Tolerance (Heart of Stone) (4 page)

The lying
bastard!!!
If Rebecca was due at the end of March that made it obvious that
Mason and her had been fucking while he been with me and the arsehole had the
cheek to punish me for Kade. What a hypocrite!!

I could see Mason in my rear view all the way back to the
cottage “Piss off Mason!” I scowled into my mirror as I slammed on the brakes
outside my home and made a dash for the front door.

He screeched to a stop behind me.

“Come on damn it” I frantically searched through my bag
for my keys and feeling the cold metal I grabbed them and rammed it into the
keyhole. “Ava!” he shouted as I managed to fling the door open, I was so close
to pushing it shut as his foot wedged in the frame “Move your fucking foot or lose
it Mason” I yelled and he actually removed it. Wow, that was easy!

I grinned happily as I slammed it shut “Ha!” I declared
and peeked round the lounge door. After been broken into twice I was still a
little uneasy every time I came in and now had a habit of checking the room
before I settled in.

Relaxing a little after finding nothing out of place in
the lounge I went to check on the kitchen. My phone rang in my bag as I was
about to turn the handle and retrieving it I found it was Liv “Hey Ava” she
greeted as I answered “Hey” I smiled as I heard her new born, Helena, grizzling
in the background “I swear she can sense the minute I get on this blasted
phone” she laughed “Listen Ava, I can’t stay on long but we are having a
Christmas party this Saturday at mine and we want you to come, bring Courtney”
she said in between shushes to Helena “Yeah that would be great, thanks but
Courtney won’t be here, she’s in France until Sunday.”

After I hung up I opened the kitchen door “FUCK!!” I
screamed as I
came
face to face with an angry Mason
sat in one of my kitchen chairs “How the hell?” I gulped and he waggled his old
back door key at me “You have no right Mason” I glared at him “Well when you
won’t fucking listen to me Ava, I have every damn right” he seethed and I
rubbed at my temples, exhaustion finally taking over after several weeks of
hardly any sleep

“Just go Mason” I flopped down in a chair and rested my
head on my folded arms against the table. “Ava, look at me” he sighed and I
ignored him, I didn’t need this right now, I felt like I could sleep for a week

“Ava, Baby you’re exhausted” he said softly as he
crouched before me and smoothed my hair away from my cheek. I was struggling to
open my eyes and I just sighed at him.

His strong arms lifted me from the chair but I was too
tired to argue so I snuggled into him. My body elated with the feel of his
embrace and I felt his lips brush my forehead “Come on Baby, let’s get you in
to bed” he breathed in my ear as he nudged open my bedroom door.

He sat me on the edge of the bed and lifting my hips; he
slid my dress up and over my head and lifted my arms through it.
 
Gently laying me down he crouched down in
front of me, stroking my hair softly “Go to sleep my little warrior” he
whispered against my cheek as he placed a delicate kiss beside my ear. I heard
him sigh deeply then stand and my hand shot out “Please stay with me Mason, I
can’t sleep unless you’re beside me” I mumbled “Oh Ava” he choked out and I
felt his hesitation but then he was removing his shoes and socks, then I heard
his belt being unbuckled and his trousers swish down his legs. If I wasn’t so
damn tired I would have already jumped on him.

 
Slipping in behind
me he wrapped me in his arms and pulled me back against him, kissing the back of
my head tenderly as he placed his hand over my swollen belly, lightly tracing
circles with his fingers

 
“That’s nice” I whispered
and smiled and the last thing I heard was Mason telling me how sorry he was for
everything, when he thought I was asleep.

I woke to soft sunlight filtering through my window and I
squinted at the clock; 6:37 “Shit” I shot up, amazed I had slept for 17 hours
and then I remembered Mason. My heart clenched when I realised he had gone and picking
up the pillow he had slept on I snuggled it close, inhaling his intoxicating
scent from the cotton, and drawing my knees up to my chest, I lay my head on it
and sighed, missing him already.

I don’t know how long he had stayed with me but I was
grateful for his comforting presence beside me, I hadn’t slept like that
since…well since the last time he was snuggled behind me.

I put the pillow back carefully, already telling myself
that if I huddled into it tonight it might help me sleep alone for the first
time and swung myself out of bed, feeling refreshed and energised for the first
time in weeks.

Wrapping in my robe I went down for coffee and as I
entered the kitchen I was delighted to see the first snow of the season had
settled “Hey look peanuts, its snowed” I said happily and rubbed my bump. God,
I felt great! “Thank you Mason” I whispered into nothing and then felt a twinge
of sadness. I missed him so much, last night had proved that.

I approached the kettle and found a note beside a brown
bag containing muffins, croissant and bagels. Oh my God, I loved that man!

 
Ava,

Thought you might
be hungry after all that sleep. I had to leave at 5 but I fetched you food you
gannet and I know my little peanuts will be ready for their breakfast. I’ll be
in touch soon, we need to talk.

 
Mason xxx

P.S I haven’t slept
that well for a long time….I
think
we both needed it

A tear slipped free at the reference to ‘
his
peanuts’
and the damn broke at the realisation that he hadn’t been sleeping well without
me either.

I decided to text him to thank him for the breakfast

ME

Good morning, thank
you for breakfast and an AMAZING night’s sleep

Your peanuts are
eternally grateful

Xxx

At 9 O’clock I near on skipped up the steps to the NSC
building where I worked “Wow, somebody had a good night’s sleep” Bert the
doorman grinned at me. I beamed up at him “I most definitely did Bert” he
laughed and winked at me as he held open the door.

It was my first day as Nate Carters Personal Assistant
and I couldn’t wait to get started. Liv wasn’t back for another few weeks so I
was going to be ultra-busy doing my own job and sharing Livs work load with
Grace but I was glad for the distraction.

Jonathon the main floor receptionist greeted me with a
mug of coffee and a blueberry muffin as I exited the elevator “Oh my God, I
love you. I’ve only had 2 cream cheese bagels, an apple and cinnamon muffin and
2 jam croissants this morning. I’m starved” I grinned at him and took a gulp of
coffee. I had been training up here for a few weeks so Jonathon was already
aware of my humungous appetite.

He laughed and flung his head back “I can take care of it
for you Ava if you can’t manage it” he smirked and I snarled at him “Don’t you
fucking dare!” he laughed again and then cocked his head at me “Wow, you know
you look great this morning. Really fresh and blossoming” he smiled
appreciatively, his eyes skimming over me. I had managed to find a knee length
sweater dress in my winter wardrobe and although it was flush against my bump I
still managed to heave myself into it. I had plans to clothes shop on Saturday;
Kerrie was coming with me to make it a girly day and I was really looking
forward to it as we were having the works; hair, nails and facial.

 
“I better go see
to his majesty” I winked and strolled down the long corridor that led to Nates
office and personal reception.

He was in his office but his door was open “Morning” I
shouted as I slung my bag and coat away in the lockable cupboard at the back of
the reception area after retrieving my phone, iPad and peanut butter jar “I
need you Ava” he shouted desperately and I walked into his office.

He was squashed under his desk, puffing and panting and
pulling at something. I rushed over and placing my things on his desk, I peered
underneath his desk “What are you doing?” I snorted when I saw his red face and
sweat dripping off his forehead, he looked bloody hilarious! “My bloody
printers broke and the people that fitted out the office welded the fucking
cable underneath the carpet and I need to get the damn thing out” he grumbled.

I slid on my knees “You pull it as I lift the corner of
the desk” he directed and I grabbed hold of it. He managed to lift the corner
just as my phone rang and I reached my hand above me onto the table to grab it
and slid my finger over it without looking who it was as I tugged on the cable

“It’s coming Ava, keep going” Nate cried with a grunt as
he lifted the table. I pulled with a hefty groan and the cable slid free as I
heard Masons snarl through the phone “Ava! Who the
fuck are
you with?” “Yes” Nate cried as the cable came completely free and he dropped
the table with a bang.

I grinned victoriously at him and then remembered Mason
“Hey” I said happily to him

“I asked who the fuck you are
with Ava?” he growled at me and I froze wide eyed “Erm Nate” I said timidly. He
spluttered down the phone for a few seconds then the line went dead and I
frowned, looking at the phone as if it would give me a reason for his outburst.

 
Nate looked at me curiously “Everything okay?”
 
I shrugged “He must be having a bad day”
I said with a shake of my head “You okay now?” I asked and he smiled wickedly
“Erm…I need you to put the new cable in the groove where the old one was” I groaned
“Do you just want me to phone maintenance?” I asked him with a pleading
expression. He laughed “They take hours Ava and I need these documents printing
before my meeting in half an hour”

 
I rolled my eyes “Go on then, but look up my dress and I’ll flatten you”
I warned jokingly and he feigned shock and horror with his hand on his chest “I
would never do a thing like that Ava” he grinned slyly and I raised my eyebrows
at him. Nate and I had developed a great friendship and we were constantly
ribbing each other and joking about.

“Ready?” he asked after he had set up the new printer. He
passed me the cable and I took a deep breath “Okay” I said and he heaved the
desk up as I tried to slip the cable into the groove but the desk wasn’t far
enough off the ground for me to slip it under “You need to raise it a bit
higher” I groaned as I heard a commotion outside

“I can’t get it any further up Ava” he yelled at me as he
made one extra effort to push up the desk. “I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU!” I heard
Mason scream from the reception area and I dropped the cable and Nate dropped
the table as Mason skidded to a halt in the doorway

“Oh!” he said wide eyed. I frowned at him “What are you
doing here?” I asked bewildered at his obvious distress; his face was bright
red, his fists were scrunched tightly and his jaw was rock solid. He cringed
slightly “Erm…What are you doing?” he asked sheepishly and I eyed him curiously
“Trying to replace the printer cable, why?” I asked him and he took a step
further in “I just thought Erm…it doesn’t matter” he cringed again and I leant
back on my heels.

Nate started chuckling, then he started laughing and then
he was hooting “He thought we were at it Ava” he said between breaths and I
gasped “Why would you think that?” I asked, stunned. He shrugged “Well what
would you think if you answered the phone to grunts and groans and a bloke
shouting ‘it’s coming, keep going?” he sucked in his lips and Nate started
laughing again and I glared at Mason “You thought me and Nate were having sex?”
my eyes were huge “Well Erm, then when I got in reception he was shouting he
couldn’t get it up any further and I know what you’re like Ava” he grinned and
Nate snorted loudly and started laughing again. My mouth fell open and I stared
at him “I’m sorry” he grimaced and I cocked my head “Erm Mason, can I have a
word please?” I asked as I pushed up onto my feet. Masons hand shot out to help
me up and I softened at his consideration but not too much.

I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the empty
reception area, shutting Nates door behind me. Mason looked at me and grinned
sheepishly as I sighed “Why did you rush all the way over here when you thought
I was having sex with Nate?” I asked and he pursed his lips and a flash glinted
in his eye “Why do even have to ask that Ava?” he said outraged and I raised my
eyebrows at his stupidity “Erm Mason. We’re not together anymore” I reminded
him and he realised what I was saying “Oh” he said for the second time this
morning and I nodded slowly “I am not having sex with Nate but it is still none
of your damn business Mason. You are currently back with your ‘fuck whore’ and
what I do with my own sex life is up to me” I was rather angry at his relenting
dominance over me

“Ava…” he warned with a low growl and I shook my head
“What Mason? Am I not allowed to have a relationship ever? Is it okay for you
to fuck someone else but not for me?” I was furious at his possessiveness over
me even though we had been separate for over ten weeks “Don’t fucking say that”
he snarled “What?
The fact that I might
FUCK
somebody?
Grow up Mason. If I want to have sex with
someone then I damn well will. Are you telling me you’re not fucking Rebecca?”
I was now seriously regretting asking that question because I didn’t want to
know the answer so I quickly turned around before it left his lips.

“God damn it Ava!” he spat and stormed off and I slumped
in my desk chair and bit my lip.
I will
not cry, I will not cry, I will not cry
I repeated in my head.