Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 77

She's Mine

The pine needles stick to my palms, and I hiss, dropping one hand.

Zaid yells, "Alina! Tell me when you let go."

He grunts as he takes more of the tree. We fight against the door frame and I cannot help the laughter that bubbles inside of me.

Trying to maneuver the tree through the door and into the living room is almost comical. The branches snag on the doorway, and Zaid grumbles under his breath, his lips twitching into a grin.

"I thought you were stronger, you know, with being so tall and everything," I tease. "Careful, Alina," he says, playfully. "You want to carry this tree all by yourself?"

"No!" I laugh, shaking my head as we finally get the tree upright in the stand. It's a Jittle crooked, but it works. We step back to admire it, our shoulders brushing, and I'm suddenly very aware of how close we are.

I don't pull away.

I lean into him.

The tension from earlier has dissipated, and as much as I am avoiding the topic of kissing him, I enjoy Zaid's company.

He sighs, leaning into me as well, before placing a kiss on my forehead. "Thank you for bringing Christmas back to me."

The words cause a swell of emotion to pull at my throat. "I'm going to change. It's too warm for this," I say quickly, tugging at the hem of my sweater.

Zaid nods. "I'll grab the ornaments."

I dart upstairs to my room, peeling off my sweater and jeans in favor of a pair of shorts and a loose T-shirt. The fabric feels light against my skin, and I sigh in relief as I run a brush through my hair.

1/4

She's Mine

This is the most unflattering outfit. The shorts are loose on me and so is the shirt, so nothing hugs my curves.

Perfect.

the open box of ornaments, pulling out garlands and tangled string lights.

they travel from the tips of my toes to my eyes. There's anger in the set of his features and it makes me

I freeze. "What?"

he shakes his head, muttering, "You're killing

I stammer, tugging at the hem of my shirt, but his eyes linger on my legs for a beat longer before he looks away, busying himself with

stomach

and the tension melts away as

the garlands

as I correct the garland

scratches the back

let

him looking down at the garland in his hands, his throat bobbing with

arm and squeeze. His eyes go to me and they drop to my lips, nostrils flaring. He's stiff, tense, and I can tell he

and stretch on my

"Careful," Zaid warns.

2/4

She's Mine

I lose my balance. His hands catch me, one warm and firm

ear, and I shudder. He steadies me, his hand still on my waist as he places his other hand on mine and

the same look in his eyes. It's dark, intense, filled with a hunger

ignore. His eyes flicker to my lips, and mine drop to his. He's

and

fuck is this?" Aiden's voice cuts

heart racing, and Zaid's hand drops from my waist as we both

face him. Aiden's expression is a storm of

right now?" His eyes bounce

"Aiden, it's not "

"What the hell

but he

not all Zaid's fault," I

me, and the anger in his eyes melts

between the both of us