Incineration (Heart of Stone) (30 page)

“Sorry” Mason winced as he sat back down and studied our
next course. I smiled “Mason, I do know you had other women before me. It’s
their reaction to me that pisses me off, not the fact that you have screwed
other women”  I saw the shock in his expression at my words “Really?” he asked
cautiously “Yeah” I shrugged “I don’t like the pictures it puts in my head but
I know you wasn’t a saint before you met me Mason. I accept you’ve had other
relationships” I took a fork full of the roast duck in redcurrant jelly jus that
was placed in front of me “Ooh that’s good too” I licked my lips and held some
out for Mason, he nodded as he tasted my food and grinned “Wow, do you know how
great you are?” he beamed and I shrugged, confused at his reaction to what I said
“Why?” I said around another mouthful “You know how laid back you are? whereas
me, well I get jealous if another man so much as looks at you” I chuckled “I
didn’t say I didn’t get jealous Mason but I understand we’ve all had a past” I
bit my lip as a thought darkened my mood “Ava?” he probed softly and I diverted
my eyes “Ava, what’s wrong” he persisted “Well…it’s just that well…I’m sorry
for…you know” he scowled at me “What Ava? Just say it” he chided and I looked
down at my plate “Well it’s just that…that I’ve been ‘
taken’
a lot, you
know and I’m surprised it hasn’t…well hasn’t turned your stomach” I gulped and
pushed my pea crush stuff round my plate. I heard him inhale sharply and I
lifted my eyes to his “Why are you always apologising for who you are Ava?” he
snapped “your past doesn’t bother me at all; I don’t see it like you do. There is
nothing sordid or dirty about it. If anything the experiences you suffered have
made you into the wonderful, confident, beautiful woman that I have fallen in
love with” he said softly and reached over to cup my face “Ava, I love you for
who you are and Jesus, the way you make love to me blows my mind baby. We fit
together perfectly, like you were made for me. I can’t get enough of you” he
revealed. I reached out and cupping my hand around the back of his neck, pulled
him towards me and kissed him tenderly “Thank you” I whispered and he locked eyes
with me, holding them until he knew I was confident of his truths.

The rest of the night saw Mason introducing me to two more
men and another couple of his ‘whores’ much to his annoyance and by the time we
had finished I could tell he was desperate to get out of there “I’m so sorry
Baby” he apologised as we pulled away from the restaurant, his face sombre
“Hey, it’s fine, you just know a lot of people that’s all. The food was wonderful
though, thank you” I kissed him and smiled “Even through all the interruptions
I had a lovely night” his expression softened and he took my hand, sweeping his
thumb gently over my knuckles but I could tell he was still simmering at the
nights events and by the time we pulled up at Masons house he hadn’t spoken a
word all through the journey and his mood had plummeted.

As soon as we entered the house he pulled out the whisky and
poured himself a large measure “You okay Baby?” I asked and he just nodded
sternly and I sighed “I’m gonna take a bath, okay?” I asked eager to escape Mr
Cross. He glanced at me as though he realised I was making my getaway “Sure” he
replied flatly and I turned and headed for the stairs, rolling my eyes at his
mood swings; they were so tiring and I was too exhausted to deal with it.

By the time I had finished my bath, Mason was nowhere to be
seen and he still hadn’t appeared when I climbed into bed, falling asleep
almost immediately but not before I heard him angrily shouting at someone on
the phone, but I was too shattered to go and investigate.

I felt him slip into bed a while later, looking at the
display on the clock, I was surprised to see it said 4:30…What the hell had he
been doing all night? I didn’t speak, I had the feeling he was a little too drunk
and he pulled me to him as I feigned sleep. “I love you so much Ava” he
whispered but his voice was full of broken emotion and my heart clenched at the
sound of it.

I knew something was on his mind, something was worrying him
and I made myself remember to take some time to talk to him and find out what
was on his mind, but not tonight; tonight I needed some sleep, my body still
recovering from everything it had been through lately.

He pulled me tighter to him and soon his breathing levelled
out and I knew he was asleep but my concern for the man I loved with all my
heart kept me awake that night and I managed to drop to sleep ten minutes
before the alarm…isn’t that always the damn case!

The rest of the week went by in a blur and I was so busy
with work I didn’t leave each night until gone 6pm much to Masons displeasure,
saying I should be resting but I was meticulously training for my new job and
by Friday night I was ready for the weekend to relax and recuperate and try and
find time to have that talk with Mason.

His mood had worsened and he was drinking every night, spending
every evening at the club and not returning until the early hours. I was
getting a little pissed with him for leaving me alone every night but I also
understood it was work and he needed to be there.

Something was definitely worrying him so Friday after work
saw me baking abundantly as he spent yet another night out, telling me he had
an emergency at work. I tried to hide my disappointment as I walked in and he
walked straight out, telling me he had to go in early and he gave me a barely
there kiss and left without saying goodbye. I was starting to wonder if he was
struggling with the monotony of our relationship, especially since we hadn’t
made love for over a week and to be honest I was a bit hurt so I had phoned
Courtney and invited her round for a girlie evening and just as I had taken the
chocolate orange cake from the oven she arrived, holding wine, face packs, nail
varnish and DVD’s.

“Hey babe” she grinned as I let her in “Ooh something smells
good” she sniffed and sighed “I miss your cooking Ava, you should really invite
me round more you selfish bitch” she winked and had me laughing already. God I
loved this girl.

A few hours later saw us both in fluffy robes and Courtney
painting my toe nails as
OneRepublic
blasted from the speakers. “So you
gonna talk to me or do I have to prise it out of ya” she mock growled and I
smiled, she could read me so well, knowing I was worried.

I slumped back on the sofa “It’s Mason” I started and she
nodded as she concentrated on my nails “I gathered that babe, but what’s he
done?” 

I sighed heavily and she glanced up at me, making me grin as
her tongue poked out of her mouth in sheer attentiveness to her toe nail
painting skills “I dunno Courtney, there’s something seriously wrong” I gulped
and she frowned but gestured for me to continue “he’s out every night, he
doesn’t come back until I’m in bed. He’s here but not here, if you know what I
mean. He’s angry all the time and he’s drinking heavily. It’s like he’s
worrying about something but he won’t let me in” I frowned but smiled at her
when she started adding little diamonds on the pattern she had created on my
big toe “Wow Hun, you’re really good at that. I’m gonna wear open-toed sandals
tomorrow for the barbeque and show them off” I grinned and she smiled happily
at me “You should start charging Hun, you’d make a fortune” I told her and she
nodded “I was thinking about doing one of those courses, you know” she shrugged
and I nodded “Yeah, go for it” but she shrugged again “It’s expensive though
Ava and you know my wages don’t pay a lot” she said disappointedly “Yeah but
you’ll make it back when you start earning” I encouraged “I could lend you the
cash if you want” I offered but she shook her head “No Ava, I couldn’t ask you
to do that” and I swat her head gently “Hey your my bestie and I love you, call
it an early Christmas present then” I smiled and she grinned “Really?” she
jumped up with glee and hugged me “God I love you Ava Stone” she giggled and
settled back to down to finish the job “Hey, you should print some cards off
and I could hand them round to people at work” I told her and she nodded
rapidly “Good idea babe anyway back to Mason” she said, her tongue peeking out
again as she started on the other foot.

I sighed heavily “He frightens me Courtney…when he’s had a
drink, he gets really angry and I can hear him punching things downstairs and I
have to pretend to be asleep when he gets in” I admitted and she leant back on
her heels, narrowing her eyes on me “Has he ever hit you Ava?” she asked
seriously and I shook my head “No! He wouldn’t but I dunno, it’s just
frightening to see the rage in his eyes. It’s kind of like he’s not in there,
that another evil version of himself has took over” I laughed sheepishly,
embarrassed by my confession but she didn’t laugh “Have you spoken to him?” she
asked and I shook my head “I’ve been trying to find the time all week. I’ve
been training for my new job so don’t get in while 6:30 then he goes as soon as
I come in” I sighed and my eyes welled up.

Courtney shot up and sat beside me, propping her arm around
my shoulder and pulling me into a side hug “I think…I think he might be…back
with Rebecca” I hissed her name as another tear fell “Oh babe, he loves you.
I’m sure he wouldn’t” she reassured and I shrugged “but what if he’s back on
the coke Courtney, he’ll not even be able to control himself” I choked out and
she huddled me deeper “Ava, talk to him tomorrow. Promise me” she demanded and
I nodded, knowing I desperately needed to before it went too far.

“Hey, come on…girlie night. Get that popcorn on and I’ll
crank up the DVD” she grinned and walked over to the player, ejecting a disc
that was already in there. I saw her frown deeply at it and I walked over to
see what it was “What is it?” I asked and she shook her head “I dunno but look”
she showed it me and my jaw fell.

It was a regular disc but someone had stuck a sticker on it
and the words froze my blood ‘WHORE!’ I swallowed heavily and passed it her
back “Play it” I told her “Ava…I don’t think we should babe” she whispered,
looking at me with concern “Play it Courtney” I snapped and she sighed but
slipped it into the player and came to sit beside me on the sofa.

I hit play and a start-up screen came into view with the
word ‘play’ beside the word ‘whore’ and Courtney grimaced “Ava…I really…” she
didn’t finish as I pressed play and the picture faded into an image of a
kitchen and my stomach flipped harshly as I realised it was Masons kitchen and
it showed Me and Mason stood at the counter whisking pancake mixture, him
behind me as he held the whisk with me. My heart beat faster as I realised what
the clip was showing but I couldn’t bring myself to switch it off. It zoomed in
to show Masons hands slip round to cup my breasts and nibble my neck “Oh shit
Ava” Courtney breathed and reached for the remote “Leave it!” I barked and she
flinched but didn’t turn it off. The film then proceeded to show me and Mason
having sex in the window seat and after it faded out, it faded back in to
Mason’s front room at night, the lamp lighting the room softly as I came into
view, pulling Mason over to the sofa and straddling him as he peeled off my red
silk dress, showing me wearing a red lace bra and thong as I rode Mason hard.

Courtney had gone pale and she was struggling to breathe “W..w.hat
the h..hell is this?” she stammered and I couldn’t speak as the next scene came
into view. It was the night of Brians party where Mason had pressed me up
against the wall and fucked me roughly “Jesus Ava” Courtney spluttered “You
know if it wasn’t so creepy I’d find this quite hot” she stared at me, her eyes
wide

 “Why the hell would Mason be making home movies without
telling me?” I breathed “Mason hasn’t made these Ava. I don’t think he would
write whore on it do you?” she said as we both couldn’t take our eyes off the
screen to see what came next. The next clip showed the bathroom and Mason
nailing me on the vanity unit “Is sex always like this with you and Mason?” Courtney
asked with a slight giggle “Jesus, I need a man like that” she breathed and I
slapped her arm “If you don’t mind, I’m not watching it for entertainment” I
scolded but she just giggled again “Sorry babe, it’s just a bit weird watching
your bestie have sex…and good fucking sex at that” she chuckled “I told you I
didn’t want to watch it Ava” she sighed and then the next part of the movie
took our breath. The screen went white and some writing appeared

                                               
I’M GOING
TO ENJOY WATCHING YOUR

                                                                WHORE
SCREAM IN PAIN

                                                                    
WHILE SHE DIES

Oh Shit! We both stared at the words in shock “Oh Fuck Ava!”
Courtney puffed and sagged into the sofa. I turned slowly to look at her, my
mouth wide “Why the hell didn’t Mason tell me?” I asked quietly and Courtney
softened her eyes “Oh Babe” she whispered as she saw my expression.

I was fuming! Something so serious and he kept it to himself
“Well at least we know why he’s acting up” she said and I scoffed “But why
would he stay away from me? It doesn’t make sense Courtney; surely this would
make him want to stay near me. Somebody is trying to kill me and he leaves me
alone every fucking bloody night” the rage was surfacing and I was furious at
him.

I could tell by Courtney’s expression that she agreed with
me “Yeah that is a bit fucking low!” she hissed as she realised the seriousness
of the situation and Masons lack of attention. I rubbed my hands over my face
and Courtney reached over and finally shut down the DVD but I walked back over
to it and ejected the disc.

Picking up my phone I dialled Mason’s number; it rang once
and went to voice mail and I pursed my lips at his obvious decline of the call
“Do you think there are cameras in here?” Courtney asked absent minded, looking
round the room and I shivered and looked around “Fuck, I hope not” I answered
“I’m sure Mason will have checked after he received it” she nodded but not
convincingly.