Arielle Immortal Seduction (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 2)

by Lilian Roberts

  “Do you really like it?”

  “I think it’s the most exquisite ring ever, anywhere.”

  “It’s pretty special, and it was made just for you.”

  “It doesn’t look like a modern ring. Is it?”

  “No, this is from the Victorian era. Prior to 1870, they didn’t make rings with one large diamond as a center stone. But during Queen Victoria’s reign, they started to create this style of engagement ring. I think they are the prettiest rings ever made.”

  Arielle chuckled as she thought of how Sebastian was always the source of such a wealth of information.

  “What is it now?” he asked, smiling.

  “How do you know so much about everything? I am amazed at your knowledge, and how smart you are.”

  “Oh, I’m not as smart as you think,” he said. “If you had roamed this earth as long as I have, with endless days and nights to think and wonder, you would learn a few things too.” He laughed out loud, and she joined in.

  “I just can’t tell you how perfectly and utterly happy I am with you, Mr. Darcy,” she said, sighing with pleasure.

  “All I ever wanted to do is make you happy, Miss Elizabeth,” he replied, and held her close. “You are my life, and I couldn’t breathe if you weren’t with me.”

  “I have been trying to understand ever since we met how you can love me so much when you are so perfect and so beautiful,” Arielle said. “You’re every girl’s dream and here you are with me. I’m nothing special, I’m just a simple girl.”

  “I don’t think you see yourself the way others do, Arielle. You are extraordinary. You’re smart, you’re sensitive, you’re warm, and so beautiful. When I look into your eyes I get all the energy I need. Your love supplies me with the very air I breathe. You arouse me more than any other woman I have ever met, and loving you is all I want to do for eternity.”

  Ecstasy was Arielle’s state of mind as she got up and walked toward the shower. She turned the hot water on. Sebastian was suddenly there with her. She laughed at his display of immortal speed. He held her tight against his hot body and let the water run over both of them. He was caressing and kissing her neck as he moaned once. He tipped her face up toward his and she parted her lips, letting his tongue invade the inside softness of her mouth. His hands tightened about her waist, pulling her closer against him, giving her more pleasure that any human being deserves in a lifetime.

  “You will be the death of me,” he murmured, his favorite way of letting her know he was extremely happy.

  “I can’t believe that we’re engaged,” she said. “I want to call everyone I know and let them know how much I love you.”

  “I bought this ring three days after I first set eyes on you,” he said. “That’s how sure I was that you were going to be mine for eternity.” He had a brilliant smile on his face, brighter even than the smiles that had made her fall in love with him.

  “This is the best Christmas ever!” she said. “And I thought you might not be able to come at all.”

  “I would never have missed this time with you, Arielle. I had fun just walking and shopping with you and your friends. That’s something I haven’t had the chance to do for years, for centuries. You make me feel truly young, full of energy, and completely happy. I forget my dreadful existence, I feel like a normal human being.”

  “I want to call my parents,” she said. She picked up her mobile and speed-dialed her parents. It was a warm and exuberant call. Her parents were thrilled. They thought Sebastian was the perfect man for their daughter. They asked to speak with Sebastian, and after a wonderful and cheerful discussion, they hung up.

  It was very late when they drifted off to sleep in each other’s arms.

  Chapter 12

  THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS EVE, Arielle woke up quite early. Sebastian was already in the shower. She still needed to get his gift, so she reached for her phone and called Gabrielle.

  “Can you go shopping with me this morning?” she asked. “Or do you have plans with Troy?”

  “No, as a matter of fact I thought you would be busy with Sebastian, and that’s why I didn’t call you. I was just asking Eva if she wanted to come shopping with me. We need to get our gifts for Troy and Ian. Shall I come pick you up?”

  “Oh, that would be great! I have to get Sebastian’s gift as well, I couldn’t do that while he was with us. And I’ve nothing for him.”

  “When do you want me to pick you up?”

  “I need to take a shower and get ready, but I won’t be that long. I’ll ring you as soon as I’m dressed. Is that okay?”

  “I’ll wait for your call.”

  She lay back in bed and closed her eyes while waiting for Sebastian to finish his shower. She knew that if she went into the shower now, she wouldn’t be able to leave any time soon. The thought made her lips part faintly, and a soft gasp of pleasure escaped her. She was lying there daydreaming when she felt his weight bow the bed. He was pressing himself on top of her, spreading heat, craving, and longing as his arms enfolded her, cuddling her against his chest.

  “What are you thinking about?” he whispered as his lips brushed against her ear.

  “Just you,” she moaned.

  “I didn’t want to wake you up, you looked tired,” he said.

  “Hmm,” she replied, stretching leisurely.

  “Long night?” he asked and chuckled, his eyes filled with mirth. Arielle laughed and pulling his head down, she pressed a soft kiss on his beautiful mouth.

  “Sebastian, I have to go and do some last minute shopping with Gabrielle and Eva.” She tried to get up, but he pulled her back and gazed into her eyes. He didn’t release her. She could clearly see desire, hunger, and want in his eyes. She remained perfectly still. “And you can’t come with us. I hope you can find something to do while I’m gone,” she added, suppressing her intensifying passion.

  “Oh, don’t worry about me. But you are not going anywhere right now.”

  “They’re waiting for me to call so they can pick me up,” she said, and tried to get up one more time to run to the shower, but she was unsuccessful. Sebastian’s grip on her tightened and their gazes locked. He suddenly rolled with her in his arms and pulled her eagerly on top of him, his eyes searching her face for a reaction. She drew a tense breath. Her expression was one of shimmering passion, but she remained silent. His hands moved eagerly, caressing her bare skin, filling him with a desperate want. Her breasts were pressed against his chest and he growled, totally intoxicated. He moved his fingers to her lower back and pressed her fervently against him until she nearly stopped breathing. He chuckled with pleasure as his eagerness reached a peak. His mouth found hers and he sighed with deep hunger. It took a short moment and the passion escalated to the ultimate degree of desire. Arielle held her breath practically the entire time. She caressed the planes of his back and felt his hands tightening around her, holding her captive as he pulled her hips tightly against him. She let him devour her lips in his mouth as sensation crashed through her. She was filled with wild anticipation and joy when he suddenly pulled back and looked piercingly into her eyes.

  “Do you want to get up now?” he asked, a chuckle escaping his beautiful lips. He knew he had her exactly where her wanted her. Again he rolled, taking her by surprise, and pinned her beneath him.

  “Mmmm,” he moaned as she shifted underneath him, inviting his next move with vigor and eagerness. He made wild love to her, and she gave into the intoxicating heat of their bodies melding once again. She reached the point of sensual exhilaration, ready to explode into a million pieces. His scent was mind blowing, his body felt hot and soft. Arielle couldn’t believe they could do this over and over again, and every time it would feel like the first time. He was the most exciting man she had ever been with—and the only man she had ever met in a sexual way.

  With a sudden and calculated move, they reached the peak of rapture together, and they both shuddered. She felt numb with exhilaration, not believing that he would
actually be her husband and her lover forever. He rolled off of her, completely spent, and she jumped out of bed. He tried to pull her back again but she escaped his grip, laughing out loud, and ran into the shower.

  “You’ll pay for this later, I promise,” he said, gasping for breath.

  She took a warm shower, then stepped out and wrapped a towel around herself as she went to retrieve her clothes. He was lying in bed, his arms behind his head looking in her direction. His sensuous lips were curved up into that sexy smile of his, and his eyes were full of love and affection, for her and her alone.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to come back to bed and stay here with me?” he asked, grinning invitingly.

  “I’d love to do that, but Christmas is just two days away and I have run out of time to do what I need to do. I love you to death, and I’ll make it up to you, I promise,” she said, chuckling as she began to get dressed.

  As she was dressing, she picked up her phone and dialed Gabrielle’s number.

  “I’m ready,” she said. “You can pick me up at the hotel entrance.” Just as she hung up, her phone rang again. This time it was Paul wanting to verify the time for the party. The next call was from her mother wanting to know when she would be there. And the one after that was from Andrew, asking if they could meet and talk after he came back from Nottingham, where he was spending Christmas. “That will be great Andrew,” she said. “I’m sure we can get together. Call me when you get back.”

  “Thanks, Arielle, have a happy Christmas,” he said. She dropped the phone in her purse and gave Sebastian a sexy smile.

  “Well, are you done with all your admirers?” Sebastian asked, a bemused smile on his face.

  “Oh, stop, they are friends.”

  “Paul is in love with you,” he said. “And many of the guys I met would like to go out with you. I can read their minds, you know.”

  “Well, I can’t tell people how to feel about me,” Arielle said. “All I can do is tell them I’m not available. And I’m ready to show you off tomorrow night to everyone I know.”

  She bent down to give him a kiss and he wrapped his arms around her tightly, pulling her down to him. The kiss was hot and very exciting, but she had to go.

  “I have to go, Sebastian, please don’t make it so hard for me.”

  “I can’t help myself. Every time I set eyes on you I want you,” he said.

  “Well, you have to wait. So please let me go.”

  He kept his arms wrapped around her back, still holding her tight. “Kiss me and tell me that you love only me.”

  She touched his lips softly, whispering in a tender voice, “I love you more than life itself.”

  He smiled and released her. She straightened her shirt and, smiling, walked out the door.

  “Wait!” he shouted. She caught the door before it closed and saw him jump out of bed and go through his jeans pockets. Then he handed her a key to the door. “In case I’m not here when you get back, I want you to wait here for me.”

  “All right,” she said. He kissed her again, and this time she left. She really didn’t want to leave at all, but she had to buy him a Christmas gift. He was the most important person in her life now, and she wanted to make him feel special. He made her so happy.

  By the time she got downstairs, Gabrielle and Eva were there waiting for her. She jumped into the back seat of the car and stretched her hand between the two of them, showing off her ring. They both gasped and screamed at the same time.

  “When did that happen?” they cried.

  “Last night, and it was magical,” Arielle said dreamily. “That’s why I couldn’t call you. I can hardly breathe every time I think about getting married to him. I just can’t believe my luck.”

  “Well, I sure hope I get a ring soon,” Gabrielle said wistfully. “I’ll be very unhappy if I’m left behind.” She sounded a little sad, but Arielle didn’t want to tell her that Troy had already bought a ring for her and was waiting for her birthday to propose.

  “I’m sure Troy will ask when it’s the right time for both of you. I hope you are not doubting him,” Arielle said.

  “No, not at all,” Gabrielle replied, and Arielle knew she was telling the truth.

  They were heading toward Churchill Square Mall in the center of town. Arielle needed to find something special for Sebastian. She and her friends spent the better part of the morning walking from one shop to the other, finally settling on the right one. It was a small bookstore that had a variety of classic first editions.

  Eva and Arielle both were crazy about books, so they spent a little time thumbing through several of them. Gabrielle, on the other hand, seemed to be bored to death, so she walked over to the dress shop next door.

  “So, how did it go with Ian?” Arielle asked Eva with a smile.

  “I love him so much, Arielle. He’s wonderful and he loves me so much. I find him irresistible. Being with him is the most important thing in my life. He’s perfect, and I know that nothing will ever change the way I feel about him.”

  “I am so glad to hear that! I love you both, and it means a lot to me that you’re happy.” Eva hugged her, and smiled with contentment.

  It wasn’t long before Arielle found what she was looking for. It was a first edition of Pride and Prejudice. Sebastian had told her it was his favorite book, so this was going to be one of his Christmas presents. She was almost sure he already had the book, but maybe he didn’t have a first edition. She also purchased a first edition of The Book of Romance by Andrew Lang, who was known for his translations of classical literature. The book was more than a hundred years old. She chuckled with pleasure as she placed the books on the counter and asked to have them gift-wrapped.

  Next, they stopped at the music store. She purchased a few CDs by composers she knew Sebastian loved: Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart, and Felix Mendelssohn.

  Her next stop was a men’s shop. “This is going to be a gamble,” she murmured as she bought a beautiful brown leather jacket she thought would look absolutely stunning with Sebastian’s gorgeous emerald eyes. Pleased with the purchase, she had it boxed and gift wrapped, as she had done with all the other gifts. “Well, I feel pretty good about the choices I made,” she said to Gabrielle, who had rejoined them. Eva and Gabrielle had picked some special gifts for their guys as well, and they were almost finished with their shopping.

  “How about some lunch?” Arielle asked.

  “I still have a few things to buy,” Gabby said, “but I’m hungry.”

  “Me too,” Eva said, and they decided to finish their shopping after lunch.

  They walked to a nice outdoor restaurant, Summer Wind, on Boyce’s Street, a block away from the mall. They were waiting to cross the light at West Street and Boyce when they noticed Sebastian’s car coming down the road, passing right in front of them.

  Arielle was sure that he couldn’t miss seeing the three of them standing there, but he didn’t acknowledge them as he passed by. He just kept driving down the street and made a right turn at the corner, moving out of their view.

  Arielle was utterly stunned. Her heart hammered in her chest, her pulse pounded her veins, and her mind was filled with wild speculations because Sebastian had not been alone. A beautiful, dark-haired girl had been sitting next to him, and they had been so busy talking and laughing that apparently he hadn’t seen her and her friends.

  Nausea churned in the pit of her stomach and she grabbed onto Eva, feeling suddenly lightheaded. Eva and Gabrielle exchanged looks and gazed at Arielle with great concern.

  “Are you all right, Arielle?” Gabrielle asked. But Arielle couldn’t hear what Gabby was saying. Bad thoughts were pounding through her head, crowding out everything else. She couldn’t make any sense at all out of what she had just seen. Who was that girl?

  Sebastian hadn’t said anything about going anywhere when she had left the room. Tears were welling up and bewilderment flushed across her face. Tension rippled through her body. She took a couple of deep breat
hs and asked her friends in a voice that was slightly shaking, “Did you all see what I saw?”

  “Yes,” they answered quietly.

  “Arielle, I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions,” Eva said. “I don’t see anything bad around those two. I’m sure there is a good explanation. Please wait to find out who she is, and don’t make any assumptions.” Eva sounded very sure about what she was saying and Arielle should have trusted her. But she couldn’t erase the picture of the two of them in the car, laughing and talking, so close to each other. The image played itself over and over in her mind, driving her mad.

  Gabrielle took Arielle’s hand and pulled her across the street to a table outside a restaurant with a garden view. They sat down.

  “Could we have some wine, please?’ Eva asked the waiter.

  “I just want water,” Arielle murmured, but when it came she didn’t touch it. It had only been a few minutes but it seemed like centuries to her. I just want to die, she thought. She could hardly breathe; it was hard to hold back the tears. She knew that to feel jealousy like this would kill her, but she couldn’t help herself.

  Gabrielle and Eva were shocked. They weren’t sure what they could say that would make Arielle feel better, so they were mostly quiet. Arielle looked in her bag to find some tissues to wipe her eyes when she heard Gabrielle clear her throat twice in an attempt to get her attention. Then, Arielle realized someone was standing right in front of her.

  “Hello, Sebastian,” both Gabrielle and Eva exclaimed. Her head snapped up and she saw him standing inches away from her, his arm around the same gorgeous girl that she had seen with him in his car.

  He reached down with his free hand and pulled Arielle up, pressing his lips on hers. Then he noticed her tears, and immediately he let go of the girl, taking Arielle into his arms tenderly.

  “Baby, are you hurt?” he asked, nothing but tenderness and love in his eyes.

  “I’m fine,” she whispered, trying to make her voice steady.

  Sebastian looked quizzically at Gabrielle and Eva.

  “What’s going on?” he said. They both just shrugged their shoulders.