. I ... think that ... that I could please you more than an older woman and a young child. It was hard to hide the desperation in her voice."Please le... me help you. I ... I ... I think that I can ... can be nice to you. You will not need these people.By now, the other guards had brought in several large wooden chairs and formed a semi-circle in front of her husband. The Colonel sat in the middle; facing her husband. Pierre sat on the chair facing the one set up for Jennifer. The two men had. ’ He smashed the two women’s head together before they could even begin to digest his words, forehead met forehead with a sickening crunch and they both slumped in his hands. ********************************************** Riddick’s chair creaked as he stretched his huge frame. In one hand he had a large glass of twenty year old malt whisky and in the other, neatly held between forefinger and thumb, a huge spliff. He lifted one leg and crossed the ankle over the knee of his other leg. He looked. Any second she would turn and see me, and my obvious arousal, and it would be hell. She would think I was sick and perverted, and she would be right.In seemingly slow motion, it happened. She turned, shook the hair from her face, while still holding the towel in her hand. She pivoted around to face the mirror and saw me in the doorway. Without covering herself, she turned to see me frozen in both terror and lust.I expected her to scream. Or, to begin yelling loudly while frantically attempting. A brief, little smile; but summer came to me in that moment and winter melted away. Oh, you may say it was the heat of the fire or the sweet, strong mead but I say it was her smile that warmed me then.We went together to the feast. The ram went uncomplaining to the knife and the druid pronounced the omens good that year. This I already knew. Rhiannon touched my arm as we talked and, for once, I didn't get drunk with the other warriors. Thus and thus, it was, I fell in love.Beltane"Will you.