The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone (57 page)

His words made me peak. I screamed as I climaxed around him. He grabbed my hair from the back of my head, pulling my head back as he bit my neck. “Oh God, I’m gonna come so hard, Ava” he roared and reared back as he came inside me, hitting my cervix with his warm semen and making me orgasm again.

“Christ” he groaned as sweat dripped down his back and he panted harshly. “You’re so hot Ava, you always make me come so hard.” I cupped his face and kissed him softly.

“I’m sorry I held back from you Mason but I was worried about your reaction to what I need to tell you.”

He nodded, “I’m sorry I scare you, Ava but I just can’t seem to control my emotions with you. I love you deeply but I’m so frightened of losing you.” He sighed and pulled out of me.

“I know, but you are gonna have to learn to trust me, Mason. You seem jealous of everyone but I promise . . .” I paused as I took his hand and tilted his face towards me. “I promise I will never hurt you. I love you too much and you make me feel whole. I don’t need anybody else.”

He stroked my cheek with the back of his knuckles. “Get dressed and we’ll talk.” He smiled softly and kissed me as he walked into the bedroom.

I slid off the vanity and followed him, watching him as he dressed. He was so damn hot I could feel the heat between my legs again as I watched his body ripple with his movements; he caught me looking and winked. “Again?” he smirked.

I puffed and smirked back and walked up to him, cupping his fresh erection. “Oh yes” I said as I pushed him back on to the bed.

He grinned up at me. “You are insatiable, woman,” he laughed as I climbed on the bed.

“Only for you Mason,” I breathed as I straddled him.

His face darkened and his eyes flamed with arousal. “Damn right, only for me” he groaned as I dropped my mouth to his groin.

“And this is mine,” I whispered.

He moaned loudly and grabbed my hand then placed it over his heart. “And so is this Ava” he whispered.

* * *

We were sat at a table in Mason’s favourite Italian restaurant as I tucked into a wonderful shrimp and asparagus tagliatelle. Mason had chosen a garlic and herb pasta.

“I forgot to tell you, it’s Sam and Marcy’s engagement Saturday night, is that okay?” he asked around a forkful of my pasta, nodding his approval to my food.

“Yeah, that’s okay. I was supposed to be going out with Courtney but I’ll cancel.”

“Ask her to come with us. Sam and Marcy won’t mind.” He suggested as he took another piece of shrimp and I stabbed at his hand with my fork and glared at him.

“Hey, I may be eating for two here and you could be starving your own child.”

The grin that lit his face made my heart swell and I smiled happily at him. “When are you gonna do the test?” he asked cautiously.

“In the morning.” I shrugged, still not sure if I was brave enough to actually have confirmation but he still smiled at my nervousness.

He snagged my plate when I placed my cutlery down having eaten much more than I usually did. “My God Mason, where do you put it?”

I laughed as he waggled his eyebrows. “Well . . . I have certain expectations to fulfil now and need to keep my strength up.” He winked and I sat back, holding my overfull stomach.

“Damn right,” I mocked seriousness and he grinned but sat back.

“Okay, you ready to tell me what’s going on?” he asked as he took the last mouthful of my food.

“Only if you promise not to blow off!” I told him. He huffed but nodded.

“Well firstly, this morning as I got to work I noticed a person in a black Ferrari watching me from the roadside.” Mason hissed and I held a finger up. “You promised” I warned and he sighed.

“Sorry,” he said. “And?”

“Well when I left work a bloke came up to me in the car park.” I saw Mason’s expression shut down as he ground his teeth but I persevered. “He was just asking for directions but he seemed a bit dodgy. He asked where the late lounge was and it’s directly across from the building and surely he couldn’t have missed it?”

I shrugged and Mason pursed his lips. “Anyway Olivia and Nate Carter walked over and the bloke got really weird and defensive but backed off.” Mason finally nodded and took a large gulp of his wine. “I phoned Sam to ask him if he could find anything out from NSC surveillance cameras, that’s all. If he found anything about him I would have told you straight away,” I defended and he sighed heavily but still had a fiery expression.

“Okay, firstly we’ll see if Sam can get a visual on the guy and see if he recognises him. Secondly, I am now gonna run you to work and back and thirdly, you do not leave my side . . . at all!” he commanded.

I sighed but nodded in resignation. “Okay” I agreed but fiddled with my fork on the table.

His hand reached over and covered mine. “Ava, please don’t fight me with this. From the state he left your bedroom, he could be dangerous,” he pleaded.

“I know. It’s just that the bastard can control my life. I like my independence Mason, you know that and now . . . now I won’t have any.” I grumbled and he squeezed my hand.

“It’s only till we get the fucker,” he promised.

I smiled. “I know,” I conceded with a yawn.

“Tired?” he asked softly and I nodded.

“I shouldn’t though, I napped in the bath.”

He nodded but gave me a rueful smile. “It’s probably because you’re pregnant, baby”

I scowled at him. “We don’t know that yet” I said but he shrugged and called for the bill.

“Let’s get you home to bed,” he grinned and his eyes smouldered.

“Oh my God, again?” I snorted.

He bent and placed his lips to my ear. “Yes again, and by the time I have finished with you, you’ll be begging me to make you come,” he growled huskily.

I squirmed in my seat as my knickers dampened with my arousal. “Okay” I said quickly and stood sharply, grabbing my bag, “Let’s go.” I ushered him across to the maître d to pay.

CHAPTER 24

“OH MY GOD,” I whispered as we both sat on the edge of the bath and stared at the thin blue line.

“Wow,” Mason breathed. “We’re having a baby.” He gulped but then the biggest, hugest, happiest grin broke out on his face. “Oh my god, Ava. I’m gonna be a daddy.” He laughed, picked me up and swung me round. “We’re having a little baby, Ava” he cried. I swallowed and whimpered.

He placed me down and frowned. “You okay?” he asked and I stared at him, completely stunned. He cocked his head. “Ava?” he asked cautiously.

I slapped my hand over my mouth and raced across the room and heaved into the toilet.

“Oh baby, not again.” He sighed and pulled my hair back. “I don’t like this part of pregnancy, I don’t like seeing you ill,” he grumbled as he wiped my face with a cloth and pulled my hair into a tie to hold it off my face so he could stroke my back.

“I don’t like this either,” I moaned as I continued to vomit.

“I’ll ring my mother and ask for her advice,” he said.

“NO!” I cried and threw up again.

He eyed me warily and I gave him a weak smile in return. “Why?”

“Because . . .” I said and vomited again, “ . . . Because I don’t want anybody to know yet. It’s too early to tell people.” I groaned and wiped my mouth as Mason ran the tap and got me a glass of water from the sink.

“Okay, I’ll go to the chemist after I’ve dropped you at work and see what they recommend.” He lifted me up and sat me in the chair, filling my toothbrush with paste and started brushing my teeth for me.

“Mason, I’m quite capable of brushing my teeth,” I laughed around a mouthful of foam.

He shrugged. “I want to help” he said sadly and I cupped his face.

“You do,” I whispered.

He smiled but carried on. “Spit!” he ordered when he’d finished. I complied and he passed me a fresh cup of water to rinse.

Pulling me out of the chair he walked me into the bedroom and sat me on the bed then rummaged through the wardrobe, fishing out my black pencil skirt and pinstriped shirt.

I cocked my head at him. “You like those?” I asked softly and he nodded.

“These are what you were wearing the first time I saw you and I remember thinking how utterly beautiful you were.”

I grinned at him, “Really?” I asked and he nodded.

“Yeah, you made me hard the first time I looked at you and I knew there and then that I had to have you.” He stroked his knuckles across my cheek. “And I am still mesmerized by your beauty, Ava. You are stunning and so beautiful inside and out,” he said softly.

A tear slipped out and dripped down my cheek. “Hey” he whispered, crouched in front of me and wiped away the tear. “Don’t cry, baby.”

I frowned through my tears. “I’m scared, Mason.”

He huddled me up and embraced me tightly. “Me too,” he whispered in my ear. “But you will be a wonderful mother,” he expressed and I squeezed him tighter.

“We’ll both be wonderful parents” I replied and he grinned.

“We will.” He smiled happily.

Mason lifted the T-shirt I wore for bed over my head and proceeded to dress me. The care and tenderness in which he did it took my breath away and I studied his face as he concentrated on buttoning up my shirt; the deep frown lines on his forehead as he concentrated on each button, his strong nose and the contours of his chiselled cheek bones and his sexy square chin, complete with a short growth.

He was powerful and beautiful and he took my breath away.

I stroked his jaw with my thumb. “I love you, Mason” I said as a tear slipped from my eye.

“Hey, shush,” he whispered and huddled me up, kissing my forehead softly. “I love you so much, Ava and I promise to look after you.”

I knew that he would keep his promise to me.

* * *

Mason dropped me outside the main doors of NSC and told me he would pick me up at 6 O’clock and as I entered the building Olivia walked in with me. “Good morning Ava, you okay? You still look a bit peaky.”

I nodded at her but took a quick glance at her pregnant stomach and gulped as my legs felt wobbly and I developed a rushing in my ears. “Ava, are you okay?” she asked as she lowered me down onto the steps of the building.

I placed my head in my hands as nausea raged again. “Oh God” I heaved and raced into the building. I rushed into the main foyer toilets, relieved when I made it before I spewed everywhere.

I vomited for ages and when I had eventually finished I opened the cubicle door and Olivia was stood, leaning against a sink. “Ava, are you okay?” she asked full of concern.

I nodded and splashed my face with water and groaned. “Ava . . .” she started and I nodded.

“Yes I am,” I told her before she could ask.

“How far gone?”

She sat on a chair while I leaned on the sink and took some deep breaths. “Only about 4 or 5 weeks I think, I only found out this morning.”

She nodded and smiled. “That’s great news” she said happily and I nodded slowly. “Isn’t it?” she grimaced and I sighed.

“I’m not sure yet.”

I laughed and she nodded in understanding, “The sickness will subside, mine lasted for about 8 weeks but then I was fine.”

I looked at her. “It’s not the sickness I’m worried about.” I shrugged, “I’ve only been with Mason for about 6 weeks, I think I got caught the first time we had sex . . . oh no, we used a condom the first time so it must be the second,” I scoffed.

“It wasn’t a planned pregnancy then?” she asked softly and I shook my head.

“No, I was stupid really. We just seem to get caught up in the moment and forget about using protection,” I told her honestly. She nodded and her eyes glazed over.

“Isn’t sex great when it’s like that though? The passion and lack of control between the two of you is when you know you are a perfect match.”

She smiled knowingly at me and I agreed with her, realising she was right and me and Mason were made for each other. “Oh yeah, the sex is great, it’s just that I’m not sure if I’m happy getting caught straight away. Mason and I are still getting to know one another.”

She stood and took my hand. “You still have 8 months before you have to share him,” she encouraged and I smiled at her insight.

“Yes I suppose. Mason’s over the moon but I’m still a little stunned but . . . but I feel so happy at the same time. I can’t quite believe I’m going to be a mummy.” I smiled, “but I’m already sick of this damn sickness,” I confessed, feeling the nausea rising again.

I took a deep breath and blew it out, trying to calm my raging stomach. “I’ll leave you to it,” Olivia said gently. “Come up when you’re ready, no rush.” She smiled and left the restroom.

I stood still for a while, willing away the sickness and eventually escaped the bathroom and rode the elevator to my floor.

Tony spent the morning annoying me and being his usual smarmy self. But the day went okay until I got a call from Samantha downstairs. “Miss Stone, there is a Mr Fox in reception for you, is it okay to send him up?”

I frowned. “ . . . Yeah” I said, wondering what he was doing here as Tony placed a mug of coffee on my desk.

Shit, Tony!

“Samantha, I’ll come down” I said quickly but I was greeted with silence. “Samantha?”

Shit!

I nibbled on my finger as I waited for Mason to arrive. Ten minutes later he walked through the corridor entrance and his face lit up when he saw me. Striding across the room he leant down and kissed me urgently as he reached me. “God I miss you” he breathed.

“What are you doing here, Mason?” I asked a little too sharply.

He frowned and held up a paper bag. “I went to the chemist and got you some anti-sickness pills so I thought I’d bring them in in case you’re still feeling rough” he explained guiltily and I bit my lip, tears pricking my eyes.

“That is so sweet,” I told him leaning up for another kiss.

“Hey, no crying” he said gently and swiped the drop off my chin.

“I can’t help it, I think it’s my damn hormones,” I wept and he pulled me into his arms as I cried.

I felt him stiffen and I cringed. “Well hello there” I heard Tony say in his smarmy voice. “Is everything okay, Ava?” he asked with way too much sympathy and I cowered in Mason’s arms, prepared for the inquisition.

“She’s good,” Mason snapped. I pulled back and looked up at him. “I didn’t know you worked here, Tony?” he practically growled and pulled me back into his arms in a possessive manner.