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.

gives me when he's overwhelmed. He's not even blinking, just watching the way I cradle

with hospitals, and

therapy. He was determined to here

is looking at me, I have a feeling the

his mind.

thinking, because I'm thinking it

at Noah and gently pass the baby back into his arms. "Thank you for letting

you'll be discharged

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

and follows me out.

the sibtle thrum of his thumb on

it through the front door of

His hands are everywhere, on me as we stumble

with

the heat that simmers just below the surface. As soon as he closes

my arms to keep me

heaving and I'm standing in my underwear, him

look at

breathless. "I've been

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Chapter 264

at him,

leather journal. The one that looks

into this place.

frown, eyebrows pulling together as he hands it to

he says

a little as I open it,

of goals for

years ago.

writing my

very first line wrecks me. It tears me

1. Marry Alina.

tears burning their way to the surface. My

as I

slowly lower the journal.

of me, closing in, stepping closer

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