Salina stood in the middle of a lavish bedroom. It was dark of course- he was a straight man after all. God forbid they have any color in their life. It was nice though, it was modern and sleek. The newly married woman felt comfortable in it, ironically enough it wasn't unwelcoming.

"You can unpack tomorrow. Your furniture will be here in the morning. I'll help you arrange it however you want."

Just before they'd gotten to the bedroom, with Dominik carrying her essential luggage, she'd gotten a tour of the beautiful house. It wasn't huge like she expected. Her father and her had always lived in an estate, on opposite sides of the massive building. This felt like a home, an insanely expensive home, but one nonetheless. It had six bedrooms in comparison to her fathers home with fifteen. She preferred this one, Dominik even showed her the bedroom adjacent to his own that was just for her. He had squashed the hope that it was her own bedroom to sleep in but he did explain it was her own space to do what she wanted with.

He showed her the salt water pool and lavish garden in the back rather casually. He had acres of land with what looked like high tech security everywhere. The kitchen was to die for and she secretly couldn't wait to get a better look at it. Besides the six bedrooms he also had an office on the first floor near the kitchen and he mentioned a basement that probably had all the luxuries she could imagine. Overall, she was surprised with how much she liked the house.

The silence drew her out of her thoughts when she turned to see Dominik looking at her expectantly. He sat on the mattress to undo his cuff links. Salina glanced to the side as she tried to remember what he previously said.

Making a noise of accomplishment when she remembered, Dominik still stared at her. "Tomorrow is good.. You don't have to help me with the furniture. Although, you could let me bring Dulce in here."

Her husband rolled his eyes, "No cats in here." Her poor Dulce was set up in her extra room. Don't get her wrong, by the time they'd arrived to the house cat beds and a litter box were set up but still Salina missed her.

"Besides, no one else but yourself and I are allowed into the bedroom. So, it's not like any of the security is going to help you move the furniture."

Her head tilted in thought, the rule made being in the bedroom feel more intimate. Swallowing hard, she ran her hands over her bare arms. Her dress suddenly felt nonexistent as the mattress taunted her. It didn't help that Dominik was now unbuttoning his dress shirt that he wore oh so well.

"I'm tired," Salina suddenly blurted while looking at him pointedly.

Dominik huffed a quiet laugh, "You think I'd force myself on you tonight- ever in fact?"

Salina didn't answer, it was her own assumption. She'd assumed that Dominik would want to consummate their marriage- emphasize that she was his.

"No, we'll be sleeping," he snorted as if it was funny. When he saw her confused frown at his amusement, he continued.

"When I fuck you- you'll be begging."

The promise made her tremble momentarily. Leaning his hands back on the mattress beside her, he spread his legs.

"Show me your dress one more time before you change, baby."

His thick, accented request made her stand without thinking. She cursed herself for being so submissive to him, never had she submitted to someone like this.

Dominik gripped his phone, grazing his hand over her hip to pull her closer. This had surprised her, causing her to stumble even closer to him. Her hands fell to his broad shoulders, gripping the expensive fabric of his button up with a small gasp.

Her pretty, natural curls bounced around the two of them, falling over his shoulders. Her husband had a small quirk to his lips as she stood over him shakily. She was a fucking sight.

Salina's eyes widened as he took a picture of her.

"So fucking pretty," he murmured to himself more than anything as he looked at the screen.

Turning her around so she faced the door, her face felt hot as he held the side of her ass. His fingers dug possessively into her plump figure, his camera shuttering once again.

"To mark the occasion," he saved the picture of his hand groping her in her wedding dress as both of his screensavers. It was his left hand and the band on his ring finger reflected the light of the flash that really sold it for him.

"You're ridiculous, Ivanov," Salina hissed. He couldn't even take a picture of them at the courthouse if he really wanted to remember this day. That moment was lost on them both forever and here he was taking photos of her body.

Dominik sighed at the frustration seeping from her tone. Salina pulled away and honestly the man was confused, what had he done to upset her?

He honestly couldn't think of anything.

Salina could see that on his face and she was fully convinced Dominik was actually insane. Or at least a psychopath if he couldn't empathize with her at the moment.

"Salina," he murmured as tears swam in her eyes. She'd come to her breaking point after all of these changes. It was obvious.

Gripping her wrist, his wife yelped as he pulled her into his lap. She struggled to straddle his wide body, but he continued to pull her so her chest was flush against his own and her face hovering above his.

"These tears... They are pointless, pretty girl. I am not a normal man, жена. These expectations you have need to be shifted if something as simple as today has made you upset," Dominik practically cooed to her in a condescending tone. Her eyes narrowed and she shifted to move away.

His eyes darkened and he growled lowly from his chest, winding his arm around her small waist and pinning her against his chest.

"Don't." He snarled up at her. "I'm not some fucking pussy about to bend over for his woman but I will always act with your best interest in mind. You have my word," Dominik promised intensely.

"No other partners, for either of us. You don't have to worry about that. I'll never lay a hand on you, but you already know that." He could see it in her eyes.

"Tell me when I upset you, even if it doesn't seem like it at the moment I don't want you to be miserable. While I may not understand your emotions when you tell me to fix something I'll consider it," he tilted his head to admire how pretty she looked with tears flushing her rich brown, freckled skin.

"You don't ask questions unless at the appropriate time if we're around others. You always have to keep in mind who's listening. You double check every. fucking. thing. with me beforehand. I don't care if it's as simple as going outside without me beside you. You're mine and I intend to keep it that way, if you thought your father was dangerous- prepare yourself. Never assume you're safe unless with me. Tell me you understand," his very being reeked of dominance.

Salina couldn't help but nod as she sniffled.

"Words, woman."

"Yes," she hissed through her teeth.

Dominik smirked, "Besides those basic rules- you're to eat your meals with me unless I have plans otherwise. I don't have staff that cooks for me, if you don't feel comfortable cooking let me know. The staff that is here is all for security and I have it set at a strict number- not too many and not too little. If anything is out of the ordinary you tell me. They aren't to address you, I'll fucking kill them. You sleep besides me every night unless there's something absolutely hindering it, if I'm on business or something. Although, you'll more than likely be with me."

Salina was trying to absorb all of the information.

"Your name will be on all of my important documents- the public ones for the legitimate business I run at least. Your name won't be tied to anything illegal but you'll have access to the funds from it obviously. I'll give you everything I have for you, cards, documents, a new phone tomorrow."

"New phone?" she croaked for the first time.

"I don't trust your father to not have yours bugged."

Her head nodded quickly, swallowing.

"Any questions?"

Still processing, she couldn't say she had anything to ask.

"Not right now," Salina rasped.

Dominik nodded and patted her side to signal her she could leave if she pleased. Or she could stay, he smirked.

But she did scurry away from the lethal man and into the closet where more than half had been cleared for her things. Salina felt warmth in her chest from the simple act, tomorrow she could unpack properly as she got dressed in pajamas.

Her hands fisted the old hoodie she'd stolen from her father years ago. He probably doesn't even know she has it, but either way it brought her comfort. She could at least pretend her father cared for her and was protective over her.

Slipping the hoodie on with sleeping shorts, Salina stepped out while dragging a makeup wipe over her skin.

Dominik dragged his eyes over her just before lifting his shirt over his head. Revealed to her was his chiseled figure, littered in so many tattoos she could barely see the pale pigment of his body.

They almost contoured his body and his muscles, making everything bulge and look immensely bigger. God, he was just huge.

What did she get herself into?

There were small patches of skin open, probably randomly. No ink was on his right peck in a small area, on either side of his adonis belt and parts of his hands.

"Stare as long as you'd like," he held up his hands and even did a spin for her. Salina scoffed a little. "It's all yours anyway."

Salina swallowed hard as she came forward, Dominik winding a hand around her torso and nodding to the bathroom. She followed him, he showed her where all the toiletries were and where her toothbrush would go besides his. They had his and hers vanities, with ample space for everything she would unpack tomorrow.

He showed her how to use the luxury shower and bathtub, admiring her face openly as she looked at the spacious bathroom.

"Happy?" Dominik murmured down to her. Salina rolled her lips, peering up at him with her long lashes.

She assumed he was asking about the bathroom and set up itself, if that was the case she nodded. "Yes, thank you for setting this up for me," she gestured to all the space obviously reserved for her.

Dominik grunted, nudging her forward and as usual his touch sent shivers up her spine. He allowed her to get ready for bed as he stripped in the bedroom, soon enough Salina was under the covers and waiting on him with bated breath.

"You look terrified," Dominik rolled his eyes as he sat down.

"I'm not," she was honest.

"Then what are you?"

"Adjusting, I've never shared a bed with anyone."

Dominik lied on his back, "Neither have I."

This made her relax a bit into the mattress, smushing her cheek against the pillow on her designated side.

"Well at least we have that in common," Salina sighed tiredly.

Dominik hummed as he turned off the light. "I'm sure we'll find out we have a lot more in common than that."

Her back was to him as he lay on his back, Dominik stared up at the ceiling. All of this time he's pulled strings and moved mountains just to get her here where his plans could finally begin and now he finally has her laying down safely beside him.

It felt different than he thought it would, he didn't worry about the married part. As stupid as that sounds- he only laid out their family business in mind.

Her voice sliced through his thoughts. "Why did you pick me?" Her words were soft, they were insecure. This was the second time she'd asked this.

Dominik scratched his chest, grumbling quietly in the dark of the room. "I already told you."

"You told me I'd be a good Donna."

"Not good. The best."

Salina rolled her eyes, turning onto her side to face him now. "That's not a reason to marry someone, Ivanov. You hire someone you want to work with, you don't marry them. Besides, that still doesn't even make any sense. You make no sense."

The large man rolled his eyes as he too turned onto his side to fully face her, "Would it be too much to ask you to just trust me?"

A high pitched, frustrated noise erupted from the back of her throat, she murmured to herself angrily. "Il suffit de lui faire confiance, dit-il... C'est tellement idiot. Il est fou, j'en suis sûr."

Just trust him, he says... So idiotic. He's crazy, I'm sure of it.

Dominik smirked at her tone up at the ceiling.

"Can you do this for me, hm жена?" He reached for her slowly. He gave her time to pull away, his hand grazed over her side gently. "You think I would steer you wrong?"

Her annoyed, dark eyes met his lighter ones for a moment. Her own rolled and turned away once again, giving him her back. Dominik scoffed, squeezing her hip before leaving her alone for the rest of the night.

~

The day after their marriage had gone as he said, she'd moved her vanity into Dominik's bedroom. Her clothes were organized how she liked them and it was beginning to look like she actually lived here. It'd been a few days since then and she was actually beginning to settle in. They were halfway through day five of their marriage. To say it was uneventful was an understatement. After helping with the bedroom and really anything else she mentioned, Dominik buried himself in his work. It seemed like a normal occurrence. There was breakfast, lunch, and dinner sent on the dot everyday so far. In his list of demands, when Dominik had mentioned eating meals together unless he absolutely could not- she didn't think much of it at the time.

But here, sitting in a connected room to his office, Salina was coming to terms that she was dissapointed at the lack of meals they had eaten together. She was secluded off to this small library like room connected to Dominik's office by a swinging door so he had easy access to her. The door was right besides his desk. The door from the hallway into the library stayed locked tight so he was literally the only one with access to her. Despite the sounds of it, Salina begrudgingly felt safe.

Salina sat on her laptop, Dulce laying across the table of the benched window seat Salina found comfort in. Her head rested on her soft, long haired cat. They both looked at the screen, ordering things for the house. She'd ordered an embarrassing amount of things for the kitchen. She ordered things for Dominik's bedroom to make it feel more like their bedroom. Because if she can't get out of the room she will damn sure make it her own. And of course, Dulce aptly watched as her companion ordered plenty of cat accessories and toys.

Glancing at the clock, Salina leaned back. It was lunch.

"Ivanov!" she yelled to catch his attention. She knew no one was in the office because she couldn't hear anyone. But she could hear the damn man sigh loudly. In his defense for his behavior- Dominik was attentive to her when he was around. Getting her extra blankets to sleep, begrudgingly moving his things around in the bathroom, and waiting for her very high maintenance and time consuming shower routine to be finished; he was decent in that aspect.

Dominik strode in, sliding his hands into the belt loops of his slacks and looking at his wife expectantly. She'd been surprisingly docile during the transition. He didn't trust it. She'd only asked about her father once, looking mildly discouraged when she found out Laurent hadn't reached out once to find out how she was.

"I'm hungry," she didn't lift her head from her feline friend as she stared at him. Dominik furrowed a brow, "So... order something. I told you just use the phone I gave you." Ah yes, the phone that was identical to her previously perfectly fine one. He had watched the entire time she annoyedly customized it back to what it was before. After watching that, he slowly pulled out his own and saved the two photos he'd taken of her in her dress as his lock screen and home screen to her horror. Now every time he turned his phone on her ass and his hand on it was front and center.

"Well, are you hungry?" Salina slowly asked as she sat up. She was going crazy with the lack of human interaction. Hopefully, the longer she was here the more he'd loosen up on the 'not leaving my side' shtick.

Dominik thought about it for a moment before grunting in agreement. Salina perked up at the opening.

"I could make something in the kitchen, I ordered groceries two days ago."

Dominik shook his head, "Don't trouble yourself. I'm eating in my office anyway. Order whatever."

Salina deflated with her eyes twitching in annoyance. She glared openly at the door separating them. "Meet, propose, and marry me all in one day but god forbid he sit down for a meal with me. Ugh, this is all stupid. De toute façon, je ne voulais même pas manger avec lui. J'étais juste poli."

I didn't even want to eat with him anyway. I was just being polite.

Salina slumped back against the cushioned chair, adding something else expensive to her already hefty cart before charging Dominik's card.