Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 130

Middle of Class

Aiden's fingers drum lightly against the steering wheel as he pulls into the driveway.

He doesn't unlock the doors immediately, so I turn to him. The engine is still humming, the car thrumming

around us. He shifts and suddenly his lips are on mine, his hands cupping my cheeks.

He pulls away long enough so | can breathe.

"I don't want to let you go yet," he murmurs, leaning in before | can respond.

His lips press against mine again, slow at first. | smile into the kiss, but when he deepens it, tilting my head back

with his hand, I let out a soft laugh.

| try to push at his chest, but he keeps kissing me.

"Aiden," | mumble against his mouth, pushing harder at his chest, "let's go inside.".

He groans, his forehead dropping against mine. "Yeah, but the second we step inside, | have to share you. Right

here, it's just us."

| smile at him, but something in my stomach twists-not in the way it should. | force another chuckle, brushing it

off like it's nothing, but the words settle in my chest like a

weight.

| feel the heavy lump in my throat, but this is a deeper conversation that requires much more of my tand

attention. Aiden's struggling. | can see it.

I can feel it.

He kissesonce more before finally pulling away and shutting off the engine. | grab my bag, step out of the

car and Aiden follows close behind, his hand

ghosting over the small of my,

my, back as we head inside.

The house is quiet, the familiar scent of cedarwood and something sweet lingering in the air, like there are

cookies in the oven. My stomach grumbles at the thought.

| head into the living, and find Jake there on the couch. His laptop is on his knees,

a glass of whiskey on the table beside him. There's a gon the T.V. but it's muted and he has a

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4:05 pm

Middle of Class

frown on his eyes.

Things at his company are still in disarray.

He looks up when he hears me, exhaustion evident in the tightness around his

eyes. It pulls at my chest and | make my way toward him.

"Hey, baby," he whispers, closing the laptop and setting it aside.

He runs his hands down his face and | comb my fingers through his hair. Just like that, sof the tension in his

shoulders disappears.

His hands find my waist and he pullsonto his lap and kisses me. His arms holdtight and he breathes,

relieved, as if | make him feel better just by being here.

Like he needs me.

"Jake," | whisper, holding onto the collar of his shirt. It's unbuttoned, givinga view of his muscled chest. "Is

everything okay?"

His jaw clenches, eyes shifting to his closed laptop. "No, everything's a mess. My CFO has apparently been

stealing from me."

gasp. "What?"

"I don't think we would have caught him if he didn't...die."

He grimaces when he says the word, and | swallow, scooting impossibly closer to

him. "What are you going to do?"

He shrugs. "Nothing? He's dead. His family is mourning."

| frown. "He stole from you."

"But what good could cfrom it? | don't want nor need the money. His wife's been

through enough."

| cup his cheeks. "You're a better man than they deserve."

He presses a soft kiss to my lips and exhales against my mouth, like he's been

waiting all day just to do that. "Stay withtonight?"

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405 pm. |

Middle of Class

| hesitate, the request making my chest tighten. I've been planning to see Zaid all day.

"Not tonight," | tell him gently, brushing my fingers over his cheek in apology. "Tomorrow?"

Jake sighs but nods. | stay on his lap, and we talk about our day as we kiss. Eventually, he tellshe has to

finish sreports and | kiss him one last time.

| head upstairs, anticipation running through me. | stop at my room first, freshening up and changing into a clean

t-shirt and shorts. Zaid's door is closed, forcingto knock.

"Yeah?" He calls, but it sounds distant, like he's not paying attention.

| open the door, walking in to him sitting on his bed with his laptop and a frown on

his face. | press my lips together. | want to smile just from looking at him.

He makes my insides jump, my heart race in my chest.

He givesa sideways glance, and then his entire attention shifts from the

screen to me. A relieved smile softly lifts his lips. "Hey, love."

| make my way toward him, crawling across his bed until I'm in front of him and |

kiss

him.

The moment my lips touch his, everything insidewarms. My body melts into his like | belong nowhere else

but right here. He exhales sharply against my mouth and he shoves his laptop to the side, placingon his lap.

His hands tighten around my waist, pullingeven closer until there's nothing between us but heat and the

sharp edge of wanting more.

He's hard.

| rock against him and he moans. "Alina, love."

"Yes?" | whisper, but give him no chance to answer.

My fingers grip his shirt like | might float away. A warm, overwhelming feeling

rushes through me,

like every good thing I've ever wanted is suddenly within reach.

He's the one the pull away, breathless and heart racing.

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4:05 pm In

Middle of Class

"lI would love to keep kissing you and see where this leads, but I'm in the middle of class, love."

My cheeks heat and | pull away. When | look toward his laptop, dread makes my stomach drop. An entire class

and a teacher awkwardly look at us through their

cameras.

| gasp, shoving at his chest and scampering off his lap. | run away, slamming his door behindas | make my

way to my room,

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