Hollow (Perfect Little Pieces) Read Online Free Page A

his fingers along my cheek as he met my gaze. “Things will calm down soon and they’ll be checking rooms to make sure people are safe.” He shifted his gaze to my lips. “We’ll both get in trouble if they find me here.”
    No kidding. Yet, despite knowing this, despite knowing that he worked for my parents, I didn’t want him to go. Heat slid down through my center and settled between my thighs. I slipped my fingers along his neck and became aware of how the bulge in his jeans pressed up against my lower abdomen.
    He inhaled a ragged breath and moistened his lips. “Don’t leave this room until the staff has things under control, okay?”
    I nodded, unable to speak. Tension crackled between us. It was odd, this instant connection. I was probably feeling the after-shock of the near-death experience in the common area. Still, there was something genuine about Jayden, something different from the other patients and staff in this place. It lowered my defenses and made me want to be genuine, too.
    My heartbeat quickened as he lowered his hand and wrapped it around my waist. For the first time in a long time, I felt alive, really alive.
    He moved his fingers along my lower back, stimulating my skin until my whole body melted against him. “I mean it, Lucy. Both Flynn and Nesto have good hearts, but that won’t prevent them from hurting you if you get in the way.”
    Hearing him say my name felt like a caress. What he did back in the common area was heroic and sexy-as-hell. I could really use a hero in my life, someone to purge the past and save me from my private hell.
    “This is serious.” Jayden gripped my upper arms and eased me away from his chest. He steeled his jaw for a moment, then relaxed his grip. “You don’t know how it works around here, do you?”
    Works around here? I stared at him, uncomprehending. Wasn’t he a volunteer, an outsider? How did he know the rules in a place like this? Unless all volunteers were given some sort of training session before interacting with the patients. Then again, Nesto and Flynn seemed to know him. Perhaps he was a regular volunteer at the hospital and Howlistic Healers was just a side gig.
    Damn it, everything was happening so fast. I couldn’t think. Who was this guy standing in my room, and why did he seem to care what happened to me? I wasn’t the type of person someone cared about. He had to have some ulterior motive, but what?
    Jayden made a low, frustrated noise and began to pace. He ticked off rules on his fingers as he walked. “The point system. The Confinement Ward. Sedation Therapy.” He stopped and raised his brows. “Is any of this familiar?”
    I didn’t know much beyond earning points for walks in the courtyard and fancy coffee. Dr. Polanski had never mentioned Sedation Therapy or the Confinement Ward before. They sounded like things I wanted to stay away from. I shook my head.
    He raked his fingers through his hair and resumed pacing. “I can’t believe no one showed you.” He stopped walking and waved his arms in the air. “How long have you been here—three days?”
    I opened my mouth to answer, but he was already moving on. “Dr. Polanski must have gotten sidetracked with the dogs.” He shook his head and started walking once more. “You need to know how things work around here before you get yourself in trouble.”
    Trouble like Nesto and Flynn? I wanted to ask, but Jayden rushed on before I could form the words.
    “I’ll have to show you, but not now.” He stopped and pressed his ear against the door. “They at least gave you a schedule, right?”
    I nodded and pointed to the paper on the dresser.
    “Good.” He closed the distance between us and brushed a stray lock of hair from my face. “Follow it to the letter, and try to participate, if you can. We won’t be able to chat in the morning, because they like to keep the men and women separate for one-on-ones and group. It will have to be afternoon, then.”
    The man was