Chapter Twenty-two

What do we do now?

Sakura tried to smooth her hair and relax, taking a deep breath.

"Will she notice?" she asked softly.

Syaoran grinned, brushing her lips with his thumb. They were a little swollen, and she had red eyes.

"My mother's going to notice something's happened to us, but she knows we've been in a fight for weeks. If she sees us like this, she'll think we've been crying and arguing. We'll tell her we've made up," he murmured as he took Sakura by the hand, sitting her down on the sofa next to him.

They heard the sound of keys rattling and Sakura glanced at Syaoran, scared.

"Calm down and breathe. She won't notice, I promise," he said, squeezing her hand.

Sakura nodded and leaned her back against the sofa, trying to calm down. Kero was the first to enter, jumping onto Sakura's lap. She pulled him into her arms and left a kiss on his furry head.

Yelan entered the living room and was surprised to see the girl there.

"Sakura! It's been a long time since I've seen you."

She set Kero on Syaoran's lap and got up to hug Yelan.

"I know. Syaoran and I were fighting," Sakura said as she pulled away.

"I suspected as much, he's been in a bad mood for weeks. Have you two been crying?" Yelan asked, glancing at the two of them.

Syaoran nodded.

"Yes, but it's all okay now."

Yelan smiled.

"I'm glad. You two are too good friends to drift apart over silly things. Are you going to study together today?"

Syaoran stood up and picked up Sakura's backpack, which was on the floor next to the sofa.

"Yes, we'd better go up to my room. Let's go, Sakura," he said, leaving the living room.

"Will you stay for dinner?" Yelan asked, looking at Sakura with affection.

"I have to call my parents, I'd like to sleep over tonight."

Yelan nodded.

"Okay, I'll let you know when dinner is ready."

Sakura left the living room and went upstairs. She entered Syaoran's room and closed the door, her breath hitching.

"Your mother is going to hate us for lying to her when she finds out."

Syaoran raised an eyebrow, walking over to her.

"She won't find out," he whispered, trapping her with his arms between him and the door.

Sakura felt his lips on her neck and shivered from head to toe.

"I've dreamed about this so many times..." he mumbled, pulling Sakura's shirt away from her throat and trailing kisses down her neck to her shoulder.

"Syaoran..." she whispered, her eyes closed.

He lifted his head, kissing her for a few seconds.

"I love you, Sakura. Meeting you is the best thing that's ever happened to me."

"I'm sorry it took me so long to realise that I love you too," she replied, her eyes widening.

Syaoran shrugged.

"It's like what you said when Natsumi dumped me... Once I find the love of my life, it will all be worth it. You were right," he confessed, holding her face with both hands and stroking her cheeks.

Sakura smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist, kissing him again. She could never get tired of feeling those lips against hers. When they broke apart, they looked into each other's eyes in silence.

"I missed your birthday with all this distance thing," she murmured suddenly.

Syaoran grimaced.

"I didn't even celebrate, I was depressed."

Sakura frowned.

"It's not every year you turn eighteen, Syaoran. You have to celebrate."

"I'll celebrate it in April, with you. Okay?" he suggested, arching his eyebrows.

Sakura smiled again.

"Okay. This year we'll celebrate together."

Syaoran caught her lips again and Sakura let herself be carried away by all the new sensations that ran through her body. She felt something akin to an electric shock in every place Syaoran touched her.

He slowly pushed her down, until they both fell on top of his bed. They laughed softly and continued kissing for a while, still holding each other.

When they finally pulled apart, Sakura caressed his face with her hand and couldn't help but smile when Syaoran closed his eyes to enjoy the touch.

"What are we going to do now?" she asked softly.

He opened his eyes, raising a brow.

"We have all night to talk... you said you're sleeping over, didn't you?"

Sakura nodded.

"I don't think my parents will give me any trouble, we have an exam in a few days... but I have to call my mother," she mumbled, still stroking Syaoran's cheek.

He kissed her forehead and got up, taking Sakura's phone out of her backpack. Syaoran lay back down at her side, handing it to her. Sakura stared at the hand that had given her the phone.

"It hurt me a lot when you took off your ring, Syaoran. That day I felt like something was digging into my heart, it was horrible."

He tangled his fingers in a lock of her auburn hair.

"I'm sorry, I had to take it off because it killed me to see it. It was a reminder that you would never be anything more than my friend," he whispered, leaving a short kiss on her lips.

Then he turned so he could open the drawer of his nightstand, taking the ring from it and putting it back on. Sakura grinned and lifted the sleeve of her shirt a little, revealing her bracelet.

"I've never taken it off since you gave it to me," she replied quietly.

Syaoran smiled back.

"Go on, call your mother and tell her you're staying here," he said, hurrying her along.

Sakura dialed the number and lay on her back, sighing.

"Sakura?" she heard her mother's voice.

"Hi. I'm at Syaoran's house, studying."

Syaoran sat up slightly and approached Sakura with a mischievous grin.

"What time are you coming back?" Nadeshiko asked.

Sakura held her breath when she felt Syaoran's tongue on her neck.

"Hmm... we're studying for the maths test and I think we're going to need more time. Can I sleep here?" she asked, trying not to let her voice show what was happening.

A shiver ran down her spine. One of his hands was holding her throat, while he was leaving kisses and nibbling at it.

"Okay. Yelan's there, isn't she?"

"Yes, she's making dinner. Do you want to talk to her?" Sakura asked, trying to push Syaoran away.

She heard his chuckle against her neck and then felt his teeth in her ear.

"No need. Study hard, but don't go to bed too late," Nadeshiko requested.

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

Sakura hung up the call and glared at Syaoran, who had already raised his head and was looking at her with a wicked smile.

"Don't do that again. I've had a hard time pretending everything was normal," she growled, a little annoyed.

"It was a lot of fun," he replied, moving closer to her lips.

Sakura put her arms around him and they kissed. Syaoran rested his head on her chest and hugged her, holding her close for a moment.

"I can hear your heart, it's going so fast."

Sakura snorted.

"Of course, and it's your fault," she said, rubbing his back with her fingers.

Syaoran grinned and pinched her ribs. She grunted and they both laughed.

"I could stay like this forever," she whispered, hugging him tighter and leaving a kiss in his hair.

"Me too," he replied, sighing.

They stood in each other's arms in silence, enjoying being so close.

"Sakura... so now I won't be your best friend anymore, right?" Syaoran asked suddenly.

"Of course you are. You'll always be my best friend, but now you're also my..."

Syaoran lifted his head, looking at her eyes and raising an eyebrow.

"Your... what? Come on, say it," he said with a crooked smile.

"My... My... boyfriend?" Sakura murmured, doubtful.

Syaoran smirked and touched her nose.

"Yes, though I hope to be much more than that," he replied, looking at her intently.

"My first boyfriend," Sakura mumbled, smiling.

"And the last one," Syaoran growled, biting her cheek.

"Hey! Don't bite me."

"I can do whatever I want, you're mine now," he joked, raising both eyebrows several times.

"That's nothing new, you've always done what you wanted with me. You're just a bully," she said, frowning and making a face.

They both giggled, starting a tickle war that Sakura lost. She got up as soon as she could escape, clutching her sore ribs.

"Enough, Syaoran. I can't take it anymore," she snorted, still giggling.

They heard Yelan's voice, calling them from downstairs. Syaoran left his bed and pulled a book out of her backpack, placing it on top of his desk.

"Just in case my mother comes into the room, it should look like we've been studying," he whispered, approaching Sakura.

She flinched as Syaoran wrapped his arms around her, placing a deep kiss on her neck.

"I can't wait to sleep with you tonight," he murmured close to her ear.

Her body tensed immediately and Syaoran raised his head to look at her.

"Sakura, it's me. Why are you so tense? We've slept together so many times," he asked, quizzical.

"I know, but... it's different now."

Syaoran shook his head.

"It's not different. Don't think there's something in my head other than sleeping."

Sakura relaxed and sighed in relief, which made him laugh.

"The only thing I want is your kisses. I'll wait for the rest, until you're ready."

"But Syaoran, you... you really like sex," Sakura whispered, blushing.

He shrugged.

"I like you more, I don't mind waiting."

"I love you so much..." she said, smiling and placing her arms around him.

Syaoran responded to her smile and kissed her on the lips.

"So you've fallen in love for the first time, haven't you?" he asked with sparkling eyes.

Sakura nodded, not really knowing what he was getting at.

"You must tell me about Geovani."

She couldn't help but laugh.

"Do you still remember that?"

"Of course. It's the only thing you've refused to tell me since we've known each other," Syaoran answered, frowning.

Sakura raised a hand, tracing his temple.

"Nothing happened, Syaoran... we kissed and he groped me a little, but that's all."

"I knew it," he replied, a smirk on his face.

"If you really knew, you wouldn't have needed to ask me. You were not sure," she said, smiling too.

"Let's have dinner with my mother, then we'll talk about what we're going to do from now on."

Sakura nodded and the two of them went downstairs.