Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 264

Chapter 264

Alina 3 Years Later

Here I am, completely undone by seven pounds of squishy baby.

I cradle Elena's son in my arms, his tiny body wrapped in a pale blue blanket, his

little fists opening and closing like he's trying to find something.

One of his fingers wraps around mine and I forget how to breathe. My chest swells, my eyes sting, and I can't stop smiling like an idiot.

God, he's perfect.

I wiggle my finger against his tiny palm, whispering a quiet hi. He coos and it hits me like

a punch to the heart.

I want one.

No, I want five.

If they all feel this soft, smell this good, make my heart ache with love, then I want five.

I never used to think of myself as a mother. Not seriously. Not beyond that pregnancy scare that had me spiraling, unsure of the future and everything in it. But now? Now I'm sitting here, in a quiet hospital room and everything feels clear.

"He's absolutely beautiful," I say, looking up.

The comment was meant for Elena, but she's out cold on the bed, snoring softly, completely knocked out from forty-eight hours of labor. A laugh slips from my lips, she would hate to know that I've heard her snore.

"She deserves the rest," Noah murmurs beside me, even as he tries to hide his chuckle. He leans over and presses a kiss to her forehead, brushing a strand of hair from her damp temple. "It was a long couple of days."

There's so much love in his eyes that it steals my breath again.

My eyes drift across the room to Zaid.

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Chapter 264

He's sitting in the corner chair, his elbows on his knees, his dark eyes fixed on me like I'm some kind of vixen. His gaze is molten, hooded and hungry, wild.

I know that look.

he's overwhelmed. He's not even blinking, just watching the way I cradle that tiny baby boy like I was made to do

with hospitals, and when Elena announced his pregnancy,

his therapy. He was

me, I have a feeling

his mind.

know exactly what he's thinking,

Noah and gently pass the baby back into his arms. "Thank

come back tomorrow. With food. And hopefully you'll be discharged

stand and reach for Zaid's hand. He doesn't speak.

and follows me out.

the sibtle thrum of his

door of our house before he's on me,

everywhere, on me as we

clothes with every

taste, the heat that simmers just below the surface. As soon as he closes the door to his bedroom, he

his hands on my arms to keep

heaving and I'm standing in my underwear,

look at

he whispers, breathless. "I've been

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Chapter 264

him,

answer right away. Just reaches for the bookshelf, pulling down his weathered leather journal. The one

into this place.

as he hands it to

five," he says

hands tremble just a little as

list. His list of hopes and dreams, of goals for this new start of our life,

years ago.

my

I look at his list and the very first

1. Marry Alina.

instantly, tears burning their way to the

as I

slowly lower the journal.

closing in, stepping closer with a ring in