Beth didn't know what type of building she was in. The best she could tell it was some kind of storage facility. The windows were dirty and only muted light was filtering through. Beth could barely see through the gloom.
She took a tentative step further into the building. She knew she couldn't afford to linger in the doorway just in case the dead man's companions came through the open door.
It was likely, thanks to her, that the street outside was crawling with walkers. Beth looked around for something to barricade the door with but found nothing. Taking a shuddering breath Beth continued to make her way into a corridor.
If she could just find a place to hole up then she could outwait the men and the walkers.
Her gun was back in her hand and she wished she hadn't dropped her knife outside. Her hearing was still fuzzy and she didn't want to think how much worse it would be in these close quarters.
Beth knew she had to find a weapon of some sort. Around the corner Beth saw a window had been smashed and the shards on the floor were lethal looking. Beth swooped to pick one up immediately. The edges were shard and she hissed as it left shallow gashes in her palm. She hastily pulled off her jacked to wrap at the base of the shard, so that she was able to hold it more comfortably.
Beth heard a door swing open. There were no voices and no groans of dead men. With a lurch she realised that she hadn't taken care of the man outside. He had died from being shot in the chest which meant he was likely to rise up again. Maybe he was the one fumbling his way after her right now.
It takes longer than that to transition, Beth reasoned with herself but the truth was it could take hours or it could take minutes. Beth pushed on.
The air inside was stale and muggy. It clung to her skin making Beth sweat even though she only had her tank top on now. Her knuckles were white around the shard and she clutched it tightly, like a talisman.
Beth reached the end of the corridor and opened the door at the end. It wasn't locked either and she wedged it open a sliver. Beth promptly shut it behind her. There were walkers packed tight in the corridor. They were standing around desiccating, clearly having lost the motivation to do anything other than rot.
Beth was lucky that they hadn't seen her or smelt her in that brief instant. But she could hear footsteps now. As quiet as the humans were trying to be they couldn't manage total silence. Beth was uncertain whether they were being so stealthy because they had seen her slip in here or because they were wary of walkers.
Beth was trapped between the dead and the living but both side wanted to kill her. Biting down on her lip, she weighed her odds. There was nowhere to hide.
Her eyes flickered over the door again. If she waited for just the right moment maybe her two problems could solve each other. The sounds of men were closer and she could make out hushed whispers but no words.
Beth started to scratch at the door. It wasn't loud but the walkers would hear it. She wanted them riled up and ready to charge when the men were bearing down on her. Time was running out and Beth's heart was in her mouth. There was a low groan on the other side of the door followed by a thump. She had felt a lot of different things after hearing walkers, like fear, pity and anger but never before had she felt relief.
Beth didn't over think setting a group of rabid walkers on people she never met. Something in her gut told her they wished her harm and there was a good chance they were new recruits of the Governor.
The first man spotted Beth. He had barely opened his mouth when Beth lunged for the door, flinging it wide open.
Some of the walkers ambled towards Beth, finding their feet after weeks of nothing. Beth had the glass shard up and ready. Kicking one walker in the stomach to buy herself some time, Beth turned on the next closest walker. The lift of the knife caught on the edge of the walker's nose and to Beth's disgust its skin peeled away like over ripe fruit. It hooked on the bone and Beth had to throw her entire weight behind it to penetrate its skull.
The walker collapsed at her feet. The difficulty of putting that one down had shaken Beth. There were still plenty more coming into the narrow space but just as many were grasping after the men who were trying to make a hasty retreat.
Beth pushed against the flow of walkers, constantly in motion so that nothing could lay hands on her for more than an instant.
Beth was in the door frame when a walker seized her shirt. Beth shoved back, pushing its mouth away from her neck. In the middle of this critical moment Beth was reminded of the walker that had almost killed her before Daryl had saved her. But she was not that helpless little girl any more. The hand with the glass shard was thrust against the walker's chest, holding it at bay and she could feel her own blood dripping down her wrist. The scent of her fresh blood sent the walker into a frenzy. With a cry Beth forced the walker back. Beth used her free hand to snap the walkers head back hard against the door frame, once and then again.
Beth moved back, trying to create some distance so that she could kill it but the walker slumped to the ground. Beth realised she had used her bare hands to end the creature.
Seeing an opportunity, Beth threw herself across the threshold, dragging the door shut behind her. The door caught on the most recent corpse. Beth unceremoniously kicked it out of the way and the door closed with a click.
There were a few more walkers on this side of the door but Beth disposed of them efficiently.
Beth wanted to drop the glass shard. Her hand was stinging like crazy but she didn't dare abandon this weapon.
Her eyes had adjusted to the dark and now she was moving fast. Beth wanted to find an exit and get back to Morgan's or the safe house he had described.
Beth could see a door with a crooked exit sign dangling above it. She had almost made it when she was seized from the side. It all happened in an instant. She was slammed against the wall so hard the air was driven from her lungs and the glass shard slipped from her fingers. A knife was biting into the skin at her collarbone. Beth looked over the knife at her assailant and met Daryl's blue eyes.
...
Daryl pulled his blade back aghast. He'd heard the footsteps and reacted. He hadn't known who it was thundering down the hall but he was going to beat the shit out of them until they told him where Beth was.
As soon as he realised that the town was being scavenged by a larger group he was immediately reminded of that kid Randal and the stories he had told about his group's raping and pillaging tendencies. He had turned straight around and headed in the direction Beth had set off in, cursing himself for ignoring his instincts and not protesting against splitting up.
When he had heard the shots he had started to run but now every walker in town was bearing down on the spot. When he saw the man lying on the ground dead he knew Beth had been the one to shoot him.
Seeing the herd of walkers congregating in that spot, he got himself into the building with a door hanging open. He emerged into chaos. Humans and walkers throwing themselves at each other and it looked like the walkers were winning.
Daryl reeled off in the other direction. A quick glance didn't show Beth amongst the bodies and he didn't have time to pick his way through the fight.
All he wanted was to find Beth and save her.
And now she was on the edge of his blade, her blood on his knife.
Once she recognised him the fear in her eyes turned to relief. Daryl didn't have time to indulge the absolute horror he felt at hurting Beth. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her along behind him.
They burst out the exit into the glaring sunshine. Beth recoiled from the brightness but Daryl had his crossbow sweeping the terrain. No walkers close enough to pose an immediate threat.
"Morgan?" Beth asked.
"He's on his own," Daryl said regretfully. "We need to get somewhere safe."
Beth said, "I recognise this street from the map Morgan drew." They were close to the other apartment he had fortified.
"Come on," Beth instructed taking the lead.
Daryl noticed she was still moving fast and was keeping her head. He was proud of her. The only thing spoiling this moment was the ugly splash of red that edged along her chest.
They dodged Morgan's safe guards and burst in to the apartment building.
"Remember, top floor and only every second step," Daryl said, looking out the door to ensure they hadn't been followed.
Beth didn't hesitate and Daryl was hot on her heels. If Morgan hadn't told them all the snares he had set up in the apartment then Daryl wouldn't have risked it. The building was a death trap.
Daryl let them into the apartment. It was small. One room with a bed and a bathroom attached. The windows were boarded up and the door was solid. Daryl locked it up behind them.
Beth leant against a wall and her knees buckled, unable to hold her up anymore. Daryl looked at her with concern but her face was calm.
Daryl took quick stock of the supplies. There was food, water and a first aid kit. Daryl dropped his weapons and picked that up first.
"Sit on that seat so I can clean you up," Daryl told Beth without looking at her. He heard a weary sigh and the scrape of her boots as she complied.
He found another chair and dragged it across from her. Daryl took her hand, not ready to deal with the wound he had inflicted.
He unwound her jacked, it came away sticky with her blood. Daryl winced at the cuts in her palm. They might not need stitches but they'd scar for sure. He hated the idea of Beth's creamy skin marred but no one could get through life without it marking them up a little.
"How'd you manage this?"
"Glass shard," Beth answered through clenched teeth. Daryl wiped the cuts clean and dabbed some antiseptic on it. Beth's hand jerked under his and she let out a hiss.
"Gotta be done."
"I know," Beth bit out.
After he had bound her hand tightly he turned his attention to the cut on her chest. It was shallower than the gashes on her hand but it would scar too. It would end up being a faint silvery line, nothing more.
It was a long clean cut that extended under the strap of her shirt. The wet rag sat uselessly in his hand as Daryl stared at what he had done.
"You didn't do this to me," Beth whispered.
Daryl snorted and looked up to meet her eyes.
"You didn't! It was an accident."
"That's no excuse."
"I know you would never hurt me. You were comin' to find me." Beth spoke so confidently. She never doubted that he would come and get her. Beth forgave him for this because it was an accident. She was right; he would never hurt her on purpose.
With a shaky hand, Daryl slid the strap of her shirt off her shoulder. He carefully washed away the blood. Now that he could see it clearly, he knew that it wasn't nearly as bad as his guilty conscience had made it out to be.
This time when he ran a sterilizing swab over it, Beth wrapped her fingers around his wrist.
"Nearly done," he promised. Beth's pain was obvious but her gaze never left his face. Daryl wondered if his own internal hurting was showing through his expression.
When it was done Daryl simply looked at Beth. She was still here and in one piece. He was surprised by the strength of his gratitude for that one simple fact.
"I killed someone today," she said softly. Daryl started at her unexpected shift in conversation. Her eyes were fixed on the ground.
"You were defendin' yourself."
"I always judged Carl for being able to kill that boy and not blink."
"So you're not a killer, Beth. It ain't a bad thing that you don't kill easy."
"See that's the thing. It was. So easy."
Beth sounded so detached. Daryl wished he could have protected her from this moment for longer. He would have bloodied his hands in a sea of bodies if it meant Beth could keep her innocence but in this life causing death was inevitable.
He wanted so desperately to comfort her. Moved by some emotion that Daryl barely recognised, he leant forward and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. Beth went still under his lips and Daryl wasn't certain if this was a line he was allowed to cross. When Beth didn't move away he pressed another gentle kiss against her cheekbone. Daryl wasn't thinking; he was just acting.
Beth's eyes fluttered closed, her eyelashes a stark black against her milky white skin. She was beautiful even covered in dirt and sweat and blood.
Knowing it was a very bad idea but unable to help himself Daryl made one last move to seal his mouth over hers. It was barely a kiss, just a way for Daryl to convey his relief she was fine; that she didn't blame him for hurting her. All things Daryl was feeling but unable to put in to words.
Beth's fingers were still around his wrist but they tightened noticeably when he kissed her.
Daryl leaned back, taking in Beth's fast breathing and wide eyes. He knew he should get up and walk away but he was stuck. There were only inches separating them.
As if a mutual decision passed between them, Daryl pulled Beth forward and she met him eagerly. There was nothing restrained about this kiss. Her mouth opened under his, willing and impatient.
Sitting across from each other made the angle awkward. Beth let out a groan of frustration and then she was on his lap, her legs straddling either side of him. Daryl was consumed by the sensation of Beth.
Sitting on Daryl gave Beth leverage over him. Her golden hair was falling free of its confines and brushing against his face. Daryl threaded his fingers through it, anchoring her against him. He could feel his body reacting to her and Beth could sense it too though she didn't understand what was changing at first. She was shifting, trying to get comfortable and then froze when she realised what was happening.
This time Beth was the one to pull back. Daryl didn't shirk her gaze. He let her see the hot desire he knew was in his eyes. He didn't do it to frighten her off but because he could no longer fight how strongly he was drawn to her.
His fingers were still wrapped tightly in her hair, keeping her close to him. Daryl could see every thought going through Beth's mind. He didn't know if she'd always been that transparent to him or if now he just understood her so much better.
Moving slowly and giving her plenty of opportunity to get away, he brushed his lips across hers teasingly. A breathy moan escaped her and Daryl had to fight not to claim her completely. He bit down gently on her lower lip. Every sound that came out of Beth, Daryl owned, experiencing a possessive masculine pride.
Daryl slid his fingers down her bare arms; he could feel her shiver under his touch. Beth's hands were digging into his shoulders but he didn't mind the pain. He remembered the sensation of her trailing paths along his bare stomach and Daryl realised she had touched more of him than he of her. He intended to rectify the situation.
Daryl's hands slipped under her shirt easily, running along the smooth skin of her back. He felt like he was breaking so many rules touching Beth like this but he couldn't care less right now. If this is what going to hell felt like than it was worth being damned.
Beth, tired of being taunted, pressed her lips hard to his, nipping his top lip in revenge. The intensity was mounting, all thoughts of finesse abandoned as they pushed together as close as possible.
Daryl grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it up and over her head. Beth gave a little squeak of surprise not expecting that. His eyes raked over her body, hot and wild.
Daryl cupped Beth's face in his hands, feeling the flush of her cheeks under his calloused palms. She was embarrassed, Daryl could tell. He had seen her in less than this but something about this moment made it so much more significant.
Daryl ghosted his hands up her stomach, resting the flat of his hands on her ribs. Beth jerked and her breath was coming so much faster. Daryl knew he was letting the situation get out of control but he felt like an addict having a relapse. There was no thought process, only instinct.
Pushing the boundaries even further, Daryl brushed her hair back so that he could lick the curve of her neck, tasting the faintly salty texture of her skin. She arched her neck, giving him better access. Her delicate skin at his mercy gave him a heady rush.
Daryl claimed her mouth once more. To him, she tasted sweet and he half imagined that it was from the fruit she had eaten earlier.
With more forcefulness than he intended Daryl stood up, his hands going to the underside of Beth's thighs to hold her to him. He walked them to the bed the whole time a voice in the back of his head was screeching, bad, bad!
Daryl stretched Beth along the bed and smoothly covered her body with his. Beth's legs were wrapped around his hips and her breasts were pressed tightly against his chest as he kissed her with an almost savage ferocity.
When Beth let out a tiny groan of protest, he immediately pulled back though it cost him something to do it.
Beth was dazed underneath him. "We should stop. It hasn't been two weeks yet."
Daryl looked down at the woman beneath him, her skin flushed and her pink lips parted.
"Fuck the two weeks," He growled, pulling her to him again.
Before he fit his mouth to hers he saw Beth's eyes widened. She was nervous. Good. Some animalistic part of Daryl liked the scent of fear on Beth. It gave him a bizarre rush of power even though they both knew she was totally safe with him.
At first he thought Beth was struggling to get away from him but he realised she was trying to get his shirt off. Daryl chuckled and lent back so he could tug it over his head. When he returned to Beth it was skin to skin. The heat of hers seemed to scorch him.
Beth's hands began exploring his stomach. If Daryl was struggling to restrain himself, Beth had no such qualms. Her tiny hands splayed on his chest, seemingly fascinated with the hair there.
Daryl reminded himself she was a young virgin; it was likely this was as close to a man as she had ever come. Jimmy probably hadn't even been shaving yet.
Daryl slowed his pace to allow Beth time for her investigation. Her face held a look of intense concentration as she traced his tattoos; first the one on his bicep and then the one on his chest. When she accidently brushed his nipple he let out a small grunt and subconsciously bore down on her.
Beth's cheeks flamed red and Daryl couldn't help thinking if this already made her blush she was going to be in deep trouble by the end because nothing short of a vocal 'no' from Beth herself was getting him to stop now.
Figuring he'd take advantage of her state of already embarrassment Daryl sat back, his hands going for the button of her pants.
He looked down at Beth, broadcasting his intentions. She was sprawled on the bed like a fallen angel watching him closely. Daryl quirked an eyebrow; asking for her permission. Wordlessly she nodded and bit her lower lip.
Daryl tried to be gentle but eventually he had to yank. He didn't know what it was with woman wearing tight pants. Sure the view was good for him but it had to be uncomfortable.
Daryl met another obstacle when he realised Beth's boots were still on. He fought a smile at the absurdity of the situation. He was pretty sure that Beth would not appreciate him laughing at this point in the process. He unlaced the boots, pulling them off and throwing them away almost violently.
Now Beth was in nothing more than underwear and Daryl felt his mouth go dry. He didn't know how he had ever thought of her as a little kid. Beth was delicate and petite but she had the tell tale signs of womanhood.
Daryl ran his fingers along the length of her leg, taking his time to enjoy the feel of her skin under his fingertips and the way Beth shuddered.
Daryl leant down to press a kiss to the hollow of her hip. Beth jumped at the feel of his lips in an unexpected place. Daryl put a hand on her the slope of her waist, holding her in place. His lips were bare millimetres from the top of her underwear. Daryl wanted so badly to slide the fabric away so he could taste her there but Beth wasn't ready for that kind of foreplay. She'd die of mortification before she could even begin to enjoy it. He filed the idea away for another time when she was more comfortable with him.
Instead he kissed his way up her stomach, taking more time than he normally would, trying to put her at ease. By the time Daryl reached the uninjured side of her collarbone, Beth was moaning.
Daryl smirked down at her, feeling completely confident for once. Seeing his expression Beth glared a little. Meeting his stare defiantly, Beth sat up. Daryl moved to give her the space to do so, wondering what she was going to do. Not taking her eyes off him, she reached behind to unclasp her own bra.
Daryl was staring at her, stunned, drinking in the sight of her perfect body. All his fantasies had never done this moment justice. Beth was sitting there shyly but making no attempt to cover herself.
Daryl leaned forward to kiss her. He tried to be tender and reassuring even though it was taking all he had not to simply claim her. Beth arched into him with a groan.
Beth's hands bravely went to his pants. His came up to cover her breasts. The sensation almost did him in right there. Beth was pushing his pants over his hips and he reached down to help.
Lying there in nothing but underwear, his body flush against Beth's, Daryl took a moment to take stock. He still felt a certain amount of disbelief that it had come to this but any internal voice that might insist it was wrong faded away. Beth was giving him this gift and he wasn't going to belittle it with guilt.
As he gently kissed her neck again, he slid one hand down between them, cupping her through the fabric. Giving her a second to adjust to the change, to acknowledge the direction things were heading, Daryl waited before snagging a finger on the top of her underwear and pulling them off.
This time when his fingers found her, there was no barrier between him and her. Daryl watched her face as he touched her. First the uncertainty and fear and then Beth's head was thrown back.
Merely being able to touch Beth and see her like this gave him more pleasure than he thought was possible. Daryl could see her fingers scrambling to find something to clutch. Using his free hand he pinned hers above her head.
Daryl didn't know whether Beth had ever had an orgasm before. They had established she was a virgin but they hadn't really discussed her own sexual awareness, probably because it would have given him a heart attack. But he would be damned if he didn't make her climax while he watched.
When Beth's breathing became shallow and her eyes shut, he knew she was close. Daryl speed up his movements a little, finding that perfect spot to make her cry out. He couldn't tear his eyes off her face.
Suddenly Beth's body tensed and a sound almost like a sob escaped her throat. Daryl could feel the fine trembling in her legs. Daryl patiently waited for her to come down from the sensation, idly stroking his hands up her body.
Beth's hair was stuck to her face and she looked more beautiful than ever.
Daryl could see she was struggling to find the right words. He never gave her the opportunity because he slid one finger inside her. Beth's small hands wrapped around his biceps and she gasped.
Daryl was so ready for her it hurt. Barely able to manage two things at once he pulled his last remaining clothing off so he was finally naked with Beth.
Daryl positioned himself over Beth, propping himself up on his arms. There was no fear left on her face; just trust and desire. The intensity of her expression made Daryl feel weak. He had seen lust on women's faces before but this absolute faith was new to him.
Daryl pressed his lips to hers again and entered her. He swore; he couldn't help it. Being inside her was so amazing, so right.
Beth had cried out again, this time in pain. Daryl wished there was something he could have done to change that but he knew it was natural. He buried his face in her hair, shaking with the effort of staying still.
Beth's hand found his and he threaded his fingers through hers, riding out the pause together. When Beth bit at his earlobe he knew she was ready for more. Still he took it slow. The pace drove him mad but the look on Beth's face made up for it.
When Daryl chanced some more speed, some more pressure, his name came tumbling out of Beth's mouth like a prayer. He didn't have a hope in hell of restraint after that.
Their bodies pressed together, slick with sweat, and Daryl's fingers dug into the soft skin at her hip, pulling her even closer against him.
Beth was moaning, meeting his movements with her own. Daryl had lost all illusions of self-control, grinding into her at every stroke. Amazingly, he could feel her getting to that point again and it was only a matter of helping her reach her peak before he reached his.
Ducking his head down, he took her nipple in his mouth, flicking his tongue over it. At the same time, he shifted his angle so he could reach parts of her that he hadn't before. Beth's hands were on his back and her legs around his waist, clutching him tightly.
Her eyes locked on his. Beth held her breathe, she gave a little keen of pleasure and tightened around him. The whole time her blue eyes met his. That was the beginning of the end for Daryl. He moved into her with no regard for rhythm or how rough he was being.
Daryl bit down on her shoulder, stifling his moans as he went spiralling over the edge of his own climax.
Still joined Daryl looked down at Beth, taking in every detail.
She looked back with a lazy grin. "Holy shit!"
AN: And there it is. I'm super insecure with my ability to write sex. I always worry it'll sound silly or repetitive. Please leave me reviews letting me know what you think. Long long long reviews. I hope this did the two characters justice and was in character for both of them. I always intended for Daryl to break before the end of the two weeks. I didn't forget the condoms, I just didn't have them use them because of the spontaneity of the situation and because of the option for a guilt spiral for Daryl, if that's the direction I wanna take.
Remember, reviews reviews!
MD666