River sat quietly across from Hayze in the limo. She tried to keep herslef from constantly admiring his slicked-back dark brown hair and his icy blue eyes. She couldn't seem to ignore how good he looked in his dark blue suit. Even his smell had her heart beating fast. He smelled so fresh and manly.

He hadn't spoke much to her since they had left the wedding reception. But she had to remind herself that he didn't speak much in general as far as she's seen.

After staring out the window, she eventually got curious as to where they were going.

"Where are we going?"

"Home," he said without even looking at her.

She froze. "Home?" She whispered to herself. "Where is that?"

After not getting a reply, she leaned her head back against the window and stared out at the passing suroundings. She could tell that they were driving through a richer and quieter area due to the fact that the roads were so well paved and there didn't seem to be any bumps in the road. When the car did go over a bump, it was usually to control speed.

The houses River saw were cute and tucked away. She only got glimpses of them from behind the trees but as the car drove on the houses got bigger and more detailed.

River suddenly realized that the long straight road that they were on seemed to be going on forever because the driver never slowed down to turn into a houses driveway. So after passing about eight more houses, she decided to get comfortable.

Peeling off her heels seemed to be harder than anticipated because everytime she leaned over to loosen the straps, her dress would fall in the way and block her view.

Her cheeks burned when she noticed Hayze was silently watched her wrestle with the dress and heels. His icy blue eyes locked with hers and she looked down when his gaze got to intense. He looked annoyed.

"Put your feet up here, bella rosa." Hayze's voice surprised her and she looked up so quickly she could have sworn she heard something in her neck crack.

River hesitantly put her small, heeled feet up on the seats opposite her and beside Hayze. He smoothly reached over and slowly slipped the white dress up to her knees, all while keeping eye contact with her.

He barely even brushed her leg with his fingers but she found herself fighting back a blush and a shiver at the same time. It was a simple movement and most likely meant nothing but River couldn't help but think it meant something.

She was thinking to much into this. Maybe he kept eye contact with her so as not to overstep any bounderies. Maybe he was silently asking permission to lift her dress. Besides, they hardly knew eachother.

So then, why did he look at her like she was... beautiful?

Nico would sometimes look at her like that. But he never touched her like that.

Time seemed to slow down as he slipped the heels off of her feet and then suddenly, his hands were gone and her surroundings came back into view.

"Thank you," she squeaked as she took her now bare feet down off the limo seat.

River suddenly felt like she was going to be punished for her thoughts.

She so badly wanted his calloused yet gentle hands on her skin again. They were married so it wasn't really wrong. But then again, she didn't love Hayze, she loved Nico and he loved her back.

The rest of the drive was so silent that River coukd hear her thoughts in her ears. She just about fell off her seat when the driver took a sudden right. Hayze sat completely unaffected by the turn.

Excitement, curiousity and a lot of anxiousness coursed through her blood as a huge navy blue gate came into view. It was intricately detailed and a little intimidating as it slowly opened to let them in.

The sound of gravel crunching under the tires had River pressing her nose to the window so she could take in every detail. She gasped as her eyes focused in on the giant house in front of her.

"Wow," she whispered as the car slowed to a stop in front of the house.

The driver got out and opened both of their doors before putting his hand out for River. She quickly snatched up her heels and took the drivers hand. Once she was out of the car, she had to stop herself from gaping at the house.

Off to the right she could see a small hedge that was most likely hiding a cute little water fountain. She could see the small spouts of water peak over the hedge every few seconds.

The actual house was a sand stone color and had a few pretty vines crawling over the walls. It made River feel like she was in a completely different country.

It was strange because the house was obviously designed to look sort of vintage but at the same time it still had a bit of moderness to it with its large rectangular windows, though the sheer, white curtains were pulled closed.

River snapped out of her daze when she heard Hayze's dress shoes walking over the pavement.

"Come," he said as he walked past her.

She quickly tried scurrying after him, but she embaressingly stumbled over the train of her dress. River's cheeks burned as Hayze turned back around to look at her.

She quickly scrambled up off the ground as he made his way towards her and she mumbled a small 'sorry'.

Her eyes watched his every movement curiously as he stalked towards her. Surprisingly, he swiftly dropped down to pick up the train of her dress before motioning for her to walk towards the huge, double wooden doors.

Two intimidating pillars stood tall in front of the varnished doors and they had River's attention as she walked past them. Hayze's fingers flipped up a cover over what looked like a keypad and River found herself turning away so he could do the password without her invading his privacy.

She never did like knowing other peoples passcodes. They were there for a reason and she would respect that.

A very quiet click sounded and the door was pushed open. Hayze stepped to the side to let River in and the sight of the house had her jaw slack.

It was like something out of Beauty and the Beast with its twin bannister staircase except it was a little less wide and it wasn't covered with red carpet.

River couldn't seem to help herself when she took a subtle sniff of his home. She really liked how it smelled.

It smelled of him.

The floors were wooden and polished to perfection. As she looked around she noticed that the house was very simple and spacious with minimal decorations.

"Vito will come to show you around and then he'll take you to your room," Hayze said without looking at her.

"You're no-" When she turned to look at him, he was already half-way up the stairs. "Oh."

River stood there awkwardly in the middle of the large hall in her wedding dress with her arms wrapped around herself. The anxiety of being left alone and not knowing what to do next set in and her heart began to beat faster.

"Miss?" River didn't even realize she was being called. "Mrs?... Mrs. Sykes?"

Rivers head whipped to the side and she noticed a tall, well built man that looked to be around his mid-fourties.

"Actually, my name is-" She stopped when she realized she was now married and her last name was no longer Graham. Reality seemed to hit her when she mouthed the words 'River-rose Sykes' to herself. She suddenly felt the need to cry. "Ugh, you can call me River."

"Miss, i d-"

She looked at him with a watery gaze. "Please."

"Uh, y-yes. Of course. I am Vito. Follow me this way River," he said as he went to the left. "In here is the kitchen."

River was momentarily stunned. The kitchen was huge and obviously modernized. But then she noticed the french door and large bay window that opened to a beautiful garden which gave it its old fasioned flair.

The floors were a shiny white marble while the appliances were a stainless steel. The table tops were a creamy white and she could spot a few faded stains which told her that the kitchen had been put to good use. It was clear that the kitchen was well cleaned because everything was practically sparkling.

"Your husband is in here quite a lot actually. He usually prefers a spotless kitchen."

River nodded hesitantly and followed Vito out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

"The living room is downstairs to the right. You can have a look by yourself if you want. I'll show you to your room now so can get settled."

Her eyes drank in every detail of the large house. "Okay, thank you."

She squinted at a few landscape paintings high up on the walls. They were beautiful and displayed simple architecture, waterfalls or foggy looking mountains.

There was one picture that made the lonliness suddenly settle in her chest. It showed one man standing in the center of something that looked like a large spring from above. The man was looking up at the sky and he looked tiny standing there alone in the shallow spring. The colors were darker and gave off a certain melancholy that had River feeling like she wanted to cry. Again.

"These are smaller guest bedrooms and bathrooms," Vito said, bringing her out of her daze. "All the way at the end is the master bedroom. And right here is your room. Some of your things have already been dropped off."

River stared at the white door and then at the gold knob. "Thank you," she said quietly.

"Is there anything you need?" Vito asked as he warily watched River blankly stare at the door.

I need my family. "No, i should be fine. Thank you."