It must have been after three o’clock in the morning when the six of them left the club, leaving the other guys behind. “Does anyone want to stop at the beach and watch the stars for a little while?” Troy asked as they arrived at the car. Arielle was sure that his suggestion came from knowing Gabby’s love of stargazing.
“Oh, yes. Let’s!” Arielle said. She knew that Eva was just as crazy about star watching. They had done it a lot together while growing up and Arielle’s father was the main reason for that. He had spent numerous hours with them, teaching them about the stars, helping them make up their own shapes and faces while learning about the constellations. So, they drove to the beach and lay on the sand. Sebastian put his arms around her and held her tightly as they looked up into a sky full of beautiful, bright twinkling stars.
I just love watching the stars, Arielle thought to herself.
“Do you really?” she heard Ian asking.
She was shocked to realize that she had spoken the words out loud.
“Yes, I really do love it, and I know that Eva and Gabrielle love it just as much. We spent tons of hours growing up just doing exactly what we are doing right now,” she said.
“Do you see that bright star, the one that’s not twinkling?” Eva asked.
“Yes,” Troy replied.
“That’s Venus. It’s brighter than the rest of the stars. When it’s in a phase called semi-circular it gets closer to the Earth and further from the sun. During that time, it’s located in a darker place in the sky so it looks brighter. The brightest stars might be as much as a million times brighter than the sun.” Eva said.
“How do you know all that?” Troy asked.
“When we were growing up we spent many nights watching the stars with Arielle’s father, and he told us a lot of things about them. Ever since then, watching the stars has become one of our greatest pleasures. He used to tell us that when the lights go off on this earth the stars come out, as if by magic,” Eva chuckled.
“What else did your father say, Arielle?” Sebastian asked, pulling her even closer.
“He told us many interesting myths associated with some of the constellations. It opened a new world for us. Many cultures told stories about hunters and birds and horses and other figures they saw in the sky. I still do that when I look up. I mean, I see different shapes.”
“I do the same thing,” Gabrielle and Eva said simultaneously.
Everyone grew quiet. As silence fell, they all stared at the beautiful sky.
Arielle felt that Sebastian was watching her, but she didn’t look at him. Popped on his elbow, he bent down and kissed her softly. Their eyes locked and she smiled at him sweetly. She could feel his breath against her throat and she instinctively gasped. He pulled back and grinned naughtily.
“Mmmm,” he whispered and sighed deeply. Straightening his body and moving away from Arielle, he drew a sharp breath and let his gaze fall across the ocean.
“Look at that!” he said in wonderment.
“What is it?” Arielle said and sat up. Sebastian pointed out over the water. The view took Arielle’s breath. The full moon hovered silently like a silver globe over the ocean among the glittering stars in the ashen shell of space. It thrust streaks of enchanting silver rays that spilled from the heavens down to the ocean, creating a magical path to its mirror image on the still water.
“Oh, my!” Arielle said, captivated by the sight. Glancing around she noticed that all her friends were experiencing the same awesome vision.
“I wonder why I never took the time to notice the earth’s beauty,” Sebastian murmured against her ear.
“It’s not like you haven’t had the time to do that,” Arielle replied quietly and chuckled softly. He laughed and turned to look at her, his face betraying absolutely nothing.
They all stayed there for a little while, just enjoying the silence and the beautiful starry sky. It was close to four o’clock in the morning when they finally went home and got to bed.
“You amaze me,” she heard him whisper in her ear.
“Why is that?”
“Every day, I find something else about you that makes me love you more and more.”
Arielle smiled happily. All she wanted to do was kiss him and go to sleep, but it didn’t work out quite that way. She moved into him and pressed her lips at the hollow of his throat. Sebastian groaned. She ran her fingers across his well-muscled chest and his midriff and then pressed lower.
Sebastian’s jaw locked as ripples of desire coursed through every muscle. He took a deep breath, and his hands moved with deliberate slowness down her back, stroking every curve, sending a wave of heat that burned every vein in her body. She pressed even closer, feeling the pulse of his longing against her soft skin. Their lips met in an eager, ravenous kiss, and with every moment that ticked away it deepened into something wilder, devouring them.
Pure, raw craving and sheer desire quickly engulfed him. He lost control of his senses once again, and for the life of him he couldn’t understand the strength of his unleashed desire. Arielle had truly bewitched him, body and soul. His hands tightened around her hips as he swallowed a moan. He crushed her lips with unbridled passion. Her lips parted and his tongue invaded the softness of her mouth. She tasted like honey and a certain fruity, sweet wine, making his muscles clench. His hand moved down her back and, pressing against her bottom, he pulled her hard against him. He entered her with a quick and masterful nudge.
He growled as he shifted slowly, sending scorching heat through her bloodstream. She drew a deep breath and arched beneath him, starved for his overwhelming passion. His moves were like a slow dance that created an amazingly sweet feeling, and she moved along with him as the dance became faster and more intoxicating.
“Oh… my… God!” she cried out as their exquisite release sent waves of blistering fire across their bodies. She just couldn’t believe what had happened and how fast it had happened, when all she had wanted to do was kiss the hollow at the base of his throat. She chuckled in amazement as she felt his breath brushing against her ear.
“I love you,” he murmured and encircled her in his arms with indescribable tenderness. They let sleep claim them, sated and tranquil.
Chapter 15
THE NEXT DAY WAS GOING TO BE their last day in St. Jean de Luz. Arielle woke up early, anxious to enjoy the whole day. She looked over at Sebastian. He was asleep. She bent down and pressed a hot kiss on his lips. He smiled contentedly, but didn’t open his eyes. He looked tired, so she tried to quietly get out of bed. But eyes still closed, he pulled her back and cradled her in his arms.
“One more kiss before you go,” he whispered drowsily.
She chuckled blissfully and her lips landed on his, more eager, and more fevered. His lips parted and she took advantage of the moment, turning the kiss into something a lot more than just a kiss. He moaned loudly and his hands closed over her breasts, making her insides tremble. His mouth trailed down the column of her throat, and she could hardly breathe.
“I need to get up,” she said breathlessly.
“Why?”
“I need to use the bathroom,” she said quietly. He released her reluctantly and winced as he lost the warmth of her body.
When she came back into the room his eyes were closed. She knew he had fallen back to sleep from the rise and fall of his bare chest.
She stood by the large window and pulled the curtains open to look at the sunrise. It was a perfect day. The sun peeked over the horizon, giving the sky a light yellow and orange tint. She smiled, unable to move her eyes away from the stunning sight. As the sun continued its journey upward, the sky turned an amazing array of beautiful colors. The fields looked greener and the water bluer than she had ever seen them. She could even feel the sun’s warmth encircling the earth. Sebastian’s musical voice startled her reverie.
“What are you looking at?”
“Soleil levant,” she replied as she turned to look his way.
“You sp
eak French?” he asked. He seemed astonished.
“Mais oui,” she said, smiling.
He shook his head again and chuckled to himself.
“What is it?”
“There you go again! Something else I didn’t know about you.”
She smiled, pulled the curtain closed, and got back in bed. He reached out and wrapped her in his arms as his lips moved against hers.
“I’ve spent every summer of my twenty-one years on this earth in France. Did you think that I wouldn’t be able to speak your language?”
“My mistake,” he agreed, smiling softly. “What do you want to do today? I only have a couple things I have to do, but after that we have the whole day free.”
“I think we should do what everyone else wants to do. I’m sure with all of these people here we will get some good suggestions.”
“All right then, let’s see where everyone is.”
“I am sure most of them will still be resting considering the night we all had,” Arielle said and laughed out loud. So, she was surprised to hear her phone ring a moment later. It was Gabrielle.
“Are you up yet?” Gabby said. “I’m hungry. So is Eva. Do you want to eat here today or go out for breakfast?”
“Hold on, let me ask Sebastian,” she said. “Sebastian, what do you want to do?”
“Oh, let’s go meet with your friends.”
“Hey Gabby, we’ll meet you all downstairs in a few,” she said.
When they got downstairs, it seemed that everyone was up and waiting for them.
“What time did you all get in?” Arielle asked, looking at their visitors.
They laughed out loud. “Oh, about six,” Pier said.
“You don’t look tired at all,” Gabrielle said, a surprised look on her face.
Antonius put his arm around her, and chuckling, said, “Well, we’ve had a lot of rest already.” It was a remark that made them all burst out laughing. The immortals seemed to enjoy an inside joke, and Troy and Sebastian laughed along with them.
Jacques came over and stood between Arielle and Gabby. He put his arms around both of them and said, “You don’t have to worry about us, ladies. We’re big boys and can take care of ourselves, but we love you for asking.”
Arielle smiled at him, but it was clear to them that she had no idea what they were talking about.
“I know that you guys don’t eat, but we would like to go down to the beach and have breakfast at Petit Grill Basque. If you like you can come with us,” Arielle said.
“Oh, let’s all go,” Ian said.
“I have to talk with Renaldo about arranging for someone to come and seal the passages we marked yesterday. But Troy and I will come and find you later,” Sebastian said.
They all left for the grill. It was a gorgeous day. The streets were already busy with people shopping, walking to the beach, and eating at the restaurants by the water. It was a festive atmosphere. Gabrielle kept everyone laughing with her non-stop stories about Eva and Arielle.
They were all enjoying getting to know Troy and Sebastian’s best friends, who were eager to get to know the girls as well. They asked tons of questions and of course the girls were happy to give them as much information as they wanted.
As usual, they succeeded in creating something of a sensation as every person on the street stared at the guys, assuming they were famous models or movie stars. The guys were used to it and ignored all the attention and zeroed in on Gabrielle, Ian, Eva, and Arielle.
Breakfast was awesome. The four humans ate heartily while the immortals ordered water. Toward the end of the meal, Sebastian and Troy walked up smiling and sat down between Arielle and Gabby.
“Did you get it all set up?” Arielle asked.
“Yes, it’s all taken care of. The passages will all be sealed by the time we get home this evening. What do you all want to do? It’s a beautiful day.”
Arielle wasn’t surprised that the consensus was for horseback riding. Here she was among ten great equestrians—everyone but her and Eva. She and Eva were a little more familiar with their horses and not as scared as the first time they had been out riding. All I felt last time was fear, Arielle thought. I never got to enjoy the ride and the views. Today, I’m going to do that.
They drove out to the stables, enjoying the sight of the blue sky and the beautiful, wide green pastures. When it was time to mount the horses, Arielle had second thoughts but Sebastian held her tight, reassuring her.
“I’ll be right next to you,” he murmured close to her ear.
“No, don’t do that,” Arielle protested. “You go with the others and have fun. Promise me. Gabrielle, Ian, and Eva will be going at my pace, I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” he asked, concern in his voice.
“No, not at all. Ian and Gabrielle are expert riders. Eva and I are in good hands. In any case, I have to learn to ride if this is something you love to do so much.”
“Well, if you’re sure,” he said, but as he looked back at her there was worry in his eyes.
“Yes, I’m sure, go… go, have fun,” she said and waved her hand dismissively.
Arielle watched with amazement as they mounted their horses and took off galloping as fast as they could. Their expertise was evident, and she felt so much love for Sebastian that her heart skipped a beat. Her whole body quivered just looking at him. She gazed over at Gabrielle and saw that she was smiling the same way as she watched Troy galloping off.
“Well, at least I feel a little bit more comfortable this time,” Arielle said as she mounted her horse. They started moving slowly in the same direction the guys had taken.
“Look at the scenery!” she exclaimed. They moved further up the trail and she laughed aloud with delight. They rode through spacious pastures, hidden meadows, and into breathtaking ravines. Arielle was absolutely petrified as her horse walked along the edge of the narrow trail by the cliffs. Her heart beat double time when she heard a few rocks fall, making a cracking sound as they hit the sides of the cliffs and ended about a mile down into the ocean. She had been holding her breath, scared to death for so long that she forgot to breathe, and she began gasping for air.
“Are you all right?” she heard Gabrielle say.
“Yes, great,” she said with a brave smile. She didn’t feel exactly great, not yet. But she did begin to feel a warm wave taking over her body as the horse picked up speed. She felt as if the land was speeding away from her. What a wonderful feeling! The warm wind blew against her face, giving her an indescribable sense of freedom. They were moving along winding paths beside beautiful streams of running water. The breathtaking view overwhelmed Arielle. They rode for miles and she didn’t feel tired at all.
When they reached the flat clearing, she gasped in astonishment. She looked across the open expanse and saw the end of the trail dropping down to the amazing beach of St. Jean de Luz.
On the horizon the deep blue ocean stretched out, and Arielle felt exultation as she kicked the horse softly and sped towards the beach. Riding along several miles of sand showed her a new kind of beauty. The ride was a truly amazing experience. Finally, she felt at ease on the horse.
Gabrielle galloped toward her with a wide smile on her face.
“I can’t believe how good you and Eva are doing!”
Arielle was so pleased to hear that from someone who knew how to ride. She felt so happy, being part of this experience—as if she were part of nature, the sun, and the air. The four of them sped across the empty beach as if they were the only people on earth. She felt no fear. The achievement filled her with exuberance, and she wished that Sebastian were there to share the moment.
When they turned around to go back, they saw the immortals watching them from the top of the cliff, looking down as they galloped across the beach. They look so glorious on those beautiful horses! Arielle imagined a picture frame around them, with the blue sky in the background and the cliffs full of greenery in front of them. It’s like a magni
ficent painting, she thought. I never want to forget this moment ever! She felt complete knowing that Sebastian had seen that she’d overcome her fear.
The two groups joined and they all rode along the beach together. Sebastian pierced her eyes but did not dazzle her while she was riding. She saw the smile that curved his sensuous lips. She was ecstatic. He looked so sexy on that horse! She wanted to feel his touch, his lips moving against hers. All she could do was look at him with all the passion she possessed and sigh softly. She could see his lips moving, mouthing the words, "I love you." She smiled back at him, and they rode along for a while, only stopping long enough for the mortals to get some lunch. Afterward, they continued riding on the other side of the hills, finally returning home around six o’clock in the evening. The sun was descending slowly, turning the sky a bright red as the water took on a darker shade of gray.
What an amazing sight, she thought. I don’t think I could ever get enough of the beautiful sunrises and sunsets in St. Jean de Luz. This place has to be a small part of paradise, if there is such a place.
The next day, they were scheduled to catch a two o’clock flight back to England. Arielle wasn’t happy that Sebastian would be staying behind. But she knew he had plans that he needed to see through to the end. Classes were starting in a week and soon they would all be together again. That night, they spent the evening in the big sitting room talking and laughing about all kinds of things, finally heading to bed around eleven o’clock.
When the door closed behind them, tension gripped Arielle and she frowned, swallowing hard. She held Sebastian tight, not wanting to let go.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.
“I don’t want to go home without you,” she whimpered.
“I wish you wouldn’t do this,” he said softly.
“You’ve spoiled me and I can’t sleep without you anymore,” she said, her eyes searching his for comfort.
Sebastian tipped her head up and his lips met hers in a soft kiss. “That’s exactly what I want you to do,” he breathed into the kiss. “I want you to miss me every time you get into bed and I’m not there. But I know you’ll be busy with Eva and Gabrielle, getting ready for school.”
Arielle Immortal Passion (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 3) Page 18