Page 21 of The Protective Gryphen

“I’m sorry,” he said, as he went to move off of him.

Ian stopped him.

Clearly, he was freaked out. Now that he was aware it happened, they could deal with it together.

“It’s okay, Gryphen. I’ll be honest. I was thinking about going out for a walk without you since you were still sleeping, but coffee sounded better.”

Once more, that possessiveness rose up and he wanted to lock the man to his side so he couldn’t escape and get hurt.

Gryphen knew he wouldn’t survive that.

“Did you not understand what I said? You’re not to leave my side.”

The gruffness of his voice, and that desperation sent chills across Ian’s body.

Oh, boy.

Someone was riled up, and Ian really wanted to see if he could push him further.

So he’d do something.

Mainly, him.

Because he craved that kiss of five o’clock shadow on his face, Ian reached up and pulled Gryphen’s mouth down to his.

The touch of lips on lips set off a fire that no one had ever been able to put in him.

Ian knew that this man would be the only way he could ever be happy.

Ever.

As they kissed, both men’s bodies came awake, and there was that need.

As he slowly broke the kiss, Gryphen opened his eyes and stared into Ian’s.

“Don’t make me worry that I’ll lose you,” he said. “You won’t like what it makes me into.”

Oh, he doubted that.

With just that kiss, there was something there that drove Ian wild like never before.

There was fire.

There was heat.

There was possessiveness.

All he could do was stare up at him and smile like an idiot.

“What?” Gryphen asked.

Ian was honest.

“I think I like this side of you.”

Gryphen wasn’t sure what he was talking about, but he was curious.

“Which side is that, Mr. Patterson?” he asked.

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