Ignite Me: Shards of Glass, Part One (68 page)

I sighed. “We have paparazzi watching us!” I turned back to face the front as the green light flashed to say we could cross.

“I saw him as we went in, I figured he might have got bored! Let's get us those drinks and head off!” He used his right hand to guide me across the road, his hand splayed on my lower back beneath my jacket.

“They don't get bored! Looks like we're today's hot news!” I shook my head as he entered Starbucks.

We joined the line and waited.

“You order with this, I'll call Jones!” He handed me a green gift-card.

“Okay, cool, holy crap that's like a £100 balance Cameron! Who was this client?!!”

I smiled at the barista as I approached the counter.

His eyes widened as he took me in and then almost popped out of his head as he saw Cameron stood next to me. “Hello, what can I get for you?!” He smiled brightly.

“Hi, can I have two iced coffees and a blueberry muffin and oh uh what should we get Jones?!” I glanced at Cameron.

He gave me a confused look. “What?!”

I sighed. “What shall we get for him?! Coffee?! Food?!” I didn't see what the issue was, he had to eat and drink too, and he'd been running around after us all day.

“He won't want anything! It's a kind thought, though!” He put his free hand around my shoulder.

I shook my head, confused. “And two chocolate chip muffins with that please!” I handed over the gift card. “Jones can share the chocolate muffins with Gwen!”

Cameron chuckled. “You're very thoughtful!”

I grinned lopsidedly at him. “Yes, it has been said! You can share my muffin when we get back!”

He smirked at me. “I will look forward to that!”

“Your card back Miss. Names for the orders?!”

I grinned. “Evan and Cameron! Thanks.”

“Awesome! They'll be down the end for you.” He grinned as he handed me the two bags of muffins and moved away to make the order.

We made our way down to the end of the counter and a few minutes later our names were called. I stepped forward and took both cups knowing Cameron would want a hand free.

“Jones is just pulling up now! Let's get you home!”

I frowned, feeling disappointed why was he taking me home?! Was it because I'd ordered two muffins for Jones?!

“Why am I going back home?!”

He grinned. “Sorry, I meant mine!”

I smiled, feeling relief. “Oh good!”

I pushed open the doors and we left Starbucks. I spotted the same man with the camera from before, he was just down the road on the same side as Cameron guided me to the SUV, his hand protectively pressed into my lower back. He stood at my side while I climbed in shielding me from the camera. “Thank you.” I mouthed as he closed the door.

I put my bags down as Cameron climbed in the other side and sat down. The bags by his feet.

“Here's your drink!” I handed him the iced coffee.

“Thank you! It smells nice! Let's see what it tastes like.”

Jones pulled away from the side of the road and joined the traffic.

I watched as he sucked the iced coffee up the straw, making a slurping noise. “Oh, actually tastes okay! Be careful of brain freeze though!”

I grinned as I slurped my own before checking to see if they’d spelled the name right, there is black marker was my name, it was finished off with a little heart. “Hey look mine has a heart.” I grinned as I showed him before sucking more of the iced coffee. “Yeah I always forget that.” I winced as my forehead seared with pain from the cold drink. “It's so your wind pipes don't freeze up!” I said matter of fact, as I wondered how long it would be before the photos of us would hit the Internet!

“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 chuckled, 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.