Page 35 of Hot for Teacher
Chase jumped up, only half aware of kicking his beer onto the grass. Before he knew it, he’d dug his car keys out of his pocket and was heading down the street to where he’d parked.
There was one sure way to find out if Burke was home or not.
Burke took longerto answer the door than Chase was used to. Which made sense, since Chase had been explicitly told that Burke was unavailable tonight, and thus was not expected to be here.
Chase frowned at the thick wooden door in front of him.
Oh fuck. What was he even doing here? Why had he come? What the fuck was he hoping to accomplish?
He turned to leave just as the door opened. And there was Burke, his dark brow creased in concern. “Chase? Is everything all right?”
Chase froze in place for a moment, then pivoted back to face the door fully. Burke looked good. Really good. He was dressed casually but still nicely, somewhere between his teaching clothes and those sweats that made Chase go a little feral. His dark hair was falling in front of his face, and his pheromones were mellow in a way they rarely were when Chase first arrived at the door.
When Chase said nothing, Burke’s frown deepened, although he seemed more confused than angry. “I told you I was busy tonight, didn’t I?”
“You did.”
Classical music drifted out of the open door, as did the distinctsmells of a home-cooked meal. Chase glared over Burke’s shoulder into the house. What exactly was going on in there?
Burke sighed and looked out past Chase to the street, then gestured inside. “Come in, then.”
Chase stepped inside the house and then immediately wished he hadn’t. There were two wine glasses on the living room coffee table, both of them half full. And with the music and the food—
Chase whirled on Burke. “Is this a date?”
Just then a man somewhere around Burke’s age walked in from the direction of the dining room. He was handsome and blond and dressed in a suit, and he was followed by an equally attractive bearded guy holding a beer. Chase was pretty sure they were both alphas, but it was hard to tell with Burke’s heavy pheromones already saturating the house.
“Isthis a date, Killian?” the blond guy asked, pressing a hand to his chest in faux shock. “You rascal, you should have told us! I would have worn a sluttier shirt.”
Burke pinched the bridge of his nose. “As I said, I’m occupied tonight. Chase, this is Devon and Prince.” He pointed to the blond and the bearded guy respectively. “Please ignore anything and everything they might say.”
The bearded guy—Prince—now had a massive grin on his face. “Holy shit, it’s the fuck-up-your life someone, isn’t it?”
Burke cleared his throat, sliding an unreadable look Chase’s way. “As I said, ignore everything.”
Oh fuck. Chase had definitely fucked up, hadn’t he? He’d just barged in on some sort of middle-aged boys’ night. “Burke, I—”
“You call himBurke?” Devon asked with clear delight, a Cheshire grin on his face.
“You call me Burke?” Burke echoed.
Chase supposed he’d never said it out loud in Burke’s presence. It was always “Alpha” or “sir” when they were together. He shrugged. “I guess I do, in my head.” He was beyond flustered now,and it made his voice uncharacteristically sharp as he added, “It’s your name, isn’t it?”
Burke gave Chase another look, this one very, very clear.
“Sir,” Chase added immediately.
“Oh my god,” Devon groaned, snatching up one of the half-empty wineglasses. “I wish I had a camera.”
“You have your phone,” Prince suggested.
“But what if Killian decides to break it over my head? I can see the smoke pouring out of his ears as we speak.” Devon wagged a finger at Burke. “So this is why you wanted to move dinner to Saturday.” He stepped to Chase, his hand held out. “Devon Carmichael, longtime friend of yourBurkehere. Absolutely delighted to make your acquaintance.”
Chase shook the man’s hand. “Chase Adler. Pleasure to meet you, sir.”
“Oh.” Devon glanced to Burke with a sly smile. “I get it now.”
“You didn’t get it from the face alone?” Prince asked, giving Chase a not-very-subtle wink when Chase looked his way.
