His breathing synced with hers, content to sit like that. Elena leaned back, bringing him back out of the moment. He studied her, knowing she could handle anything, but also knowing if he told her the whole story, they'd still be here the next day.

"At the risk of breaking the rules," he said, tilting his head forward. "Or, did Stefan not point out the abundance of warnings and subtle threats?" Cameras? He told her about the cameras, he hoped. Not that he hadn't broken these rules time and again. Oh, he had. But, this was different. He didn't want to be caught breaking rules and have this be the time that counted. He wouldn't be taken away from Elena.