Page 5 of Claimed By Fur and Fangs

By the time I parked, I was already working out a plan in my head.

I can’t just walk up to her and say, hey, I came to see you because I couldn’t stop thinking about you after our briefencounter. That would be too forward… Oh Finn… you have to be creative…I thought.

When I entered the hospital, the sterile air and the faint smell of antiseptic did nothing to calm my nerves. My heart was racing as I walked toward the front desk, trying to look casual, like I wasn’t on a mission to find a specific nurse.

“Excuse me,” I said, my voice sounding too loud in the quiet lobby. “I think I might’ve sprained my arm. I just need to get it checked out.”

The receptionist looked up, giving me a sympathetic smile. “Oh, I’m sure we can help with that. Go down this hallway, take a left, and you’ll see the ER section. They’ll be able to assist you.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, forcing a calm smile as I followed her directions.

As I walked down the hallway, I kept my eyes peeled. I didn’t know what I was looking for..., just any sign of her, anything that might lead me to Amelia.

And then, just as I rounded a corner, I spotted her.

She was walking toward me, her dark hair falling messily around her shoulders, her scrubs slightly wrinkled, but still so damn beautiful. I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face.

“Amelia!” I called out before I could stop myself.

She turned, her eyes lighting up when she saw me. “Finn?” Her voice was like a cool breeze, comforting and steady. “What are you doing here?”

I hesitated for a moment, suddenly realizing how ridiculous I must look, standing there with no real reason to be in the hospital. But then I shrugged, trying to keep it casual.

“Came to check on my arm,” I said, lifting it slightly, though it didn’t hurt at all.

“Uh come with me” she said as she gently held my hand.

Her lavender smell lingered on my nose. Having her hands on mine made me think of all the things I could to her.

I followed Amelia down the hospital corridor, trying to act casual, even though my heart was beating a little faster than usual.

“How bad is it? This arm of yours?” she asked, glancing at me over her shoulder.

I winced, playing it up just enough to sell the lie. “It’s bad. A real ache that won’t quit,” I said, letting the pain in my voice linger just a little. “I think I might’ve overdone it at the refinery. I don’t know, it started out dull, but now it’s getting worse.”

“That’s not good,” she said, gently adjusting her hold on my arm as she led me down the hallway.

“Yeah, I thought I could tough it out,” I shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. “But now it’s really bothering me.”

She pushed open the door to an exam room and gestured for me to sit on the bed. I did, still feeling like an idiot for pretending my arm was really hurting. But if it meant I’d get to spend more time with her, I figured it was worth it.

She grabbed a pair of gloves and slid them on, her movements quick and professional. Her eyes never left my arm as she started to examine it, but I could tell she was also keeping a close watch on me—probably looking for any signs that I was faking it.

When she gently pressed her fingers along my wrist, I winced again, just the right amount, and I saw the shift in her face. The concern deepened, and I could feel myself starting to regret the lie, just a little.

“This doesn’t feel right,” she murmured, her fingers tracing the line of my forearm. “It’s not swollen, but I think you might’ve sprained it. You’re lucky it’s not worse.”

I felt my chest tighten, but I didn’t want to backtrack. “Yeah, it’s just been sore. But you know, I had to keep moving during the fire. Figured I could deal with it later.”

Amelia looked up at me, her expression softening.

She rubbed an ointment and massaged my hand gently as I kept on pretending to be in pain. “You’re good to go. I think themassage should help considering the fact that it’s not swollen. But take it easy for a few days. No heavy lifting.”

I nodded, trying to act like I wasn’t over the moon about how much she seemed to care. “Thanks, Amelia. I really appreciate you helping me out.”

“You welcome”

As we both left the room the silence between us was comfortable, the kind that didn’t feel awkward at all. And for a second, I thought about telling her the truth—that my arm wasn’t really hurt. That I’d been lying just to spend more time with her. But I didn’t.

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