[THIRD-PARTY]
"What you did back there was brave," a familiar voice said, making Gideon smirk.
Of course, it had to be the wolf who thought he was attractive.
Grant.
Just because they had both felt a connection to each other, didn't mean it was safe for him to be following the witch of Greroth aimlessly in Acrod, even if Acrod was his home.
Gideon had proven time and again that he wasn't scared of anything or any sanctions, which meant that he was one of the worst people in this kingdom presently, who were worse than the beast outside their borders.
"And what you're doing now is foolish in every sense. I just tried to eliminate a whole lycan king in your home and yet here you are, walking behind me in the dark. Did no one ever tell you to stay away from danger?" Gideon said with an empty laugh.
"That was between you and the king, if anything, you are the first one to attempt that, and survive. If you really wanted him dead, he would be dead. I just wish—" Grant said, but Gideon wasn't about to stand there and get a lecture.
"Spare me your wishes. Go find your king Cassius to grant your wishes, after all, you're a warrior of Acrod, no? "That should get you enough time to talk and tell him what you want. He might just grant your wishes," Gideon said as the warrior just laughed quietly.
That was new and instantly made Gideon turn back.
He had been so confident in his statements to the warrior that hearing the warrior let out a beautiful laugh was obviously not part of the plan.
Gideon wanted to replay the beautiful laugh in his head like a mantra.
'Focus, Gideon,' Gideon reminded himself for the hundredth time as he turned to look at the warrior.
Grant Hindley looked beautiful, like a work of art that Gideon never wanted to let go of. This warrior was looking at Gideon like the sin the witch was willing to commit more than once. It was almost like the warrior knew Gideon would turn and look at him.
There was something about this werewolf warrior that intrigued Gideon. Well, there was a lot, but if Gideon started to list them, he wouldn't be done even in a fortnight.
Everything about this warrior made him want to jump him, and yet coddle him. It made him want to ask the warrior how he was feeling; whether he was okay, whether there was something he needed.
Anything the warrior wanted, Gideon was more than willing to do it for him. It was funny how a murderous man was more than ready to let the werewolf warrior walk all over him.
Standing there, they were staring at each other, just like they had been doing from the moment Gideon had stepped into Acrod with Criselda, with his hair running freely down his back.
It was almost like Gideon was the sight the warrior needed to make his day better, and frankly, that seemed to have worked.
Because the warrior's eyes had never once left Gideon's.
"You must really hate your life for you to come here like this," Gideon said, his tone trying to create a balance between all the love and warmth he wanted to shower this warrior with, and the cold stares he had gotten used to.
"Yeah, maybe I do. Or maybe I just want to know what it feels to be beside Gideon of Greroth," the warrior said curiously, making Gideon scoff. This warrior was something else. He seriously wasn't going to use that as a line for Gideon, no?
'Is this an experiment for you, love?' Gideon thought to himself amusedly.
"What does that mean?" Gideon asked, walking closer to the warrior who was also walking towards him, their eyes never once leaving each other and their heartbeats ever so loud in their ears.
Maybe they were crazy for this, but maybe they were just trying to rid themselves of the sexual tension that had been there since they saw each other. Maybe they were mates, or maybe they were just two men who wanted to fuck each other's brains out.
Whichever option it was, Gideon wasn't sure this warrior was the kind of person he wanted to do that with. No, the warrior wasn't terrible. He was a good man, and that is what made Gideon of Greroth question his intentions for the first time.
"You tell me. What do you think it means?" Grant said quietly, his voice thick and husky as they both stopped so close to each other, their faces barely inches away from each other.
This was new to Gideon. He was fighting himself to keep his hands to himself, but the warrior's lips being barely inches away from his, wasn't really helping.
If someone passed by here, they wouldn't be able to tell whether the two men were kissing or they were fighting, but with the tension between them, anyone could see the lust they both had for each other, but would they even act on it?
Would Gideon lay down his principles and deal with this warrior?
Would he be willing to trade the heavens and the fucking earth for him, or was this another temptation he hadn't planned for?
Gideon was confused, but even in his confusion, his mouth managed to talk to the warrior. It was a miracle that he didn't moan or groan, especially with how effortlessly hard he had gotten for this warrior.
"You're sailing dangerous waters, werewolf," Gideon said, his voice coming out like a rough whisper, but still sounding so sexy that Grant was hoping to get him to talk more about anything.
Just as long as he heard Gideon's voice, he would be satisfied.
"Am I?" Grant asked, drawing in a deep breath while staring at Gideon dead in the eye.
He loved what he was seeing, no doubt, especially with the small smirk that was plastered on his face. He could see that Gideon had beautiful golden eyes, but there was a shimmer of blue in them.
His eyes were unique, something that made the warrior want to know the story behind Gideon's eyes, but clearly, Gideon of Greroth wasn't going to be telling him any stories at the moment, not that he would force him to.
"Your eyes, they are perfect," Grant whispered to no one in particular as he pressed himself further into Gideon's personal space. The wolf knew that was a risk, considering he knew Gideon was a ticking time bomb, but this was the bomb he was attracted to.
They both could feel their connection, but Grant wasn't about to explain to Gideon that they were bound for each other, no. He wanted to see Gideon tonight because he was sure the leaders of the midlands would be long gone from Acrod by morning.
He wanted to see if the witch protege was feeling what he was feeling. Hell, it was crazy how much Grant was willing to risk just for a night with Gideon.
Expectedly, Gideon ignored the compliment, acting like it just didn't make his heart flutter a little.
"I won't hurt you," Grant said, his voice assuring Gideon that he was here for something else other than violence. His hands were folded behind his back as if to tell Gideon that he wasn't lying to him, but did Gideon even care?
Gideon sighed, unsure of what Grant wanted, but he was curious as to what he wanted. Grant was treating him with kindness, and that was as new as affection was to Gideon. It was a wild realization that no matter what happened, he would never let himself feel.
"I know... You can't even if you try," Gideon said lightly to Grant, all the while, admiring his beautiful black eyes. If he could, Gideon could stay in this moment forever, but he wasn't a lucky guy and relationships weren't really his strongest suit anyway.
He expected an attack when Grant pulled himself closer, but what he hadn't expected was for the warrior to gently lick an agonizing slow trail from the crook of his neck to his ears.
Gideon shivered from the contact, his body giving him away.
He should have been disgusted by the action, considering he and this warrior were probably not even mates, but he loved it. He loved what the warrior was skillfully doing to him. Instinctively, he had bent his head, giving the warrior access to his shoulders.
"Gideon…"