Hi, I managed to get a chapter done! This one has a little spice to it. Enjoy, and thanks for reading!

THEN

Katie set a plate of hot waffles down in front of her customer and gave him a wink. "On the house, hot stuff."

Daryl grunted, the tips of his ears turning red. "Shuddup."

Katie laughed at his discomfort, thinking it was cute and pushed into the booth beside him. "Scoot over."

"Make yerself at home." He half heartedly protested around a mouthful of waffles, but moved over just the same.

"I will." She stretched out, moaning. "Damn, I'm tired."

Daryl continued eating as she settled in, pressing herself along his side. He wanted to hate how she invaded his space, but felt the exact opposite. He wasn't sure she could ever get close enough.

"How's the grub?" Her answer was a brief nod of approval as Daryl shoveled another forkful into his mouth. Getting comfortable, she hummed softly and closed her eyes

"Don't ya have shit to do other than bothering me?" Daryl gave a sweeping gesture over the diner. Closing time was soon. The crowd had thinned out, and just a couple of regulars still sat nursing cups of coffee at the bar.

One eye cracked open and she peered at him. "Sorry, am I bothering you?"

"Always." He teased her.

Katie snorted a laugh before one of her customers called to her from across the room.

"Hey, sweetheart."

Sweetheart? Daryl straightened beside her.

The customer at the bar held up his coffee mug. "Can I get a top off?"

Katie quietly groaned. She just wanted to grab Daryl and go home. Instead, she lifted herself off the seat and gave a smile. The guy was a great tipper when she was nice.

"Sure thing, Red."

Daryl's protective gaze followed her as she moved behind the bar and grabbed the coffee pot sitting on the warmer. A small sliver of skin appeared above her jeans as she reached across the counter to fill the cup, and he shifted from the feelings it stirred up. She made him feel like a fucking teenager who had just discovered that girls weren't gross.

"Thanks, sweetheart." Red said as Katie walked away.

"Anything for you, Red." She answered with a smile, while emptying the rest of the coffee into the sink and turning off the machine.

Red's eyes landing on Katie's ass when she turned didn't escape Daryl. His nostrils flared. Who the fuck did this guy think he was?

He took the last bite of waffles, and used the back of his hand to wipe his mouth before sliding the empty plate across the table. Then he settled back into the booth, intending on keeping a close eye on this mother fucker. But he was a sucker and it wasn't long until his eyes drifted over and landed on Katie.

Damn that girl was cute. He liked everything about her- from the top of her head of dark hair, to her upturned freckled nose, down to her ample ass and long legs. If that combo wasn't a mind fuck, he didn't know what was. There wasn't a single inch of that girl that was unattractive.

As if she could feel his eyes on her, Katie turned and gave him a wide smile. Despite wanting to maintain his tough guy exterior, the corners of his own lips twitched up in response. Damn traitors.

It still didn't feel real. No girl had ever stuck by him like she did. He could be an asshole to her, and it barely phased her. Why she chose him might never make sense, but he sure as hell didn't want to mess this up. He couldn't be that same old redneck asshole he always was.

Finally tired of Red ogling Katie, Daryl moved to the counter and placed his empty plate there. "Here ya go, Peaches."

He liked the way the nickname always made her smile. Dammit if he wouldn't do anything for that smile.

Up close, Red looked younger and… bigger. The dude was jacked. He touched the tip of his ball cap, acknowledging Daryl. "Evening," he drawled.

Daryl's fists clenched as a response. He wanted to fight.

Red didn't notice the waves of anger coming off Daryl. He angled his chin towards the kitchen door Katie had just passed through. "Been trying damn near a month to get her to go out with me."

Daryl's jaw twitched and heat rose to his face.

Red gave Daryl the once over, sizing him up. "Ya gonna shoot your shot? Better know… she's a tease, that one."

"Naw." Daryl shook his head.

Red drained the last of his coffee. "Suit yourself."

The words felt funny on his tongue, but he said them anyway. "She's already my girl."

Red laughed, but quickly quieted when he caught Daryl's stern glare. He cleared his throat. "Didn't know Katie had herself a man."

Daryl nodded and gave a low. "Yep."

Red considered Daryl, opened his mouth to say something, but thought better and instead threw a few dollars onto the counter. He stood up with a grunt and pulled his ball cap low. "Have a good night then."

Daryl smiled to himself. It felt damn good letting him know that Katie wasn't available and avoiding a fight while he was at it. She floated back out into the dining room and locked the door behind Red before picking up her tip and stuffing it into her apron.

"Not a bad night," she mumbled before sliding up to Daryl and giving his hip a bump. "You hanging out for a bit?"

"Sure." He answered quietly.

Her smile sparked his heart. "Want to come over?"

"Got any beer?"

"Of course."

"Then yea."

"Oh my god. You're awful." She playfully punched his flannel clad arm. "Give me ten minutes, okay?"

He nodded as Katie began wiping down the waitress station. "Take yer time." Then with all the casualness he could muster up he asked "That guy come in here a lot?"

"Who? Red?"

He gave a shrug, his eyes suddenly finding a crack in the counter very fascinating.

"Almost every night. He's harmless."

His thumbnail picked at the crack and Daryl nodded. He trusted her. "Alright."

"Oh my God. Daryl Dixon, are you jealous?"

Although her accusation was teasing, he straightened and gave a quick shake of his head. "Nah."

Katie sidled up to him, and he felt her breath against his ear. "That's kinda hot."

Despite himself, the tips of Daryl's ears reddened. He huffed. "Get outta here. Go finish yer shit."

Katie had begged Daryl to stop at Shake Shack on the way home and used her tip money to buy enough food to feed an army. Since her only piece of furniture was still the big ass bed, she spread the burgers and fries out on her comforter and powered up her laptop for a movie.

"Don't they have food at the diner?" Daryl asked, sauntering in from outside. He smelled like smoke and night air.

Popping a fry into her mouth, Katie shrugged. "One can only eat so many waffles."

Kicking off his boots, Daryl joined her on the bed and made quick work of getting comfortable. Katie handed him a burger, and he readily accepted it despite having eaten only an hour earlier. "What we watchin'?"

"How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days." Katie answered around her burger.

Daryl groaned.

"Sorry. My DVD collection only has two movies. It's this or While You Were Sleeping."

"Matthew McConaghey it is." Daryl mumbled.

"Dixon. I'm impressed."

"Wha?"

"You're a Matthew McConaghey fan."

Daryl's eyes rolled. "Shut up. Play the movie."

"As you wish."

It didn't matter that Katie had seen the movie over 15 times, she still snorted and laughed every time. Daryl was far too busy watching her instead of the movie. What had this girl done to him? When had he ever forgone a night at the bar with the guys to hang with a girl and eat burgers in her bed?

Stupid movie aside, there wasn't anywhere else that he would rather be.

"Ya done with that?" Katie's voice pulled him from his thoughts. She was pointing to his trash. He handed it over and helped her gather up the rest of the wrappers, stuffing them into the bag.

What she did next surprised him. Leaning over, she planted a soft kiss on his jaw. He was even more surprised when he didn't flinch. Without a word, she popped out of bed. He sat stunned at how such a small thing could send blood pumping through his body.

He heard her in the kitchen, the fridge opened and glass clanked. Then he heard the familiar pop of a bottle cap. Yeah, he was gonna need a few of those. And a smoke.

He rolled out of bed and headed to the kitchen. "Hey. Gonna grab a smoke."

She handed over a beer. "Want me to pause the movie?"

"Nope." He scoffed and reached for the bottle. Instead of letting go, she held onto it letting him drag her closer until she was right under his chin.

"Hello." She smiled up at him.

"Hey."

"You gonna pay me for this?" She wiggled the beer.

He cocked an eyebrow. "Pay?"

Grabbing his chin, she tipped his head down towards her. Her eyes were dark and voice got husky. "Yeah."

Fuck me. He knew exactly what she was asking. He licked his lips. They hadn't kissed since the "incident" at the hunting cabin. It's not that he didn't want to. It was that he was chicken shit. But right now Katie was practically offering herself on a fucking platter and her pink lips looked so good. He had no good excuse not to kiss her.

Her fingernails gently scratched down his jaw, sending a shiver of pleasure down his spine.

It was now or never.

Slow and controlled Daryl dipped his head, his eyes meeting hers in question. Her answer came when she fused their lips together. Daryl held back a moan at the velvet, smoothness of her kiss. On its own, his hand slid up, cupping the back of her neck.

The beer in his other hand was becoming a hindrance and he blindly placed it on the counter beside him. Finally free, he gripped her hip, pulling her pelvis flush against his. A whimper escaped her lips when she felt his hardness.

Everything around Daryl melted away as their lips pushed and pulled against each other. Her kisses were soft, yet insistent. He needed more, and let his tongue push past her lips and glide across her teeth. She welcomed him by parting her lips and stroking his tongue with her own.

She tasted like salt and something sweet he couldn't quite place. The best fucking thing Daryl had ever tasted. With his hand he guided her hips backwards until he effectively pinned her between himself and the kitchen wall.

Clothes, so many clothes between them. He growled. They needed to go.

While his tongue explored Katie's mouth, Daryl's hands slid up her t-shirt. Too nervous to go any further, he stopped at her ribcage and let his thumbs ghosted across her skin. She was so soft. How did she do that?

She shivered against him. Knowing that she liked what he was doing gave him a jolt of confidence and his thumbs moved upward to skim themselves under the fabric of her bra. They were heading into the point of no return, Daryl's brain was switching off and his raw animal instincts were taking over. He was rock hard, straining uncomfortably inside of his pants.

Katie's lips unhinged from his and moved to his earlobe, gently sucking. Good God. She moved down his jaw, and then his neck. Her teeth scraping against stubble. His eyes closed. He was gone. All that mattered was her wet lips and what they were doing to his skin.

"Daryl," she hummed into his neck.

He didn't have words and answered with a noise that he hoped sounded like: What?

Her nose nuzzled into him. "Take me back to the bed."

She didn't have to ask twice. He reclaimed her lips and hoisted her up, hooking his hands under her thighs and carrying her back to the bedroom. He had wanted to ease her back onto the bed but he more or less dropped her in his excitement. It didn't seem to phase her, because she was instantly pawing at his flannel trying to get him out of it.

Once the buttons were undone, she ran her palms up his abdomen. "Jesus, Daryl. Who knew all this was under there."

His cheeks turned red. "Shuddup."

He pushed her into the mattress and crawled on top of her lithe body. Katie laughed and pulled his face towards her. "Make me."

Their lips reconnected and Daryl moaned into her mouth. The primal desire to just let loose and fuck her senseless was strong. He was fighting the urge to rip her pants off with all he had. He couldn't. No. This was Katie. Not some dump and ditch bitch. She was worthy of so much more than him just using her for his own pleasure.

He paused. Could he actually do this right? Could he give her what she deserved? Whatever confidence he'd had earlier had evaporated.

Katie sensed his hesitation. "You okay?"

He sighed and sat up, moving off of her. God his pants were so uncomfortably tight.

"Daryl?"

He couldn't look at her and dropped his head into his hand. "Sorry."

She pushed up on her elbows to see him better. "Hey, it's cool. If we're moving too fast. I'll slow down."

He shook his head. "Ain't that."

"Did I do something wrong?"

"Fuck. No." He grabbed at his hair. He was screwing this whole thing up. Nothing new. He destroyed everything. It's just what he did.

Her hand touched his bicep. She was being unnecessarily kind. "Please don't shut down. Whatever is wrong is okay. Can you just tell me?"

His jaw clenched. "I ain't no good for you."

She laughed.

His ice blue eyes flashed to her. "Serious, Katie. Ain't nothing but a screw up."

She was on her knees now and taking his face in her hands. "Hey, look at me. Whatever lies you're believing right now aren't true."

He snorted. "Ain't no lies. Ya think I ain't see the way other guys look at you? You could have anyone ya want. Like that asshole in the diner tonight."

Her eyes widened. "Jesus, Daryl. Don't you get it? I want YOU. I'm so fucking hot for you. My pussy is dripping and all we've done is kiss. That's how much I want this." She grabbed his hand and jerked him towards her, jamming his hand into her leggings.

Fuck. She was drenched. He bit back a moan.

"I don't want just any guy. I thought I'd made that clear."

His fingers curled into the soft, wet curls of hair on her pussy. Fuck.

"Please," she begged. "Believe me."

Casting his eyes downward, he avoided her gaze. He did. He believed her. It was him that was the problem, not her. Despite that, he couldn't keep his fingers from running in between the velvet folds of her skin. His body wanted what it wanted, and his mind needed to take a backseat.

Katie ground down on his hand and let out a low moan. He let his fingers glide back and forth and his thumb found her clit and circled gently. It was the right move, she responded with a whimper. In a quick move, she lifted her shirt over her head and tossed it to the bedroom floor.

Her breasts were bare and ripe for the taking. Daryl took. His mouth closed over her left breast, his tongue flicking her nipple.

"Oh my God, Dare." Katie whispered as he sucked and licked. She arched towards him, her hands intertwining into his hair and pushing him towards her. He pulled his mouth off the perfectly pert nipple and moved the other one intending to make it as rock hard as the other. While he sucked, his fingers continued to slide in and out of her wet pussy lips.

She whimpered. "God, you suck my tits so good."

Daryl moaned, nipping gently. He liked that he had found what felt good to her.

"Feels so fucking good."

He removed his hand from her pants and lowered her back to the bed all without removing his mouth from her breast. Katie took over, arching her hips up and sliding her pants down. She lay on the bed, completely naked and he paused taking her in. "Yer beautiful," he whispered so quietly she barely heard him.

She gave him a smoldering grin. "Take off your pants, Dixon."

She didn't need to ask twice. With one swift motion, Daryl kicked his pants across the room.

When he looked back at Katie, her wide eyes were firmly on his throbbing dick. "Yeah, I'm gonna need that inside me like now."

Daryl couldn't help the gruff laugh that bubbled up from his throat. Katie rolled over and reached under her bed, producing a condom. He swiftly rolled it on and moved over her. Shamelessly, she rubbed her engorged clit against the ridge of his erection and he felt fire explode over him at the contact.

Their mouths met, her lips firm and lush. He pinched her nipple while her tongue lashed against his. His cock was rock hard, begging for entrance inside her. He reluctantly released her nipple and positioned himself to take her. Katie spread her legs wide and welcomed him.

With a single, hard thrust he was inside her and shit- her pussy was tight and warm around his aching cock. "My god, girl." He breathed into her neck.

"Fuck me." She begged.

Katie was loud and dirty and he loved it. With each thrust she cried out in pleasure, fueling Daryl's need. She reflected his own frantic need by arching upwards and meeting each pump of his hips. He was sweating and grunting, his eyes squeezed shut in concentration as he tried to hold off as long as possible. He never wanted this to end.

When she came, it was gorgeous. She screamed and tightened around him and then he shattered. His orgasm tore through him and all he could think was - Mine.