Free Tame the Beast (Ever After #1) by Allison Smith Page B
Authors: Allison Smith
too long. The wolves might descend.”
“I think she can handle herself for a few minutes. Plus she’s not alone. I’m sure Rose will watch after her. And I’d beat the crap out of the guys if they don’t save her from any drunk advances.”
Clara’s brown eyes seemed to wage an inner battle. She was so close to giving in he could feel it. Taking a few encouraging steps away from the apartment, Adam waited for her to decide.
Slowly, she set her empty cup on the patio table. With a soft smile, she said, “Fine. But only because I’d like my head to stop pounding with the bass.”
Adam laughed as he fell into step with her pace. God, he loved the night. In his experience, people behaved differently once the sun set. They were more carefree. And with a little alcohol-induced persuasion, fear of judgment was thrown to the stars. Tonight wasn’t any different. The autumn air was the perfect contradiction to the heat from his buzz.
Adam glanced to his side and the heat burned a few degrees hotter. Clara looked gorgeous under the moonlight. Images of laying her down on the cool grass and watching the stars bounce in her eyes flashed through his mind.
Needing a distraction from his wayward thoughts, he asked, “Having a good time?”
“Yeah,” she replied with a smile. “It’s nice to have Harper here.”
Adam nodded. “I like her.”
Clara’s suspicious glare jetted up to him. Her feet stopped moving as she turned to face his tall frame. The look of anger in her brown eyes was intoxicating under the moon’s white glow.
“Stay away from my sister, Adam,” she said, her voice matching the growl of a mama bear.
He had to suppress a laugh, but a smile remained glued to his face as he held his hands up in mock surrender. “I have no intention of doing anything with your sister.”
Her eyes filled with challenge. “Then what are your intentions?”
“Have a little faith in me,” he said as he stepped closer.
The way her chest rapidly raised and fell enticed him further. He was either going to get close enough to kiss her or get slapped. The latter would be worth it.
“Is that what you tell all your girls?” There was a slight bite to her words, but she didn’t push him away.
“What girls?” he absently asked as he brushed the side of his thumb over her cheek. It was so soft under the pad of his finger, so warm.
“The ones who practically throw themselves at you.” Her voice was soft, but the edge in her tone was still there. “I won’t be one of them.”
A deep laugh vibrated through his chest. “I’d never ask you to.”
It was the truth. He knew from the moment he met her that she wasn’t his usual type. He was sure she would have run for the hills by now, but there she was, staring up at him with those beautiful brown eyes.
Just when Adam thought she would pull away, something inched her closer. His heart leaped at the small victory. Taking his time, he ran his thumb across her chin and over her smooth lips. When his gaze flickered back to her eyes, he noticed her gaze transfixed on his mouth.
It was all too tempting.
A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he brought his mouth to hers. Clara’s entire body tensed. He slipped his hand down her neck, cradling her as she relaxed in his embrace. The spice of the beer he’d sipped all night mixing with the sweet liquor from her lips spiked his desire like never before.
Greedily, he nipped her bottom lip, deepening the kiss. She seemed lost in the moment as she tried to follow his lead. He didn’t know if it was the alcohol racing through her body or possible inexperience, but her unsure movements had him wanting to teach her more. So much more.
Everything about her was pure and sweet, but then she did the unexpected. She leaned closer, brushing her pert chest against his. When her hands slid between them and she caught his lip between hers, primal desire raged through him. If there were a bed nearby, he would have hauled
“I think she can handle herself for a few minutes. Plus she’s not alone. I’m sure Rose will watch after her. And I’d beat the crap out of the guys if they don’t save her from any drunk advances.”
Clara’s brown eyes seemed to wage an inner battle. She was so close to giving in he could feel it. Taking a few encouraging steps away from the apartment, Adam waited for her to decide.
Slowly, she set her empty cup on the patio table. With a soft smile, she said, “Fine. But only because I’d like my head to stop pounding with the bass.”
Adam laughed as he fell into step with her pace. God, he loved the night. In his experience, people behaved differently once the sun set. They were more carefree. And with a little alcohol-induced persuasion, fear of judgment was thrown to the stars. Tonight wasn’t any different. The autumn air was the perfect contradiction to the heat from his buzz.
Adam glanced to his side and the heat burned a few degrees hotter. Clara looked gorgeous under the moonlight. Images of laying her down on the cool grass and watching the stars bounce in her eyes flashed through his mind.
Needing a distraction from his wayward thoughts, he asked, “Having a good time?”
“Yeah,” she replied with a smile. “It’s nice to have Harper here.”
Adam nodded. “I like her.”
Clara’s suspicious glare jetted up to him. Her feet stopped moving as she turned to face his tall frame. The look of anger in her brown eyes was intoxicating under the moon’s white glow.
“Stay away from my sister, Adam,” she said, her voice matching the growl of a mama bear.
He had to suppress a laugh, but a smile remained glued to his face as he held his hands up in mock surrender. “I have no intention of doing anything with your sister.”
Her eyes filled with challenge. “Then what are your intentions?”
“Have a little faith in me,” he said as he stepped closer.
The way her chest rapidly raised and fell enticed him further. He was either going to get close enough to kiss her or get slapped. The latter would be worth it.
“Is that what you tell all your girls?” There was a slight bite to her words, but she didn’t push him away.
“What girls?” he absently asked as he brushed the side of his thumb over her cheek. It was so soft under the pad of his finger, so warm.
“The ones who practically throw themselves at you.” Her voice was soft, but the edge in her tone was still there. “I won’t be one of them.”
A deep laugh vibrated through his chest. “I’d never ask you to.”
It was the truth. He knew from the moment he met her that she wasn’t his usual type. He was sure she would have run for the hills by now, but there she was, staring up at him with those beautiful brown eyes.
Just when Adam thought she would pull away, something inched her closer. His heart leaped at the small victory. Taking his time, he ran his thumb across her chin and over her smooth lips. When his gaze flickered back to her eyes, he noticed her gaze transfixed on his mouth.
It was all too tempting.
A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he brought his mouth to hers. Clara’s entire body tensed. He slipped his hand down her neck, cradling her as she relaxed in his embrace. The spice of the beer he’d sipped all night mixing with the sweet liquor from her lips spiked his desire like never before.
Greedily, he nipped her bottom lip, deepening the kiss. She seemed lost in the moment as she tried to follow his lead. He didn’t know if it was the alcohol racing through her body or possible inexperience, but her unsure movements had him wanting to teach her more. So much more.
Everything about her was pure and sweet, but then she did the unexpected. She leaned closer, brushing her pert chest against his. When her hands slid between them and she caught his lip between hers, primal desire raged through him. If there were a bed nearby, he would have hauled