Tame the Beast (Ever After #1) (18 page)

“I do!” Clara jumped from the futon and rushed to her side of the closet. It was a rare moment that Rose didn’t have the perfect outfit and Clara did. She wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity. Reaching for the green dress, she said, “It’s actually Harper’s. She forgot it when she came to visit, but I know she wouldn’t mind.”

Rose held the dress up for inspection. “It’s perfect. But are you sure you don’t want to wear it?”

“Positive.” Clara smiled. After the last fight Adam got into, she had no plans to wear anything that showed off her legs.

“Great,” Luke said. “We’ll be down at my dorm. You have thirty minutes or we’re dragging you out as is.”

Rose playfully swiped at him, but he pulled her into a goodbye kiss with ease. Adam chose that moment to slip the little pink bag into Clara’s hands.

“I got you something,” he whispered. “Maybe I’ll even get to see it tonight.”

With a quick wink, he was out the door with Luke trailing behind. Clara didn’t dare to look in the bag with Rose there. Knowing Adam, it was bound to be something she wouldn’t want to broadcast, even to her friend.

“Looks like we’re going out,” Rose said with a smile.

Without discussion, they blasted their radio and searched their closets for the right accessories. Clara escaped to the bathroom to open her gift. Her face flushed scarlet as she held up the lingerie. Red lace.

Should have known
, she laughed to herself. Feeling bold, she accepted Adam’s challenge and slipped into his little gift. But she wasn’t going to make it easy for him. If he wanted her, he would have to go through more than her dark jeans and modest green top.

*
*
*

Clara and Rose danced their way through the sea of green bodies that filled the party home. Reaching the guys, Clara beamed as she accepted another drink from Adam. She was pacing herself. Tonight was about having fun.

“I don’t like you cooped up,” Adam had teased when they left the dorms hours ago. He was right. The last few weeks she and Rose had locked themselves away. Midterms were around the corner and two of her professors were giving exams right before spring break.

Clara didn’t want to admit it, but she was nervous. The year was flying by too fast. She still wasn’t sure which direction her life was headed. With her smarts, the possibilities were virtually endless, but she had yet to find her niche in life. At least not one that would help her father pull out of the financial slump they faced. But with Adam she felt free from all of that.

“What?” he asked when he realized Clara was still smiling up at him.

She shook her head, still beaming. “Just admiring you.”

“Oh yeah?” Placing his hand on Clara’s hip, he backed them into the crowd of dancing drunks. It felt so natural. And watching him attempt to sing the words like a pop queen sent her into a fit of giggles.

The attraction between them was unlike any other. He made her feel strong. Carefree. Wild, even. Under his gaze, she felt like the most beautiful woman in the world, and that was more addictive than any buzz.

Pushing him away, Clara danced out of his embrace, enjoying the faux pout on his face. Raising her eyebrow, she shook her empty cup at him. Another contagious smile flashed on her face as Adam mouthed the words, “Hurry back” and continued to shake his ass like a pop star. Rose and Luke broke their own embrace to join Adam’s private dance party.

Clara laughed her way to the keg. Distracted by her good mood, Clara didn’t realize Luke had joined her, two cups in hand.

“Is he always that silly in public?” Clara asked, glancing over at Adam who spun Rose in a circle.

Luke chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. “Sometimes. Depends on who he’s with.”

The knowing look in Luke’s brown eyes had Clara holding her breath. “Don’t read too much into it,” she warned. “We’re not dating.”

“Uh-huh.” Luke’s eyebrow rose in challenge. Reaching to fill Clara’s cup, he replied, “Well, you two not dating is the happiest I’ve seen him in a long time.”

Clara almost snorted. A spoiled heir with virtually no rules to live by and this was the happiest he’d been? “I doubt it.”

Luke glanced around the room before leaning in to hand her back her cup. “There’s a lot you still don’t know about him. Things he doesn’t like to talk about.”

Well, that sparked her interest.

Staying on his heels, she asked, “Like what?”

The speed at which he stopped and turned almost had Clara crashing into his chest. “Look, I shouldn’t have said anything, but you needed to know that this isn’t just some fling. Even if he says differently.”

“Yeah right,” she scoffed. “Everyone knows—”

“They don’t know shit. They don’t know who he was before all this,” he replied. His voice trailed off as he turned to rejoin their group. She swore she heard him mutter, “Before Vivian,” but with the pounding bass, it was hard to be sure.

The moment Clara was within reach, Adam pulled her back into a dance. Luke’s words spun around her head. She didn’t want them there. She just wanted to have fun, but the curiosity was killing her. She wanted to know this man Luke spoke of with such certainty.

“Ready to get out of here?” Adam whispered in her ear, sending wonderful chills down her spine.

They were just the words she wanted to hear. All it took was one nod and he whisked them both out of the party. She tried to keep the upper hand, but his constant teasing on the mile walk back to his home was making it extremely difficult.

Everyone had a past. She knew that. What she didn’t realize was just how much she wanted to know about Adam’s. That was until Luke brought it up. But how was she supposed to get him to open up without ruining the moment? She knew he was more apt to talk after a few drinks, but she didn’t want to say the wrong thing and make him shut down on her.

There was so much she did not know about him. It was her own fault. When they were alone, their mouths were doing anything but talking. Now she wanted both. Especially when he was kissing her before they even made it in the door. The house was empty, but that didn’t mean she wanted to do things right there in the foyer.

Breaking out of the kiss, Clara spotted the open door to the billiard room. An idea sparked in the back of her mind. It was worth a shot. If she wanted him to talk, she would have to keep him happy, and right now, every gorgeous inch of him was ready to burst with happiness.

Calling her seductress forward, she slipped out of his arms.

“How about a game?” she said as she sashayed towards the room. She tried her best to appear sexy. Seductive. She sent out a silent prayer, hoping she didn’t look foolish in her attempt. Keeping her head high, she glided forward and listened for his heavy footsteps to follow.

Chapter Eighteen

There was a moment of mixed curiosity and desire that washed over Adam as he watched Clara walk towards the room. Something ignited the temptress in her and Adam was definitely interested in finding out what was going on in that beautiful head of hers. Closing the door behind him, Adam turned just as Clara sauntered back with two pool sticks.

Enjoying the switch in power, he asked, “What are the stakes?”

“I want to get to know you better.” With a casual shrug, she asked, “How about we play for questions? Sink a shot, ask a question.”

He eyed her carefully, not trusting her intentions.
She wants to talk? Why?
He thought his intentions were pretty clear in the foyer. He was ready to object when her free hand slid down his chest and over the front of his jeans.

With the skill of a veteran charmer, Clara shamelessly added, “Oh, and there are no rules about distractions.”

Never had he been so interested in a game of pool. Even when he had big money riding on the table. Racking the balls, he lifted the triangle and asked, “Ladies first?”

“Oh no. I don’t break.”

“Fair enough.” With one sharp hit, he sent balls flying to every corner. A yellow stripe fell into the pocket with ease. “So, what made you want to play for questions?”

Clara shook her head and laughed as he lined up for another shot. “Out of all the things, that’s what you ask? Figures.” Adam thought she was avoiding the question, but his attention was averted as she leaned over the opposite end of the table. “I guess there were just a few things I’m still curious about,” she replied. The loose material of her shirt exposed part of her lacy bra. A soft snicker escaped her lips as he missed his shot. “My turn.”

Adam examined the table, cursing under his breath. If she knew anything about the game, she would realize he’d just set up her next three shots. His silent prayer was interrupted with the crack of the cue ball soaring across the green felt.

With the first shot sunk, Clara glided around the table as she asked, “So, if you didn’t have to take over all the family stuff, is there something else you’d want to do?”

“Not really,” he answered, fixing up a couple of drinks at the mini bar. One cocktail and one whiskey to get through whatever questions she had up her sleeve. “I took comfort knowing it was all preplanned for me. My father would always say that Beaumonts don’t leave legacies for their children, they leave legacies in them.”

“I like that,” she said as she took the cocktail from his hand. “So what’ll your legacy be?”

Adam shook his head with a smile. There was no way he was going to let her get away with extra questions. “One per shot. Your rules.”

A grin washed over her face as she relented. Adam watched greedily as her hips swayed and she lined up for another shot.
Crack.
The solid soared into the corner pocket. “Tell me the craziest thing you did with Luke and Deacon as kids.”

“Is that a question?” It wasn’t that Adam refused to answer, but the adorable scowl on her face was just too enjoyable. She knew he was stalling. Giving in, he told her about the time his parents were out of town for business and the boys terrorized a babysitter into believing the estate was haunted. Even as a child, Deacon had the skills of a mad genius.

“You guys are evil,” Clara said but her laugh filled the room. “I hope you got in trouble for that.”

“You have no idea. The girl called Mrs. Thompson crying that she couldn’t stay there another minute. She actually believed the place was haunted.”

“That poor girl.” Clara shook her head. “What did Mrs. Thompson do?”

“Oh, she didn’t buy it for a second. She dragged us out of bed, whooped her sons, and made the three of us put the guest room back in order while she lectured us on how to behave. The next morning we all had to write apology letters to the babysitter. But she still quit.”

“I don’t blame her,” Clara said as she lined up for another shot. She was still shaking her head. “I bet you went through a new sitter every week.”

“Practically.” He chuckled at the thought. Clara’s infectious laugh was becoming addictive, and if she kept smiling at him with desire in her eyes, he was going to throw the game. It was clear she knew how to play.

Not wanting her to get away with another question, Adam slid his hands on either side of her. He was careful not to touch her as he hovered over her ear and whispered, “Maybe if I’d had someone as beautiful as you, I would’ve wanted to behave.”

Clara paused mid stroke. Pulling the cue stick back to position, she steadied her hands. He was affecting her shot and the thought enticed him further. Just as she attempted a second try, Adam leaned his hips against her. The result was gratifying in so many ways. Her shot miscued, but it was the way she spun around to face him that was truly enjoyable.

“You’re cheating.” The false anger in her voice was amusing too.

“Am not. There were no rules about distractions. Remember?” With each word, he inched his face closer to hers. The flash in her brown eyes begged him to keep going, but he wasn’t going to give in that easily. He was too busy enjoying the way her breath caught as he pressed them closer together. They weren’t just playing for questions. This was a betting game to see who would break first. It was obvious he was already turned on, but he wasn’t going to give in. Not yet.

Adam slid his hands up Clara’s waist with feather-light touches. Brushing his lips over hers, he said, “My turn.”

A smug smile covered his face as circled the table, leaving Clara gripping the edge of the side rail. He wasted no time in sinking his shot. He threw away his first question. Meanwhile, Clara was jumping at the opportunity to ask what she wanted.

Choosing carefully, he asked, “What’s your dream job?”

“I don’t have one,” she answered a bit too fast.

“Liar. Everyone has something they’d like to do if nothing stood in their way. So what’s yours?”

Clara fiddled with the cue stick in her hands. “That’s not fair. You didn’t answer when I asked.”

“Yes, I did. You asked if there was something else I’d want to do and I said no. That’s the truth. Now it’s your turn.”

The way Clara chewed on her bottom lip almost ended the game right there. Adam snatched up his drink for a distraction. It wasn’t just the simple motion. There something innocent in her look and it was bringing out the animal in him.

Clara finished her own drink in one large gulp. “If I could do anything, I would write. Maybe as a journalist. I’d love to travel, but I know that business is tricky to get into. Or maybe a novelist. I really enjoyed that creative writing class.”

“So why don’t you?”

Tossing a playful glare his way, she said, “One question at a time. Remember?”

His deep laugh rumbled in his chest. He loved when her feisty side came out to play. Ignoring all of her enticing attempts to distract him, Adam sunk enough shots to learn that Clara’s primary goal was to find a career that would help her father pay the bills. She was willing to give up her dream to do it. That didn’t sit well with Adam. He understood her reason, but her talent wasn’t going to be wasted. Not if he had a say.

There was no denying it. He was falling for her. Hard. And he didn’t know if this casual thing she insisted on was going to be enough anymore. The thought of someone else touching her, having her, pissed him off to no end.