The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone

by D H Sidebottom

  I nodded, squirming when my vigour started to wane.

  Blinking up at me, he lowered his voice to a low grate. “I’m sorry, Ava.” Before I had chance to question him, he pressed his head against the gun. “End it. End me . . . please.”

  A tear left me as his life left him. Dane didn’t deserve any compassion, but Mason did. I had ended the life of his best friend, the man he couldn’t find it in his heart to execute. The man that had held Mason up before I had ever had the chance to. A friend that had taken Mason and pulled him through his horrible childhood. Their friendship had ended when I had walked into Mason’s house that rainy morning two years ago. And now Dane had paid the ultimate price for his betrayal. Yet we had both known that if I hadn’t killed him then Mason finally would have.

  Blood. Souls. Hearts. They were all destructible. Even the tightest of friends were never beyond betrayal. But at the end of the day, it was who was strongest lived longer.

  I dropped the gun and walked away. Away from Dane’s lifeless body and away from Mason’s life. Out of all that Dane had said, the one line that haunted me for the coming months was, ‘You are good enough for my best friend.’ Because at the end of the day, I wasn’t. I wasn’t strong enough for him, nor was I good for him.

  The man who had sworn to protect me had destroyed me. And the man who I had vowed to care for, I had broken beyond repair.

  Sometimes the pull of two souls is so strong that when they meet the explosion is catastrophic. We just had to learn to fight it and live, or rather exist without each other.

  Sometimes, love is just that little bit too destructive.

  CHAPTER 32

  4 MONTHS LATER

  “AVA STONE!” I heard a voice behind me as I stood at the bar, ordering mine and the girls drinks. I spun on my heels to see Ethan the sonographer from the hospital stood grinning at me. I grinned back and held a finger up for him to hold on, he nodded and I turned back round to the slimy barman. I wondered if Mason knew one of his staff hit on all the female customers. “£3.45 change, sure I can’t tempt you to anything else tonight gorgeous?” he asked with a leer and I scowled at him before I turned back round to Ethan.

  I was already well on the way to getting drunk and knew I shouldn’t have bought another vodka but I was in the mood for getting obliterated after a stressful week at work.

  “Ethan,” I smiled and kissed him chastely on the cheek. “How are you?” I asked as we made our way over to the table the girls and I were occupying.

  “I’m doing well. How are you?” I noticed his eyes flick to my left hand and then slowly over my body and I smiled at his check out.

  “I’m good too.”

  He nodded as I placed the drinks on the table and scanned the room for my friends, finding them strutting their asses at some blokes that had shimmied up to them. “You escaped the peanuts for the night?” he asked as I slid into the booth. He saddled in beside me and took a long pull on his beer. I couldn’t remove my eyes from the way his throat bobbed sexily as he swallowed it down. He raised an eyebrow and gave me a lazy grin when he caught me checking him out. My mouth was suddenly dry as my body excitedly lit up at the specimen beside me.

  Clearing my parched throat I raised my eyes back to his. “Oh yeah, they’re at their dad’s until tomorrow,” I told him as my eyes drifted to the way he ran his tongue over the drop of beer residue on his top lip.

  Jesus Ava! Get a grip!

  I scolded myself, it had been too long since I’d had sex and my body was now alerting me to a possible candidate. I hadn’t been responsive to any male attention since I had left Mason but the way my body was reacting to Ethan I was secretly hoping I might be in for some action.

  “Oh, are you and their dad not together now?” I saw a flash across his eyes as they dropped to my mouth and I ran my tongue over my dry lips. I reached for my drink and downed it in one, needing something other than Ethan’s mouth to focus on.

  “No, we’ve been apart about four months now,” I said quietly with a shake of my head, the pain of our separation still tore through my soul. I missed him immensely and I was furious I still felt like this.

  “That’s a shame,” Ethan said as his lip curled at the corner and his eyes darkened as they rose to mine.

  I gasped slightly when I saw his reaction. “You don’t seem very sorry about it.” He cocked his head and lifted his shoulder.

  His gaze dropped to my mouth again. “No,” he said simply as his tongue traced the contours of his lips.

  My body flooded with arousal and I squirmed in my attempt to hide it. He took another mouthful of his beer and realising I had finished mine I picked up Courtney’s rum and coke and downed it, grimacing at the coconut. “Eugh fuck, who in the world drinks this shit apart from Courtney?” I spluttered.

  I hung my tongue from my mouth trying to get some air in to remove the taste and Ethan held out his beer, a crooked smile donning his face as his eyes dared me. I smiled wryly and took the beer from him, gently placing my lips over the end; I tipped my head back and took a swill while holding his gaze and then swiped my tongue over the rim before I handed it back.

  He inhaled sharply and the connection in our eyes assured us both that tonight would not end in this room. He leaned forward slowly and brushed my ear with his lips. “I want you Ava, I’ve wanted you ever since you walked into my room at the hospital.” I moaned lightly and closed my eyes.

  When I opened them he had resumed his position and was watching me intently and as my eyes met his, the lust and want in them had me biting my bottom lip.

  He grinned and placed his bottle down on the table. “Yours or mine?” he asked bluntly. I chewed on the inside of my cheek. Could I do this? Damn fucking right I could!

  “Mine,” I said swiftly standing, taking hold of his hand and pulling him out of the booth. He flung his head back and laughed as I led him across the dance floor to Courtney, whose eyes widened when she saw who I’d got in tow. “I’m off, Ethan gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse.” I winked to her and she grinned at me.

  “Okay babe, lunch at mine tomorrow, don’t forget,” she reminded me as she ground her backside against Marcy’s and I chuckled at them. It was Courtney’s first night out since delivering her gorgeous son, Harry and she was going all out.

  Ethan pulled on my hand. “Time to go,” he whispered against my ear as he planted an open mouthed kiss beneath my earlobe. “I can’t wait to get you naked and sweaty,” he breathed and I groaned. I felt his smile against my neck, where his lips had progressed to and my whole body shuddered in excitement.

  He lifted his head, stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly. The pitch echoed through my head as well as the room and he lifted our joined hands up to a group of guys in the corner whilst pointing to the exit.

  They all raised a hand and then cheered and whooped him with thumbs up before turning back to their conversation and I chuckled at their boyish encouragement. Ethan grinned and rolled his eyes at me but continued to pull me through the crowd, keeping my fingers locked in his as he led us outside.

  As soon as we hit the concrete, Ethan pushed me up against the wall and took my mouth with his. He worked me gently as his tongue slid across my lip and I opened up to him, my hands gripping his hair and pulling him further into me. A small groan rumbled in the back of his throat and a hand slid down my back to cup my backside, pulling me against his erection. My eyes widened at the feel of him, from what I could tell he was huge and I whimpered as a selection of erotic images of him working that mighty cock into me.

  I moaned as he pulled away for a moment so he could whistle a taxi but then his lips plunged back down on mine while the taxi pipped at us. He groaned before pulling me over to the taxi and opened the door but just as I went to climb in he held me back. I frowned at him and he stroked his knuckles over my cheek. “You sure about this?” he asked gently and I smiled.

  “Abso-fucking-lutely” I grinned when I cupped his erection and he hissed.r />
  “Get in,” he growled and I scrambled in the car.

  His hand connected with my backside and I yelped in excitement before he slammed the door and as soon as I had told the driver my address Ethan’s lips were back on mine.

  “Fuck, you’re so hot,” he moaned against my mouth and I bit his lower lip gently.

  “Back at ya,’” I murmured before I pulled him back down and stroked his length through his trousers with my fingernail.

  His kisses became more urgent and his hand slid over my breast. I moaned my approval. The driver coughed slightly and I smirked against Ethan’s lips as he mumbled a ‘fuck off’ whilst his mouth and tongue whispered wet kisses down my neck and he sucked on the soft part of flesh at the base of my throat.

  I whimpered and hung my head back on my shoulders as I fingered his soft blonde hair. I wasn’t usually attracted to blondes but Ethan’s was such a dark dirty blonde that I nearly considered it brown. His thumb stroked against my peaked nipple that was straining against the silk of my dress and I huffed out a soft breath. “Jesus, I’m so ready,” I moaned as I pulled his face back to mine.

  “£16.80” The driver barked. Ethan rummaged about in his pocket as he kept the kiss going and pulled away slightly to make sure the note he held was a twenty and thrust it at the driver and mumbling ‘keep the change.’ He felt for the door handle, opened it and dragged me out with his lips still on mine.

  My hand scurried desperately in my bag, feeling my way for my keys and I grinned against him. “Ta da,” I murmured as I held out the key for him.

  He reluctantly broke the kiss as he unlocked the door and we stumbled through but before the door was even shut properly my bag was dropped on the doormat and I was in Ethan’s arms as he carried me upstairs.

  “I need to taste you, Ava,” he breathed against my neck as he opened the bathroom door, glanced around and walked back out, this time headed for the bedroom and grinned when he discovered the correct room.

  “I need your mouth on me,” I rasped back.

  He growled quietly as he planted my feet on the ground then took a step back. “Take the dress off,” he said breathlessly and I smirked.

  My fingers rose to the fastening at the halter neck and I untied it slowly before I let go and the dress pooled at my feet, leaving me stood in black bra, thong and thigh highs.

  “Fuck that’s sexy.” His molten eyes poured over every inch of me. I was so turned on I reached behind me and unhooked my bra, letting that drop with my dress and then my fingers reached the top of my thigh highs. “Leave them on with the shoes,” Ethan said as he stalked towards me.

  He cocked his head and smirked slyly. “Turn around and put your hands on the wall.” I gulped as my arousal intensified. I loved a dominant man and Ethan was obviously a good choice for a bed buddy.

  I did as he asked and turned around, raising my hands and planting them flat against the wall as I bent at the middle.

  “Oh shit.” He reared back slightly and I cringed when his finger trailed across one of my welts. I wriggled underneath him, now ashamed and embarrassed by my scars but he gripped my legs between his thighs behind me.

  “Hey, it’s okay,” he said softly as I buried my face into the wall. “Ava,” he said more sternly and I turned to face the side, my cheek pressed against the wall. “I like them, I think they’re fucking sexy. They show what a tough little thing you are,” he assured me as he ground his erection into me and pushed up against my backside.

  His fingers slid into the edge of my thong and he swept them down my legs as he came to kneel behind me. I heard him groan as he swiped a finger along my groove, my breath hitched and I pushed my bottom further towards him seeking more. “You have a pretty cunt Ava, I can’t wait to fill it,” he said before his tongue plunged straight into my entrance.

  “Oh god, yes,” I moaned as he fucked me with his tongue, his thumb working my clit.

  Within seconds I could feel my orgasm approach. Ethan must have sensed it because he slid a finger inside me and stroked the wall of my pussy, igniting my climax and I cried out as my knees buckled.

  “God, your pussy tastes fucking good,” he growled and before I knew it I was face down on the bed and he was pressed up against me. “How do you like to be fucked, Ava?” he whispered in my ear as he pressed me into the mattress. “Please say you like it hard, because right now I wanna drive into you with so much force, I knock you into next week.”

  I couldn’t speak as my lungs emptied in one swift outing and he spun me round so I was now on my back.

  “Undo my trousers,” he demanded. I smiled coyly at him before unbuckling his belt and pulling it through the loops. He took it from me and held my wrists with one hand. I shook my head, my eyes wide and pleading with him. I didn’t want to be restrained ever again. As If sensing my fear he threw the belt down onto the floor and stroked my cheek gently before he sighed. “Okay, I take it you’ve been through some shit and I’m just going with the flow here so you must tell if I’m doing something you don’t like, okay?” he said softly and I smiled gratefully at him.

  “Thank you,” I whispered and he winked at me.

  “Carry on.” He gestured to his trousers. I pursed my lips before I unzipped him and ran a finger over his bulge and up to his waistband as I tugged on his trousers, pulling them and his shorts over his backside and releasing his massive cock, it was thick and long and it had my core clenching in anticipation.

  My mouth was suddenly drier than the Sahara and I gulped. “Jesus,” I breathed and he grinned cheekily.

  “Excited or scared?” he smirked.

  “Both,” I admitted wide eyed but in for a penny in for a pound . . . and he definitely had some poundage.

  I snuck my tongue out and flicked my tongue over the slit, collecting the pre-cum and closing my eyes in appreciation. God, I had missed sex!

  He hissed and his hips jerked as I looked up at him through hooded eyelids, “You taste good.” I circled the head and then down the extra-long length of him, tracing the throbbing vein all the way down to the base before I gripped him in my fist and sunk my mouth over him and went down as far as I could.

  “God yes,” he rasped as his fingers twisted my hair and he directed my movements, plunging me up and down over him until he was thrusting uncontrollably into my mouth.

  I groaned as I felt my arousal dripping down the inside of my thighs. I slid a hand down in between my thighs and rubbed at my clit. “That’s my job,” he said as he leant over and plunged two fingers inside me, pumping them frantically inside me as I continued to suck him. “God, your mouth feels good Ava, suck me till I come, I wanna explode in that hot mouth of yours,” he ordered and I sped up, taking as much of his length as I could.

  I was grinding against his fingers, desperate for him to release the pressure that had built again. I felt him swell in my mouth and I prepared myself for the flood, and I wasn’t disappointed when he spurted his cum into my throat. It was hot and creamy and it just kept coming until I was sure I couldn’t swallow anymore and I opened my mouth, letting the rest drip over him and down onto his testicles.

  Pulling my mouth off him I glanced up to see him watching me, the carnal lust in his eyes triggered my orgasm and I arched my back severely as he curled his fingers inside me, prolonging my orgasm for as long as possible.

  I lapped the cum off his cock and his hands tightened in my hair. “Fuck that’s sexy,” he groaned as I continued to lick him greedily, making my way down to his sack and devouring the rest of his orgasm from them.

  He gripped my hair and pulled my face up to his as he kissed me greedily and savagely. He pulled back and grabbed the hem of his t-shirt and pulled it over his head.

  He wasn’t as hard and toned as Mason but he was still good to look at. Kicking off his trousers he pushed me back down on the bed and I noticed he hadn’t lost his erection and my eyes widened.

  A huge smirk donned his lips. “I usually have three orgasms before it bates,”
he told me as he slipped on a condom and I puffed out a breath.

  “Well I think we ought to get on with number two.”

  He laughed and dropped down to encase me with his body. “You ready?” he asked softly as he nibbled on the flesh beside my nipple. I groaned and lifted my hips in invitation. Positioning himself at my entrance he pushed in gently. It took a few minutes for him to slide all the way in and he nudged the tip of me before he even started thrusting.

  “Fuck you’re tight,” he groaned as he closed his eyes and screwed his face up. “Oh god, yes,” his voice was broken and raspy as I circled my hips.

  “Ethan,” I said as he remained still. He opened his eyes and looked at me in query “Fuck me,” I demanded softly and he grinned.

  “With fucking pleasure.” He pulled out and then in slowly as he built up a rhythm but I needed more.

  “Harder,” I growled as I gripped his ass and pulled him into me.

  “Christ, Ava,” he moaned as he pulled out and then thrust back in. “Like that?” he grated and I yelped and nodded.

  “Yes, fuck me, fuck me hard,” I arched my back and lifted my hips as he started to pound into me.

  “Oh god baby, I’m gonna come,” he breathed.

  “Fuck, Ethan,” I yelled as I came fast and hard while he erupted into me.

  He snarled and reared back. “Yes, fuck yes . . . Fuckkkkk!!” he cried out. He seemed to spurt forever and I was amazed at how much sperm this man produced. He should become a donor.

  His head dropped to my shoulder as he panted hard. “Christ,” he breathed as he rolled over and we both tried to regulate our breathing.

  His arm shot out and huddled me into his chest. “God that was fucking amazing.” He kissed the top of my head and I chuckled.

  “I thought you could manage three?” I smirked and he grinned down at me.

  “Seems you have managed to sate me in two, Miss Stone, good work.” He winked and I smiled as I yawned.

  “Tired?” he asked and I nodded against him. He rolled us onto our sides. “You want me to stay or go?”