The minutes dragged on, but something had shifted in the air. Elena could feel it. The tension that had been simmering between her and Dominic ever since she’d arrived had reached its breaking point.
The door creaked open again, this time without a knock. She wasn’t sure if it was relief or dread. She had been expecting him sooner or later, and there he was.
Dominic stood in the doorway, his eyes dark and unreadable, like he was studying her every move. His presence was overwhelming, filling the room with a charged silence.
Elena didn’t speak, couldn’t speak. She just stared at him, her heart hammering in her chest. Her fingers still gripped the shard of glass in her hand, but the fear, the anger, and the helplessness were starting to melt into something else.
Dominic’s gaze flickered down to her hand, then back up to her face. He took a step toward her, his expression unreadable. “You’re not eating,” he said, his voice low and steady, yet with an edge that made her skin prickle.
“I’m not hungry,” she replied, her voice quieter than she intended. She wasn’t sure why, but something about him made her hesitate.
“Lying never works with me, Elena,” he said softly, taking another step closer. The space between them was small now, barely enough to breathe. “You don’t have to pretend.”
Her pulse quickened as he stepped into her personal space, his eyes intense, as if he was looking for something beneath the surface. She wanted to pull away, to break free, but something inside of her told her to stay still.
He reached up, his thumb grazing her cheek, brushing away a stray lock of hair. The simple touch sent a shiver down her spine. Her breath hitched, and before she could think, he was closer—so close, she could feel the heat radiating off his body.
“Elena…” he whispered her name like a warning, a command. She could hear the challenge in his tone, the undeniable pull between them. She didn’t know why, but it was there. And despite everything, despite her resistance, she was drawn to it.
Her eyes flickered to his lips, then back up to his eyes, trying to read him, trying to understand the unspoken words hanging between them. She didn’t know who moved first, but before she could second-guess herself, his lips were on hers.
It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t sweet. It was raw, urgent, like a fire that had been waiting to ignite. He kissed her like he had every right to, like he could take everything from her if he wanted. Elena’s breath caught in her throat as her body betrayed her, leaning into him despite the whirlwind of emotions.
For a moment, everything else disappeared. There was only the press of his lips against hers, the heat, the tension, the push and pull of something far deeper than she was ready to acknowledge.
But as quickly as it had started, he pulled back, his hands still hovering near her face, his eyes burning with something unreadable. Elena’s heart raced, her mind a chaotic mess of confusion and desire.
He didn’t say anything, didn’t need to. But Elena knew one thing for sure now.
This wasn’t just a game anymore. This was something far more dangerous.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGpProtMAy
