It seemed like mid-August was frying everyone’s brains and making them fall head-over-heels, loopy in love. Like a fat baby cupid was roaming around our group of friends and just continually shooting them in the back of the heads with romance-filled arrows.

The whole motley crew was hanging out in the living room on Sunday, the boys acting like orangutans, slapping each other on the backs and jumping up and down after each touchdown on RedZone. As if there wasn’t enough sports on TV, here was a channel that showed grown men hugging each other and sniffing each other’s balls for seven hours straight.

Minka and I had the full nail salon arsenal on the floor, painting our nails and toes different colors before finding the right ones.

The front door flew open, causing Owen and Clint to jump up, fists at the ready. Parker stayed put, only lazy enough to avert his eyes from the TV. Glad to know he was ready to protect us innocent damsels in distress.

Only it wasn’t a burglar. Miles and Chloe stood in the doorway, huge ass grins on their faces and overnight bags in their hands.

“NO WAY!” Minka darted across the room, brown curls flying everywhere. She body slammed Chloe, causing both of them to almost go down. They erupted into a fit of giggles as Chloe practically carried Minka across the doorstep.

“Honey, I’m home!” Miles dropped his bags and held his arms out, smiling in that devilish way he already did. I liked the kid, honestly I did. He and I felt like kindered spirits. Except the time I wanted to chop his balls off with a butter knife for how much he’d hurt Chloe. But we were past that now.

“No calls or texts and you just show up on our doorstep like this?!” Owen feigns shock and upset, but goes over to bear hug his childhood best friend. Watching the two of them is adorable. Like watching the fox and the hound if those old Disney characters were actually filthy rich gorgeous twenty-somethings.

“Farris…” Clint nodded in his slightly withdrawn way while doing that pure masculine fist bump hug thing guys always did.

“Sup asshole?” Miles said as he slapped Parker on the shoulder where he still sat on the sofa. “I see you’re still friendly as ever.”

I took that time to actually insert myself into the scene instead of just watching my friends interact. “Chloe! What are you doing here?”

Chloe hugs me, but I can see the quiet happiness in her violet eyes. Something’s up. Because if I know Minka well, I know Chloe like my left foot. My quiet, elegant willow tree, she is everything I’m not. And I love that.

“Well, we had some news that we wanted to share in person…” Miles goes to stand by her, hooking an arm around her shoulders.

“WE’RE ENGAGED!” Chloe shoots out her left hand, where a huge ass rock perches on her ring finger. And shit do I mean huge, Miles looks like he stole the goddamn Hope Diamond from the Smithsonian.

Minka shrieks, literally lets out the highest pitch squeal ever, and body slams Kelsey again. Minka, the girl who hates clichés and romance and bullshit, is shrieking over a shiny ring. Cupid has done his work here, alright.

“Dude! You just had to beat me to it!” Owen hugs his best friend again. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Minka turn the shade of an apple. Those two are so gone over each other.

“You just had to wife her up, eh Farris?” I lean in for a one arm hug.

“From what I hear, you like being wifed up these days too?” He wiggles his eyebrows, those blonde curls falling in his mismatched eyes. I elbow him in the gut.

“Watch out, she’s a feisty one. Congrats, man.” Clint shakes his hand while at the same time pulling me in tight.

Owen pumps his fists in the air. “Well this calls for celebration. Sammy’s anyone?”

“Hell yeah! Back to the old stomping ground!” Miles yells.

“Parker you coming?” Clint nods at our fifth roommate.

“I think I’m going to vomit with all of this love bouncing around the room. Count me out.” He grumbles and stomps to his room.

I’m not sure who snorts first, but then everyone is dissolving into a shitfit of laughs as we pull on shoes to head out to the bar.

“So, tell us the story!”

I sit wedged into a booth with Minka and Chloe, huddled together over vodka cranberries and gossip. The boys have headed off to do stupid knuckle head things and beat each other in pool.

Minka waits expectantly, wanting every single detail of Miles’ proposal. I’m just happy to be back with my number one girls. It’s been too long since we’ve all been together, and I know these moments will only get fewer and farther apart.

“Okay, so he told me we were going out for dinner after my rehearsal one night. He told me to dress casual so I had this red sundress all picked out with these cute—“

“Enough about the fashion, get on with it!” I bark at her. Minka and I have never cared as much about clothes and makeup as Chloe has. I’d forgotten how annoying it was to hear her wax poetic about fabrics and heels.

“Fine,” she sticks her tongue out at me. “So he hailed a cab, and I thought we were going somewhere uptown, but then all of a sudden we start heading to the financial district, which is downtown. Kind of near Central Park. So I’m like, alright, guess we are trying some place new. Well then, the cab drops us off right at the entrance to Central Park and I’m so confused. We walk through the park just as the sun goes down, and after he pulls me into a little clearing, there stands a Ferris Wheel. All lit up like the Freeboro Fair. He tells me it’s all ours for the night. I mean at this point I’m already almost in tears. So he takes me up to the top, gives his grand speech and then pulls out the ring box. And the rest is history. It was perfect.”

She sighs, looking dreamily over at her fiancé. I have to admit, even I have chills on my arms. But looking over at Minka, she has tears in her eyes.

“Oh my god, Minks, are you crying?” Chloe touches her arm. “Are you mad…that you weren’t first?”

“God no! I’m so happy for you guys! I just…think about spending my life with Owen and it just makes me happy. I know you guys get that now, and it’s just so perfect. I am over the moon for you!”

I laugh, giving Minka a side hug. “Do you think he’ll do it soon?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I mean, we’ve talked about it, but I think he wants to get his contract first, see what city we end up in. I can work anywhere as a nurse, and I’m complete when I’m with him, so I’ll be following him. But enough about me, so when do we get to be bridesmaids?”

Chloe claps her hands. “Of course Mama has already been talking wedding venues. I kind of want to do it at the SAB theater, how cute would that be? And you all will be wearing pink!”

“Oh, Christ no. You’ll have to drug me before you get me into that dress.” I take a long swig of my drink.

“Maybe it will help to know that Clint will be walking you down the aisle. How are things going with you anyway?” She flicks her long black mane over her shoulder. She looks amazing. It must be the pre-wedded bliss sex and the shiny diamond.

My heart surged at the mention of Clint walking me down the aisle. “He told me he loved me.”

Both of my best friends screamed “WHAT?!” at the same time. I took that opportunity to polish off the rest of the bitter cranberry juice.

When I slam the glass back down on the table, four eyes, two violet and two chocolate brown, are staring me down, waiting impatiently.

“Well did you say it back?” Minka is incredulous.

“I couldn’t…not then. He didn’t want me to anyway. Told me to wait till I was ready. Perfect bastard, always know the exact right thing to say.”

Chloe leans back, a smug grin on her perfectly pouty lips. “I think you love him. I think he pushes all your buttons, and you love that. I think you want to have his babies.”

“Let’s take a down a notch, Mrs. Wedding Crazed. I don’t know. I have never told anyone I loved them. Especially a guy.”

“You love us.” Minka points out.

“I know, but that’s easy. And when I get sick of you bitches, I just travel to Africa. If I have a boyfriend, if I’m in love with him, I can’t run. And that’s what I do.”

And now I was the one who was getting teary.

“Oh, Kels. Maybe the problem is, you don’t want to run anymore. And that scares the shit out of you.”

Trust Minka to tell it like it is.

“Let him love you. And let yourself love him. You deserve it.” Chloe grabs my hand, and Minka adds hers in.

We all stare at each other for a minute, soaking in the gravity of adulthood on our heels.

Finally I wipe the tears from my ducts. “Oh my god, enough of the soap opera. This is a bar. And we’re here to celebrate. Another round of vodka crans!” I lean into Chloe. “And tell us, how amazing is the sex now?”

They both laugh as the men join us at the table.

“What’s so funny?” Miles asks, but only looks at Chloe.

“Oh, we’re just talking about your dick, Farris.”

Clint narrows his eyes at me and motions for me to join him on the dance floor. I might be in trouble. And I love it.

Hours later, we all stumble back to the house, drunk off booze and celebrations. I can tell everyone is in a frisky mood, and when Clint wraps his arms around my waist and hoists me up until I’m straddling him, all I can do is hang on and let him take me where he pleases.

As he walks, his rough jeans scrape against my exposed thighs. The shorts I’m wearing ride up, pulling the seam so hard against my throbbing clit that I groan into Clint’s neck.

Licking and sucking at the spot just below his earlobe, I catch a whiff of his scent. Pure male and fresh soap. Clint is uncomplicated, he doesn’t bother with cologne or lotions, and for that I’m happy.

“Let me at least get to the bedroom before you make my knees go weak.”

His voice is a plea, and filled with needy lust. But he’s made me a wanton creature. I need him to be touching me. I hold tighter, making sure to grind my exposed skin down onto his already swelling cock.

Clint’s stride grows wider and faster until we reach the bedroom at a breakneck speed.

He throws the door closed, still caring me in his burly, muscled arms and deposits me on the bed.

I scoot back, careful not to break the eye contact hypnotizing both of us right now.

“Take off your clothes.”

Clint’s voice sends shivers of lust and need zinging down my spine and hitting me right in the swollen button between my legs. I love it when he’s bossy.

I start to peel out of my clothes, my skin damp from the heat and his dirty command.

We can’t take our eyes off of each other as we rip away our clothes. He reaches behind his neck and pulls his t-shirt off in one fluid motion the way that insanely hot guys always do. Just that action alone has me flushing hot and greedy below the waist, my nipples pebbling despite the air being swampy with lust.

I beat him in our race to get naked, and he’s devouring me with those eyes like I’m his next meal. Clint undoes his belt buckle slowly, pulling the leather out of the loops one by one. Each time the strand of material clears, making a freeing smack, I feel it like a lick against my sex. I can’t stop watching him. I’m so turned on and hot from the muggy temperatures that it feels like I’ve been drugged, all of my reflexes are working a second slower.

Finally Clint is pushing down his jeans, his boxers joining them at his ankles. His impressive member springs free, hitting him in the stomach where a drop of pre-cum sticks and rolls down his abs. I want to lick the spilled juice into my throat, sink to my knees and worship this beautiful, shy man.

Because as sexy as he is, I still see the doubt in his eyes, the way he shuffles his feet. I find it endearing and hot as hell that he is commanding one minute and adorably lost the next. I’ve always found it obnoxious when a guy is too confident in his ability. With Clint, I feel cherished and adored, but we are also having fun, testing things out with each other.

Clint fists himself and squeezes, painfully so, while all of the air whooshes out of my lungs. Jesus my boyfriend is fucking gorgeous.

“Come here and let me do that.” I squirm on the bed, wanting to press my thighs together but also spread them far apart simultaneously.

He moves to kneel in front of me on the bed, a curious glance on his face. “I…can we try something new?”

So cute. He always asks permission each time he wants to try something he’s never done. And of course I always give it. I don’t answer, just give him a small nod as I die a slow death because his hands still aren’t on me.

Clint lays down, spreading his legs and placing his head on the pillow.

“Straddle my face, and suck my dick.”

His crude words almost make me come on the spot. Just a few carefully placed words, that’s all I need to tip me over the edge and Clint has learned that well.

So he wants to try 69. I’ve never been a huge fan of this position, but of course I’ll do anything for him.

I do as I’m told, position myself and backing up until I can feel his hot, damp breath blowing against my slit. And then his tongue is stroking up my dripping sex, and I have to bite my tongue to keep from screaming. Okay, focus Kelsey. I zero in on the huge cock in front of me, so close to my nose that it’s like he’s bobbing up and down waving hello. I take Clint in my mouth, tentatively at first, slow licks and kisses to his head.

I feel the low growl of pleasure from Clint all the way through my pussy, and it causes me to draw him further into my mouth, gulping him down as far as he’ll go. When his massive cock hits the back of my throat, I feel Clint bite down, not so gently, on my clit. I see stars.

It’s one of the most elicit, intimate experiences I’ve ever had. I’m spread open and vulnerable for Clint, and each time pleasure rocks one of us, the other feels it to the core. 69. My new favorite position.

We feast on each other, mutually fulfilling with each kiss, suck and lick. I’m sucking him so deep and hard that my orgasm sneaks up on me, starting in my fingers and toes and rippling toward the center of my body until I implode. I’m crying out with my lips still wrapped around Clint’s rock solid staff.

I don’t even realize he’s moved me until my back hits the bed and he’s pushing inside me, hot and heavy and throbbing.

I gasp again until he covers my lips with his swollen ones. We taste and lick, our sex on each other’s mouths. And then he is speeding up, pounding and thrusting like if he stops he might cease to exist. My brain shuts off and it’s just me, Clint and the darkness.