Broken Bond by C.J. Primer

33

VANESSA

When Vienna brought me out here today, I underestimated her commitment to making sure I let loose and have fun. She pulled me into a game of beer pong against Fallon and Serena, talked me into partnering up with Alec for chicken fights in the water against her and Chase, and has replenished my beer every time it started to get low. I’m not a big drinker but I’m rolling on a solid buzz at this point, and I can tell that my girl Vee is past her threshold by the way she’s glassy- eyed and hanging off Chase.

Having endured more than enough of their PDA, I announce that I’m going swimming, kicking off my flip-flops and shorts and heading for the water’s edge. This place is a complete contrast to the hot springs by the lodge- while that water is always piping hot, this water seems to be perpetually cold. It

stings my skin like tiny needle points as I wade into the pool, my breath catching from the shock in temperature change. I flop backwards once I’m waist-deep, spreading my arms and legs and floating on top of the water, releasing a breathy sigh of satisfaction.

This is the life. The sun is hot, the water’s cold, and my body’s relaxed from the copious amount of alcohol running through my bloodstream. My eyes slide closed as I float, losing myself in the moment and allowing my sluggish mind to go blank.

My peaceful relaxation doesn’t last long. I’m floating along, minding my own business, when I suddenly feel an arm wind around my waist, pulling my body down into the water. My eyes snap open, limbs thrashing as my mind struggles to catch up to what’s happening. My head stays above water, but my body’s yanked backwards against a hard chest.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” a low voice rumbles in my ear, eliciting a tingle of excitement at the realization of who it is that has ahold of me. Callum’s strong, tattooed forearm tightens around my middle, the hard ridge of his erection riding against the crack of my ass. Either that whole cold water causing shrinkage thing is a lie, or it’s bigger than I remember. 2

Great, now I’m thinking about his dick.

Cal’s lips tickle my ear as he speaks again in a throaty murmur. “Remember the last time we went swimming?”

A shiver runs through me, and I’m not sure if it’s from the cold water or the memory that question ignites. How could I forget the first time he brought me to a toe-curling orgasm without even taking my underwear off?

I don’t need a mirror to know my face is crimson. I wriggle free from his grip, feet finding the rocky bottom of the swimming hole. Water splashes as I spin around to face him.

Callum’s turquoise eyes are glassy, a lazy grin spread across his lips. He looks… different. More relaxed than usual. “You’ve been drinking,” I think aloud.

He runs his tongue over his teeth, nodding in affirmation.

I arch a brow. “What happened to always keeping a clear head?”

Callum’s hands land on my waist, fingers tightening and tugging me closer. Cool water sloshes between our upper bodies from the force of the movement. “Like that’s possible around you these days,” he growls, his carefree smile dissolving into a tight frown. “You and Miles…”

“Are over,” I supply.

into a smug smirk. Cal always keeps his emotions. so buttoned up- it’s strange to see them play out on his face so plainly. Hell, if I knew booze was all it took for him to wear his emotions on his sleeve, I probably would’ve encouraged him to drink more

as Callum’s hands slide down to my hips. His devious gaze and the flex of his fingertips against

buzz, I find the wherewithal to press my palms against his chest and push back to maintain some semblance of distance between us. “We

it, I know I don’t want to talk about all that right now. It’s not the time or place. I just want to enjoy feeling of being close to someone else- to

down after Callum left, but now that he’s back, it’s like parts of me are slowly coming back online. Like I’m finally remembering how to be

his lips. “Vee said you’re going to make me work

I do, I’ll bet it also came with a threat to cause bodily

in them. He suddenly spins me around by the hips, locking an arm around my waist and yanking me back into his chest again. I shudder

I should start making it up to you right now …” His hand glides down my stomach beneath the surface of the

He’s got me locked in tightly, though, and my fight is futile. His fingertips brush the top edge of my bikini bottoms, my eyes flying wide as they wriggle beneath the fabric. I’m suddenly all too aware of the number of people in the water around us, my throat tightening in a strange mixture

in my ear, walking us backwards through the water until his back collides with the rock face

laps against our shoulders, our bodies hidden beneath the surface, but I still feel like I’m on full display right now. If I

wasn’t a little drunk, I doubt he would be this bold, especially given everything we’ve

to stop?” Callum rumbles in my ear, his fingers delving further into my bikini

and how it’s entirely inappropriate for him to have his hand down my pants in front of an audience. But I haven’t been touched like this in months, and every ‘should’ dies on my tongue before it can even form. I’m hot and bothered, wound up in a way that can only be relieved by the man at my back. I

as I whisper, “No.”

fingers. immediately finding my clit, and I have to bite down on my lower lip to stop from screaming out at

with the methodic strumming of his fingers. “Or are you gonna let everyone hear how

me. Heat floods between my legs, and I’m already so close to coming undone that I can barely think,

hastily and darting my gaze around in alarm.

of his hips punching against my backside, my breath hissing out between my teeth in short, frantic bursts. I’m biting my lip so hard to hold back my moans that tears spring to my eyes,

like this. I wish I could savor it, make it last to make up for

memorizing each other, tangled up in and consumed by one another. He knows

on,” Cal coaxes, pushing another finger inside to stretch me wider while the pad of his thumb rubs my clit

do

because it has been so long, or maybe it’s just because it’s

jerking, ripples forming around us in the water. It takes everything in me to hold back my scream, only a small whimper escaping as I

a praise kink, but damnit if that doesn’t

blinking my eyes open to the harsh afternoon sunlight. Callum’s arms are still wound securely around me as I go boneless in his grasp, dragging gulps of fresh