Chapter Thirty-Seven

Warning: This chapter is pretty much nothing but smut :D so if that's not your thing you might want to skip it. Happy reading!

Daryl's smoky narrowed gaze followed the women back to the campfire where he waited for Carol, handing her a bowl of soup as she sat down beside him. He wasn't going to have her going to bed hungry because she was too busy tending to her worthless friend. He wondered if he'd ever understand why she cared so much for the cop's wife. Lori's only known skill was nagging, in his opinion. She'd win the Olympic medal in that category, he was sure. "Y' wanna take this back t' our tent an' eat in peace?"

Carol slowly shook her head. Lori had gone to her tent, skipping out on dinner because of her nausea. "No. I don't want to make it a habit of eating there. The last thing we need is ants where we sleep."

He pointed his spoon in the direction of the Grimes tent. "What's her problem, anyway? Y' didn't use enough fabric softener on 'er drawers?" he whispered quietly.

She clamped her lips down over her spoon and tried not to choke on the laughter welling up inside her. "No, nothing like that," she replied when she was able to find her voice.

Carol ate faster than usual, finding herself famished from the events of the day. She really just wanted to finish up and return to their tent where she could lie down with Daryl and rest. And perhaps unburden herself a little. It was hard keeping all of Lori's secrets sometimes. Dumping their bowls in the dishwater set aside for them to do in the morning, she followed Daryl. She dropped her jacket next to the door, along with her belt and weapons – which Rick had somehow forgotten to retrieve from her to return to the gun bag – and sat down heavily on their bedroll to remove her boots. Daryl was much faster, lying down beside her, having already stripped and put on a pair of cotton sleeping pants.

"Woman's been hacking up 'er stomach for a week now. She got some kinda bug or somethin'?" he asked, his eyes roaming over her appreciatively as she changed for bed. He held his arms open to her, and she fell into them eagerly, a soft sigh escaping her as she brought her head to rest on his bare chest.

"Not … sick, per se," she hedged. "At least she's not contagious."

"Then why's she been throwin' … aw, hell! She's pregnant, ain't she?"

Carol ducked her head away from his searching gaze. It didn't sit well with her to betray a confidence, but she refused to lie to him. "You can't tell anyone, Daryl. She hasn't even told Rick yet. Glenn's the only one who knows because he brought her the test from that last pharmacy run."

He snorted. "Then it won't be long before everybody knows. Y' know how that boy likes t' gossip. Why ain't she told Rick? Or should it be Shane she shares th' news with?"

"Don't be mean, Pookie."

"Ain't being mean, I'm statin' a fact." He rolled them over, grinning as he nuzzled his nose alongside hers. "'Sides … I ain't gotta be nice t' nobody but you."

Carol wrapped her arms about his shoulders, but her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm worried. What if this drives a deeper wedge between her and her husband?"

"Mhmm," he hummed, only half paying attention to what she was saying as he peppered her jaw with nipping kisses. "Why would y' care about that?"

Already, he could feel her relaxing, her curves melding to his harsher lines. "Not so much what it will do to their personal relationship … I mean, I don't want to see them have any more difficulties … but rather what this will mean for all of us … as a group." She gasped as his lips trailed over her collarbone to dip into the valley between her breasts. "Jesus, Daryl! I'm trying to have a conversation with you!" She tried to sound stern, but couldn't quite pull it off, the smile blooming on her lips betraying her.

"I'm listenin', ain't I?" he huffed, pulling at the neckline of her tank with his teeth.

"Are you?"

Daryl rolled over onto his side and propped his head on his hand. "Of course, woman. When ain't I listenin' t' y'? Y' were sayin' y' was worried about how Rick and Lori's love triangle bullshit was gonna affect th' group."

"Oh," she murmured, blushing. "I thought you were just trying to distract me."

"I was," he huffed, waggling his brows.

"Daryl!"

His arm snaked around her waist and drew her in closer. "Aw, c'mon … y' gotta admit it's more fun than talkin' about them three. So, what? The worst case, their bullshit gets us kicked off th' farm. Don't matter. I'll find somewhere better for us … us, Carol. You, me an' Soph. Best case, they pull their heads outta their asses, learn t' get along, an' Hershel lets us stay through th' winter."

Carol frowned as another million troublesome thoughts wound through her head. "Why do you always make everything seem so simple?"

He traced a finger over her collarbone, watching her from beneath his heavy lids as she shivered and inched a bit closer, her arm going about his waist now. She was growing more and more comfortable with their petting without even realizing it. Every night, he asked for only one thing … a kiss, and every night – despite Sophia laying just on Carol's other side – he kissed her breathless. Just a kiss, but it was slowly wearing down her defenses.

"My uncle used t' tell me there ain't no use beatin' yourself up about shit y' can't change. Time better spent would be t' focus on things y' can. Shane, Lori an' Rick gotta work that shit out for themselves, Carol. Jus' keep bein' a friend t' her, but don't take all th' weight of it on your own shoulders."

Carol sighed and opened herself up to him both physically and emotionally as his knee wedged between her thighs. He raised her leg higher to curl over his hip, leaving her flush with his body, and she felt not a hint of fear or anxiety, nor any pressure to do anything she wasn't willing to do. Only a deep-seated contentment and the familiar knowledge of being loved by the man in her arms. How far would he take their chaste loving if she let him?

She carded her fingers through his hair, her nails scraping that tender spot just behind his left ear. Oh, how she loved to watch his eyes darken with desire for her. He was so different from the angry man she'd met months ago … before he'd become hers. "Your uncle sounds like a very smart man, much like you."

"Ain't smart," he argued, ducking his head to press a kiss to her temple. "Never claimed t' be."

"Daryl …" she whispered, her chest swelling with a warmth she was coming to associate solely with him. "You'll always be the finest man I've ever known."

He blinked rapidly, at a loss for what to say. She was always taking him by surprise, and though it helped chase away a smattering of his doubts, it was still hard for him to believe she could see him in such a way. Those compliments also had a tendency to super glue his tongue to the roof of his mouth, making him look like an idiot. And then came the blush. Fuck this! he growled inwardly, burying his face against her shoulder.

Instead of listening to the echoes of his father's voice in his head, he concentrated on how good she felt wrapped around him, how right she felt in his arms. Only she could drive away his ghosts and leave him whole. With her, instead of flinching away from her touch, he craved it. So much. "If y' want …" He cleared his throat, not liking the hesitation he heard there. He could tell Carol anything without having her judge him. "If y' want, I can take your mind off your troubles for a little while?"

Carol stared at him for a long moment, and he could practically hear the gears grinding in her mind, weighing every option and deciding if she wanted to take a chance. His gaze went to her mouth where she bit that lip he loved so much. "What if Sophia wakes in the middle of the night and needs us?"

He shook his head and sucked in a deep breath to calm his raging heartbeat. Patience, Dixon. Y' have t' be patient with her. "Sophia knows not to roam th' camp at night. She'll wake Rick or Lori if she needs somethin'." He was so careful with her. By now he was well acquainted with what touch soothed her. A kiss to the corner of her mouth, a brush of his fingers along her nape, and a gentle squeeze to her hip helped the tension flow easily from her. Gentle reassuring touches which banished her demons and the bad memories of how it had been.

She whimpered softly as his hand mapped a feather light touch over her side, over the gentle curve of her hip to palm her ass, pulling her closer to press firmly against his growing erection.

"You're in control, woman," he growled, a deep rumble in his chest which shot heat directly to her core. His tongue pressed into the pulse point beneath her jaw as she nodded. But that wasn't good enough. As with everything, he wouldn't take her for granted. Only her words would do for him. "All y' have t' do is tell me t' stop. Y' know me, Carol. Tell me whatcha want."

Her gaze locked with his as he pulled on her tank with his teeth once again, and she forgot to breathe. "Yes," she gasped. She wouldn't … couldn't … look away as she whipped the shirt over her head, leaving her torso bared to his gaze. She could feel the tension in his solid frame, the flexing of his muscles beneath his skin as he tried to rein in his emotions … and she loved him all the more for his restraint.

Daryl's touch was tender, gentle, as his lips closed around one turgid nipple, pressing it to the roof of his mouth when he really wanted to bite. His fingers worked the other in a steady brushing motion instead of pinching. If she only knew how difficult it was to quell his more feral side, she wouldn't allow him within ten feet of her. He played her flesh like a fine-tuned instrument, and for the first time, he was glad they'd been taking it so slowly. It had given him time to learn her body and she his … not that she'd touched him below the waist so far, more's the pity. Which was why he continued with slow touches and light kisses as he moved down over her ribs and the flat plane of her belly.

Those same muscles rippled in her abdomen as he kissed along the waistband of her shorts. "Wh-What are you doing?" she squeaked, brushing back the hair which hung over his brow.

He growled again, scenting her arousal. His mouth watered, wondering if she'd be just as sweet on his tongue as she'd been on his fingers. He pulled on her shorts with his teeth before hooking his fingers in them and dragging them slowly down her legs. "Jus' kissin', baby. Don't it feel good?"

Carol nodded, unable to take her eyes off of him as he nipped at the tender inside of her knee. He'd been rather delighted to find that little hotspot. "It always feels good when you touch me," she panted as those sinfully soft lips of his traveled further up on his way back to his former position between her legs. She moaned deeply when his tongue darted out to mark a spot on her inner thigh before he sucked her flesh into his mouth, branding her with lips, teeth and tongue.

"Tell me why," he murmured against her skin. The gravel in his voice sent a new wave of pure sensation racing through her body, and he knew it.

"B-Because you love me," she answered instantly. It was a new game for him, one to set her at ease and make her see the difference of how it had been compared to how it should be. His hot breath ghosted over the navy lace covering her sex and she could have wept.

He'd never done this for her before, having to be careful of his stitches. Really, she hadn't dreamed he would do it now that they'd been removed. Ed had thought it was disgusting and wouldn't even consider it, thinking only of his own pleasure. She forced herself to relax. He'd left her lacy drawers in place. Perhaps it was just wishful thinking on her part.

"Tell me, baby," he groaned, burying his face against her.

What? What did he want to know? How was she supposed to think when he was doing such sinfully delightful things with his mouth? "Um …" Come on, Carol …you know this! "Because this is how it feels to be touched by a man who loves me." Did I get that right? Ungh!

Oh, how she loved to see him smile like that as he lifted his gaze to hers and murmured, "Good girl." He pulled her hands free of his hair where they yearned to linger and kissed the faint tracery of veins on each of her wrists. He watched her carefully as he released her hands and hooked his thumbs in the waistband of her last remaining article of clothing. He drew them slowly down her legs, and though she didn't try to stop him, he could feel her trembling. "It's ok … you're ok. Jus' relax, an' lemme taste y'."

Daryl remained still, crouched there at her feet, waiting as she fought with her indecision. He didn't make a move to discard his sleeping pants, and she felt some of the tension, paralyzing her, drain away. "No one's ever … I haven't …" she trailed away, averting her gaze as her pearly teeth clamped down on her lip.

"Never?" he asked. How selfish had her bastard husband really been? Never? "Not even once?"

His woman blushed to the roots of her hair as she shook her head. It gave him a small measure of pride to know he'd be the first. "You don't have t-to, Daryl."

He felt his cock twitch, and bit down hard on his lip. Down boy! This ain't about you! He traced his nails over her legs in a slow nonsensical pattern as he inched his way up her body to rest his chin against her belly. "I know I don't have to … I want to." He pressed a kiss just below her navel before raising his gaze to lock with hers again. "Can I, Carol? Will y' let me?"

She stared down at him with an unreadable expression on her face, unable to believe he wanted this so badly. She'd always been made to feel dirty for even suggesting a thing like this to Ed, yet Daryl acted … eager. As if he really wanted to do it, and how could she deny him anything? "Yes …" she breathed, her hand rising to cradle his cheek.

He smiled wickedly at her and turned his lips into her palm, pressing a kiss there before lowering his head. Daryl shifted, grinding his hips into the sleeping bag beneath him to relieve some of the ache building in his groin. Just her scent had him throbbing painfully, the thin thread of control he maintained close to unraveling.

He ran a lone finger along her slit as he drew her right leg over his shoulder and wrapped an arm around her thigh to hold her in place. He followed it with his tongue and felt her tense. "Shh … jus' relax, woman. I ain't gonna hurt y'."

Carol whimpered and nodded fervently, unused to so many new sensations. Her brain was sending out pleasure signals at an alarming rate, but she just couldn't reconcile them with everything which had been beaten into her for so long.

Daryl's long fingers parted her gently, and he found he couldn't hold back. He lapped at her eagerly, tracing his tongue from her entrance to where her little bundle of nerves peeked from beneath her hood. She tasted like the sweetest sin and felt like heaven against his lips. Finally, he felt her begin to relax, and she squirmed beneath him, soft breathy little moans escaping her parted lips. He'd never wanted to do this with any of his few partners from the past. His own pleasure had always been first and foremost in his mind. He wasn't even sure he'd know how, but god knew he'd had to listen to Merle talk endlessly about his own sexcapades. Having to listen, apparently, he'd picked up a thing or two.

His woman was so gloriously wet, unable to hide her desire even if she'd wanted to. His fingers were coated with her moisture, making it easy to slip past the tight ring of muscle at her entrance. Her inner walls clutched at him desperately, and he groaned, the vibration of sound against her folds drawing a long keening wail from her as her back arched off their makeshift bed. But he didn't stop. Nothing would deter him aside from her spoken command for him to cease. He began a gentle thrust with his fingers, curling them until he found what he was looking for, that one spot which had her writhing in abandon, seeking an end to the pleasurable torture he'd created within her. His lips closed over her clit, sucking gently as he moved in her. Her thighs trembled, her walls fluttered, and her fingers twisted in his hair, almost afraid he'd leave her before she was able to find her bliss.

Daryl was sure the entire camp could hear her cries as she tumbled over the edge and flooded his fingers with new warmth. His tongue traced a wet path back to her entrance as he removed his fingers, lapping up everything she had to give, prolonging her climax until she lay still and panting. A smug smile curled his lips as he moved up to her side and drew her trembling form into his arms, his cock twitching against her hip. He cleaned every drop of her from his fingers, savoring her essence and then wiping them on his pants.

Carol clung to him tightly, nestled into his side as she wrestled to bring her breathing back under her control. He couldn't ever remember being so satisfied when he hadn't even secured his own release. He'd never thought pleasing a woman could make him feel so good about himself. "Y' ok?" he whispered, pressing his lips to her brow.

"That was one of the most amazing experiences of my life," she breathed, tracing little patterns along his belly. It was a nervous habit of hers, and it was usually late at night when she wanted to tell him something he wasn't going to like.

"Yeah?"

She nodded, not quite able to meet his eyes.

"Then what's wrong?" he asked, watching her closely.

Her fingers drifted lower and toyed with the drawstring on his pants as her gaze lifted to meet his. "Nothing's wrong, Daryl. I just … I was wondering … could we try?"

Daryl groaned as her small hand cupped him through his pants. Was she serious? He'd be willing to try anything she wanted, as long as she was certain. He wasn't going to do anything she wasn't ready for. "Whatcha wanna try, woman?" he slurred in a lust filled haze as he flopped onto his back against the pillows and reached for her hand to still her movements. She still looked mighty unsure. "Y' know I'll do anythin' y' ask o' me."

Carol blushed and gnawed on her lip, though she didn't know why. There wasn't a place on her body with which he wasn't familiar. It was that last step, that last act to fully cement their physical relationship which had her hesitant. It had only ever brought her pain before, and if she crossed that line and couldn't go through with it, she knew he'd blame himself, see it as a failure. It could break them, but she had to know.

She brought her lips to his as his thumb continued to brush lightly over her palm. Even that small gesture caused the low embers burning in her core to roar back to life. "I want to try," she said again as her lips parted. "I want to know what it feels like to have you inside me."

Daryl's breathing picked up as he looked into her eyes, searching for any doubts which might still be plaguing her. "Y' sure, woman?" he croaked in a raspy whisper, not wanting to get his hopes up and let his excitement shatter his control.

Her fingers pulled on the drawstring, releasing the knot. "I need to know, Daryl, but that's not the only reason. I want to share myself with you. I don't want to hold this part of me back from you any longer." Daryl studied her until she became uncomfortable beneath his intense scrutiny and she had to look away. "Unless you don't –"

"'Course I want to!" he chuckled, dragging her further onto his chest. "But this ain't about me, Carol. You're the one who needs to decide. I'm here for you, not for what y' can give me or do for me. You taught me that."

Carol straddled his waist and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in the crook of his neck as his hands mapped her back, doing his best to soothe her. Until she kissed him again and he jerked back to life. He gave her free reign to do what she wanted, touch him however she desired, despite the throbbing in his groin. He needed this to be everything she'd been denied before, and he was determined to give it to her.

He very nearly lost it when she dragged her nails over his chest and claimed a flat male nipple with her teeth, and she merely grinned at the growls rising up in his chest. His fingers dug into her hips, flexing and releasing, barely having the presence of mind not to leave bruises. That didn't last long, however, as she made her way down his body, tracing each of the scars on his torso with her lips. He groaned when she nuzzled at his navel, following his happy trail with little nipping bites all the way to his waistband. God, he didn't know how much longer he'd be able to stand her gentle exploration.

Carol only hesitated for a moment before she hooked her thumbs in the soft cotton of his pants and dragged them over his hips. She was trying so hard to be brave, but he could see the fear in her eyes as she returned to her previous position and met her bare flesh with his. He sat up, his arms coming around her, his nails leaving little red trails over her back in an attempt to soothe her.

"Y' wanna stop? If y' need t' stop, we can," he murmured selflessly.

"No! I just need to go slow." She cradled his face in her palms, bringing his lips back to hers, the fire burning in her belly begging to be quenched. She couldn't believe his patience, his tenderness, or his willingness to follow her lead, but she'd never been more grateful or felt more loved. This was how it should be between two people who loved each other. "Touch me, Daryl. Show me."

He played her flesh with the utmost care, taking advantage of every hot spot he'd found in the previous days, using them to bring her the most pleasure until she was writhing on his lap. Lips, teeth and tongue left no part of her untouched until she was begging. Only then did he roll her onto her back. His jaw clenched with the control he was exerting, but he remained immobile above her, watching her carefully.

"Daryl …" she whined, arching into him. "Please …"

She was slippery with desire as his cock slid through her folds, and he prayed he'd last more than two minutes. He'd never wanted a woman as he did Carol. He pushed slowly into her, biting his lip until he was in danger of breaking the skin, but he was determined to be gentle with her. She tensed, and he cursed inwardly, fearing he'd hurt her. "Ok? Y' got t' talk t' me, woman," he growled lowly.

Her fingers kneaded nervously at his shoulders, but she nodded, urging him to fill her. "I'm ok … don't stop."

Daryl traced his fingers along the outside of her thigh to her knee and pulled her leg up to curl over his hip, giving him a better angle. He slid in smoothly, seating himself deeply within her clasping warmth until his body was flush with hers. "Fuckkkkk!" he groaned, his lids slamming shut from the intense pleasure of being inside her.

When he was finally able to open his eyes, her smile was radiant. "It didn't hurt," she whispered, awestruck with relief.

His brows knit in frustration. "Y' thought it would hurt, and still y' let me do this?! Carol, I –"

He lost his train of thought as she lifted her hips and he sank a little deeper. But now her fear was no more, and she was determined to get what she wanted. "Move, Daryl. Don't hold back … don't stop," she commanded gently as she arched into him once more.

Daryl had never been more willing to obey a direct order. He set a slow pace, giving her time to adjust to the feel of him sliding in and out of her. It was an exercise in torture when he wanted to give in to the pleasure and let that feral side of him go. Every thrust of his hips brought him closer to the edge, her little gasps and whimpers urging him on. Faster … Harder … Deeper, she begged, letting go of her own inhibitions, and he felt her break apart, her walls grasping and pulling at him in a viselike grip. He fell with her, pouring himself into her, his head dropping to her shoulder as he wrapped her even more tightly in his arms, almost afraid to let her go lest she be a dream to leave him at first light.

Carol's fingers toyed with the hair at his nape, fighting to rein in her breathing. Her other arm held him just as tightly until he rolled to his side and dragged her to lay over his chest, unwilling to release her. She'd never experienced anything close to what she'd found in his arms, and she couldn't hold back a little giggle.

"That bad, huh?" he grumbled, giving her hip a little pinch.

Carol lifted her head and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "Thank you, Pookie," she grinned. It faded away and her expression became serious. "I didn't know it could be like that."

"I didn't either," he admitted. "I mean I've had sex before … jus' ain't never made love 'til now."

"I'm not afraid anymore."

"Y' don't have t' be afraid with me … ever."

Carol laid her head on his chest and let the steady rhythm of his heart lull her towards sleep. "I know."

A/N: Next time: Glenn comes clean about what he's been hiding from the group.