Dear Jofrench22 - I read the incomplete reviews and I was hanging by a thread waiting for the finished one! I'm so glad you managed to get your whole review out! I'm glad you liked Carrie's conversation with the Alexandrian's, and the contrast between the characters' experiences. Thanks for reviewing, I always love reading your reviews, but for some reason the site won't let me respond to them like I try to do with others. Thanks :-)
All day Rick had been feeling out of beat and antsy, his mind scrambled as though there had been something he had forgotten to do. It took following Carrie outside for him to realise that it was her absence that was putting him on edge, their lack of time together that had affected him. They were one another's source of distraction and relief from the world, and that's what he'd been unconsciously seeking throughout the day. As soon as they had started kissing out on the dark road, he could tell how badly she wanted to do something right then. The need for something physical and visceral to release the stress and emotions she felt was something Rick understood all too well, but until meeting her he had usually found that relief by killing Walkers. Understanding what she needed from him, that sex would give her the physical exertion she needed to release her stress, he was reluctant to turn down her request that they go home together. Certainly he gave it due thought…hell, he'd even considered heading to the grass by the solar panels and simply having at her there, but thankfully rational thought had won out.
There wasn't time for them to enjoy one another the way she'd like, but getting carried away he sought to at least give her something. It felt completely natural to slide his hand into her underwear and start touching her, wanting her to get off despite the fact that it was cold and anyone with a flashlight could discover them. He'd taken a risk to give her what she needed, enjoying the throaty gasps she made as she tried to stay quiet. He appreciated her attempts to return to favour to him, but more than once he had to bat her hand away from his crotch, knowing that Deanna would want to start her speech at any moment. By the time she'd finished, the relaxation in her limbs indicated that his suspicions had been right…that was exactly what she had needed.
When she had thanked him for the promise that he'd try to find them time alone together, the pressure he had been feeling all day came to a head, reminding him of what he wanted. Just like Carrie, he was being weighed down with the stress and emotion of their return to Alexandria, and he too needed the physical release he had just given her. Putting it bluntly, he wanted sex. Every time they'd been together it had been a welcome distraction from the world outside, a moment for them to forget about everything else and focus purely on something good, something that they enjoyed. When he whispered to her that she wasn't the only one who needed this, he had meant it.
With the party waiting for them, they'd reluctantly gone back inside, straightening their appearance so no one knew the truth about what they'd been doing outside. Then came the difficult part. Listening to Deanna and Abraham speaking, Rick found his attention wandering despite his best intentions. After what had just happened out on the dark road, the idea of standing next to Carrie without taking advantage of their close proximity was unfathomable. Standing at the back of the room with everyone else crammed in front of them, it was all too easy for Rick to place his hand on Carrie's lower back. No one could see what he was doing, and if Tara or Rosita noticed he couldn't have cared less. At first, Rick had felt the urge to hold Carrie's hand, and despite the way that gesture felt perfectly natural, he knew it wasn't acceptable. Holding her hand right now would have crossed the line of how they had defined their relationship. Though he'd never had a booty call, he figured publicly holding hands wasn't exactly part of the deal. On the other hand, secretly feeling her up seemed more appropriate.
He had enjoyed her reaction immensely, feeling the way her body tensed and relaxed each time he moved his hand. When he'd reached right down the curse of her ass to touch the back of her legs, the shiver she gave was well worth the pounding heart he was putting up with. She held out from retaliating longer than he expected, but he had been fully prepared for it anyway. The moment she had started reaching for his crotch he pushed her hand away, not wanting her to cause a problem that he couldn't hide, particularly in these loose trousers. How he cursed Carol for stealing his jeans while he showered. For the rest of the speech, Rick had mentally recited the Pledge of Allegiance, his best method for willing away an unwanted erection…the fact that he was about to get up and speak in front of everyone also helped.
With his speech thankfully concluded, Rick stepped away from the microphone and let Deanna resume the last of the formalities, welcoming everyone to tea, coffee and dessert. Glad that it was over, he hoped he hadn't pushed his luck too far, knowing that while he had held back from the harsher truth, these people still weren't prepared to hear the softer version he had shared. As everyone began to disperse again, he looked across the room to where Carrie had been standing, glad when he managed to catch her eye. She'd been waiting for him to look, and when he did she gave him a small smile and a nod, indicating her approval for his speech. He was glad what he said to her had been met with approval, for he'd been desperately trying to think of something meaningful to say to her, something that would convey the significance of what it meant that day he picked her up off the side of the road. Lori had always told him to talk more, and though this had frustrated him to no end, perhaps she had something useful there. It was only an offhand comment Carrie made about not having a choice that gave him the inspiration for what he wanted to say to her.
Now that the formalities of the evening were concluded, Rick could make the most of his agreement with Carrie. As everyone began to disperse into the other rooms, Rick tried to make his way towards Carol to check on Judith, but as usual found himself frequently held up. Making the obligatory small talk as he went around, he made sure to thank everyone again for Judith's birthday gifts, answering questions and accepting gratitude for the volume of supplies that had been brought back, but he took note of one key absence. Not one person mentioned the things he had brought up. Not the people from Ohio, not their attacks, nor the plans for firearms training and safe houses. As he anticipated, the Alexandrian's were avoiding the topic, passively showing their rejection.
Checking his watch, he saw that it was quickly approaching eight o'clock, and he used this as his excuse to flee the small talk. Going into the kitchen where he suspected she would be, he found Carol with Judith in her arms, trying her best to help the others as they began serving dessert and setting out tea and coffee.
"Thanks for taking care of her," he said, taking Judith in his arms. She protested crankily, a low grumble indicating how tired she was, and so he quickly settled her against his chest before returning the bottle of formula to her hands. Exhausted, she pushed the bottle away and snuggled up against him instead, beginning to suck her thumb.
"No problem," Carol said sincerely, taking the knitted blanket Natalie had been made and tucking it around Judith. "I figured you'd want to put her down soon, so I dressed her in her pyjamas."
He nodded in gratitude, the two of them moving to a quieter part of the kitchen where they could speak privately. "I'm going to take her home. I've had enough of this party."
Understanding, Carol didn't nag him to stay. "Daryl probably won't be far behind you either…that was a good speech by the way."
"You don't think I came across to strong?"
"I meant what you said about Carrie."
"So I did come across as too strong?"
Carol allowed exasperation to flash across her face. "They're going to need spoon feeding, that's for sure. We'll work on it slowly."
With nothing else to say, Rick just thanked her again before letting her go, knowing she was helping with food and drinks. Slinging Judith's backpack over his shoulder, he started looking around for Carl, knowing he was going to have to make a good effort to ensure he didn't come home and interrupt he and Carrie, or worse, catch them. Catching Carrie's eye again, he gave her a short smile when she noticed Judith in his arms, and she looked rather pleased by this. Looking forward to their time together, Rick went in search of Carl. Though he had been upstairs during the speeches, he had returned to the basement where he was hanging out with his friends, swinging his legs beneath his crutches while Enid and Mikey played ping pong. Catching his eye, Rick ushered him over.
"I'm taking your sister home," he began, getting straight to the point. He glanced at his watch before continuing. "It's eight o'clock now, I want you home by nine."
Carl's distress was comical, and exactly what Rick was seeking. "Oh come on Dad," he moaned, glancing back at his friends. "Seriously?"
"You've got school tomorrow."
"Not until midday! Ron and Mikey are allowed to stay late."
Pretending to look unimpressed, Rick raised his eyebrows. "How late are they staying?"
"I don't know…like, eleven?"
"They're not staying that late."
"Well they're not going home at nine o'clock either. Dad, please," he said, looking embarrassed. "I don't want to be the only one who has to go home because Daddy says so."
Clenching his jaw, Rick looked around in faux discomfort. "Ten o'clock."
"Eleven."
He sighed. "Ten thirty, and you can help do some of the cleaning up."
"Ten forty five."
"Ten thirty," he repeated firmly. "Not a minute later."
"Not a minute earlier either," Carl grinned, already taking off back towards Ron and Mikey. "Thanks Dad."
Far more successful than he anticipated being, Rick prayed Carl stuck by the remark that he wouldn't be a minute earlier. If he managed to get Judith to sleep in the next half hour, he had brought himself and Carrie an hour and a half to fool around, and a half hour buffer until ten thirty. That was more than enough time for them to scratch the itch, and to then go back to their normal facade. Rick would in bed pretending to sleep by the time Carl came home. Trying not to look too pleased by the turn of events, he went back upstairs and began making his excuses.
Catching Carrie's eye, he mouthed the words 'twenty minutes' and then lingered a moment, waiting for her nod of understanding. Simply winking at him, a small smile crossed her face before she turned back to the people she was talking to. Glad to see that she was still with Rosita and Tara, who would likely help her sneak out if she asked them to, he tucked the blanket further around Judith before quietly making his departure. He'd speak to Reg and Deanna tomorrow, make polite small talk and thank them for the party…it still astounded him that social niceties like that still existed. But they were necessary here, particularly if he wanted them on his side. After publicly claiming he had Deanna's support for the measures he wanted to implement, when he knew for fact that he didn't, he was going to need to treat very carefully with Deanna.
Stepping out into the brisk night air, Rick shivered and wished he had thought to bring himself a coat, and one for Carl too…Lori would have remembered. Making his way up the road and turning left past the courtyard, he was still dwelling on Deanna…the other night he and Carol had overheard her decision to talk to Carrie about what happened the morning after the herd. With Aidan's mistrust of him, Deanna wanted to hear another version of the events that unfolded, to hear Carrie's side of the story. Knowing that the mere question of this would bring up Carrie's awful history, Granger in particular, Rick and Carol had argued about whether or not to warn her about Deanna's impending investigation.
He had wondered if Deanna had already asked Carrie about it, knowing that if she didn't bring up the subject in her own living room he would never be able to overhear what was said. He couldn't bug the entire community just on the off chance that he hear something worth listening to…besides, he didn't feel that Carrie's response warranted being overheard. It didn't matter to him what she said about the morning after the herd, in fact, he'd prefer her to tell the truth, but Carol felt differently. Still not certain of how she felt about Carrie, she wanted to know what was said when Carrie was taken unawares, certain that this conversation would be indicative of her true loyalty. As far as this was concerned, Rick was stuck…he didn't want to go against Carol's wishes, but nor did he want Carrie to be taken unaware by a subject that was incredibly painful for her.
Arriving home, he double checked that all the blinds had been closed before turning on a single lamp for the others. Seeing that Judith was still uninterested in the rest of her bottle, he took her straight up stairs and entered their bedroom. It was with eager anticipation that he went about getting ready for his evening with Carrie, kicking off his shoes and socks and then single handedly removing his belt. Keeping the lights dimmed, he took Judith into the bathroom and found her washcloth, dampening it and then gently rubbing it over her teeth. She hadn't taken well to the toothbrush he had brought back for her, but while he clumsily brushed his own while holding her on his hip, he let her play with hers, encouraging her to put it into her mouth. Amused by the mistrustful look she gave it, for Judith approached all new changes with suspicion, he finished up and then took her into the bedroom.
He turned on the music she enjoyed listening to, keeping the volume low as he laid her down on the bed and swiftly changed her wet diaper. Rubbing her tired eyes, she struggled against him as he buttoned up her pyjamas, giving a loud wail until he found her brown security blanket and pacifier. He'd normally rub her down with some lotion after giving her a bath, a process that always calmed and soothed her, but he knew that's not what she wanted tonight. Still crying, she sat up and reached for him, telling him what she needed. More than happy to, he brought her back to his chest and sat down in the rocking chair, bundling her up in his arms just the way she liked. She kept fussing a little longer, tears spilling from her eyes, but he was persistent. Rocking the chair, he slowly patted her back, hoping and praying that he could get her to sleep soon enough. Fifteen minutes had passed already, and if Carrie came back before Judith was asleep…well a baby never exactly set the mood for a quickie.
Ten minutes later, Rick heard the front door slowly open and close, the tell tale sound of high heels on the floorboards indicating that it was Carrie. Though his heart sped up in anticipation, he was equally filled with disappointment. Perhaps knowing how desperately he wanted her to sleep, Judith was making every resistance possible, her eyes wide open despite her exhaustion. His frustration with her grew, but he reminded himself to be patient…if she sensed his frustration she'd only get upset and make the whole situation worse. Pulling out all the stops, he started tracing his fingers down the side of her face, Beth having learnt this trick when she was only a few months old.
"Hey," Carrie greeted him softly. Folding her arms, she casually leant against the door frame as she looked in at the two of them.
"Hey," he replied, giving her an apologetic expression. She didn't seem perturbed though…if anything, she was smiling. "She won't be much longer."
"That's okay," she said nonchalantly, the sound of her voice making Judith lift her head a little. "Take your time…I'll be in my room."
"Don't get undressed," he told her sternly, liking the way she frowned at this. "That's my job."
Carrie smiled, but didn't say a word. She turned and left, but when the sound of her heels on the floor stopped too quickly he glanced up at the doorway again. He just caught a glimpse of Carrie's hand dangling something in the doorway, and when she dropped it with a obvious chuckle he realised what it was…her underwear.
"Come on Judy Pie…go to sleep," he said in a soothing voice. "She's taken off her underwear," he whispered, kissing the top of her forehead. "She's going to start without me."
Having none of it, Judith simply snuggled back against his chest and refused to close her eyes, sniffling to herself as she tightly clenched her security blanket. His mind filled with thoughts of what Carrie might be doing alone in her bedroom, Rick tried as best he could to get Judith to go to sleep, wishing she wasn't so over tired. Moments like this were the more frustrating of parenthood, particularly when it irrationally felt like your kids were doing this on purpose. Another ten minutes passed before Judith suddenly sat up without warning, her pacifier wobbling as she let out a shuddering breath and reached for her crib. Surprised, Rick hastily got to his feet and lowered her into the crib, his heart hammering when she just cried again…what did she want? Was he reading her signals wrong?
As soon as her back hit the mattress, Judith wailed again and then struggled out of Rick's arms, turning over onto her front. To his sheer relief, she didn't climb to her feet and reach for him again. Rather she brought her knees up underneath herself and poked her bottom into the air, snuggling up into a ball and facing away from him. Crossing his fingers, he raised the blankets and tucked them in around her, making sure she didn't have the security blanket tangled up beneath her. Double checking her pacifier, he stroked her hair as she slowly settled down…less than sixty seconds later, she was fast asleep.
Exalting in his success, Rick lingered only long enough to turn on the camera and double check that the monitor was working before slowly creeping away from the crib. At the last minute he remembered what else he needed, and he opened up the third drawer of his nightstand. Knowing that Carl frequently borrowed his socks but never his underwear, this was where Rick had stashed the last four condoms he had taken from Walmart, glad he had found them still in his pocket the night he came home. Grabbing them and the baby monitor, he checked on Judith once more before creeping out of the room and closing the door. As he went, he stopped and snatched up the scrap of material Carrie had left in his doorway, unable to believe that this passed for underwear. Taking it with him, he swiftly made his way down the hallway towards her bedroom, not bothering to knock before he opened the door. The bedroom was empty, but hearing his arrival Carrie stepped out of her bathroom, looking glad to see him.
"She down for the night?" she enquired, stepping back inside the bathroom for a moment before reappearing. She'd taken off her make up…except for that damn red lipstick.
"Yeah," he nodded, grinning as she happily knelt on the bed. He tossed the scrap of fabric at her. "You call this underwear?"
"You disapprove?" she questioned in return, raising her eyebrow. "Maybe next time I just won't wear any."
Groaning at the thought, he put the baby monitor down on her nightstand and then eagerly joined her on the bed. Cupping her head in his hand, he started with a soft kiss, letting her deepen it as she wished. Apparently knowing exactly what she wanted, she put her hands on his hips and ushered him to sit down on the bed. Settling onto his lap, she straddled his thighs as there was an awkward moment of stray limbs, the two of them getting comfortable as quickly as possible. Their kiss was sweet and languid now, their closeness bringing a distinct aroma of beer to Rick's attention.
Noticing that her shirt was damp and smelled of beer, he pulled it from the waistband of her skirt. "What happened?" he enquired, pushing it up and over her shoulders before happily tossing it aside.
"Noah…" she sighed, her eyes fluttering closed as he began licking and kissing her breasts. "He spilt his beer on me."
"I should thank him." Unclasping her bra, he smirked as he pulled the straps off her shoulders and removed it.
"Why's that?"
Rick chuckled, having thought it was obvious. Cupping her breast in his hand, he eagerly swiped his tongue over her nipple, giving it a gentle suck and feeling it harden. "He's given me beer flavoured tits. What more could I ask for?" he enquired, enjoying the sound of her laughter. He could feel it emanating from inside her chest, the sound erupting from her lips and making him kiss them next.
Not wasting any time, he hastily began pushing her skirt up to her waist, not bothering to fumble with the hidden zipper. Equally eager to get started, Carrie was already opening his trousers, pulling them down only as far as she needed. With no one else home and no need to be quiet, Rick gave a long groan of approval when she started stroking his erection, using both of her hands. Faster than he expected, she was soon reaching for the condoms he had dropped onto the nightstand, her fingers shaking as she carefully opened one.
"What? No foreplay? No warm up?" he joked, watching as she rolled the condom on for him.
Carrie looked at him in exasperation. "I've been waiting in here for ten minutes, what do you think I was doing?"
Enjoying the way they could so easily banter back and forth, he swept her into a lush kiss, unable to resist her red lips a moment longer. Holding his breath as she sank down onto his erection, he kissed her a little more forcefully as his hands went to her hips, resisting the urge to pull her down further. This was her show right now, and he willingly let her take the lead.
It was excruciatingly arousing to watch the way she moved on top of him, to hear her breathing strain as she set the pace, slowly but firmly rocking her hips down on him. When she leant behind him to grasp for headboard for leverage, Rick paid careful attention to her breasts, taking advantage of his convenient access to them. Focusing, he tried to distract himself from how good she felt clenching around him, the warmth and tightness of her body making him want to finish way too soon. Unable to help himself, he pressed his hands more firmly against her hips, encouraging her to go a little faster. He grit his teeth in pleasure when she did so, but she soon began to falter, her grunts of frustration telling him something was wrong. Her left leg was trembling, reminding him on her injury. Knowing that it was painful for her, he gently slowed her down to a stop and then soothed her frustration with a kiss. They stayed like that for a few moments, Rick's hands moving up and down her bare back.
"How?" he asked shortly, hoping she knew what he meant.
Her shoulders slumping in relief, she gently pulled herself off him and then moved aside, tugging at his shirt to pull him on top of her. "Slow," she answered, reaffirming his knowledge that it was better to ask than to blindly hope he got it right.
Mindful of her leg, he sank back inside her body with a short grunt, resisting every urge he had to simply thrust into her hard. Knowing his own needs were significantly easier to satisfy, he forced himself to focus on her, knowing he'd be well rewarded for his efforts. Giving her what she needed, he slowly rocked their hips together, her legs around his waist ensuring his thrusts were slow and deep. Her smile of exaltation was exactly what he wanted to see, encouraging him to keep going, that he was getting it right. Every worry and concern that had weighed on his shoulders for months now was fading into the back ground, becoming non-existent. Sex was his new form of escapism, and Christ it was working well.
It took everything he had to keep going the way he was, to maintain the pace and motion that was so clearly working for her. As he knew he would be he was well rewarded, the sight and sound of Carrie finally unravelling beneath him a well earned reward. This was really the first time they'd been together without darkness hiding half of them from each other, and in the warm lights of her bedroom he could watch her expression change. He could watch the way she reached down to stroke herself, and he could see the way she clenched her eyes shut as she came with a loud groan of relief. Her fingers dug into his shoulder when she did, relaxing only when she came down from her high while he approached his own release.
Unable to help himself, he thrust inside her quickly, the urgency of his own climax only growing. Carrie stretched her legs down and entwined her ankles around the back of his knees, pulling him deeper inside her, and that was finally his undoing. He groaned loudly as he came, his face buried in her neck as his thrusts began to slow and eventually stop. His eyes closed and his lips pressed against her throat, he took a few moments to catch his breath, grateful that she seemed reluctant to release him from her arms, that she wanted to hold him there. They stayed still for as long as they could, but soon he was forced to pull out of her, unsure of whether or not he could keep his weight off her much longer.
Collapsing onto the bed beside her, Rick couldn't help but smile at the look on her face, pleased to see her looking so relaxed. It was a nice change to the slightly uncomfortable look she'd had on her face for the rest of the night, one he didn't like to see. Still smiling, he let his eyes rake up and down her body, amused that while he was still fully clothed, she was naked except for the skirt bunched around her waist. Her eyes closed and her hand resting on her forehead, she looked thoroughly debauched. He couldn't help but feel proud he had been the one to make her look like that.
"Thanks," she muttered, flopping her hand out to pat his stomach.
"You're welcome?"
She chuckled at this, turning her head and smiling at him lazily. Loving her expression, he rolled over and ran his hand up the inside of her thigh, disappointed when she shuddered and quickly pushed it away, too sensitive. Moving his hand to her hip instead, she kissed him slowly, the two of them slowly recovering and catching their breath.
"Your leg is still sore?" he asked, glancing down at her shin. The make up Michonne had used to cover the bruise was gone now, the dark colour on the front of her leg visible once again.
She nodded, running her lips up his jaw. "Pete says it will take a while to heal properly. But as soon as it's not too sore, I can start making runs with the others."
The mere mention of supply runs brought Rick crashing back to reality far too soon, making him dwell on the night in question when she had received that bruise. Having been left for dead by Nicholas, she had been on the run in the city of Franklin, evading the group from Ohio while also trying to find Rick…she'd run straight into the edge of a large park fountain, giving herself that bruise on her leg. She'd been soaking wet and freezing when they eventually found her…she was lucky to still be there.
Kissing her as a distraction, he reigned in his anger. He knew she'd likely be a supply runner upon her arrival here, but after everything that had happened on the supply run, Glenn wasn't the only one who Rick didn't want working with Aidan and Nicholas. He didn't trust either of them, knowing they weren't used to being held to such a high standard when it came to ensuring the safety of your group members. His first instinct was to tell Carrie in no uncertain terms that she was not to work with them…but she knew the risks just as well as he did. This was her decision, just as it was Glenn's…Rick could only dictate them so much, and so with that in mind, he focused instead on enjoying her, on trying to resume his former frame of mind.
For some reason, Carrie turned away from him when he tried to deepen their kiss. Smiling at him, she seemed amused by his surprise, by the way he didn't quite know what to make of her refusal. Soothing the rejection, she kissed him lightly and then pulled back again.
"Come take a shower with me."
The idea was thoroughly tempting, but he looked up at her alarm clock first. It was a little after nine o'clock, meaning that he had at least an hour in which to continue indulging his selfish desires.
"I stink, do I?" he enquired, glancing at the baby monitor next. Judith was exactly as he had left her, bottom poked high in the air, her head turned to the right as she sucked on her pacifier.
"I want to get you all soaped up," she whispered into his ear. "All soaped up, with no where to go."
Grinning, Rick sat up and tugged her along with him. "Alright, but only until our fingers are pruned," he insisted. "Carl will be home at ten thirty…I need to be lonely in my bed by then."
"He won't be home earlier?" Kicking off her heels, which until now he hadn't realised she was still wearing, she snatched the condoms off the bedside table and brought them with her.
"Not a minute earlier," he promised.
He was happy to admit her suggestion of a shower was exceptional. The hot water felt amazing as it beat down against his shoulders, Rick getting in first before making room for her. While it had occurred to him that perhaps they could use his ensuite instead, that they take advantage of the dual shower heads, the small shower cubicle in her bathroom was better suited to their needs. It forced them to stay close to each other, necessitating that they slide their hands over one another's body with great excess. Perhaps part of her plan, Rick was hard again the moment she joined him, his discomfort worsening each time her hands innocently brushed down the front of his stomach. She was toying with him, that much was clear, and within a few short minutes she had him eating out of the palm of her hand.
More relaxed this time, they simply took their time, taking turns to soap one another up and share chaste kisses in between. While her hands roamed over his body, still skirting around his uncomfortable erection, Rick dragged his lips across her shoulders, using his tongue to drink the warm water from her skin. Long past being embarrassed by his need for her, he gasped when she finally brushed her fingers over him, dipping lower and cupping his balls next. His frustration peaked when she swiftly took her hand away, and he started to get the feeling she was enjoying his struggle more than she should. Unable to hold back any more, he gripped her ass in his hands and pushed his hips against hers, receiving the smirk he knew she was holding back. The friction was almost perfect, and he thrust against her in desperation…was she waiting for him to beg? He'd do it if that's what she wanted…he was willing to beg.
"You waiting for me to beg?" he asked gruffly, roughly dragging his lips up the side of her neck. He could feel her rapid pulse, and he slowly swiped his tongue across her skin.
To his frustration, Carrie just shrugged, appearing unconcerned. She quickly began to laugh though, her eyes lighting up as she made him look at her. Maintaining eye contact, she lowered her hand and started stroking him, her palm slippery with soap and water. Panting now, he tried hard to maintain eye contact, but he quickly gave up on that, knowing it was a useless effort. His head heavy with pleasure, he buried his face back into the side of her neck, struggling for breath as he thrust into her hand. Pausing, she let go of him and placed her hands on the crest of his hips, making him move backwards. Letting her push him into the corner of the shower cubicle, he put his head back and let his eyes drift shut, hoping she was about to do what he thought she was.
"Stay right there," she told him, her voice low and husky. Taking each of his hands, she pressed his palms flat against each of the tiled walls, holding them there a moment. "Rick?"
"Yeah," he nodded, opening his eyes and looking at her. Understanding what she was trying to tell him, he kept his hands where she put them, his chest heaving in anticipation.
Thanking him with a kiss, she held his hands against the walls a moment longer before letting go. Bracing himself, he closed his eyes as she crouched down in front of him, one hand pressed to the front of his hip to hold him still. Going slowly, she ran her tongue along the length of his erection before taking him into her mouth, the sensation drawing a long moan out of his throat. Opening his eyes he looked down at her, and he groaned loudly as he watched himself disappearing into her mouth. His voice echoed as he swore under his breath, trying to get more than a few garbled words out to tell her how good that felt. It seemed to encourage her, his breathless praises spurring her on. Forgetting what she had asked him to do, he reached out to push her wet hair off her face, the gesture coming to him naturally. But the moment his fingers touched her she lurched away from him.
"Don't," she warned him, her voice containing no hint of playfulness as she put his hand back against the tiles.
"Shit, sorry," he apologised breathlessly, feeling like an asshole. "Carrie, I'm…"
He trailed off, the return of her lips indicating that he was forgiven. Her mouth felt warm and wet, her tongue moving in perfect sync with her hand, and it was all he could do to stay still, to play his part in making sure she was comfortable doing this for him. If she didn't want him to touch her then he wouldn't, no matter how badly he wanted to wind his fingers into her hair, to gently rock his hips to set the pace. It had of course occurred to him that despite having had the opportunity before, Carrie had not initiated oral sex the way she was now. He'd wanted it of course, he'd thought a great deal about how much he longed to have her mouth on his erection, but he hadn't tried to bring it up.
Sex with Carrie had to be taken at a particular pace, specifically, her own. He knew her history, he knew how men had taken advantage of her, and violently…the fact that she was comfortable enough to have sex with him was a big deal. Though he knew his advances on her were eagerly welcomed, he also knew that things had to be taken at her own pace, and he was more than willing to accommodate this. If that meant he had to wait for her to be comfortable with certain things, then he'd wait.
Feeling restless, he raised one hand and clenched it into his own hair, the other gripping the base of the shower head. He didn't trust himself not to reach out for her again, struggling enough to keep his hips still. Listening to the running water and the sound of it going down the drain, he tried to stave off his orgasm as long as he could, but that was easier said than done. Though she'd never done this for him before, Carrie didn't make a wrong move, every touch and caress compounding, the pleasure almost unbearable. He felt his self control beginning to fail him, a familiar pressure building inside him until he couldn't wait anymore.
"Shit, Carrie…I'm close," he panted in warning, his voice catching in his throat. Don't thrust, he reminded himself forcefully. Don't thrust. "Fuck…I…"
A ragged groan built in his throat, his head falling back against the tiles when he finally came. The tension in his body was released in a swift rush of pleasure, breathless praises interspersed with her name falling from his lips. Still gripping the base of the shower head, he opened his eyes and looked down at her, shuddering as he watched her still working over him with her mouth. Even though he was the one who got off, there was a glint of satisfaction in Carrie's eyes when she finally stopped, feeling him flinch when it became too much.
While he panted to catch his breath, Carrie sensually ran her hands over his body, dragging her lips and tongue up his lower stomach, drinking the warm water off his skin. Shakily lowering his arms, Rick rubbed his hands over her shoulders and ushered her to stand, sliding his arms around her waist before bringing her to his chest. Not the least bit concerned where her mouth had just been, he kissed her deeply, hoping to convey his thanks this way until his mind managed to unscramble itself. He could feel her smiling against his lips, something he mimicked before giving a short laugh.
"Shit," he cursed, not knowing what else to say.
Carrie grinned, pressing her teeth around his bottom lip before responding. "That was shit?" she teased.
Shaking his head negatively, Rick smiled at her. "No," he corrected. "That was…"
Letting him flounder for just a moment, Carrie took pity on him. Kissing him, she draped her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts firmly against his chest. "Why don't you get back to me with that adjective? Your brain doesn't exactly have dibs on the blood flow right now."
"No," he agreed, his erection still hard against her stomach. Christ, she was making him feel like a teenager again.
Enjoying the moment, he reached up and turned the shower head towards them, not wanting her to get cold. She thanked him with a kiss, one that was long and languid, neither of them possessing the energy to do much more than to lazily stand there in one another's arms. Doing what he hadn't been able to do before, he gathered her hair off her face and pushed it behind her ear, being mindful of the cut on the top of her head. He was going to have to get used to the way it was now, still feeling a slight jolt each time he remembered that it was short now, that there was less of it to clench his hands into. Thinking for a moment, he kissed her cheek as he finally came up with a suitable adjective, glad to see it made her chuckle.
Content to let her do as she pleased, Rick simply followed her lead as she squirted some liquid soap onto her palms and started soaping him up again. Doing the same to her, he took his time to wash every part of her, enjoying the opportunity to touch her body so freely. Running his hands from her hips, up the curve of her waist and then over her ribs, he took the time to properly massage her breasts, pleased by the shiver of delight he managed to elicit. He loved her breasts, hardly able to restra-
A loud, obtrusive knock broke Rick out of his thoughts, startling both he and Carrie. Freezing where they stood, they both turned to look at the door in apprehension, holding their breath as they waited for the person on the other side to speak.
"Hello?"
It was Carl.
A/N You know the drill, please leave a review! Thanks for reading!
