Victor didn't bother waiting for the bill to be brought to the table.
He simply stood and offered his hand to Elias. That could be handled by his assistants.
The world folded.
The shift from the salt-kissed terrace to the plush silence of their suite was instantaneous, a silent testament to Victor's effortless power. The air in the room was still, thick with the lingering silence they'd left behind. Before Elias could take a full breath, Victor's mouth was on his again, but this time it was different.
This wasn't the gentle, teasing pressure from the restaurant but rather the hunger Victor had smothered until now.
Victor's hands came up to frame Elias's face, his thumbs stroking the line of his jaw, holding him in place with an intimacy that felt more binding than any command. His scent, smoke, and expensive cologne swelled, flooding the space between them, a palpable force that made the air itself feel heavy.
