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.

even blinking, just watching the way I cradle that tiny

and when Elena announced

his therapy. He was determined

he is looking at me, I have a feeling the

his mind.

what he's thinking,

back into his arms. "Thank you for

food. And hopefully you'll be discharged

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

and follows me out.

thrum of his thumb on

door of our house before

everywhere, on me as we stumble our

with

as hungrily, losing myself in the feel of him, the taste, the heat that simmers just below the surface. As

his hands on my arms to keep

and I'm standing in my underwear, him in his

at him.

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

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Chapter 264

up at him, confused.

answer right away. Just reaches for the bookshelf, pulling down his weathered leather journal. The one that looks exactly like the one he gave me when we

into this place.

pulling together as he

he says

a little as I open it, flipping

of goals for this new start of our

years ago.

my list

very first line wrecks me. It tears

1. Marry Alina.

vision blurs instantly, tears burning their way to the surface. My breath

as I

slowly lower the journal.

in front of me, closing in,