Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 101

A Secret

My heart hammers in my chest as I hear the click of the doorknob. It only takes a second before Zaid's door swings open.

I can feel my breath hitch in my throat and he just stands there, staring at me like

I'm at ghost. His dark eyes flick over me, from my face to my toes.

It's slow, deliberate, hot. His jaw tightens, and I lick my lips as it draws my attention.

"Can I..." I hesitate, my voice quieter than I intended. "Can I spend the night with you?"

He doesn't answer immediately, and I press my lips together, wrapping my arms around myself, suddenly unsure. Should I just walk away?

His frown is slight, but it's there, barely noticeable if I weren't so attuned to him. He watches me for a long second, those dark eyes melting my insides. Then he exhales through his nose and steps aside, pushing the door open wider.

I walk in, feeling the heat of his presence behind me as the door clicks shut. The silence

settles around us is almost too much to bear. He walks around me, toward his bed, where he begins to pick up the books he has scattered across it.

I take in his appearance. His damp hair, the way his grey sweatpants sit low on his hips, the faint sheen of water still clinging to his skin. My gaze drifts lower, tracing the jagged

scars that stretch from his abdomen to his back and over his shoulder blades.

I swallow hard and finally break the silence. "You're upset."

Zaid shrugs, shaking his head.

"You are."

"Why would I be upset?" His voice is flat, carefully neutral.

I hesitate before whispering, "I'm sorry I pulled away from you."

He stiffens, keeping his gaze locked onto the floor.

My fingers tighten around the fabric of my shirt. "I just... I'm not sure I want your father

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A Secret

to know."

to me and something flickers in his eyes. He huffs out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Why?"

my lips, but how am I supposed to answer that? I don't want Jake to know because

not good enough for you?" His jaw tightens

blink at him.

tarnishing your reputation

"No,

His voice is quiet, but there's an intensity in it,

a sea of uncertainty and insecurity in his

it away;

I don't feel like that at all. The pain

like you're willing to keep

have Aiden out in the

head, feeling my chest tighten. "No, Zaid. No. It's just

his nostrils flaring, but he

this before, with two people. And I don't know how to handle the

what? You think keeping me a secret is the

the both of us out in public. But this

him. This is so much more complicated than he thinks. Part of me

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spill everything.

again. "You think my father has a say in

4 shake my head.

but no less intense.

Tell everyone."

eventually, and Aiden and Zaid will have

Zaid can see the fear in my eyes because he flinches.

Only be with me in

deep because I don't want that.

I want Aiden.

I want Jake.

is all too

my eyes, and that

love," he cups my face, rubbing his

I don't want

jaw clenches, eyes scanning my

won't treat us differently? This isn't exactly a normal relationship.” The words come out of me and I have to bite my lip to

my love. We can only choose what we do. Either you will have to choose one of us, or you will

the judgement of being

but I don't get the chance to tell