Midlife Dragon Brothers (Midlife Shifters Book 11)

by J. L. Wilder

  “Never said that.”

  Maggie felt like stomping her foot. “Sawyer, I know what you’re doing.”

  He turned down the sidewalk towards Sasha’s and shook his head. “I’m not doing anything at all.”

  She growled and a puff of smoke escaped her lips. Instantly embarrassed, she slapped her hand over her mouth and glared at him. That was his fault. He was pushing her.

  He just kept walking. “You’re just different now. You kept your shit together and you don’t react on your gut instincts. That’s great.”

  She hurried after him. “Yeah, it is! I’m doing great. I’ve made great changes.”

  “So, you’re not that teenage girl all these people remember?”

  She stopped. “Hey. Don’t do that. Don’t try to confuse me.”

  He grinned back at her. “I’m just saying, you can’t hold onto all that shit from your past when you’ve clearly grown up, Maggie. I hope you didn’t erase all of that girl from the past, though, because she was great, too. I’m willing to bet that all versions of you are great.”

  She fell into step beside him and they walked farther in silence. When Sasha’s house was in view, she stopped again and sighed. “I don’t know. A few days ago, I would’ve said that I was a different woman, completely, but being back here...it doesn’t seem like much has changed.”

  Sawyer looked down at Milo and stroked his soft cheeks. “Can’t say that it’s all that bad. If you hadn’t come back here before and met up with Maverick, this little guy wouldn’t be here.”

  She nodded. “And he’s saving you from losing the alpha spot.”

  With a low growl, Sawyer captured her chin and lifted her face to his. “That’s nice, sure, but I’m not an asshole, Maggie. I’m the same guy who used to sprint across town to make sure you didn’t walk home alone at night, the same guy who would’ve walked into fire for you, so don’t do that. Don’t pretend like all I care about is the alpha spot. You should know better than that.”

  Her heart raced, and she couldn’t take her eyes off of his. How could he say those words and still expect her to stay in control? It was like he was speaking directly to her dragon, directly to that wild core of hers that was weak to him. “You have a girlfriend.”

  He let out a bark of laughter and lowered his voice. “I had a woman that I fucked to try to save this clan from falling into the clutches of two idiots. Not a girlfriend. Not anyone who could ever take your—”

  She leaned closer when he cut himself off. Her emotions were going wild. She was angry that he was telling her he’d screwed someone else, but he was also saying way more than that. “What? Take my what, Sawyer?”

  He shook his head and backed away. “Nothing.”

  That anger grew as they moved up the steps to Sasha’s front door. Maggie let them in and thought of how he thought she was so much different and how she was so in control. She felt more out of control than she could stand, so he was very wrong about that. She wanted to show him, to make him feel what he did to her. There was turmoil in her from just being around him and he wanted to push her buttons and say things that he couldn’t finish? She couldn’t stand it.

  Sasha sat in the living room with Aubrey when they walked in, her face a mask of surprise. “I take it the meeting went well.”

  “They sniffed him, said he stinks like Maverick, and ta-da, we have three Walker alphas.”

  Sasha’s eyebrows went into her hairline. “Someone is in a great mood.”

  Sawyer smiled at Sasha and Aubrey. “Might be my fault. I’ll just drop this little guy off with you ladies and be on my way. There’s always work to be done at the sawmill, so I’ll just get to it.”

  Maggie glared at him. “I don’t think so. We’re not done talking.”

  “Oh, hell.” Sasha came over and took Milo. “Take it outside, you two.”

  Gladly, Maggie thought. She grabbed Sawyer’s arm and pulled him outside with her. Telling herself that she didn’t want people to hear them argue, she kept walking around the back of the house, into the woods, and farther down by the small creek that ran around the north side of the town.

  “Is there a reason you’re dragging me halfway through the mountain? If you’re just going to shout at me about whatever I said wrong, we could’ve done it back—”

  Maggie turned around and shoved him into the trunk of a tree before kissing him. She hadn’t meant to kiss him, but she was angry and her dragon was all but moaning for Sawyer. It was too much. She needed...something. So she pressed her body into his and kissed him hard. With her hands around his neck and a growl in her throat, she bit his lip and stroked her tongue into his mouth when he growled back at her. It was rough and bruising, but she needed that.

  Sawyer surprised her by spinning her around and pushing her into the tree while gripping her thighs and lifting her legs to wrap around his waist. He ground his erection against her as he took control of the kiss. With his hands full of her ass, he stroked her tongue with his and devoured her anger with his hunger until she forgot that she was mad and just wanted him to never stop kissing her.

  He smelled so good, and he tasted even better. He filled her senses until she wasn’t sure where he ended. She moaned as he took her mouth and locked her arms around his neck, not wanting him to stop. She was lost to him.

  Sawyer thrust his hips against hers, creating a tension between her thighs that made her dizzy with need. She tried to reach between them to fumble with his pants, but he was already there. Keeping her pinned with his body, he rushed through opening his pants and pulling himself out. Maggie yanked at her skirt until she had it over her thighs and then he was pulling her panties to the side and thrusting into her in one powerful stroke.

  She threw her head back and screamed, her entire body tensing and releasing as an orgasm tumbled through her. Sawyer gripped her ass again and kissed up her throat, pulling her back down to him.

  “Fucking hell, Mags.” His gravel-filled voice saying the words he always spoke when inside of her set her on fire. He was there, driving his hips into her, kissing her fiercely, stoking that fire.

  She held onto his broad shoulders, dug her nails into his back, and bit his chin and neck whenever he wasn’t kissing her. She was burning up for him.

  He drove his cock into her harder and faster, the sounds of their sex filling the woods around them. His growls were savage and her moans were louder with every hard drive of his shaft into her core. The trunk of the tree dug into her back, her ass slammed into it with each thrust, but she needed it.

  As he worked her to another orgasm, she licked the lobe of his ear and moaned. “Make me come, Saw. I’m so close.”

  He gripped a handful of her hair and pulled her head back. Licking the bottom of her chin, he met her lust-filled gaze with glowing eyes. “Come for me, Maggie. Come on my cock right now.”

  Her core clenched down on his shaft and then she was coming, flying high as pleasure rolled through her. She might’ve screamed his name, but she wasn’t sure. She just felt everything. Her vision blurred at the edges as the orgasm stretched out when he slammed into her once more and growled out her name. His seed flooded her and she pulsed around him.

  Waves of wild pleasure rolled over her and gradually grew smaller. She wasn’t sure how much time passed, just that she was suddenly aware of an allover ache and the fact that her muscles were cramping from how tightly she was holding onto Sawyer.

  She slowly forced herself to let go of him as he gently pulled out of her and lowered her to her feet. She stayed still as he adjusted her panties and ran his hands down her thighs before rearranging his own clothing.

  “Fuck, Maggie.” He braced his hands on either side of her head and looked her over. “That. That’s what I’ve never been able to forget. Jesus Christ, it’s never been like that with anyone else. Just one more reason why no one’s ever been able to take your fucking place.”

  She melted into him as he kissed her again, her lips sore, but she couldn’t find
it in her to care. Reality poked at the back of her head, but she ignored it. She just wanted to pretend like things were normal for a minute.

  “Come on. Let’s get you home.”

  She sighed and stumbled a bit when she tried to walk, her legs unwilling to participate. A silly giggle escaped her lips. “Whoops.”

  Sawyer chuckled and then bent down in front of her. “On my back, like old times.”

  “Are you kidding? I’m not a teenager anymore, Sawyer.”

  He looked at her over his shoulder and lifted his brows. “We just fucked in the middle of the woods like a couple of teenagers, so I don’t want to hear it. Climb on. I’ll carry you back.”

  She sighed but did as he said. She wrapped her limbs around him and he reached behind and locked his hands under her ass. It felt silly but so familiar that it made her emotional.

  “Next time, we find a bed. I’m too damn old to be having sex in the woods.”

  Next time. Reality broke through the wall that she’d erected and slammed into her. She’d slept with another Walker brother. After bragging about how much she’d grown up.

  “Maggie, stop thinking. I just felt you tense up.”

  She pressed her cheek into his back and breathed him in while he carried her, the same way she used to do. It would be the last time. It had to be. “Thank you for carrying me, Saw.”

  He growled. “I should drop you for what you’re probably thinking right now, but I’m a gentleman.”

  She smiled. “Is that what they call this these days?”

  He just grunted and carried her the rest of the way. Once they got to Sasha’s house, he put her down and then pulled her in for a tight hug. “I’m assuming you’re going to freak out about this, but I’m not. I missed you. I’m not done.”

  She stood there with her mouth hanging open as he walked away, a whistle on the breeze. She finally snapped her mouth shut and glared at his retreating back. “Only psychopaths whistle like that!”

  12.

  ***Maggie***

  It’d been a week since she got to Brady. A week only, and she’d been hiding for three days of it. Sure, there was the beard burn and the bruises from sex with Sawyer that kept her from showing her face, but there was also the knowledge that she’d slept with two of the triplets, and she was ashamed of herself. She didn’t want to face the town, knowing they probably knew. Word, or smell, traveled fast through Brady. Everyone was probably spending their time thinking about how they’d been right about what a skank she was.

  Well, she didn’t have to deal with it. She would just stay inside and never leave again. That was her plan, at least, until Sasha ruined it.

  “You have to get out of this house. You’re going to get a permanent impression of my couch on your ass soon.”

  Maggie shook her head. “I’m never leaving again. No, thanks. I like the pattern on this couch, so I’m fine with that.”

  Sasha sat next to her sister and frowned. “This isn’t healthy. You’re hiding away. You can’t do that. You shouldn’t do that. You can’t do that. Mainly because I need you to take me to the doctor.”

  “Oh, that’s dirty.”

  Laughing, she shrugged. “The twins needed the car. So, I told them to go ahead because their wonderful Aunt Mags would go out with me. We’d go to the doctor and then maybe grab some lunch afterward.”

  “You’re evil. You’re so evil.” Maggie fell sideways across the couch and put her legs across Sasha. “Fine. Of course, I’ll take you. You knew I would.”

  “It’ll be good for you to get out.”

  “No, it won’t. What would be good for me would be to stay here, on this couch, forever.” She reached down and petted Bash. Bully had taken to Jack and never left his room. Betrayed by her dog and her sister. “I have what I need here. My kid, my dogs, and my nieces and nephew. Notice how I left you out.”

  Sasha gave her a sad face. “Is it because I have cancer?”

  Maggie sat up and shoved at her sister. “Stop doing that! You make too many cancer jokes.”

  “There’s a limit? What? Like, I have cancer, so I can make a total of ten jokes about it before it’s weird? Is that only good while it’s growing? What about when I’m in remission? Do I have to stop then? Even if I didn’t use up my entire ten?”

  “I hate you. This entire town thinks that I’m the crazy one, but that’s only because they can’t hear you right now.”

  “Yeah, yeah. So, can we get food after the appointment? It’s pie day.”

  “Fine. Whatever. Pie.”

  “God, you even sound like one of my petulant teens.”

  Maggie tossed a pillow at Sasha and then stood up. “Do I have time to shower?”

  “Like I’d go out with you in your current state. You have an hour to be ready.”

  “Fine. Just watch Milo for me.” She stomped up the stairs and into her room. It was a mess, too. She needed to get herself together. She hadn’t taken so much time off in years, much less time spent just...moping. It wasn’t good for her.

  The idea of facing the triplets or anyone else, for that matter, had kept her from leaving. She didn’t know what to do or say. She’d never known. Even as a teenager, she’d just never talked about what was happening. She’d been so sure that she loved each of the guys. She just spent time with them when she could and she’d managed to never run into them together, through hard work and determination.

  Even though the guys knew about what was happening, she couldn’t face it. She couldn’t talk about it with them. She felt horrible. How could she not pick just one of them? It was so selfish and greedy to want all three of them, but the idea of just picking one hurt her to her core.

  She showered and then got dressed, choosing to just throw her hair in a bun and forgo makeup. Dressed down in leggings and a sweater, she didn’t feel like trying. She didn’t want to see anyone besides her family.

  Sasha raised her brows as soon as she saw her. “Whoa. You don’t normally go out without a pretty skirt with a matching belt and sweater combo. I know you’re supposed to loosen up after sex, but this is wild.”

  Scowling, Maggie gathered Milo and his bag. “You think you’re funny, but you’re not.”

  “Boo.” She walked over to the stairs and screamed for Jack. “Get your butt down here! You better have taken a shower, too!”

  “Lovely.” Maggie rolled her eyes and walked outside. “I’m going to chain Milo to his seat. I’ll be out here when you’re ready.”

  Sasha growled. “Just give me five minutes and a bucket of soapy water. I can already tell he didn’t shower. Pre-teen dragons are the worst.”

  Bouncing Milo against her hip, she carried him outside and watched as Bash ran through the yard. “Is that Bash? Look at him go!”

  Milo hadn’t been up from his nap for long, so he wasn’t all that excited. Until he saw the truck driving towards them. He was in a truck phase, where he loved to make the noises and pretend he was driving one. The bigger, the better. “Room, room!”

  Maggie grinned down at him. “I know. Vroom, vroom. Fast truck. Maybe you’ll be a race car driver, kid. You’ve got the noises for it.”

  She looked up to see the truck slow to a stop behind her car. She watched with a sinking stomach as both Maverick and Sawyer climbed out and walked towards her.

  She looked back at the house like she was hoping Sasha would come rescue her, but she should’ve known better. Sasha would’ve left her to suffer, even if she wasn’t upstairs, fighting with Jack.

  Maverick laughed easily as Milo squealed and reached for him. “Da-da!”

  Sawyer took the chance to press a kiss to her forehead when Maverick went for Milo first. “Where are you two off to?”

  Maverick elbowed his brother out of the way and kissed her cheek. “You look beautiful, by the way.”

  She scowled at both of them and crossed her arms over her chest, glad that she remembered a bra. “I’m taking Sasha to the doctor. She’ll be out in just a second.”

>   Milo looked at Sawyer and frowned. “Da-da?”

  Maverick kissed Milo’s cheek. “I’m Da-da. That’s your Uncle Sawyer.”

  “Da-da.”

  Maggie couldn’t help laughing. “You shouldn’t have been triplets if you didn’t want people to be confused.”

  Sasha strolled out of the house and immediately laughed. “Oh, this is good.”

  Maggie glared at her sister. “You want to walk?”

  Sawyer bent over to pet Bash. “We came to make sure Mags was still alive. Seems like she was hiding away.”

  “Seems like it, huh?”

  Maggie pointed at the car. “Get in, Sasha. I’d hate it if you were late.”

  “Oh, we’ve got time. I told you fifteen minutes early so I could stop and get a coffee, but this is better than any caffeine I’ve ever had.” She motioned to the guys. “Go on.”

  “We also came because we have to start talking about the alpha ceremony. It’s happening sooner than any of us expected, and Milo will need to be in it. You, too.”

  “Me?”

  “You’re his mother. You matter.” Sawyer stood up again and then laughed as Bash jumped up on him. A second later, Bully was on him, too. “I think they like me.”

  Maverick shook his head. “You probably have steak in your pocket. Trying to win the dogs over?”

  Sasha squeaked. “Do I have time to make popcorn?”

  “Oh, my god, Sasha!” Maggie was tempted to run her own sister over with her car.

  “Unfortunately, we’ll need to practice for the ceremony. It’s a lot of tradition and show, but it’s sacred.” Sawyer shrugged and snapped his fingers once, sending the dogs heeling at his feet.

  Maggie narrowed her eyes. “How do you both do that? They don’t listen to me at all.”

  “Maybe they only respond to other penises. You know, the way some men only listen to other men? That’s a thing, right?”

  “Sasha!” Maggie looked between the two men and felt herself blush as inappropriate thoughts filled her head. “Um. Okay. Sacred ceremony. You need Milo.”

  “And you.”

  She swallowed. “And you need me. Okay.”