since you guys are SO fucking amazing, you get another update! 2 chapters in one day?! ;) love you all!
Beth felt intense warmth when she reluctantly opened her eyes the next morning. Daryl's body was draped over her and legs were tangled. Cracking a sleepy smile, Beth glanced at her watch and noted that it was only 8:30am. She wouldn't have to leave for class for another two hours and the idea of falling back asleep never seemed more appealing than it did in that moment in Daryl's embrace. Unfortunately, Betg's bladder had other ideas.
With a quiet sigh, she started to free herself from Daryl's grasp. Daryl's arms put up a unconscious fight, holding her even tighter when she tried to pull. "Hey.." Beth murmured in her low morning voice, her fingers walking along Daryl's taut arm while she noted how good her wrist felt. It was very nearly back to normal.
"Hm?" Daryl's brow creased and his lower lip quivered a little. Beth took a second to look at Daryl's face as it looked so peaceful. It didn't portray the life that Beth knew Daryl lived, a hard and precarious one with continuous obstacles. Instead it showed the man underneath the defensive outer walls. Beth kissed his forehead without a second thought and Daryl's eyes slowly blinked open.
"Mornin'.." Daryl mumbled huskily, squinting in the daylight of the room and looking at Beth's face with a slight quirk of a smile. "Time is it?"
"Just past 8:30," Beth whispered, puckering her lips as an invitation which Daryl quickly accepted, their lips meeting in a quiet reminder of how far they'd come.
"Then why are ya up? Do ya have ta go ta class?" Daryl's eyes closed again and his arm adjusted around Beth's waist to pull her tighter against his chest.
"Not yet, but I do have to pee and you squeezing me isn't helping," Beth whined and wrinkled her nose, taking a deep breath.
"Oh.. So this would be a bad idea right now?" Daryl lifted an eyebrow and he slowly started tickling up Beth's side, making Beth squirm in protest.
"That would be a horrible idea, unless you fancy a golden shower?" Beth said teasingly, her fingers grabbing Daryl's hipbone in an opposing pinch.
Daryl pursed his lips as if in thought and then chuckled lowly. "Nah, I'll pass. I don' want yer piss all over me. Go," he pushed Beth lightly and then turned on his stomach, pulling the covers over his head.
Beth crept to the bathroom, shivering as the chill of the apartment hit the skin that was exposed. After relieving herself she freshened up a bit, rinsing out het mouth and washing her face. It was during this process that she remembered she'd never texted Maggie the night before. "Fuck me," Beth said under his breath.
"I plan ta," Daryl's voice came from behind her.
Beth quickly turned her head toward him and swallowed hard at the way the sunlight through the window hit Daryl's tan skin. She could see the various scars and marks that marred the flesh that she had caught glimpses of before, but none of it took away from the perfection in front of her. "I thought you were going back to sleep.."
"Ya made me realize that I have ta go too. Is it alright?" Daryl smirked teasingly, the sleep still in his voice.
"Of course it is," Beth rolled her eyes and blushed hard when she saw Daryl stand in front of the toilet and start to reach into his boxers. She held her breath and widened her eyes when Daryl glanced at her.
"I really don' care if ya watch, but are ya sure this is how ya want ta be introduced ta my cock?" Daryl questioned casually and Beth couldn't help but laugh, putting her hand over her eyes.
"I think I'll keep it a mystery a bit longer," she shook her head and peeked through her fingers to look at Daryl's face. "I'll meet you back in bed where I intend to sleep some more," Beth waved over her shoulder and stepped out of the bathroom with a smile on her face that quickly disappeared when she remembered Maggie again.
Groaning, she went out to the living room and grabbed her phone, bracing herself for the influx of concerned texts from Maggie. Relief was an understatement for what she felt when she read the only text received from her sister: BETHY'S GETTING LAID. FUCK YEAH. I left some cheese fries in the fridge. Don't eat them. Thx.
Beth blew out a breath and chuckled as her whole body relaxed. She sent a text back to Maggie, explaining that she was fine and that she'd give her details later. They didn't have to be the correct details, just something to keep her satisfied.
She crawled back into bed with a renewed feeling of content. The outside world actually could wait for a couple of more hours. She was just settling into the comfort of the covers when he felt Daryl's body press against her back and a hand smooth up her stomach to the center of her chest, not giving her body adequate time to adjust before a thumb began playing with her nipple.
Beth hid her face in the pillow to stifle a groan and Daryl's lips ghosted along the back of her neck. "You know I told you it's sensitive.. Be good." Beth whispered in a tone of anything but protest of the assault on her nipple.
"I am bein' good.. If I did what I wanted ta right now, thangs would be much worse," Daryl answered in a deep voice, peppering kisses down Beth's neck and lightly flicking her nipple with his fingertip. Beth brought her legs up toward her chest in an attempt to calm her arousal.
"What would it be like..?" Beth asked timidly.
Daryl's shaky breath behind her sent additional shivers down her back. Beth could tell that he was purposefully keeping his hips away from Beth's ass, and the probable reason why was making Beth insane. "We shouldn' talk 'bout it.." Daryl responded after a moment, scratching the hair on his chin.
"Then.." Beth gulped. "I think it's in your best interest to stop touching me there, or else talking will be the last thing we'll be doing," she warned.
Daryl's hand immediately moved from Beth's breast but stayed resting on her ribs, which wasn't much better. Truth was, no matter where Daryl touched her, Beth felt it everywhere. "Fuck ya fer bein' so goddamn irresistible," Daryl growled.
"Likewise, Dixon," Beth didn't know why she chose to use that name at that moment, but it slipped out in the haze of the air.
"Please don' call me that.." Daryl's voice was tight.
"I'm sorry," Beth turned her body enough so she could look at Daryl's face. "I don't know why I did.. If it's any consolation, I think you have the best fighter name. It's really sexy, actually."
Daryl breathed out through his nose and his lashes fanned over his cheeks. "It's alright, don' worry."
"You know.. At one point you didn't want me to call you Daryl. In the beginning it made you mad," Beth said carefully.
"I think ya an' I both know that a lot has changed since then.. Listen, I don' really want ta think 'bout all o' that right now," Daryl mumbled.
Easier said than done. Beth's mind had already started racing with questions and concerns. "Can I.. Just ask you one thing?"
"I knew ya would so go ahead," Daryl sighed in frustration but his touch on Beth's back was still tender, his hand tracing along her spine.
"I was just wondering why you haven't had to fight recently. I mean, we've been training nearly every night and you haven't had to.."
"Merle wanted me ta focus on ya. I can' very well train ya if a fight goes wrong an' my arm is broken er some shit," Daryl mumbled and the feeling in the air began to change to something colder. Beth knew she only had a moment to fix it.
"It's all I wanted to know, I swear.. I'm really glad you get to focus on me," Beth bit down on a smile and looked Daryl right in the eyes, their noses bumping together lightly.
Daryl took the offer of living in the bliss of denial for just a bit longer and kissed Beth firmly, his hand gripping her hip and his tongue slowly slipping between Beth's lips. Lips parted and tongues met heatedly, tangling and twisting between their connected lips.
Lifting her hand to the back of Daryl's neck, Beth massaged it slowly with her fingertips and traced the shell of Daryl's ear with her thumb, brushing it along the edge of his earlobe. Their chests pushed together close enough so they could feel the pounding of each other's hearts and the silence around them was infiltrated by heavy breaths and quiet keening.
The moment only broke when their groins pressed together and the obvious mutual arousal became too much. Daryl quickly pulled his hips back and licked over his swollen lips, his eyes dark and heavy-lidded.
"I never wanted somethin' so bad," he mused aloud and Beth had to close her eyes briefly while a wave of excitement washed through her.
"You will have me.. Just a little longer," Beth was surprised with her own ability to reason in that second.
Daryl nodded faintly, a strained smile on his lips. "Let's sleep, please."
Beth knew it was the only thing that would help. She didn't want to leave yet but if she stayed awake with Daryl in bed, they would give in. "Yes," Beth reached for her phone and set an alarm and was pulled back into Daryl's arms after, where she settled comfortably against his chest. They fell into an easy sleep with their lower halves a safe distance apart.
_
It was essentially pointless for Beth to go to school at all that day. Her classes were filled with her thoughts drifting to Daryl. She was lucky that none of her professors called on her, so embarrassing moments were avoided and she was able to remain in her own zone. Focus was impossible and she had a moment of panic when it neared the end of her abnormal psych class and she realized she hadn't paid attention to it at all. She had a test the next week and everything the teacher said was crucial to it. This wasn't like her at all.
…...
Smiling wasn't something Daryl did unless it was provoked by another person or a thing, and even then it was a rare reaction and not an everyday occurrence. Which was why he was perturbed that the smile hadn't left his face since Beth walked out the door that morning. He went out to get coffee and found himself smiling at strangers. He started a load of laundry and realized he was smiling to himself while he put in the fabric softener. It's not that he was unpleasant all of the time, it's that it took a special combination of things to make him smile genuinely. Apparently Beth had that. All Daryl knew was that this wasn't like him at all.
…...
Maggie wrapped her arms around Beth in a giant bear hug when she walked in the door and yelled, "Congratulations on popping your cherry!"
"Shut up," Beth laughed and shoved her sister, putting her school bag on the ground after full walking in the door.
"Anyway, I didn't have sex last night. We just made out and slept in the same bed."
"So what, this guy is celibate or something?" Maggie asked.
"Of course he's not, just some of us know how to restrain ourselves," Beth glared over at her and grabbed a cookie from the jar for herself. "We don't need sex to enjoy each other."
"Wow, that sounds like the hottest relationship ever!" Maggie mocked and Beth threw the cookie at her head. Maggie picked it up from where it fell on the couch and ate it.
"Anyway, I think after this weekend you can meet him.." Beth took a risky guess but it seemed about right. If things were to progress like Beth and Daryl had planned, she didn't see any reason why she wouldn't want Daryl to meet her friends.
…...
Daryl's phone rang later in the evening and he found himself girlishly hoping that it was Beth. Instead, Knox's name flashed across the screen and Daryl blinked in confusion. He and Knox typically communicated in texts or in person. Neither of them were ones to chit chat.
"Ya?" Daryl answered the call.
"Dixon.. I gotta talk to you about something."
"Go fer it," Daryl kept his voice calm but his gut told him something was wrong.
"Look.. I came by last night to see if you wanted to go get a drink and I saw you and Priss go up to your apartment."
Daryl's mouth dropped open and he slowly started to panic. "I just had ta show her some fight footage on the internet. Ya know, Beastly vs. Criminal from 2010. Criminal is similar ta Sneaky, Priss' upcoming opponent." Daryl had never been more grateful for his seamless ability to lie. It was the only trait that he appreciated inheriting from his low life dad.
"Oh.." Knox seemed to think for a moment. "You sure?" Because I came back by a few hours later after the bar and all your lights were out. I know you don't usually sleep that early, man."
He had him there. Daryl hadn't slept decently in years. Well, up until the night before with Beth. He wouldn't admit it but it was the best sleep he'd had since he could remember. Knox and the guys were used to dropping by in the middle of the night to find Daryl wide awake and working on some kind of project. Sleep for him was a weakness. A time when he couldn't protect himself and he'd had countless experiences that proved he needed to be on guard as much as possible.
He had become accustomed to falling asleep after at least 3am because that was when his dad would roll in from the bars. If he was going to give Daryl a beating, it was always around that time and Daryl had to be sure to be awake. His dad would ream him even if he was sleeping. Though he didn't live with him anymore, old habits died hard.
"I been able ta sleep better lately," Daryl admitted slowly, seeing that there was no adequate excuse other than that.
"Did she sleep there with you?" Knox pressed.
"No," Daryl replied perfectly. Without hesitation but not too quickly. "I jus' passed out, 'm sorry. Call me next time an' I'll be sure ta be awake."
"Alright, man. I was just checking because you know how bad it would be if you started something up with that kid. Merle would have your ass and send you back to your old life without even thinking about it. He's the only reason why y'all's
dad hasn't found out where you are."
"I know, Knox. Shut the fuck up 'bout it. Nothin' is goin' on," Daryl's voice was stern and Knox knew not to push it further. "Don' mention yer suspicions ta anyone 'cause I don' want rumors spreadin' 'bout this bullshit."
"Hey, I'm not gonna say a damn thing. It's why I came to you first. Maybe there's nothing going on now, but if you're even thinking about it I just wanted to remind you about what's at stake," Knox replied.
"I know what's at stake an' I also know that it don' matter 'cause ain't nothin' is happenin'," Daryl's defense was bordering on too much but he just wanted to get off the phone. "I'll see ya later, man. I gotta go."
"See you this weekend at the fight. Make sure Priss is ready to go. Merle has a lot of money going on her and I don't wanna deal with him if the kid loses."
"Ya, ya. She'll be ready," Daryl breathed out. "Bye." He hung up the phone and stared into the air in front of him. That was way too close of a call. He was able to lie but he knew Knox was onto him. It would only take another little slip and everything would be ruined.
_
Beth had gotten better about not analyzing every little facet of her time with Daryl and not trying to figure out what was in his head. Mostly because Daryl was being more forthcoming about things now, and not quite as mysterious. At least that's what Beth thought, until that night.
"What's up with you?" Beth asked for the second time, wiping sweat off her brow. They had been training for three hours straight and had gotten a lot accomplished. Beth's wrist was perfectly usable and she was feeling strong and good.
Everything was going fine except that Daryl had barely said a word that didn't have to do with the fight. When Beth had questioned him on it initially, Daryl simply said that he was keeping good on his goal to not get distracted. Saying that the fight was four days away and they couldn't waste a second. Beth completely agreed, and that's why she had worked her ass off.
"I done told ya, aint nothin' wrong. Ya did good t'night," Daryl forced a smile and stood up, busying himself with packing up his duffle bag with the various training tools.
The work for the night was over and Beth didn't feel the need to suppress the question. "Did something happen that you aren't telling me?" Beth crossed her arms over her chest.
Daryl raised an eyebrow at her and took a swig from his bottle of water. "I was jus' focusin' on gettin' ya ready, darlin'. We ain't got long an' it's pretty fuckin' crucial that ya do well."
Beth searched for any look of warmth in Daryl's eyes that she had become accustomed to lately. When she saw none, she assumed the worst. "Why, so Merle will praise you and you'll get lots of money?"
Daryl parted his lips in a huff, his face turning serious. "Actually, so that ya don' git seriously injured an' have yer life fucked up further.. But thanks, that's real nice ta know ya think that's what I care 'bout." Daryl spat out and put his bag over his shoulder, stalking toward the door. "Fuck you, Beth."
"Wait!" Beth called out, running her fingers through her damp hair and dropping her gaze down. "I'm really sorry. I've just had a weird feeling all night.. That something isn't right," Beth murmured as she walked closer to Daryl, putting her gloved hands on the backs of Daryl's shoulder and kissing the side of his neck. Daryl tensed up but didn't pull away.
"Beth.." he murmured under his breath and slowly let his head drop down.
"I know that's not all you care about.. I'm sorry. Sometimes I don't know what you're thinking and so I try to guess and well, I'm often wrong. Which I hate admitting, by the way.." Beth gritted out, her eyes closing.
"I'm sorry too." Daryl turned around slowly to face Beth. "'M jus' startin' ta panic 'bout shit," he admitted quietly, pursing his lips and looking down.
"What's got you so scared, huh?" Beth cupped Daryl's cheeks, making him look her in the eyes.
Dar slowly met her gaze and wet his lips, the tension in his body subsiding a bit. "We have ta be more careful, Beth."
Beth looked at him in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"Knox saw ya go into my apartment last night. He called me an' asked me 'bout it. I lied an' it's okay fer now.. But if he sees somethin' suspicious again, he ain't goin' ta let it go. He will tell Merle 'cause he is more o' a kiss ass than a friend," Daryl cursed under his breath and pressed his forehead to Beth's.
"Tell me something.. What will Merle do if he finds out about us?" Beth asked cautiously, biting down on the corner of her lip.
Daryl swallowed visibly and was at a loss for words for a moment before speaking. "He uses our dad as a threat, Beth. He's got his number an' he knows where he is. He says if I fuck up er don' do what he asks, he'll tell my dad where ta find me an' make sure I git sent back there.."
"But.. No," Beth shook her head. "You're a grown man and he can't have that much power over you. No matter how much he thinks he does."
"Ya, he does. He's the reason I can afford ta live on my own. If I lose my gig as a fighter, I lose my freedom an' money. I'll have ta go back ta the hell o' living with my dad.." Daryl grimaced and took a deep breath, his arms crossing over his chest.
"You'll never have to go back there, okay? God, you'll move in with me and Maggie if you have to," Beth nodded quickly, ignoring the fact that she had just invited Daryl to move in with her. SHe wasn't thinking of it in the relationship way; this was her wanting to protect someone she cared about.
"An' what, girl? We hide from Merle an' my dad fer the rest o' our lives? He knows where ya live, too. We could run, but he has people everywhere. People that are scared o' him an' will do anythin' ta stay in his good graces. Ya don' know how fuckin' powerful he is.." Daryl took a step back, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Beth hadn't thought of that. Honestly, she hadn't thought of the immensity of any of it. Getting to know Daryl and being with him had put a buffer between her and the harsh reality of the situation. She was going to be fighting a stranger in four days and she had no way out of it but to do her best to win. She was lying to her friends, sister, and her professors and juggling way too many responsibilities. But most of all, she had been lying to herself by saying that everything was okay and that she could handle it all.
The weight of it came crashing down and she started to panic, her breath coming unevenly. "Fuck.." Beth panted and put her hand over her chest, her chin ducking down.
"Are ya okay? Beth.." Daryl's voice came from somewhere in the room but Beth's eyes couldn't focus enough to see him. The objects around her began to blur and her head felt like it was being spun on a record player.
"I think I might faint.." Beth breathed out and wrapped her arms around her chest, trying to find balance.
Arms enclosed around her and Daryl murmured soothingly, "it's okay, it's okay.. Yer fine, I got ya." He kissed Beth's cheek and held her tight enough to transfer his own strength to her. "Nothin' bad is goin' ta happen, I promise.." Even in the stress of the moment Beth could tell that Daryl's words were sincere but unsure.
After several minutes of repeated assurances with words and touches, Beth could breathe again. She slowly lifted her chin from Daryl's shoulder and looked at his face gratefully, her head clear for the first time in months.
"Here's what needs to happen," she took Daryl's hand and kissed the palm before putting it on her chest. "When we're in public, we are friends, if even that. When we're around Merle and the boys, we will act like assholes toward each other, because that's what they've seen from us before. But when we are alone, we get to be us. I think that's the only thing that will keep me sane in all of this."
Daryl listened carefully, his expression soft and respectful. "Ya sure ya can handle bein' three different people?"
"Something tells me you're worth it. Call it a gut instinct," Beth smiled lightly.
Daryl chuckled and glanced down before meeting Beth's gaze again. "Fuck, I'm sorry I acted cold t'night.. I didn' know how ta handle it. I still don' but.. I'm tryin'. I don' want ta shut down on ya, but it's sort o' my nature ta do that."
"You're forgiven. I promise not to let this come between us when we train, but just don't pull away from me. Now that I know how serious the situation is with Merle, I promise not to try to test the limits in public or in any risky way," Beth nodded solemnly, exhaling through her parted lips.
"Just.. Fuck, I expected ya ta be stubborn 'bout all o' this an' not care what Merle thinks," Daryl raised both eyebrows, impressed.
"Oh, I don't care what that asshole thinks. But I care what happens to you. I'm not going to let anyone ruin your life. Not if I can help it."
"Look at ya...Tryin' ta protect me," Daryl grinned softly, his arms wrapping around Beth's slender waist.
"You've saved my ass enough times that I think I should do the same for you. Starting with winning epically on Saturday night and showing Merle how great you did with me," Beth smirked and wiggled her eyebrows.
"Then afterward I can show ya how much better I can do with ya... If ya feel up ta it, o'course," Daryl murmured lowly and glanced over Beth's face before kissing her lips slowly.
Beth responded to the kiss with her lips and a sweet sigh, pleasant tingles growing in her stomach. "With you, I think I'd be up for anything."
Daryl's smile dropped after a moment. "I have ta be honest.. When I really think 'bout it, I don't see how any o' this can end well fer us, Beth," Daryl sighed over Beth's lips and shrugged his shoulders dejectedly.
"Me neither, which is why I don't think about it too deeply," Beth frowned softly.
"Ain't that what a psychologist 'posed ta do though? Pick thangs apart ta an unnecessary degree," Daryl challenged.
Beth inhaled and puffed out her cheeks, lifting a shoulder. "I guess you're not the only one who's changed."
"Promise me one thang," Daryl wrapped his fingers around one of Beth's ever present necklaces. "Don' change too much. I mean, after the fight.. Ya feel different. 'member what yer like right now, an' keep that with ya."
"I promise," Beth nodded with a creased brow, pondering over Daryl's words. "I won't let it take me over. There's no way."
Darul kept quiet in response but bumped his nose against Beth's cheek affectionately before backing up. "Alright, if ya feel like it, I want ta do some one-on-one drills 'fore we go."
"Hell yeah, I'm up for it," Beth grinned and stretched her arms out in front of her, cracking her neck in preparation.
Daryl looked her up and down and raised his eyebrows slightly, a small and predatory smirk on his lips. "Come on, try ta fuck me up."
"Gladly," Beth matched his smirk and raised a perfectly formed fist, ready to take a swing.