Gregori (Greg) Griffin… First Floor of The Lair

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A challenge.

Zia was a minx for sure with the makings of a sly vixen to boot. Standing taller than Quinn and Wren, but still a bit shorter than Hildy, she looked regal and powerful. Zia could hold her own in the midst of the crowd of the Dragofin Clan assembled.

He’d forgotten how shapely and statuesque she was with her full, womanly soft curves. By earth’s cultural standards she might be considered full-figured, but to him she was perfect. Scrutiny of her form continued to drive his eyes to take in every bit of her.

She looked tired and if not a bit on the thinner side than he remembered. Still, Greg’s heart pounded a little brighter at the sight. She was here, close enough to touch if he walked the feet that separated them.

Bountiful dark curls cascaded to pool below her graceful shoulders. It was those eyes that captured his ability to maintain his usual stoic facade.

Cat-like and gray with flecks of green, Zia’s eyes both mesmerized and perplexed him. Set against the warmth of her honey cashew-hued skin, the colors appeared to change in intensity with her mood. Their stunning charm and beauty weren’t able to conceal a depth that bordered on sadness and pain.

“What has you so intrigued? I hope it’s me,” she almost cooed with heavy hints of teasing.

The beauty had exquisite charm, he had to give her that. She’d also tempted him with a contest to win her. A Gryphon never refused such a dare when the stakes were so appealing.

Stirrings deep within woke and enticed his beast to come forward. Before he could contain the reaction she had on him, what he was sure must be a wide grin took over his face and beamed at the exotic beauty.

It took a beat to maintain the carefully constructed equilibrium that existed between his public persona and the fiery intensity of his base nature. Greg continued to take in the vision that stood before him. No one else made his entire being come alive like her. This sensation had become familiar whenever he thought about the enigma who was to be his mate. She stood here so close to him now confirming his belief that they’d been given another chance to form a mating bond.

Her pronouncement that she was leaving town had ruffled him. Exhilaration of the challenge that lay ahead followed. Even though he’d chosen to subdue his combustible nature many years ago, whenever he was around Zia it rose up. His soul ached to surge forward as if he’d never spent all that time learning to overcome it.

Instead of pouncing to capture her in his arms, Greg went with a cordial question to ease her into their reunion.

“It’s good to see you again. Did you have safe travels back?”

Her laugh was light and musical. “I can do you one better. My trip was downright uneventful.”

It could have been the tumultuous storm of emotions that swarmed in her eyes as he closed the space between them. Or, it could have been the fact that he refused to behave like she’d expected of him. One thing Greg could see plain as day was that Zia was used to a lot of overt male sexual attention. Attention that always had her on guard. He could also see that she had little respect or interest in that type of attention.

Gryphon wisdom pushed to the forefront. His interaction with her wouldn’t be based on games, flirting, teasing or lies. He wouldn’t lose his sense of decorum and normalcy over her either. If this was going to work, they needed to be their truest selves.

Greg settled his inner want for his mate to maintain his calm and collected demeanor. Chancing a rebuff from the ruffled beauty, he came to rest before her, less than a few feet away. Caution and Gryphon prudence prevailed. His beast wouldn’t allow him to come any closer.

Ah, so your privacy field is wider than you let on. Interesting. He stored the knowledge away to review later.

“Would you like anything, like water or an energy drink?” His arm stretched out toward the bank of mini-fridges lined up in a nook across the expansive space of the first floor. “I believe that’s all we have stocked in the mini-fridges over there.”

Dazzling eyes that resembled moonstone darted to where his gesture to a far-off corner led. Her words might be smooth, but her body screamed tense and jerky movements. The lovely female was on hyper-alert.

More insight—good.

Greg’s beast cautioned making any more suggestions or movements until she had time to remember to breathe deep. He wouldn’t add to the overwhelm of sensory inputs that must be assailing her with all the attention of the room and his presence.

She might not realize it, but her essence reacted to him and his beast in a skittish way. Not what he’d expected but Greg would work through that wrench in their reunion meeting. Faint echoes of rejection tried to breach his internal control. Greg would have none of that. He concentrated on treating her like any honored guest of the Lair. Then the sensation registered. Life-giving energy began to bathe his soul.

Not one to get engrossed in dissecting information that didn’t lend itself to the moment, Greg filed away their reactions to one another to process later. More time spent with her and he’d be in process for quite a while.

“No, I’m good. Thanks, though.”

He almost forgot what she referred to until his beast came closer to the surface. Everything within wanted to protect and shield Zia from whatever ailed her. The impact of the ordeal she’d endure still influenced her behavior, but there was more. This reaction was fueled by a deep hurt or trauma that had festered to erect a strong defense mechanism. That defense was what he interacted with, not the true Zia.

The slightest boost of energy zoomed through his body as it coursed through his bones, even down to the marrow. Greg felt better than he had in a long time. Too taken by the moment of energy infusion, Greg stood there wanting to swim in the pool of her expressive eyes. He sucked in the recuperative energy being this close to her produced.

Again, the beast in him reared up against containment. Greg’s eyes closed for a second to regain control and a passive demeanor.

That was the best way for his beast side to cohabitate with him. The last thing he needed was to scare her any further with the aggression his beast could exhibit. And he wanted her—now—crowd be damned.

Behind all her fanfare, he hadn’t missed the fleeting looks of fear. They sometimes punctuated her expressions during their meeting. Standing here now, he’d submitted to allow her to navigate the next step in their interaction. She’d opened the door to consider staying longer.

He’d be content with that until he wasn’t. If she took too long to make up her mind to join with him as mates, he’d deal with his urges and needs at that time. Until then, Greg prepared to take it as it came.

Zia might like fawning and excitement over her, but it was the ember that grew into a raging flame that worked best for successful long-term mating. She was fiery and impatient. Those facts shown as a brilliant spotlight. He would navigate their interaction in a way that allowed her the freedom and healing she needed. But, there was no doubt that he would have her as his mate.

“Okay.”

What? That’s all he managed to say in return? No way would he lose his composure and sense of self-decorum in the midst of his mate. Greg was an old Gryphon full of wisdom and control. He knew better than to lose his shit. Determined to fight his nature, the man and beast coordinated their next move and reaction.

Zia Carter wouldn’t run out of here screaming because of his inability to keep his cool. There would be no foolishness or awkwardness on his behalf—not today. He owed it to his mate and clan to remain the Greg they all knew and depended on. The fight was on to contain himself. His shoulders squared ever so slightly as his body planted itself in a battle stance.

An intake of breath, feminine and light danced with the air between them. Her reaction was unconscious but definitely in response to his stance. The woman’s presence was enticing, alluring and causing havoc on his usually calm facade.

Zia spoke up. “Thank you for having me here in your home. It’s…,” she took a pause to look around the open space of the first floor. Gym equipment loitered about on one of the mats as it waited for the guys to start their daily workout routines. She took in the scene before her clearly rehearsing her next words before speaking. “It’s unusual. Nothing like I would have expected.”

“You can go on and say it. It’s a gym,” Quinn said with her usual bravado. “Be glad you weren’t here when it used to smell like one too.”

Greg didn’t miss the look of irritation that flitted across Zia’s eyes. Intriguing—she didn’t care for Quinn in the least. There would be time to delve into that deeper. For now, he’d be vigilant to make sure Quinn didn’t do more to ruffle her feathers. That mate of Lucien’s could needle a Monk to kill if she had a mind to.

When he took in Quinn’s micro expressions, he could tell the feeling was mutual. Adding this to his mental list of things to discuss with Lucien, he rearranged it to top priority.

Couldn’t have the mates of the leader and his second at each other’s throats. He wouldn’t allow himself to consider what would happen when he discussed expanding the living space to give the mates more privacy. Now that Hildy, Quinn, and Wren were living here, the Lair was bulging at the seams. Adding Zia to the mix would bring new issues to contend with for sure. There had to be a way for them to configure the Den for more privacy. Twelve men with their mates living here could turn into a nightmare if even a few of the mates didn’t get along.

Gray-green eyes locked on him as he came back to the room from his wandering thoughts.

“I was going to say it was more authentic to who the guys are.” Zia smiled at him, sensual, and tempting. She only had eyes for him and yet he knew she couldn’t commit to what she portrayed.

Before Quinn could get the comeback out that was a hair’s breadth away from leaving her mouth, Greg intervened.

“Thank you. We don’t have visitors—only those meant to be here can enter. Thus, functionality of all space is priority over receiving areas and the like.”

“Makes practical sense.” She looked up to take in the high ceilings of the first floor. “I get it.” She nodded while looking up at how the brick and plaster diffused the morning’s light to give the room a comfortable feel. This was his favorite time of the day to be down here.

The beautiful woman standing before him might have the need to be in control but he’d show her how to trust herself too. He made the pledge to make certain she was safe and completely his before she got a chance to leave town again. That was another thing he’d have to rectify. The certainty of it blasted him from the first time he’d met her.

There was pain, various fears, deceptions, internal critiques, and other crap warring within. Zia’s heart was shrouded beneath a battleground for emotional dominance of the greatest negative emotions. It tore at his own heart to see the swarming layers of confusion. No, they more like divisions that wracked her countenance from within.

She continued to cast more sun on his day with an invigorating smile that rode the waves of the air. That smile gave him encouragement and permission to pursue. He wasn’t sure the woman grasped the potency of communication her smile held for him.

Gathering the beams of joy that emanated from her was the fulfillment of his prayers to the Goddess. To have his mate standing so close after everything that had happened was confirmation of the Goddess’ blessing and approval. For as much as he loved being on the receiving end of that smile, Greg couldn’t ignore the gaping cavern of pain and angst that plagued her life force.

Whoever and whatever were part of her life to this point should be held accountable for how damaged she was. It was a miracle she could stand here. Zia was strong to portray any form of emotional stamina with all the shit going on behind those Goddess-blessed eyes. He would take it slow with her. Gryphon wisdom demanded it.

Zia’s ability to feel without pain was more important that even his desire to mate with her. Seeing how much effort it took for her to portray this facade, albeit expertly crafted, was painful to him on a deep level that only a mate could sense.

Right now Zia wasn’t capable of entering into the type of committed relationship he required. Whatever happened to encase her heart in such a quagmire of emotional locks had to leave before they could come together in a stable mated union.

If she accepted him, Greg prepared to do whatever it took to make that happen.

Her condition had been another reason why he’d been so patient when it came to her coming around to see him again. When he’d handed her over to Miss Connie after finding her with the Egolar, Greg had drawn on the strength of his beast and years of self-discipline not to smother her with his love and attention. That would have been the worst thing for her. Obviously in shock from the ordeal, Zia’s entire being resembled fractured glass, held together through the sheer force of will.

With a quick look of understanding, Miss Connie had been the one to care for her. It was also Miss Connie who had been instrumental in bringing her back to him now. One thing about Miss Connie, as a healer and nurturer, she had impeccable understanding and finesse for timing.

Hating to tear his eyes away from his mate, he found Miss Connie in the crowd and sent her a mental thank you. The older woman gave an almost imperceptible nod of understanding and acceptance. It was the obtrusive and prying looks from the others he didn’t need.

Too nosy to help matters much, the others surrounded them on the verge of gawking. This would never do. It was a wonder Zia hadn’t left from the scrutiny and pressure. They didn’t need a show or added inspection for her to come out of this shell of a defense mechanism she’d erected. The damn thing screamed at him to back away.

No matter how confident and controlled she was on the outside, a tempestuous storm of emotions brewed underneath. Greg was determined to go there. He wouldn’t stomach her unease if there was the least bit he could do to make her feel safe and wanted—the right way.

Cutting an eye to Lucien, he sent a mental link.

“I need to get her alone from this group. Help me out and run interference for me, will you, bro?”

“No need to even ask. I’ve got it, starting with my own mate. She seems to be the shit-starter in charge this morning.”

With mutual nods, the two warriors approached the situation like facing enemies at the portal. They’d separate and conquer.

Lucien’s booming voice filled the room. “All right folks, how about we get some breakfast over at Miss Connie’s? Follow me.”

When Hildy and Jax broke away to go out back, he bellowed to their retreating backs. “That means you two as well.”

The young Dragonling turned with clear aggravation chasing frustration across his young features. Ajax huffed as Hildy placed a hand on his arm in gentle restraint. “But you never go to Miss Connie’s. Bro, you’re the one saying I need to practice even in my sleep. Would you make up your mind for once?” Looking over to Greg and Zia, Ajax pointed in an attempt to strengthen his argument. “And what about Greg and her? I don’t see you barking at them to move their asses over to The Diner.”

Wizened Dragon eyes narrowed at his youngest brother in warning. Greg knew Lucien wouldn’t go too far, but the Dragonling had been challenging him more and more. The signs were are all there. Ajax would be joining with his dragon soon. He made another mental note. He'd let the Dragofin Clan know they’d be dealing with more brazen and challenging behavior from Ajax for a while.

“Watch it, Jax. I said Miss Connie’s now!” Lucien stomped to the doors, flung one open, and pointed to The Diner across the street with a stab of his finger.

Morning light poured in, broadcasting the doorway as an invitation to new and exciting adventure. The group piled out, leaving Zia looking after them. At least she hadn’t tried to follow the crowd with Ajax’s complaint.

Her essence tugged at him, bewitching in its fiery intensity. Determined to remain unmoved by his lower based emotions, Greg pondered what it was about this woman that connected to the Lair. Unlike a normal human, she didn’t appear to suffer from any of the weight of the universes swirling around in the space. Neither did she seem fazed by anything that had happened this morning.

“What?” Her voice floated over the air to land on his heart. “I can hear you sizing me up from there. How about you put some volume to those thoughts and talk to me?”

Nothing else mattered. Zia was here.

Never had he wanted to cast off his restraint more than now. This woman breathed life into his existence. She gave him something to contend with that was out of the ordinary. Instead of speaking he allowed his eyes to trace the outline of her silhouette. Pronounced curves, accentuated by feminine softness greeted his perusal. Femininity that he longed to experience in intimate communication.

“I take it you like what you see?” Her voice was velvety with the slightest hint of invitation. Still he refused to speak.

It wasn’t that he wanted to toy with her. No, it was imperative he take his time. Pivotal to their future, the moment expanded in the silence of the vast first floor to accentuate its importance. Zia deserved every bit of wisdom, self-control, restraint, patience, and understanding he had to give.

Years of discipline built by waiting on his mate wouldn’t be tossed aside by unbridled primal drives to mate with her. He offered an internal nod of reverence for all the forces that had made this event possible. Greg thanked the Goddess, sending a quick prayer for help to her.

The longer Zia stood here, the more the enigma of what was at her core nagged at him. On the surface, Zia might appear as an everyday Seductress, vamp, femme fatale, or any other number of disparaging words used to describe women with her natural beauty and talents. In his gut, he knew her to be way more. Her ability to stand here in the Lair was a testament to that.

Putting his hands in his jeans’ pockets, lest he reach out to touch her, he drifted into the ether of the realms. Greg used Gryphon sight and wisdom. He sifted through the layers of the astral plane until he moved toward his target. His eyes squinted as he pushed beyond her appearance to see her in different dimensions.

There she was.

Locating her in this realm was easy. Her magnificent energy signature cut through the distance, pulling him toward her in swift pursuit. He refused to react to all the visions and reflections of her past, present, and potential. Greg eyed the closest planes of reality to this one. He surfed until a brightness caught his attention.

Her essence and aura in the psychic realm shone like a beacon, directing him to all things Zia. Greg allowed his Gryphon senses and wisdom to take charge. His beast proceeded to home in and immerse himself in her aura. He took in the knowledge and data pulsating through and around her. It was a beautiful sight to behold.

The prominent iridescent thread of neon source energy wasn’t what he’d expected. It permeated every part of her essence. The thread intermingled with an intricate system for reinforced binding. It shone bright and strong. The interwoven energy shimmered like an armament of shiny sequins.

From the far reaches of his memory and study, such a sight usually came from a great gift coupled with great sacrifice. What had his mate festooned in such a particular protection and armor? It fit her to perfection. Just like Zia that even her core essence presented a provocative invitation to explore more.

As fast as the thread regaled in its brilliance it morphed into a shape more familiar and welcoming. This part of her essence resembled one he saw on a regular basis—Hildy.

A Siren, complex in her calling and lineage, but far removed from understanding who or what she was stood before him. Zia would and could become her purest self—with his help as a mate. He was certain of that much.

“Yes, I like what I see very much.”

“Good, then shall we get to know each other better?”

“That’s what I’m doing now.”

“I see. Care to allow me to do the same? How about we talk? You know, get to know one another like normal folks do?”

“Zia,” his voice was deep, close to his beast. “There’s nothing ever going to be normal about you now or ever. That’s plain as day.”

Another part undulated and mingled within her core. It teemed with subtle power and mystery. His Gryphon wisdom did not send signals of harm or danger for her or the clan. Instead, curiosity spiked to sort the matter out with patient pursuit. Without clear understanding of what it was, Greg pressed in to examine.

The closer he approached the more distance grew. Resembling a vapor of energy cloaked in esoteric knowledge, he chose to save its investigation for later. Whatever it may be was important. Satisfied he’d seen enough to know the truth about her at its core, he pulled back, coming back to this realm.

“Whoa there, big fella. You still with me or what?” She stood close waving a delicate hand in front of him.

Not close to tall enough to stand eye to eye with him, she’d improvised using one of the jump risers they had littered about the gym area. Standing almost eye to eye with him on the riser, she spoke, the sound soothing his soul with each word. “Thank goodness this place has enough of this type of equipment to be a gym. Without this step, I thought I was going to have to get your peeps back in here from The Diner. You looked like you were a million miles away.”

“There was never a need to do that. I’m here with you. Never left.”

“So, you say.” She eyed him with intense scrutiny clearly not buying what he said. There was no way he’d let on that he’d done a deep dive into her essence.

From what he could surmise, the information he’d gleaned would be equivalent to getting a blood test, criminal and credit check, with a side of ancestral history. Was it an invasion of privacy? Yes, yes it was. Was he ashamed of doing it? Hell no! She was his freaking mate standing here—but not really.

Everything about her current emotional state said she wasn’t able to commit to anything but maybe a fun game of tease and chase right now. The other part, her true being and calling, he’d have to consult with Wren and Hildy on. From what he’d been able to see it made sense she’d be an asset to the Dragofin Clan based on her abilities alone. But, he wanted to know what or who happened to make such a trauma marking on her soul and spirit.

He made a mental effort to keep from narrowing his eyes as he took in the extreme external beauty befitting a being of her kind. She continued to stand on the riser close enough for him to kiss without covering much distance. Instead of following the way of his beast to take her, Greg stood back enough to place proper distance between them.

If his hunch was right, this was a test to see if she could manipulate him with her body. Little did she know those days were over. Never again would his mate be made to feel the only way she could be heard, appreciated or understood was through her looks or body.

“Would you like to join me for some breakfast?” Walking toward the row of card tables that had served as the Clan’s first floor dining tables, he tossed over, as not to come off as selfish, “We can join the others or have something brought over when they return. Your choice.”

“And what if I decide to forgo breakfast?”

“Instead of what?”

“You, giving me a tour of the Lair… and your living quarters.” The smile she launched was decadent with the potency of her suggestion. It was raw hunger in her eyes that slayed his willpower.

And so, the next level of tests began. If nothing else, it would be intriguing to see how far she took her normal path before realizing he would be the last man she’d ever meet as a potential suitor. Greg was and would always be her mate from this time forward.

“Excellent. What are your favorite breakfast foods?”

“Huh? I said I’d forgo eating.”

“I know, and I don’t wish to eat alone. I’m famished. So, I’d love to have you join me. Once we’re satiated,” he let that word hang in the air for a protracted moment for effect before finishing, “I’ll take you on the grand tour of the Lair.”

“And where you live.”

“Yes, and where I live as well, promise.”

“In that case, let’s do the tour first.”

Her smile beamed a pulse of pure energy to his soul, replenishing the badly needed reserves. If she only knew what being around her did to him, his task to woo her would be insurmountable.

Greg started off toward the stairwell. This would be a test of the ages. How was he going to give his mate a tour of the Lair and his upper level rooms without giving in to his need to mate with her? The answer? Carefully, with a huge helping of Gryphon wisdom, that’s how.

When he reached the stairs, she still stood where he’d left her.

“Are you coming?”

Her expression gave away the fact that she was looking for something. He could guess what it was but waited for her to ask. When she refused to move, his eyebrow cocked as the only outward show of curiosity he was willing to convey.

“Dude—where’s the elevator? Isn’t this building like five stories high?”

“Yes, but there’s no elevator.”

“Well then, I’ll have to pass on that tour.”

“And why is that?” He couldn’t help himself. Watching her conjure up an excuse for not climbing stairs was facial poetry.

“Because, I’m sore from driving. Plus, I’m still recuperating from the, you know.”

“Then climbing stairs is just the thing to help with your stiff soreness. That’s your body telling you it needs more muscle use.” He made sure to put a little bit of chipperness to that last part like a professor would to a student. Attraction mounted with each passing moment he stood so close.

Emotional scarring be damned, he wanted Zia. He needed his mate. He enjoyed having her alone. Thoughts too many to count of the ways he could take her right here zoomed through him. A few deep breaths to return to composure and habit, Greg cleared the haze of desire, want and lust from overriding his logic and common sense. If he didn’t do something to distance himself from her, she’d be completely mated within the hour.

As if guided by the hand of the Goddess, she moved toward the base of the stairs and begin to walk at a safe distance.

His own smile chased the deep concentration away Greg was certain had littered his face with lines and creases. Instead of focusing on her delicate scent, or the way the smooth slopes of her hips brushed against her arm as she advanced, he doused his senses to make it through what had to happen next. He'd conduct a simple tour of the Lair and his rooms.

Goddess help me.

His cock twitched, hardening a little more as she came closer with another step.

“Come on, off you go,” was all he could muster, as a new avalanche of desire and need crashed into him. This was going to be a hazing without comparison to see if he could honor Zia, respect the mating call, and survive with his mind and countenance intact.