Cold Heart

The next day, Kieran moved into the penthouse with his single duffel bag of belongings. The guest room he'd been given was bigger than his entire apartment, with a king-size bed, an attached bathroom that had a shower the size of a small room, and a view of the city that probably cost more per month than Kieran made in a year. It was surreal and uncomfortable and he tried not to think about the class difference between him and his new roommate.

Living with Elliot quickly proved to be complicated as hell. The alpha had absolutely no concept of personal boundaries. He was constantly in Kieran's space, asking questions, making comments, trying to get reactions. During breakfast that first morning, Elliot sat way too close at the kitchen island, his thigh pressing against Kieran's, his scent wrapping around Kieran like a drug.

"So, tell me about yourself," Elliot said, stealing a piece of bacon from Kieran's plate with a grin. "What does an omega bodyguard do for fun? Beat up alphas at the gym? Practice your death stare in the mirror?"

Kieran moved his plate away from Elliot's thieving hands. "I don't have time for fun. I work, I train, I sleep. That's it."

"That sounds incredibly boring."

"That sounds like staying alive and paying my bills."

Elliot's expression shifted to something more thoughtful. "You send money to your sister, right? For college?"

Kieran's eyes narrowed. "How do you know that?"

"I read your file. Background check." Elliot shrugged unapologetically. "She's studying medicine at State University. Smart kid. You must be proud.”

The fact that Elliot had looked into his family made Kieran uncomfortable in ways he couldn't quite name. "My personal life isn't relevant to this job."

"Maybe not. But I'm curious about the man who's going to be living in my home and potentially taking bullets for me." 

Elliot leaned closer, his golden eyes intent on Kieran's face. "I want to know who you are, Kieran Hunt. Not just the cold professional bodyguard. The actual person underneath."

Kieran stood up abruptly, needing distance from Elliot's overwhelming presence. "There's nothing underneath. This is who I am. Now if you're done eating, we need to review your schedule for the week and identify security vulnerabilities."

He walked away before Elliot could respond, his heart racing uncomfortably. This was going to be so much harder than he'd anticipated.

The first week of living together established a routine that was both professional and intimate in ways that messed with Kieran's head. He accompanied Elliot everywhere.to early morning meetings at Sinclair Corporation, business lunches with investors, afternoon strategy sessions with the board. Kieran was constantly alert, scanning for threats, positioning himself between Elliot and potential danger. It was exhausting but familiar work.

What was unfamiliar and exhausting in a completely different way was being around Elliot all the time. Watching him work, seeing the sharp intelligence behind the playboy facade. Listening to him negotiate deals with a confidence that was genuinely impressive. Noticing the way he treated his staff with casual kindness, remembering their names and asking about their families.

And fighting his own body's constant reaction to Elliot's presence. Despite his suppressants being at maximum dosage, Kieran could still smell him. Could still feel the pull of those S-Tier pheromones making his omega instincts go haywire. 

He caught himself staring at Elliot's hands during meetings, at the line of his throat, at the way his expensive suits fit his body. It was unprofessional and dangerous and he hated that he couldn't seem to stop.

The biggest complication came on day four when Clara Hayes visited the penthouse for dinner. Kieran had heard about Elliot's fiancée but hadn't met her yet. When she arrived, he understood immediately why she was considered the perfect match.

Clara was exactly what society expected an omega to be. Petite and pretty with long chestnut hair, wearing a soft pink dress and heels, speaking in a gentle voice. She was sweet and gracious, greeting Kieran warmly and thanking him for protecting Elliot. 

She clearly loved Elliot based on the way she looked at him, the way she touched his arm affectionately, the way she talked excitedly about their wedding plans.

Elliot was polite and attentive with her, but Kieran noticed something off. 

The alpha's body language was more formal than intimate. He smiled at Clara but it didn't quite reach his eyes. When she tried to kiss him hello, he turned it into a brief peck rather than anything deeper. It looked like two people performing a relationship rather than actually being in one.

Kieran maintained his professional distance during dinner, standing guard near the windows while they ate and talked. But he couldn't stop watching them together. Couldn't stop the uncomfortable tightness in his chest every time Clara laughed at something Elliot said or reached across the table to hold his hand. Couldn't stop the ugly jealous feeling that he had absolutely no right to feel.

This was good, Kieran told himself firmly. This was a reminder that Elliot Sinclair wasn't available. That he was engaged to a sweet omega woman who was perfect for him. That whatever weird tension existed between Kieran and his client was just biology and proximity and meant absolutely nothing.

After Clara left, Elliot found Kieran in the kitchen where he was cleaning his weapons at the island. "So, what did you think of her?" Elliot asked, his tone carefully casual as he poured himself a drink.

"She seems nice," Kieran said neutrally, not looking up from the gun he was field-stripping. "She clearly cares about you."

"Yeah." Elliot was quiet for a moment. "She's perfect, really. Good family, good education, sweet personality. Everything my grandmother and the board wanted for me."

Something about the way he said it made Kieran glance up. "But?"

Elliot met his eyes with an expression Kieran couldn't quite read. "But nothing. She's perfect. We're getting married in four months. Living happily ever after and all that bullsh—" He stopped himself. "All that."

The tension in the air between them felt thick enough to cut. Kieran forced himself to look back down at his weapon. "Congratulations."

"Is it?" Elliot asked quietly. "Congratulations, I mean. When you're marrying someone you don't love? When it's just a business arrangement wrapped up in a pretty white dress?"

Kieran's hands stilled on the gun parts. He should tell Elliot that his personal life wasn't Kieran's business. Should maintain professional boundaries. Should not engage with whatever confession was happening here. But instead he heard himself ask, "Why are you marrying her if you don't love her?"

Elliot laughed, but it sounded bitter. 

"Because that's what's expected. Because my grandmother arranged it years ago and the families have been friends forever. Because Clara is the kind of omega an S-Tier alpha is supposed to marry.proper, acceptable, someone who'll look good in the society pages and give me appropriate heirs. Love doesn't really factor into marriages at my level."

"That's fucked up," Kieran said bluntly.

"Yeah. It really is." Elliot drained his glass and set it down with a sharp click. "Have you ever been in love, Kieran?"

The question caught him off guard. "No. Never had time for that kind of complication."

"Me neither. Isn't that fucked up too? We're supposed to be adults but neither of us has ever felt what's supposed to be the most important human emotion." 

Elliot's golden eyes were intense on Kieran's face. "Don't you ever wonder what it would be like? To actually feel that for someone?"

Kieran's throat felt tight. "Wondering doesn't change reality. You've got your life and your engagement. I've got my job. That's all there is."

"Right. Of course." Elliot turned to leave, then paused at the doorway. "For what it's worth, I think you'd be incredible at it. Love, I mean. Under all that ice and attitude, you've got a good heart. You just don't let anyone close enough to see it."

He left before Kieran could respond. Which was good, because Kieran had no idea what the hell he would have said to that.