The silence between them was thick, heavy, intoxicating. Dominic's grip on Elijah's waist tightened, his forehead still pressed against Elijah's. His breathing was rough, uneven—like a man barely keeping himself together.
Elijah should have pushed him away. He should have told him this was insane.
But he didn't.
Because in that moment, with Dominic looking at him like he was the only thing in the world that mattered, Elijah wasn't sure he wanted to stop.
Dominic's voice was low, dangerous. "Say it again."
Elijah swallowed hard. His heart pounded in his chest.
"…Make me yours."
Something inside Dominic snapped.
In a flash, Elijah found himself lifted off his feet, Dominic's arms caging him against the wall. Their lips collided again, but this time—it wasn't just anger. It was possession.
Pure. Unrelenting. Possession.
Dominic's mouth trailed from Elijah's lips to his jaw, then his neck, biting down hard enough to leave a mark. Elijah gasped, his fingers digging into Dominic's jacket.
"You don't get to test me like that," Dominic growled against his skin. "Not with Matteo."
Elijah let out a shaky breath, his mind spinning. "Are you jealous?"
Dominic froze.
Slowly, he pulled back just enough to meet Elijah's gaze. His dark eyes burned with something raw, consuming, dangerous.
"You think this is jealousy?" Dominic murmured, tilting Elijah's chin up. His lips brushed against Elijah's, teasing, taunting. "No, Eli." His voice was lower now, almost a whisper. "This is me warning you."
A shiver ran down Elijah's spine.
Dominic leaned in again, his lips grazing Elijah's ear. "You already belong to me. Whether you realize it or not."
Elijah's breath hitched. His body was betraying him, his mind clouded.
But before he could say anything, Dominic suddenly stepped back.
The loss of warmth hit Elijah like a punch.
Dominic smirked at his reaction, his thumb brushing against Elijah's swollen lips. "Go home."
Elijah blinked, caught off guard. "…What?"
Dominic turned, walking toward his car. "Go, before I change my mind."
Elijah clenched his fists, staring at Dominic's retreating figure. His heart was racing, his thoughts a tangled mess.
Dominic only chuckled as he slid into his car. "Sweet dreams, Eli."
The engine roared to life, and within seconds, Dominic was gone, leaving Elijah standing there—frustrated, breathless, and undeniably shaken.
He touched his lips, his mind spinning.
This man was going to ruin him.
And the worst part?
Elijah wasn't sure he minded.
Elijah lay awake that night, staring at the ceiling of his apartment.
His body still burned from Dominic's touch, his words, his presence.
"You already belong to me."
A shiver ran through him. He hated how much that affected him.
With a frustrated groan, he turned over, burying his face into the pillow. This was insane. He barely knew Dominic—hell, he was supposed to hate him. The man was controlling, arrogant, and dangerous.
And yet…
Why did he feel like every time he was with Dominic, he was on the edge of something he couldn't escape from?
His phone buzzed, snapping him from his thoughts.
Adrian.
Adrian: Yo, you alive?
Adrian: Or did the mafia boss eat you whole?
Adrian: Wait. Don't answer that. I don't wanna know.
Elijah snorted, shaking his head as he typed back.
Elijah: Still breathing. Barely.
A moment later, Adrian replied.
Adrian: Good. Now get your ass out of that apartment. We're going out tomorrow. You need air before your mafia prince locks you in a castle or some shit.
Elijah rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile forming on his lips.
Maybe Adrian was right.
Maybe he needed a break from all of this—Dominic, the chaos, the constant push and pull.
He exhaled slowly, ignoring the way his body still felt the ghost of Dominic's touch.
Tomorrow, he'd go out.
Tomorrow, he'd breathe.
Tomorrow, he'd remind himself that he wasn't Dominic Moretti's possession.
…Right?
The next day, Elijah tried to push the weight of the previous night out of his mind.
He met Adrian at a local café, trying to focus on the mundane chatter about school and life in general. But all he could think about was how Dominic's words echoed in his mind—how they made him feel something he couldn't explain.
"So," Adrian said, taking a sip of his coffee and raising an eyebrow at Elijah. "What's going on with you and Mr. Mafia?"
Elijah stiffened, nearly choking on his drink.
"Adrian, I've told you already, it's nothing," he muttered, trying to hide the unease creeping into his voice. "He's just some guy who thinks he can get whatever he wants."
Adrian leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "You sure about that? Because it sounds like you're about to get swallowed whole by him."
Elijah shot Adrian a glare, but his stomach twisted in knots. "I'm fine," he snapped, his usual confident tone wavering.
Adrian didn't press further, though he looked unconvinced. "Alright, alright," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Just don't say I didn't warn you when you end up playing a game you can't win."
The words lingered in the air, and Elijah's thoughts began to spiral.
Adrian had no idea.
No idea how close he was to the truth.
That night, after their brief hangout, Elijah found himself standing outside his apartment building, staring up at the dark windows. The air was colder than he expected. A light breeze tousled his hair, making him shiver.
His phone buzzed in his pocket.
It was Dominic.
Dominic: I know you're out with your friend.
Dominic: But I'm not done with you yet.
A chill ran down Elijah's spine.
He bit his lip, his heart pounding. He wanted to ignore the message—wanted to throw his phone in the trash and forget Dominic ever existed. But he couldn't.
He couldn't stop thinking about the man, the way Dominic's eyes burned with something possessive, demanding, and how Elijah couldn't figure out whether it made him want to run or stay.
Elijah swallowed, typing back quickly.
Elijah: I'm fine, Dominic. You don't own me.
Almost instantly, Dominic's reply came.
Dominic: Don't mistake my patience for weakness, Eli. I'll be seeing you soon.
Elijah's heart skipped a beat.
He didn't know why, but those words made him feel a mix of excitement and fear.
The door to his apartment creaked open, and Elijah stepped inside, his mind a mess of conflicting emotions.
Dominic Moretti was playing a game, and Elijah was already too far in to walk away.
But was he willing to play?