Ignite Me: Shards of Glass, Part One

by Mills, L. C.

He gave me a perplexed look. “What are you thanking me for Evan?!”

  I smiled hearing him call him by my preferred name. He'd taken to calling me that since everything this morning.

  “Because you opened my door! I'm not used to guys with such good manners!” I grinned

  chapter 12

  He smiled as he placed his hand on my lower back and started to guide me towards the large building with a large beautiful stone carved archway. “This is the main entrance! Quite something, isn't it?!” He gazed up the ornate stone carvings.

  I arched my head back to look. “It sure is!” I studied his profile. He really did have the most fascinating facial structure. His cheek bones perfectly aligned with the shadows from his eyelashes.

  He glanced at me with a bemused look on his face and smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “The arts inside Evan!” He raised a brow.

  I mock pouted. “But you are an art work Cameron that I wish to look at in detail!” I raised a brow.

  He blinked at me rapidly, his cheeks turning a subtle pink. “Oh, do you now!”

  He recovered his embarrassment as he climbed the few steps up to the large wooden doors. They were open with various signs detailing what was on display. We passed the usual tourists with their big cameras all taking photos of everything and anything.

  “I always used to moan about tourists in Hollywood! Taking photos of everything but when I moved back here I realised why they did it! I mean when you grow up around a place the sights and sounds are normal to you, but when you've not and you see all these things you want to take photos of it or buy the tacky tourist stuff because it's not tacky it cool and it's something to remember it by!” I shrugged as we walked in. I was immediately in awe. We were standing in a cavernous room with white marble floors and pillars with ornate carvings set into them. Right in the center of the room hanging above the modern information desk was a huge blue and yellow chandler.

  I felt Cameron's hand slip around my waist.

  “Is that made of glass?!” I pulled my phone from my pocket and turned the camera app on snapping a couple of photos.

  I heard a camera, snap right by me and turned frowning only to find Cameron smirking at being caught.

  “Yes I did and yes it is and because your face in profile when your all awestruck is angelic!” He smiled.

  I shook my head at him. “I find having your sound off stops the camera click from giving you away!” I winked at him playfully.

  “I will be sure to take that advice! I believe the chandelier is 11 meters high and is made from blown glass!”

  “That is immense!” I loved this place already! “I'm gonna get a map!” I grinned excitedly as I marched towards the desk. I scanned the label on the front.

  “Please leave a donation for the map.” I dug around in my jeans pocket until my fingers found coins and pulled out one that felt like a pound. I checked it and then slipped into the slotted box gaining a polite smile from the older lady behind the desk. The other younger woman had been too busy starring outright at Cameron to even notice what I had been doing. In part I was used to other women looking at the people I went out with but it had never annoyed me like it did with him. It wasn't his fault, he was oblivious to it. I stared at the younger one until she looked over. I gave her a dirty look and then turned around and walked back to Cameron. “I got us a map, baby!” I said it loud enough for it to echo over to the desk.

  “Where shall we start?!” He slipped his arm around my waist and took the map. “How about sculptures?! They have the biggest collection outside of Italy!”

  I smiled, pleased he'd choose to ignore the fact I'd been loud on purpose. “Sounds good to me, says the gift shop is there too!” I pointed at the map.

  He smiled. “More gifts for your little friend?!” He said with a slight sarcastic hint to it.

  I rolled my eyes at his reference to the fact I'd given Damon the fox. I didn't intend to get him anything. I'd have to bail on pizza so I guessed he'd give me the cold shoulder for a while. I didn't want to tell Cameron about the whole pizza deal because he'd never understand it so I choose to not tell him! “Nope, just more stuff for my wall in my bedroom and a few things for Jess!”

  He smiled. “Not that I mind who you buy stuffed animals for of course!” His tone said he did mind, very much.

  I laughed. “Well, that's a lie! You slammed the SUV door so loud I'm sure poor Jones would have gotten a headache!”

  He was silent for a moment. “Is it so wrong I was jealous of him?!” He gripped my side a little tighter.

  “No, it's not wrong! It's just unfounded! I don't like him in the same way I like you and besides, women look at you all the time! Miss Information desk couldn't stop herself! If you'd have stood there a moment longer she'd have needed to clean the steam from her glasses!”

  I huffed.

  “I don't know what you mean! I'm hardly what you'd call traditionally good looking! Women don't look at me like that!” He shook his head.

  He genuinely had no idea. “I love how clueless you are about normal everyday things! It's endearing! Don't worry, I'll protect you from all their lusty stares!” I grinned.

  “Why thank you for the offer! The only woman I ever want to have look at me like anything is you!” He gave me a gentle squeeze.

  “Oh trust me, I look at you in many ways.” I smirked.

  We made our way down a long corridor all white marble and high ceilings. It was beautiful by its self as it was. As we got half way down the statues turned more Renaissance in style.

  “Do you mind if we sit for a while?! I'd love to do a couple small sketches! This is the best era for proper proportion! They really caught all the lines and tones just right!” I found an empty bench seat and made myself busy getting my sketch pad out and pencil out.

  Cameron sat himself down next to me.

  I became engrossed sketching one of the female statues, until I heard another camera click.

  “Really should put that on silent Cameron!” I smirked as I swept my pencil down the line of the hip.

  “Noted and done! You stick your tongue out when you concentrate and that's very good! How can you say you’re not good?!” His head, threw shadows over my page as he moved forward a fraction.

  I chewed my lip. “Because I can't draw detail! Like her face! It’ll be blank because otherwise I will drive myself mental!” I looked up at the statues surrounding us.

  “These are my favourite because they've shown a soft female side! Some and rightly so show the harsher lines and features of both male and female, but these are from an age when they only had Greek statues to go on! I mean they had an advantage over painters from that point! See the perfect lines of muscle on her thigh?! How it perfectly sweeps down from the top of the thigh to the knee?! It could quite happily come to life and be able to walk normally! Also, how the breasts follow the same rules! Perfect round peaks with that little nipple in the center! You know just enough to cup in your hand! Not too big, that would have been too much, but let's face it breasts were a big thing then! Even some of the men in sculptures had breasts! In reality, of course they aren't perfect unless you've had work done!” I paused, wondering if I was boring him because he'd fallen silent. I looked around to find him lent over with his elbows on his knees.

  I frowned and went back to my explanation, I'd started so he could damn well hear it to the end!

  “Uh yeah, so talking about men! Like that one over there! It wasn't just the female sculptures that got detail! Just look at the tone and the lines of the pecks on his chest! And how his hip muscles budge slightly, giving that feel that he is strong! Even down to the arms, literally no detail went unmissed, these have it all right down to his manhood. You’ll notice the female ones have a very slight hint at arm muscles but the male one isn't hiding the fact he has a set of guns!’’

  I admired the statues. “Do you know what I find fascinating is that they are carved from huge
slabs of marble! I mean to start with a block and work it into that just blows my mind!” I took some photos with my phone and then turned back around to look at Cameron but he was silent.

  “Cameron?!” I asked his name softly as I placed a hand on his shoulder suddenly worried he wasn't feeling well. He had his eyes closed and was pressing his temple.

  “Are you okay?!” The panic started to rise in my chest. What if he was sick?! What if I needed to call an ambulance I knew nothing about him other than his name. “Please talk to me, I'm starting to freak out here... Did I bore you with my art chat...? I'm sorry.” I chewed my lip wondering what was wrong with him.

  He turned his head to look at me. His eyes darker than normal. “I'm not sick, don't worry! You didn't bore me at all, I enjoyed your little, talk a little more than what you expected!” He raised a brow as he glanced down at his shoes again.

  I was confused for a moment, then it struck me. Had he been turned on by me talking about breasts and lines and tone?!

  “Oh.” I didn't know what else to say.

  He turned his head towards me again. “I just need a moment to think about things that aren't remotely sexy and I'll be fine.” He took a breath in, his eyes burning into mine.

  That was the one good thing about being female you could think of the sexiest thing ever and no one would outwardly know you were turned on but men, they didn't have it as easy. I glanced at him while he was looking at his shoes and noticed the hitch in his trousers. It didn't bother me, but it can't have been pleasant sitting there like that.

  “Cats licking their butts!” I blurted it out without thinking. It struck me as funny as I said and started to giggle.

  “What the actual fuck!” He looked confused.

  I tried to hold my laughter, but couldn't. Tears rolled down my face as my shoulders shook with laughter.

  “Well, you said...” I started to giggle again. “That you wanted to think about something less sexy... Cats licking their butts is the unsexiest thing I could think of!” I sniffed in.

  The smile started at the corner of his mouth as he started to chuckle. “Thank you the shock alone did the trick!” He stood up as if to prove his point.

  “So it did!” I glanced at him and then also stood up, taking hold of his hand.

  He shook his head. “I've never known a woman like you before, but if I wasn't 100% sure before I am now! I am head over heels in love with you Evan!” He slipped his hand into mine.

  I felt like my bones were melting as he looked at me. “I really very much enjoy your company, I can't say I love you back yet because it would be a lie, but I want you know that I have never felt so loved before and when I do say it you will know it's genuine!”

  I couldn't be sure it had come over quite as I wanted it to but he smiled at me and kissed my hand as we walked.

  “I am happy to wait for you to be ready, I will enjoy watching you fall, and just so you know I'll be there to catch you when you’re ready!”

  I smiled at him. “Thank you, I'm still catching up to you!” I grinned. He had a way of making what he said almost poetic.

  After an hour and a half we had walked around half of the museum and were now lost.

  “I think we're here, right?!” I said, pointing at the map. We were standing next to a pair of life-sized silver lions that stood proudly watching us. Cameron had taken a photo of me having my head eaten by them.

  “Yeah, so the stairs are over there, well at least they should be!” He laughed.

  “What's so funny?!” I studied him.

  “I was just thinking if there was anybody I'd like to get lost somewhere with it'd be you!” He smiled at me.

  I grinned. “This is true! I quite like getting lost with you! I mean, where better to get lost!” I started off towards the end of the corridor.

  “Stairs should be down here!” I grinned as he quickened his pace to reach me.

  “I am so getting that photo of you blown up!”

  I laughed as I saw the staircase just ahead. “Well, I'm sure it’ll make a good talking point!”

  I waited for him to catch up. He had a habit of wanting to walk down the stairs one ahead of me. He was still worried about my lack of eye hand coordination.

  “I know you think I'm being silly, but I just like to make sure you don't fall down because it takes real skill to fall upstairs so I dread to think how you'd fall down them!” He started down the stairs.

  “With style!” I grinned as I climbed down behind him. I didn't mind. He cared and it was more than Sean ever had. He always found my lack of coordination a source of comedy.

  “Oh, I am sure you would! Did you want to go to the gift shop?!” He turned at the bottom and waited for me.

  “Yes, please, I want to get some postcards and whatever else I can find that might take my fancy!” I studied him as I took the last few steps down. He looked older than his years, but that came with what he did. I had only known him a week, but I had got used to his company.

  “You look thoughtful! What are you thinking?!” He studied me. His eyes scanning me, his brain whirling as it worked out my body language for clues.

  I smiled at him. “I'm thinking about you actually!”

  His face lit up. “Good things I hope.”

  I smiled widely. “That even though I've known you for a week I would really miss your company and seeing your curly haired face!”

  As I reached him he pulled me into a hug, his arms wrapping around me holding me against him. “I'd miss you too.”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Once you scratch the surface of your cold, calculated exterior, you are actually really very likeable!” I grinned.

  He placed me down with a grin. “Cold and calculated exterior... Hmm, what makes you think it's just a front?!” He stepped back and studied me, making a point.

  I tilted my head to one side. “Because anybody that is that cold and calculated inside and out isn't capable of loving someone!” I smiled sweetly at him and walked around him before turning my back on him and walking a few feet ahead. I was learning fast to play him at his own game.

  I heard him roar with laughter and then I his hurried footsteps. “Oh, you’re playing me at my own game! I like you! I'm keeping you!” He walked beside me with his arms behind his back.

  I smirked. “I thought you loved me?! I'm wounded really I am...” I nudged into him by purpose with my left shoulder.

  He laughed again. “Yep, you’re a keeper!”

  I smiled as we walked into the gift shop. I had never felt as comfortable in someone's presence as I had his. It just felt right.

  I picked up a few postcards and a badge for my bag and headed for the cash register. I rummaged around in my pocket for a note and pulled out a crumpled ten pound note. I was still avoiding my wallet. I'd really have to take that photo out. I thanked the young man from behind the counter and turned around and walked smack bang into Cameron. “Whoa. Personal space.” I righted myself before I fell over.

  “Sorry about that darling, distracted by something.” He gave the cashier a dirty look and then turned around. “Time to go!” He started walking away from me, his coat flapping behind him. His tone was a little off.

  “What did I do wrong?!” I asked, confused as I hurried to catch up with him.

  “Yesterday you paid on your card, I thought it a little odd at the time that you didn't keep it in with your purse like other women would, but I put that little quirk down to you being well you!” He didn't stop walking as he rattled off his character profile of me.

  “And today instead of paying on your card, you pay in cash, but again, you don't go for your purse no, instead you rummage in your jeans pockets for a note, which by the look of it went through the washing machine! So that could mean one of two things! One that you don't have a purse, which is highly unlikely! Or two that you are avoiding something in your purse so you shove money into pockets, or bags etc, to avoid having to
see whatever is in your purse! Which I think is a photo of your ex-boyfriend! Am I right so far?!” He stopped just near the entrance to the hall we'd first walked into and turned around to face me.

  I stood and stared at him. My brain was catching up with what he had just come out with. “How the hell did you even come up with that?! Where I keep money is no business of yours quite frankly! I don't ask why you only carry your phone do I?! No wallet, no house keys, nothing like a normal person would have! So what the hell gives you the right to question me! Who the fuck do you think you are?! Sherlock bloody Holmes?!”

  I was suddenly furious with him.

  He raised a brow. “Now I'm convinced that I am correct! You want to remove the photo, but can't bring yourself to actually do it because of what he did to you! He hurt you in more ways than one and you are actually avoiding using your purse is typical avoidance and as to whom I think I am! I am your overbearing boyfriend! I do believe I've told you that before and if you hope to insult me by likening me to Sherlock Holmes then you failed because I happen to have taken it as a compliment.” He flashed a brilliant smile at me, pleased with himself.

  I wanted to punch him.

  “You really are an arrogant fuck, you know that right?!” I felt angry tears prick at my eyes because he was right and I hated it.

  “Yes, I am aware of that! But you are only upset because I am right!”

  I looked up at him, angry that he had worked me out so easy, yet I still knew nothing about him. “I kinda wanna punch you in the face right now!” I said, exasperated.

  He smiled. “I know and I am sorry, but it's like pulling a plaster off, the slower you pull, the more painful it is, but if you just grab it and rip it off all at once, it will still hurt just not for so long! Let me help you! Let me remove the plaster.” He held his hand out to me palm up.

  I didn't understand at first, but after a few moments I realized what he'd meant. I took a shaky breath. Maybe he was right, maybe I just needed to get rid of it once and for all. I could move on, stop using avoidance techniques like he said. I unclipped my bag and rummaged around for my wallet. It was at the bottom buried under a whole bunch of knickknacks. I took a shaky breath as I handed it over. I was trusting him totally.