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.

them play out on his face so plainly. Hell, if I

of his fingertips against my flesh are more than enough to convey his

right now, but somehow, even through the fog of my beer buzz, I find the wherewithal to press my palms against his chest and push back to maintain some semblance of distance between us. “We

I say 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 be touched by the only person who can do it without giving me the

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

on me, a dangerous smirk still dancing across his lips. “Vee said you’re going to make me work for

in return. Of course my bestie has already delivered a warning. If I know her, and I do, I’ll bet it also came with a threat to cause bodily harm if he screws up

around by the hips, locking an arm around my waist and yanking me back into his chest again. I shudder a gasp at the sudden movement, the warmth of his firm chest

I should start making it up to you right

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,

walking us backwards through the water until his back collides

but I still feel like I’m on full

put a stop to this as soon as he grabbed for me. If he wasn’t a little drunk, I doubt he would be this bold, especially given everything we’ve gone through lately. We’ve been walking on eggshells around one another, but the alcohol has

Callum rumbles in my ear, his fingers delving further into my bikini bottoms. They’re so close to my clit that I’m suddenly panting

around, 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

grow hotter as

my lower lip to stop from screaming out at the sudden jolt of pleasure. All

he continues torturing me with the methodic strumming of his fingers. “Or are you gonna let

my legs, and I’m already so close to coming

against my ass more insistently as he reaches down lower to sink a thick digit inside my pussy. I gasp at the intrusion, clamping my mouth shut hastily and darting my gaze around in alarm.

in short, frantic bursts. I’m biting my lip so hard to hold back my moans that tears spring to my eyes, the metallic tinge

it’s been since someone has touched me like this. I wish I could savor it, make it last to make up for all those lonely

We spent weeks exploring and memorizing each other, tangled up in

while the pad of his thumb rubs my clit

that’ll do it. 1

maybe it’s just because it’s him. Either way, the coil in my belly snaps, my

washes over ing like a tsunami. Callum holds my hips tightly in place as they buck, my body jerking, ripples forming around us in the water. It takes everything in me to hold

my ear, and I never thought I had a praise kink, but damnit if that doesn’t spark something in me that sends another wave

breathless when I finally come back down, 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 air into