tabby

skin popped into the forefront of my brain.
“We’ll just have to suffer through it,” I offered.
Kasim hit me hard as he followed Tabitha out of the room. What the fuck did I do?

6
Tabitha
I carried my bag slung over my shoulder, dragging my feet as I walked to the gym. How had I gotten myself into this predicament? When Director Cooper first told me that she was going to send me out into the field, I’d been elated. To be a true agent, even if I was going to be handling the tech, was my oldest dream. One I knew would never be fulfilled since FUC had never had a domestic cat as an agent before. But to dance... no, strip... in front of them...
A massive shiver slid the strap of my bag down my arm. In my haste to grab it, I twisted my upper body and one knee, forcing the knee to buckle, sending me to the ground. Tears smarted against my eyes. My shoulders slumped in defeat as I flipped over to sit on my butt and examine the damage. Thankfully, the only injury appeared to be to my pride, but with no one on the path, it meant I was safe from anyone discovering how clumsy I could be.
“I thought kitties always landed on their feet.”
“Maybe this tabby isn’t a very good kitty.”
The chuckles of Bae and Arin met my ear. I bit my lip to keep my tears at bay. Of course they would be the ones to watch me make a fool of myself. And if their use of kitty wasn’t bad enough—making it sound both derogatory and sexual—they continued to call me tabby, which raised the fur on the back of my neck and made me want to hiss.
A dark hand materialized in front of my face. Lifting my gaze, I fell into the dark pools of Kasim’s eyes. Without saying a word, the deep penetrating look that made me want to rush out of his presence with my tail between my legs only a couple of nights ago, he made me feel safe, wrapping me in comfort.
“Thank you,” I said in a volume barely above a murmur as I placed my hand in his, allowing him to help me up. He nodded and flashed me a brief smile. The whites of his teeth were a striking contrast to the darkness of his skin. His gaze roved over me, examining me for any injuries. Or at least that was what I assumed. “I’m not hurt.”
He dropped my hand but remained next to me, handing me my bag.
I felt like a broken record, repeating my murmured thanks.
“Hope you can dance better than you walk, tabby.” Bae brushed past me, close enough that I leaned into Kasim to keep Bae from hitting me.
“Stop calling me tabby,” I said under my breath. A hand brushed against the small of my back, heating my cheeks. A glance up showed Kasim standing as still as a statue at my side, but he glared at his brother. I shivered, returning his attention to me, which wasn’t any better. I dropped my gaze, studying the ground in front of me.
“Well, don’t just stand there...” Bae gave a pregnant pause. I knew he was trying to get me to look up, but I refused to give him the satisfaction. With a sigh, he continued, “Tabby, we have an op to plan.”
The moment I saw his heels, I lifted my head and glared at his back. One of these days we’d come to blows over him calling me Tabby. It wouldn’t happen now, but he needed to watch his back because I would pounce from up high to take down the larger animal. At least that is how I always played it out in my dreams.
A slight pressure from Kasim’s hand had me jumping forwards until I was only half a step behind Bae and Arin. They towered over me, and as uneasy as I felt around them, I also felt safe. Nothing could harm me when they were near. It was a strange feeling, one I wasn’t all that familiar with since my father passed away when I was in my mid teens, leaving me with my stepmother. It wasn’t that she was bad—in fact I know she loved me in her own way. It was just that she was a Siamese and lost without my father.
They led me to a smaller gym room, one I used for self-defence class practice instead of the lecture portion. My eyebrows rose. I thought planning an op would mean desks, someplace to place my laptop, take notes, do all those little organizational things that I liked to do. And as an added benefit, I wouldn’t have to dance in person, just show them a few videos from various recitals I’d done. Of course, in those videos, I performed in the back, but it would prove I could dance.
When Director Cooper mentioned my dance background, I almost fell out of my seat. How had they known? It wasn’t something I’d put on my application, and while dance came up during my interview—as it usually did due to my mother’s fame before she was killed in an accident—I spoke only about my mother and her career.
“So, strip.” The command from Bae had my bag landing with a bang on the floor. Great felines! Good thing I keep my laptop in a robust case. If not, before the end of this night, it would be broken.
“Fuck, Bae.” The roar of Kasim’s voice in the small room had my legs shaking. I cringed away from him, but his fingers tightened on my waist, rooting me to the spot where I stood. “You can’t just demand that.”
Bae rolled his eyes as he shrugged. “Why the hell not? We’re all shifters here. Nudity isn’t an issue.” He nudged Arin on the arm. “But if it helps, I’ll strip, too.” And with that, Bae grasped the hem of his