“I love you.”

She scoffed. This was what she deserved for letting her heart dictate her actions. The pretty words, the sweet gestures, the loving looks…lies. All of them. Her gaze drifted toward the walls that held her captive, refusing to glance behind her because she knew she would regret it. She had been foolish enough to think that he was more than someone to cozy up with. She let him lead her right into an ambush. She should never have trusted him! This is why a love between a Hunter and a Magic-User was forbidden!

Aria shifted and immediately winced. Her body was bruised and worn. As uncomfortable as it was, lying on the floor, she didn’t even want to think about the bed behind her. She knew who lay in it and she would much rather stay on the floor.

“I love you too.”

It was just a job. Or so he thought. It was his job to insinuate himself into Aria’s life. It was his job to make her trust him. He, however, completely forgot that it was just an assignment. He actually found it easy to favor Aria. He didn’t mind spending quite a lot for presents and little things that simply reminded him of her. They talked—argued countless times about the most insignificant things—laughed and confided in one another. He fell in love with her, hadn’t given a second thought to binding himself to her. He gave her his body, his mind, his soul…everything.

Nicolas tucked his knees to his chest, still feeling like his bed had turned to a large block of ice. He already had at least four blankets piled on top of him for Merlin’s sake. He tossed and turned to no effect. He was still cold and it was all Aria’s fault. That idiot. She stubbornly insisted on sleeping on the floor, ignoring Nicolas’s requests to share the bed with him.

He gritted his teeth. That was it. He was tired and upset and freezing on top of all that. He threw off at least two of his blankets, making sure they landed on top of Aria.

“I don’t want your fancy blankets, Ryker.”

His name came out in a vicious hiss. No doubt Aria shoved the blankets aside. Nicolas sat up. “Bloody hell, Ari. Do you realize that I’m freezing?” It didn’t help that they each experienced every sensation and emotion the other was feeling!

“Deal with it.”

Nicolas rolled off the bed, trapping Aria under his weight. “You are going to take those blankets and you—”

“If I refuse?” Even in the low light, he could see the defiant spark in Aria’s bright green eyes.

Nicolas lowered his head, his lips inches away from hers. “I’ll have to kiss you.”

Aria’s heart thundered. She was almost sure Nicolas could hear it. She wasn’t about to let the boy know how much he affected her, however. “Fine.” She twisted out of Nicolas’s arms and reached for the blankets she had tossed aside and tried to pull them over her body. He let her. Aria immediately missing the warmth Nicolas’s body had offered when he was pinning her down but was fully aware that Nicolas was still hovering above her, looking at her with the chocolate-colored eyes she had grown to love.

“I love you, Ari. I miss you.” Nicolas said, so quietly that Aria almost didn’t hear it.

She bit his lip, restraining the urge to respond. She loved him too, missed him like she had never missed anyone before. She wanted to touch Nicolas but knowing that he would turn his cheek to her hand if she reached out made her chest hurt. Nicolas had betrayed her, claimed her and crushed her. Aria, however, just found it impossible to stop loving him.

The blankets rustled as Nicolas moved to get up. Aria didn’t need to look at him to see the hurt in his eyes. She seized Nicolas’s wrist impulsively before he was out of her reach. “Stay, Nic.” She found herself saying. “Please.”

Nicolas stared at Aria’s hand, his heart skipping a beat. He rested his forehead against Aria’s, letting one hand touch her cheek gently. “Can I kiss you now?” He closed his eyes, afraid that she would push him away.

“Yes.”

He kissed her fiercely, a soft sound of appreciation bubbling from his throat when she wrapped her arms around him. He was where he belonged, in her embrace. Aria was his world now. And that was all that mattered to him. He would worry about getting out of here later…

Hello, everyone! How have y’all been? To those who have read and/or are waiting for Secrets, I’m sorry, it’s going to take a little more time for me to sort out all the details so I can’t post it up yet. I have the tendency to think of too many things that I want to put in it… While I’m hitting myself on the head over the super long delay, I hope you liked this story. It’s been floating in my head for the past week now so I decided to write it down… =]