“Hello.”
“Hello, Sebastian. Dylan here.”
“Dylan Jamison!” he exclaimed. “What a nice surprise, it’s been a long time.”
“Well, yes it has…” he said thoughtfully.
“Something wrong?” Sebastian asked.
“The boys from Russia are back on the move again,” Dylan said.
Sebastian’s smile faded. His face adopted a thoughtful expression. “What are they up to? What do they want now?” He leaned against the dresser facing Arielle and stood there for what seemed like eternity listening intently.
“They want you, your company, the documents, the designs—only this time they are ready to up their game.” He conveyed to Arielle that he didn’t like what he was hearing with his expression. A low curse escaped his lips. Rage flashed in his eyes. He felt Arielle's eyes follow him as he moved away from the dresser and started to pace nervously. She sat up and pushed the covers away, pulling her legs up as she wrapped her arms around them. She rested her chin on her knees and watched him, waiting.
“How?” Sebastian asked obstinately. He didn’t want to talk openly in front of Arielle. She was worried about Annabel sending crazy immortals to kill her, and she was worried about Christian showing up on campus. He didn’t want to add to her fears.
“They are ready to use every possible means available, including murder, to succeed this time around,” Dylan said bluntly.
“Well, that isn’t new. They used that approach the last time,” Sebastian said.
“No—no, Sebastian, what I mean is that they are ready to up the game, I mean that this time they are going to target you…your family and anyone close to you.”
A shadow crossed Sebastian’s face. He didn’t like the sound of that. Immediately, his eyes turned to Arielle. She was still watching him with a troubled look on her face.
“How do you know that?”
“We intercepted a conversation between the boys in St. Petersburg and the men who work for them in Brussels.”
“What have you done about this?”
“We trailed one of the guys that met with Alexie in Brussels, but we lost him,” Dylan said, and cursed.
“You couldn’t find him?” Sebastian’s voice was full of frustration.
“No…” Dylan’s voice trailed. “He ran into a narrow alley and disappeared behind one of the many doors. My team looked for hours, but they couldn’t find him.” Sebastian gritted his teeth, and pinched the tip of his nose.
“The same son of a bitch as last time is behind this then,” Sebastian said in a dry voice.
“Yes, Alexie, he seems to be the chosen one right below the head boss in Russia. Sebastian, we need to meet when I get back from Brussels,” Dylan said. “I have some documents and photos I want you to see. I have some information I’d like to share with you too.”
“When are you coming back?”
“Next week. I’ll call you when I get in.” There was a short pause.
“Fine,” Sebastian finally said.
“Sebastian, I promise, I’ll stay on top of this,” Dylan said firmly.
“Yes, I know. Thank you, Dylan.” Sebastian press end on the phone screen and set it down on the top of the dresser. His eyes burned with rage and his lips flattened to a thin line.
“What is it?” Arielle asked, alarmed. For a moment, he didn’t seem to hear her question. She was sure that his mind was somewhere else.
“What is it?” she insisted. He finally looked down at her, and moving slowly he sat at the edge of the bed. He smiled softly and ran his finger along the side of her face.
“Don’t worry, love, it's just business. I’ll take care of it.” He pulled her in his arms and pressed his lips softly on hers.
“Sebastian, you are tormenting me. What is it?” She held him at arm’s length. Worrisome emotions flashed in his emerald eyes.
“It’s business, baby,” he said again, and pulled her back into his arms, burying his face in her hair.
“Don’t shut me out, Sebastian. You seem very upset and I need to know what’s going on,” she said. Her face was pinched with worry. Sebastian realized that he should tell her something, just not every detail.
“Someone is trying to sabotage the company again,” he said bitterly.
“From what I heard on this end of the conversation it sounded like it's the same people who tried to steal your designs before, right?”
“Yes, they are.”
Arielle bit her lower lip and held onto Sebastian tightly. “The Russian mafia? Are you serious?” Her eyes widened. Sebastian felt her shiver.
“Yes,” he said. “That’s the way the Russian government works. They use the FSB to do their dirty work.”
“Who is the FSB? I remember you telling me before, but I forgot,” Arielle said softly.
“Oh…” his voice trailed. “It’s the new name the Russian scums gave to the old KGB, but they haven't changed. They operate the same way. They are just as dirty and just as malicious.” His voice strained with rage.
“What are you going to do?” she asked anxiously. Her eyes looked him up and down. “Do you have to go away again?” she asked, terrified of the answer.
“I…” there was a long pause. “I don’t know yet, I don’t have a plan,” he said calmly. “I need to talk with Troy and Nathan, and work out a plan. I’m going to do that sometime today.” He pressed his lips on her forehead. He stood and walked into the shower. He turned the water on.
“But it’s Saturday!” she called out. “Come back to bed.”
He laughed quietly and wished he could do as she asked.
Arielle remained silent. Memories of the last time Sebastian was in New Zealand popped into her mind. She lay back down and pulled the covers over her head. She swallowed hard. All kinds of thoughts twirled around in her head. She couldn’t bear to think that Sebastian would be gone again for a long time.
She wasn’t sure how long she had been lying like that when Sebastian’s voice startled her. “What are you doing?”
She snapped her eyes open and pushed the covers away from her face. He was standing next to the bed looking down at her. His face betrayed amusement.
“Nothing…I…I was just thinking,” she said. He bent down and pressed his lips on hers.
“Do you think better in the dark?” he asked with a soft chuckle.
“Um…yes,” she replied, her words breaking.
“So…what are you thinking about?” he asked.
She blinked and sat up, falling into his arms. He enfolded her tightly and kissed the tip of her nose.
“I don’t want you to go away,” she said, and sighed deeply. A poignant ache in her chest overwhelmed her. She recalled the expression on Sebastian’s face during his call; it was one she didn’t see very often.
Her statement appeared to take Sebastian by surprise. He laughed. “I’m not going anywhere, baby,” he said evasively.
Sebastian was telling the truth for the moment. He had to wait for Dylan to get back to London to meet with him and figure out what to do. However, he also knew that if things went from bad to worse he would have to do something. He was determined to destroy the people that were involved in this dirty job. He was sure that he would be able to resolve this issue with the help of Troy and Nathan. The last time he had relied on Interpol to solve the problem, but they failed to capture the head of the operation. Alexie had regrouped and was ready for another round.
“You must never, ever leave me alone for that long again,” Arielle said.
Sebastian gazed into her eyes. “Arielle, I’m not planning on leaving, but you must understand that I have a huge responsibility to my employees. I have to protect this company in every way I can. My father built the company from nil, and I’m not going to allow anyone to destroy it.” His voice dropped to a soft whisper. “And if I have to go to get this accomplished then I must. This company is yours just as much as it is mine.” He searched her eyes for approval.
S
he sighed. A smile tugged on her lips. “I’m sorry, I’m being selfish and irresponsible, I hope you can forgive me,” she said, and reached for a kiss. His eyes bored through hers, and bending down he pressed a hot kiss to her throat. Her face flushed. She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders and pulled him down to her. He could feel her heat and her desire.
His voice came out as a soft murmur. “Have I ever told you that I want you to be completely selfish when it comes to me?” His hands moved gently over her curves and their lips met again. The kiss started soft and tender but deepened as their bodies merged. He surrendered to her completely. For the next couple of hours, he forgot all about Dylan’s call.
Chapter 5
IT WAS AROUND 11:00 when Sebastian got out of bed and headed to the shower, chuckling softly.
“This will be my second time in the shower this morning,” he called out as he shut the shower door behind him. Arielle giggled, rolled over, and buried her face into her pillow. She felt blissfully happy. After a little while, she heard the water stop and decided to get up. She kicked the covers back with her feet and sat up. She stretched restfully and pushed her hair away from her face. As she sat on the bed, her gaze fell on her beautiful engagement ring. She ran her finger over the diamond, smiling broadly. Suddenly, conflicted emotions filled her head. She felt deep affection and adoration for Sebastian, but loathing and unfathomable repulsion for Annabel. The belief that Annabel would try hard to destroy their wedding day drove chills down her spine.
“Your turn!” Sebastian called from the bathroom. She got up slowly and walked sluggishly into the shower.
“You didn’t want to shower with me this morning?” he purred as she walked by. She turned to face him and ran her tongue over her lips in a sensual manner.
“You didn’t invite me,” she said, and jumped into the shower, shutting the door behind her. She fought to hold back laughter. Turning to reach for the faucet, Arielle saw that Sebastian was already standing between her and the shower head. She let out a soft cry and nearly collapsed.
“I’m sorry,” he said, totally amused. “I didn’t hear what you said.” He pulled her hard against him and burst into laughter. She was still trying to catch her breath.
“Sebastian, you have to stop doing that. One of these days I’ll have a heart attack.” His arms wound around her waist and he pulled her gently back against him. His hands moved slowly, methodically, stroking her already burning skin. She writhed under his touch. His lips touched the back of her neck and she moaned.
“Ready for another round?” he asked, brushing his lips against her ear. She giggled blissfully and set her hands against his thighs, stroking them gently. Sebastian growled and pulled her harder against him. He trailed hot kisses from her neck down to her throat and across her shoulders. His hands roamed the curvatures of her body, stopping at the soft mounds of her breasts. He cupped them and squeezed them lightly. Her breath held.
His voice hitched. “You’re going to be the death of me,” he gasped. He set his mouth at the pulse of her throat and sucked lightly, relishing the rhythm of her heartbeat. His fingers closed around her hard nipples and she arched under his hands, groaning with desire. Her eyes flickered shut and she grinned, enjoying the sensation. He rocked lightly against her. He turned her toward him. Gazing deep into her eyes, he smiled wide.
“I love you, Arielle,” he purred. He bent his head and took her mouth in a passionate kiss. He kissed her witless. The world stopped turning. She looked at him like there was nothing else in her universe but him. He felt her knees buckle. She clung to him and parted her lips under the pressure of his tongue. Sebastian slipped into the warmth of her mouth and he growled at the pleasure of the sensation. She reached down between them and touched him gently. He lost touch with reality. He groaned wildly into her mouth and his body shook. He paled as her hand moved slowly upward. He was sure it wouldn't be long before his knees gave away. He reached down and pulled her hand away. He grabbed her hips and pulled her against him.
His mouth was on hers and the kiss deepened, filled with sensuality and lust. He made love to her with urgency. She moaned and writhed.
“You are beautiful!” he exclaimed, voice intense.
“You are faultless.” She smiled. Her words took him to another level. They reached the peak of physical ecstasy together, experiencing sensation that lay beyond the stars, beyond space, and beyond logic. She cried out his name over and over again. Sebastian let out a gratified groan as the sensation curled his toes. They fell into oblivion, burning from desire and sheer hunger for each other. He held her against him for a long time, lost in passion and adoration for his wife to be. He nuzzled her hair and nibbled on her earlobe, moaning blissfully.
“Are you all right?” he whispered against her ear. She remained silent, lost in his essence, lost in him. She turned to meet his gaze and looked into his blazing eyes.
“I love you so much,” she finally breathed.
“I love you too, baby.”
“If you’re tired, you can let me down,” she said, and chuckled. He tightened his hold on her, keeping her securely in his embrace.
“I could hold you like this forever,” he said, and set his mouth on hers. She breathed in his immortal scent and fell into his kiss.
“I warn you, it will be difficult to move around with me wrapped around your body like this,” she said, and grinned.
“I consider myself warned,” he replied, and chuckled out loud. “But, just so you know, I can be very happy having you wrapped around my body at all times, can you?”
Arielle’s lips curved. She looked as if she were pondering his question, and finally burst out into a hearty laugh.
“Of course not, silly,” she said. “I have a life to live, things to do, and in some cases, you can’t be there.”
“What cases?” he asked, watching her quizzically. He suppressed a smile.
She just chuckled and moved in to press her lips against his. He held her to that kiss for a long time.
He finally pulled back. “Do you want to get down?” he asked, his lips curving up at the corners. She set her finger on his mouth and with a gentle move traced the outline of his beautiful lips. Sebastian watched her carefully, holding a sensual smile on his face. He adored her. She was the center of his universe, the core of his soul, the person that made him feel completely alive.
“Well, do you?” he asked again, voice sultry.
“No, not really, but I’m getting hungry.” He pressed his hand against her lower back, and holding her flush against his body, he let her slip down slowly, seductively until her feet touched the floor.
She reached up and kissed him. They finished showering, and after fifteen minutes, walked out of the shower utterly sated.
Arielle put on a pair of sweatpants and a little top, and walked into the kitchen. She was starving, so she made herself a sandwich, poured some juice, and sat at the counter to eat. Sebastian walked in a few seconds later wearing only a pair of jeans. Arielle noticed the way they hugged his heaps in a very sexy way. Mmm, she thought as her gaze swept over every part of her gorgeous fiancé. He sensed her gaze and laughed.
“I love you,” he said. She smiled wide and kept watching him as he opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of salve. She watched him exit the room, and return with the morning paper tacked under his arm. He came close and leaned in to press his lips on hers. “Mmm,” was all she could manage.
“Too bad you don’t eat,” she said. “This sandwich is delicious.” He looked into her eyes and then at the sandwich in her hand, and smiled wide. He reached over and wrapped his fingers around her wrist. He moved her hand with the sandwich to his mouth. Shock spread across Arielle’s face as she watched him take a large bite, and then chew and swallow. He rarely ate human food, and never when they were home alone.
“Mmm…it is delicious!” he said, never taking his eyes away from her face. “What’s the matter, baby? Have you never seen a man eat before?” he w
hispered, trying hard not to laugh. It took a few minutes for Arielle to recover, and then she broke out into a hearty laugh.
Fifteen minutes later, Sebastian was on the phone with Nathan. He walked slowly toward the study to discuss business. Arielle picked up a book by Jane Austin, Emma this time, and went out in the garden to read under her favorite tree.
Sebastian called Troy next. He wanted to meet with him today, if possible, to go over what Dylan had told him on the phone. Troy picked up on the fifth ring. He sounded out of breath.
“He–hello.”
“Hey, Troy.”
“Sebastian, what’s up?” Troy’s voice was breaking.
“You sound busy,” Sebastian said, chuckling.
“Yes, just a bit,” he replied with a devilish laugh. “Something wrong?”
“Call me later, there is something I need to discuss with you,” Sebastian said, his voice becoming serious.
“No, no…Sebastian, if something is wrong we can talk now,” Troy replied firmly.
“Nothing is wrong, call me later.” Just before Sebastian snapped the phone shut, Gabrielle was on the phone. Her soft voice came through the speaker in gasps.
“Listen, dazzle boy, I may not let him out of my sight today,” she said, and giggled.
Sebastian laughed quietly, and just before he hung up he whispered, “Enjoy, Gabrielle.” The line went dead. He shoved the phone into his jeans pocket, picked up the paper, and laughed as he walked out into the garden.
Raising her head from her book, Arielle met his gaze and smiled. “All finished?”
“Not quite, Troy was a little busy with Gabrielle this morning.”
“What do you mean?” Arielle eyebrows lifted.
“She told me she may not let him out of her sight today. I think I interrupted something significant,” he said, and laughed softly.
“I can understand how she feels,” she said meeting his gaze. “It’s hard for me to let you go sometimes.” She giggled, and then dropped her gaze to the open book on her lap.
Arielle Immortal Journey (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 5) Page 4