The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone

by D H Sidebottom

  I was tired but the lack of alcohol was helping me to stay awake.

  Nate and Pete, Lexi’s husband, and a couple of other men were singing Christmas songs on the karaoke and everybody was in the Christmas spirit. I was relaxed and happy, until Mason walked in with Rebecca. I groaned loudly and slumped down in my chair.

  “I’m sorry Ava, I couldn’t not invite them.” Liv apologised guiltily but I shook my head and smiled at her.

  “No, don’t be silly. I don’t expect you and Nate to get in the middle.”

  I would have to start coming to terms with the fact that Mason was no longer mine. It hurt though, to see him with her, it hurt so fucking much but I plastered a smile on my face and tried to ignore them.

  Roughly half an hour later Rebecca swanned over to us and took the chair opposite.

  I took a quick glance around for Mason, needing him to get her the hell away from me. He was stood in a group with Nate and a few others, whisky in hand, laughing at something Nate was joking about.

  Everybody glared at her and took a quick glance at me to observe my reaction, knowing from the last party here that I had a temper.

  “Well hello, ladies,” she purred, her pouty Botox lips tight against her face. I bit my lip to rein in my temper. “How is everyone?” Her eyes perused the circle, then landed on me with a sneer. Nobody answered her, everybody hated her. “And how’s your pregnancy going Ava?”

  “Lovely. You?” I asked even though I didn’t give a shit.

  “Oh wonderful, Mason and I are so excited,” she smiled slyly.

  “That’s nice,” I smiled sweetly.

  “Who are you having for a birthing partner Ava?” She was really pissing me off now.

  I caught Liv and Leah’s lip curl at her. “Courtney of course.”

  “I’m just hoping I don’t break Mason’s fingers when I squeeze his hand during a contraction,” she laughed falsely and my chest heaved.

  “I thought you were having a pre-elected C-section Rebecca?” I mocked. “I don’t think you will have to put up with much pain . . . only your own voice and Mason pouty face.” I smirked and everybody else laughed.

  “Excuse me, my babies are hungry again.” I smiled sickly at her and left the table.

  I turned towards the buffet table and saw Mason watching me. “You okay?” he mouthed with an apologetic look. I rolled my eyes at him but smiled. It was hardly his fault his ‘girlfriend,’ and I use the term loosely, was an utter bitch.

  Perusing the table and nibbling bits and pieces, wondering if I should make a run for it, a warm familiar breath whispered on my neck.

  “Hello, sweetheart.”

  I froze. My breath stuck in my lungs and my heart jumped for joy. I spun round and greeted Kade’s wonderful smile. I couldn’t help it; I beamed at the sight of him. He laughed heartily and pulled me into his arms.

  “Well that smile made my plane journey worth every fucking second,” he whispered into my ear.

  Holding me at arm’s length he scanned me up and down. “Wow, look at that tum,” he winked and placed his hand over my stomach. “I’m pleased for you Ava, really.” He smiled genuinely and I pulled him into another hug.

  “I missed you,” I disclosed softly and I had. Not like the agonised misery with which I missed Mason with but I had missed him; his friendship, his laugh, his smile and right then, his touch.

  As though he could read my mind his hand skimmed over my backside. “Missed my hands, sweetheart?” he rasped. I quirked an eyebrow as I felt his erection press against my lower stomach.

  “DON’T YOU FUCKING DARE!” I heard Nate shout.

  We turned to see Mason stalking towards us. “Fuck!” I growled and pulled Kade behind me. “Listen to Nate, Mason. You lay one finger on him and you will never see me again!” I warned.

  Rebecca snorted. “Well I don’t think that will be a problem.” She crossed her arms in a huff.

  “Shut the fuck up, Rebecca,” Mason barked as he took a step closer to us.

  Kade was trying to move around me but I held him back. “Ava sweetheart, it’s fine. Let’s get this over and done with,” he tried but I could see the haze cloud Mason’s eyes, the sure sign that the white rage was taking over.

  Mason was nasty and malevolent when his fury took over, he showed absolutely no mercy and would fight to the death; there was no way I was letting him anywhere Kade.

  “Stay where you are,” I hissed at Kade.

  Mason’s chest was heaving and he was literally snarling.

  “Listen to me Mason,” I said sternly. His eyes were near black now. “LISTEN TO ME!” I screamed at him. His eyes flicked to mine, finally allowing a little part of his attention. “You do not ever touch him if you want to see your children,” I said slowly but determinedly. Mason narrowed his eyes on me but I also saw his pain at seeing me stood with Kade.

  I caught Sam and Nate stood ready for him and I gave them a quick glance. Sam nodded at me. “Sam is going to take you and Rebecca home. I will call you tomorrow,” I told him softly. His face tightened as he bit his bottom lip.

  Rebecca strolled up to the side of him and rested her hand on his forearm. “Mason? Why are being like this over that skank?”

  He snapped his head round to her with speed and hatred. She cowered at the malicious coldness in his eyes, her own eyes widening on him. “Don’t. EVER. Fucking. Call. Her. That. Again” he snarled. She took a step back, her chest stuttering with fear and shock.

  My heart swelled at his protectiveness. I took a step closer to him and cupped his cheek. “Kade and I are just friends Mason. That is all.” His eyes softened and he leant into my palm. I reached up and kissed his cheek. “I will always love you Mason, you and only you.” I whispered in his ear.

  His shoulders slumped as he exhaled heavily. “Ava,” he whispered back softly, his small voice full of pain.

  I made myself step away from him. “Sam’s gonna run you and Rebecca home, Okay?” I begged him silently with my eyes. He nodded but didn’t smile, then he turned and walked away.

  I gave out a huge weary sigh of relief as Kade came round to my side. “Thanks for that, I think he wants to kill me,” he joked but we both knew Mason well enough to understand that he would have definitely beat the life out him if he got his hands on him.

  “He won’t touch you now Kade.” I smiled gently. He gave me as small nod then led us over to the drinks table.

  “Drink?” he asked, “I know I fucking do.” He laughed when I gave him a ‘don’t be stupid’ look and pointed to my bump. “Oooh poor you,” he grimaced and grabbed my hand.

  A few people came over to say hello when we eventually found a couple of chairs in a quiet corner.

  “How long are you home for?” I asked as I took a sip of soda and bit into one of the many nibbles I had piled on my plate.

  Kade eyed the huge mountain of food sceptically. I rubbed my tummy. “Prepare to be amazed.” I grinned wickedly. “A woman who eats for England.” He laughed heartily making my body hum at the sound.

  “I’m here till just after new year,” he divulged, taking a long pull from his bottle. “Nate’s kept me up to date with you Ava. Don’t blame him,” he cut in quickly when he saw my scowl. “He’s a good friend and I just asked him to look out for you. I know what Mason’s like. To be honest I thought you would have been back with him by now.”

  I shook my head as I popped a pastry puff thing in my mouth. “No, he can’t . . . can’t get past what we did,” I revealed quietly.

  Kade nodded softly. “Do you regret us?” he asked, wincing slightly as he waited for my answer.

  I took his hand. “No Kade, never. My only regret is hurting Mason but I’m not ashamed of what we did.” He sighed heavily, his face softening in relief.

  “So, where are you stopping?” I asked biting into something that looked a bit too orangey.

  “Yours?” he tested candidly.

  I laughed at his hopeful expression. “Try again.”

>   He pouted sulkily but then grinned. “At the apartment. I took out a six months contract before I left for Italy and rented it to a mate, so I’m stopping with him until Christmas then I’m off to my folks in Newquay.” I smiled, glad that he had someone to spend Christmas with. “Unless I get a better offer.” He waggled his eyebrows at me.

  I rolled my eyes, “Keep trying.” I laughed.

  “Oh I fucking intent to.”

  My laughter stopped abruptly, my stomach heating and tightening with the huskiness in his tone.

  He rolled his head round his neck and stood. “I’m gonna scoot, I came straight here from the airport and I’m knackered.”

  I frowned. “You came straight here?”

  He grinned lazily. “Yeah, there was someone I was dying to see.” He winked and bent down, kissing my cheek tenderly, as he cupped my other cheek with his hand. I turned my face and kissed his palm. “I’ll be in touch,” he breathed and then was gone.

  I sighed heavily. My body was screaming at me in frustration and I pulled a face. What a night!

  * * *

  I climbed into bed exhausted and bone tired, and miraculously dropped to sleep instantly but a couple of hours later my mind was racing again.

  I refused to open my eyes, knowing the moment I did I wouldn’t get any more sleep that night, but my eyelids had other ideas, slowly peeling open.

  I scrambled up the bed in shock. “What the hell Mason?” I squealed.

  He was sat in the wicker chair in the corner of my bedroom. I was amazed I hadn’t been aware of him earlier as he had switched on the small lamp on my dressing table. He sat silently watching me. “How long have you been there?” I asked. He cocked his head and I narrowed my eyes on him. “You came to check if I was with Kade didn’t you?” I asked angrily but he still didn’t speak.

  He pushed himself upwards and grasped the edge of his T-shirt and pulled it over his head. My eyes widened when I saw his naked powerful chest.

  His eyes were full of desire, longing with need and my breath caught in my throat.

  He popped the button on his jeans and pushed them down his legs with his shorts and I whimpered at the sight of him. His glorious hard, lean naked body was like nectar to my eyes and my body lit up; my blood surged through my body, every single hair stood on end in anticipation of his touch, my stomach heated and clenched heavily as my core pulsed.

  “I need to feel you Ava,” he breathed as he crawled up the bed towards me. Grabbing my ankles, he tugged so I was laid flat on the bed. I gulped as his hands slowly swept up my shins and thighs.

  He grinned sensually. “I need to smell you,” he whispered as his face came against my crotch and he inhaled deeply. I moaned as arousal instantly dampened my shorts. Mason closed his eyes in pleasure and moaned gently.

  He knelt between my legs. “I need to taste you,” he rasped as he gripped my shorts on either side of my hips and swept them down my legs.

  “Oh my God,” I wheezed as Mason kissed my foot then snaked his tongue gently and leisurely up my leg. I watched his every kiss and suckle as he worked his way upwards. My sex was already on fire in expectancy and when he got to the apex of my thighs, I nearly passed out with eagerness.

  When his tongue swept the entire length of my hot flesh we both gave a moan of approval. “There you are,” he grated. “I missed your taste Ava. My mouth has craved your delicious juices.”

  His tongue circled my clitoris and I groaned, my head dropping back against the pillow. “Oh god that feels good,” I breathed as he slid two fingers into me.

  “You’re so fucking wet for me Ava,” he growled.

  I swallowed heavily. “Mason!”

  “What do you want Ava?” He circled my clit again, his fingers matching its movement, swirling round inside me and stretching my muscles in readiness for him. “Tell me Ava,” he demanded.

  “I wanna come on your face Mason.” I groaned loudly when he growled and sucked my clit between his teeth. His fingers stroked my front wall, pressing against my G-spot. My orgasm ripped through me violently as Mason struggled to hold my hips down whilst he worked me back to awareness.

  He kissed my bump twice before he slid up to me, taking my mouth in a demanding kiss. He pulled back and knelt up again, grabbing my arms and tugging me upwards.

  He peeled off my vest. “I need to see you Ava.” He pushed me gently back down onto the bed, “and now I need to be inside you.”

  He stretched out above me, taking care not to squash my stomach and as his mouth moved along my jaw he slowly nudged into me.

  I sobbed in appreciation as he pushed all the way in. My body screamed in delight at his presence and my pussy gripped him tightly as though never to let him go.

  “Oh God. Yes,” he groaned. “Don’t move,” he hissed as his teeth nibbled at my neck and his hand cupped my breast tenderly. “You feel so damn good Ava. We were made for this, made perfectly to fit each other.”

  I moaned at his words and rolled my hips. “Make love to me Mason,” I begged.

  He pulled all the way out and then pushed back in so slowly. My back bowed in ecstasy as we both groaned in pleasure at the contact. “Oh, baby,” he choked out as he repeated the action once more, pulling out slowly and then slamming back in, the very tip of his cock touching the furthest part inside me.

  I cried out loudly.

  “Yes Ava, feel me, every damn inch,” he growled as he slammed in again, nudging our bodies up the bed with his power.

  My man was back, back beside me and back inside me, and I was fucking delighted.

  “TELL,” he rasped as he slammed into me and I yelped. “ME.” Slam . . . Yelp. “YOU.” Slam . . . Yelp. “LOVE.” Slam . . . Yelp. “ME.” Slam . . . Yelp. “AVA.” Slam . . . Yelp.

  “I FUCKING LOVE YOU!” I screamed as I climaxed powerfully, every nerve ending in my body crying out at the surge of bliss.

  He cried out as my muscles squeezed him tightly. Before I had come down, he pulled out and flipped me over but lifted me back against him so I was knelt before him with my back to his chest as he knelt behind me.

  He kneel walked us up the bed nearer to the headboard. “Are the babies okay?” he asked softly in my ear.

  I nodded. “They’re well cushioned, don’t worry,” I told him as I hung my head to one side so he could get better access to the part of my neck he was nibbling at.

  Grabbing both my hands he placed them onto the headboard. “Good, because I’m gonna rip you in two,” he snarled. I whimpered in excitement as he thrust in to me. “Hold on Ava.”

  I nodded and gripped the bar of my white iron headboard as he thrust brutally again. He started his relentless pounding, edging us up the bed with his powerful blows until I was nearly at the top. Letting go of the headboard, I locked my hands around his neck behind me then tipped my head towards him and bit his neck on each formidable drive into me.

  One hand had settled gently over my bump as if protecting his babies, a shocking contrast to his other hand that had gripped my hair and yanked my head to the side to let him into my neck.

  My internal walls started to clench as my third orgasm built rapidly.

  “Come on Ava! Again!” he demanded as his teeth sunk into my neck. I screamed, savagely coming around him.

  “I LOVE YOU AVA!” he roared as his own orgasm tore through him violently. He cried out with each fierce spurt as his hot spunk hit my insides. As his last potent pump drained him, he rolled us over onto our sides and pulled me into him. “Hold me Ava,” he begged as we both panted heavily.

  I turned to face him and slid my arms around him, my legs curled around his as I tucked my head under his chin. We held each other tightly and almost immediately drifted into a deep and peaceful sleep.

  * * *

  “Come on laz . . . Oh shit, sorry.” I heard Courtney stutter.

  I groaned against the light spilling through the curtains. “What time is it?”

  “11:20,” she mumbled.

  “
Go make her some coffee,” Mason told her. I noticed a slight resignation in his voice and I heard her softly shut the door behind her.

  We were still wrapped in each other’s arms and I heard him sigh against me. “Good morning, Gorgeous,” he breathed in my ear. I sighed appreciatively.

  He sat up and pulled me up so I was kneeling in front of him. “You are so beautiful Ava.” Unease surged through me as I caught sight of his sad painful expression.

  “From your soft curls.” He stroked his fingers through my hair. “To your smooth pale skin.” He trailed a finger across my shoulder blade. “To your delicious breasts.” He brushed his thumb over the swell of them. “To your striking green eyes.” He kissed each of my eyes. “To your remarkable heart.” He leant forward and kissed my heart, then sat back and cupped my face. “That is why I’m setting you free.”

  His words hit me like a bucket of cold water. “W. .w.what?” I stuttered as my heart slammed against my chest.

  “I have to let you go. We can’t be together. I can’t . . .” he whispered as pain tore through us both.

  I scrambled off the bed, shaking my head violently. “No, Mason . . . NO!”

  He lowered his eyes and I saw a tear drop off his chin onto the bed. “I don’t understand. You came here Mason! You made love to me damn it!” I cried as he slowly climbed from the bed, reached for his clothes and pulled them on. “NO! Damn you!” I yelled.

  He looked at me, his own heartbreak and pain evident in his eyes. “I needed to make love to you for one last time, baby” he breathed as he cupped my face.

  I slapped him away. “No Mason! Admit it! You came here to fuck me!” I screamed.

  He shook his head, his tears free falling. “Never, Ava! I ALWAYS made love to you,” he argued vehemently. “I will always love you.”

  “NO!” I sobbed. “Please Mason. I love you,” I begged.

  His face screwed up in agony as he stood before me and cupped my face. “You need to be free of me Ava. I want you to be happy, baby. You deserve to be happy,” he sobbed.

  I pushed him away, my heart shattering at his words. “Please!” I sobbed as he kissed my forehead.