"I chose you."

Michonne shifted her leg so that she straddled Rick's lap. Her weight pressed pleasurably into his pelvis, and he felt his body responding beneath her. He raised his head a fraction of an inch to close the distance, softly capturing her lips with his own. Their mouths moved slowly, savoring the sensations flooding their bodies from the intimate contact. Rick drew his tongue over her bottom lip, and she opened her mouth to him. As their tongues circled one another, he brought one hand up to caress her face while the other settled on the warm, firm flesh at her waist just under her shirt. She broke the kiss to confess, "I'm tired of waiting, of denying, of trying to make something else work. I want this." Delighting in the feel of Rick's bulge growing under her, she sat up, still straddling him, and pulled off her tank top, tossing it across the room.

For Rick, her aggressiveness was like pouring gasoline on a fire. He suddenly flipped her over onto her back and kissed her roughly so that it hurt her mouth. He quickly stripped off his shirt, then pushed his hips against hers, and Michonne gasped at the feel of his erection grinding against her center over the thin material of her yoga pants. Even through Rick's jeans, she could feel how long and hard he was. One of his hands was shoved under her back to press her tightly against him while the other kneaded the soft flesh of the cleavage spilling out of her bra. He sucked and nipped his way down the delicate skin of her neck and collarbone until he reached her breasts. In his haste to get her naked as quickly as possible, he yanked the bra down impatiently rather than reaching around to unfasten it. He took a breast in each hand, and his hot, hungry mouth latched on, sucking urgently, moving from one to the other, then back again. He broke away from her tits and brought his mouth up to her ear, darting his tongue inside and drawing a low moan from her. "You need a good fuck?" he whispered in her ear. "I'll give it to you."

He thinks I just want... "No, wait. Rick, wait," she cupped his face with a hand, directing him to look at her. "I don't just want to make love to you, I want you, all of you, every part." At her words, Rick's head dropped into the crook of her neck, and he wrapped his arms around her to hold her close against his bare chest. He stayed like that for quite some time, not moving, and Michonne felt him going soft against her. "Rick?" she whispered.

He raised his head, and his eyes were wet and red-rimmed as if he were holding back tears. "After everything? You know how badly I screwed up with — with her. I told you everything, and even after all that? No. No, Michonne. You deserve better. You deserve... hell, anything that's not me."

He pushed himself off of her and started to leave the bed, but she said, "Rick, if you get off of this bed, I swear I will never forgive you." He froze and stared at her, confused. She stood at the side of the bed and began slowly stripping of all of her clothing.

"Michonne, don't —"

"Don't tell me what to do," she commanded as she slid her panties off her hips and onto the floor. Rick's conflicting emotions warred on his face: lust at the sight of her body entirely naked for him, rage against himself for allowing this to happen. Joining him on the bed again, she sat squarely in his lap, hushing his objections, and wrapped her legs around him. "Fuck," Rick whispered, closing his eyes against the vision in front of him.

"Open your eyes and look at me," she commanded sternly. When he obeyed, he saw that her hard expression was a contrast to all the soft chocolate skin she was revealing to him. "You don't get to decide for me who I do and do not deserve, who I should and should not be with. You have tried to deprive me of my right to decide for myself who my heart will belong to. It's my choice, not yours. You can reject me if you don't want me. But don't try to decide for me whether or not I want you. You have no right to do so."

"I... I never thought about it that way," Rick confessed. "I thought I was protecting you."

"Protecting me from you?" Michonne asked, and he nodded. "Rick, when I look at you, I see a man who's made serious mistakes but learned from them. You want to be a better man for your kids and your family and everyone who depends on you, and you try to live up to that every day. Since we took down the herd, you have lived for two things: your children and this community. They are what you eat, sleep, and breathe for. And that makes you a good man, Rick."

She leaned forward and kissed him. The kiss was tender and slow with none of the urgency they felt earlier. Their lips and tongues searched and explored each other, figuring out what they liked best. Her hands cupped his face while his caressed her waist, back, and hips, intentionally avoiding her most sensitive parts, saving those for later. She sucked gently on his bottom lip and as he moaned deeply, she felt him coming alive again beneath her. "I want you," she whispered to him. "Not your idea of what you should be. You."

"I want you, too," Rick confided, his eyes reflecting his intense desire. "I love you, Michonne."

"I love you, too," came the whispered reply, and she pressed herself close against his bare chest, his hair tickling her nipples, and wrapped her arms around his neck. They kissed long and deep as his hands trailed down to her ass and firmly squeezed her cheeks. She gave the waistband of his jeans a tug and requested, "Take these off. I want to watch you." She moved off of his lap and onto her knees to give him room to slide off the bed.

He paused as he stood, twisting the gold band on his left hand. Slowly, he pulled it off and set it on the table beside her bed. "I guess I won't be needing a wedding ring anymore... not unless you decide to give me a new one someday." She reached up and kissed his lips, trying to communicate all the love and affection she could in that kiss.

When she settled back again, he proceeded with her request, unbuckling his belt and letting it drop onto the floor. His eyes riveted to her face, he unfastened his jeans, pushed them down, and kicked them out the way. Standing before her in only a pair of form-fitting black boxer briefs, he hitched his thumbs into the sides of his underwear, but she leaned forward and grabbed his hands to stay him. "Wait." She ran her hands over his hard, chiseled muscles from his abs up to his biceps and shoulders then back to his chest. She gave both of his nipples a little pinch, and he smiled and growled, "That's my job."

She grinned naughtily at him and moved back. "Go on."

His hands returned to his briefs where his erection was straining against the fabric, and he pulled them down to reveal his naked self to her. The deep grooves in his hips and the thick trail of dark hair against his pale skin all led down to his cock. He was long, thick, and smooth, his pronounced head was red and slick with pre-cum, and his ball sack was large and heavy. Taking her by the hand, he pulled her off the bed so that she stood with him, their bodies close together, and his hard dick pressed into her lower belly. He bent his head and flicked his tongue over her nipples, caressing the curves of her breasts with his fingertips, then suckled gently at one. He raised his head and whispered, "You're so beautiful," before turning his mouth to the other breast. As he sucked, his hands reached around to lightly squeeze her cheeks. He trailed a finger between them, over her anus and forward to her slit, teasing her opening from the back. Her groans and gasps of pleasure caused his cock to twitch and jump, and pre-cum dripped heavily on the carpet. Rick nuzzled his face into the curve of the underside of one of her tits and ran his tongue over the crease in her skin between her breast and her rig cage. As he lowered himself to rest on one knee, his mouth continued downward, skimming over the firm muscles of her belly, dipping into her navel. His hands came back around, and he teased her by running his fingertips up and down her inner thighs and over her lower belly. He relished the sight of her well-trimmed little thatch of curls glistening with the evidence of her arousal. After he licked up the beads of her juices that were running down her inner thighs, he barely brushed his mouth against the outer lips of her pussy. She moaned and tangled her fingers in his hair, but she didn't push his head forward. She wanted him to go at his own pace. Her scent was filling the air around them, and he found the fragrance intoxicating. Slow enough to be torturous for her, he put forth his tongue and dragged it through her slit. She was so wet, there was enough to swallow, and he did so gladly. Suddenly, he pulled away, and Michonne gasped, "Wait, what? Don't stop now, please!" But he moved over to the bed, laying down flat on his back, and reached for her.

"I want you to sit on my face," he explained with a lustful gleam in his eyes. Feeling her skin grow hot with a deep flush, she followed him eagerly to the bed. She straddled his shoulders, then scooted forward towards his face. He wrapped his strong arms around her thighs, locking her in place as soon as her pussy was positioned directly over his mouth. He kissed every inch of her pubic mound, and sucked each of her large outer labia into his mouth in turn. His tongue followed the curves of her sensitive inner lips, and she cried out when he explored her clit with the tip of his tongue. He gave her bud a few light, quick strokes, then moved his mouth downward to her opening. He swirled his tongue around the rim of her entrance in circles, then pulled his head back to blow a gentle gust of air against her entire pussy. She gasped and swore. Rick indulged in a self-satisfied grin before plunging his tongue deep inside of her, fucking her with it. At the same time, he brought one hand around to her ass, wetting a finger in her arousal before teasing the entrance of her anus with it. When he was confident she wouldn't shy away from what he was doing with his mouth, he released the grip his other hand had on her thigh. He pulled out his tongue and inserted two fingers deep inside her. He was about to return his attention to her clit when his fingertips suddenly brushed against a string... no, two strings, deep inside her vagina. He paused for a moment, confused about what they could be. A tampon? No, those had strings that went on the outside. He pushed the matter from his mind, not wanting to lose their momentum. He fucked her with his two fingers, sliding them in and out of her slick pussy, before adding a third. It was a very tight fit, and Michonne cried out in pleasure as his fingers stretched her. He sucked her clit into his mouth at the same moment he slid a fingertip of his other hand into her anus.

He had no way of anticipating what she did next. Without moving from his mouth, she bent her back into a deep backbend, supporting herself against the mattress with one hand. With the other hand, she reached for his stiff dick, which was standing at attention behind her, and wrapped her hand around his shaft. She proceeded to give him an expert hand job, even as he still had his face buried up to his eyes in her pussy. Holy fuck! Rick thought in shock. I knew she was limber, but I had no idea she could do this! He sucked her clit more urgently as the ecstasy of what she was doing with her hand ricocheted through his body, fucked her harder and faster with his fingers. As he came closer to climax, it became more and more difficult to keep up a steady rhythm between his mouth and hands, but he was determined to get her off first. Just as he was getting truly desperate, her hips shook, her thighs nearly closed around his head, and her pussy and ass both clenched tight around his fingers. "Rick! Rick, oh, fuck, Rick!" she called over and over as her honey flooded over his mouth, trickling down his chin and neck, but she didn't stop what she was doing with her hand. He lost all self-control then, his orgasm hitting him hard. His hips bucked wildly beneath her, and thick white cum shot out of his cock, arcing high into the air before falling back down onto the sheet. He moaned deeply into her pussy as he licked up every drop he could get. When both of their tremors subsided, she pushed herself back up into a sitting position, then swung her leg over to free him from his position beneath her.

"Goddamn," Rick swore, propping himself up on one elbow and giving her a dazed grin. "Where did you learn to do that?"

Michonne just smiled and shook her head at him. She lay back on the mattress, and he scooted over to her, laying his head on her warm belly. He closed his eyes sleepily and mumbled, "Mmm, that was good."

"Same here," Michonne murmured, pushing a few sweat-dampened curls off his forehead.

Rick opened his eyes a moment later, and cleared his throat. "So, earlier, I thought I felt a string inside of you. Was I imagining things?"

"No. That's my birth control. About a month before all hell broke loose, I had my doctor implant an IUD. It's removed by pulling on the strings. That must have been what you felt."

Rick nodded. "So... that was over two years ago. Is it still good?"

"Yeah," Michonne confirmed. "It's supposed to be effective for five years."

A lascivious grin spread over his face. "Well, we'd better try it out, then."

She gave him a throaty laugh. "You're already up for it?"

"Come here and see," he growled and pulled her close, covering her body with his. His cock was, indeed, long and hard against her thigh, and she wondered at his ability to recover. He gave her a passionate kiss, and she tasted her own juices all over his mouth and tongue. It felt right and wonderfully dirty at the same time, and her own desire rapidly increased. He supported himself over her on one arm as he reached down and took hold of his dick with the other hand, sliding it through her slit to slick himself in her juices. Letting go of himself, he spread her open with two of his fingers and aligned his head with her entrance. Pausing there, he looked deeply into her eyes and told her again, "I love you."

"Oh, Rick," she breathed out. "I love you, too."

Both of them looked down between their bodies and watched as he slid his cock inside her. Slowly he went, just the head at first, then inch by inch, he filled her. He shuddered at the sight of her gorgeous pussy swallowing his dick. She was so warm and wet and tight around him. The hand job had been excellent, but he had been craving the feel of her wetness on his cock, and now he was enveloped in it. He shook again from head to toe, and she wrapped her legs firmly around his waist, crossing her ankles at his back to steady him. He didn't move for several moments, but bent his head to kiss and suck her tits while he stayed buried to the hilt in her. Finally, when he thought he could control himself, he pulled out until just his head was left inside her, before plunging back in again. She gasped and he groaned at the feeling of their bodies coming together again and again. His slow, deliberate thrusts were driving her crazy. She could feel every inch of him inside her pussy, and she spread her legs wider to give him greater access, squeezing her walls around his girth. She dug her heels into the mattress and matched his thrusts with her hips. He picked up the pace, fucking her harder and faster until he was slamming into her. She pinched and squeezed her own nipples between her fingers, and Rick swore at the sight of her touching herself. Another orgasm was on her almost before she knew what was happening. Head pushing against the pillow, eyes fluttering closed, she called his name breathlessly over and over. Rick felt her walls rapidly clenching and unclenching around his length, and pride filled his chest as he watched her ride the second orgasm he'd given her. When her climax was over, and her body uncoiled beneath him, he lowered himself to his elbows and kissed her all over her neck and breasts, savoring the salty taste of her sweat. "You are the sexiest woman I have ever known," he whispered to her. "I love watching you come." She smiled, and they exchanged languid kisses.

He pulled out slowly and nudged one of her hips with his hand. "Would you turn over? I want to feel you from the back." She happily complied, rolling onto her hands and knees, arching her back so that her ass was in the air for him. "Damn... do you know how long I've admired your ass? How long I've been wanting to see it just like this?" Rick asked.

"I could guess," she teased him. "Probably from the beginning, right?"

"Mmm, yeah. Even before I fell in love with you, I thought your ass was incredible."

She bounced her booty for him a little and commanded, "Get back inside me, Rick."

He wasn't about to argue with that. He positioned himself behind her and slid his dick in smoothly. "Oh, god, yeah," he groaned. He took a wide stance with his knees so he could feel his balls swinging freely with every thrust. Sometimes he gave her short, shallow thrusts, bending over her with his breath was hot on her back, reaching for her breasts to jiggle them so they bounced in his hands. Other times he straightened and grasped her hips by handfuls, pushing as deep inside her as he could go. Her ass sprung up against him, meeting him thrust for thrust. He loved to lean back and watch as his whole length slid into her engorged pussy. Their lovemaking was so primal, so satisfying, he had never felt anything so good before. His balls grew tight and swollen, pressing up against his shaft, and Rick knew he wasn't far from another orgasm. He reached around and found her clit, rubbing the pad of his finger up and down it swiftly. If he could just... get her off... again... before...

It didn't take long this time. He stroked her clit and gave her thrusts as hard and steady as a drum, and she climaxed again, her back shining with sweat, her hips trembling under his hands, groans and expletives tumbling from her lips. Her pussy gripped him tightly as his own orgasm claimed his mind and body. His back curved sharply, and he pushed his hips forward from his knees as far as he could, his entire body forming an arch with his dick as the keystone. He filled her with streams of his hot, sticky seed, moaning her name all the while.

He had to catch himself from collapsing on top of her when it was over. He felt utterly spent in the best way possible. Pulling out and rolling heavily onto his back, he simply lay there, trying to catch his breath. Michonne spread herself out on her stomach and gasped, "Yeah. Me, too." He caught her eye and laughed weakly.

"That was — the best sex — of my entire life," he whispered exhaustedly.

"Really?" Michonne sat up on one elbow, a self-satisfied smile spreading across her face.

"Oh, yeah." Rick nodded. "Definitely."

"Damn... and I haven't even gone down on you yet."

He groaned, "Have mercy on an aging man. That'll have to wait until next time... I'll look forward to it, though." She leaned down and pressed her lips against his, and he summoned the strength to return the kiss.

Suddenly, they both heard the front door slam. "Where the hell is everyone?" Carl's voice thundered from downstairs.

"Oh, shit!" Rick and Michonne whispered simultaneously. She dived under her covers while Rick quickly rolled off the bed, shoving on his underwear and jeans as fast as he could. He hurried out of her room, but it was too late. Carl stood in the hallway with Judith in his arms. He took in the sight of his father, shirtless and sweaty, his hair sticking up everywhere, then looked past him into the bedroom, where Michonne had pulled the blanket up to her chin.

Carl shook his head and said, "I can't leave you alone for two seconds, can I?" As he tromped downstairs with his little sister, he called back, "It's about damn time! Maybe you'll stop being such a hardass now!"

Rick looked back at Michonne, and they both shared a good laugh.