Checkmate by Annmarie McKenna

together. He licked along her perfect teeth until she opened for him, inviting him into the warm recesses of her mouth. Cinnamon burst on his tongue from her earlier gum chewing.
    They dueled inside her mouth and he slanted his head. Deeper, he had to go deeper, to taste all of her. Nothing existed except the two of them.
    Until Caelan cleared his throat and Derek pounded on the window.
    Eli jerked his head away so fast he smacked the roof of the SUV, and glared at Nikki’s mouth, now red and puffy. They were both breathing hard, panting. He lifted himself, or would have had his shirt not been twisted up in Nikki’s fist.
    “Later, baby. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.” He dislodged her hand. “Trust me, when we get home, nothing will stop me from having you.”
    “But—”
    “Nothing.”
    Her lips, still wet from his kiss, formed an “O”. A perfect spot for his… Christ. Get it fucking together. His canines lengthened for the umpteenth time that day. He wanted to howl at the moon for the unfairness life had dumped at their feet.
    He was supposed to have returned home, staked his claim and settled them at the ranch to raise the next generation of the pack. Instead he found himself having to delay his union and protect his mate from the vile life forms who’d dared to lay a hand on her sweet skin. He’d run every one of them to ground and tear them to shreds.
    Nikki’s eyes closed on a sigh and she slumped in the seat, resting her head on the armrest of the opposite door. Eli backed out of the car and shut the door.
    Sucking in a deep breath, he faced his best friend and brother.
    “You’re good to go,” Derek said. “I’ve been by the car since Caelan went in to get you. There’s been nothing suspicious.”
    “Doesn’t mean there’s no one out there somewhere,” Eli snarled, scanning the parking lot. Damn his hormones and lack of willpower. He should have had them out of here by now, instead of practically trying to mate with her in the backseat. Any other day, any other situation and he would have been long gone. Instead, he’d given anyone a chance to get to her.
    Derek nodded. “You’re right. And I’m trusting you to keep my baby sister safe.” Derek backed away from the car.
    “I will.” He’d keep her safe or die trying. No one would take his mate now that he’d acknowledged her. And God help those who’d already tried.
    “I’ll call you later tonight.” Derek turned and stalked off to his car.
    “Let’s get out of here, E.” Caelan called from the driver’s side.
    Didn’t have to ask him twice. He jumped in the car, slamming the door shut behind him. The lot was quiet. There weren’t even that many cars, surprisingly. Except the one that conveniently pulled in catty-corner at their front bumper, blocking them in.
    Eli’s hand went to the gun at his back, Caelan’s groped under the seat.
    A man jumped out of the driver’s door and ran around to the other side, threw open the door and gingerly extracted a little girl whose sobs Eli could hear in the SUV. The man held up a finger to them signaling to give him a minute.
    “Son of a bitch,” Caelan hissed and jerked his thumb over his shoulder. Another car had driven up, blocking them from behind. What the fuck was going on? They went from no cars to a lot full.
    “Can you believe this?” Pissed at the turn of events, he searched their surroundings.
     
    Nikki kept her eyes closed when she really wanted to watch Eli and Caelan. Whatever they were talking about was sure putting Eli in a grouchy mood.
    “Are you all right?” Eli asked.
    Nikki opened her eyes. Had she made a noise? The concern in his voice was genuine. She searched his face. His eyes seemed to glow a golden brown. She knew they turned even more gold when he was angry. How would they look when aroused?
    “Hello?” He waved his hand.
    Crap.
    “I’m fine.” Jesus, had she sounded husky there? She cleared her throat. “I won’t break,