Scarier Monsters

Chapter Four

The breath in my chest didn't seem to want to escape. It felt like it was a balloon slowly expanding at the sensation of Riddick's own breath on my skin, warm and close. He was standing directly behind me like a lion before pouncing. Thoughts raced through my head at escape – and other things that didn't involve escape - quite the opposite, actually. I could make a run for it, but the wine was indeed making me clumsy and lightheaded; I doubted I'd make it far before Riddick would stop toying with me and ghost me in the sand. If it really came down to it I was morally prepared to seduce to evade a death sentence.

At the moment I was pretty sure I was prepared to seduce anyway.

"I've been meaning to catch up with you alone...unrestrained."

Make that absolutely sure. The huskiness of his voice made my knees tremble. Actually tremble. No male had ever evoked this sensation within me before, and I was wholly at a loss. The small space made his words echo slightly and I felt his huge body move closer to mine. The air shifted with his presence. Beginning to turn to question why, I immediately felt a sharp jab under my ribs through the tight black shirt I was wearing and I froze. Apparently he found a nice pointy object as well.

"Where you goin'?" he murmured, his tone amused. "I know you freed me and all, but the last reapers I ran into...lay a hand on your chest for a moment and that's all it takes, right?"

I scowled over my shoulder and I could almost sense his wide grin.

"I'll take that as an affirmative. See, a reaper's sweet spot happens to be a little further up," his makeshift shiv, bone like mine, dug deeper between my ribs. Pain shot up my side as I felt it break the skin. A low hiss escaped my lips. Having enough of his 'I'm the bad guy' routine, I spun away from him with surprising speed and raised my own weapon. Droplets of my blood flecked the white sand below but I still managed a smirk.

"Not even close, Riddick."

Damn him. Sure, he may have just been jabbing a sharp bone into my side, but as he came into full view I couldn't help but stare a little. The way his creamy caramel skin was shining with sweat and the way his muscled body seemed to fill the entire space made my female sensibilities go haywire. The blank tank he was wearing was stretched taut over his chest and clung to him, outlining every tone. As my eyes ate him up the temperature seemed to rise by a steady ten degrees.

"Seemed pretty close to me," he grinned, taking a step forward. Those shining eyes, like two moons where violet flowers bloomed, appraised me. I froze in place, held captivated. Shit. He knew the effect he had on me. Probably smelled it. By way his energy was surging I could tell he was enjoying himself. My body tensed and I raised my weapon, ready for an attack, but the combination of the heat, Riddick's energy and scent, and the shiraz I was still wielding was making my head blurry and my limbs weak. What I really needed was a rest and a solid meal, but those things were currently distant dreams.

Those eyes flicked up and down, hungrily. Couldn't help but move my gaze down to his lips and yearn for them to be at my throat again. Low rumble of pleasure from his chest at that, as if my face were transparent and he could see everything going on in my head. Glancing behind me, I slowly backed up as well as I could in the cramped space. There was always the chance I could dart away and escape through the maze of skeletons but what good would that really do? If not now, he would probably kill me later. He followed my movements, making a tsk-tsk noise that he somehow managed to sound sexy.

"Nowhere to run reaper. You let me out...so hear me out," the last few words were spoken gently but a threat lurked behind them. Eyeing his shiv, I nodded warily and stopped. He wanted to talk? Fine.