Matt’s POV

Fine, maybe I had to agree with Brian… A little…
A party was indeed not the worst place to try and get closer to a woman. And right now it was working out quite well.

We both drank in silence and when I thought the time was right I took the bottle from her hand and placed it on the counter “So you drank, you ate, and I showed you the song… which only leaves one point left” I said and grabbed her hand, I pulled the slide door open and loud music wavered towards us.

“The dance” I yelled in her ear, while we crossed the distance from the terrace into the garden, my lips were almost brushing her ear. I could smell her sweet perfume and damn I was lost in her yet again. I couldn’t wait to feel her body flush pressed to mine.

I could see how Ella wanted to refuse me, she was still a little shy, but we were working our way through the crowd and I swirled her around and then pulled her into my arms.
She laughed and her eyes were wide, probably didn’t think this was gonna to happen.

The music slowed and I lifted my head up from looking at Ella, I saw Brian standing at the music player. He had changed the song into a slower one. I saw how Ella looked around, we were now surrounded by other people dancing and they all hugged closer, fitting to the beat of the song. I took a step toward her to show her I wouldn’t let her get away this easily. I wanted to feel her closer…

When her eyes still searched around, I tried to soothe her and shrugged my shoulders, to say I didn’t care which song was playing as long as she would dance with me. She took another step back, but before she could leave I got a hold of her arm and pulled her back to me.

Her eyes met mine and I smiled, Ella seemed to be conflicted because after taking a closer step to me, she suddenly swirled around and left me standing alone.
I looked dumbfounded after her, and how she raced away from me.

I opened my mouth to call after her, but knew she wouldn’t be able to hear me over the music anyway. I didn’t know how to react, had I said something wrong, did something wrong?!

I couldn’t even see her anymore over the crowd of people surrounding me and sighed. Shit, this was my best chance and somehow I had fucked up.
Had I pushed too much? Or was she not sure what I really wanted?! Should I let her go or should I go after her and find her.

“Lost your woman?” A voice beside me called and I looked over to find Johnny dancing. I inhaled deeply and shook my head, walking from the garden looking around for any sign of Ella. Maybe I should apologize, maybe she really didn’t get what I wanted, or got offended?!

I didn’t fucking knew, and I normally wasn’t this clueless, especially over a woman. What was she doing to me?!

I walked around the garden and saw how a lot of people started to leave through the gate towards the beach.

Maybe this was my chance to find Ella and bring her back, which woman would let the opportunity slip of a nice beach settlement?!

And wasn’t I wishing even more that she wouldn’t let that slip. I could imagine a fire in the middle, her sitting between my legs, her leaning on to me, my arms around her, while I slowly started to brush her hair to one side and kiss my way up from her shoulder to her throat.

Us staring at the waves, all the commotion around us didn’t matter, only what matters were us. I sighed, and shook my head, losing myself in daydreams wasn’t what I needed now.

I walked around the party trying to find Ella. I took another drink and swallowed it, the more I walked around, the less the chance was to find her again.
When I reached the front door Brian came in just when I wanted to open the door to get out, he looked at me surprised and then sighed.

“Where were you going?” I asked and he looked behind him than back to me “I ordered a cab” He said but wouldn’t meet my eyes.

I frowned “You leaving? Have you seen Ella around, I can’t seem to find her after she left me standing during the dancing” I asked and he closed his eyes shortly and had this look on his face that meant whatever was coming now I wouldn’t like to hear it.

“She left, leave it at that” With that he wanted to push past me and I stopped him, putting my arm against the door frame.
“What do you mean?” I asked and he looked at me “I just sat her in a cab. She needs to work tomorrow, it’s late” I blinked, what?! He did what?!

I didn’t know if I should be happy or mad at him, because knowing Syn Gates aka Brian Haner jr. I was surprised if he also had set his eyes on Ella, he would normally be sitting in the cab to accompany her home… and more.

But he was standing here in front of me, still telling me he sent her on her way, without even saying a word to me, without letting me talk to her… find out what went wrong. Fuck!

“Did she say something?” I asked letting my shoulders fall down, defeated.
“Just that she needed to leave, it’s almost one, she has to work tomorrow” He shrugged and I looked at my watch, shit… it was really that late, and I hadn’t even noticed.

I should have been the one to bring her to the car, bring her home… I should have had an eye on that. I needed to see her tomorrow and apologize.

“Matt, you know… Maybe you got stuck on something, that you shouldn’t-” Brian started laying his arm around my shoulder when Dan came walking in.
“Hey, we head over to the beach, you guys coming?” Dan interrupted and then frowned seeing us.

“What’s the matter, why the long face” He continued and Brian shoved me forward.
“There are lots of women Sanders, don’t get just stuck on one” He added and I rolled my eyes, problem was… I guess I was already stuck.

Brian and Dan went after the others while I stayed behind for a moment longer. I took a bottle of whiskey, and grabbed a cup, filled it to the half and nursed the drink alone on my terrace, watching how the others had fun.

Shit, had I really gotten myself into something, that would lead nowhere?!
What had I been thinking, maybe I wasn’t even her type… but then in the studio, that moment… I saw there was something… and the first dance we shared, I could definitely feel something coming from her side…

Maybe I had to convince her that I was worth the shot. Maybe I had to go more into the offensive and just show her what I wanted, take what I wanted!

I drank some more and let the alcohol burn down my throat, the more I drank the surer I got, I had to show her what it exactly was that I wanted – her!

Ella’s POV

I knew from the beginning it had been a dumb idea… a really really dumb idea. And still I went with him, and still I stayed…

After the little moment in the studio, I knew I should have left, and at the latest was the moment during dancing, I should have never stayed that long.

I had no idea what was coming over me when he was near, but it was not right. I shouldn’t feel anything when Matt was close.
He was a friend but when he stood so close to me, I really imagined how it would feel if he kissed me, held me…

And then during the dancing, his hands on my body, I had imagined how it would feel when he would pull me even closer, when I could lean my head against his chest.
Breathe in his fresh clean smell, feel his muscles beneath the shirt, his strong arms around me, with the colorful tattoos.

I shook my head on my way home, staring out the windshield of the cab. I looked down on my phone, saw no missed calls from Jake, not even a message.

Hey,
How have you been? Didn’t hear from you since this morning!
That busy, huh?!
Good night,
Love you E

I forgot that he must be asleep already, I was gone way too long and he would probably wonder why I was still up this late.

When I arrived home I tried to shut my raging thoughts off. I showered and headed straight for my bed, I didn’t even bother to put an alarm in, I would just go to work after waking up and stay long. I didn’t want to see or meet anyone anyway, so what better way to work was late and alone.

After a restless sleep, I took my time in getting ready. I checked my phone, found a message from Jake, my heart leaped and at the same time guilt was spreading through me.
I hadn’t really done anything wrong, but still I imagined what could be, and I shouldn’t. Not when I had Jake, not when I loved Jake.

What was wrong with me?!

Sorry babe,
Busy days! You were up late, is everything okay?
Will call you later,
Jake

I sighed and pushed the phone away, I didn’t want to worry him. It was nothing really, right?!
I mean… I wouldn’t say it was… I closed my eyes again and thought about the night before.

I behaved like a complete ass running away from Matt like that, I had run… and I mean it, run into Brian.

“Hey hey, beautiful lady, where are you headed so fast?” He had winked at me and then pushed me behind him.
“Should I hide you from a threat?” He asked smirking and looking around and I sighed.
“I just… noticed it’s late.. I need to work tomorrow. I need to walk home” I told him and moved away, but he held my wrist stopping me.

“Walk? Why, what’s the matter?” He looked around as if searching for someone, and since I tried to get away from Matt, I hoped he wasn’t coming for me.
I didn’t even know why, but when Matt had pulled me close, I really wanted that. I wanted to feel him and that scared the shit out of me.

I was in a relationship; I was in love… why would I want to be held by another man?! And that was the moment I took off, let him stand there staring after me, like a fool.

Brian’s brown eyes met mine, the teasing gone and seriousness in them “What’s the matter for real?” He asked and I sighed.

“I need to go…” I pulled at my arm and he let go, but he followed me every step I took. He pulled his phone out and fell a few steps behind me. When I grabbed my jacket by the door, he was with me again.

“I won’t let you go, Ella” He said stopping me yet again and I frowned.
“I have to work tomorrow, I don’t wanna ruin anyone’s party. I mean I wasn’t invited in the first place, and I really need to go now… I shouldn’t have been here” I told him and Brian sighed “Did something happen with Matt?” He asked suddenly and I stared at him, how did he know?! I mean, no nothing happened, but why would he ask?

“Of course not!” I quickly replied “Like I said, I still have some walk ahead of me, I need to go now” But Brian didn’t really seem convinced.
“I won’t let you ‘GO’ home, Ella. It’s dark outside and in the middle of the night. I ordered you a cab. Let’s wait outside, he must be here any minute” Brian opened the door to let me walk ahead.

“You really don’t have to-” He shook his head and interrupted me “Sure, I do. Don’t be ridiculous” He walked with me to the street and only 5 minutes later a cab arrived and I said my final goodbye and thanked him for staying with me.

It was after four in afternoon when I arrived at work, I sneaked my way in and put myself right into work without a second thought. I wanted to busy my brain with work and not think about anything else, well that was the plan...

After yesterday I had no idea what I should think or do, on one side I felt like I should apologize to Matt and Brian, on the other side I felt like I should keep the biggest distance between us that I could possibly make.

I didn’t even notice how fast the time was passing, until Eric stuck his head in the room, “Ella? You still here?” He frowned and I looked up from my document, ending the sentence before saving it.

“I-I … yes, I came late… wanted to concentrate on work only. Is something wrong?” I asked because, he was already wearing his jacket.
“Well, not really… but it’s close to closing hour and I wanted to send the last customer out in a bit, I have a date… you know” Eric took a few steps back and I followed him out, seeing that just two customers were around, but the clock above said it was almost nine in the evening.

Wow, that passing time had really worked out “Ella?” A voice from the entrance sounded and I cringed inwardly.
Shit, I still hadn’t decided between distance and apology but I couldn’t make a decision now, because Matt had taken that chance from me with showing up here.

I looked to the side and saw Matt at the entrance, he wasn’t dressed for work-out and he didn’t have a bag with him which made me frown, or well not really, he was probably here to know what had come over me at his party… and I.. I couldn’t really explain.

“What did you want to say?” I looked at Eric and he frowned a little but then motioned to me “I wanted to know if you wanted to work any longer, or if I should close up. I mean, I told these guys already I’m about to close… I have this date, but I can inform her I’m coming late…” I shook my head “No no, of course… You go and I’ll close after they left. See they already pack up, just leave.. I have a key, I can do that, no worry.” Eric looked at me skeptical then at his phone, probably debating.

“Fuck, I can’t let you close up all alone… its dark and… fuck…” Eric seemed really conflicted and when I was about to say I was capable of doing it and he should just go, Matt suddenly stood beside us “I’ll make sure she is safe. We are friends” He added when Eric looked at him frowning.

Then he looked at me and I didn’t know what to really do so I nodded in the end, Eric kissed my cheek and was so fast out the door that I could only look after him.

“I’ll be right back” I told Matt who just stood silent beside me.
I quickly went to my office grabbed my keys and saw how the two guys that had been working out left with a nod towards me.

I closed the front door behind them and let the shutters down. I doubled checked and started to put the lights out just how Jake showed me before.

Matt stayed behind me the entire time, watching me. “You didn’t have to do that and stay. I’m very capable of doing this on my own.” I said while I walked back to the office door to shut down the computer and grab my bag.

“I know that, and didn’t question it. But I didn’t want you going out the back all alone, it’s dark outside and you never know who is lurking in the corners.” Matt replied softly and I breathed deeply in and out, okay fine, I had to admit that I felt safer with Matt with me, but still…

We headed towards the back door and I let Matt step out first. I closed the door behind me, double checking again and took a step forward, it was really dark in the alley and only the street light gave a little light to find the way to the main street.

Matt walked so close, that his arm brushed against mine, the heat from him soothing the cold I felt. Fine, I was happy he was here and didn’t leave me, but I wouldn’t admit that. And I still haven’t figured out what to say, but I had to say something.

“Matt, about yesterday-” I started and Matt stopped walking. We stood at the sidewalk under a streetlight. I looked up to him, to see if I got his attention.
“You probably came to talk to me about that, and I am really sorry-” I started again my eyes moving up to meet his.

He stared at me, his eyes moving from my eyes down and then back up and before I could say another word, his lips were suddenly pressed to mine. His hands sneaked around me, one to the back of my head, holding me in place and one around my waist to steady me. I gasped in surprise and he took the chance to let his tongue slip in my mouth.

I was too surprised to react, it felt too good not to realize but it was also wrong. How could it be wrong, when it felt so good!? His hand moved from the back of my head to my cheek, his thump stroking my cheek, when he intensified the kiss my mind suddenly registered what I was doing here and I pulled abruptly away from him.

Notes

Uh Oh!
Lots have happened!

So what did u think about this one?!
How will it go on?!
Comments!

No decision to make this time, but hopefully a new chapter soon :)
I'll work on it!