Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina) novel Chapter 57

Alone Time–2

As I’m reaching for the dress, the sound of the door clicking and hinges squeaking draws my attention.

I pull the dress, hanger and all, pressing it to my chest as I spin around to yell at whoever is it opening my door. My heart catches in my throat and I stifle the scream itching to get out when I see it is Zaid, slipping inside and closing the door quickly.

His fingers press to my lips, silencing me before I can say a word.

I’m gaping like a fish out of water, my blood boiling beneath my skin and my heart pounding in my chest.

He keeps his fingers against my lips as he leans back, his dark eyes scanning me in a way that feels too intense, too personal. His gaze flickers downward, and I realize he’s noticed the state of my dress, or lack of it. The green fabric is hanging loosely from my hands. It’s only covering my chest, exposing the tops of my shoulders and collarbone, my legs and waist only disrupted by the pair of nude underwear.

Heat floods my cheeks as I yank the fabric tighter around me, pulling my face away from

his fingers.

A slow smirk lifts his lips, and he cocks his head.

I swallow, the dressing room feeling impossibly smaller. I glare at him, trying to steady my voice even though my heart is racing. “What the hell are you doing?” I hiss.

He shrugs, leaning casually against the door like he owns the place. “We won’t get another chance to talk.”

“Talk about what?” I snap, tightening the dress against my chest.

He takes a step closer, his smirk fading into something more serious.

His dark hair is slightly messy, and it falls over his brows. It makes him all the more infuriatingly good–looking. I hate that I notice that.

I try to step away, the back of my knees hitting the edge of the bench.

1/5

8:13 pm

Alone Time–2

His dark eyes scan my face. “How have you been?”

I gawk at him, my jaw dropping open. “This is the conversation we have to have right now?”

His lips twitch like he’s about to smirk again, but he doesn’t. Instead, he leans in just enough that I can see the faint shadow of stubble on his jaw and feel the warmth of his breath, see the sharpness of his cheekbones. “Yes.”

I grit my teeth. “I’m half naked, Zaid.”

He shrugs, eyes dropping to my feet before snapping back to my eyes. “That’s just a bonus.”

“You’re insufferable,” I snap, though my voice betrays me, shivering. His nearness is doing things to me. I wish it wouldn’t.

He shrugs. “So, how have you been?”

I roll my eyes, pressing a hand to his chest and shoving him away. “Get the fuck out,

Zaid.”

His nostrils flare and the muscle between his brows twitches. “It’ll be hard to find time for us to be alone again.”

I scoff. “Are you serious? I don’t want to be alone with you!”

He cocks his head, placing a hand on the wall behind me as he leans closer to me, my hand still against his chest. “So, Aiden told you everything?”

I grit my teeth, jaw clenching.

He lifts an eyebrow. “No?”

My nostrils flare.

“There’s no question you want to ask me? No conversation you want to have with me?”

I frown. “I thought you said I would have to have that conversation with Aiden. Last time I tried talking to you about it, you wouldn’t open up.”

2/5

Alone Time–2

“I was holding back for him, but after he convinced father to send me to boarding school, I don’t give a shit.”

My eyebrows lift, my cheeks turning hot. Am I finally getting the conversation I’ve been looking for?

“Don’t,” I say sharply. “Don’t say things like that. Especially not when you’re being an asshole barging in here.”