West Delray was a king cheetah Therian who worked Recon for Theta Destructive. Not only was he a very rare classification of Therian, he was stunning. Petite, slender, with sandy-blond hair interspersed with black streaks, West possessed a heart-shaped face, a dazzling smile, and the golden-amber of his eyes stood out against the dark kohl around them. He looked more like a rock star than a THIRDS agent. The winning combination of good looks and cheeky personality made it so West had a steady stream of admirers vying for his attention, all eager to become the object of his affections.
Dom flexed his arm, and West laughed. He squeezed Dom's bicep before turning to give Seb's bicep a squeeze. He leaned in close to Seb to say something. Whatever it was, it made Seb laugh. Not a polite laugh, but a genuine laugh that reached his green eyes and formed little creases at the corners. What could West have to say that could possibly be so entertaining? Seeming to take Seb's laughter as an invitation to join him, West grabbed an empty chair from the table behind him and placed it between Dom and Seb before dropping down into it. He looped his arm through Seb's as he laughed with Cael. The two cheetah Therians had become good friends since Seb had taken over Theta Destructive. Hudson frowned. Why hadn't Seb pulled his arm out of West's hold?
Not that Hudson could fault West. Seb was ruggedly handsome, and despite his large size, muscular build, and lethal tiger Therian classification, he had a kind face and gentle eyes. He was a protector. A nurturer. It was no surprise Humans and Therians alike sought the comfort and safety his fierce tiger Therian frame offered. Cheetah Therians especially craved affection and possessed an inherent need to feel safe. They tended to gravitate toward those who could fill those needs, something not easily found in some larger Felid Therians.
"Hudson?"
Hudson gave a start. For a moment, he'd forgotten all about Dex. "Terribly sorry. You go ahead. I think I'll have another one of those lovely shots."
"Okay. See you on the dance floor." Dex gave him a wink and headed off, dancing his way to Sloane.
"Hey, Doc."
Turning, Hudson found Trent smiling brightly at him. "Oh, hello, Trent."
"Listen, um, I was wondering if you'd dance with me?"
Hudson was going to politely decline when he heard West laughing and asking Seb to protect him. He turned in time to catch West all but climbing onto Seb's lap in an attempt to avoid Dom's playful assault. Instead of extricating West from his person, Seb simply laughed. He threw an arm around West's back, catching him before West could topple out of his chair. Hudson's inner wolf bristled as Seb pretended to drop him, making West flail and laugh. He threw his arms around Seb's neck as Seb pulled him up.
The hell with it. Seb clearly wasn't giving Hudson a second thought. Besides, they weren't attached. Seb could flirt with West all he wanted, and Hudson could dance with the handsome Trent Carson. Time he stopped pining after Seb like a lovesick pup. Trent didn't care Hudson was marked, and he was clearly intereste
d in him. Why shouldn't Hudson give the man a chance? He'd been telling himself for years that he should see other people. Perhaps it was time he stopped being such a coward.
Sod it. Hudson turned and took Trent's hand. He smiled brightly.
"I would love to dance with you."
"STOP POKING me," West said through his laughter. "You're so pokey." He rolled and jumped to his feet. "Wanna dance?"
"Thanks, but I'm good." Seb gave him another poke in his side just for good measure. He pulled his hand away before West could swat it. With a big smile, West grabbed Cael's arm and tugged. "Come on, Chirpy. Let's bust some moves."
"Oh my God, you did not just call me that, you turd!"
"Ha!" West darted off with Cael on his heels.
"Those two are adorable," Dom said with a chuckle.
Seb agreed. West was a great addition to the team. He'd originally been recruited by Intel for his IQ and talent, but unlike the rest of the agents who made up Unit Alpha's Intel Department, West was not content to sit behind a desk. It went against his very cheetah Therian nature. West needed action. He needed to be out on the streets.
Putting in a transfer and pleading his case to Sparks herself had gotten West transferred to Recon for Theta Destructive. He and Cael hit it off right away after a callout placed them both behind the same security console in Destructive Delta's BearCat. Dex had taken one look at the two excitedly "talking nerd," as Dex put it, and officially adopted West, much to everyone's amusement. Ash didn't seem to mind that his boyfriend had found a new best friend.
Ash's smile had Seb groaning. "West's single, you know."
"We're just friends," Seb assured him, then took a sip of his beer. Why was everyone always playing matchmaker? Was his love life in that bad a state that even Ash felt the need to get involved? Shit. It really was.
Dom let out an indelicate snort. "Yeah, I always sit in my friends' laps."
"He wasn't sitting in my lap. Come on, man. He's like Cael. He's affectionate and very hands-on. It doesn't mean anything."
Ash shook his head. "Cael's playful, but he doesn't flop all over other guys. You can't be that blind, bro."
"Whatever, Keeler."
"What? He's a good guy, and he obviously likes you."
"I like him too. As friends." Cheers and catcalls caught Seb's ear, and he moved his gaze to the source of the ruckus, his jaw muscles clenching. Beside him, Dom cursed under his breath, and Ash leaned in to Seb, his voice low.
"You maybe wanna reevaluate that?"