The car ride was silent.
Elijah's wrist still burned from Dominic's grip, but he refused to rub it, refusing to show any weakness. His chest rose and fell quickly, the rush of what had just happened making his thoughts spiral.
Dominic hadn't said a word since dragging him out of the bar. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, jaw clenched, dangerously quiet.
That silence was worse than yelling.
Elijah exhaled sharply, breaking it. "You seriously think you can control where I go?"
Dominic didn't look at him. "Yes."
Elijah's lips parted, caught off guard by the bluntness. "That's not how this works! I'm not your—"
Dominic slammed the brakes.
The car screeched to a stop in the middle of the empty road. Elijah was thrown forward, the seatbelt biting into his chest.
Dominic turned to him slowly. His eyes were darker than Elijah had ever seen them.
"You're not mine?" His voice was low, dangerous.
Elijah swallowed hard. "I—"
"Then why the hell do you keep testing me?" Dominic leaned in, so close Elijah could feel the heat radiating from his body. "Why do you keep pushing me, knowing exactly how I'll react?"
Elijah's breath hitched. Because I don't know how to handle you.
He refused to say that out loud.
Instead, he forced out a scoff. "I wasn't testing you, Moretti. I was just having a drink."
Dominic's jaw clenched. "With Matteo."
Elijah shrugged. "So what?"
Wrong move.
Dominic's hand shot out, gripping Elijah's chin tight.
"You think I don't know what he's doing?" Dominic's voice was calm—too calm. "He wants to take you from me. He wants to ruin you just to spite me."
Elijah's heart pounded, but he kept his expression cool. "And? What if I let him?"
A mistake.
The next second, Dominic's lips crashed against his.
It wasn't a kiss—it was a claim.
Possessive. Demanding. Furious.
Elijah gasped against his mouth, but Dominic didn't let him pull away. His hand slid to the back of Elijah's neck, locking him in place. His other hand gripped Elijah's thigh, fingers digging in.
Elijah's body tensed—then melted.
Damn it.
Why did he always let Dominic do this to him?
Heat surged between them, the tension snapping like an electric wire.
But just as quickly as it started—Dominic pulled away.
His breathing was ragged. His eyes burned with frustration.
"You belong to me, Elijah." His voice was gravelly, raw. "And one day, you'll stop fighting it."
Elijah's head was spinning. His lips tingled from the force of Dominic's kiss, and his body was betraying him in ways he refused to acknowledge.
He hated how Dominic affected him.
He hated that Dominic was right.
He was already losing the fight.
Dominic exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. He started the car again without another word, flooring the gas.
Elijah didn't look at him.
Didn't touch his lips.
Didn't let himself admit that he wanted Dominic to kiss him again.
The drive back to Dominic's estate was suffocating.
Elijah kept his arms crossed, staring out the window, jaw clenched. He could still feel Dominic's lips on his, the heat of that damn possessive kiss lingering on his skin like a brand.
His fingers twitched against his knee.
He wanted to touch his lips—but he refused to give Dominic the satisfaction.
Dominic, on the other hand, was silent. His grip on the steering wheel was firm, his jaw tense, but he said nothing. That was the most frustrating part.
Elijah wanted him to say something—anything.
The car pulled into the underground garage of the estate. Dominic cut the engine, but neither of them moved.
The tension between them was thick, crackling like a live wire.
Then, Dominic finally spoke.
"Inside. Now."
It wasn't a request.
Elijah's eyes narrowed. "Or what?"
Dominic turned his head, slow and deliberate, his gaze sharp. "You don't want to test me right now."
Elijah scoffed. "You act like you can control me."
Dominic leaned closer. "I can."
Elijah's breath hitched. His body reacted before his mind could stop it, his pulse quickening. Damn it.
He didn't wait for Dominic to make another move—he shoved the door open and stepped out, slamming it shut behind him.
Dominic followed, his steps deliberate, controlled.
Elijah had barely reached the hallway when Dominic's hand wrapped around his wrist, yanking him back.
Elijah spun, shoving at Dominic's chest. "What the hell is your problem?"
Dominic didn't let go. His grip was firm, unrelenting. "You."
Elijah's breath caught.
Dominic's eyes were darker than usual, a storm brewing beneath the surface. "Do you think this is a game, Elijah?" His voice was calm—too calm.
Elijah swallowed but didn't look away. "I think you're being dramatic."
Dominic chuckled—low, dark. "Dramatic?"
Before Elijah could blink, Dominic pinned him against the wall.
His hands slammed against the surface on either side of Elijah's head, trapping him.
Elijah's breath hitched.
The heat between them was suffocating.
Dominic's face was too close, his scent invading Elijah's senses. A mix of expensive cologne, gunpowder, and something uniquely Dominic.
Elijah hated how much he noticed.
"I told you to stay away from Matteo." Dominic's voice was lower now, dangerous.
Elijah's lips curled into a smirk. "And I told you—I'm not yours."
A muscle in Dominic's jaw twitched.
He didn't like that answer.
Elijah expected another outburst, another kiss meant to claim him—but instead, Dominic smirked.
That was worse.
"You think Matteo likes you?" Dominic asked, tilting his head. "That he's being nice to you because he wants you?"
Elijah narrowed his eyes. "What are you saying?"
Dominic leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper. "He only wants you to get to me, Eli."
Elijah stiffened.
Only Dominic called him that.
Dominic's smirk widened. "You're mine."
Elijah's pulse thundered in his ears.
The worst part?
He didn't push Dominic away.