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

been getting better with hospitals, and when Elena announced his pregnancy,

therapy. He was determined to

he is looking at me, I have a feeling the hospital fear is the last

his mind.

what he's thinking,

pass the baby back into his arms.

hopefully you'll be discharged soon?" "Fingers crossed," he says, smiling down at his

hand. He doesn't speak. Doesn't

and follows me out.

ride back home is quiet, but the sibtle thrum of his thumb on my thigh has me feeling so much

barely make it through the front door of

hands are everywhere, on me as we stumble our way up the stairs, taking

clothes with

in the feel of him, the taste, the heat that simmers just below the surface. As soon as he closes

my arms to keep me

and I'm standing in my underwear,

at

he whispers, breathless. "I've been trying so fucking hard to

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Chapter 264

blink up at him, confused.

the bookshelf, pulling down his weathered leather journal. The one that looks exactly like the one he gave

into this place.

as he hands

five," he

a little as I open it,

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

years ago.

remember writing my list

list and the very first line wrecks me. It tears me

1. Marry Alina.

vision blurs instantly, tears burning their way

as I

slowly lower the journal.

front of me, closing in, stepping closer with a