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 outside,

disclosed that Nessa had come to

as to what really

believe I killed that

already

sits up, folding her hands in her lap. “Well yeah, but I think he gave us enough to go on for now,” she replies, a determined glint in

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

what he

})

my name?” I interrupt, pushing off

it was a setup or not, I still killed her.”

it to come out as harsh as it

as she peers up

rasp, staring into her wide brown

doesn’t break eye

can’t read her expression. She

between her teeth, wringing

closer, bridging the last bit of distance between us. Reaching

her gaze. “If there’s nothing else to the story, if it

pin drop. My heart

((

The moment of truth. The one that’ll change everything.

dart away, giving me my

a jerky step back. It was too much to hope for a

if I’d

her

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

should’ve

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 way I left every day for the rest of my fucking life. But I’ll never

had. I wouldn’t change that for a thing.” 5

throat burns as I turn away, my feet

I

Ward the door.

“Wait.”

My muscles lock

freeze

she’s right in front of me, staring up into my eyes as she presses her palm to my chest, over my heart. “I can,”

races, my throat

((

hand to cup my jaw, warmth blooming beneath

after you left, I

with your past. As long as you can promise

heart trips over its valves.

lunging for her, grabbing her by the hips and yanking her body 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

and lick her teeth and tangle my hands in her hair. She’s

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

else fading into the

Every encounter since I

back home has been building

between us finally

as we give

fingernails digging into my shoulder blades like she’s

She doesn’t have

anywhere.

I’m not going

her jaw. I lick a path down the column of her neck,

soft moan escapes her lips as I palm her ass, lifting her to

the dresser and something

a clatter in the process. Neither of us pay

wreaking around us, though, because then she’s tugging the hem of my shirt up my torso, fighting to get it past my shoulders. I stumble back a half step to assist

drops to her flushed

white cotton bralette. I

into my lip, stifling a groan.

about this girl is

her lips

of

gloriously. I dive forward to capture her mouth again, kissing her hungrily as I palm her gorgeous tits in both hands, kneading the supple flesh and pinching her stiff nipples. She

down

over the swell of her breasts. Her fingers tangle in my hair as I bite and suck her nipples, the sweetest

and cries falling from her

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

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

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

damn thing is still open. She pulls it closed and engages the lock, and

a predator, the painful strain of my hard-on against my zipper making

flares in Nessa’s eyes as

my approach intently, pressing

down her legs with my descent. Her panties come off

out, her legs

“Callum

trembling against my

ear

buries 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

fisting

woman’s thighs with no regrets. Every pant, every mewl, every breathy whisper of my name on her lips drives me fucking

screaming 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

so I’m trying to hold back from pounding into

Nessa moans, rocking against

her tight channel easily since she’s so damn wet for me. Wrapping my arms around her thighs, I pin her against the door with my chest and spread

shoulders as I pull out halfway and slam back home again and again, the door rattling on its hinges with every forceful thrust. A loud rumble of

strain against my hold on them, and I finally relent, wrapping

my waist instead as I continue

her with reckless abandon.