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"Your door, Olivia, has been locked for months and months now I've respected it and I haven't pushed myself on you, but it's not natural for a man and a woman to live like this when they're married," he said Then he sat back "Did you know that Louise Childs is pregnant again? There are no locked doors in that e"

"Oh, so that's it You're afraid Nelson Childs will pull ahead of you in this baby- contest," I accused

"No, that's not it, Olivia My God! I have needs, ine why you don't have female needs All these monthsyou were never once attracted, interested in me?"

He looked amazed, even hurt I softened and sat back to sip my coffee

"I've just been very occupied, Sa to do with you"

"What do youto do with o to sleep at night You put aside your work and worries for a little while, don't you?" He glared at me "Well?"

r />"I'm sorry," I said "I didn't have relations on my mind"

"On your hed and then leaned forward, his hands folded, his arht," he said It couldn't have sounded more like a threat I felt the heat rise to an to thump

"Don't take that tone with "

He snorted

"Plaything? You're about as far away fro that asas a nun"

"That's enough Change the topic," I ordered I turned away from him

I felt hi at me a moment and then he rose and left the roo How could he speak to e?

Miss Hot and Miss ColdI could hear the children chanting it at us Was it still true for ly man and most of the women I knew flirted with him and probably fantasized about him Why I should be so indifferent, I didn't know, but I couldn't help hoas, could I? Surely, I wouldn't have becoht Or would I?

That night, I fingered the lock on the adjoining door, but in the end, I didn't unlock it I went to bed with it rehts, I heard Sa dinner he had gone to the den and had sat for the re brandy He had his back to the door and didn't turn when I looked in on hi up to sleep