Other times, it was just Adrian soloing a verse he knew by heart, completely lost in the rhythm.

They were having the best time of their lives.

Laughing breathlessly, Adrian flashed a radiant look at the passenger seat. "I love this so much, Matteo!"

Matteo leaned back against the headrest, his arm resting on the door frame as he watched the pure, untamed joy radiating from his partner. The dark weight of his day had completely evaporated. A dangerous, thrilled grin spread across his face.

"Then floor it, baby! Run faster!"

Adrian didn’t need to be told twice. He shifted gears, and the car practically flew, blurring the city lights into streaks of neon gold and silver.

Eventually, as the highway began to curve back toward the coastal roads, Adrian gradually eased his foot off the accelerator, letting the car slow down to a smooth, purring cruise.

Matteo let out a low whistle, shaking his head in sheer amazement. "Jesus, Adrian. I never imagined you could drive like that. You’re a lunatic behind the wheel."

Adrian laughed, a rich, happy sound as he rested one hand casually on the steering wheel. "I love driving, Matteo. I missed it so much. And now that my eyes are completely better..." He turned his head, his eyes sparkling in the dashboard glow as he looked at his man. "I’m going to be driving like this every single day."

Matteo chuckled, leaning back. "You still have to be careful, baby. You can’t be racing like this every night, or else I’m taking the keys and locking the car away from you."

Adrian cut him a sharp look. "You wouldn’t dare."

"I bought it with my money, didn’t I?" Matteo teased, a cocky, laughing edge to his voice. "If you get too stubborn, I’ll absolutely take it away. It’s not like you have the kind of cash lying around to buy a supercar like this, so you’d better behave."

The playful atmosphere in the cabin instantly evaporated.

Adrian’s smile vanished.

Without saying a word, he smoothly guided the sports car onto the shoulder of the empty highway and brought it to a stop.

He turned his head slowly, locking his piercing gaze on Matteo.

"What did you just say?" Adrian asked, his voice dangerously quiet.

Seeing the storm brewing in Adrian’s eyes, the smirk vanished completely from Matteo’s face.

Realizing he had crossed a line, he quickly reached for Adrian’s arm. "Hey, wait. I was just joking—"

Adrian didn’t let him finish.

He unbuckled his seatbelt, pushed the door open, and stepped out into the cool night air.

Matteo watched him in confusion and quickly unbuckled his own belt.

"Babe, come on. I was just playing around," he called after him.

But before he could get out of the car, Adrian marched around the front of the vehicle, yanked open the passenger door, and stared down at him.

"Get out of my car."

Matteo blinked. "What?"

"Did you think I was the type of lover who gives gifts back when I’m angry?" Adrian asked flatly.

He let out a sharp, mocking laugh and shook his head.

"Or did you think I was about to storm off dramatically and walk home alone in the dark?"

His eyes narrowed.

"Jokes on you, darling."

He pointed at the steering wheel.

"The second you handed me that key fob, this became my car."

He pointed at himself.

"And unless you’ve got another owner hiding in the trunk, the paperwork already has my name on it."

His smile was cold and utterly unrepentant.

"So get the fuck out of my car, you disrespectful soul."

Adrian crossed his arms, his tone dropping to a chilling register. "I didn’t ask you to buy me a car. So how dare you use your wealth to try and imply I’m broke or beneath you?"

Matteo looked up at him, his voice softening into genuine panic. "Babe..."

"I said get the fuck out of my car," Adrian repeated, gesturing to the open road. "It’s mine now. Out."

Defeated and knowing he was entirely in the wrong, Matteo reluctantly stepped out onto the asphalt.

The moment Matteo’s feet hit the ground, Adrian’s icy demeanor cracked into a wicked, triumphant grin.

He leaned in and planted a quick kiss on Matteo’s cheek.

"Reflect on your actions, big baby," he whispered playfully.

"Maybe next time, you’ll think twice before talking down to me just because you bought me a gift."

Before Matteo could even grasp what was happening, Adrian spun on his heel, slid into the driver’s seat, and slammed the door shut.

Back behind the wheel, Adrian wasted no time.

He cranked up the volume on the console, blasting Hooligan by BTS through the speakers.

As the track flooded the cabin, Adrian fired up the engine, the exhaust roaring through the quiet night.

He glanced out the window at Matteo, completely unbothered, then started bobbing his head to the beat, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel and throwing in a few playful hand gestures.

He locked eyes with his stunned partner, singing along to the lyrics at the top of his lungs:

🎶"Watch this, watch this, best going hooligan!

We pop out acting a fool again, oh!"🎶

He even belted out the mocking "ha-ha-ha" track ad-libs, flashing Matteo a brilliant, shameless wink.

Then Adrian slammed his foot on the accelerator.

The sports car tore away from the curb, launching into the midnight darkness like a flash of neon lightning, leaving nothing but the echo of the engine behind.

Matteo stood frozen on the side of the empty road, staring at the fading taillights like a man watching a movie he couldn’t quite comprehend. He was completely dumbfounded.

A second later, the headlights of his security convoy rolled up, slowing to a halt beside him. Adrian knew perfectly well that Matteo was never in any actual danger with his armed guards trailing behind, but he also knew his man needed a firm lesson. Matteo needed to understand that wealth meant absolutely nothing if he couldn’t speak to his partner with respect.

Miles ahead, flying down the open highway with the wind in his hair, Adrian kept his foot on the gas, singing along to Hooligan with a victorious smile. Next time, Matteo would definitely watch his mouth.

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Hooligan!" Adrian screamed over the roar of the engine, throwing his head back with a joyous laugh. A soft, affectionate smile tugged at his lips as he glanced at the empty passenger seat. "I love you, Matteo. At least I have you to deal with my craziness."

Meanwhile, back on the shoulder of the dark highway, the lead security SUV pulled up smoothly beside Matteo.

Harry immediately stepped out and hurried around to open the rear door for his boss.

"Boss," he greeted with a respectful nod.

Matteo slid into the back seat, the door clicking shut behind him. He unzipped the top of his leather jacket slightly, trying to ease the tension coiled in his chest.

"Go after him," Matteo ordered flatly, his jaw tightening as he stared down the road Adrian had disappeared onto.

"Understood, boss," the driver replied, shifting the vehicle into drive and accelerating into the night.

As the SUV ate up the miles, Matteo leaned his head back against the headrest and stared out the window.

He replayed the entire incident in his mind, trying to understand how a perfectly good night had gone so catastrophically wrong.

A sports car. A night drive. A gift.

He had literally bought Adrian a brand-new car.

So how exactly had he ended up getting kicked out of it?

Matteo frowned.

Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.

The admission came reluctantly.

He knew Adrian hated being talked down to, even as a joke.

Still... His frown deepened. Why the hell did he throw me out of his car?

Frustrated and wanting to reassert some control, he pulled out his phone. His thumbs flew across the screen, his expression dead serious as he typed a firm, commanding message:

Matteo: I’m serious. Stay exactly where you are, or you will really make me angry tonight.

He hit send, locking his phone and staring at the screen, waiting.

A few minutes later, the device buzzed. Matteo flipped it over and read Adrian’s reply:

Adrian: Alright, Daddy. How about we fuck under the stars? I’m waiting for you. 😉 Let’s see how angry you can get.

Matteo stared at the screen for a long moment before rubbing a hand over his face and letting out a low, defeated chuckle.

How the fuck did I end up here?