It was quiet, the door to his room left wide open, as the smell of the hospital wafted inside. His face scrunched in agony, as he attempted to move his shoulder in a more comfortable position after taking off the top of his hospital gown, leaving just the blue trousers to hang low on his hips. He was suffering, taking in deep breaths, when he finally leaned back on the pillows of his bed, his eyes closing to find a few moments of peace.

"You can come in, Angel," he grunted out without opening his eyes, a smirk visible on his teasing lips.

Pushing off the wall I was leaning up against, I closed the door behind me. "I thought I told you to be good," I said, entering the room. "Are you feeling warm?" Without waiting for an answer, I reached for the thermometer in my pocket, placing the tip in his ear. The numbers 101.5°F illuminated the screen; it wasn't so bad, but I had to look out for him, or else he'd be dehydrated soon. If only he was taking fluids through the IV until now, but no; he had to be difficult.

"I'm glad you're back." His voice was husky, his hair a mess. Even like this I couldn't help but find him attractive, as he shamelessly teased me. "Don't you leave me with that bloodsucking creature. Ever again." He meant every word. I couldn't help but crack up in laughter at his antics. "You keep being a tease, I see," he said, getting on his legs, pushing off the bed with one hand to come near me; for a minute he ignored his pain, something dangerous written all over his face, as he dared me to provoke him. Raising an eyebrow, I pushed his torso back on the bed, taking a few steps away myself to compose myself.

"What are you gonna do about it? Fight?"

"What's that supposed to mean?", he folded his arms in front of his chest, a sudden pop coming from his shoulder; my eyes widened at the blood-curdling sound. The same stoic mask was back on his face, as the playfulness dissipated.

"I wasn't talking about that. You told me, you just fell, and I believe you... Right?" I mimicked his stance, folding my hands in front of my chest, to hide the slight tremble of my fingers. "What about the chest-bruises though? Were they caused by the fall as well?" Like a survival mechanism, my tone was laced in irony, as I stared deep into his green eyes.

He moved closer to me, his body heat seeping into my own shivering one. Standing my ground, I didn't look away, daring him to speak the truth. He was nibbling on his lip in thought, before clenching his jaw to stop the words from spilling out; at least the words I wanted to hear.

"You have no idea what you're talking about... you have no idea what the people around you are going through. Just like everyone else, you hide your real self behind that white coat you're wearing, making everyone feel intimidated by the things you say, but I see right through you. You are as lost as I am, who knows maybe even more. You're not fooling anyone, kitten. I am entitled to my secrets, so let's just leave it at that."

My once folded arms fell to the sides of my body, as I looked, suddenly feeling less daring. I crossed the line. Somehow, deep down, I knew he was right. I was lost; away from my family, in a country with just my best friend and brother. I was still unable to trust new people; especially men. The struggle up until now to earn a degree and continue to prove myself was my one true battle; nothing else mattered.

I was frustrated. Angry. The word 'hard' didn't even begin to cover how these past few years were for me, and he thought he was entitled to putting me in my own place? Who did he think he was? Some kind of rich playboy, for sure. I just wanted to turn around and leave him there. He didn't deserve my time or patience.

Leaving, escaping, was something I was always good at. When things got harder, I always found a way out. Instead, I just stood there in front of him. It was unsettling, but , somehow, his burning gaze made me feel both irritated and calm. How? Why was he affecting me?

I got closer to him and put my palm on his cheek, making him frown before the lines on his forehead and between his eyebrows smoothed out; he relaxed completely under my touch. I was just staring into his emeralds, taking in his features, as I nibbled on my bottom lip, lost in thought. His strong jaw, the faint stubble making perfect angles on his face; his lips parted a little and I almost gasped before averting my eyes back to his.

I just met him today, but as bizarre as it was, it felt like we were in our own bubble. Calming each other with our presence.

"I need to take some blood for the lab tests Mr. King. Now be a good 'kitten' for me and I'll be out of here." I said in a soft voice, stressing the word; I hated being called that.

His eyes narrowed as he kept looking at me. The smile he had on his face when I walked through the room was now gone, replaced with the tightening of his plump lips in a thin line.

"If we don't run the damn tests, you won't be leaving anytime soon from this hospital. You are hurt, so I'd suggest, just stop provoking me. I am not allowed to sign you out without fixing you first. So suck it up and let me do my job." I felt angry but my voice remained soft; just above a whisper.

My hand fell from his cheek and I tried to steady my fast beating heart. I could taste the adrenaline on my lips, after those words left my mouth. Something about him, something about his green eyes burning into mine, was making me bold.

I was relieved when he took a seat on the bed, giving me his right hand. Inspecting his veins, I felt elated for a moment. Patients with pumped veins made me feel elated. I cleaned the area and reached for the needle. Immediately, he looked the other way.

I wasn't sure if he was sensitive to pain or afraid of needles; his stance up until now proved otherwise. He was uncaring of his pain and refused the pain killers, but now, he was avoiding looking at the needle in my hand for unknown reasons.

"I don't like needles, either." I tried to calm him any way I could. "Who likes giving someone the permission to hurt them, right? But you should trust me. I've been doing this for a long time. My hands are smooth, so you won't feel a thing." I paused taking in his features.

He continued looking the other way. The irony... who am I to talk about trust? But I really wanted him to relax.

"Trust me. I am only doing this so you can get better." It was like reassuring a child; I was sure I looked really stupid in that moment.

He turned around, locking eyes with me. Raising an eyebrow in amusement, he smirked before putting a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I am sorry for being judgmental. It's not something I'm proud of..." I say, focusing on the spot the needle would press through his skin.

"How can you be so feisty and then be an angel in a matter of seconds? It drives me fu-", before he could pull away and I lost my chance, I poked his skin with the needle. "Motherf-" he took a deep breath, followed by his chuckles. "You scared me. You don't like giving me a heads up, do you?"

"But I didn't hurt you, did I?" A smile was plastered on his face, but he didn't answer my question. "Come on, just admit it. My hands are like magic," I said with a wink, feeling triumphant as I secured the IV line to his wrist, while he silently stared at me.

"You drive me crazy, you know that?"

"And you sure know how to create the best first impressions," I chuckled, as he came closer to me.

"I'm glad, you feel that way."

"For a gang member, you sure are a crybaby," I said, trying to get a reaction out of him, but he just rolled his eyes disinterested.

"What's with you and me in a gang, anyway? Except, of course, if you're into such fantasies." He seemed to think about it for a second, scratching the stubble on his chin.

"I guess it's a good thing I'm the one with the needles and scalpels, then." I licked my dried lips before biting down on the bottom one.

His eyes focused on my lips for a moment, before he averted his burning gaze to my eyes. I suddenly felt warmer; the whole situation was almost unbearable. I couldn't take this anymore, so I gazed at anything else in the room.

I stayed still, completely frozen, as he placed his fingers under my chin, lifting my head so I could face him. His emerald green eyes looked right through me and I could feel his body heat radiating and spreading like fire in mine. I continued nibbling on my lower lip, trying to compose myself, but I didn't pull away. Something about his eyes getting darker and his own wet, parted lips, rendered me speechless, frozen in place, as he inched closer to me.

"Is your work here done, Dr. Ricci?"

I couldn't move away from him fast enough.

___