Free A Bear of a Reputation by Ivy Sinclair Page B

skin. The way that you tasted. The sounds that you made when you climaxed. I think about it all the time. I’ll respect your boundaries, but just remember that all’s you have to do is ask, and I’d be happy to do more.”
    And just like that, he broke the spell. I had to remember that this was a business deal. Of course, he’d be interested in the fringe benefits. Because he was a man and a jackass. I yanked my hand away from him. “This is strictly business, Lukas. Whatever that was that happened was a long time ago. I’ll help you, but it stays platonic. I don’t want anything else from you but the story. That’s all I care about.”
    His mouth tightened. “Of course. The story. An all-out exploitation of the bear-shifter community.”
    I shrugged. “That’s what you agreed to. If you want my help, those are still my terms.”
    Lukas looked me up and down, but this time I didn’t see passion there. I saw disgust. “Maybe you have changed more than I thought,” he said. “I’m meeting with the council at ten. You need to be there. I’ll pick you up at nine.” Then he turned on his heel and made his way back to his truck.
    I pushed myself into the house before he could see the tears that shone in my eyes. I let my back fall against the door, and then I slid to the ground. I brushed my tears away. He wasn’t worth it. There was no way I was letting the issue get cloudy. I couldn’t let myself fall in love with him again. I didn’t think I’d make it back out if he broke my heart again. And because it was Lukas Kasper, it was inevitable that he would.

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    I frowned as I sat outside the gate to White Oaks. I had received a cryptic text from Lukas in the predawn hours, asking me if I could meet him there instead. I didn’t know how he had gotten my cell number, but I didn’t really care. I hadn’t been able to sleep. Now my insomnia was punctuated with anxiety around what I had agreed to do. I wasn’t sure that I could pull it off, keeping the required distance from Lukas while still pretending I didn’t care.
    Looking in the mirror of my visor, I saw the dark circles under my eyes, and my skin was even paler than usual. I looked like crap, but there wasn’t much that I could do about it. Lukas had offered no explanation as to why he changed his mind about having me venture out to White Oaks by myself. I sat and waited with my car idling. Just as I was getting ready to text him to find out where he was, I heard the noise of the gate as it started to move. It slid open, and I saw Lukas standing on the other side.
    Something was up, because Lukas was bare chested, and he didn’t have any shoes on his feet. His jeans were slung low on his hips, and I felt my breath hitch as my eyes feasted on his practically naked form. He seemed unconcerned about the fact that he was only half dressed, and I saw the slight twist of his mouth as I pulled inside and stopped my car next to him. I watched him as he tapped lightly on the hood and came around to the passenger side.
    He slid inside, and I was immediately greeted by his familiar masculine smell. “Head to the lodge,” he said, pointing straight ahead.
    “You going to fill me in on what’s going on?” I asked, trying hard to not ogle his abs and stay focused on the road.
    “Sheriff Monroe thinks he’s clever,” Lukas said. “He called an urgent council meeting last night and pushed them to make the alpha decision immediately. I found out a few hours ago.”
    “What does that mean?” I wasn’t driving fast, because I had no idea what I’d find at our destination. I didn’t know the right questions to ask to know what was relevant or not.
    “It means that now that I’ve made my declaration of intent official, which I did in front of them this morning, Sheriff Monroe is challenging my claim. There’s a process for resolving the matter, and that is what’s going to happen next.”
    I felt a curl of dread form in the pit of my