“God, I love Halloween season,” my husband, James, said as we watched a group of college girls skipping down the street eager to get to whatever party they were heading to. One girl appeared to be Wonder Woman. Or perhaps more accurately what Wonder Woman would have looked like in a cheesy 80s porno. She wore a red bandana across her chest. Her large chest straining against the thin material and I couldn’t help but wonder how long it would be before that sprung free. The crisp autumn air carried the scent of pumpkin spice and excitement as the bandana fluttered in the breeze, barely clinging to its precarious position. Her friend, a bubbly blonde with smaller boobs, was dressed as Catwoman. Her black spandex suit leaving very little to the imagination. The suit gleamed under the streetlights, accentuating every curve as the sound of her high heels clicked rhythmically on the pavement. The girls’ laughter echoed through the night, mixing with the distant thumping of bass from nearby parties.

I gave a soft chuckle as I sipped my margarita, the jagged texture of the salt on the rim coating my lip as I swiped it off with the flick of my tongue. This had become a yearly tradition of sorts for us since we got married nearly a decade ago. The week leading up to Halloween we would sit on the porch and people watch as neighbors made their way to various parties. James, for obvious reasons, seemed to enjoy it more than me, but I couldn’t deny the wicked thrill I would get remembering my college days.

“There should be a law that men have to wear just as revealing of a costume as women,” I said, placing my hand on his. He gave it a quick squeeze, his callouses pressing into my palm.

James turned to me, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement beneath his unruly mane of brown hair. The streetlight caught the hints of grey in his beard, giving him a distinguished lumberjack demeanor. At 38, he wore his age well, the creases around his eyes deepening as he smiled.

“I think you just want to see Daniel wearing something like that, Erica?” he teased, tilting his head toward a dark haired girl in a short toga. His fingers danced around the intricate Halloween-themed tattoos that adorned my right arm- it’s my favorite holiday. His touch sent a shiver through me, despite the unusual warmth of the evening.

I tossed my hair over my shoulder, the red curls resting on my back as my green eyes narrowing playfully. At 34, I still felt the rebellious energy of my punk days coursing through me. “Oh, now there’s an image I’d like to see,” I mused, my gaze sweeping over him appreciatively.

Daniel was the husband of my good friend Cori. The two of them had been married almost as long as us. While all of us have dabbled in “the life style”, we’ve never actually been intimate with each other. Don’t shit where you eat and all that. But still, I could see why Cori married him. Daniel was a former special forces sergeant, which judging by his arms, I assume meant he spent every possible second in the gym. The image of Daniel in such a costume flashed through my mind. His 6’2” frame would tower over most, his broad shoulders and chiseled jawline demanding attention. The intricate tribal tattoo that snaked from his right shoulder down to his elbow would be on full display, its black ink a stark contrast to his sun-kissed skin. I imagined him in something like a Spartan warrior outfit, his muscular thighs and calves exposed, a short leather skirt barely covering what needed to be covered. The thought of his usually serious face, with that small scar above his left eyebrow, trying to maintain composure in such an outfit almost made me laugh out loud.

James laughed, the sound deep and rich. “I can see you, you know!,” he laughed breaking me from my daydream as he leaned close to nuzzle my neck.

I giggled, pushing him away half-heartedly. “Behave yourself,” I scolded, though there was no real heat in my words. “We’re supposed to be watching the parade of scantily-clad co-eds, remember?”

“You know, they’re having their annual party next weekend. It’s supposed to be the best one yet. Maybe we should go?” James words sent a thrill through me straight to my core. I adjusted in my seats, the possibilities of what would happen at such a party running through my head.

“I thought we agreed to stay away from those parties after what happened last time?” I teased as I felt his hand slowly circling my bare knee. I felt goosebumps forming all over my body, unsure if it was due to his touch or the thought of the last party we were at.

“We did,” James whispers his breath now hot on my neck. I reached up pulling him toward me, my hands snaking through his dark hair. His lips rested on my exposed neck, for just a moment as if he too were thinking about that night.

“Did you forget what happened at the last party of theirs that we attended?” I whispered, my voice husky with desire as I saw a final party goer rushing down the street through half-lidded eyes. James pulled back, his blue eyes dark with want.

“How could I forget?” he murmured. “Truth or Dare...”

I nodded, biting my bottom lip as the memories flooded back. “Three years ago now. God, I was so nervous.” His hand had moved further up my leg now; gripping my inner thigh possessively.

James chuckled softly his eyes staring daggers into my soul. “We both were. But then Cori dared you...”

“To let that guy go down on me,” I finished, heat rising to my cheeks as my hips pushed toward his hand. “God, I still don’t even know his name.”

His hand tightened on my thigh causing me to growl in pain and arousal. “I remember how you looked. How you trembled. It was so fucking hot.”

“I felt so exposed,” I whined, willing his fingers to push through the confines of shorts. “Everyone was looking at me.”

“Daniel couldn’t take his eyes off me,” James added fueling my fantasy. “You were mesmerizing. I thought he was going to push that guy off you and take you himself.”

I gripped his arm, my fingers digging into the flesh of his wrist. “You’re making that part up!”

“I swear I’m not,” he laughed, pulling me into a kiss as he pulled his arm away.

“Maybe we should take this inside,” I suggested, my body thrumming with need.

As we stumbled through the front door, the playful mood shifted. James pressed me against the closed door, his body firm against mine.

“James,” I said softly, placing a hand on his chest. “That night ... it nearly cost us our marriage.”

He took a deep breath, resting his forehead against mine. “I know. But we’re stronger now, Erica. More ... experienced.”

I searched his eyes, seeing the same desire I felt. “Are you really ready to go down that road again?”

Instead of answering with words, James captured my lips in a passionate kiss. His hands cupped my face as he poured everything into that kiss - love, desire, and a promise of adventures to come.

When we finally broke apart, breathless, I knew we’d be RSVPing to that party. But for now, we had our own private celebration to attend to.

The week seemed to move painfully slowly as I thought about the party at the end of the week. I was surprised that James wanted to attend after what happened a few years ago, but I would be lying if I said it didn’t excite me. Those early days of our marriage were some of the best of our life.

I found myself lost in memories as I absentmindedly stirred my coffee, the spoon clinking against the ceramic mug as the smell of pumpkin spice filled my nostrils. When James and I first got together, we were the envy of everyone around. Our love was infectious, always making out in public and announcing how much we loved each other. This was only strengthened by the adventures we went on together. James and I used to be so carefree, so ready to embrace every adventure that came our way. We were that couple that everyone else resented. They couldn’t believe that we could be as in love as we were even after the crazy nights with other couples.

But then came the party. The one that nearly tore us apart and changed everything.

I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of that night settle on my shoulders. It had started normally enough. We were at one of Cori’s infamous parties that often ended with people going home with someone who wasn’t their spouse. James and I were no stranger to this and we were excited to see where the night would go. That’s when Cori announced the game for the evening. Truth or Dare, innocent enough, or so I thought. While James and I were no strangers to swinging, one thing we’d never done was hook up with someone else in front of each other. At the time, I didn’t think it was that big of a deal; but as I came down from that earth-shattering orgasm and looked at James I saw the hurt in his eyes.

The aftermath had been brutal. Weeks of awkward conversations, weeks of tiptoeing around each other’s feelings. We’d both been forced into confronting parts of ourselves-and each other-that we really weren’t ready to acknowledge. The easygoing couple we’d been seemingly disappeared overnight, replaced by two people struggling to reconnect.

It had taken time, and more than a few tearful nights, but we’d found our way back to each other. Our relationship had deepened, matured. We’d learned to communicate better, to truly listen to each other’s needs and fears. But something had changed – a carefree spark had dimmed, replaced by a more cautious approach to life and love.

In the years since we’ve talked a lot about that party. James claims he sees it in a whole new light now. That he’s able to look back on that night and see just how sexy I looked. But the thought of seeing that hurt in his eyes ... I don’t know if I can go through that again.

I glanced at the clock, knowing James would be home soon. We’d need to talk about this, really talk. If we were going to step back into that world, we needed to be on the same page. No misunderstandings, no unspoken fears. I needed to know we were going to leave the party stronger than when we got to it.

When James finally got home I was keeping myself busy cleaning the house. I had just finished vacuuming the living room, Paramore blaring in my AirPods as James stepped through the door. His tie hung loose on his neck, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched me hopping around singing “Still Into You” over the hum of the vacuum.

“Hey,” he said softly, crossing the room to plant a kiss on my forehead. “Looks like you’re having fun.”

I smiled up at him turning off my music and unplugging the vacuum cleaner. “How was work?” I asked leaning up to kiss his cheek as he made his way into the kitchen.

“Terrible. I hate being stuck in an office all day when it’s such a nice day outside.” He let out a long breath and sat at the table. His steel blue eyes locked with mine and I felt my heart flutter. Even after all these years, just one look and he can still give me butterflies.

“I’m sorry, babe. Anything I can do to help?” I asked batting my eyes.

“I have a few ideas,” he said picking up on my not so subtle flirting.

“Well before you get too many big ideas we really should talk about the party.” I watched his face for a moment. Wondering which direction the conversation was going to go.

“What is there to discuss, costumes? I’m thinking I’ll go as a sexy Aquaman.” He smiled at me, knowing full well that wasn’t what I meant. This was his defense mechanism. He liked to use humor when shit started to get real.

I played into it slightly, understanding his hesitation. “Mmm now there’s a costume I could get behind. Maybe I’ll go as Ariel. We’ll have the nautical theme on lockdown. My smile matched his, and for a heartbeat we just stared into each other’s eyes. When it was clear he wasn’t going to start, I decided to.

“I’m ... scared,” I admitted, my voice soft as I reached for his hands and he ran his thumbs over the top of mine. “What happened last time, it nearly broke us. I don’t know if we can survive that again.”

James nodded the hum of the AC kicking on breaking the silence in the room. “Erica, I need you to hear me. I’ve had years to process that night, and I see it differently now.”

I raised an eyebrow, prompting him to continue as the cool air from the vent blew through my hair.

“Back then, I was caught off guard. I thought I was ready, but I underestimated what it would be like to see ... that.” He paused for a moment his tongue wetting his lips. “Now, when I think about that night, all I can see is how beautiful you looked, how sexy you looked when you let yourself go.” He blinked and when he opened his eyes again I could see the desire burning inside them. “I miss that. I miss us being that couple that everyone envied because we were so in love, so adventurous. I miss feeling the way your body would react to mine when I reclaimed you. The way you’d sigh when I enter the first time after.”

My heart raced at his words, I could feel my nipples harden against the soft fabric of my sports bra. Heat began to radiate from my core as I remembered the exact feeling he was describing. “But what if something goes wrong again?” I asked against my body’s protest. “What if-”

“Then we’ll face it together,” James interrupted gently. “the way we should have back then. We’re stronger now, Erica. We’ve learned how to communicate, I’ve learned how to communicate. I want to go to this party because I believe in us, in what we have.”

I studied his face, searching for any sign of doubt or hesitation. Finding none, I felt a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “You’re sure about this? Because I swear to God if Daniel is dressed like a fucking Roman soldier you may have to wait a lot longer than the next morning to reclaim me.”

We both laughed so hard he had tears rolling down his face. His grip on my hand tightening slightly. “I guess you better call Cori and tell her her rule about not involving friends is off the table.”

“If I do that she may lock me in a room before Daniel ever gets the chance,” I said with a giggle.

“Now there’s something I’d like to see.”

“I bet you would, perv.” We laughed again and it felt like a weight had been lifted from both of us. I wasn’t sure how much of the banter was due to nerves and not wanting to have a much deeper conversation, but it felt good to laugh with him like this again.

Finally, I let out a soft chuckle. “I guess we should get to the Halloween store to find our costumes then.”

James’s face lit up, his smile as bright as I’d seen it in years. He leaned across the table, capturing my lips in a kiss that held the promise of adventures to come.

As we broke apart, both slightly breathless, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. We were taking a risk, yes, but we were doing it together. And somehow, that made all the difference.

The only Halloween story in the city is across town in an old JC Penney building that lies dormant until spooky season arrives. For two months, The Haunted Hallows rents out the space and turns it into every scary movie fan’s wet dream. The parking spots are marked with gravestones, there’s blood spatter and spider webs on the windows, and at the entrance is a fog machine complete with a strobe light giving a truly scary vibe as you walk in the door.

“Enter if you dare,” an old skeleton taunted as James and I walked into the old building. As my eyes adjusted to the light, the smell of old latex and cheap rubber wafted through the air. I scanned the dimly lit store. There weren’t many people in here today. With Halloween just a few days away everyone had what they needed and James and I were going to be left to dig through the scraps. As I made my way down the aisle, the artificial sound of a thunderstorm played somewhere in the back. My eyes scanned the near empty shelves of cheap decorations and wash-away body paint. The costumes were near the back of the store, didn’t want the children seeing just how scandalous their parents actually behaved when they weren’t around.

“How about a sexy Harley Quinn outfit?” James suggested as my footsteps echoed through the shelves.

“Too much makeup,” I responded chewing on the side of my cheek. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to wear just yet, but I did know I wanted it to be daring. If James really wanted to go through with this then there wasn’t going to be any half steps. Perhaps my choice of outfit would make him rethink his position on it.

His hand found the small of my back and I pulled myself into his touch as we walked, bringing my fingers up through his unruly mop of brown hair. We may be an old married couple, but we still love feeling the touch of each other on our skin.

“You can always go as a Playboy Bunny,” he said with a laugh holding up a pair of ears and nothing else.

“I’m sure that would get people talking,” I said with a laugh as we browsed through the hangers of other potential candidates.

“Everything is buy one get one half off,” a deep male voice came from the other aisle. I sucked in air. James and I looked at each other with the same wide-eyed look on our faces.

“Oh no,” I mouthed, but it was too late.

“Let me know if there’s anything... “ The footsteps from the aisle halted in front of us and I closed my eyes in defeat. “James? Erica? Fancy seeing you two here.”

“Hey George,” I said, trying to keep my voice sweet as I put on my fakest smile. I turned to see our neighbor emerging from behind a rack of slutty nurse costumes. His round face was flushed; his ill-fitting store uniform straining against his paunch. George, in his mid-fifties, was widely regarded in our social circle as a creep, and he didn’t even try to hide it. We’d caught him openly ogling the women in our friend group multiple times, and when called out, he’d just wink and laugh, yellowed teeth on full display. The only reason we tolerated him was because of his wife, Melanie. She was fun and engaging, though more reserved than the rest of us. We often joked that we didn’t understand why she was with him, but she’d just blush and say he made her happy. I’ll never understand it.

“George, we had no idea you worked here,” I said, trying to keep the surprise out of my voice. James’s hand tightened on my waist, a subtle reminder to play nice.

George’s eyes roamed over me, lingering a bit too long as I fought the need to vomit. “Oh yeah, just picked up some seasonal work. You know how it is.” He chuckled, his gaze finally returning to our faces. “Now, what can I help you two lovebirds find?” With each word he spoke, he seemed to step closer to us. The smell of stale cigarettes and cheap cologne overloading my senses.

James cleared his throat. “We’re just browsing, thanks.”

“Nonsense!” George exclaimed, moving closer and invading our personal space. “I’ve got just the thing for you, Erica,” he said with a wink. He rifled through a nearby rack, pulling out a costume that made my eyes widen. “This little number would really show off your ... assets.”

The outfit in question was a ‘Naughty Librarian’ outfit. It was a see-through white button-up blouse that left little to the imagination along with a minuscule plaid skirt that would barely cover the essentials. Fishnet stockings and a pair of thick-rimmed glasses completed the look. I must say, I would have looked sexy, too. But once it had George’s recommendation, suddenly it lost its appeal.

I felt my cheeks burn as James stiffened beside me. “That’s very thoughtful, George, but I don’t think-”

“Or how about this?” He produced another costume, equally revealing. “The ‘Seductive Sorceress.’ It comes with a wand, you know.” He winked, and I fought the urge to cringe.

The ‘Seductive Sorceress’ was somehow even more risqué. It featured a deep purple, velvet corset with silver star patterns that pushed everything up and out. The bottom was little more than a sheer, flowing skirt with high slits on both sides. A pointed hat and a glittery wand completed the ensemble.

“I think we can manage on our own,” James said firmly, steering me away from George.

We spent the next few minutes quickly browsing, hyper-aware of George hovering nearby. James quickly settled on a vampire costume consisting of tight black leather pants, a mostly unbuttoned white shirt, and a cape with a high collar. The shirt was designed to show off his chest and abs, ensuring he didn’t break my new rule about revealing men’s costumes.

I, however, was still searching. “I want something that screams ‘punk rock,’ but also matches your vampire theme,” I mused, rifling through the racks.

Then I saw it - the perfect combination of edgy and sexy. It was labeled “Punk Rock Vampire Slayer,” and I knew immediately it was the one.

The costume consisted of a tight, black leather corset top with silver studs and buckles. It came with a matching ultra-short skirt that had chains dangling from the waistband. Fishnet stockings and fingerless gloves completed the look. To tie in with James’s vampire theme, it included a fake stake holster and a choker with a cross pendant.

“What do you think?” I asked James, holding it up against me.

His eyes widened appreciatively. “That’s ... wow. I can’t wait to get home and let you slay me.”

I grinned, and rolled my eyes but was unable to hide my excitement. This costume definitely checked all the boxes and it had the added benefit of not being signed off on by George, even though I was confident he would love it.

As we made our way to the checkout, George reappeared. “So, you two hitting up any good parties this year?”

“Oh, you know, the usual,” James replied vaguely fishing for his wallet so we could get out of there as fast as possible.

George nodded. “Yeah, shame about Cori’s party. Melanie and I always enjoyed those.”

I froze. “What about Cori’s party?”

“Well, they’re not having it this year, are they? At least, that’s what we heard.”

“Oh, no, they’re definitely-” I started, I felt James’s hand tighten on mine, and realized what was happening. But it was too late.

George’s eyebrows shot up. “They are? Well, isn’t that interesting. Maybe Melanie and I misunderstood. Perhaps we’ll try to make it after all.”

James could barely contain his laughter before we made it out of the building and were assaulted by the brightness of the sun. “Well that was a shitshow,” he laughed elbowing my side. “You’re going to have to call Cori now and tell her what you did.”

My face burned with shame, I couldn’t believe I just told George about the party. Now the night of fun and letting loose was going to have to be throttled back on the account of George.

“Look on the bright side,” James mused. “Maybe you’ll get to see George in a sexy firefighter outfit.”

“I think I’m going to be sick,” I replied smacking his side as we made it back to the car.

The night of Cori’s party arrived, and the butterflies in my stomach seemed to multiply. I had given James several more chances to change his mind, but each time he would kiss my neck and tell me how excited he was for the party. As I got ready, I could feel James’s eyes on me, his excitement evident as his gaze burned with desire.

I cast him a wicked smile as I slid on my fishnet stockings up my leg, deliberately taking my time. I could see his eyes sliding up my leg along with the mesh, stopping at the faintest peak of blood red thong that was already wet with anticipation. The mesh of the stockings clung to my skin, accentuating every curve. Judging by James’s hungry stare, he approved.

“See something you like?” I teased, slowly standing and turning to face him as my pushed-up chest soaked up his attention.

James’s eyes darkened. “You know I do,” he growled, his vampire costume already on, the tight leather pants leaving little to the imagination.

I sauntered towards him, my hips swaying. I wrapped my right arm around his neck pressing my lips to his as his beard tickled my face. My left hand dropped down to the front of his pants as I slowly ran my fingers over his length.

“Tease,” he murmured, his hands finding my waist in a more possessive nature.

“Just making sure you’re ready for tonight,” I whispered, my lips brushing his ear.

“You mean to watch you throw yourself at Daniel?” He teased dipping his hand under my skirt and eliciting a soft moan from me.

“It’s not too late to back out. We can stay in, maybe watch Buffy?” His fingers continued to dance over the soft fabric between my legs causing my hips to push toward him.

“You’re way sexier than Buffy,” he whispered pushing his fingers into the fabric of my panties causing my eyes to half close. “Besides, I can’t wait to get you back here after the party. To hear about all the naughty things you did.”

He pulled his fingers from under my skirt causing me to let out a disappointed sigh. His steel blue eyes locked with mine, a growing smirk forming under the mangled hair on his face. “Ready to see where the night takes us?” He asked bringing his fingers to my lips.

He was so fucking sexy when he acted like this. I had to stifle a moan as I felt his eyes piercing into my soul. Slowly I opened my mouth accepting his fingers into it. I could taste the hint of my desire as I rolled my tongue over his digits hollowing out my cheeks. After several seconds, never breaking eye contact, he pulled his fingers from my lips with a “pop”. “Ready,” I said in a soft whisper as he took my hand and led me out the door.

Fashionably late, we pulled into Cori and Daniel’s, excited to see the party was in full swing. As we made our way up their long, curvy driveway, I could already feel the thump of the bass from inside the house. The drive was lined with jack-o’-lanterns, each one more suggestive than the last, as flickering candlelight gave way to all sorts of inappropriate shadows. The front door, as we approached just seemed to be framed by the thin layer of fog that had wrapped itself around the front yard, creating just that right amount of ambiance outside against the flickering lights within the window. It was Cori who answered at the door. Her eyes were wide as she took in our costumes; she herself was a sultry witch, her body curvaceous in a black dress that was tight and full of strategically placed cutouts.

“I’m glad that the two of you made it. I thought, perhaps, you decided against it,” she said, wrapping me in a warm hug.

As she hugged James, I took in the view behind her. The huge living room now was one big Halloween fairyland. Cobwebs dripped from every corner, while plastic skeletons and rubber bats hung from the ceiling. At one end was a DJ booth, the DJ fully dressed as an alien; his green hands moved with speed over the turntables.

Cori leaned in close, her breath hot against my ear. “Daniel’s in the kitchen. He’ll be excited to see you,” she said with a suggestive tone, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

I felt a flush creep up my neck, surprised by her forwardness. Cori knew I thought Daniel was attractive, but we’d never crossed that line. Her casual encouragement, without so much as a preceding conversation, caught me off guard.

As we entered the kitchen, I immediately spotted Daniel. He was dressed as a Viking, his muscular physique on full display in a fur-trimmed vest that left his chest bare and a leather kilt that showed off his strong legs. I felt a flutter in my stomach as he approached.

“You two look amazing,” Daniel said, as his eyes met mine then lingered over my body for a moment longer than necessary.

James leaned in close, his lips brushing my ear. “I saw that,” he whispered his fingers setting fire to the back of my thigh. “Why don’t you go say hello properly? I know you’ve been thinking about him.”

I felt my cheeks flush, a mix of embarrassment and excitement coursing through me. James knew me too well.

As we mingled, I couldn’t help but notice the appreciative glances thrown our way. The party had a charged atmosphere, couples and groups interacting with a familiarity that hinted at more than just friendship. I recognized most of them. It was a pretty close circle and even though we’d been out of the lifestyle for a while we still kept in touch with most of them.

Just as I was about to suggest we get a drink, I heard a familiar voice that made my blood run cold.

“There’s my favorite couple!”

I turned to see George, his round face flushed with alcohol and a thin sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead. To my surprise, he was dressed as what I could only describe as an ‘80s adult film star. He wore a cheap, shaggy fur vest that barely contained his protruding belly, paired with tight, glossy leather shorts that showed way too much of his pale legs. A plastic “gold” chain nestled in his chest hair, and what I assume was supposed to be a pimp hat covered his balding head. The costume shared unsettling similarities with Daniel’s attire, yet the contrast between George’s doughy physique and Daniel’s chiseled form couldn’t have been more stark. I couldn’t help but laugh as I looked him over.

“George,” James said, his voice friendly. “We didn’t expect to see you here.”

George’s eyes roamed over my costume, lingering far too long. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he slurred. “I was so happy when Erica cleared up that little misunderstanding for me. You look absolutely delicious, by the way.” he said, as I watched his tongue slither past his lips dampening them.