by Harley Wylde
“Surgery?” My heart rate spiked at the thought of my precious baby needing surgery.
“It requires anesthesia, and there is some risk involved. I believe Mila will pull through beautifully. Once the cataracts are removed, then she’ll need contacts to help focus her vision. I can have the surgeon stop by and speak with you. He’ll be able to answer your questions and explain things a little more.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Dragon said.
“Your son weighed seven pounds three ounces,” the nurse said. “Baby Mila was only six pounds four ounces. Even though she’s smaller, she’s a scrappy thing with a good set of lungs. Most twins we see aren’t quite as large as yours. You must have been feeding them all the right things.”
Ronan started to fuss and turn his face toward me. I panicked, not knowing what to do.
“He wants to eat,” the nurse said. “Do you plan to breastfeed?”
I nodded. She helped me get Ronan situated, and helped him latch on the first time. It was an odd sensation, and my breasts were aching. After he had his fill, I fed Mila. My precious babies were beautiful.
“Most of the club is in the waiting room,” Dragon said. “Your dad is especially antsy to come see his grandkids. Let me know when you want to bring him back.”
“Not just yet. I’m so tired.” I yawned, my jaw cracking. Dragon took Mila from me, placed our babies into the little hospital cribs, then came back to hold my hand. My stomach rumbled from hunger, but I didn’t care. Giving birth had exhausted me.
“You did so good, babe.” He kissed my forehead. “They’re beautiful, and perfect.”
“Never doing that again,” I mumbled. My contractions had started a good eight hours before Ronan made his appearance. I’d tried to come to the hospital when I felt the first ones, but they’d sent me home, saying it was too soon. Those evil bitches! By the time Dragon had brought me back, and they’d admitted me, I’d been informed my contractions were too close together for an epidural.
“Lil, unless one of us gets fixed, we’ll have more kids. I’m not using a condom to fuck my wife.”
I opened one eye to glare at him. “I just pushed out two giant humans from a very sensitive place. I’m not getting fixed. You can get neutered.”
He winced. “Uh, yeah. We’ll discuss it in a few weeks. Remember, the doc said it would be about six weeks before you could have sex again anyway. Maybe longer since you had twins.”
Like I needed the reminder! My body no longer felt like my own. Even though I didn’t look like there was a basketball under my hospital gown, my belly still felt strange. The skin was looser and rounder than it had been pre-pregnancy. I didn’t know if I’d ever slim down again. Not that I’d been skinny to begin with.
“I hope you meant what you said about liking me all soft and curvy,” I said.
“Why’s that?”
“Because I’m pretty sure your kids just added another few inches to my waist. Permanently.”
Dragon kissed me softly on the lips, then rubbed his beard against my cheek. “Babe, I love you exactly as you are. Curves. Stretch marks. This beautiful body gave me those precious babies over there, and there is no one I find sexier than you. Only thing that changed is that I love you more than I did before.”
I smiled a little. “I love you too, Dane. Now let me sleep. Wake me if the babies need to eat.”
I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, or the next month. For now, I had my husband, my babies, and an unconventional family I adored. I knew that Dragon and the other Devil’s Fury would do anything to keep me and the children safe. I might not agree with their methods, but I couldn’t deny they were effective. After Demon had branded the club whore, I’d been told no one had so much as looked at Dragon, and the amount of trouble from those women had dropped considerably. Dragon said a few had left, but some remained. And I knew there would always be new ones.
My life wasn’t perfect, but it was mine. I’d survived so much to get to this point. But knowing what I did now, that I’d end up with an amazing guy like Dragon and two beautiful children, I’d do it again. Even after all I’d suffered, I knew that it had made me into the person I was today. If the Devil’s Boneyard hadn’t found me in Colombia when they rescued their man, I never would have come to this country, much less been adopted by Grizzly. I didn’t pretend to understand why horrible things had to happen, but I did know something wonderful had come from all the pain and suffering.
I’d never known the love of a man, until Dragon. Never known pleasure, until Dragon. And I’d never wanted to give complete control to a man, until Dragon. He was my everything, and I knew I meant everything to him. Two halves of a whole.
Whatever the future had in store for us, I knew we’d face it together.
Playlist
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed the story of Lilian and Dragon. I know there was some darkness in there, which is why it came with a warning label. I never want to broadside someone with a darker read. Some may not agree with Lilian’s process of healing, but there’s no right or wrong way to survive when the ugliness of life touches you. Some of you are probably wondering about the women now living with the Devil’s Fury, or even Shella and if she’s still living with Grizzly. You’ll see them again, but this wasn’t their story. And don’t worry about babies Ronan and Mila. You’ll see them again too.
If you enjoyed Dragon, I hope you’ll take a moment to leave a review at BookBub or your retailer of choice. I appreciate each and every review my books receive. Even if it’s just a few words, or even just a rating, every little bit helps.
I usually include a playlist with my stories, and this one is no different. Except, it is a little different. The last half of Dragon was written during the COVID-19 pandemic, so I created a playlist that had a good beat and kept me going, even when my children were driving me crazy.
Thank you again for taking a chance on Dragon!
COVID-19 Playlist
* Wild Thing by Tone-Loc
* Cheap Thrills by Sia
* A Million Dreams by P!nk
* Victorious by Skillet
* My Oh My by Camilla Cabello
* Whistle by Flo Rida
* You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid (explicit) by The Offspring
* Cowboy (explicit) by Kid Rock
* Gold Digger (explicit) by Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx
* Bitch (explicit) by Meredith Brooks
* Let You Down by NF
* Genie in a Bottle by Christina Aguilera
* What I’ve Done by Linkin Park
Acknowledgments and Dedication
I never know quite what to say in these things, but I do know that I have the support of some amazing people. The Wyldlings, who make me laugh and keep me going. You guys are awesome. A friend I’ll just call “C” who read Dragon as I was writing it, and making sure I didn’t go too dark. The staff at Changeling Press, who are always amazing and supportive.
And last but not least…
Thank you to my husband.
Love you more today than yesterday, and I’ll love you even more tomorrow.
Harley
Harley Wylde
Harley Wylde is the International Bestselling Author of the Dixie Reapers MC, Devil’s Boneyard MC, and Hades Abyss MC series.
When Harley’s writing, her motto is the hotter the better – off-the-charts sex, commanding men, and the women who can’t deny them. If you want men who talk dirty, are sexy as hell, and take what they want, then you’ve come to the right place. She doesn’t shy away from the dangers and nastiness in the world, bringing those realities to the pages of her books, but always gives her characters a happily-ever-after and makes sure the bad guys get what they deserve.
The times Harley isn’t writing, she’s thinking up naughty things to do to her husband, drinking copious amounts of Starbucks, and reading. She loves to read and devours a book a day, sometimes more. She’s also fond of TV shows and movies from the 1980s, as well as paranormal shows
from the 1990s to today, even though she’d much rather be reading or writing.
You can find out more about Harley or enter her monthly giveaway on her website. Be sure to join her newsletter while you’re there to learn more about discounts, signing events, and other goodies!
Harley at Changeling: changelingpress.com/harley-wylde-a-196
