Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
Saturday Morning
Five Forty-five A.M
Ravensmire Castle
Oh, it had been a wild night, and Ian wasn’t complaining about that. Around midnight, Ian was awoken by Gryphen and his weeping erection. Apparently, the wild sex they’d had earlier hadn’t been enough.
He needed more.
The Marine had been horny and in the mood for even more sex, and when he reached for him, Ian knew it was his duty.
They’d made an agreement, so he was his for the taking.
The second he called him Mr. Patterson, his body woke up, and it was a wild hour of passionate lovemaking. It wasn’t anything like earlier, but instead, there was hunger, need, and heat.
They worked themselves up, and then, they tired themselves out.
Honestly, he’d believed he’d be out for the rest of the night, but around two, Ian woke up and couldn’t sleep. For a brief moment, he wasn’t going to wake his man up, but they did agree that whenever either of them was in need, the other would supply.
Maybe he was testing their agreement to see if it really went both ways.
Well, it absolutely did.
When he touched Gryphen’s chest, his eyes popped open, and he just knew that he needed him.
He’d said the words he would always crave.
“Mr. Patterson, have at me. I’m yours.”
So, they made love again, this time Gryphen let Ian climb all over his big, muscular playground of a body.
Oh, and it had been just what he needed.
After their lovemaking, Ian apologized for waking him, but that masculine chuckle said it all. No one, especially him, was turning down middle of the night sex.
Not in that bed anyway.
Around three, they went back to sleep, just waiting long enough to listen to the castle and see if there were any sounds.
Ghostly ones.
When there were none, they honestly assumed that they’d set the woman free, and she was done with haunting them.
They both giggled, and then went soundly to sleep, happy that they’d solved the mystery.
It had been quiet.
Until now.
It was the cold breeze on Ian’s ear that pulled him from sleep. It was the whispering of words that really woke him up.
Looking at Gryphen’s arm, he could see the numbers lit up giving him the time on his military watch.
Someone was late.
It was quarter to six.
Well, shit.
When he heard the whisper again, he blinked, and that’s when he saw her.
Ceit was there standing by the foot of their bed, beckoning him to follow.
Well, of course, he was going to.
Slowly getting out of bed, being careful not to wake Gryphen, he pulled on his jeans, shirt, hoodie, and boots. As he crept out of their room, closing the door behind him, Ian followed her down the stairs.
She was just in front of him, the long train of her dress trailing down the stone steps as she led him somewhere.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
“To find me,” she said. “I need you to bring me back here. My story isn’t done being told. The truth must come out, and my heir must come home.”
Well, that sounded ominous.
In the kitchen, Ian pulled on his winter gear, and took the ring from the tea canister. As he left the house, the cold hit him in the face, but at least it wasn’t snowing.
Small miracle there.
He followed her out of the garage, through the courtyard, and to the stables.
“Follow me,” she said, walking down the trail they followed last night to watch the sunset. “I’ll show you where they left me to rot.”
This should have freaked him out, but it didn’t. Not in the least. Ian wanted to give her peace. After losing her husband to another lover, it was the least he could do.
Ian raced into the stable, and grabbed the things he needed for Juliet.
And then, he did the stupidest, craziest, and most ridiculous thing he’d ever done.
Nancy followed a dead woman into the cold morning air to find her grave.
Yep.
Gryphen was going to kill him.
No doubt.
* * * The Ravensmire Chronicles * * *
Inside
Ten Minutes Later
Ravensmire
When he heard the banging on the door, Gryphen sat up with a start. Beside him, his bed was empty, and he didn’t know what the hell was going on.
His heart started racing as the banging continued.
“What?” he asked, looking around to find Ian, but he wasn’t in bed beside him.
Graham threw open the door.
“Don’t get pissed,” he said not explaining.
The second it was out of his mouth, Gryphen began panicking.
Already, he knew.
His mate was gone.
“What happened to Ian?” he asked, his heart racing in his chest.
He’d been asleep beside him the last he remembered, and all he could recall was a dream of him walking through the castle trying to find something.
Graham explained.
“I just watched him ride off down the trail alone before sunrise.”
Holy fuck.
“What?” he asked, jumping out of bed naked and pulling on his jeans, t-shirt, and flannel.
“He was heading toward the cliffs.”
Oh, this couldn’t be good.
“I don’t know why he left. All I know was that I was coming out of my apartment for more coffee, and I heard the horses. Juliet was neighing away, but I figured Romeo was annoying her.”
Gryphen really wished he’d get to the point, so he’d hear the ending before his stroke.
“So I grabbed another cup of coffee, and when I came out, I heard galloping away. I got my things on, and by the time I got out there, she was gone. I pulled up security, and it was Ian. Sneaking out.”
Oh, he was going to have the big one.
“WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?”
Oh, when he found him, he was going to put him back over his knee.
It was a sad day when Elizabeth ‘I get shot at daily’ Blackhawk got into less trouble than Ian. He was going to handcuff him to the bed every night.
“And you’re sure he went toward the cliffs?” he asked, running down the stairs to get to his winter clothes.
“Yes.”
Honestly, Gryphen was going to have the big one, and he also didn’t know how the man slipped away. He was a light sleeper.
Normally, he’d hear the door open and close. That’s how he caught him last time.
They were going to have one hell of a lecture.
At the stable, he saw that Graham was right, and the white horse was gone. So, he grabbed reins and put them on the black horse.
He didn’t have time to put a saddle on, so he was going to bareback it all the way.
Jumping on, he raced out, seeing the tracks that led to the woods. He galloped at full speed in the darkness, his panic rising.
What could he be doing at that time of the morning?
Was he sleepwalking?
Did he lose his damn mind?
What he did know was he was buying those handcuffs today. This was the end of waking up and finding him not in his bed.
As Romeo navigated the terrain, it was a bitch to see, and Gryphen prayed that Ian was okay. If he and Juliet went over, they’d be killed.
He began praying.
Please let him be okay so I don’t have to die today.
Please let him be okay so…
Because if Ian died, Gryphen knew he was following. There was no way he’d recover from losing him.
As he reached the division in the path, he found the white horse tied to a tree, but no Ian.
It was at the junction where the horse had freaked out last night.
Dismounting, he raced into the trees and toward a cliff. He hoped Ian didn’t do anything stupid like fall. As he ran to get to his mate, he cleared the trees and saw him.
He was standing on the edge.
“Ian!” he shouted, not sure what he was doing.
When he turned, he stood there.
“Hey.”
It was said so calmly that Gryphen was really questioning if the man had lost his mind.
“Are you insane? What are you doing? You left our bed! I told you…”
As he stormed toward him, Ian stopped him.
“I’m here for this,” he said, pointing as the sun began coming up over the mountains. “I knew you’d come,” he said, taking Gryphen’s hand.
As the sun began cresting, changing the color of the world around them, Gryphen just held his hand.
That rage fell away as they watched the sun flood the whole snow-kissed valley with light. He didn’t even feel Ian letting go of his hand.
It was that beautiful.
Gryphen watched, knowing he loved a good sunrise, so he’d argue with Ian later.
“It’s spectacular,” Gryphen said, calming down. “It’s just as beautiful as last night.”
Okay, he’d forgive him for wanting to see this. Who was he to not let him go watch a sunrise on his vacation?
When he turned, Ian was no longer standing.
He was kneeling, and in his hand, there was a black box, open, to show a platinum ring.
It caught him off guard.
Jesus.
This was his proposal.
He was shocked as shit, and he really didn’t see this coming.
Ian saw his surprise, and he was glad he grabbed the ring. It felt like the perfect time.
Two mysteries had been solved.
Who would be the man he loved forever, and where was Ceit buried?
But first, his man.
“You told me if I asked, I had to wait to see if you’d say yes. You also told me that you were betting it all on me, and please know, Gryphen, that I’m doing the same. So, I am going to ask you the most important question in both of our lives.”
Gryphen’s heart was pounding in his chest.
“Will you marry me? Will you make me your other half, so when we think we’re alone, we really aren’t? I’ve been searching for you for years. Since I was sixteen, and I realized that I needed a man in my life. You were always him. In my dreams, in my fantasies, through it all, you were the last piece of the puzzle that was me.”
Tears filled Gryphen’s eyes.
He couldn’t believe it was finally here.
The moment he wanted more than anything.
“I could never find anyone to make me feel what I feel now, and I know why. That last part of my heart, the part that I thought would always have a hole, wasn’t a hole. It was locked until I could find the person who I loved more than anything.”
A tear dripped down Gryphen’s cheek.
“You’re my person. My emotional support Marine, and I can’t live without you. I love your smile, your big hands, your lusty nature, and most of all, just being near you. Protect me for the rest of my life, and make me your husband. I want to be Ian Carter more than I want to see the next sunrise. Marry me and love me forever.”
As the sun rose, so did the love between them.
Going to his knees, he touched Ian’s face with his palm.
“I love you. Yes. I thought you’d never ask. I was getting a little impatient waiting for you to catch up.”
Ian smiled.
“You don’t say?” he asked, laughing. “I would have never noticed since you only asked me if I was proposing around fifty times.”
“Two. I asked twice.”
He loved this man so much.
Gryphen got serious.
“I want nothing more than to love and protect you for the rest of my life,” Gryphen said. “I hope it’s long and filled with joy. I want that white picket fence, that home filled with laughter, and to wake up beside you—when you actually STAY IN BED.”
Leaning in, he kissed him.
Gryphen’s heart was so full. His mouth moved over his, and they sealed that promise. They already made their contracts, but this was just as important.
This was the romance part.
When he slowly broke away, he stared into his eyes.
“But I’m still punishing you for sneaking out of bed and making me think I lost you.”
He nuzzled him.
“You’re a tough man to evade.”
“Well, apparently, I need to up my game. Why didn’t you just wake me and tell me you wanted to see the sun rise?” he asked.
Ian stood and helped Gryphen up.
He was honest.
“She woke me up.”
He stared at him.
Then, it registered.
“Oh, no. Not she as in Ceit, the dead lady. She was in our bedroom?”
He nodded.
“Oh, God, what did she want. Did she see us naked? Do they watch when we do it?”
He laughed.
“Uh, do you hear yourself, Bess? Do you hear how crazy you sound?”
Gryphen snorted.
“Sorry, I lost my head. What did she want from you?” he asked.
Holding out his hand, he waited for Gryphen to take it.
“Let me show you,” he said, linking his fingers with his, and leading him into the trees.
They didn’t have to go far.
From the looks of it, Ian had been rooting around in the brush, and he’d cleared it.
That’s when he saw it.
There was a grave.
“I guess she got tired of waiting for us to figure it out, because she whispered in my ear that she would show me and to hurry. That’s why I didn’t wake you. I had to come fast, and then I knew you’d find me. You always find me.”
They stood there staring at the stone.
“Is it hers?” Gryphen asked.
With his fingers, Ian brushed away the moss, and the words were legible.
‘Ceit Creagh’
Under her name, there was an inscription.
‘Here lies the mother of the only Granndach child born to her and Duncan Granndach. She was Callum’s beloved mother. Where love disappeared, a legacy was left behind. She took her life, and forever will she be carried in those who came after her.’
He was surprised.
“You found her, Baby,” Gryphen said. “You were right. You listened, even when I didn’t believe in her, and you found her.”
“We solved the first part of this, Gryph. We can put her to rest. Callen can put her back in the castle where she thinks she belongs.”
He hugged him.
“You solved our mystery, and I’m so proud of you!” Gryphen admitted.
Honestly, Ian was proud of himself.
In the process of figuring out one part of Ravensmire Castle’s mystery, he solved the last part of the mystery in his life.
Who would be his forever.
“Want to go back and celebrate our engagement?” Gryphen asked. “We can’t call Callen. His son is getting married today, and they are likely asleep. It will have to wait until tomorrow.”
He was right.
“Yeah, I think I’d like that,” he said, handing him the box with the ring.
Ian handed it back.
“I think you should wear it. Like you said, we made our contracts, and they are our promise. To me, Gryphen, we’re already tied together.”
If he wanted him to, he would.
“Want to do the honors?” Gryphen asked.
Oh, he did.
Pulling the ring from the box, he took Gryphen’s hand in his.
Then, he showed him what the inside said.
Gryphen was touched deeply.
“You’ll always be my hero, Gryphen. Never forget that. You’re what saved me. Your heart saved me.”
Oh, he could say the same about him.
Slipping the ring onto his finger, Ian couldn’t wait to make it official.
“Hold onto this. Make sure you get one that matches for our wedding.”
Oh, Gryphen would. He knew what he’d have engraved on it.
‘My Treasure.’
Stealing a kiss, it felt right to share that moment with him in the trees by Ceit’s grave. She’d had a tough life, and they had that in common.
Only, theirs would end with a happily ever after. He’d bet on it.
As he broke the kiss, Ian was content.
“I can’t wait to start planning our wedding,” Ian admitted, as they walked hand-in-hand back to the horses.
Oh, he had news for him.
“I’m going to give you something to look back at too. It only seems fair,” Gryphen admitted.
Ian was curious.
“What?”
“I want to give you a memory too. When we get back, Ian, I’m going to propose. I know you’ll say yes, but I want you to always remember that I made the effort.”
He hugged him.
That gave him a secret thrill. He had wanted him to do just that.
Desperately.
“Thank you for that, Gryphen.”
“Now, it’s your turn to wonder when it’s going to happen.”
He hoped so.
Honestly, Ian couldn’t wait for it to go down.
They both wanted to get back to the castle.
Today, they’d made plans to stay in bed and celebrate their love. Now that they were engaged, they had one more thing to celebrate.
Using a stump to mount his saddle-less horse, Gryphen held out his hand.
“Ride with me, my love.”
He grinned.
“Absolutely. This is exactly how I want my Christmas movie to end. You and me riding back to the castle where we make mad, passionate love.”
Pulling him up, Ian got onto the back of Romeo, and held onto Gryphen as he untied the white horses’ reigns. Bareback, his arms around his waist, they rode back to the castle.
As they rode, his derriere was sore from the night before.
“Jesus. My ass. God, it’s still sore from me being over your knee in punishment.”
That was all he had to say to get the juices flowing.
“Oh, well, you snuck out of bed again, Mr. Patterson. Would you care to guess what’s going to happen to you when I get you back to our bed?”
He was giddy with the possibilities.
“Please say punish me.”
Oh, he’d nailed it.
“I am absolutely putting you over my knee.”
He got hard.
“Oh, my Lord, don’t be a tease. I’m very bad. I deserve it.”
Truer words had never been said.
As they disappeared into the distance, she stood there, finally at peace.
Then, like many of the things in the highlands, she turned to walk into the mist.
And disappeared.
Because her part of the story was done, but the rest of the ghosts at Ravensmire Castle had yet to tell their tale.
But they would.
Soon enough.