Page 33 of Sinful Lies

“C-can you undo me.” I claw at the clasps down the side of the dress. I can’t take a full breath, and a thin film of sweat is breaking out across my top lip. “Bianca.”

I place a shaking hand on my heart, trying my best not to hyperventilate as Bianca makes quick work of undoing the dress. I let it pool to the floor, leaving me shaking in nothing but my underwear and a pair of ivory heels.

“Zara, are you okay?” Bianca places a comforting hand on my shoulder.

“I just need a second,” I whisper, screwing my eyes shut.

“Emily, why don’t you go and get Zara a glass of water?”

The curtains rustle as my sister leaves.

Bianca touches my arm. “Zara…Why are you so upset? I don’t understand…”

“It’s just so…overwhelming.” I open my eyes, cringing at the sight of my half naked, shivering body in the mirror.

“Getting married is a big deal.”

“I don’t know how you did it, B.” I sigh, spying the diamond wedding band on her finger.

“I have no idea either, but I’m lucky that it worked out in the end. I don’t know what I would have done if it hadn’t.”

“Mmm…”

“Are you sure there isn’t something you want to tell me? This is so unlike you.”

“I-I’m fine.”

“I don’t know, something still feels off about all of this.” Bianca narrows her eyes as she looks at me.

“Is it because I didn’t tell you about Dimitri?”

Bianca shrugs, trying not to look hurt. “I mean, yeah, there is that.”

Part of me wants to remind her that she did exactly the same to me, that I wasn’t even at her wedding to Alexei, but that would be a low blow.

Bianca had no choice in the matter when it came to her wedding day. She might have planned most of it, but she was under the impression that her cousin Rosanna was going to be the one walking down the aisle.

She was robbed of the most important day of her life.

And now I’m robbing her of the experience of being a maid of honor by being a blubbering, guilt-ridden mess.

I really need to get my shit together. So I wipe my eyes and plaster a smile on my face as I glance over at the rack ofdresses, determined to make the most of this experience not just for me, but for my best friend too.

“Is there anything backless?” I ask.

“I just can’t getover your ring,” Clara sighs, reaching for my hand once we’re done paying. “Your fiancé has very good taste.”

“He does.” My cheeks heat as I remember Dimitri getting down on one knee, the kiss that followed…

I’ve thought about that kiss every day since.

How it felt to have Dimitri’s hard, muscular body pressed up against mine.

It’s been a long time since I’ve thought about being intimate with someone. I’ve put up walls that I thought no man would ever be able to scale.

But it seems Dimitri has managed to find a crack in the foundations, worming his way through with his good looks and kissable lips…

I am so screwed.

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