The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone

by D H Sidebottom

  “Bitch!” I seethed, my protective instincts to Courtney building my wrath as I tried to calm myself down. I kicked the wall of the island, the need to release my anger swirling inside me.

  I think I kicked it too hard as a pain ripped through my ankle. “Fuck!” I hissed.

  “Wow, remind me to never cross you.” Mason laughed behind me. I spun round, shocked at his presence. My ankle gave way; my hand shooting out to hold on to the island to steady myself when my knees buckled at the pain.

  “Whoa, careful Ava,” Mason said as he shot out to grab me.

  Placing both hands around my waist he lifted me with ease onto the island and proceeded to unzip my boot; his fingers slowly pulling the zip down as his other hand settled on my thigh.

  I froze, unsure what to do. I wanted him to move back and take his hands off me but I also wanted his hands further up my thigh, stroking the throb away.

  He pulled my boot off slowly and peeled off my sock, his lips twitching when he noticed the Garfield pattern printed on it.

  Holding my foot up, his fingers softly traced my ankle, checking for signs of swelling. My breath hitched at his touch. He looked up at me through his long eyelashes and I gasped as a slow smile crossed his lips.

  His fingers whispered up my calf, delicately caressing the back of my knee. I swallowed heavily as a slow throb filled my core whilst my breathing sped up.

  Oh God! What was this man doing to me?

  “You have beautiful soft skin, Ava” he whispered, “and you smell delicious. I would love to taste you.” He groaned softly as his fingers ventured a little higher.

  Oh God, I was struggling to breathe, the softness of his fingertips against my skin was making my stomach flutter.

  I needed to stop him but my body was refusing, the feel of him against my skin was so erotic that I just watched him get higher and higher until my brain cells kicked in and I gasped at what was happening.

  “Mr Fox!” I gulped and slid away from him; dropping my feet to the floor, “My foot’s okay now thank you.” I forced a smile as I tried to steady my breathing.

  He stood up as I replaced my sock and boot; his eyes never leaving my actions as he studied me.

  “Quite a surprise there. A quiet little thing like you.” He stalked towards me, his eyes glazed, “There’s a lot of passion deep down in you isn’t there? Quite the little fire-cracker.” He cocked his head as he tucked a stray curl behind my ear after rubbing it between his fingers.

  His eyes bore into me and my breath caught in my throat as I felt my blood heat. His fingers gently stroked down my cheek and across my bottom lip. I swallowed and shifted nervously, averting my eyes.

  “Mr Fox,” I stammered.

  He cleared his throat and stepped backwards. “Everything okay? With the phone call I mean.”

  He was back to his usual grim self and I nodded once, “Just a bit of trouble with my friend but I’ll handle it,” I told him, surprised at my honesty with him.

  He cocked his head. “Yes, I believe you can handle it.” He stared softly at me again, “We seem to have quite a bit in common, Ava.” He smiled and left the room, bounding back up the stairs as I was once again stunned by his behaviour.

  CHAPTER 5

  MASON WAS OUT for the majority of the day but had asked me to take a look at some of the paperwork in his office, filing it and transferring the information to documents on his PC.

  I was thrilled at the new duty, pleased that he trusted me enough with some confidential information. It was only basic things such as employee details and work records but I was happy he had confidence in me already.

  At 6:00pm I powered down the computer and went downstairs to gather my things.

  I picked up the kitchen phone and dialled the taxi firm I had used this morning. “Hi, can I book a taxi for as soon as possible please . . .”

  Silence?

  “I’ll take you home, Ava,” Mason said from behind me. I flinched, spinning round to see his finger on the disconnect button of the base unit to the phone.

  He grinned at me as he took the phone from me. His fingers closed around mine, the electricity in them making me jolt again. He smiled softly as he looked at our entwined fingers. “I seem to unsettle you a lot, Ava,” he whispered in my ear as he reached past me to grab his car keys off the island, his hot breath skimming my cheek.

  I gulped and picked up my bag, “That’s . . . very kind of you Mason but I can get a cab.”

  He narrowed his eyes, the glower back in them, “Nonsense, it’s no trouble.”

  He turned and walked through the front door, leaving me no choice but to follow him. I exited the house to find him stood beside a sleek, silver Aston Martin holding the door open for me.

  Sliding into the front seat, I quickly scanned the interior before he climbed in. He turned and grinned at me as he started the engine. “Okay?” he asked softly. I nodded nervously, aware of his scent; a citrusy aroma with a hint of spice and a wavering of something that was specifically him . . . all male and masculine huskiness. My stomach pooled with heat as did my thighs and I closed my eyes, turning to face the window praying silently to get me through this journey without embarrassing myself.

  We were both quiet for a while before Mason made me jump. “So Ava, have you heard from George?”

  I smiled, relaxing now I knew the subject matter was a safe one. “Yeah, I rang him last night and he’s like a different man already. Happy, relaxed and content. He loves it,” I divulged, smiling to myself at the memory of our phone call last night.

  George had been slyly asking what my thoughts of Mason were. I suspected some match-making behind his words so I quickly berated him and told him I wasn’t looking for a relationship, much to his disappointment.

  “You really care a lot about him, don’t you?” he stated as he glanced over at me.

  I nodded, “George saved me, it’s as simple as that and I love him dearly for all the support and care he’s given me.”

  Mason was quiet as he pondered my words. “I can remember the night he found you.” He cast me a quick glance as I furrowed my brow. “He rang me, in a bit of a panic. My mum’s a doctor and he needed her help,” he disclosed. I turned to peer out of the window, the images of that night pushing through to the forefront of my mind with his words.

  I felt his hand rest on top of mine on my lap and I stiffened. “Hey Ava, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to stir bad memories,” he apologised softly.

  I nodded still gazing through the window, not having the courage to look at him. I didn’t want to remember that night and I definitely didn’t want to talk about it but Mason’s probing had them fighting their way forward again until I was suddenly struggling to push them back.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t remember your mother. In fact I don’t remember a lot about that night,” I told him quietly. He squeezed my hand before putting it back on the gear stick.

  “I’m not trying to upset you; I just wanted you to know that George saw something in you as soon as he found you. I must say, we were all surprised by his actions. George is ruthless and has quite the nasty streak, so it just shocked us all when he took you in.”

  I looked at him and he smiled softly but I shook my head. “George is never like that with me, he never lets me see that side of him.” I shrugged, “He thinks that I can’t handle the business part of him, but he doesn’t realise that I know more than he lets on. I love George, all of him, every part of him, good or bad. He saved my life and had confidence in me that nobody else did.”

  We pulled up outside my house. I wondered how he knew where I lived but remembered I had written it down for him yesterday.

  I was staggered with how much I was opening up to Mason and I shifted slightly in my seat, “Anyway, thanks for the lift.”

  I reached for the door handle needing to get out of the car and away from this man that stirred too many emotions and reactions in me. The way he spoke softly was torturing me and if I didn’t get out soon I
knew I would be a dithering mess but his hand grabbed my forearm, “Ava . . .” He seemed a little nervous and I frowned at him. He shook his head and smiled at me. “Nothing, I’ll see you in the morning. I have the guys coming round for a meeting at 9, so we’ll need coffee” he finished, once again back to business.

  “Sure, no problem. See you then.” I smiled and left the car, noticing he waited while I entered my home and switched on the lights before he drove off.

  I slipped off my boots and flipped the switch on the kettle, then made a coffee and curled up on the couch. I thought about Mason’s words of the night George found me, annoyed that I had managed to push the memories at bay for so long and a simple sentence from Mason had brought it all back into view.

  I would be horrified if Mason knew what had happened that night and hoped that his mother hadn’t divulged any information, but I couldn’t see Mason being interested in me anyway, not enough to interrogate his mother. George had been very discreet but now I knew it was Mason’s mother that had nursed me back to health, it unnerved me.

  I had lied to Mason when I told him I hadn’t remembered much, it was forever embossed on my memory, along with the sickening smell of the burning flesh that had scorched an imprint in my mind. The desperate screams from my friend as she begged for my help engraved in my head.

  Feeling the nausea rise, I rushed up the stairs and flung myself at the toilet, retching my stomach as I covered my ears, trying to erase the screaming that was pounding through my ears. The sweat dripped off my back as I once again felt the heat, the searing flames as they engulfed her before my eyes, and an utter feeling of hopelessness as I once again experienced the memories of the arms holding me back and the sinister laugh in my ears.

  I collapsed, sobbing on the floor of the bathroom. “I’m so sorry, Katie” I whispered, over and over again pulling at my hair in desperation as her agonised face was etched in my eyes.

  * * *

  Noticing my gaunt appearance the next morning in the mirror, I once again tried to work some magic with a bronzer and eyeliner. My mood and appearance were black this morning after a torturous night of no sleep, lots of tears and an ache for my dead best friend.

  I hoped Mason didn’t think I was hung over again and with this on my mind I entered the house slowly, praising the heavens that his meeting was already underway.

  I made coffee and placed a plate of cinnamon pastries I had made last night, a much needed distraction, on the tray and knocked on the door.

  “Yep,” came the familiar acknowledgement. I entered without raising my face, walking up to the table and placing the tray on the edge, I turned back round to leave.

  Just as I grabbed the handle a hand gripped my arm and I stopped dead.

  Shit!

  A finger nudged under my chin and tipped my head back, my eyes meeting Mason’s frown. “Good morning, Mr Fox.” I swallowed, forcing a smile on my face.

  His eyes narrowed and he opened the door then pulled me through into the hallway, shutting the door behind him. His eyes were dark and questioning. My finger lifted to my mouth as my stomach swirled with nerves. I was in trouble already and it was only my first week.

  “What the hell, Ava?” he glowered and I felt the sting in my finger as I bit through the skin. “What’s wrong?” he demanded.

  I shook my head rapidly. “Nothing,” I gulped.

  He glared at me and pulled me over to a wall, turning me and holding me in front of a mirror. I frowned at his reflection, not understanding what he was doing. He held my arms in a firm grip. “Look at yourself,” he barked causing me to flinch. “Look!”

  I raised my eyes to my own and gasped. The woman looking back at me looked haunted and empty, nothing behind her eyes only horror and grief.

  I shook my head and turned away, refusing to look but his hands settled on either side of my head, rotating my vision back to the mirror.

  “Talk to me Ava,” he spoke, looking at me through the mirror. “Tell me what’s wrong.” His face was dark and stern, his lips were in a tight line and his eyes pierced mine, searching in my depths.

  I shrugged out of his grip, now angry. I had only known this man three days and he was bringing out feelings that had been buried long ago. I didn’t like the intense attraction between us; it frightened me and I couldn’t deal with these emotions at all.

  “Nothing! I just had a bad night, that’s all.”

  He continued to glare at me as I nibbled my finger and averted my eyes. His hand lifted, he pulled my finger away from my mouth then brought it to his lips and kissed it.

  My knees trembled and my chest pounded. My eyes shot up to his and I gasped. The desire in his eyes was overwhelming and it took my breath, my own arousal threatening to spiral out of control as my breathing deepened to match his.

  I had to stop this before it went beyond my boundaries so I pulled my hand back. “If that’s all Mr Fox, I’ll make a start with the documents in your office” I said, looking away.

  He continued to glare at me and then grumbled something before he disappeared back through the door to his meeting.

  I leaned against the wall, once again bringing my gaze up to meet my own in the mirror.

  “Jesus Ava, pull yourself together,” I ordered myself. “It’s gone, it’s in the past.”

  I pushed off from the wall and making myself a coffee, I dragged myself up to his office and started work, pushing all the horrific thoughts back where they belonged, to the back of my mind and locked them away again.

  * * *

  About an hour later the office door flung open, Mason stormed in and picked something up from the shelf on the bookcase. “I’m going out,” he barked and slammed the door behind him.

  “Okay,” I said quietly to the door, hoping it was the meeting that had darkened his mood and not my stupid emotions but I carried on with my work.

  As I left at 6 O’clock Mason hadn’t returned, so I left him a note.

  Mr Fox,

  There is a lasagne in the oven for your dinner and a chocolate cake in the fridge; an apology for my emotional state this morning. It wasn’t very professional and I apologise. I shall be back to my normal proficient self tomorrow.

  Ava

  At 8pm I received a text message.

  MASON:

  Ava

  Please do not apologise for who you are. I was just a little concerned at your obvious distress; I am not the heartless bastard people say I am . . . well not always.

  Your culinary delights were delicious again, thank you.

  Mason

  I was a little stunned by his statement but I was glad that things would not be awkward between us the next day. I needed to put this behind me and concentrate on work but at the same time pull myself away from the feelings that were stirring for Mason, knowing that they would never amount to anything.

  CHAPTER 6

  THE NEXT COUPLE of months flew by without incident. Mason and I settled into a relaxed routine. He still continued to flirt but I put it down to his personality and once I got used to his mood swings we seemed to shift into ‘friend’ stage. He was beginning to edge me into the business side of things and I couldn’t be happier.

  * * *

  It was a Friday and a hot one at that. Mason was locked away in his office for most of the day and I was freezing some dinners for over the weekend for him when my phone alerted a text:

  COURTNEY:

  Hey Babe

  We’re going to ‘the loft’ tonight, you in?

  XXX

  ME:

  Definitely, I plan on getting slaughtered, you in?

  Xxx

  COURTNEY:

  God yes! We’ll be at yours at 8

  Xxx

  I smiled to myself, just what I needed; a night out with my girlies and plenty of alcohol.

  At 6 O’clock I tapped on Mason’s office door and received the usual greeting so I popped my head round. “I’m off now, Mason. I’ve popped some meals in your freezer and
I’ve written the instructions on the packets on how to reheat.” I gave him a wry smile, knowing he would be stumped if I hadn’t done that and was rewarded with a huge grin.

  “Thank you, Ava. You up to much this weekend?” he asked.

  “Not much. Me and the girls are off out tonight but other than that I’ll be cleaning up my own shit instead of yours.”

  I grinned, and he tipped his head back with a full on laugh. “Ah, I see, well enjoy and I’ll see you Monday.” He winked and I smiled, closing the door behind me, feeling happy that our relationship had evened out and we were once again comfortable with each other.

  * * *

  8 o’clock saw Courtney, Sally, Kim and me piling into the hottest nightclub, ‘The Loft.’ It had been open for about 6 months so was relatively new and was always jammed packed.

  We purchased our drinks and claimed a tall round table with stools close to the dance floor and bar . . . perfect.

  I was feeling a little self-conscious in a short, tight black leather skirt and red halter-neck top which Courtney had been adamant I wore but luckily my knee high black boots covered most of my legs and I had left my hair down so it covered most of my back.

  My hair was the one thing I really actually liked about my appearance; it was copper coloured with red and blonde highlights and the natural curls swept down to near my waist.

  Within 3 hours I had already been approached by 7 men, each staring at my chest as they asked if I wanted a drink.

  I had just given another man the brush off when a drunken Sally leaned over. “Jesus, I need your boobs, I never get any attention.”

  She giggled and I placed my hand on my chest in mock offense, “Are you saying it’s my tits that they’re after not my pretty face?”

  I feigned upset, now a little drunk and she laughed again. “Seriously Ava, I’m so jealous. I look like a boy naked” she grumbled.

  I laughed loudly at her. “Sally Hun, you know what they say, ‘more than a hand full is a waste,’” I winked.

  A sweaty hand settled on my back and a mouth came up to ear, “I have big fucking hands, love; yours won’t be wasted on me.”