Arielle Immortal Passion (23 page)

“Let’s go back to the cars,” he said, his voice discouraged for once.

As they walked along, a cool breeze blew on their faces. The conversation took a lighter turn as they talked about the success in getting rid of Annabel’s monstrous friends. They broke out into a joyful laughter, all except Sebastian.

“Four out of five is not such a bad result, Sebastian,” Ian chuckled.

“You’re right, Ian, but I do wish one of the four had been Annabel. You have no idea how bad she really is.”

“I think we all wish that. But it didn’t happen yet, and we need to move on. I’m sure it will happen one of these days. In the meantime, we’ll all look out for Arielle. She’ll be fine, don’t worry,” Troy said.

“The irony is that Annabel was the target, and we ended up killing everyone else. She’s so completely wicked, and I’m really worried about Arielle. She’s the most important person in my life. I couldn’t be in this world if she wasn’t with me.” He chuckled miserably, knowing how true that statement was, and raked his fingers through his hair. His eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched as silence stretched and disappointment lingered in the air. He gazed out into the familiar wide space, thinking of his beautiful girl.

It was a beautiful morning in St. Jean de Luz; the sunlight was bright, making the fields look greener. The breeze blew just the right way, filling their nostrils with the wonderful smell of the fresh grass. Ian put his hand on Sebastian’s shoulder and said, “When I was growing up, I used to take off my shoes and walk on the grass. It is said that walking on the grass in the early morning hours is good for the soul—e specially if you want to revitalize hope and a sense of purpose in your life.”

Sebastian smiled as he remembered another person, the girl that gave meaning to his life, telling him the same thing while they were walking in the park on Christmas Eve. He took off his shoes, and so did all the other guys, curiously. The moment his bare feet touched the grass Sebastian could have sworn that the tension left his body. He smiled softly, feeling once again at ease.

“What else did you learn growing up?” Sebastian asked, amused.

“Well, my father always told me that if I tried to see optimism and truth in everything, no matter how insignificant, my ability to face and deal with my problems should become much better.”

“Your father is a wise man,” Sebastian said. “Sometimes I have a hard time controlling my feelings where Arielle is concerned. I have to admit, it’s hard to see the optimism in this situation. I wanted the problem with Annabel to go away, and after all the work we’ve done, she’s still there. It’s very frustrating. I’m having a hard time accepting the fact that I didn’t make a good sweep of the passages in the mausoleum.”

“It’ll all work out, Sebastian, try to stay positive. We are all here for you and we will have a final solution one of these days,” Antonius said. He remembered all the time he had spent looking for Giovanna, and how it had finally come to an end under completely unexpected circumstances.

They were close to the wooded area now that had concealed their cars and were content that their adventure had ended well. They were all alive and Ian was unharmed. The drive to the house was filled with animated discussion about what had taken place back at the cemetery. Sebastian’s friends enthusiastically engaged in an attempt to uplift his spirits. When they arrived at the house, they helped themselves to some cold salve while Ian enjoyed a beer. They decided to spend the rest of the day horseback riding. Riding was an obsession for the immortals, but it was very acceptable to Ian as well.

The next day, Sebastian, Troy, and Ian returned to Brighton. Their friends would stay behind to enjoy some time at St. Jean de Luz. The weather was fantastic, the beaches were warm and inviting, the house was wonderful, and the local girls were very pretty, and very willing to party with them. They did promise to visit Brighton in the near future.

Sebastian and his friends boarded the flight, happy to be going home. Gabrielle, Eva, and Arielle were going to pick them up at the airport and they couldn’t wait.

“Sebastian, thank you so much,” Ian said sincerely, as they settled into their seats.

“For what?” Sebastian asked, raising a brow.

“This trip was unforgettable. Eva and I had a great time.”

“It was my pleasure,” Sebastian replied.

“Your place is great,” Troy added. “Gabrielle spent hours in front of the bedroom window just gazing at the cliffs. And I must say, the views are amazing.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever forget the excitement,” Ian chuckled, meaningfully. Glancing between Troy and Sebastian he added, “Your friends are really nice. I don’t think I could pick better friends. I’d say you both are very lucky to be surrounded by that bunch.” He held a permanent grin on his face. Troy and Sebastian laughed out loud at his expression.

They had formed a wonderful friendship between the three of them. They settled back into their seats, happy that soon they would be reunited with their girls.

Chapter 17

I
t wasn’t long before they walked out through the baggage claim doors at the Brighton airport and three beautiful girls fell into their arms, holding them tightly. Their faces beamed with happiness. After warm and passionate exchanges all around, they said their goodbyes to each other, and walked to their cars smiling.

Sebastian put his luggage and the big package he was carrying into the car, and reached for Arielle. He put his arm around her waist, drew her to him, and set his lips on hers.

“I missed you baby,” he whispered, fervently. He kept one arm wrapped around her as with the other he opened the passenger door.

“I missed you too,” she said. She sank into his embrace and her lips pressed the curve of his jaw, slowly moving her mouth gently until their lips met again.

“Mmmm… you did miss me,” he purred. Arielle chuckled and pulled away from him.

“What’s in the large package?”

“The painting I had made for you.”

Arielle’s eyes glittered with excitement. “Oh, Sebastian, thank you so much for remembering! I want to put it up in our house.”

“Yes, I remembered you saying that.”

Holding the passenger door open, he bent down and pressed his hungry lips on hers one more time. “I love you so much!”

A passionate surge of lust coursed through every fiber of her body as she hung onto his embrace. Sebastian let her go reluctantly and she watched him walk, with his exquisite grace around the car, and get in on the driver’s side. His eyes rested on her face lovingly, and heat raced through her veins. He was not trying to dazzle her, but looking into his beautiful green eyes, she could have sworn that he looked both troubled and bewildered.

“What is it?” she asked.

He stared out the window while he started to talk about what had taken place since the girls had left. Arielle listened carefully to every word, a serious look on her face.

“So, she is still out there?” she finally asked, her voice quivering.

“Yes, but she probably won’t come anywhere near us for a while. In the meantime, there are eight of us now looking actively for her in all the places she is known to visit.”

The other cars were now out of sight. They drove the rest of the way in silence as he reached over and held her hand. He seemed so disappointed and so upset that it broke her heart. She reached over, caressed the side of his face, and ran her fingers softly over his lips. She smiled, and leaning over, kissed him gently on the cheek.

“I love you so much,” she whispered softly in his ear. They didn’t say another word until they were home. He held the door for her and helped her out of the car. He opened the trunk, took the painting out, and set it against the wall. He then turned and lifted the suitcase with one hand, and shut the trunk with the other. Arielle stood in front of him and gazed into his eyes.

“Welcome home, my love,” she said with a wonderfully happy smile. Reaching up on her toes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and set her lips softly on his sensuous lips. He dropped his suitcase, and winded his arms around her, pulling her tightly against him. His kiss was hungry, passionate, and fervent. She felt heated anticipation and heard him moan softly with desire. They just held each other in a heated embrace, savoring the moment.

“I am so happy to be here with you, that’s all I’ve been thinking about since you left.”

“You sure don’t show it,” Arielle teased.

“Why would you think that?” he asked quizzically.

“You were quiet all the way home,” she said feigning a frown.

“I’m sorry, darling, I’ve been so frustrated with missing the opportunity to get rid of Annabel! It’s a bit hard to think of anything else, even how much I miss you.”

“There will be another time for that, Sebastian. Right now it’s our time. I don’t want Annabel to interfere with us when we are together. This is the time we’ve planned for a long time and we should enjoy it.”

“As usual, you’re right,” he agreed, chuckling.

He brought the luggage and the package inside the house. He shut the door behind them, picked her up, and strode purposefully to the bedroom. He threw her on the bed and lay down next to her. He cradled her in his arms and held her tight as he whispered, “You are the very air that I breathe. You are the center of my universe.”

She smiled with pleasure because she didn’t know if she should shout ecstatically or cry from happiness. This was her dream come true, and she was still having difficulty accepting that she was actually living that dream. His fingers were touching her lightly, giving her maddening pleasure, making her moan with desire for him.

“I can’t live without you,” she murmured. “I need you near me to feel complete.” She ran her fingers gently down his chest over his t-shirt and he groaned with delight. He propped himself on his elbow and, looking down on her, grinned blissfully.

“What?” she said playfully.

“I want you out of your clothes. Do you need help?” he said, still grinning.

She tugged on his t-shirt. “What about your clothes?”

“I’ll help you with yours if you help me with mine.” His lips curved. Clothes came off with fierce speed, and then she was on her back, skin against skin. His mouth came down on hers with intensity, and seared them both, sending sweltering heat across every fiber of their bodies. Her lips parted and his tongue found its way into the softness of her mouth. She shifted beneath him and his control vanished. Her breasts brushed against his chest and his jaw locked. Drawing a sharp breath, he found her mouth once again, and the kiss deepened until blazing flames coursed and burned every thought they had, sending them into a higher orbit. Their limbs locked and waves of ecstasy traveled through them, spreading delightful sensation through their veins. His hands moved and cupped her breasts, kneading them softly, and she stopped breathing.

Her hands skated over the planes of his back, her fingers dug deep into his muscles. He growled with anticipation. He entered her with a burning passion and hissed through his teeth at the magnificent sensation that enveloped him. He looked into her eyes as he brought them into a sumptuous, delightful peak of the ultimate thrill.

Afterward, he gathered her in his arms and kissed her fervently, leaving her breathless once again. Breaking the kiss, she placed her head on his shoulder and he rested his chin on her head, nuzzling her hair. They slept peacefully for a while and awoke to see a magical twilight falling upon the earth.

She was so happy to open her eyes and see his beautiful face right next to hers. His lips were curved into that amazing smile that she considered his special gift to her. They stayed in each other’s arms, enjoying simply being together. Arielle had been aching for two days to feel his warm naked body against hers, to feel his lips moving against hers. “You’re my miracle, my beautiful dream,” she whispered, snuggling even closer to him, sighing in contentment. He smiled and encircled her tightly in his embrace, sending sweltering pleasure through her.

“I love you, Arielle,” he whispered in his velvety voice, and she giggled with sheer elation. She closed her eyes and felt drunk with exhilaration.
He’s going to be mine for the rest of my life!
she thought. She couldn’t imagine greater happiness.

Getting ready for classes consumed most of Arielle’s time for the rest of the week. They went out with their friends, sometimes including Paul and Loren. They dined at a couple of new restaurants and saw a new film. Arielle went shopping with Eva, Gabrielle, and Loren while Sebastian traveled to London to arrange his schedule. “I’m not sure how he’s going to do it, with both school and work. But he’s the boss, so I guess he will work it out,” she told her friends.

Sebastian had enrolled in the same courses as Arielle so that he could be with her as much as possible. She was pleased about this except for the fact that he was so much smarter than she was. It would be a huge challenge for her to keep up with him.
He can read everyone’s mind, and he’ll be very aware of what the professors are thinking
, she thought.
How can I compete with that?
She was determined to make it on her own without his help. When it came to school, Arielle was very independent. She liked to test her mind at the highest level. Having Sebastian in her classes would certainly help her to do that.

Finally Monday morning arrived, and a new phase in their lives began.

Their first class was at 10:00. They arrived early enough to find the classroom and get seated. The calculus professor was a short, bald man by the name of Mr. Brannon. He called out each name in the auditorium and proceeded with the lecture without asking any questions or requiring any input from students. Sebastian appeared aloof and uninterested, but then she knew that he already knew everything about every subject. She looked at him and smiled as she started to take notes, paying close attention to the lecture.

Sebastian never took a single note in any of the classes, not trig, not geometry, not algebra. He mostly doodled and daydreamed during lectures. Arielle. on the other hand, had to study hard every night while he listened to music or watched telly in the other room. They had already agreed that he was not to help her; she wanted to study on her own. And though she fought her feelings, she was pretty annoyed with the situation by the end of the first week. She had to remind herself that Sebastian was there only because he wanted to be with her.

Sebastian was surprised to discover what a wide circle of friends Arielle, Eva, and Gabrielle had at school. They accepted both him and Loren with warmth and open hearts. He was a bit jealous of Arielle’s male friends, but she made sure he knew that he was the most important person in her life. After classes, they would often have a beer with friends before turning to homework. On some of the weekends, they allowed themselves to party.

The routine was steady for the next six weeks. It was Arielle’s senior year and she had to work really hard to do well. Her classes were difficult and she put in a lot of studying time for every test and in every class.

Every day when they got home Arielle studied, and at night she went right to bed, completely exhausted, falling instantly asleep. It seemed that school had taken over her personal life and she had forgotten about her beautiful dream. She was insecure about her ability to handle school as well as Sebastian did. She started to get frustrated, and it was difficult to overcome her jealousy, silly as she knew it was.

One night she was in her office studying for the next day’s test when she heard a door close. “Sebastian?” she called out, but there was no reply. She listened for the sound for the telly or music, but the house was quiet. She got up and walked around the house calling for him, but he was nowhere to be found. Her curiosity increased.
Maybe he’s in the backyard,
she thought. Many nights he would sit out there enjoying the quiet while she studied, but he wasn’t there either. She ran to the garage and found his car gone. A pang shook her. She stood there in shock. Sebastian had never done anything like this before. He had never left the house without letting her know he was going. Where had he gone?

She felt stunned and anxious. There was a dull, heavy ache in her chest. Her mind went into overdrive. “What had she done? When was the last time she told him she loved him? When was the last time they had made love?
Oh my God! What have I done?
she thought.
Is he gone?
All these questions flooded her mind. She was drowning in distress. Tears blinded her as she picked up her phone and pushed his number. It went immediately to voice mail. She called again and again. It went to voice mail the hundred times she called him.
This isn’t like him at all,
she thought. In a panic she called Gabrielle.

“What is it Arielle, you sound upset. What’s wrong?”

“Is Sebastian there?”

“No, why would he be here without you?”

“Gabrielle, I’m going out of my mind!”

“What happened?”

“I think I’ve driven Sebastian away, he is gone…” she wailed, and started to cry huge wracking sobs of despair.

“Arielle, what happened?” Troy said. He had taken the phone from Gabrielle.

“I’ve messed up big time,” she sobbed uncontrollably as she went through the details of her activities over the course of the semester. “I forgot all about him,” she said. “I was so jealous of the way he breezed through the courses, while I was working so hard just to catch up. I think I’ve lost him and I’m dev-as-ta-ted,” she sobbed. “I know I have an overactive imagination, but I think I’ve driven him away, and I can’t breathe, knowing that he’s not here.” Unable to speak anymore, she continued to sob.