Ignite Me: Shards of Glass, Part One

by Mills, L. C.

  I turned and glanced at him. “So where you part of the team?! Cause even I know about the race between the universities!” I could imagine he'd been sporty in his college days. He was just the type!

  He smiled. “I was indeed! The ores are from early on in the races history, they came up for auction a few years ago and I won them! For the most part I didn't choose Oxford it's a male tradition in our family that all males go there! I wanted to go to America and study but it wasn't permitted!”

  I frowned. “But you enjoyed it?!” I guessed he'd got on okay, because he had a smile on his face as he looked up at the ores.

  “I tolerated it! I joined the team and made that my passion! Of course my father and my grandfather where over the moon! I was part of the winning team but they'd never actually say well-done! No, not the done thing!” He rolled his eyes.

  “Well that sucks for you! I mean my Dad used to display my school reports on the tour bus and of course at home he has a whole room with all my school trophies in and what not! Kinda embarrassing!”

  I turned back around and walked along the wall looking at all the photos hung up. I noticed his school photos straight away and giggled.

  “I'm glad my school wasn't the only one that made you do one normal year photo and one bizarre one!” I was of course mentioning that one of the photos was just all the boys in the photo lined up neatly the second was at the end of the year all laying around or wearing silly hats, my school had done the same.

  “Yes it was a tradition I think! Again I didn't choose where I went to school! It's a given! I went to the same school as all the male members of my family have done dating back to Christ knows when!” He spoke with a bitter hint to his tone.

  I made myself busy looking at the rows of boys. I was looking for Cameron. “Ah I've found you!” I pointed to a young man of 17 with messy brown hair and a slight smirk to his smile.

  “So you have!”

  I moved along the wall until I found his university photos. “I bet the girls at Oxford adored you! They must have thrown themselves at you!”

  I thought about what he'd said. He'd been controlled his whole childhood no wonder he had control issues now.

  “So I am taking a guess that your parents don't approve of your involvement with the record label?!” I glanced at some of the platinum discs that where at the end of the wall.

  “No they hate it! They wanted me to be a barrister or judge like my father is! But I hated it! I didn't want to be that, I didn't want to follow in my brothers footsteps! I was smarter than him! I always have been! I knew I could be successful in my own terms so I after university I moved to America, I got a job in a large corporate law firm and worked my arse off to learn everything I could!

  By the age of 20 I had started my own corporate law firm, I knew all my competition and I went out to kill them off slowly then when they were on their knees I bought them out too! I moved back over to London in 2011 and bought this place and bought the controlling shares in the record label!

  I run my law firm from London now! The American branch has a very driven manager back in the states so I know it's safe but I do check up on it every now and then!”

  He paused, he was proud of his success and I knew he was ruthless in getting what he wanted. He'd made that clear when we had had dinner at The Shard.

  “Music is my passion! I adore it! It wasn't easy, you would know how hard the industry is better than anyone but I fought for my label and what we stand for! By the end of 2012 the record label had gained international success and artists where coming to us in their droves! I also either own or invest in several different business here and abroad! I work hard and I play even harder for my money. I didn't get where I am by being the nice guy! The harder I work the more success I have! I'm well off and I don't really have to worry about money now!”

  I grinned as I turned to walk up the other side of the wall to study the books. I stopped mid step. “The Internet lied to me! It said you were 27! How old are you?!” I didn't care I just wanted to know.

  He tilted his head. “Will it make a difference to you and me?!”

  I shook my head. “No why would it?! I don't care how old you are! I just wanna know!”

  He smiled. “I'm 30 this year! I guess I look older for my age and the Internet always lies!”

  I attempted to work out the age gap between us in my head.

  “That's a 10 year age gap! Tell me what you’re thinking Evan.” He looked worried.

  I smiled and shook my head. “I wasn't thinking anything other than I'm really bad at mental math!” I laughed. “Your age doesn't bother me! My age doesn't bother you! It makes little difference to me!”

  Age didn't mean shit to me but I knew my Dad wouldn't approve. I was almost 21 after all and Cameron wasn't like Sean so I hoped my father wouldn’t have issues with me being with him.

  “Ah yes but your father won't approve will he?!” He smirked.

  I smirked back. “Well I don't care what he thinks! I am sure we found each other for a reason and I think I know that your folks will hate me by default!” I really did believe that. I turned back around and continued my search of the books. I felt bad for his sister if she was going to have the same decisions forced on her like he had, no wonder she had an eating disorder.

  “I believe we did! I don't care what my parents think! If I'm honest, I hardly speak to them, I stopped giving a damn about what they think a long time ago! They are blinkered” He left a breath go.

  “So you’re estranged from your folks, is that why your sister comes here to see you?!”

  “Yes pretty much, I've never met anyone like you before! You frustrate the hell out of me but you also beguile me my love!”

  I laughed. “What can I say I'm unique?” I knew his kind of family would never approve of a girl like me! I wasn't from some rich blood line and lacked the pedigree they'd want! I'd been to private school sure but that wouldn't be enough. I'd been friends with girls whose parents had tolerated me simply because they could patronise me or feel sorry for me! Cameron's parents would be no different by way he'd been brought up. I grinned over at him I didn't what him to know it would bother me, as I did I noticed a music stand not far from his chair with a violin stood next to it.

  My eyes went wide as I walked over. “Holly shit, is that a Stradivarius?!” My heart beat faster in my chest as I studied it.

  “It is! It’s my grandmothers! She gave it to me! I've had it since I was 18! It plays wonderfully! She's the only one in the family that didn't judge me! Never has, she's a funny old girl but I love her! She'd like you!” He smiled fondly. “Feel free to play it. I'd love to see you play!” His eyes lit up as he looked up at me.

  “But I've not played for years! I mean guitar and uke yeah but violin I dunno! I don't wanna sound bad!” I pulled a face as I let my fingers brush the smooth wooden surface. It was well looked after. You could tell it was played regular and looked after by the patina of the wood. The bow hung next to it. I studied the sheet music he had on the stand. It wasn't any music I'd seen before. Had he composed it?! The two pages I could see was full of beautiful crescendos and diminuendos. It was written beautifully by hand. I could read sheet music but I just preferred tab sheets.

  “You can read the music then you can play it! Humour me!”

  I sighed. “Okay but if I suck and sound like I've ran down a cat it's your fault!” My heart beat funny in my chest. Memories of the endless lesson as a child flooded back to me. My music teacher almost but not quite shouting at me for getting something wrong and missing a beat. I had found guitar so much easier to learn.

  I picked up the violin and straightened my back. I took a deep breath in and picked the violin up by the neck with my left hand and brought it up resting the lower back just over my collar bone and held it in place with my chin on the chin rest. It actually felt okay as I adjusted my hand and gripped the side of neck with my thumb allowing my fingers to arc
h over the strings and finger board. I brought the bow up and placed it between the bridge and the finger board. I looked down at the music stand to see what notes where first. I placed the bow and pulled it along the string as straight as I could. The first few notes where somewhat experimental I'd not played for a while. I didn't look at Cameron once. I didn't take my eyes of the sheet music.

  Too much pressure on the strings too scratchy the sound. I told myself that as I adjusted my pressure and after another start I got the hang of his notes and how it was meant to be played. It was a beautiful piece, sad almost haunting. I continued the piece and went to turn the page over to find it was only half completed. “Oh you didn't finish it yet! So how did I do?!” I grinned at him. I was still holding the violin.

  He licked his lips. “I told you could play it! You need to loosen up when you play though! You’re very tense! I bet you’re not like that with a guitar!” He paused with a raised brow. “As for the music, it's work in progress for the most part!”

  I frowned. He'd not said I'd done good but this was Cameron but I was keen to impress him. “Well I've not played since school! My music teacher hated me! She always got really angry that I didn't always read the sheet music right but yours was easy to follow!” I grinned. “Hey I learnt AC/DC High Way to Hell on the violin at school wanna hear it?!” I still played the song so I knew what the notes where. I also knew I'd be looser playing it.

  He smiled widely. “This I have to see or should that be hear?”

  I smiled from ear to ear. “We did it as a group and it sounded so cool!” I replaced my fingers and went for it. After the first few notes I really lost myself in the tune, in the crescendos and diminuendos of it. It sounded beautiful! I had never played an instrument that sounded so awesome.

  As I finished I placed the violin back on the stand and loosened the bow. A clapping noise made me jump.

  “Very well done! I'm actually impressed! You play beautifully my darling!” He smiled.

  I blushed. It made my tummy summersault when he called me darling. “Thanks, you shouldn't leave your bow tight though! It can damage the hair!” I smirked as I looked around the room. “You have some interesting items! What's with all the random collections of dead things in boxes?! Oh and just as an FYI I've got an awful phobia of spiders! Seriously don't laugh they trigger my anxiety so badly it's unreal! If I see one you will have to remove it!”

  He tried not to laugh. “Dully noted and as for the dead things in boxes they are cases not boxes and I collected them as a child! I was a strange child!” He smiled.

  “It's like a mini museum in here I like it!” I was over the moon he'd said I'd done well and impressed him. I actually felt happy that I'd pleased him.

  “So is it the same for girls in your family?! Like did Georgia have to go to a certain school?! I'm just curious!” I looked around for somewhere to sit and found the chair opposite him empty it was an arm chair and looked well worn. I sat down and automatically drew my feet up so my knees where off to one side. It's how I sat in my own chair, I didn't even think.

  He studied me. “No, actually she has a pretty free reign where school is concerned but university will be chosen for her!” He licked his lips. “You look comfortable are you?!”

  I'd rested my hands in my lap. “Oh sorry, I'll put my feet down, I didn't think!” I dropped my feet down and crossed one leg over the other. I wasn't sure if he was making a statement or asking simply if I had been comfortable sitting that way.

  He frowned. “Evan, I didn't mean for you to put your feet down! You just looked like you could curl up in the chair and go to sleep is all!”

  I laughed. “Oh sorry! Well yeah it's a comfortable chair! I like it!” I patted the arms softly. “I shall claim it as my own!” I winked at him.

  He raised a brow and grinned toothily at me. “Then it shall be yours! Let's go check on the pizza base! We can dress it now!” He unfolded his legs and I lost the ability to speak. His legs where so long and so tempting. I just stared as he walked over to me.

  “Yes you look rather at home in my old reading chair!” He held his hand out for mine.

  I smiled up as I placed my hand in his and stood up slowly allowing him to guide me from the room.

  “So what are we gonna dress the pizza with?!” I was praying he had pepperoni and decent mozzarella.

  We reached the kitchen before he let go of my hand. “Well I was thinking you can look in the fridge and pick whatever you want! I'll eat whatever you choose!” He walked over to the counter.

  “I'm excited I've not made homemade pizza for so long now!” I stood next to him as he lifted the cover from the tray. The base has risen beautifully.

  “Wowzers that's a beast!” I knew when we added the toppings it'd weight it down for cooking.

  “It sure is! I might take a photo once it's ready, you know before and after!” He grinned.

  I smiled as I pulled open the fridge door. “Pizza porn!”

  He laughed out loud. “Explain!”

  I pulled a face. “As if you don't know what that means!” I pulled out the pepperoni, mozzarella and a hand full of some fancy mushrooms.

  “There are lots of things you will most likely say and I won't understand! The people I associate with probably wouldn't know what it means either! Feel free to educate me!” He smirked.

  The fridge door shut behind me as I placed the items down. “Okay I can do that! I'm sure there is things you can educate me on!” I bit my lip and raised a brow at him.

  He closed his eyes as he placed the jar of pizza sauce down. “You temp me so much!”

  I frowned at him. “I really don't know how!” I licked my lips and tried to avoid looking into his eyes. “Food porn is basically when you take photos of food, like pizza and post it up on social media arousing the viewer with the desire to eat it! Pretty much the glorification of food as a substitute for sex! Like a good erotic photo everyone sees something they like and wants it!”

  I glanced up and found him staring at me intensely. “Oh I see. So if I took a photo of you and the pizza would that break the Internet?” He winked.

  I rolled my eyes. “Cameron you over estimate me! I'm distinctly average!” I made myself busy with the jar trying to get the lid open.

  “I wish I could convince you that you are stunning! You have a natural beauty that many women do not possess by nature! You hardly ever wear makeup yet you'd never really notice because you have thick natural lashes and an alabaster skin that some women spend hundreds of pounds on make up to achieve with foundations! Your eyes are the most stunning shade of hazel and your rosy plump lips are all natural! You are anything but average!” He took the jar from my hands and made light work of getting it open. The satisfying pop rang out around the kitchen as the lid opened. His muscles in his arms flexed and relaxed as he got it open and handed it back.

  I blushed feeling my face burn and almost dropped the jar. My heart beat painfully in my chest as I caught it. “I don't know what to say, what you see I just don't! I'm not pretty, guys don't look at me like they do other girls and I have never cared too much about that! I'm just me!” I smiled.

  It was a change for a man to point out my positives rather than my negatives.

  “You will learn to take compliments, though I admit the blush of embarrassment is endearing! Just like the way you chew your lip and frown at me when you’re frustrated!” He handed me a flat fish slice to apply the topping with a slight smirk.

  “Hmm much like that smirk you wear!” I grinned as I glanced at him from the corner of my eye.

  He smirked at me his eyes sparkled.

  I loved it when his eyes did that.

  After I'd put the sauce on I let Cameron slice the mushrooms and place them on. I drained off the mozzarella and sliced it eating some as I went.

  “So good!” I licked my lips.

  “Try some of the pepperoni! It's got a lovely flavour, its Italian I always get t
his one!” He held it out to me.

  I allowed him to feed me the folded slice of meat. Our eyes connected as his fingers brushed my lips.

  He was right it was full of rich flavour and body. It wasn't too salty or too peppery. I moaned softly. “Mm, Wow that is so good!”

  Cameron tilted his head. “I told you so! It tastes even better cooked! More spicy!”

  I chewed my lip again as I glanced sided ways at the pizza now taking shape.

  “I've never before found a woman biting her lip sexy! I would have found it annoying before or perhaps thought it was done for effect but when you do it I don't even think you consciously know and god damn it Evangeline it makes me want to tug your lip away from your teeth and chew it myself!” He let a breath go.

  I looked up at him with wide eyes unsure what I was meant to say to that. I tried not to chew my lip. “Oh.” I wanted to dare him to kiss me or to do what he wanted but the last time he'd told me not to dare him.

  He stepped towards me. “Tell me what you want me to do Evan, I can see in your eyes you’re too scared to say it!”

  My mouth suddenly felt dry. I was nervous and it was stupid. We'd made love I knew he wouldn't be cross at me but at the back of my mind I didn't want to seem like I was being cheap by telling him to do what he'd said he wanted to.

  “I um... Well it doesn't matter!” I turned around to face the pizza and gave it a dirty look.

  Don't judge me pizza! It was staring back at me telling me I was a coward.

  “It does matter! Don't be afraid of expressing what you want from me!” He stood close behind me and moved my hair over one shoulder and dipped his head and kissed my neck softly.

  I shuddered slightly as everything south of my waist clenched. I turned around so my back was now pressing against the counter so I had to tip my head up to look at him.

  His brown eyes bore into mine as I sucked it up and found the inner courage. “I want you to do what you said you wanted too! Every time you say things like that it does funny things to me and I'm not sure it's okay to feel that way! Like is it wrong to find it a huge turn on?!” Sean had never ever told me he wanted me like that. He'd liked a fumble in the darkness of the bed sheets and the odd drunken sex in the tour bus but this was so much different. It was the first adult relationship I had ever been in, I had very little to go on.