Page 114 of Ruthless Serenade

I pull Mindy against me and claim her mouth with mine. I kiss her until her cheeks flame and her lips swell. And then I kiss her some more. The crowd behind us could vanish into thin air for all I care, though Sharon’s delighted giggle breaks through.

I take my wife’s hand - my fucking wife’s hand - and place it over the priest’s as he leads us in our first steps as husband and wife. Sharon trails behind us, handling her mother’s trainwith the same fierce dedication she showed those rings. When we turn to face our people, their hands are clapping, their cheers and congratulations echoing off the walls.

Father Mikhaylov gives us his final blessing. "On behalf of the Church, I wish you both many years of blessing and grace as you delight in your love for one another, a love that finds its source and fulfillment in God, who is the source of all love itself."

It’s done.

Married.

Our family and friends surge to their feet with applause, and Sharon bolts forward like a little rocket, wrapping herself around both our legs. I scoop her up with one arm, keeping my other locked around Mindy, holding my whole world close against my chest. My wife’s hand rests on her belly where our twins grow stronger each day, and in this moment, everything I never knew I needed is right here in my arms. Nothing in this world beats the feeling of Mindy’s lips against mine while our daughter squeezes us tight, her laughter pure as morning sunlight.

Who would’ve fucking believed I’d end up here? The feared Korolev, married to the love of his life, with a beautiful daughter and two more miracles on the way. But let anyone dare say I’ve gone soft. I haven’t weakened – I’ve just found something worth protecting more than any territory or power play.

I’ve found my own kind of paradise.

And God help anyone who tries to take it from me.

Chapter Fifty-Five

Mindy

We stumble into the bedroom.

Both of us are drunk on joy and exhaustion after the whirlwind reception. The celebratory sounds from downstairs fade as I close the door, sealing us in our private sanctuary.

I slip off my heels with a blissful sigh. Maron loosens his tie, his blue eyes never leaving mine. That familiar warmth in them still makes my heart flutter, even after all this time.

We collapse onto the bed. Maron pulls me close, and I melt into his embrace, finding my place against his chest where I can feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

"I can’t believe how blessed I am," Maron murmurs, his voice raw with emotion. "To have you, our three beautiful children... after everything we’ve been through."

I lift my head to meet his loving gaze. "If I didn’t know better, I’d think our story was lifted straight from a romance novel," I tease, thinking of our wild journey.

Maron’s rich laugh fills the room as his fingers play with my hair. "A novel that started with those accidental nudes you sent me."

I groan at the memory, hiding my face against his chest. "God, don’t remind me. Though I have to admit - frommisdelivered photos to a perfect family of five? Not a bad story arc."

His kiss starts gentle but quickly deepens with years of stored passion. His hands trace familiar paths across my body as he whispers, "This is our first night as husband and wife,lisichka. I plan to make it unforgettable."

"How?" I ask with feigned innocence, though my racing pulse betrays me.

He draws closer, his warm breath ghosting across my lips. His voice drops low, sending shivers down my spine. "First, I'm going to unwrap you slowly, like it's our first night together." His fingers trace whisper-light patterns along my curves. He takes his time, treating each revealed inch of skin like a precious discovery as he helps me out of my dress.

"Why?" I breathe, playing along.

"Because I want to memorize every part of you,lisichka. Every curve, every scar, every beautiful mark that motherhood has painted on your body."

His words make me tremble as I lay bare before him. He studies me with an intensity that sets my skin ablaze, his blue eyes drinking in every detail as if he’s seeing me for the first time. The room is bathed in soft shadows, with only the dancing flame of a single candle on the nightstand to illuminate us. The flickering light plays across Maron's face, turning him into something almost mythical.

"You are fucking breathtaking,lisichka," he whispers, his voice rough with desire.

He draws me closer, claiming my lips with a kiss that makes me melt further into his embrace. There's a freshintensity to his touch, a passion that feels both familiar and thrillingly new.

As his gentle exploration grows more urgent, more demanding, I know with absolute certainty that this night - our first as husband and wife - will be seared into our memories forever.

***

We lie tangled in each other's arms in a blissful post-sex haze, our wedding clothes scattered like breadcrumbs across the floor. The dying candle bathes the room in a soft, golden glow, casting long shadows across our intertwined bodies.

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