Page 226 of The Protective Gryphen

Ian could see his sexy man in his kilt waiting for him at the end of the aisle, and there was no doubt that he’d have his Marine buddies as his best men.

Ian needed to work on picking the people to stand by him. He was thinking Elizabeth, Noah, and Lawless. They’d saved him after his assault, and without them, he would have died.

When he got home, he’d ask them.

Focusing on the here and now, Ian could hear the grunts of a hot man doing manual labor.

Well, sign him up.

A sweaty Gryphen was a hot Gryphen.

As he made it to the gate that led to the stables and wood pile, Graham was heading his way.

As soon as he saw him, he gave him a fist bump as he passed him, and neither man said a word.

Now, it was time to ogle a man.

As he reached the stable, he was able to watch his man hoist a giant bale of hay onto his shoulder, and carry it up a ladder into the loft.

His body may have been covered by his flannel shirt, but it rippled.

He could see it.

God.

Someone was so fluid in motion.

When he came down, he turned and saw him. A giant grin spread across his face. It appeared he’d been waiting for him to show up.

When he motioned toward him, Ian put his coffee down in the snow, and headed his way.

“Hey, you,” he said, pulling Ian into his body, and holding him by grabbing handfuls of his ass.

He flinched as Gryphen unknowingly manhandled his new tattoo.

Christ that hurt.

Of course, he caught it too.

“Are you okay?” he asked, seeing it.

“Someone got spanked. That’s all,” he said, lying his ass off.

Gryphen relaxed.

“Well, in my defense, his ass is amazing, and I can’t help myself.”

“Well, my Lord, you’re a wild man,” he whispered, only to be kissed like he was the last man on earth. It made his body come alive being near him.

His arms went around his neck, and he was pulled into his body even tighter, as Gryphen devoured him with that kiss. It was like he was starving.

The second he’d called him that, the switch flipped, and that possessive man was free.

When he broke the kiss, Ian was dizzy.

“I warn you, Mr. Patterson, but when you call me that, it reminds me of our night, and makes me go right back to wanting to be him.”

Oh, well, he figured as much.

---