Chapter 27

Luca touched Dennis’s cheek. “I first thought I loved you the morning I came to pick you up at the hospital. The idea that you escaped me shook me straight to my soul. I have never drawn such attention to myself as I did that day when I shouted your name. I didn’t know why you wanted to help me. I was frightened and not thinking clearly.”

Luca looked into his Dennis’s emerald eyes with a fire born of suppressed passion rather than anger. Dennis now recognized the difference.

“Today, I wanted your parents to like me. I needed their validation to tell me that I was good enough for you. They pointed out the obvious. I know I’m sick, I know I have no money and that art is not a profession that guarantees an income, but I can’t resist you any longer. You’ve broken down all my walls like a force of nature. I love you and I think I have since the first fuck you.”

Luca threw back his head and laughed, deep, loud and triumphant. “Let’s eat, then we’ll deal with the details.”