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"I beg your pardon?" Sakura asked, blinking.
"What's the prize for the winner?" Sebastian asked again. "It just doesn't seem fair for you to watch us race, and the winner doesn't get a prize."
Darcy agreed. "True." He turned to Sakura and cocked his head to one side. "Come on, Sakura. You've got to give us something."
Sakura wasn't sure where the brothers were going with this. She simply wanted to see them race like that time last year back on St. Joseph Island.
"Oh, how about this?" She was quite excited about the idea. When both brothers looked at her, waiting for her suggestion, she said, "I'll make the winner a cup of coffee."
The brothers looked at her, unimpressed.
"But it's a cup of coffee," she said. "You guys like my coffee."
"Sorry, Sakura, but if you aren't going to offer a better prize than that, I'll pass," Darcy said, jumping into the pool.
"What about a kiss?" Sebastian suggested, giving Sakura a wink.
Sakura blushed, her mind suddenly flashing back to last night when he'd kissed her. She said, "That's not a real prize."
"It is to me," Darcy said. "Are you on, Seb?"
"I'm on," Sebastian said and then jumped into the pool as well.
Sakura watched them, dumbfounded. When the brothers climbed back up and got ready, Sakura said, "But I haven't decided yet on the prize."
Sebastian glanced at her over his shoulder. "It's decided, Sakura. The winner gets to kiss you."
"Why don't you go and sit on the side of the pool?" Darcy suggested.
Sakura suddenly got pissed because, really, she didn't have any choice in the matter at all. Rather than do what they were saying, she headed toward the door instead. Racing be damned. Heck, she wasn't even that desperate to see two hot men working hard out in the water, propelling their powerful arms, their bodies glistening wet with droplets of water.
She was about to exit the place when she felt herself being pulled around by the arm gently and lifted in the air. She found herself in Sebastian's arms.
"Sebastian, what are you doing? Put me down this instant, you hear?"
Sebastian just laughed at her outrageous demand. "I thought you wanted to see us racing."
"I do," she snapped.
"Then why are you leaving?"
Sebastian took her to the side of the pool and placed her there, where Sakura sat with her legs dangling in the water.
"I don't like the prize," she said, matter-of-fact.
Sebastian moved his face close to her. "So you don't want to be kissed by me?"
Sakura blushed even more and glared at him.
"Or the thought of kissing me revolts you, Sakura?" Darcy asked from the distance, a haunted look in his brooding features.
Sakura turned her gaze to him and saw the wounded look in his eyes. She stammered, "No! That's not it."
Sebastian laughed. "Wish me luck." Then he was off to stand next to Darcy.
Sakura's body tensed as she watched the brothers get themselves ready. Sebastian started counting, and then on three, both dived in, their powerful bodies in perfect sync. Once they hit the water, they started swimming, their strong arms propelling them forward as their legs kept kicking.
Sakura watched as she held her breath. When they reached the other side, the brothers were neck to neck. They flipped over and kicked their powerful legs against the side of the pool and then headed in the other direction again. This was it, Sakura thought as she watched the brothers, and then suddenly, they were there, neck and neck, their arms propelling like mad, water splashing about everywhere as they raced forward.
Sakura waited, her body tense, her breathing stopped, and her eyes were glued on the two men. Who would it be? Sebastian? Or would it be Darcy? And then suddenly, Darcy hit the finish mark first by mere milliseconds. He was heaving heavily as he came up to the surface.
Sebastian laughed and slapped his brother on the back. "That was a good race, Darcy."
Darcy chuckled and flicked his gaze to Sakura, his eyes intent and hot on her. Sakura met his stare and became nervous all of a sudden. The race had been an adventure to watch, but now that it had ended, she thought she'd better run and hide before the brothers demanded she give the winner the promised prize.
She was about to act out her plan when Sebastian said, "Now the prize."
Darcy got up from his spot and, with a determined look, headed over to her. Sakura swallowed and felt a little exposed all of a sudden. As Darcy came closer, she flicked her gaze to Sebastian and then back to Darcy again. They looked serious about the kiss after all.
Darcy came to stand right in front of her, his strong, toned body dripping, which caused a delicious shiver down Sakura's spine. Her heart was racing and her stomach fluttering.
She was staring at his chest, at the beautiful tattoo of the cherry blossom flowers intertwining with the word SNOW residing on his chest. She felt her whole body tremble with emotion at the sight. Darcy loved her that much to have branded her name on his chest where his heart resided? The realization made her weak, and she inhaled a shaking breath. Slowly, she lifted her hand and gently caressed the tattoo, his wet skin, with her fingertips, stroking the lines of cherry blossoms and the word SNOW.
Darcy sucked in his breath as Sakura stroked him. She was making him weak, enticing him and awakening his desire. It was a moment that bonded them. Slowly, he brought his hand up and rested it gently on the side of her face, his fingers intimately entwining with her wet hair. He shut his eyes for a moment, inhaling her sweet scent. When he opened them again, he saw her watching him. The look in her eyes, bright and curious and ready for him to take her, brought Darcy to his knees. She was enchanting.
Sakura licked her lips as Darcy leaned down. Then she closed her eyes, waiting for him to kiss her, to claim his prize. She was completely and utterly tense as she felt him moving his face toward her and his warm breath against her sensitive skin. When she opened her eyes again, he was watching her and their lips were nearly touching, ready for the kiss.
Darcy stayed there for a moment, as if he were prolonging the inevitable. Then suddenly, he moved back and abruptly released Sakura from his clutches. Without an explanation, he turned on his heel and marched toward the door, passing Sebastian, who looked a little confused at the brother's odd action.
Sakura blinked and
suddenly felt like her heart had just been broken. Perhaps--just perhaps--Darcy no longer loved and wanted her?
*
CHAPTER 24
Snow and the Knight of Darkness
Sakura tried not to think about Darcy and his rejection that morning, but it was hard. She thought back as to why he wouldn't kiss her after he'd won the race. Perhaps he no longer wanted her? Perhaps he no longer loved her?
"What's wrong, Sakura-chan?" Akira asked at the door.
Sakura looked up, surprised to see Akira there, already dressed in her yukata. This one was very beautiful, a light blue with floral design.
"I did knock," Akira said.
Jane poked her head in behind Akira. "Sakura, haven't you showered yet?"
Sakura cocked her head to one side as Jane came into the room. The woman was dressed in a green yukata that matched her eyes perfectly. She looked very fetching without her glasses on and her blond hair up in a pretty bun.
"Jane, you look beautiful," Sakura said.
Jane blushed. "Akira helped me with the yukata." She did a little spin to show off the garment to Sakura. "I've never worn one before, but I love this. I'm going to get one to wear on special occasions."
Sakura laughed. "I might buy one as well."
Akira sighed in vexation at the two women who were still talking when they were running out of time. She took matters into her own hands, because otherwise, they really were going to be late. She grabbed ahold of Sakura's wrist and pulled her up from the bed.
"Sakura-chan, I know you're tired from organizing and preparing the celebration, but you have to get ready before everyone arrives."
Sakura sighed, reluctant. What she really wanted to do was collapse on the bed and sleep forever. She couldn't believe she got tired so easily these days. Of course, she'd been up since five this morning, wanting to take a swim before the pool got too crowded. Then Sebastian and Darcy had come in. There had been the race and the expected kiss that didn't happen.
When she'd returned to the apartment, she got down to helping the housekeeper and Haruka with preparing food for Sosuke's birthday celebration. Jane had arrived not long after and helped out as well.
Akira nudged her into the bathroom, followed by a slap on Sakura's bottom for her to hurry up. Sakura jumped and laughed wholeheartedly.
