You and I - Chapter 3
Maybe I'm taking this story too fast. Maybe not. It's meant to be short, so we gotta keep things movin' along.
Oh, and I know Daryl is kinda OC. Yeah... that happens. Oh, and you might notice that Daryl is a little... well... stupid in this chapter. Meaning he doesn't ask questions when he probably should and that's because he's distracted by her and he doesn't think to ask them. Like about the scars - all he thinks about his her and how beautiful and incredible she is, and how strong she is. He doesn't think to ask how she got them.
Just a little explanation for later.
I don't own The Walking Dead.
3
Days went by and Carol slowly began to fall into the brothers' daily routine. However, ever since the incident in his bedroom, Daryl had been sticking clear of the silver-haired woman. He feared that if he ever found himself alone with her… well he didn't really know what would happen, and he wasn't eager to find out.
Almost a week had gone by, and Daryl had almost perfected avoiding her. He had Merle show her the ropes, or would at least standby to make sure his brother wasn't being a dick to her. Other than those rare times, he was almost never around her. He was outside helping Merle with the electric sign, polishing bar tables, fixing bar tables, doing paperwork, paying bills, ordering new alcohol shipments, cleaning the apartment—yes, he spent time in the apartment just to get away from her—anything he could think of to stay away.
However, one night, she cornered him.
It was approximately nine days after she'd arrived, and the bar had just closed for the day. Daryl was in his office, finishing up the last of his paperwork when Carol came in. He looked up and immediately froze. The beautiful woman watched him from the doorway for a while, and then stepped inside. To Daryl's dismay, she shut the door behind her.
"I want to know what your problem is," she demanded.
"Huh?" Daryl hated how he got so tongue-tied around her. He could hardly ever come up with a good answer to her questions—just a dumbfounded "huh" most of the time. She probably thinks I'm slow, or somethin'.
"Why are you avoiding me? Ever since I moved in, you've been staying as far away from me as you can, and I wanna know why!" Carol snapped. Daryl was surprised to see pain, as well as anger in her eyes. "You invited me to stay and you aren't even talking to me anymore! I thought we were friends Daryl—Merle has been more talkative with me than you have, and he hates me! So tell me why you seem to hate me too all of a sudden. What did I do?"
Daryl looked down. He had no idea that avoiding her would affect her like this. She seemed genuinely hurt and upset, and it made his chest ache again. The redneck sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Carol, I didn't mean for ya ta think that I don't like ya… I do like ya… more than I probably should." He stopped, and risked a glance up at her.
Carol was staring at him with confused and sad eyes. He saw tears glistening in them, and in that moment, he had never felt more like a total asshole. He stood up from his desk and went to her. As he neared her, Carol avoided his eyes and stared at the floor. Daryl stopped when he was less than a foot away and took her hands in his. "That's why I was avoiding you… I didn't know how to act around ya is all… I do like ya Carol," he assured her. "I don't think I could ever have it in me ta hate ya. And tha only thing ya did was be so goddamn beautiful."
She brought her eyes back up to his. A tear trickled down her cheek, but Daryl wiped it away with his thumb. His hand lingered there, cupping her cheek. This was the first time he had ever really touched her. Her skin was soft, and pliant under his palm. He ran his thumb across the plains of her cheek, cherishing the feeling of finally being able to touch this perfect woman. She let out a shaky breath and breathed, "Daryl…"
His other hand went to her waist, and gently pulled her closer. When her body touched his, he let out his own quivering exhale. She was small, firm, and fragile at the same time. His arm curled around the small of her back, holding her close.
Carol met his eyes, her own sparkling with an emotion that was alien to him. Without warning, their lips met in a hungry union. Daryl didn't remember leaning in to kiss her, but he must have, for his lip moved just as passionately as hers, matching her. His one hand left her face, and snaked around her back, pulling her closer still. Carol's arms locked around his neck, and her fingers began to run though and pull on his hair.
Daryl groaned into her mouth, and felt her tongue prod his lips. He met hers with his, and they began an intricate dance that had existed since the dawn of time. Carol's hands abandoned his hair, and slid down his chest, all the way to the waistline of his pants. They paused there, asking a silent question. Daryl broke the kiss and pulled back from her so he could see her face. She stared up at him, her eyes bright and wild with desire. They were both panting, both unable to speak, and yet they seemed to understand what the other wanted.
He pulled his t-shirt over his hand and tossed it into a nearby corner. Carol didn't speak, but removed her own shirt as well. Daryl's hands trembled as he cupped her breasts through her bra. Carol let out a small moan, which only made Daryl's pants feel tighter than ever before. He ghosted his fingers across her exposed skin, still not peeking below the fabric. Carol seemed to get fed up with his gentle caresses and unhooked her bra in the back. Daryl stared as the straps slipped from her shoulders, and the lingerie went floating to the floor.
Carol took his hands and pulled them to her chest, urging him to continue what he had been before. Daryl did so, cupping her breasts softly. He experimentally ran a thumb over one of her nipples. Her body shuddered, and Carol let out a small, breathy grunt. Daryl watched with fascination and her nipple pebbled under his ministrations. He continued to play with it, running it between his thumb and forefinger softly. Occasionally, he gave it a gentle squeeze, which earned another sound of pleasure from Carol.
Her hands ran along the waist of his jeans, pausing at the button. After a moment's hesitation, she undid it. Daryl immediately stopped what he was doing. He had never done anything like this before in all his life. The hunter remained as still as a statue as Carol pulled down the zipper. He let out a small grunt of relief as his erection was slightly freed—no longer having to strain against the tight fabric of his pants. Carol slowly pulled them off his hips and let them slide the rest of the way to the floor.
She cupped him through his pants, causing him to suck in a painful breath. His cock twitched beneath the fabric of his boxers. Carol smiled in response. The next thing Daryl knew, his boxers had joined his pants on the floor and he was fully naked before her. Carol didn't meet his gaze, but stared at his erection, studying him. He gulped, nervous.
Carol looked away suddenly, and became almost withdrawn. She took a step back and unbuttoned her own pants, then paused. She looked up at him, her eyes wary, and almost shy. "There's… something I should tell you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Daryl was too far gone in his lust to be suspicious. "Anything."
She looked down again, seeming frustrated. "I have… scars. On my legs, and… pelvis."
His eyes widened slightly. In his need for Carol, he'd forgotten about his own scars—the ones he'd gotten as a kid from his father. "Oh, that's fine," he told her. "I don't mind… I got 'em too." He turned around so she could see the devastation on his back. "My father was a mean son of a bitch," he said, turning back to her.
Carol watched him sadly. "I'm sorry that happened to you, Daryl."
"Ain't nothin' ta be sorry for."
She forced a smile before tugging her pants down. She wore a pair of black panties, that had matched her bra. Daryl could already see the faint lines on her thighs, and waist, just below her belly button. With a deep breath, Carol took off her panties. Her groin was covered in scars similar to those on her legs. It was as if someone had dumped scalding hot liquid onto her pelvis and thighs. He couldn't imagine how painful that would have been—how excruciating. Daryl didn't flinch. He didn't show any signs of disgust. He looked up and met her eyes. "Ta go through that—gotta be one a' tha toughest women I've ever met, Carol."
Suddenly, she was in his arms, hugging him close to her. "Thank you," she whispered in his ear, kissing his neck gently. "Thank you…"
She pulled away from him then and gave him a real, genuine smile. He smiled back and pressed his lips to hers. In that moment, Daryl was the happiest he'd ever been in his entire life.
They made love on the floor of the office. When they had finished, they got dressed and went up to Daryl's room. They got in bed together, and that was how Merle found them the next morning—wrapped in each other's arms in Daryl's cramped bedroom, fully clothed.
Instead of waking the lovebirds, Merle left them alone, although Daryl woke shortly after his brother had left the apartment. He laid there on the bed, staring at the ceiling, almost dazed. His mind simply couldn't process what had happened the previous night. He wasn't even sure what it was. Was it the start of something? Was it love, or was it just sex? Had it ever been anything but sex appeal? Was it a one-time thing? Was Carol going to leave him alone now that she'd slept with him?
He looked down at the beautiful lying in his arms. Daryl Dixon didn't know a damn thing about love, but he imagined that what he felt at that moment was the closest thing he would ever get to it. His heart swelled with affection for her; all he wanted to do was hold her there forever and keep her safe from anything that dared to try to hurt her.
Daryl pressed his lips to her forehead, and closed his eyes. It would be many years before he would ever get the courage to say the words aloud, but at that moment, he shouted it in his head: I love ya, Carol.
A/N: Sorry. No descriptive sex scene. I seem to have a problem writing those lately.
And... I'm editing this at 12:17 AM. Just 17 minutes late or else I would've been three for three as far as posting chapters goes.
Anyway. Review?