Free A Bear of a Reputation by Ivy Sinclair Page A

anywhere,” Lukas said. “If you have a problem with that, take it up with the council.”
    “I intend to,” the sheriff said. The two men seemed to circle each other, but neither one stepped back.
    “C’mon, Maren. I’ll take you home.” Billy appeared at my side. “It’s on my way.”
    “She’s riding with me.” Lukas hadn’t even turned in my direction. He was still locked in his stare down with the sheriff.
    I saw Billy open his mouth to say something else, and I felt the electric charge in the air. I needed to diffuse the situation. “Thanks, Billy. It’s okay. I don’t mind. Lukas can take me.”
    I saw the sheriff’s eyes move to me then. It was as if he saw me for the first time. There was a glint in his eyes as he looked me up and down. A small grin flashed across his face. “You should get that girl home, then, Lukas. You know the rules about civilians on White Oaks property after dark anyway.”
    Great. More rules. But it didn’t take a rocket scientist to realize what the sheriff was really thinking. If the council had already determined the next alpha’s mate, Lukas was causing problems for himself if he appeared to be attached to anyone else. That was good for the sheriff.
    Lukas whipped around, and then I felt his hand under my elbow as he guided me back toward his truck. I was inside the cab again, and we were on the road outside White Oaks before I caught my breath.
    We rode in silence for several minutes.
    “I’m going to the council tomorrow to tell them that I am taking the alpha claim,” Lukas finally said.
    I felt my heart beat faster at his words. “Marilee told me that they have a mate picked out for the alpha. So your little plan to get information or have someone on the inside isn’t going to work. I can’t help you.”
    The truck slid to a stop again. Lukas turned toward me. “I couldn’t care less what the council says. When I’m alpha, I will choose my mate. I’ll choose you, and they’ll deal with it.”
    I felt slightly dizzy at his declaration. I just wished that there were actual emotions behind it. “You could lose the alpha claim altogether if you do that, Lukas. I know it’s important to you to find out what happened to your brother, but you have to be smart about this. Think about what you are saying.”
    “I know exactly what I’m doing, Maren,” he said softly. “You have to trust me. Will you help me or not?”
    I struggled with the rush of emotions I felt. I wanted to say no. I wanted him to leave me alone. I didn’t want to have to deal with everything I felt for him. I wanted to crawl back into my little hidey hole and forget that he ever existed in my life. But I saw the look of naked vulnerability on his face. I took a gulp of air.
    “You are crazy, but okay.”
    He reached out and stroked my cheek. “Thank you.” Then he started the truck moving again. We rode in silence the rest of the way to my house, both of us wrapped up in our thoughts.
    He insisted on walking me to my door, even though I protested. As I started to step inside, he caught my hand. I didn’t want to look at him, but I felt his fingers kneading strong circles into my palm. It caused a flash of pleasure to run up my arm.
    Even as I turned, he brought my palm to his lips, and his warm breath sent a shock of shivers through my core. He settled his lips against my skin, and then I felt the dart of his tongue as he moved it in a slow circular pattern.
    He was barely touching me, yet it was the most erotic sensation I could recall feeling in years. I couldn’t move but was instead mesmerized by the sensations that crawled through my body and the intensity of his stare as he watched my expression. I felt my breath start to catch as he continued to gently tease the skin, and then he nipped it. I gasped.
    “There are other ways that I can show my gratitude,” Lukas said. There was a low growl in his voice. “I haven’t forgotten a single thing about that night, Maren. Your