Arielle Immortal Passion (28 page)

“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 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 streets 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.

He looked at her and pulled her close, to press his lips on hers. It was the end of another magical day as they sat on the balcony, 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 was saying. There was more talk from Troy and she could see Sebastian nodding his head in agreement. Now, 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 now 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
Arielle Immortal Rapture
series,
Arielle: The Bewilderment
. (Coming soon!)

     Arielle stood still. The room seemed to lose its brightness and the air became extremely thick. She tried to inhale, but she couldn’t get any air into her lungs. Her heart was pounding inside her chest painfully. She felt faint. She raised her hand to her throat gasping, trying to breathe, but the fear in her brain was deeply rooted and held her like a vise. She shut her eyes tightly and pressed her lips together, as a stony silence fell in the room. Sebastian didn’t press her, giving her time to collect her thoughts. She felt lost, as helplessness draped over her emotions like a heavy curtain. She was still as she absorbed his last words.

“There has been a terrible accident…” Sebastian had said. His voice had been soft and composed, with a hint of wretchedness. The words didn’t seem to register because she couldn’t accept bad news about any person she loved. Her head throbbed, her nerves were on full alert, and she literally felt sick from fear and uneasiness. Her knees buckled underneath her and she practically collapsed on the bed, drowning in a sea of intensity and emotional instability. She fell back on the bed, rolled over, and buried her face in the pillow.

Sebastian sat beside her on the bed and ran his hand tenderly up and down her back. He was quiet, waiting for her to say something. Finally, she turned around and rested her eyes on his beautiful face. She noticed a flash of anguish crossing his eyes, and was afraid to hear what he was about to tell her. She was sure that her face was full of despair.

She was trembled. Her misery didn’t escape Sebastian. He pushed his arms underneath 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 again, unable to speak. She was afraid to ask any questions, knowing that she was determined to block any bad information from entering her head.

“Arielle, please, I don’t like to see you this way. You need to hear what I have to say,” he said, his voice velvety soft.

About the Author

Lilian Roberts was born in Athens. Greece. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, and their two golden retrievers. She is an avid reader and loves to read novels that feature characters draped in passion, mystery, and adventure. She is especially fascinated with the concept of immortality.
Arielle: Immortal Awakening
and
Arielle Immortal Seduction
are her two first volumes in the Immortal Rapture series of romance thrillers.
Arielle: Immortal Passion
is the third in the series. She is now working on completing the fourth volume.

Contact Information

Website:
www.lilianroberts.com

http://twitter.com/Lilian3roberts