Extended Epilogue

Sleep was for the weak.

That was what they all said, but chasing around a five-year-old and twin two-year-olds really put that statement to the test.

No more. I'd practically put my foot down after the twins. I wasn't having four kids running around this house.

But life was good. Sylas and I weren't retired, but we'd taken off the years where our kids were little to just be parents. Luckily, working on a starship paid well, especially for a five-year mission, so we didn't have to worry about money. All our credits were stored in our account, accruing interest.

We'd bought our house soon after disembarking the Paradise and returning to earth, and even though some days I still yearned for the white walls and the observation deck, I loved my life now, too.

Above all, I loved my family. Being a mom. Knowing that my dad was still with me, even now.

Sometimes, when I was missing him, I loaded up one of his old videos and let his love fill me up. My mom had cried when I'd played them for her, just like I'd lost it years ago. But even if my kids only had one grandparent, I knew she loved them beyond words. She'd make up for the lack of Sylas's parents.

I could tell it still bothered him sometimes, the way his parents had abandoned him and Kayle. He didn't even know where they'd gone after leaving them. I didn't understand how a parent could do that to their kids. To abandon them…

There was no way that I could ever leave my babies behind. I'd miss them all too much. Plus, I never wanted to miss out on moments like these.

Sylas was in the living room, wrestling with our three kiddos. Samuel was climbing on his back, like a monkey, while the two girls were content with him tickling them. Anastasia and Adeline had been a surprise in the best way. When Astrid had told me it was identical twins, I'd almost fainted. But now, I couldn't imagine our family as anything but the five of us.

"Daddy! Daddy! Tell me the story of you and mommy in space!"

The twins giggled.

"Again?"

I looked at Sylas, who was sitting on the floor, all our kids gathered on the couch in front of him. He was dressed so casually, in just a basic white t-shirt and jeans, and even now, at forty-two, I thought he was the most handsome man I'd ever laid eyes on.

Maybe I wouldn't be opposed to one more…

"What do you want to know, kiddos?" He asked, reaching over and ruffling Sammy's hair.

"Did you meet any aliens?" My son asked. "No! Tell the story about Brina!"

"What about the story about how mommy and I fell in love?" He looked over at me, catching my eyes as I dried off dishes in the kitchen.

"They've heard that one a million times, honey," I said, drying my hands and coming to sit beside him. "Maybe we should share a new one?"

"What about the time you flew the ship through an asteroid shower and got us out in one piece?"

"Hmm. I don't know. What do you think, Sammy?"

"Yes!" He exclaimed, jumping up and then falling back onto the couch cushions.

Sylas looked over at me, an eyebrow quirked. "Do you want to start it, or should I?"

My face heated. Even after seven years together, he somehow knew exactly how to make me blush.

"Your Dad and I were, um, cuddling in bed, when…"

He interrupted me. "Cuddling?"

"Shut up," I muttered. "Do you want to tell the story or am I?"

He kissed my forehead. "All you."

I recounted the story about how we'd woken up to the alarms on the ship blaring and rushed to the bridge to find we'd somehow flown straight into an asteroid storm. Of course, autopilot couldn't handle that kind of rough maneuvering, but luckily Mommy was an amazing pilot and could perfectly fly through such a dangerous storm.

"What happened after that?" Sammy's eyes were wide, his head resting on his hands as he laid on his stomach.

Addie climbed into my lap, nestling her head against my chest.

"The storm knocked some debris onto the ship, blocking the sensors, and Daddy wanted to get out there to fix it, but he was too big."

"Too big?" My son asked, eyes wide.

I nodded, chuckling at my husband's annoyed expression. "Plus, it wasn't safe for the Captain to risk himself like that. But I volunteered."

He muttered under his breath, "Because of course she did."

"Daddy was absolutely terrified as I pulled on my space suit."

"He was?"

I nodded solemnly. "Yup. Because he was in love with me." I leaned over to Sylas, inhaling his scent. After all, I still remembered how I'd felt after that space walk. It had been terrifying. Honestly, I had no business being out there. But I'd been stubborn, and I didn't want us to get stuck there.

The moment I'd gotten back inside, and his arms wrapped around me, I'd known my world was completely changed.

"And your Mom knew that she loved me too." He used his forefinger to tilt my chin towards him, bringing our gazes together.

"I did."

Probably best to leave out how we'd made out as soon as the airlock was closed, though. Little ears didn't need to know about what we got up to. Actually, the kids didn't need any of the details of our sex life, ever. Especially not the things we'd gotten up to on the Paradise.

"What happened next?"

Addie tugged on a strand of my hair as I adjusted her position. Ana had curled up in Sylas's lap, too—because the twins were always determined to do things together—but she'd fallen fast asleep. My husband was rubbing circles on her back, bringing a smile to my face.

"I asked her to marry me."

"You did?" His eyes were wide.

"Yup. It had only been a few months, but I already knew she was the best thing that had ever happened to me. And I couldn't imagine another moment without calling her my wife."

"Awww. You sap. You really liked me, didn't you?" I gave him a coy smile.

"Baby." He laughed. "We're married."

"Still." A smirk spread over my lips. "You had it bad."

"Like you were any better."

"Says the man who built a home for the alien creature I'd brought on board for the sole reason of me spending every night in his room."

"Okay, so I might have done that."

"Or what about when you organized so-called officer get-togethers just so you could spend time with me?" I added air quotes around the term officer ‘get-togethers' because those had definitely just been an excuse.

He grumbled under his breath. "I plead the fifth."

"It's okay," I whispered. "I love you anyway."

"You better," he said, a low warning to his voice.

Sometimes, it was still fun to tease him. I liked being his brat. Liked when he was rough with me. It happened less now, sure, especially on account of having three children and limited sleep schedules, but he always knew exactly what I needed.

Sylas leaned over, kissing my cheek. "I love you too." His face had softened, a loving expression in his eyes.

Even Sammy was asleep now. "Mission accomplished," I laughed. "Somehow, we put them to sleep without even trying."

"Who said I wasn't trying?" He gave me a smug grin. "Why don't we tuck them into bed, and then we can reminisce in the bedroom instead?"

I waggled my eyebrows. "Oh, Captain. I like the way you think."

"Little star," he said, dropping his voice in a low warning. "You're on thin ice here."

"That's what I'm counting on, sir." I winked, and he took Addie from my arms.

"Alright, I've got these two if you want to tuck him in?"

I nodded. "Sounds like a plan." Teamwork. It was what had always made us better. Stronger. We'd always been working as a team, from the moment he'd walked in on me on the bridge and volunteered to help.

He kissed me on the cheek. "See you upstairs."

"Not if I see you first," I sassed back, knowing that he would likely have spanked me for it if he hadn't had his hands full with our daughters.

Ha. A smile curled over my lips.

I win.

Score 531 Aurelia, Score 40 Captain Kellar.

What? I'd been keeping track.

I closed the door quietly behind me, both girls tucked into their toddler beds, and let out a sigh of relief.

Every day was full of new challenges, but we faced them together. A team. Just like we had been, from the moment I'd offered Aurelia my help when I found her attempting to find her father's ship.

Some days, I missed the ship. How we'd traveled so far across the galaxy, exploring new worlds and all manners of fascinating things. But other days, I was content. This life wasn't one I'd ever thought I'd be lucky enough to have.

But I'd never once had the urge to leave them. Unlike my parents, who'd been able to leave without looking back. Aurelia and our three kids were the best thing that had ever happened to me.

This dream was better than being the captain of a starship ever could be.

I slid into our bedroom, the lights still off, and pulled my t-shirt off over my head.

Flipping the light on, I found Aurelia lying across our comforter, wearing a tiny lacy thing.

"Beat you," she said, a little smirk curled over her face.

A rumble sounded in my chest as my eyes trailed over her body appreciatively. "Damn, baby." I mused. "That's quite the getup. Is this all for me?"

She shifted her legs, stretching out. All that gorgeous hair was tousled, spilling down her shoulders, and the ring on her left ring finger glinted in the light.

I loved our rings that I'd had made on the ship, but when it had come time for an actual ceremony, I'd gotten her the gorgeous ring she deserved. The large, round stone was set in a starburst, the entire band a halo of smaller diamonds surrounding the white sapphire stone. Beyond the stars was inscribed on the inside, a constant reminder of how we'd fallen in love.

And our original band sat on top, of course. No matter where we went, we both carried a piece of the Paradise with us.

Fuck, I loved seeing them on her. Knowing she was my wife.

There was a sparkle in her eye as I climbed onto the bed, caging her body in with mine.

Slipping my finger between the thin strap and her shoulder, I picked it up, letting it snap against her skin. She gasped, looking up at me with half-lidded eyes. Heat swirled in them, and I knew she was turned on.

"If I touch you right now, am I going to find you wet for me?"

"Why don't you find out?" Aurelia fluttered her eyelashes, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

Seven years together, and I still couldn't get over this. How much was between us. How explosive it was, every time. Every time I touched her, her body lit up for me. Aurelia's pleasure was my pleasure, and no one could say I didn't put my wife's needs first. Every time.

I pulled her thighs apart, digging my fingers into her soft skin, exposing her pretty pink slit to me.

Not wanting to wait, I pressed my face against her entrance, giving one long, languid lick.

The taste of her exploded on my tongue, and I groaned. Keeping her legs apart, I dove back in, devouring her like a man possessed. I was dying of thirst, and she was the only one who could quench it. Sucking her clit into my mouth, I kept going as she cried out, a flood of moisture coating my face and beard.

"I fucking love this," I said, fingers playing with the lace. The damn thing was crotchless, those tiny straps attached to lace cups that her cleavage spilled out of, with a little bow in the center of her tits.

"I thought you would," she said, giving me a secret smile. "I know we haven't gotten to spend as much time together alone lately, but I wanted to spice things up."

"You're too fucking perfect for this world," I rasped out. "Out of this damn galaxy."

I kissed her deeply before moving down to her tits, sucking them into my mouth through the lace.

"Oh," she said, her head rolling back with pleasure as I gave her nipples the care and attention they deserved. After all, they deserved it.

Aurelia still liked to tease me that I was a tits guy, and yeah—I fucking loved hers—but I was an equal opportunity guy with this woman. I'd willingly take all of it.

She ran her fingernails down my abs, cupping me through my jeans. "Take these off, husband," she said seductively in my ear, her voice dripping with sex.

I was happy to comply, quickly kicking them off behind me and shedding my boxer briefs. My cock was all too eager to be inside of her again.

"I love you," she murmured as I positioned myself at her entrance, not quite nudging inside.

"I love you, my star," I said, cupping her face and kissing her gently.

And then I lost myself in my wife, wondering if there would ever be anything better than this in my life.

If there was, I didn't fucking care to find it. I was content right here.

In my house with a white picket fence, a wrap-around porch, and the only four humans I'd ever need.

The S.S. Paradise will return.