Page 233 of The Protective Gryphen

And there it was.

Love.

Why he ever doubted that the man was his was beyond him. Here, he’d been worried he was pulling away. Instead, Ian was just trying to give him this.

“I love this,” he said. “No one has ever thought to do this for me.”

Tears fill his eyes.

“We’re going to have so many memories, Gryphen. If you think I’m pulling away, remember this. I might just be planning something romantic.”

He got it.

“I see that now, and the answer is yes. I want to go sledding with you. I can’t wait to experience this.”

Ian smiled at him.

“Keep saying, yes, Mr. Carter. I have more fun planned for both of us.”

He lifted a brow.

“Do you now? Does it perhaps involve a ring?” he asked teasing him. “Because I’m feeling very yes-y today. You know, in case you were in the mood to get you a man for the long term.”

He snorted.

Oh, he was definitely getting a man long term, but he needed to surprise him. Gryphen deserved that.

“You won’t know when or how, but that day will come,” he said. “Hopefully, you’ll still be feeling yes-y.”

Oh, he would.

Gryphen was just waiting for him to propose so he could do the same.

“Let’s play in the snow,” Ian said.

Heading out of the stable, they dragged their sleds to the top of the hill not far from the path that led down to the lake.

“How do we do this?” Gryphen asked. “Is there a technique?”

“You sit your ass down, and you let the world fly by. See you at the bottom, Marine,” he said, hopping onto his sled, and sliding down the hill so fast.

Gryphen watched, holding his breath, and when he saw Ian was okay, he chilled out.

In fact, when Ian reached the bottom, he wiped out, and began laughing like a nut.

It was beautiful to see.

Well, now, it appeared to be his turn.

Gryphen sat on the sled. He had to adjust his prosthetic, but once he did, he shoved off, and held onto the sides.

Oh, and he screamed like a girl.

That bitch went fast.

At the bottom, he wiped out, too, and found himself laying in the snow next to Ian.

“Oh, that was fun,” he said. “Now I get why people do this in the cold.”

---