Matteo froze, his eyes widening in surprise. For a moment, he didn't move at all, like he was trying to figure out if this was real or just another dream.
Then, slowly, he melted. He reached up to wipe away the stray tear on Adrian's cheek before tilting his head and deepening the kiss, claiming Adrian's lips with a hunger that was finally, officially, returned.
The kiss turned intense in an instant. It was a clash of lips and breath, a desperate release of everything they had been holding back. Matteo's hands slid from Adrian's face to his waist, gripping his shirt as he pulled him closer, their bodies pressed tightly together.
Matteo groaned deep in his throat, a sound of pure, tortured want. He forced himself to pull back just an inch, his forehead resting against Adrian's, both of them panting for air.
"Adrian… stop," Matteo said, his voice low and rough. "We need to stop, or I won't be able to hold back."
