When Salina was finally able to lay down that night, it was nearly midnight. Dominik hugged her close from behind. She would play a game that was only funny to her where she would see how far she could get Dominik to scoot in order to be close to her.

Last night they both slept on the very edge of the bed even after Salina admitted defeat through her laughter, Dominik pouted and announced they'd be sleeping there since she thought it was so funny.

But tonight, thankfully, they were in the middle of the mattress and Dulce slept on Dominik's side. He didn't complain as he grazed his fingers up and down her arm soothingly. She held his other hand, pressing it to her cheek as they lied in comfortable silence.

He heard her sigh quietly, Dominik opened his eyes knowing Salina's tell tale sign of having something on her mind. "What is it?" he rasped as he slid her onto her back. Salina glanced up at him as he propped himself up on his elbow. His eyes trailed to her chest, seeing her nipples stiffen underneath his large t-shirt that she wore.

Quickly finding himself distracted, he slid down and wormed his head under her shirt. It didn't stretch over his shoulders so he only stuffed his head under to rest between her tits and let the shirt bunch around the both of them.

Salina scoffed, "How are you going to ask me a question then do that? I know you're not going to pay attention."

"No, no..." he murmured as he pushed himself further into the shirt. His hair poking up through the neck hole, tickling under her chin. "I'm paying attention, woman. Tell me, share whatever is on your beautiful mind."

Fighting her grin, Salina kissed the top of his exposed hair. "Our parents sucked. Both our dads suck. Our moms sucked."

Under her shirt, Dominik snorted. "Yeah no shit, what about it?"

Salina pouted up at the ceiling, "I don't know. It was just making me think. Is every family in this line of work doomed for bad parenting and shitty relationships with their children?"

Dominik's brow furrowed, moving and shifting drawing a groan from Salina as he pushed his head through her neckhole so his face hovered over her own. "What made you think all these things, my eсолнышко? You sound sad, it's bothering me," he murmured while brushing his lips over her jaw.

Salina's lips twitched up a bit, he kissed each side to see if she would give him a full smile. When he glanced up, he saw her narrow her eyes a bit and pout her mouth instead.

She tilted her chin up, "Maybe it's everything with my dad. I'm probably just trying to shift blame. Like maybe he's just a bad dad because of his position..." her voice quieted with insecurity. "But I know it's just because that's who he is."

Dominik frowned, nuzzling down in her shoulder. "You can't blame yourself for his behavior," he felt her arms wrap around his neck.

"I know, it's just hard."

She felt him nod, his thumbs rubbed her wide hips softly. "What else is bothering you?"

Salina frowned immediately, groaning as she pressed the heels of her palms into her eyes. Dominik hissed quietly, prying them away so she wouldn't hurt herself.

"Do you want kids?" She suddenly blurted, "I know we like have to have kids for an heir or whatever-which by the way is ridiculous- but do you want kids?"

Dominik's head flung up from her chest, knocking against her chin as they both groaned. He pressed his hand to where he bumped her, rubbing the top of his head as well. "What?" he rasped as he looked as wide eyed she'd ever seen.

"Well you're not too concerned while we're having sex. I have the implant- by the way," she gestured to her arm. "I got it after I found out about the arrangement," Salina mumbled almost sheepishly. Now, it was embarrassing to admit but at the time it felt like something she would absolutely need to do to protect herself.

Dominik processed the information, finding that a significant part of him was dissapointed by the admission. He hadn't thought about protection.

"...Do you usually fuck women without thinking about a condom?" Salina glowered at her husband.

"What? No. I haven't fucked anyone since I was like 21- first of all. Second of all, I didn't touch them if I wasn't gloved." Salina still hated the imagery as possessiveness made her squirm underneath him.

"Aw c'mon baby," he whispered as he kissed her softly. Her eyes rolled, "Yeah, yeah. I just don't like to think about it."

"My heart and my cock have always belonged to you," he sucked on her neck softly. Salina finally cracked a smile before swatting at him. "You're deflecting Dominik Aleksandr!"

"Well I don't exactly have an answer, Salina Carmen!"

She smacked his side, "Don't sass me, Ivanov." He grunted and slapped her ass lightly back, "I've never thought about it, woman. Honest. Only in the sense of having an heir, I guess."

Salina swallowed with a nod, biting on her inner cheek. "Okay... Well it's not a big deal right now anyway," she trailed her tongue over her teeth as she kept her eyes down on his inked chest.

He allowed himself a second to process, taking a moment to think about what she actually asked him. Does he want kids? He knew the package that of an arranged marriage before this roller coaster.

That package included popping out a kid or two so that the Ivanov legacy would continue on. He had no experiences with kids to make this decision, but he knew the thought of Salina carrying his kids gave him a head high like no other.

"Do you want kids?" He shot the question right back.

Salina looked back at him, "Either way we're expected to have them."

"No. That's not what I'm asking and you know that, baby." He watched her roll her eyes, still nibbling the inside of her cheek as the low lights in their room illuminated her face.

She brought her hands up to his face once she finally met his gaze, ignoring the fact that his head was still coming out of her shirt. "I do. I want to do it right, but I'm not having more than two and you only get to give your opinion on the names I choose."

His mouth fell open for a moment before he barked out a laugh, nodding slowly at her demands. "You really want kids? I wasn't sure what you'd think about it."

"I don't like other peoples kids but I'd like mine. I just think... maybe it'd be something I'm good at," Salina shrugged sheepishly.

"You'll be amazing at it," Dominik knew it with every fiber in his being. Suddenly, he groaned while pressing his lips against her own. "I want you to have my kids now. Like I want you pregnant yesterday."

Salina squealed as he lifted her shirt off the both of them so he could loom over her while pushing his tongue against her own. "We just- For God's sake keep it in your pants, I didn't say right now!" Her words were muffled against his fast kisses.

"When?"

"You're crazy!"

"When? I have my answer, I want kids if they're with you. Want to give you kids."

Their lips parted with spit connecting their mouths, his hands kneading her ass while he waited for her response with a bated breath. "Since I'm the only one thinking with my brain at the moment- we should wait a bit Domo, don't look at me like that. When were you thinking?"

"Whenever the implant shit can get out," he husked as he thought about fucking her to truly fill her up. His chest rumbled, the thought of his little wife pregnant- it drove him absolutely crazy. He'd stuff her full until he made it a reality.

"No, absolutely not," she rolled her eyes. "When you think on it for another month, then we can talk about getting the implant out. But before I do, you're going to read at least three parenting books so you know exactly what you're getting into. I think we should be married for at least a year. You probably aren't even thinking about them as actual children, you caveman. Get your dick off my thigh, you're insane."

Dominik frowned deeply, wondering how this conversation turned into Salina telling him no to having children.

"But-"

"You'd have to share me Domo," she reminded him. The comment had him quieting down. He rest his head on her now bare chest, massaging her breasts gently as he listened to the thud of her heart beat. She could practically hear him thinking too hard.

"You're right. But soon?" He brought his hand down to her womb, the idea she's planted in his mind was now stuck. And he suspected it wouldn't be something he easily forgot.

"Soon after you've thought about it again, jeez this is not how I thought that'd go," Salina too was baffled by the turn in conversation. Originally preparing to be in the long haul convincing Dominik that kids would be good for them.

He really is full of surprises- and he really is insane if he thinks they are ready to have a baby. Men, her eyes rolled.

"I think it went good. Now I know," Dominik smirked against her sternum as he hugged her tight. "Now, sleep before I get more ideas on how to keep us up."

She slapped him upside the head gently, but it only encouraged him to nuzzle deeper into her.

••

i would feel bad if this was next weeks only chapter since it is one of the shorter ones

ch. 25 & 26 were previously combined into one so... fair is fair i had to give u both lolll