Ignite Me: Shards of Glass, Part One

by Mills, L. C.

  “Why is there a heart on your cup?! There isn’t one on mine!” He checked his cup.

  I coughed as the ice made my throat cold. “I dunno, depends who’s doing the orders I guess.” I tried to suppress more coughing, but failed.

  “Are you okay?!” He sounded worried as he rubbed my back.

  “Yeah, I’m good, it’s because it’s so cold, I do the same with ice-cream. I guess I’ve got a small weakness with really cold things.” I grinned at him.

  “Just take a deep breath, darling, maybe let it melt a little before you drink anymore.” He didn’t mention the heart again so I didn’t bring it up anymore.

  “Good idea, I was just too keen to drink it.” I grinned at him.

  An hour later Jones parked up at One Hyde Park.

  “So do I get to see what's in the other bag?!” Now I was intrigued.

  He smiled impishly at me. “Nope it's a surprise and Jones is going to hide it for me!” He handed Jones the bag.

  “What?! Aw, that's not fair! I'm gonna be left hanging now!” I mock pouted at him as we stood at the side of the SUV.

  Jones smiled as he took the bag. “I'll take this and hide it up and sort your food shopping out!” He opened the boot and got two bags out.

  “Oh hey Jones, we got you these for you and Gwen from Starbucks! Chocolate muffins!” I shook the bag at him with a smile.

  He looked between me and Cameron confused.

  Cameron chuckled beside me. “It's okay Jones you can take them! I think Miss Watson thinks I over work you and starve you!”

  Jones smiled. “Oh, I can assure you, Miss Watson I am very well fed and looked after but thank you, Gwen will enjoy a treat I'm sure! It's very kind of you.” He stepped forward and took the bag from my hand, I had already taken mine out.

  “You're welcome!” I grinned at Cameron.

  “Come on, Miss Watson! Let's get these dresses into your part of the closet and I can show you the dressing table I've found which I think you will love! You can paint it out on my office balcony while I catch up on work stuff!”

  “Dressing table?!” I held my hand out for him as we walked to the lift, leaving Jones to lock the SUV.

  He took my hand. “Yes I said I was going to get one and Jones saw a wooden dresser on a recycle website and went and got it for me! I've got you some cream paint and some sandpaper! I know you like art projects!”

  I pressed the call button for the lift. “I do! Thank you for going to so much effort!”

  We stepped into the lift minutes later. “It's really not a problem! You can put all your jewellery and make up etc on once it's done.”

  I swiped the card and pressed the button for the penthouse. “I'm excited! I shall take photos to chart my progress!” I was excited to paint the old dresser and for once he hadn't actually spent a lot of money on it! Aside from the paint.

  Three hours later I had finished painting the dressing table. I stepped back to admire my handy work. Cameron had removed the mirror part for me so I wouldn't get paint on it. It was small but had two draws one on each side and a scalloped top with an oval mirror and I loved it. I also adored the fact it wasn't new! I loved up-cycling.

  The heat outside was still 30'c so the paint had actually dried really fast.

  “Refreshments for the artist!”

  I grinned as Cameron handed me a can of ice cold lemonade.

  “Oh, thanks. It is thirsty work!” I took the can from his hand and sipped it. It was refreshing and very welcome.

  “You've made good progress! It's looking good!” He stepped around to stand next to me against the railing. We had views of both the park and the city from the side.

  “I've got dinner on the go!” He sighed. “Also, I was reminded by James that I have a meeting in Birmingham early Friday morning, which means I'll need to stay over Thursday evening, would you like to come to with me?!”

  I chewed the inside of my mouth. I hadn't been to many places within the UK yet and it would be cool to go but I knew he'd not let me go and explore alone, so I'd either have to wait for him to be free or have Jones accompany me which would annoy me. “Uh, would you mind if I said no?!” I sipped at the drink quenching my thirst.

  “Oh! I... Well, I suppose not! I rather assumed!” He had obviously decided it was a forgone conclusion.

  “I'd rather stay behind and be getting myself ready for Saturday.” I walked around the dresser checking for any missing spots, I'd already had it upside down.

  “What do you need to get ready?!”

  I grinned, he really wasn't used to this. “Well, given the dress is part see through lace, I shall need to shave my legs, bikini line, paint my nails, and sort my eyebrows out and what have you!”

  He pulled a face. “Oh, right yes of course... Well, I'll cancel my meeting and rearrange it for next week then!”

  I rolled my eyes, was he really gonna cancel because I didn't want to go with him?! “No you won't! You can still go! I will need to go back to mine to do all that anyways! I tell you what! I'll cook us dinner for Friday evening at mine! You can test the memory foam out!” I poked my tongue up onto one of my teeth and grinned.

  He raised a brow. “But you'll be alone and I'll be miles away and helpless to do anything if that bastard tries anything! Please come with me?! Maybe I can persuade you?!” He grinned wolfishly at me as he stepped forward, his whole posture changing, he was obviously going to attempt to use sex to change my mind.

  “I will not be persuaded! So don't use sex against me!” I frowned and stepped away from him.

  His face fell as he fell back a step. “Sorry, I shouldn't have even tried! Okay, but maybe I can leave Jones behind and you stay here instead?!”

  “No! No Cameron! He's your driver! Your right hand man not mine! I am fine to be at my own apartment! All I'm gonna do is go to the supermarket Thursday evening so I've actually got food and then back to mine and spend Friday during the day shaving and other female tasks! I don't need a babysitter for that!”

  He sighed, resigned. “Fine! But let me at least loan you one of my cars, a smaller one so you can drive to the supermarket and back safely?!”

  My mouth fell open in shock. “You’re lending me a car?! I thought you wanted me to start driving elsewhere?! I was gonna pre book a cab!” They were the best type as the fare was set that way and it couldn't go up.

  He looked as if he was thinking. “Oh, which firm?!”

  “Addison Lee! They are quite good, drivers always polite and the price is set!”

  “Okay, that works for me! I will sort you out an account and I'll pay the bill!”

  I sighed. “I can pay my own fares! I pay in cash!”

  He quirked a brow. “I'll set you up an account with them and I will pay it! I'd much rather know you're safe rather than going on the tube or walking!”

  I gave up arguing with him, his mind was obviously set. “Okay! Okay! I agree! We can FaceTime that evening and when you arrive Friday we can cook food and well like I said you can test that memory foam you seemed so interested in!” I grinned.

  He smiled. “Is it a firm mattress?!” His face was poker straight and I wondered where he was going with his line of inquiry.

  “I think so! It goes soft when you sit or lay on it though!” I grinned.

  He stepped forward and wrapped his arm around my middle. “How much bounce does it have?!”

  “Can't say I've ever tested its bounce ability!” I giggled.

  “Hmm.” The sound of him thinking rumbled in his throat. “Well, I'll just have to see how far I can take you! See how many ways I can please you with my fingers, my tongue and my cock!”

  I closed my eyes and groaned. How was I even turned on?! But I was.

  “Your breathing is hitched and you’re flushed... Hmm, I'm turning you on! I have plans for you after dinner! Can I blind fold you?!”

  I was confused a moment. “What now?!”

  He chuck
led, but shook his head. “No darling, later tonight?! I have plans for you which require a blind fold! I've bought you one that I think you'll approve of!” His eyes sparkled.

  I was actually kinda excited about his plans. “Oh, okay, well sure, but if I don't like it, can I take it off?!” I was worried it might trigger my anxiety more than anything.

  He nodded. “Of course! We will use the safe words again! You still remember them darling?!!” He looked at me encouragingly.

  I nodded. I could never forget them. “Black and white!”

  The smile spread across his face lighting it up. “And the meanings of each?!”

  “Black for stop! White for a pause!” I stroked my fingers over his tie. “I will try my best!”

  He pulled me to him, wrapping me in his arms. “You remember well! And I know and that's why I bought you the blind fold! You can touch it, hold it whatever with it later on, right now we need to go eat! Can't starve the artist!”

  I giggled. “They are known for being temperamental so feeding me is a good idea! I feel bad that you cooked while I was out here! I could have stopped to help!”

  He let me go from the hug and took hold of my hand. “I like cooking, and best of all, I love to see you eat so I don't mind! Let's go get dinner served! I've put in some naan bread too.” He paused. “Yes, I know that's not Italian, but I know you like bread and that's all Jones could find at short notice!”

  I laughed as he led me back inside. “I really don't mind! I mean I put all food types together so mix and match all you like!”

  As we made our way from his office to the kitchen the most divine smell hit my senses and made me automatically hungry where I hadn't been moments before. “Oh wow that smells so good!”

  “I am glad! Take a seat, and I'll serve up!” He let go of my hand as we entered the kitchen.

  He'd already gotten the plates and things out so all I could do was actually sit myself down, so I did just that. It was weird being looked after like that, I wasn't used to it. It made me feel a little uncomfortable if I was honest.

  “I like looking after you! You deserve being treated right!” He smiled as he placed two pasta bowls down and a platter with cut up Naan bread on.

  “I know, but I just feel conflicted about it! I kinda like it, but then the side of me that's a modern woman that can do stuff for herself is angry that I'm letting you do all of this!” I picked up my fork and stabbed it into the pasta.

  “You'd do the same for me, would you not?!” He wound the ribbons of pasta around his fork with ease.

  “Yes of course!” I carefully attempted to copy how Cameron had twisted his wrist to get the pasta on the fork, but failed as half the pasta fell back into the bowl.

  “Then tell your other half not to worry! It's okay that I am doing things for you! It doesn't make you less of an independent woman! Lord knows I see that at every turn when you say no to me!” He fed the pasta from his fork into his mouth as I just about managed to feed myself without it going on my face.

  I thought about what he'd said as I chewed my mouth full. He had a point. I was fiercely proud of what I had achieved off my own back but I could still let him take care of me and still be independent in my own body and mind.

  “Show me the method of how you fold that pasta on your fork cause I'm not getting it!” I grinned as another fork full fell back into my dish.

  He laughed. “Keep twisting it until the last bit is just overlapping at the top and then lift it up! The method is don't put too much on at once!”

  “Oh, okay. I see!” I did what he'd said and managed to get a smaller portion to stay on the fork as I lifted it to my mouth. The smaller portion also meant it didn't go all over my face either.

  I made quick work of the pasta and then picked up a slice of naan bread and cleaned my dish with it. I wasn't leaving any behind, the tomato sauce he'd made was delicious.

  “So how do you get to Birmingham?!” I asked between mouthfuls.

  He grinned as he watched me. “I fly!” He reached out for the naan bread and did the same as I did with his sauce.

  “Oh like a small plane or something?! I guess that's quicker!” I grinned, seeing him copy me, I wondered if he'd ever done that before?!

  He shook his head. “No, it's a private jet! I own it! It's much easier to be able to fly that way! It's actually more effective for business and means I get there and back faster!”

  I was used to people talking about private jets. I'd lived in L.A for a good portion of my life so it didn't shock me, my dad’s band used one occasionally, but I'd never been lucky enough to fly anywhere in it. I'd been in their tour bus though and that was top of the range.

  “Oh cool. How are we getting to your friends at the weekend?!” I didn't envision going by jet, but there was no telling.

  “By car! We will have to go early Saturday morning! So when I come to yours Friday, I will have Jones pack my tux and your dress, etc. Before we leave so I can bring it with me so we can get up early and head off to beat the traffic on the motorway!” He tore the last bit of bread in half and handed me the biggest bit.

  “How kind!” I grinned as I took it from his fingers. “Oh, I see well, okay! I can make us a packed lunch for the journey! It'll be a little road trip! Always gotta have supplies!”

  He smiled. “I shall look forward to that! I avoided staying at their house on previous parties because their daughter’s friend always a seemed to have a crush on me and it was all just awkward! But with you looking after me, I am safe to stay!”

  I studied him. “Oh, I see! Well I will keep you safe from any teen or otherwise lustiness!” I wondered why that had stopped him from staying before?! Even with me there it wouldn't stop them looking, not really.

  “I'm gonna have to explain aren't I?! You're a keen observer!” He watched me eat the last of my bread.

  “Well, you don't have too, but I am intrigued!”

  He nodded. “I had known she had a crush on me, but ignored it! She wasn't my type at all! Far too privileged and over confident in herself! So I kept her at arm's length, if she asked to dance, I turned her down, if she sat at my table I would ignore her, but one night after the party, I was in bed and she actually got into my bed stark naked and propositioned me! Said she could show me a good time! I told her point blank, the kind of good time I liked she couldn't handle and told her leave! She never mentioned it again and neither did I but I was always weary after that! She never seemed put off either!”

  I knew I shouldn't be jealous, but I was, a hate I hadn't previously had for this girl that I had never met suddenly flared in my chest. Would she be there this year?! I didn't know, but he was mine and she'd damn well know it!

  “Oh, I see! Well, uh yes, I guess that's a good enough reason to not stay again! How old was she at the time?!” I was genuinely interested because to slip naked into a man's bed was either a very foolish act or a very well planned one that backfired because how many single men would have turned down an invitation like that?!”

  He frowned. “19! She is very wary of me now, but I'm glad I told you because I want to be honest.”

  “Were you tempted?! I mean most men would be!” I chewed my lip.

  He shook his head. “I don't like her type so no I wasn't! She actually walked through the house naked like that too! Foolish girl!”

  I pulled a face. “Well, good job she didn't bump into anyone else that night then!”

  He smirked. “Think she ended up bedding their son in the end!”

  “Well shit! She wasn't too fussy then!” I shook my head. “She could really have gotten you in trouble! Well, she won't be lusting after you when I'm around! She can...” I searched for the phrase. “Jog on?!”

  He tried to cover his smile with his hand. “Yes, she rather can! So I can't offer you desert right now because you're getting it later, when I finally prove that sex is most definitely better than chocolate cake!” His lips curled into a smir
k as my eyes grew wide.

  “Oh, okay, well, I really rate the cake just so you know!” I grinned at him and wondered what he had planned.

  chapter 37

  After we had loaded the dishwasher Cameron led me into his room. “Let's get you out of those clothes!” He pushed open the door to his closest and held it open for me to pass by.

  He walked in behind me. “Arms up, I'll remove your top.”

  I blinked, confused for a second. “I can remove my own clothes.” I giggled as his fingers brushed my sides, it tickled my skin as he started rolling my shirt up.

  “I am going to undress you so I need you to cooperate with me okay baby?!”

  Was this him being top and I was bottom this time?!

  “Okay. So am I being bottom?!”

  I asked as I raised both my arms in the air.

  He rolled my shirt up and over my head as his fingers traced all the way back down my arms and sides before splaying over my stomach making me moan.

  His lips brushed my neck behind my ear. “If you would! I would very much like to be your top for the scene I have planned! I will be in total control of you, however you have the power to say no or use safe words to bring the activity to an end so don't worry.” He kissed my neck softly.

  I closed my eyes as I lowered my arms and moved my head to one side, giving him access to my neck. “Okay.” I was actually excited to try this out. I could follow his instructions and I had the power to stop it all too. I could do this, I could be everything he needed me to be. I felt empowered.

  “You will enjoy this, now I am going to remove your shorts!” His hands swept over my stomach and down to the zip of my denim shorts.

  I sucked a breath in as his fingers undid the zip. “Wiggle your hips for me!”

  I did as he said and wiggled my hips.

  “Good girl!” His fingers worked my shorts down as I wiggled.

  “Step out of them and kick them to one side.” His right hand smoothed its way up my hips.

  I kicked them off to one side and waited for my next instructions.