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 we

disclosed that Nessa

doubts as to what really happened

believe I

the fact that I’d already told her

gave us enough to go on for now,” she replies, a

it was a setup, then maybe we can find a way to get

what

})

this about justice, or is it about trying to clear my name?” I interrupt, pushing off the dresser and taking a

Whether it was a setup or not, I still

come out as harsh as it does. She

she peers up at me.

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

doesn’t break eye contact, but for

can’t read

between her teeth, wringing her hands

last bit of distance between us. Reaching down,

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

could hear a pin drop.

((

The moment of truth. The one

dart away, giving me

deflates, shoulders sagging as I drop her chin and take a jerky step back. It was too much

Maybe if

to her

when things were good between us, 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

should’ve

snap back up to meet mine, and my chest squeezes painfully at the connection. “I know I can’t change my past or the pain I caused you, and I’ll regret the

wouldn’t change that for a thing.” 5

I turn away, my

as I start

Ward the door.

“Wait.”

My muscles lock

freeze

my eyes as she presses her palm to my chest, over my heart. “I can,” she says resolutely, nodding. “I can live with

pulse races, my

((

breathes, lifting her other hand to cup my jaw, warmth

after you left, I never stopped.

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

over its valves.

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

Uncoordinated. I nip her lips and lick her teeth and tangle my

sending things crashing to the floor, but we continue to devour

fading into

Every encounter since

has been building up

between us

we give in.

me again,” Nessa gasps against my lips, fingernails digging into my shoulder blades like she’s trying to anchor me.

She doesn’t have

anywhere.

I’m not going

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

I palm her ass, lifting her to wrap her thighs around my waist. I twist around to

dresser and something

a clatter in the process. Neither of us

to

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

white cotton bralette. I

my teeth into my lip,

this girl is

face. Her cheeks are rosy, her lips

band of

again, kissing her hungrily as I palm her gorgeous tits in both hands, kneading the

I trail kisses down her neck, along

fingers tangle in my hair as I bite and

falling from

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

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

dresser, covering her tits with an arm and shouldering past me to make a beeline

still open. She pulls it closed and

of my

flares in Nessa’s eyes as she

my approach intently,

with my descent. Her panties come off with them, and she gasps as I wrench her thighs apart, diving right in to lick a hot path up

out, her

“Callum

trembling against my

ear

I press a forearm against her belly to pin her securely against the door,

hands fisting my hair tighter.

her lips drives me fucking wild. I circle her clit with my tongue, flicking the sensitive bud

as it rocks through her. I don’t let up, licking 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

to hold back from

moans, rocking

my arms around her thighs, I pin her against the door with my chest and spread her wide, sinking in to the hilt on a guttural moan.

pull out halfway and slam back home again and again, the door rattling on its hinges with every forceful

them, and

waist instead as

with reckless abandon.