Interview With An Assassin 14

::FOURTEEN::

“I am definitely not allowed to leave if you never eat, baby.”

“Food tastes better when you’re feeding me.”

That deep, contented purr, a nuzzle behind my ear. Scoop a dollop of cheesecake off the plate in my lap. Over my shoulder with it, letting him suck it off my finger. Normally, we would go out somewhere for dinner, but neither one of us wanted to have to deal with other people. That, and neither one of us wanted to get dressed. I don’t want to share him with anyone just yet.

Chocolate. His breath smells like chocolate. The cheesecake, after dinner. I had been so overjoyed just to have him here, that I had forgotten, for the moment, that it would only be the fourteenth for maybe another hour.

“I have a present for you, Riddick.”

“You’ve already given me a present.”

Rest my head back into his shoulder, leaning back, so he can touch me, while he kisses me. He even tastes of chocolate, a thought I can’t help but smile at. Richard. B. Riddick. Escaped convict. Mass Murderer. Chocolate breath.

“Close your eyes.” He’s grinning at me now, chuckling under his breath, but he closes his eyes.

“You’re cute when you get playful, Ava.”

I arch over the side of the bed, reaching for the beautiful red box, that I had hid under there earlier. A low growl of appreciation, his hand on my thigh, makes me look back over my shoulder. He didn’t keep his eyes closed for long. Watching me as I stretched back.

I feel almost shy, as I hand him the box, turning it, so the flowing gold script can be read by him. I had given him things before, but nothing like this. This was special. A first for me. I had never given anyone a Valentine’s Day gift before. Never felt the need, the desire to. Never really been in love before. Until now. I don’t know what to do with my hands, and settle for fidgeting in my lap. My eyes catch his, before looking down again, unsure. I feel silly, knowing I’m blushing.

I watch his hands on the box, now in his own lap. Fingers tracing over the letters. Be Mine, Valentine. Resting on “Mine”. His hand running lightly over the raised lettering there, moving up, to lift my chin.

“Everything that’s happened, I kind of forgot it was Valentine’s Day today.”

I must have looked surprised. I admit I was, although, as with so many things with Riddick, I should never have been surprised.

“Still another, what, hour? to go?”

He just smiles at me, before looking down, and opening the box. A soft intake of breath, his hand moving out to stroke across the gutter of the blade. His calloused fingertip a whisper down it’s length, before picking it up, testing it’s balance.

“Ava…..it’s beautiful…”

I know I’m blushing furiously, especially as he tests the edge, remembering how much thought I put into sharpening it for him. Finally, his eyes resting on the name inscribed in the steel near the hilt. Stark. His thumb stroking over the letters there, his other hand reaching to raise my chin again, to make me look at him. Holding the back of the blade, stroking over that name with his thumb, never dropping his eyes from mine.

I have seen love in Riddick’s eyes, on more than one occasion. Never as deep as this. He swallows, hard, before reaching over to kiss me, softly, gently. a sweet kiss. A pure kiss. Never letting go of the blade while he did it.

“John Stark and Angela Furgale.”

His voice, too, is soft, full of quiet wonder. Nearly a whisper it’s so quiet. Finally putting the beautiful blade back down in the box, and putting it aside. Holding my face in both his hands, leaning in to kiss me again. Resting his forehead to mine, his voice dropping, almost as though he were talking to himself.

“It’s fate…”
“…close your eyes, baby.”

The bed shifts, as he gets up, rummages around for something and comes back, settling back in front of me. A shaky breath, before putting the small box in my hand, and telling me to open my eyes. The small black box in my hand. A smudge of grease, a dent. He’s been carrying it for a while. My world shifts. A loss for words. The tale of their love has haunted me, struck me so deeply already. Stark and Furgale, and that one pure act.

A delicate plain steel band, with a dark black stone. Riddick, inscribed on the inner curve. He’s holding my left hand, placing the band on my ring finger. Pulling me tight to him, before whispering in my ear.

“I will love you forever, Ava.”
“I love you, Riddick.”

::HAPPY VALENTINES DAY::