Sakura and the Prince of Darkness – Part 1

Sebastian found Darcy on the rooftop of the hotel some fifteen minutes later. The younger brother was standing in the center of the balcony, hands in the pockets of his jeans, as he stared off to the sea in the distance, lost in thought.

“Hey,” Sebastian greeted, coming toward Darcy.

Darcy was, for a moment, surprised to suddenly see Sebastian standing beside him. He had wanted to be alone, to get some fresh air, and settle his tumultuous emotions, which were currently going haywire within him.

“Hey. You finished?”

Sebastian nodded. “I saw you left in the middle of our shoot.” The brother cleared his throat, feeling more than a little uncomfortable at the thought of bringing up the subject of Sakura. Regardless, he soldiered on. “Did something bother you?”

He heard Darcy release a sigh, as if with frustration, which was followed by silence.

Just when Sebastian thought he wasn’t going to get an answer, Darcy said, “Yeah. I was just… I don’t know. Frustrated, I guess.” He chuckled darkly. “Dammit! I mean, she’s so beautiful, and dressed like that in the middle of so many people, so many men just ogling her…” He turned to Sebastian then. “And you…flirting with her like it’s no one’s business.”

Sebastian slapped his brother on the shoulder as if to knock some sense into Darcy’s head. “And here I thought we’d agreed to let her make the choice. I thought we’d agreed not to get jealous when either of us was intimate with her.”

Darcy sighed again. “I know. But it’s still hard just watching and not being able to… It’ll take me some time to get used to it.”

Sebastian said, “I understand. Me, too.”

The brothers were quiet for a moment, each in their own thoughts. Then Darcy asked, “Do you think she’d think we’re nuts?”

Sebastian shrugged. “To be honest, I have no clue. If she rejects both of us, that’s the end of it.”

Darcy chuckled. “Then we’re both screwed.”

“No. Then we’ll go to plan B, like we decided.”

“Sakura will be so pissed, though. And I’d rather we not go there,” Darcy said.

It was Sebastian’s turn to chuckle. “You say that, but I bet you’ll be the first to act if she rejects us.”

Darcy couldn’t agree more. He was rather hotheaded and irrational when it came to Sakura, as evidenced by the way he had acted toward her these previous few days. God, he knew he was fucked up, but he couldn’t help himself. He felt like dying every time he thought he couldn’t be with her.

“Let’s be honest here,” Sebastian said suddenly, turning to look at his brother.

Darcy noted the serious gaze in Sebastian’s eyes, and knew what was coming.

“If we’re going to go into that sort of thing, we have to be open with one another. There’s no hiding. It’s trust.”

Darcy nodded in agreement.

“So…” Sebastian continued. “Did you give Sakura that hickey?”

Darcy stared at his brother for a moment and then suddenly laughed. He was chuckling away so hard that his stomach began to hurt.

“Oi.” Sebastian frowned. “What’s so funny?”

When Darcy managed to calm down, he straightened himself and said, “So, I’m not the only one insecure where Sakura is concerned.”

Sebastian raised a brow. “You think I’m that confident where her feelings for me are concerned? Knowing she loves you as well as me?”

“The way you act, yes,” Darcy said.

Sebastian sighed. “I don’t think any man is ever confident knowing that the woman he loves is also in love with another man. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many affairs. Don’t you agree?”

“A secret affair,” Darcy said.

Sebastian nodded.

Darcy said, “We’ll know for sure tomorrow night.”

Sebastian nodded again.

It was then Hayden came through the door and said, “Hey, the two brothers over there. Have you guys finished with your love discussion yet? Darcy, it’s time to go for makeup and wardrobe. You’re next after I’m done.”

Darcy nodded, and the three then headed back down together.

Some half an hour later, the brothers, all of them, were in the presidential suite once again, this time shooting on the balcony. It wasn’t long before Sakura and Akira joined them. Dressed in cocktail gowns, the two girls looked stunning, which of course, elicited a chorus of praise from the brothers.

Then the photo shoot began with Hayden standing between the girls, his body leaning against the rail while his hand was wrapped around Sakura’s waist. Akira was leaning against him on the other side. And then the camera went click, click, click.

This scene was indeed beautiful with the backdrop of the sea behind and the warm breeze dancing about them. The lighting was perfect, thus showing off the silk and lace of the clothes and, of course, the expensive jewels.

And it wasn’t long before Jason said, “That’s it. Done. You guys are pros.”

Akira clapped. “Yay! Only two more to go for me.”

“And three for me,” Sakura said as they headed back to the makeup room.

To Hayden, Tristan said, “So, you’re a pro, eh?”

Hayden nodded. “Unlike you, I don’t flirt with my sister while on a job.”

Logan chuckled. “Yep, he’s a pro all right.”

***

“I’m pretty sure this was not part of the wardrobe for the photo shoot, Jane,” Sakura said adamantly, staring at her friend. “If so, then why wasn’t I informed? I mean, honestly, these weren’t even there when I had the fitting before we came.” She was now looking at the piles of lingerie before her that she was supposed to get into.

“I’m sorry, Sakura. It was a last-minute decision. Mr. Tachibana is notorious for that kind of stuff. I didn’t know about it either, until this morning, and with the mountains of stuff I had to deal with, I totally forgot to tell you.”

Sakura sighed. “Well, it’s not your fault, but…” She glanced at the garments once again. “I have never worn anything like that before.”

Jane said, “I know it’s rather showy, but it’s not much different from swimwear, is it?”

Sakura had to agree with that. To ease her embarrassment in wearing something this exotic and sexy, she’d just have to think of it as wearing a bikini, except with thigh-high stockings.

“Should we get started?” Jane asked.

Sakura nodded, and some ten minutes later, she was done, staring wide-eyed at herself in the full-length mirror. She was now wearing lingerie of silk and lace panties and a bra in white and pale pink, along with thigh-high stockings of the same colors, designed in the style of sakura flowers in spring. All three pieces had beads and crystals beautifully sewn into the fabric. On her ears and around her neck was a set of classic pink diamonds in the design of sakura flowers as well, to match the lingerie.

Jane was behind her and couldn’t help but utter, “Oh. My. God!”

Sakura’s heart raced and her body trembled. “This is nothing like wearing a swimsuit at all.”

Jane had to nod in agreement. “You’re right. It’s not. It’s so much more.” She couldn’t hold her excitement at seeing how beautiful her friend was. “You look like one of the Victoria’s Secret angels. Mr. Tachibana is going to be so happy he decided on this outfit for this photo shoot.”

Sakura wasn’t sure if she could agree with Jane. Yes, she admitted that she looked fetching in the lingerie, but she wasn’t sure if she was confident or comfortable enough to walk down the hallway to the photo shoot site when so many people were watching. And God, she was also wearing this while pairing with Darcy. What would he think? What would all the Princeton brothers think when they saw her? This was too much.

It was then Akira came in, and the moment she saw Sakura, she nearly flipped. “Holy Mother of Jesus!” She rushed over in excitement. “Are you really Sakura? Holy shit! The brothers are so going to die seeing you in this.”

Sakura muttered, “Akira, don’t add fuel to the fire. I’m already nervous as it is. Look, I’m shaking.”

Akira touched her friend’s hands and agreed. “Just calm down, then. It’s normal. It’s just an outfit you have to sell in a magazine. Just think of it as nothing special. It’s just a job.”

Sakura said, “Do you think Tachibana-sensei will agree if we ask him to change this outfit to something more modest?”

Akira couldn’t help but chuckle at how naive Sakura was. “That’s not going to happen, Sakura. Do you know that every season, Tachibana-sensei has at least one set of lingerie? And they sell out like hotcakes.”

“Oh, really?”

Jane nodded. “Yes. They do go fast, don’t they? They’re usually out of stock within a couple of days.”

“Why is that?” Sakura asked. “Are they that popular?”

Akira nodded. “Very popular, and I’m sure this season especially, since it seems Tachibana-sensei has outdone himself. It’s the best I’ve seen from him so far.”

Jane nodded. “He must have just finished it. That’s why they weren’t there when Sakura had her fitting back in New York.”

Akira said, “Yes. That must be why.” She turned to Sakura with a smile. “So are you ready? It’s time to go.”

Sakura took a deep breath and then nodded. Well, she didn’t have much choice, did she? This was work, after all.

Jane picked up a robe and helped her put it on, which relieved Sakura. At least with this on, she didn’t feel too self-conscious.

As the trio walked toward the door, Akira said, “I assume you know where the site is?”

Sakura said, “In the presidential suite?”

Akira nodded.

“Yes,” Jane said. “In the bedroom.”

“In the bedroom,” Sakura said breathlessly. She should have guessed. She was wearing lingerie, after all.

A few minutes later, with her stomach knotting in dread, she came in through the suite’s door with Jane and Akira. Of course, she kept her eyes on the floor as they made their way toward the bedroom. In her mind, she was also hoping there wouldn’t be too many people around, especially the Princeton brothers. It was already the afternoon, and surely, they’d had their fair share of watching the photo shoots. They must be tired of it by now and would prefer to spend their time enjoying their holiday at the beach.

“Sakura!” Conrad called out to her, destroying her hope of not having an audience while in this outfit.

She raised her head and noted not only Conrad, but the rest of his brothers present as well, not to mention Sosuke. She wondered if the Japanese man would soon become a part of the Princeton family since he seemed to be with them most of the time.

Sakura gave them a nervous smile as she clutched the robe about her chest as if to prevent it from falling from her.

Hayden said, “She looks nervous.”

“Why should she be?” Tristan said, cocking his head to one side.

Logan nodded. “She’s done this many times already today. She should be used to it by now.”

Sebastian had his eyes fixed on Sakura as she made her way toward Mr. Tachibana, Jason, and Ms. Ruka. He didn’t miss the fact that her hands were trembling, and he vaguely knew why. She was probably not comfortable with the outfit she was wearing, which was the reason she had a robe on.

Bedroom scene.

And Darcy was not in a three-piece suit like the rest of the brothers’ photo shoots. For this scene, he was simply wearing a pair of loose white trousers and a white shirt. The casual type that he wore at home when he wasn’t working. Very homey. That meant Sakura must be wearing…

Lingerie. The moment that idea entered his mind, Sebastian swallowed hard and his body tensed. “Shit!” he swore under his breath.

Nicolas said, “Did you just figure out what Sakura’s wearing underneath that robe, Sebastian?” He was smiling with amusement, of course.

Tristan’s interest was piqued. He turned to Sebastian and asked, “What’s she wearing?”

Logan narrowed his eyes and said, “Fuck! It’s a bedroom scene, so it has to be…”

Hayden said, “Lingerie, obviously.”

Conrad said, “Lingerie… So?”

The other brothers decided Conrad hadn’t yet experienced the wonder of beautiful women in sexy lingerie.

Sakura came toward the large four-poster bed, where Mr. Tachibana, Jason, and Ms. Ruka were currently busy talking to Darcy.

Behind her, Jane said, “Mr. Tachibana, Sakura is here.”

The moment Jane said that, they turned to her, including Darcy, whose eyes bored deeply into her, which made her even more nervous.

Sakura licked her lips as Mr. Tachibana asked, “Sakura, darling, are you ready?”

Sakura nodded. “Can we make it quick?”

Jason chuckled. “We can’t rush it, Sakura. It’ll just take the usual time.”

Ms. Ruka must have realized why she was nervous and said, “Sorry, Sakura darling, but it was a last-minute decision. Tachibana-sensei is rather notorious for that, you know. He simply must add this outfit to the collection, and I totally agree, because it’s the most beautiful piece, ever. I hope you understand it’s for work.”

Sakura nodded. “Yes, I understand. It’s just that I’ve never worn anything like this before.”