Chapter 330: You’re My Entire World

Matteo chuckled, pulling him a little closer. "It’s a surprise. You’ll see tomorrow."

God... I hope it’s not what I’m thinking. Adrian kept his smile in place, but a nervous flutter stirred in his stomach. I want to be the one to do it.

Matteo studied his face for a moment before reaching over and gently cupping his cheek.

"Hey," he said softly. "Look at me."

Adrian lifted his eyes to meet his.

Matteo offered him a reassuring smile. "You don’t have to worry yourself too much. We’ll see what tomorrow brings."

"Alright," Adrian murmured, keeping his voice light.

A brief silence settled between them.

Matteo hesitated, remembering the conversation he’d had with Mark earlier that day. Mark had asked him to check on Adrian, pointing out that he’d been quietly distancing himself from the people who cared about him.

Choosing his words carefully, Matteo spoke. He looked at Adrian, his gaze tender yet searching. "How are you doing lately?"

Adrian offered a soft smile. "I’m doing fine, baby."

Matteo tilted his head, unconvinced. "Are you sure? I haven’t heard you mention meeting up with your friends in weeks. I hope you guys are good."

"Yes, baby, we’re fine," Adrian insisted, reaching out to trace a comforting circle against Matteo’s chest. "We still talk in the group chat every day. I just... decided to stay home and rest for a while before I start going out again."

Matteo fell silent for a moment, letting the quiet settle between them before he reached out to cup Adrian’s cheek, tilting his face up. "Talk to me, baby. Is everything really okay?"

He watched Adrian’s eyes intently, his tone softening with concern. "I know how much you care about your friends, and I know how much you love being around them. It’s been weeks, Adrian. Is there anything you’re hiding from me? Did Charles or Frank do something to upset you? Is everything actually okay?"

Adrian’s polite smile slowly melted away, the forced cheer draining from his features.

He lowered his gaze, his fingers tracing absentmindedly over the knuckles of Matteo’s hand.

"They didn’t do anything wrong," Adrian said quietly, his voice laced with heavy resignation. "Charles and Frank have been nothing but good friends to me."

Matteo kept silent, refusing to interrupt. He gave Adrian the space he needed to finally let his guard down finally.

Adrian let out a slow, shaky breath. "After everything that happened with Owen..." he began quietly. "I just don’t think I should be going out with them anymore. I’m the type of person who can’t stay quiet when something’s wrong, and every time I get involved, it feels like the people around me end up paying the price." He lowered his gaze. "So I started thinking... maybe it’s time I stop going out and risking bringing trouble to the people who actually care about me."

He tightened his hold on Matteo’s hand.

"Especially you... and my friends. Staying away feels like the best way to keep everyone out of trouble." He swallowed hard before continuing. "I wasn’t trying to ghost them. I was just trying to keep my distance so no one would get into trouble because of me again." A small, bittersweet smile touched his lips. "And... look, everything has been peaceful since I stayed away. No one’s gotten hurt. No one’s been dragged into any more trouble because of me." He looked back at Matteo, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just want to keep it that way."

Matteo looked into his eyes, his expression softening with a mixture of heartbreak and fierce affection. "Be honest with me, baby... you’re doing all this to protect me, aren’t you?"

Adrian gave a slow, reluctant nod. "What if I go out and it draws trouble to us again? What if something went sideways and you couldn’t get out of it, or what if the police came after you because of me... Matteo, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself. I know how my temper is; I can’t just keep quiet when things go wrong. It’s safer if I just stay home. That way, I don’t bring danger to anyone I love."

Matteo let out a long, heavy sigh, shaking his head. "Baby, you don’t have to lock yourself away like this. You shouldn’t have to distance yourself from your friends just to keep them or me safe."

"Matteo, you’re my entire world," Adrian said, his voice cracking slightly with emotion. "Aside from Maya, you and my friends are the most important people in my life. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you all safe."

Matteo reached out, cupping Adrian’s face tenderly and pressing his thumb against his cheek. "Then please... do me a favor. Call your friends, talk to them, and explain how you’re feeling. Don’t let them think you’re avoiding them out of malice, okay?"

Adrian leaned into his touch, a quiet compliance settling over him. "Alright. I’ll talk to them about it."

A warm smile spread across Matteo’s face. "Thank you, baby," he murmured, gently stroking Adrian’s cheek. "That means a lot to me."

Matteo didn’t say anything else. He simply smiled to himself, keeping the rest of his thoughts hidden. He already had a plan in mind, but now wasn’t the time to talk about it. He decided to let the conversation end there, knowing there would be a better time to bring it up again.

He pulled the covers over both of them before drawing Adrian into his arms. They spent the rest of the night talking, laughing, and teasing each other until they eventually drifted off to sleep, wrapped safely in each other’s embrace.

Meanwhile, back at James’s apartment, they lay side by side in the quiet dark. James rested his head comfortably against Maxwell’s chest, their conversation drifting naturally to the topic of work.

"Everything has been so crazy lately," James muttered, tracing lazy circles against Maxwell’s ribs. "Ever since Adrian stopped coming into the office, the workload has been completely overwhelming. It’s way too much for all of us."

Maxwell winced slightly in sympathy. "Sorry to hear that. Sounds brutal."

"I know your brother is rich," James said with a soft sigh, absentmindedly tracing circles against Maxwell’s side. "But Adrian is terrifyingly talented. I’ll give him that." He shook his head. "Making someone like him give up his career and stop working altogether? Don’t you think that’s a bit much?"

Maxwell let out a dry chuckle. "Why does he need to work when his man is practically made of money?"

"You don’t get it," James argued, lifting his chin to meet Maxwell’s gaze. "Adrian is incredible at what he does. I really look up to him. Imagine wasting talent like that just to stay home... for what?"

"He’s doing what his man wants," Maxwell replied calmly. Then, giving James a playful nudge, he added, "Besides, it’s not your place to complain about it. You’re not the one dating him."

James rolled his eyes with a small smile. "True. I’m just saying."

"More importantly," Maxwell said, his voice softening, "Matteo has his own reasons and plans, so let’s leave them to it." He looked at James with a faint smile. "Let’s talk about us instead."

James blinked up at him. "What is there to talk about?"

"Anything," Maxwell replied with a small shrug. "Just us."

James hesitated for a moment before quietly asking, "Since you left... have you been with anyone?"

Maxwell shook his head instantly. "No. I’ve been buried alive working for my mom, so I honestly haven’t had the time or energy to even look at anyone." He gave a low, teasing chuckle. "If I needed to jack off, I just took care of it myself. What about you?"

"Are you kidding?" James scoffed softly. "I’ve been working so damn much I barely had time to breathe. When I needed to blow off steam, I just jerked off and played with myself, too."

Maxwell’s interest piqued, a smirk pulling at his lips. "Oh yeah? How?"

James groaned, rolling away and pulling the blanket up. "I’m going to sleep now, Max."

Maxwell chuckled, sliding his arms around James’s waist from behind and pulling him flush against his chest. "How? Come on, talk to me. Are you shy?"

"I’m not shy, I just don’t want to say it out loud!" James muttered into the pillow.

"Fine, keep your secrets," Maxwell teased against his neck. "Though what’s wrong with knowing how my boyfriend pleases himself when I’m not around? Unless, of course, you had someone else doing it for you."

James whipped around to face him, slapping a hand softly against Maxwell’s chest in mock outrage. "No! And for the record, I am not your boyfriend yet, not until you’re actually ready." He lowered his voice, a wicked little glint flashing in his eyes as he whispered, "I use toys to please myself."

Maxwell raised an eyebrow, thoroughly intrigued. "A dildo? A vibrator? An anal plug? A prostate massager? A stroker? What kind of toys are we talking about?"

James crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes playfully. "Why do I even need to tell you? I already told you it’s toys."

"If you won’t show me, then I’m going to count it as cheating," Maxwell deadpanned.

James’s jaw dropped. "What?"

"You heard me. Yes, I’m serious."

James stared at him for a long moment, a slow, disbelieving laugh slipping past his lips before a deep flush crept up his neck. "Do you want to see them?" James whispered, the heat rising in his cheeks.

"Show me," Maxwell replied, a teasing smile spreading across his face.