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?"

keeps chopping, slower now.

"Zaid."

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

stutters. I move toward

lifts his eyes, and they're full of so much longing

you."

inches from him. "Then

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

to read the

your

him that most of that

so much more," he mutters, looking at me in a way

heart turn

want to be the reason that stops," he

chest aches. I reach for his hand, curling my fingers around his. "You won't

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

strangled sound, like

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Hard Already

take it slow?" I whisper. "No sex. Just this.

together."

be hard,"

I whisper, grinning

hand comes up, cupping my jaw gently. His thumb

warmth of his

kisses me. Soft at first, like he's testing the waters. Then deeper, hungrier. My

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

apart,

"I love you, Alina."

that spreads across

against mine, our breaths mingling, and for a moment I think that's it; we've finally closed the space

just a little.

a

it?" I ask quietly. "You look like you're trying not to

softly, "I'm just scared,

brows knit.

rushing back into something before we even know how things are gonna look now." He pulls back enough to really look at me, searching my

blink. "What do you

things out. Therapy, your aunt,

my stomach souring from the nerves. "You think that means we

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Hard Already

together?"