“If that’s all it is, nothing is wrong,” Gryphen admitted.

“Really, that’s all it is. Besides, you have a dining room to clean up. You promised you’d do it, and then, Graham needs help with wood, and bales of hay or something like that.”

Gryphen pulled off his clothing.

“If you feel like you need to sleep, you should. I’ll get some work done, and get in a workout. At some point, I have to go back to protecting Elizabeth, and I can’t let myself get flabby.”

“I don’t think you could go flabby, Gryph. You’re all muscle. If you did, you’d still be the hottest man I’ve ever seen in my whole life.”

And he needed that.

Those words mattered to him. It was nice to have someone like him for him. He didn’t want to be ogled for his body and tats. He wanted someone to want his heart.

And Ian did.

Feeling better, he climbed into bed.

It was nice that his partner did enjoy him. This was the first time in his life that he truly believe he was perfect. Ian had made him whole.

“I don’t mind helping Graham out. I did make a huge mess in the dining room.”

Yes, he did, but that memory alone…

Perfect.

Luckily, Ian had his window of opportunity. Now, to not get caught. That was going to be the hard part.

As they got situated in the big bed, Ian nuzzled him as he tucked himself into his body.

“Give me a kiss before you leave to go clean up the cum apocalypse. I won’t sleep too late. I’ll come find you when I’m up.”

He wasn’t wrong with calling what went down in that dining room that. There had been a mountain of cum.

“I will, Baby.”

He was so comfortable in bed with Ian, that Gryphen yawned, and let himself drift.

Fortunately, it didn’t take long for him to fall asleep, and as Ian laid there, he had his fingers crossed.

He hoped Graham pulled this off.

More than anything else.

This was something he wanted Gryphen to have.

Forever.

* * * The Ravensmire Chronicles * * *

Friday Morning

Seven A.M.

The Master’s Suite

Oh, Ian felt him get out of bed, and he could hear him pulling on his clothes nearby as he prepared to go get some castle chores done.

As soon as he was ready, Gryphen came around to the other side of the bed, kissed him softly on the lips, and told him goodbye.