Free White Doe [shapeshifter romance / romantic suspense] by Dani Jace Page B

mighty handshake ensued between them.
    " Cheyenne, isn't it? Welcome." The president's coarse voice was friendly.
    " Yes." She extended her hand. "Nice to meet you."
    " Nice to finally meet the woman who drove this man to domestication." He winked then asked, "What's your pleasure, darlin?"
    She asked for a Jack and he nodded his approval as he poured whiskey over ice in short frosted glass.
    " If you tire of Shane's company, the women are in the game room," he offered, handing her the cocktail.
    She thanked him and sipped the liquor, enjoying the burn. While they talked club business, she meandered to the living room to check the football game.
    Shane stepped behind her as she admired the big screen. "Whoa, sweet cheeks. Not safe for you to wander this testosterone laden place alone."
    Not safe for her o r him? Cheyenne smiled as his arm slid around her waist. "Kent's right, I should try to mingle some with the ladies, so they don't think I'm antisocial."
    " Yeah, sure. I forgot about how that works. I'll catch you in a bit. In the meantime, I'll scout for a place to get you alone," he whispered, "wearing only that jacket." With a sultry golden wink he turned for the kitchen.
    Her heart stuttered. She had worried he might forget about her while among his club brothers. His love made her feel special instead of an oddity of nature. He embraced her peculiarity wholeheartedly. Probably because he'd been alone like her.
    Maybe Shane finally accepted his aberration and embraced his baser nature because he loved her. Yet, sometimes Cheyenne thought he needed another male confidant, especially now that Jasper had died. Finding another shifter wouldn't be enough. He needed someone he could trust. Someone they could both trust.
    At the top of the stairs , the women were gathered in the entertainment room over the garage. At the pool table, two played a game of eight ball while the others lounged on a sectional sofa and on the floor in front of another big screen TV.
    Casua lly, she sauntered in and loitered near the pool players.
    A short, sturdy blonde slammed the eight ball in the corner pocket, ending the game . "Hey, Hon," Eva said, tossing her cue at Cheyenne. "I need some competition."
    Eva visited the Raven frequently . Her old man, Toby, was a charter fisherman. She kept his books and scheduled his trips. After that, she was a pool shark.
    Cheyenne had played against her a couple of times and held her own, but never won. Eva's invitation provided an ice breaker into the group. She raised the cue, accepting the challenge and took a deep breath.
    " You break." The blonde gave her first and chose another cue. Normally, the winner of the previous game broke, so she'd given her an advantage.
    Bending , she lined up her shot toward the triangle of balls. A barrage of comments sifted through the room. Who's bitch is she? Watch Eva run the table on her skinny ass. Who's cock did she suck for that Harley jacket?
    Cheyenne broke, sending the six ball skittering into a corner pocket while the two ball dropped in one of the sides.
    After her shot, she offered the room a cocky grin. Showing fear among this group would set her up for hard times to come. "Shane bought the jacket for my pole dancing ass because he's addicted to my fellatrix skills."
    Snickers rumbled through the group. With a hard smile, she turned to the table and fired her second shot.
    Before Eva took her stance, she smacked her pool cue over Cheyenne's stick and winked then ran the table until she scratched on her next to last ball. Cheyenne gave chase. They were even up when she missed the eight ball in the side pocket. Eva quickly sunk it, winning the game.
    Senses on full alert, Cheyenne caught the familiar scent of ocean and sandalwood. Her man leaned casually against the doorframe, sporting a shit-eating grin. How long had he been there? Long enough to hear her proclaim him belonging to her? Shit.
    " Ladies." He stepped through the crowd and made a display of