~Author's Note: Hey guys, here is the latest chapter for your consideration. It's a Daryl POV chapter; I hope you don't mind! I'm sorry it took me so long to update. Life sometimes gets in the way. As always, thank you for reading, and I hope you all enjoy!~

After allowing Beth the time to properly bask in her afterglow, Daryl needed to be closer to her. He needed to have her bare skin pressed against his, wrap his arms tight around her...he just wanted to hold her. Daryl sat up, bringing Beth with him until she was resting on his thighs. She was breathing normally again, but she possessed a glow now that made here look even more ethereal than usual, even more fucking desirable if that was possible. He was going in to pull her closer when he felt his belt being unbuckled. He froze. How did he not notice what she'd been doing?

"Beth..."

She looked at him; her shy eyes broke him... He didn't wanna say no...so he didn't.

"Beth, we're not gonna..."

"I know...just let me..."

Daryl closed his eyes and nodded, focusing on his breathing. Everything became more acute...the anxiety building in his chest, his nerves standing on end, the sound of his fly unzipping. Waking up beside Beth in a safe, warm, comfortable bed may have seemed surreal...but nothing about this was...it was all real. When Beth's hand first touched him, his body involuntarily convulsed, but as she freed him of the constricting restraint of his pants, he literally...literally let out a sigh of relief.

Fuck, this is bad.

Beth was totally naked, on him, just inches away...before, his securely belted, buttoned, and zipped pants provided a very concrete barrier. Now, that safety was off...he was a loaded gun...with a hair trigger...and that wasn't who he wanted to be with Beth. All he could think about was himself...what he needed. This was where the danger of losing all sense of right and wrong came into play.

Beth's touch was soft...hesitant...a caress...stroking the tips of her fingers up and down his hard length...it was driving him fucking insane. Daryl kept his eyes clenched tight. He was already close to the edge. If he looked at her, saw her, saw what she was doing to him, it would be enough to drive him over, and then it would all be done.

Daryl had the burning urge to grab Beth's hand, wrap it around his dick, and show her just how he wanted to be handled...but it was too aggressive. He fought himself...she'd allowed him to explore; it was only fair she had her turn.

Instinct was a bitch, especially when you were fighting the fucker while trying to ignore a throbbing cock, aching balls, and the beautiful girl you loved who was fucking straddlin' your lap! All Daryl could think about was pushing Beth back on that bed and driving hard into her as deep as he could go until he absolutely owned her...all of her...every part that he would never let anyone else touch. That was what the dangerous side of him wanted, the person he used to be who hadn't totally disappeared...the feral animal that still lived deep inside. He realized and stopped himself before he did anything he could never take back...damage that couldn't be undone.

Daryl forced his eyes open, seeing gentle Beth, her hair falling in her face as she still hesitantly explored. She was what stilled his dangerous nature. Beth made him better. He was loosing his battle with instinct and need, his hand coming to rest on her upper back as he moved to ease her onto the bed. This wasn't how he planned it, but hell, when did life ever turn out like anyone planned? He might be losing the battle with instinct, but he could still win the war. He could go easy on Beth, be gentle with her, fight his darker instinct, do right by Beth. He loved her. He could make love to her, or at least he could try.

"Uhhh..."

Daryl didn't even realize what happened until the sigh flew outta his mouth. Beth had grasped him suddenly, her firm grip a startling change from her gentle caresses. That stopped him in his tracks. He started to close is eyes again, but he just couldn't. Beth looked up as she stroked him slowly but with purposeful intent. She bit her lower lip endearingly, and her eyes asked questions he shouldn't have to answer. All her insecurity over nothing.

Fuck...this ain't gonna be good...it's been too fucking long...

Daryl couldn't hold on even if he wanted to. Instead, when it hit him, he buried his face in her hair at her shoulder, his hand desperately clenching the back of her neck.

"God Beth..." he sighed raggedly into Beth's neck.

When he was finished, Daryl pulled her as close as possible, her hands resting on his chest between them. He kissed her neck, sucking at her soft skin...not caring if he marked her...she was his.

"Thank you Beth..." he whispered softly behind her ear.

He didn't have the slightest urge to run. Normally, once the deed was done, Daryl was dressed and headed for the hills before anybody dared to get too close and cuddly. Granted, this hadn't been sex, but it had been so much better than anything he'd ever done before. He didn't wanna move...ever. Beth was resting on his chest, her soft breasts pressed against him, her eyes watching him carefully. Daryl idly raked his fingers through her loose hair tumbling down her bare back. Her mouth opened, and she drew in a breath like she was gettin' ready to say something, but he stopped her in her tracks.

"Shhh...just give me a minute..."

Beth smiled, twitching her lips back and forth in a cute little manner, her chin resting on his chest as she continued watching him.

Daryl didn't have the urge to run, but he sure in the hell could use a smoke...old habits died hard. Come to think of it, he still had the pack he'd found at the house...but they were buried somewhere out in the car, and finding it would require getting outta bed.

Hell no to that!

Daryl took in a deep breath, exhaling slowly. He let his hand brush down Beth's back where her body rested beside him, just able to reach and run over the curve of her smooth ass cheek. She flinched but didn't pull away. I would just take time...for both of them.

"Come here." It came out more aggressive than it should've. It was a command rather than a request.

Nothin' to do about it now.

Even though he couldn't have a cig, he could have something better, the taste of her mouth on his lips. Beth wasn't in a mood to say "no". Her hair tickled his chest and shoulders as she leaned down, turning herself over to him.

If he couldn't have her...which was probably for the best at this point, well, this would have to be enough. This was the first time...the only time, he'd ever let himself go with Beth. He crushed her bare body against his chest, thrusting his tongue into her mouth, assaulting her in the only way that made sense at the moment. Beth attempted to participate, but Daryl didn't leave much opportunity for her to do anything except take what he gave her. His better sense tried to take over, telling him that he needed to beat down this dominant, aggressive bullshit or Beth was gonna hate him...but that thought didn't stop him from catching her lower lip between his teeth as she pulled away, short of breath. It was just a kiss anyway, no damage was done.

"Uhhh...ahh..." an unreadable noise escaped her mouth as she pushed away from him, palm firmly planted on his chest, her fingers coming up to touch her swollen lips.

The pressure of her hand on his chest, her proximity, the fact that he was staring up at her small, pale breasts which she wasn't tryin' to hide 'cause she was too preoccupied...he felt a smile crossing his lips, but he stopped it because he couldn't get a read on her reaction. Maybe he'd crossed the line again...but she looked down at him flushed, eyes sparkling in the faint firelight, and there was only surprise laced with what...desire? Having a girl want him like this...someone who actually knew him...someone he wanted too for much more than just sex...it was new...of course he was self-conscious. Only an idiot wouldn't be with someone as perfect as Beth.

Beth eventually came back down to rest on his chest, looking at him, waiting for something...yup...she'd wanted to say somethin'. He'd had his moment. Daryl just wanted to touch, and she wanted to talk. It wasn't just about him anymore.

"What'd you wanna say?" His voice came out soft and low.

Daryl was relaxed, more satisfied than he'd been in a really long time, but Beth apparently has some urgent, pressing thought that she needed to get out in the open...but she was stalling.

"Ummm...well..." Beth hesitated. "Was I...was it..." She was so painfully awkward. "Did I do it right...?"

Daryl rested his head back on the bed so he didn't have to look at her. His face was warm...was he fucking blushing?! No reason to hide it from himself...hell, he was embarrassed!

"Uhhh...there ain't really a wrong way to go about it..." Well, he could think of a few wrong ways, but nothing he could ever imagine Beth doin'..."And...normally you...don't gotta ask...the end result...it kinda lets you know..." Why was this so fucking painful to talk about?

"Oh." Beth understood. It had been explanation enough...hopefully.

Silence. Only breathing, the crackling fire, and the weight of his own thoughts.

She needed a girl to talk to...Maggie. Hell, he needed a guy with some relationship experience to turn to...Rick. It would be awkward as hell, probably even for Rick, but he'd be willing to buck up and soldier through a painful conversation with Rick for Beth's sake. Merle'd been the one who'd taught him about fuckin', even set him up with his first girl...but none of Merle's shit would ever apply to Beth.

Beth's self-conscious question brought his mind back around to his own very real shortcomings. He came far to quick...like a teenager with the first woman who grabbed his cock. What was Beth thinkin' about him now? Well, if anything came outta his poor showing, maybe it gave Beth a bit of confidence, knowing what she was capable of doin' to him. And, in the long run, it would be better when they were together that this premature ending was outta the way. What else was he expecting? He hadn't been with a woman since before...

"Beth...you can't do anything wrong...not with me..." He'd never felt the need to praise anyone for what they did to him in bed, but he wanted to...the words just didn't come out as good as they should've.

Daryl raised his head, pressing his chin against his chest so he could see her, her hair piled onto his chest on either side of her face. She appreciated his compliment. It removed the questions from her eyes. Quiet followed. Neither of them seemed to be tryin' to fall asleep though.

"We're facing the wrong way."

"What?" Daryl was lost.

"This is the foot of the bed...we can't sleep like this." There was a playfulness in Beth's quiet, whispery words.

Daryl leaned up, looking to see the pillows and the headboard at his feet.

"I've never slept the wrong way before."

He shook his head and smiled slightly at Beth's confession as he laid his head back down on the bed. Daryl thought about all the nights he could remember. A lot of the time, there hadn't been a bed. Other times, there was a bed or a couch or a mattress on the floor, things close to a bed, at least in his book. No matter what it was, he just crashed and slept where he fell, just happy to have a roof over his head most times...and sometimes there wasn't even that. He'd slept in places most people wouldn't even set foot in. And here Beth was, at the end of the world, still able to hold onto everything she had before...still never having dared sleep the wrong way in bed. That was what he wanted...that stability, that steady, predictable, normal course in life...and her hope let him believe he might have it...

Of all the places he'd slept, Daryl had once sworn he'd never spend a night in prison...sad part was, that prison was the closest thing he'd ever had to a real, long term home. He would've been glad to spend his life there. It was a random, depressing thought he needed to get over. Things were good now, better than good, better than he ever thought he would have it in life, and he didn't even need to try to convince himself. He had everything he could want, everything he could ever need, and she was right there with him.

"I guess we're just breakin' all the rules now," Daryl commented, soaking her in.

"I love you, Daryl Dixon."

Daryl's heart did some weird fluttery thing. She said it on her own. It was the first time. It wasn't a reply. It wasn't followed by "too". And she said his name. She couldn't mean anyone else. Beth said she loved him, and she said his name...