A Mate for the Beta: Read Online Free Page B

tightly in case the urge to do so became too much to resist.  He must have stood at least six feet three tall, more than a foot taller than her.  He had thick light brown hair worn just long enough for a woman to rake her fingers through... 
    Suddenly he thrust out his hand in Liv’s direction and she almost darted backwards in surprise.  “Alec Hart, Sheriff, and you are?”
    Numbly she put her own hand in his, which seemed to swallow it up.  “Ummm Briers, Livia Briers, but my friends call me Liv.”
    “It’s nice to meet you... Liv”, his voice rumbled through the station, there was an odd smile on his lips.   The touch of her hand made his body hum.
    “Umm, you too Sheriff”.
    “Alec.”
    “You too Alec.”  Her cheeks almost burned bright red as Alec gave her an appraising look from head to toe.
    She bit her lip and Alec groaned inwardly.  “I’m really sorry I didn’t come to see you sooner.”
    He looked at her confused.  Did she know she was his mate?   “What do you mean?”
    “ To talk to you about Iris.”
    Alec mentally slapped himself round the head.  Of course that was why she was here.  She had seen Iris shortly before she disappeared and Liv had come to make a statement.  Which also meant his woman, his mate, was Emerald Cole’s niece.  And also a witch .
    “Of course.”  Said Alec brusquely.  “Let’s go to my office to talk.”  Yes, get her alone, get her somewhere private, tell her she’s your mate and ask her to bond...
    Liv giggled.  Alec finally noticed he was still holding her hand.  He dropped it swiftly .  She was a little disappointed, the rising warmth that swept through her at his touch abated.  Although she had feared that if he had held on for much longer the warmth would have kept rising and then exploded into something much more pleasurable and extremely embarrassing.
    Alec glanced at the reception desk and was pleased to note that Carrie was absent.  He ushered Liv back to his office, his hand lightly pressing on her back.
    Gabe looked at her with some interest as they passed but quickly got back to work when Alec glowered at him.
    Alec directed her to a chair and then sat behind his desk.  He figured the desk was a good safety precaution, she couldn’t see the embarrassing bulge in the front of his trousers and it could act as a barrier if he tried to pounce on her.  Although his wolf thought that pouncing might actually be a good idea.  
    Her scent wrapped itself round him, teasing, tempting him.  He wanted to rub himself over her, to bathe in her scent.  He inhaled deeply; the vanilla was intermingled with desire.  Her desire .  He could smell the honey starting to weep from her sex.  Both man and wolf felt insufferably smug at that thought.  She desired him . 
    She watched his indifferent expression closely, trying to sense what he was feeling.  
    Liv . He had called her Liv.  She said that was what her friends called her, well it was true all five of them do.  He had immediately called her Liv.  She was happy, but she couldn’t silence the nasty little voice inside her completely.  So what?  He’s friends with just about everyone in town, including a lot of other women...
    She felt the happiness that had been blossoming wilt, although that didn’t abate her rising lust. She could feel how wet she was getting between her legs under his intense gaze and was worried he would notice.  Liv shifted nervously and crossed her legs.  She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and licked her lips.  He eagerly tracked every movement of her body.
    He tried to sound comforting, to put her at ease, but he was afraid of losing control and his tight control made him sound cold.  “So, why don’t you tell me what happened with Iris?”
    She explained that Melody had been volunteered by Emerald to help Iris bake some pies.  Iris provided pies for the Honeypot Diner.  Liv had wanted to give Iris some cuttings for her garden and so had