Talia, in a one-shoulder black dress and matching gloves

"Looks like you two could do with a switcheroo," chirped a voice brightly. I turned to see Talia in all her supermodel glory - she opted for a classy black dress that just went past her ankles, with one shoulder exposed that gleamed in the light like bronze. A pair of matching, elbow-length gloves and a stunning silver necklace completed her look, giving her the elegance of a movie star walking down the red carpet. Rachel stood near her, decked in a similar ensemble except in white and gold. "Mind if I take Ian for a spin?"

"Be my guest," smirked Amy, though in her state of arousal it sounded more like a wheeze. Appreciatively she took Rachel's hand, and our new pairs separated.

"Look at you," Talia grinned. "I can't believe you were this shy geek just barely a year ago. And now? You're the dreamboat who's got Little Miss I-Hate-Romance eating out the palm of your hand."

"I can't take all the credit for that," I reminded her. "After all, you were the one who first told me to live up to my potential."

"Oh gosh, you actually remember?!" she gushed, in the same crazy way that I knew and loved her for. I simply grinned back at her. For all her madcap antics, Talia definitely played a huge part in my love life, helping me navigate its mysteries and conundrums. Love was more than property, to be owned or controlled by a single person - it simply was, in every breath we took and friendship we shared, and there was no denying it.

Gently she leaned in, resting her head against my chest, giving me a noseful of her perfume. Unable to resist I planted a kiss on her exposed shoulder, and she groaned softly from the light touch.

"What am I going to do with you, grasshopper?" she sighed in mock disappointment. "Now that you've turned into such a hunk it feels like I've got nothing left to teach you."

"I had a good teacher," I replied, giving her a hug. Talia giggled at me for a moment, looked briefly back at where Amy and Rachel were dancing, then sneaked a kiss right on my lips. I tasted the faint aura of passionfruit as she pulled away, with a grin on her face like a cat that just ate the canary. Eventually, she too had to pull away, rejoining Rachel as the latter lifted her hand off Amy's ass.

"May I?" asked another voice softly, and I turned around.