Incineration (Heart of Stone) (25 page)

I was now panting as the fury rose; the anger in my face
told him what was coming and he braced himself “FUCKING HIT ME AVA, HIT ME” he
exploded as I screamed at him, my fist slamming into his chest and stomach as
he held himself “Good girl. Come on!” he spurred as my ferocity broke free and both
of my fists struck him, beating him uncontrollably as he stood his ground and
took it, every punch, every pound and every fucking piece of hatred “That’s it
baby” he whispered as my punches eased to let the devastation and grief
through. My legs buckled and his arms shot out to catch me “I’ve got you Baby”
he whispered into my ear, as we both sunk to the ground. His strong arms
wrapped me up and he pulled me onto his lap as I fell apart, clinging to him
and screaming for the loss of our baby, for what Dane had done to me and for
all the heartbreak that Mason was feeling “Shush Ava, I’m so sorry” he breathed
as his own tears fell free and we both wept together, holding each other for a
long time.

“George hit me” I said quietly after a while and Mason
stiffened “I know, he told me” he acknowledged and I shrugged “I deserved it” he
rose to his feet “Talking of George I better let him know where you are” he
said and as he entered the kitchen to ring George I clambered up and went
upstairs.

I entered the bedroom and stood there, silently staring at
the bed; the place where my baby died. Mason had changed the sheets, now a deep
blue quilt donned the bed and I sat on the edge and pulled the duvet back,
revealing a crisp white sheet. I stared at the spot where I could see the large
blood stain through the opacity of the white sheet. A pink splodge was now all
that was left of my child and I placed my hand gently over it, my fingers
curling into the sheet as I curled up beside it “I’m so sorry” I whispered “I
shouldn’t have told him, I shouldn’t have told him you were there, snuggled
inside me. You didn’t deserve to die, I’m so sorry” I breathed as a tear slid
free and dripped over the blemish, making the sheet semi-transparent and the
pinkness of the stain turned to a deeper pink and as more tears fell it
deepened so the red was now completely clear. I gripped the sheet tighter “My
baby” I whispered as Mason slid behind me, gathering me against him but he
remained silent as I kept repeating the same words “My baby”.

“Were you at the club with Rebecca?” I asked quietly into
the darkness of the room. We had lain together for a couple of hours, both us
silent in our own nightmares “Well she was there, yes” he breathed into my hair
and I stiffened “Why?” he asked and I sighed “Dane said you were…busy with
Rebecca” he tightened his embrace, pulling me further into him “No I wasn’t
with
Rebecca but we were working on the wages” he whispered and I turned around to
look at him “Have you found any…any discrepancies with the bar wages?” I probed,
remembering the miscalculations from a few weeks ago. He frowned “Well I don’t
do the bar wages, Rebecca does”  I narrowed my eyes “I was taking a look at
them the day I found the file and they were way out” I told him and he frowned
“Rebecca’s a bitch but she’s usually good with figures” he stated and I sniffed
“Oh yeah, she’s good with figures, so good they are £126,000 out!” he pulled
back and stared at me “Really?” he sat up now, looking at an invisible spot on
the wall “Yep, that’s why I found the file you had of me cause I was looking
for more receipts or new employees that weren’t down on record but I rechecked
them 3 times and they didn’t tally” he turned to look at me, cocking his head
and frowning “Strange, I’ll get Greg to double check for me” he stood and
entered the bathroom, preparing a bath.

I walked over and stood in the doorway as he was adding bath
crème and lighting the candles, minus the brass candleholder that had broken
when I smashed it into Danes face. I shivered at the memory, recalling him
looming over me.

“Did you finish Dane or did Sam?” I asked quietly and he
swiftly turned to look at me, regarding my face to get a reading of my mood. He
sighed “I did” he whispered with a chill to his voice and I nodded “Did it
help?”. His eyes shot to mine “Did it help when you hit me?” he asked slowly
and I nodded solemnly but he smiled, a warm smile that brightened his eyes
“There you go then” he turned back to the candles and I stood silent for a
while “But I didn’t kill you” I spoke low and coolly but he didn’t turn “No” he
uttered “Did you want to?” he asked, wanting complete honesty “No” I said
without hesitation and then he looked at me, held my eyes with his, searching
them deeply for the truth and I held his gaze. He smiled slowly and winked,
making the corners of my own mouth lift. He had a stunning smile, one that
heated your insides and there weren’t many people who had the privilege to
witness it.

He turned the taps off and I slipped out of my t-shirt and
skirt and then slowly peeled off my bra and knickers and I noticed Mason
looking at the pad in my knickers and the raw pain in his eyes wrenched at my
soul. He was hurting too, just as much as me and in a way more, his inability
to get to me in time agonised him; I could read all this in his expression and
I walked over to him and held his jaw  “I love you” I expressed softly and he
inhaled deeply “Oh Baby, I am so sorry. I tried to get here, I phoned Sam
because I knew he was nearer but…but…” a tear slid from his eye, trickling down
his beautiful face and I swiped it with my thumb “I know Mason” I said softly
and slid into the bath as he stripped and climbed in behind me, his legs
flanking and entwining mine.

 “I’m sorry about the bed, I ordered a new mattress but they
can’t deliver until Monday” he said softly, picking up the sponge and gently
wiping my body, cleansing me.

I took hold of his hand and squeezed, revolving my head to
kiss him softly and his hand cupped my cheek as he took control and kissed me
tenderly and lovingly with soft little kisses at the side of my mouth, the
opposite side to my stitches “I made him pay Baby” he breathed against my lips
and I opened my eyes to see the glint in his eyes.  I swallowed harshly but
nodded and turned back to look at our tangled legs, joining us as did his
words. His act of revenge should have frightened me but I was glad that Dane
had paid the price for killing my child, I wanted him to suffer the way we were
but I was gladder that Mason had managed to aid his grief and heartache. I just
needed to do the same now.

Twisting the hot tap with my toe I added more hot water “You
have many talents” Mason joked and I smiled up at him “Many” I nodded seriously
and his hand grazed my stomach “Very many, lots and lots of them” he growled in
my ear and nibbled on the lobe “Stop it!” I warned in jest and he laughed “I
know” he sighed and kissed me softly on the head.

“We’re missing Sam and Marcy’s party” I said glumly “It’s
fine, Sam wasn’t expecting us there” he dipped the sponge and trickled water
across my chest as his chin leant on my shoulder to watch “I nearly didn’t get
my revenge, Sam kicked the shit out of him. It was only your scream that
stopped him from killing Dane” he said quietly and I nodded. “He cares about
you” he whispered and I frowned “Who does?” I turned my head slightly to look
at him “Sam” he articulated “He was really choked up when I got there. He was
holding your limp body, rocking you and his face…his face when I got there. He
looked broken…” he choked out and I slid my hand up, cupping his cheek and my
thumb stroked along his striking cheek bone “I had to prise you off him, he
just kept stroking your hair and saying sorry. If I didn’t know he cared for
you platonically I’d have smacked him” he laughed bitterly “He’s scared of
seeing you again” I frowned deeply “But why?” I asked, baffled and confused
“Because he blames himself for not getting to you earlier” he declared and I
stiffened and swallowed heavily.

“It’s my fault Mason” I admitted on a whisper “What?” he
gripped my chin and turned my face to his “It’s my fault” I looked away and
studied our toes, bobbing above the water level; his large tanned toes softly
stroking my little pale ones “I know that’s not true Ava” he breathed but I
shook my head “He was just going to rape me but I begged him not to because I
was pregnant” I lowered my eyes as I heard Mason growl quietly “He laughed
and…and said he could rectify it and smashed his elbows into…” I sobbed and his
arms tightened “Oh no Baby. You told him to protect the baby. It’s natural to
want to appeal to someone’s morality but Dane didn’t have any. I promise you
Ava, It.Is.Not.Your.Fault” he instilled and I nodded but only to pacify him.

He squeezed me tighter and his thumb stroked across my
knuckles “Did he…did he manage to…Ava?” he asked so quietly and his voice held
a terror I had never heard before, I could barely hear him and I shook my head
rapidly and pulled his hands into mine “No” I stated simply “Sam got there before…before...”
I gulped and he kissed my cheek “Shush Baby” he whispered and I let out a sob
“I would have let him though…if I knew it would have saved our baby” I told him
honestly and he nodded slowly but didn’t speak.

“Do you think all the stalking stuff is over now? Do you
think it was Dane that got that bloke following me?” I asked and I felt him
shrug “I dunno but I would have thought so, it started after your argument in
the supermarket” he expressed and I nodded.

I slid round onto my stomach and knelt up between his legs
“He said that Rebecca was pretty pissed with me, do you think she…” I shrugged,
unable to finish and he scowled and narrowed his eyes “Mason, I need you to be
honest with me now, it’ll help me figure this out but only if your truthful” I
said seriously and he frowned but nodded “Did Rebecca come onto you at the
club, did she try anything?” I asked and he looked away, unable to hold my eyes
“Mason, be honest” I appealed and he slid his eyes back to mine “Yes, she tried
but I pushed her away” he said and his gaze held mine so I could see the
honesty behind them. I sighed “It’s just something Dane said, that she was
keeping you busy while he saw to me and I dunno…I believe it, I think she tried
it on with you to keep you there until Dane had finished” he grasped the edge
of the bathtub, his knuckles white and a cold haze clouded his eyes as his jaw
tightened. I quickly held his chin and turned his face to mine “Mason, I need
you to stay focused on this, not go into your usual rage” his eyes cleared and
he regarded me “If I find out that’s true Ava, I will kill her” he said so
coldly and so full of malevolence that I didn’t underestimate his words “I know
but we’ve gotta be careful Mason. She’s the Commissioner daughter, you can’t
just go round to her house and shoot her in the head…as tempting as that
sounds…and looks in my head” I laughed and he chuckled “but It just seems
strange that she does the wages and they’re suspect and now what Dane said but
it could be nothing, so make sure first but I want you to promise me” I held
his chin and locked his gaze “you promise to tell me before you do anything,
because I swear if she helped to kill my baby then you’ll have to get in line behind
me to get to her” I decreed and he nodded, a fire in his eyes at my words.

I narrowed my eyes on him as I saw his cock twitch under the
water “Does that turn you on?” I smirked “the thought of my nasty evil side?” a
lazy grin spread on his face “God yeah, it makes me hot how tough you are. My
little warrior” he beamed and I laughed “You, Mr Fox, are a pervert” I joked
and he laughed now, tipping his head back and then he looked at me “You know
Ava, there’s not many that can throw a punch at me and knock me sideways” he
raised his eyebrows and I giggled “Yeah, I’m sorry about that” I said
sheepishly, trailing a finger over his bruised cheekbone “No Baby” he suddenly
grew serious and palmed my face “I knew it would help you to get it out, that’s
why I goaded you” I smiled softly “I know” I nodded and leant forward to kiss
his chest, softly laying my lips against the hardness of his pecs. He groaned
and lifted my face “Don’t baby” he gulped and I laughed and climbed from the
tub and wrapped a towel round me “Come on lazy. I’m hungry” I winked and walked
away, dressing quickly before he joined me in the bedroom but I was secretly
aware that he hung back to let me do just that, the sight of my naked body
heating him in places that would be redundant for a while but I knew that he
would hold back, for my sake not his.

Monday saw George on an early morning flight back to
Portugal and me returning to work, much to Mason’s displeasure “I have to work
Mason” I told him as I was applying my make-up, whist he was leaning nakedly
against the en-suite door.

I tried not to take in his gorgeousness but it was hard when
it was displayed so fucking handsomely. He scowled at me “I can’t just sit
twiddling my thumbs baby, it will drive me nuts with all the thoughts that are
racing round my head right now” and I made a pointed look at his groin and
licked my lips. A slow smile curved his lips and I stood slowly, giving him a
lewd look. I slowly walked over to him and cupped his penis in my hand and
leaning up on tiptoes I brought my lips to his ear “Bend over the bed” I
whispered huskily. I heard his sharp swallow “What?” he rasped and I pulled
back, locking his gaze “I said, bend over the bed. Place your hands on the
mattress and bend over” I ordered sternly and he raised an eyebrow but said
nothing “NOW!” I demanded and his lungs emptied in one sharp exhale, his
obvious arousal at my words had him hard, very hard.

He bit his bottom lip and slowly walked over to the bed and
giving me one last wicked look over his shoulder, he bent over placing his
palms on the bed.

I stood unmoving, taking in the hardness of his buttocks,
the thickness of his muscled thighs and my mouth watered as my breath sped up
but I made him wait, just a tad longer than was necessary before I moved slowly
over to his delectable backside.