Chapter 14

"Daryl?" Carol asked after a couple of moments.

"Yeah, I'm here," he murmured.

"You ok over there?"

"Good," he choked out. Carol grinned a little, sliding her hand down her stomach and into the waistband of her pants, lightly skimming her hands over the top of her panties. "You?"

"Mmmhmm," she purred. She felt her face reddening by the moment. She'd never done this before, but it wasn't like they hadn't seen each other naked, hadn't touched each other so intimately just the night before. Still, the idea that there were so many things they hadn't done and would have to wait to do until the next time they saw one another was simultaneously erotic and frustrating.

"What…whatcha doin'?"

"What do you think I'm doing?" she asked, her voice low, suggestive.

"Fuck, I hope it's what I think you're doin'," he croaked out. Carol laughed softly, dipping her fingers inside of her panties, feeling how wet she already was. She let out a soft sigh and then a moan. "Jesus."

"I miss you," she whispered softly, closing her eyes as she circled a finger against her clit.

"Me too," he murmured. "Carol?"

"Hmm?"

"I ain't never done this before."

"Me neither," she chuckled. "But it could be fun." She swallowed hard, taking a deep breath as she dipped one finger inside. "Just…tell me what you want."

"Fuck, I want you," he murmured, his breath coming out in staggered pants.

"Well, if I was there? What would you do? What would you want me to do?"

"Lotsa things we ain't done yet." His voice was low, quiet, and it sent a bolt of heat straight to her core. She moaned softly, sliding another finger inside.

"Tell me," she whispered. "What do you want?" He was quiet for a moment, and she swore she could hear the distinctive sound of a belt buckle popping open. She smiled as she bit her lip, shuddering as she teased her clit with her fingertips. The longer the silence dragged on, the more she realized he really wasn't comfortable. "Tell me what…what you liked last night." Her own insecurities were beginning to surge, and she trembled. "Daryl?"

"Liked the way you tasted. Your skin. Liked…uh…"

"Tell me. I'm not gonna bite," she teased. "Not until I see you again anyway." She was never this verbal, sexually, with a man, but it felt a little easier over the phone, especially when he groaned afterward. "I liked it when your mouth was on me, the way it felt when your tongue was on my nipples."

"Christ, Carol." His voice was hoarse, and she wondered if he was stroking himself the way she was.

"The way it felt when you pushed inside of me. The way you stretched me, filled me up and touched me like nobody else has before." She wriggled her hips a little, using her hand to push her panties down her hips to give herself better access. She shucked her pants down, too, bending her knees and inserting a third finger. She was still a little sore from last night, but it was a good sore, and as she moved her fingers inside of herself, she imagined it was him touching her. "Daryl…" His breathing was more erratic now, and the thought of him sliding his hand down his own dick nearly pushed her over the edge. "Tell me what you like. Tell me what you want."

"Wanna be inside you. Wanna taste you. Wanna feel your hands on my skin…" He panted this time, and Carol's hand worked a little harder, a little faster. She moaned softly as he continued. "Wanna feel your legs wrapped around me, wanna bury myself in you. Love the way it feels…you surroundin' me." Alright, we're gonna have to work on the dirty talk, but it's not bad. Not bad at all. Carol cried out suddenly, and Daryl nearly lost it at the sound.

When her cries quieted, her breath was loud in the phone, and he gave his dick a firm pull, feeling the tightness in his balls warning him he was about to come.

"Daryl," she panted, "that was good. That was…" Her voice trailed off, and he continued stroking his dick as he waited for her to speak up again. "Are you close?"

"Fuck. Yeah."

"When I see you, I want your mouth on me. I want to know what else you can do with that amazing tongue." She heard a hoarse cough on the other line, and she grinned. "Want to take you in my mouth, taste you, let you know how much I want you."

"Aw, fuck," he groaned loudly, and Carol knew it was over. She relaxed against the mattress this time, waiting for him to calm down, and she wiped the back of her hand against her damp forehead, feeling a little embarrassed, but she'd gotten an orgasm out of the deal, so she didn't feel too bad. "You ok over there?"

"Why ain't you here?" he complained. She snorted. "Maybe take the red eye out?"

"You're adorable."

"Stop." She laughed then, and it was like music to him.

"I should let you go," Carol murmured. "I have to work in the morning, and I'm sure you do, too."

"Gonna start lookin' for managers tomorrow," he said quietly. "Just wanna get back there."

"I can't wait for you to come back," she admitted. "It scares me a little."

"Me too," he said softly. "But don't worry. When I get back, if you wanna slow things down, I get it."

"I don't think I could," she chuckled. "That's part of what scares me. I just…I've never felt like this, and it's new to me." She took a deep breath. She closed her eyes, feeling tears prickling there. Damn it, just tell him you're coming. Tell him you'll see him Saturday. Hell, tell him you'll see him Friday, you stupid woman!

"Same here," he murmured. "Get some sleep. I'll call ya tomorrow night, alright?"

"Okay." Her voice strained then, and she closed her eyes, willing herself not to lose it. "Good night."

"'Nite, sweetheart," he murmured in a slow drawl that made her heart ache. Then the line was dead, and she rolled over to bury her face in her pillow. She made a mental note to book herself a flight for the weekend first thing in the morning. She was going to New York, and damn it, she was not going to let her nerves get the best of her. She was going, and that was that.

...

"Damn it," Carol muttered, scrolling through ticket prices and fly out dates. At this rate, it would probably be cheaper to just drive up there, but she knew there was no way she was going to be able to stand the drive and the anticipation that would surely build to an unbearable high.

"Mommy? You going on your trip?"

"I think so, baby," Carol murmured, narrowing her eyes at the screen as Sammy came walking in all dressed for pre-school.

"You bringing Daryl back with you?" His tone was hopeful, and his eyes were wide. Carol turned to look at her son.

"You really like Daryl, don't you?"

"Sure! He's really cool, Mom." Carol felt her heart skip a beat. It was the first time her son had actually called her Mom and not Mama or Mommy. She felt the tears rising, and she choked back a little whimper as she looked down at her son. God, where had the time gone? In no time at all, she'd be taking him and Sophia for their driving tests and helping them pick out their prom clothes.

"I'm glad you like him, sweetheart," Carol said with a smile, pulling her son into her lap. "I like him, too."

"Mom?"

"Hmm?

"It's ok if you marry him. He could be our dad." Carol narrowed her eyes at her son.

"What are you talking about?"

"Well like Uncle Rick and Aunt Michonne. Rick's a real nice dad to Andre, even though he's not his real dad. And I've been thinking...if I was gonna have a dad, I'd want Daryl. He's really cool, and he has motorcycles." Carol chuckled at that.

"Well, honey, when you get older, you'll see that there are a lot more things to think about when it comes to something like that, but I'm so happy you like him, because I think he's going to be in our lives for a long time. Hopefully a very, very long time." Sam smiled and gave his mom a hug.

"Good, 'cause I like to see you smile Mom. He makes you smile." She really was about to cry now, and she sniffled.

"I love you so much, you know that?" He nodded. "Go on and get your sister. We don't want to be late, ok?"

"Ok." He hopped off her lap, and Carol dabbed at her eyes. She placed her hand over her heart and said a silent thank you to whoever might be listening up above that she'd been blessed with these two wonderful babies. She only hoped that things would be so easy when Daryl got back home. Would it really be that easy to make a life together, if that was where they were really heading.

Her cell phone rang, and she checked the call screen. Michonne. She smiled.

"Hey," Carol answered.

"So, you survived the night without him."

"Stop," Carol laughed. "I did. He called last night."

"And?"

"And I'm going to New York. Looking for tickets right now."

"That's my girl!" Michonne exclaimed. "I knew you'd come around. So I bet he's excited, huh?"

"He doesn't know yet. I haven't told him."

"Oh, that's even better!" Michonne exclaimed.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh my God, you can surprise him. It'll be just like in the movies. You'll get to the airport, hail a cab, call him and by the time you're ready to hang up, you'll be at his doorstep, and he'll open it, and it'll be all romantic and beautiful."

"You have to stop watching romantic comedies before bed," Carol laughed.

"I'll kill you if you ever tell, but Rick likes them."

"Rick?" Carol laughed. "Oh, come on."

"No! I'm serious. We watched one last night, and he just about tackled me as soon as the credits rolled. It's a little odd, but well, I got my orgasm, so I'm ok with it."

"Oh God," Carol snorted. "That's the best thing you've ever said to me."

"Well, you know, whatever works, right?" A pause, and Carol sobered.

"You think I should surprise him?"

"Yes!" Michonne exclaimed. "It's an amazing idea. Ask Tara if you don't believe me."

"It would be kind of great," Carol admitted. "I just hate leaving the kids with you guys again. You've helped so much, and…"

"Hey, I'm the one that offered, alright? I don't mind. Really. Especially for something like this. You just, you know, owe me." Michonne laughed a little, and Carol chuckled.

"Thank you, Michonne."

"Hey, what are friends for if not for this?"