Page 105 of The Protective Gryphen

Ian shook his head.

“Nope. I love blue. I specifically love blue as of late,” he admitted, thinking about Gryphen in his blues.

At his words, the dimple in Gryphen’s chin appeared, and then, he dropped his arm over Ian’s shoulders as they drank their coffee.

For the longest while, the Marine was silent.

It made Ian curious.

“What’s going on in Gryphen-land?” he asked, looking up at him curiously.

He sighed.

“I’m doing battle with something, and trying to debate if I should say something or not.”

Ian wanted him to be open with him. Like with their sex life, he wanted the man to put faith in him.

They were a team, right?

“You can tell me.”

Could he?

Gryphen was worried it would go south. Sometimes, people wanted to know, but once it was out, you couldn’t put words back.

Unfortunately.

“Gryph, come on,” he said. “You’re scaring me. Please don’t say you’ve decided I’m not the guy for you. I’ll freak out and cry.”

He stared at him.

What was this?

“Why do you always assume when I say I’m thinking about something that it’s about leaving you?”

That was all he had to say.

Immediately, Ian began laughing until he finally realized he was serious.

“Oh, you weren’t kidding, were you? Well, maybe because you’re freaking sexy as hell, and I’m not in your league.”

At his words, Gryphen got angry.

He shoved Ian off the hay bale and onto the snowy ground. From where he lay, Ian sputtered.

“What the hell? Why did you shove me into the snow?” he asked.

Gryphen wasn’t happy.

“That was for talking about yourself like that. It pisses me off when you think you’re not a catch. You are, Ian Patterson. I’m lucky to be on your radar.”

He laughed from the ground.

Yeah, that wasn’t the truth.

“Come on, Gryph. Look at you. You’re a freaking lumberjack Marine with muscles and strength. I’m a…I don’t know what I am. Graham inside is more attractive than me, so let’s not sugarcoat that shit. You can get any man you ever wanted. I’m dating up on this one. You’re dating down.”

He stared at him and tried to contain his temper. If anyone else put Ian down, he’d kill them.

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