The next day Merle woke up with his African Queen beside him. Shit that was some good sex that they had last night. He had never been with a woman like her. She knocked his boots off and shut him up, that was a feat in and of itself.

To think he was so close to her but so far away. Why could she not be white? Then things could be easier. His psyche could barely take having an interracial tryst. As hot as it was it just wasn't right. Black and white should not mix. Black with black, white with white. That's how it should be. But fuck, he had never felt that alive in a while, kissing her and holding her...and screwing her was the best. "You stupid son of a bitch." He scolded himself. The taste of forbidden fruit is driving him mad, and if he pursues it any longer it would be the proverbial Icarus flying too close to the sun. He couldn't fly close to the sun. He'd have to leave her alone. But the fuck if he wanted to.

Icarus, huh? He scoffed, then watching her sleep for a moment. She even looked delicious when she slept. The jungle princess bought a smile to his face, not his smartass smile. But a content smile. Feeling himself getting soft he forced a scowl on his face. He didn't want these bitches in the prison to find out. To find out how soft he was because of HER.

He covered her up with a thin, black blanket and reached for his boxers and pants. He opened the cell and made his way down to the lower level. To his dismay he saw Darryl leaning up against one of the cells. He had a smirk on his face and Merle knew that he knew. Fuck.

"How was your night with Michonne?," He teased. Merle nearly had a heart attack. Were they that loud? "I could hear y'all gettin' it on."

He leaned in to his baby brother. "You breathe a word and your ass is mine." He threatened. It was as if he was the teenage boy being found out by a meddlesome younger brother.

He shrugged. "It's all good, I figured you couldn't stay away from her."

Merle stormed off.

"Where are you goin'?" He asked, following after his cantankerous older brother.

"To get breakfast," He said gruffly. "I ain't survivin' off no goddamn rice and asparagus." Merle loved to hunt, he was in his element when he was outside; no matter how dangerous it was.

"Want me to come too?"

"Nah, stay your scrawny ass here where it's safe." He said, with a chuckle.

"Man, fuck you..." Darryl sneered with a half smile. That's how the Dixon brothers interacted, no touchy feel good shit, just rugged men bullshitting with each other.

"Tell Officer Yankee that I'm gone whenever he finishes putting on his dress." It was obvious that he didn't respect Rick. The best way for him to not think about killing his ass was to think about himself being snuggled up with his Nubian queen.

Darryl shook his head as he followed him.

Merle looked back at him. "Where the hell are you goin'?"

"I gotta open the gate for you, dumbass." Darryl muttered.

He snorted. "Well you do that then, then keep your scrawny ass here."

"Whatever," Darryl said as he opened the gate. "Don't go gettin' your reckless ass killed now."

"Yes mother." He teased, making his way past the safety of the fences. Darryl laughed to himself as he watched him go until he disappeared from view. His older brother was something else.

Merle walked a few miles away from camp, deep into the forest. This was his home, even if it was being taken over by those creepy bastards walking around. After effortlessly killing 3 slow stragglers he turned his attention to the nearby stream. He wanted some fried catfish, the tricky sons a bitches were so slippery and difficult to catch though. But he smirked, seeing an asset that is attached to his arm. His bayonet will work to his benefit. As he began catching the fish he thought about her. What she liked. What she wanted. All that peace and nature air would do that to a man like Merle.

"I'm pussywhipped." He said with a sigh. There was nothing he could do. Nothing that he wanted to do. He wanted to catch some food for her. He snorted. That black gal was something, making him feel such a way and making him want to do shit for her.

Michonne stirred in bed, finally waking up. She impulsively placed her hand on the side of the bed where Merle was. He must've went out with Rick and Darryl. She slowly sat up. She was a bit sore, but she liked the feeling. Sex with Merle was amazing, they fed off of each other. It was truly opposites attract. She couldn't help but think about him. She shook her head, maybe she made the wrong choice last night. There was probably no choice of them coexisting peacefully now, not with the sexual chemistry between them. He was such a man; such a broad-bodied, crude and profane man but she...liked it. He was hot in a rednecky, backwoods type of way, and his feral smile was just...him.

She got dressed and began doing her diligent workouts. Her workouts were harsh but didn't require much space. She only needed an elevated surfuce and a semi-spacious floor. She caught herself thinking about that idiot again, remembering last night. she didn't want to think about him. She couldn't concentrate on working out.

Suddenly she heard footsteps and became alert. It was Merle.

"Hey." He greeted her, a primitive silver platter in hand with a few fried fish on it.

"What's this?"

"Breakfast," He muttered, flopping on the bed. "I gave Darryl some too."

"You bought me...food?" She inquired very surprised about his thoughtful gesture.

"Why not?" He asked, taken aback by her weariness.

She blushed.

He quickly kissed her, allowing his lips to linger on hers. Her eyes flew open and she felt that the kiss was tender and soft; which was unlike him. "Eat." He demanded.

"Thank you." She said softly as she began eating. Too bad there was no seasoning, but she took joy in eating the fish that he had caught for her.

"Yeah," He said gruffly. "Get your fill and I'll eat the rest." He watched her attentively and carefully.

"Why are you being so nice?"

"What," He asked. "I haven't been nice to you?"

"After last night, yes," She mentioned. "Otherwise you're an obnoxious crude."

"Shit, I'm nice to you...," He muttered. "In my own way."

"Okay." She said with a smile, taking another bite of her fish.

What was this? What were they? They made passionate, hot sex last night. Prior to his well anticipated release he thought that he'd die of blue balls. But really he might die from the sheer pleasure that Michonne can give and show him...not to mention, the emotional stress.

"You're not bad for a black gal." He proclaimed, looking into the air.

She nearly choked on her fish. "What?" A potential breakthrough? Maybe.

He chuckled. "Girl, you know you heard me," He replied with a cheeky grin. "I'm not the man to repeat myself."

"So admit it," She demanded, putting down the fish and folding her arms. "You like black women." She said in amusement.

He scoffed. This gal. "No."

"Oh really now?," She inquired, raising her brow. Merle paused, seeing that she took genuine offense to his response. "What was last night then?"

Fuck. She was the typical woman in some ways. That dreaded question plaqued many men for generations. "What the hell do you want from me?," He grumbled. "I don't mind you."

"You don't mind me?" She repeated, clearly insulted.

"I didn't mean it like that!" He quickly said, wanting to diffuse the situation.

"You mean, you don't mind being with a black woman for one night?" She accused sharply. Her blood boiled. He had some nerve.

He sighed, running his hand over his face. "For fuck's sake, don't put words in my mouth!"

He didn't just not mind her...he liked her. But he'd be damned if he admitted to himself or anyone else that he liked a black woman. That could never happen. A roll in the hay could be explained, puppy dog eyes and spending quality time together could not be explained away.

Before he could say another word she stormed off. "Wait!," He shouted. "Come on now!"

"Go fuck yourself, Dixon." She replied coldly, not looking back at him.

He felt his heart rip in two, but he did nothing to stop her. It would be better if they didn't talk anymore. Black with black. White with white. That's how it should be. Nothing else is right to him. His brain told him to leave her alone, that she's not his type. But his heart wanted her. Why the fuck did he sleep with her? They essentially became one. The chemistry, the feelings...everything. Something was there, but it couldn't be. They couldn't be.