by Alexia Praks
Chapter 31
Sakura & the Prince of Hearts
Sebastian was waiting patiently in the pool for Sakura to turn up for their first swimming lesson. Unfortunately for him, his brothers decided to tag along to watch the show. First it was Tristan who arrived, already in his swimming gear and heading straight to the pool.
“What are you doing here?” Sebastian asked, his voice cold as he watched his brother taking off his shirt and throwing it to the marble floor.
“Thought I’d take a swim. After all, I have nothing better to do,” Tristan replied lightly, then jumped into the pool. Sebastian scowled as Tristan proceeded to swim around.
Logan turned up a second later. “Such a nice day for a swim, isn’t it?” Then he jumped into the pool as well, diving deep under and popping up at the surface, all wet and shaking his thick hair like a dog.
Darcy came in and slammed the door shut, muttering to himself. “Why does it have to be Sebastian who has to teach her?” He sounded pissed and tired. He was tired because he hadn’t been able to get to sleep last night after Sakura had left his room. He was pissed because his body was aching for her.
“Because he’s the best swimmer out of all of us,” Nicolas said behind him.
Darcy ignored Nicolas and climbed up the ladder to the diving platform above.
“And you? What are you doing here?” Sebastian asked.
“Practicing my somersault,” Darcy shouted down. “Or you can’t tell?”
Sebastian really couldn’t do much at this point as Nicolas proceeded to grab the remote control and open the skylight above, letting bright morning light into the indoor pool area. Then he pushed the button to open the glass wall as well to let in the warm spring air.
“Ah, that’s better,” he said, making himself comfortable on the settee. Then he turned on his tablet.
A moment later, Hayden and Conrad rushed in and jumped into the pool. Sebastian wouldn’t be surprised if his student decided to run in the opposite direction after she’d taken one look at the pool area. He shook his head. This was going to be a very long lesson indeed.
At this time in her room, Sakura tugged the robe securely around her and took a deep breath. No more running now, she told herself. She had to learn how to swim. With a determined look on her face, she patted Toby on the head. The dog encouraged her with a friendly bark.
“Thanks, Toby,” she said and walked out the door.
She knew Sebastian was very punctual with his appointment, so she made sure she was fifteen minutes early. After all, she didn’t want him to get pissed with her for wasting his time. There was also the fact that she wanted to be in the pool before he arrived so he wouldn’t witness her in a swimsuit half-naked, which she felt rather uncomfortable in.
Her plan, however, came crashing down on her the moment she stepped into the pool area. She wasn’t alone as she’d expected to be because there were seven men, six in the pool and one on the settee. They all seemed to be enjoying themselves tremendously, swimming around and playing tag like kids.
Conrad waved at her. “Hey, you’re here,” he called out.
Sakura stood frozen in her spot, her heart pumping out of control. Oh, God! Oh, God! Oh, God! This was ridiculous. She wanted to turn around and run.
Conrad climbed up from the pool and came over to her. “Come on,” he said, taking her hand.
“Conrad,” she began uncertainly. “What are you guys doing here?”
“Swimming,” he said. He was about to pull her forward when she snapped her hand back.
“No, I mean—I’m fine. I mean, erm—”
“Do you want to learn or not?” Sebastian asked from the distance.
Sakura blushed. Of course she did, but she didn’t want to take lessons when there were so many of them around. After all, she didn’t want to make an ass of herself in front of them.
“Of course I do,” she said, walking toward them.
Conrad came running after her, and once he was by the edge of the pool, he did a good flip before diving in.
“Show off,” Darcy said under his breath.
Sakura stood frozen by the pool, wondering if she should get in or not. They all seemed to be watching her. Even Nicolas, who had his tablet in front of him, was eyeing her from afar. Why were they watching her as if they were waiting for her to do something?
She took a deep breath and sat down on the edge of the pool, dipping her feet into the water. It was warm, and she sighed in relief. At least she wouldn’t freeze to death.
She proceed to slide forward and then—
“Err,” Tristan began from the other side. “You’re not going to take off your robe?”
She stopped in time before the robe got wet. “Huh?” She looked down at herself and blushed again. Oh, God! How stupid of her.
She stood, then untied her robe. That was when she felt as though something wasn’t right. She glanced up and saw all seven of them watching her. She blinked. She blushed. They looked away and pretended to be busy doing whatever they were pretending to be doing.
She took the opportunity and quickly slipped the robe off her body. She, however, wasn’t fast enough at getting into the pool because the brothers were watching her again. There were a lot of gasps the moment the robe hit the floor.
Sakura was wearing a one-piece black-and-white swimsuit, fitting her body to perfection, showing off her slender legs and the shape of her small waist and gorgeous breasts. With her hair formed into a secured bun at the top of her head, she looked absolutely to die for.
Oh, the brothers had seen hot babes in swimsuits all right, but none of those hot babes were Sakura, and this one definitely hit the right spot.
The moment she realized they were watching her again, she quickly sat on the side of the pool and slid in. Only she was in such haste to be in the pool that she had forgotten she didn’t know how to swim. She found herself sinking right to the bottom of the deep pool and couldn’t get back up. She was fighting with all her might but just couldn’t seem to get herself back to the surface.
There I go, she thought. She’d die drowning because she was embarrassed seven men were looking at her. How pathetic is that?
The brothers all sucked in their breath again, this time from fright because they knew she was drowning. Sebastian got to her in two seconds flat, his powerful arms propelling and pushing him to her. He dived deep to the bottom, wrapped one strong arm about the small of her back, hugged her to him, and pulled her up.
The moment she was lifted out of the water, Sakura sucked air into her starved lungs, and at the same time she swung her arms around Sebastian’s neck, drawing herself against him.
“You okay?” he asked.
She was breathing heavily and managed to nod. She looked around behind her and saw the brothers still watching her. She blushed, totally embarrassed.
“Why does it have to be Sebastian?” Conrad muttered to himself.
“Because he’s the fastest,” Nicolas supplied logically.
Sakura tightened her arms around Sebastian’s neck, unaware that he was watching her intently and that he was pulling her even closer to him now. She said to the brothers, “Do all of you have to be here?”
“What do you mean? We’re here to help you learn,” Conrad said.
“I can teach her by myself,” Sebastian put in. “And Sakura doesn’t need you watching her every move. Can’t you tell she’s embarrassed?”
Sakura bit her lip. That was exactly what she wanted to tell them. God, drowning right in front of them was bad enough. She really didn’t want to make a fool of herself in front of seven men.
Nicolas switched off the tablet screen and stood up. “All right. I’m going to play pool. Anyone care to join me?” He left his invitation hanging in the air and walked to the door.
Logan sighed and pulled himself out from the water. “Coming.” He followed Nicolas to the door.
Tristan shook his head and swam toward Sebast
ian and Sakura. He said softly behind Sakura, “Come to me if he’s a lousy teacher. I’ll teach you how to swim properly.” He patted her cheek and then climbed out.
Darcy got up and silently walked away, too. As he was heading to the door, he turned his head and glanced back at her. Sakura caught his eyes and felt her heart fluttering. Her body became stiff in Sebastian’s arms. She licked her lips and watched him go.
Hayden chuckled and shook his head. He hooked one arm over Conrad’s shoulders and dragged the youngest brother out of the pool.
“Have fun, Sakura,” Conrad said. “See ya in an hour.”
Once the door was closed and the pool was again quiet, Sakura finally managed to calm down and sighed in relief. That was when she became aware of Sebastian’s toned body against her. Her heart started to race, and her body began to tingle. She wanted to let go of him but was too afraid she’d just sink right to the bottom of the pool again.
She turned her eyes to him and saw he was watching her intensely. She shivered involuntarily, licking her lips again.
Sebastian eyed those glistening, sensuous lips and felt his throat go dry as dust.
“We’ll start with floating,” he said softly. “Can you float?”
Sakura shook her head, feeling her hands slipping from his muscular neck. Sebastian moved his hand down her back slowly, as if caressing her. Sakura caught her breath at the back of her throat.
“Floating is easy,” he said.
Sakura bit her lip. “Easy how?”
He chuckled because she looked so cute frowning at him. “Just imagine you’re light, like a feather floating in the air or something.”
Sakura cocked her head to one side and tried imagining that. She giggled. “Me? A feather?”
Sebastian smiled. He liked her giggle. It sounded like music to his ear. “And move your legs, like kicking the water below you.”
“Oh,” she said, looking down at herself. But all she could see was his muscular chest. It was so hard and so smooth, and oh, God, she could feel her tummy fluttering and her fingers tingling.
“Go on, kick!” he said.
Sakura refused to look at his face because she was embarrassed. Obediently, she kicked, back and forth, back and forth.
“Now imagine you’re that feather,” he suggested.
“No, I’m not a feather. I’m a sakura,” she said, smiling and closing her eyes.
Sebastian didn’t understand what she meant but didn’t ask, as she was doing rather well.
What Sakura meant was that she was imagining herself as a cherry blossom floating in midair in spring. She smiled at that thought.
Slowly, Sebastian let her go. He watched her floating before him, her eyes closed and a serene expression on her face. She made his heart glow, and he couldn’t stop watching her.
When she opened her eyes again, she noted he was a good distance away from her and gasped. “I’m floating!” she shrieked excitedly. “I’m floating!” She laughed merrily.
Sebastian thought his heart would really burst if it swelled much bigger, but that was exactly how he felt. She was beautiful. Her laughter was beautiful. She made him feel wonderful.
She smiled at him. “I can float! Yay!” She giggled some more.
“How about floating on your back now?” he suggested.
She blinked. “Huh?”
“On your back,” he said, coming toward her.
Once he was close to her, her heart started to beat fast again. Sebastian wrapped one arm about the small of her waist and made her bend back. “Here, lie back,” he said.
Sakura followed his instruction. Oh, God! She could feel his firm hand on her waist, warm and sensual, and oh, God, why was her tummy fluttering again?
Sebastian gently ran his hand from her lower back up to the nape of her neck, his fingers caressing her skin. “Now imagine you’re that feather again, floating.”
Sakura closed her eyes, trying to ignore Sebastian’s hands on her person. It was hard with him being so close and the fact that her body was going haywire wanting—
No! She was not going to think about it. Sebastian was her adopted brother, after all. But oh, God! Was she really attracted to him? She growled in frustration.
He chuckled. “Come on now. You did it before.”
She wanted to tell him it wasn’t the floating, but because of him. He frustrated her. He confused her.
“Right. Imagine you’re that feather again,” he said.
Sakura obeyed and closed her eyes while he held her there between air and water, almost carrying her. She imagined herself as the cherry blossom again, floating.
Sebastian couldn’t help himself. The serene look on her face was beginning to affect him, and he felt desire burning hotter in his blood. Her skin was so soft against his touch, and her woman’s body was ready for him, he knew. But how could he think such horrible thoughts about her when she trusted him to teach her?
He gritted his teeth and let her go. She didn’t sink, and he was glad.
Silently he cursed himself. Silently he prayed she wasn’t his adopted sister. Silently he ached to kiss and touch her, to explore her beautiful body, to feel her against him, beneath him. He ached to feel himself inside her. Oh, God! He ached so much.
Sakura opened her eyes, and when she realized Sebastian was no longer holding her, she knew she was floating all by herself. Her heart burst with happiness at that moment and she laughed. “Yay!” she shouted.
Then she turned to her side to look at Sebastian to see if he was proud of her. When she met his gaze though, she saw something that caused her stomach to flip and her heart to skip. There was something in the expression on his face that made her heart do a somersault. Then her stomach flipped again and her body ached, and then—
She forgot to float.
She gasped and felt her body being pulled deep into the pool. She tried to scream, but the water muffled her voice. She reached out for help, and just before she hit the bottom, she saw Sebastian reaching his hand out to her, just like that time long ago back in the sea.
He caught her wrist and pulled her to him, his other hand tight around the small of her waist. She hastily wrapped both arms around his neck, bringing her body and face to his. Still floating there under the water, he embraced her, gazing down at her intensely. God, she is beautiful, he thought.
Then he couldn’t help himself. He moved his hand to hold the back of her head and brought his face down to hers. Slowly, his lips found hers.
He kissed her deeply and passionately, his lips firmly against hers.
Sakura couldn’t breathe, her heart seemed to have stopped working altogether, and her whole body was floating just like those cherry blossoms in the wind—flying higher.
Sebastian made her part her lips, and she obeyed. He blew air into her mouth, straight into her lungs. She felt her body working again. Then she felt his tongue plunge into her, exploring her. Sakura felt like she was in heaven as millions of thrilling sensations exploded through her being. She tightened her arms around his neck, never wanting to let go.
The two bodies floated there in the depths of the pool, swirling around, kissing deeply and passionately.
Then, as if lightning struck him, Sebastian flashed his eyes open and drew back, terminating the kiss. He started to swim to the surface, taking her along with him.
Sakura sucked in air once they got out of the water. Without looking at her, he guided her to the side of the pool and easily lifted her.
“I think that should do it for today,” he said, pulling himself up. He grabbed her robe and wrapped it around her. “You okay to go back?” he asked, avoiding her eyes.
Sakura, still lightheaded and totally confused from the experience, nodded.
Sebastian dived back into the pool and started to vigorously swim his heart out. Sakura watched him moving his powerful arms as he propelled himself forward, the droplets of water kissing his smooth, tanned skin. He looked beautiful, and
her tummy flipped again, imagining those powerful arms holding her and those hands caressing her. She felt lightheaded even more, and her body tingled.
As if he knew she was watching him, he stopped, breathing heavily, his toned muscles twitching. “Why are you still here?” he growled from across the pool. “Go! Get out of here!”
Sakura realized he was pissed. With me? Her body trembled in response.
Fine! He didn’t want her to stay.
“I’m going!” she shouted, pulling her robe tighter about her and marching out the door, her heart pumping hard within her chest, her body still tingling.
Sebastian listened until he heard the door shut, then pulled himself out of the water and dove backward into the pool, splashing water everywhere. He swam hard, working his muscles until they were exhausted, until he was exhausted. He wanted to swim until he got so tired that he couldn’t think of the kiss anymore. But that was not to be. By the time he’d done fifty laps, he was totally exhausted and collapsed by the side of the pool. Even then he was still thinking about that kiss—that wonderful, beautiful, amazing underwater kiss. It was like when he’d kissed her that very first time back at the cave years ago. He’d felt it then, and he felt it just moments ago—the passion, the love, the desire. Oh, God! It was so powerful. And he found he wanted more, needed more.
Her lips had been soft against his, and her small tongue was utterly sensational.
Shit! He had to stop thinking about her. He had to stop thinking about the kiss. He growled long and loud as he lay there, panting from exhaustion.