Chapter 36

Carol groaned softly when she flipped off the bathroom light and curled her toes into the plush bedroom carpet. She smiled when she saw Daryl propped up on the bed with his back against the headboard and his head leaned back against the wall. His eyes were closed, and she could tell by his slow, even breaths that he was sleeping.

Smiling, she moved to stand next to him and leaned down to press a kiss to his cheek. He yawned and slowly opened his eyes to see her smiling at him.

"Hey," she whispered.

"Hmm."

"You fell asleep."

"Thought you got lost in there," he murmured sleepily.

"Best shower I've ever had…alone, anyway." She grinned and kissed him, and he reached for her hand.

"C'mere." She sat down on the bed, scooting back between his legs and resting her back against his chest. His brought his hands up her arms, gently kneading her weary muscles. "You feelin' ok?"

"Yeah," she whispered. "Just glad it's almost over." Daryl kissed the back of her neck. She leaned forward, closing her eyes as his calloused fingers massaged her shoulders, thumbs pressing into the back of her neck and kneading her gently. "Oh, that feels good." He kissed her shoulder and curled his arms around her, cradling her belly in his hands.

"You sure you're ok?"

"Yes," she promised. "For the last time, I'm fine. It wasn't easy, but I got through it. We both did." Thankfully, Nora had had a change of heart and had come to Carol to apologize for her behavior. She'd ended her petition to halt the adoption, and even the judge had thanked her for it. He'd explained that it was clear that the little girl had a loving home, and that while nobody was perfect, one parent's past shouldn't be held against them, especially given the tragic circumstances.

It had been so hard, reliving it all, feeling so many different emotions hitting her from every direction. But somehow, she felt better now, felt as if she'd been healed in some way. And in the end, they'd walked out of that court room a little bit closer to an adoption.

They were still a few home visits away from adoption day, but the judge seemed pretty optimistic that come next month, Katie would legally be theirs and she'd have a forever family.

She gently rubbed her hand over his.

"You sure you're ok with Katie going to Florida with Jack and Nora next week?"

"I ain't gonna keep her from her grandparents. So long as everybody can respect each other for Katie's sake, I want her to know them. They can tell her a lot more about her mama than I ever could, and they do love her, even if they ain't exactly been showin' it in the best ways lately." Carol nodded a little.

"Good," she whispered. "They deserve to know their granddaughter. Katie loves them so much." She turned her face, leaning back a little so she could give him a peck on the corner of his mouth. He leaned in, letting the kiss linger, and then he chuckled.

"He's movin' again."

"Yeah," she grinned, looking down at her belly as his hands gently moved over it. "He's gonna keep me up tonight."

"Maybe I can calm him down," he offered.

"Give it your best shot," she chuckled. And then he began to rub her belly in slow circles, gently massaging her, pressing a little deeper when she relaxed against him. She put her hands over his, arching her neck back when he pressed his lips against her pulse. She bit her lip, biting back a grin as his hands worked her over, rubbing her sides and the swell of her belly. The tension seemed to melt away, and she turned her head to catch his mouth, opening up to him as their fingers linked together. She sighed against his mouth.

"He sleepin' yet?"

"Mmm, yeah," she giggled.

"Good. 'Cause I got some stuff planned he probably don't wanna be awake for."

"Ooh, promise?" she asked with a giggle, as his hands moved lower, dipping into the band of her pajama pants. She bit back a whimper as he stroked her, one hand teasing her folds while the other dipped into the front of her shirt and teased her breast, fingertips rolling over her nipple, making her gasp and shudder under his touch.

Carol leaned into his touch, craved more of it. The thing about Daryl was that he constantly made her feel beautiful. He seemed to be fascinated by the changes in her body. The curve of her belly, the swell of her breasts, the way she carried herself. Ed never really seemed to bother with her when she was pregnant with Sophia, only occasionally, and even then, it had felt like he wasn't really invested. Not Daryl. Daryl seemed to relish it and loved to explore her. She'd been self-conscious at first, but now she looked forward to it, and her body begged for his touch. So when his hand moved from between her legs, she took the opportunity to shift, turning toward him, kissing him hungrily as she climbed over him.

Her fingers threaded into his hair, and he opened up to her, inviting her in, kissing her back with as much need as he found in her. And her hands found the elastic of his sleep pants, while his fingers dug into her hips, clawing her pants down until they were both discarding clothes into a pile on the floor.

She gripped him around the base, squeezing gently before stroking him, keeping her eyes on his before he pulled her down for another kiss. He tugged her up, and she sunk down on him in one, slow, delicious moment, and they broke apart only to stare at one another as she began to ride him, hands firmly on his chest, knees digging into the mattress as his hands slid up her back.

He bent forward, pressing open mouthed kisses to her neck and collarbones, moving lower, grinning when she practically thrust herself at him. He teased one breast and then the other, trailing gentle circles around each nipple until she was whining and pushing herself into his mouth.

She was so hot and wet and tight around him that he found it harder and harder to concentrate, but he held on and gave her what she wanted, gently nipping on one pearled peak. She threw her head back, mouth open in a silent cry as his hand slipped between her legs, stroking her clit as she continued to ride him.

Her arms came up and around his neck, bringing him closer, needing to feel him all over, needing his mouth on her, his hands against her skin, needing him buried inside of her, stretching her, filling her.

Her muscled clenched around him, and he dug his fingers a little deeper into her hips. She gasped at the sensation, and he took the opportunity to get the upper hand, bringing her down to the mattress and onto her back before bringing her legs up over his shoulders and sliding into her once again. She cried out then, gripping the mattress as he began to thrust a little harder, holding back out of fear of hurting her. And when her nails dug into his shoulders and a flood of warmth heralded her release, he let go, spilling into her until his motions slowed to nothing, and he held himself up over her on the mattress, kissing her softly as her hands rubbed gentle lines up and down his back.

After another soft, slow kiss, he pushed away, flopping onto his back long enough for her to curl up onto her side. He pulled up behind her, wrapping his arms around her from behind, and she giggled as he kissed between her shoulder blades.

"Still feelin' alright?" he asked, getting a snort from her in response.

"Yep. Even better."