Midnight Matings 13 Splash and Elegance (3 page)

“Well, you’re stuck with me for the next four years until the next gathering. Our mating bond will ensure that we have some kind of soul meld.”

“Okay.” Whitley nodded firmly. Then he stopped and tilted his head to the side. “What does that mean?”

“It means that we need to take care of each other because if one of us dies, we both do.”

“Oh.” That’s all he said, but the look on his face was so comical that Jude couldn’t help but laugh again. “Anything else?” There was something else, and it made Jude’s heart beat faster and his cock swell harder. He’d been fighting against the mating heat since the midnight toast, and after setting eyes on Whitley, it wasn’t getting any easier. While reading the next part of the mating requirements, he realized there was no reason for him to be fighting it.

In fact, he’d be better off if he didn’t.

“We have to consummate our mating at least once every twenty-four hours.” He hadn’t been expecting that, but he had no issues playing by those particular rules.

Whitley’s mouth dropped open, and he started shaking his head quickly. “That can’t be right. Read it again.” Instead of rereading the information, he passed the piece of parchment over to Whitley so that the man could see for himself. His brow wrinkled as his eyes darted across the page, and his lean frame began to tremble, making the paper rustle as it shook in his hand.

Obviously, Whitley was less than happy about what he was reading. While Jude had no problems taking the sexy shifter to his bed, he wouldn’t force himself where he wasn’t wanted. Although, if
Whitley didn’t agree, it was going to cause some big problems for both of them in more ways than one.

“We’ll go feral if we don’t? That’s not right.” Whitley dropped the sheet of paper to the floor, closed his eyes, and groaned. “I’m so sorry, Jude.”

“Why are you sorry?” As far as Jude could see, Whitley had nothing to apologize for. If everything went the way he hoped, he’d be thanking the guy.

Whitley didn’t seem very excited about having any type of intimate relationship with him. After questioning Jude’s sexual orientation and his subsequent comment about Jude being hot, he was pretty sure the man was gay. Maybe he wasn’t experienced when it came to sex. If that was the case, the idea of being forced into a relationship, and then being told that he had to put out every damn night could be extremely overwhelming.

“This isn’t fair to you,” Whitley whispered dejectedly.

“Excuse me?” Now Jude was completely lost. “I would say that this entire situation isn’t fair to anyone in this castle. None of us asked for this.”

“I know.” Whitley sighed and dropped his chin to his chest. “I just meant that it isn’t fair that you got stuck with me because Melody lied. You could have had anyone in that ballroom.”

“I don’t know about that.” Jude didn’t think he was any great prize, not the way Whitley was talking about him anyway. Besides, he hadn’t wanted anyone else in the ballroom. “Have you heard me complain?” What was with the almost nonexistent self-esteem?

Whitley was gorgeous, and he was sweet as pie, though a little depressing at times. Why did he have such a low opinion of himself?

“Why aren’t you complaining?”

Jude shrugged. “It wouldn’t do me any good. I’m not going to change the elders’ minds, so I might as well get over it. Being pissed off is just a waste of energy.” Did he have a clue how to be a mate
and share his life with someone? Not at all. He was a quick learner, though, and he could fake it until he got it right.

“That’s not what I meant.” Whitley sighed and waved a hand around. “Never mind. So, I guess the next question is where do we go from here?”

“Well, you met my dad. I doubt I’d be welcomed at home.”

“You still live with your dad?”

It was a reasonable question considering his age, but Jude bristled at the comment. “It’s complicated,” he answered tightly. That was another thing he was going to have to talk to Whitley about, but not yet. He needed more time before he revealed all of his secrets. “So, where do you live?”

“Virginia Beach with my family.” He gave Jude a sly grin. “I didn’t mean that comment the way it sounded as you can see. I was just curious because he seems like a dick. No offense.” Jude felt like a heel. “No, no, I’m sorry I got all grumbly. He is a certifiable asshole, but I have my reasons for sticking around.”

“Well, I hope you feel comfortable enough sharing them with me some day.”

“I will, just not yet.” Still, it was refreshing to know that Whitley wasn’t going to badger him for information. Everything about him surprised Jude, and a small part of him began to feel guilty. It would have been so much better if Whitley was as much of a bastard as his father.

“So, who’s Carter?”

“Just someone I know,” Jude answered shortly.

“Is he…Do you love him?”

“I do, but not like you’re thinking.” Jude paused, deciding how much to reveal. “He’s my little brother,” he said quietly. Just thinking about the teenager made his heart hurt.

“I see,” Whitley responded slowly. “Um, not to pry, but is he going to be okay with your dad? I wasn’t trying to listen in, but you
two were arguing pretty loudly, and I got the impression that your father wasn’t very fond of him.”

“It’s a long story that I’d rather not get into right now. Carter will be fine.” God, Jude hoped the kid would be okay until he could get him out of his father’s house.

“I won’t ask any more questions, but know that I’m willing to help you if you need it.”

“Thank you.” It made him feel strangely warm on the inside to know that Whitley had his back, even though they’d only met a few minutes previously. It also made him realize that his plan to free Carter wasn’t going to be as hard as he thought.

“My freaking skin is going to melt off.” Whitley wiggled around in his seat and scratched at his arms. Then his hand wandered down to press against the very noticeable bulge between his thighs, and Jude couldn’t stop the groan that rose up in his chest and spilled through his slightly parted lips.

Worrying about his brother had distracted him from the fire burning in his body as the mating heat worked its way through him.

Now that Whitley had brought the issue to the forefront of his mind once more, Jude could think of nothing but sinking his aching cock into his mate’s perfectly shaped ass and riding it hard. Not exactly romantic of him, but he was losing the grasp on his control quickly.

“You didn’t seem very enthusiastic about having sex with me. Do you have much experience?” He hadn’t meant to be quite so blunt about it, but there really wasn’t any easy way around the question. At the rate the mating heat was consuming him, he needed to know up front so he could be extra careful with the man if it was his first time.

“Not a lot,” Whitley admitted, still rubbing his hard-on through his jeans. “I’m not a virgin, but I don’t sleep around, either.” He sounded almost ashamed of the fact, but the information only pushed Jude’s lust higher.
While he might not be the first or only man to know the pleasure of Whitley’s lithe body, he was glad that the man respected himself enough to not allow people to use him like a cheap hooker.

“Look at me.”

Whitley kept his head ducked and his eyes averted. That wouldn’t do at all. How was Jude supposed to convince the man out of his clothes if he wouldn’t even look at him? “Whitley, I said look at me.” His head snapped up and a sexy shiver vibrated his body.

Interesting.
Jude hadn’t meant to growl at his mate the way he had, but if it garnered that kind of reaction, he wasn’t above using it to his advantage.

“Stand up.” Jude spoke quietly, but laced his words with authority so that Whitley would know he meant business.

The same as before, Whitley shuddered and rose to his feet as though on autopilot. He stood rooted to the spot, his arms stiff at his sides, looking right into Jude’s eyes.

“Come here.” Whitley glided across the floor with a grace Jude could never hope to imitate and stopped right in front of him where he lounged in the armchair.

Jude had never been particularly dominant before. He didn’t really care who was in charge in or out of the bedroom as long as he got a say in what was going on. Whitley seemed to calm at Jude’s commands, but it was more as though he retreated into himself than that he was getting any real pleasure from it.

“Whitley, if you don’t want this, you need to tell me now. I know what the mating instructions say, but I’m not going to force you.”

“I want this,” Whitley mumbled unconvincingly.

“I don’t believe you.”

“I do want you,” he said with only slightly more conviction. “Just look at you. How could I not? I just…” He trailed off and dropped his head again. “I don’t want to disappoint you.” Someone had worked his mate over good. Jude didn’t know who it was or what had happened, but there was definitely a story there.
“I’m going to let you in on a little secret, Whit.” Jude didn’t miss the way the man’s eyes lit up at the nickname, but he chose to ignore it for the time being. “It doesn’t matter what you do or how skilled you are at it. As long as you’re doing it naked, I can’t possibly be disappointed.”

Whitley didn’t laugh, but he did smile crookedly, and the tense set of his shoulders eased a bit. “Tell me what to do.” Jude had heard those words before, and they were usually intended as a form of seduction. His bed partners wanted to know what he liked and how he liked it. Whitley’s request had sounded more like a plea, as though he would wander off the edge of a cliff if he wasn’t given the proper direction. There was something about him that just screamed, “Handle with care.”

“Jude?” Whitley’s voice quavered on the one word. Jude’s lack of response was obviously making him nervous and doubtful.

He couldn’t do it. There was just no way he could treat his mate like a piece of property or a rent boy. Pushing up to his feet, he took Whitley’s hand and tugged him toward the door. He didn’t know what kind of relationships Whitley had been in previously, but they couldn’t have been healthy. More guilt swamped him at the knowledge, but what was done was done, and he couldn’t change anything now.

Jude understood that some people craved the discipline and structure of a D/s relationship, but something about Whitley’s demeanor and attitude made him think that wasn’t the case for his mate. In fact, he had a feeling that the man’s behavior stemmed more from a defense mechanism than any real desire to be dominated.

“Where are we going?” Whitley asked softly as they made their way along one of the many corridors in the castle. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No, Whit. You didn’t do anything wrong.” Jude kept walking, and his hand tightened around Whitley’s in reassurance, even as he berated himself mentally for all the ways he’d already screwed up in the twenty minutes since they’d met. It wasn’t supposed to be this way! “I did.”

Chapter Three

Whitley didn’t know what he’d done wrong, but Jude didn’t seem very happy with him. He’d done exactly what his other lovers had always demanded of him—keep his mouth shut and do what the hell he was told.

He didn’t pay much attention to anything besides the floor as Jude led him through the maze of hallways in the castle, finally lifting his head when the man stopped in front of him. “This is my room,” Jude informed him before stepping inside and motioning for Whitley to follow him.

Whitley nodded in acknowledgement that he understood, though Jude hadn’t technically asked him a question. He wanted to ask why they were there, but he couldn’t make his mouth work to form the words. His lips were dry, his stomach was in knots, and his heart beat a rapid staccato against his ribs. Though he was nervous and apprehensive, his dick still throbbed painfully inside his jeans, and his body burned like liquid fire, engulfing and consuming him.

“Are you okay?” Jude asked as he unknotted his tie and pulled it from around his neck. Unbuttoning his shirt next, he slipped it off his shoulders to expose his bare chest, and it was all Whitley could do not to whimper like a slut.

It took him a moment to process what Jude had asked him. He still couldn’t make his mouth work, though, so he just gave weird half shake-half nod that probably looked more like he had an involuntary twitch more than anything. The ache in his dick radiated outward until it enveloped his entire body, and even the light weight of his clothes against his skin was painful.
He’d idly wondered how the mating heat could force them to go feral, but he didn’t have to guess any longer. If he didn’t soothe the burn soon, he was going to lose his damn mind.

“Whit?” How the hell could Jude speak so calmly? Wasn’t he experiencing the same effects as Whitley? Couldn’t he feel his insides boiling and his skin sizzling? “Whitley, you’re shaking.” Jude took a step closer to him and reached out as though to place his hand on Whitley’s shoulder.

Whitley jumped back like Jude’s hand was a poisonous snake and shook his head rapidly. “Don’t,” he pleaded. One touch and he’d probably go off like a Roman candle.

Jude studied him for a long time before completely ignoring his plea and cupping the side of his face. The man’s touch was like a soothing aloe, and some of the heat ebbed as Whitley moaned and rubbed his face over his mate’s palm.

“How bad is it, Whit?”

“It hurts,” Whitley confessed. “Can’t you feel it?”

“I feel it.” Jude nodded slowly. “I don’t think I’m feeling it like you are, though. Let me help you.”

Before Whitley could agree or deny, Jude’s other palm pressed against his straining erection through the denim and massaged his throbbing cock. Whitley’s hips bucked, and his eyes rolled back in his head.

“Shhh,” Jude cooed to him as he expertly popped the button on Whitley’s pants and lowered his zipper with ease. His long, warm fingers reached into Whitley’s boxers and encircled his cock, squeezing it lightly as he extracted it from its confinement. He stepped closer, crowding Whitley’s personal space, and bent to whisper in his ear. “I’ve got you, Whit. Let me give you what you need.”

His grip tightened around Whitley’s hard length, and he stroked him twice before Whitley erupted like a geyser, clutching at Jude’s
shoulders and shooting pearly ropes of cum all over the man’s expensive-looking slacks.