Chapter 10

Daryl's eyes moved up to her face. His eyes danced with mischief, but he hid that well. He narrowed his eyes and tilted his head slightly. "You play poker?" He found when he wasn't looking or even trying to that he was learning more and more about this woman that had taken it on herself to cement herself into his life.

"I know how. Being any good at it, that's whole other story entirely." She shuffled the card, meeting his eyes. "Not like we got any money..." And thanks to the rain, the only other thing they could use as a bet was soaking wet. All she was left with was her panties and Daryl's shirt.

"Always strip poker..." he suggested as their eyes met again. "Way I see it, we're pretty much even if we use what clothes we done took off before the ones we got left." He shrugged his shoulders non-committedly. "Whatcha got? Bra, two socks, and your jeans?" When she nodded, he continued, "And I got a shirt, pair of jeans, and two socks. Makes us damn near even, dontcha think?"

Half an hour later, she used one hand to cover up her bare chest as she used the other hand to look through her cards. "You're a card shark, Daryl Dixon. I'm never playing with you again, you cheat!" She chewed at her lip and tried to hide the blush on her cheeks, grateful for the rain making it dark in the tent.

She laid down her hand with two jacks. She chewed at her cheek. "C'mon. You could let me win one hand. All you've had to give up is two socks you didn't even really have on."

Daryl let out a soft chuckle before laying down his hand of four kings. "I believe you only got one thing left to give me." He held out his hand as a devilish smirk split his face. "Hand 'em over, Carol."

Carol kept her hand over her small breasts, concealing them both easily. She met his eyes. "You're just lovin' this, aren't you?" She used her free hand to twirl her finger around in a circle. "You're gonna have to turn around."

He chuckled again, doing as she said. A few seconds later, he felt something touch his shoulder and he heard a shuffling noise behind him. He turned his head to the side, seeing the white cotton fabric laying on his shoulder. He turned slightly, seeing her eyes as she was barely peeking out over his sleeping bag. He turned fully then. "Hey..." he teased. "Where the hell is the fun in that? I didn't get to see nothing."

She pulled her hand out from under the sleeping bag and gave him the finger. "Neither did I. So there. We're even." When he started to laugh, she let one leg come out from under the sleeping bag and pushed at him with her foot.

He caught it easily enough. His calloused hands moved over her soft skin, licking his lips. He hadn't expected anything to come of this little bit of fun and distraction, but here she was naked and in his bed. He swallowed hard as his throat went dry. "Carol..." he breathed.

She slowly pushed the sleeping bag to the side, revealing her naked torso and nothing more. She gently removed her foot from his grasp and reached out her hand and sat up slightly to take his and pull him toward her.

When she didn't meet any hesitation, she sat up more until he was on his knees beside her, meeting her half way. Their lips met again and again. The kisses were chaste and hesitant at first. Her heart felt like it was thundering right against her eardrums.

He pulled back and looked at her, drinking in every inch of her within his sight. He whispered, "You sure 'bout this?" But his lips were already on hers again. His tongue pushed passed her lips, sucking at her bottom lip.

They were a mass of tangled limbs and sweaty skin. Her head fell against his shoulder as her hand slipped to his hip. She gave it a gentle squeeze. "You regret it?"

Seconds ticked away into minutes. The silence killed her little by little. She started to turn into herself and away from him when he caught her, stilling her. His finger moved under her chin lifting it so their eyes could meet. "Do you?" When she shook her head, he lowered his lips to hers in a soft, gentle kiss. The kiss became more insistent until air became a need. "Not at all, Carol. Not at all."