Page 63 of The Protective Gryphen

Ian could get upset with this, since Gryphen assumed he wasn’t trustworthy enough not to jump the next soldier that rode into town, but he knew Gryphen was trying.

So he would too.

He’d help him.

“Graham isn’t my type,” he admitted. “He’s not even on my radar, so, you have nothing to worry about.”

Gryphen rested his face on his hands, and he closed his eyes. That wasn’t true.

Graham was a soldier.

He was a soldier.

They were both built the same.

It was too close for comfort for Gryphen, and he knew it.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m trying. I can’t shut it off. That fear and possessiveness is there. I’m fighting it.”

Ian put his hand on his back and wanted to soothe the man he loved.

“Hey, you came to me with the issue, and we’re going to work through it. Didn’t you tell me we’d fight or fuck our way through it? I vote option B, but I’m perpetually thinking about your dick, so maybe that’s just me.”

He wasn’t done.

“There’s plenty of rooms. Pick one and we can get naked in it. Come on, Gryph. Pillage me.”

Gryphen looked over.

Was Ian not getting upset with him for being a neanderthal cave asshole?

Seriously?

He needed to make sure.

“So you’re not angry at me for wanting to tear you out of here and hide you away where no one can have what’s mine?” he asked.

He shook his head.

“Not in the least, Gryph.”

He was so confused.

“Why? I’m being ridiculous, but I don’t know how to shut that off.”

Ian explained.

“I told you that I liked a caveman. I told you to be you. So if this bothers you, we’ll pivot and adjust. I will keep my distance from Graham, and that way, you can feel at ease. The last thing I want you to do is worry that someone can take me from you.”

Jesus.

What was this?

Was it really this easy?

“So you’re not thinking I’m a giant asshole for feeling the need to be possessive? Because I’m insecure and that voice in my head is telling me he’s going to steal what took me all these years to find?” he asked, waiting for Ian to explain it to him.

Gryphen didn’t get it.

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