I couldn’t do that, though. We couldn’t keep going like we had been. I needed to tell him how I felt. I wasn’t going to lose him because he was mine. We were meant for each other. The deep connection between us had been there from the moment we’d met. If he wasn’t ready to hear the words I had to say, I’d keep trying until he was.
I turned my bike into an alley and cut the engine.
“What are we doing?” Joe asked as he dismounted the bike.
I climbed off and held out my hand. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
He looked around warily. “I don’t understand why we’re—”
“You will if you shut up and follow me.”
He huffed but did as I said. When we got to the end of the alley, I reached up and tugged on a rusty fire escape ladder. It creaked as it slid down so we could begin our climb.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Going up to the roof.”
“No games, Devil. I don’t want you—”
“I just want to show you the view. I promise. Fun as it might be to see if I can make it across this alley, I think it would be overly ambitious.”
Joe shook his head.
“Just come up here with me.”
Finally, he nodded and started up. The fire escape rattled under our combined weight, and there were places where the platforms had rusted through. Joe grumbled the entire way, but we made it all the way to the roof.
I gestured toward the view of the city and the water beyond. “Tell me it wasn’t worth it.”
Joe smiled as he looked all around him. “How did you find this place?”
“We have a family business concern near here, and there used to be a disreputable bar in the bottom floor of the building. It closed a few years ago, but Angelo and I used to hang out there. One day someone dared me to climb up on the roof.”
“And you did it.”
“Of course. I liked the view so much I kept coming up here. It became the place I go when I need to be alone.”
Joe nodded. “I can see why. I could use a place like this.”
“I don’t mind sharing this one.”
He put his hands on my waist and pulled me to him. “Thank you.”
I brushed my lips against his in a soft kiss. When I pulled back, he looked surprised. “I can be sweet sometimes.”
He tilted his head and studied me. “I know. You’ve brought me dinner, shown me this, and—
“I love you.” I sucked in my breath once the words were out. My heart pounded furiously as I stared at Joe, waiting for his reaction.
For several moments, he just stared at me. Then he opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but he didn’t.
“You don’t have to say it. You don’t have to feel it, but I couldn’t hold it in any longer.” I looked away from him, gazing out over the water.
“I love you too.” He sounded hoarse. When I turned to him, tears glittered in his eyes. “I never thought I’d say that to anyone. I haven’t… There’s been no one in my life, and I—”
I wrapped a hand around the back of his neck and pulled him to me. This time the kiss wasn’t gentle. I held him tight, trying to pour all my feelings into him because I might’ve gotten those three little words out, but there was no way I could express everything he made me feel.
When I finally pulled away, we stared at each other as we tried to catch our breaths.
“Did you really bring me up here just to tell me that?” Joe asked.
“Yeah. I wanted to say it here. I don’t know why, but it just seemed… right. I was on a roof that first night when you were watching me, waiting for me.”
“I wasn’t waiting for you. I was trying to learn more about what your family was up to.”
“You were totally waiting for me, even if you didn’t know it, because you’re mine.”
“Devil, I told you—”
“Mine.” I took hold of his hips and drew him to me. “I know this is crazy, but everyone who knows me says I’m crazy anyway. I’m not letting you go. I don’t know how the fuck we’re going to make this work, but don’t tell me it’s impossible. That only makes me more determined.”
Joe blew out a harsh breath. “That doesn’t surprise me.”
“Good. By now you should know me better than that. Now take me home. I’m ready for a good hard fuck.”
Joe groaned. “I’m ready for that too. I’m ready to hold you down and drive into you and make you realize how out of control you make me feel.”
“Is that the mood you’re in tonight?”
“Fuck yes. You dragged me up here, and then you… Dammit, Devil.”