„I don`t think we`ll make it home in time before that storm hits us."

Ezekiel looks up at the sky with a slightly worried expression on his face. The clouds were looming dangerously low and it was getting darker by the minute. The wind was rustling in the trees on either side of the road and even under his coat and armor, Ezekiel was feeling the chill of this late autumn day. In the distance he could already hear the faint rolling of thunder.

"Yeah, we should try to find shelter somewhere."

Throwing a side-ways glance at his wife, Ezekiel can`t help but smile. Carol didn`t seem to be too bothered about the current weather conditions. In fact, she seemed to be in a very good mood. The two of them have spent the last two days at Hilltop talking with Tara and Jesus about the future of their communities. Maggie leaving had come as a surprise for all of them and with Alexandria shutting itself off completely, the alliance between the Kingdom and Hilltop had become all the more important.

Satisfied with their negotiations for the time being, the King and Queen had left Hilltop early in the morning under an already grey sky, packed with some supplies, hoping they would make it back to the safety of the Kingdom without getting drenched. A glimpse at his pocket watch tells Ezekiel that it was close to 3 pm now and it was fair to assume that they were running out of luck. Maybe they should have hurried up a little more, but up until a few minutes ago there had been no signs of an impending thunderstorm.

"Any suggestions?"

Carol`s voice shakes Ezekiel out of his musings. She`s looking at him with a quirked eyebrow, leisurely holding the reigns of her horse, trotting as close to him as possible. She seems to be completely unimpressed by the increasing turmoil of nature around them. For a second, Ezekiel gets distracted by the sight she makes, her shoulder-long hair glowing in the fading daylight. She was beautiful, his wife, angelic.

"A fiery angel" he thinks "in more ways than one."

Though Carol sometimes liked to play innocent, especially when strangers were involved, she was indeed a very passionate woman – whether it came to protecting her family or to having an exciting and fulfilling love life with her husband. Ezekiel was particularly proud and happy to be at the receiving end of the latter. Stifling a grin, he was also glad that his wife was unaware of his train of thought.

Well, maybe not completely unaware judging by the smug expression on her face. Tearing his eyes from her, Ezekiel stares into the distance up ahead, pondering her question.

"I believe there is an old abandoned farmhouse a couple miles from here to the west. If we spur on our steeds, we might reach it before these clouds open up above us."

Now Carol`s whole face lights up in a gorgeous smile, her deep blue eyes sparkling with joy. Ezekiel knows what she`s gonna say before she even opens her mouth. Gripping the reigns tighter, Carol leans forward on her horse, winking at her husband.

"Catch me if you can."

Without waiting for his reply, she sets off, racing down the street ahead of them, right into the coming storm. Fearless, trusting Ezekiel to be right there with her. The grin he`d been trying to suppress before now comes on full force. That was his girl. With a small shake of his head, he rushes after her, catching up with her just some moments later.

The weather god wasn`t on their side this afternoon. After just a couple minutes, the first droplets of rain began to fall, turning into a severe downpour in the matter of a few seconds. It was almost completely dark now, the rain hindering their sight even more, forcing them to slow down. They almost missed the junction that leads to the farmhouse and by the time they got there, they were soaking wet.

None of this was able to ruin Carol`s mood. Riding out with Ezekiel had become one of her favorite pastimes over the years. She loved living at the Kingdom, loved every aspect of it – all the benefits and duties, all the responsibilities that came with being a mother, a wife and a queen. But every once in a while, she enjoyed being out, to leave all these responsibilities behind. This being out wasn`t about being alone – it was about being alone with Ezekiel. Sitting on her horse next to him, the wind in her hair, chatting with him, laughing with him – just being with him. As if nothing else existed but the two of them. Sometimes it was what she needed. What they both needed.

Nearing the farmhouse, they noticed that there was a barn behind the house that looked relatively stable. Exchanging a glance, the couple wordlessly agreed to check it out first. Drawing his sword, Ezekiel carefully pulls the door open to peek inside while Carol was waiting behind him, holding their horses, ready to jump in if any help was needed. Not detecting any imminent threat, Ezekiel looks back over his shoulder, motioning for Carol to come closer. He holds the door open with some efforts against the raging wind so she can lead the horses inside.

Just as they step inside, a loud crackling of thunder fills the air and a sudden gust of wind almost rips the door from Ezekiel`s hand. Letting go of the reigns, Carol rushes to help her husband and together they manage to close the door, leaning against it with a sigh of relief. Pulling a flashlight out of her bag, Carol turns it on, examining the insides of the barn.

"Could be worse."

The walls seemed intact, but there were some holes in the roof in the back part of the building where some now useless and rather rusty looking agricultural machines were parked. Maybe those needed closer inspection sometime. You never knew what you could use. But right now, that wasn`t important. After quickly checking for any hidden walkers, Carol and Ezekiel unsaddle their horses. Luckily for them, there was a stack of old hay in one corner of the barn which they could use to dry off the animals. There weren`t any boxes so they had to simply tie the horses to one of the beams.

Rummaging around in one of their saddlebags, Carol produces two apples, feeding them to the horses. Ezekiel watches her with a gentle smile. It fills him with infinite happiness that Carol has adopted his love for these majestic animals, sharing his joy of riding. Sometimes he wishes they had met before the dead rose, dreaming of a life on a farm like this with lots of horses and dogs – and a bunch of babies. Rolling his eyes at himself, Ezekiel shakes the image from his mind. Even with less than ideal circumstances he was more than happy with the life they had together. Even in his wildest dreams he couldn`t have imagined a bond like the one he was sharing with Carol.

He walks over to her, wrapping his arms around her and buries his nose in her wet hair. She leans back against him, pulling his arms tighter around her body.

"You`re shivering. We should get out of these wet clothes. What do you say, my Love, do you want to check out the house or should we just stay here?"

Carol didn`t need to think twice about it. It was cold in the barn, the wind rushing through the holes in the roof. The prospect of spending the night here wasn`t very appealing. Turning in Ezekiel`s arms, she gives him a quick peck on the lips, then grabs one of the bags she put on the floor earlier. She wasn`t very keen on stepping outside again, but she hoped that they could find a warmer and more comfortable place inside the house.

"Let`s go."

With drawn weapons and flashlights, they enter the house through the backdoor, finding themselves in the kitchen.

"Have you ever been in here before?" Carol whispers, her eyes carefully scanning their surroundings.

"No." Ezekiel makes sure the door is securely locked behind them before stepping up closer to his wife, whispering as well. "We noticed the farmhouse during a trip to Hilltop a couple years back and I sent some men to check it out. They said it was obviously scavenged before and there wasn`t anything of use for us to find here."

The pair exchanges a look, both thinking about the machines in the barn. Well, it was never too late. The scavenging part was right, though. The kitchen looked like a battlefield. Doors and drawers of various cupboards were left open, some of them hanging on their hinges. Tableware and cutlery was lying scattered all around the floor as well as empty cans of food. Scrunching her nose, Carol hopes there weren`t any rats hiding in the corners.

Silently they make their way through the kitchen, stepping into a hallway. There are two closed doors which they ignore and a big open passage that leads into a large living room. It offers a similar picture of devastation as the kitchen. No big surprise there. What was worse, though, was the big tree that had damaged one of the windowfronts, lying half-way across the floor. It didn`t seem likely that any walkers might find their way inside. They just weren`t smart enough for it. But the room was just as chilly as the barn had been.

"Let`s check upstairs."

Knowing from past experience that many walkers were to be found in their former bedrooms, Ezekiel picks up a broken vase, throwing it upstairs to lure out whatever may be hiding out of sight. With the raging storm outside it was hard to tell if there were noises coming from above, but as no walker came stumbling in their direction, it seemed safe to move on. Reaching the upstairs hallway, they found four more locked doors. Each of them taking one side, they knocked on the doors, listening carefully for any evidence that they might not be alone. As far as they could tell, everything remained silent.

"Well, which door shall it be then?"

Deciding for the nearest, Carol grabs for the doorknob to her right, knife in hand. She waits for Ezekiel to take position next to her, then pushes the door open, relaxing a second later. They step inside, grinning at each other.

"Bingo!"

As it turns out, they have found the master bedroom at first try. Though it obviously had been searched as well, it didn`t look quite as bad as downstairs. The room was dominated by a huge canopy bed and even with the dust and cobwebs that have naturally accumulated over the years of abandon it did look a lot more inviting than a stack of moldy hay. Whoever had been here last had even left some half-burned candles on the nightstands. Fishing for some matches in one of his coats` pockets, Ezekiel lights them, then walks around the bed to check the door on the other side.

It leads into a bathroom. The mirror over the dirty sink is broken, glass fragments are lying everywhere. Across from him on the opposite wall is bathtub with a drawn curtain. Slowly, Ezekiel inches further into the room. What he first thought was dirt on the sink and all over the floor now suspiciously looks like dried blood. Thunder is exploding outside, making Ezekiel jump. Moments later a bright strike of lightning illuminates the small room revealing something behind the curtain. Taking another step forward, Ezekiel stretches out his arm, pushing the curtain aside with the tip of his sword, ready to use it against the hidden creature.

Expecting the worst, it takes Ezekiel two or three seconds to realize what he`s got in front of him. Inside the tub there`s just a pile of dirty old clothes and towels. Bloody clothes and towels. Lots of blood. Whatever happened here, happened a long time ago. Lowering his sword, Ezekiel retreats, pulling the door closed behind him.

"Everything okay?"

Shaking the image off his mind, Ezekiel turns to face Carol, his jaw dropping open when he catches sight of her. His wife was standing on the other side of the bed, completely naked. His incredibly beautiful wife. Naked. The dancing flames of the candles were casting shadows all over her body, giving her a mysterious appearance. Hypnotizing. Tempting. Like some ancient goddess enchanting her servant.

"Zeke?"

He can hear the amusement in her voice. She is fully aware of the effect she has on him. They have been together for four years, married for more than two years. And still, she could leave him breathless. Quite literally. Ezekiel forces himself to look into her eyes, clearing his throat.

"Yeah."

Chuckling, Carol crawls onto the bed. Rendering her usually very talkative husband speechless was something she enjoyed immensely.

"You don`t happen to have found some towels in there?"

Her skin was still damp from her wet clothes, goosebumps rising all over her body from the cold of the room. Or maybe it was the way Ezekiel was looking at her. He still hasn`t moved from his spot, watching her. His eyes briefly flicker to the bathroom door, remembering the bloody towels in the tub.

"No", he answers Carol`s question.

She lets out an exaggerated sigh, raising her arms to smooth her wet hair from her face, all the while keeping eye contact with Ezekiel.

"You`re gonna keep standing there?" Carol teases him, then orders in her best reprimanding tone "Get out of these wet clothes before you catch your death, mister!"

The grin spreading on Ezekiel`s face warms her to her very core, butterflies taking flight in her stomach. Oh, the reactions he could draw from her! Carol watches as he puts down his sword, then shrugs out of his heavy coat, still dropping wet. He bends down to loosen the ties of his boots, then starts unbuttoning his shirt while toeing off the boots. His shirt and pants are sticking to his skin uncomfortably, so Ezekiel is really glad to get rid off them. In a matter of seconds he is just as naked as his wife.

His heartrate speeds up under her gaze, her eyes caressing him from head to toe. Her hand reaches out to him, silently begging him to come to her. He can`t resist a second longer, drawn to her like a moth to the light. He joins her on the bed, kneeling before her, just a breadth of air between them. They stare into each other`s eyes, their breaths mingling.

"Hey." Carol`s fingertips glide over his abdomen and chest, scratching ever so lightly.

"Hi." Ezekiel`s hands come to rest on her hips, his thumbs caressing her skin. "What now?"

"Hmmm." Carol tilts her head to the side, pretending to think about his question, a smile tugging on the corners of her mouth. "It`s too early to sleep."

"Mhm." Ezekiel`s fingers glide to her back, following the curve of her spine.

"And we`re already naked. And alone."

"Oh, yeah."

Now his fingertips trail back down again, ghosting over the sensitive flesh of her well-shaped behind. His touch is gentle, but oh so exciting, leaving a trail of fire on her skin. Carol sinks her teeth into her bottom lip, drawing Ezekiel`s gaze there. His tongue involuntarily sneaks out, licking his own lips in anticipation of her taste.

"I`m sure we can find something enjoyable to entertain ourselves for a couple hours."

Carol`s voice is husky, breathless, barely audible anymore. Ezekiel`s eyes snap back to hers, boring into her with unmasked desire. His large hands splay out over her ass, squeezing delicately.

"Hours, huh?!"

He pulls her flush against him, closing the gap between their bodies, his mouth taking hers in a passionate kiss. Carol`s arms wrap around him, pressing him against her. She can`t contain the guttural moan rising in her throat when her tightly puckered nipples come into contact with Ezekiel`s firm chest, sending bolts of pleasure through her whole body. They devour each other, exchanging sloppy wet kisses, sweat pooling between their bodies despite the cold of the room. They don`t even notice it anymore.

Slowly, they sink to the mattress. There`s no hurry, despite their raging desire. Both of them know that their needs will be fulfilled, intent on savoring every second in their lover`s embrace. Wrapping her legs around Ezekiel`s middle, Carol welcomes his body weight on her. His hard-on is nestled between her moist folds, thick and heavy. A promise of what is to come.

Weaving one of his hands into her hair, Ezekiel looks down into Carol`s face, breathing heavily. He traces the contours of her face with his other hand, as always fascinated by her beauty. His thumb smooths over her kiss-swollen lips and she opens her mouth to suck him in, biting down on him. Groaning, Ezekiel again takes possession of her mouth, his hands pressed to her cheeks, framing her face.

Carol tightens her hold on him in response, her ankles locking over his butt, her hands groping the firm smooth skin of his back. She loves being surrounded by Ezekiel, loves to feel his strength, his power. In his arms, she feels safe and loved. He makes her feel beautiful and desired like no one else ever could. Their lovemaking was the highest form of intimacy either of them had ever experienced, not just the joining of bodies, but the joining of souls. It was utterly beautiful, magical.

Their groins move against each other just the tiniest bit, the friction exquisite, heightening their need to be one. Ezekiel`s mouth wanders down Carol`s neck, tasting the saltiness of her skin. Throwing her head back, she exposes her throat to him, shaking with ecstasy at the feeling of his tongue gliding over this sensitive and vulnerable part of her body. Her fingers dig into his shoulders, her mouth falling open on an audible gasp as his teeth scrape over her skin. Ezekiel`s right hand lands on her upper thigh, groping her flesh, as his mouth travels further south, seeking the enticing softness of her breasts.

Carol`s whole body surges upwards, pressing against Ezekiel when his lips close around one perfectly rosy nipple, sucking as much of her breast into his mouth as possible. She tries unsuccessfully to increase the pressure on her throbbing clit, but she can barely move under Ezekiel`s weight. Her fingers find their way into his wonderful dreads, curling around the thick strands.

"Zeke." Her deep sexy moan combined with the pull on his hair gets his attention. Ezekiel raises his head to meet Carol`s gaze again, thrilled by the unconcealed want in her eyes. She lets go of his hair only to press her palms against his face, feeling the softness of his beard.

"I want you inside of me. Now."

It`s impossible to deny her plea. Without taking his eyes off her, Ezekiel raises his hips, unerringly finding the place of his desire, slipping into Carol`s wetness. This first penetration it just always was overwhelming, no matter how many times they did it. He`s stretching her, working his way forward with powerful short thrusts until he`s fully buried inside her. It is only then that they break eye contact again as Carol pulls Ezekiel`s face down for another hungry kiss, her tongue sneaking into his mouth.

They keep up their pace, slow and steady, bodies pressed tightly together. Hands roam wherever they can reach, caressing, stimulating all the right places. Mouths keep returning for kiss after kiss, drinking each other, breathing each other. The world around them just ceases to exist, there isn`t anything more important than their mutual pleasure. They take each other higher and higher, seeking oblivion.

Eventually, Ezekiel`s movements become a little more forceful, hitting that sweet spot deep inside Carol`s body that makes her toes curl over and over. She`s getting restless, the coiling in her groin almost unbearable. Her skin is prickling with her need to come, all nerve endings on overload. Tearing her mouth away, she sucks in a shuddering breath, a cute sob escaping her throat. Ezekiel reacts to her instinctively, his hands finding hers, bringing them up over her head. He stares down into Carol`s blazing eyes, goosebumps rising all over his body.

Close. So close.

"YES!"

The slight change of position is enough for Carol. Gripping Ezekiel`s hands as tight as possible, she lets herself fall, her mouth opening on a silent scream. Or maybe she just doesn`t hear it. It doesn`t matter. The pleasure is overwhelming, the waves crashing over her, drowning her. She focuses on his face, witnesses his beautiful features contorting in his own ecstasy.

"YES!"

He`s letting go of her hands, his strength leaving his body. Her arms immediately wrap around him, clutching him to her. She hears his feral groan right next to her ear as he finds his release, feels his hot essence washing her insides. Their bodies keep spasming against each other, riding the wave together until they are completely incapable of moving. Breathless they lie in each other`s arms, the sweat cooling on their bodies, just very slowly coming down from their high.

"Nice."

Ezekiel can literally hear the smile in Carol`s voice, raising his head to look at her. Her face is relaxed, glowing with utter satisfaction. Gently, he wipes her damp curls from her forehead, bowing down to place a kiss there.

"We`re not done yet, babe."

"Didn`t think so."

They grin at each other, stealing another sweet kiss.

"It`s getting cold."

Without moving too much, Ezekiel fishes for the comforter, wrapping it around their bodies. It smells dusty and has definitely seen better times but it`s still more comfortable than lying in the cold. Resting his head on Carol`s chest, he snuggles back into her embrace. Together, they watch the storm outside, the occasional lightning illuminating the dark sky. With her arms wrapped around his shoulders, Carol absentmindedly plays with the strands of Ezekiel`s dreads, a dreamy look on her face.

"I love thunderstorms" she whispers, breaking their comfortable silence a while later.

Right in that moment a spectacular flash of lightning flickers through the darkness, a beautiful pattern drawn by an invisible hand. It`s magnificent, imposing, a testimony of the power and utter beauty of nature. These are the words that come to Ezekiel`s mind, the same words that he associates with his wife.

"So do I." He raises his head again, staring into Carol`s deep blue eyes. She can easily read his mind, his emotions, his deep admiration and devotion to her, to their love written all over his face. For a moment, the intensity takes her breath away, her own emotions welling up inside of her. She needs to show him, needs him to know that he is the center of her world, everything she ever wanted in life and so much more.

Words wouldn`t be enough, nor are they necessary in this moment in time. Ezekiel is the better talker anyway, so Carol chooses actions over words.

She pulls his face down, capturing his lips in a heart-felt kiss that seems to last forever. They fit perfectly together, sweetly sucking, only letting go for split seconds before pressing against each other again. Every now and then they stop to stare into each other`s eyes, wordlessly communicating their feelings. Slowly, their kisses get deeper, their tongues gliding against each other, feeding their hunger for each other.

Ezekiel works his way down Carol`s neck, placing open-mouthed kisses along her collarbone, tasting her deliciously freckled skin. His lips travel further over her shoulder and down her arm, switching to the soft expanse of her tummy. The smell of her sex is strong, heady, calling for him. Ezekiel deeply inhales her scent, his cock hardening against her leg. He withstands the temptation of burying his head between Carol`s legs, instead dips his tongue into her navel.

He keeps up his sensual exploration, kissing every inch of her skin. His hands cup her breasts, squeezing gently. They are his goal, the objects of his desire. Nipping along her ribcage, he comes closer, sucking the plump flesh into his mouth. God, he loves her breasts. They are round and firm and fit perfectly into his hands. And their taste, mmmh. Still keeping his hands around them, Ezekiel pulls one tightly puckered nipple deep into his mouth, teasing the other one with his thumb. Switching from one to the other, he tortures the sensitive buds, knowing that it will drive Carol out of her mind with lust. Pleasuring her, heightening her arousal was the biggest turn-on for him.

Carol completely surrenders to Ezekiel`s seduction. Her eyes are closed, head turned sideways, breathing through parted lips. Her hands fist the bedsheets at the first touch of Ezekiel`s tongue on her nipple, her heartrate speeding up. He knows her well, playing her body expertly. Like a concert master playing a violin. The sounds he draws from her are just as beautiful. The sensation of his hot mouth surrounding her, the soft scratch of his teeth followed by the wetness of his tongue, it all directly translates to the throbbing pearl between her legs. He could easily make her come like this.

But instead, he stops.

"Carol."

His face is hovering above her, patiently waiting for her to look at him. Her eyes flutter open, her pupils dilated, making them appear almost completely black.

"Show me what you want."

A gorgeous smile spreads on her face, making his heart jump. She grabs his face and pulls him down for a kiss, then pushes against his shoulders. Getting the hint, Ezekiel pushes himself upright, sitting back on his heels, waiting for Carol`s next move.

For a moment, she just stares at him, taking in all his beauty – his chocolate skin, his broad shoulders and muscular chest and thighs, his impressive manhood. Oh, how she wants him! Sitting up herself, Carol inches closer to Ezekiel, kneeling between his spread legs. She steals another kiss, teasingly biting down on his bottom lip. Her hands press against his pectorals, her thumbs rubbing over his male nipples. He grabs her ass in response, squeezing, otherwise holding still.

Slowly, Carol trails her left hand down Ezekiel`s body, from his chest all the way down to his knee and back up again. She cups his balls, squeezing tenderly, just as he did with her boobs. His answering groan reverberates through her body, making all her hairs stand on end. Moving upwards, she grips the base of his cock, firmly stroking his length. Carol loves the feel of him in her hand, so hard and silky. Her eyes return to Ezekiel`s, boring into him as she keeps up her ministrations, up and down, up and down, squeezing the sensitive head, spreading his pre-cum.

One of Ezekiel`s hands weaves into Carol`s messy curls, bringing her face close to his. Her touch is exquisite, so strong and confident. He craves her very being, revels in the beauty of her sexuality. The tip of her tongue sneaks out to lick his upper lip, challenging him. He complies, his tongue joining hers in an erotic dance. When they part, Carol lets go of him, her hand sliding upwards again, cupping his cheek. Another firm kiss and then she turns in Ezekiel`s arms, pressing her backside against his straining desire.

He grips her hips, clutching her against his body. Turning her head, Carol searches for his kiss again, moaning into his mouth when she feels Ezekiel`s large hands covering her breasts, kneading, squeezing her nipples between his fingers. She wriggles her butt against him, drawing an answering moan from him. Desperate to have him back inside of her, Carol pulls back. Stroking his beard, she looks up into Ezekiel`s hooded eyes.

"I love you."

Then she leans forward, resting on her forearms, spreading her legs to give Ezekiel access to her sweetness. His deep humming sound of approval satisfies her, excitement coiling in her belly. Carol knows that their coupling will be raw and wild, and it is exactly what she wants tonight. Looking back over her shoulder, she catches Ezekiel dipping his hand between her legs, spreading her wetness. He notices her watching and holding her gaze dips two of his fingers into her, then pulls back to rub them over her engorged clit. Carol has to bite her lips, a shudder running through her body from head to toe.

Satisfied with her reaction, Ezekiel grabs his shaft, placing it at her entrance. Still keeping his eyes on her face, he teases her, just pushing the head inside then pulling back out again. His hands grip Carol`s waist to prevent her from moving against him. It`s the sweetest torture – for both of them. Ezekiel repeats his actions a couple times before finally surging forward, burying himself in her depths in one deep stroke.

Carol`s cry of surprise turns into a deep moan, his sudden intrusion setting all her nerve endings on fire. Her body tries to keep him in, her walls clamping down on him, but Ezekiel pulls out again only to return a second later. He sets a steady rhythm – slowly dragging out, forcefully pushing back in. Carol`s head drops to her hands, her fingers clutching the sheets. Her whole body is humming with pleasure, every second bringing her closer to an earth-shattering orgasm.

Ezekiel`s eyes focus on the place where they are joined. He`s breathing heavily, groaning every time he enters Carol`s body. The wet suction drives him crazy, his scalp prickling with the intense pleasure. He`s tuned to her very reaction, acutely aware of every sound she makes, every tiny movement. He wants her to come undone again in his hands, wants it more than his own release. He knows instinctively when she is ready to come, knows it even before he hears her breathy plea.

"Faster!"

Ezekiel reacts immediately, speeding up his strokes, his groin slapping against Carol`s backside in rapid succession. Her head snaps up, the buzzing in her clit almost unbearable every time he makes impact. She wants to touch it, but she`s not in control of her body anymore, her hands gripping the sheets so tightly that her knuckles turn white. Her orgasm washes over her like a tsunami in endless waves, leaving her completely boneless. Carol vaguely registers Ezekiel`s hands slipping under her body, pulling her up. He`s holding her in a tight embrace as her body keeps shaking with the force of her release.

Keeping her eyes closed, Carol concentrates on bringing her breathing back under control, leaning back against Ezekiel, trusting him with no limits in this vulnerable state. She smiles when she feels his lips brush over her sweaty forehead, his beard tickling her. He moves further down, over the bridge of her nose until he reaches her lips. She returns the kiss, sweet and innocent. When they part, Carol looks up at her husband over her shoulder with an amused glint in her eyes.

"You`re taking that 'couple hours' comment by heart, don`t you?"

She`s wriggling her butt against him, just a little bit, eliciting a deep moan from Ezekiel. He was still hard inside of her.

"I aim to please you, my Queen. Your pleasure is mine."

To emphasize his words, his fingers travel down the front of her body, sneaking between her legs. He circles her hypersensitive clit with his index finger, making her shudder. Carol grabs his wrist, gently pulling his hand away, bringing it up to her mouth. She presses his fingers against her lips, her eyes searching his again.

"How about I pleasure you for a while?"

He kisses her again, softly, chaste, tasting the faint aroma of her sex on her lips.

"That would be fine with me, too."

Chuckling, Carol turns in his arms, his hardness slipping out of her in the process. Ezekiel grits his teeth, the cold air a stark contrast to the heat of her body. Carol pushes against his chest, urging him to lie down, then moves to straddle him. Grabbing his head between her hands, she bows down for another kiss, unable to stay away from his delicious lips. Ezekiel digs his fingers into her well-shaped buttocks, pulling her against his still straining erection, reminding Carol what she intended to do.

Sliding down his body, she peppers his chest with kisses, lightly scratching her nails over his sides as she moves on to his stomach. Ezekiel`s eyes slip shut, his groin tightening in anticipation. Carol`s hand tightly wraps around his dick, stroking up and down a few times. She presses her lips against his swollen glans, her tongue darting out to tease the fine slit in the middle. Ezekiel can`t control the hoarse cry when Carol slides her lips over him, sucking wetly.

He knows he won`t be able to last much longer, but he wants to hold on as long as possible, wants to savor the incredible sensations coursing through his body. He forces his eyes open to watch his beautiful wife, the sight of her almost enough to push him over the edge. Carol is completely engrossed in her task, looking up when she notices Ezekiel`s eyes on her. Her damp curls are sticking to her face, so he reaches out to push them out of the way, his hands weaving into her hair.

Keeping her eyes trained on his face, Carol continues her work, her mouth sliding up and down his shaft, sucking strongly every time she reaches the plump head. She knows that she can make him come any second, notices the tightening of his grip, the way he`s growing under her touch. And she wants it, wants his taste on her tongue, but the intensity of Ezekiel`s stare, the feeling of him moving against her is deeply arousing, fueling her own need. Geez, the effect this man had on her libido!

Letting him slip from her mouth, Carol sits up and without any further hesitation slides down on him. They both cry out in unison, their bodies poised on the edge, ready to explode. Ezekiel can`t take another second, desperate to find release. Gripping Carol`s hips, he plants his feet on the mattress and drives himself into her, over and over. Unable to keep herself upright anymore, she falls forward, holding herself on her outstretched arms. Carol looks down into Ezekiel`s face, witnesses the ecstasy as he empties himself inside her body. She follows him on the spot, her own release leaving her breathless.

She slumps forward, aftershocks wrecking her body. Ezekiel`s arms wrap around her, holding her close, his heart beating like crazy in his chest. They are both completely drained, drenched in sweat. On some subconscious level they are mindful of their state, reaching for the comforter to wrap themselves into it. They snuggle up as close as humanly possible, a tangled mess of limbs, bone tired.

"I`ll be so sore tomorrow." Ezekiel can barely make out Carol`s mumbled words, the corner of his mouth curving up into a smile. A moment later, they`re both asleep.

When Carol wakes up some time later, she`s alone in bed. She can hear Ezekiel shuffling around to her right, turning her head in his direction. The candles have burned out while they were sleeping, the only light in the room coming from Ezekiel`s flashlight that he placed on the dresser on the wall opposite the bed. He`s dressed in the spare clothes they had in their bag, just buttoning up his shirt. Carol has no idea what time it is, but it`s definitely not morning yet, the world outside the window pitch dark.

"What are you doing? What time is it?"

Ezekiel comes over to sit on the edge of the bed, fishing for his still wet boots. He has already checked his watch when he got up, his answer coming immediately. "It`s a little after 8."

Really? Carol is surprised, they haven`t been sleeping very long. Again, she is wondering what Ezekiel is up to.

"Why are you dressed?"

He leans forward to place a kiss on her forehead, then gets up again.

"Gotta pee" he states matter-of-factly. "And I wanted to check on the horses."

He rummages around in one of their bags, checking their supplies. Whoever packed them up, he was grateful for their foresight. There was much more than Carol and him would normally need for a trip back to the Kingdom. He puts some apples on the dresser, then eyes his drenched coat wearily. Yeah, that would be very uncomfortable.

Realizing that she actually has to pee herself very urgently, Carol scrambles out from under the comforter, goosebumps rising all over her skin. Damn, it was cold. Reluctantly slipping into his coat, Ezekiel turns to face her.

"You don`t need to come with me. Get back into bed. It`s more comfortable."

Hurriedly slipping into her dry clothes, Carol looks him straight in the eye. "It sure is, but I really need to come with you."

Getting her hint, Ezekiel reaches for her jacket, holding it to her with a sympathetic smile. "Still wet."

Carol takes it from him, making a face, but slipping into it nevertheless. They grab the apples and their weapons and head on downstairs.

The storm had lessened, just a little drizzling rain falling from the dark clouds. It was still windy, though, making their outside journey an unpleasant venture. Seeking a somewhat shielded spot, they go about their business. Envying Ezekiel his anatomical advantage, Carol tries to hurry up, hissing at the slight pain she`s feeling. Throwing a look over his shoulder, Ezekiel tries to see if something is wrong.

"You okay?"

"Yeah" Carol pulls her pants back up, taking a step forward. "Just – sore."

She can`t see the grin on Ezekiel`s face, but she knows it`s there. "Asshole" she mutters under her breath, stepping up next to him. Still grinning, he takes her hand and brings it up to his mouth to press a kiss on it. Not letting go, Carol tugs on his hand, walking over to the barn where they left their horses.

Thankfully, everything is as they left it, except for some big puddles where the rain has been coming in through the damaged roof. Upon their entering, the horses give off some soft neighing, pawing with their hooves, obviously happy to have their humans near again. Carol and Ezekiel feed them, petting them for some minutes before returning to the house.

Back in their makeshift bedroom, they quickly discard their wet jackets and boots, both shivering. A fire would have been nice, but the room didn`t have a fireplace and the one in the large living room downstairs was right next to the broken window. Searching the room with his flashlight, Ezekiel`s eyes land on the big closet. The doors were open and some discarded clothes were lying on the floor. He steps closer for further inspection, hoping that the former owners of this house – or maybe some temporary 'guests' like them – had left something they could use.

"What are you looking for?" Carol bows down to pick up the bag with their supplies, placing it on the dresser next to her flashlight. As she unpacks some sandwiches and water her stomach starts growling loudly. They haven`t had anything to eat since about noon and now she was starving.

"Something to keep us warm."

Ezekiel spots a wooden box in the corner of the closet, pulling it forward. It looks sturdy, so he puts one foot on it, testing whether it will hold his weight. Deciding that he can risk it, he climbs up, searching the upper shelf. There`s lots of dust and dead insects and there, all the way in the back – Ezekiel gets on his tiptoes, stretching as much as possible to reach the object he has found.

Carol watches him, munching on a sandwich, not really expecting anything useful. The more surprised she is when she realizes what Ezekiel is struggling to pull out from the depths of the closet. He almost loses his footing, so she rushes to take the object from him, placing it on the bed. Reaching for her flashlight, she examines it, a stunned expression on her face.

"It`s beautiful."

What Ezekiel had found was a quilt. Big and soft and really astoundingly beautiful. Sure, it needed some washing, but other than that it seemed to be in perfect condition. Why nobody else had found it before them was beyond Carol. Or maybe it just hadn`t been handy to take along. Whatever the reason, it was their luck, cause this would for sure keep them warm through the night. Ezekiel steps up next to her, also appreciating the beautiful work.

"Turns out this might be our lucky day, after all."

The tone of his voice has Carol turn her head. Ezekiel is grinning at her, one of those cheeky smiles that always melts her heart – and sometimes makes her very suspicious. Narrowing her eyes, she turns to fully face him, hands on her hips.

"What`s behind your back?"

Ezekiel`s grin gets even wider and in a flourishing gesture he presents to her – a boardgame.

"Scrabble? Really?"

"Well," his arm sneaks around her waist, pulling her against him and in a conspiratorial tone he says, "I figured you need a break from other activities."

Carol huffs in indignation, playfully pushing against Ezekiel`s chest. "YOU need a break."

She takes the game from him and throws it on the bed, then gathers the sandwiches and water and carries them to the bed as well. "Where did you find that?"

Ezekiel points to the box he used as a ladder. "There`s some more in there."

Remembering that the candles had burned out, he checks the dresser and when he doesn`t find what he`s looking for, walks over to one of the nightstands and opens the drawer. No more candles. Ezekiel looks over at Carol who checked the other nightstand. She just shakes her head. Seems that they had enough luck for one night. Well, they still had their flashlights.

Carol climbs onto the bed and Ezekiel joins her. He unpacks the game, taking a big bite of the sandwich that Carol holds into his face. Placing the game between them, they both lie on their sides, pulling the quilt over their bodies. Ezekiel positions his flashlight so they can see the fields on the board. It`s old with frayed edges but that doesn`t matter. Since they can barely make out the figures on the board and don`t have anything to write down the scores anyway, Carol simply takes a handful of stones, shielding them from Ezekiel`s view.

He rolls his eyes at her, then does the same. They play, sharing their simple meal, just enjoying their time together. Ezekiel makes Carol laugh with his choice of old-fashioned words, deliberately exaggerating. To him, hearing her laugh was the most beautiful thing in the world. The first time Carol burst out laughing in front of him, he`d stood there staring at her completely in awe. He`d already been head over heels in love with her, but in that moment, Ezekiel knew that he would spend the rest of his life making her happy.

And if the look on her face was any indication, he was doing a pretty good job.

Carol opens their third round, laying the word KING which Ezekiel immediately completes to KINGDOM. Carol knows right away how she wants to go on and after a quick check she lays the word HOME using the O in Kingdom. Ezekiel reaches out, capturing her fingers, bringing them up to his mouth. With a smile, he then lays the word KISS using the I in Kingdom. Answering his smile, Carol raises her head, puckering her lips in invitation. Ezekiel leans forward, capturing her lips in a sweet kiss. It`s not nearly enough, so her next move comes naturally, completing KISS to KISSES. Their lips find each other again, a little longer, a little more pressure.

Leaning back, Ezekiel contemplates his next move, grinning when he finds the perfect word. Using the E in home, he lays the word QUEEN, waggling his eyebrows. Carol refuses to give in to his teasing, secretly enjoying his term of endearment. She stares at her remaining letters for some time, but the only word that comes to her mind doesn`t really fit. She lays it anyway, simply adding it to Ezekiel`s QUEEN – TIRED.

"Yeah, me too."

Once more, he leans forward, this time to press a kiss to her forehead. Together, they pack up the game again, placing it on the floor as well as the flashlight and the remains of their picnic. In the darkness, they snuggle up close together. Like magnets, their mouths find each other, exchanging the sweetest kisses. They are wrapped up in the love they feel for each other, happy and content.

"I love you."

"Love you, too."

Within moments, the couple drifts off into a deep sleep.

Carol wakes in the morning, one of Ezekiel`s dreads tickling her nose. She pushes it away, tilting up her head. From what she can see, the sky is still covered by grey clouds but at least it doesn`t seem to be raining anymore. Carol settles back into her former position. She feels warm and cozy, not yet ready to leave their nest. Ezekiel is still fast asleep. As often on early mornings, Carol takes advantage, studying his face.

He was beautiful, there just was no other word for it. The deep attraction she had felt when she first saw him had been – unsettling, to say the least. The feeling had been completely foreign to Carol, throwing her off-balance. But what had surprised her even more back then was the fact that he obviously was just as attracted to her. Grinning, Carol thinks back to last night – yeah, their mutual attraction certainly hasn`t lessened over the years.

Unable to resist any longer, she reaches up, softly smoothing her fingers over Ezekiel`s brows, then down his nose. She traces the randomly scattered freckles on his cheeks, then very gently presses her palm against his jaw, feeling the softness of his beard. Her thumb brushes over his mustache, back and forth. He`s stirring under her touch, his head shaking slightly. Carol pulls her hand away, going back to just watching him. She has time to admire his sinfully long lashes before his eyes open slowly, a smile immediately forming on his lips when he sees her.

Oh, these eyes, so warm and tender, shining with endless love.

Carol`s hand again reaches up, this time to pull Ezekiel`s face down for a kiss.

"Good morning."

"Morning."

Rolling to his back, Ezekiel stretches his limbs, groaning slightly. What a night! He turns his head, a cheeky remark on his lips, but Carol is already scrambling her way out of bed. He wraps his arms around her waist, trying to hold her back, tickling her sides.

"Hey, where are you going?"

Giggling, Carol disentangles herself from his embrace, slipping into her boots.

"Nature calling."

Yeah. Lying on his stomach, Ezekiel ignores the dull ache in his bladder for a few more moments, watching his wife. Her hair has dried into beautiful fluffy curls, softly swaying around her head. She looked so very young – so vibrant.

"Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are?"

Smiling brightly, Carol slips into her (still damp) jacket. "Yeah, I`m not falling for that now, mister. Get up. We really should get on our way before it starts raining again."

Chuckling, Ezekiel does as he`s been told, slipping into his boots and coat as well. Of course, Carol was right. They needed to get back to the Kingdom as soon as possible. After quickly taking care of their business once more, they head back upstairs to gather their belongings. Carol has already decided that she wants to take the beautiful quilt back home, so she now neatly folds it. Ezekiel somehow manages to stuff the game into one of their bags.

"Henry will like it."

"What about the others? You said there were more games in the box?"

"Oh, yeah. I think the whole box is too heavy now. We should come back here when the weather is better, maybe bring a wagon. Who knows what else we might find in the other rooms. It`s worth checking out."

Carol agrees with him. Swinging one bag over her shoulder, she grabs the quilt, then heads for the door, closely followed by Ezekiel.

Down in the hallway they stop at the passage to the living room. In the light of day it somehow looked even worse than it did last night. 'Someone here must have been very desperate or very angry', Ezekiel thinks 'or both.' Carol lightly pulls on his sleeve, silently asking him to get going. He turns to follow her, but then something catches his attention from the corner of his eye. Instead of heading towards the kitchen, Ezekiel steps into the living room.

Carol already is halfway through the kitchen when she realizes that Ezekiel isn`t behind her. Turning on her heel, she walks back, finding him standing in the far-off corner of the living room. Curious what he found, she steps up next to him.

"Ezekiel?"

There in the corner, almost buried under the tree is an old-fashioned piano. Ezekiel brushes the rotten leaves and dirt from the surface, a melancholic look on his face. Carol watches him, wondering why this piano seemed to be important to him. There was one at the Kingdom and sometimes they would play together. Ezekiel had been rather impressed when he found out that Carol not only knew how to play but was actually quite talented at it. As she was with the guitar.

"Zeke? Something wrong?"

He looks at her, then back at the piano. He opens the flap, surprised to find all of the keys intact. Smiling, he reaches out, playing some notes. Carol immediately recognizes the song, a memory flashing her mind of one late night at the Kingdom. Ezekiel and her at the community center, his melodic voice filling the air, touching her deep inside. Still unsure what`s going on inside him right now, Carol takes another step forward, continuing the melody he started. Ezekiel reaches for her hand, holding it while he closes the flap again with his other hand.

"We had a piano like this at home. Not exactly the same, but very similar. My mother taught me how to play on it."

Oh. Carol takes a closer look at the piano. It does look very old and it isn`t in the best condition, but there are some beautiful carvings on it. Ezekiel had once told her that his mother used to be a music teacher and that she had started teaching him when he was a little boy. The wistful smile on his lips tells her that he is lost in his memories, hopefully some good ones. Reaching for his free hand, Carol presses herself up against him, kissing him tenderly.

"You`re mother would be very proud of the man you are. I am very proud of you. I love you so much."

Not trusting his voice in this moment, Ezekiel just hugs her tightly, grateful for her love. After taking a deep breath, he lets go, pulling Carol towards the door. She throws a last look over her shoulder, making a mental note to herself to talk to Jerry when they were back at the Kingdom. This piano needed to find a place in their home.

"That doesn`t look good."

Carol and Ezekiel have been on the road again for some hours when they encounter another problem. Since they left the farm in the morning there have already been some obstacles in their way – branches or some smaller trees were lying across the road due to the storm. Most of them they simply jumped over, trusting their horses. When that wasn`t possible, they tried to move them aside so they could pass or looked for a way to get around them. It was tiresome and slowed them down, but at least they haven`t had any problems with walkers so far.

Now it looked like this was going to change.

Up ahead was an obstacle they couldn`t just jump over or move aside.

Several large trees were blocking the road. They must have crashed down from the hang that runs parallel to the road on their right. And from what they could see and hear from a safe distance, a small herd of walkers has gathered on the other side of the trees. Some of them have either been buried by the trees or tried to sneak their way through them. In any case, there was no way Ezekiel and Carol could fight their way through them – not with the horses in tow.

"Two options." Carol looks at her husband with a raised eyebrow, waiting for him to go on.

"First – we head back and try our luck on one of the smaller roads."

Carol glances up at the sky over her shoulder, then back at Ezekiel, slowly shaking her head. So far, it hasn`t started raining again, but behind them big black clouds were accumulating, indicating the next storm. The side roads were probably in even worse condition, and it would take them several more hours to get home to the Kingdom.

"Second – we try to sneak a way through the woods on the left. But since we don`t know how many walkers there really are up ahead, we will have to make a big circle around them to be on the safe side. Won`t be easy, the ground is all muddy after the rain."

Both options weren`t really appealing and they will certainly end up soaking wet again no matter what they decide. Sighing, Carol slides off her horse, looking up at Ezekiel with a stubborn look on her face.

"We`re not going back! The Kingdom isn`t that far anymore. If we head back, we might get stuck somewhere. Here, we can at least stay relatively close to the road."

She was right, of course. Going back wasn`t a real option. Sliding off his horse as well, Ezekiel draws his sword, then takes the lead with Carol following on his heel.

As predicted, forcing their way through the muddy and slippery undergrowth proved to be difficult. Not only did they have to watch their own steps very carefully, they also had to make sure the horses wouldn`t get hurt – all the while keeping an eye on their surroundings, watching out for stray walkers. At first, they walked East, away from the road behind them until they thought they were in a safe distance from the herd. Then, they changed direction, walking parallel to the road for about half an hour.

They`ve been walking silently, both of them on high alert, communicating with gestures if necessary. Strangely, they didn`t come upon a single walker in the woods. Tugging on Ezekiel`s sleeve, Carol makes him stop, handing him a bottle of water. He takes a sip, then gives it back to her.

"It`s quiet." His eyes scan the area, but there`s still nothing to be seen. Seems like luck was on their side.

"Maybe they`re all back on the road. Or those who`ve been wandering around here, got stuck in the mud."

"Yeah, well – I think we can head back to the road now. What do you say?"

Carol looks back in the direction of the road, but they can`t see it anymore from their position. She tries to estimate how far they have come but considering their slow progress that was pretty much impossible, too. What was obvious, though, was that it would be raining soon now. And she really wanted to be home.

"Let`s go."

By the time they reach the road again, it is indeed raining. Big cold drops pouring down on them, hindering their view. The good thing was, they were far enough away from the herd that had gathered by the fallen trees. The bad thing was they were now standing in a ditch, facing a small hang on this side, too. It wasn`t as high or as steep as on the other side of the road and if they had been alone and the ground wouldn`t be so slippy, then it wouldn`t be any problem at all. But under the current circumstances and with the horses …

"This day just keeps getting better and better." Carol stares at the hang with a somewhat incredulous expression on her face.

"Maybe if we go a little further …", Ezekiel`s voice trails off, not really convinced that would make any difference and tired of walking in the mud. No, they needed to get up on the road again or they`d still be outside when it gets dark. Not really something either of them was looking forward to. Absentmindedly wiping the rain from his face, he`s trying to think of the best way to get them out of this situation.

"Okay, give me your bag." Carol looks at him, frowning. "Why?"

"Because it will be easier for you to climb up without it." While he is speaking, Ezekiel is working on loosening the bags that are attached to his horse`s saddle. "I will hand you the bags when you`re on the road. Then we can try to maneuver to horses up there."

For a moment, Carol just stands there, frustration and resignation keeping her frozen on the spot. Her mare nudges her in the back, neighing softly, as if to ask her why they were stopping. Shaking off her rising annoyance, Carol turns, caressing her mare`s head, then works on freeing her off her load, handing all bags to Ezekiel. Being grumpy now won`t get them anywhere and after all, it was her decision to venture off into the woods, knowing the risks.

She smiles at Ezekiel, then concentrates on the task at hand. It`s almost impossible to get a good grip, but Carol manages to move forward, slowly, inch by inch. When she has almost reached the road, she slips, sliding back down again. The part of her clothes that hasn`t been completely soiled with mud now definitely is. Cursing under her breath, she tries again, digging her fingers into the wet ground. With clenched teeth, she pulls herself up, finally kneeling on the road after almost slipping again. Brushing her hair out of her face, Carol gets up and turns around, looking down at Ezekiel.

"You okay?"

Really? She stands there with her hands on her hips, all wet and dirty and he – he dares to grin at her! Ezekiel can`t help it. She was just too adorable.

"You look absolutely stunning!" he proclaims in his best King Ezekiel voice.

Damn that man. Carol feels the strange urge to kick and kiss him at the same time. Too bad he was out of reach at the moment. Now she has to grin herself, shaking her head at her husband`s antics.

"Idiot. Hand me the bags."

The bags are the easy part. The horses will be trickier. Or at least that`s what Carol thinks. She`s becoming a little bit worried that the animals might get hurt – maybe they should search for a better place up ahead after all. She wants to say something but gets fascinated with the way Ezekiel is interacting with her beloved mare, caressing her the way Carol did earlier, silently talking to her. Carol can`t hear him over the wind and rain but her horse seems to be listening very carefully.

Ezekiel pulls the reigns over the horse`s head, then turns to his wife. He immediately recognizes her tense posture, giving her a reassuring smile.

"Trust me." Carol nods, carefully leaning forward to take the reigns out of his hand.

"Watch out." Ezekiel takes a step back and after another quick glance at Carol gives the horse a mighty slap on its flank to get her going, yelling "Go, girl!" The mare rears up, shaking her head but Carol tightly holds on to the reigns and in two big leaps the horse is up on the road. The momentum throws Carol off balance, and she lands on her butt, another curse falling from her lips.

"Carol?!" Ezekiel`s slightly worried voice reaches her ear, so Carol hurriedly scrambles forward, giving him a thumbs up. "We`re good."

Grinning back at her, Ezekiel claps his hands. "All right then, number two!"

Although Ezekiel`s stallion is stronger than Carol`s mare, this time she is prepared and manages to stay on her feet. With both horses safely up on the road, Ezekiel is the last to climb the hang. He`s pulling himself up, half kneeling on the road when he spots a walker coming out of the woods on the other side of the road. Looks like they`ve been a bit too noisy. He stands up quickly, but Carol is faster, swiftly taking down the walker with her knife. It`s only then that she notices three more approaching, closer already, to her right.

Dammit. The snarling walkers scare the horses. Carol has no time to do anything else than attack the walkers, noticing from the corner of her eye how the animals back away in panic. Ezekiel tries to hold them, but it`s impossible. He`s still standing on the edge of the hang, losing his footing. With a hoarse cry he slips back down, unable to stop his fall.

"Zeke!" Gritting her teeth, Carol rams her knife into the last walker`s head, swiftly turning on her heel to look after her husband. Their horses are already up ahead the road, out of her reach. Nothing she could do about that now.

"Ezekiel!" He`s lying on his back, unmoving. "No, no, no!"

Carol slides down the hang again, kneeling above him. The downpour has turned into a slight drizzle, but she doesn`t even notice. He was breathing, but still not moving. Her fingers ghost over his face, shaking. "Please, Zeke." Just a whisper. He can`t be severely injured, it`s impossible. Please. Please.

Carol lets out a sigh of relief when Ezekiel`s face contorts in pain, his hand shooting out to touch the back of his head. "Agh!" He pulls his fingers back – there`s blood on them. He hit his head on a rock when he fell, knocking him out for some moments.

"Let me see." She checks his wound, careful not to touch it with her dirty fingers. "It`s not deep." Carol hugs Ezekiel, burying her nose in his hair. "You scared me."

"Sorry." He holds her tight, feeling the rapid beating of her heart against his chest. "What about the horses?"

"They ran."

"Great."

They sit there in the mud, completely drenched, shaking from the cold. It`s uncomfortable, but they need some moments to regain their composure. To feel each other`s breath, each other`s heartbeat.

"Guess we have to keep on walking then."

Carol`s shoulders begin to shake, and Ezekiel immediately feels guilty, his arms wrapping tighter around her. It always breaks his heart when she`s crying and to think that he was responsible for it … He wants to apologize, but before he gets to say anything, Carol pulls out of his embrace, her hands landing on his cheeks. She kisses him firmly and when she pulls back, she`s grinning at him. She wasn`t crying – she was laughing. They were in the middle of nowhere – Ezekiel couldn`t even tell anymore how far from the Kingdom they were. Their horses were gone – and yet, Carol was shaking with laughter.

It`s contagious and soon they`re both shaking with suppressed laughter, mindful not to attract more walkers. Once they got themselves back under control again, they get up – again facing the slippery hang. Ignoring all their little pains and aches, they climb back up to the road once more. Their bags are still lying there waiting for them and thankfully there are no more walkers in sight.

Grabbing their bags, the couple marches on forward, intent on making it home before nightfall.

It`s about thirty minutes later that Ezekiel notices Carol slowing down. He matches his pace to hers, at first thinking that she was just tired. Knowing his proud and stubborn wife by heart, he doesn`t say anything. At least not right away. But her pace keeps decreasing and it`s impossible for him not to notice her limping or the obvious pain on her face. Dropping his bags, Ezekiel stands before his wife, forcing her to stop.

"What?!" Carol puts her hands on her hips, glaring at Ezekiel. He just regards her with a soft expression on his face. "You`re hurt."

"I`m fine! Let`s just go home."

She moves past Ezekiel with two determined steps but has to bite her lips again as the pain shoots into her left leg. He was right – she was hurt. Somehow, she injured her leg when she slid down the hang again, desperate to check on Ezekiel.

"Carol."

Ezekiel remains on his spot, forcing Carol to turn around and face him again. "You can`t keep going like that."

Defeated, she drops her bags, glad to be rid of the weight for some moments. "We have to keep going. There`s no other choice. I – I don`t know how, but we need to be home before it gets dark."

Of course, she was right. They needed to be home before night fell. Otherwise, they would be totally unprotected. Stepping up to her, Ezekiel gently touches Carol`s cheek. He wants to reassure her, wants to prove to her his unyielding faith in their abilities. Them. Together. They could do anything. If they focus on what was important and what they could afford to spare, then they would make it.

Not hesitating for a second, Ezekiel grabs their bags, depositing them by the side of the road. He only keeps the one with their remaining supplies, slinging it over his shoulder. Carol watches him with knitted brows, her arms crossed in front of her chest. What was he up to? She carefully tries to put more weight on her injured leg, but immediately changes back into her former position. Fuck.

Ezekiel comes walking back to her, mirroring her pose. Carol has the distinct feeling she`s not gonna like what he is about to say.

"You can`t keep walking and we can`t just stay here, so – I will carry you."

Excuse me, what?! Carol stares at Ezekiel in disbelief. "You`re kidding me. No way!"

Ezekiel manages not to roll his eyes at her. He`s been expecting her protest, but now really wasn`t the time for such an argument.

"There`s no other choice."

No, there was no other choice. Pouting, Carol accepts her fate, but not without a teasing remark.

"Fine. But don`t come to me for a massage if you hurt your back."

Ezekiel chuckles low in his throat, turning his back towards her. "Thank you very much for your trust in my abilities, my Queen."

He bends his knees a little bit, so Carol can wrap her arms around his neck, pulling herself up. His hands slide under her thighs to support her before straightening his back again. Carol wasn`t heavy, but her soaking wet clothes added to her weight and they were still a long way from home. Setting his sight on the road before him, Ezekiel takes one step after the other, slowly bringing them forward. Carol presses herself against his back, her eyes constantly scanning their surroundings, watching out for any walkers.

"I do trust you. More than anyone else in the world."

"I know."

For a while, neither of them speaks another word.

Ezekiel`s breath becomes more and more labored the longer he walks. He`s sweating despite the cold, the sweat mixing with the rain, running into his eyes. He has completely lost his sense for time or distance, still unable to tell how much further they had to go. Somehow today everything looked the same. He`s beginning to think that they may have to find shelter again for the night. Lost in his thoughts and focused on his breathing, he doesn`t notice right away that Carol wants him to stop.

"Ezekiel!" She`s pulling on his dreads to get his attention. "Look!"

She points up ahead, to the right side of the road. Squinting his eyes, Ezekiel realizes that there`s a junction – and then he actually recognizes where they are. That road would take them directly to the Kingdom. In fact, they were already close to the little cottage where Carol used to stay for a while after they first met. These days Carol and Ezekiel sometimes used this cottage as a getaway when they needed some time alone. They always kept some fresh clothes there as well as food and water.

With new vigor Ezekiel keeps walking. They could stay at the cottage over night and then head to the Kingdom early in the morning. Things suddenly looked a whole lot brighter.

"Hey, I think I can walk by myself for a while if we go slowly. It`s not far to the cottage."

"Yeah, or you stay where you are and go easy on your …" The rest of his sentence dies in his throat when he rounds the corner. A man is approaching them – a man on a horse. Ezekiel stops dead in his tracks, wondering whether he was hallucinating. That was bullshit, of course. Right there in front of them was –

"Jerry!"

"Your Majesties! So glad to see you guys!"

Jerry looks down on them, his usual happy smile in place. He gets off his horse, coming closer, only now realizing the state his King and Queen are in.

"Dude, you look terrible."

Both Carol and Ezekiel have been staring at Jerry in astonishment, unmoving, but now Carol slides down Ezekiel`s back, embarrassed. Wiping her wet hair from her face, she exchanges a glance with her husband, seeing a similar look on his face.

"Yeah, uhm, we – we kind of had a bad day. What are you doing out here?" Ezekiel tries to change the subject.

Jerry was too far from the Kingdom for a normal patrol which means he must have been looking for them. But why? When they left the Kingdom, the plan was to be back within a week – and they weren`t overdue yet.

"One of the spies found your horses. We got worried." Jerry explains.

"Are they okay?" Carol`s hand slips into Ezekiel`s. She`s scared of the answer, needing his strength. So far, she hasn`t allowed herself to think that maybe they wouldn`t see their horses alive again.

"Yeah, they`re back at the Kingdom and being pampered by Henry."

Oh, thank goodness. Relief is washing over Carol. Ezekiel squeezes her hand, also glad about the good news. Forgetting about her injury, Carol steps into Ezekiel`s embrace, the pain immediately flaring up again. She hisses through clenched teeth, but ignores it, instead planting a firm kiss on Ezekiel`s mouth. She doesn`t even care that Jerry is watching them, just happy that they would soon be home now.

Ezekiel grins at her, his arms sneaking around her waist, supporting her. His eyes are trained on hers, but it`s his loyal friend he`s talking to.

"Jerry! I`m afraid we have to occupy your steed. The Queen is injured."

Carol narrows her eyes, her mouth forming the words "Bite me". Ezekiel isn`t being intimidated, though. Grin still firmly in place, he turns her in his arms, softly nudging her towards the horse. Carol isn`t protesting when he helps her up, suddenly very tired. Ezekiel takes a step back, but she reaches for his arm. He looks up at her, the exhaustion evident on his face.

"Get up here." Her voice is soft and tender.

Ezekiel hesitates, looking at Jerry over his shoulder. The big man nods encouragingly and so Ezekiel gives in, taking a seat behind his wife. Carol immediately leans back against him, content in the safety of his arms. His smell envelopes her – a mixture of sweat and rain and just pure Ezekiel – bringing a smile to her lips. She pulls his arms tighter around her, her eyes slipping shut for a moment. His scent just always made her feel at home.

"Just ride ahead. I will follow you." Jerry`s voice reaches Carol`s ear, her eyes snapping back open. Geez, she wouldn`t fall asleep out here. She can`t see it with her back to him, but she feels Ezekiel vigorously shaking his head.

"No. We`re not leaving you alone out here. We head back together."

A thought crosses Carol`s mind and she sits up straight. "What about the bags?"

The bags. Ezekiel snaps his fingers. He had completely forgotten about them. "We had to leave the bags a couple miles back", he explains to Jerry. While Ezekiel is still trying to make up his mind about whether they should head back, Jerry marches past them down the road to the Kingdom.

"Some of our guards are close. I`ll send someone to get them."

Oh. Well, good. Glad to have dodged the decision, Ezekiel spurs on the horse, trotting next to his friend. With all problems out of the way now, he really was looking forward to a hot shower.

Their first stop at the Kingdom is the infirmary, though. Ezekiel insists that Carol has her leg checked by the doctor. As it turns out she has a sprained ankle. Nothing to worry about, but it will be swollen and hurting for some days. The doctor gives them a salve to apply to her ankle and the advice not to walk around for two or three days. Ignoring that comment, Carol takes the tin and then walks out of the infirmary – limping, but on her own two legs.

Suppressing a grin, Ezekiel politely thanks the doctor for his time, then goes after his wife. Without breaking his stride, he picks her up, carrying her the rest of the way home. Carol is too tired to argue, just slipping her arms around his neck.

"You know, sometimes you are way too stubborn for your own good, woman."

"Yeah, but you love me anyway."

Laughing, Ezekiel places a kiss on her forehead. "Yes, I do!"

Five minutes later they`re finally standing in the shower, hot water pouring down on them. With their eyes closed, they lean against each other, simply enjoying the warmth. Carol sighs in contentment when Ezekiel slowly starts running his hands over her body, lathering her up. He takes his time, caressing every inch of her body before moving on to her head. He washes her hair, massaging her scalp.

"Oh, that feels sooo good", Carol mumbles.

Smiling, Ezekiel tilts her chin up for a sweet kiss. Turning in his arms, Carol deepens the kiss, her hands pressing against his back. She runs her nose over his bearded jaw, the soft tickling sending goosebumps all over her body. Mhmmm. Taking the soap from Ezekiel`s hand, Carol returns his favor, her fingers gliding over his smooth skin. Ezekiel watches her, the dreamy appreciative expression on her face as she touches him. It`s impossible to control his body`s reaction, his manhood straining towards his lover, asking for her touch.

Carol doesn`t deny him, her fingers wrapping around him, stroking, squeezing. Ezekiel`s hands land on her ass, pulling her against him, once more searching the sweetness of her kiss. They forget everything around them, only concentrating on the pleasure their touches are evoking. They barely notice the change in temperature as the water gets colder – and then they jump apart when they are hit by an ice-cold jet.

Shit.

They quickly get out of the shower, grabbing some towels. Carol leans back against the washstand, her injured ankle throbbing painfully. Noticing her anguish, Ezekiel helps to dry her up, then picks her up again and carries her over to their bed.

"If you keep doing this, I might get used to it."

Smiling, he gently places her on the mattress. "I`ll gladly be your devoted servant for the rest of my life, my beautiful Queen."

"Oh yeah?" Carol grabs Ezekiel`s face between her hands, pulling him down for a kiss. "There actually is something you could do for me", she whispers.

"Hmhm." His lips travel down her neck, sending shivers down her spine. She turns her head, her lips touching his ear as she speaks. "I`m starving."

Ezekiel chuckles softly, his mouth still pressed to Carol`s skin, the vibrations resonating all through her body. Raising his head, he steals another kiss, then pushes himself off the bed.

"I will fix us something, but first things first."

He turns to the dresser and opens the top drawer where they keep their underwear. Fishing for one of Carol`s bras he holds it up but puts it back immediately when she shakes her head. No bra time. He likes that. Panty? He looks at her over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow, grinning when she again shakes her head. Even better. Closing the drawer, Ezekiel opens the middle one, instead pulling out some cozy pj`s for both of them. Throwing hers at Carol ("Hey!"), he slips into his own one, then heads into the bathroom, returning a second later with the salve from the doctor.

Remembering something, Ezekiel once more opens the drawer, searching for an old scarf and a pair of thick socks. He sits down on the edge of the bed, gently placing Carol`s foot onto his lap. After rubbing her swollen ankle with the salve, he wraps the scarf around it and at last pulls the sock over it. Even after years by his side, Ezekiel`s unending tenderness, his caring nature, still was able to deeply touch Carol`s heart. He could make her feel so loved, so cherished with such a small gesture.

"Thank you." He looks at her, easily reading her emotions on her face. It`s a gift to him that she`s letting him see it. He props her foot up on a pillow, then bows forward for a kiss to her forehead. "So, what would you like to – " Before Ezekiel gets to finish his sentence, there`s a knock on the door and a second later, their son is sticking his head inside.

"Mom! Dad!"

Happy to see his parents, Henry rushes inside, first hugging his father, then jumping onto the bed to kiss his mother on her cheek.

"Careful, my boy."

Frowning, Henry looks at Carol`s foot lying on the pillow. "What happened?" he wants to know.

"Just a sprained ankle. No big deal", Carol reassures her son, ruffling his hair. "Hey, I hear you took care of Sammy and Bella. Thank you for that."

Henry beams at his mother. Just like his parents, he loves the horses and he spends as much of his time at the stables as possible. Remembering why he came to their room, Henry says "Nabila brought over some soup for you. She said you would need it after all day out in this weather." Carol`s whole face lights up at the mentioning of hot soup. She moves to get out of bed, reaching for Ezekiel`s hand for help. He shakes his head, though, gently pushing her back into the pillows.

"You stay here. I get the soup."

Not giving her the chance to protest, Ezekiel slips quickly out of the door, leaving mother and son alone for some minutes. When he returns, he is carrying a tray with three large steaming bowls of deliciously smelling chicken soup as well as some slices of freshly baked bread and a pot of hot tea.

The family is having dinner together, all three of them sitting on the large bed ("This is an exception!"). Henry listens eagerly as his parents tell him about their trip, what they found at the farmhouse and how they ran into the walkers.

"Can I come with you when you go back to check everything out?" he asks excitedly.

Glancing at his wife, Ezekiel slowly nods. "AFTER we cleared the road and only when the weather gets better."

"Yeah, sure! Thanks!"

Carol yawns heartily, looking sheepishly at her husband and son. "Sorry. It`s been a long day."

Ezekiel nods, putting their used dishes back on the tray. "Let me just clean this up." He stands up, reaching for the tray, but Henry is quicker. "I`ll do that. You`re tired." He`s retreating to the door, sporting the same disarming smile as Ezekiel does most of the time. Carol knows what`s coming and she knows that neither her nor Ezekiel will be able to say no. Oh, the burdens of having an adorable child.

"And can I accompany Jerry tomorrow when he goes on his patrol around the Kingdom?"

Another glance between husband and wife, both trying to suppress a grin. This time, Carol is the one to answer. "Okay – but you know the rules!"

Henry vigorously nods his head. "Stay close at all times and listen to whatever Jerry says."

"Exactly." Ezekiel bends to place a kiss on Henry`s forehead, then opens the door for him. "Good night, my boy."

"Night, dad. Night, mom."

"Good night, Henry."

Ezekiel closes the door behind his son, then climbs back into bed, snuggling up to his wife.

"We have a great kid."

Carol pulls his arm tighter around her, smiling. "Yeah, we do."

They are silent for a while, Ezekiel drawing lazy circles with his thumb on Carol`s stomach.

"You know", she turns a bit so she can look into his face "this day wasn`t so bad after all."

Propping himself up on his elbow, Ezekiel regards her lovingly. His hand is still lying on her belly, his warmth seeping into her skin. Carol`s own hand comes to rest on top of his, caressing his fingers.

"You got injured."

Carol looks down at her foot, slowly moving it from one side to the other. It still hurt, but it would pass. "I`ve had worse injuries. And so did you. And it won`t be the last time. But this", she moves her foot again "this is nothing. I`ll have you and Henry spoil me for a couple days and before you know it, I`ll be kicking walker asses again."

Ezekiel can`t help but laugh at that, bowing down to plant a kiss on her mouth.

"Oh, you like that, don`t you?"

"Mhm." Carol reaches for his head, holding him close. "There`s something I like more."

"I thought you wanted to sleep." His lips are brushing hers, teasing.

"I do. After you made me come once or twice. I`ll be sleeping like a baby."

God, this woman would be his death someday. Groaning, Ezekiel gives in to her seduction, his desire for her too strong to ignore. He claims her mouth in a passionate kiss, his hand moving upwards to unbutton her pajama top. He pushes it open, revealing her breasts to him. So beautiful. Made for him.

Carol moves her hands over her head, letting Ezekiel look his fill. She`s utterly relaxed and comfortable, basking in the way he makes her feel. Wanted. Desired. Loved. She anticipates his touch, her stomach muscles quivering with excitement. There are no reservations between them, no boundaries. Just trust. Unlimited and pure. His fingers ghost over her chest, first cupping one breast, then the other. He circles one nipple with his thumb, teasing it into a tight little bud, sending jolts of pleasure all through her body.

Ezekiel loves watching her. She`s so sensitive to his touch, her body reacting to the tiniest stimulations. To him, it is deeply satisfying and arousing to witness her pleasure. Having her sprawled out like this next to him, giving herself to him so willingly, is enough to have him hardening inside his pants. His clothes are becoming uncomfortable, so he sits up, swiftly pulling his top over his head. He settles back down next to Carol, his fingers unerringly finding her other breast.

He keeps playing with her nipples, circling them, rubbing them between his thumb and index finger. Carol`s chest rises and falls rapidly, her heart beating wildly. She has closed her eyes, concentrating on Ezekiel`s fingers. Whenever he runs his thumb over her tightly puckered nipple, she can feel it in her clit. It`s throbbing, demanding attention, wetness pooling between her legs. She bites her lips, pressing her thighs together, drawing Ezekiel`s attention to her lower body.

He lets his fingertips trail down her body, pushing her pajama bottoms down her legs. Mindful of her injury, he gently nudges her legs apart. Her scent is calling for him, attracting his maleness, his primal nature. His dick is growing even more, painfully throbbing in his pants, begging to be sheathed inside her softness. Gritting his teeth, Ezekiel denies himself – for now. He isn`t done playing yet.

Placing his right hand on Carol`s inner thigh, Ezekiel stretches his body out next to her, his left hand intertwining with both of hers above her head. She keeps her eyes closed, but turns her head in his direction, feeling his breath on her face. Her lips part, her tongue sneaking out to wet them. Ezekiel takes advantage, his mouth pressing down on Carol`s, his tongue delving into her mouth. She gasps but kisses him back feverishly.

She whimpers in protest when his mouth leaves hers way too soon, the whimper turning into a deep moan when she feels his lips close around one nipple a second later. Her chest arches off the mattress, her thighs clamping together. Without stopping his ministrations, Ezekiel nudges them apart again, his hand cupping her mound. She starts wriggling against him, desperate for release.

Ezekiel keeps feasting on her breasts for some moments longer, but ultimately, he can`t deny her any longer. He raises his head, staring into her now open eyes, glassy with her desire. Those eyes hold him captive, allowing him to look deep into her very soul. He has never seen anything more beautiful.

Bowing down for another kiss, he whispers "I love you", then starts working her. His fingers glide through her wetness, stroking her clit over and over. He feels the second her orgasm washes over her, her body going rigid, head thrown back in ecstasy. Two of his fingers slide into her, the heel of his hand grinding down on her pleasure center. A strangled cry escapes her throat, and he quickly seals her mouth with his.

Carol slumps back into the mattress, her whole body tingling from the post-coital bliss. Smiling, she curls into Ezekiel`s embrace, mumbling "Thank you" against his chest. Despite his own raging desire, he holds her tenderly, willing to give up on his own release to let her sleep peacefully in his arms. Carol isn`t thinking of sleep yet, though. She is very aware of his hardness pressing against her belly. So tempting, irresistible.

Even though he has given her an incredible orgasm, her body and mind won`t be utterly satisfied until their bodies have joined. She craves him, needs him to fill her.

Carol`s lips press against Ezekiel`s neck, her tongue darting out to lick at his skin. Her fingers wrap around some strands of his dreads to pull his face down for a kiss, telling him unmistakably that she wanted more. More of him. All of him. Her left hand sneaks down to push his pants out of the way, freeing his erection. Her fingers curl around it, squeezing intimately.

Ezekiel`s eyes squeeze shut, the pleasure unbearable. His right hand shoots out to still Carol`s movement. He struggles to open his eyes again, looking directly into Carol`s. He loses himself in their blue depths, in the love reflecting from the bottom of her heart. Unable to resist her call, he slides his body on top of hers, cradled in her arms. He slips effortlessly into her welcoming body, her wetness easing his way. Their mouths find each other again and again as he rocks against her in a steady rhythm, unstoppably taking them towards completion.

It`s perfect, nice and sweet, his hardness sliding over her clit with every stroke, bumping that sweet spot inside her body that has her moaning in ecstasy. They try to draw their lovemaking out as long as possible, unwilling to let go of each other. Eventually Ezekiel`s movements become more and more erratic, the need to find release exceeding everything else. Carol`s hands restlessly roam over his back, kneading the firm flesh. She can feel him swelling inside of her, knows that he is about to come.

"Let go", she breathes into his face and a second later he is filling her, bathing her insides with his essence. She is following him on the spot, her body spasming beneath his. Ezekiel crashes on top of her, breathing heavily against her neck. Mindful not to crush her with his weight, he tries to move, but Carol holds on to him, sleepily shaking her head.

"Stay" she whispers, already half asleep. Ezekiel waits, watching her tenderly as she drifts away. When he is certain that Carol is deep asleep, he moves to shut out the lights, then settles back down next to her. Resting his head on her chest, he follows her into the land of dreams.

It hasn`t been a bad day at all.

THE END

Author`s note: This was written over several weeks. Sorry for any inconsistencies or if I repeated myself. I just kept writing.