Page 99 of The Protective 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.

---