A Beautiful Kind of Hope (A Beautiful Kind of Series Book 1)

by Cathy Johns

  “Okay,” I say. How did I get here? How can one simple smile turn my life into this sea full of calm waters? I squeeze his hand. “Thank you.” I murmur. He nods his head as he opens the front door walking us into this empty hallway and we’re met by two beautiful women dressed in navy blue shirt suits with matching heels and hot pink chiffon blouses like some sort of uniform. Their hair is pulled behind exposing their make-up chocolate faces and just like that, their faces light up, exposing white straight teeth the minute their eyes meet Taylor’s and he says hello in that deep husky voice of his that does things to my heart as he shakes their hands before introducing me to them.

  I don’t get their names because one of the ladies is giving me the eye, checking me out from head to toe as she sneers. Oh girl, I know. I’m also wondering what he sees in me.

  “Ladies, this here is Hope…” Taylor says before turning to look at me and I wonder why he’s smiling because I can tell I have one of those faces that clearly say I’m bored and annoyed at the same time. “My girlfriend.”

  Girlfriend?

  I believe they can all see the shock on my face when those two words leave his mouth as Taylor leans in and presses his lips on my mouth erasing that face I had earlier as I get lost, trying to catch my breath as reality checks in. Will I ever get used to his lips on mine all the time even when I’m not prepared for the kiss?

  “Baby,” he murmurs, “I want you to look at the house and tell me what you think.”

  “Uh” I mutter in shock again.

  He wants me to check out the house. Why? What does he want to do with this massive house? I already like his house but before I can ponder on it he continues.

  “Cecilia said it would suit what we’re looking forward to doing together.” I should hug that woman the minute it comes to me. The children home? He was serious about us doing this together but a house…

  “If you don’t mind, Miss. Hope, we’d like to give you a tour of the house.” One of the sales ladies says as I tear my eyes from Taylor’s and I look at her. I don’t know her name since miss jealous had kicked in somehow in the beginning. Being introduced as Taylor’s girlfriend has knocked a few of my common senses out of the window and replaced me with this woman who’s busy checking out the sinfully handsome man like he’s some sort of a god.

  I shake my head hard afraid I’ve snapped a vein or two in my neck as I try to pay attention to what the sales lady is saying.

  “The house is an old family home that stands on a two-acre piece of land, the owners want to sell it since they’ve relocated back to the states and they saw no use of having an eight-bedroom house especially with all their children all grown and having their respective families.” The sales lady says. Yes, with all your children grown and leaving their individual lives you don’t need a house as big as this.

  We start walking down the hallway as we head towards the living room. I look and admire the room picturing the children who’ll be making this their new home. I think of all the sofa’s that will be occupying this room, we’ll definitely have to repaint it again with warm colors that will make this a home, maybe do a makeover on a few things like the wooden floors, maybe bring down a wall in order to create space which I know the children will need.

  I love the light that floods the room from the floor to ceiling windows making the room inviting and warm at the same time. The fireplace stands in the middle of one of the walls, a cozy place to rest as you curl next to the fire while reading a book with a cup of coffee or tea in one hand.

  The second lady leads us to four of the downstairs bedrooms and it pleases me that the children will have enough room to make some of these their bedrooms and enough storage area for their books and clothes.

  We walk up the stairs, Taylor’s hand still linked to mine and I feel like one of those couples whose husband lets the wife make decisions, only giving them the support they need just by holding their hand. The first room we walk into happens to be a master’s bedroom and I can see us turning this into a staff room since I don’t see myself being here all the time especially at night. My son and mother needs me and not to mention the hunk of a man trailing behind me. Walking to the other bedrooms, I see they have enough space for the bed, storage area and my heart is content so far.

  We walk back down the stairs and head towards the one room I’ve been longing to check out, the one room that belongs to a woman especially one who knows her way around it. The kitchen, it’s spacious enough to fit seven people at the same time.

  I take in the surroundings of the house as we walk outside through the back door making mental notes on what we would change and so far, the changes are minor but will have to hear from the main man himself.

  “What do you think so far?” he asks, his eyes on mine.

  “To be honest, this house will make a comfortable home for the children” I say.

  “Should we take it?” he asks but that question is being asked to the wrong person as if my opinion matters.

  I want to say yes but I have to ask how much the house costs and the minute I hear the figure I almost fall.

  “What?” he asks.

  “That’s a lot of money.” I honestly say. Maybe it’s nothing to him but it sure is a lot of money.

  “You think so?” he asks scrutinizing me.

  “I guess so” I say.

  “Baby, count how many children will make this their home, how many children we’re going to give and make a difference in their lives.” He has a point. This is not a short-term thing for him, this is what makes him happy and seeing him happy makes my heart leap with so much joy. This is not about how much the property is worth and it makes me feel like there was a time he had nothing and now that he can afford it, he wants to make a difference in a child’s life. A child like Kelly.

  “I’m all in if you are” I say trying to lighten the mood. He kisses the top of my head as he pulls me in his arms before speaking again.

  “We’ll take the house.” He says to the sales ladies and I see their smiles and the look they exchange like they can’t believe they’ve just closed a deal and the commission they’ll be sharing will be worth turning a new leaf in their lives.

  The ladies say goodbye once we step out of the house promising to send the legal documents for the sale of the house to Taylor’s office for Leo to look at before end of day, and we’re left behind, leaning on his shoulder as he walks us towards one of the trees that I had envisioned earlier with my dirty thoughts and I almost laugh.

  “Wait here” he says as he goes running towards the SUV, opens the back door and comes back carrying a gray blanket in one hand and the other one holding a picnic basket.

  “Picnic?” I ask.

  “Since you like the house, I thought we can start celebrating before we start working on the hard part.” True, the hard part is bringing in someone to work on the interiors of the house.

  I watch him spread the blanket on the ground, the tree giving us the perfect shade. He removes his shoes then his socks and I can’t help but admire his feet. Everything about Taylor is perfect but being perfect doesn’t mean all is well. We’ve never spoken about his late mother Maria ever since that night and the extra length he’ll go to help the less fortune and this house, I turn to look at the house and think of all the children who’ll be living here, the kind of life they’re going to have and I smile. They are lucky to have someone like Taylor thinking about their welfare and their future. Kelly, I have a feeling that little girl will be very fortunate to have Taylor adopt her.

  “Are you going to join me or are you going to keep standing there looking all sweet with that cute smile on your face?” Taylor asks and I gaze at him only to find him grinning. Damn him, he has a way of soaking my panties.

  I bend to remove my shoes before joining him where he lets me sit between his legs, his back pressed on the tree and I rest mine on his chest, inhaling the fresh air as I roam my eyes around the scenery that surrounds us. His arms wrap around me, his wa
rm breath tickling my neck, a shiver running all over my body and I let myself go.

  I’ve become like an addict who needs their fill on whatever makes them tick ever since that first night, he makes me feel safe and I can conquer the world when he’s by my side.

  “Tell me,” he starts saying before tugging my earlobe with his teeth. “What was bothering you earlier?” he asks.

  I take a deep breath trying to find the right words to say. I can’t think straight when he’s this close to me and his teeth grazing along my neck, his hand rubbing on my arm.

  “How can you be all mine?”

  “Because I am unless you don’t want me to be.” He says, whispering in my ear before turning my face so I can look at him.

  “But…” he stops what I’m about to say because I know he knows what I want to say with a deep, breathtaking kiss that makes me forget everything, his answer hits me hard. He wants to be mine and I can either let him be or… I can’t resist him, I can’t keep myself from his touch, kisses, his scent, his strong arms when they hold me and not to mention how his evil tongue does things to me that I know have ruined me for any other normal man out there. “I like the sound of you being mine.” I murmur between our kissing. He has chosen a simple girl like me to be his and his I am for as long as he wants me.

  “Then be ready for the ride baby, because I don’t intend on taking it slow with you.” He smiles that heart-stopping smile that makes my panties wet and I find myself moaning.

  “Taylor?” I call his name pushing myself away from him when he kneads on one breast, this is no place for the two of us to be making out and tearing each other’s clothes not like the idea hasn’t crossed my mind because it did earlier when I thought of this particular tree but I’m not brave enough to put my thinking into action.

  ‘What?” he growls.

  “Not here” I say but the look on his face tells me that he has other things on his mind. This will be a challenge, a challenge that I’m not sure I can win but when he presses his mouth to mine I know I’ve lost the battle.

  I find myself lying on my back, him hovering above me as he deepens the kiss, nipping on my lower lip. “Tell me why not.” I know what he’s asking but I can’t seem to have my brain and mouth to cooperate since I’m writhing beneath him, arching my back towards him. “Tell me.” He commands.

  “Because…” another whimper. “People mighty see us” I moan out loud when his hand wraps around my breast his finger grazing on my nipple under my blouse. Before tugging on the hard peak and I cry out. “Oh God,” that feels so… “Taylor…” I hear myself calling out his name.

  “Tell me what you want baby.” He whispers and his voice, his voice does more to my body even when his fingers are grazing my skin.

  “You.” I don’t hesitate to tell him.

  “You’ve got me already.” He teases, his hand snaking under my shirt and tugs my bra down before cupping one breast and kneading it gently. I know he’s mine no doubt about it but what I want can’t be put into words because I pull him towards me, my fingers tugging on his short hair and I kiss him like he’s the air that I need in order to survive.

  Breaking our kiss, Taylor’s eyes find mine and I see it all. The passion in his eyes and I know it’s not only him who has the same look when he brushes his thumb on my cheek. “You’re beautiful and all mine.” I don’t doubt his words and I don’t give myself time to ponder on it because if he says I’m beautiful, then I am.

  “And you’re cute” I say giggling.

  “Oh woman, let me show you how cute I can be.” That’s the last words he speaks before consuming my mouth, kissing me, his hands tearing our clothes and we lay under the tree, naked, all hot and sweaty as he aligns himself at my entrance, teasing me as he drags his cock along my folds and around my clit. I open my eyes and find him smiling before thrusting inch by glorious inch of his hard, thick, long shaft inside me, filling me as he lets me adjust to his length. Once I get used to it, he starts thrusting in and out of me, taking me slowly as I feel every thrust, his cock hitting every corner and I can’t help but dig my nails into his back, my legs wrapping around his waist and push myself against him, wanting him, needing him like my next breath. I want more, I know slow is good but right now I want something else, I want him to take me to the edge and as if reading my mind, he says. “I can’t do slow baby.” He moans against my mouth. “So, you better hold on tight because this is going to be hard and fast.” He groans. “It feels like heaven every time I’m inside you.”

  True to his word, Taylor fulfills his promise, making me feel every hard thrust every time he moves inside me as my head falls back on the blanket, my legs wrapped around his waist and I start soaring high, afraid of how hard I’m going to fall once he gets me there as he thrusts taking us to the edge. He reaches between us and rubs his thumb on my over sensitive clit and that’s it, I come hard, screaming his name, trembling like a leaf, my nails digging into his arms as he groans, calling out my name and he joins me, filling me up with his release.

  He collapses on top of me and I let him as we come back from our high, trying to normalize our breathing before he realizes he has his weight on me and props himself on his elbows and kisses me.