Ignite (17 page)

Sitting down in the very spot where he’d just been standing, I grip my stomach and begin to sob.

August 13, 2010

Addie

Other than the arrival of my period three days in, the first week without him was awful. Since Zeke had to be at school a week early for ‘Hell Week,’ I’d had a few days to spend at home with my dad. Although I didn’t really want to be sociable with anyone, not even my dad, I have to admit I was glad he’d taken the week off. Between him working and everything that had happened between Zeke and me, it would be nice to spend some time with him before I left for school. I know how bummed out I was with the distraction, I could only assume how awful it would have been if he’d been away.

I don’t like to be theatrical, but I had to assume he would have come back to find me crying in a trashcan, naming a raccoon my new best friend.

Okay, so maybe I’ve got a tiny flair for the dramatic. Who knew?

Nonetheless, by the time we made our way to campus on the Saturday before my first classes, I felt better. Zeke hadn’t had much time with practice and getting settled, but he’d made a point to call me every night. Even if he could only manage to stay awake for ten minutes, it was still good to hear his voice.

When Daddy and I made it to my dorm, I met my roommate, Brittany, for the first time in person. We’d spoken briefly once or twice over the summer, but I didn’t really know much about her aside from her name. She seems pleasant enough, very pretty and outspoken, but since she already had friends here I had a feeling I wouldn’t be seeing much of her.

Once we got my things inside and got settled, we grabbed a late dinner at a small restaurant right off campus. Since it was such a long drive back, my dad decided he’d be staying at a hotel nearby. After he took me to breakfast the next day, he told me he’d have to be on his way.

I was both happy and surprised when he handed me a cell phone, making me promise to not go crazy.

“You can talk to Zeke all you want, it’s unlimited everything,” he’d started. “But I don’t want it interfering with your school work and I want you to call me, too.”

“I will, I promise,” I smiled, hugging him tightly. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“You’re welcome,” he said. “It’s the least I could do. You’re probably the only eighteen-year-old girl on the planet without a cell phone and you’ve never complained about it. I think you’ve earned it.”

Before I made it back to my room, I’d already sent Zeke a text.

Zeke

As I’m about to leave my room for practice, my cell sounds off in my pocket, notifying me of a text. I look at the screen to find the unknown number and am about to delete it, assuming it’s a wrong number, when I see her name.

It’s Addie! My dad got me a cell phone! Total score! Call me when you can, love you. *Addie*

Smiling to myself, I store her number and hit the call button, eager to hear her voice. When she picks up on the first ring, the goofy grin I’m wearing takes over.

“Hey!” she says excitedly.

“Hey babe,” I smile, locking the door behind me. “You busy?”

“Nope,” she says. “Well, I’m about to have to go to another assembly for something, but I’ve got a sec. How’s your day? I didn’t think you’d be able to call me right now.”

“Well, its Sunday so Coach let us come in an hour later than usual,” I start. “But I’m heading there now. I’ll get a break for lunch and then I have to go back until about five or six.”

“Okay,” she says. “Well, I just have this thing and then I figured I’d go for a walk or something so I don’t look like a complete dork tomorrow. I’ll have my brand-new cell phone with me though, so you can call me whenever you like.”

“Okay,” I chuckle. “Well, have fun. I’ve gotta haul ass so I’m not late, but I’ll call you soon. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

September 22, 2010

Addie

As I step inside my room, I’m relieved to find it empty. Over the past month and a half, I’d managed to fall into a routine. Since I’d been here, I’d immersed myself in classes and picked up a few tutoring gigs here and there to make some extra money. Although it didn’t cover much, it helped and it kept me from sitting in my room all night. Even that wasn’t enough to keep me busy, though.

Since I’d decided to major in veterinarian medicine, I’d gone to a nearby animal shelter and talked to them about doing some volunteer work today. I was happy to hear they actually had an opening.

Even though we’d managed to keep things afloat and still spoke constantly, I still hadn’t been able to see Zeke. He’d been trying to find a break in his schedule, but with football and full-time classes, it was nearly impossible to find a full weekend where he could make the drive. He’d told me last night he was working on it, though so I believed that we’d figure it out. I always believe everything he tells me, he’s never given me a reason not to.

When my phone begins to ring, I dig it out of my bag and am happy to see his face on the screen.

“Hey,” I say as I take a seat on my bed, the smile obvious in my voice even after exhaustion sweeps through me.

“Hi baby,” he replies, his voice sounding equally tired and happy. “How’s my girl?”

“Good,” I say, stretching across my bed. “So sleepy, though. How about you?”

“Same,” he admits. “I think Coach is trying to kill us.”

“Aw, poor baby,” I croon into the phone.

“I know,” he chuckles. “He’s fuckin’ brutal.”

“Sounds like it,” I say. “Oh, I signed up for a volunteer thing at this animal shelter today. I figured since I’m leaning toward the whole vet thing, it might help out some.”

“Yeah, for sure. That sounds cool. When do you start that?”

“This weekend,” I start. “They said I could come by tomorrow and they’d show me around and my first shift is Saturday after my class.”

“Oh,” he says, his voice sounding off.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I just actually called to tell you I had good news,” he sighs. “I was going to come and see you this weekend.”

“Seriously?” I say, obviously louder than I’d intended based on his laughter.

“Yeah, but I mean, if you’re doing shit…”

“Are you crazy?” I cut him off. “No, I’ll figure it out. Just come, Zeke.”

“Are you sure?” he asks hesitantly. “You sound like you’re gonna be busy the whole time.”

“I don’t care,” I tell him, instantly feeling a burst of energy in my veins. “I’ll take care of it. I really want to see you.”

“I want to see you, too, babe,” he says in a soft voice. “So you’re sure?”

“Yes,” I tell him. “I don’t care if I have to skip, I want to see you.”

“Okay,” he smiles. “Well, don’t skip, but I’ll come. Do you think your roommate’s gonna trip?”

“She probably won’t even be here,” I tell him.

“Ooh, even better,” he says, making me blush.

“Even if she is, she owes me,” I shrug. “She has her friends in here all the time and I never say a word.”

“Okay cool,” he says. “Well, I’m gonna go take a shower and eat, but I’ll call you before bed.”

“Okay,” I beam. “I’m really excited!”

“Me, too,” he says, the smile in his voice obvious before he lets out a low groan, the effects making my body hum with anticipation. “You have no idea, baby.”

Zeke

October 8, 2010

As I pull up to her dorm, the anticipation is nearly killing me. I’m not really sure where to go since I’ve never been here, so after closing my door, I look down to pull out my cell phone to call her. My thumb is hovering over the call button when something hits me like a ton of bricks.

“Oh my God! You’re here! You’re here! You’re here!” she squeals as she jumps into my arms, nearly knocking me over.

In fact, if it hadn’t been for us crashing into the side of my car, she might have.

Before I have a chance to respond, she has her arms and legs hooked around me, kissing me hard. Ignoring the whistles of people walking by, I rest my hands on her ass and squeeze, loving the feel of her in my arms, the taste of her on my lips. When we finally pull away, we’re both panting but smiling wide.

“God, I fucking missed you,” I manage, giving her another chaste kiss. “You scared the hell out of me.”

“I might have been waiting outside since you called last,” she admits, leaning her head on my shoulder, squeezing me harder. “I totally missed you more. You smell so good.”

“Hmm… so do you,” I say as I breathe her in, burying my nose into the crook of her neck. “And you’re crazy. There’s no way you missed me more, you liar.”

“Whatever,” she says, pressing her lips to my cheek and climbing down before taking my hand. “Come on, we’ll go put your stuff up.”

Since she was in a co-ed dorm, we didn’t have to sneak around too much, but we didn’t waste any time, either. In record time, we made it to the third floor to her room and before the door even latches shut, she’s turned and is hooking her arms around my neck again. Lifting her by her thighs, I take a few steps into the cramped space and pull away from her lips slightly.

“You still taking your pill?” I ask, grateful when she nods.

“Yeah.”

After our scare right before I left, she didn’t waste any time in making an appointment once we’d known we were in the clear. Between knowing we were better protected and I wouldn’t have to have anything else separating me from her, I was stoked.

“Thank God” I groan before looking at the beds. “Which one?”

“Over here,” she says, gesturing to the one on my right.

Dropping her onto the mattress, I pull my shirt over my head as I watch her kick her shoes off. By the time she starts working on her shirt, I’m already unzipping her jeans, cursing the existence of clothing altogether.

“Why are you wearing so many clothes?” I manage, making her grin.

“Watch out,” she says, pushing my hands out of the way and moving with expert speed.

Once she begins to peel them off, I help her, tossing them to the side and climbing on top of her. Moving below me as I bury my lips in her cleavage, she frees herself of her thong and in the next second, I’m pushing into her.

“Oh my God!” she gasps, the volume of her voice drowning out the low groan that leaves my chest.

“Fuck!” I groan out as I begin to move inside her. “God, I missed you, Addie.”

Two months without her has me moving hard and fast almost immediately, needing to get as much as possible of her as quickly as I can. Her hot breath comes out in quick pants as we find our rhythm, holding her in place as I drive into her again and again. In just a few minutes, she’s already finding her climax, calling my name out loudly and taking me with her.

“Zeke,” she cries out. “I’m about to come!”

“Let me have it, baby,” I croon as I run my lips over her jaw, loving the taste of the salt on her skin as her hazel eyes begin to flutter slightly.

Gripping her jaw, I turn her head slightly and bury my lips into her neck, licking and sucking her there hard, marking her. When she begins to drive her nails into my skin, her pussy clenching around me, I can’t hold on any longer. Pushing into her harder as she begins to pour over me, I feel her wetness dripping down between us and can’t stop the growl leaving my chest. Gripping the top of the low headboard, I take her full force as I watch her cry out beneath me, finally tipping me over the edge.