Page 62 of The Protective Gryphen

Oh, he wished they were leaving because it wasn’t safe there anymore.

Well, from his perspective. This place wasn’t safe for Gryphen’s heart. That was the bottom line.

Ian touched his cheek and made him stare into his eyes. The brilliant blue were filled with worry.

And fear.

“Just tell me. We’ll work through it, and we’ll figure it out. It’s you and me against the world.”

Somehow, he managed to say the words.

“I’m uncomfortable with Graham around you. When he’s near you, I feel irrational like I want to do stupid things that are going to cause issues between us.”

There.

He said it.

Gryphen wasn’t done.

“You told me to be honest, so I’m going to take a chance that you wont think I’m ridiculous or being silly, but he scares me. Not because he can physically hurt me, but he could emotionally do damage.”

Ian hadn’t expected that.

Honestly, he wasn’t sure what he meant by that. Was he missing something?

“Why are you uncomfortable? I’m not asking to question it, but instead, I’m trying to understand what has you worked up.”

Gryphen laid it out for him.

“He’s gay, your handsome, and I feel inadequate,” he said. “That possessiveness might freak you out, and right now, all I’m thinking about is how he’ll take you from me. I’m fighting back that overwhelming feeling of being irrational and a caveman.”

What?

Ian gave it a second.

His initial response was to tell him that was ridiculous, but he knew that would only hurt Gryphen. He was sharing his feelings, and Ian couldn’t dismiss them.

To Ian, that was preposterous, since Gryphen was gorgeous, funny, and everything Ian wanted in a man. Honestly, he never noticed that Graham was handsome or existed in that way.

He was only focused on Gryphen.

Only, if Gryphen, who had lost everything he had ever loved, feared this, Ian had to take it seriously.

This was a huge admission for Gryphen, and he was trying to do this as a partner.

He’d come a long way from the man in the shower who shoved him away. He was opening up, and that was important for their relationship.

“How do you know he’s gay?” he asked. “Because I didn’t pick up on that.”

Then again, he never would have suspected Gryphen was gay either. He saw a soldier, a Marine, and a very manly man. Maybe he should take his gaydar into the shop for some repairs.

He explained.

“I called Saint to make sure everything was okay here and that I could trust him. He said he’s good in bed, which put me on a downward spiral. It makes it somehow worse.”

Oh, boy.

Yeah, someone was struggling.

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