I was so excited for tonight. I had been sitting for the Cumberbatch’s kids the last few years. They had gotten to know me pretty well, and when Ben heard I had no plans for Halloween, he instantly invited me to his place for a small party of friends. I had no idea what a small party of friends might be, and though I tried to politely decline, he was insistent that I come enjoy a little Spooky cheer. I reluctantly agreed. It was only after saying Yes, he asked if I had a costume to wear. Costume? He waved off my question with a grin and said he’d send a few options over to my flat.
That was a few hours ago. Now, I found myself dressed as Black Widow in a gathering of 40 or 50 people, mostly couples. The music was blaring, people were talking, laughing, and drinking. Ben had told me when I arrived the kids were off with his mum for the night, then he handed me a small mask to wear over my eyes, and gave me a wink. He said to relax, drink some wine, have fun, and mingle. Problem is, I didn’t know anyone here and even if I did, how would I recognize them behind their costumes and masks?
I accepted a drink from a bartender dressed as Daredevil. It was a fruity concoction that tasted of Caribbean rum and spices. After a few sips, I made my way to the fringes of the dance floor and tried to not be noticed or get in the way while swaying to the music. Before I knew it, my drink was empty and the music had taken over my feet.
Another drink was pressed into my hand by someone in a Loki costume as the next song came on. Enough of his face was showing I didn’t think it was the actual Loki, Tom Hiddleston. He began to match dance moves with me and pretty soon we had a small group on onlookers. By the time the music changed again, I was laughing and smiling with my partner. The next set was slower and he took me by the waist, twirling me around into his arms. We didn’t say anything, quietly letting the music guide us. I laid my head on his shoulder and enjoyed the moment.
He maneuvered us to stop near the rear doors where a light breeze could be felt. He gestured to outside and I nodded, welcoming the coolness on my heated skin. The garden decorated in fairy lights, all glittering against the darkness. The music filtered through the open doors, helping to set a fantasy landscape in Ben’s backyard. I spied one of the children’s balls on the lawn and smiled at it, thinking instantly of Neverland. Perhaps that was it, I was transported to a faraway land where any fantasy was possible, and I was a Disney princess hidden beneath a Black Widow outfit.
“What are you thinking?” the mystery man asked me.
“That you should pinch me. I must be dreaming. I never imagined having this much fun when Ben invited me.”
I hear him chuckling at that. “Don’t party often?” His voice lightly teasing. I try to see if I could figure out who he was by the sound of his voice.
“Tend to be a working gal, and focus on that. But this is truly a beautiful night.”
“Ah, surely you attend wrap parties to network?”
“Network?” I shake my head. “I’m not an actress. Mostly I take temp jobs and fill in for people who call out or are on holiday. I met Ben when he advertised for a nanny. I truly am just a working gal, nothing exciting or special.”
The mystery man gives me a wry smile and cups my cheek. His hand is warm against my cooling skin and I find myself leaning into his touch. “Don’t sell yourself short. I find you very exciting and special.”
It was not easy to believe, but maybe for the moment I could give into it. What would that really hurt.
“Perhaps it’s forward of me, I would like to kiss you. Will you allow me to?” His voice is low, husky. My eyes move to his lips and, damnit, my tongue slips out to moisten my own. I hope he doesn’t see my nervousness. I look back up to his eyes. The intensity there makes my breath stutter. My lips part and he closes the small distance between us. I start to nod but our lips have already met. One second, two, and he pulls back enough to search my gaze, to reassure himself that I want this too. Then he’s kissing me again, his too warm hand still cupping my cheek, his other coming up to caress the other as the kiss deepens. My eyes close and I’m wrapped in the feeling of him. His tongue brushes my bottom lip, without breaking the kiss he’s again asking permission to take it farther. My mouth opens to him and his tongue sweeps inside to dance with my own.
The music fades to a distant hum, my skin heats again, and I’m drowning in a kiss from a stranger dressed as Loki. I ought to pull away, go back inside, and try to forget how perfect I feel in this moment, how his breath is my breath. I’m clinging to him, pressed hard against his body. He brings the kiss to an end, pecks me quick on the lips, brushes his nose against mine for a moment, then presses our foreheads together. Our breathing is rapid, uneven. His hands drop to fully embrace me. I turn my head to lay against his chest. I don’t know how long we stand there like that. My body shivers, breaking our silent communion. ”You’re cold.” Not a question. “I should get you back inside.” I shake my head, glancing at Ben’s back door. “Is there somewhere else we could go? Somewhere quieter?” I ask.
“Hmm, I’ve been staying at my friend’s. It’s only a few blocks away. Are you sure you want to, I mean, we’d be alone there.”
“What are you asking me? If I would feel safe being alone with you? I feel… it may sound nutters but right now I feel like I belong in your arms, kissing you. I can’t explain it, but yes, I am sure I would like to go somewhere quieter with you.”
My answer seems to satisfy him and I find myself dashing through Ben’s yard to a side gate. We slip through the gate, and hurry down an alley to a side street. We link hands as we run down the road, smiling and laughing as we go. We pause and kiss again waiting for a signal. He grins down at me and I smile up at him, then we’re sprinting across the road, down another side path and stop at another garden gate. Another heated kiss and he’s swinging the gate wide for us to enter.
“After you, milady.” He gives a slight bow and gestures for me to enter. I slip inside the gate and find myself in an unkempt garden. It’s not horribly overgrown, but it could do with a pair of snips applied generously here and there. Then I recognize it. I gasp, turning slowly to look at the Loki. I shake my head. “You’re staying with Tom Hiddleston?” He grins at me, “guilty. You don’t think less of me for that, do you?”
“Less of you?” I grasp for words. “I… I… I don’t think I should be here. It’s been….” My rising panic is halted by another kiss from my mystery man. When he breaks it this time, he’s grinning, “Breathe. Just breathe. We left Tom at the Party.”
“We did?”
“Mmmhmm. He was dressed as Dare Devil.”
“The bartender was The Tom Hiddleston?” I ask incredulously.
“You have a thing for Tom?” He almost sounds jealous. “Or for Loki? Perhaps you are a naughty Widow and want both?”
I blush instantly. How could this man know of my secret fantasies about Tom and Loki together? With Me! I clear my throat and try to talk around my embarrassment but nothing comes out.
“Oh! You do! I’m sorry to disappoint you, I am neither the exalted Tom nor godly Loki. I am but a mortal man who became enamored of you the moment you entered the room. Can you see your way clear to giving this poor soul a chance to win your heart?”
I forget my self-consciousness as he delivers his plea. He sounds genuine, but surely he must also be an actor. I shake my head to clear my wayward thoughts. Tentatively I state, “I have had ahem certain fantasies, but never ever sought for them to come true. He’s a wonderful actor and has embodied the character of Loki quite believably. I’ve also dreamed of getting to meet him in person. None of that means I have any romantic designs on him.”
“There are actually a fair number of celebrities that I find attractive and have probably had more than one dream about each of them at one point or another.”
“But, I’m not the sort to throw myself at any of them. I’m just a working girl and can only look from afar and admire their talent.” I suddenly realize I’m speaking to ‘one of them’ and trail off. I sink my head into my hands, covering my face.
“Hey now, none of that,” he gently pulls my hands away and tilts my face up to look at him. “That was pure, raw honesty. Not something we get much of in the acting industry. Thank you for trusting me with your thoughts. Come inside with me. We can sit down, drink a cup of hot tea, and just talk. Plus, it’s far warmer in there than out here.”
I give him a smile and nod, feeling quite silly for letting my nerves get the better of me. He lets me into the house and shows me to the kitchen. After putting the kettle on, he grabs two mugs and pushes a tea tin towards me. “Pick your poison.” I quickly flip through the selections and choose one, setting it in the cup nearest to me. When I look back up, he’s removed the Loki helm and his mask from the party. My eyes widen, making him grin. “Ah, I sense I am recognized.”
I chuckle, “Perhaps you are.”
“Think less of me now?”
“no,” it’s barely a whisper
“no? What are your thoughts then?”
“Conflicted,” I give a slight laugh. “What would you think of me if I wanted to kiss you again, now that I know who you are? Would you think I only wanted to do so because of your celebrity?”
He brushes his thumb across my cheek, “You were kissing me before you knew, and came here with me without knowing. What did you think might happen here when you agreed?”
I close my eyes, resting my cheek against his palm. “I wasn’t sure. I didn’t really think. More kissing probably. More, maybe.”
“You knew I was probably an actor when you danced with me.”
I open my eyes and turn my head to place a kiss on his palm. He groans and pulls me to him, “If you don’t want this, tell me to stop.”
“I want this. I want you. I don’t care what your name is or the characters you’ve played. Knowing who you are now changes nothing of what I felt before. I worry that you will think I only want this because of your name, but…” He again cuts me off with a kiss.
“Then for this Hallowed Night, we are but a working couple, enjoying one another’s company. Tell me your name so I am not alone in being known?” I give a slight chuckle at the realization he doesn’t know my name, but of course he doesn’t. Ben wouldn’t have told anyone’s identity.
