Page 12 of Echo and the Homicidal Sea Panda

Echo drew in a shaky breath, both terror and anticipation flashing through him in equal measure.

“Ready to answer my questions now?”

Echo took another breath, hoping to steel his nerves, but that only made it worse. The hint of expensive leather, woodsy cologne, and a purely masculine scent filled his nose again and set his blood racing. He took another couple of steps, praying his knees didn’t give out, and turned on the lamp beside his bed. It spread soft light around the bedroom, giving Echo a clearer view.

“We’re adding breaking and entering to your list of crimes now?” Echo asked, his voice shaking. Hopefully the orca hadn’t heard it.

For his own self-preservation, Echo gave a gentle pat against his pants pocket for his phone. The first was empty. So was the second. He’d come up with no phone? It was probably in his backpack.Great.“How did you know where I lived? Have you been stalking me?”

“Iama predator, am I not?” His lips spread wide in a menacing grin, opening his hands apart. “Stalking is what we do.”

He dropped those massive hands to his thighs, drawing Echo’s attention to his overwhelming size. It wasn’t just his body that took up a lot of space. The threat he posed caused Echo’s heart to race even more.

Was it only the threat, though?

Echo didn’t think he was in any actual physical danger, although that was debatable considering the look in the man’s dark, hooded eyes. The variety of danger he saw there was the kind Echo had always craved but been too shy to seek out. He’d had the chance a few times when he was away at school, but he’d always ended up running and hiding like an idiot.

There was nowhere to hide from the orca.

Echo held the man’s rabid gaze, unable to look away. Even black, those eyes were expressive in a way Echo couldn’t fathom.

He was mesmerizing.

I want to look into those eyes when he fucks me.

Heat burned Echo’s cheeks. How could he be both terrifiedandhorny at the same time? It made no sense.

The orca rose and slowly stalked across the bedroom, gaze pinning Echo to the spot. The flight response screamed inside Echo’s mind, but he held his ground. As the man neared, the idea of running grew ever more enticing, though. Not to get away… but for the thrill of the chase. Heknewthe orca would hunt him down, and the imagined punishment for that took his breath away.

“Don’t,”the orca warned, as if he sensed what Echo planned to do.

The warning broke the spell holding him in place. Echo spun and raced out of his bedroom and down the stairs. He only made it halfway before he was lifted off his feet, one powerful, muscular arm wrapping around his arms and chest.

“I told you not to do that,” the man breathed hotly against his ear. “You know there’s no getting away from me.”

Echo’s eyes closed of their own accord. His body trembled in the man’s arms. If asked, he’d lie and say it was fear and nothing more.

The orca lifted his free hand and lightly glided two fingers along Echo’s jaw. He sighed at the tender touch, only to have that hand wrap around his throat seconds later. Panic set in… and he held his breath, lungs burning.

He dragged in a gasping breath, realizing that hand wasn’t holding him as tight as it could.

“Youwillanswer my questions, little dolphin,” the orca whispered against his ear. “Even if I have to make it hurt to get them out of that sweet mouth of yours.”

A violent shudder wracked Echo’s body.

“Oh, I think youlikethe sound of that,” the orca whispered, a thread of humor in his deep voice.

“Idon’twant you to hurt me,” Echo murmured. Rough, sure, but he wasn’t into real pain.

Echo’s feet dangled above the stairs, the orca holding him aloft as if he weighed nothing. If the man let go, he’d fall down to the bottom and possibly break his neck. One little push and he’d be no more. He pointed his foot, seeking the floor but couldn’t find it.

“I think youdo,” the orca whispered. “I can make you burn for me,pepi.”

Echo’s eyes fluttered closed again, fighting off a moan. He felt a bead of slick slide from his hole and hoped it wasn’t noticed.

That was a lie, though. Deep down, he hoped the orca could scent how turned on he was.

The man spun unexpectedly and marched back to Echo’s bedroom. Seconds later, he was unceremoniously dumped into the middle of his bed. He scrambled to his hands and knees, ready to take off again if need be.

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