A/N Thank you all so much for the love! Posting a day early this week as I have a travel day tomorrow. I hope you enjoy!
00
They couldn't wait to get out of there and be alone. The minute she was off work they were in the Chevy and making tracks. He'd only driven two blocks before he pulled over and drew her closer. "I can't believe ya done that Flower. I can't believe ya wrote that song for us, and I can't believe ya sang it right in front a everyone. Ya blew my mind girl. No one ever done anythin' special like that for me an I ain't ever gonna forget it."
"I've wanted to sing it to you for a while I was just waiting for the right time. I meant it when I said you're special to me."
00
They barely got through her front door when he kicked it shut with his heel and she was pressed against it. The kissing was hot and anxious, full of need and desire. Not just his want, hers was equal to his as a deep physical yearning seemed to take control of her body. Of course she'd been curious about sex and there had been men she found attractive. She'd even wondered what it would be like to make love with them. But this was new, this was different. This wasn't daydreaming. This was all about the right man being Daryl and he was with her now. She felt that desperate craving she knew only he could satisfy.
It happened almost before she was even aware what he was doing, her shirt was off and then his hands were cradling her face and he smiled, "I knew ya didn't wear a bra but I wasn't expectin' this."
"You knew?" she looked embarrassed and he felt bad. He hugged her close and his lips were on her ear when he whispered, "How many times ya s'pose I rubbed on your back Flower? I could tell sumthin' was missin'."
"Oh." It was barely a whisper and her pink face pressed further into his shoulder.
"I dig this little whatever it is ya got on."
"Undershirt. I wear it instead of a bra because…it's just that, well…"
Her body had tensed and he pressed, "Hey, it's me, it's you…it's our thing. Remember? We tell each other stuff."
She took in a deep breath that seemed to come out in a resigned huff, "I don't really need a bra. I'm…well…I don't need one."
"Lemme check on that." The words weren't even out of his mouth and he'd pulled the thin shirt up to reveal her breasts. She didn't have time to feel shy about the exposure when just as quickly his mouth seemed to fully consume her breast. All she could do was moan at the sensation his lips and his tongue brought, like her blood had warmed and her body was on fire.
She may be mostly innocent but she didn't need experience to know raw passion, and she was feeling the passion just like the Biker was. His low body was keeping a steady rhythm as it rubbed up against hers and she felt it, he was hard and ready for her. The sensation did nothing to dampen what she was feeling, knowing he wanted her made her want him even more.
She'd never been tempted like this, but then she'd never had a man like Daryl holding her this way and touching her this way. She found herself wondering how long she'd be able to say no to something they both wanted so desperately.
His mouth was on her ear again, "I want ya Flower, wanna be next ta ya. C'mon home with me, stay the night." She was amazed at how as he asked, he'd deftly opened the button on her hip huggers.
It was what she wanted too, but in that moment the girl she'd always been barged in on the thoughts and desires of the woman she was now. "I want to, I do. It's just…it seems too soon and I'm not sure I'm ready and…oh my God, I'm sorry."
He stepped away, combing his hair back with his fingers and talking to her, but not looking at her, "Shit, nah I'm sorry. I wasn't tryin' ta force anythin'. I thought, well I got, well it don't matter."
"It does matter, it's me. Daryl…"
"Nah it's okay, I'ma go on home now. Still wanna go in the mornin'?"
"Of course I do. Daryl, please…"
"Hey, I get it. I'll see ya in the mornin'."
His back was to her and he'd turned the doorknob but he didn't get through the door. Her arms had wrapped around his waist and her head was resting on his back. Her voice was soft and emotion-filled, "Daryl, we don't walk away, remember? I know this was my fault. I was sending a message. Please believe me, I wasn't acting, I was feeling all those things just like you. It's just, this is all so new for me and I want that with you, I really do, I'm just a little freaked, a little bit scared. I just…I'm sorry. Please don't be mad."
He slowly turned and his arms were around her while his eyes looked into hers, "I ain't mad at ya Flower. I promised ya, I promised me, when it happens, if it does, it's in your time and your way. I said I ain't insistin'." And as if to prove his point he pulled her close, kissed the top of her head and softly told her, "Ya get on ta bed Flower, get some rest, I'll see ya at eight."
She squeezed him tighter, "It's going to happen Mister Dixon. And in case you didn't know, you're kind of a hippie."
"Pfft, yeah, you're trippin' Flower, now get that cute little butt ta bed we got a big day tomorrow."
She did need to rest and she hurried to get ready and get in bed, but it turned out when she laid down her mind had its own ideas. She felt guilty. She'd led him on. But he'd been so nice, so understanding and in a way that made her feel worse. Other guys, even back in high school, they thought if they bought you a burger and paid for the movie you "owed" them something. Daryl wasn't like that at all.
That wasn't the only difference though, it was her. She'd never acted that way with a guy, like she was all hot and ready. Just thinking that made her blush. The truth was before Daryl she never had been. No one had ever made her feel the way he made her feel or made her body react the way it had responded to his touch. And again she thought about it. When she said 'no' he hadn't gotten angry, he seemed hurt and disappointed but not angry.
Finally she got down to the nitty gritty of what was really going on, she wanted him. She'd wanted to go home with him. Why had she said no? Why had she acted like a child when what she wanted was to be everything to him, and for him to be everything to her.
The Biker was horny, confused and bummed out. Shit, he'd been sure she was wanting it like he was, but he should have thought it through. A woman who gets to be 22 years old and still a virgin isn't going to just fall in the sack any time she gets hot and bothered. It was going to take something more than just wanting it.
Then it dawned on him, what it was going to take. A woman like her was holding out for the real deal. She wanted love. He wasn't even sure he knew what love was. He just knew he couldn't get enough of Beth Greene. He knew he wanted to be spending all his time on her.
He couldn't believe how one small woman seemed to have come out of nowhere and taken over his life. Shit, he'd never been this way about a chick. Ever. That was the thing though, she wasn't just some chick. She was different, special. If all he wanted was to get laid getting laid was easy. Sure he wanted sex with Flower, but he wanted so much more than just that. He wanted her in so many other ways. And he knew something else, he knew he'd kill any son of a bitch who hurt her including that fucking Deputy.
00
He didn't get to her house at eight the next morning, he was there at 7:30. When the knock came she was careful again, the Deputy had her paranoid, "Who is it?"
"Just me Flower, Daryl."
She opened the door wearing only her swimsuit. "Damn, ya look choice girl, is that what you're wearin' today?"
"As a matter of fact I am, but I plan to wear jeans and a t-shirt over it. I was hoping maybe the water would be warm enough to swim."
He had to say it, "Still ain't ready for skinny dippin', huh Flower?"
"Not quite." Then out of the blue she hugged him, "I'm sorry for last night, I didn't mean to lead you on."
"Hey, no, don't be sorry. I'm sorry. Beth, girl, just so ya know, I care for ya a lot. I ain't in this cuz all I'm thinkin' about is makin' it with ya."
His plain way of speaking about these things got her a little embarrassed every time, but she also appreciated it so much.
They rode for about an hour before he pulled into a small diner, "I don't know about you girl but I need some fuel in the tank, ya hungry?"
He smiled when she ordered waffles, just like that first time they'd been in a restaurant together. When their orders came and she'd half-drowned the waffle in syrup, he nudged her knee with his and teased, "Do I get some syrupy kisses for dessert?"
She didn't answer, she just smiled at him as she picked up the small glass pitcher and poured extra syrup on her waffle.
Suddenly she remembered. She put her fork down, "Shoot, I forgot to ask you. I'm going to be in trouble with Mama. She called Thursday night and told me to bring you to dinner tomorrow. You don't have to go though, I understand if you don't want to."
"Hey, no, it's cool. I wouldn't wanna piss off your Mama, besides, she's a helluva a cook. You're the same."
"Um, the thing is we'll be going to church first."
"Yeah well ya go on an do that with your folks. I'll drive ya n all if ya want but I don't think I'm the church type Flower. I'll bring my bow and while you're prayin' I'll look around in those woods there by your folks. Maybe I'll find some rabbits or squirrels."
She wished he'd said he would go to church but she hadn't really expected it and she didn't press it. "Those woods are crawling with Georgia red squirrels. If it isn't too hot you should see a lot of them."
"You hunt squirrel do ya?"
"No, not me. I used to follow my brother around when he did. I was so impressed when he'd get one but also kind of sad. They're so cute and all."
"You're so cute and all. Now finish your breakfast, we got places ta go."
He found a little stretch of beachfront with no one around. The weather was hot and sticky but that didn't matter, they were together at the beach and the water was mostly flat, good for swimming. She was so jazzed she was practically jumping up and down, "I'm so excited Daryl, I've never seen the ocean before."
Flower was stoked, he'd done good, that's what he knew. They laid out the towels and she immediately had her shoes, jeans and t-shirt off. "C'mon, let's get in the water Daryl, I can't wait to say I swam in the ocean."
"Alright, don't flip out now. I'm movin' as fast as I can." He was down to his swim trunks but he didn't take his t-shirt off. He held out a hand to her, "C'mon Flower."
"Aren't you going to take your shirt off?"
"Nah."
"Really? Why?"
"Just some shit I ain't proud ta show off."
She was confused, "Like what?"
"Just some marks."
"Marks." She thought a moment, "You mean like scars?"
"Yeah."
She could see he was reluctant to talk but they'd said they would share things, she pressed on, "Daryl it's us, we agreed it's our way. Tell me. Please."
He was looking at her while chewing at the side of his thumb and considering whether or not to tell her. He'd never taken his shirt off around people except in the army, then it was only because he had no choice. But he never took it off in front of women, ever. The scars were ugly and they represented even worse ugliness, stuff he didn't want to think about and he damn sure didn't want to talk about. But what he thought about in that moment was her. He planned to be with her as long as she'd keep him around. At some point they'd talk about things and hopefully they would make love. She was liable to feel the scars, see them, or both.
Then she said it and he knew it was right, "We have to trust each other Daryl."
He nodded his head and pulled the t-shirt off. She saw the angry raised red marks on his back and stomach. Even all healed over they looked painful. The other thing she saw was tattoos. She wasn't surprised by those, he was a biker and a soldier and she'd always assumed they got tattoos.
Her hand caressed his cheek and then she began combing his hair back with her fingers, "I don't know what happened I just know I'm sad and angry that it did. Was it in the war? Were you captured?"
"Nah, war was easy compared ta this shit. This was my Dad. He was a hateful asshole." She felt nauseated at the idea of his Dad beating him, she felt like she might get sick. She was also trying to hold back her tears. She was sure that if she started crying it would only make everything worse. It was all she could do but she forced herself to maintain her cool.
"He hurt Merle too? And your Mama?"
"Yeah I guess you could say it was kinda his thing ta hurt people. Anyway, Mama's gone, she died when I was eight. A housefire. She got drunk and fell asleep with a smoke in her hand. Merle and me got out when we could. I don't know where the fucker is and I couldn't care less."
Her stomach hurt and her head was pounding. It was all so awful and there wasn't anything she could do to make any of it better. She was so lucky to have such great folks, she realized that more than ever. But the air right now, here with him, was so heavy. This day was supposed to be about them having fun together. She had to do something to lighten the mood. First she leaned up and kissed him, "I'm sorry about your Mama and I'm glad you and Merle got out." Then she asked, "You know what else?"
"What?"
She tried but she couldn't quite say it with a straight face, "You're still the foxiest guy I've ever seen, even with those silly dragon thingy tattoos."
"That does it, you're goin' in." The mood did a 360 when he jumped up, pulled her up and wrapped his arm around her middle. He did a kind of side carry as he ran into the water with her. They were laughing and splashing each other and their heavy thoughts seemed to float away on the ripples they made. The romance didn't float away though. There was something about wading and swimming together in the warm water, in very little clothing, that aroused those feelings in them. They didn't let it go too far though, just some touching and teasing.
After their swim they laid together on the towel in the sand, letting the air and the sun dry their bodies. Her head rested on his shoulder and his arm lay loosely around her. She asked a simple question that became a little more complex as they talked, "What do you want in life Daryl? Do you have a dream or a plan for the future?"
"Nah, not really, that ain't it. My only plan I ever had about my life was ta do a better job at it than my old man. I never wanna be anythin' like that bastard. I always have thought the way ta not be like him was ta get a real job and work at it. You know the simple things, like show up on time and don't leave early. Do what's expected of me and draw my wage. That and have a little place I take care of the right way, not let stuff go ta shit. Besides that stuff all I thought I ever wanted was as much time ta ride my bike as I could get." His eyes were intent on hers and he held her a little closer when he added, "Now I know there's sumthin' else I want too, sumthin' more."
"What about you flower? What's your big plan or dream or whatever?"
The thought went through her mind just like it had on their first date, maybe she shouldn't tell him. She'd heard that kind of stuff sent guys running. But then she thought if it did scare him off it was better to know that now, before they got in any deeper. "The truth is, all I've ever really wanted was to fall in love with a good guy, someone who loved me back of course. I want a simple life. Maybe it sounds corny but I'm not interested in having a lot of 'things,' I'm interested in having a happy home. I'd like to have a little house and two or three children. I always wanted to be a Mom."
He was stunned by her answer. He hadn't expected anything like that. But then yeah, if he'd thought about it Flower was the type. A homespun country girl who was sweet and loving and thought that was the way the rest of world ought to be too. They'd had their heavy talk for the day though, he kept it light, "No shit Flower? That don't sound like hippie chick talk. I thought you'd say ya wanted ta join a band and tour around in a VW microbus or sumthin'." His head came up off the towel and he lifted her chin with a crooked finger, "I thought I's datin' a Flower Child."
It was serious stuff for her and again she was honest, "I believe in peace and I believe in people being kind to each other. I wish people didn't hate someone just because they're different, and that we could all come together to make the world a better place. I'd say that's what hippies are supposed to believe. But I don't want free love, not for myself. I guess when you think about it, I'm just an old-fashioned farm girl. Is that a turn off?"
"I ain't much of an old-fashioned guy Flower. I never have even thought about gettin' married and havin' kids. Never." She felt the disappointment like it was a little cloud hanging over her. It was just how she'd been afraid he'd feel and she felt her body stiffen at his response, he must have felt it too. He rolled, his body now leanin' above her and his face so close to hers, "Hey girl, don't go trippin' on me now. I just wasn't expectin' ta hear all that." She was trying not to look directly in his eyes. He was right, she was tripping, and she was afraid she might get emotional. She didn't want that.
Then he said what he said and it seemed like everything was better, "Flower I told ya before I care for ya. I told ya you had a hold on me. When ya said all that ya didn't see me runnin' off did ya? Looks ta me like I'm still here." He gave her a sweet kiss and then added, "We're new girl, we got time ta figure it all out."
She smiled realizing it was good that he knew exactly what she wanted in life. She'd been honest and he hadn't run.
When he leaned in again and began kissing her she welcomed the contact, the closeness, and the warmth of all of it.
00
A/N Beth's cards are on the table and he didn't run. Please leave me a comment / review. You can see the chapter photo on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick. I'll be back to posting on Friday next week and I hope to see you all here for more Flower Power. Until then remember, Never Be Rude When You Can Be Nude ;) I love ya large! xo gneebee