Fire and Ash (MM)
Midnight Matings

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Midnight Matings

112 Ratings

Avg - 4.5

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Professional Reviews

4 STARS: "Midnight Matings book 3 is FIRE AND ASH, and this is the first couple with a non-shifter member in the series. It's also only the second book I have read about a Phoenix shifter. Being a fan of Ms. Evans' writing, I came into this book with high expectations and was very pleased that she delivered. Zaiden and Asher were a complex but fun couple to read about. What do you do when the Elders of your race set down an ironclad decree that you have to find and claim a mate in the next 24 hours and that mate has to be of a different species? Run like Hell! What both Zaiden, a sprite, and Asher, a phoenix, don't realize is that the Elder's anticipated this, and have placed guards at the exits and sealed the castle with a spell. No mating mark, no leaving. Being physically attracted to each other, they decide to pass the time having sex and accidentally mate each other. Apparently you can have sex with a sprite, but if you kiss them you are mated. Since this was the only way out of the castle the two go with it, have the mating recognized and say their good-byes. After Asher returns to Mexico, he finds himself thinking of Zaiden and missing the man terribly. When that longing turns painful, he calls Zaiden and they discover that one of the rules of the mating is, it has to be consummated every 24 hours or they will go feral. With only hours to spare, Asher flies to Zaiden. Now that the couple is back together, they have to try and make a life together. But they both have secrets and trusting isn't easy for either of them. One secret might just cost them both their lives. Of the first three books in the series, this had the most developed characters and the strongest story line. They may be a paranormal couple but they are dealing with a very real issue in trust. While they have the sexual chemistry, building their relationship past that isn't easy or quick. Zaiden has some magical issues he has to deal with that make trusting even harder for him. And Asher is trying to adapt to a new country and trying to build a new life. Oh, and by the way, I am NEVER going shopping with Asher! LOL. The world that these three authors have created has some set rules but each couple has their own unique problems and hurdles that they have to overcome. I am excited to see what they have in store for us next." -- Tyra, The Romance Reviews

Excerpt

STORY EXCERPT

Zaiden bit the inside of his cheek to keep from groaning as his eyes locked on the tight little ass he followed. The man’s bare back glistened with a fine sheen of sweat, the muscles bunching and flexing as he swung his arms. It had taken Zaiden a full minute to realize the person heaped on the floor had been a man. That was one hot little birdy.

“So, you’re a phoenix, right? I’ve heard of your kind, but I’ve never met one.”

“Yeah, we’re rare, and most of us went into hiding when the Great War started.” He looked over his shoulder and smiled. “I’m Asher by the way, Asher Deacon.”

“Zaiden Reed.”

Asher led the way down a long stone hallway, presumably heading toward the exit. Hell, the castle was so huge, and even though this wasn’t his first gathering, Zaiden still got lost more times than not.

The front door came into view as they rounded the corner, and two guards stepped forward as they approached. “You’ve mated?”

“Uh, sure,” Asher said with a bright smile.

“I need to see your mating mark.”

“Uh, it’s on my ass,” Asher countered, still smiling.

“Then drop your pants.”

“That’s my mate you’re talking to,” Zaiden sneered as he stepped forward and pushed Asher behind him. If they were going to play this game, he might as well go all out.

“Rules are rules.” The guard shrugged. “I need to see a mating mark.”

Before Zaiden could speak again, a ball of fire flew past him and hit the first guard in the chest, crumpling him to the floor. The other guard advanced, and Zaiden swung out, connecting solidly with his jaw and sending the man to the ground beside his partner.

Whirling around, he poked a finger in Asher’s chest. “Warn a guy next time, would ya?”

Asher just shrugged and winked before pushing past him and running toward the door. The next thing, Zaiden knew, the little man was flung backward, rolling ass over head until he sprawled at Zaiden’s feet.

“Well, fuck me sideways,” Asher groaned as he sat up. “A damn barrier enchantment.”

“So, we have to have the mating seal before we can pass through it.” Zaiden nodded. He didn’t like it, but it made sense. The elders were smart.

“So, now what?”

Zaiden shook his head as he helped Asher to his feet. “You’ve got me.” A tingle started where their hands met, racing up his arm, and spreading throughout his body. “I can feel the mating heat starting, though.”

Asher reached down to readjust the impressive bulge behind his zipper and groaned. “Yeah, same here.”

“So, as you said—what now?”

Asher looked him up and down as he smirked. “Nice shoes. Wanna fuck?”

Zaiden echoed Asher’s earlier groan as he grabbed the man around the wrist and practically dragged him down the hall and toward his room in the wing the elders had designated for the fae.

Asher chuckled breathlessly as he jogged along behind Zaiden. “Do you even know where you’re going?”

Zaiden came to a sudden stop as he reached a four-way intersection. He looked right, then left, then right again. He didn’t have a clue which way to go. His cock throbbed inside his jeans, pressing against his zipper and begging for a little playtime with the delectable morsel still clutched in his hand.

Crap! He didn’t recognize anything, didn’t know how many turns they’d made on the way toward the front doors. “Point the way,” he growled. His skin felt itchy and heated, beads of sweat broke out across his forehead, and lightning bolts of pure lust slammed into him with every breath he took.

“Do I look like a fucking bloodhound to you?” Asher scoffed, arching an eyebrow and jerking his hand away.

“I could care less if you were a purple reindeer. I intend to have you naked and screaming my name in about three minutes. If you want to do that in the middle of this hallway, that’s fine by me.” Zaiden’s voice flowed harsh and feral. The mating heat overwhelmed him, and his mind swirled with a lusty haze he couldn’t shake off.

Saliva pooled in his mouth as he watched Asher’s lithe body tremble before him. Long black hair with pure white streaks, pale creamy skin, and the most gorgeous amber eyes Zaiden had ever seen—Asher was his every fantasy come to life.

Adult Excerpt

They looked at each other for a moment before Asher launched himself at Zaiden, locking his arms around Zaiden’s neck and attacking his mouth like a starving man. Stumbling toward the back door of his house, Zaiden groaned as Archer humped against him, grinding their diamond-hard erections together.

“Need you,” Asher panted against his lips once Zaiden managed to get them safely into his dimly lit kitchen.

Zaiden’s blood boiled at having the man in his arms, recognizing Asher as his mate and demanding they find a flat surface and soon. “I know, baby. Just hold on. I’m going to fix this.” The endearment rolled off his tongue without thought, and Zaiden found he didn’t care.

Setting his lover on the counter, Zaiden continued to lay claim to his luscious mouth as he fumbled blindly for the olive oil dispenser behind Asher.

“Hurry,” Asher whispered. He trailed his lips down Zaiden’s neck, biting at the sensitive flesh, then slipping his tongue out to soothe the slight burn.

Wrapping his fingers around the glass bottle, Zaiden drizzled the slick oil into his palm and quickly coated his jutting cock. He gripped Asher’s hips, jerking him forward until his ass hung off the edge of the counter.

“I don’t know if I can be gentle,” he warned.

“I don’t care. I need you in me.”

Zaiden eased his slippery fingers between his lover’s rounded globes and stroked his fluttering opening, relaxing the muscles before pushing in with two fingers.

Asher cried out, tossing his head back and rocking against the invading digits. “More, Zaiden. I need more.”

“Shh, baby. I’m working here.” Zaiden scrunched his eyebrows together as he concentrated on stretching the muscles that clamped down around his fingers. “Relax, Asher. Take a deep breath.”

Zaiden’s head swam, and his muscles quivered as he used every last resource in his arsenal to hang on to his fraying control. Asher’s hole began to open for him, and he slipped in a third finger, sawing in and out of the velvet-lined entrance.

“Enough. Now, please,” Asher begged. He pushed up on the counter, supporting his weight with only his arms as he thrust against Zaiden’s hand. “Zaiden, please, oh fuck, please. It hurts.”

“Okay. Okay, baby,” Zaiden said shakily. He eased his fingers from Asher’s tunnel, gripped his straining cock, and nudged against his mate’s opening. Rocking his hips as gently as he could, he worked the engorged head past the guarding muscles as he slowly penetrated his eager lover.

Asher pushed back against him, impaling himself on Zaiden’s prick in one fast, hard motion. Zaiden moaned loudly, gripping the man’s hips and holding on for dear life as his orgasm barreled down on him.

“Down and dirty, Zaiden. Fuck me like you mean it,” Asher demanded.

Taking his lover as his word, Zaiden began a punishing rhythm, slamming into Asher’s welcoming body again and again. “Can’t last. You feel goddamn amazing.” Zaiden lifted Asher higher, slamming home over and over.

“Gonna,” Asher panted raggedly.

“Do it. Come for me, my little bird. Show me you belong to me."