Neat flop play with AK, flopping a pair.

[rgschackelford]

I was playing a low limit game, and there were three players in with me. I got AK in middle position. I raised preflop, and got three callers. The flop came A-4-5, with two diamonds. I had every intention of raising, but the guy in front of me raised. So, I smooth called. The turn brought a queen, and he bet out again, and this time I raised him. It was called by the other two (one guy got out on the flop), and I bet and got one bet on the river. I won the pot. I felt that my flop play won me an extra bet or more (I gained two with the check-raise on the turn, and lost one on the flop by not raising). How about this way to play a flopped pair with AK?