Ignite by Kate Benson Read Free Book Online Page A

me.”
     
    “It's okay,” he whispers, his breathing still ragged.
     
    “No, it's not,” I argue, shaking my head. “You're my best... Zeke, you're my best friend and I just... I shouldn't have... Shit! Shit! Shit!”
     
    “Addie...” he tries again, but my head is spinning.
     
    I can't believe I've done something so monumentally stupid.
     
    “You just... Six years, ya know?” I look up at him, pleading for understanding through my incessant rambling. “And no one else would have... They were so mean, Zeke, but not you...”
     
    “Addie...” he says softly, slowly catching his breath.
     
    “So they were to you... Because of me...” I sniff, struggling to hold back the tears. “And you should have told me, Zeke. I never would have... But you didn't and I didn't know for so long and now... ?”
     
    “Add...”
     
    “You know, this whole thing is your fault! I mean, what are you doing keeping secrets anyway? I tell you everything, you jerk!” I cut him off again. “And who the hell keeps a secret like that for six years ? What about our pact?”
     
    “I know...”
     
    “Never keep secrets, remember?”
     
    “I didn't want...”
     
    “I know! Because you were trying to protect me,” I shake my head. “Because you're a great friend, unlike me.”
     
    “Addie, would you...”
     
    “No, it's true! You keep your mouth shut for six years and I wreck everything in like six seconds!” I throw my hands up. “This is the reason for that pact! This is why we don't keep secrets! They're nothing but trouble!”
     
    “ Addie! ” he shouts as he stands, hovering over me and breaking me from my nervous rambling.
     
    “What?” I ask, turning to face him as he takes the two steps to separate us.
     
    “Shut up,” he breathes, holding my eyes for a moment before he grips my waist and bends to kiss me.

Chapter Eight
     
    Zeke
     
    One summer when we were kids, I mentioned that I thought there were less frogs outside than usual. It was as random a statement as any, but looking back, I should have known Addie would come up with some crazy idea to rectify it.
     
    Her solution was that we should start a frog farm and over the next few weeks, that's exactly what we did. By the time her dad caught on, her backyard was a complete mess, filled with Tupperware containers we'd swiped from our kitchens. Each was used to gather all the tadpoles we could in an attempt to refuel the frog population.
     
    We did a lot of dumb shit when we were kids, but I think I knew even when we were doing it that it was one of the stupidest. Over the years, any time we ever got into any trouble, I'd always reference the frog incident of 2001 to gauge how dumb we'd been. To date, we'd never surpassed that level of stupid.
     
    As I rest my hands on her neck, pushing my tongue into her mouth, I realize we've just topped the frog farm.
     
    I know it, but I can't stop.
     
    At first, I'm waiting for her to pull away and slap me, but she doesn't. Instead, she grips my sides and holds me closer, enveloping me in her scent. Wanting more, I deepen the kiss and feel the heat starting deep in my stomach, a low hum of pleasure shooting through me.
     
    When another whimper leaves her chest and she begins to relax against me, my head begins to swim. Tangling one hand into her hair, I steady her by resting the other on her waist, loving the feel of her warm skin on mine as my fingertips trace the edge of her shorts.
     
    I'd kissed more than my fair share of girls, done more with a couple of them, but none of them have ever had my head swimming like this.
     
    As she gently begins to rest her head in my hand, I feel her finally beginning to let go completely.
     
    That same indescribable spark I'd felt when I stole her first kiss shoots through me again.
     
    This time it's different though.
     
    It's much more than just a spark.
     
    This time, it's as if my soul has been waiting to be set on fire and Addie is the flame that's always