The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone

by D H Sidebottom

  “You look . . . exquisite.” He licked his lips as his gaze settled on the swell of my chest and the darkness in his eyes made my knickers wet with arousal.

  Don’t go there Ava. He was Kerrie’s husband and the reminder suddenly filled me with rage. “Where’s Kerrie?” I narrowed my eyes on him in warning but his lips curved and his smile was anything but chaste.

  “She’s around here somewhere,” he smirked but didn’t let his eyes move from mine.

  I smiled tightly and looked around until I spotted her. “Kerrie!” I shouted her over. The challenge in Kade’s eyes fired my insides.

  “Ava,” Kerrie walked over to us just as Courtney reappeared with a loaded plate of baked potato.

  “You look familiar,” Courtney said to Kade and pursed her lips.

  Kade just shrugged. “Sorry, I don’t think we’ve met,” he replied but she pursed her lips, still regarding him.

  Oh Shit!

  I caught the humour in Kade’s eyes as he winked at me. I turned my attention back to Kerrie as she said something. “Sorry, what?”

  She smiled, “I asked where Mason was.” I froze immediately and looked away. “Ava?” she narrowed her eyes and I sighed.

  “Mason and I aren’t together now, Kerrie,” I disclosed frankly.

  She cocked her head and held my hand. “Ava, I’m sorry about the baby” she whispered and I nodded. “Is that the reason you broke up? Because grief can bring out a whole load of shit in somebody,” she said softly as though to make excuses for Mason’s behaviour.

  I scoffed resentfully. “Oooh no, nothing a simple as that.” I shook my head in disgust. “That I could deal with, what I can’t deal with is your brother’s constant need to smash my fucking heart to smithereens,” I snapped angrily.

  I saw the question in her eyes. “What the fuck has he done now?” she asked sharply.

  “You better ask him, Kerrie,” I sighed.

  Courtney’s hand settled on my arm. “Come on Ava, we’re here to have fun and get slaughtered,” she urged and I put on a false smile.

  I could feel Kade’s eyes on me and I gave him a quick stern glance but his expression shocked me; gone was the lust and desire, it was replaced by anger and sympathy. “Does that fucking man have to bollocks up everything he touches?” he growled.

  Everyone’s head snapped around to stare at him. He seemed miles away, but he suddenly shook his head to clear it and shrugged. “Well he does Kerrie, it’s about time he stopped being so damn selfish and thought about other people’s feelings for a change.”

  My eyes widened at his anger and hatred for Mason. “Kade please,” Kerrie sighed as though it was an on-going argument between them.

  Kade turned to me sharply, his gaze burning into me. “What did he do, Ava?” he demanded. I cowered slightly and looked away, my eyes filling with tears. I bit my lip harshly to stop them from flowing.

  “Ava!” he insisted and I gulped as I lifted my eyes but refused to look at Kade, so I locked onto Kerrie’s sympathetic ones.

  “He . . . he’s . . .” I took a deep breath, “He’s . . . Damn it!” I raged at myself.

  “Ava, do you want me to tell them?” Courtney asked gently. I shook my head, biting my lip harder and piercing the skin. I could feel Kade’s intense gaze on me and I saw his fists clench through the corner of my eye.

  Taking a deep breath I persevered. “He’s back on the coke,” I stated. Kerrie groaned and Kade sighed heavily. “And Rebecca is having his baby,” I finished to Kerrie’s shocked face and Kade’s loud growl, luckily nobody else heard it as the band that was entertaining had set up the sound system and the speakers squealed loudly.

  I glanced at Kade but couldn’t read his expression. His eyes were dark and wild as they pierced me. “Fuck, Ava!” Kerrie breathed. “I am so sorry, sweetie. I’m gonna fucking kill him,” she puffed.

  “Hey at least you’re gonna make an aunt this time,” I laughed cynically and choked at the same time.

  “Oh Ava,” she cried sadly.

  I held my hands up, refusing her pity. “No! Don’t Kerrie . . . I’m sorry, I can’t . . . I just . . .” I turned sharply and fled to the house, the need to be alone filling me up.

  I rounded the corner of the house and ran across a lawn. I found myself in an empty and secluded summerhouse. Plonking my backside on a futon, I sobbed and pulled at my hair in frustration.

  “Why me you bastard?” I screamed into nothing. “Why me all the fucking time?” I wept into my hands. I felt an arm snake round my shoulder and pull me in. I gasped when I recognised Kade’s scent; the spice and muskiness of it familiar to my senses.

  “No!” I snapped and pulled away but he was strong and refused to let me free. He pushed my head against his chest. “Let it out, Ava” he persuaded softly.

  I pushed at him again. “No,” I choked but he just held me tighter.

  “Let me, Ava” he pleaded.

  I choked out a sob and buried my face into his chest and cried. He drew lazy circles on my back and rested his chin on the top of my head. “Hush Ava, I’m here,” he whispered. I gasped as he pulled me further into him and onto his lap. I shook my head rapidly and tried to climb off.

  “No Ava,” he ordered sharply. His dominance made me stop and he drew me closer. He pushed my head into his chest again and we sat in silence for a long time. I could hear his heavy breathing as he inhaled the scent of my hair and I breathed in his own fragrance.

  “Are you okay?” he asked quietly and I nodded.

  “Yes, thank you.” I sighed.

  His finger rested under my chin and he tipped my head back until I was looking up at him. His eyes were wild and intense as they dropped to my mouth. He slid his thumb across my bottom lip as he cocked his head. “You’re bleeding,” he scowled as he regarded the blood smeared across his thumb.

  He placed his thumb in his mouth and I gasped at the intense arousal that surged through me. His eyes snapped to mine and his lips parted. “You’re fucking beautiful,” he rasped. “I want you Ava,” he whispered as his face edged closer to mine. “I want to feel you writhing in ecstasy underneath me, sweating and moaning hard as I bury myself in you.”

  I groaned and tipped my head back as his lips settled on my neck, working their way up to my chin, his hot mouth and tongue pressing into my chilled skin. “You taste so good Ava; I knew you would the moment I laid my eyes on you.” His mouth was now at the corner of mine as he planted little kisses.

  I groaned again, swept away in the heat of his passion. “God, Ava,” he breathed between kisses as his hand slid from my waist up to my breast. His fingers traced along the edge of my dress, along the swell of my breast. “You have such delicate skin, so pale and soft,” he murmured as he held his mouth over mine, his eyes penetrating mine.

  I could feel the heat of his breath whispering over my lips. They parted involuntary as my eyes locked onto his. He brushed against my mouth and then a low growl rumbled through him as his mouth settled over mine.

  I had imagined the kiss would be rough and needy, therefore it shocked me that it was tender and soft, yet demanding and controlling at the same time. He tasted so good that as soon as his fingers slid inside my bra and brushed my nipple, I writhed against the swell of his erection in his trousers, making his kiss more intense and insistent, his tongue sliding in and claiming mine in absolute expertise as he ruled me.

  He pinched my nipple and tugged it hard. I groaned loudly. “You like that, Ava?” he panted against my lips.

  “Yes,” I breathed. My eyes closed as he pulled my dress aside and clamped his mouth over my nipple through my lacy bra. “Yes!” I hissed as his teeth grazed the rigid peaks.

  “God, you’re so fucking hot,” he murmured in between suckles. His hand rested on the exposed flesh of my thigh, my dress bunched high and he trailed them softly up my skin as he lifted his face to mine and kissed me again.

  My eyes closed again as his fingers nudged my knickers aside and slid into me.
“Oh fuck, yeah.” I groaned and pushed myself into his hand. He moaned with me as he felt how wet I was.

  “Fuck, you feel good, I can’t wait to taste you,” he rasped.

  Kerrie’s face swan into my vision.

  What the fuck are you doing, Ava?

  I gasped and flung myself up. “What the hell are we doing?” I cried.

  He groaned and slid his hands over his face. “Calm down,” he grated and stood to rearrange his erection, grimacing slightly at the pain of being so hard.

  “No Kade, you’re married. We shouldn’t be doing this!” I slammed and quickly rearranged my dress. “Jesus,” I yelled, disgusted with myself. “Your wife has fucking cancer and we are making out in a fucking summerhouse. That’s a little bit sick, wouldn’t you say?” I shouted. He sighed heavily and nodded, resting his face in his hands.

  “Yeah,” was all he said as he walked over to me. His hand cupped my face gently. “I’m sorry Ava. You just . . . you do something to me, you know. I can’t get you out of my head,” he confessed softly. “But you’re right, we can’t.” He kissed my forehead and left, calmly closing the door behind him.

  I slumped back down and steadied my breathing. “You are a fucking bitch, Ava Stone,” I snarled to myself and rubbed at my neck.

  Taking a deep breath I left the summerhouse and returned to the crowd.

  CHAPTER 39

  I STROLLED SLOWLY back to the party, still disgusted by my behaviour. The raw sexual attraction between me and Kade was potent, but it was something that we had to bury and never act on. Kerrie meant a lot to me, not just because she was Mason’s sister but I actually liked her, she was sweet, honest and genuine and didn’t deserve a cheating husband and an untrustworthy friend along with the torture of chemotherapy.

  I refused to look around for Kade as I spotted Courtney stood with Liv, Nate and another group of people.

  I wandered over and Courtney turned to me and she smiled. “Feeling better?” she asked with a sly smile as I reached her.

  I nodded. “Yeah, I’m good.” I smiled back and she side huddled me.

  Liv turned to me smiling. “Hey Ava, let me introduce my friend.” She grinned and stood back to reveal a tall blonde haired girl. “Beth, this is Ava,” she introduced.

  Beth smiled happily to me. “Hey Ava, nice to meet you.” She smiled and I noticed Kade appear at Nate’s side.

  “You too Beth,” I smiled back.

  “This is my boyfriend Dean,” she presented as she moved aside to reveal a tall brown haired man and my heart stopped.

  His face swan before me as I faintly heard Beth introduce him to me. I saw the blood drain from his face as he saw me.

  My knees jerked as my hands started to sweat. I started to pant, blood surged through my veins and every single hair on my body stood on end.

  “Ava?” Courtney panicked, highly aware of the signals of when my rage surfaced.

  I growled loudly, literally growled like a fucking wolf as my eyes glazed over and my shoulders heaved as the eruption began in my stomach, its potent fire burning a fury inside me so strong I trembled.

  “Oh Shit!” I heard Courtney cry as everybody’s eyes snapped to me. “Ava please babe, calm down,” she begged as she looked between me and Dean.

  I couldn’t remove my eyes from his face as I slowly saw him back off. I took a step towards him, there was no way I was letting him go again.

  “OH NO YOU DON’T!” I screamed as I charged for him, pure white fury propelling me into him, knocking him to the ground as I heard Courtney desperately trying to get through to me.

  “Somebody grab her, she’ll fucking kill him!” she screamed as I heard other people’s shouts.

  I lashed out and punched him in the face. “YOU FUCKING BASTARD!!” I yelled as I landed another forceful fist into his face. His nose splattered and sprayed me with blood. I grabbed his hair and slammed his head down as I continued to scream and rage at him.

  Somebody’s arms circled my waist, desperately trying to pull me off but my wrath made it impossible as I pummelled him, my fist smashing repeatedly into his face. “I’M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU!” I roared as I scratched and spat at him.

  “Shit! She’s too strong,” I heard Kade shout from behind me. “I need some help here!” he screamed before I felt another pair of hands grab at me and pull me back.

  “Someone call Mason,” I heard Nate shout but I had zoned out and all I could concentrate on was killing this man before me.

  As I was pulled away I broke free and landed some hard kicks into his ribs and stomach as he curled up defensively.

  “Shit Ava, calm down,” Nate cried as he tried to grab me again but I reached down and hovered over the pitiful sight of a coward.

  “This one’s for Katie you bastard!” I roared and kicked him straight in the mouth, his lips and teeth exploded and he gave out a high pitched squeal.

  “Holy Crap!” Kade yelled and tackled me to the ground, straddling me from behind.

  “Get the fuck off me!” I bellowed and struggled underneath him. “Get off me Kade!”

  “Ava, calm down sweetheart . . . calm down.” He lay completely over the top of me, trapping me securely under him as his hand swept my hair away from my sweaty cheek.

  I was laid flat out on my stomach with my face pushed to the side on the ground as Kade held me down with his entire frame, his head resting on mine. “Hush Ava,” he soothed as he continued to stroke my hair back rhythmically and tenderly. “Sshhh,” he soothed as I struggled to breathe and calm down.

  “Let me go Kade . . . please,” I begged now, sobbing with a need to end this bastard.

  Kade let out a heart-breaking sigh at my plea. “Ava, calm down,” he whispered as he continued to hold me down.

  “But I need to finish him,” I sobbed as the adrenaline was bottoming out. “For Katie,” I begged but he refused to move.

  “I can’t let you go,” he argued softly, my pleas and sobs tearing at him. “Sshhh Ava,” he rasped as I wept and screamed and tried to crawl out from under him, my fingers clawing desperately into the ground. “Jesus Ava, stop,” he choked out but I sobbed and begged and scratched and clawed.

  “Please, Kade,” I beseeched, my heart breaking at my inability to avenge Katie’s death. “Katie!” I screamed and cried, “Katie.”

  I whimpered as I felt Kade’s weight lighten and somebody lifted me up, cradling me. “Baby . . . I’m here,” Mason’s broken voice reached my senses and I looked up at him. His eyes begged me, the love and distress in them floored me.

  “Katie,” I whimpered as I tried to tell him with my eyes.

  He frowned. “What?” He froze as he took a quick glance over at the beaten man curled into a foetal position and he narrowed his eyes.

  My haze started to clear and I could make out Nate and Kade crouched down in front of us.

  “Baby? Is that him?” Mason asked calmly and gently.

  “Yes,” I sobbed. I sensed him freeze and the snarl that left his throat made my blood freeze.

  “Mason?” Nate asked cautiously.

  “Take her and phone Sam and Greg,” he ordered to Kade as he shifted me across to Kade’s lap.

  He stood and very slowly stalked over to Dean. He loomed over him and I heard Dean whimper as Mason cocked his head, regarding him as though he was prey. He crouched down in front of him, his forearms resting on his powerful thighs. “Do you know who she is?” he asked, an eerie calm to his voice that made me shudder and Kade’s arms tightened round me.

  Dean gulped but didn’t reply.

  “I SAID—DO YOU KNOW WHO SHE IS?” he thundered.

  Dean nodded rapidly and Mason nodded. “Then you know why you are laid here . . . like this,” he sneered and Dean nodded again.

  “Mmm, well that woman happens to be the woman I love. You cross her and unfortunately for you that means you cross me,” Mason stated frankly. “I love Ava very much and that means I want to help her get revenge for her friends excruciating
death. A death so fucking horrific, that it has plagued her nightmares for five fucking years. Do you understand what that means?” he asked serenely, rolling his head around his neck.

  Dean whimpered again. Mason’s hand shot out and he grabbed a fist full of his hair, dragging his face close. “It means your day just got very, very bad,” he spat and threw him back down as Sam and Greg appeared beside him.

  “Find somewhere for him. Ava will deal with him,” he informed them.

  They nodded, lifted Dean and carried him away as Mason came back to me and crouched in front of me. “Ava?” He tipped his head in question and I nodded, still sat on Kade’s lap with Courtney at my side holding my hand.

  “You sure?” he asked bluntly, not defining the question but I understood every silent word.

  “Yes,” I replied confidently. He nodded and stood, holding his hand out to me. I hesitated, staring at his hand knowing if I did this then mine and Mason’s relationship would never be the same again. My hand reached out to his and as I placed it into his he wrapped his long fingers around mine and pulled me up, slamming me against his body and hugging me tightly.

  “You’re nearly there, baby,” he whispered. “It’s nearly over, Ava.” He cupped my cheek, his eyes soft but encouraging. “Ready?” he asked.

  I nodded and raised my eyes to the sky as calm enveloped me. A chapter of my life was coming to an end and I knew right there and then that I needed Mason by my side. “You won’t leave me?” I asked him quietly.

  He smiled tenderly as he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. “No baby. I’ll be with you every step, okay?”

  “Thank you,” I whispered as he led me to his car.

  As I climbed in and sat down, he appeared beside me; crouched down so low I was surprised his knees didn’t snap. “Ava, I . . . I . . .” he stuttered but I shook my head.

  “Not now, Mason.”

  He nodded. “Later though? Please,” he practically begged and I nodded. He exhaled heavily and ran his thumb over my bottom lip. “Thank you” he whispered and placed another gentle kiss on my forehead.