“Mmmm,” she half murmured, half gasped. She licked her lips as if she wanted to taste his wonderful scent again.
She felt the heat all through her body and shivered with excitement at the touch of his hands. His tongue touched the edge of her lips. It moved down her neck and across her collarbone, making her gasp with pleasure as a low moan escaped his throat. His arms were still holding her tight as they lay completely spent.
“This is our first night in one of my most favorite homes,” he whispered in her ear. “Are you happy, baby?”
“Oh, yes,” she replied in a soft, out-of-breath voice. His mouth found hers again in a deep and passionate kiss. He lay back on the bed with a huge, satisfied smile on his face.
“Sebastian?” she said softly.
He raised himself, leaning on his elbow, and looked down into her eyes. He released the magic that made her lose every thought she had ever had and sent an explosive heat throughout her body.
“Stop that!” she said, yanking her eyes away from his face.
“What?” he said with a low chuckle.
“You are dazzling me again, and I can’t talk when you do that.”
He gathered her in his arms with a warm laugh. “I love you, Arielle, and I love seeing that adorable frustration in your face.”
She finally managed to ask the question that was tormenting her. “Have you ever had another woman in this bed before?”
He looked at her with weariness. “When are you going to stop this? No, I never have.”
“Is that the truth?”
“I told you, Arielle, I can’t lie. That’s not something I can do as an immortal. Every time I slept in this bed, I was alone. This is your bed now.”
“I hate thinking of you making love to anyone but me. Sometimes, I feel like I’ll go crazy when I think of all the beautiful, gorgeous women that have loved you. I hate them all.” She was sure that her face showed her deep displeasure.
He laughed as he reached over and kissed her softly.
“Arielle, I have never truly loved anyone but you.”
She pulled herself as close as she could get to his beautiful body and let him encircle her in his warm embrace. They fell asleep then, completely satisfied.
Early the next morning, she woke up feeling suffocated. She opened her eyes and her gaze fell on the gorgeous man wrapped around her. Sebastian’s arm was resting across her abdomen and his leg was thrown over her thighs, making it difficult for her to move. His hair was tussled, and thick, sandy strands covered his forehead. His sensuous lips were slightly parted and his face was that of a sleeping angel. She wanted to lean in and press her lips on his passionately, but something stopped her. He looked too peaceful to wake him up. She just kept staring at him, drinking in the sight of him, unable to believe that he was hers.
He stirred, but he didn’t wake up. The heat of his naked body spread quivering desire across every muscle in her body. She wanted to wake him up and give him delicious pleasure, just like the pleasure he had given her the night before. She closed her eyes, trying desperately to let the passion subside, because she was suddenly in desperate need of the bathroom.
She moved slowly, disentangling their legs, and inched her way out of his embrace. She immediately lost the heat of his body, and she winced, but she really needed to get up.
When she stepped out of the bathroom, she found him still in deep sleep. She walked over to the window and drew back the heavy curtains to let the sunlight in. She stared at the seascape that stretched out before her eyes. The sea and cliffs that looked scary and amazing at the same time. The deep blue water stretched out without a single ripple in the calm of the morning. Her breath was suspended, stunned by the beauty of it all, and her heartbeat accelerated.
She wrapped her arms around her naked body and sighed deeply. A million thoughts invaded her mind, and she bit down on her lower lip. This amazing house that belonged to another era, and the unbelievably gorgeous man that was sleeping on the massive bed behind her, were now part of her life. No… no… she thought, immediately changing the direction of her thoughts and making a face. They are not part of my life, they are my life.
It was hard, even for Arielle, to believe that she had chosen to take a scary path with an unknown destination. But this choice included the man of her dreams, the man who loved her unconditionally. And he was willing to give her the world.
Arielle couldn’t imagine her life without her angel, her dream, the man who was etched into the very core of her soul. She had fallen head over heels in love with him, and nothing could, or would, ever keep her away from him, no matter how scary or how frightening. She was not going to allow anything to destroy her dream! She had imagined a man like Sebastian ever since she was a little girl, and up until a year ago it was just that, a dream. Now here she was, standing in this amazing castle, with the most beautiful man on the earth but a few centimeters away.
Her smile fell when Annabel’s image came back into her mind. Annabel was an unnerving nightmare that was not going to go away until she made sure she had destroyed Sebastian by destroying Arielle. She was the nightmare that Arielle would have to endure in order to keep her beautiful dream alive.
Thinking of Sebastian made her thoughts calmer, but her stomach was still swirling with unease, making her shift from one foot to the other.
The room was quiet and she was sure Sebastian was deep in sleep. She was tempted to get back into bed next to the heat of his beautiful body and forget all the bad thoughts, but she remained where she was, staring out the window.
Suddenly, Sebastian’s soft lips pressed on her bare shoulder and his arms snaked around her waist, pulling her against his naked body, skin against skin. He shifted behind her and the heat of his body set her nerve endings on fire, making her toes curl. His hard length was pressing against her back and as she shifted from one foot to the other she heard his sharp intake of breath.
“Why didn’t you wake me up?” he asked, his lips still against her skin.
“I just wanted to look at the view early in the morning. I was going to come back to bed,” she said quietly, her voice hitching from excitement.
“I thought we made a promise.”
“I know… I know… I’m sorry. I was all excited about this house.” She leaned her head back, giving him access to the column of her throat. His lips glided suggestively down her neck while his hands moved upward and cupped her breasts, making her quiver.
“I don’t want you leaving the bed without me,” he said, his voice breathless.
She turned around slowly without leaving his embrace. Lifting her arms, she wound them around his neck, letting her fingers dig into his soft hair. He moaned loudly and his hands landed on the lower part of her bare back. She rose to her tippy toes. He drew a shaky breath just before he dipped down and took her mouth in a scorching kiss. Her lips parted and his tongue found its way into her mouth.
“Mmmm, you brushed your teeth,” he chuckled.
“I love you, Sebastian,” she murmured against his lips.
“Are you happy?” he asked as he pulled back, locking her gaze to his. He didn’t dazzle her. He just peered deep into her eyes, searching for her very soul, looking for a glimpse of her thoughts.
That’s all it took to send an inkling of awareness down his spine. “What’s bothering you? Do I need to take that necklace off?” he asked.
“No, you don’t have to do that. I was just thinking how ecstatic I am to be in this house and how it all seems like an unbelievable dream.”
“What else? That is not something that should create the worry I see in your beautiful eyes.”
Arielle pursed her lips. “Well, I did think about Annabel and the other women that have embarked in this deadly game against me and you.”
His embrace tightened, and he exhaled, a bit frustrated. “Arielle, I never lived until now,” he said, his face completely serious. “You are my life and everything I live for. I will never let anyone hurt you.”
She nodded and smiled. She was in his arms and that was all she wanted. He bent down and crushed her lips beneath his once again.
“Come to bed, and let me remind you how much I love you.”
By the time they arrived downstairs, everyone was up and out in the gardens, enjoying the beautiful morning.
Chapter 4
AFTER BREAKFAST THE GUYS DECIDED to go horseback riding. Arielle asked Gabrielle and Eva to stay with her, explaining that she needed to talk to them about something. They were happy to do so, but she could read in their minds the curiosity that her request had aroused in them.
She dug deep inside herself to find the strength to come clean with her friends about her dreadful secret. She knew that trying to explain the reason for hiding it from her best friends for all these years wasn’t going to be easy, but there was no going back now.
Sebastian inched closer and, snaking his arm around her waist, he pulled her into his arms. Looking deep into her eyes, he smiled softly. “Don’t over think this, baby. You’re doing the right thing.” Bending down, he pressed a lush kiss on her lips, leaving her gasping for air. She heard his soft chuckle as he let go of her and walked out. She stood still and watched as his retreating figure went through the front door and disappeared from her view. His words vibrated through her body, pushing her thoughts onto the right path, giving her the strength to face her friends.
After the guys left, Arielle, Eva, and Gabby found their way out to the garden and sat on a beautiful bench under the trees.
Arielle looked at both of them, took a deep breath and then, with a quiet voice, she said, “I have something very important to say to you, and I hope that you will forgive me for keeping it a secret.” As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears, and she took another deep breath as they both reached out to her, worried looks in their eyes.
“There is nothing that will ever keep us apart, Arielle,” Eva said.
“I’m not so sure about that,” Arielle replied, her voice quivering. She pressed her lips together and was quiet again for a short time. Her friends looked worried. They both pressed on her hands reassuringly.
“Arielle, look at me,” Eva said. “Whatever it is, it’s okay. We love you!”
Arielle hated that she had kept such an important secret from her friends. However, she knew that sensible thinking seldom coincides with logical reaction. She knew that she had to tell them today, right now, but she still found herself hesitating to actually do it.
“Arielle, what is it?” Eva pressed on.
They both watched her patiently. Finally, Arielle lifted her head and glanced between her two best friends with an attitude of renewed resolve. It was like she abruptly became aware how important it was she divulge her secret. She was sobered by the awareness that keeping her dreadful gift to herself could do more damage than good. Sebastian was absolutely correct: she should have done this a long time ago.
She opened her mouth and closed it again, her self-confidence fading away.
“Arielle?” Eva cried out. “You are driving us crazy, what is going on in there?” she said, pointing to Arielle’s head.
Arielle swallowed hard and let out a deep sigh. “Well, here’s what I want you to know. Ever since we were six years old I have been able to read your minds.”
She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. She paused for a moment, and then, opening her eyes she waited for the significance of her words to settle in. Neither Gabby nor Eva said a word. They were like two statues. The silence was deafening, and it could have stretched longer if Arielle hadn’t started speaking again.
“When we grew older I could still read your mind, Gabrielle, but Eva’s became a little cloudy once she became involved with witchcraft and spells.”
She stopped again and watched them carefully as they tried to comprehend what she was saying. She could see puzzlement spreading across their minds, puzzlement mixed with panic. Finally, their eyes widened and they both clasped their hands over their mouths simultaneously. They looked comical, but now wasn’t the time for jokes or laughter.
Eva was the first to speak. “What do you mean you can read our bloody minds? You know what we are thinking?” The tone of her voice was uneven.
Arielle looked down shamefully. She didn’t know what she could say that would make this sound any better, so she just nodded her head, keeping her eyes on her hands, which were resting on her lap. She looked up and glanced at her friends. “Yes,” she said simply.
“Oh, my God! Are you serious?” Gabrielle exclaimed.
“Yes,” she repeated in monotone.
“How come you never said anything about this?” Eva asked.
“I love you both so much, and I believed that you would think that I was some kind of a freak and wouldn’t want to be my friends anymore. It was completely selfish,” Arielle admitted. Then she began to sob as the heavy burden of secrecy left her, and regret became her new burden.
A thick, stony silence fell between the three friends. For a few moments, all Arielle could hear were the sounds she made as she tried to breathe normally.
Eva spoke again, “Well, I think that’s amazing. I don’t think it makes any difference to me at all. I loved you then, and I love you now, Arielle,” she said, throwing herself into her friend’s arms and hugging her. “I have visions, you know,” she added. “So, I can understand you having a special gift.”
Arielle bit her lip, resisting the urge to scream with delight.
Hugging Eva back, she said softly, “I love you, too, Eva, and I didn’t want to keep it a secret, but I did it from fear of losing you.”
She looked over at Gabrielle, who was still silent. She seemed shocked, but not angry. Her gaze had drifted across the garden, away from Arielle’s face. Arielle had blocked Gabby’s thoughts from entering her mind in order to give her some privacy, so she assumed that Gabby was fighting some kind of personal battle. A lump formed in her throat, afraid that Gabby would reject her.
Finally, Gabrielle turned her gaze to Arielle and their eyes locked. She smiled slowly and reaching out, she took her friend’s hands. “It doesn’t make any difference to me either. I love you, and you are still my best friend.”
Arielle was overwhelmed with relief. “Gabby, I honestly have not kept anything from you about myself except this one thing. I really was afraid you would reject me. I’m sure you’ll understand that more than anyone else,” she said, pressing Gabrielle’s hand meaningfully. She knew Gabrielle was thinking about how Troy had struggled with telling her the truth about himself.
“Can you read Ian’s or Troy’s minds?” Gabby asked. She was becoming more curious than stunned.
“No,” Arielle lied. She couldn’t think of a good reason to tell them that she could read Ian’s mind. Not yet.
“So, if you can’t read Ian’s and Troy’s minds, then you can’t read everyone’s mind,” Gabby said.
“No, that’s the frustrating thing about it. I can’t read everyone’s mind, and I’m not sure what makes the difference. But this is what happens to me. Sometimes it’s completely maddening. I can’t find peace within me because of the constant noise that keeps invading my mind.” She paused and looked directly at them. “But I really need to know right now if anything will change between us because of this. Your friendship is so important to me,” she said with a pleading smile.
“Well, if you can read our minds, you must know what we are thinking, right?” Gabby said.
“Yes, I do, but I need to hear you say it,” Arielle insisted.
“Nothing has changed between us as far as I’m concerned,” Eva said. “We are linked together until death do us part,” she added, giggling.
Arielle looked over at Gabrielle and knew she was feeling the same way, but she wanted to hear her friend say the words.
Gabrielle grinned and said, “I love you, Arielle. You’re my best friend, and nothing will ever change that.”
Arielle was so happy she could not stop smiling. She
was so relieved that at last her friends knew her secret. She was so happy that she forgot all about Annabel until the next question hit her like a rock.
“Since we are confessing secrets…” Eva said. “I’ve been wondering what it is about Sebastian and Troy that’s so different. They don’t look or sound or act like any other guys we have ever known. Their looks are unbelievable, their voices are soft, like velvet, and some of the time their actions seem to be from another era. And what is it about Sebastian and his amazing ability to dazzle us into a complete trance just by looking into his eyes? You can’t say that I’m making all this up,” she added, looking at Arielle defensively.
“No, you are not making anything up, but I’m not sure how he does that. I’m guessing it’s a special gift he may have,” Arielle said.
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t really know. I don’t pay attention to the details. I’m just completely and utterly in love with him, and that’s all I care about. I think it’s pretty cute that he can dazzle me, or you, or Gabrielle. I think it’s great that he is so stunning. The same thing goes for Troy,” she said, winking at Gabrielle.
“I like that about Sebastian too,” Gabrielle agreed. “It’s pretty cute when he does that.”
“All right,” Eva said. “I was just wondering.” She didn’t ask anymore, but she didn’t look totally convinced either.
“Remember, Eva, Ian is pretty awesome too. So, you have no room to talk about our guys.” They all hugged and Arielle was filled with joy that she still had her friends. She felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
The girls spent the rest of the morning chatting happily about their plans.
“How would you like to go down to the beach tomorrow and spend the day in the sun?” Arielle asked.
“Yes!” Eva was the first to agree.
“Gabrielle, if you prefer to go horseback riding with the guys, you can do that. I don’t mind, and I’m sure Eva doesn’t either.”
“I’ll wait and see what the others want to do, and then I’ll decide,” Gabrielle said.
Arielle Immortal Passion (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 3) Page 5
