“Tomorrow is going to be another exhausting day of calculus and chemistry,” she said with a deep sigh. “Not for you though. You never worry about classes. I have not seen you open a book since we started school, and look at you! You are on top of the Dean’s List. Ugh,” she snorted, shaking her head in disbelief.
Sebastian listened quietly while Arielle went on about classes and his ability to breeze through every subject effortlessly. She finally stopped talking and turned to look at him.
His brow furrowed as he considered her for a moment and drank her in. He held her gaze. “Arielle, I have spent a long, miserable life with nothing but time on my hands. I have attended hundreds of universities and took multitudes of courses. After all these years—or should I say centuries?—I could teach any of these courses without thinking. I am sure you would feel the same way were you in my shoes.” Pressing a quick peck on her lips, he continued, “I don’t care about the classes, and I don’t care about the school. All I care about is being close to you. Now is that so bad?”
He pulled her toward the house again. “I love you, Arielle.”
“Ditto,” she replied, and they both laughed.
“I bet Gabrielle and Eva went for a walk tonight on the beach,” Arielle said.
“Why would you think that?”
“They told me that they enjoy walking on the beach almost every evening, just sitting on the sand, watching the stars, and enjoying the quiet of the night.”
“It’s quite amazing how little you need when you are in love,” he said.
Arielle nodded in agreement.
“I never enjoyed spending quiet nights alone during those long years before I fell in love with you,” he said, giving her a soft squeeze.
“I feel the same way. I always liked films, parties, and noise, but now I’d rather be alone with you,” she said.
“You have no idea how happy you make me.”
Chapter 10
THEY WALKED BACK to the house in each other’s arms before taking a warm shower to wash off the sand. As they got ready for bed, they talked about their plans for the following day. He climbed into bed as Arielle walked back to the kitchen to get a glass of water. She turned the light off and was halfway back when she heard a short, recurrent noise, like someone receiving a text message. She patted her pockets but didn’t feel her phone. For a moment, she stood quietly until she heard the noise again, and then she followed it into the study. Sebastian’s phone was lit up on the top of his desk.
Picking it up, she called out, “I think you have a text on your mobile.” She turned around and ran into a solid wall of muscle. His arms closed about her, hauling her hard against him. He had moved soundlessly, gliding behind her like air, like a prowling panther.
“Geez, Sebastian, you scared the crap out of me,” she cried out.
He laughed. She knew that he derived great pleasure in startling her when he moved with that kind of speed. She didn’t think that she would ever get used to it.
He bent down and kissed her softly, whispering with a grin on his face, “Sorry, baby!”
She knew he didn’t mean a word of it. She just chuckled, shook her head, and walked back to the bedroom. Shedding her clothes, she slipped under the covers naked. He walked in with an inquisitive expression on his face, immediately leaning against the dresser and staring at the screen of his mobile.
“What is it?”
“It’s a text from Troy,” he said.
“Well? What did he say?” she asked impatiently.
He didn’t seem to hear her question. “I must call him,” he said. He seemed perplexed.
“What did he say?” Arielle asked again. “You look worried.”
His eyes darted to her. “I look worried?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not worried, just curious. Dylan Jamison tried to call while we were down at the beach. He’s the head of Interpol Intelligence. It seems that when he couldn’t get a hold of me, he tried Nathan and spoke to his assistant. His assistant in turn called Troy. I’m wondering what would cause a British Intelligence man to call unless something was terribly wrong with the company’s security.” He ran his hand through his hair as his eyes wandered the room.
“What now?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. His face twisted in a mask of annoyance before he brought his gaze back to her.
The look in his eyes was indecipherable. Her inability to see his thoughts was maddening. With a swift move, she threw the covers away and jumped out of bed. She cradled his face with her hands. Rising onto her toes, she pressed her lips against his. “Are you okay?” she asked, searching his eyes.
“I’m fine,” he replied softly, returning her kiss.
“What are you thinking?” she persisted.
His arm snaked around her waist and drew her closer. “I was thinking about someone possibly breaking through the security system in London until I saw you without any clothes.”
She suddenly winced as last year's memories rushed through her brain. “Oh no…I don’t think I like this at all,” she said. “The last time that happened you were gone for more than five weeks... No, I don’t like this at all.” Arielle frowned as she ran her tongue over her dry lips nervously.
Shoving the phone in his pocket, he covered her mouth with his. “I don’t want you worrying,” he said against her lips. His face had become calm and unruffled. “I’m going to call Troy and get to the bottom of this, but please don’t worry. This is our company now, not just mine, so you need to have the same concerns as I do.”
Arielle sighed audibly and pulled him to her. She ran her fingers through his hair tenderly and smiled. “I’m here to support you, but I don’t have to like it. I have faith in you, and I know you’ll get to the bottom of this in no time at all.”
He gave her a peck on the cheek and stroked the side of her face with his finger. Then fishing his phone out of his pocket, he speed-dialed Troy.
Arielle turned around and moved back to the bed, slipping under the covers. “I sure hope you don’t have to go away,” she said under her breath.
“Hey, Troy, what’s up?”
She heard a muffled sound coming out of his phone and assumed Troy was saying hello.
Sebastian said, “I was taking a walk with Arielle and left my mobile in the house.”
He began pacing back and forth as he listened. She could see anxiety slowly spread across his beautiful face. A few minutes into their conversation, she could hear barely audible swearwords coming from Troy's end. Something had upset him. Arielle felt uncomfortable and steeled herself to hear the worst news possible.
Sebastian walked out of the bedroom, but she could hear him making arrangements to pick up Troy early in the morning to go into the office for a meeting. He ended the call but didn’t come back into the bedroom.
After a short while, Arielle got out of bed, pulled a T-shirt over her head, and went looking for him. She found him in the study, sitting perfectly still. “Hey,” she said softly as she walked in. She sat next to him and put her arm around his shoulders. He looked deep in thought as she ran her fingers across his cheek. “What’s wrong, baby?” she whispered.
He breathed in deeply and blew out a frustrated breath before he spoke softly, “Do you remember the group that stole the documents and abducted the scientists last year?”
“Yes, how could I forget? It took you away from me for over five weeks.”
“Well…they seem to be trying to create panic across the company.”
“How?”
“They are sending hoax emails that give our computers viruses and bog down our systems.”
“Don’t you have anti-virus systems to prevent that?”
“Yes, we do, but they are masters in cracking codes, getting through security systems, and taking over programs. Our documents are extremely important. They have codes and information that could be disastrous if in the wrong hands. I’m frustrated because we handed Dylan the men that could lead him to
the root of the problem, and somehow he missed it. Now we have to start over.”
She could hear anguish in his voice. She leaned in and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. “Baby, I think you need to come to bed and get some sleep. I know you’re strong and tireless, but I think you’ll be able to function much better with a clear mind.”
He seemed to become aware of how concerned she was. His warm gaze swept over her, and she felt his warmth envelop her. He stood up, taking her with him and tugging her toward their bedroom. “Are you tired?”
“I am, but I can’t sleep without you,” she said.
She helped him out of his clothes, and his breath caught audibly. He looked into her eyes and dipped his head slowly to meet her lips. She gave him access to her mouth, and he groaned. He grabbed her T-shirt with one hand and pulled it off while pressing her body against his with his other hand. She moaned at the feel of his erection against her belly, the sensation strong enough to force her eyes closed. She slid her hands behind the nape of his neck and held him in a hot, wanton kiss. Lifting her into his arms, he set her in the middle of the bed and settled them both under the comforter.
“You need to sleep,” he commanded with laughter.
She nodded, knowing that the next day was going to be a difficult one. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her close. She snuggled even closer to his body, savoring his heat. His lips brushed against her ear, and she heard the murmur of his velvety voice.
“I love you, baby.” Smiling, she drifted off to sleep.
The steady sound of running water woke her up. Her eyes flew open. Blinking several times, she tried to probe through the darkness of the room. A shred of light slipped through the curtains and fell across the covers. Her eyes drifted to the clock on the nightstand. It read five-thirty. Her gaze flicked sluggishly to the bathroom door, and she stared at the panels for several moments.
Why is Sebastian up this early? She was certain that he wasn’t going to the office at this hour. Could this have something to do with last night's phone call? Did he even get any sleep?
She suppressed a scowl and made a mental note to ask him later. Grasping his pillow, she hugged it tightly against her chest. With her face pressed into its softness, she breathed in Sebastian’s intoxicating scent. It rippled through her nostrils like a potent drug.
Suddenly, there was absolute silence. The water stopped running; the quiet was deafening. Pushing the pillow aside, she scooted to the edge of the bed and set her feet on the floor. She covered her face with both hands and pressing hard against her cheeks, trying to wake herself up. Standing up, she headed toward the bathroom.
She smiled at his thoughtfulness. He had made sure not to wake her up. She hugged herself, conjuring a vision of naked Sebastian in the bathroom. I wonder what is bothering him? Will he tell me? She walked to the bathroom, grabbed the door handle, and turned.
Sebastian turned to meet her gaze. He was making long, downward strokes with a bath towel over his body. Her thoughts scattered. God, he is gorgeous!
His lips curved seductively, and his eyes reflected ocean waves of desire. Arielle blinked and swallowed hard. Gathering her scattered thoughts, she smiled back and shut the door behind her as she moved closer.
His eyes roamed her face. “Hey, baby. I’m sorry to wake you up. I tried to be quiet, but I guess I didn’t succeed.”
“Why are you up this early?” she asked. “I’m worried about you; did you sleep at all?”
“No. I tried, but I couldn’t.”
“I thought we were never going to leave the bed without waking each other up,” she said. “Those were your words, not mine.”
His brows shot up. “Did you want to take a shower with me?”
“Maybe I did, and maybe I didn’t.”
“Well, I see that you’re dressed for the occasion.” His eyes roamed hungrily over her naked body.
Arielle hurumphed. Pushing past him, she stepped into the shower. Turning back, she met his gaze, and she heard him draw a shaky breath.
Bliss spread across his face. He dropped the towel on the floor and stepped into the shower. Reaching around her, he turned the hot water back on. His arms snaked around her waist, and he pulled her hard against his partly wet body. She turned to face him without leaving his embrace. Framing his face with her hands, she pressed her lips to his. Sebastian groaned and pushed her against the shower wall. Their eyes locked, blue to green, and his mouth came down on hers.
She knew nothing beyond the fact that he was hers, and she was his, and all they wanted to do was be together in body and soul.
“I love you so much,” she said. “Please don’t go away, I need you here with me.”
He made love as though he would never have the chance to hold her again. It was so intense that she cried out with rupture. Tears pooled into her eyes and slowly trickled down her cheeks, a mixture of salt and warm water.
“Arielle, I don’t think that I can be without you either,” he said, but she knew better. He was going to do what he needed to do to keep the company safe.
“Where are you going this early? You never said.”
“I have to go through some documents before I pick up Troy. We have a lot to do today. We must try to resolve the issue with security systems.”
“Will you be gone all day?”
“Most of the day. But I’ll be home by the time you get back from class.” Bending down, he pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
They helped dry each other, and when they finished, he walked into the closet to dress, and she jumped back into bed. She was so relaxed following their encounter that she nearly dozed off again until she felt his lips pressing hers softly. His arms slipped underneath her naked body and raised her to meet him halfway. She threw her hands around his neck and held him to her.
“You’re my prisoner,” she purred. “You can’t go anywhere. You have to come back to bed.” His lips were still on hers. He squeezed her tightly, making her giggle.
He pulled back and stared down at her.
“You look fetching. I wish I didn’t have set up that meeting with Troy and my staff.”
“And you look very much the executive,” she said chuckling. “I wish you could come back to bed.”
“I’ll call you later,” he said as he left the bedroom.
“I love you. Be careful,” she said.
“Miss me,” he said, looking back.
She closed her eyes and let his words caress her soul. When she opened them again, he was gone.
It was much later when she decided to get out of bed and get ready for school. She pulled on a pair of jeans and a light gray top with a hood. Her chemistry class was as grueling as she expected. She was thrilled when it was over. Walking out of the auditorium, she took a quick survey around and spotted Gabrielle waiting in front of the pavilion entrance. Gabrielle saw her and waved. Arielle gave her a smile and made her way to her.
“Do you want to grab some lunch?” Gabrielle asked when Arielle reached her side.
“Sure, I’m famished.”
“I saw Eva and Ian this morning walking to class, and then I saw Paul and Loren in history class. They are all planning on going out tonight,” Gabrielle said. She looked happy and carefree.
Arielle barely heard her. “Did Troy say anything before he left this morning?” she asked.
“No…not really,” said Gabby. “I couldn’t commit to going out with Ian and Eva, because I don’t know when Troy and Sebastian will be home. Last night, they seemed engaged in a heated conversation, and from what I could gather, there is a major problem at the office.”
“Yes, Sebastian said something; however, I’ve no idea what the resolution will be. The last time Sebastian had an issue like this, he was gone to New Zealand for a long while. Do you remember?”
Gabrielle nodded, recalling Sebastian's absence, her thoughts plain as day to Arielle. A lengthy silence fell between them. When Arielle made no further comment, Gabrielle watch
ed her with concern. “Are you worried?” Gabrielle asked.
“Obviously!” Arielle scoffed.
“Arielle… I hope this isn’t the same thing as before, but if they have to go, at least he will be with Troy, which should make you feel a lot better.”
“That’s true, but I hate the thought of Sebastian being away again. I’m a little worried that Annabel may find out and decide to show up while he’s gone. She has been a no-show for a few months now.”
“Well, I understand your point. However don’t forget that you still have Eva, Ian, and Loren to protect you.”
“I guess you’re right. I just feel better when he is home, especially at night. I’m not sure I can sleep alone anymore,” she said. She could see in Gabby’s thoughts that she felt the same way about Troy.
As they walked silently towards the cafeteria line, she noticed Christian walking a few feet away from them, busily talking to the same girl he was always with. She just couldn’t understand why she got this strange feeling that he was there for her. She must be paranoid since he had never talked to her, approached her, or even paid attention to her. It was a gut feeling. With a frustrated shrug, she shook her head and reminded herself there was nothing she could do about it. What if she was wrong?
Chapter 11
“EVA!” GABBY’S VOICE startled her. Arielle looked up, saw Eva approaching with Ian, and smiled. She always felt peaceful around the couple. As soon as the four of them got in line, Arielle spotted Paul and Loren sitting at a small table in the far corner. They were leaning close to each other, whispering, and exchanging kisses. Leaving the line, she quickly approached her friends.
When she got closer, she called, “Get a room!” Arielle couldn’t hold back laughter as they turned, momentarily startled. Seeing her, the couple started laughing with her.
“Hey, sis,” Loren called out. They stood up. Arielle gave Loren a hug first and then turned to Paul. He pulled her into his arms and laid a big smooch on her mouth.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said. Arielle giggled and returned the friendly kiss.
Arielle Immortal Fury (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 6) Page 11