Splash and Elegance (MM)
Midnight Matings

Professional Reviews

4.5 STARS: "Being forced to mate is one thing, but to be deceived by the one person you fall in love with is unforgivable, isn't it? Whitley Turner is that lonely person in the corner praying no one notices him. He’s smart and beyond kind but has been treated poorly by his family his entire life. Pretty sad situation. He doesn’t see his attractiveness or self-worth. So when the council calls a meeting for all unmated paranormals to attend he jumps at the chance to have a reprieve from his own family. But a weekend of freedom away from his parents takes a life changing turn when he gets accidently mated to the sexiest man he’s ever seen. Whitley soon discovers looks can be deceiving and just because you want something bad enough doesn’t mean it’s meant to be. Jude Chambers is a good guy but he’s in a race against time to save someone he loves. He sets out to use Whitley to get what he wants but after meeting the swan shifter his motivation of hate and deception changes. He’s thrown for a double loop when his feelings toward Whitley begin to grow. But with those growing feelings come his own shame, which is understandable. He did trick poor Whitley, but there was a good reason for the trickery. It was hard not to judge Jude too harshly but when his motivation becomes clear no one could blame him for his scheming. I found myself rooting for this couple. Their problems stem from poor choices and lack of communication, not absence of love. Whitley is so used to rejection from others; he just naturally expects the same treatment from Jude. Jude wants to tear down the walls Whitley has built around himself but he doesn’t have the time, someone is counting on him and he has to move forward with the plan. The story kicks into high gear when Whitley is abducted. Jude has to decide is what he fought so hard to save worth giving up to get his mate back. It was fast paced do or die time for the characters and this author was able to get across what was at stake. Emotions ran high and I started reading faster so see what would happen next. The Midnight Matings Series is just fantastic and Ms. Evans brings her own spin to these forced matings. Pairing a swan with an orca whale is comical but that’s just a small piece of the story. This tale dives deeper into the characters' human emotions and what they would risk for those they love. Splash and Elegance was pure entertainment from beginning to end. Those who follow the Midnight Matings series would definitely take a liking to this addition. As the others, Splash and Elegance can be read as a standalone, but the whole series it worth a read. I highly recommend!" -- Coreopsis, Long and Short Reviews

"Everyone assembled in the ballroom at this year’s great Gathering is stunned when the Elders make their announcement. The Elders are tired of the constant squabbles and problems between their people. Their answer is to cast a spell forcing everyone to mate. They have twenty-four hours to complete their mating or they will turn feral and be hunted down, then executed. Watching an argument between a father and son, swan shifter Whitley Turner is figuring out his next move after the Elders edict. Tricked by the pretty woman next to him Whitley somehow ends up mated to the argumentative son, Jude Chambers, an orca shifter of all things. Their mating goes well but everything after that is fishy because Jude is in desperate need of help and it seems that Whitley is exactly the man who can help. It turns out that Jude is trying to rescue his younger brother from the clutches of their father. Of course Whitley will do what he can to help his mate, but as time goes on he begins to doubt Jude’s honesty towards him. Something isn’t quite right. The passion is real however everything else points to treachery…by Jude. Splash and Elegance is yet another fresh and captivating tale in the Midnight Matings series. Whitley is everything a person could want in a mate. Jude on the other hand is a decent guy but he’s put in a difficult position and he doesn’t always make the right choice, which becomes disastrous for his relationship with Whitley. More action packed than usual for this series, nonetheless the plotline is strong and the emotions run high. Sexy and savvy, Splash and Elegance is a great addition." -- Lisa, Joyfully Reviewed

Excerpt

Story Excerpt

“I’m not going to pick some random girl to spend the rest of eternity with,” the younger man responded with a stubborn set to his jaw.

“I’m not talking about some random girl, and you know it. We’ve discussed this. Now find her and get your ass up there!”

Someone eased onto the bench beside him, but Whitley couldn’t take his eyes off the arguing men. Well, more to the point, he couldn’t take his eyes off the son. If there had ever been a more perfect example of male beauty outside paintings and sculptures, he’d yet to have seen it.

Dark brown hair, smooth, tan skin, a sexy five-o’clock shadow, and oh, what big muscles the man had. They moved fluidly, flexing and bunching in all the right places as he waved his arms around to emphasize the point he was trying to make.

Too bad he was apparently straight. Not that he’d want to be saddled with Whitley even if he wasn’t, but a guy could dream.

“He doesn’t sound very happy,” a feminine voice whispered next to his ear, causing him to jump.

“Oh, uh, no, I guess he doesn’t.”

“I’m Melody.” She held her dainty hand out to Whitley.

He took it carefully and gave it a perfunctory squeeze before releasing it quickly.

“Why are you just sitting here instead of hunting down a mate? You heard what the elders said.”

“I could ask you the same thing,” he countered.

Melody sighed and folded her hands in her lap, causing her ample breasts to push together. “I guess you’re right. I don’t want to be mated to any of these idiots, though. Just look at them.” She dipped her head, letting her long dark hair fall over one eye, and indicated the chaos going on around the room.

“You’re very beautiful.” She was, too—for a girl. She was slim, but with curves in all the places most men adored. Her dark brown, almond-shaped eyes were what drew Whitley in, though. They looked kind, but also a little sad. “I’m sure you could find someone who’s not a complete barbarian.” Whitley scanned the room, hoping to find someone he could point out to prove his point.

As luck would have it, he spotted a very handsome man leaning against one of the floor-to-ceiling pillars, staring right at Melody with so much longing in his eyes it almost hurt to see. “What about him?”

Melody followed his gaze and smiled sadly. “That’s Shane. He’s gorgeous, isn’t he? Our families would never allow it, though.”

“Well, it seems to me that you have the perfect excuse now. Blame it on the elders.”

She seemed to think it over for a minute before nodding firmly and rising to her feet. “Thank you…”

“Whitley. Whitley Turner, and you’re very welcome. Go get your prince, Melody. You seem nice, and you deserve to be happy.”

“Yes, I do,” she said firmly and squared her shoulders. Then she bent at the waist and placed a soft kiss on Whitley’s cheek. “So do you, Whitley. Good luck finding your mate.”

She turned to walk away, but made it only a couple of steps before the older of the arguing pair grabbed her around the upper arm and began marching her toward the raised platform where the elders were sitting.

“Let go of me!” she demanded, wiggling and jerking to get free of his grip.

“There you are,” the man said with a satisfied smile before turning to his son. “Take her up there and put your names in the fucking book!”

“No. Let her go, Father.”

Whitley looked around them, unsurprised to find Shane making his way through the crowd with an angry scowl on his face.

“You’ll take her as a mate, or you’ll never see Carter again. It’ll take just one phone call. You know I can do it.”

Whitley didn’t know who Carter was, but judging by the reddening of the younger man’s face, he was someone very important. The situation was spiraling out of control quickly, and Whitley hoped like hell that Shane would get there soon to rescue Melody and diffuse things.

His hopes died a quick death, though, when some man went sailing through the air and tackled Shane to the ground. Before he could regain his feet, two women pounced on him and began pawing at his clothes.

“Damn it, Jude! Just do what you’re told.”

The father and son glared at each other for a tense moment before Jude jerked his head in what Whitley took to be agreement and followed his father and a still-struggling Melody up onto the dais.

He should probably stay out of it, but Whitley couldn’t stop himself from following. Surely someone would put a stop to this. The elders weren’t going to let them force this girl into a mating she didn’t want. Right?

“My son would like to record his mating.”

“Name?” an elder asked, looking up at them with a bored expression.

Whitley moved closer to the platform so he could hear, but checked over his shoulder for Shane. Breathing a sigh of relief when he found the man back on his feet and making his way toward them like a charging rhino, Whitley turned back to the couple in front of him.

“Jude Chambers,” Jude ground out through his clenched teeth.

“And your name?” the elder asked Melody.

She winced when Jude’s father’s fingers tightened around her arm, digging into her skin. He apparently knew her because he opened his mouth to say something, but Melody cut him off by jerking out of his hold and shoving him roughly. “I can speak for myself,” she said with a slight growl.

Whitley didn’t know what he expected, but it certainly wasn’t what happened next. Melody looked right into the elder’s eyes, and lied like a fucking bitch. “Whitley Turner.”

Adult Excerpt

“Stop thinking so hard,” Jude said quietly, as though reading his mind. He straddled Whitley’s thighs again and slipped his warm hands under the hem of Whitley’s shirt to caress the flat expanse of his stomach.

Then very slowly, he worked the material up Whitley’s chest and, with a little help, pulled it over his head and tossed it to the side. Once fully divested of his clothing, Whitley felt exposed, and not in a good way. It didn’t help that Jude was just staring at him. He couldn’t decipher the look he was receiving, and only hoped he measured up to his mate’s expectations.

“You’re beautiful,” Jude whispered as he stretched out over Whitley and brushed his fingertips over his hip bone. Then his fingers walked up Whitley’s torso and gently wrapped around his wrist, pulling his arm away from his chest. “Don’t hide from me.”

Whitley hadn’t even realized he’d been doing just that. He knew he wasn’t much to look at—certainly nothing like Jude. Every part of the man was utter perfection from the tip of his spiky hair to the bottom of his long toes. How could Whitley ever compare to that?

“You’re doing it again,” Jude chastised him. “I guess I’m going to have to distract you to get you to stop thinking everything into the ground.” With that, he palmed Whitley’s aching cock and stroked him from root to tip several times.

Whitley moaned and dropped his head back to the mattress as his hips arched up to slide his throbbing dick through Jude’s too-loose grasp. Somewhere in his lust-addled brain he heard the soft snick of a bottle cap, but he couldn’t be bothered with things like that when Jude’s hands on him felt so good.

Jude nudged his legs wider, and Whitley complied automatically, spreading his thighs and even going as far as to bend his knees and plant his feet on the mattress. He might not be able to think straight, but his body knew what it wanted and responded accordingly.

Then a slippery finger skimmed over his perineum and down the crease of his ass to circle his clenching hole. “Please!” he begged as his body shuddered and his entire world narrowed down to the nudge of his mate’s finger against his entrance.

Carefully, Jude’s digit worked its way inside his spasming channel and began a slow glide meant to torture and tease. That’s how Whitley saw it anyway. Everything felt so amazing, but he needed more.

“Let go and stop thinking,” Jude ordered just before his mouth crashed down on Whitley’s again and his tongue plunged inside to explore and pillage the depths of his mouth. Whitley’s brain short-circuited, and he barely noticed when Jude inserted a second finger into his ass.

“Jude, please! Fuck me!” Whitley cried as he wrenched his mouth away and fisted his hands in the blankets beneath him.

A sharp pinch and a subtle burn accompanied the addition of a third finger into his needy hole. Jude pumped lazily, sawing his finger in and out as his mouth traveled along the column of Whitley’s throat and over his collarbone.

Just when Whitley thought he’d die if things didn’t move along, Jude’s finger eased out of his tunnel, leaving him feeling empty and unsatisfied. He was back just as quickly though, positioning himself between Whitley’s thighs as he slicked his long, thick cock.

Bracing one hand beside Whitley’s head, Jude leaned over him and paused with the crown of his dick barely brushing against Whitley’s hole. “Deep breath, baby.”

No one had ever called him by an endearment, much as no one had ever given him a nickname. Whitley wished he could enjoy it more, but right then, all he wanted was that gorgeous dick buried deep inside him. So, he did as instructed, sucking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly.

Jude stared into his eyes as he surged forward, impaling Whitley on his cock until he was sheathed to the root. Whitley’s eyes went wide, and he began to pant in earnest at the intense burn. God, he felt like he’d split in two. His inner walls strained as they stretched to maximum capacity to accommodate the massive girth of all ten inches of Jude’s shaft.

“Relax,” Jude coaxed, caressing Whitley’s chest with his palm. “Just relax and breathe.” He began a slow glide, pulling all the way out and slowly easing back in to the base. He did it several times, taking his time and allowing Whitley to adjust.

On the third inward stroke, the pain began to subside, and an intense, overwhelming pleasure took its place. Whitley reached up, curled his arms around Jude’s neck, and pulled the man down on top of him.

He couldn’t explain it, but he wanted to be as close to Jude as possible without crawling right inside his skin. Thankfully, his lover didn’t seem to mind, because he slid one hand under Whitley’s hips and lifted him off the mattress, holding him securely to his chest as he continued to thrust into his body again and again.

Whitley held on for dear life as electricity snapped and sizzled down his spine and his balls drew tight to his body, aching with his need for release. “Harder,” he whispered breathlessly.

Taking him at his word, Jude increased the pace, slamming into Whitley’s channel as he jerked his hips up on every thrust, burying his cock as deeply as possible. “Are you going to come for me again, Whit? Or are you going to make me work for it?” The words came out choppy and panted against his ear, but Whitley responded as though it had been a forceful command.