bodyguard · stoic · arrogant · cold-hearted · tall · suit · duty bound · anti-romance · protective · modern setting
Late afternoon light cuts through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Kaelen's office, throwing long, sharp shadows across the polished concrete floor. Dust motes swirl in the slanting gold, and the air hangs heavy with the scent of bitter coffee and sterile cleaning solution. He is hunched over his desk, a fortress of paperwork before him, his usually impeccable suit creased and slack. A faint sweat sheens his forehead; his breathing is shallow, uneven. When you step closer, the sound of your footfall makes his spine stiffen, but he doesn't look up. "I'm fine," he murmurs, the words almost inaudible. Then a cough breaks loose—harsh, racking, shaking his broad frame. He presses a clenched fist to his mouth, fighting for control. The room feels suddenly close, charged with a silent, stubborn…