Breaking the kiss, Arielle drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, her eyes never leaving his. She was sure that she was somewhere between reality and a dream. “Now put my necklace back on, and stop being so inquisitive,” she murmured breathlessly. He put her necklace back where it belonged and his arms locked about her one more time, taking her mouth in a searing kiss that curled her toes. Sensation rippled through her and she found herself lost once again in his embrace.
“What am I going to do with you? You literally drive me out of my mind.” His jaw muscles were tense, his eyes flashed with implausible longing, and he gasped in clear exasperation.
She reached up and pressed her lips softly on his. “I feel the same way about you, my love,” she whispered against his lips. “But right now, I want to see everything!” she cried, slipping away from his embrace. She ran like an excited child from room to room. She looked at everything and stared out every window, absorbing all the wonderful views, each one more beautiful than the next.
The house was very modern. There was nothing old about it except for some extravagant antique furnishings. She felt her eyes well up with tears from excitement and happiness. Stopping abruptly, she spun around and met his gaze steadily. Placing her hands on her hips, she drew in a quick breath and narrowed her eyes.
Sebastian’s gaze swept over her and his eyes widened. “What is it?”
She hesitated for a short moment, and then lifting her chin, her voice came out soft but steady, “Are there any other homes besides St. Jean and this one?” Arielle had assumed Sebastian was wealthy, but she didn’t know to what extent, and she wasn’t about to ask any details. Had Sebastian refrained from letting her know how wealthy he was to see if she really loved him for himself or for his money? The thought was unnerving.
Sebastian stared at her and smiled softly. “There are four more,” he said, raking his fingers through his hair thoughtfully.
“Four more!” she said, astounded. “Where?”
He shook his head and his smile deepened. “Barcelona, Ireland, Germany, and Fiji,” he said quietly, and gazing into her sapphire eyes, he saw sheer astonishment.
Arielle was at a loss for words. Turning around, she crossed the room and stepped out onto the balcony. She gazed into the distance and remained quiet for a long time. Asking him about his wealth was a hard temptation to resist, but she did it. Sebastian came up behind her. His arms snaked around her, and he drew her to him, setting his lips to her temple.
“Something wrong?” he murmured softly as his lips moved slowly, trailing kisses down her cheek, across her jaw line, and skimmed purposefully down the column of her throat. Arielle closed her eyes, leaned her head back on his shoulder and shuddered, feeling his body flush against her back.
“What’s bothering you?” he asked again, his voice smooth as silk.
Finding her voice, she finally said, “Why do you need so many homes?”
She felt his smile against her skin. “I don’t need the homes, Arielle. They are just property investments.” They fell silent as his hands moved up and cupped her breasts, pressing softly. A lungful of air hissed between his teeth, and an unyielding feeling of possessiveness slipped through his bones, shattering his control. He was lost in her warmth when she suddenly moved, spinning around within his embrace to face him. He released her, startled at the unexpected quizzical look on her face.
“What now?” he asked, muting his frustration at the sudden loss of her warmth.
Arielle was stunned not so much by the question, but by the clipped tone in his voice. She frowned and shifted from one foot to the other, looking uncomfortable. Sebastian became still at the expression on her face, and his brow lifted.
“What?” he pressed on in a much gentler tone.
She caught his quizzical gaze and let out an irritated sigh.
“Have you taken any other women to those homes?” she asked, her voice strained.
With a sudden move he had her trapped in his embrace once again. He regarded her for a long moment, and then planting his hands on either side of her face, he tipped her head back to look into her eyes. “Oh… I see.” His lips twisted in clear exasperation. “When are you going to start trusting me?”
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
“You don’t seriously think that I would bring women that I’ve never loved to live in my homes, do you?”
Arielle shrugged her shoulders and looked away. Putting his index finger under her chin, he turned her face up and his lips closed over hers. She lifted her hands and wrapped them around his neck, leaning into him. Their tongues dueled and desire rippled through her veins. Sebastian moaned and pulled her closer. “Are you jealous?” he whispered into the kiss.
“Hmm…” she mumbled, nodding as he muted her sounds with his mouth.
Sebastian deepened the kiss with a moan, and she let her fingers tangle into his soft hair. Gasping, she pulled away from the kiss and drew in a deep breath.
“What do you do with all these homes?” she asked.
Lips curving, he pulled her back into the tight embrace. “Do you want to talk homes right now, or do you want to go to bed?”
Now he had her full attention. Her lips found his and their mouths melted into each other. Sebastian lifted her into his arms and walked back into the room.
An hour later they were lying in each other’s arms, completely sated, as powerful surges of blissfulness swept their bodies and left them drained but fulfilled.
Their first night in the villa was like a dream. They sat on the balcony during the amazing twilight, watching the boats all lit up, moving slowly, and shimmering like dazzling jewels across the dark waters. They made love hungrily, as if it were the first time ever. Their lovemaking seemed to only get better and better. Nothing had ever made her feel the way she felt with him in bed. She had decided to drop the conversation about his various homes around the world while on this trip. But she was sure that she was going to revisit the issue at a later date.
Every day they drove to a different place. The first day they visited San Gimignano on a hilltop in the valley of the River Elsa. The sight was full of beauty, medieval towers, and cultural importance. Pisa on the Arno River was next. Sebastian told her that Pisa was one of the most important railway junctions for Italy. They saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Arielle was amazed, thinking of all the years and the weathering those walls had endured. They had lunch and drinks at the Ponte Vecchio and stayed till early evening to watch the lights of the city reflecting on the river.
They bicycled through the winding dirt roads of Tuscany, through sculptured estates and quiet enchanted lanes that were bordered by stonewall. They tasted some of the most fantastic food Arielle had ever eaten and sampled wines at the wonderful wineries. The weather was fantastic. They visited hilltop villages bordered by olive groves, full of ageless splendor and modern charm. The amazing views there seemed familiar, as if she had seen them used as the backdrops for paintings by the great painters—Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, and others.
One day they drove to Voltera, where they visited two castles built on a rocky hill. They drove through the narrow medieval streets and stopped to taste wine and eat delicious Italian dishes. The next day they drove to Florence and visited the glorious churches and cathedrals, and the incredible Bargella Museum. Arielle could not help being moved by the beauty of the architectural masterpieces and the extraordinary art that was everywhere. Every evening they watched breathtaking sunsets that turned the Mediterranean waters into a festival of colors seen from their balcony, or as they lay in their bed.
Sunsets blended over the water, making the villa more picturesque than it already was. They made love while listening to the sound of the sea rolling and smelling the fragrance of the ocean. They made love in the shower as the water pulsated against their heated bodies. They spent happy hours shopping at the piazzas, buying the work of street artists who were selling their beautiful creations. Arielle loved walking the st
reets holding hands with no other thought but the love she felt for Sebastian.
Many nights she stayed awake just to watch him sleep and, strange as it might be, she seemed to find something new and different about him to fall in love with each passing day. She loved listening to the rhythm of his breathing, which seemed to keep time with the sound of the waves as they rolled on the beach. There were plenty of nights that he woke her up just to tell her that he loved her and make passionate love to her. She simply didn’t want to wake up from this inconceivable dream.
One day they decided to visit Cortona, another Tuscan hill town with medieval architecture and particularly striking views. Walls that were erected during the Etruscan era surrounded the whole town. Having Sebastian as a guide was incredible. He knew everything about each place they visited, and he was an amazing source of information. On the way back, they drove through a sea of sunflowers and beautiful red poppy fields. Arielle couldn’t get enough of the breathtaking flowers blooming everywhere and the sunny weather that enhanced the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
They were driving home with the top down, the radio playing a beautiful Italian song, and Sebastian whistling the tune as if he had heard it many times before when Arielle thought, I guess being around for as long as he has been, he’s heard the song before. She chuckled.
When they returned home, they decided to sit on the balcony. Sebastian looked at her and pulled her close to press his lips on hers. It was the end of another magical day as they sat watching another amazing sunset blend over the waterfront as the sun, a huge orange ball, gradually disappeared into the sea. A variety of water vessels moved at a slow pace across the waters as twilight fell upon the earth.
In that perfect moment, Arielle was blissfully unaware that by that time the next day her life would change irrevocably, and that sorrow would carve this day permanently into her life’s blueprint.
They had decided to visit Bologna, about an hour’s drive away. This was another place that Sebastian had visited many times and loved. It was located between Venice and Florence, and he used to stop there when he had to travel between the two cities. He wanted to take Arielle there because it was not well known and so it had not been ruined by masses of tourists. It was known by the nickname of “Bologna the red,” because of the colors—terracotta red and burnt oranges—used on the buildings. As she got dressed she plied him with questions. As usual, he never seemed tired of answering, but rather was delighted by her curiosity.
As they were talking, his mobile phone rang and he picked it up. “Hello, Troy,” he said. Arielle smiled as she walked out onto the balcony, giving him some privacy. Twenty minutes later she noticed that he was still on the phone, listening but not saying a word. She walked back into the room and put her arms around his waist. He stopped pinching his nose and instead pulled her close with his free arm. He kissed her softly on the forehead, and that would have comforted her but his face was dark and his lips were pressed together. She looked into his beautiful green eyes but could not read what was going on in his mind. One thing was sure, whatever Troy was talking about wasn’t pleasant. She felt a little shiver of dread, not knowing what could be so bad. Then, she moved to sit on the sofa and wait.
“And now?” Sebastian said. There was more talk from Troy and she could see Sebastian nodding his head in agreement. Arielle was really starting to worry.
Sebastian noticed her putting her face into her hands, not knowing what else to do. He came closer, pulled her up from the sofa and held her against him tenderly. He stared into her eyes without dazzling her and she couldn’t help but see that something was terribly wrong.
After more than forty-five minutes, he finally closed his phone and stood in silence. She could see grief spreading across his beautiful face. He looked like he was searching for the right words to say. Arielle felt a sudden surge of inexplicable pain that crushed her cheerful spirit.
He encircled her in his arms and gazed straight into her eyes. His voice came out barely audible, full of sadness, full of anxiety. “Arielle, you need to sit down,” he said.
She did as he said and numbly watched his lips moving. His voice sounded like it was coming from underground.
“There has been a terrible accident,” he said.
A sneak peek at the fourth book in the Immortal Rapture Series, Arielle Immortal Quickening
ARIELLE STOOD FROZEN. The hotel room lost its brightness, and the air thickened. When she tried to inhale, her lungs refused to expand. Her heartbeat pounded painfully in her chest, leaving her faint. The fear was so deeply rooted it held her like a vise. With her eyes squeezed tightly shut and her lips pressed together, she listened to the stony silence that had fallen as Sebastian gave her time to gather her thoughts. The feelings of helplessness and loss draped over her like a heavy curtain while she tried to absorb his last words.
His soft voice had been composed, tainted with a hint of wretchedness. She wasn’t ready to accept bad news about any person she loved. Her head throbbed, her self-awareness was in full alert, and she literally felt sick from fear and uneasiness. Her knees buckled underneath her, and she practically collapsed on the floor, drowning in a huge range of intensity and emotional instability. Falling back on the bed, she rolled over and buried her face in the pillow. This wasn’t going to be good. Sebastian’s expression spoke volumes.
He sat beside her on the bed and ran his hand up and down her back with tenderness and understanding. He was quiet, waiting for her to say something.
She remained unmoved, wordless, her mind wandering aimlessly. Is the bad news about someone I love? she wondered anxiously. Finally she pulled herself up and sat on the bed, hugging her knees to her chest as her thoughts turned dark. She took a shuddering breath and gazed into Sebastian’s eyes. An unsettled glimmer flickered in his gaze, and he pinched the tip of his nose.
Arielle’s mouth went dry, and her chest rose and fell anxiously as she stifled a gulp. Unless her mind was deceiving her, Sebastian only pinched the tip of his nose when he was extremely uncomfortable or worried about something or someone. She noticed a flash of anguish cross his eyes. She was afraid to hear what he was about to tell her; she was sure that her facial expression read with dread and despair. She was trembling. Her misery didn’t escape Sebastian.
He reached for her and gathered her to him as close as possible. She laid her head on his chest, looking for reassurance. His voice was soft, but she could hear a hint of distress.
“Arielle, did you hear me baby?” he asked. She looked up to meet his gaze, unable to speak. She was afraid to ask any questions, knowing any negative information would be painful.
“Arielle, please, I don’t like to see you this way. You need to hear what I have to say,” Sebastian’s voice was velvety soft.
She tried to analyze each and every word in his sentence but was unable to accept the thoughts that invaded her head. The news could not be about her parents, because she had just finished talking to her mum on the phone. Mother said everything at home was fine. It wasn’t about their friends either, because her mother would have phoned her. Who was all this about? Could it be one of their immortal friends? She knew that eight of their friends had been hunting down Annabel ever since she’d tried to kill her and Eva at St. Jean de Luz. But if this were about their immortal friends, why would Sebastian be so reluctant to discuss it openly with her? Nothing really made sense. Why was Sebastian so upset? Sucking in a deep breath she went for it.
“Who was involved in the accident?” she asked in a hollow whisper.
“Our best friends,” he replied in a guarded tone.
Her shock was evident as fright took her over and weighed down every one of her limbs. She realized that the worst feelings that had invaded her mind earlier were right now becoming a reality. Her first thought was denial, but she had to push that in the back of her mind, because she needed to find out the details. She became conscious of the tears streaming down her face and her uncontrolled tre
mbling.
“What happened?” she murmured, keeping a blank face as she felt a lump climbing and closing her throat.
For a moment, he didn’t reply, and she looked up into his eyes. His face was pale, and his expression strained. “It’s Gabrielle,” he murmured.
Her eyes went wide with horror, and she felt the muscles of her chest tighten. She didn’t really seem to hear his answer. She thought her mind was tripping into a state of shock as bad feelings were now settling inside her very core, completely taking over her senses. She felt his arms pulling her even closer, his fingers lifting her face up, and his eyes piercing hers. She tried to decipher his look, but she found herself unable to do that. Sebastian remained silent as she looked on bewildered, her face soaked with tears and her heartbeat hammering her chest uncontrollably. She shook her head in denial and rubbed her temples with her fingertips as she pressed her lips together harder. He took her hands and placed them flat on his chest and covered them with his.
“Please, Arielle, say something,” he pressed on in a soft voice.
Silence stretched and suddenly she looked up at him with horror in her eyes.
“How bloody bad was it? You are freaking me out!” Her voice was louder than she expected, but the desperation held her in a tight grip.
Sebastian visibly started at the tone of her voice. After a brief hesitation, he reached toward her and took her face between his hands. “Gabrielle is in the worst condition. Troy says she’s in intensive care, and they don’t know if she’ll make it. Right now, she is in a coma with a fractured skull, a broken leg, several broken ribs, and fifty stitches in her left thigh.”
Arielle tried desperately to swallow the lump wedged in her throat. “Oh, my God… Oh. My. God!” she whispered, slumping down onto the bed. Distantly, she felt Sebastian pull her up into his arms, holding her tightly against him. Without thought, she buried her face in his shoulder and sobbed.
Arielle Immortal Passion (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 3) Page 25
