Endurance (Heart of Stone) (2 page)

“Don’t throw it, baby, it’s pretty obvious you need it.”

I gulped as his feet brought him closer, his chest was
heaving as his angry breaths fuelled his wrath. His lips twisted into a
sinister smirk and I shifted uncomfortably as he suddenly dropped in front of
me, his hands gripping the back of the bench either side of my head, bringing
his face directly in line with mine, “How long?”

I stared mutely at him then closed my eyes when his
probing glare became too much. “Open your eyes.” He demanded in a tone I knew
meant business.

I slowly opened them and found him an inch closer. He
cupped my chin harshly when I dropped my gaze to the floor and tilted my head
back until I was once more staring into the angry hazel orbs. “Answer me.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

He scoffed as his hold tightened further, “I beg to
differ, it matters a lot.”

I shrugged, “A while.”

He frowned at me, his eyes both sad and angry. “How could
I not have seen this?”

I didn’t answer him but I don’t think he was actually
talking to me, more just saying his thoughts out loud. He stood up and twisted
his head, looking behind him and up to the house. I followed his gaze and found
Katie watching us through her bedroom window, her face full of worry and
sadness.

Mason took hold of my hand and practically dragged me
behind him and into the summerhouse behind us. My back slammed against the wall
as his large, hard frame encompassed me and pinned me under him. “Will you talk
to me. I have no idea what is going on with you.”

“Really? You have no idea what is happening to your
family when you are the one hell bent on destroying it.”

He closed his eyes for a second before he drew in a
calming breath. “Ava, you have no idea what is going on.”

“Then tell me,” I demanded angrily. How could I
understand if I was kept in the dark time and time again?

“Frank is… Frank is trafficking girls.”

I stared at him, my eyes wide as shock slammed through
me. “What? No!”

We had been friends with Frank and his wife for many
years. I knew he was into dodgy business and who was I to judge but I had
thought Mason was beyond that now. Yes, I admit I had been slightly scared that
Frank’s friendship would be a bad influence on Mason, dragging him back into
the darkness of criminal activity that he had once craved and relished; his
hunger for violence an addiction deep within him.

Our closeness with Frank had brought on the development
of George and Etta’s relationship, Etta being Frank’s daughter. They had dated
since they were thirteen, nearly three years and I knew how George felt about
her. I was only recently aware that their relationship had advanced into a
sexual one. Etta was already sixteen and George had come to me a few days ago,
our closeness leading him to confide in me.

“Oh Christ, Mason.”

He lifted a brow in agreement but didn’t release me from
his lockdown, “Now you see.”

“Does Vickie know?”

He snorted, “Of course she knows. She fucking picks them
out.”

I shook my head in disbelief. Vickie was my best friend
here in Portugal and I couldn’t believe she had fooled me for so long. “So…?”

“So, like I said, I have sorted it.”

“But Mason, it’s not that simple now.”

He shook his head in exasperation, “Well now I know that.
You should have told me.
He
should have told me.”

“Yeah, like he could do that. You never listen to him.
You’re always demanding more from him, trying to make him into something he
isn’t.”

“What? Don’t be stupid.” He argued as his face contorted.

“He isn’t like you Mason, he doesn’t want to be that
person you want him to be.” He huffed; the ridicule I knew was within him
angering me. “Don’t you dare mock him. Just because he doesn’t want to gut and
maim people doesn’t make him less of a man.”

“What the fuck, Ava. Where the hell has this come from?”
He plucked the small tin of weed from my pocket and my eyes widened when I  realised
he had known where it was. “This,” he shook it in front of me. “This has you
paranoid.”

“Don’t fucking judge me. At least it isn’t bloody
heroin.” I snapped, my anger now biting and allowing my mouth to say things
before my brain could filter them.

His face darkened, “Don’t go there, Ava.”

“Why, frightened I am too close to the truth?”

I was baiting him, I knew this but I couldn’t seem to
stop myself. I needed his anger, sought the dominance I knew could clear my
mind from all the things currently tearing me to pieces.

His eyes scanned my face then narrowed as a cruel smirk
twisted his lips. He slammed both of my hands on the wall above my head and
ground his prominent erection into my stomach. “Is this what you’re after?
Hmmm? Do you need me?”

I narrowed my eyes on him in denial but he knew, he could
read it in me. He knew me like I knew myself. “Taunting me is dangerous, baby.”

“Who says I am taunting? Maybe for once I am just fucking
angry.”

He snorted and shook his head knowingly as he leaned into
me and rested his mouth beside my ear, “I can smell it, Ava.” He breathed in deeply
and circled the tip of his nose below my ear, causing electricity to spark in
me, my sex throbbing as my thighs twitched rapidly.

I released a small moan, cursing silently as its
quietness echoed loudly in the soundless room. Mason’s chest heaved with the
sound and he took a step back. “Get on your knees.”

I swallowed as arousal eradicated the dark thoughts in my
head. I dropped immediately causing Mason to smile arrogantly as he pulled his
belt from the loops in his trousers.

Oh Christ, I was burning up as he wrapped it around his
hands and continued to watch me formidably.

He dropped to his haunches before me and demanded my
gaze, “Hands behind your back.”

I did as he asked, knowing how to play the game. Both our
heavy pants were now loud, destroying the silence as he wound the belt around
my wrists and secured my arms. He grabbed my hair and yanked my head back,
whipping my eyes to his. “Tell me.”

My mouth had dried and my throat started to close in as
lust and need took over. “I need it, please.” I begged as I swiped my lips with
my tongue, desperately trying to moisten them. “Fuck my mouth.”

His pupils fired with my demand as a growl rumbled
through his throat. He regarded me for a while, his eyes dark as he
contemplated his decision to give me what I needed. He was suddenly kissing me,
his lips brutal and cruel as he punished me, his tongue forcing mine to fight
with his as his angry dominance ruled and disciplined. He groaned and pulled my
head further into him, his mouth expertly regulating our kiss as I moaned and
gave in to him. His lips were soft but hard on mine, his control furious but
his adoration as enthusiastic until he pulled back and came to stand before me.

His eyes never left mine as his fingers slid the zip of
his jeans and he released his hard thick cock into his hand. I watched eagerly
as he fisted himself and stroked his hand slowly up and down, torturing me with
his wicked self-pleasure.

“Always so fucking greedy for my cock, my little
warrior.”

“Yes,” I panted as sweat started to dampen my brow and
chest, a small trickle easing its way between my breasts as I continued to
watch Mason masturbate.

He stood out of reach, his punishment for my behaviour as
my knees started to ache and my pussy moistened. His thumb swept across the
head of his cock, collecting the small amount of pre-cum before it dribbled
down the side of his shaft. He placed it on my bottom lip and dragged it
across, his eyes watching my face struggle with my restraint. “Taste me, taste
what you do to me.”

I trailed the tip of my tongue over his residue and
moaned as his flavour burst into my senses, the unique tang only Mason produced
driving my lust higher and my need greater. “Please, Mason.”

He tipped his head at me, “How did we go from fighting to
this?”

He seemed sad and I frowned at him, “Because this is what
we do. This is how we work.”

I watched his throat ripple but he eventually took a step
further into me until my tongue could reach the tip of him. “Not yet!” he
barked when I slid my tongue out.

His hands slid into my hair and gripped tight, pulling my
face upright to him. “Tell me why you love me, you didn’t answer me earlier.”

“Do we have to do this now?” I asked in frustration. What
was it with his need for reassurance every time his cock was out?

“Yes Ava, we have to do this now” he answered sternly and
I sighed heavily.

I knelt back on my heels and held his eyes, “I love your
strength, the way you fight for what you want with a determined resilience and
the way you become courageous and fearless where your family is concerned.”

He remained passive, watching me closely as if reading my
eyes and deciphering the truth but his grip on my hair loosened marginally. Was
he really struggling that much?

“I love your spirit, the essence of you. Although you
deal with some… dodgy stuff you still have your morals and principles.”

He nodded, encouraging me to continue, “And?”

“And I love this…” I leant forward and kissed the crown
of his cock bringing a smile to his previous seriousness. “I love what you do
to me with it. I love the taste of it.” I grinned as I stole a lick, “I love
how it feels when you’re deep inside me. I love to watch it disappear into my
mouth or a man’s arse, I love to watch your face when I give you pleasure with
it and I love how I can torment you with it.” He chuckled and shook his head in
humour.

“But most of all I love the way you love me.” He gulped
and his face softened. “I love how your face lights up when you see me, either
a warm soft look in your eyes or a wicked glint. I love how you accept me and
all my faults. I love how you take care of me when I want to climb into a hole
and never come out and I love how much of yourself you give to me. I watch you
Mason, I know how… restrained you are with people, how you don’t allow them to
see you but I
see
you, I see how utterly beautiful you are inside and
how fucking amazing your heart is.”

He dropped to his knees before me and cupped my face
softly, “I’m struggling, Ava.”

I swallowed back my pain to let him release his. “I
know,” I whispered softly.

“It’s not in me to sit back and watch something…
something evil and sordid break free. I can’t do that. I don’t want to hurt you
or George, or even Etta but I can’t see any other way. They’re just kids Ava,
some of them as young as fourteen. Think of Katie and if it was her.”

I nodded. “It’s gonna hurt him so much Mason and I’m
frightened the tiny bit of thread holding you two together won’t withstand
this, it’s frayed and burnt already and this will finally be as much as it can sustain.”

His eyes closed in distress but I shuffled my bum and
climbed onto his lap. “Make love to me,” I whispered when he opened his eyes.

He lifted me easily, swept my robe open then lowered me
onto his rigid shaft. We both groaned in unison, both our souls sighing at the
bond as pleasure coursed through my body.

Mason’s breaths were heavy and laboured as I rocked in
his lap, rising and lowering myself on him to feed us both with much needed
bliss. “I love you, Ava.” he breathed as he released the belt from my wrists.

I reached up and slid my hands behind his neck, pulling
him to my mouth. His lips were always so soft but firm and I’m sure a piece of
me both enlivened and died at the same time. “Ava,” he whispered against my
lips. I knew he was close; his cock was firm and swollen inside me, brushing
against my walls in amazing ecstasy as I moved harder.

“Love me, baby” he rasped as his face tightened with his
pleasure and hunger for climax. “Love me harder.”

I rode him wildly, my body was wound so tightly I was
frightened the release would kill me. He felt so good, his love and adoration
displayed on his face as his fingers sank harshly into my buttocks to help lift
and control me.

“That’s it, Ava. Fuck me hard, take it.”

I screamed out as his teeth secured on my neck and broke
through my pain barrier, heightening my pleasure with the surge of adrenaline
and slamming my orgasm through my weary body. He followed me with a deep cry
and an unforgiving thrust of his hips, urging his cock impossibly deeper inside
me.
“Fuck! Ava!”

We were both panting hard, our eyes fixed on each other’s
in a silent moment until Mason smirked at me, “I love it when your cum coats my
cock and drips down to my balls.”

I shrugged and smiled at him as I rested my forehead on
his, inhaling his unique scent and settling my frayed nerves. “I think right
now your cock and balls are coated in both our cum.”

He grinned at me mischievously as he swept his thumb
across my bottom lip, “Lick me clean.” His demand wasn’t up for debate; his
requests never were, so I slid off him and lowered my mouth to his softening
erection. “Spotless, baby,” he reminded me.

I heeded his command and rolled my tongue over his cock,
swiping up and around slowly, devouring and accepting him as I cleansed him and
gave him his little bit of power over me. I wasn’t complaining though, I enjoyed
this side of my husband; his authority made me feel wanted and desired, his
control made my heart beat that bit faster making me aware of just how much
this man made me come to life.

“My cum always belongs to your mouth, Ava cos’ you belong
to me.” His large, rough hand cupped the side of my face as a finger tilted my
chin until I was looking up at him. “Mine,” he growled in dominance and I
smiled softly.

“Always yours, baby.”

He gave me firm nod as I tucked him back into his jeans
with a slight feeling of loss. He stood and held his hand out to help me up but
as I came to stand he pulled me against him and wrapped his strong arms around
me. “We’ll get through this, Ava.”