Watching him now has the butterflies erupting again. When we were younger, I always got them whenever he was near, and they only increased as we got older. There was just something about him and the pull between the two of us was unlike anything I’ve ever felt.

And one night we just couldn’t stop that pull any longer.

I’ll never forget it. It was Halloween weekend, and Britt and Bobby were having a costume party at their house. Everyone was there. Even Francesca had come home from her job in the city for a long weekend. She, Britt and I dressed as the three blind mice, but we made it sexy. We each had black fishnet stockings and a black bodysuit on, with black heels. We painted our faces like mice, adding pink makeup on our noses and whiskers drawn on our cheeks. Black sunglasses and a cane completed the look.

I don’t know how Billy convinced him, but he and Tommy came dressed as the Lion and the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz. You know who the Scarecrow was without me even telling you. There’s no way Tommy would have been seen as anything less than powerful. But his Lion costume was not a silly shirt with paws like gloves and a big mane. No. He arrived shirtless and had painted his chest as if he was a lion. He had his aviators on and even glued on pointy eye teeth. Bill teased him about being a Vampire Lion.

I thought he was fucking hot. Even with the paint, I could see his broad chest spattered with dark hair and the happy trail that had me staring a little too long.

And he noticed.

All night he kept watching me. No matter where I was in the room, he had his eyes on me. Like I was prey.

I loved it.

I was so on edge by the night’s end I swear just crossing my legs would have earned me the orgasm I was staving off. I leaned against the outside bar, finishing my tequila and cranberry, when I heard someone come up behind me. It was dark and I couldn’t see who it was. But I knew. My body lit up with anticipation the minute he whispered in my ear, “I’ll give you four seconds.”

I gasped at the rough tone of his voice. “For what?”

“To run, little mouse.”

“Run?”

“Three.”

“Tommy.”

“Two.”

I let out a scream and ran. I knew no one was paying attention to me. Screaming had gone on all night. The DJ was still playing loud music and most of our friends were too drunk to care about what was going on.

But I heard him say, “One. Here I come.” He was close behind me. He could have caught me easily. But he didn’t. He wanted me to be uneasy. He was getting turned on by my angst at being chased. And honestly? I wanted to be chased.

And caught.

I ran to the side of the house, where it was completely dark. The only light that made anything semi visible was from the halfmoon shining. I flattened myself against the side of the house, wedged between the fence that lets into the front yard and a small bush on the other side of me. I tried to calm my breathing.

And then I waited.

“Little mouse, I know you’re here.”

My heart was pounding so hard I thought that’s how he found me. The moonlight bounced off his aviators and it made me want to scream out, “I’m here! Take me!”

I wanted him to find me, though. Anxiously I waited, holding my breath, feeling more alive than ever before. He moved so fast I had no time to even make a noise. His body was pressed firmly against mine, trapping me against the house. Feeling all his hardness against my softness was everything in that moment to me and all I could think about was getting more.

“Caught you,” he whispered in my ear, and his grip tightened on my hip. I wasn’t afraid. I was turned on. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. His pulsing fingers made my lips drop open, and he took my mouth with his. His tongue swept inside, and then he nipped at my lip. He chuckled at my squeal, then we both moaned when he slid his hand down the front of my body and cupped my pussy.

“Fuck, Farrah. You’re on fire.”

Our mouths crashed together again, and I gripped his forearm as I shamelessly rubbed myself on his hand. I needed the release I had been holding onto all night. As if he sensed just how close I was, he pulled back, extending his arm completely, putting distance between us while we both panted heavily.

“I don’t know hownotto keep my hands off you.” His breath came out quickly.

“Then don’t.”

His hold loosened and that famous Casanova smirk took over. He stepped in close to me once again.

“Are you sure, little mouse? I am a lion, you know. I’m much bigger than you.”