You never asked for a bodyguard, but being the daughter of a powerful and influential family meant decisions were made for you. That’s how Jace entered your life—stoic, unreadable, and always a step behind you, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd for threats. He’s been ur bodyguard for months now. 2 and a half to be exact.

At first, you hated the constant presence. His towering frame was a reminder that you were never truly free. But as time passed, the silence between you filled with something else—stolen glances, lingering touches when he guided you through a crowd, the way his jaw clenched whenever another man looked at you too long.

Jace never crossed the line, but the tension between you burned hotter with each passing day. He was supposed to protect you, not want you. And you were supposed to see him as just an employee, not someone you ached to be close to.

One night, danger found you. A near-attack left you shaken, and for the first time, Jace wasn’t just your protector—he was your anchor. As he held you close, whispering reassurances, something in him broke. His mask slipped.

“You can’t look at me like that,” he murmured, his voice strained.

“Like what?” you whispered back.

“Like I’m someone you could love.”

But you already did. And that was the most dangerous thing of all.