Shea: The Last Hope (8 page)

The house itself was a sprawling ranch style, and it was huge. The outside was made of a combination of logs and stone, giving it a rustic feel. The landscaping was beautiful with its small ponds that held fish, lush grass, and indigenous flowers. All-in-all, he was surprised it was a bachelor's home.

When they walked in the front door, he wasn’t surprised to see the inside was the same.

Neat and tidy, decorated in a rustic western look with a rock fireplace he could imagine laying in front of during one of the normal snow storms that came to Colorado. The colors of the furniture were rich chocolate browns and wooden tables.

"The kitchen is this way," Griff said and led the way through the large home. The kitchen was in the back and had a marvelous view of the mountains. He looked out at the patio that ran along the back of the house. He could see there was at least one other sliding glass door that led out to the back; he wondered if it was Griff’'s bedroom.

The kitchen was done in brown marble and stainless steel appliances. Griff opened the refrigerator and pulled out fresh veggies and some meat. He began preparing what looked like a succulent steak that would be smothered with freshly sautéed veggies.

He felt his stomach grumble and sat down at the table. "Beer?” Griff asked him.

Lev nodded, Griff pulled two beers out of the fridge and opened them. He went back to the meal preparations, and Lev watched him. "So, mates," Lev said, and Griff laughed.

"Yeah, I thought that freaked you out a little. I just wanted to get it out there. So what are you thinking?” Griff said and popped a pepper in his mouth.

"Well, I gotta tell you, I was freaked out. I told you that I wasn’t really comfortable around shifters," Lev said and Griff nodded.

"I get that. And I better tell you now, what kind of shifter I am, because I’m not exactly the usual wolf or cat. My parents weren’t the same species, first of all. They went against the grain, took a lot of shit about it within their families. That’s why we moved here. So they wouldn’t have to be shunned. With Argus's Pride, they were able to finally be in the open," Griff said.

"So, what are your parents?” Lev asked curiously.

Griff blushed and lowered his head. "My father is an eagle, and mother is a lioness."

Lev stop to think and then he felt the light bulb come on in his head. "Shit, you’re really a Gryphon!"

Griff nodded and said, "Yep, not too many people know that, so I would hope for now you would keep that to yourself. Argus knows, and I am going to the Alphas soon and let them know. Usually when the parents aren’t the same type of shifter, the children take after one parent or the other for their shift, and the blended features come out more in their human form. Gryphon's are kind of the exception to that rule, or at least it seems to happen more with this particular mating."

"That is so fucking cool," Lev said and then paused. "Sorry, I got a little excited there."

Griff laughed and then turned on the grill that was in the middle of his island. They talked and got to know each other, not mentioning the mating yet. Lev was still not sure how this was all supposed to work. His father said to play it by ear, and he was trying, but the anxiety was getting the better of him. By the time that Griff placed a plate in front of him, he was ready to break.

"Mating?” Lev burst out.

Griff looked at him in surprise and then laughed. "Yeah, we’re mates. I knew it when I saw you."

Lev snapped his fingers and said, "The first figure you gave me was a Gryphon."

Griff nodded and then laughed. "I carried that around with me until I met my mates. I knew I would give that to them when we met. I still have the matching one to give to our other mate."

"Wow," Lev said and then picked up his fork. "I will just get this out there, I’m bi-sexual."

"Okay, well so am I, and though I love that we are having dinner and getting to know each other, you don't have to worry. A Gryphon has to have both their mates claim them at the same time. It has something to do with being a hybrid; we aren’t sure of the why's more of the what-not-to-do's," Griff said.

Lev laughed and nodded. "I know that I am just throwing things out there, but I’m nervous. I don't quite know what to expect or do."

"I think we are doing things just right, getting to know one another until our other mate comes is just about the right way to handle things," Griff said and then continued to eat.

“Um Lev, you mentioned at lunch that you hadn’t spoken with your dad about the fights you got into growing up, is that true?”

“Yeah, where are you going with this? It’s in the past now.” Lev answered.

Griff reached over and grabbed his hand looking deep into his eyes “You’re my mate, and I’m very much attracted to you. It’s not going to take much for me to fall in love with you. It hurts me to see and feel that you’re still bothered by this. I’m not trying to stir up ghosts; I think I know what happened, hear me out okay?”

Lev looked over at Griff seeing the emotions in his eyes. This beautiful man was falling in love with him? He couldn’t speak; his throat was too dry, so he just nodded.

“Okay, then just to make sure I’m right, did Brian, the old alpha, ever beat on you?” and Lev shook his head no, still unable to speak.

“That’s good, then the information I found out today is correct. This has been a huge multi-cultural misunderstanding. The Millikan pack is the first shifter/human mixed pack known to exist. Normal shifter wolf packs are similar to animal wolf packs in that they have a hierarchy. Each pup needs to find where they fit in that hierarchy. So those with alpha and beta tendencies pick fights with others in the pack. Dominance challenges to see, which is the stronger. So the taunting, teasing and fighting were their ways of testing you. They say you as the pack member they had to get past if they wanted to move up higher in ranking.

The fact that Brian didn’t come down on you or get mad when you joined the state police shows that he also recognized your strength. Did you lose a lot of those fights?”

Listening to Griff talk, Lev was able to get a handle of his emotions “No, I wasn’t about to show my belly to those bullies, I stayed in no matter how much I hurt. The only times I lost were when they ganged up on me, how can that be a proper challenge?”

“It wasn’t and if you had told your dad, they would have been punished for it, maybe they were, and you don’t know. What you have to realize now is that you are strong you are higher in the pack than those guys. You’re a natural leader, and they will back down from your strength. By their actions, they were treating you like a pack member; they were including you in their regular pack activities. You didn’t understand and didn’t ask.”

Lev looked at Griff in amazement his entire past had just been turned on its ear. He suddenly let out a laugh and a big grin. “If that’s true, then wow, just wow.”

They finished their meal with comfortable conversation, and then Lev helped Griff clean up the dishes and the kitchen. They seemed to work well together, like they were very in tune with each other. When one moved, the other matched his movements; they joked about who was going to wash and who was going o dry. It was very domesticated.

When they were done, Griff turned to him, looked at him with passion in his eyes, and said, "How about we go and watch a little television?"

Lev shrugged and followed the other man into the living room he had seen when he entered the house. It was very tastefully decorated in deep greens and blues. He really liked the way Griff had made the home look so welcoming. The couch was huge and plush with a lot of pillows all over it. Griff sat in the middle leaving him a choice of either side to sit, or move to the large chair that was on the side.

Lev decided he wanted to be close to the man and sat down next to him, touching his thigh as he sat down. Lev felt the tingle of awareness at being this close to Griff. If this is what it felt like to be with mates, then he was all for it.

Griff had the remote in his hand and turned on the television. He flipped through the channels until they agreed to watch the sports channel. They talked about the teams and were both surprised that they both liked the same teams and sports. Football season was going to be fun, Lev thought.

Griff let his hand drift over and hold Lev's as they talked. He was shocked that he didn’t feel the awkwardness that you would on a first date, or someone you just met. Griff touching him seemed natural.

"So, you said that you had to be with both your mates in order for us to claim you," Lev said, clearing his throat a little.

"That’s just claiming it has nothing to do with sex,” Griff laughed.

"Good," Lev said and leaned over and kissed him. He pulled his head firmly toward him, letting him know that he wanted him badly.

Griff moaned into his mouth and then opened his lips, allowing Lev to explore his mate's mouth. The kiss deepened and they dueled with their tongues, both seeming to fight for the best angle.

When Lev pulled back and saw Griff's eyes, he should have been scared shitless. They turned yellow with a little green. They seemed to glow at him, and then Griff made a strange noise. If he had time to think, Lev would have compared it to a growl and a purr at the same time.

Griff captured his lips again and leaned forward, forcing him back against the cushions in the couch. He wasn’t quite sure how it happened, but the next thing he knew; he was lying in the couch with Griff sprawled on top of him. They were about the same size, so they fit perfectly together. Lev felt Griff grind his cock against his thigh, and he reached down and grabbed his ass, pulling him closer.

The man was sex on a stick, and he was ready to lick him up. Lev pushed back a little and pulled Griff's shirt up and flung it off. He ran his hands across his chest and sighed when he felt the rippling muscles. Griff held so much power; he could feel it under his hands as he smoothed them over his chest. He pushed him until they lay side-by-side, and then Lev moved down a little and captured Griff’s nipple in his mouth.

Griff groaned and held the back of his head. "Ah, yeah, you feel so good. I have never felt like this before with anyone. I am so lucky to have found you."

Lev smiled and then nipped at his skin and looked up. "I need you."

Griff pulled at Lev's shirt until they were chest to chest and Griff said, "I will give you all that I am."

Lev put his forehead against Griff and inhaled the man's scent. His step-father told him when he was young that it was how shifters told each other apart. Lev could never understand it until right this moment. Griff smelled like crisp, clean mountain air. He leaned in, kissed him slowly, and felt him run his hands down his back, exploring him.

Suddenly, Lev felt the impatience of feeling Griff's naked form against his, and he moved his hands down and began to undress both of them at the same time. First unbuttoning his pants and then doing the same to Griff. He kicked off his shoes and then used his own feet to help Griff get his sandals off.

Slowly, but easily, their clothes began to fall off of them while they kissed each other and murmured encouraging words at the same time.

When they were finally naked, Lev let out a breath of relief, pulled Griff back over him, and just felt. He explored his back and hips, his chest and ass. He felt his growing erection against his own stomach. He was almost afraid to look down because of the size he was feeling. Shit, the man was hung like a bear. Lev wanted to laugh at his own joke, but the feelings he was having prevented him from even taking a deep breath, let alone form two words together.

Griff looked into Lev’s eyes, “Would you like to move this to my bedroom?”

“I’d like that a lot.” Lev answered.

Griff stood up and then reached out a hand to Lev. They walked together down the hall kissing and touching each other along the way. When they walked into the bedroom and Lev saw the gigantic bed he goggled at it. Griff saw his amazement and said with a leer

“Two mates remember, it has to fit three and all of our physical gymnastics as well.”

Lev squeezed his ass and gave him a smacking kiss. Turning back to the bed, he took a running jump and dived into the bed. Looking back at Griff, he said, “Come over here sexy, I really need to suck you off in this bed.”

At that remark, Griff made another growly purr in his throat. “Then I’m going to suck you off at the same time.” And he leapt on to the bed in one bound. He positioned himself on his left side in a sixty-nine position from Lev and grabbed Lev’s cock in his right hand. He immediately began licking down the sides to lubricate the movements of his hand.

Lev groaned at the feeling of Griff going down on him, and he was pleased to hear some groaning coming from Griff as well. He had been a swimmer in school and could hold his breath for almost two minutes, so he immediately took in as much of his mates cock as he could and then swallowed once, then twice, deep-throating him. He knew Griff loved it, and he loved the way Griff purred around his own cock.

It seemed like they were both on the same page because they each pulled at the other's balls to stave off coming, making the moment last. Then he felt Griff reaching between his legs and rimming his back hole, damn that felt good. He decided to copy Griff's actions and see if he could find his mates internal happy spot. Within moments both of them were trying desperately to hold off, to make the wonderful feelings last. They could not and they both felt the tingling at the base of their spines, they started thrusting into each other’s mouths.

Lev felt Griff starting to come just as he was and took the deepest breath he could, so he could deep throat Griff again just as he began to lose it. He wanted to know what Griff tasted like. Then they were both coming, with groans, moans, and growls.

"I have never come that hard before," Griff whispered as he fell over on his back.

Lev chuckled deeply and said, "Me neither."

"Give me a few minutes to recover, and we can have the bottom and top discussion.” He heard Lev chuckle at that. “Do you have to work tomorrow, will you stay?”