Unknown Wolf

Temporary Home

****** Lucy's POV

I woke up a few hours later, sweating to death, wrapped up in Rowen's arms still. He was radiating heat, and I was melting. I looked up at his face as he slept peacefully. His auburn hair in a mess over his eyes. I gently pushed his locks to the side and watched him sleep for a moment. I knew he was a deep sleeper, and remembering the last time I tried to free myself from his grasp, I wasn't sure I would be able to now. I found myself staring at his lips suddenly, and without thinking, I leaned in just a little more pressing mine lightly over his.

Rowen was not as deeply asleep as I first thought because he kissed back to my surprise. His arms hugged around my body, pulling me closer to his. I felt weak as we continued to kiss, wrapping my arms around his neck. Then, I ran my fingers up the back of his neck through his hair. He slipped his tongue in between my lips and began massaging mine with it. His kiss became more needy as if I was the essence of life to a dying man. He readjusted, so he was now above me using his arm to pull me under him as we continued to kiss.

He was straddling over me, but careful not put weight on me. My tongue began to fight his for dominance between our kisses as I fed at his mouth with a need I never knew I had. Involuntarily letting out a small moan. He pulled back from our kiss and lay his forehead to mine, closing his eyes in an attempt to regain control over himself.

"Lucy, you are making it very hard for me to remain a gentleman," He whispered huskily. I'm still trying to catch his breath.

"I'm sorry. I don't really know what came over me. I thought you were asleep." I breathed as my heart was still racing. My mind was a blur, but my body was begging to continue.

He grinned down at me, looking me up and down a bit hungrily. Even though I was fully clothed, it felt sensual. If anyone else had looked at me like that, I would be on edge and uncomfortable, but when he did it, my body felt on fire as if I needed him to touch me.

With my mind finally coming to, my eyes widened. I slipped out from under him to sit on the edge of the bed, mentally trying to piece all these feelings and urges together. I finally turned back to him to see he was lying on his side watching me and smirking triumphantly. I shook my head as if in an attempt to shake everything that just happened away.

"Maybe it would be best if I slept in my room from here on out." I finally squeaked out, embarrassed with my own behavior and thoughts.

"Maybe..." He continued to grin at me with a very knowing look. He leaned forward and grabbed my hand to gently squeeze it. "There is nothing to be ashamed of. Having thoughts of your mate like that is normal."

"I was not!" I protested, jumping off the bed as if it was burning me. He let out a loud belly laugh that almost seemed to shake the walls of his room at my reaction.

"Whatever you say, princess." He winked.

I narrowed my eyes at him as I grabbed my suitcase, dragging it out the door and across the hallway to my room. I opened the door to find my new quarters quite to my liking.

There were large wooden beams across the ceiling like in his room, but the walls were a beautiful periwinkle blue. A dark wood canopy bed with white sheer curtains hanging from it. The bedding upon it was beautiful hues of blue and green quilted together with white sheets. Matching side tables flanked the bed with glass lamps. One had a small silver colored alarm clock on it as well. The windows were framed with thick white curtains that, when closed, would block out the light currently encasing a mesmerizing view of the landscape and mountains beyond.

Instead of a fireplace, there was a wood burning stove with a white and green armchair nearby. A tall tiffany's style floor lamp with a small side table around the chair. There was also a long dresser in dark wood to match the rest of the furniture with a large mirror over it. A cobalt blue vase filled with a bouquet of fresh white gardenias and silver picture frames adorn the top of the dresser.

Abandoning my suitcase by the bed I opened the only other door in the room which must lead to the bathroom. It did not disappoint either as it could easily belong to any master bedroom itself with double sinks, a large soaker tub, and a walk-in shower with dual shower heads. The walls were painted a beautiful mint green with white tile floors that were heated. It was like my own personal spa.

I know my mouth was agape standing there, taking it all in. Looking in the mirror, I suddenly noticed Rowen behind me as he wrapped his arms around my waist, setting his chin atop my head.

"Do you like it?" he asked.

"It's perfect. It feels more like me than my bedroom at Greystone Manor." I gasped, looking around again.

He smiled happily and kissed the top of my head. "Good. I'll leave you to get ready and meet you in a little bit in the great room."

I nodded as he left. The first thing I got in the large shower was allowing the steaming hot water wash over me. The shower had been stocked with new body wash and shampoo. I opened the lids, taking a small sniff of each before using them. It was an interesting combination of floral and fresh scents like a garden after a soft rain. I surprisingly liked it, though I suspected this was a personal choice Rowen had made for me when he had them clean and stock the house to prepare for our arrival.

I grabbed a fluffy white towel, drying off and wrapping it around my body. While getting out of the shower, I noticed another door in the bathroom that had previously been overlooked. Out of curiosity, I opened it to find a spacious closet filled with clothes and shoes for every occasion in my size. My jaw dropped again at the realization that this also was all mine. He must have had a personal shopper fill this closet in a matter of days? That couldn't be right.

I left the closet untouched a little concerned. Either that was an over extravagant surprise, or they weren't really meant for me. They must have been for someone else or left by a previous girlfriend.

Sesi, "Who just happens to be your same size?"

"Coincidence, I'm sure." I shrugged mentally.

She rolled her eyes, "Same shoe size too?"

"Has to be. That can't be for me. It's too much. Size 7 is the average shoe size for a woman anyway."

She huffed again, frustrated.

I came back into the bedroom and opened my suitcase. Finding a comfortable pair of black leggings and a long sleeve maroon shirt, I got dressed and hid the necklace beneath my shirt to avoid awkward questions. The rings were enough for me. I quickly brushed through my hair and went out to the great room starving.

Coming down the hall, my nose perked up at a delicious smell. Rowen was sitting at the table with his usual coffee and seemed to be overlooking some paperwork. It was still quite early, and it seemed the guys hadn't dragged themselves out of bed yet. I turned towards the kitchen to jump slightly, noticing a middle-aged woman cooking what seemed to be breakfast for me.

"Lindsey, this is Mrs. Davis. She is our housekeeper. She normally has weekends and holidays off, but she is excited to have us home and to finally meet you. She lives in one of the guest houses on the property. " Rowen explained simply from his seat.

"Oh, hello."

"Good morning, Mrs. Benson. I just wanted to make sure you were all settling in well and make sure you had a decent breakfast, seeing as you would probably be tired from your travels." She smiled warmly at me. "You have definitely crushed the hearts and dreams of every eligible female in town stealing the heart of the most mysterious bachelor in our area. It's good to see Mr. Benson will finally be settling down."

I laughed, "I guess that won't give me the best start on making friends."

"Aww, you'll do just fine. A sweet girl like you can't help but win people over." She winked.

"Here you are, ma'am." She placed a large plate filled with eggs, fresh cut strawberries, toast, sausage, and bacon on the table for me.

"Thank you," I said as I sat next to Rowen in front of my food.

"What can I get you to drink?" She asked.

"Orange juice, please?"

She quickly poured me a glass as Wesley and Jordan came tumbling down the stairs, obviously lured by the smell of food.

"Mrs. Davis, this is Wyatt and Justin Gentry. Mrs. Benson's older brother's. They will also be living here with us for the time being." Rowen explained.

"Good morning, gentlemen. What can I get you this morning?" She smiled brightly at the chance to continue cooking.

**************

After we had all finished breakfast, and Mrs. Davis had left for her house. Rowen offered a small tour. Starting by going up the stairs towards Wesley and Jordan's quarters, which opened up to a sitting area with a tv and couches. To the side was a small desk. Their rooms were similar to each other with everything they could need in a bedroom. A decent bathroom between them to share. Their rooms also opened up to and shared a nice balcony with a view.

Then we made our way back down to the great room but continued to go past it further down the stairs. On this level, the stairwall opened to a nice game room with a custom detailed wood and mirrored bar that seemed to be fully stocked. There was also a large pool table and dart board. A huge big screen tv setup for movies and gaming adoring one wall with a large sectional towards the other end of the room. The next room was an in home gym or training room with mirrored walls, weights, treadmills, punching bags, floor mats, and even a ring for sparring.

Then there was a large laundry room with cabinets for cleaning products and detergents, a closet for hanging clothes and storage, and a long counter to fold clothes on. There were a few more bedrooms and bathrooms on this level as well, and it had access to a four car garage.

Coming back to the great room, Rowen then turned down the hall that our bedrooms were at the end of. The first room off the hall was his study that opened into a small library. Across the hall from his study was a small half bath. There were two other bedrooms down this hall before you reached ours with bathrooms as well.

Finally, there was a hidden room that held the security system and all cameras of the house and property. Only the four of us will have access to this room. It was also a small armory filled with guns, ammo, and other weapons. Rowen explained how this particular room tripled as a safe room. Taking time to show, especially me, how it worked if we should find ourselves in need to use it.

The front of the cabin had a large deck filled with handmade hickory rockers over looking the pond and long drive out. It was beautiful today as freshly fallen snow covered the grounds glistening in the light of the day.

Behind the kitchen table in the great room were two glass french doors that led out to a screened porch with stone flooring and several adirondack chairs with matching side tables.

A door to the side leads out to a grey stone walk going around the house towards a large covered patio with two large stone fireplaces on either end. One end also had a stone L shaped counter with a built-in grill and sink. There was a large table with chairs in the middle, and more seating on the other end by the second fireplace.

We continued by walking around the grounds where we saw Mrs. Davis's cottage, along with a ground keeper's cottage, stable hands, and a couple of others. We had a huge root cellar for food storage, a greenhouse, several garden fields, and beyond that fenced pastures for livestock.

He finished off by giving us a tour of the main barn with lines of stalls, a large tack room fully stocked, another office like room with a bathroom, and the upstairs has been renovated into a two bedroom apartment as if the place was lacking on living quarters.

Rowen had amassed enough acreage to have his own pack territory at this place, but I know that wasn't his thought process. I realize he bought and set all this up as his escape to run away from his family and be self-sufficient. He had started work on this safe house of escape plan years before he met me. The people here, according to Mrs. Davis seemed to somewhat know him.

He didn't seem to plan to rule. Being the second prince, he knew his brother would take the throne and create his own heirs. Rowen just wanted to be free of that world and responsibilities, and who could blame him for seeing who his family was. He didn't have the happiest home life. For him to want to create a fresh start for himself was reasonable, but now he would be thrust back into a life of duty and responsibility being mated to me. I hope he knows what choosing a life with me means for him. That this place is temporary. Eventually, we have a war to join and a kingdom to protect and rule. That is a drastic change to his original life plans.

I brushed off those thoughts for now as we returned to the main house through the snow. We came back through the screen porch, making sure to take our boots off before coming in the house to cut down on mess from the snow.

Rowen seemed to be happy to be sharing this part of his world with me. He kept taking small sideways and glanced at me throughout everything to see my reactions. It seemed important to him that I was happy and I approved the place. I was trying to take everything in stride and be accepting of my new temporary norm. After the tour was finished, I went to take some time for myself.