Midwives On-Call. Alison Roberts

       CHAPTER FIFTEEN

      A PROCESSION OF cars followed the ambulance to the hospital and once there a celebration ensued.

      Isla was more than used to the excitement within a Greek family when a baby was born but it was all multiplied tonight, because this little lady had been born on her grandparents’ fortieth wedding anniversary. Isla was aware, too, of the exhaustion having so many people around might cause for a new mum, but Alessi sorted it and suggested that the party continue back at his place.

      ‘Thank you so much, Isla,’ Allegra said as Isla went to go. ‘It might not have been the ideal location but it really was the best birth.’

      ‘It was wonderful.’ Isla smiled. ‘You made it look very easy.’

      ‘It has been the best wedding anniversary present ever.’ Yolanda was ecstatic. Niko was asleep on her shoulder and would be staying with his yaya tonight, but first they headed back to Alessi’s, stopping for champagne on the way.

      The mood was elated as corks popped and Alessi watched as Isla took a glass and pretended to take a sip so as not to draw attention to the fact she wasn’t drinking.

      ‘Are you okay?’ he asked.

      ‘Of course.’ Isla smiled.

      ‘Isla?’ Alessi checked, because he could see that she was struggling.

      ‘I’m a bit tired,’ Isla admitted, which was the understatement of the year. She was exhausted. The high of the birth was fading and the enormity of her revelation was starting to make itself known. They hadn’t had a chance to discuss it and from the way things were going it would be a good while yet till they could.

      ‘Go and lie down,’ Alessi suggested.

      ‘I can’t just go to bed in the middle of a party. My father would have kittens if I—’

      ‘He’s not here, though. Isla, you can do no wrong today, you just safely delivered Allegra’s baby. I know they are a bit over the top but they really are so grateful and relieved.’

      ‘I think it’s lovely how happy they are,’ Isla said.

      He led her to the bedroom and she walked in, glad to escape from all the noise. Alessi closed the blinds and Isla undressed down to her underwear and slipped into bed. He came and sat on the edge.

      ‘Thank you for tonight,’ he said.

      ‘I really didn’t have to do much. Your niece made her entrance herself,’ Isla said. ‘She’s such a gorgeous baby.’

      ‘It will be you soon,’ Alessi said, and watched as her eyes filled with tears. He could only guess how overwhelming this all must be for her. ‘How long have you known?’ he asked, and then answered his own question. ‘The Monday before Valentine’s Day.’

      ‘How do you know?’

      ‘Your texts went from ten lines to two words,’ Alessi said. ‘Don’t worry about all that now. Just get some rest.’

      ‘You’re not cross.’

      ‘Cross?’ Alessi checked. ‘Did you expect me to be cross?’

      ‘I didn’t know what to expect.’

      ‘I only get cross when you dump me for no good reason, Isla,’ he said. ‘Get some sleep. We’ll talk later.’

      There was a lot to talk about but when Alessi finally got to bed around two, he certainly wasn’t about to wake her for The Talk. He had never intended to wake her at all, but Alessi hadn’t forgotten how nice it was to have her in his bed and he had missed her so much.

      Asleep, Isla wriggled towards the source of warmth. Her back was to him and, deprived of his touch for ten days now, her body knew who it wanted and her bottom nudged into his groin and sank into his caress as his arm came over her.

      Alessi lay there. No, it would be completely inappropriate, he told himself, because there was that damn talk to have. Except his fingers didn’t care about such matters and were stroking her through the silk of her bra and then burrowing in.

      ‘Isla …’ Alessi said, which wasn’t much of a conversation. His mouth was on her shoulder, tasting her skin again and then moving up to her neck. The response in her had him harden further, the craning of her neck to meet his mouth, the consent, the want had a flare of possession rise in Alessi and there was no conversation to be had.

      Isla was his.

      His mouth suckled her neck and Isla bit down on her bottom lip as he deliciously bruised her. His hand was sliding down her panties and she wanted to turn but she didn’t. She liked the arm holding her down and Alessi’s precision as he took her from behind.

      Of all his responses, of all the reactions she had anticipated, this hadn’t been one of them. Alessi’s hand was on her stomach, gently pressing her back into him, and Isla, who had never been taken like this, writhed in pleasure as his hand moved down and stroked her intimately.

      ‘Alessi …’ She said his name, the only thing now on her mind as he moved her towards orgasm.

      And for Alessi, here in the darkness of his bedroom, yes, there were questions, but her body’s response, their absolute connection meant the only truth that actually mattered was easily said. ‘I love you.’

      Isla stilled, but Alessi didn’t. He thrust into her and didn’t let her get her breath, neither did he allow the panic that suddenly built in her to settle. He just said it again, for their love was no accident.

      She could feel him building to come, feel all the passion about to be unleashed, and it tipped Isla into raw honesty when she’d spent her whole life covering lies. ‘I love you, too.’

      Isla came before him and she loved how he held her down and didn’t kiss her, or stifle her shout. He just let her be and drove her ever higher as he came deep inside her.

      And still there was no need for The Talk because they had said what mattered.

      Doubts belonged to the morning. There were none in his arms.