A Simple Love (The Hopetown Series, Book 3)

by Harlow James

  “I feel the same way, Mike. I love you so much.”

  “I love you too,” he whispers in my ear, trailing his lips down my throat and straight to my breasts, grabbing one nipple and sucking it furiously in his mouth. His tongue moves in slow circles while he cups both of my breasts and worships them. The sensation of his mouth on me is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. Wet, hot, wrong, right. He releases his suction and quickly moves to the other side to share the wealth.

  I feel his fingers dance up my inner thigh, reaching my pussy at an achingly slow pace. His thumb rubs through my slickness, pressing gently on my clit, enticing a gasp from me, followed by a moan of sheer pleasure.

  “Are we just having sex for breakfast then?” I tease him as he pushes two fingers deep inside of me, stretching me further than he has initially before.

  “Yup. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” he replies as he finds my lips again, kissing me while his fingers move in and out of my wetness. My hands grip his shoulders, holding myself in place while I let him work my body into a frenzy, the pressure and penetration so intense, it doesn’t take long before I’m exploding all over his hand. Mike helps me ride out my orgasm, circling my clit with his thumb, as I moan and close my eyes, focusing on getting my breathing back under control.

  “Hmmm, best breakfast ever,” I tease him behind hooded eyelids as I reach for the waistband of his briefs and push them down, freeing his rock hard erection in front of me.

  “Looks like someone’s hungry.” I jump off the island and drop to my knees as Mike stares at my mouth and then meets my eyes.

  “You don’t have to do this, Vic.” He’s tense but excited if the drop of pre-cum gathered on his tip is any indication.

  “I know I don’t have to, but God, do I want to. So shut up and enjoy,” I snap before grabbing his thick cock and rubbing my lips along the tip. I dart my tongue out to tease him before sucking him back into my throat as far as I can before gagging. His size makes it a challenge, so I wrap my hand around the length I can’t fit and work him up and over with my hand and my mouth. I know I’ve just come, but watching him beneath my lashes as he borders on the line of self-control is one of the hottest things I’ve ever witnessed. I can’t wait to experience every sexual fantasy with him.

  “Fuck, Vic. Damn woman, you need to slow down,” Mike pleads as I give him one last suck and pop his dick from my mouth. “God, that’s incredible, but I don’t want this to end yet.” He hoists me up from the floor and back on the counter, stepping between my legs while reaching into a drawer for a condom.

  “A little presumptuous, don’t you think?” I tease him, just like he did to me last night.

  “I just wanted to be prepared,” he teases back, ripping the foil and covering himself securely. “Lying you down on this counter and having my way with you is like crossing an item off of my bucket list.”

  I laugh as I lie back, he lines up his cock to my entrance and pushes inside. There’s a slight pain still, but it subsides quickly, and then nothing but sheer pleasure overtakes us. He hooks one arm under my knee, holding me open to him, while the other reaches out for my breast, grabbing on to me like a handle while he moves with more speed and finesse than last night.

  “Oh, God…. Mike… yes,” I shout, taking the pressure from each deep thrust that he gives me, the slide of him in and out of me is intoxicating, his confidence and movement expertly toying with my body and my emotions.

  “Vic,…. Jesus, this feels good.” Mike is relentless, pulling us together so hard and fast, the sound of wetness and slapping skin fills the kitchen, echoing off the tile. Suddenly he stops and pulls out of me.

  “What are you doing?” I’m borderline pissed that he stopped.

  “Hop down. I feel like I can keep going and I want to change positions. Bend over.” Hearing him order me around makes me even wetter than I already am. Holy shit. When Mike gets bossy, it’s so fucking hot!

  “Yes, sir,” I toy with him, turning and lying on my chest and stomach over the counter, presenting my ass to him like a prize.

  He lines back up to me, the counter is the perfect height for this, and thrusts back in completely, filling me to the brink and making me yelp out in pleasure.

  Mike continues to plow into me, the roughness much more enjoyable than I ever thought possible. His hands are gripping my ass, holding on to me for support and pleasure as he smacks our bodies together. I peer over my shoulder at him, rewarded with the sight of Mike watching our connection as he slides in and out of me. His eyes snap up and meet mine as he smirks at me, slamming back into me so hard I slide forward on the counter.

  I feel the build, the floodgates holding strong but ready to break as the tingles of my orgasm come to the surface.

  “Keep going, Mike. I’m going to come like this.”

  “Yes, baby…” He reaches around my hips, locating my clit with expert precision and circles the tiny nub, shooting me off like a rocket in record time as I hear him reach the point of no return as well.

  “Fuck,” he growls as I feel him pulse inside of me, the throbbing of my pussy drawing his own release out of him as he collapses on my back, the rise and fall of his chest against my body reassuring, yet carnal.

  “Oh my God, that was amazing,” I declare, still out of breath just as Mike releases his grip on my hips and slides out of me. After disposing of the condom, he wets a clean dish towel and walks back over to me, wiping between my legs to clean me up while I sit back atop the counter. It’s sweet, sensual, and more erotic than I thought it would be. He kisses me softly while he cares for me, cherishes me, loves me.

  Leaning his forehead to mine, he finally speaks. “Yes, it was.”

  “So now can I have actual food?” I say after a loud rumble from my stomach breaks the silence.

  He laughs, kisses me on the cheek, and then redresses in his underwear. “Yeah, I guess. Otherwise, we’re just going to do that again and you’ll never get any food.”

  “Ha-ha,” I tease, but secretly I love the idea of having sex with him over and over today. I walk back to his room, retrieve my spare clothes that I packed, dress and run a brush through my hair before heading back out where Mike has bacon, eggs, and warm coffee waiting for me.

  We eat our meal, never breaking some kind of physical contact with each other. It makes me eager to have sex again, but I know he must have other things to do today.

  “So what are your plans for the rest of the day? What do you need to do?” I mumble around a mouthful of food.

  “You,” he states adamantly.

  I laugh. “Seriously? You don’t have any other plans? Any furniture that needs to be finished?”

  “All of that can wait, Vic. I want to spend the day with you. I’ve been waiting for this, for you. So everything else can wait right now.” He grabs my hand and squeezes before giving me a slow and seductive kiss.

  I grin at him as I feel my heart swell in my chest. This man truly loves me.

  “Ok, then let’s spend the day together.”

  “And the night too. I want you in my bed with me again tonight.”

  “Well, then you’re going to have to take me home so I can grab more clothes and an outfit for work tomorrow.”

  “Done.” Mike rises from the table, grabbing both of our empty plates and places them in the sink. We clean up the mess from breakfast, get ready completely, and then hop in his truck, ready for where ever the day might lead. We have no plans, no deadlines, no rules. We just have each other.

  Chapter 25

  Mike

  Cruising around town with Victoria in the passenger seat of my truck is literally, my dream come true. There are many other things I’ve dreamed about in my life: my dad getting sober and actually caring about his family, owning my own business, and being the star quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. I know all of those aren’t realistic and I’ve only managed to achieve the second one, but the one dream that never wavered, since I was ten, was being with Vic
toria Baker.

  I’m having a hard time focusing on the road because all I want to do is look over at her, memorize every detail of her face, touch every surface of her body. I’ve managed the latter in the last twenty-four hours, but watching her now, when she’s finally mine, and not as a young boy desperate for her to give me a chance---it’s like a new awakening. I’m seeing life through a different lens, one where Victoria is the only image in focus and the rest is just a blur.

  We’ve managed to leave the house long enough to grab some lunch at Ruby’s Diner and go grocery shopping for the week. Victoria helped me plan what I would cook for her when we decided she would stay at my house for more than just tonight. If I had it my way, she’d just move in with me right now. We’re on our way to her house anyway. All I’d have to do is load her stuff in boxes in the back of my truck and take her back to my house eternally. I sound like some caveman who wants to hold her prisoner, but I honestly just don’t want her to leave. I bought that house not only for the shop in the back for my business, but with the idea in mind that one day Victoria would live there with me, wake up next to me every day, and we would raise our family inside those walls. Like she said last night, we’ve waited this long. Why wait any longer?

  “Come inside with me while I grab my stuff.” Victoria unbuckles and jumps down from the truck as soon as we arrive at her house. I know she doesn’t want me to wait out here for her, but it’s nerve-wracking seeing her parents again, knowing that this time she and I are officially together and she obviously spent the night at my house last night.

  I follow her inside and am instantly greeted by her mom and Lilly.

  “Mike!” Lilly shouts as she hurdles herself off of the dining room chair and runs for my legs, wrapping her arms around my waist. I greet her with a hug in return, her excitement pouring out of her.

  “Hello, Mike,” Leslie says as she makes her way out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. “How was your night?”

  I can feel the heat travel to my face instantly as I search out Victoria for her reaction. I’m not sure how to respond to that question.

  “It was perfect, Mom,” she answers, winking over at me.

  “Glad to hear it,” Leslie beams before making her way into the living room to turn down the television. “I swear, I don’t understand why your father insists on listening to this thing on the loudest possible volume, but then leaves the room and doesn’t bother to turn it back down.”

  “Sounds like Dad,” Victoria chuckles. “Where is he anyway?”

  “Oh, he found something to keep him busy in the garage, I suppose. I asked him to start going through boxes to look for donations for the church rummage sale, but who knows what he found to distract him.”

  “Ok, well we’ll say hi on our way out then.” Victoria turns to me, lowering her voice. “I won’t be too long. Make yourself comfortable.” She kisses me on the cheek before walking down the hallway towards her room to fetch her clothes.

  “Mike, wanna see my picture I’m working on for school?” Lilly shouts just as I walk over to her.

  “Absolutely! Show me what you got, little one.” I spend the next ten minutes listening to Lilly ramble on about her report on snails, an oxymoron that a child who talks as fast as she does would choose to do a report on an animal that moves so slowly.

  “Leslie,” I interrupt as soon as Lilly takes a breath. “Did you say Frank was outside?”

  “Yeah, in the garage.”

  “Ok, I’m going to go say hello. Will you let Vic know for me, please?”

  “Of course, Mike. And just so you know, I’m so glad that things finally worked out for you two. You make my daughter very happy.”

  I pull her in for a side hug. “She makes me happy too. I promise I’ll take care of her.”

  “I have no doubt,” she replies with a pat on my shoulder, releasing our embrace and wiping a tear from her eyes.

  Stepping outside into the heat, I take a deep breath to prepare myself for my encounter with Frank. The last time I saw him was after my date with Lilly and Victoria, in which we exchanged some pretty heated words. I know we seemed to end our argument on agreeable terms, but who knows how he’s feeling right now knowing she chose me and spent the evening at my home.

  “Frank?” I yell as I make my way inside the garage that is completely detached from the house but next to it on their property.

  “Mike?” Frank comes out from behind a stack of boxes holding an old chain saw. Great, if things go south, he’s already armed.

  “Hey. I just wanted to come out to talk to you. Vic’s inside gathering some more things.”

  “What kinds of things?”

  “Just clothes and stuff for work.” This is awkward.

  “Is she staying with you again tonight?”

  I nod. “Yeah, probably for a few days at least.”

  He nods back. “Well, I’m glad then.”

  I snap my eyes to him. “Really?”

  Frank steps forward, setting down the chain saw before stopping right in front of me. “I meant what I said last time we spoke, Mike. I’m sorry for what happened five years ago, and I know you make my daughter happy. So, as hard as it is for me to accept that she’s not my little girl anymore, you have my blessing.”

  I reach out to shake Frank’s hand as a voice from behind me interrupts us.

  “What happened five years ago?” Vic is standing there, a larger bag than before stuffed full of clothes slung across her shoulder, and a pained and curious expression all over her face.

  “Vic,” I start to explain, but Frank cuts me off and steps towards his daughter.

  “Dad, what’s going on? What happened five years ago?”

  Frank swallows hard and stares down at his daughter, pleading for her to understand. “When Mike asked you out the first time, he didn’t just stand you up.”

  “What?” Victoria’s head is spinning, her eyes bouncing back and forth between me and her dad.

  “I mean, he did stand you up, but it was because of me. Not because he changed his mind about you.”

  “What did you do, Dad?” I can see her tears forming and all I want to do is rush over to hold her, but she needs to hear his side first. I didn’t want to be the one to tell her this part of our history, so I’m glad that he is. But watching her agony as she’s fed the truth is breaking my heart.

  “Well, you know how I’ve always felt about Mike and his brother?” She nods. “When I found out that you were going to go out with him, I confronted him at Mic’s Garage that morning of your date and threatened him if he didn’t leave you alone.”

  “What?” Victoria shouts as her bag falls to the floor.

  “I’m sorry, baby. But I only wanted what was best for you. I thought that Mike would end up just like his dad and I didn’t want you around that. Plus, you were so young and full of drive… I didn’t want you to end up making a mistake and throwing away your dreams and your life for some boy.”

  “So you threatened him to stay away from me and made a decision about my life without even telling me?” Victoria is seething, even as tears stream down her face. “And you!” She points over at me. “You never said anything and just made me think you changed your mind? I cried for weeks after that! I doubted so much about myself and how you felt about me, and all because of my dad? Why didn’t you stand up to him and fight for us?”

  I reach out for her but she pulls away. “Vic, we can talk about this later, okay? Everything is fine now. Your dad and I spoke last time I was here and we squashed everything. He knows how much I love you and how much you love me. Everything worked out the way it was supposed to, babe. Let’s not let this ruin what we’ve wanted for so long.”

  Victoria shakes her head and storms off towards the house, leaving her bag on the ground in front of us, my head hanging in defeat as she walks away.

  “Shit,” Frank mutters, his hands running through his gray hair. “That’s not how I wanted her to find out about this. Truthfull
y, I would have been fine if she never found out.”

  “Yeah, but I know it would have come up eventually between us. At least she got to hear it from you, and I could reassure her we’re past it.” There’s a pit in my stomach now, filling me with anxiety about how this is going to affect Victoria and me as we move forward. Will we still move forward? Is this going to be enough to break us apart after we’ve finally found our way together?

  “I’ll try to talk to her, Frank. Just know, I understand why you did what you did and said what you said back then. Hopefully, I can get her to see that everything worked out for the best and we’re good.”

  Franks pats my shoulder. “Thank you, Mike. Take care of my little girl.”

  “I promise.”

  I stride back to the house, cautiously opening the door, fearful of what I might see or hear. As I turn my head, Victoria and her mom come into view, seated on the couch, Leslie’s arms draped over Victoria’s shoulder as she wipes her eyes with a tissue.

  “Vic, can I talk to you please?”

  She looks up at me and nods just as Leslie stands and gives me a sympathetic pat on the back while she walks away.

  “Vic, your dad did what he did to protect you. I know it sucks, especially because I allowed his words to affect me more than I care to admit. But he was right.”

  Her head snaps up at my admission. “How was he right, Mike? He kept us apart for years! And you allowed him too!”

  I bend down to my knees on the floor in front of her so I can see her eye to eye. “Shhhh… I know, okay? I regret how I reacted and how badly I hurt you that day, believe me. But look at where we are now because of it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  I place my hand on her cheek. “I know it feels like we lost time together. But I’m choosing to look at it in terms of what we gained instead. Look at what we’ve both been able to accomplish while we were apart. Sure, if we had our choice, we would have been together. But now, we’re older and wiser and established. You’re a teacher just like you always wanted. I own my own business and home. We know exactly what we want now. Who knows what distractions we would have created for each other if we had given in to our feelings all those years ago?”