Chapter 19
"C'mere."
He roped his arm around my neck and drew me closer. I rested my head against his shoulder, tears trickling down my face and onto his shirt.
"Didn't mean to make you cry, kid."
"I know."
"Then…?"
"It's- it's just everything that happened to me- I wish… I wish I could have a normal life."
He laughed softly, the low chuckle vibrating through my whole body. "Me too, kid. Me too."
I swallowed, his closeness and his scent- suddenly overwhelming. "But then-"
"Yeah?"
"Then I wouldn't meet you, Riddick," I admitted.
I felt him tense, but I didn't look up at him.
"That right?"
"Yes."
I heard him suppress a sigh. "Don't know if I should be happy or not to hear this."
"Happy," I said, hopefully, smiling a little into his chest. Please be happy…
"Ok." Just like that.
"Mean it, Riddick?"
"Sure as hell do."
I looked up. There was something so intense in his eyes that my breathing caught in my throat. I looked back down quickly, shaking suddenly. "… So, what now?"
"Now? Now we go home."
* * * * *
It was dark outside.
Shadows of trees and bushes moved past, and it was raining a little. Our car was the only one on the road.
Riddick was driving.
I watched him shift gear, then glance in the rear. His arm muscles flexed as he extended his hand to the steering wheel.
Then he caught me looking.
"Tired, kid?"
I nodded, covering the yawn with the back of my hand. I also knew that choosing the Shinkanzen train had been the fastest means of transport to get me away from New Rome and that I must've gotten pretty far by the looks of it. I didn't know how long it would take to get back to Riddick's ship by car.
"I wanted to drive through the night, but I think we'll make a stop. How's that?"
I smiled a little. "Sounds great, I could do with a bed."
"I'll look for a motel."
"Ok."
"You can go back to sleep if ya want, kid. There won't be a lot of those around here."
I licked my dry lips. "I can- we could-"
Riddick looked over at me with a raised eyebrow. Half of his face was covered in shadow but his eyes shone brightly. "Yeah?" Curiously.
I fidgeted with the hem of my coat. "Well, we could always take turns driving- I mean, you know, so you can get some rest too."
"You don't have a license, kid."
"I know," I said, hurriedly, "but I passed the test- and I know how to drive, if that's what you're asking. I'm just waiting till they hand it over to me when I'm eighteen so-"
"Which is tomorrow."
"Yeah, but-"
"So you're not driving. End of discussion."
I stared at him agape. Huh? I just wanted to help…
"Does this- does this have something to do with before?" I asked him, cautiously. I figured it had to, because otherwise he wouldn't be so pissed at me right now.
"What?"
I winced. "You're still mad at me, aren't you? For not answering your question?"
Riddick gave me this look saying 'I'm not in the mood for this', then he shifted gear and rolled down the window. God, was he warm? I was freezing! He threw his left arm out the window, rested his elbow on the door, his right hand sliding comfortably onto the lowest part of the steering wheel. I curled up into my coat more, trembling, adjusting the shawl around my neck. I coughed a little.
He spun around to glare at me. "Fuck, don't tell me you got a cold."
Like it was my fault.
"I do," I said, dryly.
Growling, he rolled the window back up.
* * * * *
"That's it, kid. You gonna start talking to me, or do I have to make you?"
I ignored his comment and closed my eyes. He was the one who wasn't talking to me in the first place. Why should I bother? I wondered what Jack was doing at this moment. If she somehow found out where Riddick had disappeared to… who he was going back for… and if she somehow managed to get her hands on Lucas's stash… Maybe she was lying somewhere, drugged. Christ. Because of him. Because of me.
"Fine, you asked for it, kid." Riddick pulled the car over and my eyes sprung open. I noticed we were no longer on the road. Lights from signs and windows were blinding me, so I figured we had to be in a motel car-park. I squinted.
Riddick immediately slipped on his goggles. Then grabbed my shoulder trying to force me to look at him. I drew back, trying to twist away.
"Okay," he said, letting go off me. "Why, Evelyn? Why did you run away? And before you start with some nonsense bullshit- we're not going anywhere until you tell me the truth."
I ignored him, clutching the ragged bag with all my belongings in my lap.
"Oh this is great," he muttered. "Just fuckin' great." He threw his hands up in resignation. "Lookin' forward to spendin' the night in the car then?"
Bastard. I leaned my head against the car window, so he couldn't see my expression. My hair fell in my face. I just couldn't tell him. Not now anyway. That I'd ran away because of Jack. Because I wanted her to be happy, which was obviously without me and- and basically, that I'd ran away because of him, too. It was getting harder and harder staying there with him each day. Knowing, that he would never look at me in that way. It was easier on my own. Should have been easier.
His eyes were on me. "Shit, know how fuckin' lucky you were back there, kid?"
I bit down on my cheek, tears picking my eyes. I stared out of the window, into the night, wishing he wouldn't torture me anymore.
"Morpheus is no place for a young kid to run around alone," he continued, angrily. "Despite what the cops are doing… it's just not enough. You have no idea how-"
"-lucky I were," I whispered, tears rolling down my cheek.
"Evelyn, look at me," he growled. Startling me. I closed my eyes. Shook my head, mutely.
"Evelyn-"
And then I felt his hand on my hair, gently running through the locks. I swallowed back a sob, ridiculously wishing, just for a moment, that I had Jack's beautiful hair. My own hair, after a long day and night on the street, was a tangled dirty mass- and I didn't want him to touch it. I pulled away.
"Ivy-" And I suddenly knew what was going to happen. He was going to get mad at me once more. He was going to question me all over again. He was going to make me spend the night in the coldness of the car. And he was never going to talk to me again.
I gasped quietly, then lunged for the door. I tried to push it open, fumbled with the lock. And then he caught me by surprise, because he placed his hand on my leg.
"Don't."
I inhaled sharply. Watched his big hand squeeze my thigh.
"Don't run away from me," he rumbled, softly.
I looked up at him.
His face was unreadable, expressionless. Until he registered my stunned gaze and his lips twitched into a lopsided half-smile. He let go off me. My leg was on fire where his hand had been and I couldn't tear my eyes away from it. My feelings were blazing, too. Ignited by his simple touch. By an innocent pat on the leg. It hurt knowing that this was the only sign of care or concern I was ever going to get from him.
"I know I don't show it, but…" He rubbed his nose as if debating with himself whether to finish the sentence. "But…" Hooking an arm behind my seat and lowering his head to meet my eyes, searching them.
And then I tore my gaze off of him, because I knew. I knew he didn't find what he was searching for.
Because he looked away.
* * * * *
"Uh… nice room…"
He said nothing, just watched me enter.
It was the only vacant room they'd had. Only partly lit too. A single light bulb flickering on the ceiling. Old yellow wallpaper peeling off the walls. A thin but clean blanket covering an only bed.
Padding dangled out of a torn couch standing by the wall. The place smelled awfully like laundry detergent. Carpet cleaner. But at least it was warm in there.
I shuffled my feet over the creaking floor, staring at the bed. Oh, great. Not enough room for two people. I figured where I'd be sleeping. I started for the couch.
"I'll take the couch," a low growl behind my back informed me.
"No, it's okay, I can-"
"I'll take the couch."
I looked down. Ok, so I pissed him off yet again. Great night this was…
Riddick was watching something through the window, then he turned to me, but it seemed like he were staring right through me when he spoke. "I'm going out. You don't leave. Lock the door."
I said nothing, but I didn't understand why he was suddenly commanding me around.
He had to notice, because he clenched his jaw and paused as if to think it over- but soon enough turned around and headed for the door.
"Lock it, I said."
I threw my bag on the bed angrily and watched it land. "Um, Riddick?"
"What?" he barked, not bothering to look at me.
"Will you- uh- will you bring me something to eat? I-I haven't eaten all day and-"
He snorted, then resumed his quest for the door. Suddenly- suddenly I was mad at him, too. I didn't deserve the way he was dealing with me. This way of his of telling me I fucked up somehow. It infuriated me that he kept treating me like dirt.
Out of nowhere. "Hey!"
He ignored me.
"Hey!" I shouted after him, but he just kept walking. "Hey! You walking out on me, Riddick?"
Something flashed across his features and he almost- almost- paused in his way across the room to the door.
I took a step towards him. "Why don't you answer some of my questions! Tell me why you came back for me. Tell me. Why?!"
And then he tensed and stopped. His face, suddenly, was angry. And his body language displayed the same state.
"Why, Riddick? C'mon, I asked you a question. Why did you come back?" I wasn't about to give up.
And then something in him changed and he let go off the door and stalked back to me. His eyes were threatening, dark and cloudy. Menace was written all over his face and he made it clear I was hazarding with words. I flinched a little, but I wasn't going to show him he was scaring me. That I was frightened. He'd never hurt me, but still, I found myself backing away.
And then my back hit the wall.
He stopped in front of me and glared down into my face. "Why did you run?"
I glared back at him, my heart racing. "Maybe I had a damn good reason."
"Well, maybe I did too."
"So-" I had to clear my throat to speak, "so- why don't you tell me?" Indignantly. "Scared?"
He gritted his teeth. I knew then I pushed too far. His hand came up and he slowly pressed it against the wall next to my head, the vein in his forehead throbbing. He deliberately lowered his head to my eye-level, his angry face an inch away from mine. I sucked in my breath, trying to somehow edge away from him. But I had nowhere to go.
His lips quivered in exasperation and complete annoyance.
"Shut up," he growled.
"No."
And then he did something that proved he was as crazy as everyone thought he was. That he acted on impulse. Out of sheer instinct. He smiled at me.
And then he kissed me.
I was in absolute shock, my body feeling like it just got hit by lightning. It was so unexpected; the feel of his mouth hard against mine. Despite the assault, his lips were soft and warm and it felt so good I thought I was going to cry. And before I realized what he was doing, before I had a chance to kiss him back, he pulled away, panting, and just stared into my eyes.
And I saw.
Desire and want and lust blossoming in his silver pools. The hunger and need I thought I'd never see on his face- and it was directed at me. I didn't know… when…? But that thought was swept aside. I didn't have to hide, or push away my feelings anymore. I let him see it.
Everything.
Big hands went to my face and he cupped it before pressing his mouth to mine again. And this time- this time I kissed him back. With everything I had. I was shaking on the inside, this odd feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I was on heat on the outside. His warm hands gently moved down to my throat and shoulders, rubbing down my arms and finally coming to rest on my waist. Leaving a hot trail of burning flesh.
My lungs were on fire, and he leaned back once more, and rested his forehead against mine. I was breathing hard. Couldn't believe it was happening. He watched me with such an intensity I could swear my legs would give out at any moment. And then he slid his hands from my waist even lower, cupped my ass cheeks with a smirk, and made me gasp. He picked me up, pushed me further up against the wall and pressed his body full against mine to hold me there.
Good God…
He studied me for a moment. And then-
-then he lowered me back down.
Pulled away.
I watched in silent horror as he stepped away from me. Rubbed an unsteady hand over his head, his entire body shaking.
"No," he said finally.
What? But… but… I felt sick suddenly. Feverish. Oh God…
"No. We're not gonna do this, Evelyn."
But- Oh, no… please, don't… Riddick…? Tears started rolling down my face, soundlessly dropping to the floor.
His jaw clenched and unclenched and then he found he couldn't look at me. He looked away. "I'm- I have to go out."
And before he disappeared through the door he stopped to say: "Lock it, kid."
Without warning, rage flamed through me. Why don't you just stick a shiv in for real, Riddick…
…and get it over with.
Chapter 20
I woke up feeling someone's hands on my body.
What the…?
A heavy hand clamped down on my mouth, muffling any sound, holding me still. The mattress gave in to the weight and closed up around me.
And then blinding white pain shot through my eyes to the back of my skull and I screwed them shut, writhing in agony.
"Shit. Look at me, kid. "
I squinted and looked.
Riddick's mouth was a breath away from mine, his nose almost brushing against my cheek and he was holding a torch, pointing it at himself, his eyes closed.
The soft glow from the cheap LED light illuminated him and ignited my feelings. His brows were slightly furrowed, his lids impossibly heavy, but there were no dark circles under his eyes. His lips were pursed, his jaw needed a shave and he was so close I could feel the heat off of him.
"…Riddick?" I breathed.
When he heard I recognized him, he pulled away, flipped the torch off and tossed it aside on the bed.
My whole body relaxed, but I still felt limp, muscles aching. A painful banging in my head indicated I had gotten less than little sleep and it was around the time, too. I had to have fallen asleep while he'd been gone… after he'd kissed me… after he'd stormed off…
It was all coming back slowly.
I scratched my head. "What are…?"
"Going home," he said, voice gruff. And then he bent over me and drew me up into his arms.
Home. It wasn't my home as much as I wanted it to be. And he wasn't mine. None of it, really. Everything temporary. Precious time with him was slipping through my fingers… the clock in the distance laughing in my face… and I was unable to reverse it. I would've given anything to stay with him longer. But he wouldn't and I guessed he couldn't wait to get rid off me.
I started crying.
For the second time that night I was crying. This time he was holding me though, involuntarily however, as he carried me to the car. He didn't want to wake me before. Didn't want to face me if I did. And now I was bawling into his chest, sobbing my eyes out into his shirt.
His hands on me tightened.
"Ssshhhh, it's gonna be okay, kid."
I choked. "It's not. I love you."
He inhaled sharply and his body went rigid.
"I know."
And with that he lowered me down into the car seat. I watched reluctantly as his hands left my waist and I dragged my eyes up to meet his, feeling self-conscious.
He was watching me back. Silver orbs shining in the night, his mouth hanging slightly open, a thousand unanswered questions on his tongue. He rested one hand against the roof of the GT-R and smiled at me- a flash of brilliant white against the toffee of his skin. Toffee so dark he looked almost black in the darkness. I just couldn't take my eyes off of him. He was so perfect. Everything I ever wanted.
He cocked his head to one side, his chest rising and falling slowly with every even breath he took. Strong, sure breaths, I noticed. The baggy cargo pants he wore now hung low on his hips… those hips that had pressed hard into me… and the black tank that I had dug my nails into clung to his chest and shoulder muscles, and it was soaked through. In water, or sweat… I didn't know. And I could smell him too. Musk and spice and cigarette smoke. Tequila…
"It's gonna be all good, kid," he said, voice low and raspy. And after a moment, "I'm not gonna lie to you, Ivy. Want you too."
My heart lurched and I stared at him wide-eyed.
"God…" I managed to choke out. "I want to stay with you," I whispered to the ground, and when I said it he leaned down and gathered me into his arms like a small child. "I don't want to leave you, Riddick…" I pleaded, my arms automatically wrapping themselves around him, completely off their own accord. "I'm so scared…"
He held me tight and I could feel his heartbeat through his wet tank.
"Fear is a good thing," he growled, softly. "Lets you concentrate. Makes you fight. Keeps you strong."
"I'm not strong," I whimpered, my voice cracking.
He pressed a kiss to the top of my head, his lips lingering for a moment. "You are, Ivy. And you will be. I know so."
I closed my eyes and just loved him. His hand found its way into my hair, and he stroked my back with the other in slow, leisurely circles. And then he pulled away slightly, the silver of his chrono flashing through the night in front of his face. He lowered his head, then looked up at me with a lopsided smile.
"Midnight," he rumbled. And I just gazed at him through the daze.
"Know what that means?" he grinned. I shook my head and he cupped my face in his hands and pulled me closer. Kissed me on the forehead again.
"Happy Birthday, kid."
I was eighteen…
Smiling at his collar-bone I managed a small bashful "Thanks."
And then he slowly tilted my face up with his fingers and kissed me on the mouth.
This time the kiss was soft, chaste. I could taste him and the tequila on his lips, the salty sweat on the edge of his mouth. He broke the contact, but he didn't pull away from me like I expected. Instead, he drew me closer, his jaw grazing the side of my face, his hands wrapping around me.
"Happy Birthday, Evelyn," he whispered huskily and I couldn't stop myself- I started shaking again. On the verge of tears I swallowed them down and made myself not cry.
"I want you to be with me," I murmured into his shoulder, tightening my murder embrace on him. The tears were there again and I hated it.
He gave me a comforting squeeze, his mouth still by my ear. "I wish I could, babe."
And I felt that was his answer. He could never be with me.
But Jack could.
I took a deep breath, my heart breaking in unison. "Riddick? I have to tell you something," I started slowly. "It's Jack. She's taking drugs. I-"
"What?" he pushed himself away from me, his eyes suddenly hard. "What did you just say?"
"Jack's taking drugs," I told him, trying to be strong. "I-I overheard them… this guy, Lucas, he was telling her to stop doing it… that… that you weren't worth it."
Riddick's jaw clenched and I couldn't face him anymore because of the sudden guilt. I'd been kissing her man… and she could have been lying somewhere drugged. It was my fault that he'd come back to find me, my fault he hadn't stayed with her. I should've told him sooner. Straight away. I was a selfish bitch who didn't give a damn about others. I deserved their hate and all the pain that came with it.
"Get in the car."
"I'm sorry, Riddick."
"Get in the fucking car," he growled.
"I'm really sorry," I whispered again, climbing in obediently. He slammed the doors shut in my face.
"Fuck!" he snarled.
I heard his fist connect with the roof.
* * * * *
The drive had been in silence.
We hardly spoke and much to my surprise he didn't demand any answers either. He didn't want to know why I didn't tell him sooner, or how come I'd been eavesdropping. Didn't want to know anything.
I was scared to open my mouth in case he'd yell at me.
And I was scared that that had been it. My time with him.
Over.
* * * * *
He found her on the kitchen floor, smoking dope.
"Aw, shit," he muttered and his body seemed to relax a little at the sight. She was alive and she wasn't injecting heroine or shit like that into her veins. God, I felt so guilty.
"Jack, are you okay?"
She didn't acknowledge him at first, just sat there, back against the closet, feet with heavy boots sprawled out on the cold ground. Her eyes were bloodshot, puffy. The black mascara was smudged on her cheeks, making it clear she'd been crying. Her hair was messy, beautiful disobedient locks falling into her face. Her top was soaked in sweat and she was shaking some. She raised her trembling hand with the joint to her full lips and inhaled.
Riddick crouched down next to her, his expression the softest I'd ever seen him wear. He reached out and gently took the smoke from her mouth, his hand resting for a moment on her cheek.
"Jack, baby, how are you feeling?" he asked, and it felt like the bitch in me just got kicked in the gut.
She exhaled long and slow, blowing the smoke directly into his face. "Fiiine," she drawled. "Fine as I've ever been…"
Riddick sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "What happened?"
"What does it look like?" she retorted sharply.
His eyes roamed over the beer cans scattered around her and the half-empty bottle of whisky in her hand. He snatched it out of her grip. "Looks like you've had enough, Jack."
"Fuck you," she said.
Riddick's face screwed up. I knew he was trying not to shout at her, not demand himself some answers, but she was slowly starting to piss him off.
"What the hell you think you're doing?" he growled finally.
"Chillin'," she said sweetly. Then she grabbed his face and pressed her mouth to his. I watched as he pushed her away.
"Shit. You're drunk as fuck, Jack."
"Got that right, man." She laughed. "Drunk, high…" She looked at him, then bit down on her lip innocently. "… fucked."
I saw Riddick grit his teeth, while she raised her eyebrows at him, challenging.
"Lucas fucked me nice and long," she said, deliberately waiting for a response from him. When she got none, she continued, "Rode him all night. Sucked him till he could take no mo'-"
"Where's he now?" Riddick asked, oddly composed.
Jack lowered her head, smiling. "Did she suck you off?"
I flinched when I realized she was talking about me. Jack raised her red eyes up to mine and smirked. "Did he put it in you, girl?"
I swallowed, deeply embarrassed, and Riddick looked over at me.
"Oh, Evelyn, Evelyn," she said, watching the both of us, clucking her tongue. "Don't tell me you're still that pussy of a virgin that can't stand watching porn." Her eyes gleamed wickedly and then she glanced at Riddick. "Ivy can't stand watching two people fucking their brains out, huh?"
"She won't see it again."
"Oh, I doubt that," Jack laughed. "You and your sluts… the brothels…" She reached over and he caught her hand before she brushed it against his crotch. She looked up at him innocently. "Can't keep ya dick in your pants, Riddick? Simple as that."
Riddick pushed her hand away in disgust, then stood up. "You need a fucking bed, Jack," he growled, pulling her to her feet.
She twisted away from him. "No. I need to fuck."
"No, you need to take a cold shower and sober the hell out."
"Wanna go in the shower with me, Riddick?" Jack pouted her lips and blew him a kiss. "Or did you already take one- since she didn't give you any?"
Riddick's lips quivered but he didn't say anything to that.
Had he really? Taken a shower because I hadn't… because he hadn't taken it from me? Because he'd left, hard and frustrated… because I could've never given him what she could…
"Where's Lucas, Jack?" he asked her impatiently, snapping me back to reality.
Jack shook her head shortly, then reached into the pocket of her pants and took out a pack of smokes. She slipped one out of the packet and casually popped it into her mouth. "In your bed, Riddick," she said.
I watched his face turn red. " Good one, Jackie-girl," he hissed, rubbing his hand over his jaw. "Fucking good one." God, his whole body was shaking. I knew she'd done that on purpose to hurt him. Enrage him. Anything just to coax a response from him. To get him to notice her.
And it worked. His teeth showed and something strange flickered over his features, scaring me to death.
"I'm gonna kill him for that," he said, voice hushed and oddly calm. I felt an icy chill creep under my skin. I was terrified. His eyes were so… so… inhuman.
As soon as he finished the sentence though he rapidly turned away from her and looked up at me. His brows so deeply furrowed… and that scary glint was long gone from the silver eyes. He looked like a small kid, completely lost and alone. A child who just found out his mother had died. I'd never seen so much sorrow in someone's eyes. And Christ, he was so desperately trying to figure out what I thought.
Was that regret also?
The silent 'I'm sorry' filled the air and it hurt. It damned physically hurt. I didn't want to see him like this. God, I didn't want him to say it out loud. 'I'm sorry, Evelyn. I'm sorry. I didn't want to remind you. I'm a murderer. I'm a fucking murderer. It's me. In me. And I can't do nothing to change that.'
Fire flickered in front of Jack's face and then she pocketed the lighter, inhaling. "Oh, Riddick… you look so sexy when you're angry." Her voice was teasing, innocent. "So fuckable." She smiled. "You know I love that beast in you, don't you? The one that craves blood?"
Riddick tore his eyes off of mine and turned to her. He looked so ashamed. His hands were clenched into fists. It seemed like he were begging her to stop hurting him. And it felt like she'd just found his Achilles' tendon and wouldn't let go.
"… Remember those times when you came home after a job?" She licked her lips and leaned closer to him. Jesus, he didn't even have the strength to push her away. He just stared at her in complete resignation. "When you came to my room… and tore my nightie off?"
Jack pulled away and took another hit from her smoke. "…Those were quite the times, eh?"
And before he had a chance to respond, she whispered, "Menthol Kools… remember that, Riddick?"
Riddick clenched his jaw and looked away as if refusing to remember whatever image she'd just planted into his brain.
"Heeey, ain't it Ivy's Birthday today?" she asked suddenly, a strange smile at the corner of her pretty lips. "It is, right? Evelyn?"
I nodded, mutely.
Jack whistled through her teeth. "Oooh." She bent her legs and drew them up to her body, her elbows coming to rest on her knees. She leaned forward a little. "What present did he give you?" she asked, morbidly curious.
I swallowed over the lump in my throat.
"Did he at least go down on you?" she continued, chuckling. I instantly looked to Riddick for help, but his head was bowed and he wasn't looking at either of us. He seemed lost somewhere, in his past, or feelings, I didn't know. " 'Cause that's what he did to mewhen I was sixteen."
I felt like she just hit the weakest nerve in my body.
Jack smiled. "That is, before he fucked my brains out."
Shaking, I turned away. Oh God… she was hurting and humiliating me so much… I could see that scene again… the one I badly wanted to forget. Her, underneath him, covered in sweat…
"Shut the fuck up, Jack," I heard him growl. " Just SHUT THE FUCK UP! "
"Did you say fuck?" she asked, giggling. "If so, yes please."
I looked back at her and found her grinning at him, playing with him, fucking with him.
He grabbed her then and yanked her roughly to her feet, the cigarette falling out of her hand. She spat in his face.
"Fuck you, you son-of-a-bitch!"
Riddick wiped his face with the back of his hand. "Watch it, Jack."
"Or what?" she screamed. "You already killed me when you chose her over me. You can't do nothing else!"
"Stop it. You're drunk off your ass. You don't know what you're saying."
"The hell I don't!" She wiggled in his grasp, her back to his front, fighting him, until she could no more, completely exhausted. She was breathing frantically while he held her, trying to calm her down. I watched his eyes; heavy-lidded, soft… a hint of apology and something else in them as he watched me back, his hands firmly holding hers.
I saw her body relax against his after a moment, her breathing slowing down. She fit him perfectly I noticed. And they looked perfect together. My heart broke at the sight.
Jack looked up at me with watery eyes as if somehow knowing that I was thinking about her. "I know what he gave you," she said finally. I tensed, wishing I'd never stepped on board this ship. Wishing I'd never hurt her this much. "I know it," she whispered, and Riddick's eyes found mine again. God, oddly enough- he smiled at me. It was a weak smile, but it made my heart flutter.
"He kissed you, right?"
I felt the tears start rolling down my face.
One muscle in Riddick's jaw twitched, but that was all. The silence was deafening. I looked down, ashamed.
"Do you love me, Riddick?" she asked at last, "because I love you, you know? Since I saw you on Hunter-Gra-"
Riddick didn't answer. He just lifted her up into his arms and this time she didn't fight him. She just clung to him, numbly. He held her while slowly making his way over the cold kitchen floor to the living quarters. I watched them disappear through the doorway, watched as he lowered her onto the bed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to-" she began.
"It's okay, Jack."
"I really am. I didn't want to hurt you. You gotta believe me."
"I said it's okay."
"Do you love me? Please… I don't know what-"
I watched him slowly reach out. Caress her cheek. Smile at her. And I couldn't stop the tears from falling.
"Yeah, I do, Jack. I love you, too."