gentle seduction.
Hyde picked up the tray of wine glasses and brought it over to the foot of the bed. The bottle of champagne in the bucket glistened in the warm lighting of the hotel room. Condensation from the bottle slowly rolled down the smooth curve of the bottle's neck. Carefully, Hyde picked up a rose from the vase on the bedside table and placed it on the tray. He looked at his surroundings and let out a sigh. Everything seemed to be in place.
Just in time, his cell phone rang. The gentle vibrate echoed in the empty room. "Hello?" Hyde sat at the edge of the bed.
"I'm finished work now," Megumi said brightly through the speakers. "Are you coming to pick me up?"
"Of course," Hyde replied, his heart pumped rapidly, blood rushed to his face. He grinned into the phone. "See you soon."
"See you Hyde-san!" Megumi giggled.
Hyde put down the phone and slid on his jacket. For some reason, he couldn't keep the grin off his face. Before he left the room, he checked his reflection in the mirror. Wisps of dark chocolate brown hair curved around his ears and down his neck. He had meant to straighten his hair but decided against it. Hyde wanted to look natural. He even removed any traces of make up from the day's concert. Even so, makeup or not, it didn't hide the fact that he looked very boyish. His eyebrows slanted perfectly, lips curled in to an almost permanent grin, and eyes always sparkling with mischief.
Cold wind hit Hyde's face. He shivered and looked up at the city sky, dark and twinkling with the lights of the buildings. The moon shone so brightly that it illuminated the clouds and stars around it. So far it was a perfect night, Hyde concluded.
Scrambling into his car, Hyde headed to Megumi's photo shoot. People would be suspicious, but most knew they were already dating. Some of the staff were used to Hyde's frequent visits to the shooting locations.
This time, Megumi was shooting in a warehouse. Hyde admitted that he thought it was a bit shady about the location, but Megumi assured him that it was fine.
"Don't be worried, Hideto," she crooned softly, dark eyelashes batting against her pale skin. Her curls of dyed caramel hair cascaded over her shoulders as she leaned forward. "I should be worrying about you. You're the one being surrounded by thousands of girls every night."
Hyde just laughed as he pressed his lips against her forehead. "Those fans, they're nothing like you," he murmured, dragging his lips down the side of her face. His hand wound through her thick hair, other carefully cradling her cheek.
"I believe you," she whispered into his neck.
"Hideto!" Megumi cried out. She stood outside the dark building. Staff ran around her, loading equipment into trucks. She looked out of place, Hyde thought. She was a gorgeous goddess in the midst of her lowly workers.
With a smile one her face, she rushed to the side of Hyde's car. Quickly, she climbed in "Um, how was your day?" She blushed, cheeks flushing softly. Her eyes still had traces of make up around them, Hyde noted.
Hyde leaned forward and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "It was good, but I missed you," he admitted. "How was work?"
"Oh, it was fantastic!" Megumi gushed as Hyde started the car. "We accomplished so much..." As Megumi spoke, Hyde became lost in her voice. She had a sweet genuine voice. It flowed fast like thinned honey but tasted thick and sugary to the ears.
"Anyway, you said you planned something today?" Megumi looked at Hyde expectantly.
"Mhm," Hyde nodded, pulling up to the hotel. Megumi's eyes widened at the sight of the five star hotel as Hyde stepped out of the car. He opened the car door for her.
"We have arrived," he smirked in English with his thick Japanese accent. He led Megumi to the hotel room. Thankfully, the ice had not melted.
Megumi sat down on the bed and looked out the window. The night sky twinkled back at her. Instantly, goosebumps crawled up her skin. She watched Hyde as he poured the champagne. The glasses sparkled in the light, bubbling.
Hyde put the glass to his lips. "Megumi-chan, what are your plans for the future?"
The model paused, glass in her hand. She swirled the liquid around. "Well, I hope to get married and continue my modelling. It would be nice to start a family. It's my dream."
"Those sound like very beautiful dreams," Hyde smiled softly. His eyes glinted, or maybe it was the light. "I too would like to start a family. Also, I want to be famous in North America."
Megumi bit her lip. "America? But..." Her eyes flickered with uncertainty. "The music industry is so hard to get into. Fame is short lived if not crushed. Plus, the travelling..." Her voice faltered.
"Megumi-chan," Hyde put down the wine glass. He bent down in front of her and grabbed her free hand. "Ever since I met you, I knew you were the one for me. That day, your face shined so beautifully just like now. Would you shine for me everyday? Would you follow me on my travels? Oishi, Megumi, Will you marry me?"
Stunned, Megumi sat there on the bed, still holding the glass in her hand. "Ano..." she breathed. Hyde felt her small hands tremble in his. Her eyes locked into his. She felt sucked into the warm chocolate brown, mesmerized by the face that knelt before her. In his hand, he held a beautiful, intricately engraved silver ring.
"Hideto Takari," she finally let out. Putting down the glass, she pulled Hyde towards her. "Yes," she whispered.
A slow smile crept onto Hyde's face as he slipped the ring onto her finger. Softly, they pressed their lips together, holding each other close, never wanting to let go.