Catch A Tiger By The Tail (THIRDS 6)

“I suppose I’ve been called worse things, Agent Summers.”

Ethan’s face felt as red as Calvin’s. Wait, if she’d heard that….

“Agent Hobbs, if you’re looking for a Shibari expert I have several I can recommend. I’ll forward them to your personal e-mail account. Now, it’s time for training. I’d like Destructive Delta to report to Sparta immediately. Sparks out.”

The screen went blank, and Ethan turned to Calvin, who looked equally stricken.

“Can we, uh, forget that happened?”

Ethan nodded.

“Good. Let’s go before anyone else shows up to give us sex tips.”

Calvin hurried out with Ethan close behind. He wished he could say this day couldn’t get any worse, but he was certain it could. Maybe Maddock was right. Maybe Dex was a magnet for weird. Nothing like this ever happened before Dex joined. The elevator doors closed with him and Calvin inside. His partner grinned wickedly before standing on his toes and kissing him, leaving Ethan breathless. Who the hell needed normal anyway? It was totally overrated.

TODAY WAS definitely not a day to be sore. From the moment they reached Sparta, Sparks had them training. There had been sparring, cardio, weight lifting, jiujitsu, and now more sparring.

“All right. Agent Summers, you were able to use Agent Keeler’s weakness against him. Let’s see how you do against yours. Unarmed.”

Sparks tapped away at her tablet and motioned for Calvin to step onto the mat. He didn’t like the sound of this.

“Agent Summers, pin Agent Hobbs to the mat. Agent Hobbs, prevent your partner from doing so. Take him out.” She looked up from her tablet. “No holding back. I’ll know if you are.”

Calvin stared at her. “So you want him to kill me?”

“That depends, Agent Summers. Are you going to let him kill you?”

Calvin pressed his lips together to keep himself from saying something she’d undoubtedly make him regret. She couldn’t be serious. No holding back?

“Take your stances.”

This was insane. Calvin was no match physically, especially without weapons. He stepped onto the mat and took his fighting stance as Ethan hesitantly did the same. Calvin was reminded of all the times they’d roughhoused. He would jump on Ethan’s back, and his best friend would walk around with him latched on like some spider monkey, as if nothing out of the ordinary was going on. Then he’d drop onto the couch or bed and playfully squish Calvin before pinning him. All Ethan had to do was get his arms around Calvin, and he was fucked, and not in the amazingly sexy way he’d been fucked last night. Okay, now is not the time to be thinking about that. He had to keep out of Ethan’s reach. Easier said than done. Ash was probably going to enjoy the hell out of this.

“You may commence.”

Calvin kept an eye on Ethan, watching his every move, paying attention to the little signs he’d picked up over the years. Ethan was worried, hesitant. It was written all over his face. Calvin slowly circled Ethan, subtly inching close as he did, but Ethan was onto him. There was no way Calvin would attack head-on. That would be stupid. He wasn’t as small and graceful as Cael. Nor did he have Cael’s cheetah Therian speed or flexibility. Ash had taught Cael how to use his size and build to his advantage. Calvin’s skills lay elsewhere. At least he knew he could take a beating.

“Sometime today, agents.”

At Sparks’s comment, Ethan charged. Calvin dropped under Ethan’s fist and rolled. He hopped to his feet and did his best to remain out of Ethan’s grasp. Ethan only had to take a few steps to reach Calvin, where Calvin had to dodge, parry, duck, and roll to keep away. He managed to get close enough to land a hit against Ethan’s ribs, making Ethan growl and lash out, his hand slapping Calvin across the cheek.

Motherfuck! Calvin was able to keep his balance, but his cheek stung like hell. Okay, finally they were getting somewhere. Calvin made to deliver a wide hook, but at the last minute stepped left and delivered an uppercut to Ethan’s side, cursing when Ethan blocked it. Calvin swiftly retreated, managing to get out of Ethan’s reach before he could grab him. He was getting nowhere fast.

“Agent Summers, you know what his weakness is. This could be over in minutes.”

“No,” Calvin replied through his teeth. He knew perfectly well what Sparks was implying, and there was no way in hell he would use Ethan’s fears against him. If he was out in the field and he was facing a threat, he’d use whatever was necessary, but not here and not with Ethan. Ash’s weakness had been easy. Get to Cael, and he’d rid himself of Ash. With Ethan, it meant hurting him psychologically.

“And you really think someone else will give him the same consideration? Do you think they’ll worry about your feelings, Agent Hobbs?”

Ethan shook his head, his expression growing dark and a low growl rising up from his chest. If there was one thing Ethan hated, it was someone fucking with him on purpose. Calvin eyed his partner. They both knew what Sparks was trying to do, and it wouldn’t work. Not with them. Anyone who tried to put the fear in Ethan wouldn’t give a shit about him, and Ethan would be well aware. Coming from Calvin, the words could destroy him. Even if they didn’t shut him down, they would linger. It didn’t matter that Calvin wouldn’t mean what he said. The words would trigger some deep-rooted fear in Ethan. Calvin would hand in his badge before he hurt Ethan like that. His partner turned to him and nodded, pupils dilated.

Calvin grinned. That’s right. Show her you’re not scared. We can do this. Calvin had his own way of getting results from Ethan, and none involved psychologically crushing the love of his life and partner. With Ethan, all he ever had to do was ask.

“Come on,” Calvin ordered.

Ethan let out a roar as he charged. Before reaching him, Calvin dropped and rolled under Ethan. He jumped to his feet and spun, delivering a kick to Ethan’s back. Ethan stumbled forward but quickly regained his balance. He turned and narrowed his eyes. With a growl, he came at Calvin, and Calvin did his best to avoid Ethan’s fists. Of course eventually, he wouldn’t be quick enough. Calvin sidestepped; Ethan anticipated it. He jabbed Calvin in the face, almost knocking him off his feet, but Calvin managed to regain his balance.

“Fuck.” Calvin wiped the blood from his mouth and ran his tongue over his teeth to make sure nothing was loose. Ethan had gotten him good.