Chapter 36

Amelia sighed and stared at herself in the small bathroom mirror. She had finished her bath, brushed her teeth, braided her damp hair into a French braid and finished her nightly shoulder exercises. There was nothing else to keep her in the bathroom.

Although Daryl had apologized for his behaviour earlier, she was dreading the argument she was certain they would have about the supply run. Steeling herself, she blew out the candle and left the small bathroom. Daryl was already in bed, lying on his back with his arms tucked under the pillow. She pulled his t-shirt off and slipped into the bed beside him, kissed him lightly on the mouth and blew the candle out. She curled up against him, wrapping her arm around his trim waist and resting her head on his shoulder. Normally he would fold his arms around her or rub her back, but tonight he kept his arms tucked under his pillow and stared up into the darkness.

"I don't want you goin' tomorrow."

She sighed and propped herself up on one elbow, "I know you don't." She didn't know how to tell him that the main reason she wanted to go was because the last time he left her she thought she would never see him again. She couldn't stand the thought of just waiting at the camp, hoping and praying he would come back to her. It was better if she went with him; she wouldn't worry so much. She knew how it would make her look if she told him that – clingy and weak – and so she simply leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on his chest. "I want to do this. I need to be useful to the group - to help out."

"You do help out!" he fretted, "You help with the women stuff and you do your fair share of watches."

"I don't want to fight about this Daryl."

"We ain't fightin'; we're discussin' it like two rational adults."

"If we keep talking about it, it's going to become a fight – you know it will." Amelia pointed out.

Without warning, Daryl sat up and flipped her on to her back. He flung one leg over her hips, pinning her to the bed, and cupped her face with one hard hand. "I'm going to ask you one more time to stay here – where it's safe."

"I'm safest with you." She whispered.

"You drive me crazy." He muttered.

"I know, you've mentioned that a few times." Amelia smiled at him.

"Ya need to be careful, real careful. Do ya understand me? You keep your head up and yer eyes open all the time." He stared at her.

"I'll be careful Daryl." She reassured him.

She leaned up and kissed him thoroughly on the mouth, smiling to herself when she felt him stirring against her hip. "We need to get up early tomorrow." She murmured against his lips.

"Yeah." He whispered. He moved his leg off of her hip and she tried to hide her disappointment, but then he pushed his leg between her thighs, parting them roughly. He slipped his hand into her panties and pressed his hand between her legs, his fingers stroking the soft curls there and she gasped a little.

"We should probably go to sleep." He murmured before capturing one nipple between his lips. He rolled it between his teeth, tugging and nipping lightly on it as she moaned and gripped his head with her hands.

Daryl's hands and mouth were driving her crazy but before he could move his body between her legs, she pushed him onto his back and straddled him, pinning his arms above his head and smiling down at him.

"You're a bad influence on me Daryl." She grinned saucily at him before leaning down and kissing him lightly on the mouth. When he pushed his tongue into her mouth, she sucked on it until he was groaning and rocking his hips against hers.

He pulled his hands free and tugged at the waistband of her panties. She grinned and slapped his hands away. "So impatient tonight Mr. Dixon."

He ran his fingers up and down her ribs making her squirm against him. He started to sit up but she pushed him back on to the bed. She winked at him before leaning over and taking one flat nipple into her mouth. He inhaled sharply as she licked and kissed her way across his chest and down his abdomen. She wiggled her way down his body until she was straddling his knees and licked a small circle around his navel. He shivered when she blew lightly on his wet skin and then moaned as she kissed her way down the path of hair below his navel.

She paused for a moment. He could feel her warm breath on his skin and she smiled up at him, "Ready?"

He didn't answer, just stared hungrily at her, his eyes dark and his nostrils flaring. With another slow smile, she dipped her head and took him into her mouth. At the feel of her warm mouth and wet tongue, he jerked his hips and cried out.

"Oh Jesus." He moaned as Amelia slid her mouth up and down his cock. When she swirled her tongue around the tip and gripped him tightly around the base of his cock with her hand he gasped loudly and pushed his hips off the bed. She sucked hard for a few moments as he moaned and panted before she released him with one final lick.

"You taste so good Daryl." She murmured.

She bent her head to take him into her mouth again but he sat up and pulled her upright, kissing her hard on the mouth. "Enough – I want to be in ya."

She gave a small shriek of surprise when he rose to his knees and pushed her on to her back. He pulled her panties off with barely hidden impatience and then turned to the bedside table, grabbing a condom and putting it on roughly before turning back to her. He seized her calves and yanked her towards him, pulling her legs apart and resting his shaft against her opening. He ran his hands down her legs and brought one towards his mouth, placing soft, gentle kisses on her ankle and the back of her calf. She shivered and moaned as he rested her feet on his shoulders, grabbed her thighs and slowly eased his cock into her. She was warm and wet and they made mutual sounds of pleasure as he sunk fully into her.

Holding her legs he began a steady rhythm of sliding in and out, liking the soft moan she made each time he entered her. Their bodies fit together so well, Amelia thought hazily as she rocked her hips against his. He pulled her closer, cupping her bottom and tilting her hips upwards and the slight change in position made her gasp and sink her fingers into the sheets. Heat was growing in her belly and she panted and moaned as he held her steady and thrust harder.

"Daryl," she whispered and he dropped her legs and pushed his body against hers. He kissed her deeply as she wound her fingers into his hair and hooked her legs around his hips. He continued to move in her with long, hard strokes and she wrapped her arms around him, crushing him against her as her orgasm flooded through her, leaving her warm and trembling and weak. With a loud cry he arched his back, the cords in his neck standing out, as he came.

He collapsed against her, burying his face in her neck, as she gently rubbed his back. He stirred against her and she tightened her arms and legs around him, "No, don't move - not yet." She whispered.

"I'm too heavy for you." he breathed against her throat.

She shook her head, "No, you're not."

They stayed that way, Amelia stroking his back, feeling his warm breath on her throat, until their breathing had returned to normal and only then did she release him. She shivered a little when the cool air hit her naked body and he quickly moved her under the covers. He pulled off the condom, disposing it in the waste basket beside the bed and then pulled her back against him, cupping her breast and pushing his thigh between hers.

Amelia smiled to herself. For someone who never showed affection in public, Daryl was surprisingly cuddly when they were alone. He often pulled her onto his lap to sit when they were in the cabin, brushed against her or kissed her throat or mouth when they passed each other, and spent the nights wrapped around her like a vine. At first, not used to the extra warmth or the constant feel of a body against hers while she slept, Amelia had wiggled away each night after he fell asleep - she slept better if she had some space to herself. After a few nights she realized it was pointless. It didn't matter how far she slid away or how many times she let her elbows and knees poke him, he always ended up moving in his sleep until she was enfolded in his embrace again. Eventually she had given up, settling for sleeping with just the sheet on her body and doing her best to get used to Daryl's body draped over hers.

"G'night Amelia." Daryl murmured sleepily.

"Good night." She replied. He was snoring within minutes and only then did she whisper softly, "I love you."