Tae guides me down another street to where a shiny black truck is parked beneath another flickering streetlight. He opens the door like a gentleman, not dropping my hand until I'm tucked inside. His actions are charming and unexpected. But I can't deny the edge of danger that hovers around him like a lingering shadow.

My eyes are drawn to his hand on the steering wheel. The muscles in his forearm flex with each turn of the wheel. Prominent veins run along his hands and wrists. Tae is the definition of masculine. The force, weight, and firmness of his body against mine when he pushed me to the ground and nearly suffocated me made that achingly obvious.

My mind wanders to the other reasons he could have for pinning me down. The weight of him on top of me, with no clothes between us. His large hands exploring me. My body tingles with the visions of him taking me on the ground, forcing pleasure from my body beneath the pitch-black sky. Someone as large as he is must be proportionate in other areas...

"Careful, Evie. Your thoughts aren't nearly as well guarded as you think." His mask turns toward me. "And I'm trying to be a gentleman."

"I wasn't—" The truck slams to an abrupt stop. Tae faces me, draping his arm over the back of my seat and putting the full size of his broad chest on display.

"Do you want me here? Or can you stall those devious thoughts long  enough to make it to the party?"

My mouth drops open. Shame sends flames flickering up my neck and into my cheeks. My words pour out in a stuttering mess. "That is... I can't believe... You just. Excuse me? We just met."

"So you weren't just imagining what it would be like to fuck me in the dirt?" I can practically hear the smile behind his words.

"How dare you? Please, don't be so fucking presumptuous." I twist away from him, folding my arms and praying my blush isn't as bright as it is hot. 

"Dare? That's not a bad idea." He turns back to the wheel and begins driving again. I'm suddenly wishing I had a mask of my own. It's completely unfair that he gets to hide his emotions while mine are on full display. I can't help but think he finds this whole thing amusing. It's not as if he threatened to take advantage of me. No, he called me out for wanting to take advantage of him. God this is so embarrassing. Why am I always drawn to dangerous bad boys? And how the hell did he know what I was thinking?

The trick-or-treaters and streetlamps fade behind us as we move into the dark wilds of the Old Mill woods. The trees here are ancient. Their knotted branches reach up to the sky, twisted wooden fingers seeking to lure the moonbeams closer to their darkened pathways.

Tae pulls off the road, parking in a small clearing. He turns the truck off. The headlights vanish and we're swallowed up by the night. The spicy scents of cinnamon and cloves waft off him like fall itself. He turns to face me and I swear I can see the glow of his amber eyes through the small slits in his mask.

It's so quiet here. I become aware of my own breathing. In the silence that surrounds us, even the sounds of air slipping from between my lips seem overly loud. Hess's breathing is quiet, steady. My eyes trek along his torso, landing on the fitted red shirt. His lungs expand, pressing every muscle to the surface of the thin fabric.

"Evie?" His voice has my gaze shifting to the slits in his mask. "Are you ready?"

I take a moment to survey my surroundings. There are no other cars. Not a single sign of any other people out here. My throat sticks as I swallow. No one in their right mind would wander out into the dark forest with someone they just met. But I hunger for adventure and the thrill of the unknown. Somehow, I know with great certainty that Tae will be the one to feed those needs.

"Lead the way," I whisper, afraid to offend the silent beauty surrounding us in this moment.

Tae helps me out of the car, taking my hand in his and guiding me through the densely packed trees. The heat of his touch sinks into me, warming me to my soul.

"Most girls would have chosen Buffy. Why'd you choose Drusilla?" He doesn't look back when he speaks, just keeps leading us deeper into the forest.

"You recognize my costume?" I scoff in surprise.

Tae laughs, and the sound is deep and sinful and utterly satisfying to the part of me that's taking great pleasure in his presence. "I may be a bit of a Buffy fan."

"That's unexpected." I giggle.

"So tell me, why'd you choose Drusilla? Most people idolize the slayer." He ducks beneath a low-hanging branch, pulling me under after him.

"I guess I've always had a thing for monsters."

Tae stops walking so abruptly that I run straight into his back. He turns, peering down at me from beneath his mask. "Is that so?"

Our bodies are close enough that I can feel his heated skin through the lacy fabric of my nightgown. He lifts a large hand, tucking my hair behind my ear with surprising gentleness. My breath hitches as his fingers slide down, grazing my jaw. Goosebumps rise across my flesh everywhere his warm skin touches mine. His thumb brushes along my bottom lip and my mouth parts in response. 

My gaze drops to the wide mouth of the wooden mask. Plush, firm lips are just out of reach, guarded by the sharply carved teeth of a Halloween costume I'm quickly tiring of.He leans close enough that the long wooden tongue nudges my chin.

"Are you afraid of me?"

"No," I breathe out, tilting my chin closer to the mask.

Tae wraps his other hand around my waist, dragging me flush against him. "Maybe there's a little monster in you after all."

My hands slide up his muscular chest, moving ever closer to the base of the mask. I grip the edge, slipping my fingers beneath. A shrill scream has me jumping away from Tae and peering around. A woman's laughter quickly follows.

"We're nearly there, come on." Tae reaches for my hand and moves more quickly through the trees. The golden-orange glow of a bonfire exposes the well-hidden location of the party. We break through the tree line and enter a clearing that's nestled between the water and the stone ruins of the mill. There are a dozen or so men and roughly half as many women.

Some lounge on fallen trees around the fire, while others sit on the wide, flat boulders that edge the creek. The atmosphere is cozy, thrumming with laughter and conversation. The girls are in costumes that range from  conservative, to spooky, to lingerie and animal ears. The men are all dressed casually, each with a unique wooden mask obscuring their features.

"Tae is back!" a stocky man with an orange mask that depicts six eyes and two walrus—like tusks—yells out, raising his cup. The others turn, cheering and making toasts.

"You're popular," I mutter, suddenly uncomfortable with all eyes on us. Tae's hand stays firmly wrapped around mine.

He chuckles. "I kept them waiting long enough."

Two men who are similar in size and stature to Tae rise and make their way toward us from the other side of the bonfire. One is wearing a deep-green shirt with an even greener mask. The other is wearing black from head to toe. As they move closer, an unexpected sensation flutters within me. My eyes devour the way they walk. Like predators. Their spines are straight and proud. There's something about the way they move. It's as sensual and dangerous as Tae.

"You made it. We were worried," the first man says, his green mask tilting down toward me.

"Evie, this is Jungkook." The green-masked man reaches his hand out to shake mine. I take it, feeling a blush ruddy my cheeks yet again. His arms are as thick and veiny as Tae's. I'm instantly dying to see beneath his mask.

"Nice to meet you," I respond politely.

"It's such a pleasure to meet you, Evie." There's a playful note to his voice. Luda draws my hand beneath his mask. The feel of cool lips on the inside of my wrist makes me shiver.

"And this is Jimin." Tae nods to the figure in the black mask. He reaches for my hand and I yelp as electricity sparks between us. He abruptly jerks his hand back, flexing it by his side.

"Woah, shocked me." I laugh, rubbing the inside of my palm with my thumb.

"Apologies, Evie." Jimin. takes a step back, his voice tight. Jungkook claps a hand across his shoulder. "Just a little static. Nothing to worry about, mate."

As I study them a moment longer, I recognize that their masks are almost identical to the one Tae is wearing. The only differences are in the colors and the size and shape of the horns.

"Can we get you a drink?" Jungkook offers.

 "That'd be great. Thanks."

Jungkook heads to a nearby table and I see the faintest hints of white-blond hair beneath the strap of his mask.

"Let's get you warmed up." Tae wraps an arm around my shoulders, leading me to an empty space on a nearby log. I glance back to find Jimin. still standing where we left him.

"Is he alright?" I nod his way. Tae sighs, turning to his friend. "Jimin. is... Well, I'll go check on him." He strolls casually away and my eyes drop to the impressive swell of his ass. Damn he's a hell of a specimen. A quick fluttering to the right of my face has me swatting the air.

 A quick fluttering to the right of my face has me swatting the air."Calm down, honey. It's just a butterfly."

 A tall, beautiful girl in a short, blue wig and a shimmering silver bodysuit stumbles my way. The front of her costume is unzipped far enough to show off a generous amount of cleavage.

 "Shoo." She flaps a hand at it.

"Technically, it's a moth." Another girl approaches. She has glossy, red hair that covers half her face, giving her a sultry Jessica Rabbit look. One dramatic smoky eye with golden false lashes and a brilliant blue iris sparkles down at me. Her outfit is what I can only assume is meant to be a Cupid costume. It consists of large, fluffy wings, a pink, feather-lined teddy, and a gold bow and arrow with hearts painted all over it. "A Death's-head moth, to be exact."

The large black and gold moth settles on my shoulder. Six fuzzy legs climb up my sleeve and two long feelers stretch out in front of it. It's beautiful in a dark, mesmerizing sort of way. With deeply colored wings and a small skull-like marking on the back of its head.

"They're all over this place." The blue-haired girl shudders dramatically. "I'm Georgia."

"Evie." I shake her hand, careful not to disturb the moth.

"You are just beautiful, Evie." Georgia has one of those endearing Southern twangs. She certainly isn't from around here.

"So are you." I smile back at her.

"Welcome to the party. It's moth central but the drinks are fabulous and the men..." Her eyes roam across the fire, landing on a shirtless man with his back to us. "Honey, let's just say there must be something in the water with this bunch."

"What was your name?" I turn to Cupid.

"Cami." She shakes my hand, revealing perfectly manicured, pink tipped nails. "Who'd you come here with?"

"Tae." I search behind me, finding Hess still speaking to Reiner.

"There. Red shirt."

"Damn girl, he is built." She fans herself theatrically.

"Are you two dating?" Georgia asks, taking a seat on the log beside me.

A rush of embarrassment fills me. "No. Uh, we just met. Some idiot actually tried to run me over. Hess knocked me out of the way. So when he invited me to the party, I couldn't exactly say no."

"That is so cute. He saved you. Kodi saved me too but not quite so literally. I climbed my ass to the top of the Ferris wheel during a dark moment of alcohol-induced insanity. He talked me out of jumping, carried me all the way down, and then brought me here! He's a real sweetheart."

The apples of Georgia's cheeks round as she grins. Georgia's story makes me think of another girl from several years back. She jumped to her death from the top of the Ferris wheel in some little town down south. It made national news. I wouldn't think suicide by Ferris wheel was a common choice, but I guess it happens more often than I thought.

Cami sits on Georgia's right, locking her arm with other woman. "Well I'm glad he talked you down and I'm glad Ethan took care of my psycho, stalking ex. We both ended up here and now we're instant besties. Plus, our dates are besties. It's perfect."

"Psycho, stalking ex? That sounds rather dramatic," I add with a smirk.

Cami sighs. "It was. He'd been following me around for months. I blocked his number and got a restraining order, but that psychopath still had the balls to confront me at the bar tonight and put a fucking gun to my face."

"Jesus," I mutter. My ex may have been a dick, but I'm pretty sure he would never pull a stunt like that.

"Ethan took him out before he could pull the trigger. With any luck, he's in a hospital somewhere with amnesia. It's going to be a mess to go to court if not, and I soo don't want to deal with that," Cami whines, sticking her bottom lip out.

"We are not worrying about that tonight. Kodi, Cami is moping! We need more drinks!" Georgia calls out.

"Did someone say drinks?" Jungkook drops down in a crouch before us, passing around three Solo cups. "Shots for you, you—"

"Yes, you're an angel. Cheers! To losing our minds for one night and following a bunch of hunky strangers into the woods on Halloween."

Georgia grins, taking a drink and shoving one in Cami's hand. I assumed the others were at least dating. Did we all meet our masked men tonight?

My fingers brush Jungkook's as he passes me a cup. The touch of his skin is cool, smooth. I down the contents, grimacing as the heavy burn of some sort of strong rich liquor races down my throat.

"Jesus, was that a triple?" Cami coughs, dropping her empty cup to the ground. The alcohol rushes through my body, filling me with warmth and a sudden airiness. I probably should have eaten something before diving straight into shots.

"What happened to Tae and Jimin.?" I ask Jungkook. The two have not returned to the party and are no longer standing in the spot I last saw them.

"Not sure. I guess we better go find them."

I squeal in surprise as Jungkook scoops his massive arms beneath me, lifting me off the ground and hauling me to his chest.

"Oh my gosh." I giggle, feeling slightly embarrassed. Jungkook moves across the clearing with purposeful strides, his strong arms bearing my weight like it's nothing. I lean into his hold, thoroughly enjoying the feel of his muscles pressed against me. I peer up at his mask, my curiosity as to what his face looks like growing by the second. There's a salty scent to him, like an ocean breeze with a touch of something fresh and plant- like. He tilts his head down, and I can make out the slight glow of green beneath the slits of his mask. The fingers beneath my knees stroke softly, making me shiver.

"What did we miss?" Tae's Husky voice comes from my right. I turn my head and find him and Jimin. moving out of a shadowy thicket of woods.