Arielle Immortal Quickening (15 page)

“H
i!” she called loudly, making sure that he could hear her over his whistling and the running water. She should be used to Sebastian’s speed by now, but again she found herself completely struck by how fast he could move. He was out of the shower before she had a chance to draw her next breath. He was standing in front of her completely naked, hot steam filling the room. His beautiful sandy hair was dripping water that slid down his muscled body, pooling onto the floor. Her breath held in her throat, as he was more beautiful that a mythical Greek God.

She had never heard the shower door open, and now she yelped as she found herself lifted up and into his arms. His mouth landed on hers, locking them into a kiss full of passion and hunger. Her pulse quickened, and her heart started to beat wildly.
God, will I ever get over his immortal speed?
She shot him a playful look.

“Mmm…I missed you…” he murmured against her lips as he started to walk back into the shower with Arielle in his arms, still fully clothed.

“No…no…not now,” she said, and he stopped. His eyebrows furrowed.

“Why not?” She was so startled she didn’t answer him right away, and he started to walk back into the shower.

“Loren is here; she wants to see you,” she exclaimed with amusement, and he froze in place. He set her down carefully.

“Oh,” it was all he said, looking shocked.

“Look what you’ve done…” she scolded him softly, looking down at her saturated clothes. “I need to change,” she complained, trying to brush the water off of her blouse. “Look at me, I’m completely drenched.” He just smiled.

“I’m sorry, baby, I didn’t know….” He laughed again as he jumped back into the shower, and she heard his beautiful voice.

“I’ll be right out,” he mumbled, still laughing. She couldn’t hold back a jovial laugh just thinking about his boyish looks, his extraordinary appeal, and the immense affection that filled her heart every time she was near him. She took a dry t-shirt and jeans out of the closet and dressed before walking back into the living room. Loren was standing in front of the huge window with a glass of salve in her hand, staring at the ocean and the remarkable cliffs that hovered over the blue waters.

Her immortal abilities let her know that Arielle was standing right behind her. “What a magnificent sight,” she whispered.

“I know,” Arielle said. “It’s absolutely mesmerizing. The view is what sold me on this house, and I know Sebastian feels the same way.” She moved a lot closer, and resting her eyes on Loren’s astonishingly beautiful face, she searched for the right words before she asked the question that had been occupying her thoughts for a very long time.

“When are you going to tell Paul?” she finally said.

Loren stilled, silently meeting Arielle’s gaze. Her bottom lip was caught between her teeth in pure stress, as her hand shook a little making the salve sway inside the glass from one side to the other.

“I’ve tried, but I don’t seem to find the right words. I’m hopelessly in love with him, and I’m scared that the truth will drive him away.”

Arielle hid her smile.
This sounds way too familiar,
she thought and pressed her lips together. She remembered Sebastian’s concern about losing her, and later Troy’s worry about losing Gabby. “You do have to tell him, Loren,” she emphasized. “Paul loves you; he would never leave you. But he should know your true identity.”

Loren stood beside Arielle and listened quietly. Mentally, she was trying to formulate the words in her mind that would soften the blow when she divulged her immortality to Paul.

Arielle gave her a side-glance, and she could almost hear her internal battle. She shook her head in frustration and turned her gaze on Arielle. “I know that Sebastian thinks that I fall in love with every guy I date, but believe me, Arielle, I don’t. I’ve never truly loved any man in my long journey on this earth. Paul has giving a new meaning to my life. He’s like a priceless gift that I don’t want to live without.” A long sigh escaped her, and she held Arielle’s gaze steadily.

“Loren, I understand your fears, but you must tell Paul who you are,” Arielle said once again, emphatically. Looking at Loren at this very moment, she saw Sebastian emotions mirrored on her face. Boring into her eyes, she continued. “Paul and I have talked about this relationship, and I know that Paul’s love for you is unbelievable. Remember, Loren, that even though your undying world can be pretty scary for simple humans like us, we are determined to embrace it, because we can’t live without you.” She stared out the window as she sucked a deep breath. There was a long pause. Loren looked worried; Arielle reached over and took her hand, making her look at her.

“Loren, Paul loves you unconditionally. I’m sure that your true identity will not change the way he feels about you. I’ll be here to support you if you need me,” she said with a soft smile.

Sebastian cleared his throat, and they both turned to find him leaning against the doorframe. A wide smile was spread across his fabulous face.

“How long have you been standing there?” Arielle asked.

“Long enough.” He walked up to Loren and took her in his arms.

“Hi, sis, how have you been?” he asked, and planted a kiss on her cheek, squeezing her tightly and making her giggle.

“I’ve been busy,” Loren replied. “Arielle suggested that I stop by for a little while. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Mind? How could I possibly mind seeing my favorite sister?” Sebastian said. His lips curved into a startling smile. “Remind me to thank you later.” Arielle heard his velvety voice against her ear barely above a whisper. The tone in his voice made her shiver with excitement. She snorted, shaking her head and left the room, letting them spend some time together. She decided to start dinner, so she kept pretty busy until she heard Loren getting ready to leave.

“I’ll ring you later,” she called out. Arielle walked to the door and stood next to Sebastian. He smiled at Loren and put his arm around Arielle’s waist, pulling her closer. She giggled quietly and waved goodbye to Loren.

“I had a great time, Arielle!” Loren called, joyfully. She got into her car and drove off, still smiling. Sebastian pulled Arielle inside and let the front door close behind them. He leaned closer and brushed his lips against her ear, and her breathing accelerated.

“What’s wrong?” he purred, and chuckled with amusement. His voice was smooth, filled with desire, making her shiver. She turned to look at his face, and their eyes locked. His gaze revealed a sizzling emotion ready to erupt at any moment.

“Stop,” she said, softly. Pulling away, she walked back into the kitchen to finish making her dinner. She was making the salad when he walked in and stood right behind her. She giggled as she felt his arms around her waist, pulling her tightly against him. His warm, wet lips pressed against her neck making her knees quiver. Putting down the salad bowl, she twisted around without leaving his embrace to face him. Reaching up, she searched for his lips.

“Mmm…I missed you,” he moaned, and she shivered with anticipation. She could feel the heat of his body, and all she wanted to do was soak in it.

“Me, too,” she whispered. Their lips locked in a fevered kiss. His hands moved underneath her shirt, stroking her back and moving lower to caress her hips. Her body quivered under his touch and ripples of excitement ran across her skin. She breathed in his amazing scent and smiled, thinking how happy she was that a man like him wanted to be with her.

“I love you, Mr. Darcy,” she murmured, against his lips.

“What am I going to do with you?” he muttered, and she chuckled. She hadn’t heard that phrase for over three weeks. She was not surprised to find herself in bed before she could reach her next thought. His immortal speed was still something she was trying to get used to with no success.

“Seriously, Sebastian, you have to stop doing that.” She was now laying on her back, as he pressed her down softly with his warm body.

“I don’t understand what you mean,” he said, and she detected his amusement.

“Your speed makes me dizzy,” she gasped. “And…” Her voice trailed as his lips moved slowly down the column of her throat.

“And, what?” he murmured. His gaze intensified, and she almost lost herself in his eyes.

“I…I didn’t get to prepare my dinner,” she mumbled, “And I’m so hungry.” She forced the words to sound nonchalant through a thick cloud of desire.

“So am I,” he murmured, chuckling.

“You are?” She met his eyes feeling his gaze scorching her face.

“Yes, I’m very hungry
for you
.” His look was one of sheer excitement as he bent down once again and crashed her lips beneath his in a passionate kiss that made her tingle from her head to her toes and spread heat like a tornado across every single fiber of her body. He was an amazing man, and she was happy that he was completely hers. Sebastian released her mouth, and let his ravenous gaze travel leisurely up and down her body. His eyes sparkled with excitement; his lungs locked.

“Mmmm…you are beautiful!” he whispered, and his arms tightened around her. The next couple of hours were filled with rising sensations, mind-blowing pleasure, blistering waves of passion, and thunderous eruptions of bliss. The sobs of ecstasy that escaped her lips stroked the core of his soul making him groan. He purred her name over and over again, capturing her consciousness, her essence, and her soul. They moaned with gratification as they lay breathless, gasping for air, lost in the haze of the aftermath. Sebastian cradled her in his arms, nestling her face in the crook of his arm, and she slid into a serene sleep. Sebastian tilted his head back and peered at her face. Passionate love washed over him; he drew a shuddering breath and grinned. He was happy; Arielle was the most amazing woman he had ever been with. Their love encounters were unbelievable. He pressed a tender kiss on her forehead, and resting back on his pillow, he closed his eyes.

It was twilight when she decided to get up and finish her dinner. She knew he was not going to have anything to eat, but she was starving.

She lifted her head from the pillow, and turning slowly, she gazed into Sebastian’s beautiful face. He seemed to be deep in sleep. His eyes were closed, and he was breathing quietly. She let her gaze drink him in and grinned blissfully as she followed the rise and fall of his magnificent, masculine, bare chest. She shook her head trying to put aside her cravings, and gently she eased away from his embrace. She edged herself close to the side of the bed, and just as she tried to sit up, his hands fastened about her waist and he pulled her back into bed.

“Where do you think you are going?” he murmured.

She yelped, startled. “I was going to get something to eat,” she whispered, as she tried again to pull away from his steal embrace. He released her reluctantly, and he immediately felt the loss of her warmth. He groaned in frustration, struggling to fight his desire to pull her back into his arms where she belonged. Suppressing the need, he just watched her as she got out of bed, and he drew in a sharp breath.

Pushing her hair away from her face, she looked down at Sebastian, and their gaze locked. She lost her train of thought, and nearly turned around and jumped back into bed, but at the last minute, she changed her mind. Pursing her lips together, she turned and walked into the shower, closing the door behind her, letting a loud sigh escape her. She heard him chuckle just before she turned the water on, and leaning against the tile wall, she remained motionless. The first warm drops hit her skin, and she quivered at the sensation. She wet her hair. Massaging a small amount of shampoo into her scalp, she let her emotions whirl wildly. She thought of how much his love had changed her life.
I don’t deserve to be this happy,
she thought as she washed her face. She would never understand how he chose her over the vast amount of perfect women in his immortal world. She dragged in a deep breath and exhaled, shaking her head. It was a while later that she realized she had been standing unmoving under the water, lost in thought about Sebastian’s world that she couldn’t grasp.

She stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her, and she picked up the hairdryer. She looked into the mirror, and she was startled to find the man of her thoughts leaning against the doorframe, watching her blow dry her hair. Her gaze swept over Sebastian’s unclothed, shockingly beautiful body. Heat emanated in her stomach and spread across her skin like fire. The sight of him was quite distracting. His eyes were electric and fervent, and it was wrapped all around her. She groaned quietly and forced the feeling of desire back down her throat.

She finished drying her hair, and when she turned around, he hadn’t moved an inch. He was still watching her with the same hunger in his eyes. She walked toward him, a wide smile spread across her face. His arms reached out and wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him. The towel dropped onto the floor, and their bodies melted into each other. Arielle threw her arms around his neck, and he moaned with eagerness. His hands stroked her naked body, and their lips locked in a passionate kiss that made her world shudder about her. He deepened the kiss, and she gasped, pressing herself even closer. She parted her lips, and he slid his tongue inside the warmth of her mouth. The sweetness of her mouth sent a delightful sensation deep into his bones. Sebastian groaned as he felt her relaxing in his embraces, and he lifted her in his arms.

She broke the kiss reluctantly and pushed against his chest softly. He let out a soft gasp, and she noticed curiosity lingering in his eyes.

“What’s wrong?” he moaned, tightening his hold on her.

“Please, put me down,” she murmured, “I’m hungry.”

“Mmmm… so am I,” he said.

“Stop it you are always hungry,” she scolded him tenderly. He sighed aloud and put her down. Stepping aside, he let her walk past him. She picked up a clean t-shirt and a pair of shorts and went into the kitchen. She prepared a plate of spaghetti, and, as usual, she was the only one eating tonight. She heard the water running in the shower as she picked up a book and took a seat at the kitchen table. Eating and reading at the same time was something that she enjoyed immensely. She took a couple bites, pulled the book even closer to the plate, and opened it.