Page 43 of Allure

As I drove toward the house Lore and I had agreed to view, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. This could be the perfect place for us to start our new life together, a home that would cater to both our passions and desires.

I glanced over at Lore, who was looking out the window with a smile on her face. “Hey, babe,” I said, reaching out to take her hand in mine. “I made the call to my mom.”

Lore turned to face me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “How did it go?”

“It was cool,” I began, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. “She apologized for the way she and my dad had been acting, and she wants to make things right.”

Lore squeezed my hand, her expression softening. “See what a good conversation will do. All jokes aside, I am so glad you two were able to talk things out.”

I nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “It feels like a step forward. I offered to stop by their place after we look at the house, if that’s cool with you.”

“You didn’t have to ask. Absolutely,” Lore replied without hesitation. “I’m proud of you for taking the initiative to mend your relationship with your family. It’s important to have their support, especially as you embark on this new journey with your career.”

I brought her hand to my lips, placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles. “Thank you for understanding, love. Your support means everything to me.”

As we pulled up to the house, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe. The modern architecture seamlessly blended with the natural beauty of the surroundings, and I could already picture us making this place our own.

“Wow.” Lore exhaled, her eyes wide with wonder. “It’s even more stunning in person.”

We stepped out of the car and made our way toward the realtor, who greeted us with a warm smile. As she led us through the house, pointing out the various features and amenities, I saw Lore falling in love with the space.

The state-of-the-art gym was perfect for my training needs, while the expansive art studio, with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the beach, seemed tailor-made for Lore’s creative pursuits. The multiple rooms offered plenty of space for our future family, and the pool and jacuzzi were luxurious touches that we could enjoy together.

As we stood on the balcony, taking in the breathtaking view of the ocean, I wrapped my arms around Lore’s waist, pulling her close. “What do you think, babe?” I whispered, nuzzling her neck. “Is this it?”

Lore leaned back into my embrace, a content sigh escaping her lips. “It’s perfect, Niko. I can already picture us building a life here, filling these walls with love and laughter.”

I smiled, my heart swelling with love and gratitude. “Then let’s make it happen.”

As we left the house, hand in hand, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. All the pieces that were broken were now falling into place. I just hoped this visit to my parents’ house wasn’t going to set us back further than we had been before the conversation. But in the words of Lore, I needed to have a little more faith.

I didn’t want to mention it to Niko but I was beyond nervous. I didn’t know what to expect going to his parents' place. I knew of everything that had transpired and caused us not to be around in the first place. But I also knew that there had to be something deeper going on for them to act the way they were.

It had to be. I saw the yearning and familiarity in Niko’s eyes when we went to dinner at my parents' place. It was a yearning for a family he wasn’t experiencing at the moment. I wanted to tell him that my people would forever be his too but I knew I would have still wanted to bring my support to the table, so I kept it to myself.

We drove for a little while from our new home. Well, it wasn’t our home yet but it would be. I was speaking it into existence. Finally, we pulled up to a pair of large iron gates with a box to place a code. The moment Niko put the code in, the gates opened slowly and we drove down a long, wooded path until a very large home appeared behind the many trees.

I looked in Niko’s direction with wide eyes as my mouth dropped at the sight in front of me. I thought the home we had looked at was extravagant, but seeing this one made ours look like a shack when it wasn’t remotely that. It was bigger than both our places together.

I reached out and gripped his hand tightly and he chuckled, glancing at me before parking the truck.

“Baby, you nervous?” he asked.

I cocked my head to the side with my lips poked out.

“Of course, I am nervous. This place is beyond extravagant. You grew up here?” I asked.

Niko nodded with a smile before it suddenly fell at the sight of the front door opening and his father standing with an unreadable expression. I reached out and placed two fingers beneath his chin, then brought his attention back to me.

“It’s going to be perfectly fine. Ignore me. Now show me you love me,” I said, realizing I added love on the end.

This was the first time I slipped up, although I had been feeling it for a while. Niko smiled and leaned forward, slipping his tongue into my mouth, then pulling back a moment.

“I definitely do, baby. I love the hell out of you,” he said against my lips as we rested our foreheads against one another.

“I love you too,” I responded.

“That’s all that matters when we go in there,” Niko said.

---