Page 263 of The Protective Gryphen

“What did they say to you?”

He whimpered.

“They were going to rape me.”

Oh, fucking A.

Now, he was really pissed.

If you really wanted to put him over the edge, have a man threaten someone with that. If you wanted him homicidal, have someone direct that at his man.

There was a deep growl low in his body, and now, he wished he’d bloodied them up a lot more than he had.

“I’m sorry I didn’t wait there. I just began panicking,” Ian whispered.

Gryphen lifted his chin.

“You don’t have to be sorry. It’s not your fault that because of some people you can’t walk down the street. Assholes exist.”

He explained.

“They saw us kissing, and that’s why they targeted me,” he admitted.

Yeah, handcuffs.

That was next on his list of purchases.

“I have you now, Baby. How about we get you something to warm you up? Are you sure that you don’t want to go back to the castle?”

He shook his head.

“Please just get me out of this alley, Gryphen,” he whispered.

He could make that happen.

“Okay, Baby. I’ll never let anyone hurt you, Ian. I’m here,” he said, cuddling him against his body as they began walking out to where all the people were.

Scanning the square, Gryphen noticed that not far away there was a man with a cart selling hot beverages. That would work.

Crossing to the cart, he pulled out his wallet and ordered him a hot drink made with Drambuie. Someone needed to put this past him and warm up. Ian was still shaking as he clung to him.

When the man finished making it, he passed to Gryphen, and he got him to a nearby bench. When they sat, he put it in Ian’s hands and reassured him.

“Drink,” he ordered. “This will calm you down.”

Obediently, he did as he told him.

There, they sat.

As Ian sipped the spiced drink, Gryphen had him tucked under his arm.

“Better?” he asked.

He nodded.

Gryphen wanted to distract him, and the best way was to talk about anything else but what happened.

“What kind of stationary did you end up getting?” he asked. “Can I take a peek?”

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