Page 73 of Echo and the Homicidal Sea Panda

Diego grumbled under his breath.

“Are you going with me?”

“Yes!”Diego snapped before collapsing onto one of the bench seats, flat on his stomach. He rested his cheek down and stared at Echo. “I can’t live like this much longer. I’ve triedeverything—I even got a script for sleeping pills from the clinic—and I cannot sleep more than an hour or two a night. If seeing him allows me some rest, so be it.”

Echo shook his head and headed for the controls.

Midway to their meeting point, Echo sensed Diego was fast asleep.Finally.Maybe it was the waves and the water that had finally lulled him, or his body had simply passed out from extreme fatigue.

Maybe it was the fact he was finally on his way to see Havoc.

Once he reached their coordinates, Echo brought the boat up beside one smaller than Havoc’s massive behemoth but still larger than Diego’s twenty-eight-footer. Echo checked to make sure Diego was actually asleep. When Echo heard the hint of a light snore, he decided to let him sleep. He lifted the bimini top to give Diego some shade.

Mael appeared at the side and tied Diego’s boat to theirs. Echo lifted a finger to his lips, hinting at quiet, and then pointed that finger at Diego. Mael nodded before offering a hand to help Echo cross.

“I thought there was no Diego today?” Mael whispered, glancing over Echo’s head.

“Seems he couldn’t help himself,” Echo whispered back. He turned to give his sleeping friend another check. “He hasn’t slept all week. He’s been an absolute wreck. But once I headed this way, he passed out.”

“Being on the water is good for the spirit,” Mael mused.

“Yep, and I’m going to let him sleep for as long as he can.” Echo said.

Mael dragged Echo closer and nipped at his lips. “I’ve missed you.”

“You just left my house two hours ago,” Echo said, but he had to admit he’d felt the same. He wasn’t sure if it was the mate bond or not, but it was as if Mael had been his for longer than their brief time together. He missed Mael’s presence when he wasn’t there.

He’d never wanted any of the men he’d dated aroundall of the time. He liked his solitude too much—and the ability to do as he wanted whenever he wanted. With Mael, he couldn’t get enough.

Mael wrapped his arms around Echo and stole another kiss.

“Will you two stop it?” Tempest yelled from the end of the boat. “You had all last night to canoodle. Have some heart on those of us without someone to canoodle.”

Mael chuckled and kissed Echo again.

“Keep it up and I’m going to steal your boyfriend,” Tempest yelled.

Mael sighed. “She’ll try if I don’t listen.”

“She can try all she wants,” Echo said, grinning. “I’m all yours.”

Mael returned the smile, looking much too pleased. He linked his fingers through Echo’s and led them over to where Tempest, Ravage, and Storm were gearing up.

Echo set his backpack down and said hello to all as Mael helped sort the gear with his brothers.

Tempest sidled up to Echo. “Is your friend joining us today?” She glanced toward Diego. “Or is he just here to nap and pine for Havoc?”

“I don’t know if I’d call it pining when it was reciprocal,” Echo said, keeping his voice low.

“Mutual piningisa thing,” Tempest said.

“Well, whatever happened between the two of them, it’s left Diego spiraling. He’s been unable to sleep all week.”

“Awww,Havoc left him tossing and turning? Poor guy. The Marino swagger strikes again,” Tempest said, smirking. “It’s a blessing and a curse, really. You should see the trails of broken hearts we’ve left in our wakes.”

Echo glanced at Mael, realizing he’d not shared what Diego and Havoc might be—but maybe that was best left between the two of them for the time being. If Havoc wanted to share, then he’d tell Mael himself.

He dragged the borrowed wetsuit out of his bag. “I’m going to find somewhere to change.”

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