Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 224

Hard Already

1 Week Later

The box sits in the center of the kitchen island like some object that can tell us the future.

It's not wrapped in bright paper or topped with a bow, just a sleek black box with gold edging. It's paired with a white envelope and my name is written in calligraphy across the textured paper.

Zaid stands beside me, arms crossed, frowning at it like it personally insulted him. "You gonna open it?"

I tilt my head, studying it with a squint. "I don't even know what to open. It looks like it might just be for decor?"

He raises an eyebrow. "A box for decor?"

I shrug, lifting the thing gently. It's heavier than I expected. "She's rich. You should know

how rich people are. You are one."

Zaid lets out a short laugh. "There's money rich, like my dad. And then there's rich rich like your aunt. That's a whole other breed."

I grin at him, shaking my head. With a heavy sigh. I walk the box to our newly furnished living room and set it on the coffee table.

I'll open the envelope tomorrow, on my actual birthday.

When I walk back into the kitchen, Zaid already has ingredients out for dinner. His sleeves are pushed up, and he's chopping a zucchini and mushrooms, while the steaks sit out with salt and pepper.

I lean against the counter, watching him, taking in the way his forearms moves.

"What do you want to do tomorrow?" He glances at me, a small smile pulling at his lips.

I blink at him and then frown. "I don't know. But my aunt wants to take us out for dinner."

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11:34 pm

Hard Already

His smile widens. "So I have all day tomorrow with you until then?"

I nod. "We could just get breakfast somewhere. Walk around. I don't care. I just

want to spend the whole day with you."

His smile fades, his expression pulling tight. Like the words hurt.

I frown. "What?"

chopping, slower now.

"Zaid."

on the edge of the counter. "I don't know how much

stutters. I move toward

full of

you."

stop just inches from him. "Then

exhales sharply, his jaw tightening. "Alina, we've only been here two

trying to read the expression on

started therapy. You met your aunt. You're lighter. You

him that most of that is

looking at me

heart turn

don't want to be the reason that stops,"

his hand,

won't stop trying. I won't stop working on me, on all of

strangled sound, like he's being tortured

2/5

Hard Already

if we just take it slow?" I whisper. "No sex. Just this. Holding hands. Kissing.

together."

gonna be hard," he

I whisper, grinning

up, cupping my jaw gently. His thumb runs across my cheek,

of his touch,

like he's testing the waters. Then

his hand drifts to the back of my neck, and the whole world narrows down to this, to his mouth, his touch, his body and

pull apart,

"I love you, Alina."

spreads across my

mingling, and for a moment I

he pulls back, just a little. His hands drop from my face,

There's a tightness in

quietly. "You look like you're trying not

softly,

brows knit. "Scared

things are gonna look now." He pulls back enough to really look

"What do

been here two weeks. You're still figuring things out. Therapy, your

my stomach souring from the nerves. "You

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Hard Already

together?"