The car ride back to the prison was just as silent as the ride there, maybe even more. Rick didn't speak, too embarrassed that she'd caught him staring. However, she didn't cut his head off, in fact, she seemed almost amused. That had to mean something, right?
After a while, Michonne set her hand on his thigh. Rick jumped slightly and looked at her, but she didn't return the glance. He should tell her to move her hand, but he didn't want to. Besides, she wasn't doing anything, just resting her hand on his leg. He focused on the road ahead of them and her hand withdrew as they neared the prison.
He wanted to tell her to put it back, to touch him as much as she wanted but he didn't. He couldn't say that to her. They said nothing as they unloaded the car and brought the supplies inside. He wanted her to say something to him, anything, but before he could think of what to say, she left, going to her cell.
It was soon dinnertime and Rick waited for her to join him. She usually sat either alone or near him, and after a few minutes, he realized that she wasn't coming down. Finishing his food rather quickly, he grabbed another plate and headed to her cell. Pushing back the curtain, he moved inside, standing awkwardly near the doorway as he looked at her.
She seemed to just be laying down, almost sleeping, and she was staring at something which she held in her hands. After a moment, she noticed him there and stuffed what looked to be a photograph into a pocket.
"I brought your dinner," Rick said after a moment. He decided not to ask about the picture. If she was ready to share something, she would.
Michonne thanked him, but still looked slightly upset. He'd never seen her show any kind of emotion besides grief at Andrea's death. He could almost feel the pain coming off of her and it made his heart ache. He wanted to make it better for her.
Setting the plate down on the nightstand by her bed, Rick sat down on her bed. "Do you want to talk?"
Michonne shook her head quickly, then seemed to be considering it. She couldn't say it, couldn't let it be real. She took out the photograph and handed it to him. In it, was a very happy and smiling Michonne, and two little girls, around the ages of six and four. They were hugging each other and smiling for the photographer.
Rick looked at the photograph and understood immediately what had happened. She was a mother who lost her children when this all started. From the state she was in when they first met, something traumatizing must have happened to her, and this explained it.
"They were at their father's house when it started," Michonne said, her voice shaking. "I should've gone straight there, but I'd thought they'd be safe while I got things together. By the time I got there, all three of them were..." She trailed off, sobs shaking her body. She tried to hold herself together but felt herself falling apart instead.
Rick put his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. He held her there, letting her cry and let it out. From the way she sobbed, he knew she hadn't allowed herself to grieve them.
"I had to...put them down," Michonne gasped out, clinging to him. One of her hands was hiding tightly into his shirt as she let herself feel the pain, the gaping emptiness. Her daughters, the only part of her life that made her happy, they were gone and it killed her, destroyed the woman she used to be.
"I'm so sorry, Michonne," Rick said, still holding her as she wept.
...
As Michonne woke up the next morning, the first thing she became aware of was the warmth. She usually woke up cold, the concrete walls not keeping in the heat. The next thing she noticed was the slight movement in her bed. She opened her eyes and looked up, seeing Rick laying practically underneath her. She started to pull away slightly and he shifted, moving his arms around her waist and pulling her close.
"Rick," Michonne said quietly. After a moment, he opened his eyes and looked down at her, a small smile on his lips. His arms around her tightened and he pulled her up to press a gentle kiss to her lips. Michonne tried to pull away and he looked up at her in confusion, then seemed to actually wake up.
"Shit," he whispered, letting go. "I'm sorry. Thought I was dreaming again."
Michonne looked at him, an almost unbelieving look on her face. "Again?" She asked, then saw his cheeks grow bright red.
"Yeah. Again. I've been having dreams like that recently."
"About me?"
"Always about you."
Michonne had no clue what to say to him, what to even think about what he'd just admitted. She reached out and held his hand, keeping it in hers. It was so strange. She'd cried herself to sleep, shown how weak she really was, and yet, he wanted to kiss her.
"Kiss me again?" Michonne asked. She didn't know if he would and for a moment, she almost took it back. But he pressed his lips to hers and she was lost.
Rick kissed her like he wanted to, passionate, but loving. He brought her bottom lip between his teeth and nibbled and sucked on it softly. His hands held her in the kiss, one around her waist, and the other at the back of her neck, keeping her there as he kissed her. Her full lips were even softer than he imagined, and he hadn't thought that was possible.
His tongue swiped at her bottom lip, begging for entrance, and when she complied, parting her lips slightly, he wasted no time in exploring her mouth. He wanted to memorize every part of her.
After a few moments, his kisses moved from her lips, down her jaw and then to her neck. He sucked and bit at the exposed skin, leaving marks that were dark enough to be visible on her. She was his now, and he wanted every man who ever took a second look at her to know it.
Hearing her let out a soft moan, Rick realized that he had pushed her down on the bed and was on top of her, grinding his hips against hers. He could feel his erection grow as his jeans became tighter and he wanted to have her in every way. Before he could act on that, he pulled away from her, but was stopped by her arms around him.
"I want you," Michonne whispered, her lustful gaze melting any doubt left in his mind.
His hands moved down to the hem of her shirt and he pulled it over her head. She reached up and soon his shirt was removed from his torso. He dragged his lips across her chest and reached behind her, unclasping her bra and almost tearing it from her body.
Now that he could see her bare chest, Rick eyed her for a moment. She was thin, but made up for it with her muscular build and he knew she was strong. She wouldn't break from anything. Slowly, he leaned in, taking a nipple between his lips and he sucked lightly on it. From the hitch of her breath, he knew she liked it.
He sucked slightly on the skin, then circled his tongue around the hardening bud. Once it pebbled between his lips, he bit down slightly, then pulled off of it, dragging his teeth along the flesh. This brought a pleasured gasp from her lips, and he switched to the other, still pinching and pulling at the one he'd left behind.
Soon, he was kissing down her abdomen, stopping at the low waistband of her jeans. Her tight clothes showed her shape, but made him wonder what she looked like underneath. He looked up at her and she gave him a slight nod, giving him permission. He undid the button and zipper on her pants, then hooked his fingers under the waistband and tugged them down. He took his time, slowly sliding the fabric down her legs, then paused for a moment as he pulled both her jeans and her panties off her legs. She was naked in front of him, vulnerable, and as his eyes moved over her bare form, memorizing every detail, she seemed to grow slightly uncomfortable.
Rick smiled and unbuckled his belt, then pulled his pants off. He moved closer and let Michonne push his boxers down his hips, but then pushed her back down onto the bed. Feeling her heat against him, he wanted nothing more than to push into her, but he wouldn't. He couldn't do that to her.
His hand moved down to her entrance and he skimmed his fingertips over her folds, then around her sensitive clit. He teased her like this for a while, then slipped a finger inside her. Her hips bucked almost immediately against his hand. She was tight and hot and he knew that no one had had her for a while, maybe even since this all started. He watched her face as he worked his finger into her, rubbing her clit with his thumb. After a while, he added another finger and almost lost control at the sound she made.
Her hips rocked against his hand and he could feel her start to clench around his fingers. He pulled his hand away, bringing a curse and a sound of protest from her lips. He cupped her face and made her look at him and he lined himself up, then pushed into her, gently.
Her lips parted in a gasp and her eyes stayed on him as he continued to fill her. He was certain that her expression mirrored his as he felt her, tight, warm, and wet around him. He had to stop himself from letting go right there from how good it felt. There was so much pleasure coursing through him and he had no idea it could be this good.
After a moment for them both to adjust to the feel of each other's bodies, Rick made a tentative thrust. He watched her back arch slightly and was encouraged, starting to move eagerly. He soon found a rhythm, which wasn't too fast, but just quick enough to pull moans from both of them.
Eventually, her moans and the whispers of his name caused him to thrust faster and deeper into her, his hands braced against the bed. He moved roughly, making the small bed shake slightly. Burying his face against her shoulder, he muffled his sounds of pure bliss against her skin.
Her nails dug at his back and she let out high pitched, breathy sounds that he had to tune out. But soon, he felt her walls clench tightly around him and he pressed a hand over her mouth just in time to muffle the scream that escaped her. He honestly hadn't thought she'd be that loud but she surprised him.
With her shaking and still clenching around him being too much, Rick let go, grabbing her hips and giving her one last, hard thrust before he spilled himself into her. He filled her and nothing else had ever felt so right to him.
Slipping out of her, he watched her calm face, admiring how beautiful she looked with the slight smile on her lips. A pride filled him as he realized that he'd caused that smile. Kissing her gently, he pulled away and started to gather his clothes. Michonne reached out and touched his arm.
"Stay."
