Arielle Immortal Quickening (18 page)

She lifted her head slowly; he was grinning, waiting for a reply. “I told her that I wasn’t an expert about the immortal desires; however, I was completely aware of your limitless needs.” He reached over, putting his finger under her chin. He lifted her face to meet his narrowed eyes.

“Are you saying that I want you more than I should?”

She swallowed hard. “Jeeze, Sebastian. Yes…that’s exactly what I’m saying; however, I didn’t say that I don’t like it.” She took his hand away from her chin and placed it over her heart.

“Can you feel my heartbeat going wild?” she asked, watching him carefully.

“Yes,” he moaned, quietly.

“Sebastian, you are the only person on this earth that can elevate my heartbeat. But your needs seem astounding to a person like me.” She tried to enunciate each and every word. He switched his gaze from the road to her, and his eyes scrutinized her face.

“Do you want me to change?” he murmured, piercing through her eyes.

“No…I don’t want you to change a single thing about you. I love you just as you are, and for whom you are.” She took a quick breath, and she noticed a flash of relief spread across his face.

“However, I do have a question,” she said.

“Anything,” he replied, as he pulled up to a red light and stopped.

“Does the fact that you have an unending desire for me come from being an immortal, or something else?”

“Arielle…I don’t know exactly how it works,” he replied, frustration etching his face. He leaned in and kissed her quickly as the light turned green, and he pushed on the gas.

“I never felt the same desire about any other woman. I just don’t seem to be able to keep my hands off of you. I know I want you every moment of every day, and I would absolutely go out of my mind if I couldn’t have you.” He exhaled deeply keeping his eyes on the road. “It’s a lot more than just sexual desire. It’s the endless and passionate love I hold for you. I’m also sure that being an immortal makes the passion and the need stronger, limitless, vigorous, and unrelenting.” His frustration was evident.

She let out an audible sigh and leaned in, searching for his lips. He moved the car slowly to the side of the road and stopped. He locked them into a passionate kiss. Drawing back a fraction, enough for her to feel his lips clinging to hers, he moved in again with the same passion as she was struggling to catch her breath.

“What are you doing to me?” he murmured, frustrated, without breaking the kiss, his moan full of his yearning for her. She broke the kiss and chuckled. He was amazing. He was sexy, and her tension soared, thinking that he was all hers.

“Sebastian, you have to admit that you have limitless needs,” she murmured. He nodded in agreement as he pushed on the gas and merged back into the traffic. He fell quiet through the rest of the ride home as he kept his gaze fixed on the road and his hand on the wheel. She couldn’t tell if he was trying to cool off or if something else was going on. She could hear him sigh several times, taking deep breathes in between. He pulled into the garage and came around to open her door. Stepping out of the car, she smiled wide and fell into his arms.

His arms snaked around her waist, and drawing her closer, his hands stroked her back gently. Her heart raced. Sliding her hands around his neck, she snuggled even closer, savoring the sanctuary of his embrace. His lips brushed against her ear, and his tongue moved from her lobe down to her jaw, across her collarbone, and settled back on her lips. His fingers tightened around her back. Tilting his head, he deepened the kiss, sending ripples of heat sensation across her skin.

He lifted his head and breathed. “Do you want me to stop?”

His breath was warm against her skin, his expression fraught. “I don’t want to push myself on you, Arielle.” He then pulled back and, without warning, his hands dropped to his side. Her knees gave in, and the floor shifted underneath her feet. If not for the car door, she would’ve collapsed onto the floor. She swayed back and forth, trying desperately to hold herself upright. She saw a flash of satisfaction cross his eyes, but it disappeared just as fast as it came.

His gaze left her face, and turning away, he walked into the house, never looking back. Arielle stayed frozen, holding on to the car door, completely numb, searching her mind for answers.
What in bloody hell was that for?
Tears welled up, realizing that he had done that on purpose. He was obviously upset with her, but why? She swallowed hard, pushing back the lump that was climbing slowly up her throat. She closed the car door and walked into the house.

What in the bloody hell?
She felt moisture on her face and tasted the familiar salty flavor on her lips. She walked into the bedroom, shut the door behind her, and threw herself on the bed. Her mind was spinning; her body was feeling the aching need for his touch. The emotions of rejection and unfulfilled passion were overwhelming. She closed her eyes and tried desperately to recall details of her conversation with Sebastian. She was completely baffled as to what was so bloody bad, that had him so distraught?

When she opened her eyes, the room was completely dark except for the vague light from the digital clock on the nightstand. The eerie quietness of the house was deafening. She tried to think and realized that somewhere in the midst of her thoughts, she had fallen asleep. She wasn’t sure for how long, but she knew that she needed to get herself out of bed. Suddenly, a single thought made her body stiffen. Sebastian! Where was Sebastian? She tried to listen for any noise, but there was absolute silence. Her eyes stung and her face was aching. She reached up and pressed her eyes softly with her palms and felt moisture.
Oh, my God, I’ve been crying in my sleep,
she thought, surprised. She wiped her eyes and pressed her hands hard against her cheeks, trying to wake up. She had to find Sebastian.

She jumped out of bed, heart thrashing, blood racing, anxiety rising. She flipped the light switch so fast that its brightness blinded her. She reached up, and she cupped her hands over her eyes and waited for a couple of minutes. She wondered where he was and why he was so upset with her. She tried to remember if she had said something that hurt his feelings, but she was sure she hadn’t.

She slipped on a camisole and walked into the kitchen. The house was illuminated by a gorgeous full moon that nestled right in the middle of a lucid gray sky. She took a bottle of water out of the fridge and spotted his silhouette sitting on a bench in the garden, staring out towards the ocean. She couldn’t believe that he had been out there all this time. She took a swig of water and made her way outside, stopping right in front of him. She was determined to get this issue resolved.

“Hi…” she said softly. He raised his gaze to meet hers. He wasn’t smiling, and she could sense sadness that was spread across his beautiful face. She reached and cupped his face, locking her gaze with his.

“What’s wrong, baby? Why are you so mad at me?” Her voice was cracking as her heart was breaking. He continued to watch her silently.

“Sebastian, I love you; you are hurting me with your silence,” she whispered. “I don’t know what I did to make you so upset. I need for you to tell me.” She let go of his face. Taking a deep breath, she sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. He didn’t put his arms around her, he remained quiet, unmoved.

“Please… talk to me,” she pleaded again. She heard him sigh, and his beautiful velvety voice caressed her ears.

“Arielle, I think that you are tired of me, and I’m devastated,” he murmured. She cleared her throat, lifted his chin and leaned in. Her tongue circled his mouth, and parting his lips, she pressed in with clear hunger, passion and want. Her hands caressed the planes of his back, pulling him closer, and her kiss became hotter as her heart picked up speed.

“I love you, Darcy,” she murmured, without breaking the kiss.

“I need you right now.” It took but a short second, and she felt his arms encircling her and pulling her even closer. She heard him moan, and she felt his excitement, and she knew she wanted him more than she ever did before.

“Are you sure?” His voice was completely out of breath.

She reached to the back of her neck and unclipped the necklace, as his eyes watched closely.

“You tell me,” she whispered, her lips curved up in a smile full of desire and her eyes filled with longing and anticipation.

She yelped, overwhelmed by his speed. He had risen to his feet with Arielle in his arms, taking her breath away. She found herself on their bed before she could take her next breath. His eyes were intense, his gaze sweltering against her skin, and his smile a perfect conductor of heat. His arms were securely fastened around her body, and her heart was pounding in her chest like a hammer. His mouth was hot and wet, and she could taste his immortal sweet scent. He groaned as their bodies merged together, and she moaned imploringly as his body was pure stimulation. This time, she took over and made him cry out. She looked at his face, and his eyes were closed tightly as his expression showed intense satisfaction. She reached for his mouth, and his tongue tasted like honey. The climax was pure ecstasy that traveled through their bodies at supersonic velocity and created frantic ripples of scorching heat as their lips remained locked in fulfillment.

“How could you ever think that I had a problem with this?” She chuckled, his arms still holding her tightly against his amazing body. His lips curved up to that familiar smile, and she felt complete. His next statement caught her by surprise.

“Arielle, I’m worried that you’ll change your mind, and you’ll not marry me. I’m warning you that I’ll never let that happen. You have accepted my ring, and you have made a commitment.”

“Seriously, Sebastian, what is going on with you tonight? Why would I ever change my mind? I love you!”

“I’m warning you…Lizzy.” The smile never left his face.

“If you were not smiling, I would think you were serious.” She rolled on her back and stretched, and she laughed thinking how unbelievably wild her life had turned out to be. The most astonishing-looking man jealous of her… She chuckled, pulling herself closer to his glorious body. She was unable to sleep any other way but enfolded in his arms. He held her just like he did every night before they drifted off to sleep.

The next few days, they focused, preparing for the upcoming classes. She tried to grasp the reality of a last semester
.
Why did they even bother to prepare? Conceptually, they had been ready for this for the past four years.

This was the last semester before commencement, before they received their bachelor’s degrees!
How wild is that?
But having the end result within their grasp was an adrenaline rush of enormous proportions.

This last week, spending quality time with Gabby was part of their daily activities. They were delighted to see her looking better and better with each day that went by. Troy spent every possible moment he could with Gabrielle. Arielle and Sebastian spent a couple of amazing evenings with Eva, Ian, Loren, and Paul. They went out to some of their favorite restaurants for dinner, saw a couple new films, and visited their usual nightclubs. This was something they hadn’t done in a very long time. They wanted to have a little fun before they buckled down.
At least I have to buckle down to get through the last semester. Not Sebastian,
she thought. The gang was thrilled to be together again, but they did miss Troy and Gabby. They all agreed to wait for Gabrielle to completely heal before they dropped the bomb on her about Eva and Ian’s transformation.

A soft kiss, a warm squeeze, and a velvety voice were her alarm clock on the first day of school. She turned to her side to face him. Her eyes met a warm deep emerald gaze, and a striking smile.

“Good morning, sleepy face,” he greeted, pressing his lips to hers, gently. She stretched sluggishly and sighed as his arms slipped underneath her back, pulling her closer to his warm body.

“Good morning, Darcy,” she moaned, moving into him, and she heard him sigh. He leaned in and kissed her again, this time longer and with passion. She pulled back gently, and their gaze locked. Her heartbeat elevated, and every thought in her head came to a screeching stop. She just wanted to stay in his arms forever.

“We need to get moving; you don’t want to be late on the first day back to class, do you?” he murmured, still kissing her.

“Okay.” She stretched her arms above her head, still holding him to that kiss and moaned provocatively, pressing her body firmly against his.

“Arielle, seriously, you need to get up.” She pulled back reluctantly, keeping a frown on her face. Getting out of bed, she walked slowly toward the bathroom. She heard him chuckle with satisfaction. She stopped moving and drawing a deep breath, she turned to face him. He was still sitting on the bed naked, looking gorgeous, hands resting palms down on the bed.

Desire was clear in his eyes, lighting them from beneath. Her heart skipped a beat at the way his lips were parted, waiting for hers to meet them. The surge of heat burned her skin and caused parts of her body to tingle in anticipation. Only a second passed before she sprinted back to him. Jumping onto the bed, she threw herself against him, pushing him flat to the bed.

Her movement shocked Sebastian, but he quickly recovered. The laugh he shouted to the room assured her that she’d made the right decision as he lifted her off the bed. The speed with which he moved left her breathless. His immortal reflexes were beyond the ability of human sense to comprehend.

Before she could blink, she stood in the shower alone, water running, totally stunned. She gulped a mouthful of air, and she stood very still trying to recover. She could still hear his hearty laughter in the bedroom and pursed her lips, wishing that she had a bit more control over her emotions. Fifteen minutes later, she walked out of the shower and put on a pair of jeans and light blue silk blouse. She dried her hair quickly and pulled it up into a ponytail. She took a last look in the mirror and stepped out of the bedroom.

She walked into the kitchen. While she’d been showering, he’d dressed in a pair of jeans that defined his perfection and a light green shirt that highlighted his emerald eyes. He was holding two pieces of buttered toast in his hands and a great big smile that made her weak in the knees. He set the toast on a plate, pulling her so close that her breath hitched. His tongue parted her lips, claiming what he was sure was his.