Page 146 of The Scandal You Started
But wasn’t that what her parents had probably agreed before they got married? And look how that had turned out. What guarantee was there that Dominic’s promise wouldn’t end the same way?
A knot of doubt made itself known within her belly. But it wasn’t one that could be picked apart within a matter of minutes or even days. It was a deeply rooted concern that would take time to untangle.
It would take trust. She had to trust Dominic, and she did.
But did she trust herself?
It was hard to tell, but she wanted to.She was trying to.
Rayna swallowed to loosen the tangle, anchoring her fingers deeper into the cushioned seat. “Do you…do you want children?” she asked.
“Yes.”
He didn’t say it as a“duh, obviously”that was what he wanted because society had told men to procreate mindlessly. It was a genuine, sure reply.
“How many?”
“A dozen.”
His tone was so earnest, it took her a second to realise what he’d said, but her jaw collapsed. Mirth sparkled in his eyes, and his mouth twitched. But that didn’t stop her from trying to shove him away as if he were being serious.
“I’m not giving you a dozen kids,” she exclaimed.
He laughed, loud, deep, and roguish. “Half a dozen then.”
Her eyes bulged as she tried to get away from him—kind of hard to do when he was crouched in front of her. “What do you think I am? A flipping broodmare? Two!”
“Four.”
“Two!”
He entrapped her waist in the circle of his arms with a big, fat grin. “Five.”
She made a choked sound and pushed at his biceps in outrage. “Dominic!”
A husky chuckle shook his chest as he hugged her tighter, halting her squirming. “Rayna,” he echoed and pressed his lips to her sternum.
He showered a series of soft kisses to her skin, and damn him, the stupid oaf. Because despite the disgruntled blush pinching her cheeks, she felt herself sink towards him.
“I’m only teasing, my love,” he murmured into her. “I will be happy with however many you are willing to give me.”
Dominic laid a longer peck to her chest, and Rayna let out a grumbled sigh. Not in annoyance with his joke, but because she suddenly realised she was never going to be able to stay mad athim over anything. Not when he acted all sickeningly adorable like an oversized puppy.
She twisted her twitching mouth to the side, trying to maintain her frown, as she caressed her hands up his arms to his shoulders. She felt his smile widen against her skin.
“I love you,” he whispered.
With one last kiss, he pulled away. But she remained frozen, sure her heart was going to fly out of her chest at breakneck speed.
He didn’t wait for a response and began putting her other shoe on with a happy smile as if he knew she wasn’t going to say it back. Like he wasn’t even holding his breath, hoping she might. And Rayna didn’t know how to feel about that.
Didn’t he want her to say it? Didn’t it matter to him that she hadn’t?
She should’ve been able to say it back. He deserved to hear the same. She should’ve told him she…
Say it, Rayna. Say it back.
She forced her stiff mouth open. “Dominic…” He glanced up. “I…”
