Thanks for being patient! And for those of you that are waiting for a Dork update, I'm gonna get to work on that tonight. I just have a lot going on and it's crunch time and writing fanfiction hasn't been in the cards as much lately. Anyway, thanks for reading! It's much appreciated =)

Chapter Thirty Four

They didn't talk anymore after that and by the time they neared the shack she was cursing herself for suggesting they go on a walk at all. The moon was already out, full and so bright that when they weren't under the cover of trees their shadows were cast on the ground. Everything was washed out with that silvery light and she felt a chill run up her spine. She knew that part of it was from the chill in the air but another part of it was fear. Once again, it seemed like they were the only two people in the world.

She frowned when his steps faltered slightly when they rounded the corner of the shack and then he kept going. She knew it was getting late. She knew that he wanted to get an early start on securing the driveway. She had just assumed that she would be staying with him in the shack. But he was walking her back to the cabin.

"I thought I was suppose to stay with you," she said hesitantly.

He still had a firm grip on her hand and she slowed her steps because he did. "Yeah, but Richard is gone and so is his creepy ass kid. Ain't really no reason for you to stay with me."

She swallowed hard and tried not to let his words sting. She wasn't sure what the hell they were or what the hell they were doing but she thought that maybe something would come of it. She hadn't ever felt this way about a man before. She enjoyed being near him even when they weren't saying anything at all. She felt safe when he was close to her. He made her feel... cared for. It was all strange and new and completely exhilarating. "I don't want to stay at the cabin," she said suddenly, feeling her face flush. She didn't want to grovel but she didn't want to spend a night away from him either.

He stopped and she heard a heavy breath leave him. "I don't want you to stay there either," he muttered, "But it's the smart thing to do."

"Smart?" She frowned. This was probably where he was going to tell her that this weird thing between them wasn't working out and they needed to stop before she ended up getting her stupid feelings hurt. She finally dropped his hand and turned so she was facing him. She could see his face clearly in the moon light, though his eyes shone silver instead of blue.

"Yeah. It ain't smart. Do you know how stupid it would have been if we had... if Damon hadn't shown up this mornin'?"

"Stupid?"

He ran a hand through his hair and she couldn't tell because of the eerie light but she knew he was probably red faced. "Yeah, stupid."

"Ouch," she muttered, turning towards the path to the cabin. She wasn't going to get into this with him. It was okay if he thought that jumping into bed with her was stupid but it still stung. Hopefully they could still be friends. God, she was a complete idiot!

He cursed under his breath and then grabbed her arm, causing her to wince. He must have forgotten about the bruises there and even though his grip wasn't hard, it still hurt. He dropped his hand quickly. "Sorry," he muttered.

She wasn't sure if he was apologizing for hurting her or apologizing for telling her that being with her would be stupid, so she nodded, offered him a small smile to reassure him and then tried to turn around again.

This time he grabbed her hand and yanked her back around. "June was right. That's all I'm sayin'. The last damn thing I was thinkin' about this morning was being careful. Okay? And that would be the stupidest goddamn thing I could do. And I'd have done it. And I don't trust the pull and pray bullshit that Merle swears by either cause if you ain't noticed, he's a dad. So that's what I meant. It ain't that I don't want you there. It just ain't smart for you to be. You have my head all fucked up and I don't think straight." He said it all in a rush and her eyes went wide.

"Is that all?" she asked, her brows pulling down in a frown even though she wanted to laugh.

He threw his hands up in frustration. "Are you crazy?"

"I can't have kids, Daryl," she stated flatly.

He blinked. "Huh?"

She shrugged. "I can't have kids."

"Oh," was his response. "But you have a kid."

"I had surgery to have my tubes tied when Sophia was five. I can't get pregnant."

"No shit?"

"But I understand if you still think it's best to-" she shut up when he shook his head because he was pulling her closer now. As soon as she was pressed against the front of him his hand snaked around the back of her neck and he was pulling her face towards his. It was so unexpected that when his lips met hers she made a surprised sound that melted into a moan. His lips were soft but demanding and she gave just as good as she got.

Her hands were on his shoulders, then threading through his hair as his teeth teased her bottom lip and then his tongue was sweeping into her mouth with a skill that had her knees going weak. There was a sense of possessiveness in the way he was kissing her that sent waves of heat through her. She had never felt this wanted in her life. And it wasn't just want. He seemed to need her. He kissed her like kissing her was the only thing that was going to keep him alive.

His free hand rested on her hip but now it was sliding around, gripping her ass hard and hauling her even closer. Her fingers went to work on the buttons on his shirt when he finally moved his lips away from hers. His teeth were on her throat and then his tongue licked the sting away. "You sure you want this?" He asked, his lips grazing her ear, his voice sending a pulsing thrill through her, causing her to gasp.

She nodded, not trusting her own voice. He finally dropped his hands when she shoved his shirt away from his shoulders. His mouth went back to hers as they struggled out of their boots. She mapped out his shoulders, smooth and broad, and then moved her hands down his chest, over his stomach and then eagerly tugged the button free. When his pants were finally open he forced her hands away so he could raise her own shirt over her head.

The air was chilly but his skin against hers was warm and welcoming. His hands were calloused, causing her to shiver as he slid one up her ribs as the other went to the small of her back, anchoring her to him like he thought there was a chance she would actually pull away. When his hand finally made it to her breast she arched into him further and she felt him smile right before he tore his mouth away from hers and then dipped his head, his lips instantly closing over her nipple. He sucked hard and a sharp wave of pleasure caused her to bite her lip to keep from making any embarrassing sounds.

She didn't know how he managed to get her on the ground without her even realizing it but when he settled between her legs she gasped and dug her heels into the grass so she could push up against him. She could feel him through his jeans, pressing against her. She finally stopped touching him long enough to undo her own jeans. He raised up on his knees and quickly gripped them, yanking them roughly down her legs before he dropped back over her.

He braced himself with his arms and let her wrestle his pants down while he ran his tongue up the valley between her breasts. Finally he was kicking them off. She lifted her hips again and made a frustrated sound in the back of her throat. She was desperate. So very desperate and had been since this morning.

His mouth came down on hers in a kiss that had her toes curling in the grass and then his hips were finally moving, pushing into her slowly. She remembered other sexual encounters and for a second she braced herself for at least a little pain. Especially since he was bigger than Ed, but it didn't happen. Her body yielded to his and though the fit was snug, she was more than ready for him. His lips on hers muffled the sharp cry that escaped her.

She felt more than heard a low growl rumble through his chest and he stopped once he was seated deep inside her. He ran a hand down the back of her thigh and then lifted it higher before he started moving. And he knew exactly how to move within her. She didn't know how he knew what to do to bring her to the edge so quickly. Maybe it had less to do with him and more to do with the fact that she had wanted this so badly. Either way, she found herself gasping for breath. He cursed into her throat when her legs wrapped around his waist.

Her body tensed almost painfully as her back arched off the ground and his thrusts grew quicker. His hand clamped over her mouth as a shudder ran through her. It started deep inside of her as a low throb of pleasure but quickly built in intensity, radiating from the center of her and seeming to pulse through every nerve in her body. Her skin was humming and she didn't feel like she was getting enough air.

~H~

Daryl didn't want this to be over. Not yet. But it was hard not to let go with her writhing under him like that. She was coming undone, her muscles gripping him even harder, urging him deeper, coiling and constricting and it took every ounce of willpower he had to fight off the urge to join her. She wanted it. He knew she wanted it and despite the fact that this damn near had just started, it wasn't like she would walk away unsatisfied.

He moved his hand away from her mouth and she took in a deep breath, his name drifting to his ears as her body finally relaxed a little. He pulled back enough so he could meet her eyes. Hers were dazed and slightly unfocused until they finally met his. She grinned then and he was pretty fucking impressed with himself so he grinned right back.

Holding back was a little easier now so he wrapped an arm around her and rolled until she was straddling him. Her eyes went wide as they settled on his. He smirked and pushed up into her, grabbing her hips and urging her into a rhythm that had her gasping. She whimpered and then her mouth came down on his to cut off the sounds. He knew it wasn't smart but in all honesty, he could have listened to those sounds for the rest of his life and never get tired of them.

Her hips rolled skillfully as he took advantage of the new position, letting his hands roam over her freely. Her skin was like silk under his rough hands. He felt that heavy pull again and this time he knew there was no holding back. She was close again and he couldn't do anything other than hope that she was closer than him.

"I wanna feel you," she whispered into his ear.

Those words had him slipping further and he cursed. He locked his arm around her and forced her down until her body was flat against his and then he slammed into her hard and fast. She cried out, and then her teeth sank into the side of his neck to stave off making anymore noise. He growled, the pain somehow intensifying the pleasure to the point where he was right there. That first deep pulse had his breath stuttering and a pathetic and desperate groan of his own escaping his lips. Again, her muscles clenched, her teeth bit into him even harder and he gasped in shock at the intense pleasure that seemed to consume him.

When it was over he actually closed his eyes for a second, struggling to catch his breath. She was doing the same, her head resting on his chest as his hands roamed over her back absently. Every time an aftershock would rock through her he felt it.

Finally she moved, and then rolled off of him completely, collapsing onto her back. He reached down, grabbing his pants and slipping them on wordlessly. He reached for his shirt but she snatched it before his hand could close over it, shoving her arms through the sleeves quickly. She was sitting up with her legs tucked under her and he was lying on his back and they stared at each other for a long time before she finally looked away, laughing quietly.

"What?" he asked, raising his head.

"I forgot we were outside. I've never done it outside before," she said, smiling.

He shook his head at her but couldn't help but grin before he pushed himself up off the ground. "It's also cold. Let's go," he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her up.

"It is," she agreed, collecting the rest of their things before falling into step beside him.

He expected to feel weird now, just like when she had went down on him the other night in the shack, but he didn't. She didn't seem bothered that they had just had sex either so he shrugged it off. He'd save all the awkward shit for in the morning.