Ignite Me: Shards of Glass, Part One

by Mills, L. C.

  He rested his head on my shoulder. “We can definitely have fluffy roast potatoes!”

  I stroked a hand through his hair, smoothing it. “Thank you.”

  “Why do you always thank me?! It's just potatoes!”

  He pulled back and studied me, in the light of the small prep room his eyes looked almost all black.

  I frowned. “Cause its good manners!”

  “Hmm, okay.” He quirked an eyebrow at me, almost suspiciously.

  I shrugged my shoulders, I didn't know what else he wanted me to say. I'd never had anything close to a normal relationship with Sean where we did couple things.

  “So what else we putting with this roast?! Do you have broccoli?! It's so underrated as a vegetable!” I grinned up at him.

  He laughed. “Nice deflect Miss Watson! We do have a whole selection of vegetables for your choosing! This way!” He held his hand out for mine.

  I grinned at him. “Sounds good!” I placed my hand in his and let him lead the way back into the kitchen.

  Half an hour later and we had pots and pans all on the go and the chicken was in the oven. Cameron was a very competent cook. I stood whisking the battered pudding mix. “You have some mad knife skills has to be said! I was impressed! Where did you learn to cook?!”

  I had learnt most of what I knew off the TV.

  He smiled as he checked the mix. “From my grandmother! She used to cook with us, she learned from her mother and so on, I liked learning things and she was more than happy to teach me. I spent a lot of time at hers in the summers, I didn't get on with my brother and it was best I wasn't around him.”

  I smiled. “Your Grandma sound epic! I get on quite well with my maternal grandparents, I tried to see them when I could when I was in America, they live in Palm Springs! My mother hates it though, which actually just made me visit them more! I write to them from here, I sent postcards when I first moved.” I smiled, remembering.

  “They were so pleased I had stayed in contact after all the stuff that kicked off with my mom and her kids!” I handed him the bowl.

  He smiled. “It's good you can have contact with them, at least they aren't like your mother!” He took the bowl and covered it with a cloth. “Just needs to rest now! We can go to my study and I can dig out some photos to show you!” He grinned.

  I put the whisk in the sink. “Oh baby photos?! I am so pleased my dad doesn't have any dodgy ones!” I giggled.

  “Hmm, maybe! I can show you the house and such! It's a beautiful property! I actually own it, I'll explain that in a moment.”

  “Oh wow, okay.” I wondered why he'd have brought his parents’ house?! I found that bizarre, but maybe they'd fallen on hard times or something, though I doubted it because his father was something big in law.

  We headed into the study and I sat myself down in the reading chair.

  I watched as he went to one of the shelves and pulled out a box. He brought it back over to where I was sitting and perched himself on the arm of my seat handing me the photo album.

  I grinned from ear to ear as he slid his arm around my shoulders.

  I studied the album in my hands it was a rich navy blue color with a silver embroidered thread.

  Cameron Alaric Hamish Ballard.

  “Alaric Hamish, that's a lovely middle name!” I traced my fingers over the thread, I liked to touch things, to get the feel of them, and this clearly wasn't opened very often.

  “It's a family name! I was given that on my 21st birthday and I've added to it since!”

  I felt very privileged to be sitting in his library room and to be looking at the album. I opened it up carefully and found the most adorable photo of him as a baby, he was wearing a little blue sailor outfit.

  “That is the cutest thing ever! Aww, you had little chubby arms and legs!” I giggled thinking about how long they were now.

  He laughed. “Yes, I was a chubby child, I didn't start my growth spurt until I was 16! My Dad jokes and says they most have fed me magic growth beans or something because within three months of turning 16 I had just shot up, I went from being just over five feet to being just on six foot.”

  “How tall are you now?! Cause I'm five'7 and I have to tiptoe if I'm not in shoes!” I turned the page and found a group photo. Cameron was a few years older in this photo he was sitting with an older boy, they both had nearly brushed over hair and suits on there was a noticeable gap in the photo between them.

  “I'm six foot 2 without shoes! And I like you being smaller than me, I can rest my head on your shoulder.”

  I grinned. “Yes, I also like hearing your heart beat! Being shorter than you has its advantages.”

  “That's my brother! We don't get along!”

  I didn't like to ask so I turned the photo and grinned lopsidedly. “Aww is that you with Georgia?!”

  A 15 year old Cameron was looking back at me, his hair was messy with curls and he had a smart shirt on and held a small baby in his arms.

  “Yes, that is indeed! My folks had her late, an accident, I'm sure.”

  I turned my head in shock. “Cameron! You can't say things like that! I mean she's your sister!” I was shocked he'd referred to her as an accident.

  He sighed. “I didn't mean it in a bad way, but she obviously was an accident! My brother is 5 years older than me, and she's 15 years younger! It's just obvious.”

  I shook my head. “Well, I guess these things happen! But I bet you wouldn't change it!” I knew he cared a great deal for his sister.

  He stroked his fingers over my shoulder. “I do sometimes wonder though if she hadn't been born maybe I would have stayed in America! I only came back because she always wanted to come visit me and they'd never allow her to!”

  I could understand what he meant. “You might not have me though, and that would have been a tragedy!” I grinned up at him.

  He beamed a smile at me. “I am very glad I listened to you that night, the look on your face when I reset your finger though!” He chuckled.

  I laughed as I turned the page again. “That wasn't funny! That hurt, where did you even learn that skill?!”

  “At university actually!”

  I studied the photo, he was stood in front of large wooden doors in a very smart school outfit and he really had shot up in height, his legs and arms compared to the last photo was like he had been stretched.

  “Ah year 11! We had a new blazer that year, I was a prefect, see!” He pointed to his tie where a little blue and silver crest badge sat proudly.

  “Oh yeah, so what's that?! Like someone that looks after the other kids?!” My school hadn't been an English one it had been in the American school system and we hadn't had any of that, but I was way too much of a rebel to be someone that made sure the others behaved.

  “Yes, sort of, we made sure the rules were followed, we were examples of the school, basically we flaunted our powers like we were gods.” He chuckled. “I actually made head boy when I was in year 12! I broke more rules than I obeyed!”

  “Yes funnily enough I can imagine that!”

  I turned the page to find one of him and a group of other boys sat neatly in rows.

  “School photos of me always sucked cause I looked awful, but yours are fine!” He looked almost separate from the group, though in the way he was sitting with his hands on his knees, his smile didn't connect to his eyes.

  He sighed. “I hated photos, it was all so much pomp!”

  I shook my head as I turned the page and found a few photos of a much older Cameron, one was with another group of boys carrying a rowing boat and the other was him sat by the river looking thoughtful, he had become quite handsome and I knew these where his university photos.

  “Oxford?!” I asked, wondering why he always looked so detached even in group photos when he was making contact with others, he somehow looked like he wasn't there, his eyes cold.

  “They called me W.C. - Wolfgang Christ at university.” H
e laughed.

  “Oh, I am almost scared to ask!” I never had nicknames I guess it was a boy thing.

  “Some of the boys that I went to school with also went onto the same university, they said it was because I couldn't make my mind up if I wanted to be Mozart or Jesus. I was a very confused teenager! It wasn't until I was 20 that I understood what I wanted out of various things.”

  I quirked an eyebrow up as I studied the teenage Cameron. I could still see that trait in him now. He had that cold exterior and persona that most people saw, but to the chosen few that really knew him he was warm and caring. I guessed he’d been undecided about a lot of things growing up.

  “Well, I guess as nicknames go it could have been worse! I never had a nickname! I was such a renegade at school!” I smiled as I turned the next page and my face fell as I saw a photo of an older Cameron with a very thin Georgia, she looked like she didn't really want to be there. Cameron's arm was snug around her shoulder. She was half the size she ideally should a have been. “Oh my god. How the hell didn't you parents notice she was sick?!” I stroked my finger down her face. I actually felt like I could cry.

  “I honestly don't know! She got a little worse than that before we got her to the unit.”

  I placed my hand on his knee and squeezed it. “Well, I'm very glad she had you looking out for her!”

  His hand covered mine. “Well now she has you too.”

  I grinned. “She sure does! As you know I am available to kick ass at a moment’s notice.” I chuckled.

  I turned the page and saw a photo of him sat next to a woman wearing a bright red dress which almost matched her hair, Cameron was wearing a suit and looked around 25 or 26, her hand was on his knee, and his eyes were dead in the photo as with all the others. “Who's she?! She's holding your knee!” I studied her. “She sure likes red!” She had bright red lipstick on and matching accessories.

  “That's my brother's wife, I don't think we should talk about her, you wouldn't like it!” His hand reached over and turned the page.

  “Why did you do that?! What wouldn't I be happy about?!”

  I tried to turn the page back, but he pushed it back down.

  “Now is not the time! All you need to know is I don't get on with my brother or his wife and they most certainly don't like me! Now if you flick to the next page and actually look at it my darling, you will see something that I think you'll like!”

  I was annoyed he'd stopped me looking, if her hand on his knee had anything to go by she obviously did like him. I would find out one way or another, but for now I wasn't going to pry so I looked at the new page and couldn't believe my eyes. There starring up at me was Cameron and I at the Shard in the lift and in the burger restaurant. I grinned like a total fool forgetting about Mrs Red dress temporarily.

  “Oh my god.” The first photo I looked like a shy school girl stood in front of him, but in the restaurant with him kissing me I looked confident and sexy.

  “I hope to add many more of us to that!”

  I grinned from ear to ear hearing he wanted to add more. “Thank you for including me in this, you have this way of just making me feel at home here and in your life.” I turned the page over again and started to laugh. “Oh my god you actually printed those?!” I was looking at two photos, one of me sat on the floor in front of him after he'd done my hair, I actually looked kinda seductive and the other was me on stage with the band. “Oh wow, I didn't even see you taking photos!”

  “Well I rather liked knowing you were mine when the two guys behind me said you were hot as fuck!” He chuckled.

  “Oh wow okay, well I'm most definitely yours!” I wasn't interested in anyone else.

  He smiled at me and stroked his hand down my cheek. “I am very happy that you feel that way, let's go check on our dinner! See how your fluffy roast potatoes are doing!” He got up from the chair and held his hand out for mine.

  I grinned as I placed my hand into his and got up. “Yes, let's! I am starving!”

  chapter 33

  An hour later we were sat at the dining table surrounded by empty plates and dishes. I was stuffed out on the best roast dinner, I'd ever had.

  “Oh wow that was so good! I think I've eaten my body weight in food!” I patted my stomach.

  Cameron chuckled as he stood up and started to tidy up the dishes. “I'm glad you enjoyed it, I rather enjoyed seeing you enjoy the food! Also have to say fluffy roast potatoes are now a thing!”

  I grinned at him as I stood and helped carry the plates over to the dishwasher.

  “They are totally now a thing, I've not eaten properly like this for months! It was nice!”

  I scraped any leftovers into a dish before loading up the dishwasher.

  “I'm glad you enjoyed it, you should eat a good main meal at least once a day! You have to eat food to keep your body going!” He closed the dishwasher door and turned it on.

  I superseded an eye roll. “I do know that! And anyways, I do eat meals! I just never cook stuff like this cause it was just me before I met you!”

  The smile played at the corners of his mouth. “Yes, I know! Do want to sit out on the balcony in my bedroom?! Maybe a nice glass of chilled wine?! We can talk more outside, plus is a lovely evening.” He looked at me as he waited for my reply.

  “Yeah, that'd be nice!” I did wonder if he'd tell me about Mrs Red dress. I chewed my lip wondering how I'd get him to tell me.

  “I'll grab a bottle and glasses you go make yourself comfortable outside on one of the sun loungers, should I bring some chocolate too?!”

  I was so full I knew eating anything else would make me feel sick so I shook my head. “No, if I eat anything else I'll feel sick! I'm gonna go put a pair of sweatpants on! Skinny jeans are great, but not when I've eaten a huge meal!”

  He smiled at me. “Okay, I'll see you in a moment then.”

  I grinned. “You sure will.” I left the kitchen and walked back through to his bedroom, once there, I pushed open the door to his walk in closet and stripped off down to my underwear and found the sweat pants and slipped them on. Walking back out to his bedroom I found the shirt I slept in and pulled it on removing my bra through the sleeves and tossed it over onto the chair as I passed it. Unlocking the window I slid it open and walked out. It was a lovely late summers evening and for June it was actually quite warm. I looked around the balcony, I'd never actually been out here before, it was quite long and with terracotta tiles with fancy little bush plants all neatly trimmed into round shapes and two sun loungers with little tables attached. I leant on the metal railing, enjoying the view of the park. I could still hear the city just about, but it had an air of peacefulness about it as I looked out over the trees and beyond them into the city. Somewhere out there was my little apartment all alone. I distracted myself by recalling him, saying Jones lived in a flat under his and I wondered if they had a balcony so I leant over a little making sure I was holding on tight to the rail. I knew I'd not over balance with my feet planted firmly on the floor. Heights have never bothered me so seeing the ground many feet below me didn't bother me at all.

  “For fuck sake Evan!”

  I jumped and slipped a little catching my ribs, making me yelp in pain as I heard Cameron's worried tones. I stepped back and rubbed my ribs where I'd caught them on the rail frowning at him.

  “What the fuck do you think you were doing?!” He stood with the chilled bottle of white wine and two wine glasses in his hands, his face incredulous.

  I winced lifting my shirt up to rub my ribs. “I wanted to see if Jones had a balcony! I remember you saying they lived below you and I was fine until you startled me!”

  He placed the bottle and glasses down as his face fell, his eyes filling with concern as he approached me. “I'm sorry I just saw you and panicked! Did you hurt yourself?! Can I see?!” His eyes softened.

  I was fine, but I let him inspect me anyway.

  He lifted my shirt, his fingers brush
ed over my ribs, smoothing as he went. I suppressed a moan as his touch vibrated all the way down to my sex.

  “Does that hurt?!” He seemed concerned by my moan. I grinned and shook my head. “Nah quite the opposite.” I grinned impishly at him as he slowly lowered himself down my body so he was now on his knees in front of me, his hands gripping either side of my waist.

  “I'd better kiss this better!” His lips found my ribs and softly kissed above them.

  Everything clenched, I was enjoying this, his mouth was a weapon and he just where to aim it.

  “That feel better?!” His eyes cast upwards catching my gaze.

  My breath caught in my throat as I nodded.

  Christ, he looks so hot kneeling at my feet.

  I grinned lopsidedly. “Yes much.”

  He grinned as he kissed over my navel, flicking his tongue over my bellybutton causing me to squirm under his touch.

  “I think I might like to explore every inch of you with my tongue tonight but first wine!”

  I closed my eyes as I imagined him and his expert tongue roaming over every inch of my body and to my surprise I actually wanted it.

  “Hmm, yes.” I breathed.

  “Hmm, yes wine or hmm yes explore my body and make me beg?!” He brushed his hips against mine as he stood back up. I moaned.

  “Oh well if I can only choose one...” I blew invisible dust off my nails and tried to keep a straight face.

  He stood up and placed his hands either side of my head, his fingers in my hair, and his mouth on mine.

  I melted into his kiss, my hands twisting in his hair, pulling gently at his roots. He moaned into mouth as my tongue gently probed his, soft and warm.

  He pulled back after a while, breathless. “I am gonna fuck you out here one day, right where you stood before and it's going to be glorious!”

  He arched his head back and groaned, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

  My mouth felt dry. “Might be charged with indecent exposure Cameron!” I grinned as I passed and him and flopped down on the sun lounger. He really was very driven by sex, even the idea seemed to turn him on.