Here is the long awaited Chapter 13 ~ Please enjoy and send me your feedback by clicking the button and making magic in my box. Yes, I really did write that, but hey, read on, you'll see why. LOL! ;) Kat
As she tip toed down the ridge next to him, she spotted lightning off in the distance followed after a lengthy pause by the rolling sound of thunder. The air had felt heavy all day, more than humid, almost as if it were bearing down on them. Days like that always brought on symptoms of claustrophobia for her but after washing up and cooling off – knowing where they were going, she felt nothing but freedom. Free of everything, pain, anxiety, insecurities. For the moment she just wanted to lose herself. Careless? Hell yes it was careless, but as she tipped her head, trying to see his face without him noticing, he caught her stare and held it and she saw the same thoughts reflecting back at her in his eyes without him having to say a word.
Inside the tent, she stood in the center stretching up to dim the lantern, careful not to loosen the knot that they'd tied to hold it up. He kneeled down in front of her reaching up under the shirt she'd thrown on, smoothing his hands across the flat of her stomach, slowly sliding them up, rough skin against smooth. She brought hers to his damp hair, curling her fingers through it as he lightly brushed his warm lips across her navel.
Spontaneity was never one of her strong suits, she never had the chance to just go with the moment, but looking down at Daryl, the idea to pull off her pants sprung to mind before he had the chance to do it himself. She wasn't sure he would anyhow, with how standoffish he was, but when she hooked her thumbs into the belt loops and brought them down baring herself to him, he tossed her one last hungry look, grasped her hips with his strong hands and buried his face right where she ached the most.
There wasn't anything for her to latch onto when her legs began to quiver. She sensed that he knew though, she could feel the tremors starting and his arms drifted around her, holding her steady. She bit the back of her hand to keep from moaning any louder than she already had. More rumbling thunder drown her out as his tongue flicked a soft and steady rhythm against her and her legs finally gave out so that she rested in his arms when he sent her over the edge only a few minutes later.
When her breathing slowed, he straightened up from where he'd knelt, shifting his arms from where she was cradled in them up under the back of her shirt. She raised her arms carefully as lightning flashed again, brightening the inside of the tent enough for her to see, after the shirt was lifted over her head, that his eyes were right on hers, waiting, unsure. His shirt came off next; she wasted no time after that. Thunder clapped a minute later as the storm drew closer.
Tonight she wished for no uncertainty between them though it was to be expected. She made her move, pressing her chest to his chest. Nothing she could see illuminated by the lightning or the glow of the lantern on his body was going to make her want him less and she needed for him to know that.
It was him, as they kissed, who unfastened the button on his pants and pulled them off. He'd walked down to the tent barefoot and he warmed hers up by tapping his toes on top of hers.
The kissing was amazing, something she knew they both hadn't done enough of in their lives. She could kiss him all night and it just so happened that they were still mouth to mouth, tongue to tongue as the first raindrops pattered down on the tent, bringing them to their senses and apart. The booms were louder now, flashes of lightning following seconds later rather than minutes. Gales swept in past the trees flowing through the nylon, smelling of pine and ozone, raising goosebumps that sprung up underneath his hands. If it hadn't been for him noticin' they probably would've kept at each others lips until dawn.
"You're cold." Daryl stated the obvious leaning his forehead on hers, rubbing his hands across her arms back and forth. He acted nervous now that he wasn't focused on a task.
"I'm – I'm fine." She whispered, though she was leaning on his muscled shoulders with most of her weight.
"I wasn't sure – what just happened." He said leading her onto the blankets, bringing the heavy one over her shoulder, tryin' to get under himself.
Her hand went to his cheek and he stiffened but stopped himself from pulling away, bringing his lips to hers again. "You were amazing." She said when there was the opportunity. "A first for me." Admitting that was tough for her. Here she was in her early forties and that sounded ridiculous, but he cut her worries short with three quiet words.
"Yeah same here." The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. His phantom smile – she was always afraid of missing it. The rain whipped the side of the tent. They both stole a glance at the front of it bowing in. "Should hold, as long as the wind don't get no stronger." He assured her.
She couldn't not think about Herschel, who'd been on watch. "You think Herschel got to his tent alright?"
"Heard him go by before the rain got too heavy." He answered, then he completely changed the subject. "Gotta ask, just to be sure." He waited for her to nod or give him some sort of 'okay' to go on with his question.
"Ask what?" She steeled herself for anything as unpredictable as he was. She only hoped they weren't gonna stop.
"We don't have anythin' ta – any – are we safe to - " He fumbled with the words.
Finally she grasped what he was tryin' to ask. They had no form of birth control. "It's okay. I had a tubal ligation after Sophia."
He scrunched his face up dipping his head down to look away at the mention of her name, or maybe just not knowing what she meant. "I knew what kind of life I had ahead of me." She forged ahead admitting more, even though she knew it could halt things between them right then. She just felt the need to explain. "I never really meant to get pregnant with her, so when she was born, I had them do the procedure while I was in the hospital. We're safe."
He still appeared uncomfortable, but she rested her hand on his arm, feeling the tension in his body. "She was my gift Daryl. I'm grateful I was blessed with her. She brought me you." She stopped there because the more she rambled, the worse he'd feel or the greater the chance she'd scare him away. The pain was still fresh even after all these months for them both.
Her thoughts were brought to a halt when he ran a hand between her thighs, the expression on his face changing from what looked almost like anguish to lust. How did he know exactly how to touch her? She wondered, even though she felt his hand shaking. My turn. She thought after that and anymore baggage left to discuss was forgotten.
He blew out a trembling snarl against her cheek when she took him in her hand, carefully but firmly running her fingers around the shaft up to the tip and down again and then he sucked in a breath rolling over her, propping himself up with one elbow. His body smelled clean, like Ivory soap, reminding her of her childhood and Sophia, the only good memories she'd been left with in this dark world.
Before he entered her she tried to etch the very memory of the erotic but tender look on his face into her mind. It was something she never wanted to forget. He was beautiful, inside and out and she wondered right then and there if he had any idea how much he meant to her.
Daryl was afraid he'd teeter over the edge before they even got started. This had been comin' for a long while now. Her body was so thin but feminine and complimentary to his, like night and day, they matched. He glanced over and watched as her fingers curled through his own and he pushed against the tightness between her thighs. Every nerve in his body stood on end as she arched her body up to welcome him, and in that instant he felt like he'd finally found a sense of peace he'd never known.
When she turned her face just right he noticed her profile, her delicate features, her soft hair which spiked and curled now that it'd started growin' out, the shiny earings she kept in all the time, everything about her – to him just pretty, and not in a conventional sense, but she was his Carol. She had been for a long time now. "Fought this too long." He blurted out as he picked up the rhythm she responded to with fervor.
"Daryl," She moaned, pulling him in deeper with her hand on his ass.
He dipped his mouth down to hers like he was parched and his tongue made lazy circles against hers. "Fuck." He whispered sweeping his lips to her chin, down to flick his tongue across her nipple. When his teeth grazed the other she moaned, drowned out by a thunderclap, but it was enough for him to hit his peak and tumble over. As he came he ground his fingernails into the backs of her knuckles, groaning in release, calling out her name in her ear.
It's done. He thought. They'd crossed the line, finally. No goin' back now. It struck him as funny and he smiled a real smile, which felt odd too.
"You're smilin'." She said, beaming from underneath him, but lookin' surprised at the same time.
"Yeah." Was all he could whisper and it barely registered to his own ears as he tried to catch his breath.
The wind gusts slowed, and the thunder was gettin' further from them. The storm had moved its way across the camp, onto the pond and now beyond that. Each flash of light came from behind their tent now. The rain slowed to a rhythmic pitter, patter and he lay on top of her with her legs curled around his hips, in no hurry to move. Her fingers drummed against his ass to the divot at the base of his spine.
"Did you think it could be like this for us?" She whispered.
His lips made a straight line as he thought about it. "I didn't know what to expect. Didn't know anythin' could feel like that."
She only nodded in agreement, her cheeks flushed.
It was a bit later he rolled over. She put on the t-shirt she'd had on earlier that was about two sizes too large and a pair of loose pants.
He threw his cargos on but nothin' else. The fire needed to be started again. The rain had quit and although he knew none of the others had slept through the storm, he didn't hear any of them rushin' out of their tents to get it goin'.
Takin' a peek back at her all curled up to his pillow, he let out a deep breath, not ready to leave but he unzipped the tent anyhow and stepped outside into the wet grass. Thunder crashed behind him and rolled on, sounding like it went on for miles.
Any deadfall they'd collected and turned into firewood was stacked near the tree and covered with a tarp. Before he could take a step in that direction he chanced a look into the woods near that clearing and froze. He squinted his eyes, not believin' what he was seein'. "What the hell?" He said out loud, not botherin' with whispers or hidin' his shock.
Illuminated by the light he held in his left hand, Merle stood stock still, his stump covered up by some kinda bayonet lookin' contraption strapped to his arm, which hung at his side. He appeared taller or maybe it was that he was thinner, yet muscled. Soakin wet, he smiled, teeth gleamin' like a wolf starin' him down, ready to bite, challengin' him to come out to where he stood waiting.
Before Daryl knew what he was doin' or that he'd even decided to act, his feet were carrying him across the wet grass as he ran full speed after his brother. Merle stood his ground for a moment before turnin' off the light he had with him and fadin' into the darkness. He heard someone runnin' after him – Rick callin' his name in a hushed tone.
"Daryl what the hell are you doin'?" He asked, catching up with him.
"Merle." He was all he said, skidding to a halt at the edge of the woods.
"Merle?" Rick asked incredulously, running his hand across his forehead, catching his breath. Daryl hadn't brought anything with him, not his bow, no knife, nothin', but Rick had his on his belt, his gun and a flashlight.
"He was right fuckin' here." Daryl snapped, pacin' around in the tall grass. "Shhh – listen."
They kept their ears to the forest for a minute. Daryl swore he heard him movin' further away, but Rick shook his head. "Can't hear nothin'."
"I'm tellin' ya he was here." Daryl's voice broke.
Rick hung his head, starin' at the ground and Daryl knew that he'd known. Rick had caught on that somethin' wasn't right. "How long?"
"Huh?" Daryl asked.
"How long have you known he was around?"
Daryl paced lacing his hands behind his head. Cool droplets of rain spattered across his shoulders and back from the trees above. Then somethin' shiny sparkled as Rick's flashlight beam swept across the ground.
Daryl dodged a few branches and crouched down to retrieve a gold watch. He rolled it through his fingers, knowing for certain what the inscription would say on the back. Bringing it over to Rick, he held it out to him. "It was my Grandpa's. I left it with my things back at the farm."
He left Rick standin' there and started back to camp knowin' his brother was creepin' around in the woods, waiting for him to flip out. Well he wasn't gonna give him the satisfaction. If it weren't for walkers he'd be out in those woods in the dark and he'd find him by Christ – that he knew for sure, but with the group dependin' on him, he wasn't gonna risk it. Merle had left his ass months ago, and now that he'd caught up with him it was all fun and games.
"Why didn't ya let me know?" Rick asked through clenched teeth when he caught up with him.
Daryl stopped in his tracks, lookin' Rick in the eye. He'd wanted to, but - "I wanted to be sure it wasn't just in my head."
Rick ran a hand through his hair. "He wants revenge. It's that simple." He held out the watch to him, which he'd wiped clean on his t-shirt. Rick had never felt right about what happened to his brother and Daryl knew it. And Daryl also knew how Merle could be, especially jacked up on whatever shit he'd been on that day. If Rick hadn't gone back into the city to get him – usin' the guns as a reason to satiate Lori, he never would've held a modicum of respect for the man.
Daryl turned his body toward the woods. "Naw, he's playin' games right now. It's somethin' he's famous for. Nothin's ever simple with Merle, but he's got somethin' up his sleeve – it might be you he's after, your family, T-Dog, maybe even me for bein' here with ya." He pointed toward T-Dog's tent and noticed Carol stood outside theirs with her arms crossed. "We need ta keep our guard up even moreso. If we can push it and clear that last section tomorrow – at least get in there, it won't matter what he wants."
Rick stewed on that while they got the fire goin' and he, Daryl and Carol sat out there on the damp log warming up for a bit, watching for anything out of the ordinary.
Daryl finally sighed, standing, holding out a hand to Carol. "Bastard's long gone."
"How can ya tell?" Rick asked, not fully turning his head to look at Daryl, so he could keep an eye out while poking at the fire embers.
Daryl paused, squeezin' Carol's hand. "Same way you knew somethin' was up with me." He pointed to his head. "Somethings ya just know. Other things you see. He's been takin' care of himself. Got himself a home base somewhere and it's cush - nothin' like we've got. He was wet from the rain, but his clothes, they were new. He's not the same as he was. I'm willin' to bet he's kicked the drugs." That don't make him any less of a danger to us. He wanted to add, but held off.
Rick did a sweep with his eyes and sighed. "We'll give it a go. Pack our stuff tomorrow mornin'. If worse comes to worse, we could make camp in that first or second section."
Daryl nodded and ducked in their tent first. "I'm fuckin' beat." He told her, the frustration building again.
Carol stood near the door after zippin' it up. "Hey, you gonna be okay?"
Daryl stepped sideways then turned around to face her. "What the hell do ya think?" He snapped.
She moved into his space, unaffected and traced a finger through his hair. "No. But I feel better with Rick knowin'."
His eyes went to his bare feet. "Don't want that bastard near any of ya, not if I don't know what he wants, where he's been."
"Lay down, no more thinking. Rick's gonna keep an eye out."
Daryl spun his Grandpa's watch around in his hand, and then shoved it in the pants pocket, letting out a groan of frustration. When he ran his hands through his scruffy hair he felt it stick out in every direction but he was too pissed off and confused to care.
He did as she said, not used to taking orders but finding after everything that had transpired between them tonight, that he just wanted to be close to her because whatever was going on with Merle wasn't good. He had no idea how to protect the people he'd come to – let's face it, he thought – care about and how to break the fucked up bond he had with his own brother if he had to.
She caught him biting his bottom lip as they lay staring at each other. Merle wasn't what he wanted to be thinking about. He'd barely had the chance to process what had happened with Carol.
"Stop them wheels from spinnin'." She whispered. "We'll figure it out." He found he liked that – the 'we' part, didn't feel so alone now, especially not after tonight. He'd only ever been able to rely on himself before, but things were different now; different for Merle too, obviously. How those changes would mesh and clash – that was the big question.
She brought him into her shoulder, slowly running her fingers through the back of his hair until he relaxed and all sound, scent, and terrifying thoughts went away.