The Protective Gryphen: The Ravensmire Chronicles

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

The Pub

Friday

One P.M.

When Ian wanted to shop, he was going to shop. At the top of his list was one thing, and only one thing—another kilt. They headed back to the shop and purchased a fiery red tartan that made Gryphen look just as hot.

Maybe more so.

It riled him up, and as Ian doted on the man as he was getting fitted, he also took every single opportunity to feel Gryphen up.

Someone had been just as turned on.

Only, when the older man went to take care of the kilt, Gryphen made Ian drop to his knees and blow him again.

He’d been told he had until the man got back, or he’d be caught.

So he blew him like he’d never blown him before, and luckily, Gryphen came right before the man returned. They’d almost gotten caught, and that made it hotter.

The more he got Gryphen off, obeying him, the more the man wanted. Ian couldn’t say no to this man, and he was dying to get home so they could work on their contracts.

Maybe they should have spent today in bed.

As for Reggie, if the older man suspected something, he didn’t let on, and that was a good thing.

It only added to the non-stop role-playing they were about to make their everyday life.

Honestly, Gryphen wanted to take these risks.

It made him wild with need.

As they checked out, Ian was standing in front of him, and he knew that he could feel him still hard. Because Ian was horny, he continually rubbed against him, tormenting him.

It was as if he was daring him to take him.

Oh, well, he would.

Later.

As they left the shop, bags in hand, Ian pointed at another shop he wanted to visit.

Gryphen saw what it was, and he was hella confused by it.

“What do we need stationary for, Ian?” Gryphen asked. “Who are we conversing with? You and I have our own way of talking, and it doesn’t involve paper and pen.”

He grinned.

“Well, I might want to put love notes in your lunch,” he admitted. “But I was thinking for the thank you notes after our wedding when I thank everyone for coming and the gifts.”

His heart skipped.

Well, both of those options made him giddy.

“I like those ideas. I love that you plan ahead, Ian, but I’d like to remind you that you still haven’t asked. What’s a man have to do?”

Ian was ready to do it then and there. When he’d told him to give him head in the dressing room, he’d never had such a thrill in his life when Ian immediately dropped to his knees and complied.

It had been wild, and he’d wanted to make this man his forever.

Ian just shrugged, already knowing what he had planned.

“Well, someone needs to be patient.”

“Well, if that’s what he needs,” he said, kissing him. “I guess I can be patient. Go get yourself some stationary,” he said.

Ian rubbed against him.

“Would you like to join me?” he asked.

Oh, he would, but he was getting a little too horny and his control wasn’t really working right now. He still couldn’t believe his man gave him head in that store.

Someone was wild and unpredictable. Then again, he’d told him he needed to give himself to him whenever he asked.

And he had.

“I’ll be right here. I want to be surprised at what you choose.”

That worked for him.

As Ian went in, Gryphen took a seat on the bench facing the shops. As he was sitting there, he felt eyes on him, and it was the first time since being there that the hair on the back of his neck stood.

And it brought back bad memories.

His body went on alert.

When he turned, he scanned the street, looking for danger, and then, he knew why he felt watched.

Graham was standing on the other side of the street giving them some space.

The minute he realized that he was seen, he nodded in greeting.

Since Ian was shopping, Gryphen didn’t mind some company.

He waved him over.

“Hey,” he said, as he sat down. “How long were you watching us?” he asked.

“Not long. Only when you came out of the kilt shop. What happened? Did you get it wrecked during the evening’s festivities?” he asked, laughing.

Gryphen snorted.

“No, Ian wanted one for the wedding and one for sexy time. So we picked up another.”

“God. Lucky Ian,” he said. “Anyway, I didn’t want to interrupt you guys,” he stated. “You looked like you were having fun shopping.”

“We were. Ian’s buying thank you notes for after the wedding.”

He played along.

“Oh, are you engaged?” Graham inquired. “Did skating and sledding romance you to the point you knew it was time?”

Gryphen sighed.

“Nope. He hasn’t asked yet. I’m getting impatient.”

He stared at him.

“So, let me get this straight. You are clearly the dominant one, since you carry him around over your shoulder and play Lord Carter, but you aren’t asking him for his hand in marriage?”

He explained.

“I was an idiot,” he stated. “I thought that Ian would need time to adjust, and after his rape, I didn’t want to rush him. Had I known that coming here, and staying at Ravensmire would change him, and give him his life back, I wouldn’t have offered to wait until he was ready. I’m three days past ready.”

“Ahhh.”

“Now, he’s planning, and I don’t have the heart to ruin that for him. I figure he’ll ask when Will Jackson is put in jail.”

“If my man was raped by an animal, I’d put him down,” he said.

Oh, Gryphen wanted to. If he could slip away and leave Ian alone, he’d find the man and execute him. Only, Elizabeth would have to lock him up, and he didn’t want that.

“Same, but unfortunately, if anything happens to him, it looks like we did it, and by we, I mean the Blackhawks. So we tread lightly. The military response and the civilian justice response, are two different things.”

Clearly.

Since he had the man there, he figured he’d give him the bad news.

“We were having breakfast and heard a crash. The ceiling in one of the rooms came down.”

“Are you sure it wasn’t wild sex?” he joked.

Gryphen snorted.

“That’s a broken bed, my friend. Not a ceiling. We bounce, but not that high.”

“I’ll alert the contractors. I’m glad no one was in there when it came down.”

He told him about the little box and the note.

“Just make sure it goes with the journal. I know Callen wants to solve the mystery. I spoke to him not that long ago. Apparently, his wife told him that the mystery better be solved, or he was going missing.”

Gryphen laughed.

“Well, that sounds like her. Elizabeth is pretty easy going, unless one of the men does something ridiculous. A castle with bodies tends to fit under that category in her world.”

Good to know.

When he looked at his watch, he noticed a jewelry store where Graham had been standing.

He thought about tonight, and how he and Ian were going to start their contract.

Maybe he should get him something to commemorate it. If he had his dog tags, that would be sufficient, but he didn’t have them.

“If I run into that jewelry store, can you sit here and watch for Ian?” he asked.

“Sure! I’m just wrapping up my duties here, and I’ll be heading home after I pick up a few things for Ravensmire.”

“I appreciate it. Thank you.”

Getting up, Gryphen headed toward the shop, and inside, he found so many things that had his attention.

Ian didn’t wear jewelry, other than a watch, so he needed to choose wisely.

The only ring he wanted to see him in was a wedding ring, so that was out.

When he looked at the necklaces, one stood out. He wanted to give Ian something to remind him when he looked in the mirror that he was his.

“Aye, can we be helping ya?” a man asked, heading his way.

“This piece right here,” he said, pointing at it.

“In the gold or the platinum?”

“Which is stronger?” he asked. “I need something that says strength, tenacity, and will last a long time.”

“The platinum then.”

“Can I see it?”

He pulled it out, and it was just a rectangle. It was nothing fancy. It kind of reminded him of a dog tag, but so much smaller.

His tags were at home with his Blues, so he couldn’t give those to Ian until later.

“Can you engrave it for me?” he asked.

“We can. It’ll take time though. We have an order we are about to start working on now.”

Gryphen knew how to do this.

“How much to do it first?”

The man looked confused.

“Pardon?”

“It’s a gift, and I need it for tonight. How much to get it done before that order. I’ll pay whatever you ask. Double it. That’s fine.”

“Are you serious?” the man asked.

“Yeah, I am. Can you do it?”

The man laughed.

“It’ll be four-hundred-pounds sterling,” he said, tacking on a thick fee.

Gryphen didn’t flinch. Instead, he pulled out his wallet and paid him.

“Here’s what I need put on the back. It’s one word.”

He scribbled it down.

“Give me an hour,” he said, “and it’ll be done.”

That worked for him.

Now, he’d just have to distract the man at the pub, and then sneak out, get the necklace, and return.

The things you did for love.

Heading out, he found Graham still sitting on the bench sans Ian. Apparently, his man was struggling with picking out paper.

Wisely, Gryphen wasn’t going to question it. A happy man was a happy husband. If he wanted to spend time looking at paper, more power to him.

When he sat down, Graham was curious.

“How’d it go?”

He laughed.

“Well, I bribed the man to cut in the engraving line, so now, he’s working on something for Ian right now. I feel bad for whoever was up next.”

Oh, shit.

Ian was up next.

His ring for Gryphen was supposed to be finished today and that was why he was sitting in the town, patiently waiting for pickup.

Shit.

“Really?” he asked, not believing this.

What the hell?

“Yes. Sometimes, you have to do what you have to do,” he admitted.

Well, this was a pain in his arse.

He was planning on picking up the ring and getting back to the house to deal with the other chores like taking care of the animals and paying Molly.

Now, he also had to clean up a collapsed ceiling in one of the rooms.

Gryphen had an idea.

“Is there any way that maybe you can grab it when it’s done, and get it back to my bedroom?”

Holy shit.

Now, he had to break it to Ian that his ring for Gryphen was going to be later, but he couldn’t tell him it was because Gryphen had bumped him in line.

Oh, boy.

“Sure.”

This was perfect.

“I sleep on the left side when you’re facing the bed. Can you drop it in the drawer?” he asked.

Graham would have laughed but then, he’d have to explain.

“I can do that. We’ll have to go into the jewelry shop and tell the owner. I doubt he’ll let me pick it up without seeing you know me.”

Yeah, and he had to hope the man kept his yap closed regarding the ring.

This was getting complicated.

Gryphen was so damn grateful that the man was willing to back him up. If all it took was a trip into the jeweler together, sign him up.

That worked for him.

“Let’s go do it before Ian gets out with his paper supply,” he offered.

Yeah, so he could disappoint Ian later. Graham didn’t know how he was going to break it to the man. He wasn’t getting that ring this afternoon.

Hopefully, he could get the jeweler to finish before tonight and maybe deliver it to the castle gate.

As they headed across the square and into the shop, they didn’t notice that Ian was on his way out of the stationary store at the same exact time.

When he came out, he looked around, and he couldn’t find Gryphen.

He was gone.

Did something happen?

That was odd.

Pulling out his phone, he checked to see if the man had texted him but there was nothing.

Now, he was getting alarmed. There was no way Gryphen would leave him alone. Maybe he got bored since Ian had to wait for the stationary to be stamped.

Instead of staying there, he went to the window and looked inside the store he’d just come out of, and the man wasn’t in there.

Immediately, his heart started pounding in his chest, as he scanned the crowd.

Suddenly, he felt so alone.

While he knew he was safe, and Will was nowhere near them, he didn’t like the feeling of not knowing where Gryphen was.

He searched for him, and began wandering away.

The whole time he scanned the crowds, Gryphen wasn’t anywhere on the street, and he didn’t see him behind him.

What the hell?

As he rounded a corner and into an alley, there were two guys leaning there against the wall. As soon as he walked past them, Ian knew he was going to have trouble.

And it was a dead end.

When he turned around, the men were blocking his escape.

Oh, God.

The panic kicked up, and his body went into fight or flight, and fight wasn’t an option for him anymore.

“Oh, Laddie, there’s the man that was kissing that other guy in the middle of the street like he owned it. It looks like we have some boys who favor the arsehole over the pussy,” he said.

Ian came to a dead stop, and tried to figure a way out of there.

When he went to turn, thinking he could bang on a door or something, they moved, blocking him off. In that moment, he panicked as his heart began racing in his chest.

“Someone is a bit glaikit to be wandering around alone after acting like a man whore in the street.”

Ian really wished he stayed by the stationary shop. He could take one of them, but both?

There was no way.

As the men moved closer, Ian backed up, putting some space between him.

“Maybe we should give him some dick to see if he likes it,” the other said.

In that moment, Ian wanted to cry.

He couldn’t function.

The idea that they would hurt him like Will hurt him made him forget how to protect himself.

“What do you say, Laddie? Want to suck me off so we can have some fun with ya?” the one man asked, pulling out a knife to use in case he said no.

Oh, Jesus.

Ian tried to think about being a Fed. He tried to think about protecting himself, but he couldn’t figure out how to pull that off. It was as if everything he’d ever learned had disappeared in his head.

It was like his fears stole that memory away. Now he understood why Elizabeth had him doing paperwork.

This.

Right.

Here.

“Oh, look at him. He’s deaf, dumb, and mute. Let’s just have our fun,” he said, grabbing his arm.

In that moment, Ian knew one thing.

He needed to fight.

He pulled his arm away to protect himself, and the other man shoved him back against the wall, putting his forearm across Ian’s throat.

“Oh, I think we’re going to like this one,” he said, pointing the knife at his chest.

Only, before he could say another word, he was ripped away from Ian, and went crashing into some trash bins.

Ian gasped, and he saw what had saved him.

Not what.

Who.

Gryphen had found him.

When he grabbed the other man, and slammed him against the wall so hard his head rattled, he stared into his eyes.

“You touched what’s mine?” he hissed. “Well, now, let’s play.”

He picked him up, and dumped him headfirst into the bin, and his legs stuck out of the top as he screamed for help.

As for the guy on the ground, he picked up his knife and tried to shank Gryphen in the side.

Only, a Marine knew how to fight, and he did just that. He grabbed his wrist, squeezing so hard the knife fell to the cobblestone walkway.

Then, he shoved him back against the wall.

“You think you’re going to fucking put your hands on what is MINE?” he questioned, his voice deep, dark, and deadly.

If there was ever a Lord Carter moment, it was then and there. That possessiveness was out for the world to see, and he wasn’t playing around.

He.

Was.

Pissed.

Staying back at a safe distance, Ian watched as the man swung at Gryphen, and he got under his arm. Only, he missed.

“You fight like a fucking toddler,” Gryphen said.

That pissed the man off, and he came at him, and when he went to kick Gryphen in the leg, he instead, ended up hurting himself.

That kick hit the metal of his prosthetic.

The asshole yelped and landed flat on his back when Gryphen foot swept him.

“It’s metal, shit for brains,” he said, putting his size sixteen boot on his chest, holding him down. “Now, I suggest you gather your crying friend, and go. Because I get mean. You’ll be going home to your mommy in a fucking body bag.”

That was all he had to hear.

As soon as Gryphen moved his foot, the man was up, tipped over the bin, and helped his garbage-covered friend get over there.

Together, they ran.

When Gryphen turned, he saw how pale Ian was, and he suspected what they’d planned on doing to his mate.

“Come here,” Gryphen said, that rage still there.

Ian didn’t hesitate.

He ran at him and went into his body, shaking from the fear of what he’d nearly experienced.

Again.

In that moment, Gryphen could give him a lecture, but what good would it do?

Ian was scared, and he’d found him in time. Oh but he knew that he was buying handcuffs, and not only for sexy fun.

To keep the man in one place.

“Hey, Baby. Having an adventure without me in a dirty alley?” he asked, wrapping his arms around him to hold him protectively against his chest.

His heart was racing too.

When he’d come out and then went to go get Ian, only to find him gone, he started freaking the fuck out. It had been the scariest three minutes of his whole life.

This was why.

This was the kind of shit he feared happening to him if he let him out of his sight.

Oh, he was going to be driving him to work and then home after when they were back. He was not letting Ian out of his sight.

“They were going to hurt me.”

He was so angry, but not at Ian.

“I came out, and I couldn’t find you,” Ian whispered. “I started looking for you and was having a panic attack,” he admitted. “I got mixed up and came down here. I had to find you.”

That was on him.

He should have just picked up the necklace on his own and let Graham wait for the man.

“Shhhhhh, Baby, it’s okay. They are handled. No one touches my sweet man,” he said, wiping his tears with his thumbs.

Ian had a death grip on Gryphen’s peacoat.

“Want to go home?” he asked.

At first, when he didn’t get an answer, Gryphen opened his coat, and Ian practically crawled inside to be closer to his scent and body. Then, and only then, did he speak.

“No. I’ll be okay.”

Gryphen hated that someone had scared him, and that he almost didn’t get to him.

“What did they say to you?”

He whimpered.

“They were going to rape me.”

Oh, fucking A.

Now, he was really pissed.

If you really wanted to put him over the edge, have a man threaten someone with that. If you wanted him homicidal, have someone direct that at his man.

There was a deep growl low in his body, and now, he wished he’d bloodied them up a lot more than he had.

“I’m sorry I didn’t wait there. I just began panicking,” Ian whispered.

Gryphen lifted his chin.

“You don’t have to be sorry. It’s not your fault that because of some people you can’t walk down the street. Assholes exist.”

He explained.

“They saw us kissing, and that’s why they targeted me,” he admitted.

Yeah, handcuffs.

That was next on his list of purchases.

“I have you now, Baby. How about we get you something to warm you up? Are you sure that you don’t want to go back to the castle?”

He shook his head.

“Please just get me out of this alley, Gryphen,” he whispered.

He could make that happen.

“Okay, Baby. I’ll never let anyone hurt you, Ian. I’m here,” he said, cuddling him against his body as they began walking out to where all the people were.

Scanning the square, Gryphen noticed that not far away there was a man with a cart selling hot beverages. That would work.

Crossing to the cart, he pulled out his wallet and ordered him a hot drink made with Drambuie. Someone needed to put this past him and warm up. Ian was still shaking as he clung to him.

When the man finished making it, he passed to Gryphen, and he got him to a nearby bench. When they sat, he put it in Ian’s hands and reassured him.

“Drink,” he ordered. “This will calm you down.”

Obediently, he did as he told him.

There, they sat.

As Ian sipped the spiced drink, Gryphen had him tucked under his arm.

“Better?” he asked.

He nodded.

Gryphen wanted to distract him, and the best way was to talk about anything else but what happened.

“What kind of stationary did you end up getting?” he asked. “Can I take a peek?”

Ian handed him the bag he’d been clutching.

“Sure,” Ian said, as the warm whiskey drink warmed him up.

Gryphen pulled it out, and he’d noticed that he’d bought a bunch of sheets, and each one was hand stamped by the shop.

It had Ravensmire Castle at the top, and inside the bag were some nice pens.

“I wanted to give our guests something to remember the wedding at the castle. I asked Elizabeth last night, and she said we can have it there. I picked different colors and styles of stamping so she can help me choose. She’s going to plan it for us.”

He smiled.

“Oh, I can’t wait to marry you here,” he said. “If only a man could get some sexy guy to pop the question,” he purposely offered, and it worked.

It made him laugh.

“Again? Really?”

Gryphen winked at him.

“Sorry, but I’m consistently thinking the same thing, and it’s mostly getting you locked down.”

He heard the tension.

“Are you upset about me wandering away?”

Gryphen kissed his knuckles.

“Yes, but not at you. I shouldn’t have left you. I ran into the jeweler when I saw Graham, and I shouldn’t have.”

Oh, shit.

He hoped Gryphen didn’t know about the ring that Graham was picking up for him.

Now, he had to play dumb.

“Oh, you ran into him?” he asked, fishing.

“Yeah, he was running errands, and we got to talking about some things.”

“Anything in particular?” he asked.

“Just about the ceiling collapsing, what we found in the rubble, and how wild the sex was last night. Nothing really.”

He lifted a brow.

“Uh, the last part is something.”

He kissed him on the forehead lovingly.

“He asked if I had a brother. Nothing more. I told him I wasn’t sure, and had to explain that. Then, I got distracted in the wedding ring section of the shop…”

Gryphen wiggled his eyebrows.

Ian knew they needed to change the topic and fast as he hoped his surprise was still intact.

“Well, thank you for coming and saving me. It seems that you’re really good at it,” he admitted.

“Hey, that’s what you wanted in our relationship, right? I’m just proving I can do it.”

Yes, he absolutely did.

This was why.

“You can stop worrying. I’ve got you, Ian. I’ll never let anything happen to you as long as I’m alive.”

That was what he needed to hear.

To prove it, Gryphen found his mouth, and he didn’t care who watched him kiss Ian. There was no way he was pretending they weren’t lovers.

Slowly, he made love to his mouth, easing that fear away by replacing it with love.

When he set him free, breaking the kiss, Ian sighed.

“Nice, huh?” he asked, grinning at him.

He nodded.

“Yeah, I like kissing you. You make the world a better place when your mouth is against mine.”

He was glad.

Because he wanted to further distract him, Gryphen knew what would do the job.

“Have you been thinking about our contract?” he asked. “I have.”

Ian was actually thinking about it right now.

“Yes, I have been.”

Gryphen wanted to make sure that the man hadn’t changed his mind so far.

“Did I cross the line when I made you blow me in that shop?” he asked. “I noticed you get very excited when there’s a chance we’re caught.”

Ian was honest since that was working so far in their relationship.

“Oh, you didn’t make me. I’d blow you right here if you asked me to. Who are we kidding? As for my excitement…yeah, I think I like that kink. It’s erotic to think that we can be caught. I put my faith in you, and trusted you had us both.”

Oh, he did.

“Did it bother you?” Ian asked. “You know, since this isn’t only about me.”

He reassured him.

“Mr. Patterson, the things I want to do with you. Right now, I desperately want to put you over my knee, pull down your pants, and redden that ass for getting into trouble again,” he said, not even whispering it.

A few people stared, and that made it even more erotic for Ian.

“Oh, God,” he whispered as his body reacted.

Gryphen wasn’t done.

“I want to put my hands on you, and mark your derriere as mine. I want everyone to know who you belong to, Ian. Once that contract is signed, I plan on doing just that.”

He licked his lips and chewed on the bottom one.

“Is that what you’d like, Mr. Patterson?” he asked.

He stared into his eyes.

“If that’s what makes my Lord happy, and then, he’ll fuck me after, I’ll do it,” he said. “I know you’ll keep me safe.”

Oh, he would.

Only, the flirting did one thing.

It made Gryphen wild, so he ravaged his mouth, making a spectacle of them, and still, he didn’t care what people thought.

This man calling him that was more than his libido could take. Now, he was hard again.

When wasn’t he?

That was the question.

When he broke the kiss, he put his mouth by his ear.

“You make me insane. Let’s go to the pub so we can get home. I need to think about our contract. I want to make sure I’m very clear as to how you’ll serve me in and out of bed.”

“You’re killing me, my Lord. I am so hard,” he whispered.

“Good. Think about me.”

And with that, he was up, and holding out his hand. When Ian took it, he tucked him under his shoulder, and slapped him on the ass.

Ian actually whimpered.

Oh, he couldn’t wait until later.

As they walked through the square, Ian now completely calm, they found the pub that wasn’t far from the church.

Heading in, they could smell the food being cooked, and it reminded him that it was lunch time.

It was pretty empty in there, minus a few patrons.

“Where do you want to sit?” he asked, looking around at the plentitude of seats. Most people were still at work at this time of the day.

“How about the bar? The men there look like they come here daily to gossip.”

He wasn’t wrong.

They were older men, and they were laughing and having a good time.

That worked for him.

He escorted his man there, and then, Ian unbuttoned his peacoat, and took off his hat. He took a seat, and Gryphen was beside him.

The minute they did, they had the old men’s attention, that was for sure.

“What can I get ya lads?” the bartender asked.

Gryphen handled it.

“Bring him something hearty. Venison, neeps and tatties,” he said, reading it off the sign. “Make it two.”

The man nodded.

“And to drink?”

Gryphen was easy.

“Two pints of whatever you recommend.”

The man went to go put in their order.

Not far from Ian was an older man, and he was definitely curious.

“Americans?” he asked.

“Yes,” Ian said. “I’m Ian, and this is Gryphen. We’re staying at Ravensmire Castle. I’m working on the history of the place, and Minister McCullum said to come here for some lore on the castle.”

Well, the man now had their full attention. They heard lore, and that was all they needed.

The minister had been right.

“Laddies, you’ve come to the right place. Both of you come to a table, and we’ll talk your ear off about Ravensmire,” another man said. “What is it that you need to know?”

Ian looked over to make sure Gryphen was okay with that since he was the protective one.

Without a worry, Gryphen leaned in to reassure him.

“I think I can take them. The one with the cane might get away though. He’s yours if he makes a break for it.”

It made Ian grin, and it was clear what had gone on outside was forgotten.

Thank God.

Ian really didn’t want the man angry with him. He was planning on sticking close from here on out.

He was grateful Gryphen was calm once more. Later though, he hoped he was stirred back up. He liked a wild man who was out of control.

When the bartender handed them the beer, Gryphen pointed.

“A round for our new friends.”

The man warned him what can of worms he was opening with the likes of them.

“Oh, well, they can drink. Are you sure you want to go there with them, Laddie. They are pros at putting back a pint. It’ll cost you a fortune with them. They drink like fishes.”

Gryphen didn’t care.

Ian was smiling and happy again. That was all he cared about.

“I can pay. Run the tab,” he said, and the man did just that, pouring fresh pints.

As they sat down, the three men introduced themselves. Each one had brilliant blue eyes, and looked to have lived quite the life.

“So, have you seen the ghost?” the one man asked. “She haunts that place since the day she was thrown over by her man.”

Ian didn’t go there because he wanted to see if what they saw matched up with the journals so that he could believe they were real.

“No, but we are working on reconstructing the journal that was destroyed.”

The one man laughed.

“Likely destroyed by her. Rumor has it that she was so angry, she tore the place apart, and destroyed all of Duncan Granndach’s things. Her haunting is legend. I remember hearing about it as a kid.”

That was exactly what they wanted.

Lore.

“What can you tell us?” Gryphen asked, as the bartender came over with three new pints.

“That we’re about to be friends,” the other man said, seeing the pints filled to the top.

Gryphen reassured them.

“Drink. I’ll buy. If you can give us some help, it’s the least I can do.”

What wouldn’t he do for Ian to have his little mystery to solve?

“What we know that’s been passed down is she offed herself by jumping from the tower. She put on her finest gowns, and stood on the ledge. It’s been blocked off since then.”

Well, that was dramatic. It also matched up with her committing suicide.

The other man sipped his pint and picked up where his friend left off.

“She was so distraught, she left behind her son. Luckily, she didn’t harm him.”

They knew what the letter said, but they were authenticating it, in a way.

“So it wasn’t a little girl?” he asked. “She left him a letter in the journal that said she might be having a daughter.”

The other man shook his head.

“Every single Granndach heir has been a boy. Then, around nineteen hundred, the last one who lived in the castle, took his family, and left.”

“Where did they go?”

The man pointed at them.

“America. The land of plenty. Back when Ceit was the lady of the castle, we had a famine. It was The Seven Ill Years. It wiped out crops, cattle, and it was a very difficult time. On top of that, Britan was claiming land like there was no tomorrow.”

They listened.

“All the knights, including Duncan Granndach, who were born rich and powerful, had to fight against the monarchy. Back then, Scotland had its own king, and there were struggles. James the VI and Elizabeth the I didn’t get along.”

Well, that explained what sent him out to war. Duncan had been defending his country.

“Anyway, lore has it that she cursed the family, and that they wouldn’t break the curse until it came time for a deserving heir to be born. Then, they would get free from the haunting.”

That was quite the curse.

“She mentioned that they would walk through blood and be cursed and only know that,” he said, sharing what was in one of the letters.”

The other man lifted his pint.

“To spiteful women scorned. They do know how to truly make their mark on a man and his legacy.”

That was true with anyone.

Ian was curious.

“What happened to them in the United States?” he asked.

The men shrugged.

“No clue. Now, how about you give us something? Who bought the old girl?” he asked. “Everyone in this town is speculating about her fate. We heard you were here yesterday, and seeing you today is making us curious.”

“It’s an American,” he said, leaving it at that.

The one old man whistled.

“That man has to be filthy rich. Ravensmire wasn’t cheap. We all assumed she’d go to ruins before being bought.”

Oh, well, they could say that.

“Is he going to strip it?”

Ian gave them another tidbit since he’d already done that with the minister.

“It’s a she, not a he, who owns it, but that’s all that I can tell you.”

That intrigued them.

They began guessing, and the were so far off. They wouldn’t guess Elizabeth anytime soon. Most people, thanks to the media, regarded her as arm candy. She was Jackson James’ wife, and they rarely cared she had her own career and money.

When the bartender brought them their food, he put the plates down in front of them.

“Not many Americans come in here and gets neeps and tatties,” the older man said. “They ask for fucking fish and chips, to constantly confuse us with the Brits.”

The other man shoved him.

“Come on, Lad. We have some good fish too. Let’s not pretend they have the rights to it.”

“You’re right,” he stated.

Ian was curious.

“What is it?” Ian said, tasting it, and it was delicious. “I think I could eat this all day.”

“Turnips and potatoes, mashed,” the one older man offered. “Just what the doctor ordered for the soul.”

Well, sign him up.

He ate his venison, and Gryphen did too. When Gryphen felt bad about eating in front of them, he jerked his head toward the bar.

“If you want lunch, it’s on us. Just keep telling us about the castle.”

The one man thanked him.

“While we appreciate that, we ate, but you keep the beer flowing, and you’ll get an earful.”

Oh, there was no doubt.

“Some say Duncan came home with his new lover, and shoved her out that window, and some say she took her own life. Then, there are some who say she had a secret lover, and he’s the reason she died. No one knows. It’s a mystery. The only thing everyone agrees on, is that he said she wouldn’t be buried there.”

Oh, they were aware.

Ian had questions.

“Did anyone see a lover? Was there any mention of her?” he asked.

The men shook their heads.

“All the history says he raised his son alone, and died just surrounded by his servants, his man at arms, and his son. He was buried in the castle.”

“Who took over then?” he asked.

“Callum Granndach. He married a woman, and had a son of his own. He died of illness, and so on and so on, until, again, the nineteen hundreds. One must catch a cold in a drafty castle.”

The other man sipped his drink.

“Or it was the curse.”

Well, yeah, if you believed things like that, maybe, but then again, they’d both seen her and heard her. Ian had a whole conversation with Ceit.

“Where is she buried, if it’s not in the castle?” he asked, hoping someone would know.

“My granddaddy said that she’s buried as far from the castle as possible. Duncan respected her because she bore him a son, but wanted her gone. It was probably the guilt of knocking her up, causing her to die, and then living his life with another.”

That matched up with the information.

“How big is the property?” he asked, already knowing from Graham, but the man was new to the land there, and Ian was grasping for straws.

“That whole side of the mountain, and up to the overlook. It’s the only part where you can see the sun set and rise by turning from one side of the cliff to the other.”

Ian slid his plate over to Gryphen, who finished the rest of his venison since he’d eaten all of his. One of them had done manual labor, and one of them had only given two blowjobs.

“Why are you so curious if it’s just about the journal.”

He was honest.

“We’re trying to find her. We found the empty crypt in the basement of the castle, and it seems unfair that she bore him a son and was discarded. She loved him.”

The one man was honest.

“He didn’t love her, Lad. Legend says he was forced to marry her. They fought like cats and dogs, and she told him she hated him. Then, he was off to war. There’s no shock there that he found the love of another and a bed to warm him. A man has needs, and they need to be met.”

Gryphen’s hand found Ian’s thigh, and he gave it a squeeze.

It sent shocks through him.

“Men back then expected their loves to be obedient, there for them, and to be ready for when they came back from war. She was a hellcat who supposedly fought tooth and nail. Men like obedient bed mates.”

Gryphen raised his glass.

“Here here,” he said. “Less talk, and more sex,” he stated. “No one wants a shrewish partner that doesn’t do exactly what he wants.”

Ian’s body shivered.

“See? He knows. A man has needs, and when they aren’t met, they go elsewhere. Maybe the lass should have been a little less bossy, and given her lord what he craved most.”

Gryphen was watching him.

“What do you think about that, Ian?” Gryphen asked, sipping his beer.

He could see Ian’s lap, and his erection was there and not going away anytime soon.

“I tend to agree,” he said. “It’s only fair. If he protected her, and their home, Ceit probably shouldn’t have been disobedient. Everyone has needs.”

The older man patted him on the back.

“Exactly, Laddie. Back then, women listened. If I had a pound for every time my wife made my life difficult…”

“That’s because you’re a drunk, not a knight,” the bartender said, laughing from where he stood.

“Aye, you have a point there, but my lass could keep her mouth full a little more, if ya know what I mean.”

Gryphen was watching him, and Ian could feel the flush moving up his body.

Because they were sitting side by side in the pub, and it was dark, Gryphen took Ian’s hand and put it on his dick.

He was impossibly hard.

God.

Ian wanted his dick more than anything. This man made him insane.

Only, here wasn’t the time or place.

“I’m just glad someone is worried about the castle,” the one man said, getting both of their attention. “It’s about time.”

“Well, the new owner is definitely concerned,” Gryphen said. “She’s going to handle that place.”

Oh, that was the truth.

Because he was getting overheated, and not because of the temperature of the room, Ian needed to cool off. He wanted to go splash some water on his face to stop that heat that was making it hard to think.

“I’ll be right back,” he said, pushing back from the table.

Gryphen watched him walk away, and someone had forgotten his manners.

Someone didn’t ask permission to wander away alone.

AGAIN.

It appeared a lesson needed to be learned.

“Let me go get you gents another round,” he said. “We appreciate your help.”

The men were so happy to be getting more beer, they began gossiping among themselves again.

At the bar, Gryphen put in the order, and went off to find Ian. When he found the men’s room, tucked back in the corner of the pub, he went in.

Ian was drying off his face.

When he looked over, he watched Gryphen lock the door.

In that small space, Gryphen looked imposing.

And virile.

“Mr. Patterson, I don’t believe you asked permission to leave my side, now did you?”

Ian gasped.

“Oh, I think I told you what I expected of you. Did you not ask for my protection?”

Ian could feel his heart thumping in his chest.

“Someone loves when I punish him, apparently. We’ll break you of your forgetfulness.”

“My Lord,” he whispered, his whole body going crazy from the flood of desire he was feeling.

Gryphen pointed in front of him.

“Mr. Patterson, my balls are heavy. Come relieve me of my cum. I hope you saved room,” he said.

Ian didn’t question him.

As Gryphen leaned against the door, he went to his knees, and pulled the man from his pants for the third time that day.

Against his palm, Gryphen was, once more, hard and thick.

“I’d hurry. If not, you’ll have to explain why you’ve tied up the bathroom with me in here.”

He got to work, and the whole time, Ian was in his glory. He’d been thinking about Gryphen, and being put over his knee.

Fuck.

He wanted this man so bad.

Slipping his hand into the back of his hair, Gryphen was so wild, that he fucked his face like he couldn’t get enough.

He was choking him, and the saliva dripped down his chin. If anyone was outside the door, they’d hear him choking on cock.

“Mr. Patterson, you make me insane,” he whispered. “Your willingness to swallow my cum anywhere is one of the things I love most about you. Cumming in that ass is the other.”

Ian’s hands were splayed on his thighs, and he was so hard himself. Gryphen not letting him cum was making him insane.

And he loved this so much.

Never had he felt so wanted in his life.

“I love filling your belly with my cum, Mr. Patterson. I think I’m going to enjoy our permanent agreement.”

Oh, he was too.

Ian squeezed his legs together, trying to get relief from the pressure in his own balls. This man had the ability to make him do anything.

And he never felt freer in his life.

As he felt the man’s balls tighten, he knew what was cumming.

“Oh, fuck, but your mouth,” Gryphen said, staring down his body at Ian going wild on his dick. The man was worshipping cock like the previous night. “Deeper, Mr. Patterson. Take me to the base and make your Lord cum.”

And he did.

For the third time since coming to the town, he was taking cum down his throat.

“Don’t miss a drop, Mr. Patterson,” he muttered through clenched teeth as he watched Ian slip him all the way down his throat.

When his hands clenched in the material of Gryphen’s jeans, and he looked up at him with so much need in his eyes, that was it for him.

He began cumming.

Gryphen closed his eyes, and let his man milk his cock once more.

Yeah, he was not getting tired of this at all.

From the floor, Ian devoured him, and he wanted so much more from this man.

When he’d managed to focus, Gryphen opened his eyes.

“Thank you, Mr. Patterson. You bought yourself some time before I fuck you. Stand up,” he said.

Ian obeyed, and it was when Gryphen faced him to the mirror, and he tucked himself away.

Only, his hand lingered on his belt.

Before Ian realized what was happening, he was pulling it off of his waist.

“Oh, God,” he whispered, his body reacting to what he was seeing.

“Bend over, ass out, and get into position. This is for wandering away and not asking me permission. You wanted ownership, Mr. Patterson, and like I warned, make sure that’s what you want.”

Ian swallowed, and he was so hard.

“Until you cum, and you may not touch your dick.”

Ian knew he wouldn’t have to. He was so turned on, that this was going to make him cum.

“And you stay wet to think about what you’ve done.”

He nodded, wanting to beg for just this.

“Count.”

Gryphen landed the belt across his ass, making Ian jump. He’d not expected the sting of leather through the material of his pants.

“One,” he whispered, bracing his hands on the sink as his ass stung.

Another landed.

“Two,” he said, his body shaking.

Gryphen delivered another belt to his ass, and he watched Ian’s knees go weak.

This man made him want to go wild. What he wanted was to pull his pants down, and fuck him here, but he needed to wait.

After the contracts were signed.

“Three!”

When he landed another, Ian felt his balls tighten from watching Gryphen and feeling that kiss of leather.

“Four,” he whimpered. “Please. I’m going to cum,” he warned, his whole body electrified by this man.

Gryphen landed another lash of the belt, and that was all it took.

“Oh, God,” he moaned, as he came without Gryphen even touching him. It was the pleasure and pain, shoving him off the edge. “Five!”

Gryphen put his belt back on, and moved to stand behind Ian. He cupped his ass through his jeans.

“That’s also for wandering away from me and getting yourself in danger, again,” he said by his ear. “Is this the life you crave, Mr. Patterson? Is this what you want in your contract?” he whispered in his ear.

He nodded.

“Yes, my Lord,” he said, softly. “I don’t want it. I need it,” he admitted as he could feel that wetness in the front of his jeans.

His own cum soaked through his boxers.

His ass stung, and he was only grateful he didn’t pull his pants down. He would have seen the tattoo and taken him in there. Then, everyone would know because they got loud.

“Do you see what kind of sex slave I crave,” he whispered in his ear, as he grabbed his dick through his pants.

Ian’s lashes fluttered as he manhandled his still rock-hard dick.

“This is what I am like. This is the man I tucked away and hide deep. I will use you and fuck you when I want, but I will protect you like you’re precious. You’re going to be mine tonight, and I’ll never let anyone have what’s mine. It will be me until we die. Us. Forever. Once you sign that paper, you can never get away.”

Ian wanted that.

He wanted that desperately.

Gryphen was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

“It’s still what I want,” he whispered, as he squeezed him through the material. “I want the discipline, rules, and punishment. I want you.”

Gryphen wanted him too.

He moaned loudly, and he couldn’t help it. The death grip on his dick was so erotic.

Possessive.

“Good. Now, I want you to go back to the table and be obedient. Sit on that sore ass and know who will own you after we negotiate our contracts. When we get back to the castle, I have something planned, and then, we will discuss our agreement.”

“Yes, my Lord,” he said, as Gryphen set his wet dick free.

Gryphen yanked him roughly against him, and he whimpered in need as he kissed him with so much passion and desire.

The whole time, Ian shook.

When he broke the kiss, he forced him to look into his eyes.

“You’re mine in a few hours. Be ready for me. If you thought I was out of control last night, you’ve seen nothing. Tonight, I claim my prize.”

He opened the door, and when he walked through, he landed a slap on his cheek.

Oh, right on the tattoo.

And he loved that kiss of pain.

It made him crazy, and so did going back to the table wet from his own cum, hard, and desperate. Never let it be said that Gryphen didn’t know what he craved.

He did.

As he left, Gryphen stood there.

And smiled.

He was absolutely content now, and he only hoped he was giving Ian exactly what he needed. Ian told him in the car he needed a man to push him past his limits and into a world he never expected. Tonight, with the contract, he’d find out for sure.

What he did know was this...

His man made him insanely overheated. While he’d just cum, he could absolutely cum again.

Washing his hands, he gave him a few minutes to explain where they both were.

Then, he headed back.

As he walked toward the table, Ian was watching him, and the look on his face made his heart skip.

It was adoration.

Gryphen knew he’d never find this again. There sat the love of his life.

When he sat down, the men were curious.

“We thought you ran out on the tab, Laddie. You worried us,” he said.

“Never. I’m a man of my word,” he said. “Marines keep their promise.”

As they spoke, Ian was sitting there in silence, and Gryphen knew why. His ass hurt, and he was still horny. He was breathing heavily, and he could see his wetness beginning to seep through his pants.

“When we saw Ian return, we were better. He said you had a phone call.”

Well, someone wanted to be pushed.

Here.

Went.

Nothing.

Gryphen stared at him.

“That’s not the truth, now is it, Mr. Patterson?” he asked, sipping his beer.

Ian’s eyes went huge.

There was no way he was going to make him tell them what they’d been doing.

Then, Gryphen spoke.

“I wasn’t taking a call, now was I, Ian?” he asked. “Tell them what was going on.”

He couldn’t believe he was going to make him do this. Deep down, he knew this was a test, and this would set the parameters for their contracts.

Plus, where it should have horrified him, it didn’t. It made his body ache for Gryphen instead.

The wanting never abated for this man.

The men sat there not sure what was going on.

“Well, Mr. Patterson?” he asked.

Ian faced them.

“I was giving him head in the men’s room.”

At first, the men thought he was kidding, and then, they began cheering when they saw him blush a crimson red.

Crimson like his kilt.

Crimson like his ass.

Yeah, this was exactly where they needed to be as a couple. Ian was definitely enjoying this.

The three men toasted Gryphen like he was a hero coming home from war.

In a way, he was. Life had been the war, and now, he was back to his home.

His Ian.

Gryphen considered himself loyal, but he understood Duncan. Had he left in war, and met Ian, he would have betrayed whoever he’d left.

When you found your soulmate, you’d do anything to be with them. Apparently, Duncan had found his.

The three men were still laughing and celebrating.

“When you need to cum, you need to cum,” the one man said, clinking his glass off of Gryphen’s. “Are you a couple?” he asked, “or were you just in the mood for a little gobble?”

They all giggled in glee at the slang.

“He’s my man,” Gryphen said. “We’re definitely a couple.”

Ian wasn’t embarrassed, like he wasn’t last night when Gryphen carried him over his shoulder bound and his ass red from the library escapade.

He felt love.

Gryphen claiming him made his whole body overheat.

When the men calmed down, Gryphen spoke up.

“Now, thank the men for their help,” Gryphen said. “We’re going to be going back to the castle. I have things to attend and plans I’ve made for our evening,” he admitted, seeing the time.

My, where had time gone?

Oh, he knew.

He’d been punishing his sexy property.

Because he heard the tone, Ian had no choice but to obey. Honestly, he didn’t mind since he wanted to go back to the castle in the worst way.

“Thank you for your help,” he said. “We appreciate it,” he added.

Standing, he held out his hand, and without hesitating, Ian took it. He was tucked to his side.

“Good sex slave,” Gryphen whispered in his ear. “Someone learns fast.”

Oh, he did.

He’d learned he wanted more.

As Gryphen paid the tab, Ian’s balls ached. The whole time they were standing side-by-side, Ian craved crawling to him and servicing him.

God.

He needed this man.

What the hell had he unleashed in him? Whatever it was, it was unquenchable.

As they were getting ready to walk out, Gryphen stopped at the table with their new friends.

“Gents, we bought you a couple more rounds. Thank you for your information, and we’ll pass on to the owners what you’ve given us.”

They cheered.

“Have a good time, Laddies. Someone be gantin for your tadger,” he said, referring to Ian.

Gryphen smiled.

Oh, he absolutely wanted his dick.

DEFINITELY.

“Someone is going to the castle to get pumped,” the other man said, snorting and toasting Ian.

Gryphen was ready.

“Mr. Patterson, get into your coat,” he said, and Ian obeyed.

He got into it, and when Gryphen held out his arm, he slipped his hand through it, and he escorted him out.

Outside, he wasn’t in the mood to be there anymore.

“We’ve learned plenty in town, Mr. Patterson,” he said, staying in character for Ian, and himself. “It’s time to go home. We have contracts to draw up, and negotiations to draw up to ensure our future together is well understood. We also have a date first. Any arguments?” he asked.

Ian was overheated.

When he used that tone…

Fuck.

He would do anything he wanted.

How could he resist?

“No, my Lord,” he said, his body vibrating with so much need. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

Gryphen walked him to the car, his hand never leaving his arm, and he opened the door for him. Gryphen waited for him to get in, and then closed the door.

The whole time, he was giddy.

It appeared that he and Ian had fallen down the sexual rabbit hole.

And he prayed they never came back out.

* * * The Ravensmire Chronicles * * *

Ravensmire Castle

Friday

Late Afternoon

Winter

It was getting closer to sunset, and Gryphen knew he needed to move this along. What he wanted to do was go make their contracts, meet, and seal them with sex, but what he knew they needed to do was have a romantic moment.

After all, there was more to a relationship than fucking, even when that was a pretty awesome part.

“Are you ready for our date, Mr. Patterson?” he asked, staying in that mode, just to see how Ian handled it. After all, he wanted him like this in their whole life, and not just sex.

It was time to see if he could handle it.

“I can’t wait, my Lord,” he said. “I am intrigued at what you’ve planned. I hope it’s not ice skating.”

Gryphen laughed.

“God, no. We’ve gone to that rodeo.”

Leaving the car in the garage, they headed through the courtyard, and toward the stables.

Ian was silent.

That made Gryphen stop.

When he turned, he stared into Ian’s eyes.

“Are you overwhelmed? Need me to be Gryphen for you?” he asked.

“I’m overwhelmed, but not in a bad way. I was thinking about you.”

“What about?” Gryphen asked.

Ian took a chance.

Going up on his toes, he reached Gryphen’s mouth and kissed him. It was sweet, filled with love, and made the bigger man sigh.

Slowly, Ian kissed him, proving that Mr. Patterson had some passion in him.

When he broke away, he put his head on his chest and Gryphen held him.

“I love you, my Lord.”

His heart skipped.

“Oh, Mr. Patterson, I’m stupid in love with you too. I love these moments.”

He lifted his chin.

“I feel so safe with you,” Ian admitted. “Thank you for that.”

He ran his thumb over his lower lip.

“Forever. I promise. Now, let me woo you, Mr. Patterson,” he said. “Because while I love fucking you, I also love sharing these moments with you.”

He was ready.

As they walked into the stable, they found the two horses saddled up and ready.

“A ride?” Ian asked.

“Yeah, I want to ride out to the cliffs, where you can see the sun rise and set, and have a moment with you, Mr. Patterson.”

That worked for him.

“Yes, please, my Lord.”

Gryphen put Ian’s hat on his head to make sure he was bundled up.

“You can call me by my name.”

Ian knew he could.

“I’m good. I like calling you that. I like giving you that respect and showing you how much I rely on you.”

He kissed him on the forehead.

“Okay, Mr. Patterson.”

They got ready.

“Apparently, it’s an easy trek, and something to see. The horses will go there automatically.”

He smiled.

“Really?” he asked.

Gryphen kissed him on the lips softly.

“Yeah, I want to watch the sun go down with you, my love. I want to see it disappear, and know it’s the first of so many yet to come.”

That was so sweet.

Ian kissed him, and when he broke it, he stared into his eyes.

“You were silent the whole ride back,” Gryphen said. “Did I go too far?”

He reassured him.

“No, you didn’t. As far as I’m concerned, you didn’t go far enough. You’ll know when you’ve reached the line. I’ll say no.”

He stared into his eyes.

“Then, I’ll spank you. Once we sign the contracts, I won’t let you say no, Mr. Patterson. I told you. Once you let this out, I can’t put it back into the box. You fed it, and it’s bigger than both of us. This is the real me. Make sure you think about this as we ride out.”

Oh, he would.

Trust him.

Ian fanned himself.

“Jesus. Now I want to get fucked in a stable again. I’m sorry, horses.”

Gryphen was caught off guard and laughed.

“I mean, they like a show,” Gryphen said, as the one horse made neighing noises. “See?”

He snorted.

“Well, they’ll have to wait. I want to see the sunset with you. We had better hurry,” Ian said, getting nudged by the white horse. “I think she picked me.”

Well, that was good since the black one was a bigger horse, and could handle Gryphen’s weight better.

“Need help?” he asked, as he held out his hand and Ian used them to boost himself up.

He used the fence to get up on the black one.

“What are their names?” Ian asked.

He knew he’d get a kick out of this.

“You won’t believe me if I told you,” he said. “Apparently, Callen named them for when Elizabeth comes here.”

“What?” he asked.

“This is Romeo,” he said, sitting on the black horse, “and you’re on Juliet.”

He was amused.

“That fits,” he said, as Gryphen nudged the horse, and Juliet followed her mate. It was a slow walk through the snow, but Graham was right. They pretty much took the walk on their own.

“I’m at peace,” Ian admitted, holding out his hand as the two horses walked side-by-side so they could hold hands.

“Are you?” he asked.

Ian nodded.

“I never thought it would be possible, but it is,” Ian said, they headed toward the cliffs.

“I felt the same. With you, I’m calm, and I’ve never been happier.”

It was nice just being with someone he loved.

“Do you think we can actually pull this off?” he asked. “I mean living how we want. Will you get tired of me being bossy and demanding?”

Ian considered it.

“I won’t get bored, but what about you?”

He was amused.

“I loved every second of it in town in that bathroom pub. I’m a dirty, dirty Lord.”

It made Ian giggle.

“Thank freaking God,” he said. “And you’re mine.”

Gryphen glanced over.

“Always, Mr. Patterson. I swear on my life.”

That was all he wanted.

In silence, they walked for fifteen more minutes, and they could see the sun getting lower ahead on the horizon.

“I hope Romeo and Juliet can do this as it gets dark,” Ian admitted.

The dark was going to be tricky.

He reassured him.

“Graham said they know their way back instinctually, and if we let them lead, they’ll get us there. Just enjoy the ride with Lord Gryphen, the perpetually horny,” he said, as he checked out the trees.

There wasn’t a more accurate name and Ian knew it.

As the ride progressed, Ian noticed that the cliff was odd. It was an outcropping with steep drops into the valley below in the West and East sides. It outcropped from the mountain and narrowed out. At the widest part, it was only maybe five hundred feet across.

“We might make it,” Gryphen said. As he gauged how much time they had before the sun was gone.

Nudging the horses along, they kept going, and everything was good, until they got to a part of the cliff that had a thick swatch of trees down the middle. It divided the sides, and looked to have two paths.

Even though there was silence all around them, Ian’s horse’s ears perked up, like she heard something. Immediately, Juliet tried to go to the right, and Romeo stayed going left.

Ian tried to adjust, and that’s when Juliet must have seen something.

It spooked her.

The horse freaked out, and she went up on her back legs frightened by whatever it was.

Romeo went nuts, dancing around her, and Gryphen tried to get his horse to go closer to Ian to save him.

“Ian!”

The man moved with the horse, staying in the saddle. The only reason he didn’t fall and was trampled was because he knew how to ride.

“I have her,” he reassured, patting her on the neck. “Just give me space. She’s spooked. She heard something and freaked out.”

When she went back on all four of her legs, he leaned over, and rubbed her neck.

“Shhhh, it’s okay, Juliet. It’s okay. We’re good. It’s okay, girl. You’re a good girl,” he said, soothingly into her ear, and she calmed.

“What the hell?” Gryphen asked.

He didn’t know.

“She was good and then, something caught her off guard. It must have been a forest animal or something.”

Gryphen watched as he calmed the horse down, speaking gently to it.

Both animals were acting weird, so Gryphen rubbed Romeo’s shoulder, and did the same.

“It’s okay, boy. Your lady is okay. Shhhhh. I know. They make you nuts when they get into a mess.”

The horse shook its head.

“Really, my Lord?” Ian asked, hearing him. “Are we going to go there? I’m feeling hella shrewish.”

He winked at his man.

Yeah, and he liked him that way.

Now, Gryphen had to see if they could continue on. His romantic trip might be ending.

“Is she okay to keep going? We don’t have much more time before the sun disappears and is gone.”

He nodded.

“Yeah, she’s calm. Let’s get to the ledge,” he said, wanting to see it.

Riding the next two minutes, it didn’t take long to get to the edge.

They managed to get there as the sun was at the horizon.

“Hurry,” Gryphen said, going to help Ian off the horse. He grabbed him by the waist, and hoisted him to the ground.

Looking back, he could see the top of the mountain where the castle sat.

“Holy shit,” Gryphen said as they reached the cliff. “It’s gorgeous here,” he admitted, as they looked down over the valley, the road into town, and the snow-covered trees.

And the sunset.

There was a big rock there, so Gryphen grabbed a blanket he’d brought, and laid it out. Together, they sat on the rock, holding hands. They each took off one glove, and just watched the sun set below the trees.

“This is beautiful,” Ian said. “This place is perfect because I’m with you.”

On that, Gryphen agreed.

“I’ve seen many sunsets, Mr. Patterson, but this is the most important one because I have you.”

That was incredibly sweet.

When the sun kissed down, they knew they’d have ten or fifteen minutes before it was dark. There was still some glow from the sun.

“This is the end of the kingdom,” Gryphen said, “and I love that we’re here together,” he stated. “I love being with you so much. You’re my happiness.”

That made his heart skip.

“And you’re mine,” he admitted. “Forever. I promise that to you.”

That was all he needed.

HIM.

Because where better to make out than here, Gryphen kissed him.

Ian melted into him, and their lips moved against each other’s. For the next few minutes, they just enjoyed that moment.

When Gryphen broke the kiss, he stared deep into his eyes.

“I could stay here all night kissing you, but it’s going to be dark soon.”

He understood.

“We have things to work on before the night gets later. We have contracts to write, and you need to decide if you still want to tie yourself to me. I won’t lie, Mr. Patterson. I hope you go through with it. If you do, I promise to love and protect you forever,” he stated.

Oh, Ian knew he would.

With tenderness, he put his palm on his cheek and enjoyed the scruff.

Not hesitating, Gryphen left a kiss on the inside of his hand.

How could he not be in love with this man? Ian knew he was getting a treasure.

“Yes, my Lord,” he said. “Let’s go back to the castle and come to an agreement. I want to make sure that I write down everything I want. Then, we celebrate our relationship.”

Oh, that was exactly what Gryphen wanted to do.

And consummate it.