Resolution (Heart of Stone) Read online

  He dropped to the floor beside me and opened his arms and I climbed silently onto his lap. His arms wrapped around me and pulled me tight. His nose nuzzled my hair and his lips settled against my ear, softly placing a tender kiss on it as my head rested on his strong powerful chest.

  He didn’t speak, I didn’t need him to, I was just happy to be touching and smelling him, to be close to him and hear his soft breaths and his steady heartbeat in my ear. My body instantly relaxed into him as it sprang to life, each nerve ending crying out in relief and my heart finally beating regularly, matching the rhythm of his own heartbeat.

  We sat like that for a long time, Kerrie and Elijah had disappeared into the kitchen with the babies, as we just held one another.

  “Show me” he finally said quietly and I inhaled harshly and shook my head faintly.

  “Mason I…” I swallowed nervously and frowned at him.

  “Show me, Ava” he demanded and I swallowed again.

  Taking a deep breath I climbed off his lap and waited for him to stand, he grasped my hand and led me up the stairs, each one seemed more difficult to climb as I knew what I was about to do would kill him inside.

  He led me into the bedroom and we stood silent in the middle of the room. I sucked on my lips, desperately not wanting to do this. He stood impassively, his face showing no emotion what so ever and I gulped as I started to unbutton the loose silk shirt I had put on for comfort.

  I wasn’t wearing a bra as the straps and back rubbed against my sores and I cringed when I undid the last one and looked up at him. He nodded blankly but I saw the slight bob of his Adam’s apple and I knew he was steeling himself for this moment.

  I slipped my shirt off my shoulders as I closed my eyes and I heard him gasp and the sound of his heavy swallow. I cringed and turned around; showing him the whip lashes and scorch marks. I heard the sob escape his throat and I instantly turned, grabbed him and pulled him onto the bed, pulling him against me as the sobs tore from him, the anguished cries that erupted from his throat.

  I rocked him tenderly. “I’m okay, I’m here, I love you so much” I sobbed against him and he tightened his grip around me. “None of this is your fault so don’t ever think it is. This is Dane’s fault Mason, not yours” I said adamantly as he whimpered into me and my heart broke for him. “I’m home Mason and I won’t ever let him take me again, I promise” I whispered.

  He just wept and hung on for his life, frightened to let me go, needing to feel me, needing to touch and smell me to reassure his soul that I was actually here.

  He pulled us down so we lay on the bed and my head still rested on his chest but I turned to face him and cupped his face. “I missed you, baby” I smiled gently and he sighed as his fingers followed every contour on my face.

  “My little warrior” he finally choked out “I… I…”

  I shook my head. “Shush, not now. I just need to feel you Mason. Just hold me.”

  He huddled me close, embracing me and pulling my head onto his magnificent chest, my breasts crushed against him and my nipples puckered at the feel of him. I felt his erection press into my stomach and my body jumped for joy knowing that he still found me sexy and not spoiled and damaged.

  “I need you” I whispered and he pulled in a breath and frowned at me, “I need to know you still want me Mason, still need me, still find me as beautiful as I once was.”

  He tipped his head, his eyes fierce and blazing. “Ava, you are the most beautiful woman on this planet and nothing will ever change that. Your beauty is mesmerising but your real, pure beauty is in the inside baby and nobody will ever take that from you” he breathed against my mouth and then his lips settled over mine and he kissed me tenderly and softly but still firmly and demanding.

  He rolled me back so I was under him as he gazed at me and stroked the outline of my face. “I love you so much Ava, I died… it broke…” I placed my fingers against his lips.

  “Make love to me Mason, I need to feel you inside me, I need you to take me and fill me up with you” I whispered and his eyes closed as he swallowed heavily.

  “Ava…” he mumbled as his mouth nuzzled and grazed my neck.

  I closed my eyes to feel him, sense him and enjoy him. His familiar sucking and biting brought a smile to my lips. He was marking me, claiming me back as his and my heart leapt for joy at the sensation of my man, back where he belonged.

  “You’re mine” he whispered against my neck and I moaned.

  “Yes, yours” I whispered back. His biting got heavier and needier as he trailed towards my breast, placing his signature in his wake and I relished in it.

  “Mine” he murmured as his fingers fidgeted with the button on my trousers and I felt his hands sweep them down and he removed his own then crawled back up me.

  “Shirt” I breathed, “I need to feel your skin Mason” I rasped, my need making it difficult to breath. He gave me that ‘Sex God’ grin and swiped it over his head.

  I inhaled deeply at the sight of him, his beauty, his power, his sheer magnificence and a moan rumbled up my throat.

  His mouth kissed the side of my knee and my breath hitched as I closed my eyes and just felt, nothing else, just felt him.

  His kisses snaked their way up my thigh and his nose rested at my mound and he inhaled deeply. “Mine” he growled and I rested my hands in his hair.

  “Yours” I breathed and moaned as he parted my thighs and inhaled again. Just as I thought he would take me with his mouth he carried on, kissing his way up my stomach, over my ribs and onto my breast.

  My eyes remained closed as I enjoyed the sensations and… I frowned as Mason stilled and I felt him rear back. I opened my eyes and found him staring blankly at my right breast and I looked down to see what had caught his attention… the bites!

  His eyes shot to mine and I couldn’t read them, they were dark, black and haunted.

  I frowned again “Mason?”

  He narrowed his eyes intensely on me and rested back on his heels. “What the fuck, Ava?” he growled.

  I scrambled to sit up. “What? You’re scaring me, what’s wrong?” I asked and he shook his head, his face showing disgust and abhorrence. “Mason please” he bit his lip and his eyes dropped to my breast again.

  “He bit you!” he stated coldly and I sucked on my lips, shame and demoralization coursing through me.

  “Yes” I nodded and looked down.

  I heard his breathing speed up a level until I thought he would hyperventilate and he took a step towards me. His face was furious and grim as he cocked his head at me.

  “Did you enjoy it Ava?” he spat and my eyes shot to his, confusion and disbelief raging through me.

  “W..What?” I spluttered.

  “His cock Ava, did you enjoy it… inside you, pounding at you?” he snarled and my jaw dropped as my eyes bulged.

  “Wh..wh..what?”

  I shook my head in distress and swallowed at the lump that had formed in my throat. He stalked swiftly over to me and grabbed my upper arms, holding me in his tight grip. “DID HE MAKE YOU FUCKING COME AVA?!!”

  He was furious, his face was contorted in ire and rage, as though madness had took hold of him.

  His eyes blazed and his teeth were bared, he inched his face forward so our noses were practically touching. “There’s only me that knows the bite takes it from a basic climax to pure ecstasy for you Ava, so why?”

  He smacked my breast with the back of his hand. “Did he bite you as you came, Ava” he spat icily and I recoiled, the nausea swiftly threatening to surface.

  “Did you tell him to bite you, Ava? Just before he spilled his spunk inside you” he snarled.

  My hand shot out and struck him across his face. His head whipped to the side and he turned slowly back to me and the look in his eyes filled my blood with ice and took my breath, filling my lungs with sheer terror. “Mason, please…” I begged as I took a step backwards.

  His lip curled and he shook his head slowly. “How did h
e know Ava?” he asked steely and I frowned.

  “I don’t understand Mason, he didn’t bite me for…” his eyes flashed and he grabbed my arms again, the pressure was sure to leave a large bruise. “Mason please” I sobbed and he shook me raggedly.

  “HOW DID HE KNOW ABOUT THE BITE AVA?” he bellowed and my eyes widened as realisation sunk in.

  Mason thought I had asked Dane to bite me in throws of passion, knowing that was my ultimate orgasm trigger. I shook my head vehemently. “No, Mason you’ve got it wrong!” I tried to explain.

  “DID HE FUCK YOU HARD AS HE BIT YOU A…” he never finished as he spun round and Greg’s fist connected with Mason’s cheekbone.

  I stood in utter shock and devastation at Mason’s disgust, loathing and revulsion of me.

  “WHAT THE FUCK MASON?” Greg bellowed as he punched him hard again. “He didn’t bite her during sex you fucking cunt!” Greg snarled and his anger gave him the power to hold Mason down. I stumbled backwards and sank onto the bed.

  I was stunned and in shock. I knew it was the drugs talking but the sheer evilness and coldness in him ripped me in two; even Dane couldn’t hurt me like Mason had just done.

  “He bit her to make her piss herself you fucking arsehole” Greg roared and I recoiled at his words, the shame and humiliation rose and I looked at my fingers, fiddling them in my lap.

  I felt the silence more than heard it, the uncomfortable silence, and I knew Mason was staring at me.

  “What?” he spluttered as him and Greg clambered off the floor.

  Greg sighed. “He would make her wait until her bladder was full and she was bursting, then bite her breast. The pain would make her concentrate on that so she would forget to hold her bladder” Greg spat at him and Mason’s face paled. “It wasn’t just physical torture and torment Mason, he fucked with her head. He made her call him Sir and ask politely and submissively for things, even to use the fucking toilet” he snarled and Mason’s hand shot out to the dresser to steady himself.

  “Fuck!” he rasped and Greg pushed his chest.

  “You fucking Bastard” he growled as he picked up my shirt and strode over to me. “You okay, Ava?” he asked softly as he helped me into my shirt and I just stared at the floor. “Ava?” Greg asked and squatted down in front of me. I stared blankly into his eyes “Come on, sweetheart” he said gently as he stood up and scooped me up.

  He walked towards the door and Mason shot over to us. “Ava…” he gulped and I shrank back further into Greg.

  “Don’t… no…” I shivered.

  His face closed down and I looked away, his ultimate betrayal hadn’t been the drugs, or the women or his secrets… it was this. The fact that he had thought I had enjoyed Dane’s torture and cruelty, that I had relished it and climaxed on it… that I wanted it and enjoyed it.

  “I’m going to be sick” I whispered to Greg. He nodded and sped up as he took me straight into the bathroom and placed me on the floor in front of the toilet as I leaned over and heaved and emptied the meagre contents of my stomach, the force of it was violent and nasty and I could feel Greg’s cringes beside me as he tried to control his own stomach.

  I heard the front door slam and I knew it was Mason leaving but I didn’t care, I didn’t want him anywhere near me. I heard Courtney mumble something and then she came to rest beside me.

  “Oh babe…” she sighed as she pulled my hair back and stroked my back in a comforting gesture.

  “He hates me” I whispered after I had finished vomiting.

  She frowned and shook her head. “No Ava, it’s the coke babe, it makes him paranoid and obsessive, that’s all Ava” she soothed as she stroked my hair back from my face.

  I shook my head. “He... he was… he frightened me Courtney. I have never seen him like that before; I thought he was going to hurt me.”

  I gulped and she huddled me into her “He would never hurt you Ava” she said and I pulled back.

  “But he just did Courtney… here!” I said as I held my hand against my heavy heart, the one that was now surrounded in ice, the ice that Mason had managed to chip away at slowly but successfully and in two minutes he had managed to build it all back up and more, so much more.

  I felt myself harden inside, refusing to let my heart, mind and body ever be free to anyone else again. I would keep them tight inside me; reveal them to nobody… not even Mason. They were mine and would remain that way.

  I could feel the shell slowly shrouding me and shielding me, it would protect me and govern me and make sure no one ever hurt me again. I was once again the cold hearted bitch that George had rescued that night but this time I wouldn’t let her die, I needed her and I was determined to keep her.

  CHAPTER 5

  I descended the stairs and turned to Elijah. “I’m leaving” I told him as I passed him a piece of paper with my address on.

  Greg scurried over to me, “No Ava, I don’t think that’s a good idea sweetheart” he pleaded and I swung round to him, my cold distant eyes bore into him and I saw him shrink back and frown slightly.

  “Ava?” he narrowed his eyes.

  “I am leaving and I am taking my babies home” I said bluntly and turned back to Elijah. “You are now on my payroll not Mr Fox’s. We’ll sort out the arrangements back at the cottage” I told him and he frowned.

  “Miss Stone, I really need to talk to Mr Fox about this” he said nervously and I glared at him.

  “You do that Mr Denman and I will find a suitable alternative. The choice is yours” I barked and turned back to the stairs.

  I noticed Greg and Courtney huddled together whispering and I narrowed my eyes on them, “I haven’t lost it. I need to harden up and get the hell out of here, away from… well just away.” I took the stairs two at a time and proceeded to pack mine, George’s and Katie’s things.

  Six hours later, I was back in the cottage with all my belongings and everybody had left except Elijah and the patrol guards. I had bathed and bedded the babies and I settled on the sofa with a bottle of wine. Elijah was stood to attention beside the room door and I held in a laugh as I glanced at him.

  “Do you ever relax?” I asked him and I was sure I saw his lips twitch.

  “Never on duty, Miss Stone” he divulged and I nodded.

  “Drink?” I held up the bottle to him but he shook his head.

  As I picked up my phone from the table to check for messages, I heard a knock on the front door. Elijah held up his hand to me and went to answer it.

  My heart soared when I heard his voice and I flew off the sofa and scuttled into the hallway, skidding to a halt as I took in his face.

  He stood silent, feasting on me with his eyes. “Princess” he sobbed and I flung into his arms as my own tears finally rolled free.

  “George, oh George” I choked.

  I glanced at Elijah who was regarding us with tenderness in his eyes and I pulled back, sobbing and laughing. “Mr Denman this is my step father George Fielding” I introduced and they nodded to each other.

  George held me out and scanned me, his eyes dark and haunted, “Oh sweetheart” he sighed as he pulled me close again.

  I grinned at him as I took his hand. “Come on” I nodded my head towards the stairs and led him into the nursery. He crept along the carpet slowly and stealthily and I heard his breath hitch as he looked at his grandchildren.

  He stroked his hand over their hair and I put my arm around his waist and held him close. We stood, silently watching George and Katie and then I led him back out and into the kitchen.

  “You want a coffee?” I shouted to Elijah who popped his head round the door and nodded. I smiled in understanding, “You can shout and scream, they won’t wake” I told him with a wry smile and he returned his own. “They have been brought up with plenty of noise and screaming… after all, me and Mason are their parents” I chuckled bitterly.

  George frowned at me. “What’s he done now?” he asked as he sunk into a chair around the table. Elijah was stood in
the kitchen and he stealthily backed into the lounge and I appreciated his discretion. I passed the mug to George and took Elijah his and settled at the table with my wine and glass and filled George in on everything that had happened.

  He remained silent; as I knew he would and he didn’t speak until I had finished. “Where is he?” he asked and I shrugged.

  “George, I never know what filters through his mind lately” I sighed and gulped at my wine.

  “It was just the coke, Ava. Don’t take any of it seriously” he said sadly.

  I nodded. “I know” I smiled weakly “but I can’t have a drug addict as a father for my children. He won’t come near them until he’s off the stuff” I warned.

  George nodded in agreement then reached forward and took my hands in a firm grasp. “And how are you bearing up princess?” he asked with pain and concern riding through his features.

  I shrugged but nibbled on my lip to hide my internal turmoil. “You know me George; I’m used to the shit life throws at me.”

  I looked away and heard him sigh, “I must admit, you must have killed a few fucking robins in your life, Ava” he laughed without humour and I scoffed.

  “One or two” I agreed.

  George leaned back in his chair and puffed. “Why the hell didn’t he finish him before?” he asked angrily and I shook my head.

  “No George, don’t go there. He was Mason’s best friend throughout his life; I wouldn’t be able to hurt Courtney either. I don’t blame Mason, not one bit” I declared.

  George regarded me and then shook his head sadly and stood up, “Listen, it’s late and I’ve sorted out accommodation at Brian’s.” He held up his hand to halt my protests as he continued. “You don’t have room Ava, what with the babies and the strapping bodyguards” he whispered with a twinkle in his eyes.

  I rolled my eyes in exasperation at him. “I’ll be back tomorrow, I’ll text you before I turn up” he revealed as a knock came to the door and I frowned, my heart in my mouth and George was instantly in front of me, his arms and legs wide protectively and I didn’t think I could love him more than I did in that exact moment.