by Alexia Praks
“Say hi to Beth for me. Tell her she’s been neglecting me again. Tell her she’s starving me. Tell her I don’t miss her.”
“Will do,” she said, waved, and left the cottage.
Sakura couldn’t believe it. She’d spent her whole Sunday with Ned, painting. Although she admitted that she had thoroughly enjoyed it, and not seeing Alaina or Tara was the best part.
The sun was setting on the far west of the island, and Sakura couldn’t help but fall in love with the glow of the orange sky. She quickly got out her camera and took some pictures. Once she was done, she headed toward the small pathway through the woods leading Princeton Estate.
It was twenty minutes later when she sighted the stately mansion, and instead of walking in through the front door, she headed around to the back. She sneaked into the kitchen and nearly jumped out of her skin when Beth snapped at her. “You’re late for dinner.”
Sakura chuckled. “Of course I am. It’s all your fault, Beth dear. If you hadn’t neglected your brother for so long, then I wouldn’t have to be there looking after him. If you must know, he’s starving for your affection.”
Beth chuckled. “Affection my ass,” she said. “All that brother of mine wants is your delicious coffee, just like everyone else. Now they’re complaining about my standard coffee. Give them a cup and they’ll be good for the day.” She grabbed Sakura by the arm and nudged her to the coffee machine that apparently only Sakura knew how to make do magic. “Now redeem yourself and make nine cups of coffee before they all die of disappointment.”
Sakura snapped her head up to look at Beth in shocked surprise. “Nine? Nine cups!”
Beth folded her arms across her chest. “Now either that or you go in there and have a proper dinner with your family.”
Sakura pulled her face. Beth knew she didn’t want to go in there and have her dinner with certain people, and she was making a threat. “Okay,” she said. “Once I’m done with the coffee, I’m off to my room. No disruption please.”
“Of course. You have my word.” Beth said. She even crossed her heart.
Sakura put her satchel down on the bench top and made her way to the coffee machine. Just when she was starting to grind the coffee beans, her phone beeped. She rushed back and picked it up to find she had a new text message. She noted there was no name, and she didn’t recognize the phone number either. She didn’t remember giving her phone number to anybody lately. Curious, she went ahead and read the message.
Where are you?
Huh? Sakura couldn’t help herself and texted back: Who is this?
A second later she got another text, and it read: Doesn’t matter. Where are you?
She gritted her teeth. What absolute nonsense. Was somebody playing tricks on her? She texted back: Go to hell!
She threw her phone on the bench, frowning at it. When she was just about to turn, her phone beeped again. She sighed and picked it up, determined to ring whoever it was and tell him to leave her alone.
She had another text, this time from a different number. What?
It read: Sakura, where are you? You missed dinner. And I want your coffee with a teddy bear on it like Michael’s. Please come soon.
Sakura cocked her head to one side, wondering. Conrad? But how on Earth did he get her number?
She texted back: I’m in the kitchen, making your coffee. Yes, you will get a teddy bear.
She turned off the phone so she wouldn’t get disrupted again. She went back to making coffee, and two cups later the door burst open and Conrad rushed in.
“Hello,” he said, a cheeky smile on his face.
Sakura nodded. “I’m doing yours now. A teddy bear? Are you sure?”
“Nope, I’m not sure,” he said. “Come to think of it, teddy bears are for kids. How about a dragon?”
Sakura laughed. “I can’t do a dragon. It’s too complicated. How about a swan?”
“Okay. Swan is good. No, wait. I want to learn how to make coffee art.” He rushed around the bench and came to stand behind her.
He watched her make the coffee, then she handed him the jug of hot milk.
“What?” he asked.
She pushed the jug to him. “You did say you want to make your own. Here.” She made him hold the jug and then with her hand on top of his, she guided him. “You have to do it quite fast. See?”
Conrad wasn’t paying attention to what she was demonstrating to him. He was watching her, and he had a big, fat grin on his face.
“See?” she asked again, looking up at him.
He nodded, still grinning like an idiot. Sakura couldn’t help smiling back. She thought he looked adorable.
“What?” she asked. “Why are you smiling like that?”
“Nothing,” he said. “You got something on your nose.” He wiped the smudge of coffee debris from her skin. Once it was clean, instead of moving his hand away, he touched her cheek, pretending to clean there, too.
“Is it all over my face?” she asked.
Instead of agreeing with her, which would be a lie, he just nodded.
Sakura blushed. “I don’t usually make such a mess.”
He just kept on grinning as his fingers and thumb moved to her forehead, pretending to wipe nonexistent dirt. Then he moved his thumb to her lip where he couldn’t help himself and caressed it.
“There, too?” she asked, uncomfortable because his thumb was in the way as she spoke.
“Yeah, there too,” he said, moving his head closer to hers.
Sakura gazed up at him, her heart pounding as he came closer and then—
“Ah-hem!”
Conrad jumped. He hastily turned to the door and saw Sebastian there.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were in the kitchen?”
Sakura thought Sebastian was talking to Conrad, but then he said, “Why didn’t you text me back?” That was when she realized he was talking to her. Oh! So that first unknown number was his? But how did he get her number? From whom? And why would he text her?
Good Lord! He looked mad. He sounded mad.
Conrad moved away from Sakura and picked up his coffee. “I like swans,” he said and took a sip. “Hmm. Delicious.”
Sakura returned to making more coffee as Tristan walked in. “Are you making one for me?” he asked, coming to stand behind her. Then, before she knew it, Logan and Hayden turned up as well and crowded the kitchen.
“Smells good,” Hayden said.
“What are you guys doing here?” she asked. She just wanted to get this done quickly and then disappear into her room.
“Pass me that cup,” Logan said, reaching out. No one was paying him attention, however, and he stretched out his hand for the cup. He accidentally shoved Sakura’s bag to the floor, her stuff flying out everywhere.
Sakura gasped, stopped what she was doing, and rushed around the corner.
“Oh, shoot! Sorry.” Logan crouched down and picked up her bag for her.
Sebastian helped by picking up the pieces of papers that were on the floor. Sakura saw he was about to read her very confidential report and snapped it from his hand, none too gently. She quickly folded it carefully and shoved it in her bag, her hands shaking. Sebastian noticed her odd reaction and was instantly suspicious but said nothing.
Sakura put her bag farther away from them and returned to her coffee.
“So what have you been doing this whole day? You just disappeared on us since early this morning,” Logan asked, leaning across the countertop.
“Things,” she said and didn’t bother to explain.
“What kind of things?” Hayden asked. “Have you had dinner yet?”
“Nope. But I’m sure I can as soon as you guys leave me alone to finish this.”
Tristan chuckled. “Touché.”
The brothers watched in silence as she expertly made their coffee. Then some twenty minutes later, it was done, all eight cups. And by that time, Conrad had finished his.
“Am I allowed one more?” he had the g
all to ask.
Sakura scowled at him. “Too much coffee is bad for you.” She turned to the others. “Now off with you. Take them. I’m off.” She grabbed her bag and practically ran out the door.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 9
A Tormented Love
Once she was in her room alone, she breathed a sigh of relief. Living with seven men was too much for her, she decided.
She dug her hand in her satchel and took out the pieces of papers Ned had given her. Thank God none of them saw the contents. Of course she knew they didn’t care anyway, but she didn’t want people to know what she was up to. It was her business after all.
She put the papers on the study desk and then went to shower. Fifteen minutes later when she came back out, she was wearing her cotton pajama shirt and shorts, her long hair fresh and clean though still slightly damp because she couldn’t be bothered with drying it properly, and her skin was soft and smooth after she moisturized herself with lotion. She actually felt rather tired and in fact was ready for bed when she spotted the pair of recently cleaned socks that Darcy had put on her feet yesterday morning back at the pool. Suddenly, her heart fluttered within her chest. Darcy! Should she go and return those to him now?
She picked up the pair of socks and poked her head out the door. Coast clear, she thought and rushed across the corridor to Darcy’s room. She lightly knocked, hoping like hell he wasn’t in. That way she could just drop the socks off and run back to her own room ASAP, and he would be none the wiser.
A few seconds later when there was no sound, she tried the door. It wasn’t locked. She turned the knob and slipped in.
She wasn’t surprised at all to see that his room was meticulously clean and tidy. She knew Darcy allowed no one to enter his room, nor did he ever allow the maid to clean it either. His room was his sanctuary, his private haven, and of course Sakura didn’t want to get caught red-handed. He’d probably get so pissed with her that he might just—
She paused. What would he do now that he was a grown man if he were to catch her in his room? She didn’t know and didn’t want to think about it and hence turned to inspect his room instead.
The design was very masculine with a muted gray color scheme. The large king-size bed sat to one side while the study desk and chair, very modern and sleek, sat near the window. If the person who sat in that very comfy chair there decided to lift his head, he would see the lovely view of the pond outside. Sakura cocked her head to one side, wondering if he’d seen her many times on the dragon bridge.
On top of the desk was his laptop and digital drawing gear. She wondered if he did digital art. Then she swore at herself. Of course he did. After all, he was one of the best game creators and designers for his and Hayden’s gaming company.
Then something caught her attention. It was a gigantic digital art poster on one side of the wall. She caught her breath, truly amazed at the artwork. To say it was fantastic was an understatement. It took her breath away the moment she set her eyes on it.
It was set in a fantasy world with a gothic castle and a cherry tree in full bloom in the background. However, what really fascinated her was the central picture of the dark knight and a fair maiden. The pair caused her insides to shiver with something akin to pleasure and delight.
The knight was in gothic fantasy, medieval war clothing, had long, sinful black hair, which was tied back, and had one hand holding a dangerous-looking long, kickass sword that gave her the impression he’d use it to slay any monsters that dared to come his way. The other of his long, masculine hands was embracing the beyond-beautiful maiden.
Sakura could only stare, wondering if any woman in existence could compare to this exquisite beauty in the poster. She had long black hair, her skin petal white, and her lips a ruby-red color. She wore a fantasy-type medieval gown the color of azure with gold trimming which seemed to enhance her beauty even more. Her long hair flowed down to her waist, and her slender arms embraced the knight, her face soft with love as she gazed up at him.
Sakura’s breathing suddenly became short and fast. She was lost in a different world as she continued to stare at the poster.
Suddenly, the door opened and Sakura gasped in fright, twisting herself around to witness Darcy coming in.
The moment Darcy closed the door and raised her head, he could only stare in shocked surprise to see his adopted sister in his bedroom. His heart began to thump loud in his chest, like an African drum beating under the moonlight. He gazed at her, taking in the wild hair, the soft skin, the bare legs, and the bright eyes. Holy shit! She is hot. There were butterflies within the pit of his stomach and his body ached with longing.
They continued to stare at each other in silence, totally surprised and totally lost as to what to do.
“Is he in?” Conrad’s voice traveled to them from outside the bedroom door. Then a triple knock followed.
Sakura gasped. She realized Conrad was about to come in.
“He’s not in,” they heard Hayden mutter. “And why do you want to see Darcy’s new project? He’s still working on it.”
“Just want a peek,” Conrad said. “You did say he printed out some of the artwork, didn’t you? And you did approve him to continue, so I want to see since I’m going to be your beta tester. Besides, it was your bloody fault. If you hadn’t told me there was a character that looks exactly like me, then I wouldn’t have been so curious.”
Suddenly the doorknob wriggled.
Darcy took action. He grabbed the surprised Sakura by the arm and pulled her along with him toward the walk-in closet. He shoved the door open and hastily nudged her in.
Sakura gasped when she found him in the closet with her. Then she watched him hastily close the door behind him. She tried to breathe normally, but it was so difficult with him literally squishing her against the wall. Oh God! She could feel him—the whole length of his person against her—his long, muscular legs, his firm chest, his chin on the top of her head, his warm breath on her, and yes, even that private part of his as well. She blushed in the darkness and nibbled her lower lip with nervousness.
Darcy too felt her—all of her—against him, and it brought forward a wonderful pleasure in his being. He gazed down at her in the darkness, wanting to do more to her than he was allowed. Oh, God! She was so soft against him, and her subtle breasts were squished up against his muscular chest. Shit!
“Darcy?” Conrad’s voice came through to them. A moment later, “He’s not in.” They heard the brothers coming into the room, their feet loud on the floor. Then they heard Hayden’s voice saying, “He’s probably at the pool, fantasizing about his characters again.”
Conrad laughed. “That means we have plenty of time to sneak around.”
Sakura felt Darcy’s body stiffen. She wanted to laugh at Conrad’s words. It was so like him to do just that, poking around his brother’s room. She also knew Darcy didn’t like people searching his private stuff and wondered if he was pissed with Conrad. She tried to see what his reaction was by lifting her head to sneak a peek at him. Instead, however, her head bumped against his chin. She gasped and automatically touched his face. “So sorry,” she whispered, her warm breath tingling his skin.
“I can’t find it!” Conrad announced loudly.
“It might be in the closet.” Hayden suggested.
“Oh, you’re right,” Conrad said, chuckling.
“Shit!” Darcy swore under his breath. The closet door suddenly yanked open, and Darcy thrust himself in farther, squeezing Sakura even more against the wall.
Thank God for the many clothes hiding their bodies so Conrad couldn’t actually see them. He was too busy searching for the folder containing Darcy’s character sheets for his new project.
Sakura found she couldn’t breathe, and her face was literally snuggling against Darcy’s chest. Oh, God, she could smell him. The smell of Darcy she remembered so long ago. She closed her eyes, and the memory came rushing back to her in full force.
It had be
en a rainy night, and she’d just had a nightmare about the orphanage and the fire. She’d been crying until her eyes were red and her cheeks were raw, afraid and alone. It had been then when she heard the door open. A few moments later, she felt a boy’s hand touching her face.
“You’re crying, Snow,” he said softly.
Sakura had turned to look at him. “I had a nightmare,” she told him.
He smiled at her and hastily settled himself between the sheets beside her. “I’ll protect you,” he said, pulling her into his small arms.
Sakura had taken the chance and eagerly snuggled her face against his chest. At that moment, his presence, his warmth, and his smell had eased her fear of her nightmare and eventually she had fallen asleep, feeling safe and loved in his arms.
Now Sakura felt exactly like that. His presence, his warmth against her, and his smell—they all brought back that wonderful, warm feeling she always had when he was near her. At that realization, her heart began to beat faster, and her pulse refused to calm down. Suddenly, she realized his lips were on her forehead, and in response, her insides quivered with pleasure, causing her head to spin with delight.
Darce, she whispered internally. Please, Darce, come back to me.
This closeness was driving Darcy crazy. God, how much longer could he handle this? How much longer could he control himself from ravishing this woman before him? Suddenly, he felt her hands moving down his torso. Oh, God! Did she realize her movements were intoxicating him? That her light, feathery touches were like a caress, teasing him, letting him taste the forbidden pleasure he so wanted?
His heart trembled with longing and he couldn’t control himself any longer. He grabbed a bunch of her long hair in his hand and brought it up to his nose and lips. Oh, God! She smelled beautiful. She smelled of spring. His insides ached to hold her, to kiss her, to make love to her. But he couldn’t. He wouldn’t because she hated his guts. She would refuse him. And what if he couldn’t control himself then? He would hurt her, and he never ever wanted to hurt her.