Devil (The Marchesi Family 3)

“I’m handling things, okay?”

“At least talk to Angelo.”

“I have. A little.”

Lucien narrowed his eyes. “I don’t like this, Devil. Don’t make me force it out of you.”

Peter and Sabrina glanced at each other.

“What?” Lucien asked.

“The testosterone levels in here are getting ridiculous,” Sabrina said.

Peter laid a hand on top of Lucien’s. “You can just take me home if you need to work out some aggression.”

He glared at Peter, but Peter just smiled. I loved that he wasn’t afraid to tease Lucien.

“I know you care. All of you.” I looked pointedly at Peter, wanting him to know he truly was family now. I was glad Lucien had found him. He was good for Lucien like Cameron was good for Angelo. But Joe… I wasn’t at all sure Joe was good for me or that I was good for him. That didn’t make me want him any less. It didn’t make me love him any less. Angelo was right. If I wanted Joe to really be mine, I was going to have to tell him how I felt.

I pushed away from the table. “There’s something I need to do.”

Lucien raised his brows.

“It’s personal, not business.”

“That worries me even more.”

“Maybe he just needs to get laid, and he’s trying to be polite,” Sabrina said.

Peter nearly choked on a sip of water.

Sabrina laughed. “Watching the two of you and Angelo and Cameron might make anybody feel that way.”

Peter’s cheeks turned bright pink, and Lucien snarled. “Even if you’re right, since when has Devil ever been polite about something like that?”

“He’s got you there,” I said. “I’ve got a message for somebody, and I need to deliver it. That’s all.”

Lucien shook his head. “I’m going to figure out what you’re up to.”

I was afraid he would. Should I just tell him now and get it over with? For a moment, I considered it, but this wasn’t the time. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration, and if Joe didn’t want to hear the words I had to say, there was no reason to tell anyone.

Lucien started to say something else, but Sabrina reached across the table and laid a hand on his arm. “Let Devil go. He’ll reveal his secrets eventually.”

I looked at her, wondering how much she knew. Had Angelo let something slip about me dating a man? Dating. That so didn’t describe what Joe and I were doing.

I sped through traffic on my bike, but it still took me too long to get to Joe’s house. I knew if I didn’t act quickly, I would talk myself out of telling him how I felt. I’d almost done so several times on the ride over.

When I finally arrived, I knocked on his front door like a civilized person. I heard him approach, but several seconds passed before he turned the lock.

“Why the hell are you knocking?” he asked when the door swung open.

“You told me you were tired of me picking the lock.”

He huffed, then his eyes widened as he looked me up and down. “Damn, you look good. Why are you dressed like that?”

I was wearing a suit. I’d loosened my tie before the ride, and I was sure I didn’t look anywhere near as put together as I had earlier, but I loved the way Joe was looking at me. “We had a family dinner tonight to celebrate Cameron opening the bakery.”

“As far as I’m concerned, you should dress like that every day.”

“I’m glad you like it. I have plans for us.” I took his hand, ready to pull him out the door.

“What? What time is it?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Does it matter?” I tugged on his hand again.

“Wait. I’m not even wearing shoes.”

“Fine. You’ve got thirty seconds to find shoes and whatever else you need.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“Just a place I like to go. You’ll like it.”

Joe looked exasperated as he went to get his shoes.

“It’s gotten windy. You might want a jacket since we’re going on my bike.”

Joe shook his head as he shoved his feet into sneakers. “Fuck no. I’m not getting on that thing with you.”

I shoved him against the wall and ground my hips into his as I kissed him until we were both breathless. “Yes, you are.”

“Did it ever occur to you to ask when you want something?”

“I’m going to get it anyway, so what’s the point.”

“You’re such a fucking asshole.”

“I know.”

“I’m only agreeing to this because I’m curious.”

I snorted. “You’re only agreeing to this because you want my dick later.”

Joe rolled his eyes as he pulled the door shut behind us and locked it.

As we rode off, I savored the feel of Joe pressed up against me, arms around my waist. If things went badly tonight, this might be the one and only time he rode with me. That thought almost made me turn around, drag him back inside, and fuck him until neither of us could move.