Sinful Seduction

"Do you, Amira Kyson, take Andrew to be your husband, in sickness and in health, in good and in bad, till death do you part?"

The priest's words rang in Amira's ears, pulling her from her spiraling thoughts.

Her grip on the bouquet tightened. Beneath her veil, her eyes darted toward the man standing across from her-the man she was supposed to marry.

Andrew smiled at her, hopeful, expectant.

Her heart clenched.

She didn't hate him. In fact, she wished she could love him. He was kind, gentle, the perfect husband any woman would dream of. But she wasn't any woman. And this wasn't her dream.

Tamlin was.

Her lips parted, but the words refused to come out.

"Miss...?" The priest's voice sharpened. "Say something."

She felt every pair of eyes on her, the weight of her mother's expectations pressing into her like a suffocating cage.

But before she could force herself to speak, Andrew's voice cut through the silence.

"It's okay." His tone was soft, almost comforting. "I know you love someone else, Amira. I won't force you into this marriage."

Her breath hitched. "Really?"

He nodded.

Relief flooded her, and without thinking, she threw her arms around him. "Thank you... thank you so much."

Andrew's arms tightened around her, but only for a second.

Then, as quickly as she came, Amira pulled away, gathering the heavy fabric of her gown and running-running straight out of the wedding hall.

A sad smile ghosted his lips, but the ache in his chest grew unbearable. He swallowed hard, willing himself to stay composed as he turned to the priest.

"Aren't we continuing with the wedding?" the priest asked awkwardly.

Andrew exhaled. "No. Send me your account details, and I'll pay you for your time." His voice was calm-too calm.

The priest hesitated but nodded, before walking away.

Andrew reached into his pocket, his fingers curling around his phone. He dialed a number he had saved under "Mrs. Jane."

The call connected instantly.

"Ah, Andrew!" Her voice was warm, oblivious. "I've been waiting for an update. I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your wedding... How's everything going?"

Andrew opened his mouth, but the words felt too heavy.

"Hello-" she said.

"Oh mom, I called to tell you something.." he said his voice laced with hesitation and fear.

"What is it?" Jane asked suspiciously, already getting that feeling that something was wrong.

"I what to call the wedding off, I'm no longer interested in your daughter, I thought I liked her before but I don't anymore, I'm sorry ma'am..." He said in a breath and ended the call.

He fell to the floor and the tears which he tried to hold rolled down his cheeks.

--

**Tamlin's Place**

Amira's car pulled over in the driveway- she didn't even park it properly, she stepped down barefoot, her heels in the car she was still clad in a wedding dress, her makeup was a bit smeared due to the running.

She was about to knock on the door when the door opened, revealing Tamlin, who stood there perplexed.

"Aren't you supposed to get married today..?" He asked sarcasm lacing his tone -he backed this with an eye roll.

Amira looked at him apologetically. "I'm sorry Tammy, I didn't want to get married, mum forced it on me...but I'm all yours now. Andrew called off the engagement..." She said and Tamlin's eyes lit up.

"Really?-"

"Yes!" He exclaimed. "finally we're together at last!" She said embracing him at the door way he smiled hugging her back-happy tears brimming in his eyes.

"I don't even know what to say.." he muttered his voice low.

"You don't need t say anything, just be happy,- We're going to celebrate tonight!" She said naughtily and he smirked tapping her nose.

"You're trouble," he teased, brushing a finger over her nose. Something flashed in his mind. "What about your mum, you know she's probably gonna kill you right?, you know this wedding meant alot to her..." He reminded and she sighed.

"I know mum will be upset, but it's my first time ever disobeying her, she can't be that mad.." she said and he smiled.

"Well as long as you won't get hurt, then I'm okay.." she smiled at his cute words. "Won't you take this off, I made some lunch in sure you're hungry" he added and she scratched her head.

"I came her with no clothes, I'll have to wear yours" she said heat crept up her cheeks and he rolled his eyes.

"This isn't the first time you're doing this, just go to my room and grab a t-shirt and sweats then come out for lunch" he said and walked to the kitchen she took made her way to his room.

Her eyes roamed around the small space-so different from what she was used to. The ceilings are a bit broken and the bed was already worn out. A sigh escaped her lips.

She didn't like the fact that Tamlin was living this way- she had tried to help him multiple times but He never let her help. He always said, 'I'm the boyfriend; I should be the one spending, not you.'

A light chuckle escaped her lips remembering his words. Her slender fingers slowly reached for the back of the dress loosing the corset which wrapped tightly around her waist.

She breathed out in relief, her buzzed from her hidden pocket and she removed it when she saw that the caller was her mum, she ignored the call-silencing her phone placing it on the table.

She reached for the zip of her dress unzipping it and taking it off. She was now just in her undies she looked around for the towel before seeing one, she grabbed it and walked to the bathroom.

She needed a cool shower, she removed her undies quickly and entered the shower, she turned the nob and expected the cool relaxing feel of the water to hit her skin but it didn't happen.

Her eyes flung open- looking up, she saw that the shower was struggling to pour out the water, she rolled her eyes. "I told him to change this shower head" she said standing on her tippy toes and hitting the shower head gently.

Immediately a cockroach feels from it crawling up her feet then back down- a heart wrenching shriek tore from her lips.

"Ahhhh!!!!"

He immediately ran from the kitchen he was about to push the door opened when another scream stopped him.

"Don't come in, I'm naked" she said her hands wrapped around her chest covering her boobs.

He chuckled. "I'm sorry, what happened?" He asked this time his voice laced with worry.

"It was just a cockroach, but it's gone, I'm fine now" she said in a rushed tone. He didn't ask any further he just walked back to the kitchen.

Her racing heart calmed down slowly, her cheeks shining a bright shade of red. When she was done with the shower. She stepped out wearing the T-shirt and Sweat pants that he laid out for her-making her way downstairs for dinner.

The two had the best dinner, with Amira's laughter filling the air. Her phone was still buzzing with endless calls from her mother and for the first time ever, she didn't pick the call.

**Bar**

The bar was filled to the brim tonight-sweaty bodies pressed together as the stripper clung to the pole dancing their asses off, the neon lights flashing across the intoxicated faces of the hungry men.

The air reeked of alcohol, sex, smoke, desperation, and something darker lurking beneath the surface.

Andrew stumbled toward the bar, his wedding suit now slightly wrinkled, a far cry from the polished groom he was meant to be.

He crashed onto the stool, his fingers trembling as he loosened his tie. His eyes, bloodshot and hollow, met the bartender's unimpressed gaze.

"What'll it be?" she asked, already guessing the answer.

He exhaled shakily, dragging a hand down his face before murmuring, "Something strong... something that'll make me forget."

The bartender arched a brow but didn't question him. Moments later, she slid a glass across the counter-dark liquid sloshing against the sides.

Andrew grabbed it, downing the first shot in one go. Then another. Then another.

His vision blurred. His thoughts tangled- all he could see was Amira, still on that dress, what gorgeous blue dress- which she wore on their first date.

He ruffled his hair tears dropping from his eyes. "Why why?" He asked no one in particular, the music pulsed in his veins, the world spinning in slow motion. His head was spinning, vision blurred.

He felt someone touch him, looking up, he met Amira's blue eyes. A smile formed on his lips as he raised his hands to her cheeks caressing it slowly.

"Mira.." he muttered.

He didn't remember what happened next.