Arielle Immortal Journey (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 5) (25 page)

“I’m hungry,” she finally said. “I’m going to get up and fix
myself something to eat. Would you like something?”

“No, thank you, baby, I’m not hungry. I’ll just keep you
company,” he said smiling. Arielle got out of bed slowly. She walked over to the window and gazed out silently. The ocean looked like a huge sheet
of silver glass as the moonbeams burst like millions of butterflies
across
the water. She leaned against the glass, and drank in the beauty
before her eyes.

She felt Sebastian's arms wrap around her. She leaned back into the circle of his embrace, resting her head against his chest.

Sebastian's breath hitched. Bending down, he buried his face in her beautiful hair. He lost himself in the intoxicating warmth of Arielle’s love. It touched his very core. He felt ecstatic every time she
was in his arms. He could never have enough of her. When he gazed into her eyes he couldn’t draw enough air in his lungs to function normally.

He smiled wide as he thought of life’s irony. Before Arielle, his life was filled with unhappiness and insignificance. He thought it would be a dreadfully long eternity. Now, Arielle was in his life and everything had changed. He was happy, loved, and looking forward to a life with her forever by his side. She had slanted his world on its axis by simply loving him.

Arielle turned around to face him without leaving his embrace. She cupped his face and she took his mouth in a passionate kiss.

“I love you,” she breathed into the kiss.

His arms tightened around her. “I adore you,” he replied, and crushed her lips beneath his. “I thought you were hungry?” he said, chuckling.

“I was headed to the kitchen when I stopped to look out of the
window. The view took my breath away, and I forgot all about
food,”
she said, and giggled. Leaving his embrace, she walked out of the
bedroom, and Sebastian followed.

Arielle put a couple of pieces of bread in the toaster. She gave Sebastian a sexy smile, and walking to the fridge she took out three
pieces of bacon, a slice of cheese, and a tomato. Sebastian watched her.
Arielle laughed cheerfully. Sebastian always enjoyed watching her prepare something to eat, and it must be showing on his face, he thought.

Arielle cooked the bacon and sliced the tomato. She slathered butter on the toasted bread, arranged the bacon on one side, and added the cheese with the tomato slices. She put the sandwich on a plate and sliced it in half diagonally. She picked up the plate in one hand and a glass of milk with the other, and then sat at the table. She picked up half of the sandwich and sunk her teeth into it. Sebastian hadn’t moved a muscle. He watched, fascinated.

“What?” she asked, with a mouthful.

Sebastian burst out laughing. “You fascinate me,” he said. He poured a glass of salve and sat across from her. “Did you have a good time at the meeting?”

“Yes,” she replied. Her gaze became uneasy; she pressed her lips together as her fingers pulverized the piece of sandwich she held. Sebastian noticed, and his gaze turned penetrating as he curiously waited for her to speak. A strange look flashed across her face, causing Sebastian to jump to his feet. Walking around the table he sat next to her and removed the bread from her grip. He took both of her hands in his and probed deep into her eyes.

“Arielle, what’s wrong? Did something happen? You seemed worried.”

Her eyes roamed his face for a long time, and after an excessive span of silence, she said, “I think that I’m being silly, but the leader of the secret society makes me a bit nervous.”

“Oh, how so?”

“Well, I thought it was quite strange the way he looked at me, and the length of time that his gaze lingered. I had this amazing
feeling that we had met somewhere, but I couldn’t recall, and I still don’t.” She stopped talking for a short moment.

“Did he talk to you?”

“Yes, we did talk, and that was even more bizarre. He said he thought that we met somewhere in the past, but he couldn’t recall. Then suddenly he was absolutely sure that we had met because he said that my eyes were memorable. How strange is that?” Sebastian shivered at her words. He recalled that her eyes had been a big mystery to him when they first met. He had been sure that he had seen her eyes before, but he couldn’t recall either.

“So what happened?”

“Um…he said that by our next meeting he would remember exactly where we met. But that is not the strangest thing that happened.”

“What’s really bothering you?”

“Sebastian, I’m sure he was willing me to be attracted to him. I felt strange emotions stir inside of me. I don’t have those emotions
for any person on this earth but you.” Moisture appeared at the
corners of her eyes. Sebastian stiffened; he felt his jaw clench.

“What’s his name?”

“Brandon Burgejion.” A slow smile spread across Sebastian’s
face. “What’s so funny?” Puzzlement colored her voice.

Sebastian laughed loudly and drawing her closer, he said, “I
think Brandon was trying to pick you up.”

“What?” Arielle’s voice hitched. “Why would you ever think
that?” Arielle stared in amazement.

“Well, I recognize Brandon’s style.”

“You know him?”

“Brandon was Marcus’s best friend.”

“Marcus, as in your brother?” Her lips parted in surprise.

“Yes, Brandon spent more time in our house than he did in his own.” Sebastian got a distant look in his eyes as if remembering. He smiled broadly and chuckled. “He and Marcus were inseparable. He was devastated by Marcus' loss, and stood by my side through the
terrible ordeal. After I had left Annabel, I ran into Brandon and
found out that he was an immortal. He had an affair with Annabel, and she gave him immortality against his will. He was filled with hatred and hunted her down for years and years, but he never found her. We spent a lot of time together exchanging stories, and traveling around the world. It was in the mid-eighteen hundreds that we lost touch.” He winced a little, sadness flickering in his eyes.

“I would love to see him again,” he said, and shook his head.

Arielle fumbled with her hair. “So, does that mean that you
don’t have a problem with a friend of yours trying to pick me up?”

Sebastian blinked in dismay. “I hope you don’t mean that. I would never allow another guy to touch you but, Arielle, Brandon is a great guy. He would never do anything to hurt you or a friend. I’m sure he doesn’t know that we are engaged. How could I blame a man for trying to pick you up? You are gorgeous.”

Arielle humphed and rolled her eyes, making Sebastian laugh once again.

“Did you tell him that you were my fiancée?” He leaned closer and brushed his lips against her cheek.

“No, it didn’t come up,” she mumbled.

“Well, then tell him when you see him next. I’m sure you’ll see a totally different person.” Arielle was speechless. He shifted his face
and covered her mouth, driving her into sheer bliss.

Arielle finished her dinner and rose to her feet. Sebastian
followed her, and leaning against the counter he took the plate out of her hand and set it in the sink. Spreading his legs he drew her into the “V” of his thighs, and wrapped his arms around her.

“Tell me that you love me,” he breathed against her lips.

Arielle gazed deeply into that emerald ocean of his eyes and felt the floor shift beneath her. He kissed her gently and she groaned. He lifted his head and smiled wide.

“Wha–”

He bent down again and her words were lost against his sizzling mouth. She closed her eyes and surrendered. He held her to that kiss
for a long time, but she didn’t object. Arielle felt him lift his head
away but she kept her eyes closed and enjoyed being lost in the warmth of
his steely embrace. As she lifted her eyelids unhurriedly, his lips
curved into an amazing smile.

“Did you want to say something before I kissed you?” Before she had a chance to reply, her phone rang. Reluctantly, she pushed away from his blistering embrace, and picked up her phone.

“Hello.”

“Hi, Arielle, is this a bad time?” Arielle sent a warm look in Sebastian’s direction and moving away, she replied, “Hi, Eva, no, not at all.”

“So, how was it? I have been wanting to call you for a while, but it was hard to get away from Ian, if you know what I mean.” She laughed out loud.

“I know exactly what you mean, I have the same issue here with
Sebastian,” she said, giggling. She threw another quick look in Sebastian’s direction. He arched his eyebrows inquisitively. She
giggled again and walked away, trying to calm her nerves.

“The meeting was amazing but guess what? Olivia arranged for
you to come with me to the followup meetings. The head of the assembly will help us advance our ability to communicate
telepathically. Would you be interested?”

“Yes, I’d love to do that. I thought that it was against the rules to have an outsider attend.”

“Olivia has a lot of influence in that place. She also knows that we are more than friends. We’re family,” she said firmly.

“Yes, we are, and I can hardly wait,” Eva said excitedly.

“Great. I’ll give you the schedule next time we see each other.”

“Okay, see you later.”

Arielle smiled and shut the phone. She turned to face Sebastian and barreled right into him. She was surprised as he put his arms around her and picked her up.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m carrying you to bed.”

“No, I have things to do.”

“All right then, I’ll go to bed alone.” He set her back down, and gathering her close, he took her mouth in a warm kiss.

“Stop that,” she said breathlessly. “I know what you’re trying to do, and it will not work. I have homework.”

Sebastian laughed gleefully. “I have no idea what you are talking about,” he said and released her. He walked into the
bedroom. Relief washed over her, knowing that if he had stayed a few more minutes, she would have given in to his endless desire. Arielle heard his soft laughter and smiled. She walked into the study and sat in front of
the computer. Three hours passed and she finally finished her
homework. She decided to make some notes into her journal.

October 14th

I am back once again in these blank pages to chat about the bizarre situations that have invaded my world since the last time we talked. You
would think that I should be used to shocking events, which keep occurring more often than I want them to ever since I met Sebastian, but somehow I am not.

I found out that Colt Allworth, my professor, and his two colleagues at
the university are immortals. I am beginning to ask myself if Gabrielle, Paul, and I are the only humans left in Brighton.

Allworth along with another immortal, Brandon Burgejion, are the heads of the Veneti Society. He knew that I was not a member, so he was
very curious as to how I came to wear the amulet Olivia gave me for
protection. It was quite unnerving for a while. I hated going to class with Allworth, but in the end it all worked out. He found out the truth and he is pleasant every time we see each other.

Gabrielle was told about Eva and Ian gaining immortality, and at first she freaked out, but she finally came to see that it was better to have them here instead of buried.

Gabby, Eva, and I also told Paul about Loren’s immortality and I think he was very close to throwing up, especially when we followed up with the immortality of Troy, Sebastian, Eva, and Ian. It took him a long time to recover, but it all worked out as well. He still adores Loren and is planning to propose on Christmas.

I have a stalker at school. His name is Christian. I didn’t meet him or talk to him, but I overheard someone calling him by that name. He seems to
be everywhere I go. I am a bit freaked out about that but nobody else,
including
Sebastian, seems to be worried about his presence. I do find that quite
strange since I know how overprotective Sebastian is about my well-being.

Olivia and I attended an assembly at the secret society's headquarters where I met Brandon Burgejion. He is absolutely gorgeous. At the assembly, he seemed to study me with great interest. It made me uncomfortable and quite puzzled. After the meeting we were finally introduced and he told me that he was sure we had met somewhere before. How strange is that? I know that I have never met him and I have never seen him in Sebastian’s or his parents' circle.

In any case, we had to drop the subject since neither one of us could
remember such a meeting. I have made a commitment to attend the next meeting with all the new members, and I’m bringing Eva with me! I’m so excited about that. Eva and I are looking forward to a better understanding of the amulet's powers. We'd also like to find out a clear explanation of the symbols and the cryptographs in the little black book. When I know more I will come back and put all of it in your pages.

Oh, one more thing, Annabel has not shown her ugly self in Brighton in quite a while, and I am absolutely thrilled.

Closing her journal, she put in her desk drawer and went to get ready for bed. Sebastian was still awake, lying on his back on the crisp white sheets with his arms behind his head, watching the telly. He looked magnificent. Her mouth went dry as she let her gaze roam
the length of him. His lips curved, and her world fell apart. She
sucked
in a deep breath. Yanking her eyes away, she walked into the
bathroom.

When she came out, he hadn’t moved an inch. He turned to look at her, and his eyes followed her until she climbed into bed. She lay
next to him and draped her hand over his bare chest. Her legs
wound around him. His arms moved fast, and with a soft groan he gathered her into a tight embrace. He crushed her lips beneath his. Her body
fused to his, and his gaze watched the passion in her eyes. Arielle surrendered once again into the sizzling pleasure, letting him love
her
witless. Ecstasy enveloped them like a drug that altered their consciousness and overpowered their emotions.