Page 22 of Hot for Teacher
“Why?” Spencer suddenly looked devastated, his mouth full of turkey again. “What are you talking about? What’s wrong with Chase? Was it the thing I said about beta babies?”
“No, dude. I’m fine. Promise.”
Noah pulled Chase more firmly under his arm, scent marking him with more of his ocean-rich pheromones with the movement. “Of course you are. You’re steady as they come. Tell us about the essay though. We can help you brainstorm.”
Luckily, Chase really did have an essay in his American lit class he needed to figure out, so he relaxed into Noah’s hold, spitballing ideas with his friends.
They’d sorted out a potential thesis when Chase felt something. A new weight on his skin.
He raised his eyes to find Burke, alone on the path now, staring at Chase from across the way. Before Chase could decide what to do—smile, wink, give him the finger?—the alpha professor whirled, striding off with a scowl on his stupidly handsome face.
What the fuck is his problem?
7
Killian
Chase Adler was waiting outside Killian’s office door.
Killian had an entire hallway’s worth of time to adjust himself to that fact. A blink and a step to assure himself it wasn’t some manifested hallucination. Another step to categorize Chase’s appearance: joggers, thin T-shirt, ever-present baseball cap hiding his green eyes in a way that wasnotfilling Killian with any sort of rage, because he did. Not. Care.
“Mr. Adler,” Killian greeted coolly when he arrived at his door one full eternity later. He dug out his keys to unlock it. The action put them close enough for Killian to note that Chase smelled of spiced tea and ocean air. Killian knew he would.
He shoved his irritation down deep.
It didn’t matter that the beta smelled of other alphas. It didn’t matter that the last time Killian had seen Chase, he’d smelled only of Killian. Thoroughly. Completely.
It did. Not. Matter.
Killian ushered Chase inside with a hand not quite touching the beta’s lower back. “Take a seat.”
After only a moment of deliberation, Killian locked the door.
Chase made a small noise, and Killian rounded his desk to his chair—a wall of wood between them seemed like a reasonable idea. “Nothing is happening here today,” he said sternly. “I simply prefer my private conversations remain private.”
“Of course, sir.”
Killian huffed. That answered the question of whether one night of intimacy had done anything to lessen Chase’s innate manners.
Killian wouldn’t know, because Chase had been gone when Killian had woken.
The fact that Killian had fallen asleep in the midst of providing aftercare to a sub—had not gotten Chase water or made sure he’d eaten something before leaving—was unacceptable. What was even more unacceptable was Chase slipping out of Killian’s bed in the dark, running off before Killian could feel … settled about the whole affair.
Thatwas why Killian had been on edge since, looking for Chase around every corner. Not the act itself, but the way it had ended.
Killian folded his hands on his lap and waited for Chase to tell him why he’d come here today.
But Chase didn’t say anything. He sat in the chair across from Killian and stared back at him, completely silent. If Killian didn’t know any better, he’d think Chase was employing negotiation tactics—staying quiet so his opponent would speak first.
Childish, really. Killian wouldn’t fall prey to it. Chase had come tohim.It was up to the beta to explain his presence here.
Except it was taking all Killian’s concentration just to keep his pheromones in check, and the words slipped out without hispermission. “I drove you to my home so that I would be the one driving you back. So that I could be sure you were all right before we parted ways.”
Chase shifted slightly in his seat, wafting ocean air and spiced tea toward Killian. “Sir?”
“You left like a thief in the night before I could ascertain whether you were well enough to do so. Next time—”
Chase coughed, his expression hidden by his cap. “There’s going to be a next time?”
