David was exhausted from the travel and the presentation. "I need to call the president's office and schedule a meeting. But first I'm going to take some time tonight and tie up some loose ends. I'll let you know." Chris, back in his perfectly tailored suit, agreed. "I'll see you then."

Chapter 71 Lori

David caught a cab for home. He was thinking of Lori all the way there. As he sat alone on his couch in his dark quiet apartment he wondered what she was doing now. It took five seconds to dial and hear it ring. "Hello." "Hi Lori, It's David." "David! Where have you been? I've been trying to get ahold of you for two days. Azutco is giving us a fight and you haven't turned in your report yet. How do expect me to…" David interrupted, "Lori!... Please, just listen. I need to talk to you, in person. Will you come to my place?" The desperation in his voice was not something she heard often. "What's wrong?" she said gently. He rubbed his eyes and swallowed hard. "Please. Just come."

The entrance to David's apartment complex was posh. Stonework paths and manicured lawn. Plantings of exotics from the rainforest area. Soft lighting to accentuate everything in shadow. She walked up the familiar path to his ground floor door and rang the bell. He opened the door dressed only in his sweatpants and socks with a whiskey in his hand.

She took a moment to admire his pecks, strong arms, and nice abs. The little patch of dark hair on his breastbone that traveled south to disappear in his waistband. His sweatpants left nothing to the imagination. "Well, don't you look comfortable." She grinned and walked in. He closed the door behind her and put his drink down. Grabbing her about the waist and pulling her in tight, his chin resting on her shoulder breathing in her perfume. "I just want to hold you a minute if that's ok." "David, what's going on?"

He wouldn't release her, "I just missed you that's all." Lori managed to push him back far enough to look at his face. He was tired and worried and something else she couldn't describe, desperation? He closed the distance between them and kissed her. Softly at first and then harder. Her arms going around his neck. Their breathing quickening with the first awakening of desire. He began to walk her backward toward the bedroom, still in their embrace. She hesitated at first. This was a bit sudden, but then he grabbed her hips to lock over his own. The bedroom door closed behind them.

She awoke alone in the bed. "David?" The door was open, and a faint light was coming from the living room. Lori grabbed his shirt and went out to him. He was staring at the screen with a newscast on. The boring daily politics and corruption that was a part of life in the city. She curled up next to him and put her head on his shoulder. He absently wrapped his arm around her and laid his head on top of hers. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong David?" He sighed and turned off the screen throwing the remote on the table.

"I'm an ass that's what's wrong." She smiled and was about to agree when he stopped her with a kiss. "I'm just going to say it so don't interrupt me, ok?" He swallowed hard and looked at her. "I…I love you." There was shock on her face and when she didn't say it back immediately he panicked. "It's ok if you don't want to say it back. But my head was going to explode if I didn't say it. I've thought of nothing but you these past two days. Needing you, wanting you. I'm sorry if thi.." She silenced him with a kiss so passionate it stopped him cold when she released him. "I love you too David. How could you think otherwise?" He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He didn't realize he was holding it until that moment.

He held her close, tenderly, as if she would break. "There's more, and, I'll admit it's what started me thinking about us, but I've loved you for a long time and just didn't have the guts to say so." She had a very confused look on her face, and he wasn't finding it easy to say.

"You know I have friends at the university. Do you remember Chris Bradley?" She nodded, "Yea, I think. Astrophysics? Had a better manicure than me?" David chuckled "That's the one. He came to me two days ago, after I had left your office. He told me he had discovered something horrible." She was listening intently, trying to figure it out on her own. Wishing he would just spit it out. He held her shoulders and looked in her eyes, "The planets in trouble Lori. There is a stellar core fragment coming our way and it's setting up a chain reaction to doomsday. If we don't do something this planet will be exterminated."

She pulled away from him, disbelieving. "What?" He got up from the couch and found his glass of whiskey, emptying it. "The numbers are all there. It's coming. I went to see dad and asked him for help. He thinks he can pull it away with his ship. I've just spent the last four hours in a room full of fools explaining the details. I needed their signatures on a proposal to the president to let dad try. I'm gambling all our lives on it. There won't be enough time to evacuate everyone." He stopped and ran his hands through his hair.

"All the while I kept thinking… all I want to do is hold you in my arms and tell you I love you. Terrified you'd reject me or try to brush me off because you didn't feel the same." Lori got up from the couch and put her arms around his neck, softly kissing his face. "I love you David. I've loved you ever since that day you fell on your ass getting out of that jeep, trying to impress me." She giggled and he turned red. "Remember?" David smiled and chuckled. "First day on the job, meeting the new boss, and stumbling like a klutz."

He pushed a lock of hair from her face. "It was your face. I'd never seen anyone so beautiful. My legs turned to jelly and I landed on my..." "Yep, it was adorable. Of course that sweet face and nice buns, were worth a second chance in my book. I knew then, we were going to be great together." Her eyes darkened, she deepened a kiss and slid her hand in his pants to grab his ass. He held her close and flicked a nipple with his thumb. "Why Ms. Grey, Can this be considered harassment in the workplace?" "We're not in the workplace. We're in your living room, and I'm about to do more than harass you. Any objections?" She pulled his pants down with her foot and went to her knees. David's eyes rolled to the back of his head as he moaned. "No mam, no objections at all."

The next morning she woke and reached for him, feeling his cool skin. Lori put her head on his chest and listened to his hearts beat. She remembered the first time she had heard them, cuddling on the couch. Even though David had told her who and what he was, that rhythm was just not something you expected to hear. Especially since he looked so human. He tasted so deliciously not human, and smelled like no human ever. And the feel of him! It took a little time getting used to the coolness of him inside her. But now it was amazing. She would never be satisfied with just human ever again. And now that he loved her, she wouldn't have to.

Everything about him was wonderful, well, except his temper. He didn't suffer fools and had no restraint when it came to his opinions. She had to pull rank on him at work sometimes, and he came close to quitting a few more. In the end he saw things her way and it worked out. She was twirling her fingers in his chest hair when he woke up. David looked over to her smiling face, stroking her hair.

"Good morning my love. God it feels good to be able to say that to you." He kissed her and rolled her under him. "Good morning David. I love you too." He began to nibble on her. "While I love what you're doing, and don't want you to stop. Do you have time for this? Didn't you say something about calling the president this morning? It's already after nine there." He sighed and dropped his head, running his hand up her body. "Will you promise to stay right here? It shouldn't take more than ten minutes." He kissed her nose and cheeks and eyelids. "I promise I will be here when you get off the phone. How's that?" He grinned, "Just like you are, no getting dressed." She nodded. "I guess that will have to do." he groaned, getting out of bed and heading for the bathroom.

Chapter 72 The Presidents