Thanks for the positive response. Sorry this one took a bit to get back to, but it's been hard to write lately even though I know what I want to write.
...
"Mind if I watch? I brought cookies."
Daryl lifted his head out from between the motor and the front wheel of the bike. He snorted at the gesture of cookies. "Bribing me now?"
Aaron smiled and tossed the pack of stale cookies at Daryl so that it smacked against his chest. "Maybe. Is it working?"
Daryl shrugged as he used his teeth to tear open the packet, highly aware of the fact that Aaron was watching him. He took a bite of the cookie and although it tasted like a rendition of cardboard - it was better than nothing. "I guess. No one's ever brought me cookies before."
"Never?" Aaron's expression was horrified. "God, you poor soul."
The laugh that came barreling free of Daryl's chest surprised them both. "Ain't like I never had cookies. Pretty sure I tasted them once." He slid back down to the floor to hide his smile.
"Are you serious right now?"
Daryl laughed silently and Aaron swatted at his chest as he saw it move. "That's horrible. I thought you were serious."
"An' if I was?"
"Then I guess I was going to be finding a shit ton of cookies for you to eat," Aaron supplied. "Everyone should have cookies."
Eyebrows arching, Daryl rose up on his elbows only to find Aaron giving him a teasing smile. He had been worried there for a minute. He didn't want anyone feeling bad for him. Granted, he hadn't had the best life, but it wasn't the worst one either and overall he was happy with how he had turned out. He shook his head at himself as he realized he had just been sitting there discussing cookies with someone.
"Pft. Stop," Daryl grumbled, but his voice held no trace of menace that he was known for. "Don't need no one feeling sorry for me."
Aaron's expression sobered immediately, "Of course not. I wasn't...I mean. I'm just trying to get to know you and I'm really bad at it."
Daryl studied him cautiously, "Why?"
"Why?"
"Yeah. Why get to know me? Why you care so much?" He couldn't help the suspicion from seeping into his voice, but he wanted to know why. What difference did it make to get to know someone when they were likely to die any time?
"It's called compassion for others. The world around us may be dying, but that doesn't mean that everything in it has to. You just look like you could use a friend. Is that a crime?"
Well hell, when the guy put it like that...Daryl breathed in deeply and thought about his words. "Guess not. You just surprise me is all. I keep tryin' to figure you out, but I can't."
Aaron smiled, "Ditto."
...
It wasn't unusual for Aaron's mind to be a constant whir of activity when he tried to sleep at night, but as he lay next to Eric's sleeping form that same night his mind was only on one thing: Daryl Dixon. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't seem to shake thoughts of the other man. It confused him because up until now he had thought himself in love with Eric. Well...as much in love as one could be when your options were so severely limited by the lack of gay men left in the world.
He loved Eric more than anyone else in this world, but lately he had been missing something. The spark that he had always craved just wasn't there anymore. They hadn't even made love in weeks and that in itself was unusual. They had chalked it up to Eric being sick and then being busy with recruiting the others, but deep down Aaron knew that wasn't it. The chemistry just wasn't there like before.
When he had thought he had lost Eric it had devastated him. For so long it had just been the two of them and the thought of losing Eric had left a bad taste in his mouth. It was the fear of losing the one person he had left in this world that had seized him with a desperation that couldn't be ignored. When they had kissed it had reminded him of all they had been through together and for a moment things had seemed just like old times.
But then there was Daryl Dixon and damn if he didn't ignite something stronger in the pit of Aaron's stomach. All gruff on the exterior, Daryl had seemed unapproachable, but the more Aaron got to know him the more he uncovered. For instance, he wasn't nearly as gruff as the image that he projected. He was also an excellent judge of character...something that Aaron really admired. Underneath his rough layers, there was a man of honor.
He knew he was treading on dangerous ground by being around Daryl so much while he was working on the bike, but he couldn't seem to help himself. He closed his eyes and saw him working on the bike. His shirt was soaked with sweat, sticking to his skin when he moved. Grease coated his fingers and streaked down one arm while he had been working.
Aaron squeezed his eyes shut tight, but the images kept coming all while Eric still snored lightly next to him. His cock was hard and seeking relief, but he didn't dare try to jerk off in bed. The last thing he wanted was to wake up Eric and have him ask questions.
In his mind he saw Daryl lift up the hem of his shirt and wipe at something on his face. The action revealed smooth skin underneath that Aaron wanted to run his tongue over and he bit down on it as he continued his fantasy.
"Somethin' you wanna tell me?"
Aaron licked his lips as he regarded the way that Daryl walked towards him, his eyes intensely focused on him. It was unnerving to say the least.
"No. Why do you ask?" He surreptitiously took a step backward.
"You been in here every day watchin' me...I can tell there's somethin' on your mind. I've been waiting on you to bring it up, but you never do."
Was he that transparent? Aaron swallowed nervously. He wasn't ready to tell Daryl that he got hard just thinking about him. "I think that maybe I need to leave," he suggested.
"No, what you need is something to shut you up," Daryl countered.
Aaron's head jerked up sharply at Daryl's words. "What are you saying?"
His throat ran dry as Daryl reached behind him to tug his shirt up and over his head revealing a broad muscled chest that Aaron wanted to put his mouth all over. His pulse began to pound within as his heart skipped a beat. Daryl sauntered over to him slowly, backing him into a corner so that he had nowhere else to go.
"This is going to happen, Aaron."
"Daryl-"
Quicker than he would have thought possible, Daryl pressed himself against him, one hand planted firmly over his mouth to stop his protests. He leaned in close, his mouth hovering near Aaron's chin.
"Tell me you want me." Daryl slowly removed his hand.
"Yes. I want you so fucking bad," Aaron whispered.
And then Daryl smiled and Aaron was done for. Anything that he asked Aaron would more than gladly give. He hadn't been this turned on in longer than he cared to remember. Just one look and a few whispered words were making him want to toss everything out of the window and let this strange man pound him into oblivion.
Daryl dipped his head and ran the tip of his tongue along Aaron's collarbone, tracing the skin. Aaron's head fell backwards as a whimper escaped his mouth. His hand palmed the crotch of Aaron's jeans, cupping him snugly and causing his cock to spring closer to the seams.
"Is this what you wanted? This what you been waitin' on?" Daryl's rough voice washed over him.
"Yes, God yes...please. Fuck me. I need it." He doubted that he could wait a moment longer. He needed to feel Daryl inside of him and that was unusual in itself considering he always topped Eric. But not with Daryl...with Daryl he needed to be on the bottom so that he could feel. He wanted to feel everything and he doubted that Daryl would ever bottom for him anyway.
"You're so fucking hard for me," Daryl observed as his fingers began to work the buttons of Aaron's jeans.
Aaron held his breath as Daryl unzipped his jeans and he arched his hips, ready for Daryl to take him -
"Aaron?"
His eyes flew open and he turned his head to find Eric staring at him sleepily. He shifted beneath the blanket so that his erection wouldn't be prominent and wondered why Eric was awake at this time of the night when he was usually sound asleep.
"Yeah?"
"You okay? You were making noises."
No...he wasn't okay. He had been fantasizing about someone...someone that wasn't Eric. What was wrong with him? He had a perfectly good man laying right there next to him yet he was thinking about someone else. He felt awful.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Go back to sleep," Aaron assured him, but Eric was already halfway there before he could even finish his sentence. With a deep sigh, Aaron rolled over in the bed, fantasy over. He had lied to Eric. He wasn't fine...not at all.
...