The car ride was silent.
Elijah's wrist still burned from Dominic's grip, but he refused to rub it, refusing to show any weakness. His chest rose and fell quickly, the rush of what had just happened making his thoughts spiral.
Dominic hadn't said a word since dragging him out of the bar. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, jaw clenched, dangerously quiet.
That silence was worse than yelling.
Elijah exhaled sharply, breaking it. "You seriously think you can control where I go?"
Dominic didn't look at him. "Yes."
Elijah's lips parted, caught off guard by the bluntness. "That's not how this works! I'm not your—"
Dominic slammed the brakes.
The car screeched to a stop in the middle of the empty road. Elijah was thrown forward, the seatbelt biting into his chest.
Dominic turned to him slowly. His eyes were darker than Elijah had ever seen them.
"You're not mine?" His voice was low, dangerous.
Elijah swallowed hard. "I—"
"Then why the hell do you keep testing me?" Dominic leaned in, so close Elijah could feel the heat radiating from his body. "Why do you keep pushing me, knowing exactly how I'll react?"
Elijah's breath hitched. Because I don't know how to handle you.
He refused to say that out loud.
Instead, he forced out a scoff. "I wasn't testing you, Moretti. I was just having a drink."
Dominic's jaw clenched. "With Matteo."
Elijah shrugged. "So what?"
Wrong move.
Dominic's hand shot out, gripping Elijah's chin tight.
"You think I don't know what he's doing?" Dominic's voice was calm—too calm. "He wants to take you from me. He wants to ruin you just to spite me."
Elijah's heart pounded, but he kept his expression cool. "And? What if I let him?"
A mistake.
The next second, Dominic's lips crashed against his.
It wasn't a kiss—it was a claim.
Possessive. Demanding. Furious.
Elijah gasped against his mouth, but Dominic didn't let him pull away. His hand slid to the back of Elijah's neck, locking him in place. His other hand gripped Elijah's thigh, fingers digging in.
Elijah's body tensed—then melted.
Damn it.
Why did he always let Dominic do this to him?
Heat surged between them, the tension snapping like an electric wire.
But just as quickly as it started—Dominic pulled away.
His breathing was ragged. His eyes burned with frustration.
"You belong to me, Elijah." His voice was gravelly, raw. "And one day, you'll stop fighting it."
Elijah's head was spinning. His lips tingled from the force of Dominic's kiss, and his body was betraying him in ways he refused to acknowledge.
He hated how Dominic affected him.
He hated that Dominic was right.
He was already losing the fight.
Dominic exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. He started the car again without another word, flooring the gas.
Elijah didn't look at him.
Didn't touch his lips.
Didn't let himself admit that he wanted Dominic to kiss him again.
---