Here's Chapter 10 of After Chapter
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Chapter 10: The Ritual
Julian never knew when Elliot's obsession had become his own.
Maybe it was the night Elliot first kissed him like possession. Maybe it was the way Elliot whispered his name when no one else could hear. Maybe it was every secret they kept — every lie they told — wrapped in the ritual of dark suits and late nights.
But by now, it wasn't something Julian wanted to escape.
It was something he craved.
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Thursday night. Elliot's apartment.
Julian stepped inside, soaked from the rain. No umbrella. No coat. Just wet curls clinging to his forehead and that defiant, teasing look in his eyes.
Elliot looked up from his armchair, a book in one hand, a glass of scotch in the other.
"You're late."
Julian peeled off his shirt, slowly. "You like making me wait."
Elliot closed the book with a soft thud.
"Come here."
Julian obeyed.
Elliot reached for him without standing — pulled him down onto his lap, wet jeans and all, and kissed him like they hadn't seen each other in years.
But tonight was different.
Elliot was quiet. Focused. Every move deliberate.
He led Julian to the bedroom, undressed him piece by piece, folding his clothes neatly like offerings. Then he kissed each bruise, each freckle, each mark he'd left on Julian's skin over the past weeks.
Worship disguised as dominance.
Julian's heart thudded harder than it should have.
He loved this version of Elliot. The one who took control — but only after earning it. The one who didn't just touch — but studied. The one who never said "I need you" out loud, but showed it with every breath.
Elliot tied a silk blindfold around Julian's eyes and whispered:
"Let me show you what devotion feels like."
And then Julian was undone.
Every touch was slower. Deeper. There were no rushed gasps, no frantic pulling. Just tension — stretched like a violin string — until Julian thought he might shatter from it.
His world narrowed to sensation: Elliot's hands. His voice. The heat of his breath against skin.
Julian whispered, "Please…"
But Elliot didn't rush.
Not tonight.
He built him up slowly — only to edge him, stop him, pull him back from the brink over and over.
"I want you to remember who you belong to," Elliot said.
Julian's voice broke. "I'm yours. I've always been yours."
Elliot rewarded him then — body to body, breath to breath — and when Julian came undone, blindfolded, gasping his name like prayer, it felt like faith.
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Later, Elliot lay behind him, arm wrapped around Julian's bare waist. He kissed the back of Julian's neck, tenderly this time.
Julian reached for Elliot's hand and laced their fingers together. "You ever think we've gone too far?"
Elliot didn't hesitate.
"No. I think we haven't gone far enough."
Julian smiled into the pillow.
They were no longer hiding.
Not from themselves.
Not from each other.
Not in the night.