Chapter 27
Leah playfully swatted Daryl's ass as they walked out towards the woods together. She had been shocked when he invited her to come hunting with him, even more shocked when she had accepted. The idea of hunting was not appealing in the least. However, the idea with being alone with him was extremely appealing. Even though they hadn't necessarily been keeping things secret anymore, he wasn't exactly a PDA kinda guy and the chance to spend some time alone with him excited Leah. She loved it when it was just the two of them and he had no qualms about being affectionate.
It surprised her really, his affections. The way he held her after making love, and how he woke her up in the morning with tender kisses on her shoulder. Granted, their moments alone hadn't been frequent. They'd only managed to sneak away a grand total of three times. Yet, each rendezvous was more exciting than the next. Daryl was different when it was just the two of them. He was tender, kind, giving, and playful. And neither of them could seem to get enough of each other.
However, he abruptly shut down Leah's playful attitude this morning, and turned and giving her a scowl. "This ain't playtime, girl. If yer comin' out I need to know that yer takin' this seriously."
Leah gave him a frown, "I apologize for trying to appreciate your body. I didn't realize this trip was purely business."
Daryl's face softened, but he remained firm. "Just want ya to be careful."
"I promise," Leah gave him a salute.
Daryl quickly glanced around them before moving in closer and starting down at her. His hand cupped her face and he sighed. "If anything happens to ya…"
Leah smiled. She wanted to tease him, give him a little quip about being careful not to ruin his street cred by showing he cared, but she held back. Knowing that it would shut him down emotionally.
"Daryl, I'll be okay. I'm going to be stuck to you like white on rice. And plus, I have my gun." She lifted her shirt to show him that she was prepared.
Daryl looked at the gun, his gaze lingering on the skin above her jeans a little longer than was necessary. When he was satisfied, he leaned down and kissed her soundly on the mouth. "Wait until we get back, then I'll let ya smack my ass as much as ya want."
"I'm going to hold you to that promise," Leah intertwined her fingers in his and they headed towards the tree line. "Do you think Rick and Shane will come back in one piece?" She changed the subject in a small attempt to calm her raging hormones.
The two men had driven out earlier that morning to drop Randall off. The plan was go far enough away that he didn't bring his group back, but also had a chance at surviving.
Daryl quirked an eyebrow, "Reckon so. 'S long as they don't try and kill each other."
Leah nodded and bit her bottom lip, deep in thought. She was terrified that Shane was going to try and off Rick, just like he did to Otis. And the idea of Shane coming back alone scared the shit out of her. She had mentioned it to Dale and they both agreed that if that happened they would leave, and offer everyone else the chance to come with them. Leah hoped that it wouldn't come down to that, but she felt a sense a security by having a plan in pace. Just in case.
As they walked into the brush of the woods, Daryl dropped Leah's hand and loaded a bolt into his crossbow. He was all business now. Scanning the area, looking for any sign of wildlife that they could take home for dinner. She stuck close to his side, following in his footsteps as he hiked over trees and through the vines. Leah tried her best to not slow Daryl down. He was much quicker and quieter than she, and she could tell that he was slowing his pace just for her.
When he stopped, Leah stopped right behind him and Daryl tilted his chin upwards pointing to a small hunting shack that stood a few hundred feet away.
"You think it's empty?" she asked eyeing up the old structure.
"Only one way to find out," he grunted and began to move towards it.
As they got closer, Leah could see that the windows and doors were boarded up. It looked as though whoever had done that had grabbed whatever material they could find and slapped everything on the structure in haste. Now, it looked abandoned. Nothing surprising there. It looked exactly the same as every other abandoned house they had seen lately.
"Looks empty," Leah whispered to him.
Daryl slowed his pace, all senses alert, on the lookout for walkers and survivors alike. "Can't be sure." He reached for the knife on his hip and unsheathed it before handing it over to Leah. "Use this instead of your gun if ya need to."
Leah gripped the riveted handle tightly and nodded. They walked circles around the house, pausing periodically and checking for any sign of movement inside. If Daryl had been alone he would have tried to break down the door much sooner, but having Leah relying on him for protection caused him to be much safer than normal. When he was satisfied that the inside seemed to be devoid of anything, either living or dead, Daryl hopped onto the stone steps and kicked at the thick wood barricading the door. It held fast.
"Daryl," Leah said quietly. "I think I can get in this window if you hoist me up." She jiggled a loose, rotting board off the window and threw it on the ground.
With a jump off the front stoop, Daryl landed on the grass beside her. Leah had managed to break half the wood off the window, creating a hole large enough for her to shimmy through.
"Ya sure," he asked.
She wiped her hands on her pants to remove the sweat and get a better grip on the ledge. "Yeah, just give me a boost."
Daryl grabbed her hips and lifted her upwards, while Leah used her upper body strength to pull her body through the window. Once she had managed to get one leg inside, Daryl moved his hand to her ass and gave her one last push. Leah disappeared for a second, before returning to the window.
"Looks clear."
Daryl handed her his crossbow through the opening and jumped to grab the ledge, pulling himself up and over. The opening was too small though and his shoulders twisted, trying to fit themselves in. "Fuck," he mumbled.
"Wait," Leah said, before giving the rest of the wood a hard smack with her hand, trying to dislodge it from it's fastens on the inside.
Daryl dropped back to the ground, feeling helpless as he watched her struggle with it. She planted her feet, pulling and pushing at the board until it started to give way. Then with one mighty heave, she pulled and the board came loose, sending her flying backwards and onto the floor with a thud.
"Ouch." Daryl heard her muffled words come through the window and pulled himself up quickly with a speed and velocity that sent him crashing to the ground on top of her.
"Daryl!" She moaned as their bodies connected and his full weight landed on her arm.
He quickly sat up, located his crossbow and took in the old kitchen where they had landed before turning his attention back to Leah. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," she sat up, rubbing her wrist and flexing her fingers.
He frowned and stood, pulling her up with him. Daryl ran his hands up and down her left arm and bent her elbow, checking for any breaks or bruises. "Does that hurt?"
She shook her head, "No, I told you I'm fine."
Unsatisfied he checked each of her fingers as well as her wrist, "That hurt?" he asked as he bent each one.
"Daryl," she said impatiently. "I am fine."
He poked her in the side under her ribs, "Does that hurt?"
"Ow! Yes!" She swatted his hand away.
He grinned and leaned in for a quick kiss.
"What happened to, 'This ain't playtime, girl'?" Leah quizzed once his lips left hers.
Daryl straightened, "Hadta make sure yer okay."
"You're sweet."
Daryl grunted and slanted his eyes. "Ain't sweet."
"Yes, you are."
Daryl rolled his eyes and turned to begin rummaging in the cabinets above the broken down, kitchen sink. There was nothing, but old dishes and half burned candles inside. It didn't look promising. The cabin must have belonged to an old hunter, but he was hoping they would get lucky and find some sort of survivalist supplies.
Leah followed his lead and being to rummage as well, but didn't have much luck. A half pack of matches was all she turned up. "Do you think someone was here before us?"
"Possible." He opened a closet door, finding nothing but cobwebs and a few mouse droppings.
Leah moved into the next room while Daryl finished in the kitchen and was surprised to find what looked to be a very comfortable bed. "Found something," she called out to him slyly.
Daryl stuck his head around the corner, "What?"
"Is it playtime, yet?" Leah asked with a quirked eyebrow.
With a shake of his head, Daryl leaned against the doorframe casually and watched as Leah climbed onto the big bed that was sitting in the center of the room. She kneeled and faced him, a large smile playing over her lips.
"C'mon. You know you want to," she teased.
He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head again. "Can't get distracted out here."
Leah pouted.
"For fuck's sake. What has gotten into ya today?" His eyes were dragging up and down her body now and thoroughly enjoying the view as the woman in front of him slowly undid the top button of his flannel that she had put on that morning. There was no getting around the fact that she looked damn sexy and he had to control the urge to ravish her right then and there. He knew better though. Just because they hadn't seen a sign of walkers, didn't mean that one couldn't just pop up out of nowhere.
"Well, not you. That's for damn sure. But, I sure am trying."
"Gettin' fresh?" He took a few steps towards her.
"Maybe." She gave him a sly smile and undid another button.
Daryl growled low in his throat before burying his face in the crook of her neck, despite the fact that he knew it was a bad idea. Why did this woman have such power over him?
Leah titled her head back and moaned as his lips nibbled on the skin at the base of her throat. As he moved down lower, she tangled her fingers into his hair and gently massaged his scalp. Daryl placed one kiss above each breast and moved his mouth up to her lips, capturing them with his own and running his tongue over her teeth. Leah kissed him back fiercely, her lips demanding his full attention.
She wasn't sure what possessed her to open her eyes, but as Daryl sucked on her bottom lip Leah caught a glimpse of movement out the window of the bedroom.
Daryl felt her body freeze and slowly pulled away, he followed her gaze out the small hole in the window and squinted into the sunlight.
"Walker," Leah whispered.
