Ignite Me: Shards of Glass, Part One

by Mills, L. C.

  “What is?!” I was confused. Did he mean the forms for one?! Surely he would have to have gotten me to sign something or at least have a photo taken, but this was Cameron and what he wanted he got so I waited to hear what he said.

  He rinsed the shampoo out and worked the conditioner in. “Your new driver’s license! It was quite simple so I'm told! My contact at the DVLA used all the intelligence from your passport, that's how they do it over here now, it's one of the options as it proves your identity to be official so no need to even send paperwork so much better for the environment! So you have a nice brand new driver’s license waiting for you!”

  “Oh, I see, I figured I'd have to sign a form or something! That's cool though, oh I can get a car now!” I was suddenly excited, I would be able to go off and explore places outside of London.

  “Yes, well normally you would but I just helped the process along! Also, I meant what I said, let me help choose you a car! I also think that once you get a car that you shouldn't drive it alone the first few times until you get used to driving the way we do.” He finished washing my hair and placed his hands on my shoulders.

  I frowned, I hadn't got an issue with the fact he'd had my license fast tracked or that he wanted to make sure I was safe on the road it was more that he maybe thought I wasn't capable of driving a car on my own without his help and that I resented.

  “Well, I've managed to have a clean license all these years without any issues I'm sure driving in the UK can't be that much more difficult!” I had passed my test as a teenager in high school so I had been driving a while now.

  He handed me the bottle of men’s shampoo and kissed my neck softly.

  “Darling I'm not saying you aren't capable it's just you've never driven over here and London is a nightmare to drive in even for me! I was thinking we could go off to the country and try some of the quieter roads first!”

  I was confused for a second as to why he'd handed me the bottle of shampoo, then it hit me. He wanted me to wash his hair.

  Holly cow.

  “You want me to wash your hair?!” I checked before I actually did anything. “Also, I guess you’re right as usual!” I grinned.

  “Yes, please! I wanted you to last time I was just too stubborn to admit it!” He let go of my shoulders, allowing me to turn to face him.

  I tipped some of the shampoo out into the palm of my hand. “Dip your head down towards me, then I can start, it works best that way.” I smiled a huge megawatt smile up at him. I was excited he was allowing me to do this. I was also keen to prove it was an intimate thing that was enjoyable, so I wanted to make sure it went without a hitch.

  “When you smile, your eyes dance.” He grinned as he dipped his head down.

  “If you say so!” I giggled softly as I carefully ran my fingers into his unruly hair and worked my fingertips over his scalp getting the shampoo to lather up.

  He let a breath go and moaned. “Oh wow, I've been missing out! This is actually very nice.”

  I grinned as he placed his hands on my hips, softly. “Well, you have a lot of nerve endings in your scalp so it stimulates those when I wash your hair!” I let myself relax and ran my hands down into the back of his neck, softly massaging his scalp as I went.

  “As I am finding out! Your fingers are expert at this!” He sounded happy and best of all he was relaxed.

  I rinsed all the suds out and kissed his forehead to signal I was done. “I try my best, to please, Mr. Ballard!”

  He studied me with a smirk on his face. “One day Miss Watson, we are going to make love in here, and everywhere else in this apartment and I am going to see your eyes dance with light and color!”

  I raised a brow. “Well, I shall look forward to that! I think the lift gets first trial on sex outside of your bedroom right?!” I bit my lip as I grinned up at him.

  “Oh god yes!” He leant into me and brushed his lips against mine softly.

  I closed the gap and kissed him back, water cascading down our backs, water droplets hung like tiny constellations on his long eyelashes. I loved him with every atom of my being, he'd opened up to me and I understood him a little better than before, each time little things started to make sense, like why he was so cold and calculated in how he ran his businesses, and for the most part how he had ran his life! We were good for each other.

  He smiled as we broke the kiss. “We should get ready, you've not had any breakfast!”

  I grinned. “Yeah for sure, so is it like smart or casual dress for lunch?! I hate being under or over dressed and you always look like a catalogue model!”

  He turned the shower off and opened the door and stepped out. “I can do rocker edgy if I want! I don't always wear a suit or something smart! So let's do casual and I'll show you my darker side!” He quirked a brow up as he held a towel out for me.

  I grinned as I took the towel and wrapped myself in it. “Hmm, okay! I'd not want anyone saying I was trying to make you into something you’re not! Wear whatever you’re comfortable in Cameron!”

  He rubbed his hair vigorously with his own towel before wrapping it around his middle. “I wouldn't have them in my wardrobe if I didn't like wearing them! Come on, I'll show you!” He held his hand out for mine.

  “You do have a vast collection of clothing it has to be said!” I placed my hand in his and we walked back into his room and then into his closet.

  “I'll just brush my hair while you show me, otherwise it dries funny!” I grabbed my hair brush and tentatively started to brush, I grinned as I didn't find it as difficult as I normally did. The brush didn't snag or yank at my hair, having the damaged bits cut off really had helped. I finished and walked over to where he was now standing. I hadn't fully explored all his clothes as yet, he had loads.

  “Your hair always looks good to me, it lends itself to many styles!” He grinned as he picked out a dark gray pair of jeans.

  “Thanks, oh, I like those!” I stood next to him, he had a whole shelf of jeans that were color coordinated, I loved the charcoal gray.

  “Then I shall wear them! I am thinking I might wear T-shirt and a zip hoodie since its hot today.” He picked out a black cotton T-shirt with a Guns and Roses emblem on it and a black hoodie. It would be the most casual I had ever seen him dress.

  “Is it above 20'c outside?!” I only asked because his apartment had air conditioning throughout and was always at optimum temperature.

  He grinned. “It actually is! The sun is out and it's lovely outside!”

  “Praise the weather gods!” I grinned as I walked back over to my part of the closest and studied the selection. It wasn't really warm enough for shorts given that we'd be inside so I picked out a pair of black skinny jeans with designer rips. I was trying to work out what T-shirt to wear when I spotted a small selection of what looked like vintage band T-shirts had been added. “Did you buy me more stuff?” I was confused, I hadn't bought them and he'd not said he got me anything new.

  He walked over half dressed, holding his shirt in his hand, his arm muscles perfectly defined. “Actually, no, those used to be mine when I was around 19, they don't fit me now and I guessed you would appreciate them! I've had them washed, they were in my old room at home, my sister has been eyeing them up so I bought them back here, and washed and dried them last night and added them to here this morning! I figured they would suit you!”

  I grinned. “Wow, thanks.” I lifted each one carefully to see what one I wanted to wear. He had a lot of Guns and Roses ones and one Led Zeppelin, I pulled out the Led Zeppelin one and studied it. It was white with a black trim, it was very much in the style of a short sleeved baseball shirt, with the band’s name across the middle, the tag in the neck said it was a medium size, adult Cameron wouldn't fit it now with all his working out he did now. I appreciated the fact he'd thought of me.

  “Thank you so much Cameron, that's actually super kind of you! Hmm, I wonder what teenage you would think about the adult you givin
g his shirts to some girl!” I grinned. I was now actually dry just from wandering around so I selected some suitable underwear that wouldn't show under white and made myself busy slipping my panties on before dropping the towel to put my bra on.

  “He would probably say, she's worth giving up a cool shirt for! I was 19 when I last wore that! More of a large these days!”

  I smiled at him as I pulled the shirt on, it was a little big on me, but I liked that, I didn't like tops that pulled too tight. “Well, I shall take good care of them!” I slipped my jeans on and rummaged around for socks. I deliberately pulled out two odd socks. “I like odd socks, funny story for you!” I grinned up at him as I wobbled around as I pulled the first sock on he raised a brow and walked over so I could lean on him.

  “Thanks!” I grinned. “So when I was around 7 I threw a blue fit when my Dad tried to get me to leave the house with matching socks on, I refused to leave until he let me wear odd socks! After that he always mixed my socks up for me!” I laughed, I could still remember the tantrum now.

  His laugher echoed around the room. “I love that, I can actually see it!” He pulled his shirt over his head, it fitted in all the right places.

  “I bet! I was an odd child that grew into a strange adult!” I finished getting changed and then brushed my hair again now it was pretty much dry.

  “Yes, but I love that strangeness in you.”

  I grinned. “I’m glad you do.”

  After we'd both got dressed we headed for the kitchen.

  “Want some cereal darling?! Jones said you eat the whole bowl last night!” He grinned as he picked up a packet, and shook it.

  “Oh yes, please! I could happily live off eating cereal!” He always insisted on making me food so I sat myself down and checked my phone.

  “Wouldn't be very nutritious, but I get what you mean!” He pulled open the fridge. “Do you want almond milk?! I don't think cow’s milk is very good for you in large quantities! I've become slightly lactose intolerant over the years!”

  As I glanced at my texts my heart rate shot up seeing a few texts from Damon. I couldn't help myself, I just starred at them.

  “Your face has gone white, what's the matter Evan?!” Cameron sounded concerned.

  “Oh, uh well Damon has sent me texts!” I wasn't sure if I wanted to see them.

  “The fucker! Like it's not enough, he traps you in a lift and forced himself on you he then thinks he can text you! What does he say?!”

  I sighed, I knew Cameron would be angry and so was I. “I don't know I've not read them! I was gonna delete them!” My finger poised over the delete button.

  “Do not delete them! If you do press charges they are now evidence! At the least allow me to see them! It's okay, he can't hurt you now!” He dropped his voice as he walked over to me.

  I knew what he said was true and I didn't want to make him angry by deleting them. “Okay, we can look at them together! I really don't think he's gonna have much to say!”

  “I shouldn't fucking think so! Sorry, won't even touch what he did!” His arm rested around my shoulder in support.

  “Yeah.” I knew regardless of whatever they said Cameron would find fault because he hated him, they hated each other and I didn't understand why, not really. I looked at the first text. It was from a few hours after he had tried to kiss me.

  I am so fucking stupid! I didn't mean to hurt you, please tell me you don't hate me!

  I breathed heavily through my nose. I wasn't sure, I only hated a few people in life, and life was too short for hate.

  Cameron was being very quiet so I read the next one, which was from today.

  Front of house says you've not been home since you left last night! God, Evan, I am sorry! Please tell me you’re alright! I know what I did was wrong and that I don't deserve your friendship, but I need to know you’re okay! You were so upset, I tried ringing your doorbell to say sorry in person, but I guess you’re really not in! Let me know you’re safe at least!

  I was actually suddenly angry that he was acting like he cared!

  “What fucking right as he to ask I'm safe or okay after what he did! Acting like he cares about my safety when he forced his tongue down my throat!” I shook with anger.

  Cameron's arms wrapped around me, holding me tight. “He's got a damn cheek! It's okay Evan, you don't have to talk to him!”

  I sighed. “Why do I suddenly feel bad?! Like I know he did wrong, we all know what he did was wrong, but he's acting like he's all worried about me and now I'm the one left feeling guilty because I won't text him back! What the fuck is that all about?!”

  Cameron kissed my cheek gently. “That's because you're a good person, but don't let him manipulate you into replying and don't delete them! Look, just ignore it! It's time for breakfast and then we will have a nice afternoon out together! He meanwhile, can go fuck himself!”

  I laughed. “Yeah, he can! And so back to the whole milk thing, I'll have whatever! I don't mind! You can't buy it here, but I used to love Cashew milk! So creamy!”

  He grinned as he got me my cereal and got himself some too. “I'll have to look into that, there are some places that do other types! I mean essentially it's just spring water and nuts!” He placed the bowls down with a spoon in each and sat himself down next to me.

  “Yeah, I always find it funny, it's even called milk, but hey!” I shrugged as I dug my spoon in.

  “Yeah I always found that comical too!”

  I made short work of the cereal. “So I guess I gotta go home tonight, don't wanna out stay my welcome!” I pushed the spoon around the now empty bowl.

  He frowned. “I thought you agreed to stay a few days?! Admittedly, you were half asleep at the time!”

  “Ah, so that was what you had asked last night! I knew you'd asked me something, but I didn't remember, are you sure you don't mind me being here?!” I loved spending time with him and I was happy to stay for a few extra nights!

  “I wouldn't ask you to stay if I wasn't! I don't sleep very well alone, if I'm being honest, I used to have to take a mild sleeping pill, but with you to talk to before bed and to hold on to I find I get at least 7 to 8 hours sleep each night you've stayed!” He got up and collected the now empty bowls.

  I knew about the pills, I'd seen them while snooping, but I wasn't going to admit that. “Oh, well, I'm glad I'm able to help, I totally understand how mild insomnia works! I used to get it quite badly a year or so ago! I guess maybe it's because you're happy now that your mind is relaxed enough to sleep?!” I grinned at him.

  He pulled open the dishwasher and stacked up the bowls. “Really?! How did you used to cope with it?! And I think you could be right!” He grinned.

  I chewed my lip. “Uh, well mine was partly linked to anxiety though! I would sleep fine after 2am! I just couldn't sleep before that!”

  He frowned. “Was that linked to OCD?! Like why was 2am okay, but before wasn't?!” He studied me with interest.

  I puffed out my cheeks. “Because it was already the next day! Nothing bad could happen if I was awake right up to that time! It doesn't make sense, it didn't for me and still don't but I sleep fine now especially since I met you! My mind is so tired by the time I get to bed, I just pass out!” I laughed.

  He walked back over to me and grinned. “I suppose since you've cut that idiot loose that also helps!”

  I smiled, he meant Sean of course, I did still worry about him from time to time bit since I'd quit Twitter it was easier because I couldn't see what he was doing and he couldn't contact me now so my mind was mostly free of him. “Yeah, I just used to worry, he'd kill himself by accident one day! His drinking issues need sorting out! The band they deserve better than him!” I hopped down from my stall. “So how are we getting to the music cafe?! Surely Jones gets a day off?!” I grinned.

  He smirked. “Yes, he does! The cafe is within walking distance from your apartment so I figured we could drive as far as yours, leave my
car there and we could walk, it’s just down from the South Bank and down as if you're walking towards the Tate Modern expect we take a turn down another street and away from the hustle and bustle! You up for some walking?!” He smiled broadly.

  I nodded. “I sure am! That way when we come back, I can collect some stuff to bring back here like my laptop and stuff if you want me to stay for a few days!”

  He smiled. “Sounds good, you are honestly welcome to stay over as much as you like! I mean, what's the point of you being at one end of London and me being at the other both missing each other when we can be in the same place, also you just brighten my whole life by being here!” He walked over to the key cabinet that was mounted on the wall near the door and seemed to be deliberating over what set he wanted.

  “Thank you that means a lot to me, I guess I worry you'll get fed up of me being around plus you work during the day!” I figured I'd just go home during the day, potter around there and then meet him after work!

  “I promise you I will not get fed up with you, ever! We will work it out.” He grabbed a set of keys and shut the door. “Oh, and here this is for you, I almost forgot!” He picked up a brown envelope and handed it to me.

  “Oh yeah, I'm so excited!” I noticed the envelope was already opened, but I assumed he had checked it to make sure it was all okay, so all I did was pull out the letter inside with my driver’s license card attached to it.

  “Oh, it's pink!” I turned it over in my hand, studying the back. It had a whole bunch of different categories which I could also drive. The front had my photo on it and my name and address. I frowned when I didn't see my own, but his.

  “Um, why does it have your address and not mine?! I don't live here Cameron!”

  He smiled at me. “No you don't, but your apartment is rented which means if you did have to move to a new address you'd have to have that sent away and redone so with my address being permanent I figured a few details didn't matter too much, if it bothers you that much I'll have it changed!” He held his hand out for the envelope.