Sun, Sea, and the Princeton Brothers – Part 4

As she made her way back to the bungalow, Sakura wondered what made the Princeton brothers so protective of her suddenly, especially straight after lunch. Sure, they had been rather attentive this morning, as Akira had mentioned, but to be so on guard? What’s going on?

She was walking through a series of native Hawaiian bushes now, which felt a lot cooler and more peaceful compared to the extremely hot beach. She sighed pleasantly as she rounded a corner, feeling the light, cool breeze dancing about her skin. She was about to step out into the clearing when a man called out to her.

“Hello there. We meet again.”

Sakura spun so fast she felt dizzy. Her heart was racing as she came to face the man she’d met a few days ago along the beach.

The moment she recognized him, she instinctively took a step back. “What are you doing here?” she asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

“So you’re a model,” the man said, his blue eyes appraising her from head to toe.

Sakura felt uncomfortable under his intense gaze. “How did you know?”

He took a step closer as he said, “I was watching. You looked beautiful this morning, too.”

That was when Sakura realized why she had felt as though someone were watching her. Indeed, this man had been.

“Are you stalking me?” she asked bluntly.

Ray cocked his head to one side, an amused smile playing across his lips. “Not stalking, more like interested.”

Sakura narrowed her eyes. “Why?”

“Because you’re a beautiful woman, and what man doesn’t want to get to know a beautiful woman like you? So do you have a boyfriend?”

Ignoring his very direct question, Sakura turned and started walking away. Ray wouldn’t have that, however, and swiftly grabbed her hand, his grasp tight around her wrist.

Sakura jumped. “What the…?” She pulled back. “Let me go!”

His response was to tighten his hold around her wrist as he smiled darkly. “I was asking if you have a boyfriend. You haven’t answered me yet.”

The way his eyes observed her and the way he smiled sent a chill down her spine. Just as the other day, this man made her uncomfortable. Suddenly, she felt she was trapped.

Wanting to gain the upper hand, she glared at him and said, “I don’t have to answer you.” She struggled to free her wrist. “Now let my hand go,” she demanded.

“Feisty,” Ray said with a chuckle. Rather than do as she requested, he roughly pulled her to him, which made Sakura gasp out in shock.

Her body shivering with trepidation, she demanded again, loudly this time, “I asked you to let me go!”

“Sorry, but it appears I can’t help myself, after all,” Ray said as he leaned his head toward her.

Sakura panicked and was about to scream when she felt the man being pulled away from her. She watched, her eyes wide, as a fist smashed into Ray’s face, sending the man toppling to the ground.

Sakura took the opportunity and freed her hand from Ray’s clutch as he fell. When she managed to calm down and looked properly at her savior, she saw it was Darcy, who was currently staring darkly at the beaten Ray.

Her heart racing, Sakura rushed over to Darcy, who eagerly took her into his arms.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his hand cupping her face.

Sakura mutely nodded, her body still shivering from the unwelcome experience.

It was then Sebastian appeared. Once the man saw the shaken Sakura in Darcy’s arms and Ray on the ground, he frowned darkly, his eyes sharply directed at Ray.

“I heard Sakura’s voice,” he said coldly. “What the hell happened?”

Ray stood then and backed off. “Hey, I thought she was free, all right. I mean, she’s hot, and I just wanted to get to know her. No harm done, right?”

Sebastian said, “Well, she’s not free. She’s ours. And who the hell are you anyway?”

Ray shrugged. “No one. Just a tourist.”

Darcy asked, “What’s your name? Are you a guest here?”

Ray chuckled. “There’s no need for names.” Turning to Sakura, he said, “I’m sorry I bothered you.” With that, he turned on his heel and headed toward the beach, his pace quick. It was as if he were running away from the devil, but he did his best not to show it.

Once he was out of sight, Sakura breathed a sigh of relief, her body relaxing.

Sebastian asked, “Are you all right?”

Sakura turned her attention to him and then nodded. “I’m fine. He surprised me. That’s all.”

And he tried to kiss me and maybe do so much more, right here in broad daylight, she thought. The nerve of that man.

“I knew this was a bad idea,” Sebastian said darkly.

Sakura was curious. “What’s a bad idea?”

“Having our photo shoot outside on the beach,” he said. “There’s too many men around.”

Moving out of Darcy’s arms, Sakura said, “Well, it can’t be helped that there’s too many people around. It is a hotel and resort, after all. Also, it’s what Mr. Tachibana wants in the magazine, the scenery of the beach and everything.”

Darcy said, “Never mind about that. We’ll just have to be more careful. Besides, it’s nearly finished.”

Sakura nodded. “Only two more shoots to go.”

Darcy asked, “Are you going to change?”

Sakura nodded. “Hmm.”

“We’ll come with you,” Sebastian stated with a firm expression on his face, demanding no disagreement.

Sakura shook her head. “No, there’s no need.”

Darcy said, “But we insist.”

Sakura thought for a moment. “Okay.”

The two men followed her back to the bungalow and even stood waiting outside like a pair of bodyguards while she changed into her next bikini. Once she was done, she came out to find them talking. When they noticed her presence, they stopped immediately, which made her suspicious.

As they headed back out, she asked, “What were you two talking about?”

“Just business,” Sebastian said evasively.

Because Darcy nodded in agreement, Sakura decided not to press them.

As they were heading back toward the beach, Sakura was deep in her own thoughts. Of course, both Sebastian and Darcy noticed, especially her furrowed brow and troubled expression. Though the two men didn’t voice it, they were more than a little worried.

When they were about to reach their destination, she said abruptly, surprising them, “Darcy? Sebastian?”

The two men answered in unison, ready to hear what was troubling her. “Yes?”

Sakura licked her lower lip as she played with the tendrils of her long hair. Then she tucked some strands behind her ear as she continued. “Can you two meet me along the beach near the holiday house tonight at eight?”

Sebastian didn’t miss the quivering of her voice and wondered what she was so worried about. “Sure.”

Darcy nodded. “Okay.”

Once she’d gotten their answers, Sakura said, “Thanks.” Then she hastily rushed ahead of them, her body tense. She couldn’t believe they didn’t ask her what it was about. But of course, she assumed they knew.

Some half an hour later, Sakura was having her photo shoot with Sebastian and Darcy. Their location was on the seashore itself, and Sakura found herself knee deep in the too-warm water of the ocean. Sebastian and Darcy, both in pastel beach pants and open shirts, were directed to stand intimately close to her. Sebastian was on her left, his hand holding her waist, and Darcy on her right, his face resting on her slender shoulder. As for Sakura, now that she was used to being a model, she found the session didn’t take long at all.

Jason said, “That’s it. Well done, guys.”

Then the final group photo shoot took place after that, and by five that afternoon, it was a wrap. Loud, cheerful applause ensued, along with Mr. Tachibana’s laughter. Apparently, he was pleased that the work turned out so well and couldn’t stop praising and thanking everyone for their hard work.

By the time they returned to the holiday house that evening, Sakura had forgotten all about the incident with the stranger. Instead, her mind was now fully occupied with Sebastian and Darcy and her dreaded confession that was to come that night.