The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone

by D H Sidebottom

  He passed me a phone as I handed Katie to Kerrie so I could take it. “Your new phone Miss Stone, you must keep it with you at all times, it has a high tech tracking device and I can pinpoint your location within seconds.”

  He reached forward and pressed a button on the side. A high pitched siren erupted from it, he quickly switched it off as Katie screamed and he looked at me apologetically but I shook my head and smiled at him.

  I passed him the phone and took Katie back in my arms and jigged her about.

  “This key here,” he pointed to an icon on the screen, “sends me an immediate message that you are in trouble.” He pressed it in demonstration and a loud alarm sounded from somewhere.

  Elijah reached into his pocket and retrieved his own phone. After pressing a series of keys he turned it to show me and my jaw dropped at the information on his screen. It showed co-ordinates, directions and a list of names. But what astounded me was that a map was displayed under this text. It had zoomed in and it showed me, Elijah, Sam and Courtney stood together in Mason’s room.

  Elijah winked at me when I choked out a relieved sob. “I’ll be able to see you, find you and most importantly, protect you,” he stated bluntly.

  I nodded my acknowledgement. “Thank you.”

  He nodded. “I have entered all your numbers for you and set up your e-mail account on it so we can organize diaries. There are three guards at your facility; myself, Neo Blackman and Frank Grayson. We will take shifts between us and one of us will be by your side or outside your door at all times. We have a further three guards always outside your house, patrolling. Me or one of your other personal guards will drive you and escort you wherever you need to go. You do not leave our side, Miss Stone,” he divulged and ordered simultaneously.

  I nodded again. “Thank you.” I smiled. He nodded again then stepped back and took position against the wall, his hands behind his back and his feet apart.

  Kerrie exited the kitchen with a tray full of coffee and held it up to Elijah for him to take one then she placed it on the coffee table.

  I sat on the floor beside it so I could put the babies on the floor to play with them and drink the much needed coffee. I sighed in pleasure as the caffeine flowed through my veins and Kerrie chuckled. “Courtney’s coming over later so she can stay with you but she’s got a hospital appointment this morning and George is flying out today.”

  She smiled as she saw the huge grin that erupted on my face at the knowledge of seeing George. I so needed to see him and I knew he would lift my spirits immediately.

  I tickled the babies and giggled with them, enjoying their innocence and normality of them. My heart swelled as I tickled George and he broke wind. “You are so much like your father,” I chuckled and I heard Kerrie cough slightly.

  I looked up and gasped as I saw Mason stood watching over me. We both gazed at each other, feeding off each other’s presence, filling our senses with one another’s scent and aura.

  He dropped to the floor beside me and opened his arms. I climbed silently onto his lap. His arms wrapped around me and pulled me tight. His nose nuzzled my hair and his lips settled against my ear, softly placing a tender kiss on it as my head rested on his strong powerful chest.

  He didn’t speak, I didn’t need him to, I was just happy to be touching and smelling him, to be close to him and hear his soft breaths and his steady heartbeat in my ear. My body instantly relaxed into him as it sprang to life, each nerve ending crying out in relief and my heart finally beating regularly, matching the rhythm of his own heartbeat.

  We sat like that for a long time, Kerrie and Elijah had disappeared into the kitchen with the babies, as we just held one another.

  “Show me,” he finally said quietly. I inhaled harshly and shook my head faintly.

  “Mason I . . .” I swallowed nervously and frowned at him.

  “Show me, Ava,” he demanded and I swallowed again.

  Taking a deep breath I climbed off his lap and waited for him to stand. He grasped my hand and led me up the stairs. Each one seemed more difficult to climb as I knew what I was about to do would kill him inside.

  He led me into the bedroom and we stood silent in the middle of the room. I sucked on my lips, desperately not wanting to do this. He stood impassively, his face showing no emotion whatsoever. I gulped as I started to unbutton the loose silk shirt I had put on for comfort.

  I wasn’t wearing a bra as the straps and back rubbed against my sores and I cringed when I undid the last one and looked up at him. He nodded blankly but I saw the slight bob of his Adam’s apple and I knew he was steeling himself for this moment.

  I slipped my shirt off my shoulders as I closed my eyes. I heard him gasp and the sound of his heavy swallow. I cringed and turned around; showing him the whip lashes and scorch marks. I heard the sob escape his throat and I instantly turned, grabbed him and pulled him onto the bed, pulling him against me as the sobs tore from him, the anguished cries that erupted from his throat.

  I rocked him tenderly. “I’m okay, I’m here. I love you so much,” I sobbed against him and he tightened his grip around me. “None of this is your fault so don’t ever think it is. This is Dane’s fault Mason, not yours.” He whimpered into me and my heart broke for him. “I’m home Mason and I won’t ever let him take me again, I promise.”

  He just wept and hung on for his life, frightened to let me go, needing to feel me, needing to touch and smell me to reassure his soul that I was actually here.

  He pulled us down so we lay on the bed. My head still rested on his chest but I turned to face him and cupped his face. “I missed you, baby.” I smiled gently and he sighed as his fingers followed every contour on my face.

  “My little warrior,” he finally choked out. “I . . . I . . .”

  I shook my head. “Shush, not now. I just need to feel you Mason. Just hold me.”

  He huddled me close, embracing me and pulling my head onto his magnificent chest, my breasts crushed against him and my nipples puckered at the feel of him. I felt his erection press into my stomach and my body jumped for joy knowing that he still found me sexy and not spoiled and damaged.

  “I need you,” I whispered. He pulled in a breath and frowned at me. “I need to know you still want me Mason, still need me, still find me as beautiful as I once was.”

  He tipped his head, his eyes fierce and blazing. “Ava, you are the most beautiful woman on this planet and nothing will ever change that. Your beauty is mesmerising but your real, pure beauty is in the inside, baby. Nobody will ever take that from you,” he breathed against my mouth before his lips settled over mine and he kissed me tenderly and softly but still firmly and demanding.

  He rolled me back so I was under him as he gazed at me and stroked the outline of my face. “I love you so much Ava, I died . . . it broke . . .” I placed my fingers against his lips.

  “Make love to me Mason, I need to feel you inside me, I need you to take me and fill me up with you.” I whispered.

  His eyes closed as he swallowed heavily. “Ava . . .” he mumbled as his mouth nuzzled and grazed my neck.

  I closed my eyes to feel him, sense him and enjoy him. His familiar sucking and biting brought a smile to my lips. He was marking me, claiming me back as his and my heart leapt for joy at the sensation of my man, back where he belonged.

  “You’re mine,” he whispered against my neck and I moaned.

  “Yes, yours,” I whispered back.

  His biting got heavier and needier as he trailed towards my breast, placing his signature in his wake and I relished in it. “Mine,” he murmured as his fingers fidgeted with the button on my trousers. I felt his hands sweep them down and he removed his own then crawled back up me.

  “Shirt,” I breathed, “I need to feel your skin Mason,” I rasped, my need making it difficult to breath. He gave me that sexy grin and swiped it over his head.

  I inhaled deeply at the sight of him, his beauty, his power, his sheer magnificence and a moan rumbled up my
throat.

  His mouth kissed the side of my knee and my breath hitched as I closed my eyes and just felt, nothing else, just felt him.

  His kisses snaked their way up my thigh until his nose rested at my mound and he inhaled deeply. “Mine,” he growled and I rested my hands in his hair.

  “Yours,” I breathed, moaning as he parted my thighs and inhaled again. Just as I thought he would take me with his mouth he carried on, kissing his way up my stomach, over my ribs and onto my breast.

  My eyes remained closed as I enjoyed the sensations and . . . I frowned when Mason stilled and I felt him rear back. I opened my eyes and found him staring blankly at my right breast. I looked down to see what had caught his attention . . . the bites!

  His eyes shot to mine and I couldn’t read them, they were dark, black and haunted.

  I frowned again. “Mason?”

  He narrowed his eyes intensely on me and rested back on his heels. “What the fuck, Ava?”

  I scrambled to sit up. “What? You’re worrying me, what’s wrong?” He shook his head, his face showing disgust and abhorrence. “Mason please.” He bit his lip and his eyes dropped to my breast again.

  “He bit you!” he stated coldly.

  I sucked on my lips, shame and humiliation coursing through me. “Yes.” I nodded and looked down.

  I heard his breathing speed up until I thought he would hyperventilate. He took a step towards me. His face was furious and grim as he cocked his head at me.

  “Did you enjoy it Ava?” he spat.

  My eyes shot to his, confusion and disbelief raging through me. “W. .What?”

  “His cock Ava, did you enjoy it . . . inside you, pounding at you?”

  My jaw dropped as my eyes bulged. “Wh. .wh. .what? I don’t understand.”

  I shook my head in distress and swallowed at the lump that had formed in my throat. He stalked swiftly over to me and grabbed my upper arms, holding me in his tight grip. “DID HE MAKE YOU FUCKING COME AVA?!”

  He was furious, his face was contorted in ire and rage, as though madness had took hold of him. His eyes blazed and his teeth were bared. He inched his face forward so our noses were practically touching. “There’s only me that knows the bite takes it from a basic climax to pure ecstasy for you Ava, so why?” He smacked my breast with the back of his hand. “Did he bite you as you came, Ava?” he spat icily.

  I recoiled, the nausea swiftly threatening to surface.

  “Did you tell him to bite you, Ava? Just before he spilled his spunk inside you?”

  My hand shot out and struck him across his face. His head whipped to the side. He turned slowly back to me. The look in his eyes filled my blood with ice and took my breath, filling my lungs with sheer terror. “Mason, please . . .” I begged as I took a step backwards.

  His lip curled and he shook his head slowly. “How did he know Ava?” he asked steely and I frowned.

  “I don’t understand Mason, he didn’t bite me for . . .” His eyes flashed and he grabbed my arms again, the pressure was sure to leave a large bruise. “Mason, please,” I sobbed but he shook me raggedly.

  “HOW DID HE KNOW ABOUT THE BITE AVA?” he bellowed.

  My eyes widened as realisation sunk in. Mason thought I had asked Dane to bite me in throws of passion, knowing that was my ultimate orgasm trigger. I shook my head vehemently. “No, Mason you’ve got it wrong!” I tried to explain.

  “DID HE FUCK YOU HARD AS HE BIT YOU A . . .” He never finished as he spun round and Greg’s fist connected with Mason’s cheekbone.

  I stood in utter shock and devastation at Mason’s disgust, loathing and revulsion of me.

  “WHAT THE FUCK MASON?” Greg bellowed as he punched him hard again. “He didn’t bite her during sex you fucking cunt!” Greg snarled, his anger giving him the power to hold Mason down. I stumbled backwards and sank onto the bed.

  I was stunned and in shock. I knew it was the drugs talking but the sheer evilness and coldness in him ripped me in two; even Dane couldn’t hurt me like Mason had just done.

  “He bit her to make her piss herself you fucking arsehole,” Greg roared. I recoiled at his words, the shame and humiliation rose and I looked at my fingers, fiddling them in my lap.

  I felt the silence more than heard it, the uncomfortable silence, and I knew Mason was staring at me.

  “What?” he spluttered as him and Greg clambered off the floor.

  Greg sighed. “He would make her wait until her bladder was full and she was bursting, then bite her breast. The pain would make her concentrate on that so she would forget to hold her bladder!” Greg spat at him and Mason’s face paled. “It wasn’t just physical torture and torment Mason, he fucked with her head. He made her call him Sir and ask politely and submissively for things, even to use the fucking toilet.”

  Mason’s hand shot out to the dresser to steady himself. “Fuck!” he rasped.

  Greg pushed his chest. “You fucking Bastard,” he growled as he picked up my shirt and strode over to me. “You okay, Ava?” he asked softly as he helped me into my shirt and I just stared at the floor. “Ava?” Greg asked and squatted down in front of me. I stared blankly into his eyes. “Come on, sweetheart,” he said gently as he stood up and scooped me up.

  He walked towards the door and Mason shot over to us. “Ava . . .” he gulped and I shrank back further into Greg.

  “Don’t . . . no . . .” I shivered.

  His face closed down and I looked away, his ultimate betrayal hadn’t been the drugs, or the women or his secrets . . . it was this. The fact that he had thought I had enjoyed Dane’s torture and cruelty, that I had relished it and climaxed on it . . . that I wanted it and enjoyed it.

  “I’m going to be sick,” I whispered to Greg. He nodded and sped up as he took me straight into the bathroom and placed me on the floor in front of the toilet. I leaned over and heaved, emptying the meagre contents of my stomach. The force of it was violent and nasty and I could feel Greg’s cringes beside me as he tried to control his own stomach.

  I heard the front door slam and I knew it was Mason leaving but I didn’t care, I didn’t want him anywhere near me. I heard Courtney mumble something and then she came to rest beside me.

  “Oh babe . . .” she sighed as she pulled my hair back and stroked my back in a comforting gesture.

  “He hates me,” I whispered after I had finished vomiting.

  She frowned and shook her head. “No Ava, it’s the coke babe, it makes him paranoid and obsessive, that’s all,” she soothed as she stroked my hair back from my face.

  I shook my head. “He . . . he was . . . he frightened me, Courtney. I have never seen him like that before; I thought he was going to hurt me.”

  I gulped and she huddled me into her. “He would never hurt you Ava.”

  “But he just did Courtney . . . here!” I said as I held my hand against my heavy heart, the one that was now surrounded in ice, the ice that Mason had managed to chip away at slowly but successfully and in two minutes he had managed to build it all back up and more, so much more.

  I felt myself harden inside, refusing to let my heart, mind and body ever be free to anyone else again. I would keep them tight inside me; reveal them to nobody . . . not even Mason. They were mine and would remain that way.

  I could feel the shell slowly shrouding me and shielding me, it would protect me and govern me, making sure no one ever hurt me again. I was once again the cold hearted bitch that George had rescued that night so long ago but this time I wouldn’t let her die, I needed her and I was determined to keep her.

  CHAPTER 5

  I WALKED THE stairs and turned to Elijah. “I’m leaving,” I told him as I passed him a piece of paper with my address on.

  Greg scurried over to me, “No Ava, I don’t think that’s a good idea sweetheart” he pleaded.

  I swung round to him. My cold distant eyes bore into him and I saw him shrink back and frown slightly. “Ava?” he narrowed his eyes.

  “I am leaving a
nd I am taking my babies home,” I stated bluntly before turning back to Elijah. “You are now on my payroll not Mr Fox’s. We’ll sort out the arrangements back at the cottage.”

  He frowned. “Miss Stone, I really need to talk to Mr Fox about this,” he said nervously and I glared at him.

  “You do that Mr Denman and I will find a suitable alternative. The choice is yours,” I barked and turned back to the stairs.

  I noticed Greg and Courtney huddled together whispering and I narrowed my eyes on them, “I haven’t lost it. I need to harden up and get the hell out of here, away from . . . well just away.” I took the stairs two at a time and proceeded to pack mine, George’s and Katie’s things.

  Six hours later, I was back in the cottage with all my belongings. Everybody had left except Elijah and the patrol guards. I had bathed and bedded the babies and I settled on the sofa with a bottle of wine. Elijah was stood to attention beside the room door and I held in a laugh as I glanced at him.

  “Do you ever relax?” I asked him and I was sure I saw his lips twitch.

  “Never on duty, Miss Stone.”

  “Drink?” I held up the bottle to him but he shook his head.

  As I picked up my phone from the table to check for messages, I heard a knock on the front door. Elijah held up his hand to me and went to answer it.

  My heart soared when I heard his voice. I flew off the sofa and scuttled into the hallway, skidding to a halt as I took in his face. He stood silent, feasting on me with his eyes. “Princess,” he sobbed and I flung into his arms as my own tears finally rolled free.

  “George, oh George,” I choked.

  I glanced at Elijah who was regarding us with tenderness in his eyes and I pulled back, sobbing and laughing. “Mr Denman this is my stepfather George Fielding,” I introduced and they nodded to each other.

  George held me out and scanned me, his eyes dark and haunted, “Oh sweetheart,” he sighed as he pulled me close again.

  I grinned at him as I took his hand. “Come on.” I nodded my head towards the stairs and led him into the nursery. He crept along the carpet slowly and stealthily and I heard his breath hitch as he looked at his grandchildren.