The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone

by D H Sidebottom

  I climbed off the bed and walked over to the window, looking out into the back street just for a diversion. “It was when I tried to end our relationship after he started to get a bit . . . a bit nasty” I barked out a sour laugh as I remembered what had become of that attempt.

  I turned back to Lucas and held his eyes, trying to get him to see how dangerous it was to get involved with me. “He chained me to the basement wall and made different men take me every which way they could, until I bled from every single orifice on my fucking body.”

  Lucas closed his eyes at the vision I had just put into his head. “After being down there for five days Mason came to join the fun, but he thought I was a consenting sub. He soon found out I wasn’t when Diablo nearly strangled me when his control got a little heavy.”

  I shivered at the memory and swallowed back the nausea that was threatening to surface. Lucas was still regarding me and listening intently, catching each of my horrific revelations with repulsion plastered over his beautiful face.

  Then I grinned at him, a dirty great big grin as the memory of Mason came to the forefront of my mind. “Mason beat the shit out of him in that cellar. To a pulp. Then silently took my hand and led me from the house and I never once looked back!”

  Lucas stood now and cocked his head at me “How come he’s found you after all this time?”

  I shrugged and pursed my lips “The only thing I can think of is Simon Bell; the bloke who was on the street when you brought me home. He’s a contract . . . killer.”

  Lucas’s eyebrows hit his hairline and he reared back a little. “But why the fuck would he wanna kill you?”

  I laughed again and shook my head. “Because I ran. Because he can’t have me. Because he can” I told him simply.

  His eyebrows knitted as he sucked on his lips “But that’s . . .”

  “That’s just how Diablo works, Lucas; this is why I don’t wanna get you involved. He won’t think twice about removing you from my life, and he won’t do it the easy way.”

  He took a step towards me and I pulled in a breath as he reached me. He ran his finger down the slope of my nose as he penetrated my eyes. “But, you see Red, I kinda think you’re worth the risk.”

  I frowned and regarded him. “What are you saying, Lucas?” I asked quietly.

  He came closer, his own nose now resting against mine as his bright blue eyes pierced me, “I want you Red, more than I have ever wanted anything in my whole life. I want to govern you, I want to dictate you but more than that, I want to pleasure you, please you and I want to watch your beautiful face as I make you quiver and scream in ecstasy.”

  My breath was now coming in short sharp bursts as his mouth moved across my jaw, his lips kissing as his tongue savoured and I ran my fingers through his hair.

  “You want to sub me?” I asked plainly.

  He pulled back a little and scanned my face. “Yes, but I want more than that, Red. I want all of you, every single inch of you, and not just your body. I want your mind and your spirit. I even want your fucking soul to belong to me” he said as he undid the belt on my robe and pulled it from the loops.

  I watched his movement and exhaled as he parted my robe, slipped it off my shoulders and scanned his eyes over every inch of my naked form.

  He was suddenly walking us backwards until my back hit one of the bedposts and his lazy smile caused my blood to fire straight down to my already wet pussy.

  “Arms up, Red” he ordered and I immediately did as he asked and raised my hands high above my head.

  He wrapped the silk belt around my wrists and then tied them to the bedpost before he stared straight into me “Submit.”

  I lowered my head instantly, closed my eyes and gave myself over to him completely.

  Electricity pierced every single nerve ending in my body and I shuddered with the sensation of once again being dominated, of someone taking away the difficulty of self processing everything, removing the questions that always flew around my head and eliminating any self-doubts I had.

  I could feel Lucas’s eyes on me, his gaze sweeping over me as he examined my body before he ran his finger tip around my already hard nipple.

  I swallowed heavily, not allowing the groan to release from my chest as I cleared my mind and just felt; completely let my body surrender to him.

  “You are so fucking beautiful, Red. I’m your Dom but you hold me at your mercy” he whispered as he knelt in front of me.

  He didn’t move for the longest time, just knelt before me as though he daren’t touch me.

  Eventually he placed both palms flat on my stomach and then swept them outwards, his thumbs brushing my sensitive skin as they went.

  The action was so erotic that I opened my eyes and found him looking up into my face. His eyes were dark and intense, as though he was burning me to his memory and the sight of him stunted my breath.

  “Watch me” he ordered as he moved into me and placed his nose at my mound, inhaling deeply as his hands came round and cupped my backside. “This now belongs to me, Red. You will let me take you anyway I want, anyhow I want and anywhere I want.”

  “Yes, Sir” I breathed out the answer as I gulped at the sudden flood in my pussy.

  “You smell fucking exquisite.”

  He drew in another lungful of my scent before he gripped one of my legs and planted it over his shoulder.

  “Now, I know you taste just as fucking enchanting and I want some of you inside me.”

  He looked up at me and smiled with his eyes instead of his mouth. “You may come, Red.”

  “Thank you, Sir” I smiled gratefully and he tipped his head slightly as he interpreted my smile. He watched my face as he slid a finger inside me and I desperately tried to silence myself, waiting for his permission to be vocal.

  As if reading my thoughts he said “I want to hear you, Red. I want to hear those soft little moans of yours.”

  Thank God.

  I released the long groan that had been bursting my throat and as soon as it left my lips his mouth was on me, his tongue and lips exploring every single part of my sex.

  “You have the prettiest pussy I’ve ever seen” he whispered against me and my legs trembled furiously as he found my clit with his lips and sucked on it delicately.

  “You like that, Red?”

  “Yes, Sir” I groaned as he slipped another finger into me and as soon as he curled it into my wall I came over him, choking out his name as he continued to work me over.

  He stood before me, stripped down to pure nakedness and my jaw dropped when I got to finally appreciate his magnificent form.

  His chest was solid and strong, his stomach sported the most impressive six/eight pack I had ever seen and his hips . . . oh my, the most delicious ‘V’ that was surely made by the heavens.

  Fucking glorious!

  He stepped back into me and suckled on a heavy nipple, teasing it with his teeth and tongue and my lust pitched again within seconds.

  This man knew how to work a woman, knew how to drive her wild and energised and I heaved out a heavy breath as he slid his hard erection between my thighs, rubbing its length over my groove and working us both into a frenzied panting mess.

  “You on the pill, Red?”

  I frowned but nodded, unsure of whether he was going in bare. “Make an appointment at the doctors, I need to feel you completely free” he said as he rolled on a condom.

  I sighed in relief when I saw him saddle up and was glad I didn’t have to ask any awkward questions about his sexual history. I knew he had been with the girls in the club and I needed to know he was clean before we went bare.

  He took hold of my thigh and draped it over his hip before he slowly slid into me.

  We both caught a breath and moaned in unison as he reached full hilt and knocked the tip of me. “Fuck, you feel amazing. So tight and perfect.”

  He pursued with the slow rhythm as his eyes held mine and his hands covered my own bound ones. He just gently slid in and o
ut and I watched his eyes flint with desire as he slid back out and took a step back.

  What the hell?

  He cocked his head and just watched me, his eyes never leaving mine as he locked his gaze on me. I maintained eye contact and I started to wonder if I was a shit shag when he just stood and observed me.

  In my submissive stance I couldn’t ask if there was a problem, so I just stared back as he continued to regard me.

  “I don’t want this” he said suddenly and I flinched at his words. My stomach knotted and my heart ditched out when I realised he didn’t want me.

  Unexpectedly he raised his hand and untied the belt, then scooped me up and tenderly lay me on the bed.

  He climbed over the top of me and entered me again, softly and smoothly and my back arched in ecstasy.

  “Withdraw” he said softly and I frowned at him. “I just want you as you Red, completely free and liberated, and utterly in your own control while I take you.”

  My breath caught in my throat as he started moving inside me again. “I want to please you Red. I want you to feel everything whilst I’m inside you.”

  He thrust a little harder and I whimpered as he swirled his hips against my pelvis and I clenched my muscles around him.

  “Fuck yes, that’s . . . fuck . . . Red . . .” he hissed as he began a faster pace and he was soon driving into me so hard, the top of my head was banging against the headboard.

  I cried out my release as my climax coursed through me with so much power I lifted Lucas high off the bed with my hips.

  “Christ Red . . .” he roared as he plunged into me so hard I was sure I felt him in my womb. He thrust once more and then spilled everything his balls held into the condom as he flung his head back and yelled my name. “Layla!!!”

  Yes, my real name . . . well, the name I was using now.

  He looked down at me as he elevated on his hands and I smirked at him, “You do know my name then.”

  He grinned. “Sorry about that, lost in the moment. I’ll convert back to Red now.”

  I laughed lightly but he stunned me by palming my cheek and then gave me the gentlest kiss ever.

  He remained inside me as he lingered his mouth over mine. “Let me stay with you tonight” he whispered as he rested his forehead against mine.

  “Why?” I whispered back.

  He was quiet for a moment “I don’t know. I just wanna hold you, keep you safe and simply touch you.”

  He frowned deeply then pulled out and hastily jumped off the bed. “Christ I . . . I . . .”

  He appeared completely stunned by his own behaviour and then abruptly he was pulling his trousers and shirt back on.

  What the hell? He was like a fucking yo-yo and his behaviour had me feeling a little motion sick. “Lucas, its fine. If you wanna stay, then stay” I shrugged at him but he shook his head rapidly and left.

  Just fucked off, without uttering another word.

  Charming.

  Chapter 12

  Lucas

  SLAMMING MY APARTMENT door behind me, I swiftly made my way into the living area and poured a hefty slug of whisky and downed it in one.

  What the hell was happening to me?

  I squeezed my eyes shut against the vision of Red’s face when I had walked out on her. The hurt and shock that held her features twisted my gut and I felt a total bastard at that moment.

  “Fuck!”

  I poured another drink, relishing the burn in my throat as a distraction as I walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge to see what Paula, my housekeeper, had prepared for my dinner.

  A lasagne greeted me and I curled my lip at it and pulled out some cheese and grapes, knowing my swirling stomach wouldn’t hold anything heavy at the moment.

  Red’s face entered my mind again as I sat on a stool and flicked through my mail. I couldn’t believe I had asked if I could stay the night. My emotions were all over the place where this woman was concerned and I knew I had to pull back and distance myself from her before I felt anything more for her.

  I just couldn’t . . . couldn’t, not after Alana, I wouldn’t allow it.

  A large brown envelope caught my attention and my stomach clenched when I knew it was concerning Red.

  I took a hefty breath as I opened it and closed my eyes against the images that met me, they were the same ones she had already shown me and I grit my teeth before holding the corner of them over the ring on the hob and set fire to them.

  I placed them in the sink and watched them burn, wishing I could burn Red’s past from her memories just as easily.

  This Diablo bloke was an utter nutter, a freak of nature and my blood chilled as I thought of what he had done to Red.

  He had really put her through some shit and I knew she was worried. No, she was fucking petrified and I hissed at myself for leaving her home alone.

  I supposed her roommate and arsehole boyfriend were there and I hoped Sara wouldn’t leave Red alone tonight.

  “Shit Lucas!” I cursed myself, wanting to go back to her but demanding myself not to.

  Who knew if she’d even welcome me back now?

  I stripped as I strolled through my empty apartment and as I entered the bathroom and turned on the shower, I suddenly felt completely alone.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you?” I asked myself as I regarded my features in the mirror.

  I saw nothing new there; it was still me staring back but as Red appeared in the mirror before me, her beautiful smile reflected back, I turned away and refused to acknowledge her existence for the rest of the night.

  * * *

  Taking a heavy breath and pulling my shoulders back, I walked into my office the next morning and smiled tightly at Red as she poured water into the coffee machine. “Mr Hunt” she said without looking at me.

  Fuck! She was pissed at me but I didn’t blame her. Hell, I was pissed at me.

  “Red, look . . .”

  She turned on her heel and held a hand up to me before I could finish my sentence “Mr Hunt. I think it’s best we keep our relationship professional. We obviously aren’t suited for anything further, and well, we work together and it could get tricky. So let’s quit while we’re ahead. It was just a fuck after all.”

  She didn’t wait for my answer as she swept past me, her unique delicate floral perfume stimulating my senses, and took her position at her desk.

  “Shit” I hissed under my breath.

  I had hurt her bad and I couldn’t feel any worse in that moment than if I’d killed someone’s fucking dog.

  The coffee machine caught my attention when it spat out the last drop of brown liquid into the little cup and I scooped it up quickly, downing the drink in one and placed it back under the spout, ordering another with a press of a button.

  Red’s voice came through the intercom and I frowned at her tone “Mr Hunt, Erica French on the line for you. Shall I put her through?”

  I sighed in resignation and hated myself for what I was about to do, but I desperately needed to get Red out of my system.

  “Yes, thank you Miss Summers” I said, making myself stick to our working relationship conduct.

  “Line 1.” Was all she said before she cut off the intercom.

  “Erica Darling, how are you?” I hummed as I connected the call.

  “Hey you” she replied in her smooth sexy voice and I closed my eyes when I gave her the answer to her next question.

  “You wanna get together, Lucas?”

  “I’d love to, tonight?”

  * * *

  I had never known a day drag as much as today did. After an awkward business lunch with Gary and Red, we had a conference with Mr Ching and then a fucking meeting with Nate.

  But Red had remained completely professional and polite, more than I fucking did.

  I couldn’t help taking my temper out on everyone I came across.

  Nate had given me some stern looks when Ava had delayed in sending me some information via Josh, the internal runner, and I
had stormed up to her floor and practically ripped into her.

  Gary Thornton had widened his eyes on me when I had barked my order to our waitress and proceeded to pull her service to pieces when she placed my food on the table from the right hand side instead of the left.

  I had refused every single offer old man Ching had proposed, and eventually he shook his head and disconnected the call.

  But Red had remained impassive and completely undisturbed by my mood. I had caught her a couple of times flicking her thumb over her index finger but other than that, nothing, and I wasn’t sure if that angered me or impressed me.

  I sighed in relief when at 5:30 Red came through the intercom and alerted me that she had finished for the day.

  She didn’t acknowledge me after that, she just upped and left, and as soon as she left I wanted her to come back so I could pin her against the wall and kiss the damn life out of her.

  I wanted to taste every single fucking breath of hers, feel her tiny tongue around mine and devour each of the little whimpers she always made when I kissed her.

  I wanted to mould her lips under mine and just fucking feel her, feel everything about her and I hated the small damn stab in my chest that had popped up every time I had seen her or thought about her today.

  God damn it Lucas. I had it bad, very fucking bad and I needed to bang the fucking daylights out of Erica tonight just to rid these unwanted, forbidden feelings.

  Chapter 13

  Layla

  “WHAT THE HELL was eating Lucas today?” Ava asked me.

  She poured another shot of vodka into my glass and I eyed her suspiciously. “Are you trying to get me pissed so you win?”

  She laughed but I saw the hint of deviousness in her eyes.

  I shook my head determinedly at her and Courtney laughed, “Eat it up Ava and prepare to die, babe.”

  “Never” Ava declared as we settled ourselves on the floor in front of the huge screen currently showing the Xbox match between Mason, Greg, Sam and Nate.

  “So, come on, Lucas?” Ava repeated and I just shrugged and kept my eyes trained on the game.

  Mason flicked a glance at me and narrowed his eyes. “Thought he was supposed to be joining us?” he probed and I shrugged again.