VI

"I see you recovered." Rick was startled by Glenn as he stood on the deck outside the lodge entrance.

"What are you doing out here?"

"The wife and I are taking a romantic evening stroll. She just ran to the restroom first, so I told her I'd meet her out here."

"That sounds good." then Rick remembered his first statement. "Recovered?"

"Michonne."

Rick chuckled and kept watching Carol's SVU departing down the road. She and Tobin had just left after picking up Carl and Sophia for a sleepover he'd heard nothing about until today. First, Tammy Rose was in his ear about getting to know Michonne and now the recurring guests seemed to be getting in on the act as well. Was he sending off sad widower vibes that he didn't realize?

"Is everyone playing cupid this weekend?"

"Would it be so bad if we were?"

Rick exhaled and went to lean on the banister now that the vehicle had turned off the property and he couldn't see it anymore. Glenn stood across from him, waiting for a response.

"She's just here for the weekend." Rick sighed and raised a hand. "It's not enough time."

"Not enough time for what, exactly?"

"I don't know, really."

"Is this you just having a good weekend or could it be something more?"

Rick pondered for a moment. "If she lived here it would probably be something more but she's going back to New York. So where does that leave us?"

"Are you forgetting that Sasha and I met here during a long weekend?"

"I know but-"

"Dude, look if you want to have something real with her you can make it work, Sasha and I are proof."

"What if this is just a weekend of hooking up for her?"

Glenn smiled and jogged over to high-five him but the look on Rick's face made him put his hand down. "Oh, man. You are really falling for her."

"I…I think I am."

"Well, you've got to tell her."

Glenn leaned next to Rick, who was chewing his lip.

"Look, you won't know unless you tell her. If she goes back home and you never said anything, you will kick yourself for being a dumbass."

"Maybe you're right."

"Man, you're just standing around in contemplation. Go tell her now, times a wasting."

"I'm meeting her at the wine tasting in a little while."

"Okay, you can work with that. But an event full of people and a sommelier going on and on about flavors, notes and hints won't get you a lot of time to talk."

Rick stood up straight suddenly and tapped Glenn's chest. "You're right, I've gotta go." He started to walk towards the door just as Sasha was coming out.

"Hey Rick." Sasha said as Rick hustled past her through the sliding doors.

"Hey, Sasha. Sorry, I've gotta run. Enjoy your stroll." he turned back to her husband. "Thanks, Glenn!"

"Sure, anytime!" Glenn shouted back to him just as a confused Sasha approached him for their walk.

"You're not going to the wine tasting?" Yumiko and Michonne gawked at Andrea.

"That was one of the few selling points of this retreat you were actually interested in." Michonne questioned while sitting on Andrea's bed.

"I know, but Dale is such a nice man and he's leaving tomorrow. So I told him I'd hang out with him tonight in town. There's a hall having a bingo night." Andrea dressed while her friends looked to each other in confusion.

"What exactly is going on between you and Dale? He's old enough to be your father." Yumiko asked making Andrea whip around.

"Eww, he's just a friend. I don't see him that way."

"That doesn't stop men from seeing younger women that way." Michonne reminded her.

"I know all about dirty old men but, he sees me as the charming daughter that he always wanted." they both burst out laughing from her sing song voice.

"I don't know why that is so funny." Andrea put her hands on her hips.

"He should tell that to your actual father." they continued to laugh and Andrea just rolled her eyes.

"Look, his wife and him tried to have a baby when they were young. She ended up having a miscarriage and she didn't want to try again after the heartache."

Michonne and Yumiko quieted then and somberly listened.

"He says the baby was a girl and she would've been around my age by now."

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that." Yumiko sadly replied.

"Me too, Andrea. You know this weekend is about releasing yourselves from past hang ups. We both know the relationship with your father has been challenging, so if spending some father-daughter time with Dale helps you soothe some of the hurt, then go ahead and enjoy it."

"You really think so?"

"Of course." both of her friends nodded to her.

"Here I was thinking I'd get drunk and screw some hot guy but instead I'm dealing with my daddy issues. Who knew?" Andrea shrugged and giggled then her friends joined in.

"Yeah, this weekend is full of revelations. I didn't think Yumi would ditch us for the first hot girl she saw."

The woman reddened and quickly covered her face. "I know and I'm so sorry. You know that is so out of character for me but there is just something about Magna. She's wild, mysterious and untamed. We are going to the Jacuzzi tonight, she has gummies and we are just going to relax. And fair warning, I will be spending my night in her room so you don't have to worry about me."

"Okay." Andrea and Michonne smirked.

"Oh and don't act like I didn't see Rick sneaking up to your room this morning."

"I completely forgot!"

"I've got to get headed to the wine tasting." Michonne began to climb off the bed but Andrea blocked her path.

"When were either of you going to tell me the juicy details? I hang out on golden pond for one day and miss everything."

The trio burst out laughing. "You both know about after the massage."

The women nodded in anticipation of the rest of the details. "Well, he still needed to earn his apology." Michonne devilishly grinned.

"Then you two went hiking together, so I guess he did! Now, wine tasting tonight. Is this turning into something?"

"I don't know. He could just be getting his feet wet so to speak after all this time since his wife passed."

"She clearly hasn't seen the way he looks at her." Andrea stated to Yumiko.

Michonne simpered. "You think?"

"Uh, yeah."

"But I live in New York and he lives here in Colorado. If he sells the lodge he's going back to Georgia. Long distance relationships never work, right?"

"You don't know that. Magna and I are going to try."

"Really?"

"Yeah, she's a free spirit and we've decided to travel to see one another. You could do the same with Rick."

Michonne considered what her friends were suggesting before Andrea addressed her.

"Okay, so go change before the wine tasting."

"I was just going to wear this." Michonne looked down at the comfy sweat suit she changed into after showering from the hike.

"No, go change into something nicer but still relaxed." Yumiko instructed her while Andrea pulled her off the bed.

"Okay." Michonne walked to the door thinking about the other clothes she brought on the trip.

"Have fun!" her girls shouted as she walked out of the room.

"Hey, Michonne." Siddiq waved and smiled as she approached him in the lobby where he stood near the rocking chairs.

"Hi, Siddiq. I just wanted to say, I'm so sorry I missed the meditation this morning."

"No worries." he smiled. "This experience is about you finding clarity, so if you needed some rest this morning, then you did the right thing."

Michonne smirked since she wasn't resting this morning with Rick, quite the opposite.

"I can already see a change in you."

That unexpected statement made her scrunch up her eyebrows in question, which made him chuckle.

"How could you see that?"

"You seemed a bit reluctant when you first arrived. This isn't your type of thing, am I right?"

"You are, but how could you tell?"

"Well, we all have things about us that send off an aura, so to speak."

Michonne had to fight not to roll her eyes but Siddiq just chuckled again.

"I know, I know. It sounds strange or like hocus pocus. But it's just the energy that we carry from the joys or pains we've experienced. I was a medic in the Army and I saw the damage war caused physically to the body of soldiers and civilians caught in the crossfire. But I didn't realize the trauma that was being caused to myself from treating and witnessing all of that."

Michonne continued to listen thoughtfully. "I suffered in silence for a long time, not realizing I was in the throes of PTSD. I started going to therapy sessions after the panic attacks got too intense. That's how I met Rosita."

"Was she your therapist?"

"No, she actually was there for her own healing. We didn't really interact for quite a while, she was angry and I was closed off. But when we started to open up to the process, great things came to us."

"You found love."

Siddiq laughed. "No, not at first. First, we became friends and when I started to have romantic feelings for her, I held back. I was scared I wasn't her type or that she didn't feel the same way."

Michonne watched as he seemed to be transported back to that time. "It just happened one night and we continued these one nights for a while until…"

"Until you let your guards down." Michonne added.

"Exactly. So you should try it, you never know if you don't take the chance."

Michonne grinned at his sage advice. "I'm working up to it."

"Don't worry, you will get there."

"Thanks, are you coming to the wine tasting too?"

"Can I tell you a secret?"

"Of course." Siddiq looked around to see if anyone was close before he whispered to Michonne.

"Rosita and I are expecting. So I'm going to sit this one out, in solidarity with her."

"Congratulations and that's so sweet."

"Thank you, but you go ahead and have enough wine for both of us."

"I'll try." Michonne beamed as she turned to walk down to the reception hall.

As she turned the corner that lead to the gallery entrance, she spotted Rick standing by the doors with a basket, which confused her. Then she looked him over and a wave of desire hit her even though he was dressed casually. His original boots just seemed to go with everything he wore perfectly. His denim blue shirt made his blue eyes appear even brighter as she approached him. His snug black jeans were well worn in but still managed to show that sexy shape of his legs as he strode to her.

It took a second for Rick to calm himself, Michonne was coming towards him wearing a cream body contouring sweater dress that stopped a few inches above her knees. Her brown booties made her a little taller but he knew her calves and ass had to look amazing. It occurred to him then that she had been in some state of near undress when they'd had sex before, so he'd not gotten the chance to really undress her. This form fitting dress was letting him know how much he really missed out on.

"What's in the basket?"

Michonne leaned forward trying to get a peak and he snickered.

"I figured the wine tasting would be a bit…crowded." he shrugged and she smirked.

"So what's the plan?"

"I've got a selection of wines in here, cheese, crackers and grapes. We could go somewhere and enjoy them together." he waited for her response.

"Hmm, in front of a nice cozy fire would be great. And I just happen to have a fireplace in my room." Michonne motioned behind her.

"That you do." Rick grinned. "Lead the way."

Michonne turned around and headed down the hall and just as Rick suspected her from behind was better than he expected. Her booty was straining against the soft material seemingly calling out to him.

"Rick, you coming?" Michonne called to him when she realized he wasn't following her but was instead staring lustfully at her ass.

"Nearly." Rick whispered to himself before he jogged to catch up with her.

Michonne looked him from head to toe then ran a hand down his chest. "I really like you in blue."

She turned away and proceeded down the hall with Rick right behind her. He barely noticed the guests that passed them going to the wine tasting, they had just ditched. When they passed the main lobby to get to the elevators, he tried to ignore the giant grin on Tammy Rose's face from behind the desk. He knew he'd get an earful from her tomorrow.

Rick was about to press for the elevator when Michonne started to saunter up the stairs. Again, the sight of her round ass was beckoning him and he gladly followed her up without a word of protest. She playfully smiled at him while they walked down the corridor to her door. She slipped the keycard in and ushered him inside.

Michonne wanted to laugh at the look on Rick's face when she held the door open for him to walk past her but she couldn't let him have all the fun. A view of him from behind with that walk was truly mesmerizing.

"I'll start the fire." she heard him say as she closed the door and she thought that mission was already accomplished with the heat she felt between her thighs.

She watched as he sat the basket down and pulled out the wood that sat in a wicker bin near the balcony door and got to work.

"Should I set up the wine, fruit and cheese?"

"Sure." he smiled at her while he worked.

Michonne grabbed the basket and used the coffee table to set up their snacks while her and Rick snuck peeks at each other. After a minute the flames began to flicker and gradually grow and he put the hearth back in place.

"Let me just go wash my hands."

Michonne nodded and after he stepped in the bathroom, she kicked off her boots to push the leather recliners back. Rick came back out and rushed over to help her with the second one she struggled with.

"Redecorating?"

Michonne laughed after they got the second chair out of the way. "I figured we'd have more room on the floor to get cozy. Turn off the light and take your boots off."

Rick smiled, liking the way she was taking charge this time. It was definitely something he could get used to. He obeyed, flipping the switch and the light from the growing fire illuminated them. He sat to pull his boots and socks off, placing them to the side. He stood again and couldn't resist pulling Michonne to him. His hands slid down her body to her waist then to grasp what he'd been salivating over since their hike earlier. He involuntarily groaned at the feel of all that plumpness in his palms. Michonne held his strong biceps and tilted her head back when he leaned in for a kiss, surprising him.

"If I let you kiss me then my clothes will fall off and you'll end up bending me over some piece of furniture in this room."

"Mmm, that sounds so good. So why exactly are you stopping me?" Rick attempted to get to her neck this time and she squirmed away and kneeled on the rug in front of him.

Rick moaned again, the sight of her on her knees waiting for him, had him growing stiff. But he fought it and grabbed two wine glasses before he got down on the floor with her.

"Red or white?"

"White, to start."

Rick opened a chilled bottle and poured them both glasses then handed her one. Her lips pressed to the rim of the glass as she took a sip and he was confounded again. Everything this woman did was somehow sexy as fuck. He quickly took a gulp of his wine to cool down.

"That's good."

"It is." Rick sat his glass down and pivoted to face her. "So you, Andrea and Yumiko plan on branching out and starting your own business?"

"That's the plan. We have just been having quick planning sessions since we all have been pretty distracted this weekend." They both snickered as they picked up cheese and crackers to eat.

"I would say I'm sorry, but I'd be lying. There's so much I want to know about you and so little time." Rick reached out to caress the skin of her cheek, enjoying the softness against his fingertips.

"Well, you already know I'm a lawyer from Georgia. I'm an only child, my parents live in Savannah now. I love movies, music, theatre, dancing and my favorite color is yellow because I look amazing in it."

"I bet you look amazing in every color." Michonne coquettishly blushed from his compliment.

"I like that you are taking the leap to start your own business, why'd you decide to do it now?"

Michonne exhaled and decided this was as good a time as any to make her disclosure. "My boss, Gregory is a real chauvinist pig; we work our asses off for him but are constantly overlooked. It just makes sense to use our talents for our own selves for once."

"You're not wrong." Rick grabbed some grapes and munched on them as he listened.

"Remember I told you about that client at my firm that was looking to expand his hospitality holdings?"

"Yeah." Rick nodded.

"He could be an option for you if you are really interested in selling the lodge. I was reluctant to tell you but you can make your own decision. I just want you to be fully informed first."

"Okay." Rick sat up straighter.

"Negan Smith is a real asshole but he has the money to buy you out. He will try to undersell you on the value of this place. He's slick and greasy but he has the connections."

Rick thought about what she explained before she continued. "You could go back to your old job in Georgia, if that's what you want."

"It's been a few days now so you aren't a complete stranger anymore."

Michonne smirked. "You want my opinion."

He nodded. "Well, I don't really think I could imagine you anywhere else but here. Your aesthetic just fits it so well."

"My aesthetic?"

"Yeah, the southern twang, the plaid shirts, boots and that walk. You probably have a cowboy hat somewhere around here."

Rick chuckled. "My walk?"

Michonne playfully stared at him. "You know damn well what your bowlegged walk does to women and probably some men."

"Well, I don't really care what it does to anyone else, just you."

Michonne's heart sped up and she felt a shift in her core. Just that small statement from him had her wet.

"Rick, I'm only here for the weekend and-"

He leaned into her space. "This doesn't have to be, just for the weekend."

Michonne opened her mouth to speak but Rick put his finger over her lips. She was not going to miss that opportunity, she grabbed his wrist and slid his digit into her mouth. Rick groaned from her unexpected transition and how warm her mouth was after the glass of cool wine. His cock began to swell with jealousy as she sucked before removing it from her lips. He was paralyzed as Michonne crawled to him, grasping his face and nipped at his lips.

She undid the top buttons of his shirt before taking the bottom out of his jeans and pulling it off. Rick just watched as she ran her hand up his torso, through his chest hair then gripped his neck. Michonne tilted his head so she could bite at the skin of his neck making him hiss. She clearly wanted to be in charge tonight and he was all for it.

Michonne kissed and licked a trail down his body as she pushed him to lay back. She unfastened his belt and unzipped his pants, swiftly reaching a hand in, to stroke his throbbing cock. He knew he should let her do what she wanted but he needed his restrictive jeans off, so he shimmied them down his legs. Her giggle let him know he wasn't in too much trouble as he kicked them off. But he missed his chance to undress her when she leaned back on her knees and slowly pulled her dress up, revealing her cream demi bra and matching cheeky panties.

The flames of the fire and the moonbeams from the balcony door cast a sensual incantation on him as they illuminated her coffee skin. After discarding her garment, she pulled his navy boxer briefs down so he sprang free. Michonne's mouth moistened at the sight of his thickness calling to her. She moved to the side of Rick and took him in her hand, beginning to pump him. She enjoyed watching his body jerk with each squeeze before she licked her lips.

"Fuck."

Rick couldn't help but curse as her full lips engulfed his head, smoothly taking him in until he was at the back of her throat. He involuntarily lurched from the sensation and she gagged slightly.

"Sorry…"

He tried to apologize but Michonne smirked at him and began to suck him faster. Her head bobbing up and down all while her hand worked his shaft. With her back arched, her round ass was within reach and he kneaded her flesh. When she released him to pull his balls in her mouth, he threaded his fingers in her curly hair. She quickly went right back to his dick, licking and sucking until his eyes crossed. Rick knew he had to stop her if he was going to last because he was dying to satisfy her.

"Chonne, you have to stop."

He pled but she just kept at it and he almost let her. But he gently tugged at her hair, not allowing her to consume him further. Michonne grinned and got up quickly, leaving Rick panting on the floor. She went to the nightstand draw and got the not forgotten condoms that he'd left that morning. She tossed one to him before she pulled her panties down and unclasped her bra. Rick's inability to focus on the task of rolling the condom on while he watched her nude body returning to him, turned her on even more.

"Hurry, Rick."

Michonne cupping her breasts and pinching her nipples after she straddled his legs was not helping him stay on the job. But he finally got the condom in place and she moved up his body so he could feel the wetness between her legs. She grasped his shoulders as she raised and he quickly lined himself up in her folds. Rick bit his lip and held one of her ass cheeks as she slid down, submerging him.

Before she could even move, Rick kissed her collarbone and chest while running his hands up her back, sending a chill through her. She languidly rolled her hips backwards and forwards. Originally she was going to ride him hard and fast, but the euphoria took over, making her keep the slower pace. The way Rick continued to moan along with her, meant it gratified him too.

Rick kept up with her motion, pressing upwards each time she came to him. Michonne locked eyes with him as she circled her waist and she finally bent to kiss him. His hands came up to her head, not wanting her to pull back. He was enjoying the slow dance their tongues were engaged in, that matched the movements of their bodies. He could feel her body slowly melting against his and it was all that he wanted.

Thrusting still at the relaxed measure, but more forcefully had Michonne gasp against his lips. He knew he was hitting the spot when her fingers gripped his curls and her cries multiplied. He loved that he could make her feel this way. He squeezed her to him not allowing her to run from this ecstasy. Rick could feel a sudden flex of her body that was followed by quick spasms.

"Rick."

He was elated by her coming apart and he kissed whatever parts of her skin he could reach. But the clinching of her already tight muscles was his undoing. Rick came hard, driving into her before violent shocks took over him. Michonne cradled him as he rode through it and his muscles eventually relaxed. The sounds of their panting was mixed with the crackling of the fire, while they relished the release they'd just experienced.

The sheen of sweat covered their bodies and Michonne remembered the wine. She reached over and retrieved the bottle from the table, unscrewing the top. She grinned when Rick tilted his head back and opened his mouth so she could pour some in. While he swallowed, she drank directly from the bottle letting the liquid cool her insides. She took a second gulp before pouring more into Rick's waiting mouth.

"This really is good."

Michonne looked at the bottle then back to Rick, who was eyeing her as he caressed her thighs. His gaze was intense and she was being pulled into his passionate spell.

"It is."