Free The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone by D. H. Sidebottom

Halfway up, she stopped and turned. “He has lovely pure . . . blue . . . eyes. ” She smirked, emphasising each word. “Don’t you think Mom?” she added as she carried on up the stairs.
    * * *
    Late Saturday night, Beth, Lexi and I were drunk and sitting on stools around a large floor to ceiling column in ‘Pulse’ the local nightclub.
    “Give me your shoes, Liv.” Beth ordered.
    “Ha, not a chance girl.”
    I was wearing my favourite red high heels. I had bought them about six months ago when I’d had a bad episode and needed retail therapy. Hence, the £840 Christian Louboutin, red leather with black mottled overlay, peep toe, 5” stiletto. They were my ultimate favourites and I would still be paying for them in 5 years.
    Tonight I’d been risky and teamed them with my tight, short black leather skirt and my red, ruffle neck top. Ever since yesterday’s intimate moment with Nate I had been feeling horny and that reflected in my outfit tonight. The only problem with this was I was getting a lot of unwanted male attention.
    “But you love me,” Beth continued.
    “I’m not even gonna let you borrow them,” I proclaimed, sticking my tongue out at her.
    “But those shoes are man magnets. You’ve had loads of attention tonight. It must be the shoes.” Her eyes once more dropped to my shoes as she gazed at them dreamily.
    “Nah, that’s just Liv’s aura,” Lexi stated as she pointed at me rather fidgety. “I can almost touch her sex appeal tonight.” She told Beth then turning to me she said, “Damn Girl. You’re oozing in eroticism.” Her eyes narrowed before she suddenly declared, “You got laid!”
    Beth jumped with excitement, toppling off the high stool and landing with a harsh bump on her arse on the floor. Lexi and I, laughing hysterically, tried to help her up but we were laughing so hard, we couldn’t lift her.
    Eventually we all managed to pull her up and the other revellers cheered as Beth took a bow. Climbing back onto our stools Beth looked at me. “So come on, Liv. You get nailed?”
    “No,” I stammered.
    “Now don’t lie to us,” Lexi chastised, waggling her finger at me.
    “I’m not lying,” I defended, feigning a deep interest in my wine glass.
    “But something’s up,” Beth argued, taking a mouthful of her vodka. I turned my attention to the dancers and tried to ignore their interrogation. “Liv?” Beth prodded me. “Spill.”
    I slowly turned back to her. “Nate’s back,” I blurted.
    The vodka glass slipped from her grasp and smashed on the floor as her jaw dropped with it. She was deadly silent as she scanned my face. “What the fuck?” Lexi exclaimed as she struggled for breath. I lowered my eyes and fixed them on my twiddling fingers.
    “What do you mean ‘Nate’s back’?” Beth finally managed.
    “Just what I said, Nate’s back. He owns NSC Industries. He’s been in America for the last six months so I didn’t know. I bumped into him yesterday . . . literally,” I giggled, remembering my epic face plant.
    “Don’t pissing laugh Liv, this is serious,” she cautioned with a glare. “Have you told him?”
    “No!” I cried, my eyes fixing her with a glare of my own.
    “You gonna tell him?” Now it was Lexi’s turn to scrutinize me.
    “I . . . I don’t know,” I stammered, tears forming behind my eyes.
    “Oh, babe.” Beth sighed, reaching over to me and squeezing my hand with tears in her own eyes.
    “On a lighter note, is he still fucking hot?” Lexi sniggered as she put her hands over her heart and sighed deeply.
    “Jesus, yes.” I breathed, closing my eyes and picturing his hard body. Pressing my thighs together and chewing my bottom lip, I declared it was time to go home.
    I had business to take care of.
    * * *
    It was 2am and I was laid in bed; the house was empty as the kids were at my mother’s for the weekend and my mind was wandering to the times I had made love to Nate. I couldn’t shake this damn arousal. Everything