Ten
"So let me ask you something?"
"Okay?" Rick exhaled as he removed his service weapon, securing it before unbuttoning his uniform shirt.
Shane had just entered the King County locker room after the end of their morning tour.
"I'm to blame for your love triangle?" he asked with a small grin while leaning against his locker, his arms folded over his chest.
"Pretty much. If I didn't listen to you, I wouldn't be in this situation right now." He responded while pinching the bridge of his nose.
Shane chuckled while he opened his locker to begin changing out of his uniform as well.
"That's funny."
"How so?"
"You couldn't figure out how to slide your way into Mich-" Rick glared at him and he raised his hands in surrender. "So I set you up with Jessie, who's a given. But I'm the bad guy."
"Yup."
"You are hilarious brother. You could have just gone for what you wanted in the first place but you are constantly carrying around this badge of honor. Always worried about how something will appear."
Rick sighed in review. "You're right."
"Look, Michonne's single now so-"
"Wait, how'd you know?"
Shane smirked as he continued to change clothes. "Andrea."
"What?" Rick's eyes opened wider and his best friend grinned while scratching his head.
"Yeah, that one's a firecracker there."
"I thought for sure it was just gonna be your usual."
"Me too. I was all ready to one hit and quit but what she did to me that night?" he whistled and Rick rolled his eyes. "Then she just left without waking me. Me!"
Rick turned his full action to him after he finished changing and closing his locker.
"Man, I had to see her again but I didn't have her number so I went to the school she works at. Sasha, from the party works in the office and she called Andrea down so I could speak to her."
"You did what?" Rick asked while an incredulous look.
"I know. But there was something about her. We've been seeing each other ever since."
"Just her?" Rick tilted his head.
Shane blushed before nodding. "I like her, like really like her."
"Who would've thought I'd be the one caught in between two women while you are ready to head down the aisle…?" Rick asked while looking at his friend.
"I didn't say that…but who knows?" Shane beamed and Rick was stupefied.
"Andrea was seeing this other fella, she put an end to it and now we are giving this thing a real chance."
"Huh, I feel like we've swapped bodies."
"You wish."
The two laughed as they grabbed their duffle bags and walked out the back exit to the parking lot.
"You were supposed to have a little fun with Jessie, correct your high school ineptitude and get out."
Rick sighed as they approached their cars that were parked next to one another. "Not everyone thinks like you, Shane."
"See that's why you're stuck. Maybe you should take a page out of the ole Shane handbook. You gotta make some decisions about what you want."
"I know, it's just how to get it. Jessie just had a whole thing and I don't wanna compound it so…"
"There you go again. You can't just expect to be the good guy and get what you want."
Rick chewed his lip. "It isn't just that. Michonne's ex is still trying to get back in with her, sent her flowers and who knows what else."
"Well, we'll just have to do a little bit of looking." Shane looked around before making eye contact with Rick.
"Maybe, I won't be the good guy anymore."
Shane patted his shoulder and they nodded their agreement before he opened his door to throw his bag in.
Rick looked to the darkening sky. "Okay, let me get out of here before this storm moves in."
"Yeah, I need to get home before Andrea arrives, see you tomorrow if she doesn't kill me." Shane smiled.
Rick ignored Shane's humble brag, got in his vehicle and pulled off.
Michonne had narrowly made it home before the rain started to come down. Now, she sat in her living room, snacking on ice cream while watching the weather man explain how heavy the rain would get that evening. She'd come home to yet another bouquet of exotic flowers from Mike that currently fragranced her home. He had been calling and texting her his apologizes and requests to try again but she wasn't interested. Just like these flowers that looked and smelled beautiful now, they would soon shrivel and die like their relationship.
Michonne didn't want to think about all of that right now, she just wanted to release all that she had locked away, clear her mind and enjoy an evening in while the storm raged outside. The meteorologist was going on about the heavy rains keeping up overnight with totals that would mean flooding in some areas, including hers.
Suddenly, the lights began to flicker a few times until they abruptly shut off. Michonne waited a few minutes, hoping they'd come back on but they didn't. She made her way to the window and as far as her eyes could see there was darkness. Not only were her complexes lights out but the street lights too, which meant probably the whole neighborhood. She grabbed her phone and pulled up the electric company's website to find a notification that they knew about the power outage but in the inclement weather they'd have to wait a while to dispatch workers to rectify the situation.
"Great!"
She went to her hall closet and searched for a flashlight she could have sworn was there but, couldn't find. She had a scented candle on her entertainment center so she retrieved matches from her kitchen pantry and lit it. The small candle didn't do much to dissuade her growing nerves as she sat on her couch in the mostly dark. Every so often the loud crack of thunder would ring out followed by lightning to temporarily brighten the night sky. Michonne considered reading a book on her iPad but the sound of the pummeling rain increasing was distracting.
"Damn!" she didn't want to admit that she was still afraid of thunder and lightning ever since she was a child. She looked to her front door in thought.
'Rick, said he was on early shift for a while now, maybe he's home?'
She grabbed her phone and keys, blew out her candle, stepped into her slippers and opened her door. The hall was even darker without the benefit of the windows to at least allow the flashes from the storm to temporarily flood in. She quickly used the flashlight on her phone and tipped over to Rick's front door before knocking. She waited a minute and knocked again before she could hear footsteps from inside.
"Who is it?"
"Michonne."
The door rapidly opened and Rick stood there with a flashlight. "You okay?"
"Umm…I don't really like the lightning…or the thunder…" she stammered.
"Come in." Rick ushered her inside and handed her his flashlight so she could reserve her phones battery.
"Thank you. I was hoping you were home."
"Yeah, I rushed home but still managed to get caught in the rain. I just got out of the shower."
Michonne looked him over and even in the dark she could see his hair was damp. She swallowed when she noticed he wore grey sweatpants that left little to the imagination along with his white t-shirt.
"Go have a seat, I'll light some candles and grab my other flashlight."
She went to the couch and sat while she watched his bowlegged strut become illuminated by the now welcomed flash of lightning.
Once he was gone, she looked around like she'd never been there before, familiarizing herself with the layout in the dark. Rick strolled back in with a new flashlight and a couple candles. He lit them, placing them around the room while she watched.
"I should've offered for you to come over."
"How would you know that I'm a big baby about storms?" Michonne said with a small, vaguely forced chortle.
Rick chuckled as the new light from the three wick candles provided Michonne some comfort.
"We all have something." he shrugged.
"Like what?" her curiosity was peaked.
Rick walked over and took a seat on the couch close to her, making her heartbeat quicken.
"Well, I hate bats."
"As in the sport or animal?"
"Animal." Rick snickered.
"That's not the same, I have to encounter storms. You don't have to be around bats."
"You'd think. There's been a few calls from citizens regarding bats in their homes, sheds or garages. I call in for backup." they both laughed.
"I can't imagine you afraid of anything." she gazed at Rick making him blush.
"See the reason, I'm not fond of them is because of Shane. When we were kids we went on this camping trip."
"Okay." she listened intently after kicking off her slippers to get comfy.
"He gets the bright idea to sneak off from the group and go on a hike. We find this hollow bottomland tree and it looked pretty cool and of course he wants to go inside."
"Oh no." Michonne covered her mouth.
"Yeah, the bats were living in there and we disturbed them so they swarm us and we tried to run but we slip in the guano." Michonne burst out laughing. "We manage to get out, screaming and run back to his Dad at the campsite."
Rick laughed as he spoke. "We had to get shots to make sure we didn't have rabies, that was not fun. Yeah, that was just another day being friends with Shane Walsh. I could write a book, there was the time-"
"Wait, another Shane story? We are definitely going to need a drink."
"You might be right about that." Rick grinned. "Whiskey?"
"Yes, please."
Rick went to his kitchen and poured them both glasses on the rocks and returned to her, sitting closer than before.
"Thank you."
"No problem." they both took sips and blew out deep breaths from the burn.
"Not just for the drink but for letting me cower here. I didn't want to be alone in this weather, so really thank you."
"Anytime." he slyly looked at her, making her pulse race.
"Okay, let's get back to this story."
Rick smirked at the memory. "We got banned from the Dairy Queen."
"What? How?"
"There was this waitress Maryanne that Shane was…doing." Rick shook his head. "Well, they had a falling out when she found out about Sheila."
Michonne shook her head too and chuckled.
"So we show up at the shop unsuspectingly, they start to argue and next thing her and her friends are throwing soft serve and toppings at us. Her grandfather owned that particular franchise and we were barred."
They both laughed. "I bet that was a hot summer."
"It was." they both took another sip, feeling the liquid relaxing them further.
"Hmm, it seems like he and Andrea are perfect for one another."
Thunder rumbled before the sky swiftly lit up letting them know the storms eye was upon them. Rick must have recognized that Michonne was startled so without a second thought he rubbed his hand on her knee to calm her.
"How come?" he tried to distract from her fears.
Michonne had to take a minute to breathe not only from the storm outside but the one that was brewing inside her from his soothing touch before she could answer his question.
"We were college roommates and she was always getting me into some hijinks. Dragging her back to the dorm from frat parties, holding her hair while she threw up and stopping her from fighting with other girls over guys."
Rick chuckled. "Did you get to have some of your own fun?"
"Sure, but I've never been as free spirited as her."
"Yeah, me too. I lived through Shane's exploits mostly."
"That's a shame." they both took their third gulp, finding the sting easier to tolerate.
"You think?"
"Yeah, we should have our own experiences with our wilder sides. Don't you think?"
Her declaration was meant to be obligatory but the temperature between them amplified. Michonne looked Rick over and couldn't help but to glance at his crotch in those thin sweats, the bulge was undeniable. She bit her lip and watched as he looked to her mouth then back to her eyes. The lust in his eyes darkened by the night was still irrefutable.
She held her breath when he slowly reached up to twist one of her locs around his finger. She reciprocated by scooting closer and running her fingers through his hair to land in his curls at the back. They leaned in, simultaneously tilting their heads and their lips lightly skimmed before Rick drew her full bottom lip in. Michonne involuntarily moaned at the tender feeling. She had fantasized about what his lips would feel like but she had sold him short. She kissed him back, trying to maintain some composure but the more he sucked at her heart shaped lips, the more she sought.
She needed to be closer to him still so she pulled away and he exhaled deeply. She wasted no time in climbing on him, straddling him so his now rising bulge was pressed against her ever moistening sex. The fresh scent of his recently washed hair and body called to her. Rick groaned when she slid her tongue into his mouth and his hands went under her tank top and kneaded the skin of her sides and back.
"Mmm…"
Michonne was impressed, from the feel of it Rick wasn't just a shower he was also a grower. His kisses grew more intense as she grinded into him. His moans got louder when he finally squeezed her round ass and pressed her down further into his cock. They pulled away to gasp for air before Rick kissed and licked down her chin and neck.
Michonne held on to the back of his couch and watched as he trailed kisses over her décolletage. But she needed more satisfaction so she scooped her plump breasts out from the top of her bra. Rick looked up at her seeming to adore her impatience, he leisurely licked his way to her dark areolas. He gently took both her breasts in his hands, tickling her peaks with his thumbs making them harden further.
"Shit"
Michonne could feel how wet she was and they'd barely done anything. Her head began to swoon when he softly kissed not only her nipples but her whole breasts. She grasped his shoulders to steady herself as his tongue joined in. It was like he was making out with her ample bosom instead of her mouth. When Rick began to thrust up against her, the friction was sublime.
"This feels so good…"
Rick's appreciative moan was his response and the vibrations against her skin made her body pulse. When he tenderly nipped at her sensitive buds, she couldn't help but to grab his hair, keeping his attention right where she wanted it. Needed it. Michonne was on the verge and she couldn't believe it. How could it feel like this without them rounding all the bases?
She circled her waist as he started to suck, squeezing her eyes closed caught up in the pressure that was building. Rick alternated from each breast while he pinched the other with his fingers. In between one of his swaps he uttered her name.
"Chonne"
A wave hit her, hard and fast. Her body spasming as the current kept striking her. She shouted out an unrecognizable sound when he continued in on her. He had to know she was coming with the jerking of her body but he kept on. Rick was relentless and she loved it, even though he was slaying her. She managed to wrench his mouth away and he appeared to relish in watching her ride out the aftershocks.
Just then the lights, television and various other electronics came back to life. They pair were startled by the unexpected brightness of the room and sounds of technology buzzing back to life. The power had been restored and with it a dose of actuality.
Michonne's eyes adjusted to the lights and she was suddenly unsure about what they had just partaken in, so she quickly put her breasts away then clambered off of Rick's lap. She could fully see the wet spot that she had created on his light pants.
"Michonne."
"Umm, I think I should go."
Rick stood and adjusted his still present erection. "Michonne, wait you don't have to go."
"I think we got a little carried away."
"We…we should talk."
"Rick, you are still in a situation so we can't-" Michonne stepped into her slippers and grabbed her phone then headed to the door with Rick shaking his leg out in order to chase her.
"But Michonne wait-"
She didn't listen and opened the door, stepping out.
"I was just coming to check on you Michonne." they turned to see Mrs. Neudermeyer.
Rick stepped back into his threshold to conceal his semi and the wet spot on his pants from the nosey neighbor.
"Oh, thank you Mrs. Neudermeyer."
"I remembered you told me some time ago that you were frightened of thunderstorms. They knock me right out, I slept through the whole thing. I only woke when the power surged back on, scared the mess out of me."
"Scared me too, isn't that something?" Michonne pulled her keys out.
"So Rick kept you company?"
"Yes, yes I did Mrs. Neudermeyer." Rick peeked his head around the corner to respond.
"That's nice." the sound of Michonne's key unlocking her door interrupted the old woman's thoughts and made Rick turn his attention back to her.
"I'm really tired Mrs. Neudermeyer, I'm going to head in now."
"No problem Dear, have a good night."
"Goodnight." the older woman turned her back to head back to her own apartment.
Michonne stepped inside her place and turned to look at Rick. He looked crestfallen as he opened his mouth to say something but he must have reconsidered.
"Night."
"Goodnight, Rick."
Michonne reluctantly closed the door, uncertain of her decision to cut and run. Rick had been so giving to her, taking care of her needs completely but then the damned lights came on. The tables had turned. The light reminded her of their predicament, she was free but he wasn't.
'How you get em is how you lose em.'