Read Online Jamie by Lori Foster - Free Book Online Page A

moment. “You what? ”
    Trembling, Faith whispered, “I worked for ... Delayna. ”
    Just hearing the name caused Jamie to jerk hard, all his muscles contracting in reaction. His breath left him in one frantic whoosh.
    Of all the things Faith might have said, of all the possible betrayals, he hadn’t expected that. Unwanted memories of Delayna flooded into his system. How she’d pretended to care for him, making love to him, toying with him—and allowing Kline, her lover, to tape every second of it so they could examine him like a fucking mouse in mating season.
    All in the name of understanding the anomalous mental phenomena of his ability—and how personal feelings of affection, love, and finally rejection might affect that ability.
    They’d wanted to know the way his brain worked, why he made a better remote viewer than all the others. And they’d wanted to see how he’d do under stress, if he could adequately sift emotion from truth.
    On that, he’d failed. Oh, yeah, he’d failed miserably. His pathetic need for Delayna had left him as helpless as an abandoned newborn. She’d plotted against him, yet he’d been deaf, dumb, and blind to her deception. He hadn’t wanted to believe her capable of such callous manipulation.
    Just as he didn’t want to believe it of Faith.
    Unable to keep the memories at bay, Jamie sucked air into his lungs. They’d made him an unwilling participant, a man forced through one repugnant experiment after another. He’d wanted to leave, but they wouldn’t let him. Until his escape, he’d been as much a prisoner as any jailed convict.
    And Delayna had watched it all in controlled scientific curiosity—as had Faith.
    Crushing pain exploded in Jamie’s head, in his heart. He shoved away from Faith, heaving in his rage.
    â€œGet out.” He meant to shout, but the words came out a mere whisper.
    â€œWait!” Faith scrambled off the mattress after him.
    Jamie ducked back from her outreached hand. If she touched him, he’d lose it, and he’d lose himself. At that moment, volatile fury ruled his mind. He couldn’t be trusted.
    Through his teeth, Jamie rasped, “Be smart, Faith.” His muscles bunched and flexed with the need to retaliate. “Get the fuck out of my cabin and don’t come back.”
    Full of persuasion and a hint of desperation, her voice gentled. “Jamie, please. Just let me explain—”
    â€œ No .” He struggled with himself, but it was no use. “You’ve said enough. Your association with Delayna tells me all I need to hear.”
    â€œNo, it doesn’t—”
    So bitter and cold his breath should have frosted, Jamie said, “I hate that bitch, and I hate anyone associated with her.”
    As if he’d struck her, Faith flinched away. “Oh, Jamie, no. You don’t mean that.”
    â€œI mean it.”
    â€œYou can’t.”
    His jaw damn near dropped. How dare she argue with a man in a killing rage? Was she too simple to realize the peril? Too blind to see his fury? And why the hell wouldn’t she believe him, anyway? She looked stubborn and determined and ... devastated.
    That knocked the wind out of him. What did Faith have to be devastated about? She was the intruder, the one hiding behind deception.
    But it wasn’t in Jamie’s nature to hurt others. He was a man compelled to help, to make things right for anyone within his realm.
    Jesus, he needed to be alone. He needed to collect his thoughts and bury the pain.
    Snatching Faith’s arm into a tight grip, Jamie dragged her to the ladder. “Get out. Now.”
    Her chin shot up. “I won’t. I can’t.”
    Incredulous, Jamie stared at her. “You ...” He didn’t know what to say. In his present mood, he scared himself.
    But she didn’t look afraid. Worried, yes, but not really fearful.
    If only he could detect