Atonement (Heart of Stone)

by Sidebottom, D H

  He was quiet for a moment and I cringed when I knew what was coming. “Why didn’t you tell me about Kade?”

  I closed my eyes and tried to figure out how to say what I needed to say without him getting defensive. “Because you’re you, Mason.”

  He scoffed and nodded, “Yeah.” I didn’t need to explain further and Mason knew this.

  “I resigned, I won’t work with him.”

  “I know” he answered quietly as he exhaled loudly. “You should have told me, Ava. We could have worked something out. It hurts that you can’t talk to me.”

  “Mason,” I shuffled round on his knee so I could face him. “Whether I spoke to you or not wouldn’t have changed the outcome, so there was no point in upsetting you.”

  “But it’s upset you, so it upsets me.” He swallowed and blew out a large breath as he closed his eyes, “If it’s saddening you this much then I… I’m okay with you working with him.”

  Holy crap!

  I smiled up at him with adoration before I palmed his cheek. “Thank you,” I whispered, “It means a lot for you to tell me that, Mason.”

  The anguish over all this flashed through his eyes and I reached up to kiss him. He growled as was his usual reaction to my kiss whilst his hand slid in my hair to hold me in place as he devoured me.

  I circled his nose with my own when he pulled away. “I’m not going to be working with Kade, Mason, but thank you.”

  He smiled in relief but at least he had offered.

  Here goes.

  “I have a job at the Panther.”

  I swallowed when after a couple of minutes he hadn’t acknowledged my words. “Mason?”

  His jaw was clenched and his unique twitch in his cheek was prominent, both signs of when his temper was close, and I gulped as I went to move from his lap.

  His hand shot out and wrapped around my forearm as his blazing eyes swung to mine. “Hold it.”

  His chest was heaving as the tic got wilder and I tried to pull my arm free. “Mason, you’re hurting me.”

  He relaxed his hold a little but it was still firm and I was starting to worry slightly over his calmness.

  “Just repeat what you just told me, Ava, cos’ for an insane moment I could’ve sworn you said you had a job at the Panther.”

  I slipped my free hand up to my mouth and started to nibble furiously on my fingertip. “Mason, calm down. I’m only working behind the bar and waiting tables, I’m not gonna be stripping or entertaining.”

  I was suddenly pinned beneath him on the sofa, his hard body pressing against me as my arms were held over my head. “Damn, fucking right you won’t be entertaining, baby. You –are – mine!”

  I gazed at him, my eyes boring into him as I tried to read his thoughts. “Mason, what’s wrong with you? You’re never this level of possessive or aggressive.”

  His eyes flashed with uncertainty before he threw himself off me and stalked towards the cupboard.

  He held up the whisky bottle to me in question. “No, it’s only 2 o’clock, Mason.”

  He shrugged before he proceeded to pour a hefty amount for himself and a horrible thought sizzled in the recesses of my mind. “Mason.”

  He turned to me, his dark eyes hiding many secrets; I could see them all floating about like wisps of dandelion seeds in the autumn breeze and my stomach flipped at the familiarity before I had the truth.

  I stood from the sofa and walked across the room towards him. His eyes flicked when I grasped his chin and tipped his head forward to scrutinise his eyes. I shook my head at him, “No, Mason, no.”

  He squeezed his eyes tightly and I slapped my hands on his chest, pushing him back slightly so he stumbled with the force of my rage. “NO!”

  His crystal tumbler launched across the room, shattering across the other cupboard and propelling our wedding photo across the floor and under the sofa. I placed my face in my hands and fought the urge to tear this man before me to pieces. “How long?” I asked him without removing my hands from my face.

  “It doesn’t matter, Ava!”

  “Like fuck, Mason. It does fucking matter, it matters a fucking lot. Now, how long?”

  He turned his back to me, bounded the stairs and slammed our bedroom door shut.

  My legs finally gave way and I sank to the floor. Dizziness enveloped me as I fought against each of my heavy inhalations and my throat hurt as I refused to give access to the tears that were fighting with my emotions.

  Fuck!

  Just… Fuck!

  Chapter 5

  mason

  “Fuck!!”

  I palmed the mattress as I bent over the bed and clashed with the fight my lungs were giving me. “Fuck!”

  In, out, in, out, in, out.

  Why the hell was I doing this again? It didn’t help, it made everything fucking worse. Especially for Ava, she didn’t deserve this again, and then there was Katie and George.

  “Fuck!”

  In, out, in, out, in, out.

  I managed to slip round and plant my arse on the edge of the bed. My fingers slid along the softness of the cover, the bed cover I had bought for Ava when I had left her after….

  It was in memory of our France trip, the soft blue orchids adorning it, a remembrance to the time we had made love in the sand with the scent of the orchids over us as I asked her to marry me.

  She refused to throw the damn thing away but the thought brought a small smile.

  A tap sounded on the door and I spun round to face the window as she walked in. I didn’t need or want her to see my desolation and guilt.

  Her soft but strong arms slid around my shoulders as she kneeled behind me and I closed my eyes as her fingers entwined with mine.

  She was silent, her presence being all the comfort I needed, her soft wisps of breath keeping my soul alive but I hurt for the pain I was constantly causing her.

  “What’s happening to us, baby?” I asked her quietly.

  It felt like we were constantly being pulled apart, an invisible field pushing us in opposite directions and I was frightened we would soon be living on different planets.

  She nuzzled my neck, her mouth dampening small spots on my skin as she planted tender kisses across the scarce flesh between the edge of my hair and the collar of my shirt. “I don’t know, Mason but we’ll get through it, I’m sure.”

  Her fingers lifted to my shirt buttons and I inhaled lengthily as my cock hardened when she slid a hand inside and stroked her fingers through my chest hair. Her lips continued their idolisation on my neck and I clenched my teeth together as I fought to breathe when hunger poured through my tight veins.

  I tilted my head to the side to give her more access to my neck as her teeth joined her worship and a deep groan rumbled through my chest as she opened more buttons and opened my shirt wide.

  “Ava…”

  “Mmmm.”

  “We need to talk about this, baby.”

  “Uh-huh, after…”

  Another moan erupted when her hand slid down and her fingernails stroked the edge of my erection through the thin material of my trousers. “Fuck, Ava.”

  “I want to feel you deep inside me, Mason, deep, deep inside.”

  Christ!

  Her fingers now fiddled with my belt until she had it open and my zip down. Her fingers slid inside and she palmed my throbbing cock. “Jesus, Ava, stoke me hard.”

  Her tiny gasp had my blood pumping vigorously. I needed to sink into her and take her hard but she needed this, she needed to feel the control at the moment and I bit my tongue and let her continue, for a short while anyway.

  I heard the zip on her dress lower as her fist worked me harder and I rested my head back onto her shoulder as her mouth found mine and she kissed me hard, “Hands and knees, Mason.”

  I groaned in anticipation when I knew what was coming and I turned around whilst continuing to kiss her. Her hands slid my shirt from my back and I scrambled with my trousers, pushing them swiftly down my legs with my box
ers.

  She grinned against my mouth when I took hold of her hand again and placed it over my cock. “Hard, Ava” I growled at her.

  Her tongue swept over my teeth the same as her hand swept over my shaft until I held her still and shook my head faintly at her, my climax swiftly approaching and denying her the chance to take me how she wanted me.

  She nodded at me and I did as she asked, manoeuvring onto all fours on the bed as she shuffled behind me. “How hard do you want me, baby?”

  My teeth sank into my bottom lip as her husky voice heightened my senses as well as my potent arousal. “Hard, Ava, but I won’t be long.”

  She nodded and I jolted as her tongue flicked at the tight skin between my sac and my anus. “Fuck!”

  As she pressed her tongue against my tight hole, her hand cupped my balls before she raked her fingernails over the puckered skin.

  “Ava…” My whole body was rigid with a blazing need and I knew as soon as she started to work me, I would be fighting hard to hold back.

  “Shush, Mason, soon.”

  I was panting now in preparation at what was to come and I gazed down at her as she twisted round until her tits were under my dick. I smiled down at her when I realised she wanted to catch my cum in her cleavage. “Baby, I need it now.”

  The throb was so extensive I could feel the beat of my heart through my ears and my cock was so hard I fought against the urge to bang my wife until she passed out. “Ava…”

  “Fuckkkkk….” I groaned as she slid first one, then two fingers into my arse. My blood pounded harder, my knees buckled at the pressure and the raw exquisite pain shot up my spine and exploded like lightening in my brain.

  The pure bliss hit me and whiteness erupted behind my eyes when she rubbed her fingertip over the sensitive area inside me and I came so forcefully I choked on the groan that was stuck in my throat.

  My spunk spurted vehemently onto her glorious tits as she came with me, my pleasure giving her pleasure and we both groaned simultaneously.

  This woman, currently directly underneath me, catching a part of me that was only for her, was my life, she knew me inside out and I was in awe of how she loved this part of me as much as I loved feeling her inside me; her being able to take me like I took her. The sensation of her inside me, fucking me, was too intense to put into words, the feeling and ecstasy it powered into me was overwhelming and inexplicable.

  She slipped her fingers out before she shuffled up the bed until her face was directly below me and I took her mouth under me, kissing her hard and passionately.

  I straddled her body and swirled my spunk up and around her neck with my palm. Ava loved it when I did this, and it made me feel as though I was claiming her all over again, marking her with my scent, very primitive but highly erotic.

  “Fuck me, Mason.”

  “Wait.”

  I kept my eyes trained on her as I brought my mouth down and slowly licked a trail through my own sperm. Her jaw dropped as she panted out a breath. “Holy fuck, that’s hot” she moaned as she squirmed beneath me, trying to get some friction between her firm thighs.

  It wasn’t the first time I had ever felt so possessive over her. Yes, I’d had moments of jealousness and insecurity but the force of my covetousness at that moment was over-whelming. She was mine and I needed her to understand that.

  I fisted her hair and pulled her face to mine, “You’re mine baby, every fucking damn inch of you.”

  She nodded and reached towards me to take my mouth but I pulled back. “Say it.”

  She frowned a little but I tightened my hold on her. “I’m yours, Mason.”

  I slammed my cock into her, deeply, harshly and greedily. Her head whipped back as she whined loudly and her eyes flickered in her pleasure as her teeth sank into her bottom lip. I pulled out to the tip, and then treat her to another slam.

  “Mine!” I practically shouted at her. “Another man ever goes here,” I growled as I circled my hips and ground into her “and I’ll kill you both.”

  Her eyes shot open but I smirked at her as she came hard and fast, her dripping pussy strangling my cock powerfully as her lower lip trembled through her bliss. “Yes!” I shouted as I hit her with the force of my own orgasm. My spunk flooded her, most of it leaking back onto the bed with the quantity I filled her with as I sank my teeth into her neck. She yelped but came almost immediately before her previous orgasm had even died down.

  We both panted hard and loudly as we came down from the high. Her fingers were drawing circles on my back and my eyes fluttered closed.

  My whole body hummed in contentment as my brain still held the pleasure from our love-making.

  “Ssshhh” Ava whispered in my ear and I could feel myself drifting. The worry and tension from the day flowing out through my pores with my beautiful wife’s comfort.

  God, I loved this woman with everything I was. I would die for her, over and over. She was everything that kept my heart beating and my body humming.

  “I love you, baby.”

  “And me, you.” She replied as sleep took me and I gave in to the pull of my dreams.

  ***

  My eyes still felt heavy but I prised them open and turned to Ava… who wasn’t there. I frowned and glanced at the clock before I shot upright, “Shit.”

  It was gone 7; I hadn’t had an afternoon nap in years but I smirked when images of the vigorous afternoon filtered into my head.

  Finding my boxers on the chair where Ava must have placed them, I pulled them on with some jeans and went in search of my wife.

  My footing stuttered when I hit the bottom step and Kerrie ran across the entranceway chasing a squealing George who slid along the hardwood floor and crashed into the sofa. His small body flipped over the arm and he crumpled into a heap on the soft cushions. His manic laughter brought forward my grin as I jumped on him and began relentlessly tickling him.

  “Daddyyyy….” He chuckled wildly as Katie jumped on my back and I faked a loud groan and collapsed my weight on top of George.

  “You’re so fat, daddy!” George huffed out and I widened my eyes at him.

  “You’re rather insolent, Master Fox!” He grinned just as wide at me as Katie slid her arms around my shoulders and I stood up, treating her to a piggy back around the room as she giggled with the same tone as her mother.

  She was an almost doppelganger for Ava, from her copper curls, to her pert tiny freckled nose and her vibrant green eyes. I knew exactly how she would look when she reached her twenties and I acknowledged without a shadow of a doubt that I would have to shoot some motherfucking knob of a scrote when she was older. They would come flocking.

  George was the spit of me, his brown hair the same texture and thickness as mine and his honey coloured eyes could burn you with their intensity. He was a serious character, just like me, but his sense of fun was awesome. His passionate guard of his sister made me proud and certain he would always be her protector, as it should be, as I always had been with Kerrie.

  “Where’s mommy?” I asked Katie as I dropped her beside her brother on the sofa.

  “At work. She has a cool new job, daddy. She pours pretty coloured drinks for misters and ladies.” Katie told me proudly.

  “But her uniform was rather…small” George added with a scrunch of his nose.

  Oh no. The crafty mare!

  Kerrie handed both my children a glass of milk and a biscuit, “Drink up, it’s bath and bed time.” She told them before she grabbed my wrist and dragged me into the kitchen.

  “I can tell by the look on that dismal face of yours what you’re thinking. Well, change it, Mason. She needs to do this.”

  I reared back and stared at my sister incredulously as I let out a bitter laugh. “How can pouring drinks for perverts be good for her?”

  Kerrie shook her head sadly, “Do you have any clue as to what your wife is feeling right now?”

  “What the hell are you on about, Kerrie?”

  She stared at me, “Y
ou don’t, do you. She is your wife, Mason. You are supposed to see when there’s something wrong; you’re supposed to make it better as her husband. You are a selfish damn fool, who cares more about fucking coke than he does his own family.”

  Whoa!

  “What the hell?” I barked at her but she was the only female on the planet who didn’t even flutter an eye-lid when I snapped at her.

  “She’s lost Mason; she’s lost, aching, and bloody broody!”

  My eyes widened at her disclosure. “But… she can’t…”

  She nodded and rolled her eyes, “Finally!”

  Oh Christ! This hurt bad.

  I slumped onto a kitchen stool and rested my head in my hands. “Shit, Kerrie.”

  She sighed and sat beside me as she laid a comforting hand on my thigh. “I don’t think she even realises it, Mason. She’s just feeling lost in life and usually when that happens to a woman of Ava’s age, she has another baby, but in Ava’s case, she can’t so she doesn’t understand what’s happening to her body.”

  The image of her heartbroken cries in the car wormed their way into my head and I sighed again. “Jesus.”

  I was a shit husband, a fucking shit husband. My wife was hurting and all I cared about was sticking shit up my nose when things got tough and controlling her in the only way I knew how, dominantly.

  “You okay with the kids?”

  She smiled and nodded, “Go.”

  I kissed her forehead and snatched up my keys after kissing the twins and went in search of my wife… again!

  Chapter 6

  Ava

  I beamed at Layla as I pulled her the perfect pint of bitter, “I am so proud of your head technique, Ava Fox” she winked and I laughed with her.