Lily’s POV

I didn't go to the reception. Instead, I returned to Zane's apartment. I stood in his kitchen, clad in nothing but red lingerie, making him his favorite dish of casserole.

A smile splayed on my face as I set the table, adding candles to the mix. It was going to be just us tonight, and after having Sophie stay with us for the past month, I was excited to finally get some quiet time with my husband.

When the doorbell rang hours later, I sat cross-legged on the high-backed chair, revealing supple skin all the way to my thighs.

I had a glass of wine in one hand when he strolled in, wearing the same outfit from earlier. I heaved a sigh of relief when I didn't see my cousin walking in after him, and at once, I felt guilty.

He stopped by the door and angled his head, drinking every bit of me. "Hey, wife," he greeted with a smile on his face.

"Hey, husband," I whispered, motioning him over with my fingers. "Care to join me for dinner?"

Zane tugged at his crooked tie as he covered the space between us. His eyes shone with a mischievous glint as he brought his gaze to my thighs.

“You look hot,” he whispered, bringing his hands down to mine. Zane took the glass from my fingers and slid it onto the table, lifting me to my feet.

His hands snaked around my bare waist, and I relished in the feeling.

“I look hot for you,” I replied, allowing him to lead me into a dance even without music. That was the thing about Zane and me. Our love was like the greatest orchestra that we didn't need an accompaniment to dance to. We were our own music.

“And this looks great,” he added, nodding to the table. “But we might have to return to the house before we can dive into that.”

I stopped, a smile growing on my face. “Are you taking me somewhere?”

Zane nodded excitedly. “It’s a surprise.”

“Yayy!” I chirped, hitting my palms together. “I’ll just go change and meet you right here.”

He reached out again, wrapping his hands around my waist and pulling me flush against his chest. His eyes dipped to the rise of my cleavage as he shook his head slowly.

“You don’t have to change into anything else. This is perfect.”

“Zane,” I drawled, hitting him playfully. “This is for your eyes only.”

"And they'll be for my eyes only," he said, winking. "The surprise is just for both of us."

I found it odd stepping out in just sheer lace, but Zane said it was okay. As he pulled out into the road, I noticed a pair of heels discarded on the floor.

Peering at them, I remembered seeing them a few weeks back.

“Don’t these belong to Sophie?” I questioned, tilting my head. “Did she forget them here or something?”

"Yeah," he answered casually. "Her feet hurt and she needed something more level, so I asked her to leave them there."

“And?”

"And I gave her a piggyback." Zane turned to look at me. "Really, Lily? Don't tell me you are jealous of your own cousin. Her feet hurt, and she needed to move. Should I have left her wallow in ankle pain while I walked about with a perfectly working back?"

I couldn't remember the last time Zane gave me a piggyback, but I doubted that was what he wanted to hear.

"I never said I was."  I just found it really uncomfortable that they were getting so close, but I mean, that was the prayer of every bride, that her family would accept her husband. And Sophie was my only family.

I shook my head. “You are right, Zane. I am just in over my head with the wedding preparation and all. Glad it is over.”

"Yeah," he purred, covering my hands with his. "I am glad it's done, too."

When we arrived at the location, my husband gave me an encouraging smile and I alighted the car. Zane took my hands in his and we strolled into the building. Soon, I began to feel myself relax in my skin, even joking about the things that happened during the wedding.

But that came to an abrupt halt when we walked into a more private room. Inside, a few people laughed and joked about something with their deep-set voices bouncing around the walls.

I froze by the door, bringing my hands up to cover my cleavage, but it didn't make any difference because every other thing was out on display.

“I thought you said there was going to be no one else apart from us?” I whispered, holding on to his arms.

“Relax, wifey," Zane said in a loud voice. "These are my friends, and they are just here to celebrate with you."

Nothing about Zane's response sat right with me, but I allowed him to bring me with him further into the room. His friends said nothing, but they had abandoned their conversation and now had their attention on me.

I sat beside Zane in one of the black leather couches.

“Relax,” Zane whispered to me. “They don’t bite.”

But the problem was that they looked like they did. Their eyes drank me in weirdly, and one of their gazes even lingered on my nipples.

I found myself tugging Zane again. We needed to leave. But before I could get the words out, my cousin, Sophia, sauntered in, carrying a large tray. She was in a pair of shorts that left the bottom of her ass out on display and a tight-fitted crop top with her nipples erect.

"Hey, cousin," Sophia called. She waltzed over to me first, dropping the tray on the table before pulling me into her arms. "How have the last few hours been as a married woman?"

My real answer should have been that there was no difference other than the fact that I was now sitting with his friends practically naked.

Instead, I smiled sweetly at her. "Great, Sophie. I haven't felt so much love from Zane in a while." I gazed up at him and looked into his eyes. He did the same thing, too, but his gaze faltered as he looked at Sophia. They smiled at each other, and my worry increased a notch.

The rest of the drinks went round and I brought mine to my lips, taking a little sip. It tasted sweet, so, I kept drinking until my glass was empty.

Zane's friends had gone back to talking, but this time, Sophie and Zane were in the heart of the conversation. She sat on the floor in between his legs, her hands on his thighs. And when he laughed, he pulled her close to him, like something they'd been doing for a while now.

I felt totally abandoned and cut out of the conversation, so I got on my feet.

But suddenly, it felt like I was suspended in mid-air. My head felt so big that it was hard to move without feeling its weight, and my legs were wobbly like I'd had too much to drink.

I turned to look at Zane, but my vision had blurred. I didn’t take alcohol. That was a glass of fruit juice.

“Zane?” I called out, my hands reaching for him. But he moved out of my way immediately, and Sophie’s laughter rang in the air.

“Sophie…”

She laughed again as I almost tripped. The rest of the room joined in. One of Zane's friends suddenly stood in front of me, his cold fingers tracing a thin line on my neck while I struggled to stay awake.

“You were right, Zane,” he drawled. I could hear the lust in his voice. “She is such a beauty. Don’t you think this is a waste?”

"Sophie is more beautiful," Zane countered. "She is the one I can't share. But as for Lily…you can have your fun. Just make sure to leave some for me, too."

“And me?” Someone else in the room asked. I felt so much irritation wash through me.

Zane laughed. “If she can handle all of you, why not? But honestly, don’t hold your hopes up. She is a prude.”

"Zane!" I gasped, but his laughter only got louder.

“What? My friends want to have a go. There is nothing wrong with sharing my wife with my friends, is there?”

The one in front of me pinched my nipples with a devious look in his eyes. He licked his lips and winked at me. I wished I could kick him in the balls.

Instead, I did the first thing that came to my mind, even though I wasn’t sure any good could come out of it.

I ran.