Arielle Immortal Passion (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 3)
Page 19
“Getting ready for school?” she exclaimed. “Do you really think that getting ready for school will make me forget about you?”
His long stillness implied that he knew she was right. It wasn’t going to be easy for him either. “Please don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll be there in time for class next Monday. Annabel will think that you’re still here and that is a great plus for us.”
Sensing that she was ready to protest once again, he crushed her lips beneath his, and his hands moved eagerly down her back, pulling her closer. She sank into his embrace and he let out a low moan. Arielle felt his arousal and gasped, thrilled and overwhelmed, filled with anticipation. She shifted eagerly toward him, and his breath hitched. He was blinded by unleashed desire. Their lips were on fire and their bodies burned as heat coursed through every muscle. They peeled each other’s clothes off quickly, lips still engaged in a scorching kiss. Then, he swept her up in his arms and crossing the room in a fast stride, he laid her down between the soft sheets. He stared down at her naked body and smiled wide. “What am I going to do without you?” he murmured. His weight bowed the bed as he lay next to her and gathered her in his arms. He drew a deep breath and with a quick move he rolled, pinning her beneath him. Sensation poured into every vein in her body. His desire was flowing out of every stroke as his lips moved fiercely against hers. His hands cradled her body, pulling her even closer, spreading a hot sensation between them like wild fire. They made love passionately, as if this were the last time. Sebastian gasped for air as his volcanic explosion of desire erupted. He shuddered, sending Arielle into a wave of passion.
They lay breathless, sated, and content in each other’s arms. His lips closed over hers and she moaned blissfully.
“God, Arielle, what am I going to do with you?” he said again in a soft whisper.
“You’ve already done it,” she said, and they both chuckled.
She let him wrap his arms around her and he cradled her close to him, as he did every night before they drifted off to sleep. But that night she couldn’t sleep at all, not for a moment.
She turned herself towards him so she could watch his magnificent face as he slept. She wanted to take with her the image of every inch of him, so she studied his face as if trying to memorize the details.
When he slowly opened his eyes early the next morning, he gasped as he fell into Arielle’s amazing sapphire gaze. His lips curved into a glorious smile as he drank in every detail of her face.
“God, you’re beautiful!” he said.
“Good morning, baby,” she whispered. His arms drew her tighter against him, and she smiled, completely content.
“I feel just sick thinking that we are going to part in a few hours,” she said, her voice quivering.
“I love you, Arielle, but you know that I have to do this, for us. Please be patient and try to make this a little easier for me. I get anxious when I see you upset, and I don’t want to feel that way. Can you promise me?”
“I’ll try,” she said, pouting playfully. He laughed, looking into her sad face.
Arielle stared into his eyes during the happy silence. Slowly, she pulled away from his embrace and got out of bed. “I’ll miss you,” she said as she walked toward the bathroom. Sebastian jumped out of bed and with two large strides crossed the room and caught her arm. He drew her into his arms. Leaning closer, he tipped her head back and took her lips tenderly.
“Arielle, I’ll be home as soon as we’re done here,” he whispered into the kiss.
A troubled gasp escaped her. Sebastian’s eyebrows furrowed.
“What is it?” His hand cupped her face and held her to his gaze.
For a moment she stared at him and then she winced, her expression tense. “I don’t want you to get hurt,” she cried. “I can’t imagine being without you.”
Sebastian smiled wide. “You are so beautiful!” he said. “Nothing is going to happen to me, baby. There is a small army of immortals here to help me,” he said, grinning. “But I love how you love me.” He pulled her tighter into his embrace and nuzzled her hair. “Tell me that you love me, and I’ll let you get into the shower.”
She glanced up at him and smiled softly. “I adore you, Sebastian,” she said and, rising to her tippy toes, planted a tender kiss on his lips. He moaned blissfully and released her. Arielle walked into the bathroom and Sebastian went back to bed. He needed to think about the upcoming assault against the unwanted intruder.
Arielle took a warm shower, and when she walked back into the bedroom she found Sebastian lost in his thoughts.
“A penny for your thoughts,” she called out.
He sat up on the bed slowly, and looking across the room he met her quizzical gaze. He cleared his throat and tried to screen his apprehensions. “I was thinking about Annabel,” he said quietly. “I was wondering who is really occupying that room and if they are alone or if there are several of them.”
Arielle opened her mouth, but she couldn’t find anything to say that would answer his questions. She watched him pinch the tip of his nose, his eyes focused somewhere in the distance. Drawing a lungful of air, he turned and met her stare. Arielle didn’t miss the flash of trepidation in that emerald look of his. She opened her mouth to say something, but his voice came out firm and furious.
“I wonder how long they’ve been here. And why?” he said through clenched teeth. His hands were balled into fists and his expression turned hard as he bit back an explicit oath. “I’m outraged by the whole situation.”
Arielle walked up and climbed onto the bed. She sat next to him and, putting her hands on either side of his face, she leaned in and kissed him softly.
“I’m sure that you’ll find answers to all of your questions tomorrow. I have complete faith in you,” she said and pressed another kiss on his forehead. She held her breath and drew back enough to watch him, so devastatingly gorgeous, and waited for him to say something.
A long moment passed and finally his thoughts returned to Arielle, his eyes locked on hers and he smiled. His arms pulled her against him and his lips touched hers softly. “I love you, Arielle,” he whispered into the kiss. “I want to keep you safe.”
Arielle sank against him, savoring his kiss and his warm embrace. “Sebastian, you do keep me safe,” she breathed into the kiss. The smell of fresh soap still on her skin from the shower and the scent of freesia in her hair made him shiver with sweet intoxication.
“But… but… I don’t…” he started to say and Arielle put her finger to his lips, pressing softly, not letting him finish his statement.
“You do keep me safe.” Her gaze was intense as she peered into his dark, mossy eyes. “I need you to stop thinking that way.” She pressed another kiss at the hollow of his throat. He blinked and sucked in a deep breath. She pulled back and her blue eyes glittered. “I need to pack,” she said softly, and his arms released her reluctantly.
She walked over to the closet and pulled out her suitcase. Placing it on the sofa, she gathered her clothes from the dresser drawers and the closet, folding them carefully and placing them in the suitcase. He lay back, folded his arms behind his head and remained still, watching her move around the room. He closed his eyes and grinned at the thought of her touch, the softness of her skin, and the gasping sounds of her pleasure in bed as she shuddered beneath him. He was going to love her for eternity.
Her voice startled him. “What are you thinking about?”
He snapped his eyes open and found her watching him, holding a pair of jeans in one hand and a shirt in the other. “You,” he said simply and smirked.
“Oh, and what are you thinking about me?” she asked, her lips lifting slightly.
“Come back to bed and I’ll tell you all about it,” he said, patting the spot on the bed next to him, chuckling blissfully.
“Oh, no you don’t,” she replied. “I have to finish packing.” Turning her attention back to packing, she folded her jeans and t-shirt and placed them in her suitcase.
“Hmm,” he gasped, opening his eyes and getting lost in the sapphire passion of her eyes.
“I don’t want to go,” she whimpered.
His arms were on her, around her, about her, and she was lost as she bit back a groan. “Well, you are still here,” he murmured, “so let’s see what we can do about that.” With a quick move he stripped the towel away from her body. Arielle repressed a groan as his lips moved slowly down her body, spreading a rippling sensation across her muscles.
“I’m going to miss you,” he breathed against her skin, and her control shattered. It was a hot encounter, one that took them into a delirious intoxicating sensual crescendo and left them lost in sensual rapture. They surrendered to a sweet and intoxicating stupor. They lay in each other’s arms not wanting to move an inch away from each other.
She finally turned and looked at the clock. They would be leaving for the airport in an hour and she was going to use each and every moment to enjoy his touch. She adjusted herself closer to his body and he held her silently, brushing his lips against hers.
“Mmmm,” he murmured against her lips, and she grinned happily.
“Can I stay?”
“No, absolutely not,” he replied quickly and firmly.
“All right then, I have to get ready,” she said, scowling.
Sebastian chuckled. He pressed a quick kiss on her lips and released her. “I’ll be home soon,” he said, a wide smile spread across his beautiful face.
The humor faded from Arielle’s expression as they both got out of bed and got dressed. She collected her hair dryer, brush, and toothbrush, and putting them in the suitcase, she closed it with a loud thump. Sebastian sensed her frustration, but he didn’t say anything. He picked up her suitcase in one arm and wrapped his other arm around her, pulling her close.
“You have to stop being mad,” he whispered in her ear. “I have to do this for us. Don’t you want to get rid of Annabel?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Then you must understand that this is the best way to get it done. I want you safe, away from here. As soon as we’re finished, we’ll come home. It shouldn’t take long,” he said, giving her a reassuring smile. Bending down, he kissed her softly.
“Let’s go get Gabrielle and Eva. They are most likely waiting for you. We need to be going if you don’t want to miss your flight.”
Arielle shrugged. She didn’t much care if she missed the flight. Sebastian laughed out loud.
When it was time to go, they shared warm goodbyes with their new immortal friends and invited them to come to Brighton any time they wanted to get away. “Oh, we will,” they promised.
Troy, Sebastian, and Ian drove the girls to the airport, where there were tearful goodbyes as the girls boarded the plane. It had been a great holiday and they had thought they would all be going back together. But it hadn’t turned out that way.
Dear God, please make it work out with Annabel without any one getting hurt, Arielle prayed as she settled into her seat. She was sure Gabrielle and Eva were thinking the same thing. But no one wanted to talk about it. The situation was upsetting for all of them. They sat back in their seats and closed their eyes, thinking of the great time they’d had together. With a soft chuckle, Eva leaned over and whispered to Gabrielle, “Ian is an amazing lover. All I want to do is be with him twenty-four seven.”
“You are not alone, Eva,” Gabby whispered back. “I am sure we all feel the same way.” The girls laughed softly, not wanting to attract attention.
The flight was wonderful, and before long they were in the car driving home. They agreed to each go home and take care of business for a little while, then meet at Arielle’s house around seven-thirty to go out for dinner.
“Do you want to call Paul and have him meet us for dinner if he is home?” Gabrielle asked.
“Great idea,” Arielle agreed.
Gabrielle pressed his number on her mobile. She was on the phone for a short time. “He has a dinner date, but they’d both like to join us,” she said.
“I’ll call him later when we decide where to eat, is that okay?” Arielle said, then suddenly added, “Ooh! I’ll bet I know who he’s bringing,” she said with a grin and winked at her friends.
“Who?” both Gabrielle and Eva asked simultaneously.
“Sebastian’s sister!” she said excitedly. “Loren.”
“Are you kidding?” Eva asked.
“No, I’m not kidding. Do you remember when he called me at St. Jean? He told me that he was crazy about her, and he was spending a lot of time with her.”
“I wonder how Sebastian feels about that,” Gabby said.
“He thinks that Loren isn’t serious because she has never had a serious boyfriend.”
“Well, I hope that’s not the case this time,” Gabby said quietly. “I’d hate to see Paul hurt.”
“I have a feeling that Loren is pretty serious this time around,” Arielle assured them.
“Only time will tell,” Eva added in her familiar philosophical tone of voice, making them laugh.
Arielle dropped her friends at their homes. She pulled into her garage around three-thirty. Our home, she thought, and a big smile covered her face as excitement filled her heart, thinking of her beautiful miracle lover. The house was in perfect order, just as they had left it. The first thing she did was to call her parents, who had just gotten home the day before. Her mom picked up on the second ring.
“Hi, Mum, how is everything? How was your flight back?”
“It was great. I’m still trying to get us back to normal,” she laughed. “I’ve been doing laundry ever since we got back.”
Arielle was happy to hear that they’d had a great time, and that Arielle’s dad had done amazingly well throughout the whole trip.
“I’m so happy it went well,” Arielle said.
“Did you have a good flight home too?” her mother asked.
“Gabrielle, Eva, and I came home today, but the guys will be flying back in a day or so. They’re helping Sebastian with some stuff he needs to do at his house. They have become very good friends and they enjoy each other’s company.”
“That’s nice. Let me know when he’s back and we can all have dinner together.”
“That will be great. I love you, Mummy, and please tell Daddy I love him too. I’m glad you’re back, safe and sound. I’m going out to dinner with the girls and possibly Paul and his girlfriend.”
“Paul has a girlfriend?”
“Yes, he does. I actually think you have met her as well. It’s Sebastian’s sister, Loren. She was at our Christmas party,” Arielle said, chuckling.
“Oh, yes, I remember her. She’s a very beautiful girl, and she seems very nice. I’m happy for Paul. He’s such a good bloke.”
“Yes, he is. I have to go, Mum, but I’ll call you tomorrow.”
She jumped into the shower and let the water run hot on her skin. She sighed, contented. Afterward, she lay back on her bed and took a short nap. At seven o’clock, she got up to get ready for Gabrielle and Eva’s arrival.
At seven-thirty, they met Paul and Loren at Pub du Vin, by the Lanes. Arielle got a kick out of watching Eva and Gabrielle’s faces when they saw Paul and Loren walk toward them. Once the shock had worn off they were happy. They knew Loren, and they liked her a lot. Pub du Vin was a great little place. Arielle observed the open fireplace and took a moment to glance at the great photos of Brighton and the pier from the early twentieth century hanging along the walls. Arielle and her friends had loved going there since long before S
ebastian, Ian, or Troy had ever entered their lives. Arielle had gone there with Paul for drinks and dinner many times before.
They were really happy to see Paul and talk about his Christmas holiday and the upcoming semester. Loren was planning to attend Brighton University now as well, another nice surprise. Paul was ecstatic, which made Arielle smile.
Now I can talk freely without worrying that I’m hurting him every time Sebastian’s name comes up, she thought. Dinner was delicious and they had a wonderful time telling Paul and Loren about their time in St. Jean de Luz. Loren was very funny, and her sense of humor kept them laughing all night long.
“What are you studying?” Arielle asked her.
“I’m an archeology major, just like Paul,” Loren said.
“Oh! Well, no wonder you guys get along so well,” she said. “That’s just wonderful. I’m sure the trips you’ll take will be magnificent—and definitely not boring.”
It was midnight when they started for home. The three girls decided to spend the night together. Arielle was happy not to be alone, and it seemed that her friends didn’t want to go home alone either. After settling her friends up in the guest rooms, Arielle got into bed, and crossing her arms behind her head, she closed her eyes.
Her mind drifted back to St. Jean de Luz. She caught herself smiling as Sebastian’s image filled her thoughts. Her muscles tensed. She was missing him and she knew that this was going to be a long night. She stretched one arm toward the empty space next to her where Sebastian usually slept and ran her hand up and down the cold sheets. She drew in a deep breath and resettled herself in the bed, closing her eyes and praying that she would get some sleep.
She wasn’t sure how long she had been lying there when she thought she heard a distant ringing sound. She listened carefully and realized that a phone was ringing somewhere in the house. She tossed back the covers and, throwing her legs over the edge of the bed, she stepped onto the floor. She followed the ringing sound and ended up in her closet where she found her phone on the floor. She must have dropped it there when she was getting ready to go out with her friends.