Page 8 of A Whisper of Cinders

Good to see you too, I guess. “She is currently occupied. I can take it from here.” The look Irene is giving me speaks a thousand words. She doubts my skill, what a surprise. “I can call her if you want.”

“That is totally unnecessary. It’s just a nosebleed. I’m sure she can handle it.” Noah’s voice is a low rumble and a little nasal.

At least someone believes in my capabilities, that’s a first and I have to say very unexpected.

“Fine. I’ll leave him to you then, Scorch. Don’t mess it up.”

She gives me one more look over and exits the infirmary. I really don’t get what her problem is. I am an easy woman, never seeking trouble. I don’t do anything wrong. Do I look different? Yes, I do. Does that mean you should be mean and rude? Nope, definitely not. “Follow me, please.”

I slip into the examination room ahead of him, glancing back as he follows and closes the door with a soft click. He leans against the table, his posture relaxed, but his head stays tilted back, offering a view of the smooth line of his neck, the subtle tension in his jaw.

I’m staring, I know I am, but well… I’m just a woman too, you know? “You shouldn’t tilt your head back when you have a nose bleed. It can cause blood to flow to the back of your throat, which can lead to nausea or vomiting.”

He slowly moves his head downward, blinking at me. Maybe I should’ve remained silent instead of naming facts he probably doesn’t care about.

“I…didn’t know that. Thank you, Maily.”

He knows my name — my real name — and is grateful? Well, well, miracles can still happen.

I put on some sterile gloves and take place in front of Noah. “You can remove your hand now.”

“Oh, uhm, right.”

He releases the bridge of his nose, hand falling to rest in his lap. The bleeding has mostly stopped, but the damage is done. His nose is already swelling, the skin bruising along the ridge in shades of blue and purple.

I’ve never really noticed how handsome he is, not in the obvious, polished way some people are. He’s all sharp lines and worn edges. There’s a cut just beneath his cheekbone and a shadow of a bruise already settles along his jaw too, but somehow it only adds to the look.

And here I am, staring. Again.

I quickly move closer, trying to find my cool. I grab a clean cloth and soak it in cool water, before wiping the blood away. Even when my fingers gently press the sides of his nose, his eyes flicker across my face. “You’re lucky, it’s not broken.”

“Lucky me indeed.”

His breath tickles my fingers and my eyes lock into his, before I continue in silence. A little bit of blood runs down his nose again and I quickly press the cloth against it. “Hold that there,” I say, handing it off to him.

His fingers brush mine as he takes it, just briefly, but enough to make my heart stumble.

A man touches me and I lose all common sense? I quickly turn away, hoping he didn’t see my cheeks go bright red and grab some of the cotton that stops bleeding. “Remove the cloth, please.”

He does as I say and I gently lift his head up by pushing against his chin before I put the cotton in his nose. He holds completely still, not loathed by my touch in any way.

“You’ve done this before, I suppose?”

I shrug, keeping my tone even. “You’re not my first busted nose in the five years I have been volunteering here.”

He chuckles softly. “I can imagine. Thank you for helping me though.”

Why is he thanking me? It’s…my job? “That’s why I’m here, but try not to make a habit out of it, okay?”

He grins, teeth flashing. “I’ll do my best. Unless it means someone else gets hurt instead.”

I pause, tilting my head at him. “What?”

“Nothing,” he says quickly, pushing himself away from the table.

I clean the wounds on his knuckles and on his cheek before grabbing a cold pack out of the freezer. “The cold pack will prevent some of the swelling.” I wrap the cold pack in a towel and hand it over to him. “Keep it on for fifteen minutes and then you can go.”

I take off my sterile gloves and throw them away. A low whistle sounds and I turn around to Noah once more, who’s observing himself in the mirror.