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

knowing how I'm even

look of absolute terror on his face is what finally makes me

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"I love you too."

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 voice

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

He trembles.

feel like

repeat myself,

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

realization that I mean

But it doesn't.

can't believe it

palms to my cheeks, letting him

skin, the soft hitch of my breath. "I love

his head, but I see the cracks forming, the fight inside him warring with

say

a brief second, and when they open again, I see

who's never been told they're worth

lips against his, whispering against

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as he kisses me deeply. He starts off gentle at first and

my lungs. It's not gentle, not careful. It's desperate and consuming, and that's

intense, all-consuming. And he's

him, my fingers tangling in his hair, my body pressing closer as warmth floods every inch of me. He groans softly against

in response and then I'm

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

mattress, and Zaid is over me, his weight braced on his forearms as his lips trail down my jaw, my neck, his breath hot and ragged. I gasp, my fingers digging into

weight of the world on his shoulders. But this