by Sarah Morgan
‘I don’t want to talk about Josh.’
She felt his gaze right through her body. ‘I think I’ll just—’
‘No.’ Somehow he crossed the kitchen before she could move towards the door. ‘Don’t run off. Not this time.’
Tasha backed herself into the kitchen counter. ‘Look, whatever you’re going to say, I’m not—’
‘I was going to say that you’re beautiful.’
The words stole her breath. ‘Oh. Well, in that case—’
‘You were beautiful at seventeen but you were a child then …’ His voice was husky. ‘Now you’re a woman.’
But she felt like a teenager, with her heart pounding and her breathing shallow. ‘Sandro—’
‘I want you, Tasha.’ The words were thickened with emotion. ‘But it’s your choice. I’m not in a position to throw you over my shoulder and influence your decision. You can walk out of that door, or you can walk into my bedroom.’
Oh, dear God …
Slowly, her eyes lifted to his and her heart tumbled as she met the intimacy of his gaze. His eyes were dark pools of desire. And serious. There was no humour there. No mockery. He was an adult, making an adult decision, and he was asking her to do the same thing. She could walk away. She could say this wasn’t what she wanted. Or she could …
‘On second thoughts, forget the bedroom.’ His mouth came down on hers and he kissed her. Desire punched hard and deep and Tasha slid her hands over his shoulders, feeling male muscle flex under her fingers as his mouth plundered hers with erotic purpose.
Dizzy, she remembered that Alessandro had always known how to kiss. It was obvious that the intervening years had done nothing but polish his performance.
Engulfed by sexual excitement, she felt his hand slide to her bottom, pulling her hard against him, and she tumbled blindly into a well of sensation.
Somehow—and afterwards she couldn’t even remember how they’d done it—they made it to the bedroom, still kissing, and Tasha found herself on the bed, staring up into Alessandro’s burning eyes.
‘Do you know how long I’ve wanted to do this?’
‘About as long as I’ve wanted you to do it.’ There was no pretence between them. No shyness or coyness. And the sheer honesty of it took her breath away.
For a brief, intimate moment he looked down at her, and then he lowered his head and took her mouth again, tasting her, exploring her intimately. And she kissed him back with the same fevered hunger, taking everything he offered and more.
His hands made short work of her shirt and she felt the last two buttons ping onto the floor as he finally lost patience.
‘I’ll buy you another.’
‘Don’t bother.’ Tasha matched his desperation, tearing at his shirt the way she had only that morning when Josh had interrupted them. It was choreographed madness as they stripped each other.
Naked, they rolled together and Alessandro gave a grunt of pain as her elbow encountered his bruised ribs.
‘Sorry.’ She braced herself on her hands, murmuring against his mouth. ‘I’m really sorry. Just lie still and don’t move. I’ll do it all.’ Before he could protest, she kissed her way down his body, her mouth infinitely gentle as she explored his bruises and moved lower.
This time his groan had nothing to do with pain. ‘Tasha …’
She felt his hands slide into her hair but she didn’t stop and then heard the change in his breathing as she explored him intimately.
Her intention had been to drive him wild but in the end she couldn’t wait, and she slid up his body and straddled him, her hair tumbling forward onto his chest. ‘Am I hurting you?’
‘Yes—’ his reply was thickened ‘—but not in the way you mean.’ His hands gripped her hips and he shifted her over him, taking control despite her superior position.
Wildly excited, Tasha was about to move when he moaned something against her mouth.
‘What?’ She dragged her mouth from his and tried to focus on him. ‘Sorry?’
‘Condom.’ He reached out a hand towards the drawer by the bed and she realised that the thought of contraception hadn’t crossed her mind. ‘We should—’
‘Yeah.’ She was a doctor, for goodness’ sake. And it hadn’t even crossed her mind. Fumbling in the drawer, she grabbed protection and then they were kissing again, hands and mouths frantic as they feasted on each other.
His hand was between her legs and Tasha felt the skilled stroke of his fingers as he drove her higher and higher.
‘Sandro …’ She panted his name—heard the growl of frustration deep in his throat, and then he was inside her and the sheer size and heat of him punched the breath from her body.
She came immediately, the explosion so intense and violent that she dug her fingers hard into his shoulders, holding on as everything collapsed around her. Dimly, through the burning fever of blind lust, she knew she should apologise for hurting him, but his hands were on her and he took her hard, each powerful thrust sending her spiralling up towards the peak she’d just left.
This time when she hit, she took him with her and she sobbed his name as he drove into her hard, bringing ecstasy tumbling down on both of them.
He lay on his back with his eyes closed, drained of energy. ‘If I’d known it was going to be that good, I would have done it years ago and risked being beaten to a pulp by your brother.’
‘So you’re basically admitting you’re a wimp.’ She lay sprawled next to him, one leg across his. Her fingers trailed over his abdomen. ‘You have an incredible body, have I told you that?’
‘As a matter of interest, which bit excites you the most? My broken ribs or the leg that’s in plaster?’
‘All of it. I love a vulnerable man.’ Smiling, she pressed her lips to his chest. ‘You’re helpless.’
He captured both her wrists in one of his hands and anchored her hands above her head. ‘Not that helpless, tesoro.’ He rolled, ignoring the protest of his injured ribs. ‘Do you know how long I’ve waited to get you naked?’
‘About as long as I’ve waited for you to get me naked.’ She stared up at him, her gaze mirroring the desire he felt. ‘If I’d known you were that good at sex, I wouldn’t have wasted the last couple of weeks tucking you into that bed on your own.’
‘So we need to make up for lost time.’ He lowered his mouth to hers, thinking that he’d never been with a woman who made him want to smile and ravish her at the same time.
‘When the physio told you to take more exercise, I don’t think this is what she had in mind.’ With a smooth movement, she wrapped her legs around him and Alessandro hesitated, his hand locked in that glorious, tumbling hair.
‘You do know I’m rubbish at relationships, don’t you?’
‘Me too.’ She dragged his head down towards hers. ‘Which is why we’re going to make the most of this one while it lasts. Now shut up and kiss me.’
‘Two skinny lattes, both with a double shot, please.’ Tasha stifled a yawn as she dug her purse out of her bag and paid for the coffee. Glancing at her watch, she realised she’d had less than two hours of sleep the previous night.
‘Any pastries with that?’ The girl placed the coffee on the tray and Tasha looked longingly at the croissants and muffins, wondering whether carbs would wake her up or put her to sleep. Her brain too fuzzy to make a decision, she glanced over her shoulder towards Megan, who had bagged the only empty sofa in the coffee shop. ‘Croissant or muffin?’
‘Neither.’ Megan recoiled and patted her flat stomach, but Tasha ignored her.
‘I’ve got to have something or I’ll pass out. I’ll get a croissant and we can share.’
She wondered what Alessandro was doing. Was he still with his advisers? Was he thinking about her?
‘You look absolutely exhausted.’ Megan’s gaze was concerned as Tasha set the tray down and sank onto the sofa next to her. ‘Aren’t you sleeping?’
Tasha picked up the knife and sliced the croissant in two. ‘Er—not th
at much.’
‘Is Alessandro a demanding patient?’
Demanding? Tasha lifted her coffee and hoped her blush didn’t give her away. Yes, he was demanding, and over the last two weeks he had driven her almost mad with his demands, but not in the way that Megan clearly meant. ‘I’m just worried about the future. Don’t know what to do about my job.’ She told Megan the story, surprised by how easy it was to talk to her.
‘Tasha, your job prospects are good.’ Megan picked up her coffee. ‘Between you and me, everyone knows that consultant you worked for is an idiot. Everyone is probably cheering you on.’
‘Well, it would be nice to be cheered on from within a job.’ Tasha nibbled her croissant. ‘Still, at least Josh found me temporary employment. He’s not bad, as brothers go.’
‘He’s an amazing doctor.’ Megan spoke with real warmth and Tasha watched her over the rim of her cup, noticing the pink streaks on Megan’s cheeks. Her brain slotted together the clues. She remembered Josh’s reaction when he’d mentioned Megan’s name and the way Megan’s face had lit up when she’d talked about Josh on the ward.
‘So …’ Tasha kept her voice casual ‘… you know all my secrets. Tell me something about you. Are you married?’
It was the simplest explanation for her brother’s behaviour. Why else would he be holding back?
‘No.’ Megan picked up her spoon. ‘Not married. You know how it is with this job. It’s hell on relationships.’
‘That’s true enough.’ So if Megan wasn’t married, what was the problem? Maybe Megan wasn’t interested. ‘Personally? I wouldn’t have a relationship with another doctor. All those dinners in the bin.’
‘I’d be fine with it. In fact, I think it makes it easier if you’re both doctors—you both understand the issues.’
‘Josh is terrible at remembering social engagements when he’s working.’
‘That’s the person he is,’ Megan breathed. ‘He focuses on what’s important.’ She looked up and her eyes shone. ‘He’s a brilliant doctor.’
Knowing that she was looking at a woman in love, Tasha felt a flash of delight, quickly followed by exasperation.
Josh and Megan were in love. No doubt about it. So why hadn’t they got it together?
Was her brother letting his toxic relationship with Rebecca influence his future?
In which case she needed to give him a sisterly prod.
‘I can’t believe you’ve been back to the ward every day since the pirate party.’ Josh refilled his wine glass as the setting sun sent a rosy glow over the living room. ‘When you volunteered to help out with the prince-and-princess party I expected you to be there under sufferance for two hours and then leave, not go back for three weeks running!’
‘Alessandro has appointed himself chief wish-fulfiller.’ Tasha pushed the casserole towards her brother, careful not to look at Alessandro. She didn’t dare look in case they gave themselves away. And she wasn’t ready to tell Josh yet. He’d overreact and worry about her. He’d want to know what it all meant—where it was going. And the truth was, it wasn’t going anywhere.
The relationship was intense and physical, but she wasn’t fooling herself that it was anything other than great sex.
‘I never knew you were this domesticated.’ Josh filled his plate a second time.
‘Took me ages to make it so you might as well eat it. Today our prince arranged for some football player or other to come and spend some time with one of the boys. I have no idea who he was but he had a fit body. The nurses were as interested as little Toby.’
‘Which football player?’
Alessandro mentioned a name that had Josh’s eyebrows lifting in disbelief.
‘You’re kidding. How on earth did you persuade him to come?’
‘He just picked up the phone,’ Tasha said dryly. ‘Alessandro is nothing if not persuasive. All those years of being in command, I suppose.’
Lounging in his chair at the far end of the table, Alessandro gave a dismissive shrug. ‘I knew he was in the UK. It was nothing for him to spend a few hours with a sick child and it meant a lot to Toby. The little guy has been to hell and back lately.’
And Alessandro had been there every step of the way, giving whatever support he could.
Tasha felt her heart twist as she remembered the look on Toby’s face as his hero had strode onto the ward holding a football signed by all the members of the England team. ‘How do you know all these footballers, anyway?’
‘I know a lot of people.’
‘Top athletes always know each other.’ Josh cleared his plate. ‘That was great, thanks.’
Top athletes? Was Alessandro a top athlete?
She knew he played polo, but as it wasn’t a game she knew anything about, she had no way of knowing whether he was any good or not. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind she had a vague recollection of Josh once telling her that Alessandro could be the best if he put his mind to it, but at the time she hadn’t really paid much attention.
As the two men talked about sport, Tasha thought about the time they had spent together this past month. Alessandro had proved a real hit on the children’s ward and had spent hours with the children, talking to them and finding out what they enjoyed most and what their dreams were. Then he’d proceeded to try and make each and every dream come true.
‘Megan Phillips thinks he’s a hero.’ Dropping the name casually into the conversation, Tasha poured herself a glass of water. ‘He distracted a child for her yesterday while she took bloods.’
Josh’s expression altered. ‘You’ve met Megan?’
‘Well, of course. She popped down to the unit on that first day to chat to me and we’ve got together since then. We went for a coffee together a week ago. She’s lovely. The sort of woman you’re instantly friends with, even though you’ve only just met each other.’
Josh put his fork down slowly. ‘You went for a coffee? You chatted?’
‘Er … yes. Generally when we women go for a coffee we don’t sit in silence. Neither do we discuss sporting results.’ Tasha gave the two of them a meaningful smile. ‘Women know how to talk properly.’
Her brother was very still. ‘What, exactly, did you talk about “properly"?’
‘Oh, this and that. I don’t remember the specifics.’ She kept her answer intentionally vague, but the look on her brother’s face confirmed what she’d suspected from the moment she’d met Megan Phillips—that there was something going on between Josh and the beautiful paediatrician. ‘She really likes you.’
Alessandro sucked in a breath. ‘Of course. That’s where I know her from! It’s been driving me mad.’ He sat forward and thumped his glass down on the table, a triumphant gleam in his eyes. ‘Megan was the one you spent the night with at that party when we were at university! New Year’s Eve—that’s it! We were celebrating because you were the new hotshot of the emergency department and my team had just won a trophy. You spent the night flirting with this gorgeous girl in a red dress.’
Tasha held her breath.
A tense silence settled across the room. ‘I flirted with a lot of women. I don’t remember.’
Alessandro smiled, man to man. ‘You mean you don’t want to remember. Your ego took a real bashing that night. Normally all you had to do was stand there and fight them off, but she wasn’t interested. You had to work really hard for once in your life. It warmed my heart to see it.’
Tasha closed her eyes briefly. Why did men do this? Why was their form of communication either ribbing each other or punching each other?
Josh was still. ‘I’m surprised you can remember, given that you had your hands full with that blonde from Radiography.’
Wishing she’d never prompted this conversation, Tasha pushed her plate away.
‘You were Mr Cool, who was never going to succumb to a woman.’ Alessandro was still laughing. ‘And then the next morning you looked dazed—Megan Phillips got to you in a way no woman had ever got to you before. And it scared th
e hell out of you. I saw her around for a few months and then she just vanished. And you couldn’t find her. It was a mystery.’
‘There was no mystery.’ Josh stood up abruptly. ‘Nice dinner, Tash. I need to go.’
‘Wait.’ Alessandro sounded puzzled. ‘You look like hell. And she looks like hell, too. You’ve obviously got something serious going on. So why aren’t you doing something about it?’
Josh arched an eyebrow. ‘You’re giving me advice on relationships?’
‘I just don’t see the problem.’
‘No. You don’t.’
‘I’m the first to admit I’m rubbish at relationships. That’s because I’ve never felt anything for a woman, whereas you—‘ he emphasised the word ‘—obviously really care for Megan, so just give in to it! Accept that it’s over for you and get on with it.’
‘Well, you’re such a romantic pair,’ Tasha pushed the words past her dry lips, wondering why Alessandro’s frank admission that he’d never felt anything for a woman should make her feel this sick. She knew that, didn’t she? So why did hearing him say it hurt so much? ‘I can’t imagine why an intelligent woman like Megan would look twice at either of you.’ She stacked the plates noisily and then caught sight of her brother’s white face and paused. Anxiety shot through her. She’d never seen Josh like this. And Josh was her priority right now. ‘Alessandro’s right, though,’ she said gently. ‘Why not just finally give in and admit how you feel about Megan? What’s wrong with that?’
Alessandro leaned back in his chair. ‘Yes, go on. Admit that Mr Cool has fallen hard. Why not?’
Josh curled his fingers over the back of the chair, his jaw clenched, his face an unhealthy grey colour. ‘Because my wife is pregnant.’ He looked at them then, his eyes blank and soulless. ‘That’s why not.’
CHAPTER EIGHT
ALESSANDRO woke suddenly and glanced at the clock. Fourthirty a.m.
Outside it was still dark and rain was lashing the windows.
Turning onto his side, he saw that he was on his own in the bed. And then he saw Tasha standing on the balcony, apparently oblivious to the weather as she stared across the beach.