Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 207

Needing You Turned Into an Obsession

I don't remember running up the stairs. My feet move on their own, slamming against the

hardwood.

I was suffocating down there. I was struggling to stand.

Zaid's words still ring in my ears. The faces of the detectives as they looked at Jake when my mother told them what he was doing. The judgment in their eyes they couldn't quite

hide.

The rage in my mother's voice was nothing new, but her disgust at Jake was scarring.

Jake, who married my mother for me.

My chest caves in around my heart, everything tightening until I can't breathe. I stumble into my room, fisting the doorknob, ready to shut out the world and scream into my pillow until I pass out from the blinding headache.

But the door doesn't close. I hear a string of words, and then a foot slams into the crack,

stopping it from shutting.

"Don't," I whisper, backing away just as the door creaks open again. I expect it to be Zaid,

but he is the last person I want to see right now.

The last person I want to see me in my shame. But it's not him.

Jake steps in, his face filled with regret. His eyes drink me in, like he's trying to assess the

damage.

"Shit, baby," he breathes, his shoulders dropping, his voice raw. "I'm sorry."

I don't hesitate. I crash into him, my body colliding with his like it's muscle memory. I bury my face into his chest and sob, ugly, shaking, breath stealing sobs.

I don't care what Zaid said. I don't care that it's wrong or twisted or that the world might never understand. I ignored the red flags because being him felt good; losing myself to him in the car that first time made me feel something.

I wanted it.

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You Turned Into an

it to get this

he's trying to shield me from all of it. He kisses the top of

have nothing to apologize for. This is on me. I should've stayed away. I should've, fuck,

just enough to look up at him, my grip still tight on

don't regret you. Not us,"

with something soft and sad. "The best thing I

The thought of losing him isn't as painful as losing Zaid. Jake can't break me any more than Zaid

don't want you

he's struggling, like he wants to believe me but doesn't know how to forgive himself for this, like he doesn't

he can't help himself, he leans in, brushing his

kiss is soft, too soft, like goodbye

leave mine, and the room feels colder

my fingers tangled in the fabric of his shirt, my pulse

to kiss

eyes. The kiss stole something from him, or maybe it gave him the courage to finally

takes a step back, his thumb brushing along the edge of my jaw. And then

2/4

You Turned

know I'm in the wrong," he

my

He doesn't stop.

he says with a crooked, bitter smile, "and you're eighteen. You're just starting your life, Alina. You should be worried about college or falling

he is who I want. But my voice gets

again after years of feeling like everything was just gray. You reminded me that my life wasn't over.

arms. My legs. Even the

eyes flicking there, like it only confirms what he's already feeling. But he

you turned into an obsession. I watched myself lose control, and

the back of my eyes. I don't know if they're

Diana came back into town. Trying to pull this apart, trying to figure out where I crossed the line. But the truth is, I crossed it the moment I met

it