A/N A little warning, there is an intimate scene involving blood in this chapter. It's ultimately a positive thing but I just want people aware in case that sort of thing bothers you.
Neither of them speaks a word on the drive to Daryl's house. Carol offered to take them and when Daryl opened the passenger door Beth had just looked at him and shook her head. He didn't have to ask, he knew what she needed. They climbed in the backseat and Daryl pulled her close, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Leaning against him, she sighs a little and rests her head on his chest.
Carol pulls up in front of the cabin. Leaving the key in the ignition she gets out and hugs Beth, resting a hand on her cheek for a minute. She doesn't say anything and Daryl appreciates that because right now they need the silence. Words are too heavy to make anything better and the only words that need to be said will be said between him and Beth. When it's time. He watches as she heads for the front door and he slips an arm around Carol, pulling her into a side hug. He mumbles his thanks and she gives him a squeeze.
"You take care of her." She responds and he nods glancing over at where Beth is waiting. Following in her footsteps he pulls his keys from his jeans and gets the door open. It's not full on dark yet, but the shadows are long and the room has pockets of deep purple. She walks in and hesitates in front of the couch. He hears her soft exhale and she turns to look at him, but her eyes don't meet his, not completely.
"I wanna take a shower," she says feebly.
"Ok," But he doesn't move, because he's unsure of what she needs him to do.
"Are you gonna come too?" Okay that he can do. He shoulders her bag and moves forward resting a hand on the small of her back as they head back into his bedroom.
X X X
Daryl's being so gentle with her. He brought her bag in and dropped it on the bed. And while she dug through it looking for her night clothes, he started the shower and laid out towels on the counter.
They stand beside one another in the bathroom and pull off their clothes, letting them fall to the floor. The shower is a stone alcove in the corner of the bathroom and he moves to the side letting her step in before him. The water is hot as she stands underneath it letting it wash away everything that it can touch. It's the things it can't touch that are making this all so difficult. Sweat and tears swirl down the drain with the bubbles from the soap Daryl's smoothing over her skin, so softly, gently. That's the way he's looking at her too like he can't look too long or too hard because… because... She lets him shampoo her hair but takes over with the conditioner. There's a little kernel of irritation rolling around in her chest. He's handling her with kid gloves and it was ok at first. Now it's too much. When he reaches up to help her rinse her hair she moves away from his touch.
"I got it." He hasn't even looked at her body. They're naked together in the shower, naked and wet and his body isn't even responding the way it should, the way it always does.
"Beth lemme help," he's even speaking gently.
"I said I got it!" Her words are harsh and they echo in this little space, surrounded by stone. "I'm not broken." The look on his face has her turning away. She doesn't want to hurt him, but she can't handle this anymore. Every time he looks at her, his eyes are full of something sad and besides it being irritating it's making her anxious. What's going on in his head? Is he coming up with more excuses why he's so bad for her and this is all his fault, she's better off without him? She needs him. She needs him so much! But she needs him strong and solid and she needs to feel like she's alive. Not almost, but all the way.
"Jus' tryin' ta help." God his voice is gonna break her heart. But he has to stop, she doesn't need this. She needs, well she isn't exactly sure what she needs, but it damn well isn't being treated like a china doll.
"I'm not broken." Twisting her hair to get rid of the excess water she steps out of the shower and wraps herself in a towel.
"Ya said that." He's got a towel of his own and he's wrapping it around his waist.
"But you aren't listening Daryl! I know you think I need you to take care of me and I do. Just not like this! I need.." Picking up a brush she drags it through her hair, ripping at the tangles created by the water.
"What? Tell me what ya need Beth. I'll give you anythin'!" How to put it into words, everything, all of it. The distance he put between them, what happened in her apartment and what's happening right now.
"I was scared Daryl, I was so scared, but it's over. I'm okay. You came and.. I don't want to be afraid. I need to feel like I walked away from this a whole person. Those guys didn't take anything away from me." She's been trying not to cry, because crying makes her feel weak and small and well, broken.
But she isn't broken. And neither is he.
"I just need to feel…" And suddenly he's got her backed up against the counter and she sees a little flicker of guilt in his eyes but he's leaning into her, his hands wrapped around her arms. He drags the scruff of his beard down her temple, over her cheek and brushes his lips against her ear.
"I can make ya feel, that what ya need girl? Feel like yer still alive?" She nods because all the air has left her lungs. This. He knows. "I was scared too, fuckin' terrified. Thought I was too late, thought I, fuck Beth!" His voice shakes and she can feel the wet warmth on her cheek. He lifts her up onto the vanity and pushes her towel away from her body. Looking down she sees his towel is already gone and he's hard. His cock's jutting up from between his legs and rubbing against her inner thigh. It makes her moan a little and she pushes her hips forward, her eyes on his cock.
"This what ya want?" She's nodding, but he takes her chin in his hand and makes her look at him. "Use yer words, tell me. Fuck girl!" She's wet, the granite underneath her is slick and she's managed to slide to the edge of the vanity and she's rubbing herself against his cock. And it's just a tease, not enough friction to do anything but make them both want more.
"I want you. Inside me, I need you, I need..." she's whispering, not begging or pleading, she's using her words. He fists his cock and rubs it up and down her slit. Achingly slow. Taking hold of her hand he tugs gently.
"Com'on." But she jerks her hand out of his, raises one leg, rests her foot on the vanity top, opening herself to him. She sees his eyes, watches them as they lower and rest on her pussy and they're dark with want. She can smell herself so she knows he can smell her too.
"No, just- here, just fuck me here Daryl, god just do it!"
X X X
He can take her right here and he will, she isn't gonna have to ask twice. But it's gonna hurt, and maybe that's what she wants. There's a box of condoms on the shelf beside the vanity and he fumbles for one, ripping open the package with his teeth. Sliding it over his sensitive flesh, he sucks in a breath and with one hand on her knee and the other on her hip he eases forward, slowly sinking into her. No preamble, no foreplay. She doesn't need it. Neither does he. With a sigh and a whimper of frustration, she grabs his hips and tugs him in closer to her.
"I'm not gonna break Daryl, please..." Leaning forward he puts his hand on the wall behind her, taking a deep breath he slams into her, hard enough that he feels the breath leave her body in a warm exhale against his chest and he doesn't stop. He's pumping his hips into her harder each time until he's lost in the excruciating coil of pleasure in his belly that's spiraling outward and he knows he's gonna come.
" 'M close, Beth, I'm.." There's a crack, then the sound of breaking glass and Beth's little gasp of pain, but they're both too close to the edge to pull back now. His eyes are on the blood that's pooling beneath her hand and he moves his own hand from her knee to where their bodies join. His fingers find her clit, circle it once, twice until he feels her pussy contract around his cock and he lets go, dropping his head to her shoulder, never looking away from the blood on the counter. Her blood. Fuck. She's bleeding and he's fucking her through her orgasm, and somewhere in his dopamine saturated brain, he knows he should be horrified by the fact that her blood was a catalyst for an orgasm that could have brought him to his knees if he'd let it. With a shuddering breath, he pulls back a little but stops when she snakes her arms around his neck.
"That, I... Thank you, Daryl." Her voice is breathy and soft and she feels undone in his arms. Then he sees the blood again, this time rolling down her arm, dark red, almost black against her skin and it makes his stomach heave. It's on her and he doesn't want to see that. It's too much, too close.
"Beth yer arm, lemme, we gotta bandage it." His voice is husky and he covers her hand with his and slides it down his chest between them. He yanks at the toilet paper roll, pulling off more than he needs but he just wants it gone.
"Oh, I didn't see.." There's a hitch in her breathing when he covers the wound with the tissue.
" 'M sorry. Here hold this on it. Lemme grab a washcloth." He gets rid of the condom then busies himself with cleaning and covering the wound with a small square of gauze. But he feels her eyes on him and he doesn't know how to begin to tell her what he's feeling and why. Luckily she's perceptive, so perceptive, and she helps him find his way around it.
X X X
She sees the muscles in his jaw tense as he tends to her cut, it's nothing really. Small and superficial and it only stings a little. But it seems to be a big deal for him. His brows furrowed as he holds her wrist and covers the gauze with medical tape. His tenderness is welcome now. Needed. But she can sense something else going on with him.
"Daryl? Hey, are you okay?" Hand on his cheek, she brushes his hair back. It's drying and curling up against his temple in soft little wisps. She can see he's working it out, whatever it is, in his head and she gives him time to respond.
"Wasn't supposed to make me feel…" And when he can't find the words, she gives him that too.
"So aroused?" she asks lightly. He nods, his eyes flicking up to hers and there's that guilt again. "I'm alive Daryl. The blood was proof of that. That's all and it felt good, right then, to know that. He seems to accept that, looks relieved even.
"Can we go to bed now?" he asks his blue eyes on hers. Reaching up she cups his face in her hands and looks in his eyes. He's so beautiful and he's hers. He gave her what she needed even though she knows it was hard for him. Because it did hurt and she's gonna have bruises tomorrow. She suspects he will too. But he did it for her.
"I love you, Daryl." He brings her bandaged wrist up to his chest and holds it against his warm skin. The little is pulsing in time with his heart.
"Love you too girl." He focuses in on something over her shoulder and smirks. "Never put a crack in a wall having sex." She turns a little, enough to see that yes they did indeed put a crack in the plaster above the vanity. She can't help but giggle. He's smiling too. A genuine, honest to god smile and it's long overdue.
X X X
Friday morning she wakes up to the sound of water running and rolls over to find Daryl gone. The light's on in the bathroom, he must be getting ready for work. Glancing at the clock she groans and sits up. She needs to get up too. Letting the sheets fall from her body, she stands and hears him growl from somewhere behind her.
"Better get some clothes on quick. Already running late and.. Jesus Beth." She's turned to face him in all her naked glory and she smiles shyly and she can feel the blush on her cheeks. He grabs her overnight bag and tosses it on the bed. " 'M gonna make coffee!" he grumbles as he adjusts himself in his jeans. He's already left the room when she hears him yell. "An unpack. Yer staying for a while!" Smiling she pulls out her scrubs and leaves the bag open on the bed.
X X X
He completely forgot that neither of them has a vehicle at his house. All he has is his bike, but Beth is ecstatic about riding with him. And of course, she would be. He should have taken her for a ride before all of this.
"Daryl! I've never ridden a motorcycle! I've always wanted too!" She's bouncing on her toes and fuck if he doesn't want to grab her and just kiss her right there. So they'll ride. Because he'll give her anything. Anything she wants. But before they can leave she runs into his bedroom and comes back out with his leather vest in her hands. Her fingers tracing the wings on the back.
"You haven't worn this in awhile. I like it, Daryl. I like the wings, like an angel. My guardian angel." She holds it out to him gracing him with a smile like the sunrise.
"Girl, I ain't no angel! Thas' all you."
He takes her to her apartment to get her car. She's only working half the day and he doesn't want her going to her place alone after work. He feels her tense up against his back when he pulls to a stop next to her parking space. Sliding off the bike she undoes the chin strap and takes off the extra helmet he luckily had. It's a little big for her and he thinks he's gonna have to get one just for her. Resting his helmet on the tank between his legs, he akes her hand. Turning it over he looks at the bandage and she smiles up at him.
"It's okay, barely a scratch." Leaning into her he kisses her softly. And it's sweet. She let him hold her all night, his body wrapped around hers protectively even though there was nothing to worry about, no monsters under the bed. But he held her and he slept like a rock.
"See ya at home later. Keys under the rock by the window." Her smile when he says 'at home' and not 'my house' is one he's gonna hold on to all day.
X X X
After she got off work Beth went to the farm to check up on Norman and fill her daddy in on what had happened. She wasn't looking forward to talking about it, she knew it would be upsetting, but she knew it had to be done. It was a tough conversation and she cried and her daddy was upset, but to her surprise when he found out she was staying with Daryl he seemed relieved. That left her a little confused but she didn't question it.
She heads back to Daryl's. He isn't home when she gets there. She supposes that this should feel a little strange, but walking into the cabin, she feels that feeling of relief she always gets when she's finally home after a long day. Home. He'd told her he'd see her at home. Not his place. Home. It isn't even really the cabin that's home. It's him and how she feels with him. How they are together. Smiling she makes her way into the bedroom shedding clothes as she goes. She showers and notices the bruises on her thighs, small and purple. Her sore leg muscles gave her a constant reminder all day of what they did last night. And the ache really wasn't a bad thing with those memories. Carefully removing the gauze from her wrist, she lets the water sluice over it and it really is a small cut. It's not even going to leave a scar. After she takes care of all the little beauty routines she didn't take care of last night and bandages her wrist, she goes looking for her overnight bag. The bed isn't made. They'd been in a kind of a hurry this morning. Laying down on the side he slept on, she buries her face in his pillow- it smells like him. There's a warm throb in her pussy and she's wet and she could lay here and very easily get herself off to the smell of him, but she'll wait- for him.
Rick calls as Daryl is walking up to the door of the cabin. Usually, he'd gnore it, especially since he knows Beth inside and all he wants to do is kiss her and hold her for a few minutes. But he's been waiting for this call and any information Rick has about the guys from last night. He'd come into the shop that morning and taken a statement from Daryl and said he'd try and get by without questioning Beth. He'd promised Daryl he'd have news by the end of the day.
Daryl doesn't expect the intensity of the feelings that hit him as he walks through the door, phone to his ear and Beth's in the kitchen cutting up vegetables. All he sees is her smile and her messy blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail with a few strands hanging in her face. She's wearing a yellow tank top and cut offs and she's beautiful. Fumbling with the phone he focuses on the call.
"Yeah, Rick. Nah I just got home." He listens intently, never taking his eyes off of Beth, saying uh huh when needed and chewing on a thumbnail until he hears what he wants to hear. Officers picked up both guys and they're currently locked up thanks to positive ID's by Beth's neighbor, Glenn, and Merle. He feels his smile and even laughs a little at the expression on Beth's face.
"Best news I got all day. Thanks, Rick. Okay. Yeah man. Later." He tosses his phone on the couch and heads in her direction, but she already figured out what the call was all about.
"They got them?" Her eyes are huge and her reaction makes him feel like he's giving her a gift. She's in his arms before he even makes it across the room. She's saying something about Maggie coming over and that she made a salad and fried up bacon for BLT's. But he's intent on kissing her face and her neck, even the tiny gold stars in her earlobes. He mumbles 'uh-huh' against her throat until she's breathless and giggling.
"Daryl!" Before he can respond his phone rings again and it's Merle. He's coming over with his own news and the thought of all these people at his place is a little disconcerting, but he's just so damned happy she's here with him that he doesn't let it bother him.
"Guess my brother is coming too. Got enough food?" Beth nods, that damn ponytail bobbing up and down and he kisses her again, just a peck on her forehead, a safe place, before heading for the shower.
Pulling his t-shirt over his head he notices the note lying on the vanity. Her handwriting.
~I laid on your pillow naked and it smelled like you.. it turned me on, but I didn't touch myself. I'm waiting for you. Tonight~
She drew a little heart at the end and he's hard now. This girl, it doesn't take much. Trying not to think of her is impossible, last night is on repeat- flashbacks in his head. He turns the water to cold and finishes his shower. Glancing at the crack in the wall above the vanity he smiles to himself as he goes to get dressed.
X X X
Maggie and Glenn are there when he comes out of the bedroom, hair still wet from his shower. She can see where the drips have fallen leaving little dark splotches on his t-shirt. He's walking towards her, a look in his eyes that she's very familiar with now. The one that makes her tummy do somersaults in the very best way possible. He comes up behind her and slips his arms around her waist, nuzzles into her hair, his breath warm against her ear. Maggie and Glenn are laughing together on the couch, caught up in something only they share which is probably why Daryl is comfortable enough to be so affectionate. Because he's not one for PDA. At least not much.
"I was naked, in the shower-," he whispers huskily, "thought about ya with my pillow, fuckin' turned me on, Beth. But I didn't touch myself." He nips at her ear and then moves away from her with a little chuckle and her legs are weak and that throb between them is back. He's teasing her! Laying her hands flat on the cool granite countertop she glares at him and he winks as he grabs a beer from the fridge.
"Hey, Glenn ya want a beer?" Right then Merle comes in the front door with more beer and bags of chips and needless to say it gets loud and busy and Beth can't get Daryl back for teasing her. Not yet anyway. But she will.
Dinner is casual, they're all sitting around the coffee table with plates of BLT's and salad in their laps. Beth's cuddled up beside Daryl, as much as one is able to cuddle with a plate of food balancing on their knees. She leans over and sets another half a sandwich on his plate.
"Whas' this?" She licks some avocado off of her finger and his eyes are on her, intently watching her tongue and what it's doing.
"Eat up, you're gonna need your strength for later Mr. Dixon." She says it low so only he can hear and he does hear. Loud and clear.
"Girl," he growls and dammit she's trying to torment him! He knows what that growl does to her.
"Beth get'cher finger outta yer mouth so Daryl can focus! I got shit ta say!" Merle laughs and Maggie and Glenn join in and Beth ducks her head feeling her cheeks heat up. She chances a glance at Daryl and he's glaring at her, his face and ears bright red. Well, she got him back! She gives him a soft smile and steals a tomato off his plate.
Merle goes on to tell them about the conversation he had with the president of the Hounds of Hell. Turns out the first guy from the fight at the bar had a thing for Maggie and she didn't return the sentiment. Maggie looks confused at this and Beth can tell she's wracking her brains trying to remember which guy he was.
"Little dude got a mite too drunk and took it too far," Merle says. "An those other two jackasses was upholding their buddies honor. Fuckin' punks is all they is, they run with the Snakes, a ghetto ass MC from eastern Atlanta. Pres can't control his little gangster bitches. But my buddy Simon took care of it. Ain't nothin' else gonna happen."
"Yer fuckin' kiddin' me? All a this over a girl?" Daryl's shaking his head.
"Seems so baby brother. Damn women, good thing they's so soft and smell so good!" He tips his bottle and swallows the remainder of his beer.
"Oh my god! I remember that guy. He was always trying to talk to me and I, it was my fault! All of it!" Maggie's lip starts trembling and it takes a good five minutes to calm her down. But with Merle and Glenn teasing her, her sobs turn into giggles and she even accepts the bandana Merle holds out to her and blows her nose. Beth reaches for Daryl's arm and brings it up around her shoulders.
"See? None of this was your fault." She can see the wheels in his head turning and puts a hand on his cheek. "Stop. You are a good man. It's over." He's still struggling with something and she gives him a minute.
"Shoulda brought ya here sooner," he mumbles. Of course, that's what he's going to fixate on. She's not going to argue with him though because there is some truth in it, but what's done is done. And it doesn't matter anymore.
"I'm here now. And if you don't stop you can sleep on the couch and I won't show you just how good I think you are. In fact, I'll just get my stuff and-" Pulling her into his lap he wraps her ponytail around his palm.
"Ya wouldn't!" And suddenly they're both wrapped in Maggie's arms.
"I'm so sorry! Bethy, Daryl really.." And she's crying again. Daryl is struggling to get out of the embrace and Beth is trying her best not to laugh.
"She gonna be like this the whole nine months?" Daryl asks no one in particular, but Glenn's face pales and he looks terrified.
"Oh god, I hope not!"
"Lemme getcha another beer brother," Merle says to Glenn, "Damn women, out ta kill us I swear!" But Merle is chuckling and he glances at his cell phone and Beth is pretty sure it's a text from a certain grocery store manager.
X X X
Daryl has had enough of their company and not enough of Beth. He gathers up the dishes off the coffee table and takes them to the kitchen sink. He hears Beth's footsteps behind him and welcomes her warmth as she leans in against him.
"Something wrong Daryl?" This girl. She knows him well and that's scary. Rinsing off the dishes he doesn't look at her.
"Want 'em to go home now Beth. How we gonna get rid of 'em?"
"Um, we could just start making out on the island and maybe they'll get the hint." She says this in all seriousness and Daryl flicks water at her. She yelps and swats at him and he gets her in a bear hug.
"Ya make me crazy!" he growls.
"You love me." She's smiling up at him and he does love her. More than he bets she even realizes. She's here in his arms and she could stay here for as long as she wants. Even forever. That blows his mind. He never thought he'd find someone he wanted around all the time. Didn't know he wanted it. Until her. She's squirming against him and if no one was here he'd sit her tiny ass on the edge of the sink and they could put another crack in the wall.
"I'm gonna get rid of them. Watch me work my magic!" He reluctantly lets go of her and watches as she saunters over to the couch. Smiling she joins in on their conversation, something about baby names and tattoos. After a few seconds, she yawns loudly. The conversation continues and then she does it again.
"Bethy you're probably worn out! Did you sleep last night?" Maggie has a look of concern on her face and Daryl watches in amazement as Beth actually does work some magic. Her blue eyes drop to her lap.
"Well not really, I mean with everything, it was hard. Daryl was a good sport, but I think I kept him up all night." She's got her hands clasped in her lap, looking all kinds of young and innocent.
"What happened to your wrist?" Daryl feels his throat go dry and he moves in closer curious to see what she comes up with.
"Bad dreams. I hit it on the headboard." Maggie and Glenn are both looking at her sympathetically. Merle, on the other hand, is smirking.
"Shoot I was hoping it was something more excitin'! Like rope burns!" Daryl is across the room in seconds pulling Merle up by his arm.
"Ain't ya got somewhere ta be? Go on and bug Carol!" He can feel his face flaming with embarrassment and he's gonna file the tiny spark of interest in ropes away until later.
"Yeah, yeah I hear ya loud an clear. Ya jus' wanna be with yer girl. I'm outta here!" He smacks Daryl's hand away and reaches out for Beth. "Thanks fer dinner darlin' and it's all good now. Jus' like ole Merle promised. Seems like my brother is upholding his end of the deal too." Fuckin' Merle. Shit if he's a good guy then Daryl definitely is.
"We're gonna go too. Let you guys get some rest." Glenn says. Maggie gives them one last teary hug and then everyone is gone and the door is closed and locked and Daryl looks over at Beth. She gives him a shy smile as he holds his hand out to her.
"Ain't leavin' this house all weekend unless we gotta. An no visitors." Pulling her in close he kisses her on the forehead.
"That sounds perfect Daryl."
Unlike last night, there's no desperation to be with Daryl. She wants him. She always wants him, but there's no rush. Sliding her hands up his chest, over his shoulders, and into his soft curls, she rubs her fingers along the dark stubble that shadows the strong line of his jaw. She's still mesmerized by the way he looks at her, the intensity that's in his eyes. He makes her feel so beautiful like no one else ever has. Raising up on her toes she kisses him softly.
"Bed?" she breathes against his lips. It's a question that darkens his eyes with desire. She pulls her tank top over her head and drops it on the floor, followed by her bra. He's fumbling with his t-shirt, struggling to get it over his head and still keep his eyes on her. His hair is messy, and it makes him look so young.
Daryl doesn't turn on the light in the bedroom. Instead, he lights a candle inside the lantern he has sitting on the bedside table. It's not dark yet, but it's getting there. The light coming through the bedroom window is faint and it's tinged with pink and orange from the setting sun. The window is open and the ceiling fan is turning, stirring up the air and creating a soft breeze. He guides her to the bed, her small hand in his and he lays her down, stretches out beside her. Laying his palm on her stomach he leans over and covers her nipple with his mouth applying just enough suction to create a pull on the already taut skin. She hums her approval and cards her fingers through his hair, letting her nails graze his scalp. It's the most amazing sensation and he can understand why cats purr when they get their ears scratched. Or maybe it's just her. Maybe everything is just her. He'd be absolutely fine with that. She's brought so much to his life he can't imagine any kind of life without her in it. Pushing away from her he kneels on the bed next to her and just looks.
"Why'd you leave? Come back." She reaches for him, but he gently bats her hand away.
"Gonna. Just wanna get these off." He pushes his jeans to his knees and kicks them the rest of the way off. Beth is giggling and he looks down at her, eyebrow raised
"Daryl, do you ever wear underwear?" Why should he? Especially when she looks at him like she is now. It's an odd sensation. He's never felt especially attractive and certainly not when he's naked. Beth makes him feel things he's never felt.
"Ain't see no point to." She's tugging at her shorts pulling them and her panties over her hips. Daryl reaches out and helps to pull them the rest of the way off tossing them over his shoulder. He climbs across the bed and over her nudging her legs apart with his knees. Resting his elbows on each side of her head he leans down and kisses her softly. His chest feels heavy with a whole bunch of things he needs to say and he's trying to sort them out in his head before he says them. So he does it right.
"Hey… where'd you go?" She's too fucking perceptive. He's aware of this but it slips his mind all the time because absolutely no one else has ever paid that much attention to him to see the little things. But she does.
"Wanna apologize for not bringing ya here earlier-"
"Daryl-"
"No just listen... Shoulda brought you here sooner when things first started happenin'," he holds a hand up as she opens her mouth to say something. "I know it's over, and yer okay and all that, and I'm so fuckin', Beth ya said something a while back, when we was falling asleep, ya said ya wanted to stay here with me forever. I wan' that too. I wan' ya here all the time." He swallows hard and takes a deep breath. All this emotional shit that goes along with relationships and love is hard. And he doesn't know if he's getting it all right but he's trying, he's gonna keep on trying for her. For them. "So whenever ya wan' or whenever yer ready or maybe yer not thinking that way anymore, I jus', fuck I feel like a dumb ass." He ducks his head, sure he's said way too much, but she's got her fingers in his hair forcing him to look at her.
"You said this was home. Not your place. Home." Beth says gently. He did and he meant it. He nods, watching her eyes and the way they sparkle. "I wanna be here with you all the time too." The sparkle in her eyes are tears and he brushes them away with his thumb.
"Don' gotta cry. Even them fuckin' happy tears get me all fucked up," he grumbles. And he's kind of teasing her but it's partly true. Tears have always meant pain and sadness. He's been learning, at least with Beth, that tears can be happy too.
"Make love to me Daryl," she whispers.
'Stay forever' That's what's on repeat in her head as she watches him in the darkening room. Candlelight flickers casting little shadows on the ceiling and the walls. It flickers on the muscles in his arms and back and she admires the way they move under his skin as he pushes pillows up against the headboard. He leans over and takes her arm, leading her to where he's sitting and she crawls into his lap straddling him so they're face to face. Raising her hands to his face she traces the dip under each eye and the sharp line of his cheekbones. She lets both hands drift down his neck and over his shoulders, thumbs caressing his collarbone. He sighs as they skim over his biceps and trace over the bumpy bones in his wrists. When they brush against his belly and the muscles underneath the warm skin quiver she feels a clenching of sorts that draws a small breathy moan up and out of her throat. It doesn't stop her though. She has a destination and she's finally reached it. The skin of his cock is silky smooth and she grasps it with both hands caressing it gently as his breath comes in little pants stirring the tendrils of hair that escaped her ponytail.
"Do you remember when you told me I need to keep reminding you that you're good?" Her hands are still working him, slow and methodical. And it isn't even about getting him off, she wants to memorize the feel of him. He's nodding, hips thrusting up into her touch.
"Beth."
The way he says her name, all the different ways that only he can say it.
"You're good Daryl. You're so good! No one has ever made me feel as loved as you do. I only hope I do the same for you, " she's whispering but it's almost a whine and she can't believe how turned on she is and he isn't even touching her, but he's watching her with his cock in her hands.
"Fuck. Beth, ya do. Girl ya make me feel like I did something right cause yer mine." She knew he wasn't gonna keep his hands to himself for long. They're on her face and his lips are seeking hers out and she wraps her legs around his waist and presses herself fully against him and when he's ready all he does is lift her up just enough to slide inside of her and it's her turn to tremble because it feels so good. It all feels so good and this is what she's going to fight to hold on too. Him and them together.
'Stay forever'
Forever doesn't seem long enough.
A/N So.. sometimes forever really isn't long enough. I want to give a shout out to arrowsandangels for helping me work through the scene with Beth getting cut, the blood, and Daryl's reaction to the blood. I wrote this scene a couple of different ways and I wasn't really happy with them. My intent was for the blood and the sex to be more of a life-affirming moment like her blood is her life force and she's alive and that's the cause of Daryl's arousal. He doesn't understand what it means, why he feels 'turned on' by the sight of her blood. He has a completely different reaction when he sees it on her skin, rolling down her arm. He is horrified by it now and how it's too close to everything that happened in her apartment earlier. I would think with what they have gone through, there is definitely some PTSD going on. That coupled with the fact that they have both had traumatic experiences in their lives previous to this. So the blood was just a catalyst for all kinds of feelings. arrowsandangels gave the idea a thumbs up and reiterated that blood is very much associated with life, going all the way back to the Old Testament. Which made me less anxious about the whole scene. Daryl does not have a blood fetish and Beth clears that up for him! And Daryl kinda sorta asked her to move in with him.. I guess we'll have to see where that all goes! Thank you so much for reading! And if you would, please review! Let me know what you thought! I appreciate it!