ignite |arouse or inflame

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2/4/17

"PLEASE FRANNY," I beg at my best friend as we sit at our regular table at the coffee shop.

"I don't know," she drawls. "Doesn't seem that fun," she sighs before she sips on her large cup of coffee.

"It's a band, playing at a bar..." I trail off confused at how this doesn't sound fun to my best friend. Drinking and cute boys playing music is right up her alley, pretty sure it's actually her definition of a good time.

"Are you into Brooks or something?" she questions with drawn eyebrows.

"What?" I exclaim, taken back by her random question. "Of course not! We're just friends," I tell her truthfully, but my words come out defensively for some reason. Like I have a reason to cover up my feelings, feelings I know don't exist.

"Why not?" Francesca asks with a small smile. "He's cute in that boy next door kind of way," she says with a shrug as if he's not her type but she could see him with someone like me. Someone simple.

Her assessment of Brooklyn makes me feel weird and I don't know why, so I shove it away and move on. "I don't know, I just don't like him like that..." I trail off not feeling like I need to explain my words any further.

"But you like someone?" she pushes as the smile on her face widens with a touch of excitement brightening her eyes.

"No, I don't," I scoff as my arms cross over my chest.

"Why not?" she questions. "You hear me go on and on about boys all the time, tell me about the boy that makes your heart pitter patter," she chuckles at her use of words as she tosses me a cheesy wink.

"Yeah, sorry no pattering over here," I say with an eye roll.

"Hmm..." she mumbles not quite believing me but also not pushing any further on the topic. She knows me well enough to know to stop when she's ahead or I tend to shut down. More than I already do.

"So will you go or not?" I inquire trying to get back to the main conversation at hand.

"Fine," she relents, settling back into her chair. "But that means you need to go to the next big party Asher throws with me," she bargains with a smirk touching her pink lips.

"Fine," I huff now me being the one to give in. "You drive a hard bargain you know?" I tell her dryly though a smile pulls at my cheeks as I tuck a stray hair behind my ear.

"I know," she agrees with the tilt of her head. "My parents think I should become a lawyer," she informs me.

"You would be great at that," I confirm honestly as I lift my drink about to bring it to my lips.

"Why thank you best friend," she smiles brightly before raising her large coffee cup and clinking it against mine before we both take a swig.

* * * * *

"Okay, this might be fun," Francesca admits once we walk into the small dive bar downtown.

"Really?" I chuckle sarcastically knowing she would have a great time if she just gave in.

"Thankfully you're hot enough the bouncer didn't even check my ID," I tell her tucking my wallet back into my purse. The bar is eighteen and older and I'm sadly the last seventeen year old on this earth who has to sneak her way into grungy old bars to just listen to some music.

"You're welcome," she sings with a dramatic flip of her long hair over her shoulder.

A small laugh escapes my lips as I shake my head at my best friend. "I'm going to say hi to Brooks," I tell her as I toss my thumb over my shoulder to point towards the area the band is setting up. I let my eyes scour the dark corner before they finally land on the brown haired boy I'm searching for, a smile tugging at my lips before I can stop it.

"Okay, I'm going to go get a drink," Francesca lets me know. "Do you want anything?" she asks though her face tells me she isn't expecting an actual response or a positive one at that.

So I surprise her. "Whatever you're getting," I respond casually. She's usually one for more fruity or sweet drinks, which means I know whatever she orders I will at least tolerate.

"Really?" she questions in disbelief as her mouth falls agape.

"Why not?" I answer with a slight lift of my bare shoulders. "We're having fun tonight," I say with a grin painted across my face.

Francesca jumps in the air as if she's won the best prize in the world. "Hell yes Mae," she exclaims before she runs off towards the bar with a skip in her step. I can't help the giggle that falls from my mouth at her antics, but I'm happy I could at least put her in a good mood. She won't show many people the side of her that isn't happy, perfect Francesca, but she shows me. And I know things aren't as perfect as people may seem, even me.

I turn on my heel and make my way over to my favorite drummer. My sandals stick a bit to the covered spilled drink floor, and my dress swings around my thighs somehow making me feel more confident then I really am. Or maybe it isn't what I'm wearing. Maybe it's the excitement of seeing my friend perform on stage in front of a continuously growing crowd.

"Brooks!" I call out when I'm close enough to him. His body jumps slightly as if I scared him a little, but as his big brown eyes meet mine his face morphs from shock to pure elation to see me. 

"Maeleigh," he responds as he walks over and wraps his long arms around my waist in a simple hug. My body reacts by hugging him back, letting his overflowing warmth seep into my bones making me clutch him a bit longer for a second. But just a second, and then I let go and step back as my neck flushes with a slight embarrassment for holding him like that.

"Are you about to go on?" I ask awkwardly. I already know the answer obviously, and yet here I am still feeling the heat of her arms wrapped around me causing my head to turn into a jumbled mess.

"Yeah," he nods as his eyes cast to his band mates finishing up, and now proceeding to sound checks.

"Are you nervous?" I question suddenly. I've always been a little jealous of people who can stand in front of other people and share their talent. Maybe it's because I'm so used to stepping back and letting other people take the limelight that standing in it myself seems terrifying.

"Always a little," he admits with a small shrug as he tucks his hands into his front pockets. "But once I'm on stage—"

"Everything falls into place," I answer for him as if I knew his exact words before he even said them.

"It does," he replies quietly as his eyes narrow in on me lightly as if he's trying to read me, understand me as if I'm not an open book. A boring one at that, but to him wide open. Because growing up we never judged one another, and when he left I was more upset then I let on. I was afraid to show him how much he meant to me, but now he's back. My friend is back, and if that isn't cause for celebration then I don't know what is.

I take a step back then realizing I'm taking up his time to finish warming up. "You're going to kill it," I tell him with a nod and a smile grazing my lips.

"Thanks Mae," he expresses with the tilt of his head. His messy brown hair, and his vast brown eyes making my smile grow.

"You better give me a shout-out," I tell him as I raise an eyebrow at him and point a finger at him playfully.

"You got it," he assures me before his back to me once again and I turn to face my best friend in the middle of the bar with two drinks in her hands.

"Hey," I say to Francesca as I approach her in the growing crowd. "Thanks," I tell her as she hands me some pink drink with a sugar rim and funky straw. I eye it suspiciously before I close my eyes and take a swig. I'm having fun, attempting to let loose and not be so timid. So I take an even larger swig following my first letting the tart drink explode on my tongue.

"No problem," she calls out over the music as the band begins their set.

The lead singer starts out by himself, completely acapella, and he's amazing. He has this deep smooth voice with a slight rasp that flows easily through the lyrics. Then the drums come in with the other instruments and I'm taken aback by Brooklyn. He may be in the back, but my eyes are on him. Locked in on the way his head bobs with the rhythm, and the strength in his arms as he beats away on the drums in front of him as if they are an extension of him.

"Wait, they're actually pretty good," Francesca leans in to speak in my ear, surprise lining her tone.

"I told you," I mouth to her with pursed lips that are trying to hold back a victorious smirk.

My eyes then cast the room until I spot what I'm in sudden need for. "I'm going to run to the bathroom," I shout over the loud music filling the small space. "Hold my drink," I instruct as I hand her my cold drink and wipe the condensation from my hand onto my dress.

"You got it," she nods but not before I see her take a swig of my drink.

Her eyes meet mine and she knows she caught and I stick my tongue out at her before she snorts out a chuckle.

I leave her to drink my drink and head to the back of the bar towards the restrooms. I weave my way through the young crowd and down a hallway when I pass a random door and a hand shoots out to grab me.

"What the—" comes flying out of my mouth as a strong hand comes out of nowhere and grips my arm. Fear flies through me as I try to pull out of the grip of this creep who's pulling me inside a closet to probably kill me. I'm about to scream when a single word stops me.

"Chill." A shiver flies through my body at the deep timbre of his voice, as well as a bolt of annoyance at the fact he scared me so much.

"Asher," I growl out as I pull out of his grasp and shove at his hard chest. As his name leaves my lips he flicks the light on, a single old light bulb, providing us some light as his body is washed in a warm amber glow.

"Maeleigh," he mimics with his always-taunting smirk plastered across his handsome and devilish face.

"Why are you even here?" I ask, attempting to keep my space from him, knowing we don't usually end well in confined spaces.

"Why are you?" he counters. His body slowly follows my movements so that he's barely brushing my front, igniting a desire that I didn't know existed until he stood in front of me. Making me ache for the real pressure of his body against mine. Teasing me, testing me, as the small bulb lights him like a flickering flame that just wants a lick. A taste. But I know he'll get more. He'll swallow me whole until there's nothing left of me.

"Because my friend is playing," I state honestly about Brooklyn. I cross my arms over my chest in attempts to create some sort of semblance of resistance to his magnetic draw.

"Yeah, well they suck," he shrugs as if they mean nothing to him. And they don't. No one does, because to Asher he's the only one that matters. He alone is the ruler of his kingdom.

"No, they don't," I say, calling him out, my words dipped in anger. "You don't always have to be an ass you know," I tell him as my arms cross tighter over my chest not wanting to be anywhere near him right now.

"Meh, but I'm so used to it at this point," he declares indifferently. "Why change now?" he questions with a cocked head and a presence that's still close for comfort.

"Whatever," I respond, not up to his infuriating antics at the moment. "I'm leaving," I state convincingly, even to myself.

"No," he blurts loudly, immediately stopping me in my tracks. "Don't," he adds his voice thick, filled with an honest emotion that makes me pause if only for a second.

"What do you want Asher?" I ask earnestly as my simple eyes meet his wild ones. His eyes are always so moody, so cloudy, and on the verge of a massive storm. But when will it finally strike? And will I be swept up in it?

"You didn't kiss me," he states easily.

"No, I didn't," I agree, thinking back to his car. The way his hand caressed my cheek, the way his body leaned into mine, the way I wanted more. The only taste I got was his hot breath that fell across my lips, but god, it was far from enough. Not even close. So I pulled away, because I knew it would end in smoke and flames. I knew one taste would cause me to drown in a way I know I would never survive.

"Why?" he pushes.

"Why does it matter?" I counter pushing away the small part of me that wants to appease him and just kiss him. But I know the truth, so I speak it and don't hide myself. I fight back, something only he tends to bring out in me. "Oh, cause your ego's so large you can't handle one girl turning you down, move on Asher," I breathe out irritated. The way I spoke to him shocking even myself as my heart pounds wildly in my chest.

"No," he responds calmly, the word simple yet dark and carrying an aura about it. "That's not the reason," he informs me before stepping closer to me once again.

"Then what?" I question as my eyes take in his long lean body, feeling nerves creep slowly through my veins.

"Because you're the first person I wanted to want to kiss me back," his eyes suddenly clear from the clouds, as if he's coming to a realization. His eyes are clear and as dark as the night sky, and I find myself trying to find stars.

"I..." I trail off not knowing what to say in the face of his raw honesty.

"Do you want to kiss me back?" he urges me as his body takes up even more of my space.

"How was the party with Francesca?" I utter out of nowhere trying to change the direction of this conversation. Because I know if I don't I will let him kiss me, and fall into his burning flame. A flame I would be foolish enough to think won't burn me, like I'm any exception.

We all know what they say about playing with fire.

"Fine," he answers quickly.

"Yeah, I bet," I retort snidely.

"Franny's beautiful, and funny, and charismatic—" he begins to list her many flawless qualities.

"I get it," I cut him off not wanting to hear how perfect my best friend is in this moment with the one man who sets me aflame like no one I've ever met.

"And I'll probably end up with her or someone like her," he tells me as his body leans even more into mine until his tall gait is towering over me leaving me nowhere to move.

"Good, because she's my best friend and really likes you," I say, though my words come out unconvincing and breathy as his eyes cast over my body. My tall, lanky, awkward body, and yet as his eyes rake over me I feel wanted. I feel sexy, and I can't help but want to chase this feeling even further. Even if it does burn me a little.

"That's great and all, but then why do I only want the girl from my bathroom who refuses to kiss me back," he says as his eyes reach mine and the stark blackness of his eyes scare me and draw me in all at once. He looks like an animal waiting to attack his prey.

"You want what you can't have," I tell him as my chest begins to rise and fall faster as my pulse beats throughout my entire body making me feel even more heated.

"But I can have you," he says with emphasis as his hands reach out to cage my body in to his.

"Can you?" I taunt though we both know he can have whatever he wants because he is the boy everyone falls on their knees for. And as his bold eyes lock on mine, and his tongue swipes against his bottom lip, my body trembles knowing I might do the same for just the chance to have him touch me with his perfect lips.

"Then stop me," he states huskily.

"From what?" I ask pretending as if I don't know where this is about to go. Pretend I'm not about to hurt my best friend in the process. Pretend this won't end in a colossal fire that injuries more then just me. Pretend I'm just going to dance in the flames before they burn me.

"From doing this," he whispers before his lips land on mine.

Everything shifts in this singular moment. I'm not quiet Maeleigh, I'm not the girl who is clumsy kissing boys, and gets nervous when they even attempt to make moves on me. Not that many do. I'm not overly aware and overthinking every single moment.

I'm scorched.

Completely burned by Asher's lips, body, hands, everything. And all I want is more, more, more, until he's left me in a pile of nothing but blackened ash.

I crave his taste, so I flick my tongue against his lips until he gives me what I want. He gives me everything I never knew I wanted as we begin to devour each other. I become desperate for anything and everything he can give me. I'm hot and needy in a way I never even knew existed.

My body is a buzz with an energy that I can feel myself shaking underneath the touch of his mirrored want. The sudden need for his hands not locked on my waist bolts through me. I silently plead for his touch as I pull him closer needing his touch everywhere. Exploring, teasing, taking, taking everything until I'm so far gone I don't even know my own name.

So in a move I never expected to come from me I grab his right hand. I lace my fingers through his and lead his hand down the side of my hips until we reach the hem of my dress. His kiss turns harder and more feverish as if he knows where I'm leading him. And as our linked hands slip under the hem of my flowy dress I give him a reassuring squeeze before I let go.

Asher's fingers slide under my dress and grip the back of my thigh until I'm climbing him like a tree. A groan rips from this throat, as our kissing turns almost animalistic. It's all lips, tongue, and teeth. At one point I bite his lip so hard I taste metal and that only spurs him to kiss me harder and give me more of him. More of the electricity that sits like a livewire under his skin just waiting to reach out and shock someone senseless. And it may hurt, but damn, it's completely worth it.

My lungs burn for air, but I would rather die of lack of oxygen then let his lips leave mine. He tastes of heaven, yet I know he's hell. It's as if he poured gasoline on my body and tossed a match on me laughing as he watches me attack his body for a feeling I know he can only give me. A feeling of pure bliss, and down right filthiness as his hips surge against mine.

The dress I wear is now shoved up around my waist, right under my breasts, and as his hand travels further up and traces over the sensitive skin of my chest my lips break from his as my head flies back into the wall a moan tearing from my parted lips. Every part of me is ablaze with a need and a passion that only Asher Lawton can squelch, and I feel as if my skin might actually burn right off of me with how much I ache for him in this moment.

Asher doesn't let that stop him though, he only gives me more. He assaults my flesh with everything he has until I'm slowly melting into him piece by piece.

His teeth sink into my neck letting his tongue sooth the bite after, as his one hand covers my breast, and the other runs a finger over the lace of my underwear. Over and over and over again until my hips are rocking into his chasing a feeling I've never felt before. A feeling I can only describe as pure and epic ecstasy.

"Please," I beg hurriedly as my hands sink into his perfect locks tugging harshly with a need that burns through my bloodstream.

"What do you want Maeleigh?" he taunts as I feel the curve of his lips turning up into a smirk against my flushed skin. My full name coming off his tongue mixes with the alcohol in my bloodstream making me feel drunk on Asher. Drunk on his touch, on his lips, on his everything.

"Don't be an ass," I growl. My mind is on a one-track course of one thing at the moment, and I don't need his games right now.

"Come home with me," he demands. His words husky and filled with the same desire that I know fills my bones. My hazy brain wants to give in right away but the fog begins to clear and I know I can't go home with him. It would be an even bigger mistake than this was. Though my body doesn't think any part of this is a mistake, as my legs remain locked around his waist longing for more.

"No," I deny, though it comes out weak.

"Come home with me, now," he pushes letting his fingers move just barely underneath the lace of my underwear. My body surges against him in a desperate plea to go further.

"No," I sigh as my head bangs once again against the wall letting the dull pain seep into me as a wake up call to not agree to go home with him.

"Why not?" he questions as he places a soft kiss on my jaw followed by a nip that makes me hold in a low moan.

"Because I'm here to watch Brooks," I explain, though I quickly realize the longer I'm in this closet with Asher I'm also not watching my best friend play on stage.

"What, that tool?" he scoffs about my friend. "No, come home with me instead." And I can't lie, his request makes me tingle with knowing what the future could be if I went home with him at this very moment.

So I say, "No," once again knowing I can't take that risk. Because if I go home with him right now, I won't survive.

"You know you want to," he reasons as his lips brush against mine teasingly.

"Nope," I say breathy as my eyes hold onto his smoke filled eyes. I can see the dirty things he's picturing for us, and I can't deny that I want those things also, but as my legs slide down his body and I put as much space between us that I can. I know.

I know I can't take this any further. I had my taste. I squashed the interest. I got it out of my system, and I won't ever need to do it again. Ever.

"Then let me take you home at least," he says next, and his eyes suddenly fill with something else. A need, like he doesn't want me to leave. And that look alone, makes me agree.

So the word, "Okay," falls off my tongue before I know it.

My phone is in my hands the very next second texting Franny about how I don't feel well and am going to catch an uber home since we walked here. She responds quickly about how she hopes I feel better, and that she's with friends so I shouldn't worry about her.

The shame lessens at her texts, texts also filled with a few misspellings alerting me that she's definitely more than a little tipsy. The guilt nags at me though in the back of my mind, but as Asher's fingers lace through mine and tug me against the wall for one more heart stopping kiss.

Everything disappears, and nothing matters. Nothing but him, and his lips.

So as he leads me through the dark and crowded bar with dipped heads trying not to attract any attention, my eyes betray me and flicker up. Because a small part of me realizes that something else does matter.

And as I'm almost to the door with Asher attached to me, big brown eyes lock in on me and I watch my friend lift a hand in a simple wave.

A wave I plan on returning until I'm yanked out the front door by Asher. With that I don't give a second glance back to the friend who sits behind the drums. A friend who just watched me leave his gig without a goodbye.

And I realize in this moment Asher was right. With him I am closer to hell. But I also realize I want to stay for just a little bit longer.