The years that followed were too happy, with every day offering an experience or adventure to treasure, that it was impossible for Pollyanna’s sadness to linger. As was typical of naturally optimistic people, Pollyanna was easily able to put her dreams in the back burner and concentrate on the present, which was, in a way, another dream of hers, too.

The twins were more than a handful, and Pollyanna threw all her youthful energies into taking care of them. The combination of her innate gentleness and Kyr’s tough disciplining ensured that their children were a lot more well behaved than most other offspring of rich couples.

In fact, wherever they went, friends and acquaintances both would express their amazement at how nice their children were, as if expecting the Gazis twins to either spit on their faces or make impossible demands like spoiled little monsters.

Each time, Kyr would say, “All credit is due to my wife,” and in such a matter-of-fact tone that it never failed to make Pollyanna flush with embarrassed pleasure. It was one of her favorite things about her husband, the way he was never shy at expressing his pride in every little thing she did as his wife or as a mother.

Once, he had asked her why she was working out often recently, and when she had told him truthfully it was so she could build up her strength and be able to carry the twins at the same time, he had looked at her like she had revealed the answer to all the universe’s greatest questions.

Do you really love them that much, he had asked, his gaze brooding.

Of course I do, she had answered him, astonished that he would even ask. She had hesitated then asked fearfully, Don’t you?

I do…but I didn’t expect you to feel the same. His lips had twisted in apology. And I’m sorry for that.

And that was when she had learned about the callous and negligent way his parents had raised him. Even without Kyr going into the specifics, she hadn’t any problems reading between the lines and realizing how having too much money had ruined Kyr’s parents.

His story had been so painful to hear that when he was done, she had thrown herself at him, hugging her husband tightly as she had promised him tearfully, “You and the kids will always be the first with me.”

On their third wedding anniversary, he had taken her and the twins to Dubai. Although Kyr would leave the island a few times each year for business, he had never invited her, and she had never asked him to take her, thinking that it was because he thought the kids too young to travel.

The idea of foreign travel had so excited her she was barely able to sleep, and when their trip finally started with an hour-long ride to the island’s only airport, everything about it had been magical.

For Kyr, the trip had been an eye-opener, too. While waiting for their private jet to be fueled, he had taken his family to the VIP lounge and it was there, while Pollyanna had made sure the kids were settled in their high chairs, that they were able to overhear the conversation of a group of socialites seated at a nearby table.

And they had all been talking about his wife.

“Oh, look, she’s finally making it out of the island.” Barely muffled titters followed the observation, and Kyr’s hand clenched and unclenched on the table. He knew that the woman was referring to the numerous tabloids that had slyly speculated on the reason why Mrs. Gazis was never seen outside Greece.

And most of them had thought it was because he was ashamed of her, Kyr thought grimly. He hadn’t been, of course, and he would never be, but did his young wife know this?

But soon, his attention was called away by the twins, who were asking him about where they were going.

When he told them it was Dubai, Dio asked, “Where is it, Papa?”

“You know Dubai, Mama?” Ella asked.

And when Pollyanna had answered cheerfully, “Nope,” the socialites from the other tables had laughed and rolled their eyes.

“Of course she wouldn’t know Dubai,” one of them murmured snidely. “She was nothing before the marriage, and without the Gazis billions, the only chance she’d have make it to Dubai is as one of those pathetic contract workers.”

Fuck you. Kyr straightened in his seat, about to confront the women, but his wife’s gentle touch on his hand stopped him. She shook her head and looked at the twins meaningfully.

Pollyanna expected her husband to argue, but instead he took a deep breath, his lips curving in a charming smile. “Wish granted, psaraki.” It was so surprising, she couldn’t help gazing at him suspiciously. But her husband was no longer looking at her, busy typing a message on his phone.

Ten minutes later and the pilot came inside the lounge, telling them that the private jet had been refueled. “It’s a good thing you have your own jet, Mrs. Gazis.” The pilot’s unnaturally loud voice made Pollyanna’s eyes widen. “Most commercial flights to Dubai from here require several stops but ours will be a direct flight, so we’ll be reaching our destination sooner than most.”

“Oh. I see. That’s good.” Pollyanna wasn’t exactly sure what to say. She didn’t really mind a long flight since she was also looking forward to exploring Kyr’s jet. Behind her, she completely missed the irate looks on the socialites’ faces, since none of them had access to a private jet. They were rich, but they were not and would never be in the same league as Kyrillos Gazis.

When the pilot left, Pollyanna looked at her husband in askance, wondering why they weren’t leaving, too. But he only shook his head at her.

Kyr was patiently biding his time. He was nothing but thorough when destroying his enemies, and as far as he was concerned, anyone who had even a nasty thought in their mind about his wife was someone to be demolished.

When the socialites finally left, he waited for a good five minutes before telling Pollyanna, “Let’s go?” He only smiled at her curious look and scooped Dio into his arms while Pollyanna carried Ella.

He held her hand as they stepped out of the lounge, and Pollyanna was startled when someone in the airport hallway shouted, “It’s them!” She looked up, and her eyes widened, her mouth opening and closing in shock as a crowd of paparazzi surged towards them, leaving behind a now-ignored group of socialites.

When she realized what Kyr had done, she looked up at him in exasperation. Did you have to go that far?

He shrugged. Not far enough.

And she realized he meant every word when they made it to the private jet and again there was an unexplained delay before takeoff. Thinking there was a technical issue behind it, Pollyanna focused on getting the twins settled in a private room that had been converted into their play area. When she came out, it was to find the same group of socialites lined up at the lounge, stiff smiles pasted on their faces.

“Would you like anything, Mrs. Gazis?” Their tones were just as stiff as the rest of them.

Okay…

Kyr appeared in the doorway, and his tone was languid as he asked, “Well, psaraki? Anything you want to have them do? They’re for you to order about. Their families, you see, do business for us---”

Pollyanna winced at the emphasis.

“---and since I’ve made it known I’m in need for more staff for our flight, they have kindly offered their services.” He paused. “As contract workers.” He gave her a pleasant smile. “So what’s it to be? Do you want them to kneel and beg for your forgiveness and promise they wouldn’t be stuck-up bitches for the rest of their lives? Perhaps kiss your feet, too?”

The suggestion so shocked his wife that she ended up giving him his favorite blowfish look, and the lethal edge of his temper somewhat cooled at the sight of it.

“I…d-don’t think we need extra staff,” Pollyanna finally mumbled when it was clear that Kyr wasn’t going to budge until she made a decision.

Lucky for them, Kyr thought. Even though he still had half a mind to have the women serving them until the end of the flight, Kyr knew it would only make his wife uncomfortable and so he dismissed the socialites with a curt nod, saying in an exaggeratedly polite tone, “Please get the fuck out of here.”

They didn’t need to be asked twice.

When they were alone, Kyr met Pollyanna’s stunned gaze calmly. “You didn’t really think I’d let them get away just like that?”

Another blowfish look.

It had him impatient, exasperated, and more than anything else, aroused, and he yanked her to him, making Pollyanna gasp in shock as she stumbled against his chest.

He kissed her hard, muttering against her lips, “I will never let anyone hurt you.”

“I know.” She kissed him back sweetly, and cupping his face, she placed whisper-soft kisses on his cheeks, his nose, his jawline---

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.”

She stopped what she was doing, giving him an innocent look as she asked, “What am I doing?”

“I’ve seen you do this countless times to the twins when they feel frustrated.”

Her blue eyes blinked up at him. “So you are frustrated?”

He expelled his breath in a hiss. “You know I still want to kill them---”

She shook her head hastily. “Please don’t. It would be silly if you go to jail because of them.” He suddenly took her hands, and her heart skipped a beat and another when he pressed his lips to them.

“The day I married you, I swore to myself to make you the happiest girl on earth,” he muttered roughly.

“And I am,” she said emphatically, unable to understand why he wouldn’t think she was.

He shook his head. “Making you happy means not letting anything hurt you, and…” His jaw clenched. “I only realized now, after listening to those bitches talk…I never thought to ask you. Are you happy with your life now?” His grip on her hands tightened as he bit out, “You may be a billionaire’s wife, but what they said was true. What all the tabloids have pointed out is true. I’ve never taken you anywhere, and the kids have tied you down---”

Pulling her hands out of his hold, she placed one finger on his lips. “Stop.”

He stilled.

“I love my life. I love the twins, and I love you.”

And goddammit, even after three years of marriage, those stars in her eyes were still shining brightly than ever.

Need burned hot and demanding inside of Kyr, and without a word, he walked towards the main door of the lounge and locked it. He went to the CCTV camera and pointed it downwards. When he walked back to her, she gasped, having realized what he was about to do.

“The kids,” she protested.

“Are too busy playing,” he finished, not stopping his stride.

She continued backing away. “But the staff will know---”

But Kyr only shrugged. “You gave birth to my twins, psaraki. Surely you didn’t think the whole world believes the storks gave them to us?”

Pollyanna turned red. “But it’s not---” She couldn’t speak anymore, her husband having taken her mouth hungrily.

“I want you now,” he bit out just before spinning her and gently but firmly pushing her down.

Dazed, Pollyanna found herself bent over a desk while her husband pushed her skirt up.

Oh. Dear. Lord.

Was this really happening---

She couldn’t help whimpering as she felt her husband’s large, strong hands running down her legs while pulling her panties down. Oh. Dear. It was really---

“Ah.” She couldn’t help moaning, her legs tensing as she felt the head of his cock nudge at her already slick opening.

And then it was going inside, and all she could do was close her eyes and let her husband take her, like they both knew she wanted. He cupped her breasts from behind, playing with her nipples as he pounded into her, and she could only clutch at the desk, her body helpless and wanton against the raw force of his desire.

His hard breathing made her toes curl, and when he leaned close to bite her ear, she arched in shock, the blazing pleasure making her head whirl. “Kyr,” she gasped. Her eyes closed as his thrusts became wilder. “Oh, Kyr!” Her orgasm came out of nowhere, and she cried out, her body shuddering.

Pollyanna’s pleasure triggered his, and with a rough groan, he thrust hard into his wife, holding to her tightly as he spilled his seed inside of her. Even as the last tremors of their climax faded, he stayed inside her, his semi-erect cock still throbbing.

Behind Pollyanna, her husband’s breath fanned her hair, as if he was inhaling her scent. She closed her eyes as she felt his lips graze her neck and she couldn’t help smiling a little when she felt the nip of his teeth on her shoulder, as if marking her as his territory.

One of his hands was still clasping her breast, and she covered it with hers, murmuring drowsily, “Love you so much.”

Her too-macho husband still didn’t answer, but it was okay.

Actions spoke louder than words, and she was content.