Chapter 36
A Passionate Kiss
Sakura spent the next day with Ned at his cottage, painting. She’d been lucky since everyone had left the house early to meet up with Mary and Peter’s parents, who were arriving early that morning. Then of course they’d go to the Princeton Hotel and Resort on the other side of the island, finalizing every details for the wedding reception that would soon take place in the coming week.
“You could never stay put, could you?” Ned asked, watching her from his side of the room.
“No, I can’t,” she replied, cocking her head to one side as she eyed her canvas critically. “And stop lecturing me. Be nice since I’ve brought you carrot cake.”
“Did you make it?”
“Of course not.” She chuckled. “Your dear sister did. She told me to tell you to stop telling everyone that she’s neglecting you.”
“She’s a good girl,” Ned said, referring to Beth. Then he changed the subject. “I’m going to make lunch. What do you want in your sandwich?”
“Ham,” she said, doing a little dot of pink to make the cherry flower on the canvas.
“Okay, be back in a minute,” Ned said and then disappeared out the door.
They had lunch in quietness and afterward continued with their paintings. It was late by the time Sakura decided she had enough and headed back to the house.
“I’m driving you there,” Ned said in a no nonsense tone and made her get in the car.
Sakura shook her head. Just because she had sprained her ankle didn’t mean she couldn’t walk. Ned was being a worrywart, as always. But because she didn’t want to argue with him since she knew it’d be to no avail, she obliged and did what he told her to do.
Once they got to the mansion some ten minutes later, Sakura cursed loudly.
Ned chuckled. “I thought I taught you better than that,” he said. “Next time use a better swear word.”
“Aye, aye, captain,” Sakura said, eyeing Sebastian getting out of his Mercedes-Benz. He was of course followed by Conrad, Hayden, and Nicolas. Tristan, Logan, and Darcy came out of the other car. She wondered why she had to arrive home at the same time they did.
The brothers stood watching her as she and Ned got out of the car.
Sakura turned to Ned and said, “Why don’t you come and say thank you to your sister for the cake?”
Ned chuckled. “Scaredy cat.”
Sakura bit her lip and muttered, “I’m not a scaredy cat.”
Of course, he gladly came to her side and escorted her toward the house.
“Ned Fabre?” Nicolas asked.
Ned chuckled. “Master Nicolas, how are you? And Master Tristan, Logan, Sebastian, Hayden, Darcy, Conrad?”
The brothers nodded at him, surprised he still remembered them even though they had only met once or twice in the last couple of years.
“Why is Sakura with you?” Conrad asked.
“She’s my student. Such a slow learner, she is.”
Sakura folded her arms across her chest. “Excuse me, but I am not a slow learner.”
“What are you teaching her?” Hayden asked.
“Painting. She loves to paint the sakura tree,” Ned said.
“Sakura tree?” Logan asked. “That’s her name.”
“Cherry tree,” Sebastian said, and the brothers nodded in understanding.
Sakura said, “Ned dear?”
“Yes, Sakura dear?” Ned turned to her.
“Beth? Cake? Thank you?” She gave him a fake smile.
“Ah, of course.” He turned to the brothers and said, “Must thank my dear sister for the cake she gave me.” With that, he nodded at the brothers and headed into the house. Sakura quickly followed him, still limping a little. The brothers headed into the house as well.
After saying good-bye to Ned, Sakura lied to Beth that she was hungry and thus had her dinner in the kitchen before everyone else.
“Tell Mom Brenda and Daddy James I’ve already had mine,” she said, heading out the door. “I’m going straight to bed now.”
“But it’s only six o’clock,” Beth argued.
“Yes, I know, but I’m tired,” she said, hiding a smile. “Good night, Beth.”
“I swear to you, Sakura, you’re very odd these days. Eating and sleeping at the oddest hours,” Beth mumbled to herself.
Sakura rushed to her room, trying very hard to hide her amusement. After browsing the Internet and doing a bit of research on apartments in New York, she did feel rather tired and went to lie down on her bed. She patted Toby as she closed her eyes, slowly falling asleep.
When she woke up next, it was past midnight. The house was so quiet she could hear her own heartbeat in her ears. No longer tired, she felt rather restless and wondered what she should do. Then she thought of something. She’d go down and practice her floating. Then the thought of Sebastian and Tara flashed into her mind. She cursed under her breath.
Stop thinking about him, Sakura. You’ve got to stop. He’s a stupid man anyway.
She couldn’t find her swimsuit anywhere and cursed fluently this time as Ned had taught her to. Fifteen minutes later, she gave up and headed out the door anyway. She came down to the indoor pool area and found it was very quiet. The whole place, however, wasn’t at all dark, and she decided she wouldn’t switch on the light.
Decision made, she headed straight to the pool, took off her clothes and left only her bra and panties on. Slowly, she lowered herself into the water. It was warm. She sighed in relief. When she realized she didn’t drown, she giggled. Yes! She was floating.
Happily, she floated her way around the pool. Now and again, she’d open her eyes and stare up at the high ceiling. She marveled at the beautiful prism of white and blue the water made on the wall. On the other side, the moon was bright and high above, shinning in through the skylight. It was beautiful. She couldn’t believe she’d never done this before.
She was back at the edge of the pool now, her eyes closed as she was floating there, not thinking about anything at all. That was when she heard footsteps coming in. She flashed her eyes open and held her breath.
The footsteps were quite heavy. Could it be one of the brothers? What? At this time of night?
The footsteps were getting closer. Then she heard the person climbing up the ladder. Darcy? She looked up at the figure at the top of the high diving platform but only saw a dark shadow. Then she heard the board squeaking and then she saw the figure of a man jumping off and then—
Splash!
Sakura searched around as the person disappeared underwater. Perhaps she should take the chance and run off. After all, it wasn’t like whoever it was knew she was here anyway.
Nodding at that decision, she was about to turn but felt somebody in the water in front of her. Then an enormous body popped up, his massive chest pressing against her so she was imprisoned against the wall of the pool.
Sakura gasped, and her heart thumped hard in her chest as she stared at the huge silhouette before her. The strong face was above her, water dripping, caressing it.
“Darcy?” she whispered softly.
The body stiffened. Sakura watched in awe at the muscular arms that came up and trapped her on both sides. She licked her lips in nervousness.
“No, not Darcy,” came the deep, timbre voice.
Sakura felt her stomach flip. It was Sebastian.
“You were hoping it was him?”
She blinked. “I thought—”
“Well, that’s too bad for you. I know how you wanted it to be him.” Sebastian cocked his head to one side. “And here the girl who said she’d never commit incest is doing the very thing.”
Sakura bit her lip, confused. “What are you talking about?” She shoved at his right arm in an attempt to make him move away from her. He wouldn’t budge, however, and even chuckled as if in amusement.
“Sebastian,” she began again, licking her lips, her heart pounding as she stared up at the dark form
of his face. “I’m going now.”
“But I thought you were here practicing your swimming.”
“I’m done practicing.”
“How much has Darcy taught you, Sakura, apart from kissing you, that is?” he asked sarcastically.
Sakura gasped in outrage. “What?”
“Twice, I think,” he continued.
“Sebastian, can you just stop it?” she snapped, her voice quivering, her whole body squirming under his touches.
“Stop what?” he asked easily, though his voice was cold and hard.
She stared at his chest. “I don’t know.”
He pulled her closer to him, his strong arms tight at the small of her back. Sakura was squeezed up against his massive form, and she couldn’t struggle free.
“What are you doing?” she asked, panic in her voice.
“Teaching you how to swim, which Darcy has neglected to do,” he said, pulling her along with him.
He swam on his back, drawing her on top of him. “Pretend I’m a floating board. Now kick your feet.”
His arms tightened about her waist so she wouldn’t slip away from him. Sakura could feel the length of him against her, and truth be told, she was getting a little bothered.
“I’m not in the mood to learn,” she snapped and then hit his chest with her small fist.
He simply laughed at her futile attempt to hurt him. “Go on,” he urged. “Hit harder.”
“You’re crazy,” she said.
“I suppose I am,” he replied easily. “About you and Darcy and those kisses.”
Sakura struggled in his arms again as he kept taking her for a ride around the pool, his hold tight about her.
“Do you like him kissing you?”
Sakura was very upset now. He had no right to ask her such a question. In fact, he had no right to interfere with her life at all.
“So what if I do?” she asked sarcastically, intending to hurt him with her words. “Now stop pestering me.” She shoved him from her and hastily turned. She did her best paddling back toward the edge of the pool.
Sebastian watched her go for only an instant, and then in a split second, he caught her by the waist and pulled her back to him again. He twisted her around, smashed her against him, brought his hand to hold the back of her head, and slammed his lips down on hers.
Sakura wasn’t prepared for his brutal kiss as he assaulted her lips. He was so wild that he scared her. Suddenly he pulled back, frowning down at her, noticing she was rigid and shaking like a leaf within his embrace.
He sighed and closed his eyes. No, he thought, he shouldn’t have been doing this to her. He loved her, so why was he hurting her?
When he opened his eyes again, he knew he had to win her over. So he kissed her again. This time, though, it was gentle and passionate. He found her lips were soft and warm against his, both his hands cupping her face. Slowly, his tongue played with her lip, teasing, caressing, stroking, and licking her along the length of those marvelous, sensuous lips. Then he made her open her mouth for him, and when she did, he plunged his tongue in, exploring her, tasting her, teasing her, and caressing her with all the experience he had.
Sakura struggled to gain her mind back. She was lost in this wonderful, delightful, heavenly kiss that Sebastian was giving her. How could she feel this way? With only a kiss? But oh, it was such a kiss. She was breathless; she was mindless. Her body melted within his embrace. Her heart raced, and something deep and hot burned within her being. She softly groaned.
She was totally lost as he deepened the kiss. His fingers dug deep into her wet hair while he had one hand down the small of her back, pressing her against him. Oh, God! She could feel him growing hard. And instead of anger or revolt, she felt herself growing warm and excited. Oh, God! She desired her own adopted brother. Oh, God, no! She couldn’t. This was wrong.
When she felt his pressure on her lips lessen, she knew this had to stop because otherwise she’d be totally lost. She took the chance and moved back, pretending to be angry. It was better he thought she didn’t like him. That way he wouldn’t pursue this weird relationship she knew was likely to happen if she didn’t put a stop to it. That way she wouldn’t hurt him in the long run. That way she wouldn’t hurt herself.
“If you ever kiss me again, Sebastian Princeton, I’m going to bite you,” she said.
He stared at her, his face a mask. His eyes, however, spoke volumes because they were flashing blue fire.
Sakura moved back, but before she got any farther, he pulled her back to him and kissed her again, this time deeper and wilder as he plunged his tongue into her mouth, stroking and lashing his tongue against hers. His hand was strong and firm behind her head, holding her still as he continued to kiss her. His other hand was on her lower back, pressing her against him.
Sakura couldn’t do much more than respond to his demanding kiss.
“Ngh… Ngh…” she groaned. Her whole body shuddered in pleasure as he expertly played with her. His mouth and lips were warm against hers and she felt weak and dizzy. When he let her go, she gazed at him, dazed and breathless.
“You didn’t bite me,” he said, a devilishly handsome grin on his face.
Though her head still felt somewhat light, the meaning of his words didn’t miss her. In retaliation, she moved her head to his shoulder, opened her mouth wide, and bit him hard.
Sebastian gasped but didn’t move as she continued to bite him. Instead, he looked pleased. There was pain in his eyes, but there was pleasure also, as thrilling sensations rushed through his being. Oh, God! She was beautiful putting a mark on him with her teeth.
Sakura bit his flesh as best she could and then moved back. Once she’d seen her teeth mark on his skin, she hastily turned and paddled to the other side before he caught her again.
Sebastian watched her go, climb up out of the pool, grab her clothing, and literally run from the room in her underwear. He felt his blood run hot with desire. She had been swimming in her underwear. Holy shit! It was such a turn-on.
Slowly, he turned his eyes to the bite mark on his chest and smiled. He couldn’t believe it, and wanted to laugh out loud with joy. She had branded him with her teeth, claiming him as hers. Gently, he caressed the mark with his fingers, marveling at the imprint on his skin.
A few moments later when he was sure she was gone, he got out of the pool and headed back out. Before he reached the door, however, the room flooded with bright lights. He turned to see Darcy at the door. He walked to his brother, wondering if he was here practicing his diving at this bloody hour. But then again, it was Darcy. He could very well practice his diving at three in the morning if he wanted to.
Darcy didn’t miss the bite marks on Sebastian’s chest and said, “Looks like you had an accident.”
Sebastian stiffened. “Yeah. Dog bite.”
“Must be a very angry dog,” Darcy commented.
Sebastian didn’t say anything and headed out. Alone, Darcy sighed, his heart hammering in his chest uncomfortably. He knew, oh yes, he knew Sebastian had fallen in love with Sakura too. He knew that she too felt something toward him. But the realization only pained him even more. How could he let Sakura go when he had loved her all his life?
Shit! His head hurt. His heart ached. His whole body trembled with confusion.
“Snow what am I going to do? He’s my brother,” he whispered softly.