CHAPTER 12
When they got to the farm, Lori hastily pulled Noel into the house. She seemed almost angry that Noel hadn't come earlier. Noel didn't mind; it kept her busy an away from Rick and Daryl. Noel had pieced together that she was the only one Lori knew, and trusted for that matter, with any medical experience. Noel was introduced to Hershel and his people and ushered into the room where Carl was recovering.
"You're a doctor?" Hershel asked as Noel took a look at Carl's wound. Noel shook her heard. "Figured." He said as he watched Noel shoot him a look. "I just mean you're very young." He said fumbling over his words.
"I know," She said with a teasing smile. "I'm just humoring Lori. I know that just because you're a vet doesn't mean you can't take care of this boy." She said gesturing to Carl's sleeping figure. "And from what I can see you've done a fine job." Lori and Rick entered the room as Noel finished speaking.
Lori smiled a weak smile and gripped Noel's hand. After a short while, when Lori's grip remained tight Noel decided she'd stay for a short while longer.
Noel joined the group setting up camp once Lori dozed off at Carl's side. Andrea motioned for her to join her while Rick, Shane and Daryl discussed the search for Sophia. Hershel ruled Rick and Shane out of the search due to injury. Noel almost spoke against him, not wanting to be at camp with Rick.
"Guess it's jus' me then." Daryl drawled. Shane and Rick shot Noel a look. Noel sighed; she was uneasy with joining Daryl for another trip into the woods after how the first one went but it was better then having to spill her guts to Rick.
"We'd feel more comfortable if he wasn't out there alone." Rick said as Shane nodded. If Rick wanted something out of Noel he was clearly hiding it.
"Better on my own." Daryl said with annoyance as he went to leave. Rick shook his head. "Don't worry about it. I'll be back before dark."
"I get that, but, you'd have a better chance of finding that girl if ya had back up… in case ya ran into any trouble." Rick said. Shane nodded in agreement again.
Spoken like a true leader, Noel thought to her self sarcastically. She put her hands up in surrender.
"Alright. I'm going too." She mumbled. Secretly thankful they thought Daryl needed assistance.
As Noel walked in the woods following Daryl's lead she was surprised at how unafraid she felt. He was busy looking for any signs of Sophia; eyes squinted in concentration, his face set in a scowl. It made her feel better that his focus wasn't on her. Though she had a sick feeling in her gut that if he did turn the tables on her, she wouldn't really mind. She quickly shook this thought away.
Jesus, she thought, get a fucking hold of yourself. He's old enough to be your father. You don't want this. She tried to convince herself the attraction was one sided but she found herself staring at his arms and remembering his touch. And those eyes, she thought, I'm doomed.
She was pulled from her thoughts as she walked and stood next to Daryl's frozen figure. She looked and saw what he was seeing, a house, just ahead in a clearing. His eyes scanned the scene looking for any disturbances and when they found none he made his way to the small farmhouse.
After he kicked the doors open he paused, thinking, and then motioned up the stairs. Noel climbed the stairs, rifle at the ready, and made her way through all the rooms; empty. Suddenly she heard a crash and bolted down the stairs to see a very frustrated and angry Daryl standing in what looked like the kitchen. She stared at him with confused eyes.
"She was here!" He practically yelled at her gesturing to a small closet. "Maybe a day ago. Jus' fuckin' missed her!" His voice rose steadily as he boomed at her. She didn't know what to do. She'd seen Daryl loose control many times, the last time he'd calmed down only after they…
Fuck, she thought as his eyes bore threw her, I know where this is headed. Noel felt her heart slamming in her chest, growing increasing unsure if it was from fear or excitement as he stalked over to where she stood.
"Daryl…I…" She struggled to find the right words. He ran his hands angrily through his hair.
"Fuck!" He yelled. She backed up and moved around the stairs so when he finally had her pinned her head was below the stair railings. His hands slammed down against the wall on opposite sides of her head. She watched him with wide eyes as his nostrils flared with anger as he tried to calm himself down. At least he's trying, she thought. But it wasn't working.
He almost flinched when one of her hands pressed lightly against his chest, soon to be joined by the other. She could feel his heart beating even faster then hers and the heat that radiated off of him. It was her now who almost flinched as his hand moved to grip her nape.
His lips came crashing down onto hers as she quickly fisted her hands into his shirt. She surprised herself at how quickly she kissed him back and allowed his tongue entrance into her mouth. Her hands gripped the back of his neck and slid into his sweat-dampened hair as his hands ran up and down her body.
He made quick work of the buttons on the thin flannel she wore and moaned into her mouth when his hands slid over her and he realized she wasn't wearing a bra. His lips trailed wet open-mouthed kisses along her jaw, down her neck and chest until he reached her breasts and sucked and nipped as she bit down hard on her bottom lip.
He pulled his mouth away from her chest and up to her face. She gasped at the loss of contact and shuddered when she felt his breath against her ear. She bit her lip again as he rolled his hips against hers.
"No," he said harshly making her freeze. He gripped her jaw and spoke softly against her ear, "I want ta hear ya." She understood quickly and opened her mouth. He took the opportunity to slide his tongue in and kiss her again while he lifted one of her legs. He pulled one of her shoes off and unbuttoned her pants hastily.
His lips trailed down her neck and stopped at her collarbone to suck and nip hoping to leave a bruise. She let out a shaky moan and his hips buck up hard in response. Her hands slid hesitantly down his torso and he pulled away from her to yank his shirt off, his pants and underwear next, depositing them on the floor on the growing pile of clothes. She continued her hesitant movements along the muscles of his upper half.
His lips moved back to her nipples, assaulting each one; nipping and sucking, anything to get a noise out of Noel's swollen lips. He pulled one of her legs fully out of her pants and underwear wrapping it around his naked hips positioning himself to enter her. His lips moved back up to her mouth, licking her pulse as he moved causing a deep moan to escape her. His hips bucked up hard in response pushing him into her tight warmth roughly. Another noise escaped Noel but this one was laced with pain as she gripped tightly at his nape. Her eyes were shut tight and she braced herself against the stairs an arm shooting up to grab the railing as he started moving in and out of her.
She could feel the tenseness in his body as the pain was fading fast. She wrapped her arms around him tightly as the speed his movements increased. Her hips started moving against his and she wondered if she'd always been such an active participant, helping to bring them both to the edge. Noel's eyes flew open when she thought she heard an apology escape Daryl's lips. His head was against hers, his lips grazing her ear. She had heard correctly.
"I can't stop." He gasped out gripping her body tightly and thrusting roughly as he felt his orgasm approaching. But she was further then him, she could feel herself going. Pleasure seared through her as her head fell back, moaning as she came around him. With her muscles contracting tightly around him he came hard inside her.
