A Secret Proposal (Falling for Sakura 2)

"God, I've wanted to do that to you since I saw you back at the hotel weeks ago," Sebastian said. "You're not going to run away from us again, are you?"

He sounded a little uncertain and afraid, Sakura noticed, and it tugged deep in her heart. She gazed up at him and shook her head. "I don't think I can run anymore. It's too tiring running from you brothers. You guys just won't let me get away."

He laughed lowly at her honest statement. "Have you any idea how sick I felt when I found your note in my bedroom?"

Sakura flashed back to that day one year ago when she'd left the brothers her messages. She could just imagine the horrid feelings Sebastian had endured right after he'd found the note--and not long after he'd poured his heart out telling her he loved her, too.

"I'm sorry, Sebastian, but I couldn't stay any longer. I just couldn't," she said, her voice weak with emotion. "Not after what happened."

Sebastian stroked her hair lovingly and gave her a kiss on her forehead. "Well, regardless of that. I'm just glad we've found you. Or rather, Toby found us."

Sakura nodded. When she motioned to move back, he wouldn't let her and tightened his arms around her. He kissed her forehead and again on her nose and then on her lips. Just a light, gentle kiss that made Sakura sigh pleasantly.

"Sebastian, I have to go back. Lady Haruka must be so worried ab--"

Sebastian shut her up by claiming her lips again. He kissed her long and hard, thrusting his tongue against her, pouring out all his love and his ache for her through his kiss.

Sakura whimpered into his mouth as the heat of her core climbed, her body trembling with a desire to be made love to so deep it shocked her to her core.

When he released her for the second time, it was due to duty and by force. Sebastian laughed achingly. "If I keep doing this, it wouldn't be fair on Darcy."

At first, Sakura was confused as to the meaning of his words. Then she understood and smiled, her heart glowing. Oh God! These two brothers. They really respected each other, and their chivalrous actions only made her love them even more.

"And besides, if I keep going, I know I won't be able to control myself."

Sakura's whole body shivered deliciously at his honest confession. Not to mention the hot, dark look in his eyes that made her bones weak and her core burn with an aching desire she'd never felt before.

Sebastian slowly moved back reluctantly. He gave her a devastatingly handsome smile that would have made any woman throw away her morals and let him take her. Then he grasped her hand and led her across the corridor and down the stairs. Once at the door to the apartment, Sakura kissed Sebastian on the cheek and said good night. Sebastian, however, wasn't satisfied with just that and gave her another hot kiss on the lips.

When he moved back, she laughed. "You said you weren't going to kiss me anymore."

"I didn't say that." He chuckled. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you who I was..."

Sakura nodded. She understood what he was referring to. "You were planning on telling me though?"

He laughed. "I knew that last sentence shocked you." At Sakura's nod, he went on. "If this didn't happen, I would have sent you a message regardless and tell you exactly how I feel and who the heck I was."

Sakura placed her hands on his chest where his heart was. "You're Sebastian Princeton, and you'll always behave like Sebastian Princeton. You could never leave me alone, could you?"

He chuckled. "When it comes to you, Sakura, I could never leave you alone. But I better say good night now because, heck, I don't want to keep you up until three in the morning and make you sick again."

She laughed. "It's not three yet, and I did have a good nap this afternoon after the shock of seeing all you brothers again out of the blue." She dropped her hand from his chest and took a step back. "But yes, it is getting late, and I have to prepare for Sosuke's birthday party tomorrow."

"I can't wait to come," he confessed. "You'll look amazing in a yukata."

She cocked her head to one side. "I didn't even know we were wearing a yukata."

"It was Tristan's idea. But yes, we're all wearing yukata."

Sakura nodded. She herself couldn't wait to see the brothers, all seven of them, wearing the Japanese clothing either. They'd look awesome. She thought she better get her camera ready to take pictures. Maybe she'd even get to post some on her website to attract young female buyers who wanted photos of hot men in yukatas. That was if she got their permission first, of course.

"Good night, Seb," she said teasingly, a grand smile on her lips.

He laughed. "I still want to kiss you again and again." And he did do it once again, grabbing her into his arms before she could escape. He kissed her lips so deep and so passionately it made Sakura's heart burst with joy. When he did finally release her, he had his face buried against the nape of her slender neck, inhaling her sweet scent.

"God, I love the way you smell," he said.

She laughed. "I know. I can smell you brothers a mile away." It was an exaggeration, of course, but Sebastian was pleased with her confession.

He pulled back and said, "Can you now?"

"Sebastian, I really have to go," she said, pushing at his massive chest. "I'm staying with Lady Haruka and her family, and it's not proper to come home so late..."

"Then move in with us," he suggested. "Like Conrad said, we have a spare room. It's perfect for you. Please, Sakura, think about it."

Sakura gazed up at him and noted he was serious about her moving in with them. "I'll think about it," she said, chuckling. When he gave her a brilliant smile, she laughed. "Now, I really, really must go. Good night, Sebastian."

Sebastian laughed. "Good night, Sakura, sweetheart," he said and kissed her on the forehead once again. "Dream of me tonight."

Sakura turned, and before she could open the door, Sebastian caught her wrist and brought her hand to his lips. He gave her a hot kiss there, his warm breath against her skin making her breathless.

When he finally did let her go, Sakura was ready to throw herself into his arms once again. He had that raw effect on her. And they'd just reunited. How odd. Perhaps, she reasoned, it was just the fact that she'd been so lonely for so long, by herself for so long that his very presence made her feel whole and complete with love and affection.

She prevented herself from acting out her stupid desires by opening the door and slipping in. She quickly closed it before the urge to throw herself back into Sebastian's arm got the better of her. Then she rested her back against the frame and closed her eyes, a smile about her lips.

*

CHAPTER 23

A Race for a Kiss

It was six in the morning as usual when Darcy met Sebastian in the corridor, ready to go for their swim.

"Morning," Darcy greeted his brother.

"Morning," Sebastian replied, a big fat grin on his face.

Darcy noticed and knew the private moment last night with Sakura must have put Sebastian in a very good mood. He wondered what they'd been talking about. It was a little hard not to think about the possibility of them kissing. Darcy tried not to get too worked up about it, but hell, it was impossible.

They came into the pool area together, and the moment they walked in through the door, they heard water splashing. Curious to know who had arrived before them, which was unusual, they hurried nearer the pool area. On the edge, both men watched in awe as that exquisite slim body glided like a mermaid underwater. The female was a breathtaking sight to behold, and when she came up on the other side, both sucked in their breath.

She was wearing a navy-blue bikini, just like the one they'd spotted before. When she climbed the steps onto the floor, her body was dripping wet with water, and to be sure, the intoxicating sight was turning the brothers on. Of course, they didn't realize they were staring, nor that they were holding their breath, waiting for her to turn to face them. When she finally did, they swallowed hard.

"Sakura," Darcy said softly under his breath, realizing he hadn't been hallucin

ating after all that early morning when he'd seen her walking down the hall. God, if only he'd been faster and surer of himself, he would have caught her and... Well, it was too late for that now.

Sebastian felt like someone had punched him in the stomach, hard. That morning when he'd come in to find a young woman swimming, it had been Sakura all along, and he bloody hell couldn't believe it. She'd been here with him, and if only he...

When Sakura turned, she was surprised to see the two brothers there watching her.

"You two were so quiet I didn't even hear you." She came around the pool to stand in front of them. "You guys always swim so early in the morning?"

At the brothers' nod, Sakura suddenly paled as she realized it had been Sebastian that first day she'd been here. But she kept quiet, since she thought he mightn't remember that incident at all.

"Sakura," Darcy said. "You swim."

She chuckled. "I taught myself after that... after what happened last year. It was really hard. I was so afraid of the water for so long, but I told myself I had to do it. I just can't be afraid of it and let it beat me."

Sebastian took hold of her hand. "You are a natural in the water."

"Thanks," she replied, smiling. "You guys still race?"

At Sebastian's nod, she said, "I want to see you." She turned to Darcy and gave him an imploring smile. "Please?"

Darcy nodded without hesitation. After all, he wanted to show her he was as good a swimmer as Sebastian. "Anything for you."

Sakura clapped her hands together in excitement, and Darcy was just heading over to the edge of the pool when Sebastian said, "Wait a minute. What's the prize?"