Page 22 of Claimed By the Panda
The hope that flashed across his face was quickly masked, but not before I caught it. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“I do.” I slid my hands down his stomach, exploring his body, imagining it was mine. “Tell me what you want, Jian.”
“I want you to stay,” he murmured against my lips. “Not because I’m keeping you here. Not because of a shifter bond. Not even because of the sex. Just because you want to. Because you… like me.”
The quiet vulnerability in his voice broke my heart, and I leaned in and kissed him. “Of course I like you.” “Even when I’m a grumpy asshole?” I laughed. “You’re always a grumpy asshole.” I smiled against his mouth, feeling something settle deep in my chest. “But like, in a cute way. What would I do without your complaining and snarky comments?”
“Fuck off.” His voice was gruff and strained as I let my hands roam lower, beneath the waistband of his pants.
“No, I don’t think I will. I like it here, with you cuddling me close. Wild pandas couldn’t drag me away.”
“You’re such a dork.”
“It must be so disappointing to have a dork as your fated mate,” I said.
“Super disappointing,” he said, smiling down at me. “Hate having such a pretty boy making me laugh and obsessing over sucking my cock.”
“So it’s settled. I’ll work when I need to, but I’ll come back here for nights and weekends. And for now, I desperately need to check in with work. Maybe pick up some clothes that fit me. I have the cutest pink jeans that hug my ass just right.”
A grin spread across his face. “Mm. I like that.”
Epilogue
Cody
I tapped the stylusagainst my tablet, squinting at the illustrated panda doing a perfect tai chi form on my screen. Something was still off. Maybe the belly needed to be rounder? I tweaked the design, adding a bit more curve, then watched the animation cycle through again.
Marissa leaned over my shoulder. Three months into living at Harmony Springs, and I still couldn’t get over how naturally I’d slipped into the Wei family, how easily they’d welcomed me as one of their own.
“The arms need to move more slowly,” Marissa suggested, pointing at the screen.
“Like this?” I adjusted the animation timing, making the panda’s movements smoother.
“Yes! Perfect!”
I grinned, pleased with her approval. When I’d first started doodling these animated pandas doing tai chi forms, it had been just for fun. I’d never expected Marissa to take such an interest.
“Show me the other poses,” Marissa said, settling beside me on the couch, her flowing scarves arranging themselves around her like colorful clouds. “The ones for the beginner’s sequence.”
I swiped through my tablet, bringing up the series of animations I’d completed. I’d spent hours getting the movements just right, studying videos of Marissa’s classes and occasionally convincing Jian to shift so I could sketch his panda form, everything.
“These are wonderful, Cody!” Marissa’s eyes lit up as she watched the sequence. “So charming! This is just what we need for our new social media presence.”
I shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. “It’s just something I was playing with. I thought maybe you could use them for the kids’ classes, you know? Make it more fun.”
“Not just for the children,” she insisted, tapping the screen with excitement. “For everyone! Many adults are intimidated by tai chi, thinking it’s too serious or difficult to learn. But who could be intimidated by a cute panda showing them the way? You’re hired! When can you start?”
“Hired?” I asked. “Marissa, I’m already living here rent-free with your son. And you feed me! I did this as a gift. For fun.”
Her expression turned serious, though her eyes remained kind. “Cody, your talent is valuable. No one works for free at Harmony Springs. Besides, we need to keep you close, or Jian gets cranky. And no one likes a cranky Jian.”
I snorted. “He does get pretty grouchy.” Though I secretly found cranky Jian just as adorable.
“He loves you and wants you near.” Her eyes flicked past me toward the door. “Speaking of which...”
I turned to follow her gaze, and my heart did that ridiculous flip it still did every time I saw him. Jian stood in the doorway, his long hair damp with sweat from the wushu class he’d been teaching, his dark eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made heat pool low in my belly. He was breathing a bit heavily, and there was something wild about him—something that told me he’d shifted recently.
Had he tracked me here in his panda form? The thought sent a pleasant shiver down my spine. These days, Jian was more and more comfortable presenting as his panda, at least where he felt safe and loved.
