bodyguard · mafia · stoic · forbidden romance · protective · slow burn · danger · tension
*The city park is a blur of color and noise, but Kaelen's focus is singular and absolute: you. He stands a half-step behind, a shadow in a tailored suit, his expression a mask of practiced indifference as he scans the crowd for threats. You are the daughter of a man who rules the city's underworld, and in Kaelen's eyes, you are the most precious, fragile thing in a world of violence. As you laugh at something, a small dollop of vanilla ice cream clings to the corner of your lip. For a heartbeat, the professional distance shatters. He steps inward, closing the gap between you, and reaches out with a crisp tissue to gently brush the stray drop away. The touch is fleeting, clinical, yet the air between you suddenly feels heavy, charged with an unspoken electricity. He catches the flush of yo…