Sakura relaxed back in her seat and then put on the safety belt. A moment later, Sebastian started the engine and then they were off.
It was dark, and the city lights glittered beautifully against the backdrop of the night sky, competing with the stars. It was indeed breathtakingly beautiful, and Sakura was mesmerized.
“It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?” Sebastian said.
Sakura nodded. “After what happened…” she said, her throat feeling a little dry. “After what happened, I appreciate what’s around me more.”
Sebastian reached out his free hand and cupped her face. “Nothing like that is ever going to happen to you again. I’m here with you, and Darcy, too.” He chuckled. “In fact, all of us Princetons. We’re family.”
She smiled, appreciating his comforting words. “Thanks.”
It was a few more minutes when Sakura realized they were heading toward the hotel. Of course, she was a little confused as to why they were going there and was about to ask Sebastian as he parked the car when he intercepted her and said, “No questions.”
She shut her mouth again. God, he was rather demanding tonight, wasn’t he? She just wanted to know what was going on. Nothing wrong with that, right?
When she saw he was getting out of the car, she decided to do the same. Coming around to her side, he intimately wrapped his arm about her waist like a lover. Then he said, “Let’s go.”
She raised her brows at him. “Go where?”
He chuckled with amusement. “I see you’re a little pissed.”
“Maybe just a little,” she said as they headed toward the entrance of the hotel. “If you’re bringing me here for dinner, I’m already too full to fit anything else.”
He shook his head. “Not dinner,” he said. “Rather, I want dessert.”
“Oh.” She laughed. “Dessert. I see. Then why didn’t you say so? Although, Beth and her team did make some chocolate cake for the party.”
Sebastian shook his head. “No. Chocolate cake is nice and delicious, but there’s something else here that is much better than a mere chocolate cake. It’ll be so delicious. I swear I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.”
Sakura cocked her head to one side. “Wow! Something that amazing, eh? Then I can’t wait to try some as well.” She chuckled. “Now you’re making me excited.”
Sebastian smiled arrogantly. “I’m glad to hear that. I can promise you that you’ll remember it, too.” He hotly kissed her on the neck.
Sakura squirmed deliciously in his arms. When he moved back, she wondered why he was acting so sensual suddenly.
They were coming through the lobby now and heading toward the elevator. Sakura noticed and said, “Is it in the nineteenth-floor restaurant?”
As the door dinged open, Sebastian said, “It’s going to be on the nineteenth floor, yes.”
Sakura nodded as they stepped in with a bunch of tourists heading to their own rooms on the upper level. Sakura stayed close to Sebastian as the elevator started ascending. A few minutes later, they reached the nineteenth floor, and the couple got out. Sakura turned toward a corridor that would lead them to the restaurant, but Sebastian led her the other way.
“But the restaurant is this way,” she said.
“We’re having it privately.” His eyes glinted with mischief. “After all, why would I want to have my very delicious dessert in public? It’s going to be something I cherish for the rest of my life, and the dessert is going to be the most beautiful thing ever. I would never want to share the sight of such a delicious thing with other people.”
Sakura narrowed her eyes at his choice of words. “You’re acting very strange, Sebastian. If you want to eat the dessert in a private room, why didn’t you just say so? Although, I must admit that the table near the window in the restaurant is quite nice, too, because it has a great view of the city.” She chuckled. “Especially at this time of night with the city lights in view. It must be amazing.”
Sebastian said, “I’m sure it is beautiful, but the room we’re going to be staying in will have an amazing view, too, so you’ll enjoy it.”
“I see,” she said.
It was then that they reached the door, and Sakura instantly realized it was the presidential suite they had used for the photo shoot.
“Oh,” she expressed. “It’s here?” She looked at Sebastian, her eyes large.
The man chuckled. “You did say you’d like to stay here, didn’t you?”
It was then that she remembered he’d overheard her agreeing with Jane that she wanted to stay here, since the place was so beautiful and luxurious.
“Here you go, madam,” he said as he opened the door for her. “Presidential suite just for you.”
Sakura couldn’t hide her smile as she walked in, her eyes large and sparkly. The suite was just as she remembered—furnished in gold and white with an antique sofa, which they had used for her and Sebastian’s photoshoot, the beautiful vase with a fresh bouquet, the mahogany table, the coffee table, and of course, the double glass doors leading out to the veranda that had a great view of the city and the sea beyond.
Sakura stared at the double glass doors, which were wide open. She wondered if it was supposed to be like that, even when there was no one in here before her and Sebastian. Or had the maid forgotten to close it after the preparations?
Curiously, she headed toward the door. The view of the dark ocean and the glittery lights in the city mesmerized her. Then something else caught her attention. A shadow of a man standing in the corner of the veranda. She narrowed her eyes, and then her heart raced.
She rushed over and said breathlessly, “Darcy.”
Darcy, in casual jeans and a white T-shirt, turned to her. “Hello, Sakura,” he greeted. “I’ve been waiting.”
Sakura blinked. Waiting? Then she realized Darcy had been waiting for her and Sebastian to have dessert together.
She smiled. “I see. So you came here first?”
He nodded as he came toward her. Once he was only inches from her, he cupped her face and then kissed her gently on the forehead. When he moved back, he asked, “Sebastian didn’t do anything weird to you when I wasn’t around, did he?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Oi, what’s this?” Sebastian said, his manly body leaning against the doorframe. “Are you accusing me of something I didn’t do? I thought we had trust, Darcy.”
Darcy laughed. “Sorry. I’m just making sure you didn’t get things started before me.”
Sakura was confused as to what they were talking about, and it showed on her face. “Is there something you two should be telling me? I mean, Sebastian was speaking strangely about dessert just before, and now you’re talking about things like trust and getting things started?”
Darcy chuckled because he thought she looked so adorable with that demanding face.
He grabbed hold of her hand as he said, “It’s something between me and Sebastian.” He led her back toward the door. “Nothing for you to worry about.”
Sakura begged to differ. She thought they were acting awfully suspicious. They went through the door, passing Sebastian, who was smiling all too gleefully for her liking.
“Just between you two, eh? Now I’m even more intrigued.”
Behind them, Sebastian folded his arms across his chest as he said, “I can assure you, Sakura, it’s nothing suspicious.”
Sakura turned to look at him. Once again, she thought he had read her mind. He was getting better at it, which didn’t sit well with her.
“So? What about the dessert?” She changed the topic. “When are we having it? Have you booked room service?” She threw the questions out to the room, assuming one of them had already ordered the dessert before they came.
She continued. “I don’t want to eat sweets too late in the evening. It’s bad for my weight.” She giggled.
Darcy said, “I doubt you have problem with that. You’ve always been thin.”
Sakura had to agree with that. She seemed to never put on weight, no matter how much she ate. Of course, Beth and Ned, or rather her aunt and biological father—yes, that she still couldn’t believe and hadn’t yet gotten her head wrapped around the very idea—would claim otherwise. To them, she’d eaten very little since she was young, which explained her slender figure.
“Not yet,” Sebastian said.
Sakura sighed. “Why not?”
“Because we haven’t gotten your permission yet.”
Sakura raised a brow. “My permission? You need my permission to order dessert?”
“Of course we do,” Darcy said. “It wouldn’t be right otherwise.” He gently grabbed hold of her hand as he guided her around to face him.
Sakura noticed the change in his manner and thought something was up. His eyes were dark and passionate. Then there was that vibe again, the determination that she had come to understand.
She licked her lips, wondering what he was about to do or say now.