The days had passed in a blur, each one blending into the next, but Dominic's presence lingered in Elijah's mind like an unshakable ghost. Elijah had tried, desperately, to push him away—to convince himself that he could walk away from this dangerous game. But it was impossible.
Dominic had done more than just break down his walls; he had shattered everything Elijah had believed about control, about freedom, and about himself. He wasn't the carefree, careless university student anymore. He was someone who was deeply entangled in a world he had no business being in.
Elijah couldn't stand the thought of what this was turning into, yet he couldn't stop himself from falling deeper.
---
It was late when Elijah arrived at Dominic's mansion again. He had been avoiding him as much as possible, but the pull of Dominic's force was something that had become impossible to deny.
Elijah's mind raced with thoughts of what to do. He needed an escape, but every time he thought he found a way out, Dominic was there, standing in his path, demanding his attention.
"You're late."
Elijah froze as he entered the grand hallway, hearing Dominic's voice from the shadows of the doorway. His tone was icy—dangerous, like it always was when he was frustrated, but there was a deep undercurrent of something else.
Elijah sighed, walking toward him slowly, feeling the weight of the situation pressing on his chest. "Had stuff to do," he muttered, trying to sound nonchalant.
Dominic emerged from the shadows, his dark eyes locking onto Elijah with that intense gaze that always made Elijah's breath catch in his throat. There was no warmth in his eyes tonight, just cold calculation.
"You should know better than to make me wait." Dominic's voice was low, the threat clear in every word.
Elijah felt a chill run down his spine, but he wasn't going to let Dominic see the effect he was having on him. "What, are you going to punish me now?" Elijah smirked, his voice laced with defiance.
Dominic stepped closer, his presence looming over Elijah. "You're not getting it, Elijah," he said, his voice dangerously calm. "This isn't a game anymore. You belong to me, whether you want to admit it or not."
Elijah felt the air grow thick with tension. His heart pounded in his chest, but he refused to back down. "I'm not yours," he snapped, shaking his head. "I'm not some possession you can claim whenever you want."
Dominic's lips curled into a smirk, though it didn't reach his eyes. He was too calm—like he was in control, like everything was just going according to plan. And that's what scared Elijah the most.
"We'll see about that," Dominic whispered, his voice a promise.
Before Elijah could react, Dominic's hand shot out, grabbing his wrist and pulling him close. Elijah stumbled slightly, caught off guard by the sudden movement.
"Let go of me." Elijah gritted out, trying to pull away.
Dominic's grip only tightened, his gaze never wavering. "You don't get to tell me what to do anymore."
Elijah's chest tightened, and for a moment, he felt like he couldn't breathe. He didn't like the way Dominic was looking at him—like he was a challenge, a game to be won.
"I told you I'm not some toy," Elijah said, his voice shaking slightly with a mixture of anger and something else—something he refused to acknowledge.
Dominic leaned in closer, his breath hot against Elijah's ear. "You're wrong," he whispered, "You're mine. And you'll learn that soon enough."
---
Hours later, Elijah found himself standing in the middle of Dominic's office. The weight of everything hanging in the air felt suffocating.
Dominic had dismissed everyone for the night, leaving the two of them alone. The tension between them was thick enough to cut with a knife. Elijah had no idea what to say to Dominic, no idea how to push him away without completely losing himself.
Dominic, however, seemed to know exactly what to do.
He stood by the desk, his dark eyes watching Elijah with an almost predatory intensity. "You're not running from me, Elijah," he said softly, his voice like silk and steel. "You're not leaving. Not when I have you right where I want you."
Elijah swallowed hard, trying to ignore the increasing heat building in his body, the way his body wanted to betray him.
"I'm not staying here," Elijah said firmly, his fists clenched at his sides.
Dominic tilted his head, a small, dangerous smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You'll stay. You don't have a choice."
---
Later that night, Elijah lay awake again, staring at the ceiling. The events of the evening played out in his mind over and over. How far would Dominic go?
Elijah had no answers, no certainty. But one thing was clear: the more he resisted, the stronger the pull became.
---