Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina) novel 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 I can breathe.

“I don’t want to let you go yet,” he murmurs, leaning in before I can respond.

His lips press against mine again, slow at first. I smile into the kiss, but when he deepens it, tilting my head back with his hand, I let out a soft laugh.

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

“Aiden,” I 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, I have to share you. Right here, it’s just us.”

I smile at him, but something in my stomach twists–not in the way it should. I force another chuckle, brushing it off like it’s nothing, but the words settle in my chest like a

weight.

I feel the heavy lump in my throat, but this is a deeper conversation that requires much more of my time and attention. Aiden’s struggling. I can see it.

I can feel it.

He kisses me once more before finally pulling away and shutting off the engine. I 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.

I 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 game on 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 I make my way toward him.

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

He runs his hands down his face and I comb my fingers through his hair. Just like that, some of the tension in his shoulders disappears.

His hands find my waist and he pulls me onto his lap and kisses me. His arms hold me tight and he breathes, relieved, as if I make him feel better just by being here.

Like he needs me.

“Jake,” I whisper, holding onto the collar of his shirt. It’s unbuttoned, giving me a 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.”

I gasp. “What?”

“I don’t think we would have caught him if he didn’t…die.”

He grimaces when he says the word, and I swallow, scooting impossibly closer to him. “What are you going to do?”

He shrugs. “Nothing? He’s dead. His family is mourning.”

I frown. “He stole from you.”

“But what good could come from it? I don’t want nor need the money. His wife’s been

I 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 with me tonight?”

405 pm. I

I head upstairs, anticipation running through me. I stop at my room first, freshening up and changing into a clean t–shirt and shorts. Zaid’s door is closed, forcing me to knock.

“Yeah?” He calls, but it sounds distant, like he’s not paying attention.

I open the door, walking in to him sitting on his bed with his laptop and a frown on his face. I press my lips together. I want to smile just from looking at him.

He gives me a sideways glance, and then his entire attention shifts from the screen to me. A relieved smile softly lifts his lips. “Hey, love.”

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