Allure: The Arranged Hearts Series

Chapter 7

After the ceremony,we took our pictures and then she wanted to go back to her dressing room to switch into something more comfortable, which was cool with me. We hadn’t had time to talk as much as I would like and without too many ears close by. I knew they had ushered everyone into the ballroom and were waiting for our arrival. I stood outside of the room she had gone into with her friend.

A few moments later, she exited out of the dressing room in a satin champagne-colored dress that hugged her curvy frame. She had taken her hair down and now her hair fell past her waist in curls. I held my hand out for her and she smiled, placing hers in mine. I led her to the ballroom, which was in the same building as the ceremony.

I mentioned to Kole to tell the DJ which song I went with. When they announced our arrival, “I Will Be Loving You” by Jesse Powell played.

I led her to the center of the dance floor. I couldn’t see anyone but her, and that was all I needed. I pulled her close to me as our bodies swayed together to the music. I leaned in close to her ear to be sure she would be the only one to hear me.

“I knew I would get the chance to feel you in my arms again. I guess fate has a way of bringing us back to where we belong,” I said against her ear.

She exhaled at my declaration. I wrapped my hand in her long tresses, fighting the urge to pull it just a little.

“Damn, your hair has gotten long, Lore,” I said.

She tilted her head back to glance up into my eyes. That familiar burn I felt the moment I laid eyes on her some years back came rushing back. There was always something about this woman. We met a while ago while I was in my first year of playing professional ball. I still remember the first time I laid eyes on her in that nightclub.

A few years earlier…

The club was packed and I didn’t know why I allowed my teammates to convince me to come out here. If it were up to me, I would be looking at tapes and enjoying the comforts of my home. It wasn’t like I didn’t enjoy a good night out, but they were acting like we hadn’t lost a game last night. Losing was not an option for me, even if it was for them. I was going to do everything I possibly could to change that.

Shit, not to mention, being the son of a pro-Hall of Famer who didn’t respect losing, I wasn’t down for it. I only came out because my brother Kole came down to visit and talked me into it. He didn’t care whether he lost or not; this man just wanted to be in between a pair of thighs.

I leaned back against the seats of our section; they had all different kinds of women of all colors and sizes swarming the area. Even a few had come over to me, but I wasn’t interested. I drank my cognac and bobbed my head to the music.

I looked over at the door, trying to figure out how I was going to slip out of there with no attention on me. I stood from where I had been seated and started to head out of the section when my brother reached out for me.

“Where you going?” he asked.

“I’m about to grab one more drink and then I am heading home. I need to run this tape back from the game last night. They might not give a fuck, but I do,” I told him.

Kole knew when I got like this, there was no point in telling me any different. Not to mention, my father was deep in my ear about the shit. Big Reg, as my father was known, didn’t play when it came to the Lockwood name and it didn’t matter what sport or way of life you stepped into.

Kole dropped his hold on me and I turned to head out of the section. I made my way over to the bar and someone tapped me, asking for a picture, so I obliged, hoping not to cause too much more attention. As I turned around, I ran into someone. Immediately, I held my hands out in front of myself to steady her. The moment she looked up at me, I was stuck. She had the most supple, unblemished skin, full, pink lips, doe eyes, and an even more supple and curvy shape.

I loved a woman with a natural body and she was beyond confident with hers. I could tell by the choice of what she decided to wear. She was in a pair of jean shorts with a shirt that showed a part of her stomach. She was fine as all hell.

“I apologize. I think I spilled your drink. Let me get you another one.”

She smiled up at me and nodded, so I placed my hands out in front of me to gesture for the bar. She stepped in front of me and her ass filled out those damn shorts so good, I wanted to grab it. But, I wasn’t going to be on that type of time. She gave me the vibe that she would slap the hell out of me if I tried.

Once we made it to the bar, I glanced over at her and asked what drink she had. She rattled off her order and I placed it with the bartender. While we waited, I turned to face her.

“So, what brought you out tonight?” I asked, then immediately kicked myself. I had never fumbled over my words or asked stupid shit like that. This woman was short-circuiting my damn brain but it only made me more intrigued and the need to keep talking to her was strong.

She smiled, then responded. “I allowed my friend to drag me away from my work. So, I figured I might as well cut loose for a minute. How about you?” she asked.

“Same. My brother and boys thought it was a good idea to be out tonight. I would have preferred to be at my spot, watching a tape or something. But now that I’ve run into you, I think they might have been right.”

She looked away, then back at me. “So you think?” she asked.

“I know so,” I told her.

I reached into my pocket and handed the bartender my card. He glanced down at the name, then back up at me with wide eyes.

“Oh my gosh, you’re Niko Lockwood! You’re the best running back in the league. Can I get your autograph?” he asked.

I gave him a tight-lipped smile and nodded. “Long as you keep it down, man. I got you,” I told him.

He nodded and walked away to swipe my card for the drinks. I slowly turned to face the beautiful woman behind me. She gripped her hips with a knowing smile.

“I wanted to lie and say I was going to say something, but I didn’t think telling you who I am was relevant,” I told her.

“I agree, and I wasn’t going to ask. I’m here for a good time.”

I nodded and drank some of the cognac I’d bought. The bartender returned and I signed a napkin for him and left a nice tip.

“Since you know my name, can I get yours?” I asked.

“Lore,” she responded.

I loved the way her name sounded and it was so unique.“Can We” by SWV came on in the club; it was an RB kind of night, which was cool with me. I loved to hear the classics. Baby Girl in front of me started to rock to the beat.I drank what was left and then looked back over at her.

“You want to dance?” she asked.

I lifted a brow and followed her onto the dancefloor. The way she wound her hips against me, I couldn’t do much but follow. It was as if we were magnets with no destination but each other. We danced for a few more songs and got a few more drinks. I didn’t expect things to go much further than that but they did. Real far… until it didn’t.

Lore closed her eyes as we continued to sway, then laid her head against my shoulder. I held her tighter. I wanted to memorize every curve of her frame. This woman had come into my life and shook shit up. She was why I hyper-focused on the game and after I had done everything I could, I moved on. It was why I felt confident enough to take this job opportunity.

“I would have never guessed you would do anything like this,” she said, lifting her head from my shoulder.

I chuckled. “Why not? I can be spontaneous and shit.”

She laughed with a shake of her head. “Please. The professional ball player who never wanted to leave, although it wasn’t his dream.”

I didn’t respond because she was right. At least that was who I had been before she came in and shook up my life. It was one of the reasons I took the idea of Arranged Hearts seriously.

“I’m here, ain’t I?” I asked.

She craned her head back and looked up at me, then glanced over my shoulder.

“I’m going to assume the good-looking, tall, older man with the scowl on his face is your father. He would be extremely handsome if he lightened up,” she commented.

I laughed again.

“Yeah, that’s him, and he not fucking with this at all. I’m sure my mom got him here. When she wants something, she gets it.”

“I know that’s right,” Lore responded.

Just then, the music cut, and everyone clapped. I looked down at Lore.

“You ready to meet the folks?” I asked.

“As long as you’re ready to meet mine. If you want a smooth start, we should head for my family,” she said.

I knew, without a doubt, that what she was saying was probably the better chance. So, I gestured out in front of me and she stepped around me. I couldn’t help but check out that ass in her dress. She was absolutely beautiful when she walked into the ceremony hall, but this dress matched her personality perfectly.

“I know you’re looking at my ass. Cut it out. I’m getting ready to introduce you to my dad, please act like this is your first time meeting me. I don’t need my family thinking I am a Jezebel.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as we came upon her parents. I saw where she got her looks from. She looked so much like her mother, but I still saw a bit of her father. The moment we stood in front of them, her father and mother stood.

“Mom, Dad, and Mahalia, this is Niko, my husband,” she introduced.

Damn, that had a dope ass ring to it. I held my hand out to shake theirs and they bypassed it, hugging me instead.

“It’s so nice to meet you. I have a ton of questions, but we also know this isn’t the time or the place. But welcome to the family. We need to get you over for dinner once you two get settled,” her mother said.

“Absolutely. I will make sure my schedule is clear whichever day you choose,” I responded.

I looked over toward her friend, who held a knowing look. I knew she was aware of the fact that Lore and I were already acquainted by the smirk on her face. She walked over and hugged me as well.

“It’s nice meeting you for the first time,” she said with a smirk.

Lore gave her a look and stepped around her in front of me.

“You ready?” I asked and she nodded.

Lore turned to face her family and told them what we were getting ready to do, so they took a seat. I glanced up at the ceiling for a silent prayer because I hoped my people didn’t show the fuck out. I led her over to my people and my mom was preparing to stand when Lore stepped around me, then stopped her.

“It’s completely okay. Please stay seated. I am not the Queen of England or anything. I’m Lore, and it’s nice to meet you.”

I shook my head as my mom stood anyway and hugged her.

“Honey, I wouldn’t be getting up for the Queen of England. I don’t know that woman, but it is a pleasure to meet my baby boy’s wife. Although this is an unusual way of meeting, he seems happy already. I look forward to getting to know more about you,” she said.

My dad stayed silent and his expression never changed too much, which was cool with me. If he didn’t have anything good to say, it was best he stayed quiet. Alexis and Matthew walked over next.

“I’m his older sister and we have to do a spa day or something when you get some time,” she said.

Lore smiled and looked up at me before returning her attention to my sister.

“Absolutely. I am definitely in need of one,” Lore responded.

I made sure to make a mental note of that. I wanted to make sure she was taken care of in any way I could. Once Alexis was satisfied, Matthew followed her back to her seat and Kole walked over. The moment he stood in front of her, he lifted her hand and placed a kiss on it. I moved around her and popped him upside the head.

“Don’t get mad at me because I’m being respectful to a beautiful woman,” he replied.

“Nah, keep that.”

I didn’t need to say a damn thing else because Kole knew what I meant. He got on my nerves so bad sometimes. As the night progressed with us speaking to more of her family and then toasts were ready to be given. I was ready to get the fuck out of there and be in between my wife’s thick ass thighs. I knew that pussy missed me and I planned to lavish her with as much attention as she could handle.

By the time our families had embarrassed us enough and asked every question in the book, Joy walked over with the itinerary I had set up for a honeymoon. It was something I wanted to pay top dollar for. I wanted more than a simple package. Not to mention, with my level of celebrity, I couldn’t just stay anywhere. I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when I told her where we were going.

The wedding was coming to a close and the night was just getting ready to begin as we slipped into the back of the limo together. As soon as the door closed, our mouths clashed together in a heated dance that was sure to burn us right out of these clothes.

“The night is just beginning, baby.”