Arielle Immortal Seduction (25 page)

“I love you, Sebastian,” she whispered, lost in the heat of his embrace.

“Can you forget about this incident and go back in the house, or do you want to go home?” he asked, softly. “I wouldn’t mind taking you home.”

“No, we don’t need to go home. This is your mother’s party, and I’m not going to allow any impudent female to drive me away,” she said stubbornly. “I can forget about her and about every other gorgeous woman that comes looking for you,” she said, giving him a meaningful look.

“Loving you has made incidents like this one just a way of life for me,” she chuckled bitterly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for another hot kiss. She was hungry for his touch, eager for the feel of him.

“I want you, Arielle Lloyd,” he said, their lips still locked in ravenous kiss. His hands stroked her back. She moaned, and as she did, he nearly lost control. The heat of her body was intoxicating. The wonderful fragrance of freesia in her hair drove him wild.

“We need to go in, before we lose control,” she chuckled, flashing him a brilliant smile.

“I love you, baby,” he murmured. They pulled themselves together and with great effort, she climbed the steps to the veranda and walked right back through the wide open balcony doors with the man she loved by her side.

As they reentered the room, he put his arms around her and pulled her close to his body. “You are not going to dance with anyone but me tonight,” he said. “I’ve seen the looks in their eyes, and I know what they are thinking. I’m not letting you out of my sight. As you can see, I’m more jealous of you than you are of me.”

“You don’t have to be jealous of me. I don’t want anyone but you.”

Arielle closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of whirling around the room in Sebastian’s arms. I wondered why Sylvia seemed angry when he kissed me, she thought. She felt a strange anxiety taking over again as she thought about how many beautiful girls he had been with, wondering how many she would have to worry about.

She heard his voice soft and tender. “I’m going to remove that necklace from you. I can’t stand the feeling of not being able to read your mind.”

“Most of the time, I’m thinking about you, so you don’t have to worry about that,” she laughed. “I would like to know, though, about all these women that seem to want to kiss you and hug you and get as close to you as possible.”

“I don’t give a damn about any of them. They are of no importance to me. What they think and what they want is their business, not mine.” His voice sounded a little angry.

Arielle was pleased, but she didn’t want him to think that she would give in so quickly, especially now that he couldn’t read her mind. He gave her a squeeze and she stopped breathing.

“I can’t breathe!” she gasped.

He pressed his lips on hers, hard and passionate. “Tell me that you love me before I lose my mind.”

She was quiet while a smile touched her lips. He squeezed her a little harder, and she began to fear that he would break her ribs, so she answered quickly, breathlessly.

“Okay, I love you,” she said with a giggle.

“I’ve noticed that many of these people, talk, and act, as if they are still in another era,” she added, chuckling.

“Well, in a way they are,” Sebastian said. “Remember, we were all born and raised centuries ago, and it is hard to lose everything that is part of you. Time moves on, but sadly enough we remain unmoved.”

Arielle had to agree that he was right once again.

“Let’s dance,” he said and pulled her onto the dance floor. She was becoming lost in thought, safely enfolded in his embrace, moving to the sound of a mesmerizing melody.

“May I cut in?” The velvety voice came from directly behind Arielle, and caused her to snap out of her haze. Opening her eyes, she looked up and met Sebastian’s eyes. He was smiling wide. Slowly, unwillingly, he let her go. Turning around, she came face to face with one of the most strikingly handsome men she had ever seen. He was immaculately dressed. His eyes pierced right through her very soul. She heard Sebastian’s soft chuckle.

“Arielle, I’d like you to meet my father, Christian Dillon,” Sebastian said. Her mouth dropped, and her eyes widened. “Dad, this is my fiancée, Miss Arielle Lloyd.”

“Arielle, it’s a pleasure,” Mr. Dillon said, and he gave Arielle a soft hug. His eyes lingered on her as he pulled back and turned to Sebastian. “How are you, my boy?” he said. “I haven’t seen you for over a month.”

“I’m good, Dad,” Sebastian said. “I’ve been quite busy with IIRL.”

“Yes, I heard about the issues you have been having from your mother. How are you doing with that?”

“Everything is under control,” Sebastian replied, politely.

“I was sure you could handle it,” he said, patting Sebastian on the back. “I’m very proud of you. He turned his attention back to Arielle.

“Would you like to dance with me, dear?”

By then, Arielle had been able to collect her thoughts. She smiled shyly, and said, “I would love to.” Moving away from Sebastian, she took Mr. Dillon’s hand.

He was an amazing dancer. It didn’t take long before they were moving effortlessly around the dance floor.

“I’m pleased to see Sebastian so happy,” he said quietly. She looked up, and met his gaze nervously.

“Oh, I don’t know about that.”

“I’m sure you’re the reason, and I thank you for that,” he said, an appreciative look on his face.

“I think you’re giving me too much credit,” she said. “Sebastian is an amazing man, I can’t think of a woman who wouldn’t like to be in my shoes.” Some would even like to kill me to get me out of the way, she thought.

She saw his lips lift. He was silent for the remainder of the song.

I guess he already knows a lot about me through Sebastian, Loren, and their mother, she thought. She couldn’t believe how comfortable she felt with him. He was a wonderful man.

When the song was over, he brought her back to where Sebastian was waiting. “Thank you, Sebastian,” he said. “She’s lovely, and I couldn’t be happier for you.”

“Please come back and visit us,” he said to Arielle, as he turned and walked away.

“That was interesting,” Sebastian said.

“What do you mean?”

“My father rarely leaves his friends and their discussions about horse racing—their one and only passion. Whatever my mother told him about you must have intrigued him, and made him eager to meet you.”.

“Well, I hope that I didn’t disappointed him,” Arielle said.

“Oh, I doubt that.” He pulled her back into his arms and into a sensuous kiss.

They danced all night and had a wonderful time. When it was time to go, Mrs. Dillon embraced Arielle warmly and Loren promised to call her soon. They drove home talking about the night happily. Sebastian held her hand and seemed exuberant.

“You were the best looking girl in the whole place,” he said, more than once.

“Please don’t say that. Those women all looked like paintings. They were perfect.”

“Arielle, those women look like that because they are immortals. You however, are a natural beauty, and each one of them would give their life to be what you are, human.”

Arielle didn’t say anything. She sat in silence the rest of the way home. Sebastian kept looking at her but didn’t press her to talk. It was very late when they got into bed and he pulled her into his arms eagerly. He found her mouth and kissed her, assuring her that she had nothing to worry about.

It was late the next day when they left to go to her parents’ house for dinner. The following day, the Lloyds would be leaving for four weeks. Arielle wanted to make sure that they would let her know how they were getting along from time to time. She was a little worried about them being gone for so long because of her father’s incident with his heart the year before.

They had a wonderful time together, talking about the holiday parties and about her parents’ upcoming trip. As they were leaving, Arielle hugged her parents tightly.

“Please drop us a text now and then and let us know how things are going.”

“Don’t worry, dear, we’ll keep in touch,” her mother said with a soft smile.

“Sebastian, dear boy,” her father said, putting his arm on Sebastian’s shoulder. “Please take care of my little girl.”

“It’ll be a sheer pleasure to look after Arielle,” he said, flashing one of his brilliant smiles. He shook her father’s hand firmly, and gave a warm hug to her mother.

On the way home Sebastian reached for her hand, as he always did.

“I’m worried about my father,” she whispered. Sebastian pressed her hand tenderly. He understood her concern.

“What is it that you would like to do?”

“I just don’t feel that long trips are good for him,” she said thoughtfully.

“I know what you mean,” Sebastian said. “But I think it’d be a big mistake if you tried to stop him from living and doing the things he wants to do. That would most certainly drive him to an early grave.”

Arielle pursed her lips and turning, gazed at his beautiful face. “I know that you’re right again, once again,” she said. “I love you so much, Sebastian,” she said, and leaning in she gave him a soft peck on the cheek.

Chapter 21

T
he next week rolled by quickly. Saturday Gabrielle’s engagement party, and Arielle was really looking forward to that. Troy had chosen to hold the party at Sotherbees, one of Brighton’s finest restaurants.

Finally, the day had arrived, and it was time to prepare. Arielle took her necklace off and jumped into the shower. She let the warm water run over her body, and the heat made her skin tingle. She closed her eyes, and suddenly the words spoken by Julia and Savanna came into her mind. He is not your white and shiny knight. He is the dark prince that leaves broken dreams on the way to his kingdom. His style is a little, peculiar, you might say. He doesn’t like to hang on to women for too long. He dates them and then leaves them when he has had enough. She pursed her lips and tried to push the thought from her head.
I should know better, I shouldn’t doubt him
, she thought.

But what if what they had said were true? What if he did just satisfy his desires and then left her, just as he had done with all those other women who were so much more beautiful than she was?

He’s so perfect, so absolutely gorgeous. Why would he ever fall in love with someone like me?
she thought, her eyes welling up with tears. She pressed her lips together in distress. I don’t think I could live without him anymore, she thought. Losing him would be the worst thing that could ever happen to me. The love she felt for him, the affection she held in her heart, was real. The mere thought of him was enough to make her body go taut with exhilaration.

She was still in deep thought as she turned the water off and reached for the towel. She was startled to see him standing there, disappointment spread across his beautiful face.

“So… is that what you think of me?”

Instinctively she moved her hand up to her neck, even though she already knew the necklace wasn’t there.

“Do you really believe that I’m here to use you and then leave you?”

Her eyes were moist, and all she could do was press her lips together.

“Is this what you’re looking for?” He raised his hand, her necklace dangling from his index finger. She reached out to take it, but he pulled it back out of her reach. “So, all this time you have never believed or trusted a single thing I’ve said to you?” There was clear displeasure in his voice. She didn’t reply as she reached out again, and taking the necklace from him put it back on and clasped it.

“Arielle, I have read your mind and you can’t take this information back. How could you ever doubt that I love you?”

She shrugged her shoulders like a child, helpless to answer.

“I told you a long time ago that you were going to be my wife. There is no man on this earth that wants to marry a girl more that I want to marry you. I have never asked another woman to marry me, and I have never told another woman that I love her. You are everything to me.”

Totally embarrassed, Arielle looked down at her feet, at a loss for words. Now he knew about her petty jealousies, and all the silly things in her head. She wasn’t sure how to answer his question.

“Arielle, look at me, please.”

“I can’t.”

Sebastian put the towel around her and pulled her into his arms, forcing her face to look at his face. Her hair was dripping onto her shoulders and getting his shirt wet, and her eyes were full of tears. He picked her up and carried her to bed, as if she was a doll.

“Now, you can stay quiet and not say a word, but eventually you will have to say something. I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you.” He looked determined, and she knew she would have to say something.

“It’s just that you are so perfect,” she said, finally. “I find it hard to believe that you could really want me to be with you forever.”

“Well, you are correct about one thing. I don’t want you with me forever, I want you with me for eternity,” he said, bending down and kissing her.

“Sebastian, you have to admit that it’s very hard for a simple human to accept that someone like you, who can have any gorgeous woman in your immortal world, has chosen to be with me. And though I want nothing more than to believe you, and mostly I do, sometimes the things those horrible women have said to me about you come back to haunt me, and I begin to lose faith again.”

“Well, you’ll have to accept the fact of my love for you because I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you. You have already agreed to marry me, and I’m going to hold you to that promise.”

“But how will this ever work? I’ll get old and you will stay young. I’ll eventually die, while you will stay alive for centuries to come.” She was now sobbing.

“I’ll never let you die, I made that promise before. Why don’t you just trust in me? You are not going anywhere. You are staying with me for eternity.”

The tears were rolling down her face. Sebastian reached over and pushed the hair out of her face. With his finger he pulled her chin up so that he could look in her eyes.

“Arielle, you have to stop crying, I can’t bear to see you like this. Why don’t you come and talk to me when you have worries like this? I can’t live without you, I’m sure I’ve told you that before many times.” He paused, and after thinking for a moment, added, “I’m guessing that insecurity has to be a human emotion. But really, you have to start trusting me. Don’t let things worry you so. Can you do that for me? Please?”

“Yes,” she said reluctantly. “I mean… I hope I can.”

“You don’t sound very sure about that, Arielle. Do you promise to trust me?”

“Yes, I promise,” she said, cautiously lifting her eyes to meet his.

“Tell me that you love me and I’ll let you go get ready. I hope your realize how hard it is for me to let you get out of this bed with just that little towel wrapped around you,” he added, laughing softly.

She took a deep breath and looked directly into his eyes. She reached over and pulled him close as her lips met his in a warm, fervent kiss. “I love you more than life,” she whispered, and he moaned with pleasure.

The restaurant was beautiful and the food was fantastic. Arielle watched Sebastian try the meal. He ate very little but he did have a couple of drinks. After dinner, Troy stood up and turned Gabrielle’s chair around as he got onto his knee and asked her to marry him. She cried, and so did Eva and Arielle. The ring was beautiful, and Gabrielle’s face was an amazing sight. She sparkled from happiness. When their lips were locked in a passionate kiss, Sebastian reached over and took Arielle’s hand. His lips were hardly moving, but she could read in them the words “I love you.” She smiled and pressed his hand softly. Everyone was jubilant, and they drank champagne to their happiness. The guys were busy talking about various things, as the girls admired the ring. After wishing Gabrielle and Troy happiness for their engagement, they left the restaurant.

When they got to the car, Sebastian opened the passenger door for Arielle and held it for her as his sensuous lips pressed hers softly in a luscious kiss.

“You are a great friend, and Gabrielle loves you more than you will ever know,” he said.

“Oh, but I do know. I know much more that you think I do,” she said softly.

“What do you mean by that?” he said, giving her a quizzical look.

“I… I,” she started to say, but immediately she stopped.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

But he wasn’t going to let it go. “What did you want to say?”

“Sebastian, I’ve a terrible secret that I’ve been keeping since I was very young from everyone, including my best friends. The only person that knows is my father. I always thought that you knew about it since you could read my mind, but you’ve never said anything about it.”

“Now, you have my undivided attention,” he said, looking at her intently.

“Tell me the truth, have you not seen anything different about me at all?”

“Honestly, Arielle, I’ve no idea what you are talking about.”

“I find that hard to believe but, oh well.”

“Is it something you can share with me now?”

She slipped into the passenger seat while he walked around the car, never taking his eyes off of her. She could see the curiosity on his face. He was sitting next to her in no time at all. He took her hand as he always did, only this time he was watching her carefully.

“What’s the secret? Out with it now…” he said gently but firmly.

“I can hear people’s thoughts,” she said in a barely audible voice.

His body went rigid and his eyes displayed extreme shock.

“What!”

“I said, I can hear people’s thoughts. Well, not everyone’s. There are some people that I can’t hear at all, but most of the people I meet, I know what they think or feel or desire. I can hear people’s pain and anguish. And I hate it.”

Sebastian’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”

“Yes, that’s one dreadful gift that I’ve never shared, like I said even with my best friends, or anyone else. Only my father, and now you.”

He was still looking at her, astonished. “Can you read my thoughts?”

“No, I can’t hear anything from you or any immortal, so you don’t have to worry about me finding out your secrets. You are safe.”

“I don’t have any secrets from you, Arielle. I’m just curious.”

“I have set a place in my head that I call the special place, and that’s where I put all the thoughts that come in uninvited. I have learned through the years to depress the noise because sometimes it drives me crazy.”

Sebastian looked puzzled. “I just can’t understand how I could have missed something like that. I never saw anything in your mind but your thoughts and your desires. That’s unbelievable. Well, maybe I’m not as gifted as I thought,” he chuckled. “I don’t think I have ever met any human with such an ability, or anything even close to it. That’s pretty bizarre. I knew there was something very special about you. I just didn’t know what.”

“Gabrielle and Ian are two of the people that belong to that special group in my head. Eva’s thoughts are mostly clear to me, but sometimes they are clouded and I can’t hear anything. The reason for that is… okay are you ready for this?”

“What?” He gave her a curious look, wondering what revelation could possibly be next.

“Eva has special powers as well. She has visions and premonitions, and she can see things in the future.”

He looked thunderstruck. “I just can’t believe what I am hearing.”

“Eva was the one that warned me every time one of your crazy ladies showed up, ready to do away with me.”

“Oh, my gosh, that’s just unbelievable.” He was looking out the windshield, a stunned look on his face.

“So, you can read people’s thoughts, and Eva can see the future.”

“Yes, that is just about it. I can read their thoughts and that is why I know they are my very best friends. They really truly love me, and I trust them with my life. You look shocked.”

“I’m trying to understand how I missed this,” he said, completely baffled.

“One of these days I’ll have to tell them. I’ll have to come clean because I hate keeping secrets. I want them to love me even though I can clearly read their minds,” Arielle said. She already felt a bit unburdened being able to discuss this with him.

“They have been your friends for all these years, they’ll understand.”

“I’m not so sure about that. If one of them could read my mind I would like to know,” she said, tears welling up and spilling onto her face.

He reached over and wiped the tears from her cheeks tenderly with his thumb.

“Would you not forgive them?”

“I suppose I would, but I’d be pretty disappointed that they didn’t come clean sooner. They’ll be afraid to be close to me, knowing that their private thoughts are completely exposed. That’s the reason I kept it a secret for so long. I don’t want them to think I’m a freak.”

“I don’t think you are making the right assumption. They’re your best friends.”

“And now Gabrielle and I have another secret, your immortality. It’s so hard to explain, and how will Eva or Ian ever understand that?”

“But you yourself could see inside their heads, so you knew how they felt about you. Why did you not trust them?”

Arielle was silent because she knew he was right. There was no good reason for her to have kept this knowledge from her friends. She should have trusted them to love her no matter what.