Sweet Caroline
Chapter 10 - "Healing"
A clap of thunder rolls across the sky, vibrating Caroline from her sleep. She looks up to see Daryl fast asleep. A warm breeze blows through the tent raising goosebumps on Caroline's arms.
A summer storm was brewing, dark clouds hanging heavy in the sky. It hadn't rained in days, a good rain is exactly what Caroline needed.
Caroline wraps her arms around Daryl, cuddling her face up to his neck. She knows Daryl is on the mend but that doesn't stop her from wanting him. The fluttering in her stomach makes her want to crawl on top of him and wake him properly.
The warmth of his skin sends shudders through her, making her ache to her core. She begins to kiss his neck, rubbing his abs with feather light touches. Daryl shifts his weight, turning more on his right side. His lips lay just inches from hers now, looking so very inviting.
A flash of lighting crackles in the midnight sky, Daryl stirs from his slumber. "Hey, how long you been awake?"
Caroline gives him a quick kiss, rolling over to her side. Daryl lies up against her, his arms holding her close. She notices him taking a deep breath, making her smile widely.
"I've not been awake long, the storm woke me. I'm sorry...did I wake you?" Caroline rubs his forearms softly.
"No...not really." He gathers her hair in his hand, pulling it off of her neck. His lips find the nape of her neck, kissing her until he's at her ear. "But since I'm awake..." Daryl's voice has a sultry tone to it she'd never noticed before.
A heat rises over Caroline, making her want him all the more. His lips are never ceasing, over and over again he kisses her neck. Shivers take over, bringing an uncontrollable sigh from her lips.
Daryl grins as he continues his path to her shoulders. The camo green tank had proven to be an excellent choice, in more ways than one. She hoped he wouldn't stop there, that he'd keep kissing her till they both couldn't breathe.
A calloused hand finds it way under her tank, finally resting on her breast. Caroline could feel Daryl's arousal against her back, her own arousal burning her alive. Caroline flips over, finding Daryl's lips immediately.
The storm raging outside was nothing compared to the storm surging through the tent. Daryl pulls at Caroline's shirt, jerking it over her head. His lips caress her breast, taking the tip in his mouth. She throws her head back, muffling a scream through clinched teeth.
His hands move like a blur across her body, as she pulls him on top of her. She pushes his shirt down, trying to loosen it from his arms. He lifts his left arm to free the shirt when he squints his eyes. The pain from his side returns, sharp and hard.
Daryl tries to ignore the pain, his need for Caroline growing harder with each passing second. He lets the pain course through him as she kisses his neck, her lips bringing him considerable pleasure.
She can feel the fresh sweat of his chest mingle with the clinging dew of hers. Another clap of thunder is soon followed by a crashing bolt of lightening. Caroline can see the desire in Daryl's eyes. Not since the cabin had she seen that look, the pure lust for her.
Her hands ease their way down his side, wanting to have him completely. She works feverishly to undo his pants, knowing she's about to unleash his passion. The clicking of the zipper is the sweetest sound, almost as sweet as him breathing heavily in her ear.
Cotton pants are no match for Daryl's strong hands as he almost rips them off her. A whirling wind blows rain into the tent, the mesh windows caving inward with the storm. They lie naked, the rain soaking them both. Steam starts to rise from the both of them, their heated bodies cooling with the summer rain.
Daryl lies at her entrance, dripping for his want and the rain. Caroline runs her hands up his spine, finding rest on his firm back side. As if on cue, he enters her with the next rumble of thunder. Caroline digs her hands into his back, her body receiving him openly.
Red hot pain runs from his side, his pleasure mixing with his pain. He ignores it, letting his rhythm ride the wave of ecstacy. Caroline wants him all the more, wanting all of him. Her eyes close shut as Daryl nibbles at her breast, her breath becoming ragged.
"Oh God...Daryl." She doesn't care who hears her, he was in control of her. The cot rocks with their efforts, moaning and creaking with them. Her core begins to throb, vibrating with every movement he makes. A enveloping fire takes its hold as her body starts to given in.
Daryl feels her sweetness all around him, her moment at hand. He bears down, giving her one last taste of him. With a good grip of Daryl's back, Caroline arches up to meet him. The storm meets its climax the same time they do, the night returning to its calm demure.
Her shaking hand slides up his body only to find a soaking wet bandage. Caroline lifts her hand up, blood on her fingertips. Her clothes go flying back on as she runs from the tent. Daryl lying in the darkness, shocked and hurt.
Without a word, she bounds from the cot rushing towards the house. She knocks rapidly on Maggie's window. Maggie throws open the window, Caroline crawls inside.
"What's wrong Caroline? You're scaring me." Maggie stands awkwardly in the middle of the room.
"I need something to stitch Daryl back up with, he's ripped his stitches out. Oh...and fresh bandages." Caroline heads from Maggie's bedroom door.
Maggie's soft hand takes hers. "I'll get them for you...just wait here."
The waiting is torture. It only takes Maggie a few minutes to return but to Caroline it feels like forever.
"What happened?" Maggie hands her the medical supplies, her sweet face full of distress.
"I happened...I just had to have him. He's barely healed at all and I have to have him." Caroline puts one leg out the window as Maggie giggles at her.
"Oh...I see. Maybe I should chaperone you two." Maggie gets back into bed, giggling at her cousin.
Caroline finds Daryl sitting on the edge of the cot holding his side. He's put his pants back on, his shirt hanging loosely around him.
"I thought I did somethin wrong. You took out of this tent like a walker was after you." Daryl smiles at her, making her feel all the more like a jackass.
"You're hurt. I felt the blood on the bandages and freaked out. I never meant to worry you...sorry." Caroline lights a lantern, sitting down next to him.
"It ain't that bad Caroline. I've just popped a stitch...or two." He moves his hand, the bandage blood red.
She eases his shirt back off of him, lying him back down. With the first aid she did know, she stitches him up again, cleaning and dressing his wound.
"You're pretty good at that. You are a full bag of tricks." Daryl looks down at his side, impressed with her skills.
"You're suppose to be resting...you need to heal." Caroline turns her face in shame from him.
Daryl takes her by the chin, turning her tormented face back to him. "Do I look like I care. What we just did tonight healed me more than any stitches or medicine ever could. Don't you ever think that you hurt me. I know hurt Caroline...that's wasn't it."
Silence echoes all around them, they lie in each others arms. Daryl can feel the stinging pain but he'd never tell her. He rather let the pain take him than have that look on her face. She places her cool hand over his bandage, kissing him sweetly.
"We both need to get some sleep." Her ice blue eyes smile up at him.
"Yeah...sleep sounds good. Besides, I'm sure your brother might have heard the whole thing...seeing how he's sleepin by the fire. He'll be seein me in the morning." Daryl's teasing tone puts her at ease.
"Don't you worry about Raylan...I can handle my big brother." She looks out the mesh window, seeing Raylan asleep. His cowboy hat over his face, boots up against the fire pit. His camping chair leaned back against the tree.
Her entire world lay feet apart. The man in her arms and the man outside the tent. The thought that someday she might have to choose between them clouded her mind. Caroline shakes it off, enjoying the moment she has.