Hollow (Perfect Little Pieces) by Ava Conway

surprised, but then quickly recovered. With a groan, he slid his arms around my waist and tilted his head, deepening the kiss. His lips felt warm and inviting. I moaned against his mouth as he pulled me closer. My body heated as his sweet scent filled my nose. Suddenly I wanted more of him, so much more.
    I wiggled and felt his erection press up against my lower abdomen. Knowing he was as turned on as me fueled my desire. I slipped my hands up around his neck and held onto him like a lifeline, just kissing, tasting...
    He pulled his lips away with a gasp. "Lucy. Jesus." He slid his fingers up under my shirt and spread them out over my ribcage.
    God, I loved it when he said my name. Not beautiful, not honey, but… Lucy . I groaned and leaned my head back as he explored my jaw and neck with his lips. This was what I needed, what we both needed. For a few, blissful moments, I wanted to pretend the past didn’t exist and that our future didn’t look so bleak. I wanted to exist in the moment, to feel something besides despair and emptiness…
    My whole body heated under his lips and fingers. I had been alone for so long--too damn long. I wanted to feel close to someone again. I wanted to feel alive.
    He slid his hands down my back and grabbed my backside. Need flooded my veins as he pulled me close. I groaned and hooked my leg around his waist, eager to feel him between my legs.
    "Lucy," Jayden whispered again as he dragged his lips away. "We can't do this, not here."
    I could hear the groan in his voice. Despite his words, he wanted this as much as I did, perhaps more. I tugged him closer.
    He reached up and unlocked my hands from around his neck. “You’re so tempting, but this wasn’t what I had in mind.”
    It wasn’t? Surprise sliced through me, and perhaps a little disappointment. "Why did you bring me here, then?"
    He hesitated, then began searching the shelves once more. It was then I noticed the piles and piles of scrubs the staff used not only in the mental ward, but in the adjoining operation wing.
    “ There they are.”
    “There what are?”
    Jayden grinned. "I promised you ice cream." He handed me a pair of scrubs. "Here, put these on over your clothes."
    I stared at him as his words sunk into my thick skull. "You're going to just walk out of here?"
    "Well, not out of the building, but out of this Ward. We both need this, don't you think?"
    "But you can't do that. We'll get caught."
    "Trust me." He winked and then began to dress.
    I watched him put on the scrubs over his clothes. Embarrassment wove its way through my body. He had brought me here to change into staff clothes and I threw myself at him like some two-dollar whore. What did he think of me now? Was he embarrassed to be with me?
    I had never done that before--thrown myself at someone sexually. Even when I was with Kyle, he was the one to make all of the advances. I didn’t enjoy being with Kyle half as much as I enjoyed being with Jayden. Perhaps I had a controlling streak to my personality. No, that wasn’t it. There was something about Jayden that made me feel alive.
    And I just threw it all away.
    Even now, as we dressed, I could sense him pulling away, withdrawing into himself. It frightened me. Something had changed between us. Now there was this awkwardness and tension. I wasn't sure how to fix it.
    "There," he said as he slipped the surgical mask over his face. "Ready, beautiful?"
    I slid my mask on and nodded. He took my hand and opened the door a crack.
    "Stay close, and look professional." He grabbed my hand and we slipped out into the hallway.
    I tried to hold my head high as we walked past the administrative desk. It was difficult. I was nervous that we were going to get caught and given Sedation Therapy like Martinez.
    Jayden, however, seemed unaffected by what had happened back in the supply closet. Perhaps he was used to women throwing themselves at him. Perhaps he was one of those popular kids who was used to getting all of the