Never Leave, A Human Mate - (Book 2 The Mist Series)

~Chapter 5 - Reece's Room~

~Dawn~

Two men appeared in the doorway of a room to the left of the entrance. One had a pale complexion, a muscular build, and striking green eyes. The second man was stocky and equally muscular. I could tell from how he carried himself that he was the head of the household or the son of one. Both of them were holding toddlers; one baby looked like a twin of the first baby I had met, while the other was a tiny boy who resembled the man carrying him, almost as if he were a miniature clone.

“This is Tyrone and Joseph,” Louise declared, gesturing from the pale man to the stocky man. “My partners…”

Partners… A polygamous relationship? I shrugged inwardly. Life was short. Who was I to judge? Each to their own and whatever makes them happy.

“Hi,” I nodded at each, trying not to stare at the tiny human clones they were cradling. “I’m Dawn…”

“Hi,” they echoed, their voices surprisingly deep for men who looked barely out of their teens.

“I’m the owner of the car currently blocking your entrance,” I added awkwardly, feeling like I needed to justify my very existence in this strange, opulent place.

“That’s fine,” Joseph said, flicking a glance at Louise that I couldn’t quite decipher. “Jack’s a great guy and a skilled mechanic. He’ll have you up and running in no time.”

“That’s what I’m hoping,” I added, fiddling with the pencil behind my ear.

“Dawn, I’ll show you to the room you’ll be staying in,” Reece called from halfway up a gigantic staircase. His voice was like velvet, rich and smooth, and it sent a little shiver down my spine.

My gaze drifted upwards, drawn by the staircase, and I gasped. The interior echoed the exterior’s grandeur, leaving me breathless. Rich, crushed velvet carpets in a deep crimson cascaded down the hardwood, amplifying the sense of opulence. Every step of the grand staircase was a plush, inviting invitation. A thrill, both delightful and unexpected, rippled through me as I reached for the banister. The varnished oak, cool and smooth as silk, met my fingertips. I paused, absorbing every detail, committing the scene to memory, eager to capture its essence in a sketch later.

“Gorgeous,” I breathed. A general appreciation aimed at no one and everyone. I moved a few steps ahead, then turned back to Louise, a wide, Cheshire grin on my face. “I love Victorian houses… Especially houses like this. As a woman who dabbles in art, seeing this building just makes me happy. I’d love to draw it.”

“Feel free…” Louise said, sharing another one of those unreadable glances with Tyrone and Joseph. “Explore and make yourself at home.”

“And dinner will be served in a few hours,” Joseph added. “We hope you’ll join us.”

“Thank you,” I replied, skipping up the stairs, a giddiness bubbling in my stomach.

Reece stood at the landing on the second floor, peering down at me. His intense gaze made my heart flutter. I shook off the feeling and hurried to catch up to him. As I reached the second floor, my eyes were immediately drawn to the elegant, curved space that welcomed me. The cream walls were adorned with expensive paintings that seemed to invite my gaze. However, my attention was drawn to the far-right corner, near a large window, where a magnificent brass statue of a wolf stood, howling towards the heavens as if in a trance. The statue’s intricate details and lifelike features were breathtaking.

I continued to look around, counting four rooms, each with its unique patterned oak door and a few narrow cream doors that I suspected to be either closets or bathrooms. The walls were painted soft cream, making the area warm and inviting. To my left was the next set of stairs to the third floor.

“Your room is on the next floor,” Recce said as he turned for the stairs, still lugging all my bags. “I’ve given you my room. It has an ensuite, a desk, and a TV, everything you need.”

“Wait…!” I exclaimed when I registered what he had said. I scrambled to catch up with him. “I can’t take your room. What about you?”

“I can sleep anywhere…” He admitted with a snort, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Don’t worry about me.”

“But I’ll feel guilty for kicking you out of your own room…” I admitted, honestly. The guilt was already starting to gnaw at me.

“Don’t be. I offered it to you,” Reece added as he ascended the stairs to the third-floor landing.

He turned right and headed for the third door from the right. I followed behind him, counting another three doors and a few closest spaces. Reece stopped at the white door, ingrained with delicate leaf patterns that seemed to dance in the dim light, and I stopped behind it. He pulled it open and stepped inside. I hovered at the open door, fiddling with my pencil, contemplating my choices. My heart was doing a somersault. At this rate, it would win a gold medal at the Olympics. I didn’t have many options for where to go until my car was fixed, so staying here was a simple decision. But why am I so nervous suddenly?

“You can come in,” Reece called back through the doorway, his voice laced with a hint of laughter, as if he could sense my hesitation.

I swallowed my nerves and stepped in through the threshold. I was greeted by a stunning display of brightness that immediately settled my uncertainties. My shoes sank into a soft, plush white carpet. As I looked up, I noticed intricate cornices etched with gold paint, adding a touch of elegance to the room. The walls were painted with a soft shade of white, and upon closer inspection, I could see flecks of gold shimmering through the paint. The four-poster king-sized bed took over the far left. It was a sight, with gold flecks running through the white wood that held the canopy.

I craned my head to the corner of the room and spotted a wooden desk neatly set up beside a large bay window. The window had a soft grey mattress in front of it, and matching pillows scattered about that looked incredibly comfortable. And across from the desk sat a large and inviting grey sofa.

Reece dropped my bags near the bed with a soft thud. I continued to take in the room, slowly spinning to absorb every detail. The room was ridiculously big, definitely bigger than my entire apartment back in the city. Sunlight streamed through the bay window, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air, creating an ethereal glow. A large, ornate mirror hung above the desk, reflecting the light and making the room feel even more expansive. It was all so… luxurious.

“Welcome to my abode…” He said, opening his arms in an exaggeration.

There was a door to the right, and next to that was a set of wooden doors that opened to a large walk-in wardrobe. The room smelt of watermelon and lemon, not the musty male scent I had expected.

“This is… incredible,” I breathed, finally finding my voice. “Thank you, Reece. Really.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied, tucking his hands in his pockets. “When we were assigned our rooms many years ago, we got to choose the design. As you can tell…” he gestured about the room, “I like whites, yellows, greys, and gold, colours that bring joy.”

“It’s definitely a joyful room,” I agreed as I stepped beside him. I turned to him, my arm brushing his, and again, the sensation ramped through my body. “So, where will you stay? I feel bad for taking your room.”

“Don’t be. I’ll figure something out.” He winked at me.

I gestured at the sofa. “Well, I can take the sofa… If you want the bed…”

Smirking, Reece raised an eyebrow. “You’re willing to share a room with me? A complete stranger?”

I shrugged. “Over the last week, I’ve stayed in many backpacker hostels and bunked with hordes of people. I honestly don’t mind sharing.”

“If that’s the case,” he reached out to take my hand, then recoiled. “You have the bed, and I’ll take the sofa.”

“Okay,” I agreed, reaching out my hand, thinking he had gone to shake it but had stopped at the last minute.

He reached for mine again, but instead of shaking it, he brought my hand to his lips and kissed it. Heat filled my body, making my skin itch. My heart took another shot as an acrobatic ninja and vaulted through my chest.

The sudden amber in Reece’s eyes left no room for doubt: this was no illusion.

“How do you do that?” I asked, dropping my hand.

“Do what?” He asked, a half-smile playing on his lips. He knew exactly what I was talking about.

“Make your eyes change colour… Are you wearing contacts or something?”

“No,” he shook his head, the amber fading slightly. “It’s just something that happens… A family trait.”

“That’s kind of cool,” I admitted. “I wish my eyes could do that.”

“Your eyes are already pretty enough…” Reece said, then cleared his throat, the amber completely gone now, and changed the subject. My cheeks flushed, and butterflies erupted in my stomach. “Anyway,” he continued, gesturing to the doorway beside the walk-in wardrobe. “Downstairs are the kitchen and living room… There’s a library and a music room at the back of the house. Feel free to explore. I can show you around.”

“Do you mind if you take me on a tour?” I asked, setting my bag and sketchbook on the desk. “I would really appreciate it.”

His face lightened. “I’d love to…”

“Awesome,” I beamed, clapping my hands together. “Let’s go…”

I couldn’t wait to see what other secrets this incredible place held. And maybe, just maybe, I was even more curious to uncover the secrets Reece was hiding.