The tension in the air felt suffocating, almost unbearable. Elijah had always been someone who liked to keep things light—he was carefree, playful, always looking for the next thrill. But lately, everything had changed. The past few days had thrown him into a world he didn't understand, one filled with secrets, power, and danger. And the two men at the center of it all—Dominic and Matteo—had made it impossible for him to stay detached.
The way they looked at him. The way they talked to him. It was as if everything in their worlds was built around the idea of him. And Elijah wasn't sure how he felt about that.
---
It had been a week since Matteo's cryptic words. He hadn't seen him again, but Elijah couldn't stop thinking about that night. The way Matteo had approached him—calm, confident, as if he knew exactly what Elijah needed. And his offer—an escape from all this madness.
It sounded tempting, so tempting.
But then there was Dominic. The man who haunted his thoughts, who invaded his dreams, who made Elijah's heart beat in a way he couldn't control. His anger, his power, his dangerous allure—they were intoxicating. Every time they were in the same room, there was something electric in the air, something that made Elijah feel alive in ways he'd never known.
And yet, he wasn't sure if he was ready to fully give himself to it.
---
Elijah sat in his apartment, staring out the window, the city lights casting a soft glow on the streets below. He hadn't heard from Dominic all day. A part of him missed the constant buzz of activity when Dominic was around—the way he took up so much space in Elijah's mind.
Just as he was about to lose himself in his thoughts again, his phone buzzed on the table. It was a message from Dominic.
"Meet me at the usual place. 9 PM."
Elijah's heart skipped a beat. He stared at the message, his mind racing. Dominic had been distant lately, but he still managed to get under Elijah's skin with just a few words.
Without thinking, Elijah grabbed his jacket and headed out the door.
---
By the time Elijah arrived at the upscale bar Dominic had chosen, the place was practically empty. The low hum of jazz music played in the background, and the lights were dim, creating a sense of intimacy that was hard to ignore.
Dominic was already sitting at a table in the far corner, his dark eyes fixed on the glass in front of him. When he saw Elijah, a slight smirk curved his lips.
"Elijah," he greeted, his voice smooth and low. "You're late."
Elijah sat down across from him, trying to ignore the fluttering in his chest. "I wasn't aware I had to follow a schedule for you."
Dominic's eyes narrowed slightly, but his smile didn't falter. "I like it when you're unpredictable."
Elijah raised an eyebrow, unsure how to respond. The tension between them had always been palpable, but tonight, it felt even more intense. As if something was building, something Elijah couldn't quite grasp.
"What do you want, Dominic?" Elijah asked, his voice a little sharper than he intended.
Dominic leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving Elijah's face. "I wanted to see you. To talk."
Elijah's heart pounded. This wasn't just any conversation. Not with Dominic. There was always something more—something dangerous, something that made Elijah feel both drawn in and terrified.
"And what are we talking about?" Elijah asked, though he had a feeling he already knew the answer.
"I've been thinking," Dominic began slowly, his tone deliberate. "About what happens next. About you and me."
Elijah felt a chill run down his spine. The way Dominic said it—there was no mistaking it. Dominic was making a claim. Elijah wasn't sure how to feel about it. He wasn't sure if he was ready to give in to whatever it was Dominic wanted.
Before Elijah could respond, the door to the bar swung open, and Elijah's heart dropped when he saw who walked in.
It was Matteo Romano.
The smug smile on Matteo's face made Elijah's blood run cold. He didn't even look at Elijah at first. Instead, his eyes landed on Dominic, and a dangerous flicker passed between them. It was like the room itself shifted with the weight of the two men's gazes meeting.
"Gentlemen," Matteo's voice was smooth as ever, though there was a certain edge to it. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
Elijah's stomach twisted. This wasn't good. Not at all.
Dominic's expression hardened, but he didn't rise to the challenge. Instead, he motioned for Matteo to join them. "Sit down, Matteo. We're having a conversation."
Matteo moved closer, taking a seat next to Dominic, his eyes never leaving Elijah's face. It was as if he was savoring the tension in the room.
Elijah's head was spinning. The last thing he needed was for the two of them to collide. But here they were, both vying for his attention in a way that made him feel like he was nothing more than a prize.
"I think we need to clear some things up," Matteo said, his voice full of mock sweetness. "Don't you agree, Elijah?"
Before Elijah could respond, Dominic stood up, the chair scraping harshly against the floor. "Stay out of this, Matteo," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
But Matteo didn't back down. "I think it's time Elijah made a decision. He can't keep playing both sides."
Elijah's heart raced. The words hung in the air, thick with tension.
Was it time to choose? To pick one of them? Could he even do that?
He looked between the two men, feeling like a pawn in a game he didn't know how to play. Both of them wanted him. But who did he want?
Dominic, with his raw power and fierce intensity? Or Matteo, with his charming smile and dangerous promises?
The question lingered in the air as Elijah's mind spun, unsure of what to do next.
---