The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone

by D H Sidebottom

  “I haven’t seen them,” I told Liv trying to ignore the incessant ringing.

  She smiled sadly, “We’ll have a coffee and then I’ll run you to hospital,” she said irately as my phone rang again.

  Before I could stop him, Nate snatched it up and answered it. I groaned.

  “LEAVE. HER. THE. FUCK. ALONE!” Nate exploded down the phone. I cringed as Liv winced with me. “Bring it fucking on!” he growled.

  I had never seen Nate so angry; his cheek muscle twitched rapidly, his jaw clenched tightly and I could see his foot tapping the floor briskly. “Do you even realise what the fuck it is you’ve done to her?” he demanded and I reached for my phone.

  “Nate leave it, please don’t get upset.”

  He shook his head at me and then scoffed down the phone. “She needs stitches Mason, that’s how fucking bad she is. Do you even understand that? You’re supposed to love her and protect her yet you fucking rape her and brutally tear her to bits. NOW BACK THE FUCK OFF HER!” he roared and ended the call.

  He flung my phone onto the table with a growl and stormed from the room. “Maybe I shouldn’t have come?” I admitted quietly.

  “Don’t be silly, he’ll calm down,” Liv said as she stood, “Coffee?”

  I smiled and nodded as she went to make coffee.

  My phone rang again and I sighed exhaustedly as I saw it was Courtney. “Hey,” I answered softly and I heard her huff of breath.

  “How are you, babe?” she asked gently and I smiled at her tenderness.

  “I’m okay, I just needed to get out of there and see Nate,” I explained.

  “Ava, that’s fine, I just wish you’d have told me first. You weren’t in any fit state to drive.”

  I sighed. “I know, but I’m okay.” We were silent for a while, listening to each other’s calming breath before I braced myself and asked the question I was dying to know. “How is he?”

  I cringed at her sharp intake of breath. “What the fuck, Ava? You shouldn’t even fucking care right now.”

  I rolled my eyes in frustration. “It doesn’t matter, forget I asked. Listen I’ll ring you in the morning,” I said wearily and ended the call and then pulled my knees up underneath me.

  Closing my eyes in exhaustion, I saw Mason’s name display on my phone as it rang happily in my hand. Taking a deep breath I answered but didn’t speak.

  “Ava?” he choked out, “Ava? Baby?” He sounded hysterical and my heart broke for him but that didn’t mean I forgave him. “Baby, please,” he sobbed and I sucked in a breath at the rawness in his voice.

  He was broken and devastated and I closed my eyes as a tear escaped from the corner of my eye. “Baby, I am so fucking sorry. Baby? I . . . I . . . Oh Jesus, Ava . . .” he sobbed and I choked out a sob. “Oh God,” he cried and I closed my eyes in distress at his desolation. “Please let me come and see you,” he asked no more than a whisper.

  “NO!” I cried and the sound of his silence was louder than the sound of his pleas.

  “I . . . I won’t hurt you, Ava . . .”

  I gulped. “No Mason. Stay . . . stay away from . . . me,” I hiccupped and I heard his whimper.

  “I didn’t mean to hurt you Ava, you’ve gotta believe me, baby. I didn’t mean to . . .” he cried and I bit my lip furiously.

  “But you did Mason . . . so much,” I whispered and ended the call before he heard my desperate cries. I curled up, retreating into my protective shell, desperately trying to sturdy my erratic emotions.

  Nate’s arms circled me and lifted me into him as he stroked my hair and whispered shushes until I calmed back down.

  “Tell me what happened, Ava,” he urged when I settled and I sighed deeply.

  “I think to understand it better I need to explain something first but please don’t judge, Nate,” I pleaded and he frowned.

  “Of course I won’t, Ava.”

  “It’s about Mason not me,” I told him and he nodded. “I think . . . I think he’s bi-sexual or to be correct, Mason thinks he’s bi,” I declared and Nate’s eyes widened.

  “Okayyy,” he said as he pursed his lips.

  “Mason and I have great sex,” I sighed, “Amazing sex even but Mason favourite thing for me to do is . . . is . . .” I cringed, knowing I was betraying Mason’s trust.

  “Just tell me Ava, I’m a big boy.” Nate smiled encouragingly and I laughed.

  “He likes me to finger his . . . arse.” Nate just nodded.

  “Okay and?” he urged.

  “Well I think he wanted to . . . to explore that side of him.” I smiled as I took the coffee from Liv and took a huge gulp of the caffeine, sighing in pleasure as it hit my taste buds. “Anyway Greg and Courtney had this guy over for the weekend and well . . . well Mason invited him in to . . . well he . . . he asked him to join us in . . .”

  Nate sighed. “For god’s sake Ava, he invited him to make a threesome with you and Mason,” he finished for me and I nodded.

  “Well I flipped cos’ I didn’t know anything about it until I walked into the bedroom and he’s starker’s across the bed.” Liv gasped and I nodded. “I mean each to their own and all that but I don’t wanna be shared, that’s just me.” Nate nodded and his eyebrows rose urging me to continue.

  “Well I can’t remember what was said but I quickly discovered that Mason had secretly hoped for a . . . well an experience for himself and when I questioned him about it he just went mental and stormed off,” I explained.

  Nate sighed, “Sounds like he’s struggling with that part of his sexuality. I mean Mason’s a very dominant masculine guy and I suppose something like that zapping round his brain is torture for him.” I nodded in agreement.

  “But he left before we could discuss it, I think he’s actually disgusted with what he fantasises about and he’s struggling with it.” I gulped more coffee, needing the thrill from the caffeine. “But he went and took a huge hit, I could tell from the vacant look in his eyes and his pupils were . . . well they weren’t even there.”

  Nate rubbed his face with his hands. “Fuck,” he hissed and I nodded.

  “I was in the kitchen when he came home and I tried to keep still so he wouldn’t notice me but . . .” I shrugged and sighed. “He just went ballistic at me, calling me prim and proper.” Nate choked on his coffee and eyed me in disbelief. “Well yeah, that’s what I thought but in the next breath he was calling me a dirty little bitch.” I shrugged again and Liv shook her head in despair. “And then well . . . you know what happened next but I honestly don’t think he knew what he was doing,” I defended him. Nate pulled in a huge breath.

  “Ava . . .” he warned but I shook my head adamantly.

  “Nate, there’s something you don’t know . . .”

  He frowned at me and tipped his head. “Well, go on,” he looked at me expectantly.

  “Well . . . well I kind of like, I kind of like to be . . . be bit, you know during . . . sex.” I fiddled with my fingers, my face flaming at my admission.

  Liv slid to her knees in front of me. “Ava, what happens in your sex life doesn’t concern other people. If it’s what gets you off then there’s nothing wrong with it. Some people like to be tied up, some liked to be whipped, it’s everyone’s own personal choice, Ava,” she placated and I smiled timidly at her.

  “But now you know why, I mean he did go a bit too far this time but I really don’t think he realised how hard he was,” I explained and groaned as my phone rang again.

  “God damn it,” I moaned as I saw Greg’s name flash up this time. “Hi,” I answered.

  “Hey, sweetheart. How you doing?” he asked quietly.

  “I’m okay.”

  I heard his deep sigh on the other end of the phone. “Listen Ava . . . he’s coming after you.” I could sense his cringe.

  “Fuck!” I ground out.

  “He’s taken Sam’s car and he’s on his way down,” he warned me.

  “Hey, don’t worry about it, thanks for letting me know Greg,” I
said. “How’s Courtney?”

  He chuckled, “Raring to kick his fucking teeth down his throat.”

  I laughed. “Tell her there’s a queue.”

  He snorted. “It’s already done Ava, I can promise you that, sweetheart,” he disclosed and my heart clenched in pain.

  “What did you do Greg?” I asked, closing my eyes and steeling myself for his answer.

  “Nothing he didn’t deserve,” he hissed and I gulped.

  “Yeah,” I breathed sadly.

  “Take care sweetheart and I’ll see you soon,” he said softly.

  “You too.”

  I ended the call. “He’s on his way” I groaned and Nate smirked.

  “I’d like to see him get through security,” he laughed and Liv stood up.

  “Come on, let’s get you to hospital and back before he arrives.”

  I pouted, “What the hell am I gonna tell them what happened?”

  I looked at them both. “Just say things got a bit heated in the bedroom. They can’t do anything about it without your permission, Ava,” Liv said and I shrugged.

  “I suppose.”

  “Hell, tell them we were having a steaming threesome and I fucking did it to you in throws of passion for all care,” she winked and I laughed.

  “God, what would I do without you two?” I sighed.

  “Hey, what would I do without you two,” Nate said, side huddling us both.

  “Well you wouldn’t have as many skirts to look up,” I snorted.

  “Damn right.” He wiggled his eyebrows and then he grew serious. “You’re gonna have to work this one out though, Ava. Don’t let him get away with this . . . this is just way too much,” he pleaded and I nodded.

  “I know.”

  He smiled and kissed my forehead. “Go on. Pick up Chinese on your way home,” he told Liv who nodded.

  “Don’t forget Jay will be home in an hour,” she grinned excitedly at Nate like a child.

  “Oh that’ll be fun for Ava, that boy is a walking hard on.” He laughed at the horror on my face.

  “Just like his bloody Dad,” Liv chuckled as she followed me out of the front door, Elijah hot on our trails.

  “Oh shit, I forgot about you,” I told him and he gasped jokingly.

  “How the hell could anyone forget me?” he feigned offense and I patted his arm.

  “Not a chance,” I laughed.

  CHAPTER 19

  “SO THEN SHE fucking says, ‘But Baby, what about last night?’” Jay said and everybody laughed.

  “Really?” Liv choked.

  “Well I didn’t have the heart to tell her it was John she slept with and not me. Hell, I think she’d remember if it was me,” he winked at me and I shook my head in exasperation. Nate had been right about Jay, Liv and Nate’s twenty year old son who was the spit image of his Dad; right from his piercing blue eyes to his blond curly hair. However, Jay sported a long scar that ran down his right cheek but I thought it fitted his bad boy/playboy image.

  His eyes had lit up like a Christmas tree when they landed on my chest and Liv had slapped him when he named them personally. Apparently my left breast was called ‘Henrietta’ and the right one was ‘Hermione.’ I took it in good humour which it was intended but he hadn’t stopped playfully flirting since I had arrived back from hospital.

  They had cleaned my bites, injected them with anaesthetic and stitched each one before covering them with gauze. I looked like a fucking freak show so Jay had took it into his personal agenda to cheer me up.

  “You’re so much like your Dad that it scares me,” Liv moaned as she stood up and stretched. “I’m off up.” Nate stood and kissed her.

  “Night Angel, I won’t be long.” He cupped her cheek lovingly and I smiled at his intense love for her, they were the real deal, university sweethearts that had lost touch for twenty years only to rekindle their love when Liv found herself working for Nate. I knew they’d had their problems as Nate had filled me in the New Year we spent in Belgium but they had pulled through it and were now stronger than ever and I felt the small pang of jealousy as I watched their interactions.

  “Night Hun” I said as she winked and climbed the stairs.

  “Right Dad, fuck off and let me have my wicked way with Ava,” Jay told Nate seriously and Nate scoffed.

  “If you think I’m leaving you alone with my best friend for two seconds you’ve got another think coming,” he said with raised eyebrows. “I don’t wanna find you dead from exhaustion in the morning.” He smirked and I poked my tongue out at him.

  “Oh I dunno. I’m sure I could handle her,” Jay winked.

  I laughed. “You sure about that, hot stuff?” I flirted playfully and Nate snorted.

  “You’ve no chance, Jay,” he laughed. “Courtney showed me the DVD,” he barked in laughter at my expression as Jay looked at us both in confusion.

  “God damn Courtney and that bloody DVD,” I sighed as I poured another vodka, well on my way to oblivion.

  “Ava, go steady sweetheart,” Nate sighed as he grabbed my hand and squeezed it as I rolled my head round my neck.

  “Nah I’m good,” I grinned and he shrugged.

  “I’m off to squeeze my wife.” He winked and I grinned at him.

  “Have fun,” I laughed as he bent and kissed my cheek.

  “Try and get some sleep sweetheart, the guys are all about so don’t worry,” he said as he stroked my cheek and I nodded.

  He turned to Jay. “Behave,” he warned and Jay laughed.

  “Don’t worry, pops. I shall leave Ava alone with her vodka and climb in my pit.” He winked as he stood up and followed his dad up the stairs.

  Sighing I closed my eyes and rested my head on the back of the sofa as my mind wandered. I didn’t have a clue what came next. Did I finally end this fucked up relationship? Did I make him go into rehab if I wanted any kind of reconciliation? Should I let him back in? Should I suggest he had sex with a man to figure himself out? Did I love him enough to want to work this out? And the last question was the only one I had the answer to . . . Yes! But he had broken my trust in him again and to be frank and honest I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. Since meeting Mason eighteen months ago, our relationship had been on and off more times than my kettle. I had been hurt by him so many times and even I wasn’t sure how much of my heart was still pumping the blood through my veins.

  I felt the sofa dip beside me and I opened my eyes to see Elijah’s bright smile. “How ya doing?” he sighed and I shrugged.

  “I’ll get over it,” I said bluntly but he frowned.

  “Will you though?” His eyes bore into mine with an intensity that I had seen before, the night on the kitchen floor and I quickly rose, not wanting to go there again.

  “I will! I’m off to bed, I’m exhausted,” I told him and from the look on his face he knew I was avoiding him. He turned away from me and nodded and I sighed. “Don’t do this Elijah” I whispered and his face shot round to mine.

  “Why do you let him hurt you Ava? I can’t get my head round it.” He shook his head in confusion. “He doesn’t fucking deserve you. You’re bright, funny, and beautiful and he’s hell bent on fucking destroying you,” he spat bitterly as he stood up and grabbed my arms.

  I winced at the pain from the bruises marring my arms from Mason’s hard grip. Elijah narrowed his eyes and swept my t-shirt sleeves up and hissed as he saw the raw finger grip bruises. “Jesus Christ! Why Ava?” he bit out and I pulled my arm back.

  “I said don’t do this!” I snapped and turned towards the stairs and stopped when I saw Nate watching us from the top step.

  He frowned at me but I shook my head at him as I passed him on the way to my room. “What the hell is going on?” he spat out and pulled me into my room.

  “Nothing is going on,” I defended.

  “Don’t bullshit me, Ava. You’re playing with fucking fire! If Mason finds out he’ll . . . Well he’ll fucking kill him.”

  I closed my eyes in
frustration. “Nothing is going on, we shared a kiss. That was it. End of,” I declared and he scoffed.

  “Does Elijah know that cos’ from where I was stood the man has it bad for you?”

  I huffed and rubbed my face in exhaustion. “Nate, please. I can’t deal with this right now. I’ve told him there’s nothing between us, I’ve backed well away and I haven’t given him any encouragement. Okay?” I snapped.

  He sighed, “You want me to have a word with him?” he asked and I shook my head.

  “No, just leave it.”

  He regarded me curiously for a while and then nodded, “Okay but you tell me if it gets any worse.”

  I nodded and he opened my door then turned back to me and the sadness in his eyes scorched my heart. “I’m always here for you, Ava. I hate to see you like this.”

  I smiled softly. “I know, it’ll work out,” I told him as I turned and walked further into the room, not wanting to say any more.

  The door clicked shut behind me. I stripped down to my underwear and climbed across the bed thoroughly exhausted and drained and within minutes I was asleep.

  “Ava.” I flinched at the whisper somewhere in the darkness of the room, its chilling tone sending ice within my veins, freezing my organs on its route through my body. “Ava.”

  It seemed to be getting closer and I rapidly blinked my eyes, trying to grow accustomed to the blackness. I felt something tickle my spine and I spun around only then realising I was strung up on the hook and chain.

  I whimpered at the sudden tightness around my wrists. “Ava.” It broke through the silence again but this time it seemed to be coming from in front of me. I screamed at the sudden crack of the whip, its bite on my back sending bolts of pain and electricity to my brain as the nerves on my skin cried out in torture.

  “Please. Don’t!” I whimpered.

  He laughed then. “But you like it rough Ava,” he cackled, “You’re a dirty little bitch aren’t you?”

  I screamed and thrashed as the whip thrashed me again and again. My body began jolting and flailing in desperation to remove itself from the horror and pain of the pasting.