Ignite Me: Shards of Glass, Part One

by Mills, L. C.

  He smiled kindly at me. “You made the right choice Evan.” He undid the popper and went straight to the middle section.

  “For what it's worth, I know this would have meant something to you at some point, but he is not worthy of you!”

  I dropped my gaze. I felt a little bit sick. I'd never let someone take control like that before. If it had been anybody but him I'd have walked out.

  I heard him remove the photo and rip it in half. “I'm sorry.” He handed me the wallet back.

  I stared at it. I hadn't seen it for weeks. It was black leather with little silver skulls on. It was like seeing an old friend for the first time in ages. I did the popper back up and shoved it back into my bag.

  I didn't know what to say or do. I just stared at my shoes trying not to cry.

  “Am I forgiven?!” He sounded worried.

  I wasn't angry anymore. He had done me a favor by forcing the issue. I threw myself at him, hugging him. “Well, I don't want to punch you anymore!” I sniffed, trying to reel in my emotions.

  “Well, that's good, I only have your welfare in mind!” He stroked my back softly.

  I took a deep breath in, inhaling his scent. His deodorant was nice, he had more on today than he had yesterday. “You smell nice!” I heard myself say it.

  He chuckled. “Well, thank you!”

  We stood together, me hugging him and him just stroking my back for what seemed like ages. “It's time for the surprise element of the day if you still want to spend more time with me that is.” He stroked his hand through my hair.

  I let him go. “Even though my brain is screaming at me, telling me to run from you, I won't! Because when you take control my life actually makes sense for a little while! So yes, I'd like to spend some time with you!”

  I smiled.

  His whole face lit up. “I just want you to be happy and avoiding using your purse is not only silly it's unsafe!” He raised a brow. “Now for the next part of our date! I'm going to have to ask you to trust me! Now I had something delivered here before we arrived so we could do this next part! Will you just agree to go with the flow?!” He fixed me with a look.

  I shrugged. “Well, that depends what it is but I will give it a go!”

  His whole face became animated. “Oh good because I was banking on you saying that! This way!” He grabbed my hand and started towing me towards the information desk.

  “Directions to the cloak room!” He called as we walked past.

  Miss Information desk pointed to the far corner. “Over there, second door on the right!”

  He continued toeing me behind him.

  “So the next part requires you to change your foot-ware and jacket, I'm pleased I guessed your clothes size and shoe size correctly!”

  “Why do I need to change my shoes?!” I was confused as he shoved open the door.

  “All will be revealed soon!” He led me into the cloakroom, there was an array of prams and coats around the room. It was a small room, white walls and a few basic benches and coat hooks.

  “Ah good, they are here!” He shrugged off his jacket and hung it next to a plain black backpack.

  I eyed the backpack. Under it sat two pairs of Dr Marten boots. One pair bigger than the other, on the coat pegs next to the bag was two leather jackets.

  “Are they for us?!” I grinned as I started to put the clues together. “Oh, so the next part of getting back to yours is on a motorbike or something that would require sensible shoes and jackets!” I smirked.

  “See, this is why I like you! You’re quick! You catch on easily! Indeed, we are! I'm taking you back on my preferred method of city transport!” He sat down on the bench and started to undo his shoes. “Shoes off! The boots are new as is the jacket I had Jones get new for you! Since I hardly ever take a female passenger. Oh, and I thought the patent boots suited your personality best!” He smiled, looking proud of himself.

  I sat down and picked up the boots feeling them, they looked worn but not by someone's feet. They were a rich orange shade of patent leather. I appreciated the effort he'd gone to.

  He must have seen me looking at them.

  “They are the type they wear in for you at the factory! I prefer them! Saves months of agony wearing them in with three pairs of socks on!” He stood up and unzipped the backpack, pulling out a pair of black jeans.

  “Oh, I've seen them!” I agreed about the whole wearing them in pain. I had a pair at home that I hardly wore because they hurt my feet too much.

  I pulled my shoes off and made myself busy sorting the boots out while Cameron undid the fly of his trousers and proceeded to take them off without a care that I was sitting right next to him. I felt hot in the face all of a sudden.

  “Sorry I should have thought Evangeline, I didn't wish to embarrass you!”

  I glanced up as he was doing the zip of his jeans up.

  He looked seriously hot with his shirt half hanging out. “You didn't embarrass me, it was more that I dunno, kinda felt all flustered!” I shrugged as I did up my boots and then stood up, taking off my jacket and folding it up I placed it in the backpack. It was empty aside from what Cameron had pulled out.

  He smirked as he started to unbutton his shirt.

  I peeked out of the corner of my eye, wondering if I'd get a glimpse of his chest, but he already had the T-shirt on as he shrugged off his shirt and folded it adding it to the backpack.

  Damn it, pull yourself together.

  “Do I make you hot under the collar?!” He smirked as he put his boots on.

  “Yes, yes you do!” I let my eyes travel up the length of his body slowly. “Ever made out in a museum cloak room before?!” I asked as I took a step forwards him.

  He smirked. “I don't believe I have!” He took a step forwards me, his eyes full of excitement. “We have five minutes!” He whispered as his hands pulled me towards him with sudden urgency.

  I felt the cold of the wall against my back as he pushed me against it. I moaned, his hands softly sweeping up my sides as his lips meet mine, I ran my hands into his unruly hair and moaned again as his lips left mine and ran down my neck, nibbling softly at the sensitive skin of my neck. My breathing hitched.

  “I swear if we weren't in a museum Evan!” He moaned in frustration as his hips brushed tantalizingly against mine.

  I pushed my hips against his in protest that he'd stopped. “You’re a very impatient man!” I giggled.

  “Oh you’re killing me!” He stepped back, his eyes wide. “I come undone when I'm around you, but in the most glorious way!” He ran his hand though his hair.

  “I'll get my jacket on!” I smiled at him sweetly as I walked over to the peg.

  He picked up his own jacket and did it up. He looked dark and dangerous in his jacket and jeans, it suited him.

  “You look really good in jeans!” I remarked as I picked up my converse and placed them at the top of the backpack and did it up pulling it over one shoulder.

  He blushed ever so slightly. “You've been on a bike before?!” His eyes studied me.

  I nodded. “Well, Sean rides! He tried to teach me too, but I spent 5 hours in the ER getting my head stitched so that never happened again!” I grinned.

  He looked horrified. “I can assure you won't end up in the hospital with me riding but at least you have some basic knowledge of how to be a pillion!” He smiled and held his hand out for mine. “The bike is just around the corner, Jones was good enough to drop it there! Our helmets are at the information desk! I guessed your head would be a little bigger than the helmet my sister used so I brought you a new one too! Should fit fine!”

  I placed my hand in his. He was so well organized. His guessing about my size was spot on, the jacket fitted like a glove, but still left me room to move. I did feel bad for Jones though. All this extra work just because of me.

  “It's okay, I'll make sure he's paid extra at the end of the month! He's worked for me since I was 20! He
and his wife live in a self-contained flat under mine!”

  “Aww, he's married!” I don't know why, but I really liked the fact he had a wife, someone to do stuff for him when he wasn't running around after Cameron.

  “Yea Mrs Jones is my housekeeper!” We walked over to the desk. “Two motorbike helmets should have been left here under the name of Ballard!” He tapped his fingers on the edge of the desk.

  “Oh yes, here they are. It was a little unusual, but the donation was very generous thank you!” The older lady handed over the two helmets with a smile.

  “You’re welcome and thank you!” He handed me a black and white helmet with a push front visor. His was the same but, just less new looking. I felt the excitement build as he turned around and led me away back towards the way we'd come in.

  “Oh, I see, so she's your house keeper?! As her husband is your right hand man, at least she understands about what he does I guess!” I could understand why he'd need a house keeper he was a busy man after all.

  He chuckled. “Well, she reminds me frequently that I need looking after!” He shook his head. “I just let her get on with it.”

  We took the steps back down and walked around the corner. We walked for a few minutes until we rounded the side of the building. Stood proudly in what I assumed was normally a private parking bay was a stunning vintage motorbike. I fell in love with it straight away. As we got closer I broke away from him to go investigate it close up. It was a BSA v twin. The black was slick against the sparkle of the chrome.

  “This is immense! Is she from the 60s?!” I glanced up to find Cameron grinning from ear to ear.

  “She?! It is yes! I restored it! I've got a collection of vintage cars and bikes at my weekend place! I keep a bike here, though.”

  I stood back up. “You have a weekend place?!” I wondered where it was.

  He grinned. “Sometimes it's nice to get out of the city for a few days! It's also a good investment!”

  I nodded. “Fair enough.” If he wanted to tell me where it was he would.

  “I'll explain all about it later! Let's get going! You get on first!” He grinned as he put his helmet on, visor up.

  I pulled the pair of gloves that were stowed in the helmet out and pulled them on and then sorted my helmet out by adjusting the tension of the straps under my chin and then with one foot on the foot peg, I swung myself up and sat myself down. The pillion seat was a little higher than the rider’s one, but I liked that meant I was able to see more.

  I smirked at how long his legs were as he swung himself easily into his seat, taking the keys from his pocket and putting them in the ignition.

  I felt around for somewhere to hold onto but there was no bar or leather strip.

  “You'll need to hold on to me!” He called over his shoulder as the bike roared into life. The engine sounded wonderful.

  “Okay!” I called back and placed my left around the lower part of his waist and my right hand just above that and got a good grip on his jacket.

  “You good to go Evan?!” He pushed his visitor down.

  “Hell yes!” I shouted as I pushed my own visor down.

  “Don't let go! Hold on nice and tight and have fun!” His voice was full of excitement.

  “Okay, noted!” We took off as I said it. I slimed widely as I gripped him tighter as he weaved in and out of traffic. The streets of London whizzed by. Cafés, shops, hospitals and schools all just a blur as Cameron navigated us back to his. I didn't know London well enough to know where we were heading. We stopped at a set of traffic lights near a hospital.

  Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. So we were in one or the other.

  “You okay back there?!” He sounded concerned.

  “I am better than good! I forgot how much of an adrenaline rush this was!” I gave him a squeeze.

  He laughed. “Glad you like it! Not long now!”

  “Okay!” I glanced around and loved that nobody knew who we were. They were admiring the bike sure, but we were pretty much anonymous.

  The traffic lights flashed, Amber and then green and we were off again.

  CHAPTER 13

  After another 10 minutes we were driving around a large complex of apartments that over looked Hyde Park. I looked up at the slick glass buildings as we rode around the complexes one way system.

  One Hyde Park, was a gated complex that consisted of four separated but linked pavilions, it had an expanse of glass and bronze fins on the outside, it towered 11 floors above the ground level. The gate opened and we headed into an underground car park. The sound of the bike echoed around the walls as we rode around until I recognized the SUV parked up. Cameron drove the bike into the space next to it and cut the engine.

  “Now that blew some cobwebs away! How was it for you?!” He climbed off the bike and pulled his helmet off. His hair even now just sprang back to how it normally looked.

  I undid my helmet and climbed down. “I loved every second of it! It's so freeing.” I shook my hair out.

  He sighed happily. “You look perfect! Your cheeks are all flushed and your eyes are so bright! I think it suits you! Come on, I'll take you in! The lift is a key card access and takes us right up to the penthouse!” He caught up my hand lacing his fingers through mine.

  “Ooh fancy!” I grinned.

  He chuckled. “It had its advantages being accessible by key card only!”

  I smiled. “Well, that's fair enough I guess! You get what you pay for!”

  The lift was pretty normal considering it was swiped access, it had all the normal floor buttons on it. Cameron swiped a card downwards on the lift button panel then hit the button for floor 11. He was quiet on the journey up. It made me feel nervous when he didn't speak. The lift travelled up to the 11th floor. Cameron placed his hand on my lower back and guided me out of the doors as the lift opened. We stepped out into a foyer, the walls were a cracked gold and black glass with up lighting. The floor was marbled. It was stunning. I turned around in a full circle checking it out. There was a door next to the lift.

  “That's the stairwell next to the lift, and right ahead is the main door to my apartment.

  He placed his helmet and gloves on the table in the foyer.

  I did the same and undid my jacket a little.

  “This way.” He took hold of my hand and walked over to the door. It was a slick imposing black double door with chrome handles, it looked heavy.

  He pushed the door open and held it open. “Welcome Miss Watson!”

  He let me pass him. I walked out into a corridor. I wasn't sure what way to turn it seemed to run the whole length of the apartment. “Whoa.”

  “Yes whoa indeed! The hallway is 65 meters at its full length and takes you right through to all parts of the apartment! I'll give you a tour of both wings!”

  He took hold of my hand again and turned right into the hallway, the walls where all muted tones of grey with lights set into the ceiling. We walked down past various closed doors, I wondered what they led to but he didn't stop until we reached an open expanse, dark leather furniture sat around the room, several coffee tables sat with various magazines on them. His taste in decor was so him! The lamps caught my attention, they were concrete skulls with coil light bulbs set in the top, and they were all sat on various old leather bound books. I glanced around the room, the two walls that were separated by the hallway had beautiful flocked dark pink wallpaper with large black Fleur De Lis style patterns. I walked into the centre of the room and looked back at the wallpaper, the pink shimmered and changed shades of pink depending on where the light hit it.

  “That wallpaper is amazing. This whole room is immense.”

  “This is the reception room, it faces towards the road, and you can see Knightsbridge from here!” He let go of my hand leaving me free to explore.

  I wandered around the room, the floor to ceiling glass was spectacular. I could see a steady stream of cars down on the main road but couldn't hea
r them.

  “It's an odd set up.” I looked up the corridor and could see right to the other end.

  “This was originally the bedroom, but I preferred to sleep overlooking the tree tops also changing things up a little meant I didn't have to worry about bumping into family when they stay!”

  I stood and stared at all the open space and glass. I was used to floor to ceiling glass, but he had so much open space. My whole apartment would have fitted in his three if not four times over.

  “Yeah, I like the open plan feel of it!”

  He moved further in, encouraging me to do the same.

  “I don't use this room very often! It's more for if I have to entertain anyone! I'll show you my office! It's back down the corridor.

  “It’s a huge amount of space” I had never known anyone that actually had a reception room and I wondered if he had a lounge at all.

  He smirked proudly as he looked around. “Its 15 square feet in total with outside balcony’s etc.”

  “Oh wow that is big.” I wondered how many times over I could fit my apartment into his?!

  Halfway back down the corridor, he stopped. “The door on our left is Jones's CCTV monitoring room and office, to the right is my home office! Go ahead, don't be shy!” He grinned as he indicated I should open the door.

  I smiled as I pushed open the door, as I walked in, I grinned.

  It was ultra-modern, a large desk sat in the middle of the room, with a laptop set up on it. Along the walls various filing cabinets sat neatly.

  I wandered in studying the room, there was a large leather couch and coffee table near the window and access to a balcony.

  “Very nice!” I actually liked the muted grey on the walls, it suited him.

  “Go and look at my desk!” He grinned playfully at me.

  “Okay!” I laughed as I walked around his desk and studied it. I didn't catch on right away but as I turned my head, I caught sight of the frame I had gotten him. The smile spread across my face, he had actually used it. “Aww, you put our photo in it!” I smiled at him feeling my heart beat a little funny. My picture was on his desk!