Predator

Title: Predator
Author: Angelsdee
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Riddick/OFC
Disclaimer: I do not own Riddick (damn) or any other characters in this story except Alex. Duncan is from Highlander the Series. Ares is from Xena/Hercules. Ian is from Witchblade the Series. Brennan is from MutantX. Tyr is from Andromeda. Logan and Scott are from the X-Men. Jarod is from the Pretender. Dean Cain. Brandon Lee. Dorian Gregory. Jesse from Birds of Prey. Tristan from Legends of the Fall.
Summary: Riddick takes a contract to kill. Is he the predator or prey?
Author’s note: Bold text indicates telepathic conversation. Italicized text indicates private thoughts.

“Have we agreed on the fee for your services?”

“Yeah. Three million U.D.” Riddick sat quietly and listened to his contractor rattle on for the better part of an hour before he finally started to get to the subject they were here to discuss. A third party arranged this meeting in a backwater drift bar to discuss a contract that would pay him enough to stay out of sight for a long time. ‘This guy is paranoid as shit. I can’t believe he has the nuts to arrange this let alone sit here with me.’

“And the mark? You think you can handle the mark?”

“The mark is a woman.” He stated it matter of factly like that was all the answer that was needed.

“She is not just a woman!” He caught himself and lowered his voice to avoid unwanted attention. “She is very powerful.”

“So you said.” Riddick took a swig of his drink before he continued uninterested. “She is; what did you call her; oh yeah, the Majestrix of the Shi’ar Empire.”

“Her power extends beyond what she rules. Her physical strength exceeds that of many men. I have seen her punch through concrete like it is paper.”

“Okay.” He shrugged. “So she isn’t your typical frail.”

“There is nothing typical about this woman. She is a unique being.”

Riddick’s head snapped up when he heard the tone in his voice and his goggle-covered eyes scrutinized the man in front of him. “You realize if I take this contract there is no calling it off?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll want half of my fee upfront and the rest transferred into my account when the job’s complete.”

“That is not a problem.”

“Okay. Give me the particulars. Which planet in her system does she live on?”

“The capital world is Ariana. The Royal Family resides there. She has an army and a legion of personal guards. She doesn’t need them. They are used to primarily watch her mates and kids and guard the planet when she is off world.”

“Mates?”

“She has 3 husbands and 4 sons.”

“Three!”

“She is the ruler of an entire universe. She can have multiple mates. Her husbands cannot. To cheat on her is to sign your death warrant.”

“Who are they?” He was genuinely curious what kind of men the ruler of an empire would take to her bed and why they would bind themselves to her for their entire lifetime. “How did they merit her attention?”

“Their names are Ian, Duncan, and Ares. They are all immortals and the best warriors most have ever seen. They are constantly by her side and they have loved her since they met her. These men are a force to reckon with but still nothing compared to her.”

Riddick thought how deep their feelings for her must run to live forever and commit to one woman; who could have as many men as she wanted. “Are her mates and children a way to get her off balance?”

“Are you asking if she’s an easy target when her family is attacked? Hell no! She is more focused when she’s angry or in pain. That woman is positively vicious when provoked. She had an entire planet exterminated because one man tried to kill one of her sons.” The man leaned back in his seat and studied Riddick’s form. “Come to think of it, you would probably stand a better chance of success if you approach her when she’s…relaxed.”

“Relaxed.” Riddick had an idea of what this fool was implying but wanted him to say it out loud. “You expect me to kill her when she’s sleeping?”

“No. She, um, would more than likely find you…interesting.” Riddick leaned back in his chair, crossed his well muscled arms over his large chest and cocked his head waiting for a full explanation. “She would find you attractive.” The man said exasperated.

“You want me to seduce her.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.” He snapped. “You will need every advantage you can get though. She is not easy to kill.”

“So she is an immortal like her men?”

“Yes and no. Duncan and Ares can be killed. It takes more effort than a normal human but it can be done. There are different types of immortals and they can die in different ways. Ian is another matter. He is like her. So far, no one has found a way to kill her…for good.”

“What the fuck are you talking about? She can’t be killed?”

“Oh, she has been killed. She just doesn’t stay dead.” He slid an envelope across the table to Riddick who was digesting that information. “Here is the Intel on her. There are pictures, layouts of the palace, schematics of the planet, and just about everything else that is known about her.”

He snatched up the envelope, tore it open, and looked through the contents. He stared at a flexi of his intended victim. “She’s beautiful.” He whispered. The woman was a combination of royalty and warrior. She had long, black hair, suntanned flesh, full breasts, slender waistline, and long, shapely legs. Her body showed strength in its muscular tone but her power shone in her black eyes. “Definitely fuckable.”

“She is unique not an object to fuck!” He grated out through clenched teeth.

“You said that already. What you didn’t say is what she is to you and why you want her ghosted.”

“She’s…” He caught himself and mustered up his resolve as he stared down this sector’s most notorious murderer. It wasn’t difficult. He had faced her. “It is none of your business.”

“I think it is. You see, I think she means something to you.” Riddick watched the contractor squirm under his scrutiny. “I watch people. I study them so I know my target. You talk about her like a lover would. If that is true, you can fuck up this whole deal by growing a conscience. I told you there is no going back once this starts.”

“I…I know.”

“You get second thoughts, warn her, and my ass is on the line. That doesn’t work for me.”

“I won’t change my mind.”

“Damn right you won’t.” He leaned back and looked at the flexi again. “I do love a challenge and this one is mine now.”

“Whatever.” He got up to leave the table and threw a parting piece of information over his shoulder to Riddick. “Make sure you keep your head right when you’re around her or your dead before you get started.”

(Two weeks later)

‘Bored now.’ Alex walked the gardens of the palace grounds completely restless. She hated to be stuck planet-side. ‘I shouldn’t be here. Fuck. I’m sick of being here.’

“Hello, my love.”

She felt his arms wrap around her waist and pull her back against his chest. “Ian.”

“Something is troubling you, milady. What is it?”

“You know me too well.” She covered his hands with her own and laced their fingers. “Actually you know me better than I know myself anymore.”

He could sense her melancholy and rested his chin on her shoulder. “You need some excitement, don’t you?”

“Ian, we don’t belong here. We weren’t made for this.” She indicated the surrounding area with a wave of her hand before she placed it back in his grasp.

“You chose this life for us a long time ago. The humans interested you.”

“Once upon a time they did but that was; like you said; a long time ago. I want to return to the stars and end this existence.” She sighed heavily. “I’m tired of a mortal life.”

He turned her around to face him and searched her eyes. “You know that Duncan and Ares cannot follow us. Only the two of us are capable of living there. I do not mind having you all to myself but can you really leave them behind?”

“No. I love them.” She snuggled into his chest and he held her gently. “I’m so tired, Ian. The constant battles, the assassination attempts, the threat to our family, and; let’s not forget; the countless times I’ve actually died. That is such a pain in the ass and it fucking hurts.”

He chuckled softly and ran a hand through her hair. “I know it does. We both took this form to live here.” He pulled back and tipped up her chin. “Do you need to release some energy?”

“Not yet. Where is Jarod?”

“I think he’s with Brennan and Brandon. He always spends any of his time away from us with Ares’ boys.”

She smiled appreciatively at her first mate. “You are a beautiful man, Ian.” His long, dark wavy hair accentuated his amber eyes. His moustache and beard were her tactile delight. His tall 6 ft frame and muscular body was a safe haven to wrap herself in and take pleasure from.

“I am what you made me.” He blushed at her open perusal of his form. “After all the years we’ve been together, you can still make me feel like this is new.”

“You took to your mortal form and life better than I did. I have lived as one too long. To be honest, Ian, I’ve lived too long period. I have wanted to return to the stars for quite some time but; as you said; you, Jarod, and I are the only ones who can survive there. We are the same and Jarod is our son.”

“Ares is a god. Brandon inherited his power. Brennan is a mutant. Duncan is an immortal and Dean has a large portion of your physical strength and can survive the vacuum of space. All are impressive but they are not our kind. They will not survive.”

“I know.”

“Tell me the real reason you want to leave.”

“Your power is balanced. Mine is not. I’m afraid I’ll lose control of it again. I have not found the proper balance in my life here to ground it and the wielders cannot contain me forever. Duncan is my human side…my heart. Ares is my warrior side…my mind. I need a link between the two. I need a soul.”

He kissed her forehead and hugged her to his chest. “I wish I could provide that for you.”

“I know. You are self sufficient. You weren’t made for my needs.” She ground her pelvis against his groin and he looked at her in surprise. “Well, not those needs anyways.”

He blushed furiously and kissed her deeply. “Like new.” He caressed her face gently and remembered why he hunted her down in the first place. “There is a banquet that demands your attendance.” She arched her eyebrow and he amended his words. “Will you attend?” She nodded and grinned. “I love you.”

She kissed him tenderly and rested her forehead against his chest. “I love you too.” He stepped away from her, smiled lovingly, and turned to the palace. She watched him until he disappeared from sight before she continued her walk. ‘Ian would be the perfect link. Too bad for me that I didn’t think that out before. Duncan is a warrior grounded in humanity. Ares is a warrior grounded in godhood. And damn they are both so fucking hot!’

She sat at the edge of a lake that was secluded at the edge of the grounds. It was a private place for her and the guards were not allowed to patrol there by her command. She wiped the perspiration from her brow and fanned herself. ‘I’m fucking hot. I really need to do something about this infernal heat.’ She rose to her feet and dipped her toes into the cool water.

Riddick had tracked her for the past ten minutes while she wandered deep in thought. ‘Making this too easy, your highness.’ He found a thick outcropping of trees that surrounded the lake to obscure himself in while he observed his prey. She was wearing a mid-thigh silk dress and was moving one of her bare feet through the water. ‘Hard to kill, huh?’

He saw her body tense and she turned her head so her right ear was turned to his hiding place. ‘Holy shit.’ He was stunned. He hadn’t made a sound but when he saw the side of her mouth pull up into a smirk he was positive. ‘She knows I’m here.’

‘Typical. I can’t get a moment’s peace to even brood about being bored.’ She looked back to the water and waited for a few minutes. ‘Not gonna make a move, huh? Fine then. If watching is your game, please feel free. I’ll even give you something to watch.’

‘What is she up to?’ Her hands slipped the straps of her dress off her shoulders and he watched with a slack jaw as she let it slip to the ground at her feet. ‘Fuck.’ He stared at her gloriously naked flesh and felt his body’s instant reaction to the sight. ‘No tan lines, highness? Damn she is beautiful.’

She walked out into the water and dove under the surface. His curiosity peaked when she hadn’t reappeared after a couple of minutes had passed. Just when he thought about moving to get a closer look, she broke the surface directly across from him. She threw her head back and her long black hair fanned away from her face.

She kept her eyes downcast as she walked to the shore. He watched the water run down her tanned skin and secretly wished he was that water. When the breeze touched her flesh, he saw her nipples tighten into hard peaks. She knew she had her silent stalker’s attention and a sly grin broke out on her face. ‘Time to play.’ She stretched out on the flat sand where the water was 2 inches high and angled her body just right for her “guest” to have an unobstructed view.

He watched her lie in the shallow water and his eyes drank in her form. ‘Beautiful.’ Her hands moved to her temples and began a slow trek down her neck to her full breasts. ‘Her majesty isn’t quite so proper now, is she?’ Her eyes closed as she skimmed her nipples with her palms and for a moment he thought he might have been wrong earlier. ‘He said she’s hard to kill. Why would she leave herself vulnerable like this if she knows I’m here?’

His mind shut down completely when she parted her legs and exposed her smooth pussy to his sight. He never hated his shine job on his eyes more than this moment. ‘Definitely fuckable.’ His cock became unbearably hard when her right hand snaked down between her legs and her fingers plied her clit while her left hand plucked at her nipples.

He could hear her breathy moans carry to his ears and smell her arousal as the wind delivered it to him. His hand went to his zipper and released his swollen shaft. ‘Fuck! I can’t believe I’m doing this!’ He grasped his rock hard member in his large hand and began to jerk off to the rhythm of her fingers sliding in and out of her wet channel.

Her head began to thrash and her cries rose in volume as she swiftly approached her orgasm. His hand pumped furiously and he bit his bottom lip bloody to keep from vocalizing his own release. Three more thrusts and they both came together.

When his heartbeat slowed and his mind cleared, he focused on her sated form. Her legs were still parted and Riddick could see her glistening juices escape her body. His mouth went dry instantly and he felt like his thirst would never be satisfied by anything other than a taste from her.

“Baby!”

‘Son of a bitch!’ Riddick tucked himself back in his pants and was stunned that someone had managed to approach without him detecting them.

“What is it, Duncan?” She called out to her husband who did not clear the copse of trees and invade her personal space.

“I don’t mean to disturb you but the banquet is going to start soon.” Riddick’s gaze fell on the tall, muscular man whose shoulder length black hair was pulled back and secured at the nape of his neck. He spoke with an accent and more to Riddick’s disgust; he stood about 30 feet from his position. “Are you coming?”

“I already did.” She giggled at her whispered joke and a smile crossed Riddick’s face when he heard her comment. “I’ll be right there!” She yelled out to her husband.

He turned back the way he came and Riddick studied him until he was out of sight. His anger flared towards his mark and his own stupidity for letting his guard down. ‘Thirty fucking feet!’ When he looked back to her, she had risen up on her elbows and appeared to be staring right at him. ‘How the fuck does she do that? I’m downwind of her. I haven’t made a sound and its pitch black in here.’ His thoughts stopped dead when a smile graced her face.

She cupped water in her palm and let it run between her legs to wash her fluids away. She repeated the process a few times and lightly ran her hand over her mound. When she completed this private torture on her observer, she deftly got to her feet and bent over to retrieve her dress. ‘Men are so easy.’ She slipped the delicate material over her head and let it slowly slide down her body to conceal it from his view.

She made her way to the path Duncan had taken earlier and Riddick left his vantage point to follow. She ran barefoot across the rough terrain at an incredible speed and he ran parallel to her like silent death. ‘I have to admit you broke the boredom of my day, assassin. I had a wonderful time teasing you but duty calls.’ She quickly veered off the path and descended a hill that hid her from sight.

He was only 2 seconds behind her and when he reached the decline he slid to a halt. She was gone. He crouched down, scanned the surrounding area, and came up with nothing. ‘Fuck! That bitch does not know who she is fucking with and I will own her ass!’

An hour later, Riddick found himself amongst the throngs of the galaxy’s elite. There was an invitation included in the envelope that his contractor supplied him with. He blended into the masses after he used some of his newly acquired wealth to buy a white silk shirt that he left halfway unbuttoned and black slacks. His trademark goggles were replaced with wrap around black sunglasses that did not stand out amongst this crowd of different races.

He waited for his prey to make her entrance. His anger was still in residence after his earlier transgression. Somehow he managed to alert her to his presence and got lucky he wasn’t taken out. He spent the time to brush up on his predecessors’ fate when they failed in their attempts to kill her. His humiliation overwhelmed him when he let her play upon his baser instincts and reduce him to masturbation.

His normally inexhaustible patience was wearing thin. He made a grievous error underestimating this woman. He usually liked to play with his mark before the kill. It gave his predatory side a certain amount of satisfaction to instill fear and uncertainty in his prey before their fate was revealed to them. That was no longer the case here. He wanted to finish this job quickly and leave these unsettling feelings behind.

His wait was finally over. Two large ornate doors opened and the Royal Family entered the hall. Four dark haired men came into view first. They all had dark eyes, muscular bodies, and appeared to be in their mid-twenties.

A large man with shoulder length black hair, dark eyes, a goatee, and clad in black leather followed them. ‘Ares.’ This was supposedly the mythical God of War in the flesh. Riddick didn’t believe it but he carried a power that cast an aura around him that Riddick could see with his special sight.

Duncan walked in behind Ares looking every bit as regal and powerful as the man in front of him. According to Riddick’s Intel, Duncan was a human from Earth. He was an immortal human that happened to meet this woman and capture her heart. He was noted as the only one of her men that was actually her husband and not a mate.

Ian escorted his lady into the room and the crowd went silent. Her long curly hair cascaded over her bare shoulders and down her back. She wore a diamond and sapphire encrusted bustier and a matching mini-skirt that was opened down the sides but secured by small gold chains. Her tanned skin made the gems sparkle twice as bright.

“My lady, you look absolutely radiant this evening.”

“Ian, my love, you are a flatterer.”

“I only speak the obvious, love.”

“Mmhmm. You are trying to take my mind off of how much I hate these damn events.”

“Is it working?”

Riddick leaned against a marble column and observed her whispered conversation with her first mate. She smiled and blushed at his quiet comments before her face went blank when confronted with the crowd.

Her men seemed to instinctively surround her to keep a barrier between her and the visiting dignitaries. She had a lost look on her face and distanced herself from anyone who tried to approach her while still maintaining a watchful eye on her family. ‘She looks uncomfortable…lonely.’

Her head cocked to the side and she appeared to be focusing on something before her trademark smirk slipped into place. He watched her make her way through the crowd with a determination that he didn’t understand. The floor was packed with people and yet she managed to avoid physical contact as she weaved her way through them. ‘Agile and sexy as hell.’

He clenched his eyes for a split second at the unwanted thought. ‘Stop thinking that shit! She is your mark. Shit! Where the fuck is she?’ He scanned the hall and found no sight of her. His body went rigid and he clenched his jaw when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He slowly turned around and looked down into her black eyes.

“Looking for someone?”

‘Shit.’