The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone (112 page)

CHAPTER 33

I ENTERED THE cottage, leaving the door open behind me and went straight to the fridge, pulling out the bottle of champagne I had chilling, ready for celebrating. I grinned happily as I twisted the metal casing and popped the cork just as Mason entered the house.

“What the hell, Ava?” He was wide eyed and looked like he was in shock. I handed him a champagne flute and poured us both a glass.

“To your freedom!” I smirked and clinked his glass as he still stood staring at me.

I sighed and gestured to a chair and we both sat down, Mason rather heavily. “How Ava?” he asked simply. I chuckled and filled him in on everything.

“Jesus,” he breathed as I finished my summary of events. “You did all that for me?”

I reared back in amazement at his words. “Of course, I told you I wouldn’t see you marry her Mason and I kept my promise.”

He shook his head in disbelief. “Christ, I don’t know what to say.”

I smiled softly at him. “Cheers?” I suggested. He laughed, loud, heartily and with such emotion it made my heart swell to watch the realisation of what it meant sink in.

“Ava I . . .” He gazed at me for what seemed like an eternity. “I . . .” He tried again but I shook my head.

“Shush, just thank William for me, I couldn’t have done it without him.”

“I didn’t know you were that friendly with William.” He took a sip of the bubbly stuff and I nodded to him.

“Yeah, we’ve become good friends” I grinned wickedly inside. “He gave me a tour.” I disclosed nonchalantly as I stood and walked to the cupboard to take out some shortcake I had baked yesterday.

I saw his eyebrows hit his hairline. “It’s an awesome place he’s got. He even has a mirror above his bed . . . think I might get one of those,” I finished slyly. I swallowed the chuckle that was eager to erupt as I took out some whipped cream and strawberries from the fridge.

“You want a strawberry shortcake?” I asked as I glanced at him and bit my lip at his expression, he was just blinking at me with wide eyes. “Something wrong?” I asked coyly.

His jaw dropped. “You . . . you . . .” He swallowed heavily and I frowned at him, still trying to rein in the laughter that was threatening to erupt. He stared at me. “You’ve been to The Black Panther?”

“Yes, it’s great. My particular favourite was the communal room, although I quite liked the movie theatre and the Victorian rooms looked quite fun, well the occupants were having lots of fun. I thought about giving the soft BDSM room a go but I didn’t like the hard stuff, you know the whips and stuff looked a bit too much but . . .” I shrugged. “Whatever takes your fancy really. I’m definitely gonna invest in a ceiling mirror, that was really hot . . .” I whittled on as his eyebrows shot past his hairline and nearly touched the crown of his head.

“Are you okay, Mason?” I asked mischievously as he stared at me.

“Who . . . who did you go with?” He gulped. The laughter was getting harder to control. I knew where his eyebrows would finish as I said the next word.

“Nate,” I answered casually as I piled strawberries and cream onto the shortbreads.

He spluttered and shot upright. “What the hell Ava?”

“What? Liv came too,” I choked out. It was getting so much harder.

“You . . . you went to The Black Panther with Nate and . . . and Liv?” he scoffed.

I nodded, “Yeah.” I shrugged and then changed tactics. “Have you seen William’s bed . . . huge!” I sighed dreamily as I gestured to the size with my hands and then thought I had better stop when his face darkened.

“Ava . . . please tell . . . please tell you didn’t . . . not with William?!” He looked quite upset now and I couldn’t hold back the laughter.

“Your face . . .” I howled.

He exhaled loudly. “Jesus, Ava,” he breathed as I snorted with laughter. “You . . .” He grinned and stalked towards me.

“God, you’re such a sucker . . . I still want a mirror though,” I hooted and then halted abruptly as he stalked closer with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “No, Mason,” I warned but he grinned wolfishly. I screamed and darted around the table as he bolted after me. “Noooo!” I squealed as he floored me and began tickling me torturously. “Noooo! Masonnnnn!” I begged as I snorted and tears rolled down my face. I struggled underneath him as he pinned me down. “Pleaseeee. . . .” I giggled.

“That’ll teach you to wind me up in future,” he laughed as he continued punishing me.

He stopped suddenly. I was panting for breath as tears rolled down my face. I giggled and looked up at him and froze. His eyes were intense and wild as he panted with me, and his stiff erection dug into my thigh.

I swallowed and licked my lips as his gaze travelled to my mouth and then back up to my eyes as he leaned in closer. I wanted this so much . . . so, so much but I knew I couldn’t, if I did this then there would be no going back.

“No,” I said firmly as I pushed him off me.

He sighed and clambered up, giving me a hand and pulling me upright. I looked away and went back to the shortcakes, serving them up and placing them on the table.

We ate a bite each and then I took a deep breath. “I need to tell you something,” I said quietly and averted my gaze. “I’ve decided to move out to Portugal,” I whispered and closed my eyes in preparation.

“NO!” he cried as he shot up and the chair fell backwards. I gulped and remained silent but nodded slowly.

“I can’t stay here, Mason. I’ve sorted it with George and I’m moving out there when the babies are out of hospital,” I said softly.

“NO AVA! . . . NO! I won’t fucking let you!” he roared and I sighed.

“You can’t stop me, Mason.”

“But Ava . . . now this is out of the way we can be together properly . . . as a family,” he pleaded.

I shook my head and frowned. “It wasn’t because of this that I ended us Mason, it was because you fucked another woman!” I shouted, now getting angry at his disregard for what he had done.

He scoffed. “Oh and I suppose you fucking Kade is different?”

I sighed sadly. “Go home, Mason.”

I walked to the sink and leaned on the side, staring out of the window. He grabbed me and spun me round. His mouth clamped over mine in a hungry and demanding kiss but I refused to kiss him back. “Ava . . .” he breathed as he rested his forehead against mine. “Please. . . .”

“I have dreams Mason . . . dreams of you and
her.
. . . I can’t get passed that, just like you couldn’t get passed Kade but the thing is . . . I
saw
you, I
watched
you fuck her in fucking ecstasy Mason. I
heard
your moans, saw your hands all over her . . . and I will never,
never
get over that . . . I wanted all of your pleasure Mason and you gave it away . . . threw it away. . . .”

He closed his eyes. “I’m sorry Ava . . . I don’t know what else to do!” he rasped and I pushed him away.

“Katie and George should be home by next weekend and I’m planning on going a couple of weeks after that so you should . . . you should spend as much time . . . time with them as possible,” I choked and turned so he couldn’t see my tears. I stared fixatedly out of the window and flinched as the front door slammed shut.

I needed to get thoroughly pissed so I phoned Courtney. “Hey babe,” she answered.

“Hi you! Listen I need to get utterly and absolutely slaughtered, you busy tonight?”

She giggled excitedly. “God, let’s do it, you haven’t had a drink for ages. I’ll round the girlies up and we’ll pick you up at 9, okay?”

“Perfect.” I raced up the stairs to put on my armour and mask, tonight I would forget about everything and think about myself. I needed tonight to celebrate, commiserate and obliterate, and I would make damn sure I did!!

* * *

By 1am we were all drunk and dancing with vigour in The loft. Sally had already pulled and disappeared for the night and Courtney, Kim and Marcy were strutting their stuff to the beat as I leant on the bar talking to the barman.

I was very drunk and he looked okay behind the beer goggles. I wondered if I should take up his offer of a ‘night full of ecstasy’ as he had so expressively put it. “Come on gorgeous, I can make you feel so good,” he leaned over and breathed in my ear.

“You are very confident,” I giggled.

He raised his eyebrows at me. “Yes I am.” I laughed.

“How do I know you can handle me, I’m a bit of a wild one between the sheets?” I flirted. He inhaled heavily with a pained expression.

“Now, you see, you have to take me home cause I’m fucking rock hard picturing this, picturing you groaning underneath me.”

I laughed again as a commotion broke out across the other side of the floor. The barman, Harvey, groaned. “Fuck, not again!” he grumbled as I stretched to look what was happening.

“Someone fighting?” I asked when I couldn’t see the uproar.

“Yeah . . . the fucking boss again!”

My eyes widened. “What?” I spluttered and he gawped at me.

“The boss, word is that his girlfriend fucked him off so he’s been swiftly getting drunk and high. He’s always picking fights when he’s like this.”

I sighed angrily and slid off the bar stool and stalked towards the noise. “NO! Don’t go over there!” Harvey shouted as he struggled to lift the bar flap and chase after me.

I stormed over, my breathing hard and accelerated as I saw Mason rolling about on the floor with someone, his fist repeatedly slamming into the other guys’ stomach. Sam and Greg were desperately trying to pull him off and I pushed my way through the audience.

“MOVE!!” I shouted to Sam and Greg who stopped trying to halt the fight and stared at me. “MOVE!” I repeated and they narrowed their eyes on me. I shook my head in exasperation and leaned down, grabbed Mason’s hair and yanked him upright. He wobbled and looked at me, his eyes vacant and bloodshot as I floored him in a single punch.

“Get him upstairs. I’ll be up in a while,” I snarled at an amazed Sam, Greg and Harvey. “Get him out of here before I fucking throttle him Sam!” I warned.

They grabbed his arms as the crowd cheered and Courtney came running over. “Jesus Christ. Not again.” She shook her head as Harvey approached me.

“Wow, you laid him out cold,” he gasped.

“I’m the ‘Boss’s girlfriend that fucked him off,’” I explained.

His eyes widened. “I’m sorry sweetheart, it’s not worth my life or my job if I take you home tonight,” he declared as he held his hands out.

I rolled my eyes and scowled at him but turned back to Courtney and Marcy. “You two okay getting home while I sort the arsehole out?”

“He doesn’t deserve you, Ava.” She sighed but nodded. “Go on, babe and ring me tomorrow.” She kissed my cheek as I walked over to the bar.

“Vodka, straight,” I ordered from Harvey. He nodded and poured me a double which I slid back in one and then made way upstairs.

Taking a deep breath, I entered Mason’s office as Greg was pouring water down Mason’s throat and Sam was cleaning vomit off the floor. “Jesus fucking wept,” I sighed.

Mason’s bleary eyes shot to mine. “Ava?” he slurred, “What are you doing here?” He rolled his eyes and fell backwards onto the couch.

I shook my head in disgust and turned to Sam. “How long until he’s aware of anything?”

“About four hours or so.”

I nodded. “I’ll see to him, you two get back to work.” I sighed and walked over to the kettle.

“Ava, I don’t think that’s a good idea, he’ll keep coming round for a while,” Greg worried but I shook my head.

“Go!”

They both glanced at each other and then went to leave.

Greg turned in the doorway. “I know he’s fucked up Ava but he’s a mess without you. He’s crazy about you,” he declared sadly and I nodded.

“I know Greg but we’re no good for each other. I hurt him, he hurts me and he just keeps hurting me. I can’t . . . I dunno . . .” I sighed and dropped into a chair with my head in my hands.

Greg squatted down in front of me. “Ava, you have the twins to think of now,” he tried.

I scoffed. “And you honestly think they deserve
that
for a father?” I pointed to Mason. “Stoned, high and fucking volatile every time something doesn’t go his way. Would you want to bring children up in . . .
this?
!” I spat and he sighed but shook his head.

“No,” he said quietly.

I sucked on my lips. “He’s killed me this time Greg, all I see is them . . . fucking,” I sobbed. He wrapped me in his arms, consoling me and stroking my back as I wept.

He was whipped back suddenly and then Mason punched him in the face. “GET YOUR FUCKING HANDS OFF HER!!” he thundered and I stared gobsmacked.

Grabbing hold of Mason by his shirt I yanked him back and thumped him in the jaw causing him to pass out again before I flung him back on the couch.

“Oh my God Greg, are you okay?” I asked as I rushed over to help him up.

“Forget everything I just fucking said Ava, fuck the bastard off” he yelled as he stomped out and slammed the door behind him. I groaned and sank to the floor.

Grabbing my phone, I texted Courtney to check on Greg as I watched Mason’s steady breathing. What the hell was I going to do? I loved him with every breath I had but I couldn’t live this way, we were dangerous together, killing each other slowly and I now had Katie and George to think about. They couldn’t be brought up in this sort of relationship.

I knew Mason would never physically hurt me but the dominance, the anger and the drugs were a constant problem and I didn’t think I could look after Mason as well as the babies.

The love we had for each other was immeasurable but would it be enough to live? I was so sad and confused. I struggled for breath as the enormity of the situation flooded me and I gazed at my man, whatever he was right now, he was still my man and I loved him completely and unreservedly.

CHAPTER 34

ABOUT AN HOUR later he started to grumble and flip. I rushed over to him and stroked his hair. “Ssshhh” I whispered.

He moaned, “Ava?” he rasped, his eyes still shut and a slither of drool trailed from the corner of his mouth.

“Jesus Mason, why do you do this to yourself?” I whispered miserably. He groaned again and his hand started flapping about. I caught it with my own and held on tightly. “I’m here, baby,” I whispered against his brow as I brushed a tender kiss across his skin.