to be sat down before I closed and locked the door. We wouldn't be interrupted again. Bringin' the trays over I sat them on the bed and leaned right next to Autumn.

I made sure the food was across her lap. I wanted her to eat. She needed to put meat on her bones. The slam had made her too skinny, not that I didn't love all of her. I just knew that with a healthy diet she'd look even more fierce than she already was. The trays were overloaded with food, far more than enough for both of us and it was, strangely, the two of us convicts that ate more than anythin'.

I was watchin' her, I had to admit. I wanted to make sure that she ate, that she wasn't goin' to fight me on this. As I watched it catch on in her eyes, she started eatin' more. This was a good time. Food, lunch, whatever it was. It was another bit of time for us, where we could lock ourselves away from the rest of the world and hope to just be ourselves. I wasn't goin' to complain. The food was good too. Shazza was a decent cook but then so was Autumn. Maybe it was a female thin', most tended to be pretty good cooks and all.

I watched the way she devoured the sweets and it turned me on, a lot. No one should be that seductive eatin' chocolate covered strawberries but she was. The problem was, she didn't even know she was doin' it. She just acted like someone who'd never had such a treat in her life and the small little moans of happiness were doin' nothin' to keep my lust at bay. I could feel the atmosphere in the room shift, charge with my feelin's. I just didn't understand why it took her so long to figure it out.

Not that she wa stupid but she was not pickin' up on thin's quite as clearly as she could. Pressin' my mouth to hers, I let the kiss guide me. I had her in my arms and there was nothin' that was goin' to tarnish this moment. She was mine and I was goin' to claim her, again. Not that it was all about the sex for me, but animals did tend to like that sort of thin'. Who was I to argue when my inner beast was in agreement with me for once.

I shifted us both so that she was sittin' there, straddlin' my thighs. I was givin' her all the power. It was a heady rush, to her at least, I could see it in her eyes. She wasn't used to havin' the power and I wasn't gonna fight her. I wanted her to have it. I had to nudge her though, to get her movin'. I can't say that the act was anythin' but what it should be. It was sweet and gentle soothin' both the nerves of our animals. We had already done the frenzied matin' that came with bein' what we were and now we could take the honest time and enjoy each other's company.

I was waitin' for her to get relaxed. That kind of relaxed where she seemed to be floatin' on clouds. When I knew that she was ready, that she needy I leaned in and bit her again. It served a two part purpose. I was re-establishin' my claim as the alpha over her but at the same time I was makin' sure that the mark had truly set. It was a way to warn of other attackers, or animals that she belonged to me. As she came undone around me I couldn't help but smirk. I knew what it took to please her and I would do whatever it took to accomplish those goals. End of story.

I felt her crash her head to my chest as she came down from her high. Sex with Autumn was like nothin' else I'd had and I'd had lots of sex. It was deep, and it was fundamentally soothin'. Never had my animal been more satisfied and satiated than the moments I spent with her. Even doin' nothing but holdin' her in my arms was enough to keep me at peace, and soothed. I got an idea though, in that moment and I knew she'd like it.

Movin' so that I was leanin' over her I started to work out the kinks and stresses in her back. I could feel her muscles givin' under the onslaught. I wanted her calm and as de-stressed as possible. When I hear her breath even out and her body go completely still I knew she'd fallen asleep. I wasn't goin' to wake her, she needed the rest. I would make sure she got it as I moved to lay beside her, allowin' myself to doze off too.