Alice's stomach lurched. Devon's words echoed in her mind, a chilling reminder of the power dynamics at play. But she couldn't let fear dictate her actions. She had a job to do, a responsibility to her patient.
Lance was just another name on her list, a very breathtaking patient but still a patient . And in that moment, he was a symbol of vulnerability, a reminder of the fragility of life. She couldn't just abandon him .
She straightened her back, forcing herself to focus. She had to be professional, calm, collected. She couldn't let her emotions cloud her judgment.
With a measured stride, she walked towards Lance's room. She had to make sure he was safe, at least until her shift ended. She had to be there for him, even if it was just for a few hours.
She decided not to dwell to much on Devon's words as she pushed open the door to Lance's room. She had to admit, she was a little nervous even though that had met earlier it was for little moment and she felt like this was the first time they would meet . Lance was a celebrity, a big one, a person everyone wanted to uncover . But he was also a patient, a person in need, and her job was to help him. Still, the sight she met wasn't what she was prepared for . She walking in on him, shirtless and glistening from a recent shower, made her heart skip a beat.
She tried to maintain a professional demeanor, her gaze flitting over the chart on the table next to him as she entered. He was sprawled on the bed, his back to her, towel draped loosely around his waist. She could see the faint outline of his broad shoulders, the sculpted lines of his back, the way his muscles rippled beneath the towel. Even with the obvious wounds he was still breathtaking .
And she noticed something else something she didn't notice earlier because of the long sleeves of the hospital clothes, but now that he was shirtless, she clearly saw it: his tattoo that extended right across his right arm. It was a complex design, a swirling mass of black ink that seemed to shift and change with the light. At first glance, it appeared to be a series of abstract shapes, but upon closer inspection, she realized it was a detailed depiction of a raven, its wings spread wide as if in flight. The bird's eyes were particularly striking, two deep pools of black that seemed to stare right through her.
As she traced the outline of the tattoo with her gaze, she felt a shiver run down her spine. It was an unsettling image, both beautiful and menacing, and it filled her with a sense of unease.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus on her task. "Excuse me, Mr.?" she asked, her voice calm and professional as she could make it as she didn't want him to know that she knew who he really was. He turned, his gaze meeting hers. She had to force herself not to stare. He was even more beautiful now than earlier .
"Lance" he replied , his voice raspy, a touch of amusement in his tone. "Lance cooper"
She could hardly mask the surprise on her face as she didn't expect him to answer her honestly. Did he already notice that she knew? Panic began to overwhelm her as she thought this . It's not possible that he knew right? She thought .
She had tried her best to act natural earlier , not letting anything show that she knew more than she should so how could he possibly know ?.