Ignite Me: Shards of Glass, Part One (17 page)

The smile started at the corner of his mouth as he started to chuckle. “Thank you the shock alone did the trick!” He stood up as if to prove his point.

“So it did!” I glanced at him and then also stood up, taking hold of his hand.

He shook his head. “I've never known a woman like you before, but if I wasn't 100% sure before I am now! I am head over heels in love with you Evan!” He slipped his hand into mine.

I felt like my bones were melting as he looked at me. “I really very much enjoy your company, I can't say I love you back yet because it would be a lie, but I want you know that I have never felt so loved before and when I do say it you will know it's genuine!”

I couldn't be sure it had come over quite as I wanted it to but he smiled at me and kissed my hand as we walked.

“I am happy to wait for you to be ready, I will enjoy watching you fall, and just so you know I'll be there to catch you when you’re ready!”

I smiled at him. “Thank you, I'm still catching up to you!” I grinned. He had a way of making what he said almost poetic.

After an hour and a half we had walked around half of the museum and were now lost.

“I think we're here, right?!” I said, pointing at the map. We were standing next to a pair of life-sized silver lions that stood proudly watching us. Cameron had taken a photo of me having my head eaten by them.

“Yeah, so the stairs are over there, well at least they should be!” He laughed.

“What's so funny?!” I studied him.

“I was just thinking if there was anybody I'd like to get lost somewhere with it'd be you!” He smiled at me.

I grinned. “This is true! I quite like getting lost with you! I mean, where better to get lost!” I started off towards the end of the corridor.

“Stairs should be down here!” I grinned as he quickened his pace to reach me.

“I am so getting that photo of you blown up!”

I laughed as I saw the staircase just ahead. “Well, I'm sure it’ll make a good talking point!”

I waited for him to catch up. He had a habit of wanting to walk down the stairs one ahead of me. He was still worried about my lack of eye hand coordination.

“I know you think I'm being silly, but I just like to make sure you don't fall down because it takes real skill to fall upstairs so I dread to think how you'd fall down them!” He started down the stairs.

“With style!” I grinned as I climbed down behind him. I didn't mind. He cared and it was more than Sean ever had. He always found my lack of coordination a source of comedy.

“Oh, I am sure you would! Did you want to go to the gift shop?!” He turned at the bottom and waited for me.

“Yes, please, I want to get some postcards and whatever else I can find that might take my fancy!” I studied him as I took the last few steps down. He looked older than his years, but that came with what he did. I had only known him a week, but I had got used to his company.

“You look thoughtful! What are you thinking?!” He studied me. His eyes scanning me, his brain whirling as it worked out my body language for clues.

I smiled at him. “I'm thinking about you actually!”

His face lit up. “Good things I hope.”

I smiled widely. “That even though I've known you for a week I would really miss your company and seeing your curly haired face!”

As I reached him he pulled me into a hug, his arms wrapping around me holding me against him. “I'd miss you too.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Once you scratch the surface of your cold, calculated exterior, you are actually really very likeable!” I grinned.

He placed me down with a grin. “Cold and calculated exterior... Hmm, what makes you think it's just a front?!” He stepped back and studied me, making a point.

I tilted my head to one side. “Because anybody that is that cold and calculated inside and out isn't capable of loving someone!” I smiled sweetly at him and walked around him before turning my back on him and walking a few feet ahead. I was learning fast to play him at his own game.

I heard him roar with laughter and then I his hurried footsteps. “Oh, you’re playing me at my own game! I like you! I'm keeping you!” He walked beside me with his arms behind his back.

I smirked. “I thought you loved me?! I'm wounded really I am...” I nudged into him by purpose with my left shoulder.

He laughed again. “Yep, you’re a keeper!”

I smiled as we walked into the gift shop. I had never felt as comfortable in someone's presence as I had his. It just felt right.

I picked up a few postcards and a badge for my bag and headed for the cash register. I rummaged around in my pocket for a note and pulled out a crumpled ten pound note. I was still avoiding my wallet. I'd really have to take that photo out. I thanked the young man from behind the counter and turned around and walked smack bang into Cameron. “Whoa. Personal space.” I righted myself before I fell over.

“Sorry about that darling, distracted by something.” He gave the cashier a dirty look and then turned around. “Time to go!” He started walking away from me, his coat flapping behind him. His tone was a little off.

“What did I do wrong?!” I asked, confused as I hurried to catch up with him.

“Yesterday you paid on your card, I thought it a little odd at the time that you didn't keep it in with your purse like other women would, but I put that little quirk down to you being well you!” He didn't stop walking as he rattled off his character profile of me.

“And today instead of paying on your card, you pay in cash, but again, you don't go for your purse no, instead you rummage in your jeans pockets for a note, which by the look of it went through the washing machine! So that could mean one of two things! One that you don't have a purse, which is highly unlikely! Or two that you are avoiding something in your purse so you shove money into pockets, or bags etc, to avoid having to see whatever is in your purse! Which I think is a photo of your ex-boyfriend! Am I right so far?!” He stopped just near the entrance to the hall we'd first walked into and turned around to face me.

I stood and stared at him. My brain was catching up with what he had just come out with. “How the hell did you even come up with that?! Where I keep money is no business of yours quite frankly! I don't ask why you only carry your phone do I?! No wallet, no house keys, nothing like a normal person would have! So what the hell gives you the right to question me! Who the fuck do you think you are?! Sherlock bloody Holmes?!”

I was suddenly furious with him.

He raised a brow. “Now I'm convinced that I am correct! You want to remove the photo, but can't bring yourself to actually do it because of what he did to you! He hurt you in more ways than one and you are actually avoiding using your purse is typical avoidance and as to whom I think I am! I am your overbearing boyfriend! I do believe I've told you that before and if you hope to insult me by likening me to Sherlock Holmes then you failed because I happen to have taken it as a compliment.” He flashed a brilliant smile at me, pleased with himself.

I wanted to punch him.

“You really are an arrogant fuck, you know that right?!” I felt angry tears prick at my eyes because he was right and I hated it.

“Yes, I am aware of that! But you are only upset because I am right!”

I looked up at him, angry that he had worked me out so easy, yet I still knew nothing about him. “I kinda wanna punch you in the face right now!” I said, exasperated.

He smiled. “I know and I am sorry, but it's like pulling a plaster off, the slower you pull, the more painful it is, but if you just grab it and rip it off all at once, it will still hurt just not for so long! Let me help you! Let me remove the plaster.” He held his hand out to me palm up.

I didn't understand at first, but after a few moments I realized what he'd meant. I took a shaky breath. Maybe he was right, maybe I just needed to get rid of it once and for all. I could move on, stop using avoidance techniques like he said. I unclipped my bag and rummaged around for my wallet. It was at the bottom buried under a whole bunch of knickknacks. I took a shaky breath as I handed it over. I was trusting him totally.

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.