Chapter 6.

AURELIA'S P.O.V

Flipping through my nursing notepad, I smile in greeting at the few familiar faces as I strolled down the hospital hall, heading to check-up on my next patient. Approaching the private room, I knock twice alerting the patient of my presence before stepping into the room. Mrs Craig lay on the bed with a novel in hand, a pleasant smile stretching across her lips as she looks at me, I return the smile.

"Well hello there," I greet, pulling the side stool by the corner close to her bed and then plopping on it, "How are you feeling Mrs Craig?"

"I'm alive, I guess that counts for something." She grins mischievously, causing me to chuckle.

"Yeah I guess so, have you been abiding by the doctors' rules? No sweet foods?" I give her a playful stern look. Mrs Craig had been diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. She had been rushed into the hospital as a result of a heart-attack but luckily she had been stabilized. At the age of 72 I'd say she was rather strong and agile, she was a fighter. But she often had a habit of sneaking in sweet foods to snack on, from where? I had no idea.

"None at all."

"Mmmm I see, have you felt any symptoms? Fatigue? Blurred vision perhaps?"

"No child, none at all. I've been taking my medications regularly." I made jottings of observations as she continued to speak, rising to my feet to take her blood pressure.

"Alright Ma'am, I'd like to check your blood pressure now, so if you could just relax okay?" I smile at her, adjusting the sleeves of her dress as I wrapped the arm cuff around her arm, just slightly above her elbow.

"Fine, and how many times must I tell you child, call me Marilyn. You make me feel old with all the formalities" She chided with a pout.

"Fine fine, as you wish....Marilyn." I chuckled in response. After taking her blood pressure readings and making sure everything was fine, I stayed with Marilyn for a few minutes to keep her company, having some spare time on my hands.

"Alright Marilyn, i'll-" My words are interrupted by sharp consecutive knocks on the door, shortly followed by a man entering the room. A man who made me uneasy just by his presence, a man whose presence alone made everything around me still....a man I so badly never wanted to be around, Thorne.

"Oh, my apologies. I didn't realize she was having her check up." His voice did things to me, unholy thoughts about that night filled my mind. As I took him in, it felt as if the world around me had seized...like I had forgotten how to breathe. Everything about him was alluring -captivating- right from his well structured face, to his perfectly carved eyebrows and down to his plush enticing lips. I knew underneath all those clothing's was a perfectly built man, my eyes darted to his hands as memories of what it did to me that night resurfaced and unconsciously I bit my lower lip.

I hadn't even realized how close he was to me until he waved his hand before me, his masculine scent wafting through my nostrils.

Blinking rapidly, I try to clear my head, "Pardon me, you were saying?" I stutter, looking between him and Marilyn in slight embarrassment.

"I asked how she's doing. Any need for concerns?" I wasn't sure if it was just me but he sounded amused?

"No, absolutely not. Her vitals are perfect and well she seems...okay overall."

"Mm i see." He murmured, his eyes darting to look at Marilyn softly.

"See, I told you boy." Marilyn huffed, "Don't pay him any heed in the slightest my dear, he can be a bit overprotective at times. I already told you, I'm perfectly fine." I hear Thorne's low chuckle, my heart fluttering at the sound. He sounded divine. Fuck, I couldn't think that way.

"How exactly are you related to her?" Marilyn's husband died some years back, and she was survived by a daughter who lived in another side of the country. I knew her well enough to know that she wasn't Caroline.

"She's my god-mother." Thorns replied, sitting on the stool which I had previously sat on as my mouth makes an 'oo' shape.

"Right, well I need to leave now. Take care Marilyn." Giving out a curt nod, I exit the room.

*****

About an hour later, I was nearly done with my work and my shift so I decided to retire into the private lounge for a quick break, luckily for me it was empty so I head over to the couch and lay down. I had barely closed my eyes for a minute when I heard the door open, causing me to groan silently to myself thinking it was another nurse. I was enjoying my time alone.

"Am I interrupting?" My eyelids flew open at the voice as I sprung up from the couch in an instant, turning my head to the direction of the voice, and there stood Thorne with his hands tucked into his pockets, looking calm and composed. A far cry from the ruckus and unease I felt on the inside.

"N-no, uh, can I help you with anything?" I ask, my plans getting sweaty as I rub them against the pants of my scrub, getting on my feet.

"Not really, I just wanted to thank you for taking care of Marilyn. She's practically family, she's said a lot about you. All good things, so thank you for being so good to her." I couldn't help the small blush that rose on my cheeks, my gaze darting to the ground before his shoes.

"It's fine sir, and besides it's my job." He lets put a sound, I watch his shoes click against the porcelain floors as he drew nearer to me.

"All the same, thank you Aurelia. I can call you that right? Seeing as we're going to be family." I couldn't help the shudder that ran through me at the word 'family'. It was weird, calling the man I had fucked only some weeks back my father-in-law. Anyways, I mustered up the courage and smiled up at him.

"Sure" I chirped, hoping my voice didn't sound as awkward as I felt. He held my gaze for a moment, I felt locked in...captivated by his eyes and unable to look away. Luckily he looked away as he nods stiffly, before turning towards the door.

Just as he was about opening the door he turned and looked me dead in the eye, "Good, I expect to see more of you from now on. Although, I cannot imagine how much more there is to see after that night...Aurelia" I felt my blood run cold as my eyes widened and my jaw dropped slightly, deciphering the slight smirk as he left me alone reeling from shock.