A Knife on His Lap|| Bodyguard AU

She looks lonely on the rooftop

~Alexie Ivanov~

Parking my car in a vacant spot, I looked up, and a fallen leaf caught my attention. That's when I saw her at the edge of the rooftop. My eyes widened in panic as I dashed through the halls filled with students to reach her. Reaching the top, I steadied my breath, reminding myself to approach this gently before turning the knob and walking toward her.

My steps, which I had unknowingly mastered to be almost soundless over the years in my profession, were eerily quiet compared to the usual sounds. I approached her with a friendly tone, unaware of the stealth in my movements. "You know, jumping is not a pleasant way to go. In fact, you'd think it would be rather painful." What I didn't realize was that I had, in fact, startled her, causing her to lose her footing on the edge. The girl was just inches away from slipping to her ultimate death, all because of my stupidity. Panic shot through my body as my reflexes kicked in, and I reached out to catch hold of her wrist. Her eyes instantly closed, her features contorted in fear and regret. On the verge of tears, I heard her sigh in relief, indicating her will to live.

'Stupid, stupid, you were about to kill the one you were entrusted to protect, that too on your first meeting!' I scolded myself, yet her odd behavior humored me as a smirk formed on my face, and I asked her "Good, I see you still have the will to live."

I observed her beautiful doe eyes flutter as she nervously bit her lip, her evident attraction to my male form reflected in my eyes, filling me with a sense of pride. While I was well aware of the impact I had on the opposite gender, witnessing her embarrassment, her face turning as red as a tomato, was a unique experience. Despite her attempts to regain composure by coughing and reaching for the railing with her free hand, I wasn't inclined to let her off the hook so easily. My grip on her wrist remained firm. Regardless of her attempts to amuse me, I couldn't afford to entertain improper thoughts. She was under my guardianship for the year, and my responsibility was to guide her through the complexities of adolescence, nothing more, nothing less.

"Um..." confused she mewled.

My stern demeanor back I instructed her " Alright, now slowly put up your leg on this side and come this way." My grip on her wrist remained firm as I guided her to the safety of the rooftop. Watching closely as she followed my instructions, sliding the curve of one of her legs over the edge, the sun highlighted the tempting curves of her thighs. Suddenly, she jumped, causing a shake that momentarily loosened my hold. Instinctively, I gave her the space she needed, but what surprised me was her bold choice, causing her skirt to flutter up in the wind. The curve of her hips and the brief exposure of the fabric covering her intimate area unexpectedly came into view. I had witnessed similar acts of seduction by men and women that society might deem more conventionally attractive, yet there was something about her unconventional actions, the rebellion in her spirit, the fierce gaze that made desire surge within me. My pants tightened beneath the curtain of my wool trench coat, and I silently thanked the chilly weather for concealing my reaction.

Apparently, it was clear that this unintentional display of skin was not her intention either. Embarrassment surged through her actions as she mechanically willed her body towards the door. Amused, I cooed, "That was a nice view, I might add better than this," and pointed to the scenery behind me. I watched her spirits rise, leaning against the railing and observed her soft lips mutter the defiant response. "Well, take it as payment for your generosity." Instead of angering my insides, it tempted me even more as I watched her rush out. Laughter filled my lungs as I said loud and clear enough for her to hear, "How disobedient."

Well, we could always correct such deviant behavior, but for now, I needed to catch the little running rabbit. Yet again, I reminded myself to be patient. As much as I wanted to sweep her off her feet, throw her over my shoulders, and maybe even deliver a disciplinary action, I knew I had to approach her with care. Building trust, treating her like a friend, was crucial—not making her hate me for eternity. Though the thought of disciplinary action was tempting, I silently prayed, "Oh Lord, our father above, please give me strength. Amen." With that, I made my way toward the dean's office. The authorities should understand how necessary it is to protect an underage young lady, especially now that the roof over her head had been abruptly removed. However, it seemed the institute cared more about maintaining its reputation than the well-being of its entrusted younglings.