Like fire

Connie hadn't been able to sleep so she'd decided to read for a bit. It was late when she awoke with a start. A gust of wind had blown the curtain which in turn knocked over the empty cup on the table beside her. Realizing she'd drifted off in the chair, she looked down to see ol' TR gazing up sternly from the back cover of the history book resting on her chest.

Connie set the book down and picked up the cup. She stood up and stretched. The breeze was a relief from the heat of the day. The vibrations in the air unmistakable, as thunder rumbled in the distance promising rain, which Connie thought would also be welcome. Low water levels and no wind meant neither the waterwheel nor windmill generated enough electricity to power much of anything. Lately, they'd spent more evenings by lantern or candlelight than not.

Eugene and Coco looked to be fast asleep. Connie shivered a little, wrapping her arms around her body as she stepped out onto the porch, closing the front door quietly behind her. She was in her nightclothes, a thin shirt and loose pyjama bottoms but it must've been past midnight and she figured no one would be up or about.

She stood out there, thinking how much she enjoyed watching a storm come in; enjoyed experiencing the sheer force of nature.

It was pitch black out; the sky occasionally illuminated bright as day where lightning zig-zagged across it. Connie inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the cool damp air. In the distance she could see a glow, the light from a burning cigarette coming from a darkened porch.

She pulled on her socks and boots and slowly walked out onto the street in the direction of the light. Fat droplets of rain had begun to fall, first one, then a few more. She reached the house, pausing in front of it, then she climbed the steps slowly, deliberately.

The two of them stood there, side by side watching the rain start to fall. Connie reached over and drew the cigarette from between Daryl's lips, putting it to hers and taking a long drag. She exhaled.

Thunder rumbled overhead as Daryl turned around, facing her, their bodies almost touched. He reached for her hand, slowly lacing his fingers through hers. Retrieving the cigarette carefully with his free hand, he extinguished it on the railing beside them. The faint light from a lantern inside illuminated their faces, enough for her to search out his question, enough for him to read her response.

Daryl led Connie inside, picking up the lantern as they went. He could hear the blood pounding in his ears and felt it move down through his body until he ached with arousal. When they reached his rooms, Connie saw that the sofa had been pulled out; ruffled bed clothes indicating that sleep had eluded Daryl too.

She kicked off her boots and removed her socks as he turned toward her. Their hands and lips connected slowly at first. His kiss was tender, flooding her senses, stirring in her a hunger that mirrored his own. He cupped her breasts in his palms, ravaging the firm buds of her swollen nipples through the thin fabric of her shirt. In response she grasped his waist, pressing herself against the hard heat between his legs. They couldn't get enough of each other as they drank in the sweetness and the intensity of the moment. The smoldering fire between them burned as familiar as it was mysterious.

The tremors she could feel as his body responded to her touch were driving her crazy. They undressed slowly and sank into the bed. He could feel how wet she was as she straddled him, then began to gently kiss him all over his body, all the way down to his feet. She took her time, igniting his senses as she slowly traced a path back up, following the rhythm of his throbbing manhood with her lips and her fingers, taking him deep inside her mouth, stroking and caressing him until he could barely hold on.

Daryl turned the tables, gently flipping Connie on her back, enjoying the way her gasp of surprise turned into soft moans as he traced kisses down the line of her neck, his palms grazed her breasts, stroking her gently as his lips continued their exploration, following the path of her body heat, down to her belly. He planted soft kisses along the way, sparking a fire in her that threatened to burn out of control. He took off her panties slowly and began to explore her with his lips and tongue so intimately and delicately, Connie felt weightless. Daryl carressed her thighs, grasping her buttocks as she rocked with a pleasure that mounted and intensified until she was close to the edge, her body trembling with need for him.

Connie ran her hands through Daryl's hair gently urging him up till their lips met in a kiss, the taste of their passion intoxicating. He raised himself up on his forearms, careful not to crush her with his weight. When their bodies came together as one, Connie wrapped her legs around Daryl's waist, clinging to him for fear she might float away.

He thrust deeper, her body supple and sweet beneath him. Sweeter than anything he could ever have imagined. Connie savored the feeling of him on top of her; the heat and power he exuded as he gently stroked her, awakened hidden parts of her senses. She ran her fingers gently across his chest and around his back, along the proud flesh and the rivulets in between them. She'd kissed all those places with such tenderness, Daryl felt weak in the knees. When Connie looked up at him, the desire in his eyes took her breath away, driving them both to an intense and ecstatic climax.

Connie's head was resting on Daryl's chest as she ran her fingers through the salt and pepper hairs. 'I read somewhere that most people who are..' he hesitated '...deaf?' Connie supplied, 'it's okay, you can say it'

Daryl nodded, 'most deaf people think in sign language, so you... imagine things in sign language?' Daryl expression was half question half statement. Connie had cocked her head back to see him better, read his lips. She nodded in response.

'I wondered what you imagine my voice sounds like..?' Daryl clasped his fingers at her waist as he spoke. 'Hmm...' Connie thought for a moment, propping herself up to reply 'i imagine it's...like kindness'

'Hey, no fair..' Daryl tickled her gently 'How could someone sound like kindness'

Connie chuckled, rolling over to lie on top of him, giving him a playful poke in the side

'What about me..?' she asked him, signing carefully.

'What do I imagine you sound like?' he raised his eyebrow as he interpreted her question

She nodded, slowly starting to gyrate her hips, teasing him

'Like fire' Daryl's voice was thick with desire as he brought his hands up to her face, pulling her firmly into his kiss

After the first time, they made love over and over again that night. Slowly, sensually while they talked. And then with a heat and passion that only abated as they lay naked and spent, their bodies tangled together, falling asleep just as the pink haze of dawn broke across the sky.