Catch A Tiger By The Tail (THIRDS 6)

Calvin cringed. “Yeah, I wonder how that’s going to go down. I mean, how long do Rafe and Nina think they can hide their relationship from Hudson and Seb?”

The night was cold, and Ethan looked forward to getting indoors and under the warm covers with Calvin. He couldn’t stop worrying about the party. “I guess there’ll be enough people there so Seb won’t have to be where Hudson is. It still sucks, though.”

“Do you want to go?” Calvin asked. “You don’t need to decide now. See how you’re feeling that night.”

Ethan playfully bumped Calvin with his hip. Calvin was always attuned to his needs. “I’ll be okay. You’ll be there. So will Seb and Dex and the rest of the team. You know I’ll find the least crowded place. I can do it.”

Calvin beamed up at him. “Whatever you want.”

Ethan gave Calvin a wicked smile. He knew exactly what he wanted. “I think right now, what I want is you naked and sweaty.”

“That can be arranged,” Calvin said, his tone low and husky. He turned and let go of Ethan’s hand. “Race you there.”

Calvin bolted, and Ethan let him have a few seconds head start. He was so going to love pouncing on his sexy boyfriend. As soon as Calvin was at the end of the block, Ethan broke into a run. No way was he letting Calvin go.

Not on their way to their apartment or any time after that.

Chapter Eight

“YOU DO realize this is training and not a pool party,” Calvin said, shaking his head in amusement as Dex cannonballed into the deep end of Sparta’s Therian-sized swimming pool. His crazy friend came up spurting water, a big dopey smile on his face. “Sparks is going to kick your ass.”

“Hey, I’m training. Let’s say I’m being chased by some huge feral Therian and there’s a big body of water nearby. I’m going to jump, right? I’m not going to tiptoe in.”

“That would be your second mistake,” Letty offered as she leisurely floated by. “Your first mistake would be jumping in the water in the first place. Unless you got a motorboat in that water, your ass is grass, or in this scenario”—she motioned to all their Felid Therian teammates swimming toward Dex—“Felid chow.”

Dex eyed Cael, Sloane, and Ethan as they swam circles around him, their tails in the air. They looked like three huge kitty sharks. Calvin sat on the edge of the pool, his bare feet in the water. Ash sat beside Rosa on the edge of the pool looking unimpressed, but then that was Ash’s usual state of being, other than angry. He clearly didn’t fancy getting his regal mane all wet. They watched Dex to see what his next move would be. The moment he took hold of Sloane’s tail, they cringed.

“North, Miss Tessmacher! North!”

Sloane hissed and dove under the water, taking Dex with him, but not before he let out the manliest of yelps. Had Dex considered letting go? Letty and Rosa laughed their asses off. Ash closed his eyes and chuffed with gratification, while Cael and Ethan swam after Dex and Sloane. Somewhere in the middle of the pool, the two popped up. Dex sputtered and moved his hair from his eyes. He arched an eyebrow at his partner, who was doggie paddling in little circles around the pool meowing happily, his head raised high.

“Proud of yourself, huh? Thanks for saving me from being mauled by trying to drown me. That was very helpful.” Dex turned to Calvin with a frown. “How come Hobbs lets you hold onto his tail?”

Calvin shrugged. “I don’t know. It started when we were kids. I think he likes knowing I’m there.”

Ethan chuffed and rubbed his big furry head against Dex’s face.

“Yeah, I love you too, buddy, but you’re all hairy and… wet… with wet fur.” Dex scrunched up his nose when Sloane started rubbing up against him as well. “Oh God, why? Someone want to help me? Anyone? You’re ferocious agents! Ferocious agents don’t rub up against their targets and purr!”

Cael swam toward his brother with a chirp. Dex’s hopeful smile turned into a frown when Cael bumped his head under Dex’s chin with a series of cheerful chirps. Dex was boxed in, a Felid to his left, right, and front. Next to Calvin, Ash chuffed, his tail swinging back and forth until it fell over the edge and landed in the water. He quickly plucked it up, caught it with his paw, and groomed it.

“Aw, you’re such a precious princess,” Calvin teased. Ash enjoyed the water as much as his friends, but only when he was in the mood. He was particularly fussy about his mane. That gave Calvin an idea.

Calvin cleared his throat and discreetly looked away. As expected, Ethan doggie-paddled over and mewed at him. “Hey, handsome.” Calvin leaned in to scratch Ethan’s ears before whispering at him. Ethan paddled around the pool, Dex flailing in the background as he tried to get away from Sloane and Cael. Had he not learned by now that Felids were exceptional swimmers? And unlike a good number of house cats, their larger counterparts loved water.

Ash’s eyes were closed. It looked like he was taking a little lion nap. He really should have been paying more attention to their “training.” Ethan bobbed up and snatched ahold of Ash’s tail with his paws, tugging, and pulled the roaring lion Therian into the water. Ash hit the pool’s surface so hard water splashed all over Calvin, but he was too busy laughing to care.

Ash resurfaced and scrambled to get out of the pool. His majestic mane was plastered down over his face and body. Calvin got up and quickly moved away to the other side of the pool as Ash shook himself from nose to tail. Everyone burst into laughter as Ash’s mane puffed up. With the room having indoor heating, the warmth frizzed Ash’s mane. Calvin doubled over laughing. Ash was so going to kick their asses, but it was worth it.

Seeing as he was already soaked, Ash jumped in and headed for his Felid teammates with a growl. Calvin hadn’t seen Dex move that fast since the canteen announced they were handing out leftover cake from someone’s birthday party. With Dex out of the pool, Ash turned his vengeance on Sloane and Ethan. They swam around, dove, and bobbed like giant apples. Felids were adorable when they swam. Well, unless they were feral Therians trying to kill you, then not so much.

Dex grabbed a towel from the rack and strolled toward Calvin all innocent like. Uh-oh. Rosa really should have been paying more attention. With a sweet smile, Dex crouched down behind her, nodded as if he was listening to her conversation with Letty, and pushed her in. Calvin winced. That was definitely going to hurt Dex later.

Rosa emerged cursing at Dex in two languages.

Calvin shook his head in disbelief. “You got balls, man.”

Dex shrugged. “Someone was bound to kick my ass for something today. Might as well get some fun out of it.” He motioned toward the locker room. “Listen, got a minute? I want to talk to you about something while the guys are busy.”