One Year

by Carzekiel

Just some stories to fill in the blanks of what happened during that one year time jump in the finale. Chapter 4 now up: Carol and Zeke finally make up their minds.

4. Heat wave (August)

One Year

Disclaimer: They`re not mine. Not making any profit with them. Just having fun.

Author`s note: Beware, there`s sex in here – finally.

August (Heat wave)

„Uncle Daryl!"

Daryl is just pushing his bike into the big garage when he hears his name called out in obvious joy, accompanied by the loud excited barking of his dog. He hurries to push down the kickstand and turns around just in time to catch R.J., who throws himself into his open arms. Somehow, they manage not to crash back into the bike and land in a heap on the ground.

"Hey", Daryl lets out one of his gruffy chuckles. "Nice welcome."

He disentangles himself from R.J.`s embrace, only now noticing Judith, who has been a few steps behind her brother.

"Do I get a hug from you, too?"

She smiles at him, then hugs him as well while dog keeps jumping around them, happy to have his human back.

"How`d you know I was back?", Daryl asks the children, picking up his bag and crossbow.

"Carol said that you would probably be back today", Judith answers his question. "We were just on our way to the police station to ask Mr. Mercer if he heard anything, but then we heard your bike."

"Where is Carol?" Daryl wants to know as the three of them head back into town.

"She is out with Ezekiel", R.J. says.

"Out? You mean outside the Commonwealth?"

"Yes, they said they must meet some people. But they`ll be back in the afternoon."

"Huh." Daryl makes an unintelligible sound, for a moment wondering whether Carol finally made up her mind about her relationship with Ezekiel. Even to him it was obvious that they were still in love with each other. But that woman could be so damn stubborn.

"How long are you going to stay?", Judith now asks, looking up at her uncle.

"Not sure. Couple weeks maybe", Daryl replies, noticing a hint of disappointment wash over Judith`s face. "What? Tired of me already?", he jokes.

"No! We`re glad you`re back. We just thought we could go with you the next time, visit Gracie and Ezra in Alexandria before school starts again. That`s all."

Remembering something, Daryl searches the inside pocket of his vest, producing two envelopes. "Letters from Gracie and Ezra", he says, handing them to the children. "You will probably see them soon. Aaron and Jerry are planning to come here in a couple days and I`m sure they won`t come alone."

"That`s great!" Judith hugs Daryl again, grinning happily. Although she likes living in the Commonwealth and has made good friends here, she misses Gracie. R.J. runs off, chasing after dog, exclaiming in a sing-sang voice "Ezra`s coming, Ezra`s coming!"

Later that day

Carol opens the door to her apartment, heading straight to the bathroom. She`s drenched, her hair and clothes sticking to her skin in an uncomfortable way. It`s another hot summer day and she has been out in the sun all day. Her and Ezekiel have returned from their trip about an hour ago. As usual when they had to do business outside, they chose horses instead of a car. It just was more them.

Upon their return, Ezekiel had volunteered to take care of their horses by himself, but Carol wouldn`t accept that. She has always liked the task of grooming and feeding their horses after they went for a ride together back in the Kingdom. The love for horses, for riding was something Carol and Ezekiel had in common. And even though she was bone-tired today, she wasn`t willing to give up on the opportunity to spend just a little more time in Ezekiel`s company.

It`s been about three weeks since the groundbreaking ceremony and things between them have been – well, different. Admittedly, the change had begun a while ago, but since Carol allowed herself to finally let go of her fears and want a future for herself again, she has been feeling lighter, freer, happier. More like the woman she used to be, the woman she wanted to be. She wasn`t trying to ignore her feelings for Ezekiel any longer and even more important she wasn`t trying to convince herself that it would be better if they stayed apart. It wasn`t, it has never been and deep down, Carol always knew that.

As cheesy as it may sound, her and Ezekiel belonged together.

But they still weren`t.

They are flirting, sometimes in the shy cautious way they used to do in the past months, sometimes openly bold and daring – but they haven`t crossed the bridge, not even kissed again. They are in a strange state of "almost". In some ways it was exciting, like they were thrown back in time, falling in love with each other all over again. And in another way, it was getting frustrating.

Sighing, Carol kicks off her shoes and pulls the scarf from her head that she put on to protect herself from the sun. Then, very slowly she peels of her clothes, letting them drop to the floor carelessly. She steps into her bathroom, looking at herself in the mirror. Her damp hair is lying flat against her head and her skin has a reddish touch where it has been exposed to the sun. Great. Carol runs both her hands through her hair, making it stick in all directions. Smirking, she turns and steps under the shower.

When the cool spray hits her, Carol sighs again, this time in contentment. She lets the water pour down on her, washing away the grime and sweat of the day. While her body relaxes, her mind returns to earlier, when she was at the stables with Ezekiel. He was just as sweaty as she was, his white shirt plastered to his chocolate skin. If Carol was being completely honest with herself, she had sneaked more than just one look while they tended to their horses. It was just fair, she had felt Ezekiel`s eyes on her almost all the way back to the Commonwealth, driving her crazy.

Tilting her head back, Carol lets the water run down over her face, trying to stop the path her mind was taking, but it was no use. Ezekiel`s face appears in front of her inner eye, sweat glistening on his forehead and above his mustache, making her fingers itch. Very clearly, she remembers the sight of his broad back, the play of his muscles, the tempting roundness of his nice ass. In her ear, she hears his throaty chuckle as if he were right next to her. If only he was!

Subconsciously taking a step backwards, Carol leans her back against the shower wall. She gives in to the temptation, allowing the erotic fantasy to take over her thinking. One hand creeps between her legs, tentatively touching the sensitive flesh there. She lets her fingers glide back and forth a couple times, avoiding the small bundle of nerves that demands her attention. Her other hand cups one breast, squeezing lightly. Biting her lips, Carol lets out a soft moan and then very lightly touches her clit.

A shudder runs through her body. She repeats the action again and again, adding a little more pressure with every swipe. The grip on her breast gets tighter, her puckered nipple pressing against her palm. In her mind it is Ezekiel`s fingers that pleasure her, a very real memory floating up – her body pressed against the glass wall of the shower, Ezekiel`s body plastered to her back, his heat surrounding her. His hot breath hits her ear, and she can feel his deep voice all through her body when he whispers his request.

"Come for me, baby!"

Another swipe and she does, her mouth opening on a silent gasp. The hand that was on her breast shoots out to grab the shower head pole. Her legs shake a little from the exertion. Giving herself some moments, Carol rests her head against her arm, a small smile playing on her lips. That was nice. Not to be compared with the real deal, but – nice. After some deep breaths, Carol opens her eyes again, pushing away from the wall and stepping back under the still running water. She turns it a little bit warmer and grabs for the soap.

A couple minutes later, she sits down in her favorite armchair with a big glass of iced tea. She`s wearing nothing but an old, frayed shirt that is missing some buttons. Carol doesn`t mind, she left it hanging open anyway, allowing the soft breeze from the open balcony door to caress her skin. The shirt belonged to Ezekiel. Carol found it in his room at Hilltop together with some other things that survived the fire. She took them, intending to give them back to Ezekiel when he would return.

When more and more days passed by without Ezekiel coming back to Alexandria, however, Carol started wearing this shirt at night, wrapped up in his scent. It helped keeping the fear at bay, the thought that she might not see him again. One rainy day when she felt particularly lonely, Carol was about to sew on the missing buttons, but then she stopped, remembering the reason why the buttons were missing. The memory of a passion-filled night made her smile – as did the fact that her husband had obviously kept this particular shirt for the same reasons.

Some days after her arrival at the Commonwealth, Carol had given Ezekiel the box with his belongings back – except this shirt. If he found it strange that this shirt was missing when all other clothes in that box weren`t touched by the fire, he didn`t mention it. Out of habit, Carol buries her nose in the collar, aware that Ezekiel`s scent has long faded, replaced by her own. "You could give it back to him now", she thinks, giggling when she imagines the look on his face.

Her eyes drift over to her bag sitting on the kitchen counter. There was a smartphone in there – though 'smart' wasn`t the right description for these things anymore. They were useless when it came to phoning or texting, their only real purpose now being used as a camera. She could take a picture of herself …

Carol looks down, studying her own body that is only scarcely covered by the material of the shirt. Maybe she could …

Her train of thought gets interrupted by the sound of a key turning in the lock of the front door. Quickly, Carol sits up, putting the glass down and buttoning up at least some of the remaining buttons. A moment later, Judith steps into the apartment, smiling when she sees Carol.

"Oh hey, you`re back", the girl says.

Standing up, Carol wipes her hands on her shirt. She feels caught, a mild blush staining her cheeks. How could she forget that the children could come back any time? "Uhm, yeah – I, uh, I just got out of the shower and just wanted to, uh – cool down a little."

Judith nods, not thinking anything about Carol´s state of undress. She heads straight to the fridge, pouring herself a glass of iced tea as well. Relaxing, Carol sits down again, thankful that the shirt was long enough to cover her up. Judith sits down on the sofa opposite her, taking a sip from her tea.

"Where`s R.J.?" Carol only now realizes that the boy didn`t accompany his sister.

"Oh, he`s still with Daryl. R.J. wanted to show him what we did at the construction site so far."

Geez, Daryl – Carol forgot about him, too. She really needs to get a grip. Checking the clock on the wall, she gets up again, heading towards her bedroom.

"I`m getting dressed. Do you want to help me to fix something for dinner?" Carol asks Judith over her shoulder.

"Daryl said he would bring something when he comes back with R.J."

"Oh, well – okay." So, no need to cook. That was great. Carol hesitates a second, considering sitting back down for some more minutes, but then decides that it would be better to put some proper clothes on. It was one thing that Judith saw her like this, but Daryl – nope, just nope. Just when Carol comes out of her bedroom again, there`s a knock on the door indicating the arrival of Daryl and R.J.

Perfect timing.

She opens the door, ignoring the look on Daryl`s face when he realizes that she cut her hair.

"About time you showed up. We were beginning to starve over here", she teases with a mock reprimanding look.

"Yeah, it`s nice to see you, too", Daryl grumbles, placing the two large pizza cartons on the dining table.

Carol gets some plates from the cupboard and then they all sit down, each of them grabbing a piece of the deliciously smelling pizza.

"How was your trip?" Carol wants to know.

"Good", Daryl answers. "How was yours?"

Carol slowly chews the piece of pizza in her mouth. "Absolutely great", she says, keeping a neutral expression on her face while her insides flutter with the memory of how Ezekiel made her feel all day.

"Uncle Daryl said that Ezra and Gracie will be coming soon!" R.J. chimes in.

"Really?"

"Yeah – I said that Aaron and Jerry plan a visit and they will certainly bring the kids along."

"I`m sure they will", Carol states confidently, smiling at R.J. and Judith. Ezekiel will be happy to hear that Jerry is coming to visit, Carol knows that he misses his best friend as well.

Later, when the kids have retreated to the living room to practice their chess skills, Carol and Daryl keep sitting at the dining table.

"So, everything calm outside?" Carol picks up on her previous question.

Daryl nods, producing some papers from his back pocket. He unfolds a map showing the area between Alexandria and Hilltop and the Commonwealth. There were several circles drawn on it, some small, some larger. Next to the map he puts a handwritten note.

"I marked the herds I saw on my way", he explains.

Carol studies the map, a frown forming on her face. "That`s a lot."

"Yeah, but they`re all small. Even the largest one I`ve seen wasn`t more than 100 and it doesn`t look like they`re about to cross paths somewhere."

"Hm." Carol tilts her head, turning the map so she could now see it from the right perspective. "Did you round the whole Commonwealth?" She looks back up at Daryl with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, thought it wouldn`t hurt." He checks his note, then taps two of the larger circles. One was a little bit east of the southern border and the other one maybe halfway to Alexandria, near one of the railroad warehouses. "I didn`t get too close so I wouldn`t draw their attention, but I think we should take care of these."

Carol nods. "Any sign of the smart ones?"

"Hard to tell."

"Well, we should talk to Ezekiel about it tomorrow. Decide how we go about it."

Daryl leans back in his chair, regarding Carol with an unreadable expression on his face.

"What?"

"Ezekiel, huh? Not Mercer?"

Carol narrows her eyes at him. "Both, of course."

Daryl chuckles, stuffing the papers back into his pocket. He gets up from his chair to get himself another glass of that wonderful iced tea, but as soon as he stands dog , who`d been napping by his feet, jumps up as well, wagging his tail and letting out an excited bark.

"Guess he needs to go out." Daryl puts his glass into the sink instead. "Hey, I thought I could take the kids to the movies tomorrow. Want to come along?"

Carol gets up as well, bowing down to pet dog. "Yeah, sure, why not."

The next morning

They meet at the police station – Carol and Ezekiel, Daryl and Mercer – to go through Daryl`s notes about the herds in detail and compare them with the current intel from the outposts and scouts around the Commonwealth. As Daryl had already pointed out to Carol the night before, most of these herds didn`t pose as any threat and could be ignored for the time being. The two largest, however, needed further inspection as they seemed to have increased in numbers in a short time period and were headed towards the Commonwealth and Alexandria, respectively.

As far as the herd nearing the railroad warehouse was concerned, the plan was to inform the troopers assigned to guard the makeshift Alexandria station because it was coming their way and they would reach it sooner. The other herd, Mercer wanted to check out right away and Daryl offered to come along. They wanted to see if there was anything unusual about the herd`s behavior and if maybe they could just redirect its path. For today, they would just try to gather more information and then go back with a detailed plan in a day or two. It shouldn`t take more than a couple hours.

Standing in front of the police station, Carol and Ezekiel watch Daryl and Mercer get into one of the cars, followed by two troopers. Once they have pulled out of the parking area, Carol turns to walk back to the town hall. She looks up at the sky, shielding her eyes with one hand. It`s not even 10 am but the sun is already burning down on them mercilessly.

"I`m glad I don`t need to be out there today", she says to Ezekiel. "This heat wave is starting to get on my nerves."

Ezekiel chuckles. "You didn`t seem to be that bothered yesterday."

Carol throws him a glance, making an unintelligible sound. "Yeah, well – that was yesterday."

She hasn`t slept too well, tossing and turning from one side to the other. The heat barely faded overnight, keeping her awake. Her mind was flooded with sexy images, fragments of memories chasing each other. Even when she finally did fall asleep, these memories followed her, infusing her dreams. Carol had woken at the crack of dawn – sweaty, horny and more than just a little bit grumpy. A cold shower and a big cup of coffee have eased that grumpiness away, at least most of it.

It`s not going to work forever and Carol is aware of that. If it wasn`t so pathetic, she might actually laugh at the situation. The object of her desire was walking right next to her, and he wants her just as much as she wants him. Carol has no doubt about that. She should just grab Ezekiel`s hand and take him home right now.

But she won`t. Not because she doesn`t want to take that step. She wants it badly. But she wants it to be – right. Not because she was horny like hell. When they get back together – really together – it should be about love and not about sex. Not primarily, that is. Turning her head, Carol looks at Ezekiel again, blushing when she finds him grinning at her. For a split second she has the impression that he knows exactly what is going on in her head.

The thought isn`t that far-fetched. They have been together for a long time, after all. Narrowing her eyes at him, Carol bites down on the impulse to stick her tongue out at Ezekiel. Still grinning, he shakes his head in amusement, tearing his eyes away from her. This woman was just simply irresistible.

"We really could use some rain", he says, deliberately keeping the conversation as innocently as possible.

"Yeah." Carol sneaks another glance, inwardly rolling her eyes. Pathetic, indeed.

They walk in silence for some minutes, each lost in their thoughts. Ezekiel isn`t feeling much better than Carol. She has been driving him crazy all day yesterday. He couldn`t stop looking at her, especially during their ride back to the Commonwealth. She had taken her plaid shirt off, tying it around her waist, leaving her in a spaghetti strap t-shirt. And she had wrapped a blue silky scarf around her head. Ezekiel recognized that scarf immediately. He had given it to Carol on her last birthday they celebrated together in the Kingdom. She looked so young and carefree on her horse next to him, as if the past ten years never happened.

And then, when they were back at the stables, Ezekiel was certain that Carol checked him out as well. There was a moment when they stood close to each other that Ezekiel almost lost his common sense. Her scent had drifted into his nose, sweat mixed with the sweet aroma of her soap, and it took all his willpower not to push her back into one of the empty boxes and have his way with her. The thought was so tempting, but Ezekiel clamped down on his desire.

He had sworn to himself that he would wait – wait for Carol to take the first step.

But it was hard. Ezekiel had hoped that things would have cooled off a little during the night, but this morning Carol was in this irresistible grumpy mood that Ezekiel knew all too well. Realizing that they have almost reached the plaza, he stops, pointing down one of the roads.

"I have a meeting with Tomi at the hospital. Something about the new priority system."

"Oh, okay. I, uh, Max is waiting for me, but I`m sure we can postpone that if you want me to come along", Carol offers.

"I don`t think that`s necessary. I`ll let you know later what Tomi said." Something inside Ezekiel tells him that it is better if they part ways now.

"Okay. See you later then."

Ezekiel watches Carol continue her way to the plaza and the town hall until she has rounded a corner, then slowly walks down the road leading to the hospital.

The meeting with Tomi, though quite important, does nothing to distract Ezekiel from his thoughts. His mind keeps returning to Carol, making it impossible to concentrate. He is staring down at the papers that Tomi has given him, but he can`t make any sense of them. Leaning back in his chair, Ezekiel rubs his hands over his face in resignation, groaning.

"Argh, sorry, Tomi, we`re gonna have to talk about this another time." Ezekiel gathers the papers, intending to take them to his office and deal with them later. Or tomorrow.

"Are you not feeling well?" Tomi wants to know.

"No, no. Just had a rough night."

"Oh, lucky you."

When Ezekiel looks up, he finds Tomi grinning at him in a distinct insinuating way. Chuckling, he gets up from his seat, shaking his head. "Yeah, not like that. Just couldn`t sleep." He can`t quite conceal the undertone of regret carrying in his voice.

"Well, maybe you would sleep better if you stopped wasting more of your precious time and got your woman back", Tomi teases Ezekiel. Huh?! Where did that come from?

"Is that your medical advice?"

"Sex does have undeniable health benefits. And it sure will work wonders on your mood."

"I`m not in a bad mood", Ezekiel states.

"If you say so." Tomi gets up as well, rounding his desk and leaning back against it, arms crossed in front of his chest. He regards Ezekiel with a strange melancholic look on his face. "You know, since I`ve known you – I don`t think I have ever met two people before who are so obviously in love with each other like you and Carol."

Ezekiel doesn`t quite know what to say to that. Him and Tomi have become good friends and of course, he knows about his past relationship with Carol, but Ezekiel wouldn`t have thought that his current feelings for her – or hers for him – were that obvious to other people. For a heartbeat, he considers talking to Tomi about it, to ask for his advice, but then decides against it. Him and Carol – everything that they were, what they have been through, their emotions – it was way too complicated and too intimate to try and put it into words.

Forcing a smile onto his face, Ezekiel raises the hand that`s holding the papers. "I promise I will look at this later."

Before Tomi can say anything else, Ezekiel has left his office.

Very slowly, he walks back to the town hall, thinking about what Tomi has said. It was true, they were wasting time. And now his love life – or lack thereof – has started to affect his work. Ezekiel still believes that Carol has to be the one to make the first step – but maybe he could give her a little sign that it was time. Crossing the plaza, Ezekiel`s eyes land on something that just may do, something that might spark a memory.

A couple minutes later, Ezekiel enters the large room on the first floor that serves both as Max`s office and also as a waiting area for visitors. The big desk straight ahead in front of the windows is currently empty as are the half a dozen comfortable armchairs that are placed next to the main entrance on the left and right. Also on the left and right there are two more doors leading to his and Carol`s offices. Passing the open door, Ezekiel finds Carol still engaged in her meeting with Max. She looks up when she notices him, smiling. Ezekiel has the impression that she looks just as tired as he had felt in Tomi`s office.

He throws her a sympathetic glance, covertly hiding the item he just bought outside. Turning to his own office, he sits down behind his desk, once more trying to concentrate on the hospital papers. Every once in a while, he glances at the door, but he can`t see Carol`s office from his perspective, so he settles for listening for a sign that Max has left. It feels like an eternity until Ezekiel finally hears her rummaging around on her own desk, although in reality it probably wasn`t much more than half an hour. A second later, Max appears in his open door.

"I`m going for lunch. Do you want me to bring you something?" she asks Ezekiel.

"No, thank you", he declines her offer with a polite smile. He waits until he hears her footsteps disappearing down the hallway before he gets up and walks over to Carol`s office. Leaning against the doorframe, he holds his surprise out of Carol`s sight.

"Hey."

"Hey. How was the meeting with Max?"

"Tiring", she answers, barely able to contain a yawn.

"Yeah, same here", Ezekiel chuckles.

He watches as Carol gets up from her chair and walks over to open a window, hoping for at least a tiny breeze. He studies her back, the familiar curves of her body, a deep longing creeping up inside of him. Pushing away from the door, he takes the few steps over to where she is standing, stopping mere inches from touching her. He can`t see her face, but he knows that her eyes are closed – and that she is very aware of his proximity. It doesn`t seem to bother her though.

"Bet you`d be rather chasing some walkers now", he says close to her ear.

Now Carol is the one chuckling. She turns her head so she can look at Ezekiel over her shoulder. Their eyes meet, so close to each other. "No. I`m fine right where I am." The corners of her mouth twitch up into one of those cute little smiles that Ezekiel loves so much – a smile that is tempting him to kiss her. Before he can give in and let go of his good intentions, Carol turns her face back to the window.

Encouraged, Ezekiel takes a small step to the side, so he can see her profile. Her eyes are closed again, her head tilting to the left the slightest bit, acknowledging his movement. Softly, he speaks her name.

"Carol."

She opens her eyes, smiling at him – and then her eyes go big in surprise when she sees what Ezekiel is holding in his hand.

It`s a rose. A long-stem red rose.

Her heart takes a leap in her chest, her lips parting slightly. The softest sound leaves her mouth. "Oh."

Reverently, Carol reaches out to take it, her fingers brushing against Ezekiel`s in the process. "Why?" Her voice is still a breathless whisper, barely audible. She brings the rose close to her nose, inhaling its sweet fragrance.

"I saw it and it made me think of you."

Carol knows why, of course, she does. When their eyes meet again, she can tell from the look in Ezekiel`s eyes that they are sharing the same memory. A fuzzy feeling is spreading in her belly, her heart rate speeding up.

"Thank you."

Ezekiel nods, momentarily lacking the power to speak. It`s impossible to tear his eyes away from hers, so deep and blue, shimmering with her emotions. He hadn`t thought about what he would say next, but the words just come out of his mouth, straight from his heart.

"Would you have dinner with me? Tonight? I hear that little Italian place down the block is really good."

That adorable smile appears on Carol`s face again, easing the tension from his body that he hadn`t even realized was there. Relaxing, Ezekiel leans against the wall next to the window, an answering smile lighting up his handsome features.

"I would love to."

Once more smelling the rose, Carol`s eyes drift out the window, landing on …

"Shit!"

Her smile falters, regret washing over her face as she remembers something.

"I can`t. Not tonight. Daryl invited the kids and me to the movies. He just came back from Alexandria and …"

"Yeah, sure, of course. I understand. You haven`t seen him in a while. We can do this another time", Ezekiel replies quickly, hoping to hide his disappointment. He pushes away from the wall, taking a step backwards. He`s still smiling, but the sparkle of joyous anticipation is gone from his eyes. All of a sudden, he feels bone tired.

"Whenever you want", he adds.

"Okay. I`ll take you up on the offer." Carol tries to save the situation, but she knows that she probably just screwed up the perfect opportunity. Ezekiel nods, but somehow, he is overcome by the feeling that they will be stuck like this forever.

"Well, I, uh, I brought a load of paperwork from the hospital, and I promised Tomi that I would go through it, so I better get started" Ezekiel says, retreating to the door. "Have fun tonight."

Carol watches him turn around, softly calling his name when he is almost out the door. "Zeke."

He stops, one hand on the doorframe, looking back at her.

"Soon. Okay?" She means it, Ezekiel can see that, her face completely open. Her deep blue eyes prompt him to agree with her, one eyebrow rising questioningly when he doesn`t answer. Impatient. Challenging. Stubborn.

Pure Carol.

Smirking, he finally nods. "Yeah. Soon."

Maybe they aren`t completely hopeless.

When Carol steps out onto the town hall staircase in the afternoon, the heat immediately surrounds her like a wet blanket. The air is thick, and the bright light makes her squint her eyes. "You should get yourself some sunglasses", she thinks, not noticing Daryl coming her way and almost bumping into him.

"Sorry", she mumbles, shielding her eyes to look at him.

"You okay?", he asks.

"Yeah. Damn sun was just blinding me."

"Huh", Daryl huffs "at least you didn`t have to walk around in the sun all day."

Carol throws him a sympathetic look. "Got problems out there?"

"Nah, not really. Couldn`t get too close with the car without drawing attention, so we followed the herd by foot for a while."

"Anything unusual?", Carol wants to know.

"Not sure. They seem to change direction randomly at times. I took some out with the crossbow. Mercer wants to head out again tomorrow with some more backup and try to eliminate it."

"Hm. Probably better before it gets too close."

"Yeah. You got a secret admirer?", Daryl asks, pointing at the rose in Carol`s hand.

She chuckles lightly. "Not so secret. Ezekiel asked me out for dinner tonight."

"About time. Where are you going?"

They`ve been walking slowly across the plaza, but now Carol stops, looking at her friend with a mild frown. He was kidding her, right? "Nowhere", she states a little bit irritated. "I told him you already invited us to the movies."

Daryl stares at her with the most incredulous look she has ever seen on his face.

"You`re an idiot."

Biting back a snappy remark, Carol glares at him. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah", Daryl replies unaffected. "Tell Jude and R.J. to be at the cinema at 6.30. And you", he points at her "go and fix that. I`ll have the kids over at my place tonight, don`t worry about them." With that he turns around and walks in the other direction, leaving Carol standing there.

She stares after him, baffled. He`s right, of course, she is an idiot. So now what? Taking a couple steps, Carol sits down on a nearby bench, twisting the rose in her hands. The same memory that has been floating around her mind since Ezekiel came to her office earlier, surfaces again.

Hilltop, after their victory over the Saviors. She had told Ezekiel that she would go back to the Kingdom with them. His smile – whew! The next day she`d been preparing something in the kitchen when he came in – with a rose in his hand. She had been totally perplexed. He had told her that it was a promise – a promise for a future. And then he had kissed her, just a whisper of a touch, barely noticeable. "I will kiss you properly when we are back home", he whispered into her ear, sending shivers down her back.

Back at the Kingdom they had been busy with cleaning and repairing, but every night when Carol went to her room, there had been a rose lying on her pillow. On the third or fourth night, the rose had been accompanied by a note saying, "Come to the royal garden". What she found there was simply breathtaking. Ezekiel had decorated the whole garden with lights and lanterns. On a small table there had been a record player. He had started it when he saw her, pulling her into his arms and dancing with her, holding her like she was the most precious thing he ever held in his life.

And then he had kissed her – a kiss like she had never known before, so powerful and intimate, her soul flaring to life right there in his arms. Carol had known without a doubt that he was the one man she had been waiting for her whole life, that she loved him like she never thought possible and that she would love him forever.

A small tear runs down her cheek. Carol wipes it away, quickly checking if anyone noticed her. "Goddammit", she mutters to herself, getting up from the bench. This was getting ridiculous. Daryl was right, she had to fix it. Walking across the plaza she suddenly knows exactly what to do.

At a little after 7 Carol is finally on her way to Ezekiel`s apartment. After the kids had left, she wrapped the gift she got for him and then spend a ridiculous amount of time in her bedroom, trying to decide what to wear. She had stood there in her new very nice underwear that she bought last month, with tousled hair, hands on her hips, staring at the pile of clothes on her bed with a frown on her face.

Since when was she so picky? This wasn`t a first date, she didn`t need to make any impression. Ezekiel had seen her in pretty much everything – and nothing at all. So, why the fuzz? She was hoping to end up naked at some point anyway … Rolling her eyes, Carol chuckled, grabbing the nearest shirt – and then dropped it again. Her eyes had landed on something much better.

Ezekiel`s shirt with the missing buttons.

She had put it on over one of her oldest jeans, a pair she knew Ezekiel liked a lot. The shirt was too long, reaching almost to her knees, so Carol simply tied the ends up around her waist. The two missing buttons on the top allowed for a nice view of her cleavage. Satisfied with the result, Carol had slipped into a pair of sandals, grabbed the gift, and left her apartment. It wasn`t far to Ezekiel`s place, just a couple minutes, but it was still hot outside and by the time she got there, Carol was sweating again.

Knock, knock.

Ezekiel looks up at the sound on his front door, but then lets his head drop back to the cushions. He`s not expecting someone and frankly isn`t in the mood for any company. After his awkward conversation with Carol, he had holed up in his office, forcing himself to work his way through the hospital papers. He was glad that he didn`t have to face Tomi again, who was busy with an emergency, dropping the papers on his desk with some notes and leaving the hospital as quickly as he could.

Back home, he had taken a quick shower and then flopped down on his sofa, feeling completely exhausted. He`d been lying there flat on his back, staring at the ceiling, the scene in Carol`s office replaying in his mind over and over again. Ezekiel knows that it wasn`t a complete failure. He had seen the memory in her eyes when she saw the rose and he recognized the longing. He knows that Carol hadn`t rejected him, it was just bad timing – and still, he was disappointed.

The visitor on his door knocks again, more insistently. Groaning, Ezekiel gets up, hoping to get rid of whoever it is quickly.

"Coming!", he says loudly, pulling a t-shirt over his head.

When he opens the door, he`s dumbstruck for a moment. Carol certainly was the last person he expected to see right now. His eyes glide over her, taking in her appearance. She was looking – well, hot was the only word that comes to his mind. But wait – a slight frown appears on his face. She wasn`t going to the movies with Daryl dressed like that? Right? No. No way would she do that. That could only mean …

His eyes return to Carol`s face, all doubt immediately leaving him. She was looking at him with a smug expression, liquid fire blazing in her eyes. Her posture is telling him that she is very aware of the effect she has on him.

"Are you done staring?" she purrs.

Grinning brightly, Ezekiel steps aside, letting her in. She brushes past him closely, her shoulder touching him in the process. "Thank you." He closes the door behind her, his eyes following her, admiring the sight of her ass in those tight jeans.

"Thought you wanted to go to the movies", he says in a teasing tone.

Carol takes a few steps into Ezekiel`s apartment, stopping in front of his dining table. She puts her wrapped gift down on it before turning around to face him again. She`d been nervous when she knocked on his door, but that nervousness is gone now. The way Ezekiel was looking at her had set her on fire, everything inside her yearning for the man she loved, desired with all her heart. There was no turning back now.

"Changed my mind", she says nonchalantly.

Ezekiel stands across from her, still sporting that annoyingly charming grin. He comes a bit closer, almost invading her personal space, his eyes flickering over her body appreciatively. "Yeah?" The exhaustion he felt earlier is all but forgotten, his fingers itching to reach out, to finally be able to touch her again.

"Yeah." Carol gives him a crooked smile. "I never should have mentioned that stupid movie. I – I didn`t mean to ruin everything." She hesitates, then adds in a softer tone "I really loved your rose."

Ezekiel takes another step forward, staring into her eyes with so much love, so much understanding. "You didn`t ruin anything. You are here now."

"I am."

Carol still feels a little bit silly that she even considered passing up Ezekiel`s invitation. Right here is the only place she wants to be. They keep looking at each other, the air between them sizzling with their long-suppressed desire. Carol wants nothing more than to just grab Ezekiel`s shirt and kiss the life out of him and never ever let him go again. But before she does that, she needs him to see that she got his hint with the rose, that she has been remembering and that it means just as much to her as it does to him. Shifting her body, she takes the item from the table again.

"I got you something."

Ezekiel`s eyes follow her movement, only now realizing that Carol brought something with her. He`s been too smitten by her appearance to even notice it before. He takes the object from her hand, eying it with curiosity. Judging by the shape, it can only be one thing. Ezekiel glances back at Carol, then starts tearing at the paper. As expected, it is a record. But not just any record. It`s the song he`d been playing to Carol out in the royal garden during their first real date. That night changed his life forever.

"You remember it." His voice is rough, carrying his emotions.

"Of course, I do."

Looking up, Ezekiel can see his feelings reflected in Carol`s eyes. This is much more than he hoped for when he went to her office this morning. All he wanted was to push them a little bit further, to maybe make things a little easier. And now – well now there was only one thing left to do. Throwing the wrapping paper onto the table, Ezekiel grins at Carol and then walks over to the other side of the large room. There`s a wooden rack with books and records and an old record player. Opening the lid, Ezekiel puts the record on and drops the needle.

When the music starts playing, he turns around, extending his hand to Carol. She`s taking it without hesitation, stepping into his embrace. His other arm wraps around her tightly, holding her close to his body. They look into each other`s eyes as the soulful voice of Elvis fills the hot and humid summer air.

Wise men say only fools rush in

But I can't help falling in love with you

They sway together, barely moving, the memory of that night of so long ago coming alive between them, mixing with so many other nights of love and happiness. Not ever did they doubt the decision they made, the commitment to one another, knowing it would be for the rest of their lives. Maybe now more than ever. All thinking is completely gone from their minds, their lips finding each other in the most tender kiss.

A tear slides down Carol`s cheek slowly, getting caught up in Ezekiel`s beard. His lips travel upwards, tracing the wet path, wandering over her nose, and capturing another tear on its way down. Carol`s hands come up to cup his face, directing his lips back to her mouth. Both of Ezekiel`s arms wrap around her waist, enveloping her in his love. Carol`s heart suddenly feels a lot lighter, like she is finally free of the last remnants of her self-inflicted burdens.

Only when the song ends, fading into another, do they part. Carol isn`t surprised to find that Ezekiel`s eyes are suspiciously wet also. They laugh softly as they move forward at the same time. Carol`s lips press against the corner of Ezekiel`s mouth, her nose burying in the softness of his beard while he kisses her temple. One of his hands tangles in the mass of wild curls on her head, gently guiding her until his mouth fuses with hers again. This kiss leaves them breathless, their foreheads resting against each other.

"Hey", Ezekiel pulls slightly back to be able to look into Carol`s eyes again, his breath washing over her face.

"Hi."

"I missed you."

She laughs again, pulling him in for another kiss, more tears spilling over. Carol doesn`t care at all, she`s feeling ridiculously happy right now.

"I know", she nods, kissing him once more. "I missed you, too."

It`s impossible for them to separate even an inch, their mouths finding each other again and again, bodies pressed tightly together as if wanting to disappear within each other forever. Soon it`s not enough anymore. Desperate to feel his skin, Carol lets her hands glide down Ezekiel`s body, sneaking under the hem of his t-shirt. Her fingers dig into his sides, scratching lightly, causing a deep moan to rise in his throat. Taking advantage, Carol slides her tongue into his mouth, electricity shooting all through her body at the first light touch.

Ezekiel`s hands don`t remain idle, sliding down her back to grab her ass, kneading the tight flesh with delight. They stumble forward, hitting the side of the sofa. The need for some oxygen drives them apart, but it`s only a few seconds before Carol`s mouth is on his neck, working her way up to his ear.

"Carol!", Ezekiel groans, his control slipping by the second.

"Hmmm", she hums against his skin, searching his lips again. He takes them in a searing kiss, again leaving them breathless.

"My offer still stands", he murmurs against her lips.

Pulling her head back, Carol regards him with a quizzical look on her face. "What offer?"

"To take you out to dinner. Food, you know."

"You`re kidding me, right?" He wasn`t honestly thinking about leaving for dinner now, was he?!

Ezekiel chuckles, kissing away the indignant pout on Carol`s face. "Just thought I should at least try to be a gentleman."

She lets out a rather unladylike snort. "Is that why you`re currently feeling up my ass?"

Ezekiel innocently bats his eyelashes at her, giving her a heartfelt squeeze with both hands. "Hey, you started the groping. I was just following along."

Carol narrows her eyes at him, her mouth curving into a tantalizing smile. Damn him, but he was right about that. Oh so slowly she drags her fingernails up his stomach to his chest, teasing his well-defined pectorals. God, how she missed this playfulness between them. Her fingers inch higher, forcing Ezekiel to raise his arms, allowing her to drag his t-shirt over his head. Once he is free of it, she is the one to grab his ass, bringing their bodies as close together as possible. His hands weave into her hair, holding her intense gaze.

"I`m not hungry. Not for food."

There really isn`t much more to be said. Their mouths clash together again, fighting each other for dominance. Carol`s butt glides onto the couch`s headrest, slipping down on the other side. Letting go of Ezekiel, she lets herself fall backwards, landing on her back. Giggling, she lifts up on her elbows, pushing herself further back, losing her sandals in the process. With her feet placed on the headrest, Carol crooks her fingers, beckoning Ezekiel to follow her.

"Come here", she whispers.

Now, how could he deny that? Supporting himself with his right hand on the backrest, he pushes one knee up on the headrest, slowly sliding down until he is kneeling in the cradle of Carol`s legs. His hands slide over her thighs up to her waist, fingering the knotted tails of her shirt.

"I knew you stole it."

"No, no, no", Carol shakes her head. "I rescued it. I just thought you wouldn`t need it anymore." Her bare feet hook around Ezekiel`s legs. In a conspiratorial tone she adds "There`s some buttons missing."

"Oh, really?"

As if he didn`t know that. His fingers work to untie the knot – and then in a swift move he tears apart the tails, sending the remaining buttons flying in all directions. Carol lets out a surprised yelp, looking up at Ezekiel with glazed eyes. Gentleman, my ass. He`s staring down at her with a distinct predatory smile, admiring the sight. Her chest is heaving with her arousal, her nipples peeking through the flimsy material of her bra.

Lowering himself down on her, Ezekiel takes Carol`s lips in a passionate kiss, grinding his groin against hers. Her legs wrap around him, her heels digging into his ass. They try to attack each other`s pants, giving up all pretense of timidity. It`s just been way too long, their carnal desire taking over. The couch isn`t really comfortable, restricting their movements. Neither of them is backing away in their attempt to rid the other of their clothing, resulting in a tangled mass of limbs.

Just when Ezekiel manages to slide one hand inside Carol`s pants, she pushes against his shoulder – and then somehow they end up on the floor with Carol straddling Ezekiel`s lap. They barely notice, still busy plundering each other`s mouths. She`s trying to sneak her fingers below the waistband of his jeans, but he`s got a tight grip on her ass, pressing her against him.

Giving up on her efforts, Carol struggles into a sitting position. Ezekiel attempts to follow her immediately, but she pushes him back, keeping him on his back with her hands on his chest. He complies with a grin, his arms dropping to his sides, surrendering to her will. They`re both breathing hard, lightheaded from their kisses. It would be easy now for Carol to reach her goal and free his hardness from the confines of his pants, but she enjoys the sight Ezekiel makes.

Her fingers run up and down his torso, feeling the taut muscles under his skin. Damn, he`s a sexy man. Her hips move against him just a bit, the friction sending shivers up her spine. Ezekiel tries to hold still, but he can`t help the small buck of his hips, eliciting a throaty little chuckle from Carol. One of her hands creeps up his neck, delighting in the feeling of his beard beneath her fingertips. She grabs his jaw, her thumb gliding over his full bottom lip. He captures it, pressing the tip of his tongue against it.

Carol draws in a shuddering breath. The desire that`s coursing through her body is overwhelming. It`s not just the need for sex. She needs to be one with her man, the other half of her soul. She needs him to fill the emptiness she has been feeling without him in her life. She needs to feel him completely, every fiber of his being. She needs to come alive in his arms again, slowly, thoroughly, sample every second of the pleasures their bodies can give each other.

Carol loosens the grip on Ezekiel`s jaw, caressing his face. She`s looking down on him with a tender smile, her heart bursting with all the emotions she`d been trying to hold back. She wants to tell him all of it, but she can`t find any words. But maybe that`s not even necessary. They always had their way of communicating without saying anything. Ezekiel senses the change, feels the power of her emotions. He sits up, his hands sliding up Carol`s back. He stares into her eyes, getting lost in the deep blue sea.

"We have all night", she whispers, still gently caressing his cheeks.

He smiles, pulling her closer against him. "Let`s get more comfortable, then."

They get up, groaning just a little bit. Maybe they`re too old for a hot ride on the floor anyway. Unable to stay away, they reach for each other again, exchanging another kiss, softer but with passion still lingering under the surface. Carol shrugs out of her (now completely ruined) shirt, needing more direct skin contact. Taking Ezekiel`s hands, she pulls him across the room towards the open door of his bedroom.

Inside, she takes a look around. The room was cozy, definitely carrying Ezekiel`s taste, reminding her of their bedroom back at the Kingdom. Carol feels immediately at home, comfortable. The window on the left side of the room is open, the light curtains swaying in the soft breeze, warm summer air flowing in. Sunset is still an hour away, golden light casting everything in a soft glow.

Ezekiel steps up behind Carol, resting his hands on her hips, bowing down to pepper her shoulder with small kisses. Her fair skin is carrying a mild sunburn from their ride out yesterday. He smiles against her skin, remembering the way she looked. Carol tilts her head to the side, giving him better access. Reaching up, Ezekiel pushes one strap of her bra down, his other hand splaying out over her stomach. His lips work their way up her neck, nipping on her ear, and then on to the sweetness of her mouth.

Turning in his arms, Carol deepens the kiss, her fingers sliding through the soft hairs of Ezekiel`s chest. She can feel his hands glide up her spine, nestling with the clasp of her bra, opening it. Shrugging her shoulders, Carol allows the garment to fall to the floor, pressing her naked breasts against his skin. They both moan at the sensation of finally touching without any barrier.

Well, almost without any barrier. Ezekiel lets his hands wander down over Carol`s back, reveling in the feeling of her smooth and silky skin. When he reaches the waistband of her jeans, he pushes his fingers below, sliding under the material of her panties. He pushes both down over her well-shaped ass, grabbing the naked flesh. Carol`s fingers fly to his belt, struggling to work it open. Impatient, she tears her mouth from his, looking down to see what she`s doing.

"Dammit", she mutters under her breath, earning herself an amused chuckle from Ezekiel. "You`re not helpful." He has started kissing her shoulder again, his hands still busy on her butt. "Zeke, please!"

Reacting to the breathless sound of his name, Ezekiel forces himself to let go of her, giving her the space to accomplish her task. He watches as she yanks his zipper down, unceremoniously shoving down his pants and underwear. His erection springs free, touching the softness of her belly. One of Carol`s hands immediately reaches out to wrap around the thick base, languidly stroking up and down his length. Ezekiel has to grab her hips to ground himself, the overwhelming sensation of her touch shooting all through his body.

Carol searches his kiss, her arm sneaking around Ezekiel`s neck while she keeps caressing his dick. He feels so incredibly good, hard and silky. Overcome by the impulse to taste him, she drops to her knees in front of Ezekiel. He looks down at her, his eyes turned black with his lust for her. She still has him in her hand, squeezing lightly, a wicked little smile forming on her lips. Holding his gaze, she places a wet open-mouthed kiss to the plump head, satisfied when she hears his choked groan.

"You don`t need to do this", Ezekiel manages to croak out half-heartedly.

"Hmmm", Carol hums, still wearing that seductive smile, "but I want to." She runs the flat of her tongue from the base of his shaft up to the tip, placing another wet smooch to his glans. "Watch."

Now Ezekiel certainly isn`t one to deny a lady`s wish. He watches her slip him into her mouth, sucking him, one hand stroking back and forth, the other one fondling his balls.

"Fuck." He knows he`s probably not gonna last long, it`s been too long since they`ve last been together and his body is all hyped up, but damn – he`s gonna enjoy the hell out of this. One hand slips to the back of Carol`s head, tangling in the damp curls. She moans around his cock, her eyes never leaving his as she keeps working him with delight. The picture she makes is so sinfully erotic, Ezekiel might come from the sight alone, but he steels his body, unwilling to give up on the exquisite feeling of her hot mouth on him.

This was simply heaven.

Carol deeply relishes in the powerful feeling that giving this kind of pleasure to Ezekiel is giving her. Never before him did she know how utterly satisfying and yeah, even arousing, it could be to give head to a man. He was the first man who never demanded anything of her, never pressured her to do something she wasn`t comfortable with. He was loving and tender, showing her a side of sex she never experienced before. With him, she lost all fear and inhibitions, discovering what true intimacy really meant.

The first time she got on her knees for him was completely impulsive. She had felt the irresistible urge to do something just for him, out of no other reason than her love for him. It has been exciting, making her feel wanton and slutty in a strange exhilarating way. It has been a truly memorable experience, surprising not only him, but herself also. She certainly hadn`t expected how much of a turn-on it was for her.

The way Ezekiel has been looking at her – the way he is looking at her now … just, wow. He makes her feel sexy, wanted. Carol can see the desire in his lustful stare, knows that he can`t wait to have her, fill her. Oh, and how she wants him to! Once more, she moans around him, feels the gush of wetness soak her already soiled panties. The grip on her hair gets stronger and she can feel him swell, telling her that he is close.

"Carol!"

She tightens her hold on him, squeezing with every stroke. Her lips wrap tightly around his glans, her tongue teasing him, giving him that last bit of stimulation. Ezekiel comes with a hoarse cry, the hot spurts of his come landing on her tongue. She tries to swallow it all, but she can feel some of it trickle out of the corners of her mouth. Carol waits until he is all done before she releases him. Lasciviously wiping her chin, she smiles up at him, then leans forward to press a soft kiss right below his belly button.

"That was fun", she whispers against his skin, her smile widening when she hears Ezekiel laugh shakily. Sliding his pants down his legs, Carol helps him step out of them, shoving them aside. He offers her his hands and with his help, she gets to her feet again. His arms wrap around her immediately, pulling her close, his lips unerringly finding hers. She kisses him sweetly, giving in to the probing of his tongue, letting him take possession of her mouth.

"Witch" Ezekiel murmurs when he releases her, his heart flaring up hearing her giggling happily into his beard. Carol just loves to reduce this otherwise very eloquent man to one-syllable words. Gently, he pushes her backwards, urging her to sit down on the bed. Reclining, Carol holds her feet up for Ezekiel to pull her jeans the rest of the way off, then slides up on the bed, comfortably laying down on the pillows. He follows her, carefully settling his weight on her. She welcomes him in her embrace, arms and legs wrapping around his larger frame.

"Hey."

"Hi."

Just two small words, but to them, sometimes they are a whole conversation, telling the other of emotions that they have no other way to express in that moment. It`s something they have perfected over the years, a silent communication that comes from two people truly knowing, truly understanding and caring for each other. They sink into an intimate kiss, merging into one being.

Slowly, Ezekiel kisses his way down over Carol`s neck, her shoulders, to her sweetly freckled chest. He takes his time lavishing attention to her breasts, pulling the supple flesh into his mouth, tenderly nibbling it with his teeth. His lips close around one perfectly rosy nipple, suckling, teasing it with his tongue, then switching to the other. Carol`s fingers glide over Ezekiel`s shoulders and back, her eyes closing as she surrenders to the pleasures he is giving her. The hidden pearl between her legs starts throbbing again, her legs tightening around Ezekiel`s waist in response.

He reacts to the silent urging of her body, sliding further down. He leaves a trail of wet kisses on her stomach, his nose nuzzling the soft patch of pubic hair. Nudging Carol`s thighs apart with his hands, Ezekiel comfortably settles in the cradle of her legs. She smells heavenly, her arousal clearly visible, stoking his own desire for her.

"Hello there, beautiful." Ezekiel`s deep rumbling voice reaches Carol`s ears. Oh, looks like he found his language again. She giggles, rising up on her elbows and looking down at him.

"Are you talking to my pussy?"

He gazes up at her with an intense stare, smirking. "Well, yes, I am. I missed her a lot."

"She missed you, too", Carol whispers huskily, her legs opening even further in invitation. "Why don`t you give her a kiss?" She`s ravenous for him, her body burning with a fire that only he can quench. She needs his touch, his kiss, anything.

"Good idea."

At the first touch of Ezekiel`s lips on her hot flesh, Carol gasps, a shudder running through her body from head to toe. She has always found the sight of him going down on her incredibly erotic and exciting. Biting her lips, she tries to hold eye contact with him while he runs his tongue through her wet folds, sucking on her swollen nether lips. Carol can hear him hum in contentment, the sound sending shivers down her spine. The scratch of his beard, the roughness of his tongue, it`s too much for her tonight. Moaning low in her throat, she sinks back down to the mattress. Her eyes close again, her hands fisting the bedsheets. Her whole being is centered on the feeling of Ezekiel`s mouth on her, pushing her closer to the edge with every lick of his tongue.

He is keeping her on the brink. Her taste is intoxicating, filling his mind. Ezekiel loves the sweet whimpering noises coming from Carol, noises she is completely unaware of, he is sure of that. His hands are resting on her belly, feeling the quick intake of her breath, his shoulders keeping her spread open. He closes his lips around the engorged pebble of her clit, torturing it with his tongue. Carol`s whole body surges against him, one of her hands closing around one breast, squeezing lightly.

Ezekiel instinctively knows that she is ready to come, needs to come badly. The hand that has been on her breast reaches down, searching for his. Her own touch isn`t enough. Carol grabs his hand and brings it up, urging him to wrap his fingers around her breast, holding him there. Her thighs start shaking from the exertion, adding to the coiling in her gut. Giving up on his teasing, Ezekiel focuses on pushing her over the edge.

One swipe of his tongue, two, three – and then she is flying, exploding, her whole body tensing in ecstasy before going completely limp.

For some seconds, Ezekiel rests his head on Carol`s pubic bone, his hands softly caressing her skin. He can feel the aftershocks coursing through her body, senses the deep satisfaction radiating from her. When he feels her hand on his head, stroking his hair, he smiles. Lifting himself up, Ezekiel works his way up Carol`s body again, randomly placing soft butterfly kisses. Her hands slide up his arms, her fingers weaving around some strands of his dreads. She pulls him close until she is able to press her lips against his, sighing in blissful contentment.

"Good?" Ezekiel asks, his mouth ghosting over her face.

"Mhmm", Carol hums, chasing the touch of his lips. "A lot better than my fingers."

"Oh", Ezekiel chuckles, "glad to hear."

Opening her eyes, Carol smiles at him, lovingly stroking his beard. "Much, much better." The smile turns into a tempting smirk, her eyes sparkling. "But I still want more." She suggestively rubs her groin against Ezekiel`s. His thick erection is nestled between her moist folds, hard and ready to be sheathed inside her.

He moans, his mouth descending on hers again. Hell, yeah, he wants more, too!

Carol sneaks her hand between their bodies, the tips of her fingers gliding against him, urging him down. Lifting his hips, Ezekiel lets her guide him to her entrance, nudging her opening. He pushes forward just a bit, the head of penis disappearing inside her body. Now both of them moan into their kiss. Ezekiel pulls out again, returning a moment later, surging a little further into her. He keeps doing it, in and out, slowly, sinking deeper with every thrust.

Their lips never break contact.

Another powerful thrust, and he is finally embedded completely inside her. Whimpering, Carol`s head falls to the side, her fingers digging into the flesh of Ezekiel`s back. She hasn`t had him inside of her for a year, her walls tightening around the intruder. He feels amazing, filling her up thoroughly. His head sinks down, touching hers, whispering into her ear.

"You okay?"

"Perfect", Carol breathes out. "Just give me a sec."

"Mhmm." Ezekiel kisses her ear, her neck, her collarbone. He will give her all the time in the world. Carol hums in contentment, her body relaxing under Ezekiel`s sweet touch. Her hands start roaming over his shoulders and back, her fingernails scratching lightly over his smooth skin. When she reaches the perfectly shaped globes of his ass, Carol turns her head back to look at Ezekiel. He stares at her intensely while she squeezes him teasingly, silently asking him to start moving.

He doesn`t deny her, easily sliding through her wet heat. He keeps his pace slow, savoring every thrust. Sliding his hands under her body, Ezekiel holds Carol close, his mouth capturing hers. He is surrounding her completely, every nerve within her focused on him. The friction their small movements are creating is perfect, sending a constant pleasurable thrum through their bodies. It feels so good to be finally united like this again.

Rolling to his back, Ezekiel pulls Carol on top of him. He wants her to be in control, wants her to take everything from him that she needs, that she desires. Mostly, he simply wants to watch her. Carol sits up, biting her lips and moaning slightly as she sinks down on him further. Ezekiel`s hands go to her waist, his thumbs caressing her skin. She smiles down at him, her fingers gliding over his chest and stomach.

"You are gorgeous", Ezekiel whispers reverently, basking in the light of her beauty.

Carol chuckles lightly. Even after they`ve been together for such a long time, it still was thrilling that he thought she was beautiful. He has told her so many times and she never doubted the seriousness of his declarations, even though in the beginning of their relationship she barely believed it herself. But it was there in his eyes – as it is now. She takes one of his hands, bringing it up to her mouth to kiss his fingertips. Then she places his hand over her breast, holding him there, her other hand wrapping around his wrist.

Slowly, Carol starts moving her hips, rocking back and forth in a tantalizing motion. Her eyes slip shut, concentrating on the feeling of having him inside her, the sweet agonizing buzz in her clit. Ezekiel watches her, hypnotized. He reacts to her instinctively, reading her body language easily. Every now and then he rubs his thumb over her nipple, delighted by the shudder that runs through her in response and the tightening of her walls around him.

Bit by bit, Carol speeds up her movements. Her hands drop from Ezekiel`s, reaching behind her to brace herself on his thighs, giving her more leverage. She rides him in wild abandon, feeling as alive as she hasn`t in a long time. So deeply connected with her lover, her man. His hands roam over her body, wherever he can reach – her breasts, her stomach, her legs – stimulating, spurring her on. Her eyes open again, moaning when she sees the look on his face. Pure, unadulterated desire.

Ezekiel can`t decide where to touch, where to look. The light of the setting sun bathes Carol in an ethereal glow, her flushed skin is covered in a fine sheen of sweat. So very beautiful, his queen. He watches the sway of her perfectly shaped breasts, so ripe and delicious, calling for his attention. He cups them in his large hands, hungry for their taste. Looking up, Ezekiel notices Carol staring at him, liquid fire burning from her piercing blue eyes.

She can feel her orgasm approaching, but Carol doesn`t want to give in just yet, slowing her motion. She keeps her eyes locked with Ezekiel as she shifts her body, slightly leaning forward to rest her hands on his shoulders. The movement brings her breasts in close range to his lips. Unable to withstand the temptation, he pulls one tightly puckered nipple into his mouth. Carol gasps, the sensation translating directly to the maddening buzzing in her clit. Her body takes control, working to push her over the edge.

She slides up and down on Ezekiel`s cock, the sweet friction adding to the coiling in her gut. His hands land on her ass, helping her move, faster and faster with every stroke while he keeps sucking on her boobs with relish. His hips surge upwards into her, meeting her thrust for thrust. Throwing her head back, Carol succumbs to the passion running through her veins, shattering into a million pieces. She cries out in ecstasy as the tight knot in her belly explodes, sending her flying into oblivion.

Ezekiel`s arms slide up her back, holding her through the waves of her orgasm. He keeps pumping into her, resisting the clasp of her muscles, prolonging the exquisite pleasure for her. Going limp, Carol sags forward, her head resting on Ezekiel`s shoulder, her breath coming in short gasps. Ezekiel slips out of her, groaning into her ear at the loss of her heat. His own desire is raging through him like a wildfire, but he tries to clamp down on it, giving Carol some moments to recuperate.

She`s aware of his hard-on pressing against her rear. And she wants it, wants more of him even now after her earth-shattering climax. She is sated, and yet still hungry, her body thrumming with satisfaction, her passion still simmering in her blood, waiting to be reignited again. Carol wants Ezekiel to feel the same heights of pleasure, wants to share this ultimate surrender with him. Her tongue darts out to lick across his collarbone, tasting the saltiness of his skin. A shudder runs through him, making her smile.

Carol kisses her way up Ezekiel`s neck, hovering above his face. Lifting her butt, she reaches down between them, helping him push back inside her. Her mouth descends on his, stifling their mutual moaning. Ezekiel`s arms tighten around her, rolling her beneath him again. He can barely contain his hunger for her anymore, the thrive of his body for release. A look into Carol`s eyes tells him that he doesn`t have to hold back anymore.

She raises her arms over her head, completely relaxed, smiling up at him. Drawing her knees up, she opens herself up further, her heels resting against Ezekiel`s ass. Her stomach muscles flutter in anticipation of what is to come. Holding himself up on his arms, Ezekiel looks down at the place where they are joined, groaning helplessly. What a sight! Tearing his eyes away, he lowers himself a bit further down to be able to reach Carol`s mouth.

He gives her a sweet lingering peck, and another, his hips start moving, slow at first, then faster, increasing in intensity as do his kisses. He spears in and out of her in rapid succession, taking them higher and higher. The sound of their mating bodies making impact with each other drives them crazy, mixing with the deep moans that neither of them can hold in. Carol`s arms wrap around Ezekiel`s shoulders, holding on to him. She is close, so, so close.

"Please!" The breathless whisper falls from her lips, completely unaware.

Ezekiel gives in to the irresistible call of her body. His head sinks down, his forehead touching Carol`s, his dreads falling like a curtain around her face. She can feel the heat radiating from him, the sweat on his face. She doesn`t care. All she cares about is the incredible feeling in her lower body. This orgasm is gonna be even better than the previous ones. Carol presses her quivering legs against Ezekiel`s sides.

"Please!"

With one last powerful thrust, his body surges against her. Carol can feel the tremors ripple through his body as he empties himself inside her. She follows him on the spot, her teeth sinking into his shoulder blade. Ezekiel doesn`t even notice, shaking uncontrollably in her embrace. His arms slide upwards, his fingers tangling in her hair. He presses his lips against her temple, trying to get his breathing back under control.

It seems to take forever until they come down from their high. Forcing his body to move before it can shut down completely, Ezekiel rolls to his side, bringing Carol with him. She clings to him, unwilling to separate even an inch. The last rays of sunlight stream into their room, throwing long shadows onto the walls. Gently, Ezekiel pushes some damp strands out of Carol`s face, his lips finding hers in a soft kiss.

"I love you."

The words that he longed to say for so long but didn`t dare now fall from his lips easily. In the semi-darkness he can make out the smile on Carol`s lips.

"I know." She reaches up to stroke his beard. "Let`s never be so stupid again."

Even though she doesn`t say it, Ezekiel hears everything that she means with these simple words.

Let`s never part again.

Let`s never not talk to each other again.

Let`s never let fear stand between us.

Let`s never give up hope again.

Let`s never not tell each other how much we love each other.

Let`s never be so stupid again.

"I promise." He means it, from the bottom of his heart.

"Good." Yawning heartily, Carol turns in his arms, snuggling her backside against him. "I think I need a nap now."

Chuckling, Ezekiel wraps his arms around her, burying his nose in her hair.

"More later?"

"Oh yeah, absolutely."

Within seconds, they`re both asleep.

When Ezekiel wakes up again, it is with Carol sprawled out on top of him. It`s pitch dark now, a strong warm breeze coming in through the open window. He nuzzles her hairline with his nose, his hands roaming up and down her body. She is really here. This time, it`s not just a dream. He doesn`t want to wake her, relishes the feeling of having her close, safe in his arms. He always felt incredibly blessed that Carol allowed herself to sleep peacefully in his embrace, trusting him completely.

His hands can`t seem to stop touching her, as if afraid she might just vanish. His fingers follow the line of her spine, trace the contours of her butt, ghost over her shoulder blades. Ezekiel is trying to keep it light, but eventually Carol stirs, stretching her body languidly. Her subconscious immediately recognizes Ezekiel`s familiar smell, the solid frame of his body beneath her. She rubs her nose over his chest, squeezing him tight.

"Sorry I woke you", Ezekiel mumbles, his hand weaving into her hair.

"S`okay", Carol slurs sleepily.

For some minutes they just lay there, lazily stroking each other`s skin. After a while, Carol raises her head, looking over at the window.

"Smells like rain", she says.

"Yeah, wind picked up, too", Ezekiel replies "might be a thunderstorm coming."

Carol turns her head back, sliding a little higher so her face hovers above his. He can`t quite make out the smile on her face, but he knows it`s there.

"I love thunderstorms", she whispers suggestively, then bows down to capture his lips. Ezekiel`s arms wrap tighter around her, welcoming her sweet taste. Oh yeah, they always had a thing for thunderstorms. Before they can get too carried away, though, Carol pulls back again. "Zeke? I could really need something to eat now."

He chuckles, searching for the light switch of the bedside lamp and picking up his antique pocket watch. Holding it above his face, he checks the time. Close to midnight. When she sees the watch, Carol slides to Ezekiel`s side, taking it from his hand. Smiling fondly, she turns it around, her fingers gliding over the inscription on the back.

Love always, C.

"You still have it."

"Of course, I do. This is the best Christmas gift I ever got."

Carol looks at him, pulling his face close for a kiss. She had given Ezekiel the watch on their second Christmas together. How happy they`ve been.

"We had a pretty good time", she says with a hint of wistfulness in her voice.

Ezekiel takes the watch from her and places it back on the nightstand. Turning his head towards Carol`s face, he gently strokes her cheek. "The very best." He kisses her softly, lovingly, carefully rolling her beneath him. When he pulls back, he grins down at her.

"Now, how about some sandwiches? There might even be some cookies somewhere, I think."

"Hmmm, late night cookies", Carol purrs, sliding her arms around Ezekiel`s neck and pulling him down again. He allows himself some moments, then disentangles himself from her embrace.

"Just stay here. I`ll be right back."

Carol watches him pull some fresh boxers out of a drawer, admiring his nice backside as he steps into them. He throws her a knowing look before stepping out of the room. She hears him in the bathroom next door, the flushing of the toilet bringing her attention to her own need. She`s trying to ignore it, feeling way too comfy to move. Eventually, she has to give up, though. She heads for the bathroom stark naked, picking up her discarded shirt from the floor when she comes out again. Ezekiel is still busy in the open kitchen, smiling at her over the counter. Carol considers helping him, but then walks over to the balcony door. She opens it and steps outside, deeply inhaling the night air. The heat of the day has faded, but it is still warm, even with the impending thunderstorm lying in the air.

Wrapping the open tails of her shirt around her body to cover herself, Carol leans against the balustrade, her eyes roaming over the silent street. So peaceful. She turns back around when she hears Ezekiel behind her. He places a tray on the small table in front of the garden bench across from her. Not only did he bring some sandwiches and cookies, but also two glasses of red wine.

"Hm, that looks good", Carol says. She gives him a quick kiss, her hands touching his waist.

"Almost like that first date we had", Ezekiel smiles. They sit down on the bench next to each other, both reaching for one of the sandwiches. "I`m afraid I didn`t have a pomegranate, though", he adds apologetically.

"Oh", Carol gulps down the bite in her mouth, chuckling "I always preferred the cookies anyway." Of course, Ezekiel knows that.

They eat in comfortable silence for a while, each lost in their memories. Nipping on her wine, Carol regards Ezekiel. Since the day she met him, he has been the greatest gift in her life. All the happiness she ever felt was connected to him. How lucky she has been to find someone like him in this broken world. He notices her look at him, turning in his seat to face her directly. He takes her hand, bringing it up to his mouth to kiss her palm.

"I love you." Her words, so calm, so sincere, hit him deep inside his heart. Swallowing, Ezekiel presses another kiss to Carol`s palm. "I love you, too."

Yeah, yeah, she knows that. Putting her empty glass back on the tray, Carol scoots closer, placing her left hand on Ezekiel`s right thigh. She feels the need to say more, to express the feelings she`s been carrying around for a while.

"I really do. I mean – ", she struggles to find the right words "not just because of the past we have. I love you now the same way I loved you ten years ago. These past months, it`s like I fell in love with you all over again. I loved everything we had in the past, who we were – but I also love us now. Even with all the scars."

Carol smiles, a small tear rolling down her cheek. Ezekiel wipes it away with his thumb.

"I know what you mean." His voice is hoarse, filled with emotion. She looks into his eyes, and she sees it, sees that he really understands. Because he is feeling the same. Letting go of his hands, Carol shifts her body, leaning back against Ezekiel. His arms go around her waist, holding her close, his nose buried in her hair. In the distance, they can hear the faint rolling of thunder.

"There`s so many memories inside me", Carol whispers reverently. "Wonderful memories. It seems they`re around me all the time."

Ezekiel kisses the back of her head, listening silently. He knows that there is more that Carol wants to say.

"But they`re not enough." She pauses, pulling his arms closer around her. "I don`t know how much time we have left together. But I don`t want to look back someday and regret that we didn`t make the most of it. I want more memories."

She turns her head to be able to look into Ezekiel`s eyes.

"We will make more. We already do." It`s a promise, one he intends to keep for the rest of his life.

"Yeah." Cupping his cheek, Carol pulls him in for a kiss, sealing a new beginning.

Again, thunder is rolling, a bit closer this time and some drops of warm rain are beginning to fall. They don`t care, immersed in their lover`s embrace. After the unbearable heat of the past days, a little refreshment is more than welcome. They keep sitting where they are while the rain gradually keeps getting heavier. Another clap of thunder, louder this time, has them turn their heads.

"Maybe we should go inside", Carol says.

"Yeah", Ezekiel gets up from the bench, for a moment staring into the distance with his hands on his hips. Then he turns back around, extending his hand to Carol with a mischievous grin on his face. "Or we make some memories."

Carol lets him pull her up, stepping into his arms. His hands slide beneath her open shirt, pressing her against him. They stand there in the rain, smiling at each other, swaying softly to some music playing only in their heads.

"I like this." It`s exciting being out here, almost naked, making her feel wild and young, almost a little reckless. Carol molds herself even tighter against Ezekiel`s body, offering him her lips. He takes them in a sensual deep kiss, pouring all his love for her into it. They get completely soaked within seconds, but they barely feel it. Only when a bolt of lightning strikes through the air, do they separate reluctantly.

"Now we should go in." Ezekiel gently pushes Carol towards the door.

"Wait." She bows down to pick up the tray, carrying it inside where she places it on the dining table. Ezekiel shuts the door behind them, drawing the curtains. When he turns around, his heart skips a beat, a new wave of arousal welling up inside him. Carol is just drop-dead gorgeous with her wet hair plastered to her head, the soaked shirt sticking to her skin, giving him a tantalizing view. She notices the way he is looking at her, the hunger in his eyes, her own heart thundering in her chest in anticipation.

He`s on her in two big strides, his hands grabbing her waist and lifting her up on the table behind her. She pulls his head down, kissing him forcefully. Ezekiel crushes her against his body, his fingers weaving into her wet hair. Carol struggles to get rid of her shirt, glad when she is finally free of it. It lands in a wet heap on the floor, a second later accompanied by Ezekiel`s dripping shorts. Her fingernails scratch lightly over his ass, sending goosebumps up his spine. With a groan, he tears his mouth from hers, trying to keep control over his body. The temptation to have her right here is overwhelming.

Carol takes the decision away from him. She runs her hot tongue over his jaw, nipping on his ear. "Take me to bed."

Sliding his hands under her butt, Ezekiel lifts her up, urging her to wrap her legs around his waist. Securing her against him, he carefully makes his way through the apartment, back to his bedroom. He`s trying not to stumble or bump into anything, but Carol isn`t making things easier by keeping up her ministrations on his ear and neck. Ezekiel makes it to the bed without an accident, sinking down on the mattress and settling his weight on Carol. She barely gives him time to breathe, before she captures his lips again, impatiently demanding entrance to his mouth.

He`s not putting up any fight, allowing her to devour him completely.

Raising his hips slightly, Ezekiel slips into her easily, making her gasp. Carol`s fingers dig into his back, her legs tightening their hold on him. He searches for her hands, lifting them up over her head, one after the other, intertwining his fingers with her. Slowly, he starts moving, dragging himself out almost all the way, then pushing back in inch by agonizing inch. It`s a maddening rhythm, the friction almost unbearable.

Closing her eyes, Carol lets herself fall completely, surrenders to the overwhelming sensations running through her body. She`s barely able to move herself, but it doesn`t matter. Ezekiel knows her well, knows how to give her the ultimate pleasure. With every roll of his hips, he increases the pressure, with every slow powerful thrust he takes her higher, closer to the edge. She savors every second, the way he feels inside her, over her.

Their bodies are slick with sweat, it`s pooling between them, some drops even fall from Ezekiel`s forehead to Carol`s face. It only adds to her arousal. The storm outside keeps increasing, drowning out the sounds of their lovemaking.

"Faster!"

Ezekiel barely hears Carol`s breathless gasp, but he feels her getting restless, trying to move against him. He`s speeding up his pace, eager to make her come. She`s gripping his hands tightly, her whole body surging against him. He watches her face, sees the pleasure, the relief, the pure ecstasy. Unable to hold out anymore, he gives in, allows the wave to pull him under as well. They ride it out together, clinging to each other.

Still breathing hard, Ezekiel raises his head, looking down at Carol. Tenderly, he brushes her wet hair out of her face. She opens her eyes, the most beautiful smile on her lips.

"Hey beautiful", he greets her. Instead of answering, she pulls him down, kissing him sweetly. Gathering his strength, Ezekiel rolls them over, pulling Carol on top of him.

"Amazing", she whispers against his lips, making him chuckle.

"Oh yeah", he stretches his arms out to his sides, looking up at her with a disarming grin. "I won`t be able to move a single muscle tomorrow. Or – well, later." He has lost his sense for time, but it must be almost 2 am now.

"Feeling a little old now, mister?", Carol teases good-naturedly, knowing very well that she will be having one hell of a muscle burn herself. It`s been way too long since they had a night like this.

"No, no, not old – just a little – rusty", Ezekiel quicky replies, tickling her sides. Giggling, Carol squirms, pressing her mouth on his, trying to distract him. It works, his arms wrapping tightly around her again.

"Well,", Carol strokes his beard "I believe the best remedy against muscle burn is just to keep exercising. You know, to get back on track."

She looks at him, trying to keep a straight face, but Ezekiel bursts out laughing, and she can`t help but join him.

"Spending the whole day in bed? What sweet trouble!" For a second, he sounds like the king he used to be, earning himself a raised eyebrow.

"I`ll show you trouble." Carol holds his face between her hands, kissing him firmly. When they part, they`re both breathless again, laughing softly. She slides to his side, resting her head on his shoulder, her left arm and leg hugging him against her.

"I can`t wait." Ezekiel brushes her temple with his lips, stroking her back.

For some minutes they lay there, listening to the rushing rain outside, bone tired but as happy as they haven`t been in a long time. Tomorrow – later – it will be a new day, fresh and clean after the storm has passed.

"Zeke?"

"Hm?" He`s still lazily stroking her skin, on the verge of falling asleep.

"What I said earlier? That I love you now the same way I loved you ten years ago – it`s not true."

Ezekiel`s eyes open, his hands keeping up their hypnotizing rhythm. He waits, knowing there`s more.

"I love you so much more now. Every day in the past ten years made me love you more, even the bad days. Even the days that we`ve been apart."

Taking the hand that`s resting on his chest, Ezekiel brings it up to his mouth.

"I know. We survived. There`s nothing that can tear us apart. Never again."

Carol snuggles closer into him, first placing a kiss to the scar on his neck, then to his heart.

"Never again."

TBC