LITMIR.BIZ

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more than that. And we can’t talk about this now. The children will hear us.’

      ‘You didn’t talk about it at any time,’ he said roughly, his eyes dark and dangerous, his accent thicker than ever. ‘You just left, ripping all the important things in my life away from me.’

      She winced at his description and forgot her resolutions not to argue with him. ‘I tried to talk to you but you were always at the hospital or out on a rescue!’

      ‘It’s my job, Christy.’

      And he’d been avoiding the issue. ‘We never communicate any more, Alessandro. When did you last spend time with me?’

      ‘You were in my bed every single night.’ His arrogant declaration brought a flush of colour to her pale cheeks.

      ‘That was just sex,’ she muttered. ‘The only place we ever spent time together was in bed.’

      Right from the first moment they’d met, they’d been unable to keep their hands off each other—to exercise anything even remotely resembling self-control.

      Awareness throbbed between them and as she caught the passion and fire in his eyes, only partially concealed by thick, dark lashes. Painfully aware of his vibrant masculinity, she turned away, trying desperately to ignore the agony of need that flared inside her body.

      It didn’t mean anything, she told herself miserably. Alessandro was a red-blooded Mediterranean man and sex had always been important to him. It didn’t mean that he loved her. Sex was not a way to solve problems.

      But maybe it would be a start, she thought to herself.

      If they shared a bed tonight, perhaps they’d feel closer and could start talking.

      ‘When did we last spend time together, Alessandro?’ she said in a choked voice. ‘Wasn’t I important? Do strangers in trouble matter more than your own wife?’

      A muscle worked in his jaw and he let out a long breath, but before he could speak, the children came barrelling out of their bedrooms. ‘We’re going outside to play in the snow,’ Katy yelled, ponytail flying as she took the stairs two at a time with Ben close behind her.

      ‘Don’t forget your coats,’ Christy called after them, suddenly desperate for them to stay, to breathe life and fun into the place. She didn’t want to be on her own with Alessandro. Didn’t have the energy for the confrontation that was brewing.

      Reading her mind, he took a step towards her. ‘So—I’m here now. If you want to talk, then talk.’ He looked remote and unapproachable and she felt everything sink inside her.

      She knew that some of the nurses and junior doctors found Alessandro intimidating, but she’d only ever loved the fact that he had no tolerance for anything less than perfection. It was what made him such an excellent doctor. So why did she suddenly find him so formidable?

      ‘We can’t talk about this in five minutes with you due back at the hospital. It’s too important for that.’

      ‘If you’ve got something to say, say it.’ His mouth was grim as he moved towards her. ‘You’re trembling. Do I make you nervous, Christy?’

       If he kissed her, she was lost.

      She backed away and hated herself for it. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. Of course you don’t make me nervous.’

      ‘Feeling guilty about leaving?’ He kept on coming, his eyes locked on hers. ‘Conscience pricking you?’

      ‘I don’t have anything to feel guilty about.’

      ‘Yes, you do.’

      ‘You’re seeing everything from one side as usual, which is totally unreasonable.’

      ‘You talk to me about unreasonable when you were the one who walked out?’

      There was a long silence while the atmosphere throbbed and hummed. His dark eyes slid down to her mouth and she thought she saw a sudden flare of hunger. But then it was gone and he bent to pick up her case.

      ‘You’re right. This isn’t the right time to talk about it. You’ve been gone for almost two months so waiting a few days longer for a cosy chat isn’t going to kill either of us. I’ll take this through to your room.’ His tone was flat, emotionless and she watched him as he walked.

      Her room? What did he mean, ‘her room’?

      Her knees still shaking, she followed him, her heart diving south as she saw that he’d put in her in the guest room. He stood for a moment, one dark eyebrow raised in challenge, and she bit her lip, hiding the pain.

       So much for using sex as a problem-solver.

      Was he expecting her to beg? Clearly he didn’t want her sleeping in the same room as him, the same bed as him, but she wasn’t going to let him know how much that hurt her. She had too much pride.

      ‘Great. This is excellent.’ She swept into the room as though the sleeping arrangements had been her choice. ‘We did this up nicely, didn’t we? I always liked the throw on the bed.’

      His gaze was steady on her face. ‘You should be comfortable enough.’

      Oh, no, she wouldn’t, she thought miserably. She wouldn’t sleep a wink, knowing that he was just down the corridor. Sleeping naked… Alessandro always slept naked and she felt a sudden rush of heat at the thought. She missed him so much. ‘I’ll be fine. This is perfect.’

      Something flamed in his dark eyes and she wondered what she’d said to anger him. After all, he’d been the one to put her in the spare room. If anyone had a right to be angry, surely it should be her? But he’d drawn the battle lines and made his position clear.

      He didn’t even want her in his bedroom. Didn’t want their relationship to be mended.

      And why did that come as a surprise? If he’d wanted to mend it, he would have followed her to London and dragged her back.

       Which was what she’d thought he’d do.

      She felt tears prick her eyes but fortunately Katy chose that moment to race back into the room, her hair and brightly coloured jumper dusted with snow. ‘Oh, Mum, this is wicked. There’s so much snow and—’ She broke off and glanced around her. ‘What are you doing in here?’

      ‘This is where I’m sleeping, sweetheart.’ Christy kept her tone bright, as if it were the most normal thing in the world for she and Alessandro to be sleeping apart, but Katy’s expression changed from happy to stubborn.

      ‘In the spare room?’

      Christy suppressed a groan. Katy definitely saw too much. ‘Your father and I need some space,’ she said quietly, and Katy glowered at both of them.

      ‘This is Christmas. Goodwill and all that. If you argue, you’ll upset Ben.’

      ‘We’re not arguing,’ Christy said weakly, and Alessandro gave a disapproving frown.

      ‘Our sleeping arrangements are none of your business, Katherine.’ He spoke quietly, but there was a warning note in his voice that made Katy’s narrow shoulders tense.

      ‘No.’ Her expression was mutinous. ‘You’re not sleeping in here. I want you to sleep in the same bed, like everyone else’s parents.’

      ‘Sweetheart, plenty of your friends’ parents don’t sleep together. Look at Rosie’s mum and dad. They—’

      ‘That’s different. They’re divorced.’ Katy glared at her fiercely. ‘You and Dad are not getting divorced. That isn’t going to happen.’

      Christy heard Alessandro drag in a long breath and bit her lip hard. Just hearing the word said aloud made her feel sick but at that moment all her thoughts were channelled towards alleviating her daughter’s distress.

      ‘Look,

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