Zia… Greg’s Bedroom

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“I trust you.”

There, Zia had said it with conviction and as much honesty as she could muster.

Greg climbed into the bed on his knees with her in a bridal carry to reach the middle. Her stomach flipped with anticipation. She relished the feel of his heat this close to him.

Greg was her mate—her Gryphon. That thought was enough to make her stomach do a flip in joy. Finally, she knew he was into her as well. Her nipples hardened as her breast grazed his chest. He put her down with the utmost care.

Yes, and Lord take the wheel! It was going down. There was a strong chance she might break through the darkness to finally be the woman she wanted to be. Greg was the best man to help her overcome the ghosts of her past—hopefully.

She was going to try to tap into this Siren part of her everyone thought she possessed. Or, at least channel her best rendition of what a sexually confident woman would do.

Zia wanted their first time to be earth-shattering. She determined to step her pussy up! If she could, Zia would put it on him. She'd work it so hard he’d swear under oath her secret garden was adorned and dripping in gold, precious jewels, and the ultimate man cave. No scratch that, Gryphon nest of paradise.

Sporadic Kegel exercises over the years had to count for something. Teases of orgasms so close she could feel her sex clenching, orbited near enough for Zia to see the promised land.

That promise would be where they had mind-blowing, bodily healing, mentally cleansing mutual sexual gratification. Yes, that was the level of pleasure she wanted to deliver, receive, and experience with him.

A quick glance at his crotch revealed a definite outline of a testament to his manhood. Loose as they were, the pants didn’t stand a chance. The fabric of the well-worn but sturdy pair of jeans wasn’t camouflaged enough to hide the impressive package concealed beneath.

Zia stared transfixed at the sight that hinted at his male genital magnificence. No, by the looks of it, he had a full-on cock. Cock slain was what she wanted to be on the other side of this venture.

What the hey? Zia never got like this about a man.

If anything, the nearer time came to put up or shut up; she found crafty ways to end the night and relationship. Yes, she was a tease, but with good reason. The way she wanted Greg wasn’t her normal, and she wasn’t mad at the possibility of what could happen.

Startled by how randy she’d become, Zia was in no hurry to return to chaste behavior. Her revelry induced a deeper level of awe as she continued to stare.

Zia had always loved the male form, just not so close and intimate—until now. Her tongue went the hussy route as she realized it traced the outline of her lips as if in preparation.

His cock had to be amazing to be able to create that kind of impression against heavy jeans that dared to keep it contained. That sighting of what Greg was working with was evidence of what she suspected.

At this angle with him on his knees in the bed, Zia had visual evidence that would lead to the physical proof that his equipment was more than adequate for the task she had in mind. Now, to investigate the evidence.

Horny much?

The thought snatched her back from the brink of doing something she might regret. Zia did a mental check to make sure her hands weren’t inching toward the buttons of the golden giant’s jeans. Then mental sobriety of the critical kind threatened to burst her Greg-infused high.

Old haunting thoughts that always managed to sliver in at times like this pushed their way forward to douse her aroused high. In an attempt to paint her excitement gray, the menacing thoughts or accusation, fear, and other nastiness almost succeeded.

Please, don’t fail me—not with him, she prayed to that part of her that hadn’t been kind.

Not today, was the conquering thought as Zia slipped out of the clutch of the former thought. She’d have what she’d longed for so long—true intimacy, love, understanding, and healing.

Her new goal and objective were to make his toes curl with pleasure. A telltale sign of her arousal was the new moisture in her panties and that slight tickle and itch for attention in the same region.

This moment right here, yes, this one, was what she’d feared, hoped for and desired since the moment they’d met.

A deep male throat-clearing was the appropriate interruption to bring her back to the room.

“Did you hear me?” was his singular question.

That would be a definite no, but she wasn’t going to admit to daydreaming about his cock.

Zia had to remember to breathe for the anticipation she had about what he’d do next. He rose up to stare down at her. Too full of the haze of arousal, Zia chose to ignore what looked like him turning to leave her side instead of laying down next to her.

Her excitement and curiosity that was about to turn into panic refused to be held in any longer as she blurted out, “What are you doing? You said you’d stay with me.”

“I’m about to tuck you in before I go over there to sit with you as you fall asleep.”

“And then what?”

“Once you drift off, I’ll go downstairs.”

“That’s it? But, you promised you’d stay. I thought we were going to mate.”

“We will. When you’re ready.”

“What the hell? Who made you team captain of our mating?” She couldn’t believe those bold words popped out. Zia decided to roll with them. “Greg Griffin, you’re not the boss of me.”

Wise eyes smiled back at her. “Right you are.” He moved to touch the sheets. “For now, I’m going to tuck you in and stay until you fall asleep.”

She couldn’t help but giggle like a ninny for what the shock of his words did to her ability to comprehend. “Tuck me in? Greg, you’re funny. But seriously, quit playing.”

“Playing about what? I don’t follow your reasoning.”

“About tucking me in. That’s the opposite of, you know, staying with me.” Frustration forced exasperation to the forefront. She had to keep her composure or send him running out of here. Taking a beat to regroup, she tried approaching his idea of staying with her from another angle. “So, you want to tuck me in, and that’s all?”

A bit of confusion skirted across his breath-snatching features for a flash of a moment as he answered, “Yes.”

Oh, hell nah, he wasn’t playing. Taken aback was an understatement. All Zia could muster to say as disillusioned hopes started to deflate and flatten was, “Why? I thought we were going to mate. You kissed me.”

“That I did, and it was exquisite. As for tucking you into bed, I’m doing that because you look exhausted with the eventful night you had. That and the fact that I find pleasure in your comfort. I want to do my part to make sure you have restful sleep. You said you’d trust me.” Greg didn’t miss a beat moving the sheets back as he made a fuss over that comfort he cared so much about.

“Yeah, I trusted you to mate with me! Look, Gryphon, I don’t know how much more of this flimflamming I can take from you. I’m not one to be trifled with. You know good and Goddamn well what you’re doing. You should—”

“Are you having a tantrum?”

“What? I don’t do tantrums,” she said fighting the urge to cross her arms over her chest and pout.

Caught off guard by the pure sincerity and truth of his words, her brain stilled to allow his words to soak in.

“Restful sleep? What the hell?” she asked more to herself than to him. “You mean that, don’t you?” she found herself saying despite stumbling to process and accept his meaning.

“Yes, I do, with everything within me.” He had the nerve to give her a don’t-fuss-with-me-young-lady look. “Zia, my love. I want nothing more than to mate with you in every sense of that convention. But, dear love of mine, I can tell you’re still not ready. There are some things, better yet, deep healing that needs to happen before you’re be free to enter into a full mating with me. Let me share these intimate times with you. There’s way more to love and lasting relationship than sex. Be here in this intimate time with me. Let me minister to your needs. You need rest, and I wish to share in giving that to you. Trust me to take our relationship to a much deeper level. I’m not like any other man you’ve been with before.” He paused as if to give punctuated emphasis to his next words. “Do you trust me?”

Shit, he did know about her secret. But how?

She couldn’t mount a rebuttal with how much he might know. Still, her heart and everything within burned to be with him. What she could do was give him a little shit for getting her panties wet, just to try to tuck her into bed.

“You’re different. I’ll give you that. Your idea of trust is way different than mine, but yes, I do trust you. However you want to flow with this mating, I’m game. I know I’m supposed to be with you. I can do this, with you. I need to have some input in it as well. I want to mate with you so badly, I ache. Please, Greg,” she couldn’t help that her body seemed to throw off strong vibes to come to her. The sensation tormented her in that only he could relieve. “Don’t make me beg. That would be cruel. I want to be able to look at myself in the mirror with dignity after this.”

“Zia, dear heart of mine, you’ll never have to feel shame about anything we do. I promise.” Another look to get her to acquiesce and he patted the bed. “Now, lie down, get comfortable and get some rest. We’ll go over to your place when you wake.”

It took longer than she realized for Zia’s sense of self to come back online. Never had anyone besides her parents ever tucked her in. Certainly, never a man she had a romantic interest in.

Biology took over and forced her eyes to blink when tears started to run from their dryness. Unable to regroup as fast as she would have liked, Zia continued to stare.

Just when she thought it was safe to come into the deep waters with him, this man had pulled them back to the kiddie pool.

For his part, her golden giant kneeled before her on his haunches with a serene smile.

Confused on why he would treat her like a child by “tucking” her in, Zia warred with how to proceed. The only thing she wanted, where he was in bed with her, was in the arena of sexy adult time.

So what if she was aroused enough to throw her legs open and point if he didn’t get with the program quick, fast, and in a hurry? Was she in heat or something? Zia never wanted any man as much as she wanted Greg. And she wanted him now.

Using the last of her reserves to push back her instinct to tackle him down to the bed, Zia willed herself to funnel her mounting sexual energy into strategy maneuvers. He was a man of action and fighting. Greg would appreciate her tactical approach.

What was that thing folks did when they tried to use sexual energy as a super energy boost? Sexual transmutation? Yeah, that would have to work, since her man was determined to be the ultimate gentleman.

She would be the grandest hoe, THOT and any other combination that would get him to quench her thirst, scratch the itch, or whatever this wizardry was he’d worked on her. That was enough to make her laugh on the inside.

His voice was unhurried, lazy even, as he asked, “What’s that smile about?”

“Oh, nothing. I would have thought that if you brought me to your bed, it would be for age-appropriate reasons. What I mean is what the hey, Greg? You said to trust you. For what? A little kid’s bed tuck? Stop getting my appetite whet just to douse it with good intentions. You psyched me out. It’s like I had myself all ready for rum infused Tres Leches and got lukewarm milk instead. That’s just tired and delayed.”

Her rebuke did nothing to deter the easy smile that occupied his handsome face. At least he didn’t rile easily. Zia suspected some of her mother’s sass was coming out. Greg seemed unruffled by her complaint.

She took a moment to marvel at the newness of saying what was really on her mind and not having a fragile, hurt, male ego to repair.

Why was this Gryphon so much more than she ever thought she needed, but knew him to be perfect?

The glint of intrigue brightened his clear blue orbs as he grinned. “And, how do you define age appropriate reasons?”

Oh, so he was going to try to toy with her emotions. It was on.

“What I mean is that last I checked, I’m well over the age of consent and in your bed with you here.” Feeling a boost of boldness tinged with a bit of her pro-level tease, she added, “How do you define tucking me in the bed.”

“You naughty minx,” was all he said as Greg lie down next to her. Her breath caught again.

“Haha—breathe” he whispered. “I can’t work with you passing out.”

She did. “Greg, did you make a joke?”

“Not exactly, but I did try to ease your concerns a little. You appear to like it when I use my words.” He gave her a sexy wink. “I not only listened but put your suggestions into practice. How am I doing?”

Zia couldn’t hold in the bold laughter that rocketed out of her. “That’s a nice way of putting it. As for how it’s going, I’d say you’re cooking with gas.” He gave her a broad smile that loosened her up a bit more. “Yes, Greg, I always like it when you ‘use your words’ to communicate with me.”

“You know…,” his voice trailed off as his finger traced a line up her arm. “When we mate, I’ll be able to talk with you on another level.”

“Which is?” Curiosity edged her closer.

“We call it neural linking. That’s where we’re able to speak to each other telepathically.”

Flash memories of Greg’s voice sounding in her mind resounded like De Ja Vu.

“This might sound a bit off, but I feel like I’ve heard your voice in my head before.”

He raised up a bit to reconsider her. Then, as if finding the answer to his unspoken question, he offered, “I tried speaking to you when we were in that strange place last night. At the time, I had the feeling that you could hear and understand me.”

Without thought, confirmation of that fact sprung up in her gut. “Yeah, that’s it. Can’t and won’t try to explain, but I know you spoke to me. The details are fuzzy.”

Moved by his lavish attention on her every word, Zia reached up to embrace him about the neck.

When she tugged for him to come closer, he complied. Greg brought his delicious male scent she’d come to know as Greg’s unique aroma. Distinct and heady, his flavor delightfully played with her senses. Zia attempted to taste his natural cologne with a huge inhale.

Sensing that he hadn’t moved again, she opened her half-lidded eyes to see him taking in every aspect of her.

“What, did I do something weird?”

“No.”

With his face this close to hers, Zia could see how smooth and youthful he looked. She had no idea how old he was. Greg threw off ancient wisdom, but with pores small enough for YouTube makeup gurus to throw significant shades of envy his way, she wasn’t so sure he was as old as her.

“How old are you?”

“Way older than you’d think.” As if willing the seriousness of his next words into her, Greg captured her focus and said, “I’ve been waiting for your arrival for eons. Long enough for the promise of you to become a fabled dream. Here you are, and I want to rush, wait, devour, marvel, and languish in your presence all at once.

This Greg was more like it. Zia’s lady bits tingled with anticipatory excitement as she clung to each word he said.

“How old are we talking? Thirty-five?” She waited to see his facial reaction to her guess.

“No, way older than that.”

“Uh-uh, no way,” she said, not believing him to be older than maybe thirty.

“My love,” he picked up her hand to place a delicate kiss on her knuckles. “You are a mere babe in comparison to my age in earth years. I’ll be honest. I stopped counting a long time ago. Just know that we don’t age at the same rate as humans born here.”

Disbelief urged her to press on. “Nope, I don’t believe you. Stop playing. How old are you?”

He lay on his back, looked up at the ceiling and said, “I’ll tell you only if you don’t get freaked out.” Then, he cut his eyes over to look at her.

“I promise,” she almost whispered in conspiratorial glee. “You know, I always dug older men.”

“Hah, I’m way older than the men you might be thinking of.” He took a breath, released it and said, “Gryphon and Dragons don’t age like humans when on earth. Regarding our bodies, aging slows to almost a standstill.” He took another moment as if selecting his words. When he started to speak again, Zia could swear the air between them sparkled with a magnetizing force. It pulled her toward him. He finally confessed, “I stopped counting birthdays by earth years when I turned one-hundred years old.”

Zia’s body took over and had her sitting up, ramrod straight.

“No fucking way! That’s not possible.” Her head throbbed trying to figure out how this twenty-something looking man was well over a hundred years old. “How long ago was that? I mean, how long has it been since you stopped counting birthdays.”

“Way longer than many generations. If I had to put a guess to it, based on historical events here on earth’s surface, I’d say I’m close to double that age now.” By now he was sitting up next to her in the huge bed. When she remained quiet, he added, “I’ll understand if you need some time alone.”

He was about to beat a retreat from the bed when Zia found the words to stop him. “If you try to leave me in the bed alone, I’ll scream like a banshee. Greg, you promised not to leave me.”

He settled back onto the bed and reached for her to join him. “That I did. Zia, I do mean what I offer. If you need time to process it, I’ll wait.”

A new certainty that she hadn’t recognized before formed a concrete understanding in her mind. Greg was the man she’d always wanted and needed.

“It all makes sense now. You’re beyond patient with me. Your wisdom is bar none. Nothing I say or do seems to ruffle your feathers. Haha, see what I just did there? Ruffle your feathers? Get it?” When she felt movement that indicated he nodded, she couldn’t resist. “Nope, use your words.”

His laughter rumbled beneath her ears as she’d come to lay on his chest. “I get it. You’re funny, my love.”

“Please, amend that to say ‘you’re funny, my mate.’ ”

He echoed her words, taking time to say the words “my mate” with a reverence that resounded in Zia’s gut with its beauty.

“Yes, that’s better. I couldn’t ask for a more perfect mate.” Then dread hit. She had to know. “If you age at a slower rate than humans, what happens to you after I grow old and die?”

“That’s easy. I’ll most likely die soon after.”

“Stop kidding around with me. That’s not funny!”

“I’m serious,” he said, not a hint of humor in his voice. “But, what you should also know is that once we are fully mated, your aging process slows down to match mine. As my mate, you’ll age like our females do—at a slower rate than me. As my mate, you could easily outlive me.”

“No way!” Zia was too stimulated with strange feelings to look up at him. His voice had that same serious tone that he had with most things he spoke of. There was no reason to believe anything other than what he said. “Talk about a come up,” was all she could say.

The air surrounding them sparkled with life. Zia would remember this moment as the one where some unseen force helped with her case before Greg.

He locked eyes with hers. Without another word she nodded.

When he moved in to take her mouth with his, Zia couldn’t stop the little word from escaping, “Yes.”

“Yes, what?” he asked.

“Yes, more please.”