by
A Griffin, a new Ilios reluctant to lead.
A human, reluctant to commit.
Jacobi Redmond was pronounced the new Ilios, the veritable king of the Griffins. It’s a role he’s taken but one he’s never wanted to accept. He believes in caring for his people. What he’s always done should be enough. Why does it have to change? And with all the help that’s appearing, why does he still feel so alone?
Kaito Adair can’t catch a break. On a night he could finally make enough money to help him pay off bills threatening to bury him, his car breaks down. But things start looking up— and up and up—when a man with the looks and size of a god shows up to help. But it looks like his exhausted Good Samaritan could use a little help of his own.
Can a Griffin and a human be a perfect match? Who’s saving who?
Editors:
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 3
Romantic Content: 4
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Bisexual, Gay
Protagonist 1 Age: 26-35
Protagonist 2 Age: 26-35
Tropes: Alpha Character, Fated Mates / Soul Mates, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Hurt / Comfort, Insta Love / Love at First Sight, Monster Love
Word Count: 36939
Setting: Louisville, Kentucky
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Same Universe / Various Characters
“Hello in there? Need some help?” The words were called to him in a rough voice that immediately caught his attention.
Bet it’d sound great in bed. Hell, Kaito was exhausted, but he wasn’t deaf. Besides, it had been months since anyone caught his attention at all. Still, this was not the time to get a hard-on from a voice alone.
The giant who exited the big blue pickup truck that parked beside his car smiled tiredly, and Kaito immediately felt sorry for him. The man looked exhausted, and Kaito knew exactly what that felt like. He saw it in his mirror every time he looked.
Still, the man had stopped when he saw a stranger in need of help.
The guy was enormous, his body blocking the horrendous lights from his truck like a solar eclipse. So big. Kaito would hate to feed him his teeth because he knew from where he sat that those teeth were probably as beautiful as the man ambling his way.
Still, he could and would cut a bitch, as they say.
Hesitantly, he lowered his window. “Just waiting for someone to come and pick me up.” Okay, it was an absolute lie, but he’d heard of people disappearing when they met someone they thought was a Good Samaritan.
The man nodded as if he could scent the lie. “That right?” He wiped at his eyes and yawned. He relaxed against his truck, cocking his head to the side before crossing strong arms worthy of any heavyweight wrestling competition.
This giant needed some care, and Kaito wouldn’t draw this out for both their sakes. It looked like the guy was settling in to wait. They would both be waiting for no one to show up.
“Okay, no. No one’s coming.”
The man straightened and stretched, turning first one way then the other, cords of muscle easily detected beneath his dark green Henley that complemented his tanned skin.
Wasn’t he cold? Because there was no way Kaito would be standing out in that weather with just a Henley. It had to be toasty in the guy’s truck, and Kaito could use some of that.
“Alrighty then, let me help you out. Your car is dead, and ain’t no way anybody will be comin’ tonight.” He yawned again before his phone started ringing. Sighing, he turned to retrieve it from the truck and checked it. His shoulders rose and fell dejectedly. Nodding, he quickly typed something back and sighed. “Now it looks like someone needs formula, and I gotta get some groceries out to a hungry family.” He pocketed the phone and looked at Kaito expectantly.
Before he could stop himself, Kaito asked, “Your family?”
“No, honey, not the way you’re thinking, but they’re family just the same. And now there are even more than before.” The stranger spoke with a tired smile.
Kaito thought he heard the man’s jaw crack when he yawned again. He didn’t know the guy, but he could see the exhaustion riding his Good Samaritan, and he wanted to help.
