CHAPTER3COC

CHAPTER 3

She knew he wasn’t anywhere near to falling asleep. The arm wrapped around her was too busy playing with her stomach. Tickling her and keeping her awake.
Zar tried to block out the feathery caress brushing along her skin. Any other time it would have been a turn on. Tonight it was just an annoyance. She was so damn tired. It had been a bitch of a day at the unloading pit. And to be blindsided with Toni and Hill had just been the icing on the cake.
She understood Richard wasn’t doing it consciously. It was just a habit he indulged in whenever he was thinking about something. He would rub his fingers around in circles along whatever portion of her skin that his hand happened to be resting on. Eventually he would fall asleep, or start making love to her. But tonight it had been going on for well over an hour. It was getting on her nerves.
It was the case of Toni and Hill. He’d been laying low for so long that it felt unnatural for him to let a situation that could mean trouble come so close to home.
The part of him that had learned to care about people was probably engaged in war with the part that told him not to get involved.
Maybe if she talked with him about it, he would be able to get some sleep. Maybe he would let her sleep!
Shifting so that her back no longer rested against his chest, she twisted so that they were face to face. As she figured, his eyes were wide open. She could barely see them shine in the dark room. Though she was sure he could see her as if it were the middle of the afternoon.
Resting her hands on his hair covered chest, she nuzzled her lips against his throat.
He was such a good man!
Strong in body as well as mind. He gave her security. He gave her love. He gave her life meaning.
Not that he couldn’t be an irritating son of a bitch. Most times it was his way or no way. And it took an amazing amount of talk and energy to get him to see a view different from his own. But she had no doubt that he would have her back no matter what shit life threw at her.
“Did I wake you? Sorry.”
“No, you didn’t wake me. You never let me get to sleep in the first place!”
His hand moved to run his fingers through her hair as he chuckled softly.
“Well since you’re awake, wanna do it?”
Zar couldn’t help but laugh. The man was irrepressible. And irresistible.
“Is that all you think about?”
“With you? Always.”
She didn’t feel any tell tale appendage rubbing against her stomach so she knew he was teasing. He didn’t let the lighter side of his personality show very often. She knew she was blessed to be the one who saw it the most.
“Sorry, oh-sex-machine-of-my-dreams, but I’m beat. Besides, I don’t really think that’s what’s got your brain all riled up. It’s Toni and the baby isn’t it? Leffner has you worried, doesn’t he?”
Pressing a kiss to the top of her head he leaned back so that he was staring at the ceiling.
“I’ve a got a bad feeling about the whole set-up.”
Zar stayed quiet. She knew better than to second guess his intuitions. He had lived by his instincts for too long not to know when they were reliable.
She wished she could suggest a solution. But the fact was that Toni and the baby needed him. He was there last hope. The authorities weren’t going to help. Leffner had all but bragged that he’d killed Helen Platz and nothing had been looked into much less done. If murder didn’t get their attention, child molestation wasn’t going to have much of a chance.
He’d been in correct in his assessment of her reaction to Toni and Hill running to them. She had been proud of Audrey. But she also knew, from the look on his face, that he was not thrilled with the situation.
It wasn’t just the fact that compassion came out for only those few people who meant something to him. He’d seen too much and been through too much to have sympathy for others. He’d found a way to survive, they would have to find their own.
What really stopped him from jumping on the band wagon was the fact that Zar and Audrey could be put in danger. Totally unacceptable.
“There’s not a lot we can do about it now. They’re here and I’m not going to throw them out! It’s a young girl and her baby Richard! They have no one else but us. All we can do is hope Leffner keeps his distance. He’s probably like most bullies. Real brave when the victim is weaker than him. But develops a serious case of blue balls when they’re not by themselves anymore.”
Richard snorted quietly and turned to face her once again. So that she could look into his face and not avoid seeing what kind of man he really was.
“You actually naive enough to believe that Zar? If the position’s were reversed, and I was in Leffner’s spot and he in mine, do you think all of you would stop me from coming after them?”
Zar knew the answer. No, nothing would’ve stopped Richard B. Riddick if he wanted something bad enough. The reminder of what kind of man he was, and could still be, made a chill run up her spine. She managed to push his past to the back of her mind, most of the time. He, on the other hand, never let himself forget.
At the same time, she didn’t think there were too many people on the same level as Riddick either.
“Point taken. But, I think you’re giving Leffner much too much credit. Do you really think he’s on your level? Has your smarts? Your...single mindedness?”
He heard the self-denial in her voice. She was pussyfooting around calling him what he was. A cold-blooded murderer. He couldn’t blame her. Not many women wanted to admit they were in love with a man who exhibited psychopathic tendencies. And when he acted normally, like he had for the last six months or so, she could lie to herself and pretend he was just a guy with a bad temper. But when the shit hit the fan, and the more disturbed parts of his personality came to the forefront, she had to face facts.
Her putting him above Leffner in the lethal department was only her way of putting a positive spin on a bad situation. That was so his Zar. Always looking for the silver lining. Never suspecting that the silver twinkling in the cloud could be a shiv.
“He doesn’t have to be another “Riddick.” Everyone has a lucky day. Finds the weak spot of a tougher opponent. It only takes one pulse pistol blast, one swipe of a shiv. I may be “enhanced”, but even I can die. Came damn close to it on Taurus 2. I don’t give a flying rats ass about dying myself. But if I go down, that leaves you and Audrey fair game.
I think I’m going to have put the fear of Riddick in him though. Maybe he’ll back off. It’s either that or let him come to us. I’d rather meet him on neutral territory. Less...mess...that way if things go sour. Either way, it’s going to get rough.”
She silently conceded his point. She’d seen first hand what he was saying. Brenner had come so close to killing him. Another chill swept through her frame. Only this one was in fear for him rather than because of him.
He felt it and read it the wrong way. Thinking he was scaring her with all his talk of “taking care of things.”
“Hey, hey! You know I wouldn’t let anything happen to you!”
“I know! I’m more worried about what could happen to you. It brings back Brenner all over again.”
Lying to her had always been anathema to him. He’d only done that when absolutely necessary. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t take her mind off the situation.
Cupping her head gently in his large palm, he brought her mouth to his. Invading her mouth with his tongue passionately and savagely. Giving her a soul deep kiss that washed all thoughts about death and pain and loss from her mind. He was determined to replace them with hunger and desire and a need so deep that she would think her world would go up in smoke if she didn’t get more of his touch.
The kiss went on for minutes. Long, drugging glimpses of time that had him slanting his mouth to take more of hers in his devouring. It was only when her fingers gripped his shoulders in frenzy that he let her up for air. Her eyes no longer reflected uncertainty and fear. Rather they blazed with passion and demand.
Rolling quickly, he brought her with him so that her breasts rested on his chest. He felt the heat of her cushiony naked body rubbing against his aroused flesh and sparks went off in his brain. He needed to taste her, feel her, glory in her heat.
Grasping her around her waist, he raised her torso so that her breasts swung temptingly above his mouth. Lifting his head, he let his lips rub over her swollen nipples. Knowing it would drive her to want more than just his touch.
It took less time than he expected for her to try and move closer to his mouth. Smiling against her left nipple he flicked out his tongue and took quick stabs at her aroused flesh. It didn’t satisfy her need for the heat of the inside of his mouth. All it made her do was groan in frustration.
“Damn you! Take it!”
His low laugh slithered along her hot, sweaty skin with the intensity of a thousand bee stings.
“Take what?”
“You know what!”
“Ummm...you mean this very rude part of your body that is pointing at me?”
“Yes! And let’s not get started on things pointing at bodies shall we.” While speaking she had reached between their bodies to grasp him. Paying him back for the torture that his teasing mouth had inflicted on her, she ran her hand slowly up and down it’s hot length.
Suddenly playing the torture game didn’t seem quite so much fun. He was in much more sympathy with her need. Latching on to her nipple he sucked deeply. Taking as much of her breast as possible in his mouth. Her cry of joy rang out throughout the room. Proclaiming her relief and yet it, to his ears, it sounded like a demand for more.
Releasing her nipple, he let his head fall back against the pillow to revel in her response.
His eyes focused on her rapturous face in the dark. She never held back from him. Gifting him with all her reactions, both facially and verbally. With her he discovered how good sex was when both partners gave their all. When both truly wanted to please and take from the other. When no games were being played.
Reaching for her shoulders, her brought her neck to his mouth. Licking and nipping at the sensitive skin.
Her soft inner legs clenching around his thighs in reaction.
Her mound rubbing against his hair covered thigh, leaving a light trail of moisture in it’s wake.
Breaking off his feast of her neck, he gently pushed at her shoulders till she was sitting up straight. Running his hands down her voluptuous body until they rested on her hips, he raised them up.
“Take me in.”
She was panting so hard he wasn’t sure she heard him. But soon enough, she had grasped him, placing him at her soaked opening.
Past the point of being able to be gentle, he rammed himself deep. Her loud gasp made the red haze clear slightly from his mind.
“Sorry! I’ll go slower.”
“NO! It’s fine. It just felt...so...good!”
That was all he needed to hear. Threading her fingers through his, he held up body straight by the strength of his arms set at his sides. His forearms stiff with effort.
Then proceeded to love the ugliness out of her life.
Starting slowly, he undulated his hips to thrust into her receptive body.
Her eyes heavy lidded with desire she watched the his face go tight lipped in the dim light. He was holding back, making it last for as long as he could. For her.
But that wasn’t what she wanted this time. This time she wanted the wonder to wash over her quickly and devastatingly.
“Don’t hold back! Take me there, with you.”
Grateful to be able to end the torture of holding back, he disengaged one hand from hers, placing her now free hand on top of her other. Enfolding them both with his huge palm. Keeping her upright with the amazing strength of one arm.
Reaching down between her legs, he slipped two fingers through her the hair covering her mound. Finding the nub of her desire. Rubbing lightly, but constantly.
Within seconds she rewarded him with a cry of release. Her body jerking on his fingers, her head thrown back in pleasure. Tears of joy and sadness leaking from her eyes. The ancient woman in her recognizing that such love and such pleasure could only be transitory in the harsh realm that was life.
In the end she brought her chin to rest on her chest. Too drained to do more than stop her body from crumpling on top of his.
Suddenly she felt the world tumbling. She was now on her back, with Richard looming above her. Trapping her startled face between his large, gentle hands.
“Watch what you do to me.”
And she did. As he began to move between her legs with a powerful, thrusting rhythm, she saw the tightness grow across his face. His eyes never blinking, holding hers likewise captive. Letting her see all the love and all the desire and the pleasure. And all the sadness, that the abandoned little boy in him knew was never far away. Always ready to reclaim his soul after the joy of loving her.
He let her see the vulnerability that was brought to the forefront as his release came nearer. Gifting her with his weakness and his need for her. For her love, acceptance and never ending second chances. For his redemption.
Then it washed over him. The pounding waves of relief and pleasure that ripped through his body and his soul. Never closing his eyes, never releasing hers from his intense gaze. Branding his moments of joy and love and sadness and need on her brain forever.
His hips slowed, then stopped. He felt the heat of her encompass him, shelter him. Lowering his mouth, he touched his lips to hers to cherish her. Thank her with his lips since there seemed no words to express what he felt for her.
“Do you see why I hate this situation with Toni and Hill? If anything happens to you, they might as well as put me alive in the same coffin as you. I’d be a walking dead man anyhow. I’ve been there before. You brought me out of that hell. I’m not going back. I’d rather be with you in death.
And I’ll follow you there. No matter where death takes you, I’ll be right there at your side. Nothing, no one, no how will ever keep me from you. If I have to fight God himself, I’ll do it. You’re mine, forever. In life, in death. Mine.”