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

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

was determined to

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

his mind.

exactly what he's thinking,

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

back tomorrow. With food. And hopefully you'll be discharged soon?" "Fingers crossed," he

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

and follows me out.

thrum of his thumb on my

front door of our house before he's

as we stumble our way up the

clothes with

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

on my arms

I'm standing

look at him.

was going to wait," he whispers, breathless. "I've been

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Chapter 264

at him, confused. "Wait

his weathered leather journal. The one that looks exactly like the one he gave me when we first

into this place.

together as he hands

five," he

just a little as I open it,

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

years ago.

writing my list on the

look at his list and the very first line wrecks me.

1. Marry Alina.

vision blurs instantly, tears burning their

as I

slowly lower the journal.

me, closing in, stepping closer with a