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He doesn't give me a chance to answer before he's pulling back, the sudden removal of his body heat enough to make shivers run through me. Next thing I know, I'm being pulled to my feet and back onto the counter with his lips connected to mine.

There's still batter in places where there shouldn't be, still plenty of small messes for us to clean up later, but once he has me worked up enough that I'm a quivering mess, I don't care. And when he turns me around, my back pressing against his chest, and he's sinking into me at the most delicious angle, I care even less.

One of my favorite things about living so close to my friends is the weekly get-togethers. If we go to Josie and Bryce's, it's usually a game night with a side of whatever Bryce feels like cooking that night. When it's my turn, Bryce is usually trying to keep Josie away from lighting my apartment on fire while we bake whatever recipe I found that week. And when it's Carter and Kat's turn, we know we're getting takeout and crappy movies we spend the night talking over. We haven't figured out what Ronan's week is, but not using that kitchen is a damn shame.

No matter where we go, though, I live for these nights.

This week it's Carter and Kat's turn to host and their townhouse is a flurry of activity when we get there. The delivery driver pulls up as we walk up to the door. Carter barely moves out of our way enough to let Lezak dart inside, let alone the two of us.

"No, it's fine," he calls when we walk past him. "I don't need help carrying things. Just go, keep walking."

With a dramatic sigh, Ronan presses a kiss to the top of my head and turns to help our friend. The closer I get to the kitchen, where we usually gather, and pile our plates high with food, I can hear laughter, but the combination of so many voices makes it hard to decipher who's actually talking.

"Mia!" As soon as I round the corner, I'm attacked by my best friend in a hug. She's practically vibrating with energy. When we separate, I take a quick glance down at her left hand to see—nothing.

I shoot a glare at Bryce, who seems to slink behind Katrina.

"Did someone give her an extra shot of espresso?" I question the room. Kat's beaming, shaking her head. "Why's she so hyper?"

"I feel like I haven't seen you inweeks," Josie replies, linking her arm through mine. "So tell me, what's been happening? How's the new relationship going?"

Groaning, I turn my head to yell over my shoulder. "Babe, Josie's interrogating me. Get in here, please!"

"Aw, that is so cute!" Josie gushes. "She's asking him to come defend her. Bryce, why aren't we this cute anymore?"

Ronan comes in carrying bags of what smells like pasta, and my mouth waters at the sight of that gorgeous man holding carbs.

"Please," he says, setting the bag on the counter. "I literally watched him pout because you left a room without telling him you love him. You guys are disgustingly adorable."

"Exactly!" I agree, helping him unload the bag onto the counter. "Leave me and Ronan alone. All you need to know is things are going good."

"Well, I would hope things are good," Carter adds, trailing behind Ronan with more food. "You promised me homemade cupcakes and those kids got cupcakes from a box. Which means someone or something—maybe both—distracted you and then you couldn't follow through on your promise."

Ronan and I exchange looks of pure shock. "How do you possibly know that?"

He raises a brow. "Come on, Mia, I may be shit in the kitchen, but I can tell the difference between cupcakes that are homemade and from a box. They were dry as hell and tasted like fake chocolate."

"My apologies," Ronan says. "I didn't realize you've developed such a refined palette. Next time I decide to seduce my girlfriend in my kitchen, I'll make sure you're not who she's cooking for."

As my cheeks turn fire engine red, Bryce lets out a loud groan. "Please don't say ‘seduced’ in my presence."

"Did the kids have a problem with them?"

"No, Ronan." Carter frowns. "I barely managed to grab one for myself before the kids tore them apart."

"Then does it really matter how the cupcakes were made?" Katrina turns to her boyfriend with a frown. "Why did they need to be homemade?"

"That's what I said!" Ronan grins.

Carter is pouting though and looking at his girlfriend like she committed the ultimate betrayal. "Et tu Brute?"

Kat simply rolls her eyes, pats his cheek, and goes about grabbing everything we need. Josie jumps into help, but Carter refuses to let the topic go.

"It's not always about the kids, you know. I worked hard this summer. I deserve a reward, too. But then Ronan had to go and defile cupcakes."

The wink my boyfriend sends me makes another blush coat my cheeks. This time, both Bryce and Carter groan, but the girls look at me with wide eyes.

"This isn't my house, so I can't ban sex talk," Bryce says. "But for the love of God, can we keep it PG?"