He Didn't Come

Riddick said, “Lights to twenty percent.”

It was their first night on the restored ship. Moving everything back in place had been hard work, but it was worth it. He wasn’t exactly sure where they would go from there, but they could worry about that tomorrow. The boys were asleep in Jack’s old room, and the ship was, at last, smoothly soaring through space. The time had finally come.

Jack stood before him, looking extremely nervous. “Riddick…” she began.

“This okay? Do you need it brighter?”

Jack shook her head. “No. If it goes any brighter, you wouldn’t be able to keep the goggles off. I need to see your eyes.”

Riddick smiled. He wanted this first time to be beautiful… and for that, he needed to see her clearly. “Okay,” he replied. He could hear the huskiness of his own voice. “Turn around.”

“But—” Jack began to protest, but Riddick put a single finger to her lips.

“Shh. Trust me, Jack.”

Slowly, she turned around. Her curves seemed to be smooth grace incarnate. He put out his hands and placed them on her waist, tugging gently. She obliged and stepped back, leaning into him. He put his face down and buried it in her scent. His Jack.

The smell brought memories of the past six years rushing to him, all at once. The first time he saw her, looking terrified, but facing down the ‘rats nonetheless. The look on her face when she killed the merc. The cutting. The healing. The laughter and the smiles and the pain. They had to learn each other back then, and they had to do it all over again when he cut fence from slam. Her scent had changed. He had had to re-memorize it. It was still Jack, but deeper. Warmer. There was so much to this girl… no. This woman he held.

He brought a hand up to her right breast. Breathing into her ear as he spoke, he murmured, “Remember that I love you.”

Jack nodded against his chest. He felt her breathing change as he plucked gently at her nipple. It rose to meet his touch, blossoming into a perfect bud of arousal. His fingers grew more insistent, and he cautioned himself, Easy. Careful with her. She’s just like a virgin. Be as gentle as if she were one.

He relinquished her nipple and began stroking her neck with his lips and tongue. She gave a half-sigh, half-moan. “Riddick—“

“Yes, Jackie?”

“Mmmm…”

Her words died when he moved to her ear and nuzzled it, taking another heady whiff of her scent, which was becoming rich with her arousal. He suckled her earlobe and groaned into her ear, “You’re so amazing, Jack. You see that, don’t you?”

Jack didn’t respond, and he said, “Lights to forty percent.” It was the highest setting he could stand without a lot pain.

“Riddick, what are you doing?”

“Shh, Jack. Relax. Remember when I said to trust me?”

She nodded. “Yes. I trust you.”

“Good. Come over here.” Never letting go of her body, he guided her over to the full-length mirror he had salvaged from the station and installed in his wall. He positioned them both in front of it and said, “Look, Jack. See this?” He touched her face, her lips. “I love this. Beautiful.” He moved down her body, trailing his hand lightly against her shirt. There was just enough pressure for her to feel its presence on her body. His hand reached her breast and stopped. “And this? I love this, too.” He brought up his other hand and cupped both breasts. “And this.”

Jack’s breathing was growing more and more intense. He smiled. He knew she had it in her. He was prepared for a reemergence of her fear, but was determined to get her through it this time. All the way.

“But most of all…” Riddick ran his teeth lightly across the curve of her shoulder, being very conscientious not to be too aggressive. The killer was looking for conquest, but he wouldn’t give in. Jack needed Riddick the man, on his own. Maybe, later, Riddick could let the killer free with her. The killer would never harm her, but he would scare her. The killer was rough, and she was nowhere near ready for that just yet. He hoped that eventually she would be.

“Most… of all… what…?” Jack’s throaty whisper touched his ears, and he released her breasts.

“Most of all I love this…” he placed the side of three fingers against her temple. “And this…” he placed the other hand over her heart. He could feel it beating under her shirt, vibrating through her skin. She was so alive. So trusting. So beautiful….

Riddick’s hands slid down to her shirt. “Are you watching, Jackie?” She nodded, and Riddick growled in approval. “Good. Pay attention, now. Pay attention and see what I see.” Hooking his fingers on the hem, he inched the fabric up and over her smooth stomach, slightly rounded beneath the belly button. “See this, Jack?” He nudged her arms with his elbows, even as he continued drawing it over her skin, which was becoming warmer by the moment.

She immediately lifted her arms, and Riddick finished removing her shirt. She was wearing a simple cotton sports bra. Riddick reached into his pocket for his shiv. “Trust me, Jack?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” He slid the cutting edge underneath the material, warm from her heated skin. It fell away and she was revealed to him. High breasts… proud breasts. He touched them again gently, moving to her nipples.

“Riddick… I….”

“Yes, baby?”

He heard her sigh. “I want… I don’t know. Feels sooo good….”

“Hmm,” he rumbled. “Good. That’s the point, babe.” His lips latched onto her neck, and he began sucking and nibbling. She groaned and pressed against him.

“More….”

“More what?” he whispered. She was melting under his hands, becoming his.

“I don’t know….”

“More… of this?” Riddick put a hard hand against between her legs. “God, Jack, you’re so hot down there.”

“Is that good?”

“Mmm hmm.” He unbuttoned her jeans and slipped that same hand inside, resting it against her panties. Jack thrust her hips forward, against his hand. He increased the pressure. “You okay?”

“Uh huh.”

“Good. Turn around now, and kick off your shoes.” Jack did so slowly, and her movements were more than sensuous. “Oh, God, Jack, you look amazing.”

Jack smiled at him as she wriggled out of her pants. Her hair fell bunched to one side, tousled and unbelievably sexy.

“Sit on the bed,” he said when she was in nothing but her yellow panties. She backed up until her legs bumped the side of the double mattress, and she sat down with her legs crossed. Riddick removed his own shirt, and was pleased when her breath caught. He knew women found him attractive, but the only one he wanted to be sexy for right then was already mostly naked and on his bed—soon to be their bed.

He went to her and pushed her down as gently as he could. “Lay down, baby.”

“Riddick… careful….”

Her fear was finally coming out to play. He would kick its ass before it controlled her ever again. “Give me your hand, Jack.” She offered it to him, and he pressed it against her mons, through the simple cotton of her panties. “Feel that heat? Now go inside. Touch yourself, Jack.”

He kept a close eye on her face, and relished the surprise that slammed into place as she found her clit. Keeping his hand on top of hers, he slid it down. “Now here… feel how wet you are? Feel that warm slickness?”

“Yes….”

“That means that if I hurt you, it will all be in your head.” He made her slip her index finger inside herself. “Feel how easy that was?”

“Oh… oh… God….” Her heavy breaths had grown to sighs and moans, and Riddick relished every sound.

He chuckled. “I’ll take that as a yes. Now try two.” He didn’t need to guide her this time. Her middle finger found its way inside with no help from him at all.

Watching women masturbate had always been the one thing guaranteed to drive him crazy, and watching his girl, his Jack, touching herself, giving herself pleasure, was almost agonizing. His cock ached. It pressed against the material of his pants, and impatiently he rolled over and untied his boots. Jack’s pleasure-sounds were driving him into a rushed frenzy as he slipped out of his pants. If he didn’t get inside her soon….

“Riddick… love this… love you...” Jack groaned.

He picked up the shiv and sliced away her sopping panties. Her curls glistened with her own juice, and she had begun stroking her clit with her thumb. Riddick groaned. “Jackie, you’re so fucking sexy.” Her fingers and thumb were moving more and more quickly. Riddick had to get inside her. Had to. “Jack….”

“Ye-es?” She was close to coming. He could hear it in her voice. “Never… before….”

“Never what?” he murmured, crawling up beside her and brushing her lips with his. One small hand snaked up and grabbed him by the back of the head, and she invaded him with her tongue. Riddick welcomed it gladly, and moaned into her mouth as they kissed. “Need you, girl….”

“You already have me.”

“Need to… be inside you… you ready for that?”

“Oh… I don’t… God, Riddick. Please….”

“Please what?” He was panting himself by this time, and Jack’s voice was getting louder and more pleading second by sensual second. Sweat broke out on her forehead, and he reached up and licked it away. Salty. Warm. “Please what, Jack? You need to say it….”

“Say what?”

“Say you want me inside you.” Say it, say it, please fucking say it before I lose control and take you anyway…. The killer was awake and fighting to come loose.

Riddick was losing the battle and a growl of frustration burst out of his throat just as Jack said, “I don’t… Riddick… yes….”

“Yes? Is that a yes?” he tried not to demand, already beginning to straddle her writhing body.

“Yes. Yes. Yes!” she shouted as Riddick moved her hands out of the way and pressed his cock to her entrance. Would she balk, or would she take him?

She hesitated as the pressure increased, and for a brief moment pressed her hands to his chest. “No, no, Riddick. It’ll hurt.”

“No, it won’t, baby. I swear. It’ll make you feel so good you’ll never want to stop, but you have to be sure. Do you want me in you or not?” His cock was almost inside her… she was so slick that he didn’t even need to angle it right. She was so lubed up that he would slide right in. God damn it, Jack, I don’t want to hurt you, so fucking say yes or no!

She answered him by pressing her lips to his. There was a slight hesitation, and then she said, “Riddick… I trust you.” As she spoke, she rammed her own hips up and sheathed him inside her.

Riddick couldn’t help himself. The killer and the man melded into one being and he started pounding into her as hard as he could. He tried to keep enough control to know if he was scaring her, but no… she was moaning and crying out his name. Her arms wound around his back and… oh, fucking God, her nails were digging into his back and she was moving with him and suddenly he felt her muscles clench… she clamped down on him and pulled his head to her face. Instead of kissing him like he expected, she growled into his ear, “I don’t know what the fuck is happening to me, but don’t stop!”

Riddick lost all coherent thought as her teeth brushed his shoulder. Her inner walls clamped down with her sudden orgasm and her teeth… were biting… her nails… clawing deep red welts onto his back as she came around him, crying out. Her words were drowned as he growled again… “Oh, my fucking God, Jack….!” Everything he had been feeling for the past few months boiled over and exploded out of him, mingling with her juices and blending together. He groaned aloud one last time and buried his face in her hair. One, two, three more thrusts… each one weaker than the last… and he relaxed against her.

~*~

Jack stared at Riddick’s face. Her entire body was slick with their mingled sweat, and the air smelled like sex.

“Mmmm…” she said. She could analyze what had just happened later. Right then, all she wanted to do was relish in feeling like a melted pile of hormones. “Riddick….”

“Uh. Hmn?” Riddick sounded exhausted. Not sleepy, but… worn out. She wondered if he was feeling the same way she was at the moment. She wasn’t sure if she could move.

“That was….” Jack groped for words. “That’s what I’ve been afraid of?”

Riddick’s low chuckle made her heart catch. “Yes, baby. Told you you’d like it.”

“Oh, God.” Jack flopped her head down on the mattress. “Amazing.”

“Come here.” Riddick hauled himself up to the head of the bed and reached a hand to her. Jack took it and squealed as he tugged on it, pulling her up beside him in an instant. “Feel good?”

Jack nodded. “Definitely. ‘Good’ doesn’t even begin to describe it.” She felt her heart calm down even further when he settled an arm over her body, holding her close. She sighed and nestled into his body. It felt so right. “Riddick, I love you, you know.”

“I know, Jack.” Riddick’s voice was quiet. She supposed that he was getting ready to go to sleep. It was the same thing Jason did after he… she banished the thought.

Then… no. “No,” she said, sitting up.

“No? What?” Riddick sat up with her, and she sat cross-legged with her head in her hands.

“I’m so fucking sick of this.” Jack shook her head. “Leave me alone.” She wasn’t speaking to Riddick, but she felt him tense up and go still. “No, no, I’m not talking to you, Riddick. Just… working through something.” She put out a hand and felt his hard muscles. She could feel the tension running through him. “Jason… go away. I’m over this. I’m fucking over this.” She knew that she sounded nuts. The only person in the room other than herself was Riddick. She was talking to herself, to her memories.

“Jack….”

“I’m fine, Riddick.” And she was. Her limbs still felt limp from lovemaking. She felt peaceful. She felt… whole. She felt tough enough to stare at her memories, each and every one.

Somehow she had found the strength to take sex into her own hands just now, and by initiating the first penetration herself, she had taken hold of something that she hadn’t known existed. Suddenly she had been voracious and needy, and that newfound aggression floored her. She didn’t have to be afraid of sex, if she had power in it. She had decided that enough was enough, and forced herself to take Riddick inside her. Once that simple act was accomplished… her world had exploded.

In her head she purposefully drudged up Jason’s image. She forced herself to remember everything. How he looked, poking his head around Seth’s bedroom door. Going with him when he left. Waking up one morning to find him dead, a needle still in his arm and a lazy smile on his face.

She remembered Seth. She had purposefully blocked him out for so long, but when she remembered him now, he wasn’t that big. He was kind of skinny. She could have taken him down easily. The thing was, she didn’t have to. She didn’t have to fight him anymore, because he was gone.

Then… Charles. She forced herself to remember the first time she was put to work. Her terror and pain paled in comparison with the strength she felt now. She remembered Charles himself lying over her for the first time. Now she knew maneuvers to escape, but she didn’t need them. “I’m not afraid of you anymore,” she whispered calmly. “I’m not.”

She looked at Riddick, feeling an enormous smile spreading across her face. “I’m not afraid anymore, Riddick.”

“That’s… good, Jack.” He looked puzzled.

She tried to explain. “What just happened… my God, I can’t put words to how it made me feel. But Riddick, I’m not afraid anymore! Jason, Seth, Charles… they can’t fucking hurt me anymore. If I can make it through what we just did… and it was scary at first… hell, I did that! On my own! I chose to have you inside me, and it was the most amazing feeling…. They’re really gone now.”

“Who are gone?”

“Seth, Jason, Charles! They can’t hurt me anymore. It’s like… this fear of being hurt again… I felt so vulnerable before just now. But I got through it, I forced myself to go through with it, and that was like this last little wall. I just couldn’t see over the wall, but Riddick… what we just did tore it down.” She grinned. “Demolished it.”

He touched her face. “Good. Come here.” He held his arms out to her, but she was too excited. Suddenly she felt as though she could… fly or something. She bounced on her knees.

“I’ve got too much energy to just lay here.”

Riddick leaned back as she flew in to kiss him. She felt so empowered… she wasn’t helpless! She could do anything, anything! Her hands clutched his scalp, and she was kissing him ferociously. She threw a leg over his still-naked form and put her hands on his chest, never stopping the ongoing kiss. She felt like she could drown in him and be okay.

~*~

Riddick was unprepared for Jack’s sudden onslaught of passion. He met her move for move, and his lethargy of a moment before was rapidly disappearing. He growled as she nipped his lip. So much for trying to be gentle with her. The killer inside rumbled in agreement. This new Jack suited them both just fine.

The following morning, Riddick taught Jack how to work the synthesizer. She programmed breakfast for the two of them and Anthony, and a bottle for Nat. Riddick hesitantly offered to feed him, and Jack had nodded.

“Okay… so how do I…?” he asked, holding the warm bottle.

“Hold him in the crook of your arm and put the bottle in his mouth. Make sure you hold the bottle at an angle, but not too high. Don’t drown him.”
Riddick cautiously picked up the baby, who gurgled at him. He inserted the bottle in Nat’s mouth, and the kid apparently knew what to do. As he was busy feeding, Riddick looked over at Jack, who was cutting Anthony’s pancake.

I never thought this would happen to me. He never thought he would reach this place in life. He had Jack, he had the equivalent of kids that he needed to figure out how to raise…. The kids had grown on him, and he didn’t want them as fucked up as either him or Jack. He didn’t know exactly what they would do, but they would do something. He didn’t think he could to back to being a hit man for a while. In any case, his main contact was dead now, anyway. He would need to talk to Jack about it.
Jack smiled at him. “How’s he doing?” she asked.

Riddick nodded. “Just fine, babe.” He looked down at the baby, and back up at Jack. God, I love her.