Page 31 of Echo and the Homicidal Sea Panda

Dolphin pods were different. They were less familial. Dolphin shifters had opened themselves to mating with humans or other shifters over the generations, which had loosened their connections to their shared past. Mael hadn’t expected Echo to know Maori—he showed no outward signs of the lineage with his blue eyes, light hair, and paler skin. For some reason, it turned him on to hear those words whispered from his little dolphin’s lips. Because they were unexpected? Or because it was another thing they shared?

He squeezed harder and quickened his pace, desperate to see Echo shatter. Echo buried his face against Mael’s chest.

“No,pepi… I wanna see your face,” Mael whispered.“Show mehow good I make you feel.”

A knock at the back door caused Mael to freeze. Echo’s head whipped up as he slid his arms down to look over Mael’s shoulder.

“Fuck,”Echo muttered.

Mael glanced back and saw Diego glaring at him through the glass window in the kitchen door. He turned back to Echo. “Your friend is a pain in my ass.”

“Right now he’s being a pain in mine, too.”

Mael stroked Echo’s cock one last time before letting go and pulling his hand away. Thankfully, his body had blocked Diego’s view of what they were doing, but he was sure the guy had an idea. He helped Echo down off the counter and snagged a kiss before Echo slowly walked toward the door. Snagging a cup from the rack on the counter, Mael poured himself a coffee.

Echo swung the door open with a creak. “Morning, Diego.”

Mael turned around and rested back against the counter, waiting to see what drama unfolded. From the way Diego glared at him, there was definitely going to be drama. Echo was already afraid of their bond and what it meant for their future. A friend’s disapproval might scare him off completely.

He wasn’t going to allow that to happen.

“I came to talk about last night,” Diego said before glaring over Echo’s shoulder. His gaze dipped to the obvious erection tenting Mael’s briefs before averting his eyes and refocusing on Echo. “I’m worried about you.”

“There’s nothing to be worried about,” Echo said.

“I shouldn’t worry about him!”Diego snapped, thrusting a hand in Mael’s direction. “You’re playing with fire.”

“You have no right to interfere in our relationship,” Echo snapped.

“Relationship?You know damned well the pod will never approve of this. If anyone catches him here, it’s not going to be pretty. It might even start a war.”

“The treaty covers the waters, not the land,” Mael murmured over the rim of the cup before taking a sip. “I’m not crossing any lines by being here, nor would he if he came out to the island.”

“It might not be law, but it might as well be. When’s the last time any of your kind stepped in Dolphin Bay?” Diego asked him, gaze dipping again.

“No idea,” Mael replied. “I don’t have a habit of interrogatingmy kindabout their travels.”

Diego opened his mouth and hesitated. “Can you cover yourself please?”

Mael smiled,hopinghe made Diego uncomfortable. “You interrupted our fun when you could’ve just as easily walked away without making your presence known and embarrassing a man you call a friend. Make stupid choices, you face the consequences.”

Some of the anger ebbed from Diego’s face. “I’m not trying to embarrass him. I only want to protect him.From you.”

“Mael’s my mate,” Echo said to Diego.

Diego’s wide-eyed gaze whipped to Echo’s.“What?”

Mael’s eyes widened a bit, too. He hadn’t expected that easy of an admission to come from Echo’s lips. It was the first moment his omega had verbally confirmed who they were to one another, too. Pleasure coursed through him hearing it. Too bad they had company, or he’d reward Echo’s bravery.

“Orcas and dolphins don’t mix,” Diego said. “They’re incompatible.”

In the wild, orcas and dolphinswereincompatible reproductive-wise, even though they were both members of the Delphinidae family. Perhaps shifters were different, though he’d never heard of a mixed orca-dolphin shifter child before. Regardless, he and Echo were mates, no matter if they’d be blessed with children one day or not.

He’d never envisioned himself a father, so maybe it would be for the best if they couldn’t.

Yet Mael’s gaze drifted to Echo, imagining one day seeing his mate full and round with his child. A knot formed in the middle of his chest at the thought of holding a tiny life he’d made with his mate. A little piece of them both made flesh. He pushed it away before it became an obsession, especially considering he had no right to think himself worthy of fatherhood.

He wasn’t worthy of matehood, either, but if fate was handing him a gift, he sure as fuck was taking it.

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