Sherry and Jake were watching for Harper to show up for work the following day, and when she walked in, her smile, like the one she gave Casey the night before, said it all. They’d never seen her look so happy, not with childlike glee, but with the satisfaction of something going right for her.

“Oh, honey! I can see you had a great time last night!” Sherry cried almost immediately when she walked in the door and offered her open arms.

“He was so good to me, Sherry! I don’t know how to explain it, but it was like I was the only one who mattered to him!”

“I’m very happy for you!” Jake said, with a kiss on her forehead before disappearing into the kitchen, leaving the girls to talk like they do.

The door chime rang, and an elderly couple came in, one of their regulars who always came just after opening. Over the years, they’d grown fond of Harper, suspecting she’d had some trouble in her life, and even they could see that something had changed in the way she greeted them.

Harper was hoping Sherry would press her for details as she had to tell someone about what he’d done to her in bed, but she didn’t feel right volunteering it.

“You didn’t have to tell him ‘bout all those fucked up men in your life, did you?” Sherry asked, starting the ball rolling.

“I s’pose I didn’t have to, but I did,” she replied, noting the startled look on her boss’s face. “Sherry, I figured it was better to get it out at the beginning so I didn’t mess things up later if I really liked him!”

“I guess. How’d you bring it up?”

“Actually, he was asking about you and Jake. He remembered my mentioning my mom and stepdad that night with the car and wondered why I introduced you the way I did. And that led to Momma dying, Harry kicking me out, and my stupid cousin always wanting to get his hand in my pants, and … and everything else!”

“How did he react to all that?”

“It didn’t bother him a bit. See, he’s got some shit in his past too that he told me about, and he said that I was a … ‘a breath of fresh air’, I think is how he put it, ‘bout how honest I was. Apart from you guys, he’s the only person who doesn’t look at me like I’m less than them in some way. He made me feel so good, Sherry! At the restaurant and especially when we went to his house!” she added, baiting her boss, knowing Sherry couldn’t resist prying the details out of her.

“He did all that to you, and you didn’t do nothin’ to him!?”

“I wanted to! I really did, but he said I’d done more for him than I knew, and then he promised I’d get my chance the next time! Sherry, the whole night I was thinking this was a one-night deal, but that right there is what made the night for me. He wants to see me again! Oh, and then … then when I said something like, ‘I guess I gotta go now?’ he said he just wanted to hold me some more, asking me if that was okay! Do you believe that shit? I was curled up between his legs with my head on his chest, and I woulda stayed there all night if I could!” she finished and fell into Sherry’s arms for another maternal hug.

“You’re a lucky girl, Harper,” she said softly, hoping it would last for her.

“I am! And I can’t wait to just kiss him again!” Harper replied.

“Well, you won’t have to wait long. Here he comes!”

“What!?”

Casey woke with mixed feelings. On the good side, he was ecstatic about the night before with Harper. There was so much sincerity and honesty, but warmth too, drawing a sharp contrast with the women he usually dated, with all their B.S. and ulterior motives. Still, he felt a little disappointed, wishing she were still in his bed with him, but he’d promised himself to take things like that slowly, wondering if that was how Lilah had gotten the wrong idea. He was happy with how the night ended, loving the feeling of just holding her the way he did, and that it seemed exactly what she wanted from him as well.

An idea suddenly occurred to him, and he rushed through his shower and morning routine to go out for breakfast at what was now his favorite diner.

There was only a little light in the sky when he pulled up, and the lights from inside lit up the parking strip in front. He smiled when he saw Harper and Sherry talking, and Harper suddenly surprised, looking straight out the window at him and running to the door.

“Casey!” she cried as she flew into his arms, hugging him first, and then gently, calmly offering her lips for a tender kiss.

“Good morning, Harper!” he said between kisses, a bit surprised at how much he enjoyed her enthusiasm.

“Come! Sit at the counter!” she said, practically pushing him onto a stool. “Whattya want for breakfast? It’s on me!”

“Harper, you don’t have to …”

“Hey! You bought me dinner, so I’m buying you breakfast! I get a pretty good discount here!” she giggled.

“Hey, Sherry!” he said in a funny, exasperated tone to her clearly amused colleague.

“Hey, Casey!” she replied, giving him a wink, confirming his suspicion that he’d been the topic of conversation between them when he’d seen them through the window. “Harper, go sit in a booth with him. I’ll buy you both breakfast!”

“Okay, but I’ll get our coffee!” she acquiesced, following Casey to a booth with two mugs. “This is a really nice surprise!” she said as she sat down opposite him, not trusting herself to sit beside him.

“Well, when I was getting dressed,” he fibbed a little, “I was wondering when I’d see you next, and I decided, why not now!”

“Aww! Thank you!” she said, with the corners of her mouth turning down and on the verge of tears. When he reached for her hands, a tear came. “I’m sorry! I’m just so happy.”

“I am too! Tell me – when is your next day off?”

“Oh. Um,” she sniffled, “Day after tomorrow, Sunday. Whattya wanna do?”

“Have you ever done any hiking?”

“No, but I’ll give it a try. Where?”

“Sandy Creek. They have a bunch of trails through the woods and around the lake. “There are miles of them, but they loop around so at any point it’s not too far to get back to the beginning,” he explained, feeling a little guilty for testing her like this. Hiking was something he really enjoyed, but the women he’d dated all turned their noses up at it. Funnily, it was one thing Lilah had agreed to try, though she didn’t like it and made that abundantly clear.

“Can we bring a picnic lunch?” Harper asked excitedly, already passing his test.

She was waiting in the street when he picked her up, still not wanting him to see her dumpy apartment, or worse, meet the landlord. She dumped a small backpack on the back seat and got in, leaning over for a good morning kiss.

“Ready to do some walking?” he asked with a bright smile.

“Ready as I’ll ever be!” she said with an element of doubt, but she promised herself that no matter how tired she got, she would not complain. Her family wasn’t one that visited parks much or ever went on hikes or even long walks, but she normally spent a good portion of her day on her feet, so she figured that would help.

They stopped at McAlister’s Deli for some sandwiches and drinks, packed them into his backpack and headed to the park. Since it was Sunday, the Nature Center was crawling with small kids, so they skipped that for now and set off on the Pine Ridge Trail.

Casey tried to let her set the pace, but she was erratic, and she didn’t try to follow him when he did. She seemed to be enjoying the environment, like she’d never been outdoors before, and, truth be told, she’d spent very little time on outdoor activities. Her head shifted side to side, following bird calls or listening to a gentle breeze whistling through the pine needles and leaves. She was fascinated by a box turtle crossing the trail and stopped to watch its slow, deliberate progress. She shrieked with joy when a rabbit went bounding across their path. She was like a child, experiencing these things for the first time, so he let her take it in in her own way.

“Is this all so new to you, Harper?” he asked when they stopped for a rest on a bench.

“I went to neighborhood parks as a kid to play on the playground. My Momma saw it as a way to use up my energy. I was a pretty hyper kid,” she said with a laugh. “But we never went to places like this. It’s so lush and quiet! I like it!” she finished and leaned over to give him a kiss.

“You don’t have to, but if you keep a regular pace while you’re walking, it’ll help your stamina. It doesn’t matter how fast you go, but if you keep a steady pace, you’ll last longer, and it’s really good for your heart. Wanna try it?”

Her answer was to jump up, ready to go. He started leisurely but gradually increased the pace, telling her to let him know if it got too much. Eventually, they found a cadence that was right for her and not too slow for him.

“Casey, did you even consider going back with Lilah when she offered to drop the lawsuit?”

“No. Not even for a second. It took me a while, but I realized she would frequently overreact to things, good or bad, and suing me was the ultimate. When she left, I had to wonder just how much further her over-the-top responses might have gone, so no, I didn’t.”

They walked in silence for a few minutes, with Harper’s attention drawn this way and that. When they saw a raccoon vandalizing a garbage can at a shelter, she realized she should take some pictures and whipped out her phone, delighted with each snap.

“Speaking of girlfriends, you never mentioned anything about boyfriends last night,” he said, phrasing it as an observation.

“I had guys I’d almost call a boyfriend, but they’d be gone in a couple of weeks. I think I gave it away too easily, and there was no reason for them to stick around,” she said like it was an admission of guilt, “Until they wanted more.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but how does a girl so young fall into a habit like that?”

“I told you my parents were cheating on each other. If one were out with their outside lover, the other might invite theirs to our house. When they split up, Momma had all sorts of guys over, and they weren’t even a little secretive about it. You grow up in that environment, and you just think that’s the way things work. Momma would have a handyman or car mechanic over to fix something, and guess how she thanked them?” she asked, looking at him with raised eyebrows.

“I’m sorry you had to live like that,” he said when he stopped and took her in his arms just to hold her.

“Casey?” she started as she pulled back, “I don’t want that anymore, but it’s a hard habit to break, especially when you don’t have the money to pay the normal way.” She looked into his eyes, pleading, and saw the same kindness as before.

“Well, you’re working now. You’re covering your own expenses now, right?”

“On just over minimum wage and tips?” she replied doubtfully.

“I’m sorry. I guess I’m a little out of touch. Forgive me?” he asked sincerely as they started walking again.

“Forgive you? For what?” she said, having been quite used to people who didn’t understand. “I told you, I don’t want that anymore, and lately it’s only the landlord I gotta worry about.” Casey stopped walking and turned to face her. “Oh shit! I shouldn’t of said that!”

“What’s with your landlord?” he asked a bit more firmly than she was used to.

“Casey, it’s nothin’! When business is slow, like now, he’ll forgive a short rent payment for a quick feel,” she said without providing details on what she let him feel.

She could see the change in his eyes, but he said nothing for a few seconds, took a deep breath, and pulled her in for another hug, just holding her tightly for what seemed like a pleasant forever, but was only a minute or so in reality. When he tilted her head up, he was back to normal, giving her a delicious kiss. She didn’t know he planned on paying her landlord a not-so-friendly visit.

The conversation turned to more lighthearted subjects, sharing funny stories about their lives and avoiding anything controversial. When they came upon another picnic shelter, they stopped for lunch. Casey served the food from his pack and smiled when Harper sat on the table with her legs spread wide and crossed in front of her, eating her sandwich. She giggled when he made a face, acknowledging the arousing sight.

“How’re your legs?” he asked, referring to the unusual exercise she was getting.

“You tell me! You seem to like looking at ‘em!” she laughed. “They’re fine,” she finally answered correctly. “I like this! I’d like to do it again, though I imagine I’ll be a bit sore tomorrow morning at the diner!”

“I thought you said you were off tomorrow?”

“I only go in for the breakfast rush. Monday’s really slow except for breakfast, so I help out for a few hours.”

He liked that she was dedicated to her work, and even more to her surrogate parents. It showed a level of maturity that was lacking when he met her on that lonely country road six years ago. He believed her when she said she didn’t want to live life the way she had anymore, even painfully acknowledging that some things were out of her control, like her landlord.

Lunch finished, they set out again, renewed by the rest and food. He smiled each time he looked at her, knowing exactly who she was without pretending to be someone or something else. Now he wanted to know who she wanted to be. She caught him once looking and smiled back as though she knew what he was thinking. He reached for her hand, and she happily surrendered it.

“I thought the sky was getting kinda dark when we were eating,” he said a while later, “but the clouds are black ahead of us. We’d better hustle a bit if we want to get home dry.”

He stepped up their pace, but he could see she was having trouble keeping up with his longer stride. He’d no sooner thought it wouldn’t be so bad if they took a shower together out here in the woods when the rain started. A few drops grew into larger drops that you could hear hitting the ground, and a minute later, it was like a curtain of water around them. It only took a few seconds for them to be soaked to the skin.

“Casey! I love it!” she cried as they slowed down to a leisurely walk. “Can’t get any wetter than we are now!”

“No, we can’t!” he replied, loving that she took it all in stride.

They’d just passed another shelter when they heard distant thunder. Walking in the rain was one thing, but being out in a thunderstorm was dangerous. A much closer, louder thunderclap convinced them to turn around and go back to that shelter, running now to get under cover.

They ran into the shelter and collapsed on a bench, still laughing at their predicament. Sitting side by side, he turned to look at the girl who kept surprising him and saw how the cold rain had her tiny nipples hard, like small pebbles, poking through her tight top. When she saw what he was looking at, she turned to face him and willed him with her eyes to take her top off. The second his hands moved, her arms went up, her tits were bared, and she was pushing them into his mouth.

An explosive clap of thunder had her jumping into his lap with her legs wrapped around his waist and her arms around his neck. His hands kept her tits warm so he could kiss her while she snaked her arms through his to pull his T-shirt up and off, their chests coming together like magnets while they devoured each other’s tongues.

Harper pulled back and offered a tender smile as she reached for the drawstring of his shorts. He didn’t stop her, but he didn’t look entirely comfortable with it either.

“I’m not thanking you, Casey. I just want to do something nice for you, okay?”

A small smile and gentle nod had her sliding off his lap to kneel on the shelter’s concrete floor, tugging his shorts and boxers down with her. She was quite good at this when she wanted to be, but that opportunity rarely presented itself, as it was the most common form of payment for favors, and those were quick affairs to get it over with as quickly as possible. Not for Casey.

Fingertips glided up the inside of his thighs as they spread for her. Her hands reached his thick cock, and she looked up at him with a sensuous smile while taking him in tender hands; one stroked the shaft lightly, while the other teased the tip. She heard him take a deep breath through his nose when both hands traversed its length. A few strokes later, one moved to cradle his sac in her palm, and she leaned in to add her tongue to the mix, circling his glans with a little extra on the underside.

Again, Casey couldn’t help drawing comparisons to other women, and again Harper came out on top. He couldn’t say whether she was actually better at what she was doing, but the fact that it was all about giving, not what she would get in return, made all the difference and had him breathing heavily in no time.

“Oh God, Harper!” he gasped when she took him deep, her nose poking his belly each time. He tried to hold on as long as he could, but the sight and sensation of her sucking him in had him so close. “I’m gonna cum!” he warned several times, but her eyes smiled at him, making it clear she had no intention of letting him cum anywhere but in her mouth.

She could feel the pulsing muscles trying to push past the tight grip she had around the base, and when she let go, she was startled at both the force and the amount of his seed hitting the back of her throat. She had to pull away a bit to avoid choking on it.

Sitting back on her heels, she watched his reaction with pride, feeling like that was about the best she’d ever done, and it showed. The look on his face when his eyes opened was priceless, and she knew he’d felt something special as well.

“Come here, you!” he said with his arms out and his face looking like he might cry. 

She returned to his lap with her legs around him again, mashing her lips against his.

“I really loved doing that for you, Casey!” she said, almost crying herself.

“I could tell. And it was truly amazing,” he said with that same sad look before he pulled her into another long hug.

Instantly, the same feeling came over her as the other night, despite being holed up, sheltering from a storm rather than naked in his bed. She felt so safe, so protected in his arms, and while the storm provided another excuse to accept his comfort, it was her crazy, mixed-up life that, for once, wasn’t top of mind. No one had ever wanted to just hold her without groping her in some way. Even the worry that it might end someday was held at bay.

Neither knew nor cared how long they remained almost motionless on that picnic bench, but eventually the storm had ebbed, and while a steady light rain continued, the violence of the thunder and lightning seemed to have passed. Casey bent his head to kiss her hair, and brushing the wet hair from her face, he tilted her head up for a gentle, but lingering kiss on the lips.

“You have a choice, Harper,” he said when she sat up, still in his lap. “I would love to give you something now like you just gave me, or you can wait till we’re in the warmth of my hot tub at home.”

“Mmm, the hot tub sounds wonderful,” she said almost immediately, “It’s getting a bit chilly as wet as we are.”

“You don’t think you’d warm up a bit with my face between your legs?” he chuckled, and she giggled.

“Oh, I’m sure I would, but I bet I’d be even hotter in the hot tub!” she said with suggestive emphasis on the word ‘hotter’.

Those feelings were accentuated by putting on their cold, wet clothes again, and soon they were hiking through the light rain once more. Casey consulted the trail map to be sure they found the quickest route back to his car, both thankful when they arrived. Casey pulled a blanket out of the trunk and wrapped it around her, getting a grateful kiss for his thoughtfulness.

“Oh, my Lord!” Harper gasped as she stepped into the hot water. “This feels amazing!” she enthused as the roiling water swirled around her. “Ohhh, yeah!” she sighed when he directed her into the seat with over a dozen jets massaging her back.

“I’ll just get these clothes in the dryer. Be right back,” he said, scooping up her clothes and going back inside.

“Ooo! Look at you!” she cried when he returned naked and sporting an erection that bounced as he walked.

Once in the water, he waited not a second to take her in his arms, his hands exploring her warm body, while their lips conversed with each other, wet and needy. She felt it again, as if it might be a dream from which she prayed not to awaken. His hands, strong but gentle, held her, touched her, felt her all over, giving, not taking. Their lips parted and eyes connected, trying to say what they couldn’t find words for.

Casey loved the way she moved within his arms, showing so much appreciation for what he did. And he wanted to do more, but he was always on guard not to be too aggressive, afraid of giving the impression that what he wanted or needed was paramount. Her gentle, pleading eyes reminded him of what he’d promised back in the picnic shelter, and he maneuvered her onto the top step of the stairs leading into the tub. Her bottom and legs were still within the warm water, and he hoped that with his tongue between her legs, he’d keep the rest of her warm.

“Oh God, Casey!” she cried when his lips enveloped her pussy, and his tongue licked blindly.

Sucking on her petite lips, they swelled even more, turning deep red, engorged with blood, while his tongue lapped up the chlorine-tinged nectar until all he could taste was her. Her breaths came in short pants as she quickly climbed to an incredible summit, reached with a glorious implosion in her mind as it reeled with the physical and emotional release.

“Casey!” she shouted at the climax, but repeated when the brief respite ended with his tongue darting into her slippery wet tunnel.

He usually enjoyed driving a woman to multiple orgasms, always with a bit of envy for a woman being able to cum again so soon, but Harper’s appreciation somehow made it even better. Everything seemed like a first time for her, and who doesn’t love giving someone their first taste of anything they inevitably love? Her hips squirmed, and thighs alternately opened and closed on his head while filling his ears with the squeaks and moans of disbelief at something so good.

She came again with another cry of his name, but wasn’t surprised this time when he continued without pause to give her another.

“Ohhh, Casey! Hold me!” she cried, after a third orgasm, sliding off the step and into his encircling arms that kept her from nearly fainting as a result of the combination of her climax and the hot water.

With her arms hugging his neck and legs around his waist, he twisted back and forth, rocking his baby in the comforting water. When she lifted her head off his shoulder, she just stared into his eyes for a few moments before blessing him with several tender, loving kisses.

“Mmm, thank you,” she whispered in his ear.

They sat so that she was in the hot seat with all the jets and him in the one adjacent with her shapely legs draped over his. She stared at him, still doubting something, someone so good as he massaged her legs and feet. The combination of his soothing hands and hot water left her in a state of peace completely foreign to her. She almost said something to the effect of being able to ‘get used to this,’ but caught herself, not wanting to become another casualty of familiarity.

He had similar thoughts, though he saw her comparing so favorably to past experiences. He still cautioned himself to take it slowly, despite his desires to the contrary. He stared at her beautiful face, eyes closed, and savoring another new feeling. When her eyes opened, it was as though she sensed these thoughts, smiling sweetly.

“What were you thinkin’?” she asked, seeing the wheels turning in his eyes. He just shook his head slightly while returning her smile. “I’m hungry!” she said finally when he wasn’t forthcoming.

“What would you like to eat?” he asked.

“What have you got?”

“I’m not much of a cook, so …”

“That’s one skill I do have,” she started. “Momma often left me to fend for myself where meals were concerned. I can make something out of almost nothin’!” she bragged.

“Stay right there,” he instructed as he moved her legs and stood to get out of the tub. “Here you go,” he said after grabbing a couple of large towels out of a deck box, holding one open for her and wrapping it around her when she stepped into it. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him hard, as the dream continued.

“Boy, you weren’t kiddin’!” she remarked after seeing a refrigerator and pantry that supported his claim of not cooking much.

Still, she grabbed some pasta, a jar of sauce, and a few spices to make it more interesting, then whipped up a baked pasta dish. He just stared at her, marveling at her proficiency and more than a little aroused at her near-naked body, clothed only in bikini panties. Some crusty old rolls were doused with butter and garlic salt and toasted in a toaster oven, while he opened a bottle of red wine and poured them both a glass.

She loved the look of wonder on his face as she cooked, happy that he seemed pleased with a different sort of performance.

They ate as they recounted the events of the day; her in wonder at how enjoyable a simple walk in the woods could be, and him just loving that she loved it, while both wondered what was next.

Each would be surprised that their thoughts were quite similar. He wanted to take her to bed and make passionate, but gentle love to her; this idea was identical to hers. Still cautious, he worried about the timing, but his passion for her was overwhelming. She, too, wanted to give herself to him, but didn’t want to be seen as trying to get to him through sex.

“Harper, I so want to take you to bed and make love to you,” he said.

“But you know it’s not the right time,” she said, finishing his sentence for him, seeing a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

“You are an amazing woman, Harper, but …” he said as he got up to put his arms around her and kiss her lovingly.

“I know. I think you should take me home before we do something we regret,” she said with a tear running down her cheek.

He picked her up off her chair, took her to a sofa in the living room, and sat with their bodies melting together. They spoke only with their eyes, lips, and comforting hands for what seemed like a few moments, but was in fact nearly half an hour.

“Oh, honey! I’m so proud of you!” Sherry exclaimed the next morning after hearing Harper recount the prior day’s events. Her worries that Harper would eventually be disappointed were slipping away.

“Do you think I did the right thing?” Harper asked, still afraid she’d missed an opportunity.

“Yeah. I do. And I think he’ll be happy you did.”

“Oh, Sherry! I think I’m fallin’ for him! I don’t know what I’d do if he walked away!”

“He ain’t walkin’ away, honey. He’s walkin’ in the door!”

“Casey!”

--===<<<O>>>===--

They seem made for each other, but their histories have them treading carefully. How long will it take until they're both comfortable give themselves to the other? Read on and find out! Please remember to 'Like,' 'Favorite,' and comment if you're enjoying my story and ... THANKS FOR READING!!