Matthews Dunlop.

There was a sudden click, heard through my pleasure-muddled senses, and the next thing I knew, a bright, steady wave of light flooded over Elena and me, almost as if we were placed under the spotlight on a stage.

At once, we broke off the kiss, both breathing hard. I wanted to shield Elena from the light, so I took her off my lap and placed her beside me, adjusting a little so my frame blocked her from the beam of the light—torchlight.

"Who the fuck is that?" I squinted when after several moments the holder of the torch had said nothing.

"What the fuck you think you're doing out here when everyone else is back inside?"

I knew that voice all too well. Sarg.

He was the security man. Everyone referred to him as Sarg, because of his commanding attitude and dictating nature, but he was generally a nice guy. And his real name was Craig.

At his words, I felt the blood rush to my face, firing it up and spreading the heat to the other parts of my body, my skin most especially. Had he been watching us the whole time? The entire freaking time? Because I'd done a lot of freaky things with my hands within the space of the five minutes Elena and I had been making out.

"Nope, I haven't," he said, turning on the flashlight then.

The after-effects of the bright light in my eyes still present, I blinked severally. "You haven't what?"

"I haven't been watching you both the whole time," he said. "What kind of creepy do you think I am?"

"I never said you were," I swallowed.

"'Course you did," he shrugged. "You thought it, so technically you did."

How . . . how did he know that?

He began walking past us then, Elena and I. "No fondling in the school premises, kids." He said as he walked past us. "Take her home or something if you're not enjoying the prom anymore."

By the next minute, he was gone. I drew in a long breath and exhaled. Finally, I was able to breathe properly.

"What was that?" Elena said from beside me, laughter in her tone.

"I don't know what that was." I shook my head with a smile on my lips. "But here's what I know, I do not ever want to experience that. Ever again."

"Dude," Elena chuckled. "I felt like a deer caught in the very bright headlights of a car."

"At least now we know what they feel like," I breathed and Elena let out a laugh, the sound of its music to my ears.

With a smile, I said, "Do you wanna, um, maybe go home? I'm bored of the party anyway. Maybe I can drop you off and then leave for my place."

"Sure," Elena nodded. "I'd like to go home now."

"Alright." I stood up at once and held a hand out to her. "Come on."

She placed her small hand in mine and I pulled her up.

"The car's over at the parking lot," I began saying when all of a sudden, she let out a yelp.

"Ow," she groaned, holding a hand to her right ankle whilst using me as support

I frowned, holding onto her tightly so she didn't fall. "What's wrong?"

"I think I, uh, sprained my ankle a bit a while ago. Darned heels. I told you I wasn't into heels."

Only then did I notice the pair of heels beside her feet. They were the ones I'd gifted her a couple of days ago.

"Dang," I muttered. "Should I take you to the nurse's clinic? Yeah, I should."

"No," she objected, "it's not that serious. I hate clinics and hospitals, by the way, you know that."

"I just don't want anything happening to you," he told me, a look of concern filling his eyes.

"I'm fine, Matt," I gave him a reassuring look.

"Well, how are you going to walk now?" I asked, looking around.

"I don't know," she shrugged. "I guess I'll hop."

"You know what, forget I asked." Immediately, I reached down and stopped her off her feet, carrying her bridal style.

"Matthew!" She gasped. "No, we are not doing this."

"What other choice do we have?" I chuckled, already walking forward.

She didn't complain any further until we got to the car and I unlocked it and put her in.

A couple of minutes later, we were driving down the road, headed for her house.

"You better put some ice on that when you get back," I suggested as we got closer to her home.

Suddenly, I felt her hand wrap around mine on the steering wheel.

"Thank you, Matt," she said.

I glanced at her, having to focus on my driving. "For what?"

"For always making me happy," she murmured. "And once again, I'm sorry I didn't believe you."

"Elena," I began. "It's fine I promise."

"You sure?"

"Ten thousand percent sure." I nodded. "I'm over it."

Finally, we got to her house and pulled over in her driveway.

"Our stop." I gave a small smile.

Stepping out, I went over to her side of the car, opened the door, and gently lifted her out of the car.

We got to her door and I placed her on top of the rails so she sat there, then I tried the handle. The door was locked.

Sticking it in the mail slot was a small piece of paper. I took it out and flipped it over.

"What does it say?" Elena asked, looking at me.

"Uh, it's a note from Karen. She says everyone's out and the key is under–"

"Under the mat, of course," Elena completed. "That's where it always is."

I fished the key out from under the mat and jammed it into the keyhole. With a click, after he twisted, the door unlocked.

Again, I carried her in and up to her room so I changed out of her prom dress while waiting downstairs. After that, she came downstairs, wearing a small top and drawstring pants.

I was seated on the couch before the TV watching a rerun of vampire diaries when she arrived. She sat down beside me, crossing her legs. "So, what's showing? Are those vampires' diaries?"

"Yep." I popped the p. "All that's left now is popcorn."

"I don't know why a lot of people chose Damon over Stefan," she commented.

"I know right," I chuckled. "I mean, how can you when there's me."

She placed a hand on my lap, then, looking at me, "Don't worry, I have eyes only for you. Not even Stefan stands a chance."

If only she knew what her hand on my lap and her words were doing to me right now. But she knew, she did know, because she didn't take it off. Her hand remained on my lap, her gaze still on me before they lowered to my lips.

By the next couple of moments, we were kissing already.

Elena Sergio.

I felt my pulse quicken as Matthew's hand trailed down my ear to rest on my cheek. He kissed me again, soft lips molding with mine, breath tasting faintly of beer. His hand went to rest on my thigh, the warmth from it spiking up the jittery feeling in my heart and stomach.

Don't get me wrong. I loved Matthew. And I loved that he was a great kisser, but knowing what was likely to happen next between us, and knowing I might not be able to stop it, left me a mess of nerves.

When he lifted my face a bit higher, when I felt him angle his neck to the side and up to his ante on the tongue action, our lips pressed together, I let out a small sigh. His hand moved higher to rest on my waist before, suddenly, he pulled back from me, breaking the kiss. A dazed look in his half-lidded eyes, he lifted me at once and placed me on his lap.

Putting my arms around his neck, I leaned down and met his lips once more, my hair tumbling onto his face in locks, a new feeling stirring up within me. A feeling of desire. Want. I wanted Matthew. More than I ever thought I would.

Slowly, his hands moved down from my waist to cradle my butt, and at once, I felt a blush spread out across my entire body. I pulled back from him immediately.

His breathing coming out in short, raspy puffs, he stared at me. "Too fast?" Quickly, he lifted his hands off me.

"No, Matt." I shook my head, struggling to cover up just how shy I felt.

In my bid to seem as bold as possible, I reached down and pulled off the shirt I had on, only becoming aware of what I'd just done after I had.

Not only embarrassed but also feeling very self-conscious, my hands flew to cover my cleavage. Gripping my wrists, Matthew stopped them mid-air, his eyes steady on mine. Then he reached up and kissed me again, slowly this time, his hands still around my wrists, holding it steady.

Biting down on my lower lip gently, he let go of my wrists and took off his shirt, tossing it beside him onto the couch. Then he pulled off the white singlet he had underneath to expose his muscled chest, hard and taut, literally stealing the breath away from me for a brief moment. My first time seeing Matthew shirtless and I was at an utter loss for words.

Our lips met again, his hands went to rest on my waists, pulling me in so our bodies were touching, warmth from his going through my bare skin and sending tingles down my spine.

Slowly, without breaking the kiss, he reached up to the strap of my bra and, in seconds, I felt it loosen.

I let out an almost silent gasp, a sudden heat of awareness washing over me in waves as he made to slip the first strap down my shoulder, and I made no move whatsoever to stop him.

At that moment and without warning, the front door swung open, sending my heart to my throat, not failing to quickly douse the desire that had been coursing through me a second ago.

Swiftly, Matthew pulled back from me, held my arms, and got me off him, gently pushing me to the side. Snatching up his shirt, he held it over my chest and adjusted his position in a way that blocked me from the view of the intruder.

"What in the world . . ."

It was Karen.

Ah dang. I guess I should've told Karen about Matthew and me when I had the chance. I could only imagine the thoughts that were going through her mind right now.

Her eyes wide breathed. "So you guys are . . . best friends with benefits?"

"No!" Matthew and I exclaimed at once.

"No," I said, having already slipped on my top. "Not at all, Karen. It's not what you are thinking."

"Oh, it's a one-time thing then?" She looked with a frown from me to Matthew and then back to me. "Oh, wait a minute, he's your rebound after KJ!"

"I swear I'm not," Matthew said. I could tell he was holding back a laugh. Well, to some extent the situation although hella awkward with Karen me half naked with an equally half-naked Matthew, was also hilarious, all thanks to Karen and her wrong suggestions.

Matthew had already put on his shirt by the time I stood and walked over to Karen.

"I'll explain everything to you later." I placed a hand on hers and said. "It's not any of the things you said."

"Are you sure you'll tell me everything?" Karen looked skeptically at me.

"Yup." I nodded.

"Everything?" She stressed.

"Everything," I stressed back.

"Okay then," she shrugged and then began up the stairs. "See you later, Matthew."

"Sure." Matthew smiled in reply.

After she was gone, our eyes met, blue against the blue.

"I think I've had my fair share being walked in on," Matthew chuckled, letting out a breath. "This has been the most awkward day of my life, I tell you."

"We need to rent an air BnB or get a room or something," I remarked, smiling.

"Even then, someone would still walk in on us," Matthew said and at that, we both burst out laughing.