The day after Dominic's kiss, Elijah couldn't shake the feeling that everything around him had shifted. He was no longer just a carefree university student. He was tangled in something dangerous, something he didn't fully understand. The kiss had sparked something inside him, and now it was a constant buzz in the back of his mind.
He stood in front of the mirror, fingers running through his disheveled hair, staring at his reflection.
He was fighting a war inside his head. On one hand, Dominic was still the mafia boss—a man who ruled with iron fists and cold eyes. On the other, he was… Dominic. A man whose presence lingered long after he'd left, whose touch had burned a permanent mark on Elijah's skin.
Elijah couldn't deny the pull anymore. It was there, deep in his chest, like a thread wrapping itself tighter with each passing day. He had to admit it to himself: the lines between hatred, fascination, and something else were beginning to blur.
But no. He wouldn't let himself fall for Dominic. Not again.
Elijah stepped away from the mirror, slinging his jacket over his shoulder and grabbing his keys. His phone buzzed on the table, a message flashing on the screen. It was Dominic.
Dominic: Meet me at the office. We need to talk.
Elijah stared at the message for a long moment, his stomach twisting. He could feel it—this pull, this inevitability. Every part of him screamed to ignore it, to go on with his life and forget about Dominic. But something deeper inside urged him to answer.
He didn't reply. Instead, he tossed the phone in his pocket and headed out the door.
---
The drive to Dominic's office felt longer than it should have. The air in the car was thick, suffocating. Every mile was a countdown to whatever confrontation awaited him. When he finally arrived, he parked outside the sleek building, his heart pounding in his chest.
Elijah knew this wasn't just another meeting. This wasn't a casual conversation. This was a reckoning.
As he stepped into the building, the cool air hit him like a slap in the face. He walked down the long corridor, his footsteps echoing.
When he reached Dominic's office, the door was already open. Elijah stood there for a second, taking in the sight of Dominic at his desk, looking every bit the king of his domain. His gaze flicked up from the paperwork he was reviewing, locking eyes with Elijah.
For a brief moment, the world around them seemed to stop.
"You came." Dominic's voice was low, almost amused, as if he knew exactly what was going on inside Elijah's head.
Elijah clenched his jaw, trying to push past the tightness in his chest. "What do you want, Dominic?"
Dominic stood from behind his desk, his tall frame looming over Elijah. "I wanted to talk. About us."
Elijah rolled his eyes, arms crossed over his chest. "There is no 'us.' There's you, and there's me. That's it."
Dominic's expression hardened, his gaze darkening. "You know that's not true. Stop fighting it, Elijah." He took a step closer, his eyes never leaving Elijah's. "I can see it in you, too."
Elijah's heart hammered in his chest. This was the moment he had been trying to avoid. The moment where everything cracked open, where Dominic's pull became undeniable.
"Shut up," Elijah muttered, stepping back. His breath was coming faster now, a nervous energy coursing through his veins. "I'm not your toy. I'm not some game you can control."
Dominic's lips curled into a smile, but it wasn't a comforting one. It was predatory. Dangerous.
"No, Elijah," he said, his voice cold as ice. "You're not a toy. You're mine."
Before Elijah could respond, Dominic was on him. His hand shot out, gripping Elijah's wrist with a vice-like hold, pulling him back into his chest. The heat from Dominic's body was overwhelming, and Elijah could feel his pulse quickening.
"Let go of me!" Elijah hissed, trying to pull away. But Dominic was relentless, his other hand sliding up to cup Elijah's jaw, forcing him to meet his eyes.
"I told you," Dominic growled softly, his lips brushing against Elijah's ear. "You're mine, whether you want it or not."
Elijah's mind was racing, but his body seemed to betray him. He couldn't move. He couldn't think. The pull of Dominic's presence was suffocating, and the cold determination in his eyes sent shivers down Elijah's spine.
"Stop this," Elijah whispered, his voice breaking, "Please, I don't want this."
Dominic's grip tightened, and for a moment, there was nothing but silence between them. Then, slowly, he released Elijah's wrist, stepping back. His expression had softened, but his eyes still held that same intensity.
"I never wanted you to fight it," Dominic said, his voice low. "But I won't wait forever, Elijah."
Elijah stood there, frozen, unsure of what to say, unsure of what he felt. Dominic had stepped back, but the tension in the air was palpable. Elijah knew that this wasn't over. It wasn't even close to being over.
He didn't know how much longer he could resist.
---