Broken Bond by C.J. Primer

36

CALLUM

It’s going to storm.

I can smell it in the air even before I hear

the faint echo of thunder in the distance, a warning of what’s coming.

We need the rain. The blistering summer sun has made the grass brittle, the forest foliage withering with thirst. Even the river is lower than I’ve seen it in years, in desperate need of a top-up. Sitting

outside on the patio behind the packhouse, there’s an unmistakable

energy in the air, almost like the parched landscape is quivering in anticipation for the storm to roll in.

Within myself, the storm is already raging. It has been for a long time, born in a dark room in a basement, fed by

anger and resentment. Until I found the

one person who could calm it: Vanessa

Diaz, my muse, my light.

“You good?” Chase asks, his eyes still bloodshot from the joint we smoked.

I grunt in affirmation, nodding. My own high is already gone, but the weed calmed me down as it worked its way through my system, tempering my agitation. Pulling the skeletons out of my closet over the last week has taken its toll. Rehashing things with Rob didn’t particularly bother me; it was the reason behind it that

struck a nerve. I was fine right up until I saw that hopeful look in Nessa’s eyes, like

she was searching for some way to excuse my past indiscretions. Like she needed

some sort of validation that I’m not a cold

-blooded killer.

I’d give anything to go back and change that night, but I can’t. What’s done is done, and it’s a stain I’ll bear on my soul

for the rest of my life. There’s no excuse or hidden explanation, it just is what it is; I am what I am. I thought she’d come to terms with it, but seeing that look on her face tonight, I realized that sweet,

virtuous Nessa may not ever be able to reconcile the man with the monster. 3

That’s what made me break.

Chase leans forward in the wrought iron patio chair, fixing me with a solemn stare. “Ready to go back in?”

I nod again, thankful that he sat out here with me until I got my head on straight but recognizing that this isn’t really his battle. It’s up to me and Ness to figure out our shit; whether we’ll be able to make this work now that all the cards are on the table. I was hopeful until I saw that look. Now, I’m not so sure. 2

Chase pushes up from his seat first,

leading the way back inside. The girls are

still on the couch, both of them craning

their necks to look over the back of it with

wide, curious eyes as we enter. Nessa’s gaze collides with mine and she

immediately hops up, not breaking eye

contact as I stride over to her.

“Can we talk?” I ask as I reach out to take

her hand, my thumb gliding over her

knuckles.

“Yeah,” she breathes, almost in relief. She threads her fingers with mine, stepping out from around the coffee table and tugging on my hand. “C’mon.”

I’m glad she wants to have this

conversation in private. Not that I have

anything to hide anymore, but it seems like Vienna is always glaring daggers at me these days. I suppose I understand. I can’t fault her for wanting to protect her friend, and truthfully, I appreciate the

fact that Nessa has someone like Vee in

her corner.

I nod to Chase and Vienna as we leave the room, the latter giving me a hard look, as if to say ‘don’t fuck it up’.

Yeah, I’ll try not to.

We’re both quiet as I follow Nessa down the hallway that houses the guest roo our feet treading softly against the

hardwood floor. When we arrive at the last door on the left, she turns the knob to open it, dropping my hand as she strides inside and flips on the light.

I’m immediately greeted by her scent- even if she hadn’t led me to this room, I’d know it was hers by the sweet smell of cherries that hangs in the air. And if that failed me, then I’d definitely know it by a single glance inside. It’s feminine and romantic and so perfectly her, exactly

how I’ve always imagined her space would look if I was invited in.

Nessa strides over to the bed, breathing a

heavy sigh as she sinks down onto the edge, coasting her fingertips over the

fluffy pale pink comforter. She kicks off her shoes as she crosses one long tan leg over the other, then plants her palms behind her, leaning back and beckoning me with a flick of her head. She’s the picture of a sweet girl nextdoor fantasy, my pulse racing as I stand frozen in the doorway, practically drooling. We need to have a conversation, but those legs, those eyes, that coy smile tugging at the

corners of her mouth…

It takes me a second to snap out of it and push those nefarious thoughts aside. I stride further into the room, moving closer but keeping enough distance so I’ll still be able to think straight. I stop in front of the dresser positioned across from the bed, folding my arms over my chest and leaning back against it, gazing at Nessa as I draw a slow breath.

“You were hoping Rob would have more to say,” I murmur, not as a question, but

statement. When

that Nessa

express her doubts as to what really happened last year. She’d

didn’t believe

already told her exactly how it

folding her hands in her lap. “Well yeah, but I think he gave us enough to

a setup, then maybe we can find a

answer for what he

})

this about justice, or is it about trying to clear my name?”

“Because I was there, Ness. Whether it was a setup or not, I still

it to come out as harsh as it does. She stills, her

hard swallow as she peers up at me.

with that,” I rasp, staring into her wide brown doe-eyes.

doesn’t break eye contact,

read her expression. She

lower lip between her teeth, wringing her hands

of distance between

the story, if it happened exactly how

could hear a pin drop. My heart pounds wildly against my

((

know that this is it. The moment

eyes dart away, giving me my answer.

her chin and take a jerky

Maybe if I’d

to her with

I left

Never should’ve

painfully at the connection. “I know I can’t change my past or the pain I caused you, and I’ll regret the way I left every

change

I turn away,

I start

Ward the door.

“Wait.”

My muscles lock

I freeze in

of me, staring up into my eyes as she presses her palm

my

((

you, Callum,” Nessa breathes, lifting her other hand to cup my jaw, warmth blooming beneath

left, I never

I can live with your past. As long as you can promise me

heart trips over its valves. One

lips down over hers, swallowing her little gasp of surprise as I claim her mouth in a desperate, filthy kiss. She reacts with equal urgency, clutching my face and tugging me impossibly closer, parting her lips to let

her lips and lick her teeth and tangle my hands in

dresser and sending things crashing to the floor, but we continue to devour one another,

else fading into the

Every encounter

back home has been building up to

the tension between

as we

against my lips, fingernails digging into my shoulder blades like

She doesn’t have

anywhere.

I’m not going

in response, kissing my way to her jaw. I lick a path down the column of

her ass, lifting her to wrap her thighs around my

the dresser and something

in the process. Neither of us pay any mind to the

around us, though, because then she’s tugging the hem of my shirt up my torso, fighting to get it past

gaze immediately drops

in a white

into my lip, stifling a groan.

girl is fucking

back up to Nessa’s face. Her cheeks are rosy, her lips puffy, her hair mussed. “So fucking

of her bralette and

her hungrily as I palm her gorgeous tits in both hands, kneading the supple flesh and

trail kisses down

breasts. Her fingers tangle in my hair as I bite and suck her nipples,

falling from

Nessa whines, pinpricks of pain spreading over my scalp as she yanks on my hair. “Callum,

a loud pop, stumbling back when she shoves at my chest. Even then, her words haven’t quite registered, my mind in a

tits with an arm and shouldering past me to make

clicks- the damn thing is still open. She pulls it closed and engages the lock, and by the time

predator, the painful strain of my

flares in Nessa’s eyes as she

my approach intently, pressing

as I reach her, I drop to my knees, yanking her shorts down her legs with my descent. Her panties come off with them, and she gasps as I wrench her thighs apart, diving right in to lick

out, her legs

“Callum

trembling against my

ear

her hands in my hair. I press a forearm against her belly to pin her securely against the door, lapping up her sweet nectar like a man starved. I

her hands fisting my

no regrets. Every pant, every mewl, every breathy whisper of my name on her lips drives me fucking wild. I circle her clit with my

them down and release my throbbing

squeezing her hips tightly as I inch deeper inside. It’s been a while, so I’m trying to hold back from pounding into her the way I want to, but damnit if it’s not taking every ounce of

moans, rocking against

around her thighs, I pin her against the door with my chest and

door rattling on its hinges with every forceful thrust.

them,

as I continue

her with reckless