Chapter 14:
"Your girlfriend owes me and apology"
Rick slammed his car door shut and looked Karen from head to toe, "Run that by me again?"
"I said", She crossed her arms, "Your girl-"
"Yeah, I thought that's what you said", He smirked, "Karen, I don't know what's going through your mind, in fact I don't I even wanna know, but I'm going to say this once-"
"She slapped me!" Karen protested.
"I'm going to say this once", Rick enforced, his eyes locked on hers, "I told you I'm sorry about what happened between us, and I meant it. I honestly I meant it at the time, but obviously you must have heard somethan' else come out of my mouth, because for some strange reason you felt as though you had to say somethan' to Michonne-"
"All I asked her was where were you!", She protested.
He squinted at her, "That's all you asked?"
"Yes! I asked her where you were and she must have been drunk or something because she just started going crazy-"
A disbelieving chuckle burst from his lips, "Really? That's what happened?"
"Yes", She spat at as she put both hands on her hips.
"Michonne just started going crazy huh?", He shook his head, still smiling, "She's not like you. She ain't crazy, she doesn't go around slapping people, and for her to even do that, you must have said somethan' really spiteful, so I don't believe that little bullshit story of yours"
Her mouth dropped open, "Wha-"
He raised his hand to stop her, "Don't talk to Michonne. Don't talk to me either, but more importantly, don't talk to her-"
"Are you being-"
"Does it look like I'm playing games here?", He tilted his head at her.
"You're letting her get between us?-", Karen frowned at him.
"What 'us'? When was there an 'us'?", He winced at her, "I fucked up with you, I did. Everythan' that happened between us, shouldn't have, and I told you I'm sorry for that, but if you want to take that out on anyone then I'm your target… but you don't talk to Michonne. You don't say a damn word to her".
She pursed her lips as she took a step back.
"Glad we could have this talk Karen", He sighed as he walked past her, "Have a nice life".
He hoped the warning stuck, as he didn't want to have the conversation again. He didn't even want to talk to her again. He wished for the opportunity to travel back in time and avoid her at all costs but sadly, he wasn't in a position to have that pleasure.
"Where'd you go?"
"Just dropped Michonne at the hotel", Rick took the cup from Shane's hand and drained it.
His friend eyed him suspiciously for a few seconds, before deciding not to pry, "Alright"
"Where's her friend…", Rick stopped looking around the room when he saw Lori dancing wildly, "Is she?"
"Yep. Wasted" Shane sighed as he shook his head, "You know she turned me down? I asked her out and she said I'm too wild. Look at her now!"
Rick squinted at Lori, "I really wanna look away... but I can't"
"Now you know how I feel. Poor thing can't dance for shit" Shane shook his head.
"We can't take her home like that" Rick's eyes widened at the thought.
"What should we do with her?"
"She needs to sober up", Rick insisted as he chucked the empty cup over his shoulder and made his way over to her.
It took him a moment to grab her arm, as she was swinging them around recklessly. She grinned at him when he finally caught her.
"Let's get you somewhere… else", He encouraged as he tugged her away. Shane began to walk out the room while he guided the intoxicated teen.
"The party was just getting started!", Lori complained.
"Oh, I'm sure it was", Rick mumbled.
They stepped out front, where Sasha and Daryl were sat on the front steps talking. Rick envied them as they smiled at each other, having their own private conversation. He sat Lori down away from them, and he and Shane stood together, staring at her.
"What happened to her?", Sasha asked, when she noticed them.
"Drunk", Shane and Rick both answered dryly.
"I am not-", Lori's sentence was cut short by a hiccup.
"What?", Sasha quickly rose from her seat and joined her friend on the other side of the steps, "Her dad will kill her if he-"
"We know. We need to sober her up", Rick sighed as he dragged his hand over his face.
"How?"
Before either of them could say anything else, Lori heaved, and both Rick and Shane took a step back, knowing what was coming. A second later, she projectile vomited on the step in front of her. Sasha watched with wide eyes.
"Well… that does help", Shane shrugged.
Rick sighed, "It does"
"There you guys are...oh", Maggie appeared at the top of the steps, beside Glenn. Her hair was a mess and Glenn looked completely dishevelled. Rick raised an eyebrow at the two of them.
"...Let's get her home"
…
Once Sasha and Maggie helped Lori get cleaned up, Rick drove her home, and both Maggie and Glenn. He had wanted to go when he initially dropped Michonne off, but he knew she promised to get Lori back to her house, so he made sure he did.
He couldn't believe how badly the night had ended for them, when it had started off perfectly. He was mad at himself for not staying with her, though he knew she wouldn't have wanted that.
He didn't want her to regret her moment with him, he didn't want her to regret anything that had happened between the two of them entirely. He'd be beyond hurt if she did, as in his mind he was planning to marry her whenever he had the chance.
It never occurred to him that his careless sex life would be a problem for her. It was something that he tried his best to keep away from her, though he knew that once word got around that the two of them were together, there would be a few girls who wouldn't take that information lightly. He made a mental note to try to at least make a list of potential problems, once he'd remember their names.
When he arrived back at the hotel, he stood outside their room door staring at it, before finally knocking, as she had the key. He waited for what felt like eternity, when she opened it, with her eyes low. She stepped away, wearing a bathrobe and headed back to the bed, while he shut the door and began peeling off his shirt.
She pulled the sheets over her legs and laid down, "We have to check out at noon"
He looked over his shoulder at her back, frowning in disbelief, "That's all you're gonna say to me?"
She didn't say anything.
"Michonne?", He turned to face her.
She sighed and sat up, "What do you want me to say Rick?"
"I want you to talk to me" He threw both hands in the air, "What the hell happened here? I don't understand, so I need you to explain to me why there's even a chance that you might regret us sleeping together when it was your idea, you told me you were ready-"
"That's not why I'm questioning it Rick"
"Then tell me", He threw his shirt on the desk chair, before placing himself in front of her, "What did I do wrong?"
"You didn't do anything wrong", She sighed as she smoothed her hair back, "It was just… I couldn't believe what Karen was saying to me, and it made me feel horrible because it was all true-"
"What did she say?"
She frowned, "She basically called me your pet, said you'd get bored of me… and all that over stuff about you being in her bed"
He clenched his jaw as he looked around the room, a new found rage surging through him.
"I just… I hated that someone like her knew that side of you. I'm not stupid Rick, I know you've slept with a lot of girls but… Karen, it's like she wanted to rub my face in it and it wasn't nice. And I know she's just angry and probably upset that she's not with you but It still sucks to hear her talk about you that way"
He sighed as he sat down on the bed beside her, "I warned you about them…"
"I know you did. But I shouldn't have to hide from any of them because I didn't do anything to any of them-"
"That doesn't mean anythan' to them-"
"Yeah… well I learnt that didn't I", Her eyes widened, "Oh my god, Lori"
"She's fine. We took her home… she was drunk but she sobered up a bit… well, enough to remember to sneak into her house"
She relaxed, "Oh good... Thank you"
He frowned at the ground in front of him, "Have you seen her dance before?"
"Uh… No, I don't think so", She shook her head, "Why?"
He winced, "It was like watching one of those shows where they perform surgery, and you don't wanna look but you keep looking anyway"
She bit her bottom lip as she tried not to smile.
"She almost smacked me in the face when I tried to get her"
A snort of laughter left her, and he instantly felt as happy as he did before.
"There's that smile", He pulled her legs over his lap as he turned to face her, "Listen, I know what I've done in the past, and with Karen… I was just mad and I thought I could use the distraction… it was just habit, and the same with the other girls… but it's not the same with you. It will never be the same with you, so don't think it will…"
She nodded as her eyes studied his face.
"Do you regret it?"
She sighed and shook her head, "I don't. I was just angry and I wasn't thinking straight, and I didn't mean to take it out on you and I'm sorry... but I don't. I promise I don't"
"Good", He truly felt relieved, "You love me Cha-Cha?"
"Oh… well this is kind of awkward", She joked as she grimaced, "We've only been together for a week so…"
"You and your games", He sighed as he tickled her.
She squealed and grabbed his hand, "Okay okay, fine… yes… I do love you, Rick…"
His heart sighed, "What do you love about me?"
She tilted her head at him, "You're so pretty"
His grin fell.
She smiled as she leaned forward and kissed him, her hand resting on his neck. He was expecting a soft, romantic kiss, but her tongue ran across his bottom lip before she gently nibbled on it, and his body awakened.
"Wait, just wait a second", He pulled back a inches to look at her, "Are you trying to go for round two?"
Her eyes darted around him, "Well, yeah… Is that a bad thing?"
His member told his brain to shut up, "No, it's definitely not bad… I just want to be sure"
"Oh good", She shrugged as she undid her bathrobe, and his eyes dropped to her bare breasts.
He only admired them for a moment, before quickly stood and ripped his pants and boxers from his lower half, while she removed her underwear and sat waiting for him in the bed. He praised himself for always carrying more than one condom, as previous events had taught him that lesson.
"Lay down..", He instructed as he rolled the protection to the base of his length.
"I want to go on top"
His movements stilled as he looked at her with a raised eyebrow, "Oh yeah?"
She nodded.
He watched her, but still proceeded to lay down in the centre of the bed. His eyes drank her in with anticipation as she mounted him, surprised she felt so comfortable to try new positions. He wasn't as confident when he had stumbled in to the world of sexual activity.
"You sure you're ready to-"
He almost choked on his words as she engulfed him quicker than he expected. He looked down at himself, questioning how she was already so wet.
"What?", She gasped as she slowly moved on top of him.
He was hoping to regain some control of himself, but she gave him no opportunity, instead she slowly rolled her hips around his shaft, enjoying the new sensations.
"Oh god", She moaned, slipping her hand down to her down to her folds.
Rick watched her with disbelieving eyes, "Mich-"
"I want you to talk to me"
His mouth dropped open, "You want me to talk to you?"
"I want to hear your voice", She bit her lip as she continued to grind on him.
Rick was shocked to say the least. He would have never expected her to have such a sexual appetite so soon. His attentions were torn between watching her move on top of him, trying to register what she was asking from him, and not coming too soon from how good she felt.
"Who are you?", Was all he could muster as she began to bounce on top of him.
"Oh god, Rick!", She cried as excitement took over her. He wasn't sure what she did but he felt her tighten around him, and it almost made his chest cave.
"Shit!", He cursed, his eyes on her lower half.
She rested her hands on his chest, still bobbing up and down.
"I've created a monster", His hands gripped her thighs in a bid to stop, "Michonne, you need to slow-"
"Ah fuck!", She went back to rolling her hips on his member, her moves more pronounced than previously.
Rick needed her to stop. If she didn't then he wouldn't be able to continue because of his pending heart attack. He summoned all the strength and will he had to grab her hips and lift her off him. Her eyes popped open and she looked down at him, confused.
"What's wrong?", She panted as she smoothed her hair back from her face.
"I'm so glad that you're enjoying yourself", He breathed, "Really, I am, but I'm enjoying this too much, and I'd like it to last"
She frowned at him, "Can't we just do it again after?"
His face fell, "We can if you don't kill me"
She giggled, "Okay… sorry"
"How about I take over…", He insisted as he sat up, and wrapped an arm around her waist. He flipped her over to lay on her back, and was glad he could gain back some control of himself.
He soon learned that, Michonne had other ideas. She crossed her legs around his waist and still moved her hips beneath him, while he cursed her in his mind.
"Yes, Rick!"
He realised the gentle approach he was trying to take with her wasn't good enough. He had woken something in her, and she was demanding more from him. He sat up above her and hooked his hand behind one of her thighs.
"Comfy?"
She nodded.
He sank into her and her eyes rolled back, snapping shut. The first few thrusts were slow, to prepare her, but once he warmed up, he began to pump in and out with urgency. She grabbed hold of one of his bicep, while he made sure to keep his grip on her thigh tight, keeping her in place.
"Fuck!", She cried, her eyes closed tightly.
He was in dangerous territory, as he was ready to come from the moment she started riding him. But his pride wouldn't allow him to crumble just yet. He released her thigh and placed both his hands on the mattress, above her shoulders to lock her in position. He picked up the pace, pounding into her with nothing but determination. A high pitched cry continuously rolled from her lips as she held on to his forearms.
Her back arched when she tightened around him, and he could have thanked her out loud. He didn't know how long he could keep going. Her walls pulsed as she came, and he finally released his own load. He watched her with hooded, tired eyes, while she sighed happily beneath him.
"I think I can get used to this"
He was as happy as he was worried to hear her say that.
…
"I don't want her to go over there on her own"
"Rick, you realise that they are her parents? They haven't hurt her before, have they?"
He huffed as he leaned on the kitchen counter, watching his mother move around the kitchen.
"She just wants to turn down that ridiculous offer they made so she can do that on her own", His mother put down a large salad bowl and looked at him, "Can I ask you somethan'?"
"No."
She ignored him, "I know you and her have been friends for a long time and I think it's sweet and all, but why are you so protective over her? You hover over her a lot"
He shrugged, "I just am"
"...Is there somethan' more there?"
He resisted the urge to roll his eyes at his mother's prying, "Somethan' more?"
"Well, you went to prom together, and I saw how you were looking at-"
Rick pushed away from the counter and began walking out the kitchen, "I'm gonna go feed Rocky"
"We will talk about this!"
He groaned as he trudged up the stairs. While he knew he would eventually tell his parents, he hoped to tell his dad first, then let him tell his mother. Even though he wasn't opposed to the shift in their relationship, he wasn't ready to start divulging every detail of his life to his her.
However he didn't mind discussing the current situation with Michonne's parents. He found his mother's advice useful for that. After hearing about the offer they had made to her to move back with them, he was afraid they would try to appear more lenient to get her back. It wasn't that he didn't want her to have a good relationship with her parents, he just couldn't imagine them allowing her more freedom, or not forcing her to marry someone from their questionable church.
As soon as he stepped into his room Rocky was on his ankle, her adolescent claws felt like pin pricks against his skin.
"You little shi-"
"Hey! Leave her alone", Michonne scolded as she plucked her off him, "She's just playing"
"With my flesh?"
"She likes you. She senses that the two of you are difficult souls-"
"Please", He snorted as he threw himself down on his bed. He watched her hold the kitten to her chest and stroke under her chin, "Come sit with me"
She stepped over and joined him, still stroking Rocky.
"You nervous about talking to your parents?"
She pulled a face, but didn't look at the him, "Not really. I'm kinda just, not interested anymore…"
He nodded as he listened to her.
"I used to get upset when I thought about them, but now… I just don't really care anymore. I just want to focus on college"
He stopped nodding, "What are you thinking about that?"
She turned to face him, "I think I should live on campus"
He didn't move.
"I know you want me to drive so I can come home every night but that's not ideal, so I thought about it and I still want to drive so then I can come back Friday night… leave Monday morning, so I'd still be with you three nights a week"
He bit the inside of his cheek while he nodded, hoping not to show his disappointment.
"Rick, don't be like that" She insisted as she took his hand in hers, "It won't be like this forever"
He sighed as he looked up at the ceiling, "I know, but it still sucks for now"
"It does, but we can still talk on the phone all night", She smiled as laid her head on his chest, "And I can sneak you in my dorm room"
He smirked, running his fingers through her hair, "Yeah and scare the life out of your roommate"
"Exactly", She chuckled, "We'll be fine. Just don't get into trouble while I'm gone"
He feigned offence, "Well I never-"
"I mean it, Rick", She lifted her head to look at him.
He pouted, "Fine"
"Good".