The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone

by D H Sidebottom

  She shot backwards when Mason launched out of the water and made a dive for her. Danny gasped and tugged at her, both of them running into the house to escape Mason’s wrath.

  I rubbed at my face, my eyes heavy and tired. Mason turned to me, regarding me and waiting for my argument but I sighed heavily. “I have nothing!”

  He peered at me, regarding me suspiciously. “But?”

  Shaking my head, I climbed out of the water and wrapped a towel round me. “But nothing, you want to act all caveman, then go ahead. But just so you know, your daughter will have sex whether you like it or not.”

  Wrong words apparently.

  Courtney and Liv stared at me like I’d gone mad, their eyes wide and full of shock. Nate tutted and shook his head slowly. Greg sucked his lips behind his teeth and picked at some loose grout along the tile work. Sam started whistling quietly and Marcy looked around the patio, her eyes anywhere but on me or Mason. And me, I winked at my husband and bombed it up the stairs.

  Chapter Five

  Santa Baby

  Mason

  SOMETHING TICKLED MY nose and when I tried to lift my hand to scratch it, I couldn’t. My eyes snapped open. The view that greeted me on Christmas morning was pure fucking heaven.

  Ava’s sweet, trimmed pussy danced in my vision, her swollen clit flicking across the tip of my nose. She inclined and smiled down at me. “Good morning, Mr Fox.”

  “Good morning, baby. Merry Christmas.”

  “Oh it is,” she grinned as she clamped her fingers over my wrists that were tethered to the headboard and lowered her wet flesh to my mouth. She ground on my face as I sank my tongue inside her and lapped at her already gathering juices. A small hiss and a groan broadcast from her when I took her hard little nub between my teeth and grazed over the sensitive muscle.

  “Oh God Mason, I’m so horny. Make me come.”

  I didn’t make her wait. It was Christmas after all. Flicking her rapidly as I sucked on her she was soon jerking over me, covering my face with her climax as she cried out, her hands gripping mine firmly as she rode the pleasure.

  She maneuvered round, kissing me and tasting herself on my lips before her mouth moved down, making her way slowly down my chest and across my stomach until she gently nibbled her way up my erect cock, her tongue flicking the end when she reached it to collect the spill of pre-cum.

  She smiled up at me when I groaned and lifted my hips towards her, encouraging her to take me all. But she scrunched up her nose and twirled her tongue around the head of my cock. Then she took the flat of her tongue and dragged it straight over, catching more cum for her greedy little mouth and making me hiss with need.

  “Don’t torment me, Ava.”

  She quirked a brow at me, smirking as she nibbled her way back down my shaft and started to suck on my balls, pulling the mass into her mouth then releasing them with a pop after making them wet with her spit so she could blow on them, which we both liked her to do.

  “Ava!”

  She drew her finger between my legs, pressing hard into the skin as she made her way to my arse. But still she played with me, tormenting me. “I wonder what you would do if I managed to get out of these restraints?”

  She laughed. “Afraid not, baby. You’re my prisoner, my slave to do with as I please.”

  I nodded then yanked my hands forcefully, the spindles on the headboard splintering easily with my strength. She gawped at me then gulped when a slow, sly smirk broke across my face.

  “What were you saying, baby?”

  “Fuck!” She giggled as she scrambled off the bed. I followed her, grabbing her ankles and pulling her back onto the bed. She squealed in delight when I flipped her onto her stomach easily and pinned her beneath my body, my teeth tormenting her earlobe as she squirmed under me.

  “You should know by now that where you are concerned, nothing can hold me back.”

  She cried out when I thrust inside her, unable to stop myself. Her back arched, a fierce erotic growl making my dick twitch. “Fuck, yes.”

  She pushed against me when I slid out. It was my turn to torment her. The further back she pushed, the further I pulled my dick back, refusing her. “Ah, ah. A certain teasing minx needs to learn what it’s like.”

  Removing myself completely from her warm pussy, my stomach clenched with the loss. I flipped her onto her back. She stared up at me and the look of pure love in her eyes made my heart stutter.

  “You’re so god damn perfect.”

  Her eyes fluttered when I slid back in and licked up the center of her breastbone then along her scars. “So beautiful.” She groaned when I moved inside her, sliding all the way in and tickling the tip of her. “So strong.” Her fingers found my hair, twisting painfully in the thickness and making me hiss and push harder inside her. “So selfless.”

  “Mason . . .” she breathed, her breathing erratic and heavy.

  Shifting onto my knees, I lifted her with me so she was straddled over my lap. She didn’t wait, she started to bounce straightaway, taking what she needed from me. The slide off her slick walls over my cock made my blood hum.

  “God you always feel so fucking amazing.”

  She kissed me hungrily, her fucking becoming harsh and greedy as her fingers dug into my shoulders.

  “That’s it, baby. Fuck me hard. Milk my cock.”

  “Oh Christ!” she whimpered.

  Her thighs started to tremble around me, telling me she was close, her soft pink lips parting to accommodate her need for oxygen. “Open your eyes and tell me, Ava.”

  She raised both hands to frame my face, bringing her own face close so the tip of her nose was touching mine. “I love you.”

  I quirked an eyebrow at her. She knew what I had meant but suddenly, without my bite, she rocked against me firmly and exploded over my cock, her whole body tensing as she cried out my name. Catching me by surprise, I followed her, the swift release of my sperm making me jerk hard inside her and prolonging her orgasm.

  Her forehead fell to my shoulder as she panted. “Merry fucking Christmas to me.”

  Enclosing her in my arms I fell back onto the bed, leaving her sweet little body under mine so I could nuzzle into her neck. “I have something for you.”

  She looked up at me and grinned. “My gift?”

  I nodded, my stomach clenching with nerves all of a sudden. It had seemed like a good idea at the time but now, looking at my little warrior and remembering all she had been through, I wasn’t so sure. Maybe she just wanted to sit on the cottage porch and stare at the beach all day. Maybe she wanted to lay in bed with her newspaper and coffee all day. Maybe . . . Fuck it!

  Climbing off her, I reached under the bed and pulled out the large manilla envelope. She peered at me curiously when I handed it to her then settled to a sitting position and opened it.

  My heart was in my mouth. Her eyes widened as she slid her fingers across the cover of the glossy brochure, her eyes moving over every inch of it.

  I was tempted to close my eyes when she opened the cover and studied every page until she slowly closed the back cover and looked up at me.

  “Well?”

  “KTD benevolence aid agency?” she whispered. I nodded, unable to do much else.

  I shifted nervously when she opened the book again and prowled over every word for a second time. “It’s . . .”

  She nodded, taking my fidgeting hand in hers to stop my nervous action. “It’s a homeless charity.”

  I nodded again. “Both Nate and I . . . well we have contacts, why not use them. So we both thought that you could . . . you know . . . set up homeless bases, houses, provide medical care and give them help to get back into the community . . . something to do when you’re bored,” I added with a nervous laugh.

  She climbed slowly off the bed and disappeared into the bathroom. I couldn’t move. I was glued to the mattress. My heart tore in half when I heard a choked sob come from behind the close door. Oh Christ. It was so the wrong thing to do.
r />   The door reopened and she stood in the doorway, sobbing. Her nose was bright red, her wide wet eyes fixed on mine as she shook her head. Then she launched herself at me and clung to me, crying so hard I struggled to hold back my own tears.

  She looked up at me, hiccupping and her chest heaving as she tried to control her breathing. “I don’t know what to say.” Shaking my head, I shrugged, but she leaned up and kissed me hard. “Thank you isn’t enough Mason, it will be never enough for what you have given me. From the moment I walked into your house so long ago, someone, somewhere that day finally gave me a chance at life. You gave my heart a reason to beat, my lungs a reason to function and my soul a playmate. I can never repay . . .”

  “You always repay me tenfold, baby. Every time your heart beats, so does mine, every time you breathe air, I breathe it with you. And my soul would wither and die without yours. Don’t you see? You’re not just my warrior, you make me a warrior. You give me something to fight for every second of every day, Ava.”

  She nodded, sucking on her lips. “Oh, I have your gift. It’s along the same lines,” she divulged as she pulled a gift wrapped box out of the wardrobe.

  I wasn’t sure I was a charity person but I smiled and nodded as I tore off the paper. I pulled off the lid of the long blue box and lifted out a . . . ten inch strap-on.

  Okay.

  I blinked at her. “Although this has immediately got my dick hard, I’m not sure how it’s along the same lines as what I gave you.”

  She shrugged. “I’m feeling charitable.”

  I stared at her, then smiled, then grinned and then we were full on laughing, rolling around on the bed as I tried to make sense of her reasoning.

  “Jesus fucking Christ, I love you.”

  “And me, you.”

  Chapter Six

  Nativity

  Mason

  EVERYONE STARED AT Ava, me included as they all opened their gifts. Nate looked horrified. Greg was just laughing. Sam couldn’t take his eyes off it and both Liv and Courtney peered at Ava with open mouths.

  “Uhh,” Marcy mumbled as she spun the wooden figure in her hand, studying every part of it as she scratched her head. “It’s . . . uhh . . . different.”

  Ava nodded eagerly, “Do you like it?”

  “Uhh, yes. YES!” Marcy suddenly grinned when she spotted the smooth carving of my backside.

  “Ava,” Courtney looked over. “As much as I love this, can you tell me why you we think we would want a wooden sculpture of you and Mason naked?”

  Ava looked hurt for a moment and Courtney shook her head quickly. “I love it, babe. I just . . .”

  “Well, I know you all miss us when we’re out in Portugal so I thought you could look at this and it would make you smile.”

  “Oh it’s making me smile alright,” Marcy grinned as she slipped her little finger down the crack of my ass. Sam scowled and snatched it off her.

  Nate looked at me and smirked. “Not as big as I thought you would be, Mase.”

  Sam and Greg barked out a laugh. I just shook my head and groaned. “Merry Christmas, guys!”

  * * *

  Ava was quiet as she stood looking out at the snow through the window. The caterers had arrived and were dressing the table as I slid my arms around her and tickled her neck with my nose. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded and turned to place a soft kiss on my cheek. “I just wish George was here . . . and Kade and Grace. It doesn’t feel right without them . . .”

  We both tensed when a scream ripped through the house.

  “Fuck!” Ava exclaimed.

  “What the hell?”

  “Courtney,” she shouted to me as she dashed through the room.

  Oh shit!

  * * *

  “For fucks sake!” Nate grumbled as he paced the room. We all stiffened as another cry bounced around the house and made our stomachs heave. “This is torture.”

  I nodded, agreeing with him.

  Another scream.

  “Finally!” Sam declared when blue flashing lights lit up the room as the ambulance pulled up the driveway. “Where the hell have you been?” he asked angrily when two paramedics rushed into the house.

  “Sorry, busy day!” the female apologized. They both stuttered to a stop when a baby’s cry echoed around us. “Okay,” the male stated. “Looks like it just got a whole lot busier.”

  He glared at me when I pushed past him and ran up the stairs.

  Courtney snapped her eyes to me when I burst through the door. Her grin lit my heart. Nestled against her chest was a bundle of pure perfection wrapped in a simple white blanket, a Christmas Angel.

  “Hey,” she grinned as I walked over to her and took my new Godson from her, smiling when he opened his eyes and stared at me. “Mason, I’d like you to meet Mason Gregory Chambers.”

  My mouth popped open and I stared at her. “Mason?”

  She grinned wider when a bloody tear rolled down my cheek. “He’s perfect and now he’s honoured.”

  Ava snorted and shook her head but smiled when I narrowed my eyes on her. “He’s so very privileged to share your name, baby.” I nodded, agreeing with her.

  Greg slapped me on the shoulder and I pulled him in for a hug.

  I frowned when Ava whimpered. Turning round I smiled at George, Kade and Grace when they walked into the room.

  “Oh my God,” Ava choked out as she pulled all three of them into a fierce hug. She turned to me with tears in her eyes. “Did you do this?”

  “Merry Christmas, baby.”

  Chapter Seven

  Merry Christmas

  Ava

  I GRINNED AND swung my hips as Mason sang into the mic. “I’m so glad I finally found you. Yes, that one, the one in a million, yeah. And I wish my lovin’ arms around you.”

  It amazed me how he thought he could sing. But I didn’t care. My man made my heart sing every second of the day.

  His eyes found mine, the words he so very meant with his soul taking me along for the ride with him. Greg, Nate and Kade provided the backing vocals as me and my girlies danced our hearts out.

  Mason walked over to me, still singing with the mic in his hand as the guy’s followed him and we each found our partners.

  I couldn’t help it. I started crying. He scowled at me but rolled his eyes. “You know your love, your love keeps liftin’ me. It keeps on liftin,’ your love keeps liftin’ me higher, liftin’ me, higher and higher. Yeah, yeah your love, your love keeps liftin’ me, it keeps on liftin,’ your love keeps liftin’ me higher, liftin’ me higher and higher.”

  “I love that song,” I whispered.

  “Me too.” He grinned when Marcy came dancing up and thrust a mic into my hands. I shook my head but she rolled her eyes and dragged me up to front where the karaoke was set up. Liv, Katie and Debora were stood already swinging when the music started.

  I grinned, throwing away my nerves and sang Sister Sledge’s, We are Family. Courtney sat swaying from her chair in the corner of the room as Mason suckled on her breast. Fuck, that sounded so wrong.

  A couple of hours later we were all relaxed and happy, alcohol and food filling our bellies as Christmas music played and lights twinkled.

  I stood on the verandah, staring towards the lake and watching as the snow continued to fall and my family laughed and sang in the house whilst I reminisced.

  I couldn’t help but smile. What a journey. What a life.

  I lifted my face to the sky, smiling as the flakes of cold snow tickled my cheeks. So many memories, so many friends loved and lost. My parents, George, Katie, they were all looking down, holding my hand to lead me into whatever was to come next. But I knew, with my glorious bastard by my side, that it would be anything but boring.

  Mason slipped a coat over my shoulders and pulled me back to him as he wrapped his arms around me.

  “Hey,” he breathed in my ear, placing a soft kiss on my neck and handing me a glass of champagne. “Dawn’s ready. Are you ready?”


  I nodded, smiling as a tear trickled down my face and I took a deep breath.

  Lifting our glasses, we raise them to you, our guides and our chaperones. “Goodbye,” we both whisper together. “And thank you.”

  Epilogue

  Time to go

  Dawn

  “HI. OH GOD I’m crying again.

  When I wrote and published Fortitude last year, I said it was a final goodbye from the Fox’s, yet here we are again.

  However, it is finally time to bow out and let Katie and George continue with their parent’s legacy. It is time to turn the last page, close the back cover and let Mason and Ava go. As hard as it is for me, and for you.

  Mason and Ava will always hold a special place in my soul, always. They’re not just my characters, they’re my family. Their lives will continue in our hearts and our heads.

  I still picture Ava walking through those double doors, the first time she met Mason with her hair a frizzy mess and her knees trembling. And I still see Mason staring at this . . . beautiful blast of strength forcing her way into his life and turning it upside down. My heart still holds their suffering and sorrow, their laughter and their joy. They’ve entertained us, angered us, torn us up and broken us. But yet, we will forever love them for who they are and the story they told.

  Their love has been unlike any I’ve ever known. Mason, through all his controlling needs, his dominance and temper loves Ava to the very depths of his soul. And Ava, as much as she has annoyed us, humoured us and saddened us would protect Mason’s soul with her life.

  When it’s time for one of them to leave behind this world, we all know, the other will be right behind, running to keep up.

  Now they take the journey to the end and we should leave them in peace to do that because to be honest, I could never kill them. And who wants to live forever?

  So, with my hand on my heart, I thank you for opening Incineration on the first page and closing Nativity on the very last.”

  From The Fox’s, their family and friends, and from me.

  Thank you and Goodbye