Page 71 of Echo and the Homicidal Sea Panda

Mael met his gaze, silent for a few heartbeats. “At first, I denied I was attracted to you because you’re supposed to be my enemy. Using the fact you were male helped reinforce that, because that wasn’t who I knew myself to be. But as my attraction grew, the less I could deny what you made me feel. When I came to the realization you might be my mate, your gender and my orientation no longer mattered. I wanted you. Period.”

“It was that easy?”

Mael nodded.

Itcouldn’thave been that easy. “I’m sure the fact I’m femme helped some.”

“Could be.” Mael chuckled. “Maybe those assholes are right about there only being two genders.”

“Oh, no…do not,”Echo snapped, immediately tensing. “I’m living proof that that’s utter bullshit.”

“Hold on… I misspoke. They’repartiallyright. But not in terms of male or female. Toss that out the window. The two genders are masc and femme—but you can be one, both, or neither. The same for sexual orientations. Top or bottom. One, both, or neither.”

“That’s way too simple an explanation for averycomplex system,” Echo replied. Gender and sexuality weren’t binary. There were so many colors to the rainbow.

“But is it?”Mael asked. “I sometimes think we’ve made something simple much too complex. I’m a masc top who’s attracted to femme bottoms. You’re a femme bottom—who I assume is attracted to masc tops.”

Echo nodded.

“We fit. We make complete sense together. There’s no real change to who I am because at my core, Ihaven’tchanged.”

Denial. Sothatwas his way of dealing with things. “I agree that there are times when the subject of gender and sexuality feels overly complex and it can be hard for some to navigate, but it’s not quite as simple as you’re trying to make it either.”

Mael frowned, and Echo sensed pressing might do more harm than good. If Mael’s modified binary view helped him process the massive shift to his sense of self—then maybe it was simpler to support it for the short term. Later they could expand on Mael’s theory and find a way to add some nuance to it as their relationship progressed.

“For now, we don’t have to figure out the whole complex structure that encompasses all genders and sexualities,” Echo murmured. “We only have to focus on ourselves and who we are. How we fit together.”

“That sounds a whole lot easier,” Mael murmured, smiling.

“I’m glad this was a relatively easy transition for you,” Echo said, hoping there were no regrets or second-guessing later—but what if there were? Would they fight to be together only for Mael to decide he didn’t want to be in a relationship with another man? They were fated mates, so that wouldn’t happen. Would it?

Echo pushed that out of his mind, unwilling to imagine it could happen. “And now that that’s settled…I’d prefer a little less talking and a lot more touching.”

“Hey, I was perfectly happy playing with your tiddies, but you started asking questions,” Mael said, grinning. He pinched one, milk dribbling over his fingertips. “I’ll return to my evil plans now.”

“What evil plans are those?”

Mael didn’t answer. He dove in and captured one peak between his lips, suckling it deep. Echo moaned, warmth flooding him as the milk let-down sensation came, tingling across his chest. He rolled to his back, taking Mael with him, and slid his fingers through the hair at the nape of his alpha’s head. The second he felt teeth against his flesh, his back arched, and he hugged Mael’s head closer. The small slice of pain mixed with the pleasure and made his breath catch. There was also the primal glimmer of fear mixed in.

He was prey… and his predator had caught him.

Mael bit into him, not hard enough to break the flesh, but hard enough to make his cock harden and throb. He lowered his hand, sliding it under the lacy black panties. He caressed the inches that peeked outside his slit.

When Mael switched to the other nipple, Echo gasped at the cold sensation on the abandoned one. The pleasure began again on the other side. He glanced down at the abandoned nipple, throbbing and aching for more attention. It was bright red and full… and the ring of teeth imprints surrounding it brought a shudder down his spine. Echo plumped his swollen pec, and a pearl of milk appeared at the rosy tip. He moved his hand closer, spreading the milk with his thumb as he circled the flat point.

“My gods, Echo,” Mael muttered as he released the second nipple with a pop. “Your body is incredible.You’reincredible.” He lapped up a dribble of milk sliding down Echo’s tiny breast.

Mael paused and chuckled.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,”Mael murmured before nibbling and licking the skin just above the nipple he’d released.

Echo closed his eyes. “Tell me…”

Mael lifted on his arms, hovering over Echo.

“That song… ‘Your Body is a Wonderland?’ Ihatethat fucking song, but it just popped into my head and won’t stop playing.”

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