"Come on," they said.
"It'll be fun," they said.
So like a fool I let myself be persuaded. There was going to be a beach party that night. There'd be a bonfire and music and we'd all have a blast. I've never been a real party goer, preferring the company of a few good friends rather than mingling in a crowd, most of whom would be strangers and most of them on the prowl.
For some reason the wolves tend to look on me as a particularly desirable little lamb. I'd learnt to run when I was sixteen and have kept on running for the past three years. That's not to say I haven't let the occasional wolf run with me. It can be fun if you pick a really nice wolf.
So I went along to this fantastic beach party and it was incredible. Incredibly boring, as far as I was concerned. Yay, they had a bonfire. On a night that was so hot it made getting close to the fire an exercise in masochism.
Yay, there's lots to eat and drink. But you can only eat so much and if I let myself take too much drink I know damn well I'd be regretting it. I tended to get a can at the start of a night and let it drag out. People see me drinking and assume that I've gone through a number of cans.
The music wasn't bad though - I quite enjoyed that - but the dancing? Have you ever tried to really dance on soft sand? It just doesn't happen. You stagger around all over the place, but no-one notices because they're half pissed and struggling to stand anyway.
Another downer was the drugs. I could smell the marijuana and I knew that other stuff was being passed around, and that's not my scene.
Half an hour after arriving I was seriously considering cutting out and heading home. I eased back beyond the light thrown out by the fire, edging under some trees bordering the beach and sat down on the grass there, contemplating the fire. For a party that had been advertised as exciting and a blast it seemed rather dull and ordinary to me.
I was about to get up and head off to my car when someone approached me from behind.
"Looking a little bored and lonely there," he said.
I glanced up but all I could see was this tall figure looming over me.
"A bit," I admitted. "I was told it was going to be a real fun party but it sure doesn't grab me. I was about to call it off and go home."
"I'm Sam," said the stranger. "And you are?"
"Lucy."
"Well, Lucy, you're not seeing everything that's going on. You've been staring at the bonfire and it ruins your night vision. Why don't you turn around so that you're not looking at the fire and close your eyes? I'll tell you when to open them."
"Why?" I wanted to know.
"I'll point out a couple of things that you're missing. But you won't be able to see them until you get your eyes adjusted to the dark. Come on, look away from the fire."
Curious, I did what Sam suggested. Sitting there I could sense him settling down onto the grass next to me. He was sitting close enough that I became very much aware that we were by ourselves and that I only had on my bikini. Sam, I suspected, only had on his own bathers. I hadn't noticed a lot of clothing among the party goers.
I tensed up a little in case Sam made a grab, but he just sat there. After a couple of minutes he told me to open my eyes. As soon as I did it seemed that the night wasn't quite as dark as it had been earlier.
"OK," said Sam. "Now why don't you look that way, past the trees? You should be able to make out a silhouette against the sky. Don't strain. Just look and let your eyes work out what's there."
I did as suggested, looking at the skyline, and slowly I was able to see details forming against the sky. It was a bit vague at first but then I spotted some movement and the little scenario seemed to come into focus.
Sam must have heard my shocked gasp, because he laughed. There was a man further down the beach and he was behind this woman who was leaning against a tree. I won't say what they were doing.
"Now follow the line of foam that marks the edge of the water. See what you can make out."
Blushing slightly I traced the line of foam. It came and went in little ripples and I didn't really notice anything. Then a larger wave broke, leaving a much broader ripple of white foam and boy, did I notice it then. This guy was flat on his back on the sand and, silhouetted against the foam, I could see this woman bouncing up and down.
"As you can see, the party isn't quite as quiet as you thought," laughed Sam. "Didn't you know that this sort of thing was going on?"
"No," I said, because I truly hadn't. Remembering the reputation of a couple of the girls at the party I guess that the whole thing didn't come as a complete surprise.
"I definitely think I'd better be heading on home," I said, rising to my feet.
Would you believe it? As soon as I was standing Sam took hold of my bikini bottom and pulled them down. Not just a little tug. He had them right down to my ankles in a trice. I squeaked and reached for them, but found his hands were on the insides of my legs sliding up. What to do? Fend off his hands or grab for my bikini?
I finished up doing neither with any success. Sam, however, wasn't trying to grope me. He just cupped his hand around the back of my knees and tugged. My knees promptly bent forward and I was sitting on the ground again, half naked and with Sam's hand perilously close to places where it shouldn't be.
Oddly enough, I wasn't scared. Sam just didn't strike me as the sort of person who would rape a girl. Why would he, when there seemed to ample willing women around?
"What the hell do you're think you're playing at?" I hissed at him. "If I scream there'll be a dozen people here just like that."
"I know, but don't worry. I'm not going to force you. But I do want to make love to you."
"You're mad. I don't even know who you are. I've never seen you before and you expect to make love to me? Get real."
"I saw you when you arrived and I decided then that I wanted you," said Sam. "You're gorgeous and I just know you'll feel great. When I saw you retire under these trees I figured it was time we got closer acquainted."
He squeezed my leg slightly while he was giving me that little spiel, but I was relieved to note that his hand didn't try to move up higher. I was acutely conscious of it holding my inner thigh but I could tolerate that without making a big fuss as long as he didn't try to lift it higher.
"Yes, that may well be, but I think that this is as close as I want to get acquainted," I told him. "And I'd appreciate it if you'd move your hand."
He did, but the wrong hand. The hand that wasn't causing little ripples of nervousness reached out and took one of my hands. He drew it to him and I found out I was wrong about him just wearing bathers. He wasn't. My hand automatically closed over what he placed in it and it took me a moment to realise what I was holding. I snatched my hand away very promptly.
"Don't be like that," protested Sam. "Even if I can't introduce you to it properly it's reasonable for you to check out what you're missing out on."
He took my hand and placed it on his erection again. Not wanting to annoy him I just left my hand there, holding it. That's all. Just holding it.
"I wanted you to move your other hand," I said pointedly. "Away from me," I added when it felt as though he was going to move it the wrong way.
"Listen, I want to get my bikini back on. I intend to go home."
