Ignite Me: Shards of Glass, Part One

by Mills, L. C.

  I sighed and shook my head at him. “I wasn't being ungrateful and it didn't bother me that much, I just was confused! I guess in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter that much! I'm keeping this! I am legal to drive now! Let loose on the mean streets of the UK!” I grinned impishly at him.

  “Not without me you’re not! I know you have an urge to explore outside of London, and I do understand that just promise you won't just drive off into the sunset!” He smiled at me sweetly.

  I sighed. “Okay, I promise! Jones already said you'd probably have a meltdown if I just went off to explore so I don't worry, I'll make sure I invite you along! I'll just get my bag from your bedroom and put this.” I waved the card license in the air. “Away so I don't misplace it!” I grinned at him as I walked past him and out into the hall.

  I made my way back to his room, and grabbed my bag and sat myself down in the chair near the window and pulled my bag open and got my wallet out.

  “What else did Jones say about me then?!”

  I glanced up to see him leaving casually against one of the pillars that supported the large ceiling. His eyes scanned my face keenly and I knew he was far from relaxed like his pose suggested, was he worried about what Jones had said to me?! I snapped my wallet shut and popped it back in my bag doing it up. “Not much, he was telling me about where he was born, Wales and I said it sounded lovely and that I might just randomly go one day, I was joking for the most part! I wouldn't have the first clue where I was going!” I grinned.

  He let go a sigh. “Oh, I see! Well, one day I will take you to Cardiff, that's the Capital of Wales and from there we can explore! He is right though, I would have had a meltdown if you'd just disappeared! I have issues with needing to know where you are, it's not because I don't like you going off places but it's for your own safety! I have enemies in this world that would probably love to ruin things for us, so if I'm over protective that's why.” He held his hand out to me. “Come on, let's go! I'm pleased I can show you the cafe, not many people know I own it!”

  I resisted rolling my eyes at him, I really didn't see what danger I was in! This wasn't like America, the press didn't hound me here so I was safe to walk around, but I knew it wasn't a subject he'd budge on so I just agreed with him. “Okay, I do understand! I promise I will tell you if I plan on going anywhere! Do real people have enemies?!” I got up and walked over to him and place my hand on his threading my fingers with his.

  He grinned at me “Yes, they do, my darling!”

  I raised a brow. I still didn't get what anyone could do to ruin our relationship! I mean, even Erin, who I disliked wasn't really my enemy! Was that what he meant?! I knew he'd not tell me any more even if I asked so I went back to talking about the cafe business.

  “So how come you don't tell anyone you own it?! Is it because you think they'll pass remark or that it will become less of a secret hang out spot for you?!”

  He smiled at me. “Thank you! I appreciate you not pushing the subject and yes, I suppose so! My sister would end telling the world and then it wouldn't be the same for me, my little escape! My corner where I can just be me, without my suits or anything, just me and now you and I shall enjoy it too!” He started to lead me out of the room.

  I laughed. “Yeah your right, trouble is teenagers have very little perception of what isn't and what is okay to post on social media! I do follow my younger siblings on Tumblr, and the stuff they post up.” I shook my head remembering just some of their whiny assed posts. “They have so much compared to what I had at like 13 and are completely clueless about actual life! Still, I suppose that's what happens when your mother is a heartless, un-maternal bitch, she just throws money at them!” I hated that I hated my own mother and had this deep seated jealousy of my siblings from my Mom's second marriage, but I had this overwhelming urge to shake her every time I saw her, which thankfully was not often.

  His hand gripped mine as we walked down the corridor towards the entrance hall and lift. “It must have been hard for you and your father, seeing her remarry and have children! You always look very sad when you speak of her, are you?! I don't like the idea of her upsetting you!” He pushed open the heavy wooden door with his free hand as we passed into the entrance hall.

  “Ugh, I am, I guess, I just hate that she left me, left us, like some unwanted baggage that wasn't suitable! I mean I was 5 years old, that broke my heart and I guess since then it's never really been fully open to anyone.” I poked the lift call button with my index finger and twisted to face him. “Until now, you make that feeling of almost unbearable loneliness go away!” I grinned lopsidedly at him.

  He used our attached hand to pull me into him, his free hand resting on my lower back. “I'm glad I make you feel less lonely, I never knew what it was to have someone else in your life all the time that you care about, and think about pretty much 24/7 and I get these little glimpses into your soul sometimes and I feel this awful sadness for what she did to you, Evan, if I’m even just helping a tiny bit to make you feel safe and loved then I'm doing something right by you!”

  I buried my head into his hoodie and inhaled his scent, it was heady. “You do, so much, sometimes when I first moved to London, I would cry myself to sleep at night because I just felt so alone and lost! There I was alone in a strange country, broken hearted, lost and confused so I rang my Mom, I just wanted for her to be my Mom for once but she was too busy with my sister to care less! Was I broken in some way?! Like why can't she love me?!” I rolled my eyes upwards determined not to let the thought of her upset me.

  “It's her loss, and you are not broken! The fact she’s had to be involved with the second lot of kids to keep her husband is probably why she doesn't connect with you! You represent what she did, abandoning her first child! Pretty fucking shitty thing to do! You don't want her kind of love Evan, you’re better off without!” He stroked his hand through my hair, making me feel relaxed.

  I grinned. He had made a very good point and I hadn't thought of it like that before.

  “You've helped me see things from a new perspective and I adore you for that.” I didn't know what else to say, he could see into my soul, right where I tried to keep all my feelings and secrets locked away, but he just knew me, probably better than I knew myself.

  The lift doors rolled open with a ping.

  “I adore you too, Evangeline please know that you will never be that alone again, not while you continue to let me share your life! We are both helping each other and I will always be here for you! Even when you push me away, and there will be times when you will, know I will always be waiting for you.” He rubbed my back in circular motions.

  “Thank you.” I tipped my head back so I could look up at him. His beautiful brown eyes staring down at me full of love.

  “Don't thank me! I would literally do anything for you!” His eyes darkened for a split second.

  I took a breath in, it was a lovely and meaningful thing to say to me, but it carried an edge and I didn't doubt that he did literally mean anything.

  “We should get in the lift, someone else might need it!” I grinned.

  He pulled a face. “Then they can learn to be patient!” He smirked as he let me go from the hug.

  I laughed as I led him into the lift. “Hmm, maybe!” I actually felt better for admitting how lonely I felt sometimes, he understood it. After all, he lived up in his tree top apartment looking over the top of everything, never really allowing himself to get involved, but I was glad I was invited to his tree house. I grinned as the doors closed.

  “I like that smile!” He beamed a smile at me as he hit the lower ground floor button on the lift panel.

  I giggled as I leant against the hand rail. “I was just thinking about you and your tree top apartment being more like a super cool, top of the range tree house! Cause its right up above all those trees!”

  He licked his lips. “Hmm, I suppose as tree houses go, it's pretty damn cool! And much better sinc
e you came alone and gave the place a warmth that I could feel as soon as I stepped out of the lift last night!”

  I smiled lazily at him. “You make my little emo heart very happy!”

  He grinned. “Emo?! You said that same phrase yesterday in a text! What does that mean?!” He looked perplexed. “Not that I'm not pleased that I make your heart happy because I'm over the moon I can assure you!”

  I sometimes forgot that even though he was only 29 he was actually so far removed from popular sayings and phrases that half the time he was left confused by what I said to him. I found it endearing. We were such a juxtaposition in many ways, but we worked!

  “Emo is just short for emotional! It's also a genre of music that a lot of very good bands get put into! At one point I was such a scene kid! Yanno, I was into all these bands that just sang about what I was feeling, they understood and I never really grew out of it like some kids did, I just grew up and matured along with it, I can still relate to the lyrics of so many rock bands, that's all I meant!” I grinned at him.

  “Oh, I see! Well your very talented song writer! I've seen your latest submitted work! I would still like to hear you play them songs yourself, but I know that's not what you want!” He stroked his hand down my face, his eyes studying me, keenly.

  I grinned up at him. “I am more than happy working with the bands and artists I do write for, it's my one outlet to just vent! I might let you hear a song that I have written recently and am half way through composing but that I will never sell! Maybe one day when it's finished, I will play it for you.”

  He smiled. “I would be very privileged to hear it when you're ready to share it! I'm also getting inspired to finish my violin music that you so beautifully played for me!” He smirked.

  I raised a brow. “Hmm, I'll look forward to seeing you play that! It's a very sad piece so far, and you write sheet music brilliantly Cameron!”

  He grinned widely. “Yes the one good thing about having lived alone both in America and here was that I had time, mostly at night when I couldn't sleep to compose!”

  chapter 29

  The lift doors rolled open and we stepped out into the underground car park, he led me towards the SUV, but as we reached it he walked around it.

  “I figured the newest addition to my collection could do with being taken out, you'll be my first passenger my darling!” He grinned widely as we walked past several very expensive and slick cars, and stopped at the back of a Mercedes S Class, it was slick and black with imposing lines. I loved it instantly. It's was so Cameron.

  “I would ask which ones are yours but I am hazarding a guess that these are all yours?! How many do you own?!” I knew he liked cars and bikes, but he was driven around in the SUV most of the time, it seemed like a crazy amount of cars to have.

  He stood next to me as he flicked the key fob and the car blinked at us as it unlocked.

  “All of these cars in this row are mine! I like to have nice things.”

  He let go of my hand so I could make my way around to get into the car. Out of habit I headed straight to the right side of the car, the passenger side I was used to.

  “Darling, you'll be wanting the left hand side!” He tried to stifle a laugh, but failed and his soft laughter filled the air around us.

  I love that sound, happy Cameron.

  I sighed softly, then laughed. “I totally knew that!” I smirked as I walked around the car tracing my fingertips against the smooth black paint work, letting them trail all the way over the hood and the famous star in the middle as I made my way to the left hand side. “I was just admiring the outside. Taking the long way around is all.” I grinned as I reached the left hand side and pulled the passenger door open. It still smelt new, the leather seats and plush interior where crisp, almost brand new, he clearly looked after his cars.

  “Very nice indeed.” I slide into my seat, they were bucket seats and instantly felt comfortable. The interior was as immaculate inside as it was outside. I reached out and pulled the door shut with a satisfying soft thud.

  I watched Cameron get in the driver’s side, his long legs folding perfectly as he pulled his door shut.

  “I've only had her 6 months, so you are my first passenger!” He grinned proudly as he did up his seat belt, I followed suit and did my own up as I admired the inside, it was all top of the range, and there appeared to be a dial for everything, even a built in docking station.

  “She?!” I asked with a raised brow. “I would have thought this would have been a he?! All the slick black paint and smooth lines?!” I traced my fingers along the interior at the front, feeling highly polished wood under my fingertips.

  “Seeing your fingers trace my car is doing something strange to me!” His eyes flashed darkly at me and I couldn't look away from his eyes as I traced my fingers over the stick shift.

  “I see you drive a manual!” I took a breath in as his eyes scorched into mine, the atmosphere crackling between us.

  He licked at his lips slowly, deliberately taking his time as his fingers brushed over mine.

  “I like to be in control of the car.”

  I took a breath. “I bet you do.”

  He turned the key in the ignition and the car purred into life, various dials all lit up simultaneously districting me from his mouth.

  “Oh wow.” I turned my attention to the blue ring of light that had lit up to my left and to his right set into the door.

  “Speakers, would you like to plug the iPod in?!” He handed me an iPod with a smirk.

  “Oh sure, it's like a spaceship, I like it! It's very you! Will I ever get to drive it?!” I was joking with him, I doubted he'd ever let me behind the wheel of this car. I made myself busy attaching the iPod to the docking station.

  He let a breath go. “Maybe one day, if I'm feeling brave!”

  I frowned. “Hey, I'm a very good driver! I've never had an accident, I've only ever broken the speed limit to get away from the paparazzi, and I passed first time!” I was quite smug about my clean license.

  “I know, let's just get you a car first!”

  I laughed as I hit shuffle on the iPod.

  “Well, I'm quite happy having a hot man to drive me around, it totally has perks!” I waited for him to realise I meant him.

  He shifted the car into reverse gear & backed out of the space perfectly. “For one moment I thought you meant Jones! Got me worried then!” He laughed as he drove off in the direction of the exit, but it wasn't his care free laugh, there was an edge to it.

  I giggled, I knew I was teasing him, but it was way too much fun. “How do you know I don't mean him?!”

  He shook his head. “Because I would have to sack him so I rather hope you did mean me!” He joked, but there was a real edge to his tone. He was actually being serious.

  I gave up the teasing, it wasn't funny anymore. “Would you really do that?! If I did think he was hot?! Which I do not! I like my guys around 29, with hero hair, brown eyes, and they drive sweet rides and give you the best orgasms ever! They occasionally also make pretty damn good pizza too!”

  It felt bizarre to sit on the left in the front and not drive so I found myself watching him with fascination.

  He drove to the exit and came to a smooth halt as the gate opened for us to leave. “Depends I guess, but I only like you to look at me like that, and really?! The best ever you say?!” His tone was casual, but he totally wanted to know if I was telling the truth about the sex.

  I nodded at him confirming it. “Cameron you do things to me that send me into rapturous delight! And just as an FYI, I do not find Jones hot at all, plus he's like 45! And I will only ever have eyes for you!”

  Jones was cute in an older man type of way, but I wasn't going to tell Cameron that.

  “Rapturous delight?! I like that! A lot! Same goes for you to Miss Watson!”

  The gate opened fully and we drove out and onto the complex road and waited to join the traffic on the
main road.

  “Yeah sex with you for the first time was pretty much a religious experience!” It was true in the most part, he had blown my mind and world wide open and now I craved him like I had never craved anything before in my life.

  “Well, thank you, I hope I continue to please you in such ways! I have so many things I want to try with you, and I know together we will be amazing!” He reached over and stroked his hand softly down my cheek. “I love you Evan.”

  “I love you too Cameron and I will try for you I promise like I said this morning.” I knew he would show me the way, and nurture me until I was comfortable with all the new kink stuff. I sat back and enjoyed the ride, the car drove like it was on air, I couldn't even hear the traffic noise, after a while we rounded a corner and I grinned from ear to ear.

  “Dude, that's Buckingham Palace, I hadn't got around to seeing it yet, wow it’s huge!” I craned my neck around to look at it. It was imposing sat behind strong yet elegant black iron gates.

  Cameron chuckled. “There isn't much to see from the outside, it's impressive, I guess if you’re not used to seeing it!”

  Typical Cameron, so blasé about it.

  “I had no idea you could drive down here, I feel like royalty!” I laughed as he drove us down the famous Mall road, it was stunning, all black gates with gold crowns atop, the trees were bright green with union jacks flying each side. Traffic followed down it easily, the red double lines either side, meaning you couldn't stop.

  “The only time you can't drive down here is when there is an event on! It's your heritage too, you’re partly British after all, there's no reason why you shouldn't enjoy it!”

  I grinned. “True, it's so grand! I mean every detail is amazing! All the big gates and the little crowns! I might adventure down and take photos one day, would make cool canvas prints!” I made a mental plan to do just that.

  “I think they would make very good photos! I'll look forward to seeing them!” He was confident behind the wheel, he drove like he handles his life; with precision. I enjoyed watching him change up and down gear depending on the flow of traffic, his fingers deliberately brushed my knee a few times. He was right about learning to drive my new car away from the city because New York traffic had nothing on London's! Drivers seemed to change lanes at any given second & you fought for your space against big red double decker busses as people on cycles weaved in and out of the heavy throngs risking life and limb just to edge forward a few feet. I studied the buildings either side of the road. It didn't matter where you were in London, or what kinda car you were in you always felt dwarfed by the expanse of buildings all squeezed in, old and new sitting side by side, towering above you, hemming you into the two lane roads, I loved it. The roads were like veins and the cars where the city's lifeblood.