Page 79 of Hot for Teacher
Killian cleared his throat. “I’d be … pleased to attend.”
He’d really hated Chase going without him that one time, hadn’t he?
“Obsessed,” Chase said, nuzzling a little into Killian’s neck.
“Horribly so. Let me finish our breakfast.”
But Killian didn’t loosen his grip on Chase’s waist, and neither of them made any move to get up. They sat there together in the kitchen. Very tired. A little raw. And apparently in love.
25
Killian
Killian had never been in such a good mood during finals week. He was practically smug with it, all the usual annoyances rolling off his back like the inconsequential nonsense they were.
He was responding via email to a student who, in this very last week of class, was requesting extra assignments to make up a grade they’d been allowing to languish for months—ignoring all the generous opportunities for extra credit Killian had already provided—and Killian was doing it with a smile.
Not that he was actually allowing any extra assignments—the student would have to live with the grade he’d earned—but still, Killian wasn’t growling at his computer.
The lasts of his tests had already been administered, all assignments were either turned in or past the acceptance deadline, and Killian was finally free. And sure, he had two weeks of grading and pointless, obnoxious staff meetings before it was officially summerbreak for him, but Killian still had his first summer event tonight. Friday night.
A pool party at Eli’s.
The baby alphas had apparently been unable to wait for the weekend, too eager to celebrate being done with all their exams. And it was hot enough already that it would be a relief to start things off in the late afternoon and continue well into the night, avoiding the crushing heat of the peak afternoon sun.
And as it was now 3:59 p.m., Killian gathered his laptop and placed it in his briefcase, standing to leave.
He would stop at home quickly to change, and then he’d meet Chase at Eli Miller’s house. Apparently Chase had heard Eli was stressing over getting ready for guests and also tying up the loose ends of what had been a hectic semester, and Killian’s responsible beta had offered to go over early with Noah and get everything set up, as neither of them had any Friday exams to stress over.
Killian didn’t begrudge Chase the task. Because unlike Chase’s awful fucking family, Chase’s friends knew how to appreciate how good and thoughtful he was. At least as much as young men in their early twenties were capable of appreciating such things.
And because while they may not have been arriving together, he and Chase would stillbethere together. As a couple. Officially and publicly and in front of the few other humans to whom Chase had already given his heart.
Killian found himself grinning as he exited his building into the arid desert heat of the afternoon. He was distracted enough that he was caught by surprise when a floppy-hatted omega torpedo barreled into him and away again without so much as a word, completely oblivious to Killian’s gut-punched, “Oomph,” at the impact.
Killian rubbed at his side as he watched Professor Thomas hurry along down the path, completely unaware that he’d almost knocked Killian into the pathway shrubbery.
“Don’t take it personal,” a deep voice drawled. “He never notices anyone.”
Killian looked to the left to see an unfamiliar alpha seated on the edge of one of the university’s planters. He was an intimidating specimen, tall and broad, with sandy blond hair and tattoos up to his chin. He was wearing worn jeans and work boots and a tee that was faded enough to rival one of Chase’s.
In short, he looked like a ruffian, and he smelled like motor oil and ozone. Judging from the splotches on his jeans, he came by the former honestly. The latter must have been his pheromones, which maybe rivaled Killian’s in intensity.
“I’m aware,” Killian said shortly, his hackles up in some instinctual standoff against another potentially dominant alpha. “I know Professor Thomas already.”
The omega scientist occasionally consulted with Killian whenever he came across a tricky bit of statistics in his research, his questions and explanations often arriving uninvited and at great length.
Killian had learned more about lizard mating practices in his tenure here than he’d ever wished to, thanks to that man.
Killian didn’t mind as much as he might have, mainly because Professor Thomas was never offended when Killian reached his limit and walked away without a word.
The strange alpha was still watching Professor Thomas rush down the path. “Even blasted him with my pheromones once, just to see,” he murmured, quietly enough that Killian wasn’t sure if the words were meant for him or not. “Not even a twitch.”
That was … inappropriate, to say the least. The pheromone version of catcalling, and this guy had done it to a respected, tenured professor.
Killian took a closer look at the stranger. He was older than the usual students, definitely mid- to late thirties, maybe even early forties. And he wasn’t a professor; Killian knew that much.
Killian let his own pheromones unfurl enough to make a statement, leather brushing up against electrical currents. His voice was cold as ice when he asked, letting the words drip with disdain, “Excuse me, but are youemployedhere?”
