Tame the Beast (Ever After #1) by Allison Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

Rose. The girl always seemed to see the bright side of things. “You’re right,” she said. “It is his loss.”
    The movie credits rolled on the screen, but the girls were engrossed in toasting to everything from family to taking chances. Clara even felt brave enough to open up about losing her mother, and like a faithful friend, Rose was there to cry on.
    “Hey,” Rose said, “I will always be here for you.”
    “Thanks,” Clara replied as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. It was silly to get so emotional, but there was one thing she was certain about, Rose was the type of friend you kept for a lifetime.
    * * *
    The first week of classes flew by, and Clara found herself waiting in the library for Adam. He was late, and she was growing impatient. Adam promised to be there by noon, but it was twenty after by the time he strolled in. Clara would have been angrier if he hadn’t snuck in two cups of coffee.
    “I know I’m running late,” he said in a hushed tone, “but I brought a peace offering.”
    “You wouldn’t need a peace offering if you were here on time. Honestly, Adam, what’s the point of making plans if you’re not going to keep them?”
    “I know. And I would have been here on time if it wasn’t for Olivia.”
    “Your girlfriend,” Clara stated with a little hostility.
    “Not my girlfriend.” The look in his eye was too seductive for Clara’s taste. “In fact, she never was. We dated a little over the summer, but she’s far too clingy. I’ve been trying to get her off my back for weeks.”
    “Finally managed it?” she asked, surprised by the attitude in her tone.
    “Hope so,” Adam joked. “And honestly, I’m annoyed it took so long.”
    There was a lingering look in his eyes that sent Clara into instant defense mode. She didn’t care how stunning his eyes were, or how blue they looked. They would only storm on her sunny day. “Why don’t we just get started with your classes this week? Okay?”
    To her relief, Adam agreed, and they dove into the many requirements Adam would need to pass the semester. While Adam seemed overwhelmed, Clara was eager to begin. She was a freshman to his junior, and yet, she enjoyed the challenge of helping someone meet the standards of an upperclassman.
    They were knee deep in the requirements for one of his business courses when Adam asked for a break. He claimed he needed a moment to clear his mind before it hit overload.
    Adam leaned in closer. “So, you never said what you were studying.”
    Warmth rose in Clara’s cheeks. Despite the warnings, she found herself gravitating in his direction as she replied, “I know.”
    “Oh, is that how’s it’s going to go?” he asked. “Let me guess. You want to be a teacher.”
    Clara wrinkled her nose. She had the highest respect for the profession, but it wasn’t for her.
    “No?” Adam asked. “How about a nurse?”
    Again, Clara shook her head. Adam inched closer with such skill she wouldn’t have noticed his movements if it weren’t for the warm breathe that brushed her cheek. At this distance, unnerving and intimate, Clara could see the clear desire within his eyes.
    “I bet you’d have a great bedside manner,” came his husky whisper.
    The heat rose in her cheeks. He was trying to rile her up, make her feel vulnerable. A small part of her enjoyed the effect he had on her. From the way his gazed bounced from her eyes to her lips, she knew she had the same effect on him. She wanted to give in, feel the full desire his eyes promised. A few more inches and she would no longer have to fantasize about how his lips would feel on hers or what kind of pleasure those sly fingers were capable of. All she had to do was let him make his next move.
    Her eyes narrowed, keeping the small distance between them. There was a hint of cockiness in her tone as she said, “You’ll never know.”
    Before he could reply, or close the space between them, Clara turned back to the table.
    “Time to get back