Rick called a cab on his cell, and when they stepped outside to wait for it Daryl pulled him into the shadows next to the building. Rick noticed how well they were matched for height. He didn't wait for Daryl to make the next move, he figured he owed the man something for messing with his head earlier.

Pulling Daryl closer by the front of his shirt Rick leaned in for a long kiss. The other man responded eagerly and while there was still some hesitation Rick felt better than he had in weeks. He sneaked one hand into Daryl's jacket, and even through the shirt he could feel the tautness of his muscles. Rick could tell he was getting hard.

He hadn't been with a man since before he and Lori got together. He'd never considered the flings with college buddies and casual acquaintances serious, but he had enjoyed the sex. Lori had not always been very interested in sex, especially after they'd had Carl. Rick sometimes felt tempted to find his thrills elsewhere, but he'd been true to his wedding vows and hadn't broken them with anyone.

Daryl responded hungrily to Rick's touch now. He pressed close, pushing Rick against the wall. A second later Rick could feel their groins touching and felt the other man's erection through the fabric. He groaned with longing. Daryl pulled away from the kiss and looked at Rick. His naturally slanted eyes had narrowed further, but Rick could see his own longing reflected there.

Then Daryl brought his face close to Rick. "I want you to fuck me until I scream," he whispered. Rick might have given him what he wanted right there in the shadows between the buildings, but at that moment the taxi arrived.

In the taxi Daryl sat very close to Rick. After Rick had given the driver the address they didn't speak, but Daryl's hand sneakily crept onto Rick's crotch. Rick considered moving away from the touch, uncomfortably aware how this would look to anyone who recognized him. But it was just them in the taxi, and he was sure the driver neither knew him nor cared what he did. Besides, the sensation of the other man's hand on his erection felt more than nice.

The drive was short. Rick had picked a nondescript motel along one of the lesser highways leading into Atlanta. It was inexpensive and anonymous, but reasonably comfortable. Rick had stayed there once when in Atlanta during a court trial. And it had one other big advantage.

Rick paid the driver and when they got out of the car he said to Daryl, "You stay out here. I'll go and ask for one of the rooms over there." He motioned towards a small cluster of detached courtyard rooms.

Daryl gave him a strange look, and Rick thought he knew what the man was thinking. He didn't say anything else, just walked over to the manager's office.

He felt slightly guilty. He had chosen this place because he knew they'd be able to get a room without anyone realizing they were together. Rick didn't feel like taking the risk of being remembered. He had enough problems as it was.

The desk clerk hardly looked up as he took Rick's credit card and booked the transaction. He handed over the key and pointed out the unit where the room was located. There were no other people present in the office and Rick was again grateful for the obscurity of a big city.

When he came outside again Daryl was waiting in the shadow of the courtyard unit. He looked a little forlorn and Rick felt another surge of guilt. He briefly considered explaining himself but decided not to. Instead he stepped up very close to the other man and placed one finger under his chin, tilting Daryl's face up. Then he kissed him, first gently, then with increasing passion. Here in the deserted car park, hidden in the gloom of the building Rick reckoned they were pretty safe from being observed.

Daryl responded to the kiss hesitantly at first, and Rick thought he might pull away, maybe even leave. But as the moment stretched on he became more invested and pressed against Rick.

Rick placed his hand around the back of Daryl's neck, and the other man half moaned, half sighed against Rick's lips at the touch. Rick remembered how he would sometimes hold Lori like this, but pushed the thought away with determination.

After another minute or so Rick broke away. "Let's get inside," he murmured. He glanced at the doors of the ground floor rooms and spotted the number that corresponded to the key he was holding.

He took Daryl's hand and pulled him towards the door. Rick felt a strong urgency now to get into the room and get Daryl out of his clothes. His erection had abated during the transaction with the clerk but had swelled again while kissing Daryl, and it was straining almost painfully against its confines now.

Rick fumbled with the key in the lock one-handed because he didn't want to let go of Daryl. That earned him a chuckle from the other man. Rick looked around.

"What?" In response Daryl leaned in for a quick kiss.

"Get that door open. I'm about to burst, I want you so much."

Rick complied, letting go briefly of Daryl and the door swung open. He half turned again, but didn't get the chance to say or do anything else because Daryl crowded in on him, pushing Rick through the door while simultaneously managing to stay pressed against him. Once inside the room Daryl swung the door shut without looking.

With the door closed it was almost pitch black inside, but for the moment neither of them cared. They continued to kiss, hands starting to grope for purchase on fabric. Rick managed to unbutton the other man's pants first, and for good measure placed his hand on Daryl's bulge. He was rewarded with a groan and a more frantic pair of hands on his own pants.

Rick started unbuttoning his own shirt, along with Daryl's. He slid his hands into the other man's shirt and was about to slide them up his back, when Daryl suddenly froze and pulled away.

"No," he panted, and brought Rick's hands back to the front. Rick couldn't see Daryl's face in the darkness, but he could feel the man's heartbeat under his fingers. It had just picked up, and Rick didn't think that had only to do with what they were doing to each other. He made a mental note to accept that particular quirk for now, but stowed it away for analysis later.

Daryl had finally managed to undo Rick's belt and fly. Rick realized they had reached a point at which the darkness was becoming an issue. For one thing, he couldn't see the bed, and he had the strong urge to get Daryl onto it as soon as possible. He pulled Daryl with him as he stepped back and felt on the wall by the door until he had found the light switch. He flicked the ceiling lights on.

For a moment they were both squinting, but then Rick's attention was entirely consumed with the sight before him. Daryl stood only two feet or so away, hair disheveled, shirt open and untucked. Rick's eyes wandered down the broad chest, the taut stomach and onto the main prize. Daryl's pants were undone and had started to slide down, and there was now only the fabric of his boxers between Rick's gaze and what looked like a sizeable erection.

Rick looked up and grinned at Daryl, whose eyes seemed to have taken a similar route down his body. He didn't hesitate any longer. He pushed Daryl backwards by the shoulders until his calves hit the bed. Daryl let Rick take the lead and looked at him now for instructions.

"Get onto the bed."

Daryl complied. He slowly scooted up the mattress until he was lying prone on his back. Rick just looked at him for a moment. With his shirt open and his pants undone Daryl looked both vulnerable and incredibly hot. Rick climbed onto the bed after him and straddled him, pinning his hands over his head with one of his own. The other one was busy exploring Daryl's chest. Rick then leaned in and started sucking on Daryl's neck, using his teeth and tongue as he moved down his chest. By the time Rick got to his navel Daryl was whimpering.

"Fuck me, man." Daryl's voice was hoarse with desire. Rick was ready.

He moved down the bed again, taking Daryl's pants and boxers with him. Now Daryl was wearing only his open shirt, which Rick did not challenge. He climbed to his feet at the bottom of the bed and quickly stripped off all his own clothes. Daryl motioned to the pile of fabric on the floor.

"Back pocket. Condoms and slick."

Rick found the items in Daryl's jeans pocket. He was now fully hard and as he climbed back onto the bed he could tell that Daryl was looking at his erection from under his half-closed lids. Rick was pleased to see a smile on the other man's face.

He quickly put on the condom, then tilted Daryl's legs at an angle. He ripped open the single pack of slick and coated three fingers of his right hand. When he reached down and placed the first finger against Daryl's opening the other man shuddered. He shifted on the bed to allow Rick better access and Rick did not lose any time. He slid one finger slowly into Daryl, marveling at the warm tightness.

Rick had never realized it until then how much he had missed being with another man. Sex with Lori had been pleasurable for the most part, but she was soft and pliable, and Rick would have liked some tightness and edge now and then.

He didn't plan to be rough to Daryl; for this first encounter he was happy to take it slow and gentle. He was briefly amazed at himself for even thinking about this as a first, as if it was a given that there would be other times.

Daryl had accommodated Rick's finger quickly, so Rick added a second one now, moving further in. Daryl moaned again. He was breathing heavily now, and Rick could feel his own pulse quicken.

"Rick, 'm not gonna last. Need to feel you in me, now."

Daryl's voice was pleading, and Rick felt turned on even more. His cock twitched, and he withdrew his fingers. Daryl made a small noise of despair, but Rick only coated himself in slick and then positioned himself between Daryl's legs. He placed a hand on each side of Daryl on the mattress and brought his body forward until he hovered over Daryl.

He was careful to have a perfect view of the other man's face. He wanted to see his expression when he entered him. When he placed his erection against Daryl's entrance there was another sharp intake of breath. Daryl's hand came up and tangled in Rick's hair. He shifted again, to offer the best possible access for Rick, and Rick hesitated no longer.

Rick pushed into Daryl slowly, keeping his eyes locked with the other man. Daryl's gaze flickered as Rick moved himself into position slowly, and he bit his lower lip, moaning involuntarily. Rick pressed on, feeling the tightness and warmth enclose his cock.

Daryl's hand in his hair tightened, and Rick stopped. The other man opened his eyes which had fallen almost closed.

"Don't stop." The words were barely a whisper.

"Am I hurting you?"

Daryl shook his head. "No. Just keep goin'."

So Rick did. He slid in all the way as Daryl writhed under him a little, shifting to accommodate. Rick started moving back and forth when he realized the effect this was having on Daryl. He tried to find the angle that would ensure best access to the other man's prostate, and he didn't have to try very long. Seeing the arousal on Daryl's face almost pushed Rick over the edge.

"God, Rick. I'm not going to…" The rest was lost in a groan. Rick shifted his weight on one hand and took Daryl's cock into the other. He only got to give him a few strokes when Daryl's back arched and he cried out. Rick could feel Daryl tighten on him, and next moment he could feel the warm cum all over his hand.

Rick only lasted a moment longer. He gave himself over to the ecstasy that enveloped him. He had to let go of Daryl to steady himself with both hands again and not slump over. He savored his own orgasm until the last spasms of pleasure subsided.

He still didn't want to collapse on top of Daryl, so when Rick slid out he propped himself up on one side next to the other man. Rick realized wryly that this was automatic behavior for him because Lori had hated being smothered under him after he came. Rick had a feeling that Daryl actually wouldn't have minded, but this vantage point was nice, too.

Daryl's eyes were still closed. His cheeks were flushed and he looked utterly relaxed. This way he also looked very young, and Rick's eyes fell on the shirt the other man was still wearing. He wondered what all of this was about.

Finally Daryl stirred. He looked over to Rick and the smile that spread over the other man's face warmed Rick's heart. It had been a long time since anyone had looked this happy to be with him.

They had cleaned up and then had actually snuggled up in bed. Rick wasn't sure how this had happened, but it felt the most natural thing to do. Daryl had slipped outside in just his shirt and boxer shorts to smoke a quick cigarette, and when he came back he simply climbed into bed where Rick had propped himself up against the headboard, the television turned to the news channel. Daryl ended up with Rick's arm around him and his head on Rick's chest, and Rick had no idea who had initiated this.

They watched the news in silence for a little while, seemingly content to savor what had just occurred. Daryl was the one who finally broke the silence.

"Can I ask you something? It's not for me, but you're a cop, so…"

Rick turned the TV to silent. "Go ahead."

"I have this friend, Carol. Her husband is a… he's buddies with Merle. And he's not very, uh, nice to her. The husband, I mean." Daryl glanced up at Rick. "D'you think, if I told your lot, the local cops, I mean, they'd go and help?"

Rick looked down at Daryl. "Is the husband violent, does he hit her?"

Daryl looked away and nodded. "And their little girl."

Rick sighed. "It's not so easy as that. Best thing would be if she called the police herself, next time the husband acts up again. If a third party calls there needs to be quite a bit of evidence for the police to take action. Has this been going on long?"

"I think so." Daryl sounded distressed. "I've told her she needs to get away, but she won't listen. I hate not being able to help!"

"I'm sorry about your friend." Rick said, and tightened his arm around Daryl. He wasn't exactly surprised that the man was kind and felt upset about his friend's situation, but he wondered at the layers of what seemed to be a complex personality. Impulsively Rick pressed a kiss on the top of the tousled blond head. As he looked across to the bedside table his glance fell onto the clock sitting there. It was nearly three in the morning.

"We really need to get some sleep. I've got a lot to do tomorrow."

They slept late the next morning. Rick didn't particularly mind, but he was aware that his new place was still a right mess and if he wanted to get anything done before his next shift that evening he had to get back.

He was also starting to feel uneasy. He didn't exactly regret what he'd allowed himself to get into, but the longer he thought about the potential consequences the more uneasy he got. Rick was putting on his shoes when Daryl came out of the bathroom, clad in a towel and shrugging back into his shirt.

Something had been bugging Rick, and in his growing discomfort he decided he could at least sort this out. He straightened up.

"Daryl, what is it you do for a living, exactly?" Rick's intuition had been telling him that it couldn't be entirely legal, or Daryl wouldn't have been so circumspect the night before. Rick's suspicions were strengthened when Daryl looked at him with something like panic now.

"Tol' you, I work fer myself." His redneck lilt was more pronounced than ever.

"Yes, but what do you do?" Rick persisted.

Daryl looked away, and then at the floor. "I sell myself for sex."

Rick was sure he couldn't have heard this right. He had expected more half-truths, or lies, and certainly not this. There was a burning feeling to his stomach, and if he was honest with himself it wasn't just the cop in him that felt shocked.

Daryl seemed to read some of what was going through Rick's mind. "This here," He said quickly and gestured at the room, at Rick, "wasn't for business. I'm not expecting you to…"

Rick got up from the bed. "Well, I certainly hope not, because I would have to arrest you otherwise."

When he saw the stricken look on Daryl's face he felt the now familiar warmth for the man return, and was almost sorry he had brought this up. Daryl had answered honestly, which, Rick reminded himself, was not a small token of trust, considering Rick's job.

"Look, I am surprised, is all. Don't tell me any more, or I will not be able to overlook this."

Daryl looked slightly less anxious, but his eyes still darted around nervously. "I meant to tell you, man," he said quietly. "Never seemed the right moment. Didn't want ya to ditch me." He sounded genuinely distressed now.

Rick sighed. "Look, it's no big deal." He indicated Daryl's partial state of dress. "Let's get out of here, ok? I really gotta get back."

He called a taxi on his cell while Daryl put the rest of his clothes back on. They didn't speak much on the journey back to Atlanta, and there was no hint of the intimacy of the previous night. They parted company in front of the bar they had met at.

Only when he got into his car did Rick realize that they had not exchanged phone numbers.