Darcy removed Kate’s arms from around his neck and pushed her back, his face a mask of anger. “What are you doing?” he asked coldly. “I thought I told you it’s over.”
Kate watched Sakura walking away and smiled with satisfaction. Oh yes, Sakura had seen them all right, and that pleased Kate very much. At least that part of their plan had worked. Not so where Darcy was concerned, however. He was a stubborn old goat all right. Here she was, offering herself to him on a silver platter—all of her—and he hadn’t batted an eyelid. In fact, he was so pissed off with her that he nearly slapped her face just mere moments ago.
Kate folded her arms across her chest and smiled at him. “I’m coming back to you. Is that wrong?” She moved closer to him and touched his arm. “I love you, Darcy. Please come back to me.”
Darcy gritted his teeth. “How many times, Kate? How many times do I have to tell you? It’s over.”
Kate cocked her head to one side. “Tell me one thing, Darcy. Are Tara and Alaina right? Are you in love with that bitch?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Sakura!” She barked out the name in disgust. “That bitch Sakura.”
Darcy had had enough. “Listen here, Kate,” he began in a low, heated voice. “Yes, I love her. I have always loved her, even before I met you. She’s the woman who makes me feel pain and pleasure at the same time. She’s the woman who makes my heart beat fast and slow at the same time. She’s the woman who I think about every second. I love her, Kate, and I’ve never loved you. Is that clear enough for you to understand?”
Kate gritted her teeth and then bashed her fist on his chest. “You bastard! What about our relationship?”
“We’ve never had a relationship, Kate. Ever!” Darcy closed his eyes and his heart ached. He had to tell Sakura how he felt. How could he back out and let the woman he had loved all his life go to someone else, even though that someone else was his very own brother? But then again, how could he do that to his own brother? Sebastian too loved Sakura, and Darcy could never do such a horrible thing to Sebastian. Darcy could never steal the woman Sebastian loved.
“Good-bye, Kate,” he said coldly and then walked away. He didn’t return to the hotel to rejoin the wedding that was still in progress. Instead, he walked home along the highway—alone—his mind in a muddle of confusion and his heart in pain. Somewhere in the middle of the night, when the moon was high, he couldn’t help himself and ran until he was exhausted, breathless, and puffing, sweat soaking his body.
When he finally couldn’t go any farther, he collapsed to his knees in the middle of the empty road. As he lifted his head to gaze at the moon, tears were in his eyes and his heart ached, tormenting him to such an extent that he couldn’t help himself and screamed. He howled long and loud. His voice, hollow with agony, echoed across the air like a lone wolf in the woods, grieving for the loss of his mate.
When he finally couldn’t scream anymore, he cried, his head in his hands against the pavement. Oh, how he hurt. What was he going to do?
Snow, my dear Snow. What should I do?
Some while later, when he managed to get hold of himself again, he got up and slowly made his way homeward, his pace slow.
It was after midnight by the time he reached Princeton Manor, and as he made his way up toward the house, he saw the person who was responsible for his tormented heart.
She was wearing her very lovely nightdress, like the one she’d worn that night he and his brothers had met her in the garden near the pond. She looked like a wood nymph then, and she looked like a wood nymph now. Snow, my Snow.
He wanted to go to her. He wanted to take her into his arms. God, he ached.
***
The house is oddly quiet tonight, Sakura thought as she got out of the shower. Of course, there was only her, James, and Brenda, who had returned from the wedding reception. Everyone else—the brothers, Richard, Tara, and Alaina—had gone off into town to do some drinking and clubbing. She had no doubt that Darcy and Kate were with them, enjoying themselves tremendously.
It was odd also that tonight she had decided to wear her pretty Victoria Secret silk and lace nightdress. Why she wanted to wear this she wasn’t sure. She just did. Then she put on some night cream and blow-dried her hair. Once done, she went straight to bed, only she couldn’t sleep. She felt so restless, and she wasn’t sure why.
She flicked on the light, grabbed her camera, and went through the photos she had taken during the wedding. As she gazed down at the people’s faces in the photos, her heart ached within her chest. Her family. They were her family, weren’t they? Then the photo of her with Tristan and Logan came up, the one with them both kissing her on the cheeks. Tristan and Logan. They were the best of brothers and the best of best friends. They were never far away from one another, and they had always helped one another.
She flicked through some more photos and found some pictures of her and the whole family together. She was a part of them. She was a Princeton. Yes, there she was, standing in between Tristan and Conrad. Then there were Daddy James and Mom Brenda, Nicolas, Logan, Hayden, and of course the two men who affected her most—both mentally and emotionally—Sebastian and Darcy.
She put down the camera, her heart aching even more as she thought of them both. Were they really fighting because of her? What was she going to do? They were brothers. She was their adopted sister. Yet—
Absentmindedly, she reached for her treasure box and opened it. Inside, she saw the single earring she had bought a long time ago for Hayden. This had been the one he’d thrown back at her, telling her he only needed one. She’d kept it safe until now. She hadn’t been sure why.
She picked it up and gazed at it, marveling at the blue stone. Slowly, she returned it to the box and then took out her craft gear. She pulled out her watercolor paints and the small cards. Then she began to paint some cherry trees. Yes, spring was almost over and summer was just around the corner. She smiled sadly at that thought. She had always loved spring. It reminded her of her birth and her biological mother.
Some two hours later, she’d finally had enough and put everything away. Still not tired, she went to kneel down beside Toby, who was sound asleep. She stroked his white fur and the dog purred with pleasure.
“You have no worries, do you?” she said softly. “I wish I were more like you.” Then she got up and left the room.
The air was warm and breezy as Sakura headed down toward the garden near the pond where Mary and Peter had their wedding ceremony only that afternoon.
“It was a beautiful wedding,” she whispered to herself.
She closed her eyes and breathed in the spring air, her face tilted up toward heaven, serene. She stayed there for how long she did not know as her mind wandered off into the far distance. Then when she realized it was getting rather late, she turned on her heel and started walking back toward the house.
She was deep in thought and was just passing the section of the garden with thick bushes when someone grabbed her arm and pulled her into the darkness.
Sakura gasped, her heart pounding hard and fast as she instinctively tried to free herself from the tight imprisonment.
“Let go!” she said, her voice weak.
The person turned her around so her back was resting against the thickness of a tree trunk and her front was to him. His masculine, lean body completely enveloped her, embracing her so she had no way of escape. Sakura could feel his warm heat radiating out to her, and her heart started to thunder loudly within her chest and her head began to go a bit dizzy.
“Who are you?” she whispered softly, not at all seeing his face in the darkness.
He was tall, she realized, for her head barely reached up to his shoulders, and his body was firm against hers as he pressed her back against the tree, squishing her beneath him.
“What do you want?” she whispered again, her voice shaking.
As if to calm her down, as if to tell her that he meant her no harm, he gently touched his hand to her face and moved his lips to her ear. “Hush,” he whispered, sending electrifying sensations through her being.
Sakura closed her eyes and her body unconsciously relaxed in his arms. Her breathing became labored as he continued to stroke her neck down toward her collarbone and then lower toward her breasts.
Sakura bit her lip, her head spinning, and her legs suddenly turned into jelly. Then she could feel his warm lips against her throat. She could feel the heat of his mouth burning against her skin, sending her head reeling with wonder. Then before she knew it she could feel his tongue on her sensitive skin, stroking her, kissing her, sucking her.
She gasped as the heat within her decided to rise deliciously. He suddenly stopped. Sakura widened her eyes, wondering why he’d stopped. It felt so good.
She gazed up at him. All she could see was the shadow of his strong, handsome face above her.
Slowly, he moved his fingers and stroked her bottom lip, as he was marveling at the soft flesh. She heard him breathing harder, as if he had difficulty controlling himself.
“What are you doing to me?” she asked stupidly.
He didn’t respond to her query, and before she could understand what was going on, his firm lips were on hers.
Sakura was taken by surprise. She could feel the heat from him as he passionately kissed her, his fingers digging deep into her hair. She felt weak and light, like a feather floating in the air, flying higher.
“Ngh… Ngh…” she groaned and held on to him for dear life. In response, he deepened the kiss by plunging his tongue into her mouth and wildly invading her.
Sakura’s whole body shuddered in ecstasy as his tongue stroked and played with her, exploring her, sending wild passion coursing through her being, exciting her to such powerful levels that she thought she’d die. Yes, she was lost in the wonderful heaven.
Suddenly, he pulled back, as if he suddenly realized he’d made a mistake. Sakura gazed up at his dark form, her heart pounding. She didn’t want him to stop. She was hooked.
Then just as quickly, he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight, as though he never wanted to let her go.
He kissed her again, his tongue wild against hers, as if he were desperate to have her, as if he were afraid of losing her. When he pulled back again, he was breathless and she was shaking from head to toe.
He whispered softly near her ear. “I love you.” Then he was gone. Just like that.
Sakura stayed there staring into the darkness, her finger touching her lips, her heart pounding, and her head spinning. When she managed to get back to her room and then into bed, it was very late, or rather early in the morning. She couldn’t sleep. She was restless. Her heart was still pounding. Her mind was still on the man who had kissed her.