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M ael wasn’t sure of the hour when he awoke. Echo was curled up against his side, warm and soft. He glanced down at the omega’s face, his chest tightening. Echo was so fucking gorgeous it took his breath away. With his features softened in sleep, it only made it worse. Reaching up, he traced Echo’s lips with his thumb in the barest of caresses. Echo murmured something incoherent, his lashes fluttering, and then drifted back to sleep.

The weight on Mael’s chest grew, fear coiling in his belly.

If Echo was that terrified of them being together, did they stand a chance? He was strong enough to fight off the slings and arrows from both pods if he had to, but if Echo wasn’t brave enough to stand at his side, then it would be all for naught.

Mael had never anticipated finding a mate of his own. With the things he’d done, he hadn’t expected fate would favor him. Of course, fate wasn’t making it easy in giving him a dolphin, but he’d damned well been through a lot harder battles in his life.

Too many battles. Most of which he never should’ve been forced to wage.

He stared down at Echo and sensed this was the fight he’d been born for. Echo stirred something in him he’d long thought dead. A desire for a future.

A life lived instead of one survived.

If that wasn’t worth fighting for, what was?

When he’d first looked in Echo’s eyes, he’d seen forever in them—along with a lust that had rocked him to his core. It was then that he’d known his initial instinct had been right all along. Echo was his.

He brushed back Echo’s long, golden locks and worried he wasn’t good enough. That he didn’t deserve what destiny had brought his way… but he’d denied himself so much in life. He couldn’t let go of the gift he’d been given. Not when it was wrapped in such a sweet little package.

Mael had always been protective of his family, but what he felt for Echo surpassed that. Was it his little dolphin’s small stature that brought that out in him or the simple fact they were mates?

A purr caught his attention, pulling him from his thoughts. There was a furry little monster lying near his shoulder on the pillow he was using. He glanced at the cat who’d run from him earlier in the night. The cat lifted his gaze and hissed.

“This might be your spot,” Mael whispered. “But I was here first tonight, buddy.”

The cat rose, stretched, and then curled up on Mael’s shoulder. It tucked its head back down, purring against Mael’s ear.

“You’re as bad as your owner,” Mael whispered. “Hiss at me and then cuddle.”

He gave the cat a few scratches and earned louder purrs for his effort. The minute he stopped, though, the cat leapt down and marched out of the bedroom, tail high.

Echo mumbled again in his sleep and writhed against Mael. Turning his attention, he smiled down at his little dolphin. He traced the edge of Echo’s jaw, unable to stop touching his mate.

A spark of desire swirled low in his belly. He grew hard remembering Echo spreading those perfect, round ass cheeks and begging him while slick dripped from that pretty hole. The confines of his jeans were soon too tight.

He rolled over on top of Echo before planting kisses everywhere he could reach. Echo’s eyelids fluttered open much too slowly for Mael’s liking, so he captured his dolphin’s lips in a claiming kiss to speed up the process. Echo moaned, hips rolling as he draped his arms around Mael’s neck.

The fuck if Echo didn’t want him there.

When Mael pulled his lips away and stared down at Echo in the dim illumination coming from the closet light, his chest tightened again. The sensation that he’d found his one was unsettling yet comforting all at the same time.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” Echo asked, his voice husky with sleep.

“I like looking at you.”

Echo rolled his eyes.

“Is it a problem that I find you incredibly attractive?”

“I suppose it isn’t,” Echo said. His cheeks grew pinker, and Mael’s chest ached from the sight of it. “I’m just not used to getting compliments about my looks.”

Mael rose on his elbow and looked down at Echo, frowning. “Excuse me?”

Echo’s brows knitted together. “What?”

“You’re not accustomed to getting compliments about your appearance? I find that impossible to believe.”

Echo shrugged. “I don’t hear that.”

“You’re fucking gorgeous.”

Echo fought a small smile. “Our breed… we’re all pretty to a point. I suppose that makes it harder to stand out amongst the crowd. Compared to them, I’m plain.”

“I completely disagree,” Mael said before nuzzling Echo’s neck. “I’ve seen members of your pod, and I’ve never given any of them a second look. You, on the other hand, I can’t stop looking at. Nor do I want to.”

Echo fought another smile.

Mael grinned and returned to bite and nip Echo’s neck.

Echo moaned, arching his back.

Mael slipped a hand under the comforter and found Echo’s cock already peeking out of the slit. That fucking slit was driving him nuts. Telling him not to touch only made him want to touch it all the more, but he wouldn’t cross the line. He grasped Echo’s shaft and stroked the length down as far as he could go.

Echo’s entire body stiffened.

“I thought I was allowed to touch your cock?”

Echo shivered. “Yes… but… no lower.”

“It’s really that sensitive?” Mael asked leaning closer for a better look.

Echo rolled over and jumped from the bed. He used his hands to cover his cock and slit.

“What did I do wrong, pepi?”

“Nothing.”

His little dolphin looked terrified all of a sudden.

“Talk to me,” Mael whispered. “If I crossed a line, tell me what I did wrong.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Echo muttered, looking embarrassed.

Mael slid to that side of the bed and placed his feet on the floor before drawing Echo between his legs. “Do you want me to leave?”

Echo stared, silent a few seconds.

Mael held his breath, terrified he’d be sent away.

“No,” Echo finally whispered. “I don’t want you to go.”

Mael released a slow breath. “I don’t want to go, either… but I need to know what I did wrong, so I don’t do it again.”

“You didn’t do anything,” Echo whispered. “I’m… I’m not… like other men.”

“Are you trans?”

Echo’s eyes widened. “Why would you ask that?”

“You just said you weren’t like other men, so I assume you do identify as male.” Mael replied, his voice low. “But…”

“But I’m femme.”

Echo had gotten naked before diving into the water… and Mael had seen the lace panties and bra he’d been wearing. Just like the panties he’d pulled off Echo earlier that night. The sweater and shirt were likely hiding a bra and that’s why Echo hadn’t wanted to take them off.

“Yes, you’re femme,” Mael said. “So, I wasn’t sure. Plus, I saw you last night when you stripped down.”

Echo’s eyes widened. “What did you see?”

Mael lifted a hand, slowly stroking against Echo’s hip. “When you took off your jeans and hoodie, I saw you were wearing a bra and panties.” He smiled, tracing his fingertips along the Echo’s belly, just under the button down and sweater vest. “I suspect you have a bra on again tonight and you’re afraid I won’t be into it. If that’s the case, you’re dead wrong. You looked so fucking sexy.”

“Is that all?” Echo asked. “All that you saw?”

Mael frowned. “Is there more I should’ve seen?”

Echo met his gaze. “A man wearing women’s clothing doesn’t bother you?”

“Clothing isn’t inherently male or female. You can wear whatever you like,” Mael replied. “I was a little disappointed when you yanked off your pants and panties and didn’t let me see you in them. I almost put up a fight and made you put them back on, but I wasn’t sure if it would cause more harm than good.”

Echo smiled softly, his body relaxing against Mael’s touch. He lifted his arms and grabbed the hem of his sweater before pulling it over his head. When he began to unbutton the shirt, Mael stopped breathing, anticipation killing him. Once the buttons were all undone, he didn’t remove the shirt. He stood watching Mael.

Mael lifted his hands slowly and pushed the sides back. Under, Echo had on a pink bra the same shade his panties had been. Mael groaned and slid the shirt off Echo’s shoulders. “That’s so fucking hot, Echo.”

Once the shirt fell to the floor, Mael slid out of the bed and hunted through the piles on the floor.

“What’re you doing?” Echo asked.

“I need to see the set,” Mael said, finding the right lump of material in the dim closet light. He dragged the panties from inside Echo’s pants and marched back to the bed. He knelt and lifted one of Echo’s legs, hooking the lace around one tiny foot. “I don’t make a habit of putting someone’s panties back on before getting them in bed, but I’ve got to see the whole look.”

Echo was silent, watching him closely while he dragged them up. Mael’s hands shook as he lifted them. Once they were back on, Mael rested back on his haunches and let out a long, slow, shaky breath.

His little dolphin was stunning. The small head of his cock peeked out over the edge of the pink lace, shining with a pearl of fluid that begged to be licked off. He wasn’t exactly sure what it was about the lacy things. Maybe the contrast of masculine and feminine. Echo’s body was firmer and more muscled than most women, but there was also a softness that wasn’t fully masculine either. Echo was something else entirely.

Unique.

“Oh, pepi …” He slid his palm down Echo’s calf. “You look so sexy.”

Echo stared at Mael, worrying his bottom lip with his teeth.

“Don’t you feel sexy in them?” Mael asked, massaging Echo’s calf and ankle.

“I do,” Echo whispered.

Mael grinned. “Good.” He turned his head to lay a soft kiss on Echo’s ankle. “Because you belong in lacy things.”

Echo let out a shaky breath.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” Mael whispered, capturing Echo’s gaze.

He rose to his full height and recaptured Echo’s lips. Echo moaned against his mouth, pressing closer. Mael urged Echo back into bed, crawling over his mate. He covered Echo’s face with gentle kisses, watching closely to gauge his little dolphin’s reaction. When there was no pushback or running away, he recaptured Echo’s lips, hungry and commanding, kissing until Echo was molten under him.

Echo gasped as Mael pressed between his legs and slid both hands under his ass cheeks. Mael ground his hardness against Echo’s.

“Relax,” Mael murmured against his lips. “There’s nothing to fear.” He kissed Echo deeply. “Just let me love you.”

* * *

When Mael rubbed the base of Echo’s cock through the lace, he stiffened, sure his secret would soon be out. He’d wanted to tell Mael but being called beautiful had frozen the words on his lips. He’d chickened out and allowed himself to be drawn back into bed.

Mael slid down his body, still stroking him. He squeezed a bit tighter as he lifted to the tip of Echo’s cock. White pearls of fluid formed at the tip, and Mael caught them with his wicked tongue. Echo gasped, driven closer and closer to the edge of reason. He dug his heels into the mattress top so he could rock his hips and meet the strokes of Mael’s hand.

He dragged in a breath, lingering between heaven and hell, wanting to let go and surrender to Mael’s touch but needing to protect himself from what was to come. Mael licked the length of Echo’s shaft. He lay frozen, breathless… waiting for what Mael licked next. The anticipation—and a bit of dread—curled deep in his belly.

“You taste as good as you smell,” Mael murmured, kissing the base of Echo’s cock midway through the comment.

As soon Mael’s tongue lathed the length one more time, he arched his back and groaned. Mael engulfed the shaft, sucking it to the back of his throat. Echo arched off the bed, gasping. He was so lost that he didn’t notice Mael’s hand slipping between the slit under his cock until it was too late. Mael released Echo’s cock from his lips with a pop. He lifted his head and searched Echo’s face, confusion in his eyes.

“I swear I didn’t mean to do that,” Mael whispered, frowning. “I was stroking down, and I went too far.” He glanced down at the slit, confusion in his expression.

Eyes closing, Echo’s face burned. When he reopened them, he pulled away.

Mael yanked Echo back under him.

Pinned to the bed, Echo stared up at the angry-looking orca shifter.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

A shiver raced down Echo’s spine.

Angry wasn’t good in the face of his secret.