I just finished reading it a few days ago and I totally loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am always reading it over and over again

My questions are:

1) why was the painter deppessed? was that to call Alessandra's attention or was he indeed tormented? how?
2)when the painter and Alessandra (now married) are alone in that bedroom, does he says he is called "I'm cold" as a way of indirectly ask her to hug him or because he really mean to feel cold? additionally afterwards when they are both together and Alessandra screams does Cristoforo her to it?