Tolerance (Heart of Stone) Read online

  He was starting to get a little possessive and I was worried I was going to hurt him again, even though I had told him it was just sex and he had accepted that. He groaned and pulled away, sliding his long lean legs into his Mercedes. He grinned at me, turned the engine over and sped off.

  I clambered in my car next to Courtney and I noticed she narrowed her eyes on me “What?” I asked, pulling off and heading towards the hospital “He’s getting a little clingy Ava, I like him and I don’t want him to get hurt if you’re not gonna reciprocate his feelings then you need to tell him” she scolded and I held up a hand to her “I have told him from the start it’s just sex between us, Courtney and he has agreed all the way along” I defended “Well I don’t think it’s sunk in, I can tell by the way he looks at you Babe” I nodded sadly “I don’t love him Courtney. I can’t help it. My heart belongs to Mason and always will” I was utterly truthful with her and I know she appreciated my honesty.

  I hadn’t heard or seen anything from Mason since the night in my kitchen and to be honest I was a little worried about him. Greg had said he had seen him and he was fine but he hadn’t seen him broken and crying at my table and I will never forget that heart-breaking sight.

  Courtney sighed and nodded and changed the subject “I am so ready for this Christmas break” she declared and I smiled “Me too, who’s going? I asked as I stuck two fingers up at an arrogant male driver who cut me up and then had the gall to mouth ‘stupid fucking bitch!’ at me.

  “Well there’s you, me and Greg, Sam and Marcy and another couple I think but I’m not too sure” she was rooting through her bag to retrieve her phone “Oh God, I’m gonna be a great big gooseberry” I grumbled and she scowled at me “No you’re not” “FOR FUCKS SAKE” I barked as the road rage nutter slammed his brakes on in front of me.

  Courtney jumped through the roof as I blasted him with my horn and he stuck his middle finger up at me through the rear view and I made a ‘wanker’ motion to him.

  “Ava” Ethan the sonographer greeted me and smiled at Courtney “Do you ever get a day off?” I asked and he grinned “Don’t be silly Ava” he laughed as I settled myself onto the examination table. I pulled up my shirt, wearing trousers and a t-shirt this time and he squirted me with the cold Gel. He settled the transducer against my tummy as a small knock came on the door. “Just a mo Ava” he said and went to open the door “He’s well fit” Courtney whispered and I laughed and then my jaw dropped as Mason entered the room with Ethan.

  “Hey” he said softly and came to stand beside me, taking my hand in his and holding it tightly. I glanced at Courtney who was as stunned as me “Sorry I’m late” he said as Ethan continued with the examination. A small smile grew on my face and soon I was beaming up at him as he was grinning back at me. He bent, planted a soft kiss on my forehead and looked at the monitor “Let’s see what the peanuts are up to” he said as they popped up on screen.

  I sighed happily and watched my babies wiggle, kick and turn in my belly “Amazing” Mason whispered and I looked up at him and squeezed his hand “Yes” I whispered back and his eyes shot to mine as he grasped I was talking about him. He smiled softly and brushed my knuckles with his thumb “Everything’s fine Mum and Dad. Both peanuts are growing healthily” Ethan smiled and proceeded to print off two pictures.

  Mason cleaned my stomach again and helped me up off the table, pulling me craftily against him as he pulled and he brushed his hand over my stomach and leaned in to my ear “I have to go, I’m sorry Ava. I have an appointment but didn’t want to miss this” he said softly. I smiled up at him and nodded as he kissed my mouth gently but left his lips against mine a fraction too long to make it chaste and I sighed dreamily against him “I’m sorry about that Saturday night” he whispered but I placed my finger against his lips and shook my head slowly “Don’t be” I replied and he shrugged but smiled “I love you” he whispered quietly so only I could hear him “And me, you” I whispered back and he closed his eyes as if relishing my words but then pulled back “See ya later” he said to everyone and then he left.

  I was nibbling on my finger contemplating the change in him when I caught Courtneys glare “When the hell is he gonna make his damn mind up?” she said angrily “Don’t Courtney” I sighed and then shot wide eyes to Ethan, I had completely forgot he was still sat there. He smiled softly and shook his head “Hey, we all have relationship problems Ava” he said kindly and Courtney snorted loudly “Not like Ava’s fucking love life!” she snarled. Okayyyy she was a little pissed and I closed my eyes in dismay “Courtney, for God’s sake. He was just apologising for Saturday night” I tried “Bollocks!” she scoffed and now I was getting embarrassed in front of Ethan “He was all over you. That wasn’t just an apology. He won’t ever let you loose Ava” she glared and I chose to ignore her and turned to Ethan and rolled my eyes. He seemed to finding the whole thing amusing and his eyes twinkled as he smiled at me “No worries. Well have a good Christmas you two and we’ll see you at the end of January” he grinned “And you Ethan, thank you” I said as I grabbed Courtneys hand and pulled her from the room

  “Well that was embarrassing” I grumbled at her and she sighed “Yeah I know, I’m sorry. How the hell did he know you were here anyway?” she asked as we entered the elevator to the ground floor “He was with me last time when I made this appointment” I told her but I was surprised he had remembered it because he hadn’t written it down.

  The next morning I was sat in the back seat of Greg’s car as we headed up to the cabin for Christmas. Sam and Marcy were meeting us there and I was quite excited at spending Christmas with my friends in a picturesque little setting. I had been surprised to find that Kade had left me a Christmas gift on my bed when I had returned from the hospital and I was now glad I had secretly put mine in his bag before he left. It was just his favourite aftershave and long sleeved t-shirt from his favourite brand; I hadn’t wanted to get him anything personal as to not give him the wrong signals. I had everybody’s gifts in the boot of Greg’s car and had had to sneak them past Courtney because she was a terrible snoop as Greg had discovered much to his horror when she had rummaged through his bag to find her gift from him.

  We approached the cabin in early evening and I gasped at the sight of it. It was a pure log cabin and it was large, stunning and completely rustic “Wow Greg” I breathed, mesmerised by its beauty. He grinned at me “Great isn’t it” I nodded “It’s even got a Hot tub Ava” Courtney squealed with delight and we rolled our eyes at her.

  Greg carted my bags in, refusing to let me carry any and Courtney and I stood in shock, gaping around us as we stepped into the cabin. Sam and Marcy had already got a fire going, and there was a huge Christmas tree in the corner of the room, which the staff had decorated ready for our arrival according to Greg. The kitchen was full to brimming with food, luxuries and alcohol ready for the festivities and the whole cabin was simply stunning

  “Hey Ava” Sam beamed with a twinkle in his eye and I regarded him cautiously “What?” I asked but he just grinned and shook his head. I frowned at him but Marcy pulled me into a hug “Merry Christmas Ava” she smiled and handed me a hot chocolate and a jar of peanut butter and I beamed at her “Don’t thank me Hun, it was Greg that ordered you a huge supply of the stuff” my mouth dropped and I turned to Greg with a sloppy look on my face “I love you even more now Mr Chambers” he winked at me “Merry Christmas Ava. There’s also Gherkins and curry paste” A small sob erupted from my throat and everybody laughed. Curry paste was one of my new cravings and I had it with everything

  “There’s no soap anywhere though” he smirked and my smile fell. I had been secretly hoping that the other guests had brought some and I could sneakily steal it “Hustled” Courtney laughed and I pouted ‘Bitch’ I mouthed to her but she just stuck her tongue out and Greg pulled her into an embrace “I can’t wait to get you up those stairs” he growled at her and she giggled like a school girl.

  I turned to Sam and Mar
cy to roll my eyes but they were already in a passionate clinch. I was already starting to regret this holiday. I was gonna be ‘piggy in the middle’ all the time or ‘The spare part’ and I sighed softly to myself, standing looking lost in the middle of the gigantic room.

  Sam broke free and winked at me “Better show you to your room Ava” he grinned, what was with him? “How many rooms are there?” I asked “Three” mumbled Greg from Courtney’s neck “Well where are the other couple sleeping?” I asked, hoping I wasn’t gonna be plonked on the couch, my belly and back would not put up with that.

  Greg shot me a questioning look “What other couple?” he asked “I thought Courtney had said someone else was coming” I stretched my back; it was aching from sitting in the car all the way up the motorway. Greg shook his head “No other couples Ava” he smiled cheekily “Come on Ava” Sam said as he lifted my case for me “Wow, you are all gentlemen” I said happily and Sam laughed “Well, there is one of us here that’s definitely not going to be gentlemanly with you” Sam smirked and I frowned at him “What?” I mumbled as my phone trilled a text message and I scooted about in the bottom of my bag for it whilst following Sam. It was George telling me to have a good holiday; he had felt awful not to be spending Christmas with me but his new girlfriend had wanted him to spend it with her family and I had told George it was fine as I was spending it up here with my friends

  “So what are you hoping Santa brings you Ava?” Sam asked with a twinkle in his eye. He was starting to worry me now and I wondered if he’d been on the whisky. I sighed “I don’t think I’ll be getting what I asked for this year Sam” I sighed sadly and he could read my face as he nodded sombrely outside a door I presumed was mine then he smiled

  “You sure about that Ava?” he grinned widely and opened the door.

  A sob choked in my throat at the sight of Mason sprawled out on my bed, a huge smile on his face and completely utterly stark naked “Merry Christmas my little warrior” he beamed.

  CHAPTER 12

  My legs gave way and Sam’s arms shot out to catch me as Mason jumped off the bed and rushed over to me, completely unabashed at his nakedness. He took me out of Sam’s arms and carried me in the room, kicking the door shut behind him.

  “Mason” I rasped “What’s going on?” he looked down at me and brushed my cheek with the back of his fingers “Shush, we’ll talk later. First I want to make love to my beautiful woman” he breathed and I whimpered. I must be dreaming, or someone had put something into my hot chocolate.

  I put my hand on his cheek just to check he wasn’t a vision and a tear slipped free when I felt his beautiful face under my skin “Oh Ava” he snuggled into my hair “I love you, I love you, I love you” he said softly and I choked out a sob “Oh god Mason, are you real?” I rasped and he laughed, a huge rattling laugh that stole another piece of my heart “Yes Ava, just for Christmas though but we’ll see what happens after. We’ll talk later” he said as he laid me gently on the bed and sprawled over me, careful of my round tummy.

  We gazed at each other for eternity, saying everything in the silence. I stroked his cheek “I love you so much Mason. I can’t live without you” I revealed and then I wept as he held me “Oh Baby, I am so sorry for everything Ava” he said into my hair as he rocked me. I controlled my tears and cupped his face, bringing his mouth down to mine and I kissed him; kissed him with love, devotion, rawness, softness and with the very essence of my soul.

  His mouth trailed across my jaw and down my neck as he gave me the usual love bite, marking his ownership and his possession. I grabbed his hair and pulled him further into my skin, wanting his signature all over every part of me. He moaned against me as he understood what I needed and his fingers skated across my shirt, over my heavy breast and against my hard nipple. “Mine” he growled into me and I moaned loudly, intensively aroused at his dominance “Yours” I breathed.

  He unbuttoned my shirt and pulled it from me and he gazed at my pale pink lace bra and then buried his head between my breasts and bit each of them “Mine” he repeated and I groaned again and pushed further into him “Yours” he gently lapped at the bites and then took my nipple lightly in-between his teeth and he gazed up at me, under his long eyelashes. I knew what he wanted “Yes! Bite me!” I demanded and he closed his eyes in ecstasy as he gently but firmly clamped down. I bucked off the bed “Mine” he rasped and I literally growled at him “Yours!” I near shouted at him.

  I was in paradise with my man beside me “I need you inside me, now” I begged and he started fumbling with the button on my trousers “Hurry” I pleaded desperately as he yanked them down my legs with my knickers and was soon positioning himself.

  He was inside me in one swift thrust and we both cried out at the bliss of been joined again. He held still, stretching me wide around him as he held my face and stared at me “You are so fucking beautiful Ava. So fucking amazing. So fucking hot. So fucking delicate and so fucking mine” he growled the last words and ground his hips in a circular motion, rubbing his pelvis against my clitoris. “Oh Fuck” I cried and orgasmed immediately in an intense near painful climax “Jesus, Ava” he cried as he drove into me twice and was exploding brutally inside me, shouting my name loudly and vehemently.

  I was laid on my back with Masons head on my chest while he stroked my baby bump “I can’t wait to see them Ava. To hold them!” I could feel his grin against my skin. He kissed my stomach twice and then sat up “We need to talk” he said solemnly and I nodded “I think it’s best if I tell the others what’s going on as well” I frowned at his grim face “It’s serious isn’t it?” I breathed as I knelt in front of him on the bed and cupped his face. He nodded “You’re not gonna like it Ava but I want to talk to you privately later about something, okay?” he cocked his head and stroked my jaw with his thumb. I smiled softly and leaned in to kiss him. His hands cupped my face as he kissed me back “I love you so much Ava, I can’t seem to live without you. I miss you all the fucking time. I can’t stop thinking about you; what you’re doing, what you’re wearing, what you’re eating…which actually gives me some hilarious thoughts” he winked and rubbed my tum and I grinned.

  We both got dressed and as I went to open the door he turned me swiftly, pushed me against it and kissed me tenderly and lovingly. “I love you so much Ava, so damn much” His hands settled on my bum and he lifted me as I swung my legs around his hips “We’re not gonna be able to do this for much longer” I said as my stomach was stuck like a small boulder between us. He grinned and kissed my nose “I’ll just have to keep you here for a bit longer then. Hold on” he grinned as I wrapped my arms around his neck and he opened the door and carried me downstairs still clung to him.

  “You haven’t eaten each other yet then?” Courtney grinned and winked at me as we walked into the cosy lounge. Sam and Marcy were sat on the rug in front of the fire and Greg was sat on a sofa with Courtney leaning in to him. Mason sat on a huge, soft armchair and settled me on his lap as he took my hand and gripped it tight

  “We need to talk” he told them and they all swung their eyes to him “It’s about fucking time” Greg huffed and Mason narrowed his eyes at him “Don’t start Greg” he warned and Greg shook his head in dismay “Do you actually know what you’ve put Ava through? It’s not been you sat listening to her fucking sob in her room when she thought we couldn’t hear her Mason! The mornings me and Courtney would go into her house and she would be howling and calling your fucking name and we just had to turn around and leave her to it…Alone!! You broke Courtneys fucking heart as well as Ava’s” I looked away, nibbling my finger rapidly as Greg barked. I had no idea they knew all this and my eyes shot to Courtneys but she just gave me a soft smile and shook her head marginally.

  Mason lowered his eyes guiltily “I know” he said softly and brought my hand to his lips. He sighed heavily then looked at me, his eyes deep and worrisome “Rebecca’s father is blackmailing me!” he said bluntly but calmly. I frowned at him as his arm slid
around my side and pulled me closer into him “WHAT?” I gasped.

  Everybody was staring at Mason with dropped jaws and wide eyes and he took a deep breath and turned slightly so he could hold my eyes “Mark recorded you on his phone the night you shot Dean” he said gently as he closed his eyes waiting for my reaction.

  He didn’t have to wait long; I shot off his knee and stared at him “W...w.what?” I stuttered, shocked and stunned as he reached out to me “Ava, calm down” I shook my head rapidly not comprehending what he was telling me “Baby, sit down and I’ll tell you the rest. I don’t want you getting upset, it’s not good for the babies” he said gently and I just stood staring at him.

  He stood, picked me up and settled us back down in the chair, wrapping his arms around me tightly “STAY!” he ordered gently. I glanced over the rest of my friends and they were all sat gobsmacked…pretty much the same as me then. Another deep breath from Mason and he carried on

  “He also took the gun” he glanced at me and my stomach was now tightly coiled as the nausea had started to creep in “Oh fuck!” I puffed out and Mason nodded. Now everything was crystal clear! I cocked my head at Mason “So he’s making you marry his daughter in return for keeping me out of prison” I said slowly and Mason closed his eyes in distress but nodded slowly. Now I felt like a fucking fool. All this time screaming and shouting at Mason, blaming him for leaving me and he had done it to protect me.

  I cupped his face and turned him to me “Listen to me, right now!” I was livid, my fury was bubbling up “You. Are. Not. Marrying. Her” I said frankly and simply and Mason looked away “Mason!” I warned “I would rather rot in hell that watch her get her claws into you” Masons eyes shot to me “No Ava” he warned but I glared at him “I mean it Mason, I would go to prison for you, you know that!” I climbed off his lap and walked over to the front door “I need a few minutes” I snapped and took my coat off the hook by the door “AVA!” Mason shouted but I held my hand up to him and walked out. I needed air, space and time to calm down before I wrecked the cabin. This was my entire fault and now Mason was paying the price for helping me through one of the darkest times of my life. He had helped me put Katie to rest and start to build my life again.