Sakura woke with a start, gasping and whimpering and her skin soaking with sweat. With her heart beating loudly in her chest, she stared up at the ceiling, her mind racing as tears welled in her eyes.
Dream. It was only a dream. It wasn’t real. She hadn’t lost Darcy. She hadn’t lost Sebastian. Both men were still here with her.
“Sebastian. Darcy,” she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Just moments ago, she had dreamed of them—she and the Princeton brothers—once again on that yacht in the middle of the ocean, the storm raging above them. Mrs. Clark, Tara, and Ray Woods had been there, too, torturing her.
Sakura shut her eyes as she remembered the nightmare vividly.
Mrs. Clark had shot her, only to hit Darcy instead. As Darcy lay there in her arms, dying from the gunshot wounds, Tara slayed Sebastian with her knife and then pushed him off the boat into the rampant sea.
The thought of losing her beloved men made her feel sick to her stomach, and she whimpered softly. She shook her head as she whispered, “It’s only a dream. It’s fine. It’s only a dream,” to convince herself all was well.
When she managed to calm herself some time later, she noted it was already dawn. Fearing that if she were to fall asleep and the nightmare would once again emerge without her consent and assault her with its unpleasantness, she decided instead to get up and take a bath.
She took her time soaking in the tub with cherry blossom–scented oil, thinking of only the good things about her two beloved men. She especially reminded herself that they were alive and well and, more importantly, with her. It was then her mind drifted to Darcy. She wondered how he was doing now in the hospital.
Needless to say, she was excited yet apprehensive at the same time. Excited because, finally, she’d be able to see him and apprehensive because she didn’t want to see how badly he’d gotten hurt. The last time she was with him had been the night before when he was severely injured and bleeding from gunshot wounds.
Once again, the thought made her feel sick. She shook her head and told herself all was well. Darcy was fine. The surgery was a success, and she’d get to see him today.
Some half an hour later, she’d had enough soaking and went to rinse herself in the shower. Once done, she put on a pretty summer dress and a little makeup so she didn’t look too sickly, which she was sure would worry everyone if they saw how pale she was. Leaving Akira to sleep soundly, she then headed out the door.
She met Sebastian in the dining room, where he greeted her with a dashing smile. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her on the lips seductively. Sakura was, of course, instantly affected and groaned softly under his touch.
When he moved back, he said, “You look beautiful today.”
“Thanks,” she said. “I did my best not to look too sickly.”
He gently tucked her hair behind her ear as he said, “Hmm, we have to work on your health.”
She nodded. “I’m sure from now on, I’ll be less stressed about life.” She eyed him with amusement. “After all, it has always been you and your brothers that stressed me out, especially in these last few months after Mr. Tachibana’s fashion event at the hotel. Honestly, you brothers were literally chasing after me and stalking me. That can really strain a girl’s health, you know.”
He chuckled. “Can’t be helped. We’re smitten with you, after all, and can’t afford to lose you again.”
Sakura said, “You won’t lose me again. I promise.”
Sebastian smiled. “That’s what I want to hear.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead this time.
It was then a loud throat-clearing noise came from behind Sebastian. Sakura poked her head to the side and saw Nicolas and Tristan standing there, watching them.
Tristan said, “You’re snaffling Sakura to yourself again, I see.”
Sakura giggled. “Good morning, Nicolas, Tristan.”
Nicolas replied, “Morning, Sakura.”
Tristan stepped forward and stole Sakura from Sebastian’s arms. “Morning, darling princess sister.” He even kissed her on the cheek, which surprised not only Sakura, but both Sebastian and Nicolas as well.
Sakura touched her cheek as she watched Tristan, who was obviously beaming with delight.
Sebastian said, “You’re getting too daring, aren’t you, Tristan?”
Tristan said, “Sakura is my sister, and kissing her on the cheek is completely normal.” He turned his attention to Sakura and was obviously egging her on for a confirmation. “Isn’t that right, darling sis?”
Sakura blushed, noting the fire in Sebastian’s eyes. Honestly, it was only a kiss on the cheek, wasn’t it? Why was Sebastian looking so pissed? Was he jealous? She didn’t know and felt rather at a loss.
She said, “I guess so.”
Suddenly, Nicolas burst out laughing, which drew Sakura’s attention. What did he find so funny?
When he managed to calm down, Nicolas said, “Sakura, come here.”
Curious as to what he was up to, Sakura obediently obliged and moved over to stand in front of him.
Nicolas nodded in approval and then leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Then he moved to whisper in her ear, “Be careful, darling. Making a Princeton jealous and insecure can land you in hot water.”
Suddenly, Sakura understood what the man meant. She glanced over at Sebastian, wondering if he was that protective of her where things like that were concerned. But honestly, they hadn’t even started dating yet, so she wasn’t officially his girlfriend. He and Darcy had yet to give her their answers, after all.
Sebastian frowned darkly as he watched Nicolas whispering to Sakura. When the girl turned her eyes to him, he knew Nicolas was telling her nonsense about him. He interrupted them by pulling Sakura to his side. Nicolas was obviously amused.
Sebastian said, “How about breakfast?”
Sakura nodded, and Tristan said, “I’m starving.”
Once they’d finished their meal, Sebastian took Sakura to the hospital to see Darcy first. The rest of the family would be visiting later that day, along with Beth and her famous chicken soup made specially for Darcy.
In the car, Sebastian noticed how nervous Sakura was. He grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “It’s going to be fine.”
Sakura nodded. “Hmm.”
It wasn’t long before they were at the hospital and Sakura found herself walking beside Sebastian along the corridor toward Darcy’s room in the post-surgery ward. Of course, her heart was thumping loudly in her chest, and her eyes were on the floor the whole time. Moments later, they rounded the corner and came to stand in front of Darcy’s door. Noting that Sebastian wasn’t going in, she raised her eyes to him.
Sebastian smiled and then said, “I’ll wait outside for now.”
Why? she wanted to ask but then understood. He wanted to give her time alone with Darcy. She felt her heart bursting with gratitude instantly. He was indeed considerate. She nodded in appreciation, and a moment later, Sebastian headed away, leaving her alone.
After taking a few deep breaths, she turned on her heel, opened the door, and went in. The moment she saw Darcy lying there on the bed, her knees buckled and heart quivered. With tears welling in her eyes, she made her way toward the man who was currently deep in slumber.
As she rounded the end of the bed, she eyed him, noting how pale he was, which wasn’t surprising considering the type of wound he’d endured. Not to mentioned he’d gone through an emergency surgery as well. She glimpsed, too, the dressing about his arm, which was revealed beneath the short sleeves of his hospital gown. She had no doubt he had another one around his back near the shoulder where he’d gotten shot the night before.
She came to stand at the side of the bed and took her time gazing at her beloved Darcy, taking in everything about him—his dark hair, which was currently a disheveled mess, and his broodingly handsome face. Those sensual lips that had kissed her numerous times, too, tempted her to lean forward and feel the soft flesh against hers.
“Darcy,” she whispered softly.
Suddenly, he caught her wrist, which surprised Sakura so much that she jolted in her spot.
Darcy flickered his eyes open and said, a grin on his face, “Well, madam, am I good enough to look at?”
Sakura blushed as her heart burst with delight. So he knew I was here all along?
“Darcy,” she said softly. “You’re awake?”
He nodded, his hand holding hers tight as he guided her forward to sit on the side of the bed.
Sakura obediently obliged and made herself comfortable. “I was so worried about you, and…” She trailed off as Darcy cupped her face in his hand, his mysterious mauve-gray eyes gazing at her intently. It was as if he hadn’t seen her for a long while and was now making up for lost time by drinking in her exotic beauty that had never ceased to fascinate him. The face that he had always loved, since they had been children.
Suddenly, he planted his lips against hers, which pleasantly surprised Sakura, and she relaxed on top of him.
His kiss was slow, gentle, and passionate, which gave Sakura so much pleasure that she groaned softly as she clung to him. When he urged her lips to part for him, she gladly indulged him, and Darcy eagerly plunged his tongue into her mouth, kissing her deeply and wildly. When he finally released her, Sakura was dazed and breathless.
Darcy said, “Good morning, Snow, my love.”
The moment he referred to her as Snow, she couldn’t control herself and started crying. She buried her face against his chest as she said, “I’m so glad, Darcy. I’m so glad you’re okay. When I saw you getting shot the night before and all the blood and…” She trailed off as her slender body shook emotionally at the reminder of the horrendous incident.
“I don’t ever want to lose you, Darcy. Not now. Not ever. I want you with me, beside me.” She lifted her head then, her eyes begging.
Darcy saw the desperate love in her eyes, which tugged at his heartstrings. “You won’t lose me, Sakura. I’m here with you, always.”
Sakura nodded and then rested her head against his chest. She stayed there in his arms for a while, basking in his warmth and simply relishing this sacred moment of being with him, embraced by him. When Sebastian knocked at the door some time later, she lifted her head and wiped her tears.
At the door, Sebastian eyed first Darcy and then Sakura. He didn’t miss the tears in her eyes nor her quivering shoulders. He knew she had been crying and was glad he had given her and Darcy time alone.
As he took a seat on the vacated chair beside the bed, he asked Darcy, “How are you feeling?”
The brother replied, “Like I’ve just been shot.”
That got Sakura worried. “Are you in so much pain? Should I ask the doctor to see if they could give you some painkiller or something?”
Darcy shook his head. “I’m fine, Sakura.”
“Are you sure?” She was insistent.
Sebastian laughed because he thought her overprotective behavior adorable. “He’s fine, Sakura.”