Page 73 of Sinful Lies

“Please continue.” She hugs her knees to her chest as she watches me.

“As I was saying… Most people assume that I’m a playboy who doesn’t give a damn, but deep down? I’ve always wanted what my parents had.”

Or what I thought they had…

“But I’ve always been too afraid to let people in out of fear of losing them.” I frown.

I’ve never really admitted those feelings to myself before.

“Have you ever been serious with anyone?”

“Besides marrying you?”

She rolls her eyes.

“Yes, when I was eighteen I fell in love with this girl, and I thought that was it for me.”

“What happened?”

“My parents were killed, and I couldn’t handle it. I pushed her away in the hopes that it wouldn’t hurt so much if I was the one to walk away. But then…” I sit up, running my hands through my hair as all the memories come flooding back. “She got into a car accident.”

“Oh, Dimitri.” Zara covers her mouth with her hand.

“I blamed myself for years. That somehow it was myfault that she was in that car. If I hadn’t pushed her away, maybe she would have been with me that day, and none of it would have happened…”

In truth, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten over Lidyia’s death. It’s something I will carry with me for the rest of my life, as a reminder of what a coward I am.

I’m so lost in my head that I don’t notice Zara moving closer until her hands rest on my shoulders.

I barely breathe as she slowly lifts herself up onto her knees and presses the softest kiss to my lips.

It’s clear that she’s hesitant, as if she’s worried I might push her away, so I move my hand to cup the back of her neck.

I tilt her head so that I can deepen the kiss as I wrap my other arm around her waist and pull her into my lap as I slide my tongue into her mouth, fighting back a groan at the sweet taste of her. My sweet.Sladkaya moya.

But she pulls back, shaking her head as her eyes start to glisten with tears.

“Zara? What’s wrong?” I reach out to tuck her hair behind her ear. “We can stop if you want. I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.”

She looks up at me under damp lashes and offers me a watery smile.

“I don’t want to stop.”

“Then why are you so upset?” I’m so confused.

“I want nothing more than to be with you.”

“I don’t understand the problem.”

“There’s something you don’t know…” She fiddles with her fingers.

“Zara… I want you to know that you can tell me anything.” I rub soothing circles on her back.

She nods, biting her lip as she continues to look down at her hands.

“I was sexually assaulted a few years ago.”

Fuck.

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