Free Arielle Immortal Resolve (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 8) by Lilian Roberts Page A

Gabby’s voice was warm and sympathetic.
    “He doesn’t want to touch me anymore,” she whimpered, her voice breaking. “We haven’t made love in over three weeks. He’s tormenting me and he doesn’t have a clue as to how I feel.”
    “What do you mean?” Gabby asked disbelievingly.
    “Gabby, this is how it works almost every night. He comes to bed; he takes me in his arms and kisses me. He strokes my body through the kiss and spreads heat throughout every fiber of my existence. He then lets me run my hands over the planes of his back. I feel his hard muscles and caress his beautiful skin thinking that he might be coming back to me, and just about that moment without any warning he pulls back pushing me softly away. ‘I can’t,’ he says, completely out of breath.”
    She gasped, in sheer exasperation. “He then kisses me softly, just before he gets out of bed and walks to the other room.”
    Arielle started to sob again and Gabrielle put her arm around her shoulders trying to calm her. “Arielle, he’s going through a very difficult time,” Gabby said.
    Arielle shook her head bitterly. She searched through the clatter in her mind in a futile attempt to find sensible words. “I understand what he’s going through,” she finally said.
    “How could you possibly understand what he’s going through?” Gabrielle exclaimed making Arielle blink.
    “Gabby, I do understand. Are you forgetting about Mat?” she asked, watching Gabrielle intensely. “Did you forget what I went through last year?” she asked.
    “Oh—My—Gosh…are you serious?” Gabrielle’s tone startled her.
    “What?” Arielle asked, incredulously.
    “These two events are completely different,” she said. There was an edge to her voice and immediately her defiance went up.
    “How do you mean?” Arielle demanded, trying keeping her expression inquisitive.
    “I mean, you were almost violated, and if I remember right, it took a long time for you to get over that. He was actually violated while being unconscious. Can’t you see the difference here?” Gabrielle was watching her carefully.
    Arielle’s heart sank, and she pursed her lips, realizing that Gabrielle was absolutely right.
    “I know and I’ve been trying to understand the turmoil he’s going through, but, Gabrielle, I miss him terribly,” she swallowed back her misery, and groaned in defeat, overcome with guilt.
    “I know. I do understand, but he did say something to Troy that might answer your questions.”
    “What’s that?” Arielle lifted her eyes and met her friend’s gaze.
    “He told Troy that he feels dirty and not worthy of you anymore.”
    Arielle gazed at Gabby in astonishment.
    The smile was gone from Gabby’s face.
    “Where you eavesdropping?” Arielle asked.
    “Yes.” She smiled, sounding rather sheepish.
    “God,” Arielle sighed and shut her eyes, more confused now than before.
    “Arielle, I think he just needs time to sort things out,” Gabrielle insisted.
    Arielle gave Gabrielle a thoughtful look while she pressed on.
    “Besides it’s hard to see his point of view if you've never had the same experience. He also did say to Troy that he couldn’t live if he couldn’t be with you. Knowing that alone should make you feel delighted.” Arielle was watching Gabrielle’s face and she was smiling gently, making her feel better and less anxious. Gabby was right and Arielle needed to suck it up and let things unravel like they should.
    She knew Sebastian loved her and she also knew he was trying hard to resolve his nightmare. She nodded, smiling, and pushed the car door open. The air was warm but the sky was cloudy, it was a typical Brighton day. They made their way down the ancient winding narrow cobblestone streets. Shopping at the Lanes was like stepping back in time. The buildings were old and beautiful, not showing their 400-year-old age. They spend a good part of the day shopping until they got tired of walking and decided to head