Resolution (Heart of Stone) (18 page)

“Ava?” He
mumbled into the phone.

“Nate” I
sobbed as I heard his voice.

“Ava! What’s
wrong, sweetheart?” he asked, now sounding awake and alert.

“I’m sorry
for ringing so late but… but I need to see you” I choked out.

“I thought
you were in Scotland” he mumbled and I realised he was rubbing his face with
his hand.  

I heard him
whisper something to Liv. “I am, but I’m gonna drive back so I’ll be there
after dinner.”

He was
silent for a while. “Ava, what’s happened?” he asked hesitantly and I gulped.

“Mason… he
got high and… and, he raped me Nate” I whimpered as the realisation of what he
had done slammed into my foggy brain.

“W…w..what?”
he stammered and I choked out a sob.  

“He got
nasty Nate and…” I couldn’t finish.

“Listen
sweetheart, do you want me to fetch you?” he asked softly.

“No, I’m
gonna take Mason’s car, the drive will take my mind off it. I’m gonna set off
soon.”

I heard him
swallow harshly. “How about you just get a taxi back and I’ll pay for it?” he
tried.

“No, I need
to drive Nate. I’ll be fine I promise” I told him.

He sighed
heavily. “Okay, but stop and text me at regular intervals” he resigned and I
smiled.

“I will.
Thank you.”

I closed my
eyes and bit my lower lip. “Hey…” he breathed down the phone and I knew he was
doing the same. “I love you, sweetheart” he whispered.

I swallowed
the sob that was threatening to erupt, “I know. I love you too. I’ll see you
soon.”

I ended the
call and pulled my case off the wardrobe and flung my belongings in it, making
sure to take Mason’s coke with me.

I ventured
down the stairs and scurried through Mason’s coat and sighed in relief as I
found his keys. I quickly wrote a note to Courtney and the others about where I
had gone and I crept from the house, not wanting to face Courtney’s wrath and
refusal to let me leave.

I hurriedly
swept all the contents from Mason’s glove box onto the floor and smiled
wickedly as I turned the key and the engine purred. God! I loved this car; it
was fast, lean and impressive and Mason had never let me drive it, well by
rights he still wasn’t letting me drive it but fuck him!

I pulled
away from the cabin slowly as not to disturb the others and as I pulled off the
long driveway I turned the stereo on, selected an album on Mason’s iPod and
blasted out some upbeat tunes and grinned as I pushed Mason’s Aston Martin to
its limits all the way back down the M1, stopping at regular intervals but not
at the Services Mason and I had pulled into.

Every time I
stopped to text Nate I discovered numerous missed calls on my phone and I sent
Courtney a text explaining I had to leave and I would ring her when I got to Nate’s.
She sent back an angry reply but I couldn’t be bothered getting upset about it,
I had other things to worry about than Courtney’s anger and thanks to Mason’s
mean machine I was pulling up to Nate’s driveway gates a little after 1 in the
afternoon.

He opened
the front door as I climbed out of the car and my legs couldn’t carry me fast
enough as he walked to me and I walked to him, meeting halfway as he pulled me
into him and I broke down and cried.

He scooped
me up and carried me into his house where Liv was waiting with a bottle of
vodka and two glasses.

He settled
me onto the sofa as he pulled me onto his lap and let me sob hysterically and
exhaustingly.

I heard the
hushed tones as I woke a little while later covered in a blanket and I
stretched out realising it was now night time again. I groaned as I tried to
roll my head around my stiff neck but realised it was sore not stiff and I
winced in pain.

Liv appeared
before me and crouched down in front of me “Can I pop some cream on it for you,
Ava?” she asked gently and I smiled and nodded.

She stroked
my hair off my face and disappeared as I swung my legs off the sofa and sat up,
jumping in shock as I saw Elijah sat in one of the armchairs. “Hey” he smiled
softly and I frowned at him.

“You’re back
so I’m back” he informed me with a wink, “Nate rang me to say you had come back
early so it’s back to normal I’m afraid.”

I nodded at
him and smiled with a shrug. “That’s fine, I just don’t wanna intrude any more
on Nate and Liv” I told him and he nodded.

“It was my
idea” I heard Nate say from behind so I turned to look at him and then flinched
at the pain.

He scowled and
bit his lower lip in anger. “Nate” Liv warned as she returned with a tube of
something and sat beside me on the sofa. Sweeping my hair aside she grimaced as
she saw the wounds properly for the first time

“
Jesus
Christ!”
Nate hissed and I saw his fists clench. “What the fuck happened?”
He asked and my eyes flicked to Elijah.

“Would you
mind leaving us alone for a while?” Nate asked him. Elijah stood and nodded but
not before taking a good glimpse at my neck and wincing.

He
disappeared through the hallway and into the kitchen as Nate took the place
next to me whilst Liv cleaned and applied cream to my bites. “Christ Ava, he’s
literally took chunks out of you.” His face was dark and I grumbled as my phone
rang in my bag.

“Shit, I
didn’t ring Courtney” I declared.

“Relax, I
rang her to let her know you got here safe” Nate informed me as I scuttled
about in my bag for my phone and as I saw the name on the display I declined it
and placed it on the table.

“I take it
that was him?” Nate asked and I jumped in pain when Liv cleaned the deepest
bite.

“Ava, I
really think these need stitches.” She sighed and I closed my eyes and grumbled.

“Really?”

She nodded as
she grimaced at me. “They’re really deep and one of them has a chunk of flesh
missing.” She puffed out and I closed my eyes and grit my teeth as my phone
rang again.

I could see
Nate flick a glance at my phone and his expression blackened. “I haven’t seen
them” I told Liv trying to ignore the incessant ringing. She smiled sadly
“We’ll have a coffee and then I’ll run you” she said irately as my phone rang
again.

Before I
could stop him, Nate snatched it up and answered it and I groaned.

“LEAVE. HER.
THE. FUCK.  ALONE!” Nate exploded down the phone.

I cringed as
Liv winced with me. “Bring it fucking on!” he growled.

I had never
seen Nate so angry; his cheek muscle twitched rapidly, his jaw clenched tightly
and I could see his foot tapping the floor briskly. “Do you even realise what
the fuck it is you’ve done to her?” he demanded and I reached for my phone.

“Nate leave
it, please don’t get upset.”

He shook his
head at me and then scoffed down the phone. “She needs stitches Mason, that’s
how fucking bad she is. Do you even understand that? You’re supposed to love
her and protect her yet you fucking rape her and brutally tear her to bits. NOW
BACK THE FUCK OFF HER!” he roared and ended the call.

He flung my
phone onto the table with a growl and stormed from the room. “Maybe I shouldn’t
have come?” I admitted quietly.

“Don’t be
silly, he’ll calm down” Liv said as she stood, “Coffee?”

I smiled and
nodded as she went to make coffee.

My phone
rang again and I sighed exhaustedly as I saw it was Courtney. “Hey” I answered
softly and I heard her huff of breath.

“How are you,
babe?” she asked gently and I smiled at her tenderness.

“I’m okay, I
just needed to get out of there and see Nate” I explained.

“Ava, that’s
fine, I just wish you’d have told me first. You weren’t in any fit state to
drive.”

I sighed “I
know, but I’m okay” We were silent for a while, listening to each other’s
calming breath before I braced myself and asked the question I was dying to
know. “How is he?”

I cringed at
her sharp intake of breath. “What the fuck, Ava? You shouldn’t even fucking
care right now.”

I rolled my
eyes in frustration. “It doesn’t matter, forget I asked. Listen I’ll ring you
in the morning” I said wearily and ended the call and then pulled my knees up
underneath me.

Closing my
eyes in exhaustion, I saw Mason’s name display on my phone as it rang happily
in my hand. Taking a deep breath I answered but didn’t speak.

“Ava?” he
choked out, “Ava? Baby?” He sounded hysterical and my heart broke for him but
that didn’t mean I forgave him. “Baby, please” he sobbed and I sucked in a
breath at the rawness in his voice.

He was
broken and devastated and I closed my eyes as a tear escaped from the corner of
my eye. “Baby, I am so fucking sorry. Baby? I… I…Oh Jesus, Ava…” he sobbed and
I choked out a sob.

“Oh baby” he
cried and I closed my eyes in distress at his desolation. “Please let me come
and see you” he asked no more than a whisper.

“NO!” I
cried and the sound of his silence was louder than the sound of his pleas.

“Baby I… I
won’t hurt you, Ava” he breathed.

I gulped.
“No Mason. Stay… stay away from… me” I hiccupped and I heard his whimper.

“I didn’t
mean to hurt you Ava, you’ve gotta believe me baby, I didn’t mean to…” he cried
and I bit my lip furiously.

“But you did
Mason… so much” I whispered and ended the call before he heard my desperate
cries and I curled up, retreating into my protective shell, desperately trying
to sturdy my erratic emotions.

Nate’s arms
circled me and lifted me into him as he stroked my hair and whispered shushes
until I calmed back down.

“Tell me
what happened, Ava” he said when I had settled and I sighed deeply.

“I think to
understand it better I need to explain something first but please don’t judge,
Nate” I pleaded and he frowned.

“Of course I
won’t, Ava”

“It’s about
Mason not me” I told him and he nodded. “I think… I think he’s bi-sexual or to
be correct, Mason thinks he’s bi” I declared and Nate’s eyes widened.

“Okayyy” he
said as he pursed his lips.

“Mason and I
have great sex” I sighed, “Amazing sex even but Mason favourite thing for me to
do is… is…” I cringed, knowing I was betraying Mason’s trust.

“Just tell
me Ava, I’m a big boy” he smiled encouragingly and I laughed.

“He likes me
to finger his… arse” I said but Nate just nodded.

“Okay and?”
he urged.

 “Well I
think he wanted to… to explore that side of him” I smiled as I took the coffee
from Liv and took a huge gulp of the caffeine, sighing in pleasure as it hit my
taste buds. “Anyway Greg and Courtney had this guy over for the weekend and
well… well Mason invited him in to… well he… he asked him to join us in…”

Nate sighed.
“For god’s sake Ava, he invited him to make a threesome with you and Mason” he
finished for me and I nodded.

“Well I
flipped cos’ I didn’t know anything about it until I walked into the bedroom
and he’s starkers across the bed.”

Liv gasped
and I nodded. “I mean each to their own and all that but I don’t wanna be
shared, that’s just me.” Nate nodded and his eyebrows rose to urge me to
continue.

“Well I
can’t remember what was said but I quickly discovered that Mason had secretly
hoped for a… well an experience for himself and when I questioned him about it
he just went mental and stormed off” I explained.

Nate sighed,
“Sounds like he’s struggling with that part of his sexuality. I mean Mason’s a
very dominant masculine guy and I suppose something like that zapping round his
brain is torture for him.” I nodded in agreement.

“But he left
before we could discuss it, I think he’s actually disgusted with what he
fantasises about and he’s struggling with it.” I gulped more coffee, needing
the thrill from the caffeine. “But he went and took a huge hit, I could tell
from the vacant look in his eyes and his pupils were… well they weren’t even
there.”

Nate rubbed
his face with his hands. “Fuck” he hissed and I nodded.

“I was in
the kitchen when he came home and I tried to keep still so he wouldn’t notice
me but…” I shrugged and sighed “He just went ballistic at me, calling me prim
and proper.”

Nate choked
on his coffee and eyed me in disbelief. “Well yeah, that’s what I thought but
in the next breath he was calling me a dirty little bitch” I shrugged again and
Liv shook her head in despair. “And then well… you know what happened next but
I honestly don’t think he knew what he was doing” I defended him and Nate
pulled in a huge breath.

“Ava…” he
warned but I shook my head adamantly.

 “Nate, there’s
something you don’t know…”

He frowned
at me and tipped his head. “Well, go on,” he looked at me expectantly.

“Well… well
I kind of like, I kind of like to be… be bit, you know during… sex” I fiddled
with my fingers, my face flaming at my admission.

Liv slid to
her knees in front of me. “Ava, what happens in your sex life doesn’t concern
other people. If it’s what gets you off then there’s nothing wrong with it.
Some people like to be tied up, some liked to be whipped, it’s everyone’s own
personal choice, Ava” she placated and I smiled timidly at her.

“But now you
know why, I mean he did go a bit too far this time but I really don’t think he
realised how hard he was” I explained and groaned as my phone rang again.

“God damn
it” I moaned as I saw Greg’s name flash up this time. “Hi” I answered.

“Hey,
sweetheart. How you doing?” he asked quietly.

“I’m okay.”

I heard his
deep sigh on the other end of the phone. “Listen Ava… he’s coming after you” he
said and I could sense his cringe.

“Fuck!” I
ground out.

“He’s took
Sam’s car and he’s on his way down” he warned me.

“Hey, don’t
worry about it, thanks for letting me know Greg” I said. “How’s Courtney?”

He chuckled,
“Raring to kick his fucking teeth down his throat.”

I laughed.
“Tell her there’s a queue.”

He snorted.
“It’s already done Ava, I can promise you that, sweetheart” he disclosed and my
heart clenched in pain.

“What did
you do Greg?” I asked, closing my eyes and steeling myself for his answer.

“Nothing he
didn’t deserve” he hissed and I gulped.

“Yeah” I
breathed sadly.

“Take care
sweetheart and I’ll see you soon” he said softly.

“You too.”

I ended the
call. “He’s on his way” I groaned and Nate smirked.

“I’d like to
see him get through security” he laughed and Liv stood up.

“Come on,
let’s get you to hospital and back before he arrives” she said.

I pouted,
“What the hell am I gonna tell them what happened?”

I looked at
them both. “Just say things got a bit heated in the bedroom. They can’t do
anything about it without your permission, Ava” Liv said and I shrugged.

“I suppose.”

“Hell, tell
them we were having a steaming threesome and I fucking did it to you in throws
of passion for all care” she winked and I laughed.

“God, what
would I do without you two?” I sighed.

“Hey, what
would
I
do without you two” Nate said, side huddling us both.

“Well you
wouldn’t have as many skirts to look up” I snorted.

“Damn right”
he wiggled his eyebrows and then he grew serious. “You’re gonna have to work
this one out though, Ava. Don’t let him get away with this… this is just way
too much” he pleaded and I nodded.

“I know.”

He smiled and
kissed my forehead. “Go on. Pick up Chinese on your way home” he told Liv who
nodded.

“Don’t
forget Jay will be home in an hour” she grinned excitedly at Nate like a child.

“Oh that’ll
be fun for Ava, that boy is a walking hard on” he laughed at the horror in my
face.

“Just like
his bloody Dad” Liv chuckled as she followed me out of the front door, Elijah
hot on our trails.