The kiss ended slowly.
Not because either of them wanted it to end.
But because breathing eventually became necessary.
Dominic rested his forehead lightly against Elias's again, both of them slightly out of breath now. The quiet hum of the machines behind them filled the room, but neither man paid attention to it.
For once, Elias's mind wasn't racing through equations or probabilities.
It was focused on one thing.
Dominic.
Dominic's warmth.
Dominic's hand still resting firmly at his waist.
Dominic's breath brushing softly against his lips.
Dominic pulled back just enough to look at him.
There was something different in his expression now. Less teasing. Less playful.
More serious.
"Okay," Dominic said quietly.
"That one definitely meant something."
Elias raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You say that after every kiss."
"No," Dominic replied.
"This one was different."
Elias studied him.
"How?"
Dominic hesitated for a moment, as if choosing the right words.
"Because you stopped thinking."
Elias blinked.
"That's unlikely."
Dominic chuckled softly.
"You didn't argue with me."
"That doesn't mean I wasn't thinking."
Dominic smiled faintly.
"You kissed me before I even finished speaking."
Elias paused.
Dominic tilted his head slightly.
"That's new."
Elias folded his arms loosely, though he didn't step away.
"That could be interpreted as impatience."
Dominic laughed quietly.
"You're unbelievable."
But the warmth in his eyes never faded.
Dominic glanced down briefly.
Then back up.
"You're doing it again."
Elias frowned.
"What?"
Dominic gestured lightly between them.
Elias followed his gaze.
Without realizing it, he had stepped closer again.
Their bodies were touching.
Chest to chest.
Dominic's smile returned.
"You keep closing the distance."
"That might be coincidence."
Dominic chuckled.
"Six times in a row?"
Elias sighed quietly.
"You're enjoying this."
"Very much."
Dominic's hand moved slightly along Elias's side again, his fingers brushing lightly against the fabric of his shirt.
The movement was subtle.
But Elias felt it immediately.
Dominic noticed the small change in his breathing.
"You're still sensitive to that."
"That's a physical reaction."
Dominic leaned closer again.
Their noses brushed lightly.
"Exactly."
Elias inhaled slowly.
Dominic's voice dropped slightly.
"You know something?"
"What?"
"I used to imagine this."
Elias blinked.
"This?"
"Being this close to you again."
Elias hesitated.
"That seems… inefficient."
Dominic laughed softly.
"You always say that when you're nervous."
"I'm not nervous."
Dominic smiled.
"You are."
Elias didn't answer.
Dominic studied him carefully.
"You're quieter tonight."
"I'm thinking."
"About?"
Elias hesitated.
Dominic waited patiently.
Finally Elias said quietly,
"You came back."
Dominic nodded slightly.
"Yeah."
"You could have stayed away."
"I could have."
"Why didn't you?"
Dominic looked at him for a long moment before answering.
"Because I couldn't stop thinking about you."
The honesty in his voice made Elias pause.
Dominic continued softly,
"I tried."
Elias studied his face carefully.
Dominic wasn't joking.
For once, there was no teasing in his voice.
Just truth.
Elias spoke quietly.
"You avoided me for a year."
Dominic nodded.
"Yeah."
"That seems contradictory."
Dominic smiled faintly.
"I know."
"Then why come back now?"
Dominic stepped even closer, though there was almost no space left to close.
"Because avoiding you didn't work."
Elias's pulse quickened again.
Dominic's hand slid slowly up Elias's arm until it rested near his shoulder.
His touch was steady.
Intentional.
"You were still there," Dominic murmured.
"Here."
He lightly tapped Elias's chest.
"And here."
He tapped Elias's temple gently.
Elias swallowed slightly.
Dominic smiled softly.
"Turns out you're really hard to forget."
Elias looked at him carefully.
"You're very persistent."
Dominic shrugged.
"Only when something matters."
Elias hesitated.
"And this matters?"
Dominic didn't even pause.
"Yes."
The certainty in his voice sent another quiet wave of warmth through Elias's chest.
Dominic noticed the subtle shift in his expression.
His smile softened again.
"You feel it too."
Elias didn't deny it this time.
Dominic leaned closer once more.
Slowly.
Giving Elias time to stop him if he wanted.
But Elias didn't move.
Dominic's lips brushed his again.
Softer this time.
Less urgency.
More warmth.
When they separated again, Dominic laughed quietly under his breath.
"What?" Elias asked.
Dominic shook his head.
"I was right."
"About what?"
Dominic smiled.
"You missed me."
Elias sighed softly.
"That hypothesis is gaining evidence."
Dominic grinned.
"You're impossible."
Elias met his gaze calmly.
"And yet you're still here."
Dominic leaned in again, whispering softly near his ear.
"Yeah."
Then he added quietly,
"And I'm not going anywhere this time."