The tension in the air was palpable as Elijah walked back to his apartment that evening. The encounter with Adrian had been a fleeting moment of normalcy, but now, as the sky darkened and the city lights flickered to life, the weight of the reality he was avoiding came rushing back.
He couldn't keep pretending like everything was fine. Dominic had made it clear what he wanted, and Elijah had felt it in the way their bodies had come together—the heated glances, the almost reckless desire, the sense of ownership in Dominic's touch.
And yet, despite everything, Elijah couldn't shake the gnawing feeling of discomfort. He had been trying to push it away for days now, but it was still there. The question of whether he really wanted this, whether he was ready for the kind of life Dominic was offering him.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking his thoughts. Elijah pulled it out, seeing a message from Dominic.
Dominic: "I'm outside. Come. I'm not asking."
Elijah's heart skipped a beat. His immediate reaction was to ignore it, to go inside and shut everything out. But the pull—the damn pull—was too strong.
He couldn't avoid it forever.
With a deep breath, Elijah stepped out into the night, walking toward the street where Dominic's car was parked. The black luxury car gleamed under the streetlights, its engine running smoothly.
Dominic was leaning against the hood, his eyes scanning the road, but when he spotted Elijah, he straightened up. A predatory smile spread across his lips.
"I thought you weren't going to show," Dominic said, his tone teasing yet somehow serious.
"I wasn't," Elijah replied, his voice lighter than he felt. "But I didn't really have a choice, did I?"
Dominic chuckled darkly, pushing off the car and taking a step closer to him. "Not really. I've been patient long enough."
The air between them thickened with unspoken words. Elijah could feel the heat of Dominic's gaze, like a weight pressing down on him.
"Why me, Dominic?" Elijah asked, his voice low, the question slipping out before he could stop it.
Dominic's expression softened for a moment, as though the edge of his dangerous facade slipped just slightly. "Why not you?" He took a step closer, his fingers brushing against Elijah's. "You're different from anyone I've ever known. You're not scared of me, Elijah. And that… that makes you dangerous."
Elijah swallowed, feeling the tension coil in his stomach. "I'm not dangerous."
"You are to me." Dominic's words were low, like a promise. "You're mine, whether you like it or not."
Elijah's pulse quickened. There was something in Dominic's voice—a dangerous certainty that made his knees feel weak. But he wasn't going to let himself fall for it. Not like this.
"I don't belong to anyone, Dominic," Elijah said, a hint of defiance in his voice.
Dominic smirked, stepping even closer, until there was barely any space between them. "We'll see about that."
Before Elijah could respond, Dominic's lips were on his, claiming him with a kiss that burned through every barrier Elijah had tried to build. It was demanding, almost violent, but Elijah couldn't pull away. His hands gripped Dominic's shirt, his body betraying him as it leaned into the kiss.
When they finally pulled apart, Elijah was breathless, his mind racing. He wanted to resist. He wanted to push Dominic away and run. But the way Dominic was looking at him—like he was the only thing that mattered—was too much to ignore.
"I didn't ask for this, Dominic," Elijah whispered, his voice shaky.
Dominic's smirk returned. "No. But you're going to want it soon enough."
Elijah's chest tightened. He didn't know what to think anymore. The promise in Dominic's eyes was too heavy, too real. But he wasn't ready for this. He wasn't ready to give up everything for Dominic's world, no matter how much his body yearned for it.
With a shaky breath, Elijah pulled back, putting some distance between them. "I'm not a toy, Dominic. I'm not something you can just claim."
Dominic's eyes darkened, and for a moment, Elijah thought he might snap. But instead, Dominic simply nodded, a strange calm settling over him. "I'll give you time, Elijah. But you'll come to me eventually. I always get what I want."
And with that, he turned and got into his car, leaving Elijah standing in the cold night, his heart racing in his chest.
---