Arielle Immortal Journey (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 5) (14 page)

“Eva, do you know that your looks are breathtaking?” Gabrielle asked, holding a warm smile across her face. She couldn’t stop staring at Eva.

“I know… I know…” Eva chuckled. “Ian and I gaze in the mirror every day and we can’t believe the faces that are staring back at us. They are stunningly beautiful, and it’s very hard to get used to that.” Eva swallowed hard, but continued. “I can tell you one thing, we’re completely happy with our destiny.”

“So, you are immortals,” Gabrielle said.

“Yes, and we are fine with that, nothing has changed, Gabrielle, amazingly enough we feel normal, but I know we are not.”

“Well, I’m still shocked, but I’m getting used to the crazy world
of immortality. I’m thrilled that I still have my best friend, and remind me to thank Troy for that,” she chuckled again, her tone
implying how she would thank Troy. The girls smiled.

“I love you, Gabby, and if I could cry I would be crying right now,” Eva said, aching sadness in her voice.

“Do you still have the ability to see the future, to summon the dead, and to do all those weird spells you used to do?”

“I can still see the future, and my premonitions are actually much stronger than they used to be. However, I can’t summon the dead. My assumption is that I lost that ability since in terms of being human I’m really dead.”

Eva paused. “It all sounds pretty creepy. But to tell you the truth, I’m happy to be here with my best friends, and to know that I’ll be with Ian for eternity.”

“I wonder if Loren has tried to talk to Paul?” Gabrielle asked.

“I doubt it,” Arielle said in a firm voice. “Loren and I talk, and she has not mentioned it. I believe it would be the right thing to do though.” Arielle was happy to see Gabrielle relaxing. She said to her, “Do you realize that you, Paul, and I are the only ones in our group that don’t have everlasting life.” Arielle chuckled under her breath. “What a concept?”

Gabrielle just smiled, not knowing what to say.

It was twilight when they left the beach, holding hands just as
they did when they were little girls. Arielle was so thankful for the
extraordinary gift of a friendship that was unshakable even in the face of immortality.

She got home before dusk and made herself a sandwich. She
turned the music low and took a magazine into the kitchen. She sat at the table and thumbed through the magazine looking at the beautiful new fashions. She heard the garage door and before long
Sebastian walked into the kitchen, the sight filling her soul with pleasure.

“Hey, baby.” His musical voice made her heart skip a beat. His lips were curved into a stunning smile, causing Arielle to fall apart. He pulled her up and wrapped her in his arms so tightly that she stopped breathing.

“Did you miss me?”

“I can’t breathe without you.” Arielle laughed at the irony. She reached up and clenched her fingers in his hair, pulling him down to
her until their lips met in a blistering kiss. He groaned and slammed his
eyes shut. His hands lightly stroked her back, and she moaned
blissfully.

“This is the kind of welcome that men dream about,” he purred into her mouth.

Arielle smiled wide. She simply adored sharing her life with
Sebastian. He was like a safe full of treasures. She seemed to find
something new, something incredibly different and magical that took her breath away every day since the first moment she set eyes on him.
How could that be even possible?
she asked herself. He was incredible, and she was irrevocably in love with him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her for another
kiss.

“Have I told you that I love you?” she asked, gazing in his eyes.

“No, not in the last few minutes, but I’m expecting you to show me shortly.” She cocked an eyebrow, and gasped in surprise as he scooped her up in his arms and headed to the bedroom. His pleasant laughter reverberated in her ears and she smiled.

Chapter 11

MAKING LOVE WITH HIM
was something she would never tire of and never fully understand, though she couldn't explain why. He was amazing. Their encounters were beyond scorching, they were blazing hot.

While in the shower, he asked, “What did you do today?”

“I went with Gabby to Eva’s house, and the three of us took a walk on the beach. We spent quite some time together just as we did when we were young girls.” She laughed. Joyful memories flashed through her thoughts. His arms were wrapped around her holding her against him with their faces almost touching.

“Did you talk about me?” His lips brushed against hers.

“Your name did come up, but it wasn’t the most important part,” she murmured against his lips.

“Then, what was the most important part of your conversation?” he asked, his lips never leaving hers.

“I would have to say that the most important part was when Gabrielle found out about Ian's and Eva’s immortality.”

He stilled, and then pushed her away gently, holding her at
arm’s length. His eyes rested on hers.

“You told her?” He sounded shocked.

“Yes, and she took it quite well. This is what happens when we
become familiar with your amazing undying world,” she said, trying to keep a straight face.

“Oh, that’s wonderful, I know Troy will be extremely pleased.”

“Oh, trust me,” she said, suppressing a giggle, “I know for a fact that he’ll be utterly and exhaustively pleased.” Arielle broke out in a hearty laugh.

“What do you mean?” He looked startled with her reaction. Arielle went on to explain, still laughing.

“Gabrielle is going to thank him in a very special way for
keeping her best friend alive. The kind of thank you that he’ll receive from
Gabrielle will make him wish he had kept a couple more people alive.” Sebastian was now the one to break into laughter. He pulled
her back into his arms and crushed her lips beneath his.

“Arielle, you have no idea how happy you make me,” Sebastian said. “I love every moment that I spend with you, I love your happy
laughter, your incredible voice...” he said as he moved closer. His hands were on her backside sliding down and pulling her against
him. She moaned with pleasure and caressed the planes of his back, aching to merge into him. Her tongue traced his jaw line and pressed softly at the hollow of his throat, making him groan in bliss. She could feel ripples of excitement travel through his skin, and she fell
apart as his arms touched and caressed every part of her body. Getting out of the shower, he wrapped her in a large bath towel and carried her to bed. She felt completely exhausted but more in love
with him than
ever before. He encircled her in his arms just as he did every night, and she could hear him moan in satisfaction as she drifted off to sleep.

It was Saturday morning of the week before Arielle’s birthday, and the room was still dark when her phone rang, sending her flying out of bed, scrambling to get to it before it woke up Sebastian.

“Hello,” she whispered as she walked out of the bedroom and closed the door behind her.

“Arielle, it’s Loren, did I wake you up?”

“No, no, what’s up?” She asked trying to suppress a yawn.

“Something happened yesterday evening and my life is a total chaos. I have been up pacing the floors unable to sleep, and unable
to think about anything but my stupid mistake. How can I be so
careless?” Loren’s voice was despondent.

“What did you do?” Arielle asked.

“Oh, Arielle, Paul and I were to meet at a restaurant yesterday evening, and the agreement was that whoever arrived first would reserve a table. I was running late, and had to park a little distance from the entrance because there was no valet parking. All I was
thinking about was Paul. My mind was overwhelmed with
excitement by the mere thought of him. I forgot myself and moved a little faster than I should have trying to get there quicker. Paul was standing at the entrance waiting for me. He saw my car pulling up so he had zeroed in on me, and he didn’t miss any part of it.” She was gasping in total panic.

“Oh, God, I think I understand… but tell me what happened,” Arielle said. She knew exactly what Paul saw, and she was sure that he freaked out completely. She was familiar with immortal speed, and even she was still startled every time Sebastian used it. Loren’s miserable voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

“I saw him and I froze. He wanted to know how I did it and
there was no way I could explain. I tried to make light of it, but he kept coming back to the same issue. All night, he looked bothered by the whole thing.” Her voice quivered.

“So, what happened?” Arielle pressed on.

“I tried to tell him that he was mistaken, but he didn’t buy it.”

“I’m sure of that,” Arielle said.
Paul is very intelligent. He is not going to let it go,
Arielle thought. “What did he say?”

“He told me not to bother denying it. He needed some kind of explanation as he knew he was not crazy.”

“What else did he say?”

“He told me that I was freaking him out.” Loren sighed deeply.

“Oh, my, how did you get out of it?”

“I didn’t, I promised him that I would explain everything today. He agreed to drop the subject reluctantly, but he seemed quite upset by the time we left the restaurant.”

“Are you going to do what I’m thinking?”

“I don’t think I have a choice, I have to tell him now. But I’m
scared to death. I’m afraid that I’m going to lose him, and that will be the worst thing that could ever happen to me.”

Arielle was sure that if Loren could cry she would be sobbing right now.

“I am deeply in love with him,” she continued. “I know you’re his best friend. Arielle, you’re also my sister now and I need you… Can you please help me?” Her voice was breaking, causing Arielle to experience a pang of compassion.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Can you call him and talk to him, please?” Loren pleaded.

“Loren, I’m not going to do this alone,” Arielle said. “I truly believe that you should tell him yourself. I’ll be there to support you,
but you have to tell him.” Arielle knew that this was the right thing to do.

“Oh, Arielle, I don’t have a problem telling him, but I don’t think I can take the rejection.” Her voice was pitiful.

“How do you know he’ll reject you?” Arielle asked. “Loren, I know that he’s madly in love with you.”

“How do you know that?”

Arielle didn’t want to spoil Paul’s surprise, but under these circumstances she found it absolutely necessary, so she went for it.

“I didn’t want to tell you this, but he is planning to propose, and I can assure you he’s one of the most sincere people I know. He has told me that he is hopelessly in love with you. He would never reject
you, I can promise you that.” Arielle heard a soft sigh. She
continued. “I’ll call him and set up a meeting. What time is good for you?” she asked Loren.

“Anytime you choose will be good for me.” Loren sounded anxious.

“Why don’t you come here around three, and I’ll ask Paul to come at two. I’ll have time to discuss a few things with him, and
prepare him
for the shock of his life.” Arielle chuckled, trying to make light of
things, and she heard Loren’s soft laughter.

“Is my brother going to be there?”

“No, Sebastian will be playing golf.”

“Thanks, Arielle,” Loren whispered. “I’ll see you at three.” The
call ended, and Arielle cleared her throat. Much to her relief, this
would be the last of the disclosures within the group.

Arielle set the phone on the kitchen counter and stood in silence for a short moment. She shook her head and walked back into the bedroom mumbling under her breath. Sebastian was lying on the bed with his arms behind his head, watching her closely with his lips slightly parted. He looked like a Greek god with nothing on but that soft smile on his luscious lips. She jumped on the bed and threw herself on top of him, making him laugh out loud. His arms moved faster than she could see and wrapped around her waist holding her
captive. She was happy to remain his prisoner for as long as he
wanted her to be. His lips found hers, and his kiss was soft, warm, inviting.

“I love you,” he whispered without breaking the kiss.

“Mmm… me too,” she murmured. Her hands held his face to hers.

“You are simply gorgeous,” she breathed into his mouth, eyes
fixed on his flawless face. He laughed and squeezed her tighter,
making her giggle with excitement.

“Who was on the phone?”

“Oh, God, Sebastian, you won’t believe this. It was your sister.”

“Something wrong?”

“No, not really…” She chuckled.

“Go on.”