Falling For Sakura: A Secret Proposal (Part 1) (29 page)

She was about to exit the place when she felt herself being pulled around by the arm gently and lifted in the air. She found herself in Sebastian’s arms.
 

“Sebastian, what are you doing? Put me down this instant, you hear?”
 

Sebastian just laughed at her outrageous demand. “I thought you wanted to see us racing.”
 

“I do,” she snapped.
 

“Then why are you leaving?”
 

Sebastian took her to the side of the pool and placed her there, where Sakura sat with her legs dangling in the water.
 

“I don’t like the prize,” she said, matter-of-fact.
 

Sebastian moved his face close to her. “So you don’t want to be kissed by me?”
 

Sakura blushed even more and glared at him.
 

“Or the thought of kissing me revolts you, Sakura?” Darcy asked from the distance, a haunted look in his brooding features.
 

Sakura turned her gaze to him and saw the wounded look in his eyes. She stammered, “No! That’s not it.”
 

Sebastian laughed. “Wish me luck.” Then he was off to stand next to Darcy.
 

Sakura’s body tensed as she watched the brothers get themselves ready. Sebastian started counting, and then on three, both dived in, their powerful bodies in perfect sync. Once they hit the water, they started swimming, their strong arms propelling them forward as their legs kept kicking.
 

Sakura watched as she held her breath. When they reached the other side, the brothers were neck to neck. They flipped over and kicked their powerful legs against the side of the pool and then headed in the other direction again. This was it, Sakura thought as she watched the brothers, and then suddenly, they were there, neck and neck, their arms propelling like mad, water splashing about everywhere as they raced forward.
 

Sakura waited, her body tense, her breathing stopped, and her eyes were glued on the two men. Who would it be? Sebastian? Or would it be Darcy? And then suddenly, Darcy hit the finish mark first by mere milliseconds. He was heaving heavily as he came up to the surface.
 

Sebastian laughed and slapped his brother on the back. “That was a good race, Darcy.”
 

Darcy chuckled and flicked his gaze to Sakura, his eyes intent and hot on her. Sakura met his stare and became nervous all of a sudden. The race had been an adventure to watch, but now that it had ended, she thought she’d better run and hide before the brothers demanded she give the winner the promised prize.
 

She was about to act out her plan when Sebastian said, “Now the prize.”
 

Darcy got up from his spot and, with a determined look, headed over to her. Sakura swallowed and felt a little exposed all of a sudden. As Darcy came closer, she flicked her gaze to Sebastian and then back to Darcy again. They looked serious about the kiss after all.
 

Darcy came to stand right in front of her, his strong, toned body dripping, which caused a delicious shiver down Sakura’s spine. Her heart was racing and her stomach fluttering.
 

She was staring at his chest, at the beautiful tattoo of the cherry blossom flowers intertwining with the word
SNOW
residing on his chest. She felt her whole body tremble with emotion at the sight. Darcy loved her that much to have branded her name on his chest where his heart resided? The realization made her weak, and she inhaled a shaking breath. Slowly, she lifted her hand and gently caressed the tattoo, his wet skin, with her fingertips, stroking the lines of cherry blossoms and the word
SNOW
.
 

Darcy sucked in his breath as Sakura stroked him. She was making him weak, enticing him and awakening his desire. It was a moment that bonded them. Slowly, he
brought his hand up and rested it gently on the side of her face, his fingers intimately entwining with her wet hair. He shut his eyes for a moment, inhaling her sweet scent. When he opened them again, he saw her watching him. The look in her eyes, bright and curious and ready for him to take her, brought Darcy to his knees. She was enchanting.
 

Sakura licked her lips as Darcy leaned down. Then she closed her eyes, waiting for him to kiss her, to claim his prize. She was completely and utterly tense as she felt him moving his face toward her and his warm breath against her sensitive skin. When she opened her eyes again, he was watching her and their lips were nearly touching, ready for the kiss.
 

Darcy stayed there for a moment, as if he were prolonging the inevitable. Then suddenly, he moved back and abruptly released Sakura from his clutches. Without an explanation, he turned on his heel and marched toward the door, passing Sebastian, who looked a little confused at the brother’s odd action.
 

Sakura blinked and suddenly felt like her heart had just been broken. Perhaps—just perhaps—Darcy no longer loved and wanted her?
 

* * * * *

Snow and the Knight of Darkness

Sakura tried not to think about Darcy and his rejection that morning, but it was hard. She thought back as to why he wouldn’t kiss her after he’d won the race. Perhaps he no longer wanted her? Perhaps he no longer loved her?
 

“What’s wrong, Sakura-chan?” Akira asked at the door.
 

Sakura looked up, surprised to see Akira there, already dressed in her yukata. This one was very beautiful, a light blue with floral design.
 

“I did knock,” Akira said.
 

Jane poked her head in behind Akira. “Sakura, haven’t you showered yet?”
 

Sakura cocked her head to one side as Jane came into the room. The woman was dressed in a green yukata that matched her eyes perfectly. She looked very fetching without her glasses on and her blond hair up in a pretty bun.
 

“Jane, you look beautiful,” Sakura said.
 

Jane blushed.  “Akira helped me with the yukata.” She did a little spin to show off the garment to Sakura. “I’ve never worn one before, but I love this. I’m going to get one to wear on special occasions.”
 

Sakura laughed. “I might buy one as well.”
 

Akira sighed in vexation at the two women who were still talking when they were running out of time. She took matters into her own hands, because otherwise,
they really were going to be late. She grabbed ahold of Sakura’s wrist and pulled her up from the bed.
 

“Sakura-chan, I know you’re tired from organizing and preparing the celebration, but you have to get ready before everyone arrives.”
 

Sakura sighed, reluctant. What she really wanted to do was collapse on the bed and sleep forever. She couldn’t believe she got tired so easily these days. Of course, she’d been up since five this morning, wanting to take a swim before the pool got too crowded. Then Sebastian and Darcy had come in. There had been the race and the expected kiss that didn’t happen.
 

When she’d returned to the apartment, she got down to helping the housekeeper and Haruka with preparing food for Sosuke’s birthday celebration. Jane had arrived not long after and helped out as well.
 

Akira nudged her into the bathroom, followed by a slap on Sakura’s bottom for her to hurry up. Sakura jumped and laughed wholeheartedly.
 

“You’re acting like you’re my oneesan.” Sakura jested.
 

Akira raised her brows. “Oh? Don’t you want an oneesan like me, Sakura-chan?”
 

“Actually,” Sakura said, smiling, “I do. To be honest, I consider you as one.”
 

“Then be a good imoutosan and go shower.” Akira gave Sakura another nudge between the shoulder blades to get her moving. “Otherwise, you’ll really make us late for dinner.”
 

“What’s oneesan?” Jane asked from behind. “And imoutosan?”
 

Akira said, “Oneesan is older sister and imoutosan is younger sister in Japanese.”
 

“Oh!” Jane expressed as she clasped her hands together. “If we’re going to be sisters, non-related of course, I think I will be the oldest. I know what we should do. We should form a sisterhood or something.”
 

Sakura cocked her head to one side, a thoughtful look on her face. “Jane, are you serious?”
 

Jane nodded her head. “I’m totally serious. But that means I’d be the oldest.”
 

Akira asked, “How old are you?”
 

Jane went bright red and murmured, “Twenty-eight.”
 

“Then you are the oldest. I’m twenty-seven,” Akira said as she really made Sakura go into the bathroom by gently jostling her in. “I’m going to get Sakura’s yukata, and you, sister Jane, make sure she doesn’t come out until she’s totally done.”
 

“Sister Jane?” Sakura couldn’t hide her giggle.
 

Akira shut the door in her face, blocking her mirth from Jane’s view. Then she headed out the door.
 

“Sister Jane?” Jane said in outrage, frowning. “You make me sound like a nun!”
 

Akira laughed from the corridor, and Jane, finally finding the funny side of it, joined in on the laughter, too.
 

 Alone inside the bathroom, Sakura stripped herself naked and then went into the shower. As the water pounded down on her, she touch her fingers to her lips, her mind on Sebastian and Darcy.
 

“Stop it!” she muttered under her breath. “You shouldn’t be upset if Darcy’s decided he no longer likes
you. After all, you left him without saying good-bye. Of course he’d forget about you.”
 

The realization of that reality hurt, and Sakura felt herself shake uncontrollably with emotions.
 

“Sakura?” Jane called out from the other side. “Hurry up. Your parents have just arrived. I can see them down at the street.”
 

Sakura swore under her breath and quickly concentrated all her attention on cleaning herself. She was done and out of the shower five minutes later, her long hair and body dripping wet. She wrapped a towel around her person and then rushed out of the room.
 

“Are they really here already?” she asked as she busied patting her hair with another towel.
 

Jane nodded.
 

“Hold on. I need underwear,” she said and rushed to the drawer. She found herself a pair of panties and bra and then dashed back into the bathroom. When she returned ten minutes later, underwear on as well as light makeup done, Akira was there with a floral yukata set out for her.
 

“Sakura-chan,” Akira said. “We’re late, and it’s not good. Sosuke said the brothers are heading down now.”
 

“Jesus!” Sakura muttered. “Help me, Akira. I don’t know how to put the yukata on.”
 

“It’s your own fault,” Akira muttered. “We did tell you to get ready sooner.”
 

“But there was so much to do,” Sakura defended.
 

Jane decided to help. She came around and pulled Sakura’s towel off her body.
 

“Jane!” Sakura shrieked, “What are you doing?”
 

“Helping you get ready,” Jane replied cheerfully.
 

Akira handed Jane the traditional Japanese underwear of long white robe. Once Sakura had it on, Akira returned her attention to the yukata itself. She wrapped the material on Sakura while Jane started blow-drying Sakura’s long hair.
 

Akira folded the right side of the yukata on the front and then the left on top of that. Next she tied the sashes, one about Sakura’s waist and one just under her breasts. Sakura tested the knots to make sure they wouldn’t go loose on her by accident. After that, Akira wrapped the inner belt around Sakura’s middle and then the obi on top, tying the bright material into a perfect bow at the back.
 

Akira stood back and admired her handiwork. “Wow!”
 

Jane cocked her head to one side and said, “You look amazing, Sakura.”
 

“Are we done?” Sakura asked, looking at Akira.
 

“Err…”
 

Akira didn’t get to finish her sentence because Sakura rushed out the door. Akira turned to look at Jane.
 

“I wasn’t finished yet,” Akira said. “Her front isn’t done up properly.”
 

Jane just smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
 

Sakura knew she was late, and she hadn’t yet finished setting up the low tables. She was in such a rush that she didn’t look at where she was going. She raced along the corridor, intending to go into the dining room. Suddenly, she smashed right into the arms of one of the men she’d been thinking about all day. She froze the moment she felt him embracing her. She slowly lifted her
gaze and swallowed when she saw the hot, intense mauve-gray eyes watching her.
 

Sakura licked her lips and said, “Darcy, you’re early.”
 

Tristan chuckled from behind. “We’re not early, Sakura darling. We are on time.”
 

Sakura hesitantly moved out of Darcy’s arms, blushing. Then she looked behind Darcy to see both Tristan and Logan. All three men were wearing the yukata as well, and they definitely looked hot, especially because they didn’t wear any shirt underneath and the V-shape about the front was showing their muscular chest. For Darcy, she could slightly see the tattoo of the Sakura flower. The view was very enticing, and she had the uncontrollable desire to caress the firmness of his toned chest. She quickly flicked her mind away from the too tempting, too hot, brooding Darcy and wondered where everyone else was.