Arielle Immortal Journey (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 5) (36 page)

She wasn’t sure how long she kept her eyes closed, but the next
time she opened them Sebastian was not on the dance floor. She
swiftly
scanned the room trying to locate him, and suddenly her gaze
screeched
to a halt. Sebastian and Gaston seemed to be carrying on an
animated conversation at the far corner of the ballroom. They seemed to be arguing about something. She wondered what could be causing this type of interaction between two best friends.

Anxiety swept over her at the sight of both men. She wasn’t sure why, but she had an irrefutable feeling that their discussion had everything to do with her. But then the question was why? Sebastian didn’t seem to care about her at all, so why would this be about her? She kept her eyes deliberately on Gaston, observing his movements, and he seemed to get a bit more aggressive toward Sebastian. As the
moments ticked away she had absolutely no clue as to what her next move was going to be. Something told her that she had to start
making her way back to where Gabrielle and Eva were now standing.

She shrugged her shoulders, and moved slowly through the
crowd on the dance floor. She turned to take a last look at the two men out of curiosity. They were still pretty much in each other’s face, and she
must admit that she felt perplexed. They were best friends, and they had greeted each other earlier in the night with warmth and
joyfulness,
so why this sudden disagreement? What was the issue that made
them both so angry?

“What is going on with Gaston and Sebastian?” Eva asked as she approached. Nothing escaped Eva’s immortal radar. Arielle
chuckled,
thinking about how nothing escaped Eva even when she was a
human.

“I’m not sure what they are arguing about, but I’ve a feeling it may have something to do with me,” she murmured.

“What gives you that idea?”

“Like I said, I’m not sure, I just have this intuition.” Her voice was low, trying to remain inconspicuous to bystanders. Eva took her hand and pulled her behind a large group of people where she saw
Gabrielle, Anton, Brandon, and Marcus engaged in a joyful
discussion, and she heard Gabrielle’s blissful laughter.

“Ah, there you are!” Anton exclaimed. Arielle saw a wide smile spread across his beautiful face. He moved forward to meet them halfway and taking her hand, he guided her to the dance floor. She
felt secure dancing with Anton as she surrendered herself to the
wonderful music and to his warm embrace. When the music was over they walked back and her foot was giving her a little trouble, so she decided to sit the next few dances out. Marcus and Anton took Eva and Gabrielle to the dance floor and Brandon was engaged in a conversation with a group of girls. She found herself looking around.

There was no sign of Sebastian or Gaston. She thought that was a good thing since she didn’t need to get mixed up in a brawl. She walked carefully toward the balcony, mindful of her foot, and stood in front of the open doors. Sadness took her over knowing that at this point Sebastian didn’t care about her at all. She stepped outside and looked up towards the moon, thinking that maybe this was not such a good idea after all.

She was shocked to hear a voice, Sebastian’s voice, very close to her. “Arielle.”

She moved quickly to wipe the moisture from her eyes as she spun around and came face to face with the love of her life. He gave
her that smile that always hypnotized her, and his eyes were like
brilliant emeralds. She was completely speechless.

“Je suis désolé ai fait je vous effraye?”

She had to clear her throat before she could answer him. “No, I’m all right, I was just lost in my thoughts.”

“You are English!” he said with a smile on his face.

“Yes.”

“How do you know Gaston?” His English was perfect, and she was shocked by his question.

“I don’t know Gaston at all. I only met him about an hour ago, and we’ve had a couple of dances together,” she said. She found his question a bit peculiar. “Why do you ask?”

“That’s very strange,” he said as he raked his hand through his hair, and she detected a frustrated look crossing his eyes.

“I’m absolutely sure that I’ve no clue as to why this seems to be so strange to you,” she said with a defiant tone in her voice.

“Gaston and I had a friendly conversation, or at least I should say it started friendly, but when your name came up he told me to
keep my hands off because you belonged to him,” he said blankly,
and his expression became serious.

Arielle was dumbfounded. She felt herself becoming
overwhelmed by rage. She bit her lower lip and clenched her hands into fists.

“I don’t belong to Gaston or anyone else,” she shrieked through gritted teeth.

He was taken aback by her forceful outburst, and looked a little puzzled. “I didn’t mean to make you angry. I was only repeating what Gaston told me.”

“I find Gaston a little creepy, and I’m quite uncomfortable
around him. Is he still here?”

“He was pretty angry with me and he stormed out, but knowing Gaston I’m sure he’ll be back,” he said with a soft smile.

“Why did he get angry with you?”

“I told him that I found you fascinating, and that I was going to
ask you to dance. His anger made you a bigger challenge for me.”
He started chuckling.

“I understand,” she said, trying to remain calm. “This is all
about
the stupid game you two play for fun,” she said emphasizing the words.

“He told you?” he asked, a little surprised.

“Yes, he did, and I don’t find it amusing at all. It’s actually a
pretty childish game,” she said, gazing into his amazing eyes.

Sebastian appeared intrigued. “You are very outspoken for a young woman,” he said running his fingers through his hair in what
it looked like confusion as well as amusement. He held that soft smile on his amazing face, making her think that she wasn’t far off thinking that
he was playing a stupid game with Gaston. She pressed her lips
together
out of annoyance. He started to say something, but she held her
hand up and stopped him.

Gazing into his eyes, she accentuated boldly her next words. “I
don’t belong to any man. I’m not an object. I’m a person. And I’m
definitely not negotiable,” she said frostily. “Don’t bother to include me in any of your bloody games.”

The tone of her voice appeared to startle him. It came out rigid.
She felt distraught thinking that she was being thought of as
negotiable property. He was still smiling, which infuriated her.

“Calm down, Arielle,” he whispered close to her ear. “I’m not
playing any games with Gaston, and I’m not negotiating anything at all. You
fascinate me, and all I want to do is dance with you. Is that so
terrible?” His calm voice soothed every part of her soul.

He seemed to enjoy her anxiety. He reached out and cupped her
chin with his hand. He lifted her face until their eyes met. The
warmth of his touch made her shiver.

“Please smile,” he pleaded as an amazing smile touched his
bowed lips. “Tell me that you are not mad at me anymore.”

“I am not mad,” she replied. “All I wanted was for you to
understand that you and Gaston can’t use me as an object in your silly games.” Her voice was soft this time but firm.

“You are unquestionably unique. I’ve never met a girl, or I should say a woman, like you before. There is something very
intriguing about you, and I am dying to find out what that something is.” She kept quiet but she was happy with the outcome.

“Do you speak French?”

“Yes, quite well,” she replied with a soft smile.

“Arielle what? What is your surname?”

“Arielle Young,” she replied as she tried to hold back a chuckle, remembering that it was all make believe. His composure was
perfect, and he spoke softly as she lowered her eyes to the floor trying to maintain self-control.

“There is something very special about you, Arielle. Vous aiment danser?” His hand reached out, and taking her hand, he lifted it to his lips. She felt a scorching sensation down her spine, and her lips
quivered. She didn’t have to answer. He pulled her through the
balcony
doors and onto the dance floor. His arm snaked around the back of her waist and he pulled her closer, gazing into her eyes. She shivered in his embrace. God, she was hoping he didn’t feel that, but she thought he did.

Her expression seemed to puzzle him. He leaned in and
whispered,” Are you all right?”

“Yes,” she mumbled, and their gazes locked. She saw a flash of alarm cross his eyes and she felt him falter. She remained perfectly still and asked him the same question. “Are you all right?”

It took him a few minutes to reply, but when he did she felt
complete bliss. “There is something extraordinary about your eyes, has anyone ever told you that?”

“Yes,” she murmured as her heart swelled with emotion.
You
,
she thought but managed not to say it out loud.

“It’s like looking into the amazing blue waters of the ocean. Has anyone ever told you
that
?” he asked.

“Yes,” she whispered, and laughed under her breath as she
thought of Sebastian back in the twenty-first century telling her the same thing. She paused as his striking emerald eyes fixed on her face, and his next words startled her.

“There’s something remarkable about your eyes,” he muttered again with a thoughtful look on his face.

“Oh, what is that?” she asked, wanting to know everything he was thinking.

“I’ve no idea, but when I figure it out, you’ll be the first to know.
I just know one thing, they are remarkable and totally
unforgettable.”

“Are you saying you’ll never forget me because of my eyes?”

“Yes, I think I’d know you anytime, anywhere from tonight on.”

Brilliant cheerfulness spread across her face, and she threw her head back as she broke into a hearty laugh. He pulled her even closer.

“You look absolutely astonishing,” he whispered close to her ear, and she felt dizzy.

“Where have you been all my life?”

“I’m sure in England as this is my first trip to France,” she lied, and chuckled.

“How old are you?”

“I’m older than you,” she said with a smile.

“And how old is that?” he pressed on.

“I am twenty-one, and you?” she asked, completely amused
knowing that he was twenty.

“I am twenty,” he replied, and kept watching her unable to
understand what was so amusing to her.

“See, you are a young boy,” she continued, and he broke into a hearty laugh. He stopped dancing and slipped his arms through
hers. He led her out the balcony and down the stairs to the garden. It was a beautiful, warm night, and the stillness that lay over the land was deafening. She could smell the fragrance of flowers, and she smiled with pleasure thinking about where she was, and who was standing right next to her.

“We never finished our dance,” she said.

“I’d rather be out here with you. There is plenty of time for dancing.”

“Your date might be looking for you,” she said.

“What date?” he asked. Surprised showed on his face.

“The date or dates, should I say, that you have been dancing with?”

“They aren’t important, they are just guests.”

“Do you always lock your guests in passionate kisses?”

“Jealous are you?” he asked, and watched her closely with his lips faintly parted.

“You have to know someone and care about them to be jealous. I don’t know you, so I couldn’t possibly be jealous of you.”

“Ouch, that hurt,” he said amusedly. “How long are you
staying?”

“Two days I believe. I’m here with my sisters.”

“Can I see you again?”

“I’m not sure what the plans are, but maybe if I swing the time.”

“Swing the time,” he repeated with a puzzled look on his face. “Is that some kind of an English slang?”

“Yes,” she replied, biting her lip as she realized her slip up.

“What are you thinking?” His voice startled her.

“I was just thinking of the splendor of the night,” she said, trying to cover up.

“Yes, the night is beautiful, but
you
are a sight to mollify the
human soul.”

She lifted her eyes to his beautiful face and shivered. Sebastian watched her every move. “Thank you.” She averted her gaze into the darkness.

“You soothe my soul,” he stammered. He looked lost, as if
unable
to explain the reasoning behind his statement. The tension was
palpable. She felt his hands sliding about her waist, and slowly they moved to
her lower back, pulling her into a stormy embrace. She saw the
desire and longing emanating from his eyes. His flawless face made her
shudder in his arms. He lowered his head and his lips covered hers
tenderly. He groaned and the kiss turned hungrier, more passionate.
Her eyelids fell. She lost herself into the deep desire his kiss evoked. She threw her arms around his neck unable to hold back. She
surrendered
completely. The kiss was long, hot, and passionate. She stopped breathing.
He moaned, his mind reeling with unexplainable sensations.

She broke the kiss and pulled back gasping. He looked
disappointed, as if he hadn’t expected anything to spoil the moment. She giggled,
lost for words. He pulled her back into his arms. He tilted his head and took her mouth again in an unremitting kiss. She leaned into
him and
fell into the kiss with every ounce of passion she possessed. He
groaned
hard, moving her tighter against him. The sensation pulled them
deeper into a spiral. Sebastian lifted his head reluctantly and let his gaze
roam over her beautiful face as she opened eyes. He grinned, and she let her eyes shut again as pleasure spread across her face. She felt
him
press a soft kiss over each eyelid. Arielle opened her eyes slowly, and stared into that emerald ocean of his eyes. She simply adored him. He looked just as perfect in his human state as he did as an immortal.