Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 243

Chapter 242

The sun is high and shining at its brightest by the time we get back home. There are long shadows cast before us, the lake behind the house reflecting all the light.

Aiden's mouth drops open when Zaid pulls up the driveway. He gets out of the car and scoffs in surprise as he takes in the trees and the house. I smile to myself, knowing exactly how he feels looking at it for the first time.

We all step inside the house and Aiden looks around, grinning like a kid.

"This place is insane," he says, dragging his suitcase through the entryway. "How did you guys even find this?"

I smile, cheeks warm, because I can feel Zaid watching me from across the room. "Zaid found it."

Aiden whistles low, still in awe. I give him a tour before I lead him upstairs.

"You can drop your stuff here for now. It's my room." I say, stepping aside as he wheels

his suitcase in. He sets it down and then walks to my window to look out.

I'm about to walk to stand beside him when I feel Zaid's hand slip around my wrist, tugging me gently toward the hall.

"I'll be right back," I tell Aiden, and he nods, distracted by the lake view out the window.

Zaid pulls me into the art room, and the door clicks shut behind us.

He doesn't say anything, he just looks at me, jaw tight, breath shallow. Then suddenly, his lips crash into mine, and I gasp as he presses me against the wall, his body hot, his hands framing my jaw.

I melt into it, my fingers digging into his back, my hips grinding into his. It's fast and full of something desperate. When he finally pulls away, his lips are swollen and his chest heaving.

"What was that for?" I whisper, dazed,

He rests his forehead against mine. "Just needed it," he says quietly. "I've got a few things

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Chapter 242

to get done. Thought I'd give you two some privacy to catch up."

I blink. "You're leaving?"

He nods, stepping back, smoothing my hair with a soft touch. "Just for a bit."

I nod too, even though part of me wants to reach for him again. He walks away first and I whisper to myself, adjusting my clothes as I slip back to my room.

Aiden's still standing at the window, watching the ripples on the water. He turns when I enter. “It's warm enough to swim, right?"

"I haven't tried."

"Then let's find out."

Before I can react, he throws me over his shoulder with a laugh, and I shriek, pounding at

his back as he barrels down the stairs and out onto the deck.

"Aiden, wait, I'm not wearing -!"

But he's already running. Then we're flying through the air.

The lake hits like a shock, cold and clear, and I come up sputtering and laughing all at

once, hair slicked back and clothes clinging to me.

"You're insane!" I yell, splashing water at him, trying to kick him under the water. He's laughing, swimming toward me. "C'mon. You love it."

He catches me, arms strong around my waist. I loop mine around his shoulders, breathless from the adrenaline. He tugs at my soaked shirt, lifting it over my head before helping me

with my jeans.

The water is cool against my skin. I watch as he undresses and shake my head. "You ruined my clothes."

"We were going to take them off at one point," he grins.

I roll my eyes, but smile.

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When he throws our clothes on the deck, he's back to wrapping an arm around my waist. His hands slide down my back and he kisses me again.

It's warm and familiar.

But something's missing.

My eyes stay closed longer than they should. Maybe if I don't look at him, I can pretend I don't feel the difference. That this doesn't feel like a memory trying to repeat itself rather

than something new.

He pulls back, helping me wrap my legs around his waist. "So, tell me more about this fellowship with your aunt."

"Well, it's my aunt's fellowship. I'm just freeloading."

That gets a chuckle out of him.

and tell him the basics. He listens, nodding, listening

says after a beat. "It's like me

to."

would be like that, wouldn't it? I would

doubt. I wouldn't ever let

an

opportunity like that.

would I let

mine again, and I kiss him back. He's hard between his

brushes against my thighs, making me

down my jaw. "Fuck,

my body take his touch, take his kisses.

the shallow end. I come,

all feels underwhelming. It's not a fire.

Not Zaid.

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our clothes on the deck, he's back to wrapping an arm

my back and

It's warm and familiar.

But something's missing.

Maybe if I don't look at him, I can pretend I don't feel the difference. That this doesn't feel like a memory trying to repeat

back, helping me wrap my legs around his waist. "So, tell me

aunt's fellowship.

gets a chuckle out

him the basics. He listens, nodding, listening as he

"It's like me not taking

heart thuds. It would be like that, wouldn't it? I would tell Aiden he's insane for not taking it if he showed any signs of doubt. I wouldn't ever let him choose me over

I

him back. He's hard

brushes against my thighs, making

down my jaw. "Fuck, I've

body take his touch, take his

myself in

on the shallow end. I

feels underwhelming. It's not a fire. Not an

Not Zaid.

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and we get out of

unnervingly quiet, and I

at me after a moment, and he studies my

that I

why he hasn't said

creases. "Did that feel different to

nostrils flare. The last thing I want to do is lie.

to the house opens and Zaid joins us. He looks at us with a surprised expression, no doubt wondering why we're sitting outside

Zaid and just gets

to crumple, fall

Zaid whispers, wrapping his arms around me as I fall

chest.

Chapter 243

pine and lake water toward us,

to look at Zaid, just feel his body against

damp skin and I am incredibly uncomfortable. Still, I

touch.

my shoulder. His breath is warm against my skin. It seems he's had enough

want to talk about

his arms, but my heart heavy. "I never

I didn't know how to feel about

Just enough so I feel the space open between us.

waist, but his eyes study me

him here."

but then when we talked at dinner that one

giving me the

fall down my shoulders a little.

I decided that I was... I was

him."

see the flicker of surprise in his

waits.

him at the airport, and he kissed me, and for a second, I

real comfort I had. He gave me something stable

else felt like

quicksand."

His thumb brushes along my

something beneath

don't know what

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hand down to my neck. "I can't tell you what to feel,

sounds like your confusing

I can't always tell the

sometimes my brain doesn't know. I'm having a hard time separating them when

quiet for a long moment, and then he leans in, pressing his forehead to

trust your