Page 105 of Sinful Lies

“Fuck.”

“I've worked atSpencer & Meyersfor two years, and it’s not been an easy road to get here. So, I’ll suck it up and play nice, if only to keep myself from losing everything I’ve worked for. But…”

I shake my head again. Life sure knows how to kick me down.

“Zara.” He buries his face in my sweat-soaked hair as my body shakes with silent sobs. “Sladkaya, why didn’t you tell me?”

My throat is closing up.

So, Dimitri just holds me, gently stroking my hair, until the tears stop falling and my breathing calms.

“It was all my fault.” I rest my cheek against Dimitri’s heart. “He asked me to come to his house after work hours. We had a project due, and I was just an intern. I wanted to do a good job, I thought I had no choice?—”

Dimitri strokes me cheek.

He’s quiet as I talk, though I know on the inside he must be anything but calm.

“He offered me a drink. I-I should have said no, I knew better…”

“What did he do, Zara?” Dimitri asks. “I know it’s difficult, baby, but I need to know.”

I press my palm against his warm chest and take a deep breath.

“I remember drinking what he gave me.” My body tenses. “The next thing I remember is he’s…he’s…”

His hand is around my throat, pinning me in place as his other hand makes quick work of pulling my panties down.

I’m too weak to push him off. I try to kick out with my legs, but it’s no use.

He only tightens his grip around my throat, cutting off my air supply.

“Don’t fight me, Zara,” he growls.

My eyes go wide as I realize I can’t take a breath.

My legs fall limp on either side of him, and he smiles, stroking his thumb along my jaw.

“That’s better.”

I screw my eyes shut as he undoes his zipper.

“Don’t.” My face is damp with tears.

“Shh…” His stale breath tickles my cheek as his hand moves to cover my mouth. “Trust me, you’ll enjoy it, Zara.”

“I tried to scream, to push him off of me, but he was too strong. He pinned me down and…and he forced himself on me.”

I bite down hard on my lower lip to try and stop myself from crying, but being wrapped in Dimitri’s strong arms has me breaking down.

“I-I thought I was over it, but then seeing him every day… I can’t escape the memories anymore.”

“Sladkaya… It’s okay not to be over it. There is no timeline for healing.”

“I just wish it would all go away.”

“I know,zhizn’ moya. What can I do to help?”

I bury my face in his chest. “This helps.”

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