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.

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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.

is kneeling by the open box of ornaments, pulling out garlands and tangled string lights. His gaze lifts when he

eyes. There's anger

I freeze. "What?"

muttering, "You're killing me, love." Heat rushes to my

stammer, tugging at the hem of my shirt, but his eyes linger on my legs for a beat longer before

stomach and slowly kneel down beside

melts away as we

the garlands

laugh as I

watches me and scratches the back of his neck. "It

let me

I turn around I catch him looking down at the garland in

to my lips, nostrils flaring. He's stiff, tense, and I can tell he wants

on my tiptoes, trying to hang it higher on

"Careful," Zaid warns.

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She's Mine

one warm and firm on my waist

his hand still on my waist as he

turn to thank him, I come face to face with the same look in his

from leaning closer, the pull between us too strong to ignore. His eyes flicker to my

front door slams. I tense and pull away, but

the fuck is this?" Aiden's voice

Zaid's hand drops

him. Aiden's expression is a storm of anger, his fists

now?"

"Aiden, it's not "

"What the hell is wrong with

but he

fault," I

in

and he looks between the both of