Part : 4

Gina stared over the horizon. Where the fuck were they? She turned and scanned the
remainder of the ragtag group. Her eyes flitted from one to the other, until they finally fell
onto Hicks, who was shining his weapon. She shook her head slightly, a small smile coming
to her face. She had been there before ... nothing to hold but a gun. It was a sucky life
sometimes. The kid sat at his feet, silently watching in admiration. The one called Ripley was
next to capture her attention. Gina was finding it hard to decipher. Was she upset because
the kid dug the soldier ... or because the soldier obviously didn't pay a fuck's worth of
attention to Ripley? And then there was Morgan. She was a tough cookie. Must be admired
by men of all kind. Shit, fuck, damn. Who the hell was fucking who? And where the hell were
the OTHERS??

Hicks looked up to see Gina's eyes tracing the horizon over and over. "Relax, they seem
like a bunch that can hold their own." He gave her a small smile.

She returned her gaze to him and sighed, perching her leather clad ass on a nearby rock.
"Responsibility is a bitch. And, like it or not, those people are my responsibility." She
shrugged with a slight grin. "Guess you feel the same about Morgan."

"No, not really. She's wasn't part of our unit. She's seen a hell of a lot more than I have. It's
kinda a give and take thing. Works if I keep the orders to a minimum." He lay aside one
weapon for another, working them, preparing them for use.

She chuckled. "Who the fuck follows orders anyway." She nodded toward him. "You seem
pretty good with those things. You were trained well."

Trained by the best. Apone." He nodded."But he's dead," He hated waisting words,
especially when it came to death.

She sighed. It was always diffcult for new soldiers to accept her ... and this man would be no
different. She stood and paced around him. He was a good soldier and she could sense that.
It made her feel more comfortable to be around good military men. "I'm sorry, Hicks." She
wasn't one to comfort, but she lay her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

He shrugged, pushing back the pain of loosing his mentor. "It happens." He turned to look
at her. "Tell me, how'd you end up becoming a general?"

She shot her hand away like she'd been burned. Another grunt that assumed she slept her
way to the position. "I fucked my way to generalship. Obviously."

"That's not what I meant." He ran a hand through his spiked hair, a well versed habit.

She looked at him very carefully and realized that she had misjudged him. She moved to sit
in the sand beside him, shucking out of her over shirt and opting to risk sunburn in the
khaki tank top. She smiled. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm still a little sensitive." She sighed again.
"I mean, look at me. I'm not a hulking figure, so how the hell could I be a general, right? At
least that's what most think." She took a hand full of sand and let it trail through her fingers
as she watched. "Truth is, my whole family was military. Killed in an explosion on an
ammunitions base. I kind of took over the legend my father set up."

"Bad hand," He cut his eyes to her."Was that what you wanted?"

She chuckled. "Hell yeah, it's exactly what I wanted. But people just didn't know how to
take me." She cut her eyes to him. "I mean what the hell would YOU say about someone
that kicks ass, is an ace with weaponry, lives in combat boots, but can't function without silk
skivvies? Pretty fucking messed up, huh?" She actually grinned, beginning to relax for the
first time since wrecking here.

A wide smile formed on his lips. "No, the thing a man could come to appreciate."

She grinned again and returned her gaze to the horizon. "Yeah.....when you find him, send
him my way. And consider that an order."

I do Gina! Fuck, how could I not!

"Know a few." He tried to sound casual, but let her know that it was a incredible honor that
she had shared such an intimate detail about herself.

A sudden thought popped into her mind. A thought that she would act upon later. She turned
her face to look at his. "Charmer."

She felt a prickle at the back of her neck and stood, one hand on her weapon ... the other
shading her eyes as she looked over the horizon. "MOVEMENT."

"It's them," he said, looking up a Gina. "And by the way, thanks," he whispered.

She whirled around, eyes confused. "For what?"

"Never been called that before," he said, standing and moving to her side.

She shivered as she turned and focused on the approaching group.

*********

Riddick let his emotions take control. Every push he felt ... every disparaging word from
Johns ... every fuckin degradation he endured was another nail in the man's fuckin coffin. He
smiled internally. Every degradation except being bound with baby's leather belt. That he
actually found himself enjoying.

Morgan knew each and every shove that came from Johns. Glancing over her shoulder at
Riddick, she waited, stopping in her tracks at just the right moment, eyes glued to the
horizon. The next shove sent Riddick slamming into her hard and both tumbled to the
ground.

His hard, prone body covered hers, his arms secured at his back. His voice rumbled as he
whispered a private message to her. "Feelin' it yet, baby? Are ya?" His voice was full of
sexual promise, his eyes was full of enough anger to kill.

"I feel you crushing the hell outta me," she huffed. "And I assume that would be your dick,
wouldn't it?" She tried to push him off, but it was really a half-assed attempt.

His mouth was near enough to her ear for his tongue to slide her cheek. "Locked and
loaded, baby. All for you."

She tried desperately to keep perfectly still but arched her back at his words. "Fuck you,
Riddick!" she hissed.

"Here and now, baby. Here and now."

His weight suddenly disappeared. She shoved to her feet glaring at Johns.

"Enough of that shit!"

Carolyn sighed heavily. Freaking time to calm him down again. Her hand flew to Johns' arm.
"Back off. Let her handle it." She leaned into him. "Let her handle."

Riddick smiled wickedly. "Yeah, Johns. Unless you're hot for her, too. Not getting much
from anyone else, huh?"

Fry's eyes widened.Johns surged forward, shot gun raised. "To much like you for my taste," he growled.Both women shot into motion -- Frye grabbing Johns arm and Morgan stepping between
Riddick and the gun barrel.

Carolyn used her entire body to try and lower Johns' arm. "It's not worth it, guy! Stand
fucking down." She could feel the intensity in his whole being. Again......for fucking Riddick.
Maybe if she wore goggles?

He lowered the gun, his eyes on Carolyn. "Sometime, I wonder," he growled.

She simmered inside. She slipped onto tiptoes and spoke for his ear only. "Trust me. Don't
let the fucker win."

Riddick only smiled, watching the havoc he had created.

Morgan smiled herself, an amused little guesture. A slow shake of her head and she stepped
toward Riddick, finger tip against his chest. "Don't go getting yourself killed just yet."

He cut his eyes to her, but with the goggles appeared to be staring straight ahead. His voice
was low and primal. "Not yet, baby. The blood's boiling. Can't you feel it?"

"Only thing I feel right now is thirst." She stepped around him, thinking about the near
constant rain on LV-426.

He raised an eyebrow. "I got somthing you can drink, baby." Maybe he was wrong about her
... about the blood. But it sure as hell effected him. He pulled his focus onto the couple. Frye
was trying so hard to calm Johns. RIddick grinned. Usless. Utterly fucking useless.

"Mind keeping it down?" she stepped back to him. "Fuck! I don't care what you say to me
but........" She sighed. "He's just gonna be tougher on ya."

He looked at her with a slight smile. "Think they're really listening. Got to ya, didn't I?"

"You got nothin, Riddick," She smirked. "So, are we having a picnic or what?" Her voice
was dripping with sarcasm as she addressed Johns.

Frye stiffened at the sound of Morgan's voice. While she was talking to Johns she could
pretend they were alone. Reality sucked.

Johns leaned in close to her. "Let's go. The sooner he's in restraints the sooner I can
concentrate on other things."

Frye sighed and looked toward Morgan. "Walk ahead. We'll follow you a few paces behind."
She nodded, giving the woman the opportunity to keep Riddick safe and avert trouble at the
same time.
 

Ripley looked with pity at the man chained to the hull of the drop ship, back ram rod straight
against the hull, arms pulled tight between two hydraulic skids of the ship. Looking to
Morgan, it was not too difficult to see that she was less than happy about the condition the
man was in ... the man that they had said was a murder. To her, the man looked considerably
less dangerous than a suit and tie wearing company man that she knew, a man that she took
great pleasure in knowing was dead, Carter Burk. She turned in the shade looking away
from the prisoner to where Newt was sitting near the teenager, chattering away, something
she had never witnessed from the girl before. Newt looked up to catch Ripley watching her.
The woman motioned and all Newt could do was shake her head and look to Morgan.

"Why don't you go to her? She your mother or something? Hit ya? That kinda crap?" Jack
asked the blonde elfin looking girl.

"No, my mom died. Ripley took care of me for awhile but, she's sick now and Morgan won't
let me near her." The little girl dropped her eyes.

"So who made her your boss?" Jack, narrowed her eyes at the woman. She stood with the
other soldiers looking at Riddick from time to time and then going back to arguing.

"OH! I have to listen to her! She saved my life! If she says stay away from Ripley there's a
good enough reason too." Newt looked pitifully towards Ripley again. "I thinks something
really bad is going to happen to her." Tears leaked from her wide round eyes.

"Yeah. Well, shit happens," Jack shrugged, having no idea the horror the little girl had
already witnessed in her short life. "Come on, lets go talk to Riddick!" Jack leaned close
whispering. Newt stood with Jack, clutching the small plastic doll head in her hand, her ever
present companion.

********

Riddick watched the little girl as she moved toward him. He liked the little brat. She wasn't
afraid of shit ... at least she didn't let it show. Needed more like her. Needed to cultivate
them. He lowered his head slightly giving his most intimidating look. Nothing. She was a
cool cucumber.

Newt stared with unabashed curiosity at the man. She had the overwhelming feeling of being
held down just like him, just like the black monsters had done to her. A determined glint
came into her eyes.

"Jack, they should let him out. That's no fun! It's wrong!" She looked to the girl beside her.

"Hey, I'm on your side kid! But what the hell are we gonna do?" She turned looking at the
menacing look on Riddick's face.

"Ain't gonna happen, kid," Riddick's deep voice trailed out. "They don't understand me like
you do." His goggled gaze bore into the determined youth's eyes.

"Yeah huh! Morgan will understand! I swear! She will!" Newt rushed on, planting her hands
on her hips. "She's seen lots of stuff like this. Like in that other place. That really really bad
place with the monsters. They tried to tell me there were no monsters but I knew they were
lying. But they just kept saying Newt don't......"

"Yeah, I think he's got the picture now," Jack hissed, jerking the little girls arm roughly.

A low growl came from Riddick. "You better pray that either you don't hurt her, or I don't
get out of these fucking irons." He looked at the kid again to assure himself she was okay.

"I didn't hurt her!" Jack protested. "Did I, Newt?"

"No," she smiled, looking between the two as tension filled the air. "It didn't hurt. Really."
She tilted her head, watching the muscles in the man's arms bunch and roll.

"See!" Jack folded her arms across her chest. "Besides, you gonna kill me for jerking her
around a little? Kid's gotta have someone to look out for her and all. Ya know?"

Riddick addressed the kid, rather than the other form. "I thought Morgan did that ...
watched out for you." He tried to sound as calm as possible.

"OH! SHE DOES! She saved me in that other place! I was gonna get all eaten up and she
came for me. And she almost got ate too but she's real smart. Knows how to trick the
monsters good!" She giggled with glee at her words, remembering their small victory
together. Jack rolled her eyes in disgusted jealousy, here she wanted to talk to the infamous
Richard Riddick and this snot nosed brat has his undivided attention. "Yeah right, Kid!"

So, baby was a fighter? Shit, this was getting better and better. His eyes flew to the older girl
... a slight smirk on his lips. "She take care of you, too?"

"HELL NO!" Jack spat, bristling at his question. "I take care of myself. Don't need no bitch
marine watchin my back!"

Newt gasped looking horrified at Jack, tears gathering on her lashes. She turned her eyes to
Riddick begging him to defend Morgan.

Even without seeing the kid offended, the girl had gone one step too far. "Come here ... a
little closer." As she stepped a few paces nearer, his neck thrust out, a hissing sound
making his voice dark and sinister. "You say one more negative thing about Morgan ... even
in your sleep ... and even these chains won't help you. It'll be just a matter of when and
where. Got it?" He rattled the chain slightly for effect, and then looked at the kid. "She's
teaching you good, kid. If Morgan says stay away from Ripley......then stay the hell away."
His voice softened slightly. "What'd she tell you about me, kid?"

Jack tried pinning him with her hardest glare but it was lost on the killer, his attention
anchored squarely to the kid.

"Nothing." Newt seemed to be weighing her next words, her eyes sparked as she decided to
take the man into her confidence. "BUT, she's fighting with Hicks. That ALWAYS means
something good!" She tilted her head proudly.

Oh, he liked this kid. Him and her would be real good friends. "Hicks is what? Her man?"
He tried an engaging smile. "What kinda 'something good' does it usually mean, cuteness?"

"Her man?" Newt thought about his question. "You mean, are they married and make
babies?" She laughed, doubling over at the idea. "NO! NO!" She hopped around in place,
laughing all the more. "Hicks tells her what to do! Tells her who to shoot! He's a corrail,
tells her to do all kinds of hard stuff like that." More laughter was issued forth. "Your so
funny!"

Aces! The kid was a jewel. "So she and the corporal make trouble together ... not babies,
huh small stuff." He grinned at her. "You're pretty smart, you know that?"

"That's what Morgan says!" She came closer and plopped down in the sand beside him.

"You like Morgan, huh? You gonna make babies with her? I want another brother and then
we can all live together!" Her face lit up with the prospect.

"Hey! Hey! Kid, you're not supposed to be doing that." Jack hissed, glaring at Newt. "I'm
going to get Johns!"

Riddick had to chuckle. He was chained flat ... completely incapacitated, and this kid only
saw what she wanted to see. He ignored Jack and zeroed in on the moppet. "I'd sure as fuck
be willing to give it a strong try!"

She giggled at that and leaning towards him. "This one time I saw my real mom and dad
making babies." She stopped, contemplating the process. "You know you need a bed, a big
one."

He lifted his big shoulders in a shrug. Smart kid. Deserved to be talked to in an intelligent
way. "It helps, but it's not necessary. Can be done anywhere, anytime."

"No, it can't, silly!" She laid her tiny pale hand on his chained arm. "She has to scream really
loud to make a baby. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BED!" She insisted.

He smiled at the intensity in the kid's eyes. "A bed's good and the screaming is better. But
you don't have to have either one." He got a wicked thought and grinned. "Ask Morgan.
She'll tell ya."

Just then Newt looked up and saw the man that had chained her new found friend coming
towards them. "This might be bad, huh?"

Riddick plastered his 'you asshole' look and sighed. "With him, it usually is bad, cuteness."

Newt stood, turning to look at Riddick."Then I'll handle this," she squared her small
shoulders and proceeded to deliver several brutal whacks to her own cheek. There was
barely a sound except flesh against flesh and a slight grunt from her. On the last whack she
ran past Johns wailing that the merc had hit her.

Riddick raised an eyebrow and broke into a slow grin. Out - fucking - standing, cuteness. He
hid the rumble deep in his chest. Oh, she's going to be SO fun.

*******

Hick's glared at Morgan."You can't be serious!" Turning a bewildered glance to Gina he
shrugged. "I'm sorry. I don't know where she gets this shit!"

"Come on Hicks, think about it. If that little problem crops up he could come in handy. Ya
know! The more the merrier type thing." Morgan sighed, rubbing at the back of her neck,
finger tips grazing her burned shoulder.

"She's got a point, Hicks," Vas interjected.

"Look, I'm not coming to the table empty handed. IF you help me to convince the merc to
let him out of the cuffs then you'll get compliance from me. Take it or leave it. But either
way he's coming out of the cuffs we can do it the easy way or we can do it the easier way, just
a little more messy." Morgan set her jaw in determination.

Gina stood from the crate she was sitting on and shook her head vehemently. "No!
No......absolutely not! I can't agree to this. It's too dangerous!" She looked at Morgan.
"Look, I want your compliance ... but this is a safety issue we're talking about!"

"HICKS, you know I can hold my own, proven it more than once. I'll baby-sit him. Armed at
all times. You know it could work!" She appealed to the corporal, he knew her where the
general didn't. "Think about it, man! Think about the next 6 hours, the next 12! You gotta
see what I'm talkin about!"

Vas thumped her fist against her chest and then pointed at Hicks. "You better think about it
real hard." She cut her dark eyes to Gina.

Gina began to seethe. Pulling rank was the last thing she wanted to do ... but there needed
to be some kind of order here. Time to see what Hicks really thought about rank. "Yes,
corporal. Let's completely forget that there is a military chain of command. Make a fucking
decision!" Her eyes burned into his. She couldn't tell if it was because she was so pissed
that this chick was bypassing authority or if it was because he had the most beautiful eyes
she had ever seen. She took a step closer for emphasis.

Hicks' breath rushed from his lungs in a frustrated hiss. Gina didn't understand the position
he was in, couldn't understand. Morgan and Vasquez were making a lot of sense. The con
could be an asset if this went down like he suspected, hell, like he knew it would. But Gina
had a point. There was her rank, even if he couldn't explain his position. She out ranked him.
"It's not our call either way. We talk to Johns and he makes the call." Hicks announced, not
wanting to meet Gina's eyes.

She was slightly disappointed but had no idea why. He had acknowledged her rank, but in a
pansy ass kind of way. Still, he knew these people and she had to respect that. She turned
her back to him, taking in a calming breath. "You two stand down for a few. Corporal, a word
in private." She nodded a direction and walked in front of him.

"Yeah," he sighed, holding up a finger motioning for Morgan to wait. He followed Gina a few
feet away.

Out of earshot, she whirled on him ... her eyes masked. "I understand the control you have
on your people. Much as I hate to admit it, you handled that well, soldier." She moved a bit
closer to him. "But it's not Johns' call. He's my call. I make the decisions concerning
Riddick. And you should know that." She looked at the blue eyes for a long, hard minute.
"So corporal .....what would you do?"

"Knowing what I know? I'd let him loose." He met her eyes straight on, having a few things
to say now. "But tell me general, Gina, when did this become a military operation? Protocol
does not give lead way to take jurisdiction in the instance of a crash. All military deployment,
operations, and jurisdictional claims have to be present to the planetary counsel. That still
the case? Or have I been in cryo sleep so fuckin long that the military has just thrown all the
rules out the window?"

He huffed, waiting for a straight answer from her. Her eyes widened only slightly ... then
narrowed just as slightly. "Clearly noted, corporal. Clearly, fucking noted." Her voice was
hardened ... but she knew he was right. She had no jurisdiction among the civilians. And
Hicks was probably itching to go native. She turned her back. It was a habit she had acquired
when she was about to lose it. "Just FYI ... Johns will die and go to hell before he agrees to
Riddick's release."

"Ok. You have a point. BUT, there is a way around it. Johns motivation here is the bounty
on Riddick." He turned and paced in front of her. Trying to salvage this whole damn pow
wow. "You have the authority to offer Johns restitution on behalf of the corps if for any
looses he sustains. That still true?"

"If I deem it a positive means to an end." She forced herself to look into his eyes, hating the
fact that she had to crane her neck to see his face. "What's on your mind, corporal." She
couldn't allow herself to be familiar with him. Not with what she was feeling.

He stopped his pacing and turned a deadly serious stare on her. "Look, I'm not disputing
rank, not trying to pull any shit on you. I just know that you're my superior and that
sometimes in your position you have to trust the grunts under you. You have to trust them
to know where the thermal chargers are. They are out there watching their asses and yours
too, whether you know it or not. There are things that....Things that are all fucked around
here.......Trust me Gina. Trust me to know this is what we have to do. Go with me and
Morgan and talk to Johns. Hand him the offer. If he accepts it Morgan will bust her ass to
keep Riddick in line, no question about that. I know this isn't how your use to conducting
corps business but...." he trailed off, running his hand through his sweaty hair, finally running
out of steam. "The truth is we need him. A cuffed man will be dead weight. And there might
not be time to change that down the road."

She continued to stare at him. She had already made up her mind, but she wanted to at least
look as if she were contemplating what he said. She was not fucking used to this. Not used to
being out of control. He'd thrown her a bone, at least, by saying he wasn't disputing her
rank. All that shit he'd given when she'd first arrived ... she's rank, he'd said. The truth was,
out here rank was fuck-all. Slowly she nodded her head. "I'll take it to Johns."

"That's all I'm asking." Impulsively he reached for her hand and squeezed it, needing a
contact point. He smiled for all of a millisecond before he realized what he'd done. He swore
under his breath, hoping she hadn't taken offense. "Gina, I didn't mean.....I respect....I didn't
mean to cross the line....." He turned intending to give Morgan the news.

The contact had felt good to Gina. Too good. She had to shake it off. "Hicks," she said as he
turned his back to her. "The line's fine." She sighed. "You've got balls. I'll give you that."
She moved to stand in front of him, reveling in the last second of privacy they had together.
"Those that know me call me G.G." She shrugged. "Until we get back to a civilized place
where rank really means a shit, G.G. will do." She had to will herself not to blush as she
moved to take the lead.

"Ok, G.G." His smiled returned remaining on his face now. "Until we get back to the
world." If we ever get back, sweetheart.

************

Morgan turned at Newt's distressed crying. She grabbed the girl up in a slight panic, shifting
her eyes around the area for Ripley's whereabouts. The woman was rummaging through the
supplies sorting medic ointments and instruments. That couldn't be the source of Newt's
hysteria, she noted with a keen sense of relief.

"Hey kid, what's got you bawlin?" Then she noticed is the red blazing skin on Newt's cheek.
"Who the fuck did this to you?" she snarled.

Newt pulled in a shuddering sob and pointed over to Johns.

"What the hell? He hit you?" Morgan could hardly believe her ears. Newt nodded, her
blonde hair flopping into her tear streaked face. Morgan fought the boil of rage that sizzled
along her nerve endings. He hit the kid. Riddick was one thing, a grown man, a hell 'of a
grown man. But to hit a defenseless kid? She clenched and unclenched her fist trying to calm
herself. She had to stay calm or loose any chance of getting Riddick free of his shackles.

Diplomacy's a bitch! she had the sudden urge to scream. Newt now stood beside her
clutching her hand. Morgan hauled her over to where Johns was just reaching for Riddick.
His words to the man were caustic and low. "Into babies now, Riddick? She's what? Maybe,
8?"

"Did you do this, Johns?" She waited, looking from Newt to the merc. "Just don't fuckin lie,
ok?" Her voice remained even and for the most part toneless.

Riddick tried to keep the grin under control as he watched the show play out in front of him.
Newt caught the slight twitch of his lips, with a careful look up at the adults she sent a
childish raspberry his way. Riddick caught the kid's eye and winked without once changing
his facial expression.

"Johns, don't make me ask you again, man. My patience it running real fuckin thin right
about now. DID YOU HIT THE KID? Simple, yes or no?"

Carolyn arrived at the group just as all eyes turned to Johns, awaiting his answer. He turned
a surprised glance on her, wondering if she had witnessed the scene with the kid.

"No, I didn't hit her. CHRIST!" He shook his head. "She was practically curled up in his
lap," he inclined his head towards Riddick. "I was just gonna tell her to stay away from him.
But she ran off screamin." He shrugged, looking at the kids red face. "She did that to
herself."

Morgan turned back to Newt. "That true squirt? You do that to yourself?"

Riddick stared maniacally. "Hit herself?" he whispered to the man. "What kinda fuckin
lunatic are you, Johns? Too many nights without getting to ya?"

Morgan shook her head and planted a hand on her hips, she wasn't a complete idiot. Riddick
would do or say anything to cause Johns the slightest annoyance.

Johns glared at the other man, veins standing at attention in his neck. "You're one to talk,
now aren't ya?"

Riddick chuckled slightly. "No idea what you mean, big guy."

"Frye?" She glanced around Johns to where the woman stood. "You see anything?" Tongue
darting quickly over her lips, Carolyn shook her head vehemently. "Not a fucking thing."
Her eyes moved to Johns. He may be a lot of things, but a baby beater was not one of them.

"Newt?" Morgan glanced down at the kid and for the first time seeing the twinkle in her
eyes. That could mean only one thing. The twinkle that she had seen when the girl had told
Gorman that Burk tried to hold her down in the med lab for implantation. It had worked
then, turning Gorman against Burk ... she was doing it now Morgan realized and she
squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"I can't remember...It was so hot....I remember him......But I don't remember......" She
began to wail again.

Fry leaned down to come eye level with the child. "Newt, is it? Tell the truth. Did Johns hit
you?" For some inexplicable reason she had to clear Johns of this heinous crime.

Newt slid further into her dramatic display, trembling violently. "Please!.......I don't......He
could have...." Her wails peaked to hysteria.

"Look Johns, she's just a scared little girl. She didn't mean to cause any trouble." Morgan
said, swinging her up into her arms. Looking to Frye she shrugged her shoulders. "I'll let
you know when I get the full story out of her. I don't think it's gonna do any good to keep
askin right now."

Fry stood and nodded, taking a step backward. "Yeah. Sure. Let me know."

"Will do," She shifted Newt's weight on her hip.

Riddick could see the kid's eyes from over Morgan's shoulder. Atta girl, cutie! Play it up.

She walked near Riddick. "Keep the corruption to a minimum, please." She pinned him with
a knowing stare, but her voice trailed after her as she spoke to Newt.

"Hell of a performance, kid. Remind me to never get on your bad side. I think that deserves
a little treat ."

Riddick stared in admiration as baby carried the kid away.
 

Part 6

Gina moved up to disperse the people still hovering around Riddick as she walked up. In
her most authoritative voice, she took charge.

"All right, we need to break this up. We're not getting anywhere." She pointed to Johns,
Hicks and Morgan. "The three of you ... let's have a chat. The rest of you ... let's try not to
destroy anything before we settle some things?" She turned and walked off, assuming the
others would follow ... out of curiosity if nothing else.

Morgan handed over Newt to Vasquez. "Keep an eye on her." She cut her eyes to Ripley
and swore she could see a blue tint hovering around the woman's lips. Vasquez followed her
gaze and nodded. Morgan's attention went back to the little girl.

"Promised you a treat, didn't I?" Newt nodded enthusiastically. Morgan reached for her
neck and with deft fingers unhooked her dog tags. With an appreciative smile she dropped
the smooth metal over the little girl's head. "Gotta see a man about a....." She glanced over
her shoulder, her eyes focused on Riddick. "Stud."

Vasquez erupted into a bout of uncharacteristic laughter. "You do that Morg." She shook
her head as Morgan strode after Hicks and the general.

Gina hitched her foot on a nearby rock as she gazed at the three. She had unwittingly moved
nearer to Hicks, although she didn't know why. "Johns, I've been talking to Hicks here and
he made some very valid points." She turned her gaze to Morgan. "I understand that you
are out-fucking-standing at what you do."

Morgan nodded her head. "Get the job done. Do what it takes."

Gina nodded and turned to Hicks. "You'll be responsible?"

"Yeah, I stand behind this." He nodded towards Morgan and then met Gina's eyes again.

Johns stared at the crew like they had lost their collective minds. "What the hell are you
talkin about?" He directed his comment at Gina.

She took a deep breath, preparing for a battle. "The consensus in that Riddick is
unshackled. A chained prisoner is going to leave us completely fucked. We need him mobile
and ready to haul ass. Morgan here is going to keep an eye on him 24 - 7 and Hicks is going
to take full responsibility." She stood straight, ready for the fight.

"The fuck you say? He ain't comin outta of the chains. NO." He glared at each Marine in
turn.

Gina squared her shoulders and bit the bullet. "Listen, let's get down to the serious shit,
here. This is not about Riddick as much as it is the bounty on his head. I know that, they
know that, and you know that ... capiche?" She moved a bit closer to prove that she would
not be intimidated. "Well, let's just toss all that crap out the window and lay the real McCoy
on the table. I am assuring you that, should anything happen to Richard Riddick, you will
receive ample compensation through my superiors. You'll get your bounty, Johns. Morgan
will keep the guns on Riddick ... Hicks will watch Morgan ... and I get assurance that
Riddick will not slow us down."

Johns heard currency, hard currency hitting the table inside his head. But there was more to
this that the money. Hell, let's not lie. It was fuckin huge part of it, but not all, not all by a
long shot. The man had been a thorn in his side for months. And he was going to just cut him
loose? Just like that? Johns didn't think so. He wanted to the deal sweetened. "She can't
handle him." He started to turn.

Morgan moved a step closer to him. "Johns, I know you think I'm not shit, soft maybe. It's
your right. But I am a class 2 smart gun operator. 47 confirmed kills, most on the outer
edges of the frontier. A hard place to survive let alone thrive. Riddick's not the first buggy
man I've come in contact with. I can handle him."

"Not good enough." He looked to Gina. "There something else I'm looking for here ........"

Take it! Take it! Take the bait, bitch.

She chewed on the inside of her mouth. "Okay. Let's have it. What else are you looking for
in that mercenary little head of yours?" Her eyes narrowed slightly.

He inwardly laughed. Johns came nose to nose with her, anger swirling in the depths of his
eyes. "I don't like your fuckin mouth. I'm tired of listening to it. You're so full of shit." He
sneered." What I want? I don't want you sayin another word to me. Not another fuckin word.
Deal?"

Again, she seethed. She trusted Hicks, for some God-knows-what reason, but this shit was
more than she was willing to swallow. She gazed at him and spoke calmly. "Fuck you,
Johns." She turned to Hicks and Morgan. "I don't need this fucking shit. Cut him down."

Johns turned to Morgan with a triumphant smile. The General would do what it took to
make this work, to get what she wanted, no matter what she said. He saw it in the hard glint
of her eyes. He'd won this go round. Riddick could get his ass blown to hell in the next five
minutes and he'd still get his payday, from the colonial Marines no less. "Guess it's a deal,
Morgan."

A viscous little smile twisted Morgan's lips. "Just one other little thing, Johns." She
dropped her eyes to the ground letting the tension build in the merc. Then with deadly
intensity she cut her eyes back to him, an ominous threat shinning in their depths. "You
touch him again, you'd don't get shit. You get nothing. You're not gonna kill him and then
collect on the corp. I'll see YOU dead before I let that happen."

Gina stood back, arms folded across her chest, and let Morgan take over from there. Her
eyes cut to Hicks and she shook her head, hiding a sarcastic grin. Turning, she began to
walk, deciding to let Morgan and Johns work out the details. Once Riddick was down,
heaven and earth would not get him back in chains. She knew that. She also knew that Johns
was a fool if he really expected her to keep silent while he acted like a little prick. Passing
Hicks, she nodded her head for him to follow.

Hicks fell in step with her, feeling the wave of raw rage radiate off her. "You make it look
easy." He smiled over at her.

She shook her head. "Fuckin' little cock-sucker thinks he's going to get off that easy?" She
cut her eyes to him and almost growled. "Easy? No. It's like walking a fuckin tight rope."

Hicks let out a light bark of laughter as soon as they were out of ear shot. "Course he's not.
But he don't know that, General. I admire what you did back that. Must have been hard as
hell. Wanted to grab him around the neck myself. But you made the deal. Signed. Sealed.
Delievered." He stared at her, his gut twisting as he did.

She looked at him from the corner of her eyes tossing back the long, blonde highlighted
ponytail. "Hard doesn't begin to explain it, soldier. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not the
submissive type." Her voice was a mixture of hardness and promise. "I'm not entirely
comfortable with what's going on here. Riddick is dangerous. DANGEROUS. And I put my
name in ink for him." Why was he staring at her?

"Yeah, no arguments about that. But you did the right thing." He inched closer to her,
seeing the sparks the bright sunlight created in the warm vortex of her eyes. "Call me
Dwayne, G.G." He caught himself before he moved even closer, thinking she wouldn't
overlook that line.

She stopped and looked at him, his blue eyes playing havoc with her system. He was able to
get to her and that pissed her off. "Okay, Dwayne G.G. But mind if I shorten it to Dwayne?
Or would that be pulling rank too much?" Her gaze was seriously playful, even if her tone
wasn't.

He dropped his face at that, flushed with embarrassment. "Very funny." A nervous laugh
broke from his throat. "Think you know what I meant."

She moved in very close to him, batting her warm brown eyes and taking the teasing a bit
further. Flushed? Nervous? A fucking Marine? "No," she breathed innocently. "I don't.
You're the big, smart man. Tell me what you mean, Dwayne G.G." She smiled femininely,
actually enjoying the 'play,' as well as the banter.

"My name's Dwayne. Use it." He glanced back to her, feeling a new heat radiate from her
curvaceous form.

She chuckled loudly, eyes burning into his. Jesus, she needed a cigarette. "Is that an
order?" She moved a step closer, breathing the next word. "Dwayne."

Hicks wasn't used to the tension filled banter that kept him on edge, kept him off balance.
He was man of action. True to his nature, he moved against her. His hands worked over her
arms, touching, exploring. "You gonna give me hell for crossing this line?" He lowered his
lips to her neck, kissing, sucking at her warm salty skin.

Her head fell back for a few brief moments, enjoying being treated like a woman. It was time
to initiate. First, she had to see how he reacted to her. She pushed back, her hand caressing
his chest, and looked into his eyes. "I have a question for you, Dwayne. And a proposition."

There was a fraction of a second when Hicks thought he wouldn't be able to pull in enough
air to speak. He was on fire, body raging with need and longing. Slowly he focused on a reply.
"What is it, G.G.?"

She took on her best military stance, knowing that if she acted as a woman, she'd never be
able to get this out. She squared her shoulders.

"Question ... how long has it been since you've been fucked?" She looked at him boldly, but
shivered inside.

He lifted his face to the sky then, thinking ... eyes clenched tight, nerves vibrating with her
so near. " A year, four months, and how ever long we were in cryo sleep," he answered
honestly. "You?"

"Really interested or asking to be polite?" She stalled. "Fourteen months, thirteen days
and....." she chuckled. "What time is it?" She let her eyes stay on him. "I'm assuming you
don't fuck around with any of your team?"

Hicks quickly shook his head. "No. Never."

She stayed quiet for a moment and then spoke. "Not going to ask me? Or does that answer
my original question. Just trying to be polite?" She let her hand fall from his chest. "In case
you are interested ... I never fuck around with my team, either." Damn. This was going to be
harder than she thought.

"Why?" he simply asked, reaching out to capture her hand bringing it back into contact with
the hard wall of his chest. "And, I'm not overly concerned with polite at the moment."

She fought to keep control. "Why what? Why don't I fuck with my team members? Why
don't you?" Her fingers moved in slow circles on his pecs, but her eyes remained militant.

He touched her hair, her cheek, her neck with a fleeting gentleness. "Bad for morale, not
attracted, keeping it simple for myself. Take your pick. They're all true." He shuddered at
her fingers tracing patterns across his chest.

She couldn't help but chuckle. "Not attracted? Morgan? Vasquez? Hell ... even Ripley? How
the fuck could you not be attracted?" She shook her head. "But the rest makes sense." She
pulled away and took two paces back. She had to remain cool for this and she had to see his
face ... his reaction.

She spoke calmly, as if she were discussing her next meal. "We're not on the same team,
Hicks. Therefore, there would be no conflict of interest. You need to be fucked, and I could
use it, too. We could help each other out." She looked at him for a long moment.
"Interested?"

The smile froze on his face. God, he couldn't imagine being gut shot being any worse than
her words, her proposition. "Just business, general? Just a good fuck and that's it?"

She died inside. He wasn't interested and she'd made a fool out of herself. She would not get
all girlie on him, though. No way in hell. She squared her shoulders more and moved to push
passed him. "I thought something was there. I made a mistake. Fuckin' forget it, soldier."
She mentally slapped herself as she shoved her hand into his wall of a chest.

He grabbed her wrist as she tried to push past him. "Thought there was something, too. But
I don't do causal. No fuck 'em and forget 'em. Sorry to destroy your image of us wild ass
grunts. But it don't work that way with me," he growled.

She jerked her hand away. "Wild ass grunts? More like dumb ass grunts." She stepped back
to crane her neck and look up into his face, taking on the tone of a general railing her
troops. God, what was it about this man that had her crazy! "In case you missed it ... I was
offering myself to you, you stupid son of a bitch!" Her finger hit harshly into his chest. "And
just for information ... I may look like a rough and ready soldier, but I'm totally female! And
you just missed out on the fuckin time of your life!"

Nervous and mad as hell, he ran his hand through his sandy colored hair. "Offered yourself
to me? Sorry, I was distracted by the iceberg that you turned into." He sighed, the anger
trickling away. "I need things just a little warmer, G.G. A little more YOU. But I don't have
any right......." Oh Hicks wanted to fuck her all right, right there in the sand. But from
experience he knew the fire inside wouldn't be extinguished with a quick fix, with a few
precious moments inside her. No, for him it would take much more.

She stiffened. It wasn't the first time a man had been turned off by her military appearance
and persona. And it certainly would not be the last, she wagered. She had learned not to be
hurt by it years ago. To let it just roll off her back like water off the side of a ship. She tried
to keep her eyes focused as she nodded to him. "Understood. Too much general and not
enough woman. Been there before. Let's just agree that we're not in sync here and move on.
Capiche?"

Hicks through up his hands. "You only hear what you want to, G.G. And I'm about to start
crossin some serious fuckin lines," he growled, easing his hands up her arms and giving her
a slight shake. "Just the two of us. When you're ready for it to be just the two of us then I'll
be there. No rank, no personnel, no tomorrow, no ICE. Got it?"

She allowed him to shake her, actually enjoying being treated like a civilian rather than a
commanding officer. But she couldn't let him see that, now could she. She pulled herself
back and tried to remain calm. "No tomorrows? Hmmm.... seems to me like you're the one
who's not interested in strings, D-man." She reached up and patted his cheek.

"Bad choice of words. All I'm saying is that I want you for more than one fuck, for JUST a
fuck! Tell me how you want me to say it and I will!" He turned his back on her, totally
defeated. She only wanted a hard dick and that's all he was. In his younger years that would
have thrilled him to no end but it was wasted on him now. Priorities change. Needs grow.
Life throws you a curve ball and here was one of them.

She sighed and turned, herself, to look onto the horizon. "Dwayne, if all I'd wanted was a
prick then I wouldn't have gone over a year celibate." She chuckled. "You don't think there
are establishments where women can get laid as well as men?" She squared her shoulders
and moved toward him, smacking him lightly on the back. "Look, I'm sorry that I brought
this up. I didn't mean to offend you or put you in a tight spot. I just thought ..." She sighed
again. "Oh, hell. I thought wrong. So let's just get passed this ... okay?" Jesus, he smelled
so much like a man.

That was it. She'd said too much that time. She'd made it impossible for him to walk away
without having something of her until they found the opportunity to take some pleasure in
each other. He whirled with the suddenness of a striking snake and pulled her into his arms,
crushing her lips in a kiss he felt all the way to the soles of his feet. His tongue pushed into
her mouth, exploring.

It had been so long since she had felt a man's mouth on hers that she reveled in it like a
woman dying of thirst would lap at running water. She pulled herself up to her tiptoes and
wrapped her arms around his neck, returning the kiss with an equal amount of fire and
passion. Yeah, Hicks, she thought. This is what you're missing, you little shit! Her hands slid
to the small of his back, fingers sliding under the utility belt and waistband to tickle the skin
underneath. After long, languid moments, she pulled away breathlessly. They stared at each
other for what seemed an eternity, mentally contemplating what may happened between
them. But the dye was cast. The heated kiss had sealed their fate.

* * * * * * *

Morgan followed Johns over to where Riddick was chained. The crowd had dispersed,
everyone going back to their own little activities. All except for Vasquez who came over
carrying a pulse rifle and two extra clips. "Thought you might need this," she said, picking
up the dog tags around her neck and pressing them to her lips. Immediately Morgan knew
something was up, a signal, heads up. She looked down at the pulse rifle in her hand and
back to Vasquez, a wide smile on the other woman's face. "Yeah. Thanks, Vas," she said as
the other woman turned and headed back to Newt. It became hard as hell for Morgan not to
smile as she slung the rifle across her shoulder, knowing the tinkering that Vasquez had
done to the rifle.

Riddick hid a broad grin as he watched the two. Baby was certainly an impressive figure ...
and the other woman handled the kid pretty well. If not for Johns, this would be a perfect
picture. Johns just added the comic relief.

Morgan eased herself down onto her heels in front of Riddick. "Johns here has a little
something to explain to you so, listen real carefully. Real carefully," she stressed, cutting
her eyes up to Johns where he stood and nodded.

Riddick raised an eyebrow over the rim of his goggles and cut his eyes to the man, but
keeping his face focused on baby.

The sneer on Johns' face reached all the way to his soul. He rubbed his at his chin for a
moment picking his words carefully. "OK, you son of a bitch, you're the Marine's problem
now..." He hitched his thumb in Morgan's direction. "She's gonna be your keeper and get
outta line with her and she can do whatever the fuck she wants with you. I get paid either
way." He reached the gun at his side, only to be met with a growl from Morgan.

"Remember what I said, Johns. Not a scratch." She glared at him.

Riddick watched the emotions play on both faces and chuckled. "Jealous that I'm going to
be a kept man, Johns? A little miffed because you can't get someone to keep your sorry
ass?"

Morgan shook her head, knowing her patience was going to be sorely tested. "Riddick, start
taking it serious," she hissed. She jerked her head up as Johns reached over her, unlocked
the cuffs and promptly delivered a viscous kick to Riddick's thigh. Turning, he strode away.

"Watch your ass, Morgan," he called over his shoulder.

Riddick growled as he rubbed the struck area. "Sonofabitch. He needs to be brought down a
peg."

She sighed looking at the man, a question she knew she would regret forming on her lips as
she watched him rub at his wrists. "You're not gonna give me shit are ya, Riddick? Cause if
ya are I can just have....." Her voice trailed off as she stood.

His voice was deep and gravel-like. "Have what? Have Johns smoke me?" He kept his
goggles on her eyes as he stretched slightly. "Fuckin do me now if you're going to hang that
shit on my head, baby." He stared, feeling the heat of her being near boil his blood.

She moved closer, hovering over him. "No, Johns ain't coming near you again. That's a
fuckin fact. Just thought I cuff you to me." She shrugged.

A sensual smile spread his lips. "Into cuffs, are we, baby? That's definitely interesting." He
stood and towered over her, unable to comprehend that she couldn't feel it. "Do it. Please."
He smiled again.

She simply stared at him for several long moments, crossing her arms under her high tits.
"Hell, it might surprise even you what I'm into." She pursed her lips and winked at him.
"But cuffs ONLY if you're a good boy, Richard."

His tongue slowly slid over his full lips. "And it might surprise even you just how good I can
be." His gaze surveyed her voluptuous form and then returned to her eyes.

She moved away from him so he could stand, so he could rise to imposing form she knew he
was. "Nothing surprises me. NOTHING." She smirked. "That includes anything about you,
Riddick."

He noticed the smirk and decided to allow her to be amused. He leaned forward and sniffed
her neck, allowing his tongue to barely touch the skin. That would be the blood test. The
effect it had on her. He lifted his face slightly to watch.

She stood stock still, her features schooled into an unaffected mask but her little charade
was short lived. The corners of Morgan's mouth twitched, inching up into a curious grin,
tilting her head a little further to the side. "Do I past the taste test?"

He nodded slowly ... his smile remaining sensuous. "Knew you would. You tasted my blood,
I tasted your skin. We're hooked, baby."

She turned searching out Hicks across crash site. "Hooked? You make me sound like a
trout." She tossed him smile over her shoulder. "How's the shoulder, RICHARD?" She
emphasized his first name, trying to get a real rise out of him, trying to get a blast worthy of
Richard B. Riddick.

He grasped her elbow and whirled her around. This was it. The last time she'd get a charge
from him. He leaned his face close to hers and spoke in a deep, reverberating tone. "You
can fuckin deny it all you want, baby. But you want me. you know it, and I know it." He
stared at her intensely, leaned in and kissed her neck hard, then pushed her away, eyes
glowing under the goggles.

Morgan wasn't the kind of girl to be dismissed, not by a man, not by Riddick. The first man
that had been worth a second glance since she was sent to the outer reaches of the galaxy.
The first man of interest since her death. As he shoved her away, she grabbed a fist full of
his dark T-shirt, pulling herself back to him. She slammed her lips against his and
immediately felt the sting and warm rush of metallic blood. His? Hers? Both? It didn't
matter. She lapped at the salty nectar, drinking in the taste of him as much as the blood.

He allowed the exploration of her tongue and even reveled in it. He ended up nipping the
inside of her lip with his teeth, allowing their blood to mix ... feeling the excitement inside
her that she tried so hard to hide ... that she hid well, actually. But she couldn't deny her
excitement while her tongue was in his mouth.

Lungs burning from lack of oxygen, she'd had enough. That's what she wanted to believe,
but she knew it was a lie. She pushed hard against his chest. He refused to release the hold
he had on her and the kiss quickly escalated into a hot, exciting shoving match. Finally they
broke apart, a bemused grin on Morgan's face. "I didn't deny anything, Riddick. Ask a
straight question, get a straight answer. No bullshit."

He calmed his breathing quickly and assumed a casual position. "You taste good, baby. Real
good." He gave an irritating smirk.

She shrugged, adapted an air of indifference. "Yeah? Thanks, been told that before, quite a
few time in fact."

He let his finger quickly slide to the inside corner of her mouth and pulled it out revealing
the red liquid. He slowly lapped it clean with his tongue as he looked at her. "I can imagine.
I can fuckin' imagine."

She pushed her face close to his again, snarling. "No, you can't. You really can't.
Ummmm......The things that......" She let her words trail, a sadistic smile twisted her lips.

What the fuck am I doing? Baiting him? Encouraging him? Fuckin idiot, stop it!

She stepped away, crossing her arms. "I'm already tired of this shit. Really tired of it. Talk a
good game, Riddick. But so far that's all I've seen.

You're supposed to be such a bad ass? We'll see." She strode away, whistling for him over
her shoulder like he was her favorite hound.

He stayed planted where he was as she walked away, watching her with probing eyes. She
had demons. Who the fuck didn't. Tired of it? Hell, she creamed on all this. She was into
some really twisted shit. Probably one of the reasons he was hard for her every time he
thought of her. But she was going to have to work for him as much as he was going to have
to work for her. Two fuckin sadists and not a masochist to be seen. The thought brought a
smile to his lips as his tongue swirled in his mouth remembering the taste of her.

* * * * *

Johns stalked to a fairly low outcrop of rocks near the downed ship. His mood degenerated
from his usual dark and sullen state to murderous frustration. The ever present restlessness
he felt tugged at him threatening to overwhelm him. Perching on a flat rock he looked out
across the arid landscape, not hearing the presence until it was practically on top of him.

Carolyn hitched her foot on the rock and gazed the landscape along with him. "You okay?"

"I will be now," he said. Looking down, he noticed the tremors starting up in his hands,
praying she didn't notice it too. "Where you been?" It suddenly dawned on him that he had
missed her voice near him, quick to respond to him, for him.

She moved to sit beside him on the small rock. She bumped his back with her shoulder.
"Like you fuckin' missed me." She leaned her elbows on her knees. "I wasn't invited to the
little committee meeting, so I helped out the Ripley chick with the supplies." She listened to
the silence until she thought she would scream. "Listen, Johns ... it's done. And he's her
responsibility. Let it go."

Johns considered her words. Had he REALLY missed her? Yeah, maybe he had. She was
company, companionship. A secretive smile lit his face. She's fuckin hot. He turned to her,
the sun casting shadows across a portion of his face. "Yeah, it's done. SO, why can't it just be
easy? Why can't I let it go? This is going to drive me crazier than that bastard con. Should
have just taken him back to Slam City."

Again the shit head was getting all pumped because of Riddick. Fuckin' hell. She stood and
paced in front of him casually arching the stiffness from her back. "You're a merc, Johns.
You sniffed out a deal ... a really sweet fucking deal ... and you took it. That's what you do.
That's who you are. So live with it and move on." She kept her back to him hitching her
fingertips in the waistband at the back of her fatigues.

"Yeah, let it go," he whispered. He motioned her back to the rock beside him. "Carolyn? I
wanna tell you......." He hesitated, not accustomed to opening himself up. "I wanna say I'm
sorry for those cracks about you getting it on with other women."

She moved to sit back down and casually leaned her elbow on his knee, reverting to the
friendlier aspects of their relationship. They were either comfortable or screaming ... no in
between. "Forget it. I never have ... um ... how did you phrase it ... preferred pussy? But it's
been so fucking long I've forgotten what a dick's like, too." She shrugged. "No harm, no
foul."

He nodded his head, trying not to let her see that one word on her lips knocked the air
completely from his lungs. Dick . The word conjured up several images of what he'd like her
to do with his.

"So, we squared away?" He eased an arm around her shoulders, shoving other thoughts
away.

Carolyn was confused at the feel of Johns' arm on her. She turned her face to look directly
into his eyes with a raised eyebrow. You HONESTLY think I'm going to let you get off that
easy?" She chuckled. "You said some serious shit about my sexual preferences." She
sighed and ran a hand through her hair, allowing a firm, pert tit to brush his arm. "SERIOUS
shit!"

Johns actually began to relax. His smile was warm and open for the first time since he'd set
his feet on Richard Riddick's trail. "Shit! I guess I did, didn't I ?" He pinned her with a
suddenly serious stare. "Guess you'll be proving me wrong."

Her thighs suddenly enflamed and her nipples stiffened under the soft material of the tank
top. But she knew the moment he found out she was sexually attracted to him her life
wouldn't be worth living. She shook her head. "Maybe if you try on a nice dress? Some blush
would be good. Oh, and don't forget the ruby red lipstick!" She grinned, but her hand moved
to his knee of its own volition.

"Outta luck there, Carolyn. Didn't pack any of that." He smiled, pulling her even closer in a
slight embrace, kneading the muscle of her upper bicep.

She shivered at the strength in his hand and, for a split second, wondered what it would feel
like if that hand yanked her hair back while he forced a kiss on her compliant lips. She shook
herself from the image, feeling the moisture multiply. "Too bad," she said coolly. "Bet you'd
look fuckin cute."

"Seriously doubt that." He laughed, watching the tension ripple through her limbs. His own
body was quickly honing in on it and making him uncomfortable. He shifted beside her trying
to ease the pull of material across his sensitive lower portion. "You're gonna give me hell
from now on about this aren't you?"

A slow and rather seductive smile spread her face. "Tit for tat, right Johns?" She
secretively allowed her eyes to scan his bulging groin before turning his eyes to the make
shift camp. Shit! He had to be impressive as hell, didn't he?

He managed to catch her stray glance and decided to turn up the heat. He stood and moving
directly in front of her, offering his hand. The near pain of his pants against his erection was
worth it to get a bit more attention from the woman before him. "Should be gettin back,
they'll wanna be on the move soon."

She took the offered hand, experiencing the electric shock as she did. Oh, yeah, she said
inwardly. Now THAT'S a cock. The slippery, sticky feeling between her legs made
movement feel heavenly as she stepped toward him.

"In that case ... let's get it on." She gazed at him, hoping the play on words did not go
unnoticed as she closed her eyes and forced herself to step away from him.

Pulling her back to him with the hand he captured as she stood, he reached around her with
the other and grabbed her slight ass. "Oh, we will, Carolyn. You can bet your ass on that."

Her heated core was pressed flat against his straining hard-on and she suddenly felt as if she
was on fire. "Ah, I get it. You're an ass man. Sorry to disappoint Johns. But I've been told
my ass is not my best feature." His next words would determine everything to her.

"Feels like fuckin heaven to me." He released her hand and, as both arms wrapped around
her, he pulled her hard against him."It's all the best, Frye." He ground himself against her
and released a slight groan.

She let her hand slide down the hard cords of his abs and travel lower. Fingers caressed,
then grasped the hard shaft through the material of his pants. "Oh, yeah. That's what a really
good dick feels like." She licked his earlobe, pulling it between her teeth as she spoke.
"You find us a quiet, private place, Johns ... and I'll do you. I'll do you so fuckin good you
won't believe it." And with that, she gave him an erotic look, pulled away, and forced herself
to walk to toward the camp before she fucked him right here, in the open, in front of God,
and everybody!