The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone (91 page)

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Settled on the sofa, a humungous portion of chicken pesto pasta salad resting on my knee that night. I was half reading a book as the TV was on low in the background.

I couldn’t concentrate and kept losing my spot in my book so flinging it to one side I rolled my head round my neck and decided to torture myself by looking through the photos on my phone from when me and Mason spent the weekend in France.

Smiling widely and chuckling at the stupid faces we had pulled on some, I gasped as I came across a photo I hadn’t seen. Frowning deeply and wondering when this had been taken I smiled sadly and traced my finger across his stunning happy face.

Mason had taken the snapshot of himself, obviously holding my phone away from him but what took my breath was the large piece of paper he was holding in front of his chest with the words ‘I LOVE YOU AVA’ written across it with a small doodled heart and a smiley face. His eyes were radiating the love he had declared on the paper and they were twinkling with delight.

A sob escaped my throat as a huge beam erupted at the same time. Damn him! Why couldn’t I let him go?

I quickly closed my phone and plonked it angrily on the table and as I stood to take my empty, finger cleaned plate into the kitchen the TV caught my attention.

Scrambling for the remote I turned it up as Mason’s and Rebecca’s picture erupted from the screen. He had his arm around her as she looked up at him with a huge smile plastered on her fake face.

“ . . . Commissioner Robert Delaney’s daughter Rebecca Delaney and multi-millionaire businessman Mason Fox announced their engagement today. The happy couple are expecting their first baby at the end of March.”

Rebecca’s ugly pouty face exploded onto the screen as a journalist stuck a microphone in her face. “We are so excited, Mason proposed yesterday and I immediately accepted; no deliberating needed,” she beamed.

I wanted to smash my fist through the screen and claw her deceitful, false face to shreds.

“When are you planning to wed?” the journalist asked.

“Oh, early June. That’s the only time next year when we have a gap in our diaries and no specific engagements.” She sneered at the camera and I knew immediately that that statement was for my benefit as my babies were due early June.

“And can you tell us how Mr Fox proposed?”

Rebecca’s evil eyes twinkled at the question and she smirked at the camera. “Well I couldn’t possibly divulge on television what we were doing at the time Mason proposed.” She gave a little false giggle.

My fury bubbled furiously to the surface. “You fucking bastard!” I screamed and flung my plate at the TV, smashing the screen into tiny pieces.

I slumped sobbing on the sofa. My phone rang but I ignored it and curled into myself in the sofa, crying uncontrollably.

“Why Mason?” I cried, “Why?” I couldn’t understand anything anymore. He seemed determined to thoroughly break me and the fact that he hadn’t informed me before it was splattered all over my TV screen angered me.

My phone rang again. “Shut the hell up.” I picked it up and it followed the plate, crunching against the remaining glass and immediately silencing.

I held my arms against my belly. “Well we really are on our own now peanuts.”

I frowned as I heard my front door unlock and the next second Courtney rushed through the room door closely followed by Greg.

She took one look at the TV and then one look at me with sad eyes. I knew she had seen the TV announcement too.

“Oh, Babe.” She lifted my head, sat down and placed my head back down on to her lap as she stroked my hair tenderly and cried with me whist Greg sat silently in the chair opposite, never moving his sorrowful eyes from my desolate ones.

CHAPTER 9

THE REST OF the week passed in a blur and Saturday night I was squeezing myself into a pale green maternity cocktail dress. It had a fitted lace bodice with a corset style lace up back, a low sweetheart neckline and had a long, silk sweeping skirt down to my ankles that gently hugged my bulge. I had fallen in love with it immediately. I had been quite shocked to discover the large selection of beautiful dresses, expecting a few but was happily greeted by at least twenty.

I had swept my hair up and worn only a light dusting of make-up, covering my grazed cheek with bronzer and was ready to go as Kade knocked.

“Wow, Ava. You look stunning,” he breathed. His eyes lit up as he kissed me gently on the cheek. I grinned quite hungrily at him. He wore a simple black tuxedo with a small bowtie and a crisp white shirt, he looked absolutely yummy. I straightened his tie for him and kissed his cheek in return.

“Are you okay, Ava? You know . . . after the . . . news?” he asked cautiously.

I placed a finger against his lips, silencing him. “Not tonight. Tonight is about us, Kade. Me and you.”

He nodded but his eyes were full of concern. “Ready, Miss Stone?” he asked cheekily as he held his arm out and I placed mine in the crook of his elbow.

“I’m all yours, Sir.” I grinned back.

He sighed and closed his eyes. “God, I hope so,” he breathed as he escorted me to a chauffeur driven Bentley.

He held my door open and tried to hide his laughter as I struggled to climb in. I narrowed my eyes on his and scowled and he sucked in his lips.

He climbed in the other side and grasped my hand as soon as he was sat.

We chatted as we drove there and I was horrified to learn the party was at one of the most exclusive Stately homes in London.

“Oh my god, Kade. I’m so out of my depth here,” I whispered as he escorted me up the sweeping steps into the mansion/castle, I couldn’t quite distinguish between the two. He frowned at me.

“What do you mean by that?” He looked quite angry at my statement.

“Kade, I lived on the streets for three years, I swear like a sailor and I can knock out a 2501b bloke. Do you really think I fit in here?”

He laughed. “Well the way you put it no, but you are a very beautiful, high spirited and bright young woman Ava, so yes, I’d say you fit in here better than most of the tarts you will have the displeasure of meeting tonight,” he said seriously.

My eyes widened at his description but I couldn’t hold back the beam. “You really see me like that?” I asked shyly.

He scoffed. “Damn right and so much more, Ava,” he reinforced tenderly and I squeezed his arm.

“Why, thank you Sir.” I tipped my head in mock acknowledgement.

“It’s only because I wanna get laid tonight, Ava.” He said it so earnestly that I thought he was serious until I saw the wicked twinkle in his eye.

I laughed loudly as we entered the great ballroom and he beamed at me and winked. “I’m not joking, Sweetheart.” He gave me a slow grin and the need in his eyes halted my breath.

I exhaled and he swept his arm around my waist and pulled me against him as our gazes locked. He held my eyes intensely. I was starting to think about pulling him back in the car and riding him hard when a familiar screech resounded in my ears.

“For fucks sake!” We both groaned together.

“Well, well, look who it is?” Rebecca trilled loudly. I turned my head to see her with her arm linked in Mason’s, her hand rested on his arm possessively.

I rolled my eyes and Kade pulled me closer. “God, how wonderful!” I sighed grumpily. Her eyes widened at my ridicule.

“Well you two look quite cosy” she smirked and squeezed Mason’s arm. I flicked a swift glance his way. His expression was completely detached and he wouldn’t meet my eyes but to be honest I was sick of deferring to his feelings.

“Oh we’ll be even cosier later,” I winked exaggeratedly at her. Mason’s eyes shot to mine, the cold glint in them made me shudder as Kade pulled me even closer and slipped his hand down to rest on my backside.

“I hear congratulations are in order, Rebecca. I’m really pleased for you both. You thoroughly deserve each other,” I declared with a sweet smile.

“Thank you. Yes Mason and I are so excited aren’t we, darling?” she smirked and my eyes swung to his face. His eyes still held the cold glint but I could also see the guilt, pain and remorse in them.

“I’m happy to see you managed to fill your empty bed” she sneered as she eyed Kade. I saw Mason’s lip curl at her.

“Can I just say Rebecca,” I smiled sickly and leaned further in to her, “you won’t be fucking pregnant forever.”

She scowled at me. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

I raised my eyebrows at her and then turned to Kade. “You were right, Darling. There really are some obtuse tarts here tonight. Have fun you two.” I tipped my head pleasantly and pulled Kade onto the dance floor.

“Fucking dance with me before I get arrested for flooring a pregnant woman.”

He tipped his head back and howled. “God, I love you,” he said as a joke but we both shot a look at each other when he said it. He shrugged. “Well it’s not like you haven’t heard it before, Ava,” he said sheepishly. I gave him a soft smile and palmed his face.

“Kiss me,” I whispered.

I heard his breath hitch and he closed his eyes. “Do you know how long I’ve waited to hear you say that Ava?” he breathed. He bent forwards and gently brushed my lips with his, his warm breath wisping across my mouth and then he groaned deeply as he took me in an intense passionate kiss, controlling and owning me with its fierceness. It suddenly felt like we were the only two people in the room as his hands slid around me, one held at the back of my head as the other dropped to the base of my spine, pulling me in further.

“Wow!” He grinned as he pulled away. “Please tell me that wasn’t for Mason’s benefit.”

My eyes widened.

Shit!

I had forgotten he was watching and I took a horrified glance around but couldn’t see him.

“Well at least that reaction to my words proves that no, that wasn’t for Mason’s attention. But I must say it’s nice to know you forget all about him when I kiss you,” he beamed at me.

I couldn’t hold back the grin from my face at his obvious pleasure. “No Kade, I didn’t kiss you for Mason’s benefit. I
wanted
you to kiss me and I’d really like it if you did it again.”

He grinned and swept down but this time instead of a demanding kiss, it was soft and slow and exquisitely tender.

He held his lips against mine as he ended the kiss, his forehead resting on mine as we danced slow and erotically. He ground up against me and I could feel his hard erection against my thigh. I groaned and cupped the back of his head as it was my turn to control the kiss. I took him vehemently and forcefully and he growled deep in the back of his throat. “Please tell me you’re coming home with me tonight, Ava?” His eyes closed in anticipation.

“No.”

His eyes snapped open. The desperation and rejection in them stopped me from tormenting him further. “You’re coming home with me.”

His hands cupped my backside and hitched me further against him. “I am so fucking hard right now Ava, I am gonna fuck you into next week,” he rasped in my ear as he rested his mouth against my cheek.

I groaned and closed my eyes in need as I swallowed heavily. “Please tell me we don’t have to stay long.” I whispered back and he chuckled.

“Soon, Ava. I will make it worth the wait, I promise sweetheart.”

I opened my eyes to pull back and say something to him when I caught Mason’s eye. He was dancing with Rebecca. She was nibbling on his neck as he rested his hands on her backside and a fierce jealousy raged through me.

Obviously a revenge action. I shook my head in dismay at him and swung Kade around so I had my back to him. Let the two men glare at each other instead, I couldn’t be coping with his jealousy tonight. He had been the one to break our relationship, setting me free so he said. I knew I had to be honest with Kade though, I didn’t want to hurt him again.

“If tonight happens Kade, I need you to know . . .” I whispered against his ear and he pulled his head back to look at me.

“What is it, Ava?”

“Well I need you to know, it’s just gonna be sex, Kade. I need to be honest with you. I care about you deeply but we can’t ever . . .”

He smiled softly. “I know that Ava, I go back to Italy in two weeks. Let’s just have fun while I’m here.” He smiled and stroked his thumb across my cheekbone.

Luckily we were sat well away from Mason and Rebecca for the dinner and we didn’t see much of them through the night. We were constantly bombarded with Kade’s friends and acquaintances and while I was grateful to the diversion, I was dismayed not to have Kade to myself for any length of time even though his arm never moved from my waist or shoulders and he was frequently landing kisses on my cheek or mouth.

I did notice however that nobody had approached Mason and Rebecca; every time I spotted them they were sat alone but whenever Mason was alone there were people around him, chatting or laughing; it was apparent that nobody liked Rebecca and that knowledge thrilled me.

It was late in the evening and Kade and I were slow dancing, his hands all over my back or bottom and his mouth was constantly at my mouth or neck. “I think we need to go, I can’t hold out any longer,” he whispered as he nibbled my earlobe and ground his erection into my stomach.

I moaned lightly and closed my eyes. “It’s about fucking time,” I breathed.

My lips parted and my eyes flickered as he swept his tongue slowly from below my ear, along my jaw and into my mouth catching another groan from my mouth. “Fuck Kade, I need you.”

I could feel his grin against my neck where he was now sucking furiously over the bite Mason had given me. Was Kade marking me as his? Removing all trace of Mason?

I swallowed heavily at his seduction and latched on to his neck with my own teeth. He hissed and ground his erection into me harder causing me to gasp and open my eyes, and quickly wished I had kept them closed as I stared straight into Mason’s blazing eyes, his face was pale and furious, his tense jaw was twitching angrily and his knuckles were white against his clenched fist while he watched us.

I glared at him and grabbed Kade’s hand. “Come on, I need to get you naked,” I whispered. He groaned and pulled me from the room, swiftly getting my coat from the cloakroom assistant and texted our chauffer.