The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone

by D H Sidebottom

  EPILOGUE

  I STOOD IN the full length mirror and swiped the forbidden tear from my cheek as I stared into my own eyes. I closed them, fighting against the tears that wanted to swill from me. Taking a deep breath I opened them and gasped as my eyes met another’s in the mirror. She smiled softly at me and then nodded as her eyes twinkled with happiness and delight.

  She blew me a kiss then turned away and the tears poured. “Goodbye,” I whispered to Katie’s retreating figure, “I love you, hun.”

  She looked over her shoulder and winked at me. Her image blurred and Mason came into view. I knew she had now left me in the hands of another, who loved the very ground I walked on and would protect me with his life.

  His hand settled on my shoulder as his chin rested on my head. “Has she gone?” he asked softly and I choked out a sob, his understanding and compassion amazed me.

  “Yes,” I breathed and he spun me around.

  “I’m here now Ava and she knows it. I promised her I will look after you and I won’t break that promise,” he said softly and I nodded against his chest.

  He held me until a knock came on the door. “Ready?” Courtney asked as she popped her head around the door and her eyes widened. “Get the hell out!” she yelled at Mason. He chuckled and winked at me.

  “I’ll see you later.” He glanced at his watch, “In about an hour, don’t be late.” He kissed the top of my head.

  I grabbed his hand as he took a step towards the door. “I know we’ll be fine Mason. I know we’re gonna make it because she wouldn’t leave me otherwise.”

  He smiled widely and nodded, “I know.” He stroked my cheek with the back of his fingers before he left the room.

  * * *

  George gasped as my foot settled on the last step. “Princess . . .” he breathed and I beamed at him, “You look stunning.” He took my hand and sucked on his lips as he fought back his tears.

  My dress was a simple silk cream formfitting one with a long skirt. The strapless fitted bodice was adorned with tiny pearls and the back was threaded with silk ribbon but what I adored about it was the initials ‘M & A’ embroidered into the skirt. It was simply beautiful and I loved it.

  He gazed at me and I nodded as he took my hand and placed it in the crook of his arm. “I love you so much, Ava and I’m so damn proud of you,” he whispered as we approached the doorway.

  I took a deep breath as George nodded to someone and he turned to look at me. “Your parents and Katie are with you sweetheart, they will always be with you.”

  I smiled and looked him in the eye. “I know but I’m so very glad how my life turned out because it brought me you.” I kissed his cheek and he flushed before we nodded to each other as Gabrielle Alpin’s ‘The Power of Love’ played softly and he led me into the room.

  I gasped as Mason came into view at the end of the aisle, his sheer magnificence and beauty holding me captive.

  He gulped and his eyes shimmied with unshed tears as he saw me. He couldn’t smile, I knew because I couldn’t either. The emotions I was feeling were too strong. The only thing I was capable of was putting one step in front of the other to bring me closer to my man, to my soul and to the one person that had managed to rebuild my heart and fortify it with extra walls.

  The last year had been heaven; he had kept true to his word and hadn’t let me down. He was pure pleasure and he was mine, and I knew we would get through the most difficult situations in life because he loved me wholly and I loved him entirely.

  George kissed my cheek and dropped my hand into Mason’s as we approached him. “You are so utterly breath-taking my little warrior,” he rasped as he stroked a finger across the new tattoo that ran across my left collarbone that I had inked especially for my husband.

  Mrs. Fox

  I beamed at him. “You like it?” I asked, holding my breath slightly, nervous of his reaction. He nibbled his bottom lip furiously and I noticed his eyes darken. He leaned into my ear, his soft lips wisping across my skin. “It’s fucking hot! It shows you’re mine and god damn Ava, I really need to sink into you right this minute,” he growled low.

  I smirked, winked and wiggled my finger at him, “And me, you.”

  He tipped his head back and laughed.

  The End

  Sometimes, love is all that you need

  The most beautiful things

  in the world

  cannot be seen or even touched,

  they must be felt

  with the heart.

  Helen Keller

  Chapter 1

  Layla

  I SAW HIM as soon as he entered the room. My footing stuttered, causing a slight slip of my sole on the cool metal.

  He dominated the room potently as soon as his heavy foot hit the floor; he always did. His aura and presence demanded each and every eye in the club, as his own eyes prowled the girls, flicking from each and every one in his quest for tonight’s entertainment. He was well known with the pro’s as well as enjoyed by the pro’s. As soon as he entered the club they all vied for his attention, hoping they would be the one he chose that particular night.

  The word that went around was that he knew how to please a girl, could make her scream in absolute ecstasy, but he was also known for his tendency to dominate and command. His need for total control was the reason he came in the club, knowing that some of these girls specialised in that field.

  I swung round into the dove position so I could take a better look at him. He usually glanced over at me a few times, but then he would always disappear into a private room with one of the submissive girls.

  His dirty blonde hair was mused into its usual messy style, the top of it stuck up in all directions giving him that just fucked look. His chiselled cheekbones emphasised his piercing blue eyes and his strong jaw held the usual popular stubbled beard.

  His firm body was the ultimate in heavenly sin. His wide shoulders gave a sense of authority and his slim hips and tight arse gave a girl palpitations.

  You just knew by looking at him, that naked he would be obscene and delicious, all rolled into a tight little package. His clothes were designer and always tailored to fit him stylishly. Every time he visited The Black Panther he was adorned in a classy and modern suit, as though he had arrived straight from the office.

  He was the essence of masculinity, the epitome of virility and the Master of fucking, but nobody seemed to know much about him, apart from the fact he went by the name of ‘Hunter.’

  He leaned his back to the bar and scanned the room again; his eyes narrow and steely as his friend leaned in and said something to him. Hunter nodded once in some sort of acknowledgement but his eyes never left the scene.

  I flexed, and finished my performance with a Rainbow Marchenko as Harry, one of my regular spectators, stepped up and slipped a twenty down my cleavage. Another younger man tucked one into the waistband of my small blue fringe skirt.

  I winked at Harry as I smiled my thanks to the other viewer. “Anytime, Willow sweetheart.” Harry winked back, calling me by my professional name.

  My real name was kept secret from the club, my need for privacy was important. Some professionals and dancers didn’t mind the clients using their real names but I wanted my normal life to be kept separate to my professional life. I needed it that way in fact.

  “When you back darlin’?” Harry asked, interrupting my thoughts.

  “Tomorrow, Harry” I informed him as I pulled on a robe and stepped off the stage.

  He leaned in for his usual cheek kiss and I pecked his leathery skin. “You take care getting home, love.” I urged him and he elbowed me gently.

  “Tough as old boots me, darlin.’ No fucker getting their hands on my goods” he smirked and I shook my head in humour as I watched him hobble across the dim room.

  “Willow,” Owen shouted from the bar and I glanced over at him, “private booking, room 7” he announced with a grimace and then proceeded to mouth ‘sorry.’

  I sighed and
nodded before making the short journey down the corridor to the dressing room, eager to change quickly before performing again.

  “You okay, sugar?” Misty asked as I flopped in a chair and pulled my boots off. My new six inchers were swine’s at bedding in and I flexed my toes with a moan.

  “Yeah, just tired tonight.” I puffed as I pulled off my fringe skirt and replaced it with a white thong and pale pink feather mini skirt.

  “You got a private?” she asked with a frown as she pulled on her jeans, her night finished already.

  I nodded and groaned. “Yep” I answered, swapping my bra for a pale pink peasant top and pulled on some matching sheer thigh highs, tying the top bows before stepping into a pair of white five inch heels.

  “Ooh, new gear” Puss drooled as she flicked at the bows.

  “You like?” I asked, giving her a twirl and a waggle of my eyebrows. Puss nodded and beamed, her eyes studying me from top to bottom. I winked as Puss’s jaw dropped when I pulled on some pink femme fatale armbands.

  “Oh babe, you gonna share?” Puss begged.

  I chuckled as I took a gulp from a bottle of water. “Uh, uh” I shook my head slowly and blew her a kiss before making my way up to room 7.

  From what I could see in the dim room, it contained about six men and three entertainers and I sighed when I knew it was gonna get explicit.

  I really didn’t understand why men hired a private dancer when there were entertainers in the room as well. The performers never even got watched on these occasions, as they were all busy doing other things . . . mainly fucking.

  Flicking on the pole spot light, I placed the bottle beside the music system and selected some music.

  Thinking these men would appreciate something raunchy and fast instead of slow; I chose Kevin Rudolf ft. Flo Rida ‘You Make the Rain Fall’ and began my sequence.

  Ten minutes in and I could already make out the erotic grunts and groans across the room and I retreated into my own little world, letting myself flow with the music.

  “You strip, Willow?” A male voice came from the side of me and I flipped around the pole to talk to the person.

  My hand slipped on the metal when I saw it was Hunter and I just managed to put my foot on the ground before landing on my ass.

  What the hell? Why would Hunter request me when he was well known for partying with the entertainers? Surely fucking overtook the need for a dancer.

  “Sorry” I mumbled, “was in a world of my own.”

  He smiled a dirty big grin and his eyes twinkled, “And here I was hoping you was gonna invite me.”

  I gave him a confused expression and he cocked his head in amusement. “Into your world” he explained and then mumbled something incoherent that I couldn’t hear.

  I just nodded, still puzzled by his statement.

  He looked amused and bit his lower lip and my eyes involuntary watched that plump lip get deliciously destroyed under his teeth.

  “You strip?” he asked again.

  I gave him an apologetic smile but nodded. “Extra fifty I’m afraid and it’s topless only.”

  He sucked in a breath and his eyes darkened. “Sure, Red” he smirked as he pulled out his wallet and handed over the extra cash. I presumed the ‘Red’ endearment was a referral to my chin length bright red curls. Vampire red, I think the box said. Don’t ask!

  Smiling timidly, I placed the cash beside the bottle of water and picked Nine inch nails ‘Closer’ that was perfect for stripping to.

  Another couple of men entered the room and approached Hunter, who chatted with them as I set up and when the music started Hunter leaned back on the wall and trained his eyes on me intensely.

  I found his behaviour rather strange when there were willing women in the room, and all he wanted to do was watch me strip. But hey, after William’s cut was removed, I would end up with an extra thirty and boy, did I need the cash at the moment.

  The beat started and I whipped and spun around the pole and manoeuvred into some positions before deciding to have some fun with Hunter.

  Giving him my best seductive smile, I flicked the tie on the side of my skirt whilst tipping upside down into another pose. I nodded to him to reassure him he could touch when he seemed to hesitate as his fingers reached towards me.

  I watched his throat bob as his long fingers grasped the knot and he pulled, releasing the tie on the skirt and his eyes followed it to the floor.

  Pulling back up, I grabbed the pole in the crook of my elbows and extended a leg out to him. His jaw tightened as I cocked my head and dared him to untie the stocking tops.

  He seemed nervous for some reason, and I wasn’t sure if I found his behaviour puzzling or charming. His usual dominant demeanour appeared to have disappeared, just evaporated around us as I continued to offer my leg to him.

  His eyes held mine, an incredible depth of secrets and passion in them, as he pulled at the ribbons and released the cuff on my thighs. I maintained position, my leg straight out towards him, as I silently told him to remove the stocking.

  A couple of men had come to stand and watch and they jeered Hunter, egging him on in that boyish way only men had.

  Pointing my toes at him, I swirled my ankle until he stepped forward and grasped the tight pink hem and deliberately slow, rolled it down my leg.

  I frowned when a slight sensation pooled in the pit of my stomach and sent heat tearing through my system as his fingers softly wisped down my skin.

  I had been doing this job for four years now and had never had a reaction to a client before, especially a reaction like this.

  I stretched out my other leg and took a small inhalation to calm my nerves as I silently asked him to repeat his performance, and he instantly did my begging.

  I smirked to myself. This was a turn around. Hunter was being instructed what to do instead of the other way around and by the looks of him; he was enjoying the role reversal more than he thought he would.

  I pulled round into some arrangements before hooking my right knee around the pole and settled into the Allegra splits, each of my legs in opposite directions along the length of the pole. With my back to Hunter, I peered at him over my shoulder and wiggled my back, now encouraging him to undo the tie on the back of my top.

  His tongue poked out to wet his lips before a sinful smile lifted the corners of his mouth and he stepped closer.

  He leaned into me, his mouth at my ear as his fingers tugged on the tie behind my back. “You entertain, Willow?” he asked huskily in my ear, and I desperately swallowed back the urge to groan at his closeness.

  Jesus, this man oozed sexual energy and at the moment I was absorbing every single volt he was emitting, its intense charge lit every single nerve ending in my body and I shivered against it.

  I shook my head with apology, even though I was really tempted to give in and seize everything he was offering; take it all and take it hard.

  He clicked his tongue in disappointment before he pulled off my top, his eyes holding on my face and I was impressed that they hadn’t dropped to my chest the moment he removed my clothing.

  “Shame. Damn fucking shame, Red. Could’ve been fucking incredible. You under me, your beautiful big eyes beggin’ me for every hard thrust I drive into you” he whispered slowly in my ear.

  I inhaled sharply, as my breath stuttered and my heart rate peaked, along with my nipples.

  Jesus Christ!

  Hunter moved back to finally inspect his money’s worth.

  He gazed at my breasts, his head tipping slightly as he proper examined them, before his eyes darkened and his eyelids became heavy and hooded. He must have noticed my hard nipples and I desperately tried to hold back the groan of humiliation.

  He then slowly lifted his eyes back up to my face. His chest was heaving heavily and his top teeth sunk into his bottom lip, obviously a control technique.

  He cocked his head at me and bore straight into my soul with his intense blue eyes, as his tongue swept out to ease his bi
te and my eyes lowered to watch the action.

  A forbidden image of what else he could do with that tongue popped into my head and I gasped faintly at the lust that surged through me.

  As I lifted my eyes back to his, a cocky smile lit his face as though he had just read my mind and then he turned and left.

  Chapter 2

  Lucas

  I TOOK A second long cold shower of the day, groaning as I worked myself under the steady stream, images of Willow in my mind as I jerked off frantically.

  I couldn’t seem to shake this damn arousal. Never before had a woman affected me as Willow currently was. She seemed to have crept under my skin, worked her way into my blood stream and I couldn’t rid myself of what the visions of her tight little ass and pert breasts were doing to my dick. I had been constantly hard since I watched her spin the pole.

  I palmed the wall and grunted deeply as my load shot onto the tiles, the thick cream slowly dripping down the soft blue ceramic.

  I remained under the water, my forehead resting against the cool tiles, knowing the half-hearted climax wouldn’t bate my need for long.

  I wanted her, Hell! I fucking needed her. Needed to manipulate that luscious little body, to grab a handful of that fucking soft hot red hair of her’s and watch her beautiful face as I drove my dick down her elegant throat.

  “Fuck this, Lucas!” I declared as I flung open the shower door and grabbed a towel, tying it round my hips as I entered the bedroom.

  I halted immediately. “What the Hell, Jess?” I growled.

  The naked woman just smiled slyly at me from my bed and I rolled my eyes. “When are you gonna stop doing this?” I asked as she pouted and patted the bed beside her.

  I looked over Jess’s body; there was no denying she was fit and supple, but it now did nothing for me after seeing Willow’s beauty, with that delectable firm body and those tits. Fuck, those firm but supple tits.