It Burns Within Us | Wildfire Series Book 1

S I X T E E N

The party was loud, noisy, and smelled like shitty beer. Luckily, Beau didn't notice the poor taste in liquor being served, considering he'd already downed half a tequila bottle. There was still enough left to pass around, though, and it quickly lit a fire in my throat to go along with the harsh buzz in my head.

There were too many people here, continually pushing past us to find their friends or the missing beer pong ball that was rolling beneath our feet somewhere. At some point, Beau yelled at some guy with a man bun, overthrowing his command of the music that pumped through huge speakers.

But as the pulsing bass grew hazier, the need to hover my hand on the small of Madie's back grew stronger. None of this was a good combination. And my predicament became even larger when a drunken Nessa threw out, "Let's play a game, shall we?"

Beau paused from looking through his music library, leaping at the idea. "Hell yeah, Nessy."

Nessa glared at him for a moment before continuing. "What about good ol' truth or dare?" she asked, smirking above the nearly empty tequila bottle. Her tongue flicked out, licking the glass rim. You'd think I'd feel something at the sight, considering the things that same tongue had done to my dick, but I didn't. We'd grown too close as friends, and it was hard to believe that anything else had ever happened between us.

But I did see the glint in her eyes, and I didn't trust it. Immediately, I snapped back at her. "No way."

Nessa's devilish grin grew. "I'm so happy that you volunteered to go first, Bren."

"No, let me go first!" Beau whined, and Nessa rolled her eyes. I didn't hear Madie's voice, so I turned to look over at her. She'd been pretty quiet tonight, but I saw amusement in her eyes now.

"Fine. Truth or dare, Beau?" I heard Nessa say and switched my attention back to the whole group.

"Dare," he said without hesitation.

"I dare you to go chug a Bud Light." Nessa pointed to the cooler full of beer, which sat next to a row of mismatched cabinets in the kitchen.

"What?" Beau exclaimed as if we'd asked the worst of him. A look of disgust washed over him. "God, no."

"Then drink up!" She shoved the tequila bottle in his face, but Beau didn't seem bothered about his punishment. That was the thing about drinking games—people didn't really care if they had to drink. It was the whole point, after all.

"Now, it's Bren's turn." Nessa turned to me, eyes shining. 

"No, it isn't," I protested, beyond nervous about whatever was up her sleeve. "This isn't even an actual drinking game, Nessa. Stop being childish."

"Truth or dare?" she asked anyway, ignoring me.

My friends stared expectantly, and I swore under my breath. Fine. I would go along with their little games, but hell would freeze over before I drunkenly revealed my secrets.

"Dare," I grumbled, and Nessa had never looked happier.

Shit.

"I dare you to kiss Madie," Nessa proudly announced, her grand fucking idea revealed.

I gritted my teeth, shooting Nessa a deadly glare.

The party scene blurred like a kaleidoscope as I turned to face Madie. Nothing seemed real, certainly not Madie's expression. With the way she blinked up at me, I could almost pretend that she was eager at the idea of Nessa's challenge. I surveyed her perfect face, probably for a moment too long. She darted her tongue out, licking it across peach lips. Goddamn, I hated Nessa.

I tried not to let myself think about kissing Madie because I knew it would be like falling down a rabbit hole that I'd never escape from. But the alcohol coursing through me and Madie's eager face and Nessa's dare left me imagining what it would be like. Her lips parted, her tongue licking mine, her moans in my mouth. I wanted it so bad, and Nessa was putting me through the worst test. 

Something told me that a kiss from Madie would spark something uncontrollable.

But I also remembered what she'd told me about Quinton cheating, though. And I knew, without a doubt, that this was Nessa's idea of a revenge game.

But Madie Lenertz wasn't a game to me.

Closing the space between Madie and I felt like resisting the pull of a magnet. Because if it had been my choice, I would have crushed her to me. Instead, I leaned down, agonizingly slow. I leveled my head with hers and brushed my lips across her cheek—and only her cheek.

Her skin was so soft.

Refusing to look at Madie's face, I stood back up, swiveling toward Nessa. I could tell by her frown that she was annoyed by my performance. But what the hell had she honestly expected?

By the time I did turn back to Madie, she was gone.

"Jesus, Bren!" Beau yelled over the music, swinging around his bottle of tequila. "How did you possibly fuck that up?"

A plethora of curse words came to mind. But I was more focused on Madie. "Which way did she go?" 

Someone, either Nessa or Beau, gave me a little nudge in the right direction, and I took off, making my way to the front door. Madie quickly came into view through the rain-splattered glass pane. She stood near the curb outside, letting the mist cover her.

"Madie!" I called, throwing open the door. The cool air hit me, clarity coming with it.

She spun around. Droplets of moisture rolled down her cheeks. God, I hoped it was just rain.

"Just go away, Bren," she yelled, beginning to take off in the direction of campus.

"No." I followed. After throwing my hood up, I shoved my hands in my jean pockets and strode after her.

She ducked her head and continued to walk through the rain.

"Come on, Madie. Talk to me."

Surprising me, she spun on her heel. "God, I'm sorry." She threw her hands in the air—the universal sign of defeat. "But Quinton goes out to parties and kisses other girls. And then he comes home and doesn't even bother to kiss me. But when I go to parties..."

She trailed off, swaying a little. Whether it was from emotion or alcohol, I wasn't sure. Her mouth popped open in a kind of horrified expression. "Oh my god, Bren. What does it say about me that I would have let you? All because I'm just so..."

She didn't finished, but I knew what she was saying. It was all because of Quinton.

Stepping through growing puddles, I made my way to her.

"It says nothing about you. You're feeling angry with Quinton, and that's normal. You should be mad at him."

She frowned, and I sighed.

"But that's why I didn't, Madie. I'm not going to kiss you so you can get back at your boyfriend. I'm not going to kiss you because you have a boyfriend. I'm not going to be apart of that." I sputtered the next words through a clenched jaw. "As much as I fucking hate him."

She shook her head, the rain falling down it. Her hair became a gorgeous gingery plait when it was wet.

"I know."

Then Madie's eyes flicked upward, and she asked me the one question designed to destroy me.

"But I have to know. What if I didn't have a boyfriend, Bren?"

She swallowed. Rain was the only barrier between us when she whispered, "Would you have kissed me then?"

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