AN: This is a fairly short chapter, but a good one. Thanks to everyone who's been reading and big thanks to those who have reviewed. It keeps me going.
He followed closely behind her as she lead them deeper into the prison. She finally stopped as she came to an unmarked office door. "Here it is. My little secret. I found it a while back when I was looking for supplies. I come here sometimes to be alone." She opened the door, revealing a dimly lit office. They stepped inside and Daryl could see why she liked the room. It was the only place in the whole building that could be described as inviting. There was a large wooden desk on one side, the wall behind it lined with bookshelves. On the opposite side sat a tall bureau and an overstuffed tan sofa.
"Whose office was this?" Daryl asked as he looked around.
"I don't really know. Someone important, I guess. I mean, why else would they have a bed in here." she replied, walking over to the sofa and picking up the cushions, showing him that it was a sleeper. She pulled the bed out, and sat down on the edge of it, looking down at her feet. There was an uncomfortable silence between them as he came and sat down next to her. They had been so caught up in the moment before and now that they had each had a few minutes to cool down, their anxiety was starting to build. Daryl took a deep breath as he made the first move, sliding closer to her until their thighs were pressed together. He placed his hand on her leg and slowly rubbed the length of her thigh until she raised her eyes from the floor and looked at him. He was nervous, she could see it in his eyes. But he was trying. And that was all she needed. She kicked her boots off and moved herself back in the bed, her eyes begging him to follow as she lay back against the pillows. He kicked his own boots to the side and moved to lie beside her. He kissed her gently, more cautiously than before. She responded by wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer, deepening the kiss. It was slower, sweeter than their first real kiss, but intense at the same time, their lips moving together, their tongues dancing in perfect harmony. He reluctantly pulled away, only to move his lips lower, first to the side of her neck, trailing down until he reached her collarbone. He glanced up at her for a moment, silently asking her permission to continue. She nodded, and he resumed his movements. She moaned softly when he began to suck on a sensitive spot just below her ear, and the sound made him bolder. He slowly ran his fingers down her side until he reached the hem of her shirt. She sat up for a moment so he could remove the garment. Once it had been pulled over her head, she reached out to remove his. He flinched back as her fingers touched the buttons. She froze.
"What's wrong? Did I do something?" she asked, already moving to try and cover herself.
He stilled her hand. "You didn't do anything. I just…I don't really let anyone see me with my shirt off. It ain't pretty under there."
Carol actually smiled a little as she reached out again and began unbuttoning his shirt. "Daryl, look at me. I'm covered in bruises. But I'm not hiding. I know about your scars. I know where they came from. I don't care. You aren't hiding from me anymore."
He let her slide the shirt down his arms, exposing every mark he had tried so hard to hide. True to her word, she didn't care. She simply leaned back in to kiss him. He was suddenly overwhelmed by his desire as his anxiety faded away. He wrapped his arms around her waist, sliding his hands up her bare back until he reached the clasp to her bra, unhooking it after a few unsuccessful attempts. She quickly pulled it off and flung it across the room, her own need becoming urgent. She reached down, unbuttoning her jeans and wriggling out of them as fast as she could while he did the same. Once they were both free of their clothes, the studied each other for a moment. He didn't care about the bruises on her body, the small stretch marks on her stomach from her pregnancy. She was beautiful. She didn't see the scars, or burns, or tattoos. All she saw was the man she had wanted for so long, truly opening himself up to her for the first time. She moved herself back against the pillows, spreading her legs wide as he kneeled in between them, his throbbing erection hovering just inches away from her opening.
"Daryl, please, I need you now." she pleaded in a breathy whisper.
He inched himself in, the tightness and heat overwhelming him. He pushed in slowly until he was completely inside of her. She moaned at the feeling of fullness, and her hips bucked slightly, seeking more. Daryl pulled back out gently before reentering her with slightly more force. His movement was met with another moan, this one just a little louder than before. She reached out for him, pulling him down to crush her lips against his. This caused him to buck his hips harder than before and she actually cried out against his lips. He let himself be guided by her, her cries and whimpers setting his thrusts into a pace which left her trembling under him. He moved his lips from hers and kissed a trail down her chest, flicking his tongue against the hard pink nub of her nipple before pulling it into his mouth and sucking. Her hips began to rise even faster, meeting his thrusts with equal force. He increased his speed, giving her nipple one last little nip before giving the other one the same treatment. He could feel her begin to clench around him, he knew she was close. He was about to come himself, but he held out as long as he could. He was just about to blow when she cried out his name and he felt her walls tighten around his cock, moisture flooding from her as he finally found his own release. He was panting for breath, but he refused to tear his eyes away from her. Her gaze was fixed on him and she had an almost dreamy expression on her face. He slowly pulled himself from her warmth and laid down next to her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. They were both breathing heavily, and when she laid her head down on his sweaty chest, she could hear the sound of his heart beating rapidly. Before she knew it, the comforting sound had lulled her to sleep. Daryl could feel from the way she relaxed against him that she was out, but he didn't release her. He just held her tightly, still not trusting that this was real. The good parts or the bad. But he was trying not the think about that. All he wanted to do was fall asleep with her warm body pressed to his. He never wanted to leave this bed again. He never wanted to let her go again. But he knew that couldn't happen. He could feel his fear return, the thoughts of losing her quickly flooding his brain. But he remembered something she had said. Find joy in the small things. If what he had just had wasn't joy, then he didn't know what it was. He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the head as he pushed the dark thoughts from his mind and found his joy again as he fell asleep with the woman he loved in his arms.
Thanks for reading. One or two more chapters up by tomorrow. Please take the time to review. I really would love to know what you all think of this story. Thanks!