Love Novel 45

The car ride downtown is unbearable.
My shoulders are jammed between Aiden and Zaid in the backseat. I feel like I’m suffocating, but I can’t pinpoint exactly
why.
Aiden’s hand rests possessively on my thigh, and he squeezes my skin every time Zaid shifts beside me. I twist my lips,
shifting my eyes to look at him. He looks different, but exactly the same.
His hair is longer, his eyes dark as he stares ahead. His arms are crossed over his chest, and his entire leg presses against
mine.
Mother and Jake sit in the front, the silence between them thick and unnatural, which only makes the entire space more
insufferable.
I huff a breath, annoyed, and throw my head back until it rests on the seat.
Aiden leans in slightly, whispering, “You okay?”
I nod tightly and turn to him. “Fine.”
Zaid, on my other side, doesn’t say a word, but I can feel his gaze on me, burning like a low flame. He presses his leg
harder into mine, and my spine shivers.
It’s maddening how much my body reacts to him, even as I remind myself that I’m with Aiden. My pulse races when his
fingers brushes against my waist in the cramped space, and I curse myself for the warmth spreading through me.
Aiden watches me with narrowed eyes and then shifts to look around me and at his brother. “Can’t you scoot down?”
Zaid’s fingers go still on my waist. “I’d be out the fucking car if I move.”
“At least close your fucking knees-”
“Boys,” Jake calls from the front of the car. He looks into the rearview mirror, his eyes catching mine. “We’re almost there. Don’t want to hear another word.”
I look away from the mirror, choosing to look out of Aiden’s window.
When we finally pull up to the bridal shop, I practically leap out of the car, grateful for Aiden’s hand as he helps pull me
out. I breathe in the fresh air, my mind spinning from being enveloped in the scent of the three men that occupy my
mind.
Mother gushes about how perfect everything is going to be as she takes Jake’s arm and leads us inside.
The shop is clean and glittering, with rows of dresses and suits lining the walls. A sales assistant greets us with a smile
and starts handing out the preordered outfits as mother confirms the items.
“This shop is for your dress, Alina. We ordered the suits for the boys at another shop. Let’s go.” Mother practically digs
her fingers into my arm as she pulls me toward the back of the shop.
I have no option but to follow her to the dressing room and slip inside. She sets the dress on the hook and looks me over with a raised eyebrow. “Did you bring a strapless bra?”
I scowl. “No.”
She rolls her eyes. “Just try it on without a bra. Jake and I are heading to the other shop. Tell the assistant what you need
fixed and she’ll add it to our account.”
My jaw drops. “You’re leaving me here? You don’t want to see the dress?”
She laughs. “The only dress I care about is mine. Jake insisted on getting you a dress and suits for the boys.”
I purse my lips together, my hands shaking from the barely controlled anger rushing through me. She leaves, the door
clicking behind her as I turn back to the dress in front of me.
My eyes widen as I take it in. It’s hanging from a hook beside the mirror, but even then I can tell it is backless.
“What the hell?” I whisper to myself.
Reluctantly, I shove off my pants and shirt before reaching back to unclip my bra. My skin breaks out in goosebumps
from the chilly air, but I quickly shove my bra down my arms and breathe out a steady stream of air.
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.
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.”
Planning your weekend reading? Ensure you’re on 𝗻𝚘𝑣𝘦𝕃5s.com for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a
click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading!
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.”
“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?
His eyes scan my face, taking me in. They’re dark, so dark they’re almost black. There’re specks of gold in them, and they
send pleasurable shivers down my spine.
God, he’s so beautiful it hurts.
“Stop staring,” I whisper, not even convincing myself with those weak words.
He tilts his head, his expression unreadable. “You look…beautiful.”
My breath catches in my throat. The way he says it makes my heart stutter, even though I know I shouldn’t care. “What?”
His gaze lifts to my hair. “Your hair’s longer. It suits you.”
I hate how my heart reacts to his words, skipping a beat despite the anger simmering in my chest.
“I missed you,” he whispers.
Planning your weekend reading? Ensure you’re on 𝗻𝚘𝑣𝘦𝕃5s.com for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a
click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading!
I glare at him, trying to mask how flustered I feel.
“Don’t,” I say sharply. “Don’t say things like that. Especially not when you’re being an asshole barging in here.”
“It’s the truth.”
“You need to leave,” I say firmly, even though my voice is softer than I intended. “Now.”
He doesn’t. He leans in closer, his eyes dropping to my lips. “I’ve been thinking about that kiss.”
I recoil, taking in the look in his eyes. “Really? You mean the kiss that you forced on me?”
Those beautiful eyes of his turn angry and they lift from my lips to my eyes. “You wanted it, love.”
I lift my hand from his chest, but before I can slap him across the face, he grips my wrist, pulling me toward him. I gasp,
feeling his erection against my stomach the moment he plasters his chest to mine.
I shake my head, completely thrown by his nearness. “Zaid, why are you doing this? What do you want from me?”
He hesitates, his dark eyes lingering on mine for a moment longer. Then, so unexpectedly, he presses a soft kiss on the
inside of my wrist.
A breath leaves me, loud enough for him to hear. His lips stay on my skin, and my entire spine shudders.
His eyes stay on mine, and for a moment, I think he’s about to say something important, something real. But then he
steps back, running a hand through his hair. “Nothing,” he mutters. “Forget it.”
Before I can respond, he’s gone, leaving me breathless and trembling in the too-small room. I press my hands to my
cheeks, willing the heat to fade.
I stare at the closed door, my chest tightening with a mix of anger, curiosity, and something else I can’t quite name.
I hate him; I remind myself. He’s rude, infuriating, and completely out of line.
When I finally leave the dressing room, no one is in the shop, just the sales assistant with a few other worker.
I hand her my garment bag, telling her that it fits just fine and head out the door.
Across the street, I find Jake and my mother exiting another shop, Aiden at their heels. Aiden looks up first, his expression
softening as he sees me and waves at me.
I force a smile and walk over to join them, wishing more than anything that this day, and this entire wedding, was already
over.
Aiden takes my hand the moment I step onto the sidewalk and he kisses my cheek, breathing into me.
I close my eyes.
Yes, this feels right, this feels normal. This is all I need, all I want.
But then why can’t I stop thinking about Zaid?