Free Tame the Beast (Ever After #1) by Allison Smith Page A

followed Adam’s until they spotted Clara, Harper, and Rose in the middle of the living room, dancing without a care in the world. Deacon eyed Adam carefully. He seemed even less convinced.
    “It’s not like I could date her anyways,” Adam said. “I’m still on lockdown, remember?”
    “Oh come on.” Luke gave Adam’s arm a good nudge. “You already talked her into being your tutor. I doubt she would object to a little extra … anatomy lessons.”
    “I didn’t tell her everything.”
    “Why not?” Deacon asked, still shaking his head at his brother’s suggestion.
    Adam shrugged. He wasn’t diving into that messy argument. Instead, he said, “It’s not like we know her very well.”
    “Yet,” Luke finished before dancing his way over to the girls.
    Adam watched as Luke took center stage, stealing Rose away from the sisters. When Corin jumped at the chance to persuade Clara to dance with him, something twisted in Adam’s gut. He almost dashed forward with some flimsy excuse about coming to her rescue, but Clara was already brushing Corin away. Adam relaxed against the counter, admiring the tact and elegance with which Clara could turn a man down.
    Corin was left standing there, most likely thinking that Clara was too innocent or too buzzed to understand his intentions. The sight brought a smile to Adam’s face. Corin’s attention turned to the nearest group of victims, and Adam shook his head knowing that the guy had one more drink to go before pulling out his prized, piece-of-crap blade he received from his granddad. The story lasted longer than the actual history. Not that it stopped Corin from bragging to anyone who would listen, nor did it stop some dreamy-eyed chick from falling for the overstretched tale.
    Adam’s gaze drifted back to Clara, but not before catching the annoyed look Harper continued to cast Corin’s way. Adam’s smile deepened. She didn’t care for Corin either, which meant the arrogant bastard didn’t stand a chance in hell with a certain brunette Wright sister. Music to Adam’s ears.
    “So, what do you think?” Adam asked, turning to Deacon.
    “About what?”
    “Clara.” He wanted a straight answer, and Deacon was the only one who wouldn’t make it into something larger than it was. Luke would’ve teased him for days.
    “I think Corin’s right. She’s too good for you,” he said, his brown stare fixed on Adam. “But why should you let that stop you?”
    Deacon didn’t wait for a response as he left Adam alone to think. Why should it stop him? The words danced around his head. Deacon was right. Nothing stopped him before. Why would he let it now? Drink after drink, Adam thought about how he could get Clara alone, if only for a moment. The usual partiers were strolling in, and soon there would not be much room left in the apartment.
    With the girls owning the makeshift dance floor, the guys took refuge at the pong table. Pong balls soared through the air, and Adam was trapped in a game against Marcus and Corin. He would have enjoyed the game more with Clara as his partner. Luke was tanked, which made him the world’s cockiest player and also the worst.
    “Game!” Marcus yelled as he sunk the last cup.
    “Bull,” Luke slurred as more trash talking spewed from his mouth.
    The cups were stacked for a rematch, but Adam relented, giving his spot to Deacon, and the new battle began. Having no interest in the game, he slipped out to the patio for some fresh air where he could think straight. As luck would have it, his beautiful torment was already there.
    “Hey,” Clara said softly. “Had to get some breathing room too?”
    Adam nodded. With a crooked smile, he said, “Too much testosterone at the pong table.”
    Clara laughed as she took a long drink from her plastic cup. “Too many sweaty bodies dancing.”
    “What do you say we go for a little walk?”
    Clara eyed him with a skeptic glare. “I don’t think I should leave my sister in there by herself for