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.

pulling out garlands and tangled string

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

I freeze. "What?"

jaw tightens, and he shakes his head, muttering,

his eyes linger on my

stomach and slowly kneel down beside

the tension melts away

the

laugh as I correct the garland he

he watches me and scratches the back of his

let

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

hand on his 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 tiptoes, trying to hang it

"Careful," Zaid warns.

2/4

She's Mine

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

steadies me, his hand still on my waist as he places his other hand on

look in his eyes. It's dark, intense, filled with a hunger that makes my

His eyes flicker to my lips, and

I tense and pull away, but not

Aiden's voice cuts

my heart racing, and Zaid's hand drops from my

Aiden's expression is a storm

now?" His eyes

"Aiden, it's not "

snapping at Zaid. "What the hell is wrong with you? She's my

but

Zaid's fault," I say quickly, guilt twisting

and the anger in his eyes melts away to

lips and he looks between the