by Mills, L. C.
He looked exasperated. “Fuck sake Evan, tell me how you think you led him to believe that you liked him?!”
I shrugged. “I once answered the door in my nightshirt, just stuff like that! I didn't do it deliberately though, it was just coincidences, but I dunno, maybe he misread it!”
He placed his hands softly on my face, his thumbs stroking my cheeks. “Oh my sweet and inexperienced Evangeline none of those things leads a man on! And none of those are an excuse to force himself on you! I know you want to see the good in everybody and I'm glad because that means you see the good in me but you can't let it go! Promise me you'll think about reporting it?!” He fixed me with a look that said he wasn't letting it end there.
I smiled. “Okay, I'll think about it! Also, I see the good in you because it's there under the surface waiting for me to find it and I rather like it!” I didn't mind him calling me sweet and inexperienced even thought I didn’t think I was sweet, but he'd said it oh so nicely.
chapter 26
“Right, come on we need to ice that wrist up! I don't want you marked by that fucking arsehole!” He let me go allowing me to move.
“Okay, so I was thinking I might get a swear box!” I giggled as I stood up.
“I've missed that sound, the soft little giggle. I think combined we'd end up having a dozen swear boxes!” He stood up and took hold of my hand and led me to the kitchen.
“Ah, good Jones, soft ice packs, are they in the bottom compartment of the freezer?!” Cameron let go of my hand as he walked over to the fridge freezer and pulled it open.
Jones narrowed his eyes. “Yes, why do you need one?!” He sounded a little suspicious.
Cameron quirked an eyebrow up. “Because Miss Watson didn't tell you that her wrist was injured.”
I coughed awkwardly. “It's not that bad, I didn't even think to be honest! I was in flight mode at the time!”
Jones smiled kindly at me. “Cameron can I check it over please?!” He addressed him directly.
I sighed. I was standing right in front of him why was he asking Cameron if it was okay?! Surely he should have been asking me?! After all it was my body!
“It's okay, I've accessed it, and it’s just finger marks! I'll get some painkillers, too.” He started rummaging around in the freezer draw.
“Okay, I'll grab the painkillers while you find the ice pack.” He walked over to the cupboard in the corner above the one I had been snooping in earlier.
“Jones I will get my girlfriend the painkillers, I am capable!” He sounded annoyed as he stood up, a blue ice pack in his hand.
Jones stepped away. “Just remember to fill the book out, please Sir!”
Cameron rolled his eyes. “That goes without saying really, doesn't it? I will be fine! Look, go back to Gwen now! She'll be wondering where you are! I've kept you enough!” He grinned widely at him.
Jones laughed. “Okay, Mr. Ballard, if you need me, you know where I am!” He turned to face me. “I hope you feel better soon Miss Watson.”
“Oh, thanks, I'm fine though honestly. And thanks again.” I grinned at him lopsidedly.
He nodded politely. “You're welcome!” He left the kitchen.
Cameron made himself busy wrapping the ice pack in a clean dishcloth while I pulled myself up to sit on the counter next to him. “So how come he asked you if he could see my wrist and not me?!” I stared at the back of his head challenging him to come up with a decent reason.
He turned around slowly on the spot, and took the few steps over to me holding the ice pack. “Hmm, well because I'm his boss and your boyfriend, roll your sleeve up!” He grinned impishly at me.
I rolled my eyes. “Not really a valid reason! It's my body! I'm not married to you!” I huffed as I rolled my blouse sleeve up as he'd asked.
He wrapped the ice around my wrist and held it there. “No you aren't, but if you where he would still ask me! Its how he is and what have I said about it being rude to roll your eyes?!” He raised a perfect eyebrow.
I laughed, shaking my head. “I dunno, I've forgotten! Thanks for the ice!” I smirked, I remembered perfectly well what he'd said I was just teasing him.
He moved so he was standing between my legs. “I believe I said I would punish you!” His hands swept up my thighs.
“Hmm, did you?! I must have forgotten!” I wrapped my right hand around his neck, stroking my fingers into his hair at the back of his neck.
His breath was hot against my lips now. “I do believe you are teasing me, however for now I will let it slide! So shall I cook up something for dinner or get take away?!” He grinned as he stroked his hand down my face.
I closed my eyes and leant into his touch. “I don't mind, whatever you want to do is fine!”
“I'll knock us up some pasta, probably better than take away anyway.”
I nodded. “Okay, I can help if you want?! I dunno chop stuff up?!” I loved pasta and wondered what he'd make.
He took hold of my left wrist. “That ice needs to stay on for a while so you sit here and I'll get on with the food!” He brushed his lips against mine softly, then moved back, grinning at me.
I pouted at him as he moved away, he hadn't given me the chance to kiss him back, and I wanted to kiss him.
“Would you like the music on in here?!” He walked over to the counter and picked up a small remote control.
“Oh yes please” I looked around for a docking station, but couldn't see one, I frowned as he pressed a button on the remote and music popped into life all around us.
I grinned, arching my head to look for the speakers. It was like some cool magic trick that I'd missed the point of.
“All the rooms are linked by built in speakers so if you have the music on in the lounge it works in all the other rooms also, you just have to turn them on!” He waved the remote and grinned as he adjusted the volume so it wasn't too loud.
The ice pack was actually starting to make my wrist cold now as I held it in place. “So where are the speakers?!”
He grinned. “They are built in under the cupboards! So it fills the kitchen with sound! Five speakers in here!” He turned around slipping the remote into his pocket as he walked over to one of the built in cupboards that lined the wall above the oven. He made himself busying getting various ingredients out and after a while the pasta was on the boil and the vegetables and chicken where cooking in the wok. He looked good cooking. Was there nothing he didn't do perfectly?!
“When can I take this ice off?! It's starting to make me feel cold.” I wasn't very good at regulating my body temperature.
He gave the pasta a stir. “Try and stick it as long as you can! I'll go fetch you a jumper you can put on when it comes off!” He walked over and placed a soft kiss on my forehead.
I melted. “Okay, can I have one of yours?!” I gave him a lopsided smile.
“If you like! I'll be right back!” He walked out of the kitchen.
I liked guy’s jumpers they were longer on the arm and back, which meant ultimately they kept you warmer better.
He walked back not more than a minute later holding a dark blue hoodie. “Figured this would fit better! It's my old Uni rowing hoodie! They don't fit me anymore!” He handed it to me.
My eyes went wide.
Holly shit, he is giving me his old uni hoodie that is kinda a big thing.
I couldn't keep the smile off my face. “Wow, thanks! I'll take good care of it!” I unfolded it as best I could with one hand and studied it. It was a wonderful shade of navy blue, it had the clubs crest stitched into it in white.
He walked back over to the oven and gave everything a good stir around. “You're welcome my darling, I've got a few of those, you can keep that.”
“Wow, thanks! Was there a girls rowing team?!” I asked just out of curiosity more than anything.
“Yes there is, very strong teams all round these days! We won again this year!” He grinned proudly.
�
��Do you go to watch it each year?! I'd love to go!” I could imagine him being proud that he had once been part of the team.
He smiled from ear to ear. “I’ve been going each year since I got back from the states! I'm a major benefactor to the Rowling club as a whole and we shall go next year! You'll really enjoy the atmosphere!”
I shivered involuntarily. That was it, bruise or not I was freezing my ass off so I took off the ice to peak at it. My wrist wasn't swollen anymore and his finger marks weren't as bad.
“I'm putting the hoodie on now, I'm freezing!” I was pleased he wanted to take me to the race, I was excited. I let the ice sit on the counter as I went about pulling the hoodie over my head, after a while I had managed to get my head trough and then my arms. I adjusted the body of it so it sat properly. It was a size too big, but I loved it.
He turned and studied me. “Looks wonderful on! I'll put the ice back in the freezer, and get you them pain killers.” He walked over and picked up the ice pack now all melted and put it back into the freezer. Then walked back to the cupboard Jones had gone to before and pulled down a box, taking a strip of the tablets out, he popped two out and fetched some water.
“Take those while I write it down, or heads will roll!” He grinned as he handed me the two capsules.
“Actually, why does he insist you keep a record?! I never do at mine!” I popped both pills into my mouth and washed down with the water.
Cameron shrugged as he got out the first aid box and removed the notebook, he flipped to the correct date and filled it in. “It's just a good record to have! If I was to get ill, there would be a record of what tablets I had taken, and indeed others like yourself, it's a safeguard I guess!” He chuckled as he put the notebook back and did up the clips putting the box away.
I suppose it made sense really, to keep a record that way there wasn't a risk of overdose or anything. I frowned when he laughed. “What's funny?!” I didn't understand why he'd be laughing.
He smiled at me. “I just remembered what Jones said about your storage of medicines!” He quirked a brow up at me. “Or should that be lack of!”
I groaned. “Well, we can't all be super organized! Also, I never think of it! I just rummage for stuff yanno!”
He grinned as he set two pasta bowls out. “Do you like your stir fry mixed with the pasta or piled on top of?!”
I pulled a face. “Uh mixed I guess!” It was alien to me to be given a choice!
“The best way in my opinion!” He grinned as he drained the pasta over the sink. He picked up the drainer giving it a brisk shake before adding the pasta back to the saucepan and taking it back to the stove where he picked up the wok and poured a generous amount of the stir fry into the pasta and mixed it round well.
“You’re very good at cooking!” I felt like I should be doing something to help rather than just sitting there.
He chuckled deeply. “You've not tasted it yet!” He divided the pasta between the plates and added the rest of the stir fry to the top.
I hopped down from the counter and walked over to where I had seen him get cutlery out from the night before and pulled it open, grabbing two forks before knocking it shut with my backside. It glided silently back in as I walked over to the breakfast bar and placed the forks down.
“Do you want like a drink?!” I walked to the fridge.
“I was actually thinking we might enjoy a nice glass of wine?!” He grinned as he turned around carrying the two dishes.
I wasn't much of a wine drinker, I hadn't really had the chance. “Oh, okay, I've not got a very good pallet for wine, though but I'm sure you can teach me what is good and what's not!” I grinned and pulled the fridge open, expecting to see a bottle in there but didn't. I frowned.
“I have a wine fridge! It's just in the prep area, grab two wine glasses while I go grab us a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc!” He disappeared around the back of the kitchen units.
“I swear your apartment is like Hogwarts! All these secret rooms and passages!” I laughed as I pulled open the glass cupboard and got two wine glasses out and took them back to the bar and set them down.
He walked back into the kitchen smirking. “I like that idea, I guess it is strangely arranged but it works!” He set the bottle down and got out a bottle opener that looked like a penknife.
“Oh look at you with your fancy bottle opener! I like it!” I teased him. He had gadgets for everything.
He smirked as he used the blade to cut the seal off the wine. “You think everything is fancy darling and that's why I adore you!” He flipped up the corkscrew and worked on getting it open, the metal part of the opener lent against the neck as he levied it open with a satisfying pop the cork was removed.
“Most things are fancy to me! My Dad even now has pretty simple stuff in his house and aside from my own apartment here I've never lived alone before! I guess I don't adult very well!” I grinned, I really was new to all this adult stuff.
He grinned as he poured the wine. “Well, I'm glad you came to live in London! My life was somewhat dull before you fell into it!”
I laughed. “I rather did fall at your feet almost!” I picked up the wine glass and sniffed it. “Oh, it's got a lovely fruity smell to it! Its dry right?!” I tried to drag what little knowledge I did know about wine from the back of my mind.
He pulled himself up to sit next to me. “It is, indeed, this one has hints of orange to it! It goes with chicken very well and I think you adult very well actually don't put yourself down Evan!”
I picked up my glass and held it out to him. “To falling in love and other stuff!” I grinned.
He smiled at me widely. “To falling in love and other stuff indeed! Chin, Chin!” He tapped his glass to mine and took a good swig.
I did the same before putting the glass down and picking up my fork and loading food into my mouth. It tasted fantastic. “Oh wow this is so good!”
He grinned between mouthfuls. “Glad you like it, it's nice to have someone to cook for.”
We sat and eat in relative silence, I was thinking about if I should press charges against Damon, I didn't want to get him in trouble, but I also wanted him to know that I wasn't letting him get away with it. I glanced at Cameron a few times, it bothered me that he hadn't let me kiss him back and that aside from the brush on the lips he'd not even kissed me, was he okay?! What had happened at his folks?! I took another swig of wine to get some courage to ask.
“Are you okay, Cameron?!” I chewed my lip as I studied his profile.
“Yes, why?!” He looked around at me confused, his eyes searching mine.
“Only you didn't let me kiss you before and I wondered if it was something to do with your visit to your folks' place!” It was stupid to worry, he was going to break it off with me after everything back in the lounge but I was worried. I hated how that worry eats away at me inside.
He sighed. “Oh Evan, no, not at all! I didn't want you to feel like I was rushing you after your ordeal! So please don't talk yourself into thinking that I was distancing myself from you, I wouldn't do that!” He swivelled around to face me and swung my stall so I was facing him and took hold of my hands.
“There was something I didn't tell you about my visit to my parents, though, and I know I should have told you this earlier but I knew you'd dislike the idea.”
His face had turned serious and I got that dropping feeling in my stomach, making me feel sick. There would be only one reason he'd not tell me the whole truth.
“She was there, wasn't she?!” I wanted to ask what the hell he wanted her there for. Erin had been there I could tell.
“Yes, she was but it was the only way to sort the whole thing out! Nothing happened between us!” He ran his thumb over my knuckles. “Please believe me when I say I never touched her.”
I hated the idea of her even being there, of her trying to persuade him I was nothing more than a gold digger. A sudden and unwanted vision of him and her together
crept into my mind like poison.
“Why did she have to be there?! What happened cause I'm thinking all sorts here! I mean, how would you like it if I had been with Sean and you hadn't been there?!” It was hint enough that he'd know I was worried.
His face contorted. “If you think I had sex with her Evangeline you are very wrong! I was never alone with her! My mother was there the whole time!”
I hung my head for even thinking that he would, but I didn't trust her. Did I trust him?! I knew I should but I was so insecure.
“Please don't hang your head, I understand it's hard for you after what Hagen did and what happened today has made you feel insecure, but know when I say I love you I mean that, it also means I am monogamous to us, to you!” He freed a hand and stroked his fingers under my chin, making me look up at him.
I was embarrassed, but he was helping me by being patient. “I'm sorry, I hate being like this! So eaten up by my own worries, it won't always be me freaking out I promise!” I smiled at him as I laced my fingers with his.
The smile spread across his face, lighting it up. “I am fully aware of what that feels like, and I will always do what you allow me to help with your anxiety!” He stroked his thumb over my cheek bone.
I closed my eyes and let a breath go for a second. “Thank you, I just get scared sometimes.”
“Baby, I understand that, it's okay, I would like to tell what happened, though if you're interested?!” He waited for an answer.
I wanted to know, so I nodded. “Sure, fire away.” I smiled.
He grinned at me. “I'll start by saying that I did ask her to go there to meet me because I knew she'd have to hear it from me and the same for my mother! They both had to know just how important you are to me!”
I listened hard and tried not to interrupt him.
“She arrived shortly after I did and assumed I was going to tell her that you had been a big mistake so when I told her that she and I were over, and that we had been for months she had a melt down! I told her that fucking her over and over in a soulless hotel room wasn't love, that it had never been about love or anything else other than the fact she had been so eager to please me!” He sneered like even thinking about it was disgusting to him. “I told her aside from over lapping business things I would have nothing further to do with her and that she had to accept that I was in a real relationship now.”
