Incineration (Heart of Stone) (2 page)

He cocked his head and continued to gaze at my mouth “Ava” just
hearing my name roll of his tongue in his low husky tone sent a shiver through
me.

His eyes then lifted to my face “I was wondering if you were
ready to go through your schedule and sign some necessary paperwork?” his face
still didn’t display a smile and I wondered if he had ever smiled in his life
“Erm yeah that’s fine. Would you like a drink whilst we do it…Erm while we get
on with it…Erm…” his eyebrow lifted and one side of his mouth curled upwards as
I groaned “Erm sorry Mr Fox, I’m a little nervous. Would you like a drink?” I
asked, leaving it at that.

God damn Ava!
He must think I’m an idiot; either that
or a sex craved nymphomaniac.

He actually smiled then, a grin erupting on his face and it
made him even more stunning, his eyes twinkling brightly and his lips curved
deliciously, and I started to imagine what those soft plump lips could do to
sate the throb between my lips.
Breathe Ava!!

“Yes I’d like that…a drink that is” I was sure the tone of
his voice had dropped a level and the throb spread hotter through my lower
stomach.
Oh God!

I coughed and smiled gingerly “Erm, where will you be and
I’ll bring it through?” I asked quietly, and his face resumed its usual stern
expression “My office. Up the stairs, first door on the left” with that he
turned abruptly and disappeared through the doorway, leaving me to let out the
huge breath I had been holding.

Balancing the tray containing two mugs of coffee, sugar and
milk I knocked on the office door “Yep” I heard Mason shout and I opened the
door and entered.

His office was completely different to the rest of the dark
wooded house. It was all chic smoky glass, abstract art and on one wall was a
large framed photograph of a pretty dark haired girl in her early 20’s,
laughing at the camera as Mason had his arms wrapped around her waist as though
he was trying to spin her round, an intense jealousy raged through me at the
sight of the love obviously shared between them and it made me gasp at my
insane reaction.

On the opposite wall was a huge window overlooking the
garden and a ginormous desk was sat in front of it. Mason was sat in a large
leather chair with his back to me staring out of the window.

 When he heard me enter he swung round and actually smiled
at me “Ava, sit down please” he motioned to a chair facing his desk.

Placing the tray on his desk I kept my gaze on the coffee
“Sugar and milk?” I asked him without lifting my eyes.

This man made me nervous for some reason, I had always felt
comfortable in my own skin, ever since George had nurtured me back to life but
being in Mason’s presence was bringing out some unknown emotions in me. I had
never really been attracted to any man, oh I knew I wasn’t gay but I had never
found a man that did it for me, but Mason was making me feel things that were
hidden so far away in me it was unsettling.

“Here I’ll do it” Mason said as he stood, noticing my hands
were trembling “If you don’t mind Mr Fox I’d rather and then I’ll know how you
like to have it” I looked at him and smiled nervously “Oh Yeah okay, Erm…” he
frowned; he seemed to be struggling to remember how he took his coffee and he
shifted slightly in his chair and cleared his throat “Erm, white with one
sugar…I think” he pursed his lips and shook his head.

I looked at him now, properly and smiled “You sure?” I
couldn’t help the sly smile twitching my lips as one of my eyebrows lifted,
mocking him. He narrowed his eyes and nodded firmly “Yes” and that was it, he
was back to his usual grim self.

After preparing his coffee and mine I handed him the cup and
his fingers brushed mine, sending a small jolt through me, flowing electricity
down to area’s I kept hidden. I frowned to myself and as he placed his cup on
the desk he rubbed the edge of his fingers; had he felt it too?

“Right” he looked at me “I’ve never had an assistant before
so I need to know what your duties consist of Ava” he cocked his head and held
my gaze “What you do for me?” he added with a slight twitch in his lips.
Oh
God, what I COULD do for him!!

A warm feeling pooled between my thighs and I fidgeted in my
seat, my teeth chewing on my little finger again. What the hell was happening
to me? I decided I would need to give my vibrator a good workout tonight to
bring my mind out of the gutter.

I cleared my throat “Erm well Mr Fox, it’s usually personal
things such as shopping, cooking, laundry, kind of like a housekeeper but then
I also could deal with your personal appointments, pay your bills and accompany
you on any engagements you need me for. To be brutally honest” I swallowed, not
sure how to say this last part “Whatever you need from me” I sucked in my lips,
knowing how it sounded but there wasn’t any other way to say it.

His eyebrows lifted and he bit his bottom lip “Whatever I need”
it was said as a statement not a question and he cocked his head, a small
twinkle in his eye as his gaze settled on my mouth. I swallowed again “Yes Mr
Fox, within reason of course” I added, trying to get the erotic pictures out of
my head.

My breathing had become heavy and I was struggling not to
shut my eyes and let out a groan “Of Course” he smirked, his eyes on mine as he
shifted position in his seat. He seemed to shake his head of some thought and
cleared his throat “Right Ava, that sounds…fun” another smile lifted his mouth.
Wow where were they all coming from? I didn’t think this man had it in him “so
say shopping, laundry and cooking for now, and then we can ease you in to the
business side of things. I have a cleaner come in three times a week so I’ll
leave the housework to her and then we’ll just play it by ear. I’m sure we’ll
work round it together” he glanced down at some paperwork, tapped his fingers
on the desk and then looked at me “However Ava, I need you to sign a NDA, and I
know George has vouched for you but I need the extra security” he seemed
nervous now and I empathised with him.

I think he thought it was rude to ask “That’s fine Mr Fox. I
expected it anyway. But can I just say, anything, and I mean anything that
occurs while I’m in your employment is in strict confidence. Even your shopping
list is top secret” I smiled, trying to ease his worries and his face spilt in
to a wonderful grin. My god this man was beautiful when he smiled and I marginally
managed to suppress the small groan that threatened to surface.

He tipped his head and passed me the contract to sign “Thank
you Ava” I shrugged and skimmed over the contract wording before I signed and
handed it back to him “Right I need your bank details for you salary, your
mobile number so I can reach you and the usual information, you know address,
date of birth, that sort of thing” he said as he handed me a notepad to write
it all down.

As I jotted down the things he had asked for, the room was
silent but I could feel his eyes watching my hand sweep across the paper, his
breathing seemed to get heavy and I wondered if he had a fetish for pens…or
hands.

My gaze to his when I had finished and his eyes locked on
mine, we seemed to stare at each other for a long while, both of us lost in
each other’s scrutiny. I broke the contact and lowered my eyes to my lap as my
little finger snaked its way to my mouth, chewing rapidly on my fingertip.

I was sure I heard a slight groan from Mason but he quickly
covered it by coughing and standing up swiftly “Right Ava, Erm what do you need
to do first?” he asked, his eyes now regarding the garden through the window
“Erm, well I would be grateful if you could write down what things you like to
eat so I can do your shopping, you don’t seem to have much in” he nodded and
flipped a page on the notebook “Anything really, I’m not a fussy eater. I have
a bit of a sweet tooth so I like to have lots of sugary things in” he ripped
the paper from the notepad and pulled his wallet from his pocket, retrieved
some cash and handed it me with the shopping list “I’ll sort out a credit card
for you Ava so you don’t have to keep coming and asking for the cash” he also
handed me an envelope “There’s the front door key and alarm code” I took the
items from him and nodded “No rush. I can pay and then save the receipts for
you till then” he nodded and his phone rang on his desk “Right, I’ll go do your
shopping. I’ve wrote my mobile number down if you need to reach me” I turned
swiftly and exited the room, shutting the door quietly I leant against it and
took a deep breath.

It was going to be hard to rein in my reactions to this man
but I also knew that I wouldn’t and couldn’t have any sort of relationship with
him, my past life always at the front of my mind, crushing any thoughts of a
sexual relationship with anyone.

I returned a couple of hours later, loaded with food and as
I entered the entrance hallway Mason was coming down the stairs, accompanied by
a tall, dark haired woman. She was very beautiful in a phoney kind of way; my
instincts pulling towards plastic surgery and Botox. Her clothes were expensive
and designer, her hair and make-up professionally done but it was her
assessment of me that made me dislike her instantly.

Her gaze travelled the length of me and her pouty lips
curled in distaste as her eyes narrowed. “Hi” Mason smiled “You get everything
you need Ava?” he asked as he walked over to me and took the bags from me,
carrying them into the kitchen and placing them on the island “Yes, I think so
Mr Fox” he turned and frowned “Ava, please call me Mason. Mr Fox makes me feel
old” he laughed and I smiled back “You’re far from old Mr…Mason” I corrected
and he grinned at me “Well done, see it’s not hard. Anymore shopping to bring
in?” he questioned. I nodded “It’s fine though, I can manage. There’s only a
few more” I told him, making my way back through the hall to the front doors.

As I reached into my car boot he appeared beside me, making
me jolt backwards. He grinned at me “I always seem to make you jump Ava” his
face fell a little “Do I scare you?” he asked seriously, his gaze eyes
penetrating mine.

Gulping, I laughed nervously “No, Mr Fox. I’m always a
little jumpy, just ignore me” he narrowed his eyes and held my gaze silently
for a while then seemed to accept my answer and leaned in my boot to retrieve
the bags, taking them all and walked back to the house.

I closed the boot and placed my hand against the roof,
closing my eyes and taking deep breaths, trying to clear my head. This man was
really unnerving me and If I was honest with myself, he did frighten me
slightly but not out of fear of physical pain but something that I knew was
making me lose my control and self-preservation and I couldn’t work out why I
was reacting this way to him; yes, he was stunning but I had been around good
looking men before and I had never…never had this reaction to anyone.

Taking a deep breath I turned back to the house, halting as
I saw Mason stood in the doorway watching me intently, his head cocked to one
side. I smiled nervously and followed him into the house.

Miss Sour trout was watching us searchingly and when she
looked at me I could see the hatred behind her eyes “Are you going to introduce
us, Mason darling?” she purred, walking over to him and planting a kiss on his
cheek.

I got the impression she was marking her territory and if
she was male I was sure she would have cocked her leg and pissed up his. Mason
looked at her sharply “Rebecca this is Ava Stone, she’s my new personal
assistant; Georges Fieldings’ surrogate daughter” and then he turned to me
“Ava, this is Rebecca Delaney, a friend of mine” I smiled at her but she stared
at Mason “I think we’re more than just friends Mason” she hummed as she touched
his forearm. He turned to her again and narrowed his eyes “We fuck, Rebecca” he
said sternly and I raised my eyebrows at his cruelty.

 Rebecca recoiled a little but then turned to me “Nice to
meet you Ava” she snapped and turned, walked out of the house and slammed the
front door behind her.

Mason turned to me, a cheeky smile on his face “Oops” he
shrugged and I blushed furiously, not quite knowing how to take his aloofness
to someone he was sleeping with.

I lowered my eyes and started to unpack the shopping “What
would you like for your lunch Mr Fox?” I asked, trying to change the subject
rapidly. I felt a hand on my forearm but I didn’t turn round “I’m sorry Ava, I
seemed to have embarrassed you” I shook my head rapidly, still not looking at
him but highly aware of his hand resting on my arm, the heat of it making my
hair stand on end “No, no Mr Fox. Your private affairs don’t concern me, it’s
none of my business”

I was embarrassed that I had shown my awkwardness when it
was nothing to do with me what he did with other women. He nodded at my statement
and turned to leave “A sandwich will do Ava and I ask again, please call me
Mason” I raised my eyes and nodded my confirmation as he disappeared out of the
room.

 Flicking the kettle on, desperate for caffeine I busied
myself emptying the bags and filling the fridge. I quickly made him a beef
salad on rye bread and placed it on a plate with a side portion of crisps,
accompanying it with a bottle of water and a coffee I took it up to his office.

 knocking lightly I smiled when I heard his acknowledgement “Yep”
his voice shouted and I wondered if he ever said ‘come in’. I opened his door
and walked in, setting the tray on his desk.

 “Layla babe, calm the fuck down, trust me, I said I’ll see
to it…”He said into the phone whilst he watched me, smiled and mouthed a thank
you. I nodded and turned to leave the room “Ava” he said behind me and I
glanced round my shoulder at him, noticing as I turned that his gaze quickly
lifted from my backside to my face “I’m going to be out for most of the
afternoon, is there anything you need to know before I go?” he inquired after a
hard swallow as he held his hand over the mouthpiece on his phone. I shook my
head “No everything’s fine. I’ll be leaving around 6pm is that okay?” I asked.