Fic: Secret Admirer (NC-17) Ronon/Liz Chp. 4
Title: Secret Admirer
Author: Angelsdee aka Dee Dee
Date: 8/20/06
Chapter: 4/?
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Ronon/Elizabeth
Archiving: My LJ, Atlantica, Elizabeth/Ronon LJ, RDFever LJ, WRFever, and RDFever
Warnings: Violence, Stalking, Explicit Sex, Torture
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters in this fic but I sure like to play with them.
Summary: This is in response to Carol’s Challenge #9 on the WRFever Group. An obsessive admirer stalks Elizabeth and Ronon takes it upon himself to keep her safe.
After they ate breakfast in his room, Ronon had escorted Elizabeth to her quarters to pick up some clothing and personal items. He contacted Sheppard while she was packing a bag and made arrangements to have the gym vacated. When she emerged from her bedroom still dressed in his shirt, he asked her why she hadn’t changed.
“This room doesn’t belong to me any longer.” She replied as she hoisted her bag over her shoulder. “He watched me in here and I will never take my clothes off in these quarters again.” She walked past him and turned to look back when he didn’t follow. “Like you said, Ronon, your shirt covers everything and I’ll change in the gym.”
“Okay.” He smiled as he followed her out the door, took her bag from her, and shouldered it. “You do realize there isn’t anywhere to change in the gym, don’t you?”
“I guess you will just have to be a gentleman and turn your back.” She returned his grin as they made their way to a lift.
~*~
Ronon accessed the door to the gym, stood aside, and waved Elizabeth in. “After you.” She smiled and walked in with Ronon right behind her. “Sheppard coded the door so we won’t be disturbed.”
“That was nice of him.” She took her bag off his shoulder and set her gaze on her hands. “Did you tell him what we going to do?”
“No. He told me yesterday that I was to go nowhere without you and I guess he assumes that I am working out.” She nodded her head as she unzipped her bag, pulled a sports bra and biker shorts out, and wandered over to a bench. “Would it bother you if he knew what we are doing?”
“I guess not. I know this is going to sound strange but I am having a slight problem with anyone having first hand knowledge of my activities. I know that is ridiculous since I am the leader of this expedition. Everyone always knows what everyone else is doing here. Our lives depend on it. Nevertheless, I feel…intruded upon and violated.” She dropped her bag on the bench and turned to Ronon. “I trust John with my life. He is my best friend but, after all the shit that has happened, I just want to lock myself in a room and find a sense of privacy again.”
“I understand. You don’t need to explain it to me.” His eyebrow rose when she grabbed the hem of his shirt and began to lift it. She stopped short of her breasts and raised an eyebrow to match his until he turned his back. “You do know you can lock yourself in my room anytime you wish but I can’t give you the privacy you desire until this situation is resolved?”
“I know and thank you for being there.” He heard her muffled voice as she pulled the shirt over her head and remembered all to well how she looked when he was drying her skin. “You took me in and appointed yourself my guardian and I can’t begin to tell you how that makes me feel.”
His head snapped to the side when she placed her hand on his arm. His eyes ran the length of her form and he felt his head spin. The tight fitting clothing molded to every curve and he wasn’t surprised to see her shapely legs and tight abdomen. Elizabeth was in excellent shape and he looked forward to seeing how well she adapted to his training.
“You look…very nice.” He smiled when she blushed from the compliment. He took her by the hand and led her to the center of the mats. “Now let me see what you can do.”
~*~
He made her stretch for almost half an hour before he showed her some basic moves. He came at her from behind and she either flipped him over her shoulder or hip-tossed him. He was pleased with her natural abilities and looked forward to showing her how to take the offensive.
“Did you retain this knowledge from your encounter with Phoebus?” He asked her as he rolled to his feet once again.
“Actually I didn’t retain anything from that experience but the awful memory of it. I tried to kill John, I hurt several Airmen, and I almost killed you. I can’t say I’m sorry enough for that one.” They circled each other as she waited for his next move and he thought one out. “I talked Teal’c into giving me a few lessons when I was in charge of the SGC. We only had time for 3 sessions before the world was in danger…again but he said I was a quick learner.”
“I think you are a natural.” He smiled as he faked a lunge and she jumped back a step.
“That…man wouldn’t have been able to sneak up on me if I was a natural, Ronon.” She dropped her stance and stood before him looking defeated. “I want to be able to not only sense a threat but deal with it. Will you show me how to do that?”
“Let’s do one thing at a time. You can’t learn everything in one day. The most important thing for you to know is your surroundings. Be aware of everything and everyone around you.” He walked over to the wall that held an assortment of weapons and returned with a blindfold. “Do you trust me?” He saw the fear in her eyes when she focused on the material in his hand. Her gaze went to meet his when he repeated the question and she nodded her head slowly. “Come here, Elizabeth.”
Ronon watched the tension in her body as she took the few steps that separated them. He moved behind her and situated the blindfold in place. As he tied it, his eyes caught her fists clenching and unclenching repeatedly. “I want you to clear your mind.” He walked a circle around her as he spoke and watched her move her head to follow his steps.
“Everyone has the ability to sense when someone is near. You just need to learn how to pull it to the surface. Too many people rely on their eyesight.” He continued to pace around her and smiled when she tilted her head to the side to listen. “Use your hearing like you are now to listen for the slightest sound. The most important part when using your hearing is to notice no sound at all. If a person or inanimate object gets too close to your ear, you will notice a significant decrease in surrounding sound.”
He moved to her side and held his hand a few inches from her ear. “Where is my hand?” She turned her head to the right, raised her hand, and grabbed his. He gave her a little squeeze before he moved away. “Very good. The other sense that will help you more than any other is touch but not physical. Your body can sense nearby objects through heat or a shift in the air. You just need to feel. You ready to try?”
“I’m ready.” She took a deep breath and prepared herself.
“I’m going to move around the room. I want you to point at me when you detect me.” He moved almost silently around the perimeter of the mats and smirked as she turned her ear towards him. She instantly raised her hand and pointed at him. “Good.” He masked his footsteps so that he made no sound at all, closed the distance, and passed within a foot of her left ear. Her hand darted out and her palm met with the center of his chest. “Excellent.”
He left her alone in the center of the room and took his time with this one. He crept up behind her virtually silent. He stood scant inches from her back and ran his eyes appreciatively down her body. Sweat glistened on her skin and his gaze focused on a single drop that traveled down her spine to the waistband of her shorts.
It took him a second to notice the goose bumps that rose on her flesh and he realized his mistake a second later. She reached over her shoulder, clasped her hands behind his neck, and flipped him over her on to his back. She placed a knee on his chest, removed her blindfold, and smiled down at him. “How was that?”
“It was excellent except for one thing.” She furrowed her brow and an instant later found herself flat on her back with him pinning her bodily to the ground. “Don’t get overconfident.”
“So…” They glanced towards the door to see John standing just inside the room with a confused look on his face. “How are things going in here?”
“Fine.” Ronon answered him but didn’t move from his position on top of her. “Is there something we can do for you, Sheppard?”
“No. I just stopped by to see how Elizabeth is feeling?” He walked up to them and tilted his head sideways to look at her. “How are you doing?”
“I’m better, John.” Elizabeth gasped as she stared at Ronon, whose eyes were roaming over her flushed face.
“What are you guys up to?” John had his hands in his pockets and bounced on the balls of his feet. He felt like he walked into something and he was getting a little uncomfortable.
“Elizabeth has asked me to train her in self-defense and basic combat moves.” Ronon rose to a crouching position, grabbed her hands, and helped her to her feet. “She is proving to be an excellent student.”
“I have a good teacher.” She blushed when Ronon smiled at her and then her face turned thoughtful. “I want you to show me that move.”
“Okay. Let’s get back into the position we were in.” Ronon sprawled out on his back with his feet on the mat. Elizabeth placed one knee on his chest, the other on the floor under his arm, and her hands on his shoulders. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.” Ronon grinned at the look of determination on her face. He was enjoying this immensely. He quickly placed his hands on her pelvis, flipped her over his head, and rolled to his knees. Before she had the chance to react, he spun her around, slid her back between his legs and straddled her waist. She tried to dislodge him like he did to her but he grabbed her hands and pinned them beside her head.
“Do you yield?”
“No.” She struggled against his grip in aggravation and pouted in defeat when she couldn’t break free. “Show me again.”
“Elizabeth, don’t you think you’ve had enough for one day?” John looked at her in concern. She had obviously been traumatized but now she was obsessed with learning how to fight and it worried John to think that this whole experience could end up changing her forever.
“No I don’t, John. I will not be a victim again! Who knows what he is capable of? Who knows what he could do to me?” She glared back up at Ronon with tears in her angry eyes. “Show me again!”
“No, Elizabeth. Sheppard is right. You’ve had enough for one day.” He released one of her wrists, palmed her cheek tenderly, and pulled her into his embrace. “It’ll be okay.” He whispered into her ear. The anger left her in a rush and all that remained in his arms was a frightened woman. “Don’t worry, Elizabeth. I’ll make sure that you can defend yourself and until then I will take care of you.”
“Do you promise?” A slight whisper reached his ears and both men felt saddened by how small she sounded.
“I promise you.”
“Ronon, why don’t the two of you go back to your quarters?” John suggested as he watched his friend try to keep a tight rein on her emotions and fail miserably. “There are, uh… some Airmen that want to get in here some time today. I’ll arrange for the place to be empty the same time tomorrow so you can continue your training.”
“Thanks, Sheppard.” He nodded his head at his friend and held Elizabeth’s face between his hands. “What do you say we head back, clean up, and get some rest? I’ll have dinner sent to us when we get up.”
“I’ll take care of that, Ronon.” The two men’s eyes met and Ronon nodded his appreciation. “Just call me if you need anything and I’ll have it taken care of.”
“Thanks. Elizabeth, let’s go to our quarters.” He stood and pulled her to her feet. “You really need to get some rest.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, stopped by the bench to retrieve her bag, and escorted her out of the gym.
“Our quarters?” John said to himself with a baffled look on his face. “Since when did it become their quarters?”
~*~
They walked in complete silence down the corridors of Atlantis. Ronon knew Elizabeth was fighting some inner demons that only she could conquer. He knew the battle well. It was one he had fought every day for 8 years.
Like himself, who began to heal after he accepted Sheppard’s help on his home world, Elizabeth could not be helped unless she allowed it. He could be there for her and train her but her war would never be over until she realized she couldn’t win on her own and let down the walls she built to protect herself.
He accessed his door and followed her into his quarters. She was quiet and withdrawn as she dumped her bag on his sofa, pulled out some undergarments, and turned to the bedroom. “I’m going to take a shower.” She stopped and glanced back at him. “Unless you want to go first. These are your quarters after all.”
“No. Go ahead.” He waved her on. “I’ll wait until you’re finished.”
“Thank you.”
He waited until he heard the door close to the bathroom before he picked up her bag and carried it into the bedroom. As soon as the sound of the shower running reached his ears, he dumped her belongings out on the bed. He rifled through the few items she had chosen to bring and separated them out.
Ronon glanced at the bathroom door and wondered if she would take offense to what he was about to do. Truth to tell, Ronon found most of these people an enigma but Elizabeth was the hardest one to figure out. He gathered up her silk and satin undergarments and placed them in an empty drawer in his dresser.
He added the small handful of exercise clothing and socks and placed them in there as well. She had brought a couple of outfits to wear and two pairs of shoes. He hung her shorts set and uniform next to his shirts and placed her pair of black flats and tennis shoes on the floor in the closet and closed the door.
He briefly noticed that she didn’t bring anything to sleep in and pondered that as he carried the last of her things over to the dresser. His heart warmed when he looked at the picture in his hand. She was with another woman that he could only guess by the resemblance was her mother.
They were smiling with their heads leaning against each other. Ronon hadn’t seen that kind of happiness in Elizabeth for a very long time. In fact, he had never seen it on her at all. He stood the picture frame proudly in the center of his dresser and glanced at the bottle in his hand.
The perfume bottle was made of intricately designed crystal with a rose shaped stopper in the top. He pulled it open, drew in the sweet fragrance, and closed his eyes as it permeated his senses. The bottle and the perfume reminded him of Elizabeth.
The crystal container reminded him how delicate and beautiful she was. The fragrance showed her as sweet but subtly overpowering. He replaced the stopper, placed the bottle on the dresser, and walked to his bed.
Ronon sat on the edge, toed off his boots and socks and set them aside. He took a deep breath, rested his forearms on his thighs, and kept his eyes on the bathroom door. He found himself caring for this woman more and more with every passing second that she was in his presence.
She incited his body to betray him every time they touched each other. He had stayed on top of her when Sheppard came into the gym to hide his erection. When she felt it pressed against her pelvis, she became flushed and her breathing had deepened.
He could detect the scent of her arousal and it made him hunger for her. She saw it in his eyes and didn’t tear her gaze away. He hadn’t thought about being with a woman since he lost Milena and lately he could barely remember her face. Elizabeth had managed to worm her way into his heart and she set a fire in his blood. He vaguely remembered this feeling from long ago.
He wanted her.
He wanted to love her and make love to her.
He wanted to take care of her and be cared for by her.
What he didn’t want was this self-doubt that he wouldn’t be enough for her.
What he didn’t want was the anxiety that he had been damaged too much to please her like a lover should.
What he didn’t want was to give in to his baser instincts and satiate his lust and need for control.
He wanted to share with her. He wanted to share his heart, body, and soul but didn’t know if he could anymore. He hadn’t done that in so long he didn’t know if he still knew how to be a man or just this thing that the Wraith and his pain had turned him in to.
His eyes focused on the door as it swung open and billows of steam poured out. She walked out of the fog like a vision wearing one of his tank tops. He inwardly grinned when he could see her black bikini panties through the white material. He had to stifle a groan when his eyes darted up to her breasts and saw her tight pink-crested nipples poking through the fabric.
He swallowed heavily and tore his gaze from her chest. “I hope you don’t mind but I put your things away.” He stood and pointed to the closet. “Your clothes are hanging in there and your shoes are on the floor.” He turned to the side and waved a hand towards the dresser. “The other items are in the top drawer and I placed your picture and perfume there on the top.”
“Thank you.” She gave him a shy smile and pulled on the hem of his shirt. “I hope you don’t mind that I borrowed this. I find it comforting.” She grabbed the collar and brought it to her nose. “I can smell you on it and it makes me feel…better.”
Ronon dropped his gaze to the floor and was thankful for his long hair because it covered the heat that rushed through his face. “I don’t mind at all. My shirts look very good on you.” It made him feel like a part of him was wrapped around her. He loved the feeling that she found his scent comforting and wished it were his body that was intimately draped around her flesh. “I didn’t want you to live out of that bag. Since we are sharing quarters, it seemed only right to put your things away.”
“Again, I appreciate the thought. It was very sweet of you. We really have no idea how long we’ll be roommates so it was very considerate of you.” An uncomfortable silence fell over them as they shifted nervously from foot to foot. They could feel there were things they wanted to say but neither had the courage to bring it up. Elizabeth snapped out of it first and pointed over her shoulder. “The shower is free if you want your turn at it.”
“Yeah.” He nodded with a smirk. “I think that would be a good idea.” He walked towards the bathroom, caught her hand in his, and pulled her along behind him. “Come on.”
“Wait!” Her eyes widened when he shut the door after he pulled her in. “What are you doing?”
“I’m taking a shower.” He pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it on the floor.
“What am I doing?” She was virtually breathless as her eyes traveled over his gold-skinned chest. He had the slightest dusting of hair, chiseled abs, and that provocative V from his hips that disappeared into his pants. Elizabeth felt her mouth water when she thought of where that and the little trail of hair beneath his navel led.
“You are waiting until I’m done.” He grabbed her shoulders and sat her down on the lid of the toilet. “The last time I took a shower, you ran away and I’m not letting you out of my sight again.”
“Ronon…”
“Uh uh.” He shook his head and put a finger to her lips. “You have no say in the matter, Elizabeth.” He unbuckled his belt, pulled it from the loops of his leathers, and let it fall from his fingers. “I am responsible for you. I will not have you run off or let someone break in here while I’m bathing and accost you.”
“But…” She swallowed heavily when he began to unbutton his pants and grinned at her. “You’re going to be naked.”
“I have seen you naked.” He leaned forward until his mouth was scant inches from hers. “You could always be a lady and turn your back.” He stood upright and peeled off his leathers like it was the most natural thing in the world for her to be there. A quick glance in her direction showed him that she hadn’t turned her back but averted her eyes. “I won’t be long.”
He leaned into the stall to turn on the spray and Elizabeth took the opportunity to appease her curiosity. Her eyes darted towards him and ran down his scar-mottled back to his gloriously tone backside and down his long muscular legs. He was absolutely beautiful. Apparently he was breathtaking because she couldn’t seem to draw any air into her lungs.
Ronon’s grin broadened across his face when he felt her gaze rake over his body. He could scent her in the air around him and in such a small enclosure as the bathroom it was overwhelming his senses. He felt himself harden instantly and stepped into the stall pulling the door closed behind him.
Elizabeth watched his profile through the opaque glass. Even distorted as it was, she could see his bodily perfection as he stepped under the spray. Her eyes followed the path of his hands as he lathered arms and chest. She licked her lips when he moved down that V she had been thinking about and her suspicions had been confirmed.
His shaft stood proudly against his abdomen. Even through the glass, she could see it was long and thick and…perfect just like every part of him. When his hands began to lather his long length, she began to squirm on the toilet lid. The sight of him had gotten her so wet that she soaked through her panties and was sliding on the porcelain.
Her face turned beet red when she thought about walking around in her damp underwear. Feeling boldly naughty, she raised her hips, slipped them off, and wrapped them in her bundle of clothes on the floor. It didn’t help her situation at all as he lifted a leg to run the washcloth over and her eyes fixed on his delicious ass.
Ronon couldn’t help the small groan that escaped his lips when he smelt her sweet scent invade his senses. A wave of unbridled lust and need shot through his system and took him completely off-guard. “Elizabeth…” His voice sounded alien to his own ears as he leaned his head against the cool tile and braced himself with his hands. “Please…”
She saw the tension in his shoulders as he tried to claw his fingers into the wall. “What?” She whispered as her eyes traveled down his backside. “I…don’t…understand.” She gasped when he pulled away from the wall with a growl, opened the door, and stepped out of the shower, dripping wet. “What…are you…doing?”
She yelped when he lifted her to her feet, grabbed the hem of his shirt, and pulled it over her head. “I have to get this scent off of you.” He threw his shirt on the vanity and noticed the absence of her panties. His eyes clenched as another groan escaped his chest when he saw her completely nude and wet for him.
His eyes snapped open and narrowed on her worried face. “Are you afraid of me?” He towered over her when he asked his question in a strained voice. She looked him straight in the eyes and shook her head no. “Good.” He grabbed her by the elbow, pulled her into the shower, and bodily walked her back under the spray.
“Ronon.” She tilted her head back to let the cool water run over her heated flesh before she focused on his wild eyes. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No. I can smell your arousal, Elizabeth.” She colored instantly and tried to avert her gaze but he grabbed her chin in his fingers to keep her eyes on his. He stepped closer until his chest lightly brushed against her breasts. Her breath was labored and her nipples dragged across the tiny hairs on his flesh until they hardened into tight peaks. “It is taking everything I have in me not to push you against this wall and take you now.”
“Ronon…” Her voice was breathy as her desire flared even hotter within her.
He saw her eyes dilate as she gazed into his with a passion he had never seen before. “Elizabeth!” He shook her shoulders to snap her out of her daze and pulled her flush to his body. “You have got to wash the scent of your arousal away if you have any doubts about wanting this.” He emphasized his meaning by rubbing his cock against her pubic mound. “My control is not what it used to be. I don’t think I can be gentle with you and I want to be so badly it hurts.”
She saw the desperation in his eyes. For a moment, she couldn’t tell if it was for his need to be with her or to be gentle with her. The tinge of sadness in his eyes told her it was the latter. “This is important to you.” He knew what she meant and nodded his head. She gently placed her hands on his waist and pushed him back just a bit so she could reach the washcloth. Her eyes never left his face as she washed herself.
“Ronon, I meant when I said that I am not afraid of you.” She threw the cloth aside, grabbed his waist, and pulled him under the spray with her. His eyes pierced hers as the cool water ran down their bodies and washed the soap from their skin. “I know it has been a long time since…you were with anyone and I know you are uncertain about a lot of things.”
“What are you trying to tell me?”
She wrapped her hands behind his head and pulled him down to meet her lips in a lingering kiss. “I’m trying to tell you that your control issue doesn’t concern me but I know it matters to you so I will respect that.” She moved past him to the door, opened it, and stopped briefly to look back at his stunned face. “You can never disappoint me, Ronon. I never knew the man you were but…I’m falling for the one I do know and he could never hurt me.”
She closed the door and left him to think over her words. He heard the bathroom door open a few moments later and his mind returned to his sworn promise to keep her safe. He turned off the water, stepped out of the stall, and wrapped a towel around his waist. When he rushed out into the bedroom, he found her lying in bed on her side facing away from him dressed once again in his tank. A sigh of relief left his lungs to see her there…to see that she didn’t run away from him again.
He picked up her discarded towel and quickly dried his flesh as his eyes remained fixed on her. She wanted him too. He threw the towel aside, climbed into the bed next to her, and wrapped his arm around her waist. She wanted him for who he was and what he could give her now.
“Elizabeth…” He gently pulled against her midsection until she rolled over and burrowed into his body. He ran one hand into her damp hair and slipped the other under his shirt to rub her bare back.
“Shh, Ronon.” She glanced up into his face and saw the internal war raging within him through his stormy eyes. “Whenever you are ready.” He nodded his head shakily and she moved her head back into his chest. “Just hold me.”
He held her as tight as he could without hurting her. He wished he could crawl inside of her and wrap himself up within. He hadn’t felt like a part of someone in so long that he was drowning in the feel of her. It felt…right.
Now he just needed to get past this irrational fear that he would hurt her or leave her disappointed despite what she told him. He knew he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from fulfilling his need to be inside of her especially with their joint living conditions. The longer he held her in his arms the more the need overshadowed the doubts.
What was he? He must be insane if he was more concerned over his insecurities and ignored the offer of this beautiful woman in his arms that offered to share herself with him. His decision was made. He just needed her to wake up so he could tell her.
~*~
Author: Angelsdee aka Dee Dee
Date: 8/20/06
Chapter: 4/?
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Ronon/Elizabeth
Archiving: My LJ, Atlantica, Elizabeth/Ronon LJ, RDFever LJ, WRFever, and RDFever
Warnings: Violence, Stalking, Explicit Sex, Torture
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters in this fic but I sure like to play with them.
Summary: This is in response to Carol’s Challenge #9 on the WRFever Group. An obsessive admirer stalks Elizabeth and Ronon takes it upon himself to keep her safe.
After they ate breakfast in his room, Ronon had escorted Elizabeth to her quarters to pick up some clothing and personal items. He contacted Sheppard while she was packing a bag and made arrangements to have the gym vacated. When she emerged from her bedroom still dressed in his shirt, he asked her why she hadn’t changed.
“This room doesn’t belong to me any longer.” She replied as she hoisted her bag over her shoulder. “He watched me in here and I will never take my clothes off in these quarters again.” She walked past him and turned to look back when he didn’t follow. “Like you said, Ronon, your shirt covers everything and I’ll change in the gym.”
“Okay.” He smiled as he followed her out the door, took her bag from her, and shouldered it. “You do realize there isn’t anywhere to change in the gym, don’t you?”
“I guess you will just have to be a gentleman and turn your back.” She returned his grin as they made their way to a lift.
~*~
Ronon accessed the door to the gym, stood aside, and waved Elizabeth in. “After you.” She smiled and walked in with Ronon right behind her. “Sheppard coded the door so we won’t be disturbed.”
“That was nice of him.” She took her bag off his shoulder and set her gaze on her hands. “Did you tell him what we going to do?”
“No. He told me yesterday that I was to go nowhere without you and I guess he assumes that I am working out.” She nodded her head as she unzipped her bag, pulled a sports bra and biker shorts out, and wandered over to a bench. “Would it bother you if he knew what we are doing?”
“I guess not. I know this is going to sound strange but I am having a slight problem with anyone having first hand knowledge of my activities. I know that is ridiculous since I am the leader of this expedition. Everyone always knows what everyone else is doing here. Our lives depend on it. Nevertheless, I feel…intruded upon and violated.” She dropped her bag on the bench and turned to Ronon. “I trust John with my life. He is my best friend but, after all the shit that has happened, I just want to lock myself in a room and find a sense of privacy again.”
“I understand. You don’t need to explain it to me.” His eyebrow rose when she grabbed the hem of his shirt and began to lift it. She stopped short of her breasts and raised an eyebrow to match his until he turned his back. “You do know you can lock yourself in my room anytime you wish but I can’t give you the privacy you desire until this situation is resolved?”
“I know and thank you for being there.” He heard her muffled voice as she pulled the shirt over her head and remembered all to well how she looked when he was drying her skin. “You took me in and appointed yourself my guardian and I can’t begin to tell you how that makes me feel.”
His head snapped to the side when she placed her hand on his arm. His eyes ran the length of her form and he felt his head spin. The tight fitting clothing molded to every curve and he wasn’t surprised to see her shapely legs and tight abdomen. Elizabeth was in excellent shape and he looked forward to seeing how well she adapted to his training.
“You look…very nice.” He smiled when she blushed from the compliment. He took her by the hand and led her to the center of the mats. “Now let me see what you can do.”
~*~
He made her stretch for almost half an hour before he showed her some basic moves. He came at her from behind and she either flipped him over her shoulder or hip-tossed him. He was pleased with her natural abilities and looked forward to showing her how to take the offensive.
“Did you retain this knowledge from your encounter with Phoebus?” He asked her as he rolled to his feet once again.
“Actually I didn’t retain anything from that experience but the awful memory of it. I tried to kill John, I hurt several Airmen, and I almost killed you. I can’t say I’m sorry enough for that one.” They circled each other as she waited for his next move and he thought one out. “I talked Teal’c into giving me a few lessons when I was in charge of the SGC. We only had time for 3 sessions before the world was in danger…again but he said I was a quick learner.”
“I think you are a natural.” He smiled as he faked a lunge and she jumped back a step.
“That…man wouldn’t have been able to sneak up on me if I was a natural, Ronon.” She dropped her stance and stood before him looking defeated. “I want to be able to not only sense a threat but deal with it. Will you show me how to do that?”
“Let’s do one thing at a time. You can’t learn everything in one day. The most important thing for you to know is your surroundings. Be aware of everything and everyone around you.” He walked over to the wall that held an assortment of weapons and returned with a blindfold. “Do you trust me?” He saw the fear in her eyes when she focused on the material in his hand. Her gaze went to meet his when he repeated the question and she nodded her head slowly. “Come here, Elizabeth.”
Ronon watched the tension in her body as she took the few steps that separated them. He moved behind her and situated the blindfold in place. As he tied it, his eyes caught her fists clenching and unclenching repeatedly. “I want you to clear your mind.” He walked a circle around her as he spoke and watched her move her head to follow his steps.
“Everyone has the ability to sense when someone is near. You just need to learn how to pull it to the surface. Too many people rely on their eyesight.” He continued to pace around her and smiled when she tilted her head to the side to listen. “Use your hearing like you are now to listen for the slightest sound. The most important part when using your hearing is to notice no sound at all. If a person or inanimate object gets too close to your ear, you will notice a significant decrease in surrounding sound.”
He moved to her side and held his hand a few inches from her ear. “Where is my hand?” She turned her head to the right, raised her hand, and grabbed his. He gave her a little squeeze before he moved away. “Very good. The other sense that will help you more than any other is touch but not physical. Your body can sense nearby objects through heat or a shift in the air. You just need to feel. You ready to try?”
“I’m ready.” She took a deep breath and prepared herself.
“I’m going to move around the room. I want you to point at me when you detect me.” He moved almost silently around the perimeter of the mats and smirked as she turned her ear towards him. She instantly raised her hand and pointed at him. “Good.” He masked his footsteps so that he made no sound at all, closed the distance, and passed within a foot of her left ear. Her hand darted out and her palm met with the center of his chest. “Excellent.”
He left her alone in the center of the room and took his time with this one. He crept up behind her virtually silent. He stood scant inches from her back and ran his eyes appreciatively down her body. Sweat glistened on her skin and his gaze focused on a single drop that traveled down her spine to the waistband of her shorts.
It took him a second to notice the goose bumps that rose on her flesh and he realized his mistake a second later. She reached over her shoulder, clasped her hands behind his neck, and flipped him over her on to his back. She placed a knee on his chest, removed her blindfold, and smiled down at him. “How was that?”
“It was excellent except for one thing.” She furrowed her brow and an instant later found herself flat on her back with him pinning her bodily to the ground. “Don’t get overconfident.”
“So…” They glanced towards the door to see John standing just inside the room with a confused look on his face. “How are things going in here?”
“Fine.” Ronon answered him but didn’t move from his position on top of her. “Is there something we can do for you, Sheppard?”
“No. I just stopped by to see how Elizabeth is feeling?” He walked up to them and tilted his head sideways to look at her. “How are you doing?”
“I’m better, John.” Elizabeth gasped as she stared at Ronon, whose eyes were roaming over her flushed face.
“What are you guys up to?” John had his hands in his pockets and bounced on the balls of his feet. He felt like he walked into something and he was getting a little uncomfortable.
“Elizabeth has asked me to train her in self-defense and basic combat moves.” Ronon rose to a crouching position, grabbed her hands, and helped her to her feet. “She is proving to be an excellent student.”
“I have a good teacher.” She blushed when Ronon smiled at her and then her face turned thoughtful. “I want you to show me that move.”
“Okay. Let’s get back into the position we were in.” Ronon sprawled out on his back with his feet on the mat. Elizabeth placed one knee on his chest, the other on the floor under his arm, and her hands on his shoulders. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.” Ronon grinned at the look of determination on her face. He was enjoying this immensely. He quickly placed his hands on her pelvis, flipped her over his head, and rolled to his knees. Before she had the chance to react, he spun her around, slid her back between his legs and straddled her waist. She tried to dislodge him like he did to her but he grabbed her hands and pinned them beside her head.
“Do you yield?”
“No.” She struggled against his grip in aggravation and pouted in defeat when she couldn’t break free. “Show me again.”
“Elizabeth, don’t you think you’ve had enough for one day?” John looked at her in concern. She had obviously been traumatized but now she was obsessed with learning how to fight and it worried John to think that this whole experience could end up changing her forever.
“No I don’t, John. I will not be a victim again! Who knows what he is capable of? Who knows what he could do to me?” She glared back up at Ronon with tears in her angry eyes. “Show me again!”
“No, Elizabeth. Sheppard is right. You’ve had enough for one day.” He released one of her wrists, palmed her cheek tenderly, and pulled her into his embrace. “It’ll be okay.” He whispered into her ear. The anger left her in a rush and all that remained in his arms was a frightened woman. “Don’t worry, Elizabeth. I’ll make sure that you can defend yourself and until then I will take care of you.”
“Do you promise?” A slight whisper reached his ears and both men felt saddened by how small she sounded.
“I promise you.”
“Ronon, why don’t the two of you go back to your quarters?” John suggested as he watched his friend try to keep a tight rein on her emotions and fail miserably. “There are, uh… some Airmen that want to get in here some time today. I’ll arrange for the place to be empty the same time tomorrow so you can continue your training.”
“Thanks, Sheppard.” He nodded his head at his friend and held Elizabeth’s face between his hands. “What do you say we head back, clean up, and get some rest? I’ll have dinner sent to us when we get up.”
“I’ll take care of that, Ronon.” The two men’s eyes met and Ronon nodded his appreciation. “Just call me if you need anything and I’ll have it taken care of.”
“Thanks. Elizabeth, let’s go to our quarters.” He stood and pulled her to her feet. “You really need to get some rest.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, stopped by the bench to retrieve her bag, and escorted her out of the gym.
“Our quarters?” John said to himself with a baffled look on his face. “Since when did it become their quarters?”
~*~
They walked in complete silence down the corridors of Atlantis. Ronon knew Elizabeth was fighting some inner demons that only she could conquer. He knew the battle well. It was one he had fought every day for 8 years.
Like himself, who began to heal after he accepted Sheppard’s help on his home world, Elizabeth could not be helped unless she allowed it. He could be there for her and train her but her war would never be over until she realized she couldn’t win on her own and let down the walls she built to protect herself.
He accessed his door and followed her into his quarters. She was quiet and withdrawn as she dumped her bag on his sofa, pulled out some undergarments, and turned to the bedroom. “I’m going to take a shower.” She stopped and glanced back at him. “Unless you want to go first. These are your quarters after all.”
“No. Go ahead.” He waved her on. “I’ll wait until you’re finished.”
“Thank you.”
He waited until he heard the door close to the bathroom before he picked up her bag and carried it into the bedroom. As soon as the sound of the shower running reached his ears, he dumped her belongings out on the bed. He rifled through the few items she had chosen to bring and separated them out.
Ronon glanced at the bathroom door and wondered if she would take offense to what he was about to do. Truth to tell, Ronon found most of these people an enigma but Elizabeth was the hardest one to figure out. He gathered up her silk and satin undergarments and placed them in an empty drawer in his dresser.
He added the small handful of exercise clothing and socks and placed them in there as well. She had brought a couple of outfits to wear and two pairs of shoes. He hung her shorts set and uniform next to his shirts and placed her pair of black flats and tennis shoes on the floor in the closet and closed the door.
He briefly noticed that she didn’t bring anything to sleep in and pondered that as he carried the last of her things over to the dresser. His heart warmed when he looked at the picture in his hand. She was with another woman that he could only guess by the resemblance was her mother.
They were smiling with their heads leaning against each other. Ronon hadn’t seen that kind of happiness in Elizabeth for a very long time. In fact, he had never seen it on her at all. He stood the picture frame proudly in the center of his dresser and glanced at the bottle in his hand.
The perfume bottle was made of intricately designed crystal with a rose shaped stopper in the top. He pulled it open, drew in the sweet fragrance, and closed his eyes as it permeated his senses. The bottle and the perfume reminded him of Elizabeth.
The crystal container reminded him how delicate and beautiful she was. The fragrance showed her as sweet but subtly overpowering. He replaced the stopper, placed the bottle on the dresser, and walked to his bed.
Ronon sat on the edge, toed off his boots and socks and set them aside. He took a deep breath, rested his forearms on his thighs, and kept his eyes on the bathroom door. He found himself caring for this woman more and more with every passing second that she was in his presence.
She incited his body to betray him every time they touched each other. He had stayed on top of her when Sheppard came into the gym to hide his erection. When she felt it pressed against her pelvis, she became flushed and her breathing had deepened.
He could detect the scent of her arousal and it made him hunger for her. She saw it in his eyes and didn’t tear her gaze away. He hadn’t thought about being with a woman since he lost Milena and lately he could barely remember her face. Elizabeth had managed to worm her way into his heart and she set a fire in his blood. He vaguely remembered this feeling from long ago.
He wanted her.
He wanted to love her and make love to her.
He wanted to take care of her and be cared for by her.
What he didn’t want was this self-doubt that he wouldn’t be enough for her.
What he didn’t want was the anxiety that he had been damaged too much to please her like a lover should.
What he didn’t want was to give in to his baser instincts and satiate his lust and need for control.
He wanted to share with her. He wanted to share his heart, body, and soul but didn’t know if he could anymore. He hadn’t done that in so long he didn’t know if he still knew how to be a man or just this thing that the Wraith and his pain had turned him in to.
His eyes focused on the door as it swung open and billows of steam poured out. She walked out of the fog like a vision wearing one of his tank tops. He inwardly grinned when he could see her black bikini panties through the white material. He had to stifle a groan when his eyes darted up to her breasts and saw her tight pink-crested nipples poking through the fabric.
He swallowed heavily and tore his gaze from her chest. “I hope you don’t mind but I put your things away.” He stood and pointed to the closet. “Your clothes are hanging in there and your shoes are on the floor.” He turned to the side and waved a hand towards the dresser. “The other items are in the top drawer and I placed your picture and perfume there on the top.”
“Thank you.” She gave him a shy smile and pulled on the hem of his shirt. “I hope you don’t mind that I borrowed this. I find it comforting.” She grabbed the collar and brought it to her nose. “I can smell you on it and it makes me feel…better.”
Ronon dropped his gaze to the floor and was thankful for his long hair because it covered the heat that rushed through his face. “I don’t mind at all. My shirts look very good on you.” It made him feel like a part of him was wrapped around her. He loved the feeling that she found his scent comforting and wished it were his body that was intimately draped around her flesh. “I didn’t want you to live out of that bag. Since we are sharing quarters, it seemed only right to put your things away.”
“Again, I appreciate the thought. It was very sweet of you. We really have no idea how long we’ll be roommates so it was very considerate of you.” An uncomfortable silence fell over them as they shifted nervously from foot to foot. They could feel there were things they wanted to say but neither had the courage to bring it up. Elizabeth snapped out of it first and pointed over her shoulder. “The shower is free if you want your turn at it.”
“Yeah.” He nodded with a smirk. “I think that would be a good idea.” He walked towards the bathroom, caught her hand in his, and pulled her along behind him. “Come on.”
“Wait!” Her eyes widened when he shut the door after he pulled her in. “What are you doing?”
“I’m taking a shower.” He pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it on the floor.
“What am I doing?” She was virtually breathless as her eyes traveled over his gold-skinned chest. He had the slightest dusting of hair, chiseled abs, and that provocative V from his hips that disappeared into his pants. Elizabeth felt her mouth water when she thought of where that and the little trail of hair beneath his navel led.
“You are waiting until I’m done.” He grabbed her shoulders and sat her down on the lid of the toilet. “The last time I took a shower, you ran away and I’m not letting you out of my sight again.”
“Ronon…”
“Uh uh.” He shook his head and put a finger to her lips. “You have no say in the matter, Elizabeth.” He unbuckled his belt, pulled it from the loops of his leathers, and let it fall from his fingers. “I am responsible for you. I will not have you run off or let someone break in here while I’m bathing and accost you.”
“But…” She swallowed heavily when he began to unbutton his pants and grinned at her. “You’re going to be naked.”
“I have seen you naked.” He leaned forward until his mouth was scant inches from hers. “You could always be a lady and turn your back.” He stood upright and peeled off his leathers like it was the most natural thing in the world for her to be there. A quick glance in her direction showed him that she hadn’t turned her back but averted her eyes. “I won’t be long.”
He leaned into the stall to turn on the spray and Elizabeth took the opportunity to appease her curiosity. Her eyes darted towards him and ran down his scar-mottled back to his gloriously tone backside and down his long muscular legs. He was absolutely beautiful. Apparently he was breathtaking because she couldn’t seem to draw any air into her lungs.
Ronon’s grin broadened across his face when he felt her gaze rake over his body. He could scent her in the air around him and in such a small enclosure as the bathroom it was overwhelming his senses. He felt himself harden instantly and stepped into the stall pulling the door closed behind him.
Elizabeth watched his profile through the opaque glass. Even distorted as it was, she could see his bodily perfection as he stepped under the spray. Her eyes followed the path of his hands as he lathered arms and chest. She licked her lips when he moved down that V she had been thinking about and her suspicions had been confirmed.
His shaft stood proudly against his abdomen. Even through the glass, she could see it was long and thick and…perfect just like every part of him. When his hands began to lather his long length, she began to squirm on the toilet lid. The sight of him had gotten her so wet that she soaked through her panties and was sliding on the porcelain.
Her face turned beet red when she thought about walking around in her damp underwear. Feeling boldly naughty, she raised her hips, slipped them off, and wrapped them in her bundle of clothes on the floor. It didn’t help her situation at all as he lifted a leg to run the washcloth over and her eyes fixed on his delicious ass.
Ronon couldn’t help the small groan that escaped his lips when he smelt her sweet scent invade his senses. A wave of unbridled lust and need shot through his system and took him completely off-guard. “Elizabeth…” His voice sounded alien to his own ears as he leaned his head against the cool tile and braced himself with his hands. “Please…”
She saw the tension in his shoulders as he tried to claw his fingers into the wall. “What?” She whispered as her eyes traveled down his backside. “I…don’t…understand.” She gasped when he pulled away from the wall with a growl, opened the door, and stepped out of the shower, dripping wet. “What…are you…doing?”
She yelped when he lifted her to her feet, grabbed the hem of his shirt, and pulled it over her head. “I have to get this scent off of you.” He threw his shirt on the vanity and noticed the absence of her panties. His eyes clenched as another groan escaped his chest when he saw her completely nude and wet for him.
His eyes snapped open and narrowed on her worried face. “Are you afraid of me?” He towered over her when he asked his question in a strained voice. She looked him straight in the eyes and shook her head no. “Good.” He grabbed her by the elbow, pulled her into the shower, and bodily walked her back under the spray.
“Ronon.” She tilted her head back to let the cool water run over her heated flesh before she focused on his wild eyes. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No. I can smell your arousal, Elizabeth.” She colored instantly and tried to avert her gaze but he grabbed her chin in his fingers to keep her eyes on his. He stepped closer until his chest lightly brushed against her breasts. Her breath was labored and her nipples dragged across the tiny hairs on his flesh until they hardened into tight peaks. “It is taking everything I have in me not to push you against this wall and take you now.”
“Ronon…” Her voice was breathy as her desire flared even hotter within her.
He saw her eyes dilate as she gazed into his with a passion he had never seen before. “Elizabeth!” He shook her shoulders to snap her out of her daze and pulled her flush to his body. “You have got to wash the scent of your arousal away if you have any doubts about wanting this.” He emphasized his meaning by rubbing his cock against her pubic mound. “My control is not what it used to be. I don’t think I can be gentle with you and I want to be so badly it hurts.”
She saw the desperation in his eyes. For a moment, she couldn’t tell if it was for his need to be with her or to be gentle with her. The tinge of sadness in his eyes told her it was the latter. “This is important to you.” He knew what she meant and nodded his head. She gently placed her hands on his waist and pushed him back just a bit so she could reach the washcloth. Her eyes never left his face as she washed herself.
“Ronon, I meant when I said that I am not afraid of you.” She threw the cloth aside, grabbed his waist, and pulled him under the spray with her. His eyes pierced hers as the cool water ran down their bodies and washed the soap from their skin. “I know it has been a long time since…you were with anyone and I know you are uncertain about a lot of things.”
“What are you trying to tell me?”
She wrapped her hands behind his head and pulled him down to meet her lips in a lingering kiss. “I’m trying to tell you that your control issue doesn’t concern me but I know it matters to you so I will respect that.” She moved past him to the door, opened it, and stopped briefly to look back at his stunned face. “You can never disappoint me, Ronon. I never knew the man you were but…I’m falling for the one I do know and he could never hurt me.”
She closed the door and left him to think over her words. He heard the bathroom door open a few moments later and his mind returned to his sworn promise to keep her safe. He turned off the water, stepped out of the stall, and wrapped a towel around his waist. When he rushed out into the bedroom, he found her lying in bed on her side facing away from him dressed once again in his tank. A sigh of relief left his lungs to see her there…to see that she didn’t run away from him again.
He picked up her discarded towel and quickly dried his flesh as his eyes remained fixed on her. She wanted him too. He threw the towel aside, climbed into the bed next to her, and wrapped his arm around her waist. She wanted him for who he was and what he could give her now.
“Elizabeth…” He gently pulled against her midsection until she rolled over and burrowed into his body. He ran one hand into her damp hair and slipped the other under his shirt to rub her bare back.
“Shh, Ronon.” She glanced up into his face and saw the internal war raging within him through his stormy eyes. “Whenever you are ready.” He nodded his head shakily and she moved her head back into his chest. “Just hold me.”
He held her as tight as he could without hurting her. He wished he could crawl inside of her and wrap himself up within. He hadn’t felt like a part of someone in so long that he was drowning in the feel of her. It felt…right.
Now he just needed to get past this irrational fear that he would hurt her or leave her disappointed despite what she told him. He knew he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from fulfilling his need to be inside of her especially with their joint living conditions. The longer he held her in his arms the more the need overshadowed the doubts.
What was he? He must be insane if he was more concerned over his insecurities and ignored the offer of this beautiful woman in his arms that offered to share herself with him. His decision was made. He just needed her to wake up so he could tell her.
~*~