Lone Star Dragon (Shifters in the Heart of Texas Book 1)

by Sloane Meyers

  Theo nodded wearily, then signaled for a time out. One of the referees blew a whistle, and the Warriors on the field started running toward Theo. As he watched them, taking in the strained expressions on their faces, Theo tried to come up with the perfect thing to say. The truth was, his boys were the best high school football players in this state. He had no doubt that they had the talent to win this game. They’d trained hard, working tirelessly all season to master the skills that would earn them the title of state championship. But they were about to throw it all away because they felt flustered.

  Theo recognized the fear in their eyes. He’d felt the same way before, when he had the chance to win something big. It was a fear of disappointing people. Of not being good enough. Of getting so close to victory only to just barely fall short. It was an awful feeling, and, if his boys didn’t shake it, they were going to lose.

  “Listen up, Warriors,” Theo said, his voice thundering and confident. “I want you to know one thing. No matter what happens out on that field today, you are champions.”

  Several sullen faces stared back at him, and Theo took a deep breath before continuing.

  “I know right now you feel like you have a lot to prove. But I want you to know that you’ve already proven to me, over the course of this season, that you’re winners. You are the best goddamn high school football team I’ve ever seen, and I’m not just saying that to blow sunshine up your ass. I really mean it.”

  In his peripheral vision, Theo saw Max raise an eyebrow. Theo knew Max was surprised by his cursing, but desperate times called for desperate measures, and Theo wanted his team to know he was serious.

  “Stop worrying so much about whether you’re going to win this particular game,” Theo said. “Just get out there and do what you know to do. Have fun, and play hard. You’ve already come so far, and this town is already so proud of you. A Warrior doesn’t obsesses about the result of the battle, he just gets out there and lays his heart on the battlefield. That’s all I’m asking you to do now. No matter what, just make sure that when this game is over, you’ve left your heart out there on that field. Understood?”

  A chorus of cheers arose from the group. Theo had watched the faces of his boys change as he spoke. The sullen looks were slowly replaced with looks of grit and determination, and Theo smiled broadly.

  “Alright, Warriors! Let’s do this!”

  As the team roared, along with the crowd, the game began again. Max shook his head in wonder at Theo.

  “You always seem to know just what to say,” Max said. “That wasn’t the pep talk I was expecting, but it seemed to get through to them.”

  Theo smiled. “We’ll see,” he said.

  For the next five minutes, the two teams continued to battle it out with no scores. Theo could tell his team was more focused now, and not making the silly mistakes they had been making before. But the other team was still good, and time was running out to close the gap in their scores.

  “Come on,” Theo said through gritted teeth. At that moment, he glanced back at the stands and happened to catch Maddie’s eyes. She waved at him, a huge grin on her face, and he grinned back. She had so much faith in him, and she’d been so supportive. Surely, everything was going to work out okay. Ancient legend said that when a dragon found his mate, she served as his good luck charm. Theo was pretty sure Maddie was his mate—and he could definitely use some good luck right now. He crossed his fingers that those ancient legends were true.

  On the very next play, the tides turned. The other team’s running back fumbled the ball, and it was scooped up by one of the Warriors’ defensive players, a fast-footed junior who returned the ball all the way to the Warriors ten yard line. The crowd went wild, as did Theo and Max. Unfortunately, the next two running plays only gained a total of three yards, and Theo had to choose whether to try again for the touchdown or settle for a field goal. In his younger days as a coach, Theo might have chosen to go for the easy field goal, putting his team one touchdown away from a direct tie. But now, as a seasoned coach, he had the confidence to go for the touchdown. He knew his team could deliver.

  And deliver they did. On the very next play, in a blur of navy and white, the Warriors quarterback managed to connect with a wide receiver in the end zone. Theo and Max high-fived and hugged each other, and the noise from the bleachers was deafening. The kicker easily secured the extra point, and the Warriors were within one field goal of tying the game—or one touchdown away from winning. The only problem was that there was a mere two minutes and fifteen seconds left on the game clock. Things had to move quickly.

  The opposing team only returned the ball to the Warriors’ thirty yard line, and then they began running it very slowly down the field. Theo knew they were trying to run the clock down, and they did a good job of that. With forty-five seconds left on the clock, they attempted a field goal. Theo held his breath as the football sailed into the air, and then, to his shock, barely missed the goal.

  Next to him, Max let out a roar of excitement. They might have less than minute left, but if they could get in field goal distance, the game was tied. And, if by some miracle, they could score a touchdown, the championship would be theirs. Theo turned to look for Maddie again, scanning the crowd near where she had been sitting.

  “Come on, my little good luck charm,” he whispered. “Where are you? I need your luck right now.”

  When he spotted her, everything else seemed to fade away. He could no longer hear the roar of the crowd, and everything except her face was a blur. She smiled at him, and he felt a warmth in his heart. This championship was theirs. He knew it.

  The Warriors took their place on the field, ready to return the ball that the opposing team was kicking off to them. Time stood still as Theo watched the ball rise impossibly high into the air, and then come down squarely into the arms of one of his fastest runners, number ninety-six.

  “Come on,” Theo whispered under his breath. “Run like the wind. Get us in a position that’s at least good enough for a field goal.”

  The crowd went wild as number ninety-six picked up speed, artfully dodging the first two members of the opposing team who tried to stop him. He was on a roll, and he kept going, his legs turning into a blur as he kept outmaneuvering the opposing players. Theo was holding his breath, while Max was screaming at the top of his lungs. The seconds ticked by, and number ninety-six kept running until he was out in front of everyone.

  “Holy shit,” Theo said. “Holy shit. He’s gonna return it all the way for a touchdown.

  And he did. As he crossed the line into the end zone, the crowd went wild. Theo gave Max a huge high five, and a big bear hug. The cheerleaders were doing flips, and the band had spontaneously started playing the school’s fight song. Theo cheered, his voice roaring as his heart filled with joy. He could not have hoped for a better play. He looked back at the bleachers, and as he caught Maddie’s eyes again, his heart leapt. His good luck charm. She was perfect. How had he lived so much of his life without her?

  He blew her a kiss before turning back to the field, where moments later the Warriors secured the extra point as the football went sailing through the goal posts. Again, the crowd went wild, and Theo could see from across the field the panic in the other team’s eyes. With mere seconds left on the clock, they would only have one shot to win the game. And to win, they’d also have to return a field goal for a touchdown—an unlikely scenario. Still, Theo chewed his lower lip nervously as he watched the final play of the game. The opposing team caught the punt return and started running, but they were stopped easily at the Warriors’ thirty yard line. Game over. The Warriors were state champions.

  The next half hour was absolute chaos. Theo’s team carried him on their shoulders across the field, and the crowd started chanting his name. Persimmon Springs fans had always stood by their football team, even when their loss record was beyond embarrassing. But damn if it didn’t feel good to finally win one. Things were turning around for this small town and its
citizens.

  Theo caught Maddie’s eyes again, and she smiled and waved enthusiastically.

  Yup, things were definitely turning around.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Theo! Theo! Theo!” the cheers in the bar rang out as Theo stood to address the crowd. Maddie grinned as she watched him climb onto the bar top. It was nearly two in the morning, and she should have been exhausted. Somehow, though, she felt more energized than she had for a long time. Maybe it was because she knew that the man of the hour. Theo Wilson, was her man. Her dragon.

  As soon as people knew that she was with Theo, and that she’d quit her job for the Gazette, Maddie had been accepted by everyone without reservations. After the game. Theo had taken the whole team, and their families, out for pizza. Maddie had lost count of the number of mothers of the football players who had come up to her, expressing how lovely she was and how nice it was to see Theo finally settling down with a good one. Maddie had smiled graciously, a little dizzy from all the attention, but happy. She’d scribbled a few notes here and there on the party, just to round out the article she planned to write for her fledgling newspaper. But, for the most part, she just soaked in the atmosphere. Everyone was so friendly and the food was so good. Not to mention, the atmosphere was positively radiant. Everyone seemed to know everyone, and Maddie felt like she was part of one big family.

  At the pizza party, the focus had been on the players. But now, at the bar, the players had all gone home and it was just the over-twenty-one townspeople. And the focus had shifted to Theo and Max. Theo pulled Max up onto the bar next to him, and they both raised their beer glasses high in the air.

  “To the Warriors,” Theo yelled.

  “The Warriors!” the crowd replied.

  “To Persimmon Springs,” Max yelled.

  “Persimmon Springs!” the crowd answered.

  Maddie smiled as she looked around, waving when she caught Cassie’s eyes. This place was starting to feel like home, something Maddie had never thought would happen. She was starting to recognize more and more people, and she was starting to get the hang of how everyone acted around here. Maddie could hardly believe it, but, she almost felt like she would miss this small town if she left. She would definitely miss Theo.

  Theo jumped off the bar at that moment, landing next to her with a skillful thud, and then pulling her into his arms.

  “Hey there, beautiful,” he said. He was obviously nicely buzzed, but his eyes were sincere and his hands steady as he ran them across her back. He covered her mouth with his, and the crowd at the bar went wild again. Amid the cheers, the bartender called out a warning for last call, and several people started crowding the bar to grab one last round. But Theo wasn’t interested in another drink. He never took his eyes off of Maddie.

  “Ready to get out of here?” he asked. She nodded, and they somehow slipped out unnoticed.

  Ten minutes later, they were pulling up in front of Maddie’s house. She had insisted on driving, since Theo had been drinking quite freely all evening. He seemed okay enough, but it was always best to be overly cautious about driving after drinks.

  Theo made himself at home in Maddie’s kitchen, opening several cupboard doors until he found the one that held glasses. He filled a glass with tap water and drank thirstily, still keeping his eyes fixed on Maddie while she hung her purse and put away her keys. Maddie could sense her eyes on him, and she turned to him with a smile.

  “Congratulations, Champ,” she said. “You made history for Persimmon Springs.”

  “It was a team effort. We all made history,” Theo said, his voice deep and husky. “And now, I want to make love to you.”

  He set his glass down and crossed the kitchen in two giant steps, then pushed Maddie up against the wall into a passionate kiss, much the same as he had the first night he’d been here. Only this time, there was no stopping. They belonged to each other, and they needed each other. Theo tore off his own jacket and shirt, then reached to pull Maddie’s shirt up and over her head. They were both already breathing heavy, and Maddie felt a stirring within her core as Theo’s strong hands reached behind her back and unclasped her bra, sliding it off and tossing it aside.

  He pressed his broad chest against her bare breasts as he kissed her, his tongue sliding deep into her mouth and dancing with her tongue, sending shivers of delight up and down her spine. She could feel herself growing wet between her legs as the heat of passion began to set her body aflame. Theo burned her up from the inside with just one look. The intensity of his touch was almost too much to bear.

  “You’re perfect,” he whispered huskily, reaching down to unbutton and unzip her pants, pushing them down at the same time as her panties. Maddie kicked off her shoes as he pulled her jeans all the way down to her feet, letting her balance a hand on his shoulder so she could lift her feet one at a time to step out of the pant legs. Then he let out a low growl as he dropped his own jeans and stepped out of them. His boxers were next, and it only took him a few seconds to get rid of them, too. His erection stood stiff, tall, and proud. The magnificent sight of it still took Maddie’s breath away.

  “I want you,” he growled. “You’re mine.”

  “Yours,” Maddie repeated, shivering again at the intensity of his voice. It was amazing what he could do to her with just a few simple words.

  Theo’s eyes were churning green once again. Maddie was quickly learning that this churning meant he was being taken over by a primal instinct—whether that be an instinct to shift, or an instinct to mate with his woman. Right now, it was definitely the latter.

  He pushed Maddie’s hands above her head, pinning her against the wall. He was gentle, but rough. He wanted to claim her, and Maddie couldn’t believe how much it turned her on knowing that she was being claimed. She closed her eyes as he moved his lips to her neck, sucking and nibbling and biting, always with just the right amount of force.

  And then, without any warning, he thrust himself into her. She moaned and threw her head back as the sensation of him filling her sent a fresh heat wave through her body. The pressure and tingling in her core was becoming unbearable, and it didn’t take long for her to reach a breaking point. He thrust in and out, in and out, and within five thrusts she was tumbling over the edge, finding her release.

  “Theo!” she screamed. He growled as he heard his name on her lips, and she whimpered as her muscles started clenching around his dick hungrily, over and over. The waves of passion washing over her were intense and glorious. Maddie could hardly believe that an ecstasy like this was real. But it was, and she was experiencing it.

  Theo followed soon after her, finding his release as well. He stiffened and made one last, violent thrust, sending a hot stream of himself deep into her. He threw back his head and roared, and Maddie fell limply into his arms, spent.

  But he wasn’t done yet. Far from it. After a minute to recover, he slipped out of her and carried her to her bedroom. There, on her bed, he took her again. First, he hovered over her as she lay on her back, expertly bringing her to climax again. Maddie was in heaven. She’d never had two orgasms in a row like that. But still, Theo wasn’t done. He ordered her to flip over on all fours, her knees and palms holding her up against the firm mattress. Then he entered her from behind, slamming into her with such delicious force that she once again felt pressure building to a crescendo within her. Surely, a third time was the most she could handle. But no. Theo spent the next hour making love to her. He was gentle, then rough. Slow, then urgent. On top, and then below her, and everywhere in between. Maddie lost track of how many times she came. This was the most incredible night of her life. Theo’s stamina was unbelievable.

  When Theo finally lay down next to her to rest, pulling her into his arms on the bed, all Maddie could do was sigh happily. Once again, she closed her eyes and fell asleep in the arms of her dragon.

  When she woke, the sunlight was streaming in through her bedroom window, and the aroma of coffee was filling her small house. She could
hear whistling from the kitchen, and she smiled as she sat up and stretched lazily. She threw on her robe, then padded softly out to where Theo was frying up some bacon and eggs. He heard her coming, and glanced over with a smile.

  “Morning, beautiful,” he said with a wink. “I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of whipping up some breakfast for you. You keep a well stocked pantry.”

  Maddie laughed. “Luckily, I just did groceries yesterday. And of course I don’t mind. I do love it when a man makes a good breakfast.”

  Theo laughed, then started scooping bacon and eggs onto two plates. Two slices of toast hopped up from the toaster with a loud pop, and he quickly buttered them before adding them to the plate. He poured two mugs of coffee, adding a little cream to Maddie’s—he’d learned by now how she liked her coffee. Then he took the plates and mugs to Maddie’s tiny table and set them down with a flourish.

  “Bon apetit!” he said, smiling.

  Maddie grinned and dug into the food. She was starving, and the food looked delicious.

  “So,” Theo said. “Today is my first day of freedom. A beautiful Saturday morning if I ever saw one. Since the season is over, I have a lot of free time and we can do whatever you want. What’s it gonna be?”

  Maddie shook her head. “You might have a lot of free time, but I don’t. I have a newspaper to get written. Tomorrow will be the first issue of the Persimmon Springs Flame.”

  Theo’s eyes widened and he dropped his fork onto his plate. “No shit. You’re already going to get it up and running? And I love the name.”

  “I thought you would,” Maddie said with a pleased smile. “I know you’ve been too busy to really follow up on the people who were interested in investing. I figured I’d start small, just printing a newsletter and selling it downtown for a small price. Gotta start getting my name out there, you know?”

  Theo’s smile spread from ear to ear. “Look at you,” he said. “My little go-getter.”

  “So,” Maddie said, grinning back at him. “I’m writing a story on the Warriors’ first ever state-championship. Can I have a quote?”