Chapter Five
Chapter Five
Ravensmire
Thursday
Morning
Eight A.M.
When Ian finally awoke from his slumber, Gryphen was gone. He was in bed all alone, and an incredibly sticky mess from the wild interlude they’d had in the middle of the night.
Oh, but honestly, he wouldn’t change a single moment of it for anything.
There was, clearly, a lot about Gryphen that Ian didn’t know. The first being that he assumed that he would be doing the fucking only, and not take it himself.
Yeah, that was a big assumption.
Clearly, a wrong one.
Now, Ian needed to navigate that, and work it into their relationship, if that was what Gryphen wanted. To him, he was solely a receiver.
That was just how he rolled, but he’d switch it up if Gryphen liked that.
For him, he liked having a man take his ass, and he definitely didn’t mind sharing that experience if that was what Gryphen craved.
Not.
At.
All.
He’d have to talk to him, and see if that was a once in a while experience, or if he enjoyed it as much as he did.
Sharing was caring.
For now, though, he was satiated, and the morning wood didn’t even make an appearance.
No shock there.
Gryphen made sure to drain his balls last night, and what he needed now was a shower and hydration.
Since he was thinking about the wicked, sexy Marine Devil…
Stretching, he put his face in Gryphen’s pillow, and was able to pick up his scent.
Yeah, that was what he was talking about.
It was that masculine musk with a mix of his shampoo and body wash.
That it was still lingering on his pillow, that told Ian that he hadn’t been gone long.
That scent gave him chills, and made him think more about the middle of the night and not just the physical part.
That had been a new experience for him.
That was one of the things he loved best about Gryphen. The man was full of surprises.
No one he’d ever dated had ever woken him in the middle of the night to have sex. All the guys he’d been with were ‘morning wood or get off to come down before bed’ kind of guys.
Gryphen was unpredictable.
And Ian loved that.
Yeah, he honestly hoped he had more surprises up his sleeve.
This Scottish romantic vacation made him so damn happy. He was living his own holiday movie.
Well, movie slash porno.
But he wasn’t complaining about that.
Figuring that his man was somewhere close, like making coffee, Ian pulled on his pants, sans the boxers, and grabbed Gryphen’s t-shirt.
Yeah, he was sticky and dirty, but he didn’t care. It was a badge of honor to have Gryphen’s cum on him.
For Christ’s sake, look at the man he was sleeping with. Had anyone told him he’d be the sexy bedmate to a strong, rough and tumble Marine…
He would have told them they were crazy.
But here he was, bedding down with an incredibly hot Marine.
As for the t-shirt, since it was at the end of the bed, Ian suspected that his man liked him wearing it as much as he enjoyed stealing it.
It was a good thing because he didn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Slipping on his shoes, he headed down to the kitchen, and there, he found Graham making a list as he leaned on the kitchen island.
When he heard him, he glanced over.
“Morning,” he said. “Sleep well or did something keep you up all night?” he asked, grinning.
Yeah, they’d been loud, and it was clear the walls echoed.
Oops.
Someone likely heard him and Gryphen going at it like two sweaty teenagers.
Ehhh.
He was fine with that. Again, he was sleeping with a hot man. Ian would take out a full-page advertisement back home so all the people could see who was warming his bed.
A hero.
As for the copious cumming, after all, this was their vacation.
“When we were asleep, yeah. When we weren’t, we found things to keep ourselves busy,” he admitted.
Graham poured him some coffee, and a travel mug, too, for Gryphen.
He was glad someone slept.
Unfortunately, he didn’t sleep well, and he’d been walking around the castle to make sure it was secure. That’s when he’d inadvertently heard them.
Oh, and they were going hard.
REALhard.
He would have applauded but that was rude. It was clear that the Marine definitely liked taking his man in some enthusiastic sex.
Lucky Ian.
“If you’re looking for Gryphen, he’s outside, chopping wood. He came down about thirty minutes ago, whistling.”
Ian laughed.
“Gee. I wonder why?” he said, knowing the answer to that, and he was damn proud of it too.
Graham lowered his voice.
“I’m not going to lie, it’s quite the sight outside. I hope you don’t mind but I was ogling the man as he chopped the wood.”
Ian laughed.
“Oh, well, you’re not alone. I know where my next month of fantasies are going to come from,” he said. “No one does it like a Marine,” he joked.
Graham clinked his coffee mug off of his.
“Slainte Mhath, and you have that right.”
“You have a type, huh?” Ian asked, taking a chance that the man had the hots for Gryphen. It wasn’t like he could blame him.
The dude was gorgeous.
“Yeah, I do. Sadly, two soldiers don’t always make a good pair. We have issues a plenty.”
Ian understood.
Honestly, he really needed to take that gaydar in. He was way off with it.
It looked as if Gryphen was right.
Now, Ian was curious, and he hoped the man didn’t mind him asking.
“So, you know Saint?” he inquired, going there. “How well?” he asked.
He laughed.
“Oh, we definitely know each other,” Graham admitted.
Ian kept asking questions.
“As in you were an item?”
It took him a second.
It was clear that the man was confused by that question.
“Uh, no. We traded sexual escapade stories in the barracks as we were in the middle of a war. I won’t lie, I would have loved to be with him, but he’s fucked in the head.”
Yeah, weren’t they all?
“With Saint, no one gets past that wall, and he likes dipping his quill in the ladies, and I’m not a lass,” he said, pointing at himself.
Oh, well, this was interesting. Someone didn’t know that Saint had switched teams.
And when he switched, he switched big-time. He was with the manliest Marine they all knew. Raphael just screamed alpha male.
Ian clued him in.
“Well, now, he’s married. He has been for about a year,” he offered.
He looked surprised.
“Jaysus. Someone lassoed him in, finally. Good for her,” he said. “How did she do it? Was she pregnant and he had to settle down?”
Yeah, there was a disconnect here.
Ian kept talking, trying to figure out what was going on. This man clearly didn’t know the man was gay, and Ian had only known him as gay.
“Nope. No one was pregnant,” he admitted. “I will say that he might have told Gryphen that you were good in bed, so that’s why we assumed you went a few rounds.”
He snorted.
Oh, and he knew why Saint would say that.
“I lied a lot about the sex with the ladies. As a soldier, it was expected, and honestly, I don’t come out of that closet much. Between us, since you’re also gay, I’d much rather be in bed with your Marine than a lass any day of the week. I had to lie a lot.”
That was all he had to hear.
He pointed at Graham and scolded him.
“No. Bad Black Watch man. Bad. You are not getting my Marine.”
He found that amusing, as he raised his hands in surrender.
“No worries, I saw how he was kissing you. I’m well aware that boat has sailed. I won’t try to get into your man’s cargo pants.”
Honestly, Ian wasn’t worried.
He trusted Gryphen with his life.
They were beginning their journey, and he wanted to marry him. Now, he had to hope he felt the same about him when he proposed.
Time would tell.
“Well, then, that’s good to know. You can admire him from afar. He’s like a painting, pretty to look at.”
Graham clinked his coffee mug off of Ian’s.
“Amen.”
Together, they continued having coffee, and Graham was honest with him.
“I do miss seeing Saint. He was a complicated man. He was sleeping with every woman he could get. You didn’t mention who, but what lady bagged him?”
Ian had news for him.
“A Marine named Raphael. He’s married to a man,” he stated, dropping that little bomb.
It took Graham a second.
Then he went there.
“Jesus Christ! I should have just tossed him over my shoulder, and taken him to bed already. God! I had no idea. That shocks the shit out of me, Lad.”
Oh, well, he wasn’t the only one.
From the way Raphael tells the story, it shocked the shit out of Saint too.
He’d never expected Raphael to be gay, to put the moves on him, or to enjoy every single second of it.
You know that sex had to be good to make the man switch teams after one encounter.
Then again, he got that.
He was finally having the kind of sex that people wrote home about.
“Yeah, we share a place with the two of them. He and Raphael are super cute together.”
Graham still looked doubtful.
Because a picture was worth a thousand words, he pulled out his phone.
“See?” he asked, handing it to the man.
In it, Saint and Raphael were in matching red pajamas, wearing Santa hats, and Saint was sitting in Raphael’s lap.
“Keep flipping. There are more.”
He did.
In the next one, Raphael was dipping Saint under the mistle toe, and they were locked in a passionate kiss.
“Jaysus. He’s kissin’ a man.”
He shook his head.
“Well, at least his Marine man is hot. I still have regrets now. It took all I had to keep my hands off of him,” Graham stated.
“Keep going,” Ian said, knowing what was next.
When he did, he found a picture of Saint, Raphael, and Emmy. They were cuddling her on the couch.
“They have a daughter together. Emmy is the center of their world.”
Graham got quiet for a second, and looked distant as he stared at the picture.
“Hey, are you okay?” Ian asked. “I didn’t show you to make you sad.”
He handed his phone back.
“Aye, I’m good. Honestly, I’m happy for him. I’m glad he found someone to love him. It’s rough being out there without anyone having your back.”
Oh, Ian was aware.
He’d been on the hunt for love for many years. After he’d been hurt, he never thought anyone would want him. He’d been broken and damaged in ways he couldn’t even articulate.
Then, there was Gryphen.
Ian reassured him.
“Hang in there. I’m sure someone will come and snatch you up. Have faith. I thought I would be broken and alone for my whole life, and I was found by Gryphen.”
He sipped his coffee and nursed that broken heart that never seemed to ease. It had been a while, and still, he felt that hurt every single day.
“You’re a lucky man,” Graham finally said. “He loves you.”
Oh, he was aware.
“I love him too.”
Ian could see that Graham needed some time alone. Something was hurting him, and from his demeanor, he didn’t want to talk about it.
He was closing down.
It was time for him to head out.
Ian was about to go watch the best thing in his life—without regrets. If anything, he learned not to wait and instead, he was going to be impulsive and jump in.
Before he went outside, he needed to make sure.
“About the things I asked you to pick up…,” he began, thinking about his plans to woo the Marine.
Only, Graham cleared his throat and composed himself.
“I strung some lights last night by the lake, and I’ll have the sled and skates for you later. The ring won’t be as quick unless I can bribe the jeweler to do it today.”
He understood.
“I appreciate all of this, Graham. Just tell me how much, and I will give you cash.”
He stopped him.
“Callen and Chris said to take care of you, and that means everything. They left funds to handle this place, so it’s already taken care of. Now, Go find your sexy Marine. I’m going to go peek at him through the window though, so there’s your warning.
He laughed.
Who was he to stop him?
Ian knew that if he wasn’t with Gryphen, he’d be staring at the man too. Besides, this man’s heart hurt.
He knew that well.
“Enjoy,” he said, not the least bit concerned by it. A hot man was a hot man.
Grabbing the travel mug for Gryphen, and his coffee mug, Ian headed outside to make his way through the courtyard.
When he opened the gate, he got what the man had been saying.
Jesus.
This man was going to be the death of him. They’d had plenty of sex last night and early this morning, and now, here he was, thinking about more.
What had him twitterpated?
Well, Gryphen had his flannel shirt off, and it was tied around his waist. All that he had on was his tank top. It left nothing to the imagination as his muscles bulged and swelled as he worked hard.
He was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, and his body was giving off heat.
Ian watched as he swung the ax, and wood went flying.
That ripple of strength and muscles did one thing to Ian.
The missing morning wood?
It showed up.
Apparently, this man was the catalyst for a healthy morning erection for every gay man watching in the vicinity.
God.
He loved his life.
Now, the firewood wasn’t the only wood out there. That was for damn sure. Who knew watching a hot Marine cutting wood was a thing?
Yeah, it was now.
That was for damn sure.
Moving to a log that was behind Gryphen, he sat down, and enjoyed the show.
Oh, and it was one he’d never forget. From his tapered hips to the belt in his jeans, to the way his arms flexed and glistened with perspiration.
And his ass?
Jesus.
It looked amazing in his jeans.
The whole thing made Ian giddy.
Yeah, this was definitely a month of fantasies or more for Ian. He’d definitely won the man lottery on this one.
Who would have thought he’d be grateful to Will Jackson for hurting him?
Well, he absolutely was.
It gave him this.
Holy shit.
This was his sexy man, and his alone?
What in the world?
As he put a log on the wood to chop, he spoke, proving he had known that he was there checking him out.
“Enjoying the show?” he asked, getting his cardio in for the day.
A little piece of him hoped that Ian would show up, so he could impress him and get him hot and bothered.
He’d been thinking about their night, and now, he was trying to burn off that need.
It never ended with Ian.
Now that he’d let him in, the man was consuming his every waking hour.
The need never ended, and for that, he was grateful.
“Uh, absolutely. Keep chopping, my sexy Marine lumberjack.”
When he did, Ian just laughed.
When Gryphen swung the ax, and the wood went flying, Ian fanned himself.
“Is it hot out here? I think summer in Scotland turned on suddenly.”
When Gryphen turned, the sweat glistened on his chest, and the flush of red from swinging the ax was definitely a sight to be seen.
There was nothing sexier than the chest hairs popping up over the wife beater tank top.
Because he could, Ian let his gaze slip down his body to his tapered waist, and the big bulge in his pants that proved he was happy to see him.
Ian wasn’t the only one with a suspicious case of morning wood.
“Jesus, man. Coud you be any hotter?” Ian asked. “Freaking Graham is inside fantasizing about this, and I can’t blame him. This is something I won’t be able to unsee for the rest of my life.”
At his words, Gryphen rested the axe on his shoulder, and stared at him.
“Pardon? What’s that mean?”
He explained.
“I have news for you, Gryph. If he’s going to try and get horizontal with one of us, or vertical in a closet, it’s not with me. It’s with you. He’s into rugged men, not more feminine ones.”
He stared at him.
“What?”
“He’s gay, and he and I share a type,” he said, pointing at the man. “You’re it, hot Marine.”
Well, that was news.
Good news.
Only, he was doing battle with a whole other issue.
Gryphen took the travel mug of coffee, and that need to protect Ian rose up in him.
Why?
To find that information out, that meant one thing, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about it.
Ian had been alone in the house with the man. They’d spent time together.
Now, he was feeling feisty.
“And how did we acquire that information, Mr. Patterson?” he asked, lifting his brow.
“Uh, I just had a conversation with him, alone in the…”
And then he realized what he said.
Shit.
His Marine asked him to do one thing, and only one thing. It was to not be alone with the man.
Oh, boy.
Before this could escalate, he tried to minimize the situation.
“Gryph.”
Instead of giving him a chance, he moved toward Ian, grabbed his arm, and pulled him up. Then, he trapped him against his body.
His voice was low, soft, and deadly.
It sent chills through Ian’s body. The whole time, he wasn’t afraid of him hurting him, but he was turned on.
The sent of sweaty man filled his senses, and he couldn’t think past the slickness of Gryphen’s flesh.
Staring into his eyes, he said one thing.
“We discussed that,” he stated, the displeasure clearly in his voice.
Ian swallowed.
There was no possible way that he should be horny again, but here he was desperate to be against this man. Even if he was angry with him, Ian craved his hands all over his body.
Gryphen was an enigma, and he wanted to solve it.
Non.
Freaking.
Stop.
This man was wicked.
Running his hands up his body, he soothed the savage beast with just a touch.
“I’m sorry, but now, at least you know I’m safe. He’s into you, and I understand why.”
He had a point.
Gryphen shoved that darkness down.
Ian was right.
With the news that the man was fantasizing about him, not Ian, it made it easier to control that possessiveness.
For him, he knew that he’d never cheat on Ian. That would never happen. He was crazy about him, but still, he’d laid down a rule, and Ian promised to obey them.
In his world, that was vital.
It kept you alive.
Now, he wasn’t so much angry as riled up, and sometimes, that could be just as dangerous.
In fact, this was the second time that Ian had disobeyed him, and the first time caused Gryphen to get shot in the back trying to save him.
Not this time.
As he was pressed to his body, Gryphen could feel Ian’s heart pounding in his chest.
As it should be.
“Are you pissed at me?”
He didn’t answer directly. Instead, he laid down the law.
“Rules are meant to be enforced, Ian. Now, tell me, Baby, what do I do to punish you?” he asked, his lips by his ear.
At the word ‘Baby’, Ian knew he wasn’t angry with him. This was just Gryphen being Gryphen.
Thank God.
“If I say throw me over your shoulder and take me back to bed, is that an option?” he asked.
When he didn’t answer, Ian offered up more.
“If you don’t like that one, how about I crawl my ass over your lap to be spanked? Pick either of those and I deserve it. I was a very bad boy,” he said, trusting Gryphen with his fantasies.
The deep masculine laughter said it all, and when it was followed up with a kiss, Ian knew he was forgiven.
And that was how you tamed a Marine.
This.
Right.
Here.
As for the kiss, it was deep, and delicious. It was something he’d come to crave, and would never be able to live without.
The whole time they kissed, Ian’s hand was over Gryphen’s heart, and it was thumping away. He didn’t think it had anything to do with the wood cutting, and more or less their morning wood.
When he set him free, Ian blinked.
As he looked up, he only had one question.
“Did you punish me yet?”
Oh, someone was spicy.
Because he was being bold, and Gryphen knew he liked it, he slapped him on the ass.
Hard.
“Next time, Ian, it will be you over my knee. Don’t test me.”
Ian was giddy.
His whole body reacted.
“Yes, Gryphen,” he said, loving how that made him feel. He didn’t understand why, but the idea of him being over this man’s lap and his hand on his ass.
Jesus.
He craved that.
Someone had daddy issues.
Thank God.
“It’s break time,” Gryphen admitted. “Let’s have coffee,” he said, laying his ax against the log and pulling on his flannel shirt to stay warm as his body cooled down.
Then, they sat, side-by-side, to have their coffee.
As they sipped them, Gryphen shared the next part of their morning.
“I have to carry this wood in, and then, shower. We can go into town then, but you know the rule. You stick to me like glue.”
Oh, he would, and if he was lucky, he’d be able to break a rule or two to rile up the sexy man.
“It’s going to be nice to be able to act like I’m not going to be gunned down and killed.”
He warned him.
“You still have to follow any rules that I set. I don’t like the unknown, Ian.”
He understood.
“I’ll be good. I want that kilt in the worst way,” he admitted. Well, not for him. He wanted that kilt on Gryphen in the worst way.
His libido craved it.
Gryphen believed him.
Speaking of which…
“What color kilt should I get, Ian?” he asked, letting the man pick it for him.
He stared at him, and made up his mind.
“Something to match your blue eyes. The color is gorgeous,” he admitted. “That was the first thing I noticed about you. Your eyes match your Marine Blues.”
Yes, yes, they did.
That his man noticed, and liked that gave Gryphen butterflies in his belly.
No one in his life ever looked at him with such adoration and love. It was a gift that Gryphen would forever love and cherish.
“Then, blue it is. I think you should get the same color,” he admitted.
Ian was curious about why.
Oh, he would, but this Marine thought a certain way, and Ian liked hearing how his brain worked. There was always a reason with a Marine.
Always.
“Okay, what makes you pick blue for me? Is it my eyes?” he asked.
Gryphen was honest.
“So one day, if we decide to get married, we match as we are standing at the altar.”
That hung there, and Ian’s heart raced. He pictured his big, strong, protective Gryphen wearing a tux jacket, and a blue kilt that matched his eyes.
It was an amazing picture.
“Then, blue it is,” he said, handing that same line back to him, not wanting to give away that he was going to propose as soon as he got that ring.
God.
He couldn’t wait.
“Do you mind?” he asked.
Ian shook his head.
“Nope. I love blue. I specifically love blue as of late,” he admitted, thinking about Gryphen in his blues.
At his words, the dimple in Gryphen’s chin appeared, and then, he dropped his arm over Ian’s shoulders as they drank their coffee.
For the longest while, the Marine was silent.
It made Ian curious.
“What’s going on in Gryphen-land?” he asked, looking up at him curiously.
He sighed.
“I’m doing battle with something, and trying to debate if I should say something or not.”
Ian wanted him to be open with him. Like with their sex life, he wanted the man to put faith in him.
They were a team, right?
“You can tell me.”
Could he?
Gryphen was worried it would go south. Sometimes, people wanted to know, but once it was out, you couldn’t put words back.
Unfortunately.
“Gryph, come on,” he said. “You’re scaring me. Please don’t say you’ve decided I’m not the guy for you. I’ll freak out and cry.”
He stared at him.
What was this?
“Why do you always assume when I say I’m thinking about something that it’s about leaving you?”
That was all he had to say.
Immediately, Ian began laughing until he finally realized he was serious.
“Oh, you weren’t kidding, were you? Well, maybe because you’re freaking sexy as hell, and I’m not in your league.”
At his words, Gryphen got angry.
He shoved Ian off the hay bale and onto the snowy ground. From where he lay, Ian sputtered.
“What the hell? Why did you shove me into the snow?” he asked.
Gryphen wasn’t happy.
“That was for talking about yourself like that. It pisses me off when you think you’re not a catch. You are, Ian Patterson. I’m lucky to be on your radar.”
He laughed from the ground.
Yeah, that wasn’t the truth.
“Come on, Gryph. Look at you. You’re a freaking lumberjack Marine with muscles and strength. I’m a…I don’t know what I am. Graham inside is more attractive than me, so let’s not sugarcoat that shit. You can get any man you ever wanted. I’m dating up on this one. You’re dating down.”
He stared at him and tried to contain his temper. If anyone else put Ian down, he’d kill them.
He’d punch them in the face, and then beat them within an inch of their lives.
He was trying to figure out how to navigate the man’s self-loathing.
He knew it well.
He was a pro at it.
“I’m just being honest with you, Gryphen. Don’t be angry. It’s the truth.”
But it wasn’t.
“You’re sexy, Ian. I’m not attracted to men like Graham. He’s not even on my radar. He doesn’t have the things I want in a partner. You do.”
That was sweet, but the truth didn’t bother Ian. It was something he had to come to grips with, and now that he had, he’d work extra hard to show this man how lucky he felt.
“I appreciate you saying that, but I’m not buying it. I’m weak. I was attacked and I couldn’t defend myself. Look at me. I’m hiding now. Men like you don’t hide. Men like me do. The worst part was I guarded the president, and here I am, cowering. That’s not sexy.”
And that was the straw that broke the Marine’s back.
Without a word, Gryphen got up, put down his travel mug, and went back to cutting wood.
He.
Was.
Angry.
Yeah, it was clear that he was pissed, and he made the wood pay for it too.
As he cut the wood, Ian just sat there, not sure how to navigate this. So, he just let Gryphen work through it. When he wore himself out, and the anger was abated, they’d talk.
Fifteen minutes went by, and still, Gryphen said nothing.
Okay, so maybe that plan wasn’t going to work. It appeared he had to smooth this over.
“Are you going to be angry with me all day?” he asked, finally breaking the silence.
Ian wasn’t sure he was going to answer him. When he was about to give up, he did.
“Possibly.”
Oh, boy.
One-word answers.
That was never good.
“I don’t understand why you’re pissed. I’m being honest, Gryph. You’re what everyone considers a man. I’m barely passable. I’m just telling you how I view it.”
“And I’m telling you that you’re making me angry. I’d stop before I do something incredibly irrational. I’m just about there.”
Okay, this was escalating to a point that scared Ian, and he didn’t want to fight over something ridiculous.
Getting up, he moved to stand behind Gryphen, and when he stopped chopping wood, he wrapped his arms around him from behind to hold onto him.
The man was tense.
Ian apologized.
“I’m sorry I made you upset. We can skip talking about it. Let’s not ruin the day.”
It was too late.
“Please? I don’t understand why you’re upset with me over this, and you’re scaring me, Gryphen.”
At his words, he tried to articulate his feelings like they promised they’d do.
“It hurts me,” he said. “When you say those things about yourself, it makes my heart hurt.”
He was so confused.
It didn’t hurt him, so he didn’t understand why Gryphen was taking it personally. It wasn’t like he was saying he was a troll. Ian just knew that Gryphen was way hotter than he’d ever be.
Men like him were the epitome of masculinity.
Men like him…
Not so much.
“Why?” Ian asked. “Explain to me then.”
“Because you’re perfect for me. When we stand together, we fit like two pieces. You fit against my body. You’re so smart, and you think things through like I don’t. You’ve taught me so much about myself, that I can feel safe in my own skin and be genuine. I’m not afraid to say I’m gay, because I have someone who loves all of me.”
Ian listened.
“You have a big heart, and you’re sweet. You lay out my clothing for me, and you aren’t sickened that I’m damaged as a human being. My loss of leg doesn’t bother you. You see it as just the norm when you could have a whole man.”
Ian stopped him.
Oh, well, now he understood why he was pissed because Ian was on his way to Angry-ville now too.
“You’re angry at me for saying how I see myself, but did you just listen to yourself, Gryph? You said you weren’t whole. Says who? I’m just grateful you came back alive. Had you not, I wouldn’t have you.”
“You need me,” he whispered. “That’s what keeps me whole. You need me, and that makes you my perfect mate. If you’re not perfect, that means what we have isn’t perfect. That we could be wrong, and this isn’t what we both think it is terrifies me.”
Ian left kisses on his slick shoulders.
And now he got it.
Gryphen kept going.
“I prefer a man who’s smart. That’s my type. I like someone who’s professional, and put himself out there in the world being brave. Please don’t put yourself down. If you’re saying we’re not equals, that means we won’t work, and I’m betting everything on this. I’m betting it all on you, Ian. I need this to work, or I won’t survive. You were meant to be mine because we’re perfect together.”
Because he understood what had Gryphen so upset, he offered him something to heal that wound he’d created.
“You’re right. I can handle a mean spreadsheet,” he said, “and I like organizing things.”
Gryphen turned and put his hand over his on his chest to connect them.
Ian wasn’t done.
“I have fantastic tastes in music, and wine. When I have to throw a party, no one can compare,” he said, complimenting himself so Gryphen would calm down.
He liked how Ian understood.
“No one makes a bed like me. Oh, and no one messes one up like me either,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows.
It made Gryphen laugh.
In that moment, he soothed the savage Marine, bringing him back down to calm.
“Thank you,” he said.
Ian was honest.
“Because I notice our differences, Gryph, doesn’t mean I don’t think we’re perfect together. We are. We are opposites, and they attract. Look at the Blackhawks.”
He let him talk.
“Elizabeth and Gene are the same personality, and that’s why Ethan is drawn to both of them. They are gregarious, funny, and insane. He’s reserved, quiet, and a thinker. Look at how perfect their relationships are.”
He did think they were that.
Ian continued.
“Then, look at Chris and Elizabeth. He’s the doctor, always stuck in his head, and she’s what pulls him out. She makes him laugh by being ridiculous. He needs that levity to survive the horrible things he has to do every day for his job. They are perfect together.”
Gryphen let him keep going.
“Then, there’s Callen. He’s got a soft spot under the big body. He’s been hurt so many times, that he needs armor. She’s his armor and is tough and imperviable. No one gets past that to him. Opposites.”
“And that’s why I need you to stop putting yourself down, Ian. What would she do if they did that?”
He got it.
Touché.
“She’d be pissed.”
“Exactly. Find the best parts of you to see for yourself. I only see them. You think you’re too feminine for a man, but that’s what I love. I get off on your body above mine. There’s something about that sleekness, the way you’re not hairy like me, and how I love the angles and lines of your body. That’s what I like. Fucking someone like me…not my thing. Having you above me, below me, and with me is my happiness. You can tell me I’m sexy and not diminish your own light.”
He rested his head on his chest.
“I love you, Gryph. I’ll stop putting myself down. I see that it hurts you, and I never want you to feel like that.”
That was what he wanted, and because he would give him that, Gryphen would give him the truth.
He led him back over to the log, and they sat down.
“I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to die, Ian. You’re the only thing keeping me here. Even when I came to work for the Blackhawks, I was empty. I didn’t want to be alive anymore.”
He listened.
“Every day, I thought ‘maybe if I just didn’t wake up the world would be a better place’,” he admitted.
Tears filled Ian’s eyes.
“Then, you got hurt, and toward the end, Ian, I was glad. I’m a horrible person for thinking that, but I was so glad he hurt you so that I could put you back together again. You gave me the only purpose in my life. You needed me. I’m sorry.”
He touched his cheek.
“My love,” he said. “I’m glad too. There’s nothing I’m more grateful for than what he did to me. Because of that assault and him trying to destroy me, I came back better and stronger. You did heal me. You’re my hero, Gryphen. You’re my whole world. Don’t feel bad you think that. I do too. Don’t get me wrong, I never want to live it again, but I’m grateful he hurt me that day so you could be what healed all of me.”
He rested his head on his shoulder.
Gryphen kissed him on his forehead.
“I’ve been carrying that for a while,” he said.
Ian understood.
“Is there anything else you need to get off your chest? If you do, I’m here.”
Well, since he brought it up.
“Yes.”
He wasn’t sure what this was going to be about. So, he grabbed his coffee and got ready for it.
“What?”
Here it went.
“I wasn’t completely honest with you last night, and that’s what I’m also carrying.”
The cup froze halfway to his mouth.
“Uh-oh.”
He touched his knee.
“It’s not bad. I just didn’t wake up only because I wanted you last night. It was more I woke up and then I wanted you.”
Ian was confused.
“Then what woke you up? Did you have a nightmare? Did something wake you?”
He was honest.
“I heard footsteps coming toward our door, and then, I heard a woman singing a lullaby. It freaked me the fuck out, and I was scared.”
He stared at him.
Okay, that was NOT what he thought was coming out of the man’s mouth.
“Are you being serious?”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
Well, now, he had questions.
“Did you follow the singing to see if it was Ceit?” he asked, seriously.
That appalled Gryphen.
He stared at him like he’d lost his goddamn mind.
“Ian, do I look like I’m making things up to fill my time at three in the morning, or that I’m crazy enough to go ghost hunting in a castle alone? Shit no. If I was going to follow it, which that’s never happening, I’m taking Nancy Drew with me.”
He laughed.
“Bess is no one’s fool.”
His man was insane.
“Okay, I get it. Do you think it was Ceit though?” he asked. “And she was wandering around the castle because of whatever happened here?”
Did he?
Ehhhh.
“I mean, maybe. All I know is that it was all kinds of freaky. I hate to admit it, but she seems like she’s not rested. Maybe we need to figure out why.”
Ian grinned.
Oh, hell, yeah.
“Are you saying we solve the mystery of Ravensmire Castle?” he asked, grinning at him. “Are you saying you want to help me solve it?”
Jesus.
And this was why he didn’t tell him last night.
This.
Right.
Here.
“Put on the brakes, smart, sexy man. I’m saying we look into it, but it’s not our mystery to solve. As the place gets renovated, more things will come out. We won’t be here for all of that.”
Ian knew he was right.
Still, they could do their part.
Right?
“Okay, then we find some things out, and we put the pages back into that book. That way, whoever comes here next can keep looking. Or Graham can.”
He could do that.
It was a good compromise.
Only, he had one rule.
“During daylight only, because I don’t want to come face-to-face with Ceit in a crypt at three in the morning. I’m not going near the witching hour.”
Ian laughed.
“Well, we found the one thing my strong, brave Marine is afraid of. Ghosts.”
He shrugged nonchalantly.
“I’m not ashamed of that. I’ll tell Elizabeth you think she’s a coward because ghosts freak her out too. Let’s see what she says to that.”
He gasped.
“HEY!”
At his response, Gryphen was amused.
“See? You’re afraid of her and I’m not. We all have things that haunt us. She’s your ghost.”
He had a point.
“Okay, so we do a little research during daylight hours. I’m good with that,” Ian said. “Now that you told me, I get why that might keep you up at night.”
Gryphen laughed.
“Well, then, after I got over that, I saw you laying there, and…well, I’m a dude, and I have a dick. You’re the reason I stayed awake.”
He snorted.
That was good to know.
“I know all about your magnificent dick. It was in my ass, and I loved it. You have my permission to wake me in the middle of the night to sex me up. I’m game.”
And Gryphen loved that Ian was out of his shell. Here, he wasn’t afraid.
“Oh, I have your permission, do I?” he asked, moving his mouth closer to Ian’s.
When the man’s body reacted, he kept his voice low.
“Newsflash, Ian. I don’t need your permission. You’re mine, and I take what I want,” he whispered, wanting to see how the man reacted.
Oh, Jesus.
Ian flushed bright red, thinking about the implication behind his words.
And Gryphen didn’t miss it.
To show Ian he meant business, he leaned over and kissed him on the mouth, trapping him there with his hand on the back of his head.
Gryphen controlled that mating of mouths, proving he absolutely didn’t need permission.
Ian wasn’t arguing that.
When Gryphen finally broke the kiss, Ian blinked his eyes, trying to fight through that heat.
Holy.
Hell’s.
Bells.
This man’s mouth was out of control.
“Today is going to be a difficult day,” Ian admitted, when he was finally able to speak again.
The Marine was curious.
“Why?”
“I’m going to have to watch the sexiest man I know put on a kilt, and know he’s buck naked beneath it.”
Gryphen leaned into him.
“I too love a man going commando. May I suggest you try that more often?” he asked, biting him on the neck.
Lordy.
“Uh, I am.”
Gryphen stared at him.
“You’re britches-less?” he asked, using an Elizabeth word. It seemed right since this vacation was because of her kindness.
He nodded.
Then, he grinned.
That stirred him up all over again. So much so, that his face must have given away his plan.
“Gryph, what are you going to do?” Ian asked, as the man stood up, and Ian put some space between them.
He grinned wickedly.
“Don’t do it!” he said, knowing exactly what the man was thinking.
Only, he didn’t mean it.
Ian wanted it.
Oh, Ian wanted it bad too.
“It’s punishment time,” he said, licking his lips. “You broke the rules and were alone with a man with no boxers on. That’s very bad for you, and very good for me. Now, come here, Ian.”
Immediately, Ian’s body reacted, thinking about all the ways he wanted this man’s hands on him.
When he didn’t do as he asked, he gave him one more chance.
“Ian.”
Before he could say anything, Gryphen lunged, and Ian started running.
Somehow, he managed to outrun Gryphen, but only for a bit. When he wore down, because he wasn’t in shape, Gryphen grabbed him, tossed him over his shoulder, and carried him toward the stable.
“What are you going to do?” he asked, fighting to get off his shoulder, but his mate was too damn strong.
The whole time, it only exacerbated the situation and made Gryphen want him even more.
That predator prey instinct kicked in.
And he swatted him on the ass.
HARD.
Ian gasped, and then knew, he was trapped and his captive. Oh, and that didn’t bother him in the least.
Instead, it made his dick hard.
“I’m going to embarrass the animals in there when I show them what I can do. I have a hot man to punish, and I plan on doing just that.”
Ian kept fighting, and he learned two things.
Gryphen loved when he did just that, and that the man could get pretty creative in a stable with a naked man and his dick.
Not surprisingly.
Not even close.