When I saw you, I was afraid to look at you. When I looked at you, I was afraid to touch you. When I touched you, I was afraid to kiss you. When I kissed you, I was afraid to love you. Now that I love you, I am afraid to lose you.
"English is not my Mother language. Sorry for my misspelled words and wrong grammar."
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Title: My Locked-up Heart
Summary: Lucy Heartfilia had poured her dreams into planning the trip of a lifetime. Only trouble was, her locked-up heart was being opened by a handsome stranger.
Loke Estrella was escaping the nerved-cracking expectations of his father Luigi Estrella. He was the only son of a proud and prosperous Estrella Family.
By being with Lucy, he was breaking the rules. Happy-ever–after wasn't in his vocabulary, yet he couldn't take his eyes off the beautiful maiden. For the first time, he had something that money couldn't buy – a woman who loves him for who he really is.
I do not own Fairy Tail!
But I'm willing to adopt the sexy and handsome Loke the Lion
Chapter 3: Attraction
Insane.
Loke Estrella never made spur-of-the moment offers. Every move in his life had an intention, a purpose, and a plan behind it. He operated like a Mercedes with a well-tuned engine and navigational system. No breakdowns, no detours and no surprises.
Then what on earth had made him open up his mouth and volunteer to bathe canine? He didn't even like dogs. Or at least, he didn't think he did. He had no experience in canine, so therefore, no opinion one way or another, except he knew he had no time for the stray and no room in his life for a spaniel. And yet he was here, helping the beautiful blond maiden.
He glanced over at Lucy Heartfilia, who was cooing as she sudsed the animal's head, and knew exactly what had possessed him to throw that sentence out there. Her.
She'd distracted him nearly from the minute he'd met her.
Oh hell! It was really all the pretty woman. The way she had half her blond locks tucked behind her ear, the other had drifting along her cheek in damp waves. And the way she stared at him like he was some kind of weird stalker come to invade her town with highly viral disease.
The combination— attraction mixed with distrust—the amusement sparked in him, and raised his interest in her to a level unlike anything he'd felt in a long time.
Loke had met hundreds of women the course of his life. Dated the dozens of them. But in the circles he traveled, the women were too perfect, too pampered.
Lucy Heartfilia, on the other hand, had a less finished edge to her, like a diamond that had to cut and polished. She was…
Unique.
Intriguing. Very Intriguing.
"Hey, I thought you were here to help. That means holding her steady," Lucy firmly said.
"Easier said than done," Loke grumbled.
"This dog is as slippery as an eel in an oil vat."
Lucy chuckled, "then tightened the rainbow paw printed lead attached from the top of the deep stainless steel to tub to the dog's neck, which shortened the dog's rooming room.
"Didn't you ever have a pet?"
"No, never."
"Not so much as a gerbil?"
"No". Loke snorted.
"Let's just say rodents wouldn't have gone with the mother's décor."
Lucy gave him a curious look and loke cursed himself for that slip. He should have lied and told her he'd had half a dozen pets. But he was no better at lying than he was starting a fire, so his best bet was to keep his mouth shut altogether. Except Lucy—when she didn't have that look on her face that she said she thought he was either crazy or criminal—had the kind of personality that begged friendliness. Openness.
She had a wide smile, a deep, contagious laugh and chocolate brown eyes filled with curiosity. They drew him in, making Loke forget his cover story, his life as sole heir of Luigi Estrella and him instead longing for a little of that magic she seemed to possess. The same magic she used to calm dogs as easily as if she were a human blanket and bowl of puppy food.
Perhaps, Loke thought, studying Lucy's bent head, then letting his gaze slip along her lithe form; he could add a little beautiful women in his holiday? After all, he was the best man, and she was the maid of honor. They'd have to be together for the wedding. Wasn't it almost expected that they end up sharing a little more than a dance or two?
The golden retriever squirmed under his attention, sending a river of water down Loke's arm.
"You better hold on there". Lucy said with laugh and a tease in her eyes.
"Or I might end up grooming you by accident."
"You wouldn't."
She held up the huge water sprayer.
"Accidents do happen, you know, all the time in the workplace."
He laughed.
"What is this, revenge for this morning?"
"What revenge?" She gave him look of pure innocence.
"I'm just saying—" her finger slipped a teeny bit on the button, sending a quick dribble of water his way.
"—I'm the one who in control of the water here and you better stay on my best side".
The woman didn't seem to have a bad side, at least in the beauty department. From her bright smile to her deep chocolate brown eyes, to the shapely curves that begged his gaze to slide down in her form, everything about Lucy Heartfilia drew his attention over and over again. Even his jeans and t-shirt, she looked as beautiful as the runway models. Maybe even more so, because there was a natural rawness to her looks that set off his libido and had him craving everything about her.
"You're in control, huh? He said in grinning.
Then he stepped to the right, fast, ripping the sprayer from her grip before she even saw him coming. He gave her a quick blast on the belly and she let out a shriek.
"Hey! No fair", she protested.
"All's fair in war and business, didn't you know that?"
Lucy squirmed around in his grip, which brought her directly beneath him, and made Loke very, very aware of their quarters. Of her parted lips. Of how all would take would be breath of a movement, and he could be holding her, having in her arms, and even more, kissing her.
"Give that back," she pouted.
"Make me."
She reached the sprayer. He feinted to the right. She dodged the left. They collided, closer. Then again, closer still, and both of them froze.
A second ticked by on the clock above. Another. Lucy swallowed. Loke leaned forward, the game forgotten, the sprayer falling in tub, his hand moving to brace on the either side of the stainless steel, when the dog apparently sensing the distraction of the humans in the room, gave a quick shake, bathing all them in soapy bubbles.
Loke jerked back. Lucy spun back around the soothed dog.
"We should, ah get back to work.''
"Yeah, we should."
But he knew—and knew she knew—that as much as they might be pretending to return to all business, there'd been a shift between them from just acquaintances to something a little more.
"What made you decide to do this for a living?" He asked, changing the subject.
Get your head in the game, Estrella. Or he'd end up covered with suds. Definitely not win-win.
She bristled slightly. Damn. He'd offended her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean—"
"No, it's okay. This is only a contemporary gig anyway. I started walking dogs in high school for extra money, and one thing led to another. Before I knew it, I had a business."
"You own the Sudsy dog?
She grinned.
"All mine, soap bubbles and all."
Yet another surprise. His esteem for her raised several notches.
"I'm impressed. Seems like you're doing really well. A one-woman shop and everything. That not easy to accomplish.
She shrugged.
"It's not much."
He reached out, placing a hand on hers, intending only to get her attention, but when his touches slipped against hers because of the soapy water, a zing went up in his arm. The charge denoted in his brain, reigniting the sparks from earlier. When was the last time he'd felt that way?
Seven years ago. Karen Lilica, a woman Loke had met in his business-ethics class. Karen hadn't come from old money or new money, or anything other than a normal family. They dated for 7 months—a seven fast and furious, amazing months.
She'd been the first woman he'd dated who hadn't picked of his father. And Loke had hoped in some crazy way that Luigi would approve. That his father would see his son's choice in a woman as bold. Unique. Carving out, his own path. Exactly the qualities Luigi always preached about employees—then seemed to do his best to squash his son.
Loke and Karen's relationship had been fun, exciting and perfect—until Luigi Estrella found out his son was dating an "Unacceptable" woman and paid Karen's Family enough money to convince them their daughter would find a better education abroad.
Loke had gotten the message. His father didn't see his son bold or determined. Simply headstrong and foolish. Stepping out of line with the family plan would cost him. Dearly. The business and the family image came above everything, even personal happiness.
Loke had allowed to stay at fairy Tail Academy, but only agreeing to the tightly toe the Estrella Family line. And the price Loke had to pay? His father sent him a new roommate—to make sure Loke stayed in line.
Now, here he was, for the first time in forever, feeling a powerful surge of attraction surge again. Real, honest desire. For a real honest woman, not the kind who put on social airs. Damn, it felt good. Real good. Loke caught Lucy's gaze.
Had she been affected, like he?
But No. She gave him a curious a look as blank as a clean slate, waiting for him to speak. Loke tried to refocus, to remind himself he was there for a short vacation, a work reprieve, not a major life departure. He cleared his throat.
"It's a lot, believe me. Up to fifty of all new business fail within the first five years. You should be proud."
Now her gazed narrowed.
"How do you know so much about business?''
Damn. He had yet to learn the keys to good a cover story. Keep your mouth shut and know your line, he cursed himself.
He couldn't very well rattle of his real resume. Loke Estrella: Fourth-generation CEO of the largest gem importing company in the world. Loke Estrella, one of the Estrella's, the family that had been listed in Magazine issue for as many years as the magazine had been printed. Loke Estrella: the man with enough personal fortune to buy this town ten times over and still have change left over to line the streets with thousand jewels.
If he told her any of that, she'd look at him like everyone else did. With awe. With reverence. She's step back and stop seeing him as just Loke. And for the first time of his life, he wanted to just be—
Loke.
Ordinary man. In ordinary clothes. Doing ordinary things.
With no Butlers. No Limos. No expectations.
'I, ah just like to read business magazines" he said finally.
"When I'm not in worked. You know, in spirit of getting ahead."
"That I can understand."
A soft smile of empathy stole across in her face.
"Working hard for what you want, right?"
"Exactly."
"That's my personal philosophy, too."
She shot him a grin.
"Who'd have thought would have anything in common with a guy I met on my best friend garden?"
He echoed her grin.
"A barefoot guy at that."
She laughed.
"And here I usually go for the kind of guy who wearing shoes.
"I'll keep that in—"
The dog wriggled then, shaking off the soapy water, spraying the room, Lucy and Loke with a fine sheen of bubbles.
"What wrong with this dog? Loke made a face.
"Celeste, here isn't too bad. Trust me. She's the one of the easier clients I have."
"Easier?" Loke snorted disagreement.
He looked at the dog again. The dog looked at him, her wide soulful brown eyes seeming to say, "Oh not him, please."
Loke took a deep breath. And starting to scrub the dog.
Loke pouted. I'd rather massage a female person than a dog any day. Specifically the female person beside him. He imagine his touch running down her body, over those voluptuous curves, followed by his lips, lingering along her neck—
Definitely not thoughts he should be having when should be helping her at work. He couldn't help it. Lucy Heartfilia intrigued him—even if she had put him to work on the least fun end of the dog.
"Hey Dogs like TLC, too", she cutely added.
To be continued:
Chapter 4: TLC-Tender, Loving, Care
There are times when I dream you're holding my hand, whispering sweet words in my ear and that you love me. But while I'm here dreaming, you're with someone else making my dreams, her reality.
A/N How are you guys? Awww I miss you so muuccchhh ! I had been busy in school . Undying School works, volunteerism, and leadership. ~Study hard ! xD And a little bit with my crush* hihihihi* Please do not forget to review, your reviews will inspires me a lot.
I miss Loke soooo much. Mashima-sensei totally forgotten our sexy beloved Lion. Do you miss him guys? ~Kyaaaaaa *pouts*
Once again, I'd like to thank all those who put this story on their alerts and fave lists, to those solid reviewers from the bottom of my heart. xD
Please support my story Undying Love * a STICY STORY* and Fragile Heart, another Lolu's story. Ja ne mwaaaahhhh If you want to be friend with me in Facebook, just P.M me . -ayhartloki