Free Born Cheetah by Zenina Masters Page B

friendly for people she couldn’t stand. She was going to the Crossroads after all.
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    She rocked against the fifteenth man in seven days. The music was just loud enough to send a beat through the room and yet moderate enough to allow conversation.
    Rayna sighed, and when the music ended, she removed the wolf’s hands from her ass, and she parted ways with him. “Sorry, hon. Not my type.”
    He grabbed her arm. “You are if I say you are.”
    She growled low, popped her claws on her right hand and pressed them to his neck. “Take it as a nice rejection. I can make it nasty if I have to. I am looking for a forever mate, not a lay. Look for the same. You don’t want a woman you can bully into bed. You want someone who wants to be there.”
    He blinked and nodded. “May you find what you seek.”
    She bowed her head and backed away, returning to the bar where Chuck had her drink ready. “Nothing new tonight, Chuck.”
    “You are looking a little frazzled, Rayna.”
    “I am feeling frazzled, Chuck. How is Ivy tonight?”
    He glanced into the corner where his mate was frantically scribbling. “She is having a productive night so I don’t exist.”
    “Well, you two did field test the female battle armour yesterday. She was mighty uncomfortable, but she was able to move enough to stop you from clocking that panther.”
    “I really thought he would go for you.”
    “He and I had attraction but no connection. I am attractive to many males, but I wouldn’t want to bind myself to them for life.” She shrugged. She had dark gold hair that tumbled down her back in a sexy wave, thick lashes, dark gold eyes and a mouth with a natural pout. She knew she was attractive; she just wanted a mate who could see past her body.
    A male settled on the bar stool next to her. “You always were too particular, Baker.”
    She knew that voice. That voice haunted her dreams and left her with her heart pounding and her sex wet. “Fancy words, Daywell. You are here as well, and you are two years older than me.”
    He grinned, his sandy hair falling attractively over one dark brown eye. “It is good to see you again. What brings you here?”
    She snorted. “A transporter. You?”
    “The same.” He tossed his head, and his hair slid back only to resume its position a moment later.
    Rayna could see Chuck, and he was grinning as he polished glasses.
    “Well, I have had all the fun I can handle for one night. If you want to hit the dance floor, the ladies are scattered. I am sure you can find someone to suit you.”
    “You have always been far too particular. Would you care to dance?”
    Her heart pounded and her palms sweated. She had had a crush on him since she was ten. No one ran like Gregory Daywell.
    She slugged back her virgin daiquiri and got to her feet. “Fine. Sure. Let’s go.”
    “Not an enthusiastic endorsement, but I will take it.”
    Rayna smiled and took the hand he extended, letting him tug her to the dance floor. He turned her, and she was against him while a slow song had them rocking together. It was effortless the moment that she let herself relax.
    “I thought you were married already, Rayna.”
    “Why would you think that?”
    “Leyline told me you were running away from home to be with a boy. I just thought it sounded likely.”
    She blinked back tears. “No, that wasn’t the case. I had to leave to keep from injuring someone.”
    “Ah, the predator problem.”
    “Something like that. I was too territorial for my own good, and it broke my heart.” She smiled sadly at the memory.
    Leyline had told her that Gregory was about to propose. Leyline was eighteen and Rayna sixteen at the time. Rayna had wanted to tear her older sister’s throat out, so she contacted Aunt Reggie and a few hours and a conversation with Justine later, Rayna was on her way to the city with Reggie as her guardian.
    She had money, she had ambition, so she finished her education and tried to forget the man who