Epilogue: Sierra

"Mikhail, Marina! Get back here!" I shouted in an attempt to corral the twins as they made a break for freedom, dashing out of the car the moment Artem pulled over by Kara's and Frank's driveway. "Oh, my God, these two are gonna be the death of me, fuck." I slapped my forehead, frustrated by how difficult they could be at times.

"Language," Artem cautioned, smiling at my devastation as he killed the engine.

"What? Don't judge me. They didn't hear me; they're not in the car, are they?" I blurted out at him, pissed by that pesky little grin on his face. "Oh, this is funny?" I pushed my head back, a little dramatic to get his attention and sweet words.

"Come on, I didn't say that." He chuckled.

"But you smiled; I saw you do it," I insisted.

"Yeah, that's because you look insanely hot when you're mad," he said, his lips curling up to reveal a hint of mischief in his eyes.

And with that, he shut me up so effortlessly, causing my skin to prickle with a sudden sweet sensation, like a million tiny fingers dancing across my cheeks.

"Tell me, how did you become the fun parent, and since when did I become the boring Mom?" I added, raising my eyebrows and playfully throwing a punch at his shoulder.

He laughed lightly. "You're not boring. You're just strict sometimes; that's all." Artem's voice was soft and smooth. "But you know, you don't have to be the disciplinarian all the time," he said, leaning over to kiss me.

"You know what? I'm just gonna ignore the irony of that. I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear it," I replied, kissing him back.

It had been three years already since the twins were born: three years of bliss and happiness, not without the challenges, of course. Raising one child was usually quite daunting for most families, and we were raising two at the same time. It wasn't easy, especially because these little angels could switch to being my worst nightmare in a matter of seconds.

As adorable as they were, Mikhail and Marina had proven over time to be a force to be reckoned with. Those two were often exasperatingly difficult to handle, and they drove me nuts most of the time.

Mikhail took after his father in many ways: same dark siren eyes, same black hair, and same measure of stubbornness. He was basically the spitting image of his father.

Marina was so cute, with pale skin and green eyes just like me, and the only thing she took from her was his calmness. She didn't talk much, but she was just as stubborn as her brother. Separately, they were amazing kids, but together…my, oh my. Together, they could make anyone's life a living hell.

Regardless, they were my kids, and my love for them knew no bounds. In fact, because of that love, my husband and I hadn't really spent quality time together. Which was the reason we were here, at Kara's and Frank's.

We stepped out of the vehicle, and he held my hand as we walked into the house. Once inside, Zoya, who was already seven years old by now, was busy with the twins. Despite their hotheads, they always behaved around Zoya and her family.

To the outside world, my kids were angels, end of story. Even their grandpa had no idea how difficult they could be. The kids always loved to spend quality time with Niall Donovan whenever he dropped by the house, and he always dropped by the house. No matter the stories I told him about their demonic behavior, he never bought it because, around him, those two were Saint Peter and Mother Teresa.

The moment she saw us, Zoya left the twins and rushed to our feet. "Uncle Artem, Aunt Sierra, check out my new dog!" The excitement in her voice was palpable, and her eyes widened with a smile. "Shelby! Come over here!" She beckoned, her voice warm and inviting, as the friendly, gentle, and playful Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, with big brown eyes and a soft, fluffy coat, left the twins and scurried over to us, wagging its tail with its little paws pattering on the floor. "Isn't he adorable?" She bent over to its level, stroking its fur.

"It sure is," I said playfully, joining her to stroke its fur.

"Dad, I want one of those!" Mikhail shouted from across the room where he was chasing after his sister.

"No, Dad, don't listen to him! I don't want one of those!" Marina objected while still in motion.

"Hi!" Kara greeted us with a warm, fuzzy smile as she approached us from the kitchen. "Zoya, go play with the twins."

"Come on, Shelby, let's go!" She sprinted away, and the dog followed after her.

I embraced her. "Hi, Kara."

"Hi," she replied.

"Where's Frank?" Artem asked her.

Her brows furrowed at him. "Well, hello to you, too."

He smirked, accepting her into his arms. "How are you, sis?"

"Very well," she replied and stepped away, watching us closely. "You need a favor, don't you?"

"Is it that obvious?" I asked, my posture slouching a little.

She laughed, demonstrating with her fingers. "Yeah, a little."

My husband and I exchanged glances, and he said to her, "We need your help watching the kids while we're away."

"We won't be long. Just a week—that's all," I seconded.

"Is that the favor you need?" Her brows rose in disbelief. She was probably expecting something more demanding.

I nodded.

"Come on, it's no biggie. You've done the same for me when Frank and I needed a break away from Zoya," she said.

"Honestly, we need a break from those kids," Artem said in a way that sounded like he, too, was tired of their trouble.

Kara chuckled softly. "Don't worry. I'll take care of them for you. They're adorable; how hard can it be?" She shrugged her shoulders dismissively.

"I wouldn't get too cocky, if I were you," Artem said, his tone hinting at the subtle advice in his words.

She winked at us. "I'm raising Zoya. Trust me, I can handle them."

"Well, it's settled, then," I announced with a smile. "Thank you, Kara."

"Anytime." She hugged me.

My husband held my hand, and as we headed out, Kara added, "Have fun!"

"We sure will!" I responded as we left the house.

**********

The car glided to a smooth stop in front of the luxurious private jet that my husband had just recently acquired. The gigantic aircraft had its engines humming softly as we stepped out of the sleek black car. With a smile on his face, he offered his hand. I took it, and together, we ascended the short staircase.

We entered the jet, enveloped in opulent comfort, and I was wowed by the amazing interior: plush cream-colored leather seats, polished mahogany accents, and soft golden lights that added to the ambiance of the elegant space.

It was my first time on a private jet, and frankly speaking, it exceeded my expectations; it was even better than what I'd imagined it would be.

He dismissed the hostesses who were already standing by the seats, waiting for our arrival, and after they left, he picked up a strawberry from a golden tray of fruits.

"This is amazing, Artem," I said, admiring the incredible aircraft. "I've never flown private before, and—"

"And now you have to get used to doing so," he interrupted, taking gentle steps forward. "It's your reality now." He fed me the strawberry, eyes fixed on me.

As I munched on the fruit, savoring the flavor in my mouth, I felt his hand grabbing my ass, leaving me breathless in the wake of this sudden rush of desire. He pulled me closer so I'd feel his erection, and I did; a smile played on my lips.

There was this mischievous look in his eyes that turned me on instantly, and as he caressed my hair, he whispered into my ears, "I want you. I want you so badly."

I bit my lower lip, casting an erotic look at him as I felt my pussy tingle between my legs.

"You've been so busy with the kids that we haven't had the time to be together," he said, a smirk plastered on his face as he watched me tremble at his touch. "This vacation is the perfect opportunity to have you all to myself, all day, every day."

"Hmm. I like the sound of that." My cheeks flushed, and I leaned forward, wrapping my arms around his neck as he landed a passionate kiss on my lips.

The deeper the kiss, the more I craved for him. His hands were all over my body, tracing my every curve, a gesture that revealed clearly how much he'd missed me. I fucking missed him as well, and I couldn't wait to have him inside me.

He yanked me off my feet and set me on the table beside the tray of fruits. I felt his hand travel under my dress, and I moaned lightly, pulling him closer as his fingers caressed my thigh.

Artem shifted my panties and slipped his finger inside my cunt. "You're so wet," he said, stepping away with a broad grin as his eyes darted across my entire body.

"Isn't that how you like it?" I asked with a whisper, spreading my legs apart so he'd see just how wet I was.

He licked his lips and stepped forward, unzipping his pants while I waited impatiently with a pounding heart, anticipating his thrust. He rushed at my lips, and as our tongues twirled, I felt him slide inside me, forcing a moan out of me.

I realized in that moment just how much I had missed having him inside me. Fuck, it felt so good, and when he penetrated deeper, I threw my head back in ecstasy, my hands gliding over his back.

"I've missed you. I've missed this," I confessed amidst moans.

His response was a series of harder and faster thrusts that traveled deeper and deeper into my pussy. Artem hit me in places that made my eyes roll backward, and he wouldn't stop, even when I locked my feet around his waist. He kept going fast, and soon, it became difficult to curtail my moans. It was just too good to hold back all I was feeling; all I wanted to do was scream, but I was concerned about the pilot and air hostesses hearing me.

However, my husband wouldn't slow down at all, so with a reflexive move, my palm flew over to my mouth in an attempt to seal my moans.

He let out a thick grunt, and my eyes widened when he emptied his load deep inside me. It was warm, and the feeling was so erotic, it made my body jerk for a moment. When he pulled out, I watched him in amusement, unable to stop blushing at the man who'd just made me feel like a woman. It was as if I had been brought back to life.

Artem pulled up his pants and kissed me. "This is just a glimpse of what will happen during the next few days."

"I can't wait," I replied, sighing satisfactorily.

This was going to be an amazing getaway, and I was determined to cherish every moment of it. We looked at each other, and a radiant smile played on my lips. As I gazed at the man who had made me fall so hard, my heart overflowed with gratitude for the serendipitous journey that had brought us to this moment.

Despite everything we'd been through, our love still shone even in the darkest hour, and now, I couldn't think of a better way this would've ended.

Artem winked at me and sat on the plush sofa, legs crossed as he continued to lust over me.

I had the best husband in the world, and even if I could go back in time, I wouldn't change anything. Nothing at all.

*****

THE END