WICKED RIDE

Kellach Dunne held his fire and turned the corner, keeping his prey in sight. Rain smattered the concrete sidewalk in a weary Seattle fashion, while garish lights from bars and massage parlors marred the comforting darkness of the midnight hour. He stepped over the legs of a bum and ignored the stench of piss, absently wishing for his bed and a good night’s sleep.
He’d left his Harley parked in a side alley to follow the bastard who stalked a woman through the city’s underbelly.
The woman scurried ahead, glancing over her shoulder, her instincts obviously kicking in. Her tight neon blue mini-dress hampered her movements, but he could appreciate the outfit—the kind that curved in just under the ass. The woman had a hell of an ass. Too bad she tottered in five-inch heels and from what smelled like Fireball whiskey.
He opened his senses to the night and the universe, scenting what humans couldn’t even imagine. Yep. Fireball and tequila. Dangerous combination. Although a lingering smell, just under the surface, sped up his blood.
Woman. Fresh and clean . . . all woman.
The man ahead of him stank of body odor, dime store cologne, and cigarette smoke. And something else, something that made Kellach’s temples pound.
Damn it, hells fire, and motherfucker. The bastard had taken the drug. The human had somehow ingested the drug right under Kell’s nose.
Kell had hung out in the Seattle underground bar for nearly a week, and somehow, the dealer had gotten past him. No wonder the foul smelling human was hunting the woman. He wouldn’t be able to help himself.
She broke into a run, surprisingly agile on the heels. As she reacted to the imminent danger, she leaped over a mud puddle and turned down a barely lit alley.
Why the fuck did they always run down an alley? Shaking his head, Kellach increased his strides while the human male in front of him did the same. Idiot didn’t even know Kellach tracked him.
Dim light from the upper apartments filtered down through the fog to light barely light the way, although Kell could see fine in the dark.
The woman ran by two overflowing dumpsters, a couple garbage cans, a cardboard box housing a vagrant smelling like marijuana, and an odd arrangement of yellow flower pots perched on the back stoop of a porn shop. She reached the end of the alley blocked by a brick building and whirled around.
Gorgeous. Meager light shone down, highlighting a stunning face. Even with a ridiculous amount of blue eye shadow, pink blush, and bright red lipstick, she was a looker. Deep blue eyes, the color of the witching hour, stared out from a fine-boned face.
A woman like that not only didn’t belong in a fucking alley . . . she didn’t belong in the bar she’d just left.

She held his stare, a brave woman half his size. “But you’ve killed.”
His head lifted. He’d been a warrior for more than three centuries and lived through two immortal wars. Plus, he was an enforcer for the Coven Nine. “Aye. I’ve killed.”
She frowned. “You’re a soldier.”
“Aye.” He didn’t have to tell her with whom.
“With whom?” she asked.
He smiled, his fingers extending around to knead her neck. “Not your people, darlin’.”
“Why are you here, Kellach?” she breathed, her gaze dropping to his mouth.
He could give her that much. “I’m on assignment to find out about the drugs.”
“Why?” she asked.
Regret tightened his hold slightly. “I can no’ tell you that, but I can promise we’re working to end the drug’s production. To take it completely out of existence once I find the source.”
“That’s not good enough.”
Facing him, so brave, she provided a temptation he hadn’t felt in decades. Maybe longer than decades.
“It has to be.” He gave in to temptation and lowered his head, brushing his mouth across hers. Sweet. So damn fucking sweet. Knowing better, he began to move back, when she grabbed his chest and hauled him closer, her mouth working under his.
A roaring echoed through his head, and he was lost.
The second his lips touched hers, Lex forgot the case. Hell, she forgot everything.
His mouth overtook hers, firm and hot. He kissed her deep, his large hands holding her head in place, all fire and passion. She moaned deep in her throat, and his chest vibrated against her as if he fought to hold himself back.
He’d saved her life, and that meant something to her. She was so damn tired of fighting and of being alone. For once, she just wanted to feel.
One broad hand released her head and caressed down her spine to pull her into that hard body. Flush against him, she could feel every defined ridge, every powerful muscle. Her abdomen flared awake, and her sex softened. Even being held so tightly, she levered up on her wounded toes to kiss him deeper, to rub against him. Her nipples hardened to sharp points, and she rubbed them against his chest.
A growl lumbered up from him.
Heat somehow cascaded off him, hotter than normal.
He angled an arm around her waist and lifted her, his mouth releasing hers to nip along the side of her jaw to her ear. He bit gently, and a mini-explosion rocketed through her, pinpointed right at her sex. She slid her hands through that silky hair and wrapped her legs around his waist.
The hand at her nape turned, cupped her scalp, and drew back her head, firm and controlling in a way that dampened her panties.
His eyes had turned darker than midnight, and desire flushed deep under his cut cheekbones. “Alexandra.”
She panted out air. “What?”
“Are you sure?”
She liked that. A lot. Liked that he’d asked the question, when her body was on fire, and it’d be easy to get lost in passion. Unreal, combustible passion. “This is such a mistake.” She half-laughed and half-moaned the statement.
“Aye.” His eyes glittered, and he held them both still. “If you’re gonna make a mistake, make it a good one.”

** “If the Sins Brothers series had a fiery tryst with the Dark Protectors universe, they’d birth a story like Wicked Ride, where family ties matter most and the the things that go bump in the night are almost certainly never human. And oh are there some intriguing mate matches coming up in this new series—all promising saucy heroines, badass alpha warrior men, steamy sex, and yummy supernatural goodness.”  4 Stars – Davinci Kittie from GraveTells

** “Ms. Zanetti did not disappoint; Realm Enforcers is an exciting start to this new spin-off series.” 4.5 Stars  – Angela from Under the Covers Book Blog

** “Let me just say that the moment I started reading, I was instantly captivated with both Alexandra and Kellach. You can feel the pull through the story, between Kellack and Alexandra that was both thrilling and tense, in the most glorious way.”  5 Stars – Marie from Marie’s Tempting Reads

** “…Each character was unique and added a balance to the story that was needed and heartfelt at times. I just couldn’t get enough of Wicked Ride and am so excited for the next book.” 4 Stars – Addicted to Romance