The response to this story has just been insane, so thank you all so much for your wonderful reviews and PMs; you are all awesome! Late again, I know; I did try to complete this for last night but your response has just been so incredible I was really nervous about ensuring this chapter was a good as I could make it.

Anyway, you asked for it, you got it, I hope you enjoy. Let Meth smut commence.

Chapter Three

As Merle teased her lips with his tongue, Beth allowed him entry with a moan of pleasure. The taste mixed with his own indefinable one was different this time… coffee, she thought, as she wound her arms around his neck and drew him deeper into the kiss. The feel was different too. Before, he had kissed her passionately, without caution, knowing she was already conquered. This kiss was more seductive; it teased, seeking a pleasurable surrender. Little did he know Beth had no intention of fighting anything that felt this wonderful.

The harsh scratch of his stubble against her cheek and chin acted as counterpoint to the liquid softness of his lips and tongue on hers. As she caressed his scalp, Beth was surprised to find that, although cropped short, the hair beneath her questing hands was soft, and possibly slightly curly. She wondered how Merle might look with a head of adorable cherub curls, and laughed to herself. No, that wasn't her Merle at all.

Merle gently eased Beth back onto the table, following her body with his. Beth had expected to feel slightly trapped with a man's weight pressing down on her, but Merle held most of it off her, and instead his large, warm bulk over her made her feel strangely safe and protected. She was further surprised when, instead of immediately reaching for her breasts as she expected, he reached into her hair and pulled out the band of her ponytail, smoothing the bright fall of gold across the institution grey of the surface.

However, Merle was no saint, and after a few more soft kisses she felt his hand sliding up her hip and under her vest and bra to caress her breast. His hand was warm and she loved the feel of his callouses dragging against her soft skin. His mouth trailed down to kiss the point of her jaw, before nuzzling under her chin and tasting the skin over her pulse point as he had done that night. Beth moaned his name tightly, and she felt his mouth move in a smirk against her.

"O taste an' see that tha Lord is good…" he murmured into her neck, before swirling his tongue deeply into the hollow of her throat. She couldn't help but arch up at the sensation, a gasp issuing from her, and Merle chuckled.

"Ain't that right, girlie? Ain't He good?" he whispered, sounding slightly bitter, but she couldn't speak while he was feathering kisses on her heated skin, along onto her fragile collar bone and then down… down further until he reached where her vest revealed the top of her breasts. His tongue darted out again and tasted the flesh between them in a long, slow lick. "Yeah, think tha's tha best case I know fer an ever-lovin' God; tha taste of a woman's tits..."

Beth was shocked and aroused at Merle's blasphemous comment, but she was too far gone in sensation to argue. Instead she clasped his head in her hands, pulling him up and kissing him more aggressively than she'd ever done; it worried her that she couldn't tell whether she was full of lust or anger or something else towards him, but as he swept his tongue over her full bottom lip, she found she didn't care. There was nothing but the drugging feel of his mouth, the heat of his body against hers and the steady throb of arousal that pulsed through her.

Merle began to tug up her vest awkwardly. Feeling slightly self-conscious even after all that had passed, she rather abruptly sat up a little to try and help him, crushing her breasts against the hard planes of his chest. The moment she did so, Beth was suddenly aware of how firm it was, how very different to her own soft body. Now when he pulled her top over her head, Beth pushed him up and shamelessly went to unbutton his shirt, not even giving him the chance to remove it completely before she was exploring him; palms rubbing firmly over the oiled silk feel of his muscular shoulders, fingers running through the crisp, curling hair on his chest. The musk smell was stronger and headier now, and in a moment of bold madness she leaned forward and ran her own tongue up high on his chest, enjoying the smooth salt-clean taste of his skin. Merle's head tipped back and he groaned deep in his throat, gripping her waist reflexively in a tight and painful hold.

"Ya learn fast, girlie," he rumbled unsteadily, and Beth felt a rush of adrenaline through her as she realised the power she had over him, the ability she had as a woman to give him such pleasure. It was an intoxicating feeling but, after she had seen the pain inside him, it wasn't in her to deny him. Carefully kissing down his chest quickly, before he could take back control, she took one of his nipples into the liquid heat of her mouth.

"Fuck!" he exploded, and even as Beth pulled away in surprise, she suddenly felt his hand at the back of her head, grabbing a handful of her hair and drawing her a little desperately back to his chest. Carefully she drew him back into her mouth and began to flicker her tongue over the flat nub gently, while her other hand cautiously toyed with its twin. His hand stayed in her hair, threading his fingers rhythmically through the silken weight and gently massaging the back of her skull.

"Shit girlie… yesss…" he hissed, as she sucked a little at the nub, and then his hand had dropped to her arm and he was pulling her up into another kiss. This time she gently slipped her hand around his waist and under his shirt, feeling the raised tissue of old scars she knew she'd find there.

Merle immediately stiffened but she tightened her arms around him, not stopping her assault on his mouth as she pressed herself fully against him, suddenly aware of the hard bulge that now pushed insistently into her stomach. It seemed to be a tipping point for him, as once he relaxed and she loosened her grip, he quickly reached behind her to unfasten her bra. Once loose he ran the pads of his fingers up her spine, stroking over the uncovered flesh, then down again to the top of her jeans, where they traced maddeningly light circles over her sensitised skin.

"Merle…" she whimpered, burying her face between his neck and the collar of his shirt, distractedly noticing the smell of man and sweat was now mixed with gun oil and the harsh soap Carol had to use for their clothes. Beth quivered when he stopped and gently tugged one bra strap down her arm, following its progress with light nibbles of his teeth. Beth giggled at the slightly ticklish sensation, and Merle hummed one of his low laughs at her response. In playful revenge, she ran her own teeth over the tendon between his neck and shoulder, biting lightly then soothing the nips with open mouthed kisses, causing him to jerk his hips a little against her. She smiled against his broad shoulder.

He tasted good.

Meanwhile, Merle had worked off her bra and, supporting her with his bad arm, he tilted her back slightly and began to feast hungrily on her breasts. Having first followed the bottom curve of each with his tongue, his mouth spiraled inwards slowly. The contrast of his hot mouth and the cool air on her damp skin left her mewling desperately until he finally took her aching nipple in his mouth, but Merle wasn't done. He began just lightly grazing the bud between his teeth then sucking the point hard, the concentrated pleasure so close to pain Beth could do nothing but moan Merle's name in a pleading litany; then without warning his mouth covered her small breast, taking as much as he could of the small pale globe into his mouth while lapping and suckling sweetly. Beth's mind exploded in exquisite pleasure; hardly able to think, she gave a wordless cry, shuddering in near orgasm.

Merle moved back up and brushed her face with soft kisses, clearly thinking to nurse her through the apparent overload of her senses, while Beth, dazed and barely conscious of what she was doing, hooked a casual leg around him and ran it along his side, pulling him slightly down into her hips.

Encouraged by her action, Merle pushed his eager hips into hers; fisting her hair in his hand, he took her mouth in a passionate kiss. When she moaned in surprise at his more aggressive approach, he was encouraged to sink more of his weight onto her as the kiss became more demanding, stealing her breath away.

Beth tensed when his weight came down over her, mainly because the feel was so foreign to her and her thoughts so fogged by desire that she was momentarily bewildered as to what to do. It was only when the sharp zipper of his jeans was pressed painfully into her by his rapidly growing erection that she gave a small cry of pain. Merle stopped instantly and looked down at her, and Beth was startled at how his familiar blue eyes were nearly black with lust, his normally smirking face taut and severe with desire. He looked so different…

Merle's face began to change, a look of dawning horror appearing as he took in her tense body and wide eyes. Beth knew where this was heading, even as he stood up and turned away, his fist clenched and tension visible through his whole body.

"I… I shouldn't 've…" he choked out, before adding, "Shit… fuck… FUCK!" His booted foot connected with a mop and bucket left by the prisoners, and it went flying across the room.

"Merle…" Beth tried softly.

"I shouldn't have done it, Beth. I wasn't… fuck!" Something else went flying, Beth didn't see what. "I wasn't thinkin'." He half turned back to her, seemed to remember that she was completely naked from the waist up, and snapped his head away again. "I wan' cha ta know, I never… I never looked at ya before tha' night, Beth. Not like this. Now… shit, I used ta beat up guys like me in prison."

"Merle, I'm a consenting adult..."

"Fuck, Beth, ya jus' a kid."

"You and I both know I'm not."

"Ya too young… or I'm too old. I don't fuckin' know." He scrubbed at his face with his hand and turned away. "Ya looked so… I couldn't…" He sighed, and tried again. "I ain't tha right man fer this job, Beth. I ain't…," he paused, searching for the right word, "I ain't a tender man… an' tha's wha' you want fer ya first."

Beth stared hard at him for moment, then stood up and walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around him and whispering into his ear. "I meant everything I said to my father, Merle. Tell me, how many of those scars on your back did you take so Daryl didn't have to? I know exactly what you are Merle… what you can be… and I don't want anyone else."

"Beth, don't ask me ta be a worse man than I am," interrupted Merle, glancing back at her.

Beth smiled a little. "Only you would think caring about someone would make you a worse person."

"Damn girlie, I wish I knew what ya really wanted from me…" he sighed.

"What do I really want from you?" She repeated softly, slipping round to his front and placing butterfly soft kisses on his grim mouth and jaw. "I want to be kind to you, Merle. I think you need someone to be kind to you… so very badly. I want it to be me…this world is hard enough with others, but I can't bear to think of you never having someone care about you… to believe in you, to want something better for you. Let it be me, Merle, please..."

"Kind," he said, as though the word was alien to him. "Mebbe… but I don't like a martyr any more than a virgin sacrifice," he whispered, though he pulled her closer, leaning his head into her touch.

Beth grinned. "After what we just did, I can hardly consider myself a martyr." Merle grunted a little, then after a few seconds he gave a resigned sigh.

"Guess I ain't strong enough not ta want this. If ya fixed on it, we'll try, though i's prob'ly a mistake. An' I ain't gonna fuck ya," he said heavily. Beth opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off. "No. Not yet. Ya jus' met me, darlin', an' I ain't gonna rush ya."

"We could all be dead tomorrow," Beth pointed out fairly.

"Mebbe, but if I'm gonna go, I wanna go wit' a clear conscience when it comes ta me an' ya. 'Labour ta keep alive in yer breast that lil' spark a celestial fire, called conscience."

Beth wrinkled her nose in thought, before deciding, "That's not from the Bible." Merle grinned.

"George Washington, girlie; tha original George Dubya. Don't they teach ya kids anythin' in school these days?"

She returned his grin, but said slightly sadly, "Not lately." She wasn't sure how to get back into the moment, so lowering her eyes she began to play with the curls on his chest, twisting them around her finger before allowing them to spring back.

"Havin' fun, are ya?" Merle sounded amused, but she couldn't deny it.

"Yes. Jimmy didn't have any, not really. Just this little patch of down… right here," and she stroked her hand down between his pecs. She was secretly delighted when his muscles twitched at her touch.

"Yeah, well, don't think no more 'bout Jimmy. Ya wit' a real man now …"

"I know," she replied, slipping her arms around his neck again. "Please, don't make me wait, it's so much better when you do it…" she trailed off as Merle's breathing hitched, and she realised what she'd given away.

"Ya… ya touched yerself, angel?" he rasped unevenly, eyes wide and fixed on her face.

"Yes…" she said quietly, embarrassed.

His voice was low and throbbed strangely. "Show me where, beautiful, show me how…" but it was too intense and she couldn't, burying her face in his neck instead.

"Shhh, darlin', i's okay, i's alright…" he whispered as he caressed her back. But Beth had heard the need in his voice, and she wanted to please him, to reward his willingness to give whatever they were a chance. Lifting her mouth to his ear, so he couldn't see her blushing furiously, she spoke haltingly.

"I… I did touch myself… touched my breasts…my nipples… stroked my… stroked my pussy," she forced out. Beth could feel him listening intently, his breathing all but non-existent, so she continued a little more confidently. "Even that same night, when I still had… I had your scent on me. I needed it so bad..." She paused when she thought he groaned a little, but when he said nothing she spoke again.

"I couldn't stop thinking about you. I got so… so wet when I thought about what happened… every night, I had to touch myself. But it wasn't… it didn't feel as good. Not like when it was you, Merle. I wanted it to be you touching me. I needed to feel you so much…"

Merle shuddered out a breath, pressing his face into her hair before inhaling deeply. "Fuck, baby, I wish I could'a been there, seen ya jus' one a them nights. Bet ya looked fuckin' incredible, all flushed and wantin'." Beth moaned at the image of him watching her come by her own hand, and Merle took his cue. "Take them jeans off," he whispered in her ear, "Take 'em off an' get on tha table."

Beth stepped away from him and complied, although in moving away from his warm chest her breasts were exposed to the cool air, and she could feel his burning gaze on them as her nipples visibly peaked. Eventually she sat on the table, wearing only her simple cotton panties in baby pink.

Merle came forward, and this time when she saw his darkened eyes and the tension in his face, she embraced it as the compliment it was. He slid a rough hand up her thigh, and she parted her legs, allowing him to stand between them. He pulled her forward to the edge and kissed her, and this time as she pressed against him she wriggled slightly, seeking the added stimulation of rubbing her aching breasts against his coarse curls.

He pushed her back and began a steady descent down her body with his mouth, while one hand rolled her nipple until she wanted to scream at him to grind between her legs again and relieve the pressure. Finally he reached her navel, where he flickered his tongue against the ticklish skin. Beth half laughed half moaned, before gasping, "Merle… stop teasing…"

Merle smirked and placed firm kiss above the waistband of her panties, before grabbing them with his hand on one side and his teeth on the other and pulling them slowly down her legs. She lifted them to make it easier, and once the panties were gone and shoved roughly into Merle's pocket, he slid his head between her ankles. She was a little surprised at first, but when he turned his head to nibble and suck on the thin skin of one of them, she jerked so hard she nearly kicked him in the head.

"Damn! Careful, girlie! Rough stuff is fer anotha time," he smirked, clearly feeling rather smug at her reaction. She managed to control herself as he worked his way up the inside of her legs, switching between wet opened mouthed kisses that cooled on her skin in the air, to scraping his stubbled chin over her tender flesh, leaving it to burn in his wake. By the time he reached her pussy, she was soaked.

He buried his nose in the thatch of soft curls above her weeping slit, rubbing his face into her. "Jesus, ya smell fuckin' gorgeous." Slipping down to his knees, he gently pulled open her lips with one hand. "Fuck, girlie, if ya could only see how beautiful ya look; all pretty an' pink an' glistenin' fer me." He placed a delicate kiss high on the inside of her thigh before sliding his tongue into her. Beth cried out as he traced the outer edges of her lips, tasting her fluids. "Shh, darlin', quiet now. Mmm… been thinkin' 'bout whether I'd ever get a taste of ya again. Such a sweet lil' pussy, so pretty…" he whispered to it before slipping his tongue into her, this time sliding the tip into her entrance and thrusting inside rapidly. Beth all but screamed, and to her disappointment Merle stopped. He stood and leaned over her, stroking her face and looking pleased with himself.

"Know i't ain't easy with ol'Merle at tha wheel, but ya gonna have ta keep it down, sweetness. Can't be callin' attention ta us."

"But it feels…" Beth couldn't even begin to articulate how good it felt, and simply looked at Merle, wordlessly pleading. Merle looked conflicted, his eyes flicking back to the door, before a look of mischief came over his face. He leaned down further, his face hovering directly over hers.

"Do ya trust me, girlie?" he asked, eyes suddenly becoming serious as he looked for the truth in hers. He needn't have worried.

"Yes, I trust you," answered Beth with perfect honesty. The smirk came back in force and he planted a quick hard kiss on her lips.

"Then close yer eyes an' open wide…"

Beth thought she could guess where this was going, so she was surprised when she suddenly felt fabric pushed into her mouth. Looking down as best she could, she saw Merle had decided to stifle her cries with her own panties. She was shocked, especially since she could smell her own arousal on them, and somehow it only turned her on more.

"Yeah, you like ol' Merle's solution, don't cha girlie? Guess I can make ya scream all I want, hmm?" With her makeshift gag, Beth could only whimper and nod. Merle chuckled and put his head back between her thighs, lapping at the juices that had spilled from her. Beth arched with pleasure and slid her hand down between her legs to grasp Merle's head, while her other hand, white knuckled, gripped the edge of the table. Suddenly he teased a calloused finger round the edge of her opening, smearing her juices further; she whined, desperate for more.

"Listen…listen, girlie," he said, and Beth was pleased to hear his voice was thick with lust and a hint of pleading, "I'm jus' gonna put it inside ya a lil', jus' my finger, okay baby?... it'll feel good, I promise… jus' a lil', jus' so I can feel ya come." Aroused by his need, Beth thrust her hips up to him eagerly, raking her hand through his hair. "Tha's my girl," he murmured, and gently pushed the digit inside her and pumped her a little, allowing Beth to enjoy the warm, full feeling it gave her.

Merle now teased her mercilessly, circling her clit with his tongue and then only touching it enough to bring her to the edge before starting again. Beth yelped and moaned and begged as best she could through barrier of fabric, but by the time Merle decided to take pity on her she was shaking with tension, aching for release. Pressing his finger more firmly inside her, he sucked the tiny bundle of nerves into his mouth, and the pressure brought her screaming into oblivion.

When she came back to herself, her mouth was empty and she felt completely boneless and incapable of motion. She looked up to see Merle standing between her legs still, his hand gently petting her thigh. "Ya alright, girlie? Thought ya was gonna pass out there fer a minute," he rasped, somehow looking both smug and concerned.

"Yes…I think I nearly did. It's just… that was amazing. You were amazing. Thank you." Merle blinked a bit at that, and shook his head.

"Don't thank me," he said shifting uncomfortably. "Now, I gotta go take care of business, girlie, so you stay here." Beth noticed the very prominent bulge he sported, and reached out her hand towards him.

"Let me…"

"No," he said sharply. "Another time, mebbe." At her slightly hurt and disappointed look, he shot her a wry smile and patted her leg. "Ya ain't missin' much, darlin'. This ain't gonna be my finest hour; I'm hangin' by a thread here." And with that he walked off to one of the further cells. The furthest cell in fact.

She still hadn't moved from the table when he returned a few minutes later, "Damn, took it all outta ya, didn't I, darlin'?"

"Mmm," she said happily, and he gave a genuine laugh.

"Come on, let's getcha back in them clothes a yers. 'Slothfulness casteth inta a deep sleep; an' an idle soul shall suffer hunger."

"What does that mean?" she asked, looking around for her panties.

"Means 'less ya get ya lazy ass in gear, we're gonna miss supper, an' I been workin' up an appetite."

"Oh no, Carol must have wondered where I was," she looked around, worried. "Merle, I can't find my pant…"

"Ain't seen 'em," said Merle quickly, "Leave 'em, we'll come back another time."

Beth began to dress without them, and as they left she said quietly, "You could have just asked for them, you know. You didn't have to steal them." Merle pretended to look confused, but there was a glint in his eye as he patted a pocket, escaping from which was a tiny corner of pink cotton.

"Now, girlie, where's tha fun in that?"

"Girlie, come get ya pillow!"

Beth looked up in surprise and confusion as all eyes turned to her. It was later in the evening, and she and Merle had been careful to appear separately, and not interact too much in front of the others. Merle was stood by his cell, slightly apart from the others, holding out his pillow.

"What cha up ta, Merle?" asked Daryl, and while curious herself, Beth was hurt for Merle's sake at the suspicion in his voice. Merle's eyes narrowed, but he didn't respond in kind.

"Girl's pillow's too hard; mine's too soft. We agreed ta an exchange. Ya got a problem wit' that, baby bro?"

"Shit, all these prison pillows are tha same. Anyway, since when are ya fussed 'bout pillows? Hell, I seen ya…"

"Thank you, Merle. It's very kind of you," said Beth, cutting across Daryl. "I'll go get you mine."

As she walked away, she heard Merle's voice float after her. "Tha's why ya can't get no women bro, ya don't know how ta treat a lady…"

Later that night, as she burrowed her face into a pillow that smelt of gun oil and harsh soap and Merle, she revelled in the knowledge that Merle did indeed know how to treat a lady… and if she was lucky, he might treat her again soon…

So, hope you enjoyed, if you did please do take a moment to review – I love reviews! I think there might be few more chapters in this, but let me know if you want more or not. Thanks!