Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 177

Consuming

My breath catches in my throat, and I whisper, "How?”

His jaw clenches, his throat working. "Because I would never step into a doctor's office, Or a hospital. Ever."

My eyes widen, remembering Nikki's comments when she was laying in the bathtub.

His voice is rough, weighed down by things I don't fully understand. "But I did. For you."

I blink, trying to process his words. "Why would you never step into a hospital?"

He shakes his head, running a hand through his hair. "Can we can we save that conversation for another day?"

Something in his voice makes me nod.

I don't push, even though I want to. He never pushes me when I'm trying to stay afloat in the memories of my own traumas.

Instead, I cup his face again, guiding him down to me as I press my lips to his. He stiffens for a second before melting into me, his hands gripping my waist.

He's so gentle, so careful.

The kiss deepens, and I pour everything into it, every unspoken feeling I've been terrified

to admit.

When I finally pull away, my eyes are glassy with unshed tears, my heart so full it feels like it might burst. I search his face, tracing the lines of worry, the fear that lingers even

now.

"I want to say something," I whisper, my fingers still brushing his skin.

He watches me intently, nodding slowly.

"I want to tell you something." I'm trembling, not knowing why it's so hard for me to

words, not knowing how I'm even going to

on his

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"I love you too."

His lips part, his body going rigid, his hands flexing on my waist like he doesn't know whether to hold on or let go. Then he starts shaking his head, disbelief

he says, his

pressing a finger to his lips to silence him. "Do you really think so little of

He trembles.

feel like

eyes darker than I've ever seen them. I repeat myself, letting my voice soften, letting it wrap around him like

there, swirling in his gaze, and I wait for it to

realization that I mean the words

But it doesn't.

believe it and he looks absolutely

pressing his palms to my cheeks, letting him

skin, the soft hitch of my breath.

fingers twitch against my face. He's still shaking his head, but I see the

I say

a brief second, and when they open again, I see it still;

been told

up, brushing my lips against

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Consuming

in relief, his arms wrapping around my waist as he kisses me deeply. He starts off gentle at first and then he takes over, hand searching my body, lips bruising

of it steals the air from my lungs. It's not gentle, not careful. It's desperate and consuming, and

intense, all-consuming. And he's

body pressing closer as warmth floods every inch of me. He groans softly against my lips, a sound that makes my stomach tighten, makes

response and

around his waist. He carries me across the room, never breaking the

his lips trail down my jaw, my neck, his breath hot

carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. But this is