Broken Bond by C.J. Primer

Chapter 14

14

VANESSA

The ride home is tortuously void of conversation. As soon as we get in the truck,

Cal cranks the stereo so loud that I can barely hear myself think. I elect to give him time to cool down, nibbling my lip nervously while I try to think of something, anything to say to alleviate the tension hanging thick in the cab of the truck. I come up empty, so I just stare out the windshield, sliding him occasional side-eyed glances.

His clenched jaw twitches. His fingers flex and tighten around the steering wheel, his knuckles going white. His throat bobs with every hard swallow, and his posture is so rigid that his muscles must be aching. Still, he says nothing.

My mind wanders, images of the gruesome scene in the band’s dressing room flashing through my brain.

Was it my fault?

Violence is never the answer, but then again, I was the first one to throw an elbow into someone’s gut. Maybe if I hadn’t, things wouldn’t have escalated the way they did. Maybe we could’ve laughed it off as a misunderstanding and walked out of there amicably.

Though judging by the look in Cal’s eyes when he stalked over to threaten the guy trying to grope me, a peaceful resolution wasn’t on the menu. There was nothing calm or understanding in those eyes; only dark, twisted rage. Rage that he unleashed on every man in that room who dared to step in his path of destruction.

It was scary as hell, seeing those guys come at him from all sides like that. Even scarier to see how easily he fought through all of them without even breaking a sweat. It was like he completely disconnected in that moment and became someone else.

Something else. Something savage.

And it was all in my defense. Is it wrong that it made me kinda hot?

I contemplate that while suffering through his silence until we finally reach the familiar forest road of the six-pack territory. Hoping the night is still salvageable, I decide to speak up in an effort to clear the air, abruptly leaning forward to turn down the volume on the stereo and glancing over at Callum.

“Can we go back to your place?” I ask cautiously, and he whips his head toward me so fast that I instinctively flinch.

“What?”

The cold edge to his tone catches me off guard and I draw a shallow breath, staring down at my hands and wringing them in my lap. “Well since our plans kind of imploded back there, I thought we could just hang out or something.” I shrug, looking up at the dark knight in the drivers’ seat. “It’s still early enough, right? Those jerks don’t have to ruin our whole night.

“Them?” Cal furrows his brow, shaking his head. “I was the one who lost control back there, Ness.”

I slide a hand over the center console, resting it on his forearm. His muscles flex underneath my palm as he handles the steering wheel in a death grip. “It’s okay,” I breathe.

“It’s not fucking okay,” he grits out. His fingers tighten around the wheel, his knuckles turning white again. “Don’t you get it?” Callum growls, darting me a glance. “I’m no good for you. I’m dangerous. I lose my shit and people get hurt.”

“You won’t hurt me,” I counter.

“How can you say that?” he scowls. “You don’t know half the shit I’ve done.”

“I don’t need to. I know you’re a good person.

Killed with no remorse.” He scrubs a hand over his face, shaking his head. The turn-off for Norbury appears around the bend ahead, but he makes no move to start slowing down for it.

war against the shadow pack. There were casualties on both sides. It doesn’t make the confirmation any less jarring, though, especially in light of the havoc

my defense. Shouldn’t that earn

scoffs, taking my silence as confirmation that

told him I don’t

the waist to face Callum fully with my

that the seatbelt digs into my shoulder, swerving before he misses the turn for Norbury. The tires squeal on the pavement and a similar sound leaves my lips as I slam my palms against the ceiling to brace myself. He retains control of the

me; he’s already cranked

still in

my lip nervously as he navigates the streets of Norbury, whipping the truck into the parking lot of his apartment building and claiming a space. I unbuckle and hop out after he cuts the engine, and almost as soon as my feet hit the ground, he’s rounding the front of the truck to the passenger side, slamming a hand up against the window and

haunting quality as he leans in closer, his chest heaving with rushed breaths. “If you were smart, you’d run while you still have the chance,”

not going to run,” I

jaw ticks and he pushes off the truck, taking a step backwards and shaking his head. “Then you’re not as smart as I

grabbing his face in both hands. I stare into the turquoise depths

breathing ragged. “You should be,” he grumbles.

we’re breathing each other’s air, our lips a whisper apart.

tell me what I

the remaining distance between our bodies with a tug on my hips. My chest meets his and his lips brush against

on his jaw with my thumbs, his eyes opening to meet my defiant

zings through me, sparks simmering between every point of contact of our skin. Cal muffles my gasp of surprise with his hungry mouth, palming my ass and lifting me into his arms, kissing me with such fierce

to devour me as he clumsily struggles with the lock, finally breaching the entrance of the apartment and kicking the door closed behind us. I get major déjà vu when he carries me down the dark hallway toward his bedroom, but my apprehension melts away with every glide

beneath his shirt. He tears it off over his head while I shrug out of my jacket, whipping my own top off and

tucking a thumb under the thin strap of my crimson bralette and

the button of my skirt, shoving it down my hips. It hits the floor and I step out of it, relishing in the way Cal’s gaze wanders down to my matching red

might’ve bought this set with him in mind.

again, admiring my body with those stunning blue-green eyes. The way he’s looking

closer, reaching out to stroke up the muscular contours of his bare chest with both hands. “I want you, Callum,” I breathe,

want you, Nessa.” He slides a hand up my

take me,” I pant. “I’m

scoops me up with a growl, tossing me down onto the bed. My back bounces against the mattress and pulses of white-hot want race

back to unfasten his jeans, his eyes not leaving mine as I unzip and kick off my boots while he rids himself of his pants and shoes. Then he advances toward me, a predatory gleam in his eye as he mounts the bed and climbs over my body, nudging my legs apart with a knee. I spread my thighs and invite him in, clawing at his biceps as he lowers his mouth to mine, capturing my lips in another filthy hot kiss as he covers my body with his.

and I tear my lips from his on a gasp as he grinds against me, my blood turning molten in my veins. His mouth drops to my neck, his tongue feasting on my sensitive skin while I writhe and

to hurt you,” he growls, nipping the column of

I gasp.

arm, looking down into my eyes as he slides a hand beneath my bra to cup my breast. “I’m not so good at gentle, baby.” He squeezes my boob and a

catches in my

his name as my back arches off the bed, his fingers trailing down my slit, rubbing through my wetness. Christ, I’ve never been this wet. My little lace panties are soaked, and

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