The third kiss lingered longer than the others.
There was no hesitation this time.
Dominic's hand remained on Elias's arm, steady and warm, while the other rested against the desk beside him. Elias felt the pressure of Dominic's body close to his, the heat between them impossible to ignore.
When they finally pulled apart, the space between their faces was barely an inch.
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
Dominic was the first to break the silence.
"Well," he murmured softly, his voice rougher than before, "I think we've officially passed the 'accidental' stage."
Elias inhaled slowly, trying to steady the sudden rush of warmth in his chest.
"Yes."
Dominic raised an eyebrow.
"That's all you have to say?"
Elias blinked.
"What else should I say?"
Dominic laughed quietly.
"You just kissed me again."
"I'm aware."
"And?"
Elias hesitated.
Dominic watched him with obvious amusement.
"You're really going to analyze this like a research paper, aren't you?"
"I'm trying to process it."
Dominic tilted his head slightly.
"You could also just feel it."
"That's inefficient."
Dominic chuckled under his breath.
"You're unbelievable."
Elias looked at him carefully.
"You're still here."
"Of course I am."
"You could leave."
Dominic's expression softened slightly.
"Do you want me to?"
The question caught Elias off guard.
For the first time that night, he didn't immediately have an answer.
Dominic saw the hesitation and smiled faintly.
"That's what I thought."
The tension between them shifted slightly.
Less uncertain now.
More real.
Dominic's hand was still resting lightly on Elias's arm. Neither of them had noticed when it had moved there again.
Elias glanced down briefly.
"You're touching me."
Dominic looked at his hand.
"Oh."
He didn't move it.
"That's a problem?"
Elias looked back up at him.
"It's… distracting."
Dominic's smile widened slowly.
"Good."
Elias sighed.
"You're enjoying this far too much."
"Watching you lose control of the situation?"
"Yes."
Dominic shrugged.
"Absolutely."
Elias shook his head.
"You're impossible."
Dominic leaned a little closer again, his voice lowering.
"And yet you keep letting me stand this close."
Elias didn't respond.
Because Dominic was right again.
If he truly wanted distance, he could have created it hours ago.
Instead he had allowed Dominic to stay.
Allowed him to get closer.
Allowed the kisses.
Dominic noticed the silence and studied him more carefully.
"You know," he said quietly, "this is the first time I've ever seen you unsure of something."
"I'm not unsure."
"You definitely are."
Elias frowned.
"I simply don't have enough data."
Dominic laughed softly.
"You don't need data to know if you like someone."
"I prefer evidence."
Dominic stepped even closer.
Now there was no space left between them.
Their chests brushed lightly.
Elias felt his breath catch again.
Dominic's voice dropped to a quiet whisper.
"You want evidence?"
Elias swallowed slightly.
"What kind?"
Dominic's fingers moved gently along Elias's arm.
The touch was slow.
Intentional.
Warm.
Elias felt the small spark of sensation immediately.
Dominic watched his reaction carefully.
"There," he said softly.
"Evidence."
Elias's voice was quieter now.
"That's physical stimulation."
Dominic smiled.
"Alright."
His hand moved upward slightly, resting lightly near Elias's shoulder.
"What about this?"
Elias could feel his heartbeat speeding up.
"That's… proximity."
Dominic leaned closer, his lips just beside Elias's ear now.
"And this?"
The warmth of his breath sent a subtle shiver down Elias's neck.
Elias closed his eyes briefly.
Dominic noticed instantly.
His voice softened further.
"You feel that too."
It wasn't a question.
Elias opened his eyes again slowly.
"Yes."
Dominic pulled back just enough to look at him.
"That wasn't so hard to admit."
Elias exhaled quietly.
"You're enjoying proving me wrong."
Dominic's smile was softer this time.
"I'm enjoying being here with you."
The sincerity in his voice made Elias pause.
Dominic rarely dropped the teasing tone completely.
But now he looked serious.
"You know something?" Dominic said.
"What?"
"I missed you."
Elias felt something shift slightly in his chest.
"You said that earlier."
"I meant it."
Dominic studied his face.
"I didn't realize how much until tonight."
Elias looked away briefly.
Dominic noticed the movement.
"You missed me too," he said quietly.
"That's an assumption."
Dominic shook his head.
"It's a fact."
"How?"
Dominic smiled faintly.
"You kissed me three times."
Elias sighed.
"You're keeping count."
"Of course."
Elias rubbed his forehead.
"This is ridiculous."
Dominic's voice softened again.
"No."
He stepped even closer.
Their foreheads almost touched now.
"This is honest."
Elias looked at him carefully.
Dominic held his gaze.
No teasing now.
No sarcasm.
Just quiet sincerity.
"You don't have to pretend with me," Dominic said.
Elias hesitated.
Because Dominic had always been the one person who saw through him too easily.
And tonight he wasn't even trying very hard to hide it.
Dominic's hand moved again, resting gently against Elias's jaw.
The touch was careful.
Almost hesitant.
Elias didn't pull away.
Dominic's voice dropped to a whisper.
"You know what the real evidence is?"
"What?"
Dominic smiled softly.
"You're still here."
Elias met his gaze.
"And so are you."
Dominic chuckled quietly.
"Yeah."
He leaned closer again.
"But I think that's about to lead to more evidence."
And this time, when their lips met again,
Elias didn't hesitate at all.