As Sakura clapped and cheered for Michael and the rest of the participants, Darcy placed her on an empty seat beside Daddy James before heading over to the bar.James turned his attention to her then. He took the opportunity and pulled her into his arms as he kissed her forehead.“Afternoon, sweetheart,” he said. “Heard you were unwell last night. Are you feeling better?”Sakura nodded. “Yes. Much better.” She grinned brightly to tell him he needn’t worry about her.Once she was out of James’s arms again, Michael ran up to her. He asked excitedly, “Did you see me, Sakura? I won the race. Was I awesome?”Sakura couldn’t help but chuckle with delight at the boy’s enthusiasm. “Yes. I saw. You were very awesome, Michael. Now then, what’s the next game? I’ll be cheering you on again.”Michael cocked his head to one side as he said, “I think it’s a three-legged race.”“That sounds fun,” she said. “Is Nicolas going to be your partner for that game, too?”She wondered how the two were going t
Upon hearing her name, Ms. Ruka clapped excitedly. She obviously couldn’t believe she’d be teaming up with two of her most favorite Princeton brothers. Thus, she rushed over to them as she giggled like a schoolgirl.“What?” Tristan shouted, obviously in disbelief.“No way!” Logan exclaimed, obviously disappointed.“Now,” Mr. Tachibana said, “team two. The first member for this team is…Sebastian.”Sitting on the sidelines, Sakura waited patiently to see who Sebastian’s team was going to be. Somehow, she had a hunch it was going to be Darcy, which was odd, and she had no idea why she instinctively felt that way.“The second member for team two is…Nicolas,” Mr. Tachibana said.At this, Sakura thought to herself that maybe she was wrong, after all.“Who will be the last member to join team two?” Mr. Tachibana asked the crowd to trigger some reactions.On cue, Michael went, “Me! Me!” as he jumped up and down with his hand up in the air to get Mr. Tachibana’s attention. “Pick me!”Everyone
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Mr. Tachibana said loudly, to get everyone’s attention again. “Come and get your ribbons. Remember, your job is to both secure your own ribbon as well as steal as many ribbons from the other teams as you can to win the game.”Akira raised her hand as if she were a student. “Tachibana-sensei?” she asked.“Yes, Akira.” Mr. Tachibana turned his attention to her. “What is it?”“We can secure the ribbon anywhere on our body and however we like, right?”Mr. Tachibana nodded in the positive. “That’s right. As long as it is secured and everyone can see it. You can tie the ribbon around your head, your wrist, or your waist. You can even wear it around your neck or across your body like a beauty pageant sash.”“Yeah!” Tristan said. “That’s me, the pageant queen.”Everyone laughed, even the adults.“You have one minute to organize your teams and plan your strategy,” Mr. Tachibana said. “And your one minute starts now.”Each team huddled up and began planning their strateg
“Oh, no!” Sakura shouted. “Get up, Akira. Get up! You’re almost there.”Akira was sprawled against Nicolas, who had a tight hold on her. Not to mention his face was intimately buried against her breasts. Jane, on the other hand, was half standing and half falling. She held on to both Akira and Michael for dear life.Akira said to both her team members, “Keep going. Pull me. I can’t get rid of this stupid man.”Nicolas moved his head back to look her. “Stupid man?” he asked with one raised brow.Akira gave him a lovely grin. “Yes, you are a stupid man. You baka!”That only made Nicolas tighten his grip on her waist, as if he were tormenting her. Akira shrieked in dismay because it was hard for her to breathe.Michael, who was determined to win, started leading the pack by pulling Jane’s hand. Jane herself was pulling Akira. Akira, on the other hand, dragged Nicolas along inch by inch. And, of course, both Sebastian and Darcy were being dragged along as well.Meanwhile, Team Thunder, wh
After the games, the Princeton brothers, along with Sosuke, Luke, Peter, and Jim, helped each other clean up the mess. Once this was done, they also decorated the garden for the barbeque party, along with setting up the stage and dance floor for the disco, where there’d be live music from a famous local Hawaiian band and some hula girls.Meanwhile, the adults and women went either to rest or get themselves ready. Sakura, however, did none of those things. Instead, she took the opportunity and escaped with Michael, heading for the beach. With her digital camera in her hands, she took photos of everything that interested her.“Did you have fun today?” she asked Michael, who was skipping along beside her.“Yep. Loads of fun,” the boy said. “The four-legged race was my favorite.”Sakura chuckled. “I thought so. And you got the whole basket to yourself, too.”Michael shrugged. “Akira and Jane said they didn’t want any, so I ended up with the lot. But I think the kissing prize was better.”
When they got back to the holiday house, Sakura noticed there was a lot of hustle and bustle with staff from the hotel everywhere, going about their jobs setting up the place and preparing the meal for this evening. So tonight, the Princetons decided to get the staff to do some of the work, eh? Well, of course they needed professionals since it was going to be an open party and not just a family affair like the night before.Watching them working side by side with their staff made her smile. The fact that they were so down to earth only made her grow fonder of them. Other young people their age who were born with a silver spoons in their mouths like them, who were privileged with billions of dollars in their bank accounts, would have snobbishly ordered the staff about. But not the Princeton brothers. These men got down on their hands and knees and worked alongside their staff, which was an admirable thing indeed.She and Michael were about to enter the house when Sebastian waved at th
“Good morning,” Akira greeted, the moment Sakura opened her eyes.“Morning,” Sakura replied softly, blinking a few times to adjust to the morning light that streamed in through the glass double doors. She turned over to lie on her left side as she eyed Akira. She noted that the other girl looked outstandingly perky so early in the day, which was unlike her. Sakura wondered if she were hyped up for work.“Are you excited?” Akira asked, grinning from ear to ear. “It’s going to be your first job as a model, right? Well, technically, you were a model when we did the runway back in New York, but that’s beside the point.”Still feeling a little tired, Sakura yawned as she rubbed her eyes. “Technically, yes, I was a model back then, but this is still officially my first day working as a model. To be honest, I’m both scared and worried.”And she was definitely not excited. Far from it. Instantly, the thought that she might muck up everything made her whole body shake in trepidation and her mi
It was seven thirty exactly when the group—Nicolas, Tristan, Logan, Sebastian, Hayden, Darcy, Conrad, Sosuke, Akira, and Sakura—arrived onsite, which was the Princeton Group Hotel and Resort in Honolulu, not far from where their holiday mansion resided. Jane met them in the foyer and hurriedly ushered everyone into the elevator so as to not waste any time.As the door dinged shut, she began her speech. “We’re going be on the nineteenth floor today. Men and women have separate makeup rooms. Once we’re ready for you, we’ll come and get you. Just so you all know what’s going to happen, I’ll brief you on our schedule now.”Everyone nodded in understanding.Jane cleared her throat and then began her briefing. “The first session is going to be Nicolas with Tara and Alaina, followed by Nicolas with Akira and then Nicolas with Sakura.”Hayden said, “Sounds like Nicolas is getting all the girls.”“And so early in the morning, too,” Logan added cheekily. “Can you handle that much pressure, Nico
Six Months LaterWhen Sakura woke up, it was to the sound of birds chirping and morning light shining in through the windows. She blinked a couple times to get used to the brightness as she lay there feeling exhausted, as if she had just finished running a race. Once she’d gotten used to the light, she searched about her surroundings, wondering where she was. Because this certainly wasn’t her room.Her eyes lingered on the beautiful chandelier dangling in the center, the crystals exuding an array of rainbow colors about the space. A moment later, her gaze shifted to the king-size bed that she was currently in.She sat up, her mind still reeling over what had happened last night. When she moved, she realized she was naked under the sheet. She frowned for a moment, and then everything came flooding back.Instantly, she blushed and clutched the sheet against her.“Oh God,” she whispered softly. “I’ve done it again, haven’t I? With Sebastian and Darcy?”She licked her lips as she pulled t
The moment her hands were removed, the two men stared, marveling at the sight. Sure, they had seen many women’s breasts before, and in fact, to them, they were just part of the female anatomy. Nothing more. But with Sakura, her pair of exquisite beauties, the perfect-size mounds of pale, smooth flesh topped with cute pink nipples perking at just the right angle—they were something marvelous.Sebastian tittered with excitement, which drew Sakura’s attention to him. She gazed at him, wondering why he had such a passionate look in his eyes as he stared at her breasts. When he flicked his gaze to hers and their eyes met, Sakura swallowed hard at the raw passion she noted radiating from him.“Wow,” Darcy said, his voice deep and hoarse, which sent a delicious shiver down her spine. “Just wow.”Sebastian nodded. He couldn’t find words to describe how happy he was.Suddenly, Darcy cupped her breasts, one in each hand. Sakura gasped at the intimate contact as her body squirmed in his embrace.
Sakura grabbed Sebastian’s hands that were about to cup her breasts, stopping him. She looked from one man to the other, her mind reeling at what was going on. She licked her lips nervously and then finally managed to ask, “What are you two doing? Aren’t you going to order room service?”Sebastian’s eyes glinted with that mischievousness that Sakura found both vexing and endearing at the same time.He said, with a hint of a laughter in his deep timbre, “Oh, but you are our room service.”Sakura wasn’t accepting it. She knew they both were toying around with her. She demanded, “The dessert?”Darcy said, his voice sensual and deep, “You are our dessert. That’s why it’s the best kind, one we’ll remember for the longest time.”It was only then that she understood what they meant. She. Was. Their. Dessert. As in they were going to make love to her?That pushed her into a panic attack, and she struggled in Sebastian’s arms, desperately wanting to break free. The damn handsome man, however,
Darcy said, “Sakura, remember the night you confessed to us?”Slowly, Sakura nodded.“You told us you’d either have both of us or none at all,” Sebastian said.Sakura jumped at the sound of his voice. She didn’t realize he was standing behind her, so close to her in fact that she could feel the heat of his body warming her against the coolness of the night.She nodded again. “Yes, I did say that, and I meant it. I can’t…” She sighed, her heart now racing furiously. “I can’t live with the knowledge that I picked one of you and not the other. That I’d be living with one and not the other. That I’d be showering my love on one and not the other when I love you both. It just isn’t fair.” Her body and hands were shaking now, even her voice, quivering softly under the two men’s scrutiny.“I won’t be able to handle the guilt, the pain of not having both of you in my life. I know I’m greedy. I know… It’s weird to love two men and want both in my life…living like a family like it’s nothing.” Sh
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 intercepte
Darcy was discharged from the hospital five days later, and, in Princeton style, a big Welcome Home party was launched at the holiday house.The moment Darcy stepped foot out of the car, he was treated and pampered like a king by everyone, especially his brothers Tristan and Logan, who acted as his butlers. Of course, being the down-to-earth person he was, Darcy didn’t want that kind of attention and found it rather tiring. Deep down, all he wanted was for Sakura to be by his side.Damn, but he wanted to kiss her and, most of all, confess his love for her properly, along with Sebastian of course. But that was not to be as the house was almost always full of people coming and going, and not one moment had he had the chance to be with her. At least not until a day later when he and Sebastian had a good talk and made arrangements for things to start moving forward to make it official.Now sitting on the couch, drinking coffee, both Sebastian and Darcy watched Sakura as she animatedly cha
Sakura and Sebastian stayed with Darcy throughout the morning, with Sakura entertaining Darcy by telling him about her family reunion and that Ned was actually her biological father and Beth her aunt. Of course, Darcy wasn’t surprised with this outcome, as he had known how much Ned loved Sakura. The same went for Beth.It was some time later when Darcy asked the question he had wanted answered since he’d seen the news on the television early that morning. It was about Mrs. Clark, Tara, and Ray Woods, who had been taken into custody.Sebastian said, “Tara might get a lighter sentencing than Mrs. Clark and Ray Woods. She’s only an accomplice.”“And Mrs. Clark?” Sakura asked, her body tense.“Probably life in prison for first-degree murder or something along those lines,” Sebastian said.“For murdering Mrs. Taylor?” Sakura asked.At this, both Sebastian and Darcy turned to look at her, surprised. Sebastian asked, “How did you know she was one of the victims?”Sakura cast her eyes downwar
Sakura woke with a start, gasping and whimpering and her skin soaking with sweat. With her heart beating loudly in her chest, she stared up at the ceiling, her mind racing as tears welled in her eyes.Dream. It was only a dream. It wasn’t real. She hadn’t lost Darcy. She hadn’t lost Sebastian. Both men were still here with her.“Sebastian. Darcy,” she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.Just moments ago, she had dreamed of them—she and the Princeton brothers—once again on that yacht in the middle of the ocean, the storm raging above them. Mrs. Clark, Tara, and Ray Woods had been there, too, torturing her.Sakura shut her eyes as she remembered the nightmare vividly.Mrs. Clark had shot her, only to hit Darcy instead. As Darcy lay there in her arms, dying from the gunshot wounds, Tara slayed Sebastian with her knife and then pushed him off the boat into the rampant sea.The thought of losing her beloved men made her feel sick to her stomach, and she whimpered softly. She shook he
Across the distance of the sitting room, Sakura silently watched her biological mother being embraced in Ned’s arms as the woman recited her story to her first love. And Sakura had no doubt that she, too, must have played a part of that tale when she had been a baby.Once again, she still couldn’t believe the fact that she, Sakura, had been by her biological father’s side all along, since she had been seven years old in fact. Could this explain why she had always felt connected to the man deep down? Was that why she’d always felt safe and comforted when he was around? And the fact that he had always been there for her and helping her when she had needed someone like a parent the most reminded her again of how important Ned was in her life.When Haruka finally finished telling Ned her tale some fifteen minutes later, Sakura saw Ned comforting her, telling her that he didn’t blame her for what had happened and what she’d done. He told her that he understood what she’d gone through and c