Carol was lost. She felt the gentle sway of movement drifting along with the music. She knew her body was moving, and she knew without thinking about it that the movements were correct. She was lost because for all her effort, she could not focus on how she got here. Daryl's arms were around her, moving slightly along with the music. She could feel his body warmth close to her. Dancing had never been so effortless.
Carol loved to dance. She always got lost in the music and let it lead her. Not this time. The music was an afterthought to the movements that Daryl brought out of her. Just a look from his piercing eyes and a gently nudge of his hands guided her feet and body in tandem with him. Dancing was a passion of hers. Dancing with Daryl was effortless. Put the two together, and she had in her arms her first source of effortless passion in her life save Sophia.
She was aware of his hands at her waist, running up her arm, grazing her hip. It was all natural and she eased into it further, placing her head against Daryl's chest.
Daryl's eyes tracked her movements – all the way until she put her head on his chest. Then he was lost in her. He didn't claim to be a good dancer. Honestly, he didn't know what the fuck he was doing. The only dancing he had ever done was with Ella when she wanted to mimic what Belle and Beast were doing onscreen on her cartoon movie. Ella's feet always ended up on his then. But Carol's? Her feet were effortless. He knew he was guiding her, but it was only her that could guide him. Nobody else had ever done that. He smelled her all around him. Felt her all around him. God, he needed to be closer to her. He wanted to taste her lips again.
He lifted their joined hands up to her chin, tilting it up enough where he could capture her lips in a sweet kiss that immediately both sated him and had him craving more. He swiped his tongue gently across her bottom lip, and she immediately granted him access. He felt like he had the key to the kingdom of emperor Oz himself with that kiss. He deepened it, and craved more. She leaned more into him and it felt like they were both trying to get closer.
Carol couldn't breathe for a moment. All her thoughts stopped, and all her feelings came to the surface when Daryl kissed her like that. She couldn't help it. She wanted him to kiss the hell out of her. She gave him everything with that kiss, and they didn't stop when the music stopped. It took a few seconds before they reluctantly pulled apart. She was suddenly self conscious, wondering if people were staring at them. Then she realized that Daryl was still staring at her. She tenderly put her hand on his cheek while the other hand grasped his fingers. With a wordless gesture, she nodded towards their table and he led her there, holding her hand the entire way.
She sat on her chair and waited for Daryl to take his. She couldn't look away from him, and he was too far away for her liking. As if he sensed her thoughts, he moved his chair so instead of being beside her, he was closer to her side now. His hand found hers again and stoked it lightly above the surface of the table.
Daryl didn't know what to say now. He had never been so forward with a woman. He had never been as caught up in the moment as he was. But then he realized that the moment was dragging on, and he was still just as caught. Then he thought it wasn't the moment that had caught him. It was her. It was only her. And for the first time in his life, he was not looking to run.