The days that followed felt like a blur.
Elijah tried to shake off the conversation with Vincent, but the weight of it lingered in his mind. Dominic's kiss. Dominic's obsession.
He couldn't get it out of his head. The way Dominic's lips had moved against his, the heat of his body pressing him against the car…
Shit.
Elijah paced around his room, trying to force himself to think of anything else, but all his thoughts kept circling back to the same thing. Dominic.
What did Vincent mean when he said that once Dominic decided Elijah was his?
Elijah wasn't Dominic's. He wasn't some object to be claimed. He wouldn't let it happen.
But…
The door to his room swung open unexpectedly, and Elijah froze.
Dominic.
The mafia boss stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable, but there was something burning behind his eyes—something Elijah couldn't quite put a name to.
"Dominic," Elijah said, his voice tighter than he intended. "What are you doing here?"
Dominic's gaze swept over him, lingering just a little too long on the disarray in the room, the way Elijah was standing there, flustered. He took a step inside, shutting the door behind him with a soft click.
Elijah took an instinctive step back.
"You've been avoiding me," Dominic said, his voice low.
"I haven't," Elijah shot back, but his heart was hammering in his chest.
Dominic's lips quirked slightly, almost like a smile—but it wasn't a pleasant one. It was smoldering. "Is that so?"
He moved closer, and Elijah instinctively took another step back.
But Dominic was too fast. He grabbed Elijah by the wrist, pulling him into his chest. "Don't lie to me."
Elijah's pulse spiked, but he shoved at Dominic's chest, forcing some distance between them. "Let go of me."
Dominic didn't release his grip. Instead, he tilted Elijah's head back, forcing him to look up at him. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension.
"Why do you fight me so much?" Dominic asked, his voice rough. "You can feel it, too."
Elijah shook his head. "I don't feel anything."
Dominic didn't believe him. He stepped closer again, crowding Elijah's space. "You think you can resist me?" He let out a soft laugh. "You think you can fight this chemistry between us?"
Elijah's heart thudded against his ribs. He didn't know what was happening, but he felt trapped—pulled in by Dominic's presence, by the intensity of his stare.
"You're not my type," Elijah whispered, trying to sound sure, though his voice faltered.
Dominic's grip tightened just enough to send a thrill of heat through Elijah's body. "Maybe you just don't know it yet."
Before Elijah could respond, Dominic's lips were on his again. But this time…
It was different.
There was no anger. No force. This kiss was slow, deliberate, and filled with possessive intent. Dominic was claiming him in ways Elijah couldn't deny, and for a moment, he wondered if he was already lost.
His hands found their way to Dominic's chest, but he didn't push him away this time. He hesitated.
Dominic deepened the kiss, his hands moving to the back of Elijah's neck, pulling him closer. Elijah's breath hitched as he felt himself reacting.
He was fighting it.
But his body was betraying him.
When they finally broke apart, Elijah was panting, his lips swollen and kissed raw. He looked up at Dominic, confused and frustrated. "Why do you keep doing this?"
Dominic's expression was dark, almost possessive, but there was a trace of something else—something soft. "Because I want you, Elijah."
Elijah recoiled slightly, shaking his head in disbelief. "No. This isn't right."
Dominic's gaze softened just for a second before he stepped back, releasing his hold on Elijah. "It will be, eventually."
Elijah stared at him, heart racing. "You can't keep pushing me like this, Dominic."
Dominic's eyes darkened again. "I'll push as much as I need to."
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