Ignite by Kate Benson Read Free Book Online Page B

been meant to ignite it.
     
    Addie
     
    When he slowly pulls away from me, he gently sucks on my lower lip and the action causes me to sway.
     
    He stays close, his lips hovering so close to mine that I can feel his hot breath washing over me. He smells delicious, like cinnamon Jolly Ranchers and home. I want nothing more than to encase myself in his scent and bathe in it, drown in it.
     
    My eyes are oddly heavy, like the time we'd found that bottle of peach Schnapps and snuck it into my room. We took turns sipping until the bottle was empty and both of us were obnoxiously drunk.
     
    With everything that's happening right now, you'd think I'd be able to focus, but I can't stop thinking about that peach Schnapps. My lips had been numb by the time we'd finished the bottle.
     
    Right now, as I stare back into the deep blue eyes, heavy as mine, I feel anything but numb. I feel awakened in ways I've never felt before. I feel a strange jolt of adrenaline pumping through my veins, all the way to my jelly filled limbs.
     
    I feel like I could really use a sip of that peach Schnapps.
     
    “Addie,” he whispers, breaking my thoughts as his lips remain close enough to brush against mine.
     
    “Zeke,” I manage at the same time, finally coming back into my senses enough to feel his muscular arms locked in my grip.
     
    We stand there, both of us unable to speak for a moment until another voice breaks through our trance.
     
    “Hey Zeke!” one of his friends, Tyler, calls out, causing me to divert my gaze.
     
    I see him jogging over toward us, but all I can focus on is Zeke's hot breath against my neck.
     
    “Zeke,” I whisper, as I turn to face him again. “What's happening?”
     
    “I'm not sure,” he admits, his low voice matching mine.
     
    We're still wrapped in each other as Tyler approaches us, neither of us willing to let go. I'm unsure if it's fear or comfort we're looking for from the other. Leaning in to keep his words between us, a chill shoots down my spine as his lips brush against my ear.
     
    “It's gonna be alright, Addie,” he assures me, watching as I swallow hard. “No matter what, we'll be okay.”
     
    Meeting his eyes, the determination there gives me the strength to answer him with a slight nod and immediately feel calm sweep through me.
     
    “Hey man,” Tyler says as he finally comes to a stop in front of us.
     
    “Hey,” Zeke says, slowly releasing me as he turns to face his friend.
     
    My body suddenly feels a loss as we separate that has me stifling a sigh. I watch as the two of them greet each other, but my mind is elsewhere, floating.
     
    Try as I might, I can't focus on anything that's being said in the fog of my thoughts.
     
    “Addie,” Zeke says, gently squeezing the shoulder he's kept his hand resting on, pulling me back to Earth.
     
    “Yeah?” I say, looking up at him and shaking my head clear.
     
    “Do you know Tyler?” he asks, his eyes searching mine in concern.
     
    “Yeah,” I nod, turning to face his friend who's also staring at me expectantly. “Well, kind of. I sat next to you in chemistry.”
     
    “Really?” Tyler says, his mind wandering as he tries to place me.
     
    “Yeah,” I nod, unable to stop the eye roll from happening.
     
    “Oh... well, hey,” he says giving me a small smile before facing Zeke again. “Well, are y'all comin'? If you are, you might wanna hurry. Some of the guys got here early, so the food's almost gone already.”
     
    “Yeah,” Zeke says. “Lemme just grab my phone.”
     
    “Alright, man,” Tyler says, giving him a nod and waiting patiently as Zeke squeezes my shoulder again reassuringly and leaves us to retrieve his phone from the cab of his mom's truck.
     
    My mind is still reeling when he makes his way back to us only a moment later, his voice breaking through.
     
    I'm a strong girl. I could survive a lot of things, but losing Zeke isn't one of them.
     
    “Okay,” he says, looking down at me. “You