Chapter 335: The First Time I Saw You

Matteo looked up. "Who was it?"

"Just the resort staff," Adrian answered smoothly. "They were checking to make sure we’re comfortable and asked if we needed anything else."

Matteo nodded, satisfied. "That’s thoughtful."

A little while later, Charles, Mark, and Frank arrived at the resort, settling into their respective suites on the lower floors. Adrian was about to go downstairs to welcome them, but Matteo gently stopped him.

"They’ve just arrived after a long drive," Matteo reasoned, pulling him close. "Let them settle in first. You’ll see them tomorrow. Right now, I just want you to relax."

Adrian smiled warmly. "Alright, baby."

Matteo ordered dinner, and they ate together before spending the rest of the evening relaxing in their suite.

After everything that had transpired over the past few days, the mounting excitement of the surprise, the long journey, and the constant, underlying stress of secretly planning his proposal, Adrian finally felt the heavy pull of exhaustion catching up with him.

He glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was only 7:46 p.m.

Turning to Matteo, he offered a tired smile. "Baby, I think I want to get some rest for a while."

Matteo nodded with a warm smile. "Of course." Reaching out, he gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from Adrian’s forehead. "But set your alarm for around 10:30 p.m," he said softly. "The view from the rooftop is incredible at night, and the stars are beautiful. I want us to enjoy it together."

Adrian’s smile grew even brighter. "Alright, love."

He set a quick alarm on his phone before climbing beneath the plush covers. Matteo gently pulled the blanket over his shoulders, leaning down to press a lingering, soft kiss across his forehead.

"Sleep well, baby."

Wrapped in warmth and the comforting presence of his lover, Adrian drifted into a peaceful sleep within minutes.

While Adrian rested, Matteo quietly began making a few preparations of his own.

Time slipped away into the quiet of the night.

At exactly 10:10 p.m., Adrian slowly fluttered his eyes open. The room was bathed in a dim, romantic glow, with only the soft light of the bedside lamps illuminating the suite.

Still half-asleep, he reached an arm out toward the other side of the bed.

It was empty.

He frowned, his brow furrowing. "Baby?"

There was no answer.

He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and looked around the spacious bedroom. Matteo wasn’t there. Thinking he might be getting ready in the bathroom, Adrian slid out of bed and gently pushed the bathroom door open.

It was empty, too.

Although Matteo was nowhere to be seen, the rich, familiar scent of his cologne still lingered heavily in the air, a clear sign that he had recently dressed and stepped out.

Adrian walked back into the bedroom, scanning the space once more. That’s when he noticed a neatly folded outfit resting perfectly on the armchair. A small, handwritten note sat right on top.

Curious, he picked it up.

Baby, wear this outfit and meet me on the rooftop.

A slow smile spread across his face. "I knew it," he murmured to himself. "He already went up to the rooftop."

He picked up the outfit, letting it unfold in his hands, and his eyes widened slightly in surprise. The fabric was luxurious, the cut immaculate.

"This is a little fancy for simply watching the stars," he chuckled softly to himself. "Even under the night sky, my man still wants me looking my best."

Smiling warmly, Adrian quickly changed into the elegant outfit Matteo had laid out for him. As he fastened the final button, his gaze drifted to the small velvet box resting on the bedside table.

The ring.

A soft, quiet smile spread across his face as he carefully picked it up and slipped it deep into the inner pocket of his jacket.

"I’d better keep it with me," he murmured to the empty room. "I don’t want him accidentally finding it before the right moment."

After making sure the box was hidden securely, Adrian took one last look at himself in the mirror, his heart fluttering with eager anticipation.

Tonight, we’ll watch the stars together. Tomorrow, I’ll ask him to marry me.

Completely unaware of the grand plans Matteo had set in motion, Adrian stepped out of the bedroom. The suite was incredibly peaceful. There were no scattered rose petals, no flickering candles, no elaborate decorations, it looked exactly as it had before he fell asleep.

Adrian smiled to himself, thinking he wouldn’t be able to call for the decorations again since they were going on a yacht. It didn’t matter.

As long as he got to tell Matteo how much he loved him, the setting was completely secondary.

Taking a steadying breath, he made his way toward the staircase leading to the private rooftop. His footsteps echoed softly through the luxurious suite. One step. Then another. His heart beat a little faster with every stair he climbed.

Just as he reached the final landing, a soft melody floated through the cool night air. 🎵Lord Huron’s The Night We Met.🎵

Adrian stopped, a breathless smile appearing on his face. "So romantic..."

He gently pushed open the rooftop door, greeted instantly by the refreshing brush of the ocean breeze. Before him stretched a breathtaking terrace overlooking the endless sea.

The space was incredibly spacious and divided into two distinct sections. One side glowed beneath warm golden lights, creating a cozy, intimate atmosphere, while the other remained almost completely dark, allowing the brilliant canopy of stars to take center stage.

Standing beneath the warm lights was Matteo.

His back was turned toward the door, one hand resting casually inside the pocket of his coat while the other hung relaxed by his side. His head was tilted upward as he quietly admired the night sky.

For a moment, Adrian simply stood there, mesmerized. He’s so handsome...

Unable to resist, Adrian quietly closed the distance between them. Without making a sound, he slipped his arms around Matteo’s waist from behind, resting his cheek gently against his broad back.

"I’m here," Adrian whispered.

A warm smile instantly broke across Matteo’s face. "I know."

He turned around slowly until they were facing each other. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. They simply looked into each other’s eyes, letting the crashing waves and the soft music fill the silence. Matteo reached up, his fingers gently brushing a loose strand of hair behind Adrian’s ear.

"You look beautiful."

Adrian laughed softly. "You picked the outfit."

"I know," Matteo smiled, his gaze full of adoration. "But somehow, you still look even better than I imagined."

A faint blush crept across Adrian’s cheeks. "You always know how to flatter me."

"I’m not flattering you," Matteo murmured, gently cupping his face. "I’m just telling you exactly what I see."

As another cool breeze swept across the rooftop, Adrian shivered slightly.

"It’s getting cold," Matteo noted.

Without another word, he stepped behind Adrian, wrapping both arms securely around his waist. Opening his heavy overcoat, he gently pulled Adrian back against his chest, shielding him from the chilly wind with his own body. He rested his chin lightly on Adrian’s shoulder.

"There. Better?"

Adrian smiled happily, leaning into his warmth. "Much."

Together, they stood quietly, gazing out over the moonlit ocean. The water shimmered beneath the stars like scattered diamonds, while the distant, rhythmic sound of the waves created the perfect soundtrack to the peaceful night.

"It’s beautiful," Adrian whispered.

Matteo glanced at the ocean for only a second before turning his attention right back to Adrian. "It is," he agreed softly. "But not as beautiful as you."

Adrian rolled his eyes playfully. "You really are impossible."

"And yet..." Matteo leaned closer, his lips brushing lightly against Adrian’s ear, "...you still fell in love with me."

Adrian couldn’t help but laugh, a bright, happy sound. "I did."

But as the laughter faded, the smile on Matteo’s face slowly shifted into something far more serious. After a long stretch of silence, he gently intertwined their fingers, resting his hands over Adrian’s stomach.

"Baby..."

"Hmm?"

"I want to tell you something."

Adrian turned his head slightly to look at him. "I’m listening."

Matteo took a slow, steadying breath. "But before I start... promise me something."

"What is it?"

"Until I’m finished... don’t interrupt me." A nervous, self-deprecating chuckle escaped him. "If you do, I’ll probably forget everything I spent days trying to remember."

Adrian’s heart swelled. He smiled warmly and squeezed Matteo’s hand. "Alright. I promise."

Matteo smiled gratefully, taking one more deep breath before speaking again. "Adrian Grayson."

Adrian laughed softly. "Using my full name already?"

Matteo nodded against his shoulder. "Because every word I’m about to say matters." His voice grew gentle. "The truth is... the day we met at the lounge, when I caught you before you could fall... wasn’t the first time I saw you."

Adrian remained completely silent, listening carefully as his breath caught in his throat.

"The first time I saw you... was almost two years before that," Matteo confessed, his gaze drifting out toward the stars. "You were sitting alone in a restaurant. You weren’t smiling. But you kept pretending you were okay. After my mother abandoned me... I became strangely good at recognizing people who were hiding their pain. I looked at you, and somehow... I knew you were carrying something heavy. You looked lonely. So lonely that I couldn’t stop thinking about you."

A small, fond smile appeared on his face.

"You were the most beautiful person I’d ever seen. Not just because of your face, or because of how you looked, but because even beneath all that sadness... you still looked gentle. Kind. And unbelievably beautiful."

Matteo let out a quiet, slightly embarrassed laugh.