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

a statement. When we sat

Nessa

express her doubts as to what really happened last year.

believe I killed

the fact that I’d already told

yeah, but I think he gave us enough to go on for now,”

if it was a setup, then maybe we can find a way

answer for what

})

to clear my name?” I interrupt, pushing off the dresser and taking a step toward

was a setup

mean for it to come out as harsh as it

a hard swallow as she peers up

into her wide brown doe-eyes. The question

break eye contact, but for

read her expression. She

her lower lip between her teeth, wringing her hands in her

the last bit of

at the sight of the raw vulnerability in her gaze. “If there’s nothing else to the story, if it happened exactly how I say it did, is there still a chance for us?” I ask, terrified of her answer but needing to

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

((

this is it. The moment of truth. The

giving

chest deflates, shoulders sagging as I drop her chin and take a jerky step

if

her

she could’ve accepted my past. I fucked it all to hell when I left her. There’s too much pain between us now, too much distrust, and it’s my own damn fault. I never should’ve

Never should’ve

mine, and my chest squeezes painfully at the connection. “I know I can’t change my past or the pain

change

burns as I turn away, my feet

as I

Ward the door.

“Wait.”

My muscles lock

freeze

up into my eyes as she presses her palm to my chest, over my heart. “I

my throat tightening.

((

Callum,” Nessa breathes, lifting her other hand

you left, I never

with your past. As long as you can promise me a

its valves.

into mine. I slam my 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 me in and

messy. Sloppy. Uncoordinated. I nip her lips and lick her teeth and tangle my hands in her

things crashing to the floor, but we continue to

fading into

Every encounter since

home has been

tension between us

as we

leave me again,” Nessa gasps against my lips, fingernails digging into my shoulder blades

She doesn’t have

anywhere.

I’m not going

her jaw. I lick a path down the column of her neck, sucking marks into her silky

I palm her ass, lifting her to wrap her

the dresser and something

with a clatter in the process. Neither of us

fighting to get it past my shoulders. I stumble back a half step to

while she tears off her own. My gaze immediately drops to her flushed chest, her round,

white cotton bralette.

into my lip, stifling a groan.

girl

face. Her cheeks are rosy, her lips puffy, her hair mussed. “So fucking beautiful,” I think

band of her bralette

to capture her mouth again, kissing her hungrily as I

down her neck, along

fingers tangle in my

and cries falling from her lips.

scalp as she yanks on

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

dresser, covering her tits with an arm

still open. She pulls it closed and engages the lock, and by the time she turns back

her like a predator, the painful strain of my

flares in Nessa’s eyes

approach

her legs with my descent. Her panties come off with them, and she gasps as I wrench her thighs apart, diving

out, her

“Callum

trembling against my

ear

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.

her hands fisting my hair

lips drives

and sucking her clit while fumbling with the button on my jeans, scrambling to shove them down and release my throbbing cock from their confines. Nessa’s legs are still trembling when I shoot to my feet, throwing one of her thighs over my hip and sinking the head of my cock inside her, her inner walls still quivering from her release.

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

moans,

wet for me. Wrapping my arms around her thighs, I pin her against the door with my

the door rattling on its hinges with every

my hold on them, and I finally relent, wrapping

instead as I continue

her with