Free Desires' Guardian by Tempeste O'Riley Page A

weeks later, Chase found himself back on campus. The same day grades officially posted, he showed up at Adrian’s office door. He’d been sort of lusting after the man since the course began, and he had decided the best way to get over Rhys was to find someone new to focus his interest and time on.
    Adrian looked up from the papers on his desk, eyebrows raised, head canted slightly to the right. “Chase? How can I help you?” he signed and spoke.
    Chase flashed his best smile. “Since you’re not my teacher anymore, I wanted to ask if you would like to grab a bite or a beer with me sometime?”
    He had to fight not only the nerves from asking Adrian out, but also the distinct, uneasy feeling that his going out with someone was somehow cheating on Rhys—not that he was in a relationship with the big, lumbering, gorgeous man.
    Adrian’s eyes flashed with an emotion so fast he wasn’t sure he could identify it… surprise, maybe. “I’m not sure that would be appropriate, Chase. You are my student.”
    “Actually, no, I’m not. I was , but grades are out, and I don’t have you for any classes next term.” Chase again tried a smile, hoping it would work this time. He wasn’t used to having to work hard to get a first date, but his confidence had been a little shaky since Rhys. Between that and his last couple of dates being duds, his nerves were all twisted up as he awaited Adrian’s response.
    Adrian took a moment to reply, using the time to slowly look Chase over. A shy smile spread across his handsome face as he nodded. “I would like that.”
     
     
    C HASE STRODE into the office the next morning, his mind more on his upcoming date with Adrian than on the work planned for the day, but he knew once he settled in his chair and booted up everything, he’d descend into the work like always. Whether he was tracking things down for Mark or Rhys or working on the codes for his freelance work, computers were where he ruled, and he loved them.
    Working the suicide-or-maybe-murder case still took part of his time and energy, but at least Mark had agreed to work with him on it, reducing the amount of time he had to directly deal with Rhys.
    He paused when he spotted something out of place at his workstation. There, beside his favorite keyboard and mouse, was an arrangement of bamboo in a blue-and-green glazed container. Chase quickly counted: seven stalks, two of which were taller, spiraling ones. Set in the pebbles at the base was a small Welsh-style red dragon figurine.
    Every morning since the first workday after his and Rhys’s “mistake”—as he insisted upon calling their one night together—there had been something peculiar left in his area. A brownie. One of his favorite coffee drinks. Even a new six-pack of Mountain Dew in the minifridge he’d added to his personal area—but plants were new. Chase knew who was leaving them, though he couldn’t quite work out why. Rhys baffled and annoyed him, yet he couldn’t get their one night or the taste of the man out of his head, no matter what he tried.
    Chase moved the plant away, sighed, and then moved it back into view moments later. Giving the little dragon one last look while his system booted up, he turned and dove into his work. He already had a number of clients, and now that he had proper office space, he seemed to be more productive—code and numbers never confused or failed him. The work consumed Chase’s thoughts and attention the way it always did.
     
     
    S OME DAYS a number of people came and went from the office, while other days it was only the four of them.
    Lost in his musings and code, he startled when a voice broke into his concentration. “Hey, Chase. You ready to go?”
    Looking up, blinking his eyes a few times to refocus on the real world, not his screens, he took in Dal, Rhys’s little brother—though not that little. Days like today, with Dal decked out in his police uniform, the three inches Rhys had on him seemed even less