Los Angeles, Dec 6 (IANS): Singer Mariah Carey's beau Bryan Tanaka says he "always had a thing" for her.

The "Without You" hitmaker attended the "Mariah's World" premiere party in New York City with the back up dancer where he gushed about their "connection" and "mutual admiration" for each other, reports eonline.com.

Tanaka said: "I've always had a thing for Mariah. I love her so much. Just make sure you tune in to the show and you'll see kind of how everything happens ... We've been friends for a long time. I do a little dance move here and there and we have a good time. It will be fun ... Something connected with us back in the day and there was just a mutual admiration. 

"She saw something in me that I actually didn't recognise at first, from that it was over. It was set in history that we were gonna be connected some way, some how," he added.

Speculation about the duo's relationship was fuelled when the two were seen smooching whilst on holiday in Maui, Hawaii.