Aria's POV

After a magnificent night of learning about human sexuality and intimacy, we fell asleep tangled in each other's arms.

I lay here now, looking at him as he sleeps. That boyish look still on his face as it is every time I catch him like this. His features are so relaxed and soft looking, that I can't help but move the stray pieces of hair away from his forehead.

Last night I told him I loved him and I meant it. I don't know exactly when it happened in me, but it did. Fighting my emotions is something I had gotten good with. Especially concerning Richard. He makes me feel emotions I never knew I had, and neither Tina nor Annie had ever felt this way, which is why I know my love for him is real. He never did answer me back. But time will tell. If we have enough time, he and I really need to talk.

Opening up his eyes, Richard gives me a dazzling smile and stretches, pulling me up to his body. "Good morning. Did you sleep well, Aria?" Snuggling in closer, I smile as he gives me a tender kiss on the lips.

"Mmmm...yeah, I did. The best night's sleep I have had since coming to this planet, and I still feel worn out, thanks to you." Gazing down into my eyes, he grinned with mischief.

Playfully, Richard suddenly dipped his head and licked me from my cleavage up to my neck, then to my lips. Barely an inch away, his hot breath mingled with mine. "Just wait till you try and walk." The knowing grin on his face had me looking up at him quizzically.

"What do you mean?" I asked curiously.

Slowly disentangling himself from my limbs, then he swiftly got off the bed and stretched, arms upward, in all his masculine glory. And glorious is he... A perfect specimen of a man. Flat stomach and ripped abs, well-toned muscles in all the right places. Broad chest to narrow waist and firm rear end that barely jiggled as he walked. Desire ran through me, as I watched him get changed into a black fitted V-neck shirt and black jeans. I knew I was blushing so I turned away and slid to the edge of the bed.

As I sat there, Richard playfully tossed a soft, sleeveless black day dress at me and I slipped it on with a grin. Standing up I turned toward him, then felt the soreness between my thighs as I moved. Now I understood why he'd said those words to me a few minutes ago. Smiling wryly, I asked if he'd zip up the dress.

His hands paused on the curve of my shoulders, then slowly trailed down my spine to my waist making me shiver with pleasure while he zipped me up. His hands came to rest on my waist and I turned around to speak to him. Glancing up into his warm brown eyes, I found it hard to look away. "I think we should go and sit down. I need to talk to you about a few things. They are, uh... important." Quickly we separated and we both put our shoes on. For him, it was black boots, and me...I wore a pair of black flats which made me look short next to him.

Together we walked into the main room and sat down next to each other on the padded black leather couches. "Alright, so what is it? Does this have anything to do with your meeting with Roarke yesterday?" He gently prodded.

I nodded slowly. Wanting to get up and pace the floor, I stayed where I was. The comfort of having him nearby... I need it. And I don't need anyone. Just him, it seems. "The Shapeshifters and the vampires will be here soon. We have less than twenty-four hours..."

Richard interrupted, "Aria, we need to get you out of here. Get you to my friends in Missouri...I better call them..." His expression showed great alarm as he stood to go get his phone, I stopped him with a hand on his forearm.

Slowly I shook my head unable to look up at him. "Right after I had the meeting with Roarke, do you remember asking me if there was something wrong?" Catching on that there was something seriously wrong, Richard slowly sat back down and lifted my head to look at him by caressing my cheeks.

His brow furrowed with concern and the need to know what was going on. "Yeah, when you came over to the pool I saw fear in your eyes... Aria what is it?" His hands left my cheeks and softly settled on my shoulders.

Hoping for understanding, I gazed deeply into his eyes, wanting to drown there. "When I opened the door to come out of that room, I felt a presence... Another gravity pull that I cannot deny exists."

Shaking me lightly by the shoulders just barely, he bent his head until we were nose to nose and I could feel his warm breath on my lips. "What exactly are you saying Aria? You feel another gravity pull? What do you mean by that, huh?"

My core was spinning wildly in my chest. To anyone, it would have just felt like an accelerated pulse. In a way it was. Swallowing hard, I focused my vision just beyond his shoulder. My eyes were filled with misery and I knew it. "There is another out there, just like me, and he is coming. Hard, and cold as ice. He will kill everyone if he has to, to get to me."

Comprehension began
n to dawn on him and a look of horror passed over his features. Grabbing me hard by the upper arms he yelled angrily, "What the hell, Aria? I thought you were the only one?" My emotions were in turmoil and I just cringed as he yelled.

His grip was tight, and would more than likely leave a bruise, but I understood. He was afraid. Afraid for both of us, and rightfully so. "I thought I was the only one too." I squeaked out, and his grip loosened. "I was created when the black hole I was in merged with another black hole. So all I can figure is that I was found by him due to our gravity core's, our black holes."

Letting go of me he stepped back a single step and he shook his head. "Why didn't I see it... You copied me, not because of the supernaturals, but because of him." His hand went up to his chin where he rubbed the stubble. "So what was I to you, for real Aria? Your human fuck to be compared to the merge/fuck you get from him before you leave here, and leave me? Just another experience?" He advanced on me, and I could see the hurt in his eyes as my own filled with tears as grabbed me and shook me hard.

I didn't fight him as my own core energy felt like it was shattering too. Crying in his hard grip, I spoke in a scratchy voice. "Richard, no! Please, you are everything to me. What we shared... I want a lifetime to explore with you if you'd let me. I did not know he was coming! I don't know if I can stop him, please, listen to me!" Finally in desperation, I slapped his face really hard. "Damnit, I love you! Snap out of it!" His hands loosened and he let go.

"You love me? Are you out of your mind? Do you really think you know what love is?" He asked in deep husky tones, taking hold of me again.

Richard pushed me up hard against the wall near the huge TV set, and I looked up into his intense brown eyes. "Yes, I know what love is... And I love you, all of you. You are a good man and I want..." He interrupted again.

"Yeah, I want you as mine too." His lips crashed down hard. Lips and tongue demanding...more. So I gave all I could. We were both on fire and nothing could stop it.

Though it wasn't until much later when we lay across the bed in silence, that I realized he never said that he loved me in return...