His Unexpected Legacy(48)
‘I discovered just how innocent you were,’ Sergio said drily. ‘Why didn’t you tell me you were a virgin?’
Kristen blushed. ‘I was scared you wouldn’t make love to me if you knew it was my first time...and I desperately wanted you to,’ she admitted.
He gave a harsh laugh. ‘You were not the only desperate one, cara. I’d like to think that if I had known of your innocence I would have held back, but the truth is I wanted you so badly that I could not resist you.’
The possessive gleam in his eyes sent a quiver through Kristen. She recognised the sexual chemistry between them was as intense as it had been four years ago, but her instincts told her to fight the damnable desire that made her body tremble. He had hurt her once before, and she must not forget his threat that he wanted to take Nico from her.
‘What was your mother and stepfather’s reaction when you told them you were pregnant?’
‘Mum was fine about it. But Alan was furious. He knew that if I had a baby it would probably end my gymnastics career. He pushed me hard because my achievements at competitions enhanced his reputation as a top coach, but I suppose I’d always believed that he actually cared about me as a person.’ She swallowed. ‘He had been my dad since I was eight and I...I loved him. But he tried to persuade me to have an abortion and, when I refused, he threw me out and wouldn’t even let me stay at home until after the baby had been born.’
Her stepfather’s rejection, coming on top of what she had taken as Sergio’s rejection when she had lost Nico’s twin and she had felt that he had not wanted their baby, had had a deep impact on Kristen. She had felt betrayed and abandoned by the two men she loved. Both had only been interested in what she could give them; Alan had lavished attention on her because he had hoped she would win sporting glory and enhance his coaching reputation, and Sergio had wanted her for sex. Four years on, the hurt hadn’t faded, and she wondered if she could ever trust a man again. She had developed a fierce sense of independence. As a single mother totally responsible for her son, she could not afford to let her guard down.
She forced her mind from the past as Sergio said harshly, ‘You mean you were homeless when you had Nico but you still did not tell me you had given birth to my child? Dio, did you hate me so much that you preferred to struggle alone rather than come to me for help?’
‘I didn’t hate you. But when I left Sicily our relationship was over. I’ve explained that because of what you said at the hospital I believed you would not have been interested in my pregnancy. I lived in my student digs until just before Nico was born, and on my twenty-first birthday I inherited some money from my real father which I used for a deposit to buy a house. That’s when I changed my name back from Russell to Lloyd.’ Kristen had wanted to end all links with her stepfather. ‘I had to work full-time to pay the mortgage. Alan had thrown Mum out too because she supported my decision to have the baby, which made me wonder if he had ever truly loved her,’ she said heavily. ‘Anyway, Mum moved in with me and she looked after Nico during the day.
‘He has only been going to day care for a few months, since...’ she swallowed ‘...since Mum was killed in an accident. That’s why he hasn’t settled at nursery. He misses his nana. And that is why I decided to tell you about him. I wanted to be a full-time mum to Nico for a few months. But I couldn’t afford not to work and so I was going to ask you for financial help, just temporarily.’
The tremor in Kristen’s voice had a profound effect on Sergio. ‘I’m sorry about your mother. I remember you were very close to her.’
‘Yeah,’ Kristen said gruffly. His gentleness was unexpected and she quickly looked away from him, willing herself not to cry. ‘It’s Nico I’m worried about. I want to do what’s best for him.’