When Elias kissed him first again, Dominic didn't laugh this time.
He didn't tease him.
He didn't even look surprised.
Instead, his hand tightened slightly at Elias's back, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened almost instantly.
Something about this one felt different.
Before, the kisses had been discoveries. Tests. Moments where both of them were trying to figure out what the other would do next.
Now it felt like they had both already decided.
Elias felt it too.
There was no hesitation when Dominic's hand slid higher along his back, pressing him gently but firmly closer. Their bodies fit together naturally, like the space between them had always been temporary.
When they finally broke apart, neither of them moved.
Dominic exhaled slowly.
"Well," he murmured.
"That was definitely intentional."
Elias blinked.
"Yes."
Dominic studied him carefully.
"You kissed me again."
"That is an accurate description."
Dominic smiled faintly.
"You're getting worse at pretending this is just an experiment."
Elias inhaled slowly.
"I stopped pretending."
Dominic blinked slightly.
That answer had more honesty in it than he expected.
"You did?"
Elias met his gaze.
"Yes."
Dominic's expression softened.
"That might be the most dangerous thing you've said tonight."
"Why?"
Dominic chuckled quietly.
"Because now I'm not holding back anymore."
Elias raised an eyebrow.
"You were holding back?"
Dominic smiled.
"A little."
Before Elias could respond, Dominic leaned forward and kissed him again.
This time it wasn't cautious.
It wasn't slow curiosity.
It was confident.
His hand slid from Elias's back to the side of his waist, fingers gripping slightly as he pulled him closer. Elias felt the shift immediately, the warmth between them intensifying in a way that made his pulse quicken.
Elias didn't step away.
Instead, his hand moved up Dominic's chest again, resting there naturally.
Dominic noticed.
Of course he did.
When they separated again, his smile had changed.
Less teasing now.
More something else.
"See?" Dominic murmured.
"What?"
"You're doing it again."
Elias glanced down.
His hand was still resting against Dominic's chest.
He didn't move it this time.
Dominic's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Oh."
Elias looked back up.
"What?"
"You didn't pull away."
"That wasn't necessary."
Dominic laughed softly.
"You're unbelievable."
But there was warmth in his voice.
A lot of it.
The tension between them shifted again.
Less uncertain.
More intimate.
Dominic's hand moved slowly along Elias's side again, almost absent-mindedly.
Elias felt the movement immediately.
His breath caught slightly.
Dominic noticed that too.
"You're very responsive," he murmured.
"That's a physiological reaction."
Dominic chuckled.
"You keep trying to rename attraction."
"That's not confirmed."
Dominic leaned closer again.
"Elias."
"Yes?"
"You're holding onto me."
Elias blinked.
He looked down.
His fingers had tightened slightly in Dominic's shirt again.
Dominic smiled.
"You've done that five times now."
"That's anecdotal."
Dominic laughed.
"You're impossible."
But then his voice softened.
"You know what I think?"
"What?"
"I think you've wanted this longer than you realized."
Elias hesitated.
"That's speculative."
Dominic studied him carefully.
"You didn't hesitate when you kissed me just now."
Elias paused.
Dominic's voice lowered.
"You didn't hesitate at all."
Elias looked at him quietly.
Dominic stepped closer again, their chests touching once more.
The warmth between them was becoming familiar now.
Comfortable.
Dangerously comfortable.
Dominic's hand rested against the back of Elias's neck again.
His thumb brushed lightly along his skin.
Elias inhaled slowly.
Dominic smiled faintly.
"You like that."
"That's… a sensitive nerve cluster."
Dominic laughed.
"You're unbelievable."
But his voice softened again.
"You don't have to explain every reaction."
Elias met his gaze.
"I'm used to understanding things."
Dominic nodded slowly.
"I know."
He leaned closer.
Their foreheads touched again.
"But maybe some things are easier when you stop trying to understand them."
Elias looked at him carefully.
"That's inefficient."
Dominic chuckled.
"Maybe."
Then he whispered,
"But it feels better."
Elias didn't respond immediately.
Because Dominic was still touching him.
Still close.
Still looking at him like this wasn't temporary.
And for the first time since Dominic had walked back into his life
Elias wasn't thinking about distance.
Dominic noticed the shift.
His smile softened.
"You're quiet."
"Yes."
"What are you thinking about?"
Elias hesitated.
Then he answered honestly.
"That you're still here."
Dominic's expression changed slightly.
Something warmer.
Something deeper.
"Yeah," he said softly.
"I am."
Elias studied him carefully.
"You really aren't leaving again."
Dominic shook his head.
"No."
"Why?"
Dominic smiled faintly.
Then he leaned closer again.
And kissed him slowly.
Because some answers didn't need words anymore.