Page 62 of Echo and the Homicidal Sea Panda

“We can tonight. If you can stay over again.”

“You’re not keeping me away tonight.” Mael stopped in his tracks, a realization hitting him. “You’ve had a child?” The thought of another man putting as child inside his mate might send him over the edge.

“No,”Echo said, cheeks red. “I began lactating in my early teens. I produce too much of a hormone called prolactin. My doctor put me on a pill to slow it down, but the side effects were worse than the problem.” He closed his eyes a few seconds. “It’s also why I started wearing bras. I have to wear nipple pads to soak up leaks. I probably wouldn’t wear them if not for that.”

“I call bullshit.”

Echo frowned as he grabbed the soap and a washcloth.

“If you were wearing them just for the leaks, you’d have something plain. Not sexy, lacy, beautiful stuff. You enjoy wearing them. I can tell.”

Echo grinned, scrubbing his body. “I said it was the reason Istartedwearing them. And yes, at first, they were plain sports bras. On a whim, I tried a lacy one… and I liked it. After that, I only bought pretty ones. With matching panties.”

“I’m a fan,” Mael whispered. “Hopefully there’s more than just panties and bras, too.”

Echo rinsed his body off. “Like what?”

“I’m a sucker for garters and stockings,” Mael replied. “Got any of those?”

“Maybe,”Echo murmured.

Mael blew out a long, slow breath. “You’re going to be the death of me. I’m going to imagine you in stockings and garters all day—and not pay attention to anything else.”

Echo turned off the water. “Well, you have to make it back here tonight if you want to see them. You’d best pay attention, especially on that death trap you call a motorcycle.”

“Death trap?” Mael scoffed. “Not even.”

Echo opened the shower door and pulled a towel off the rack. He turned back to face Mael. “I don’t want to be a widower before I can even marry you.”

Mael laid his hands on the top of the glass doors. “I promise that won’t happen.”

“Good,” Echo said before he finished drying. He tossed the towel to Mael. “I need to get dressed. I’m very late.”

Mael grinned to himself, drying off.

When he made it back into the bedroom, Echo was racing around, throwing clothes on in a hurry. Mael crashed onto the bed naked and watched the flurry of chaos. Echo’s cat leapt up to join him.

Once Echo was dressed, he walked closer to the bed and kissed Mael. “Are you coming tonight?”

“I’ll be here when you get home from work.”

Echo gave him a bemused smile. “Are you staying here today?”

“No,”Mael fibbed. He kissed Echo. “You look beautiful today. If that was what you were going for.”

The black sheer top Echo wore had a cravat of sorts at the collar. It was a bit feminine and oversized. A hint of the black bra strap peeked out from under the black sweater vest covering it. His black pants appeared tailored for a woman’s body.

Echo fingered the collar. “Too femme?”

Mael frowned. “Do you think you look nice? Because I think you look nice.”

Echo smiled. “I think I look nice.”

“Then wear what makes you feel good.”

“Maybe I threw this on subconsciously,” Echo said. “I’m femme, and I’ve spent twenty-seven years hiding that side of myself from my pod. I don’t want to hide it anymore.”

Mael tucked a few strands of Echo’s long hair behind one ear, smiling. “As long as it feels good and makes you happy, that’s all that matters. Fuck everyone else.”

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