His head was lowered so that she couldn't see his face through his long, scraggly hair but even between the thick strands she could see his skin was flushed a brighter red than she'd ever seen as he tried to shove himself away from her.

"It's okay," she whispered hoarsely, but he didn't answer.

She sniffled slightly as hot tears began to sting at the corners of her eyes and she reached clumsily for him, her arms and legs still trembling. "No…. no," she murmured as her thin fingers closed around his wrists. "No, Daryl, please… don't do this. Not now."

He was huffing as he struggled half-heartedly in her grasp.

"Daryl, please," she whispered again. "Just… just please, hold me."

His eyes raised up to meet hers and his harsh expression softened. "C'mere," he mumbled, gently wiping the tears from her face with his knuckles. "Don't gotta do that."

"I'm sorry," she breathed, leaning into him and settling her face into the crook of his neck. "It's just… nothing like that has ever happened before. At least, not from another person. Just don't push me away."

He swallowed hard, his hand fumbling to tilt her head up to look at him as he digested her words. "You serious? You mean you never….?"

She nodded sheepishly, biting her lip.

"Damn," he said with a low growl, crushing his mouth over hers.

She threw her arms around his neck to hold him in place as she kissed him back eagerly, her fingers threading through his hair.

He pressed his body up against hers and she could feel his growing erection against her thigh as she hummed in the back of her throat through their heated kisses.

She pulled back slightly, placing a hand on his belt buckle. "I gotta touch you," she whispered in between deep, heavy breaths.

"Hmmmm," he agreed with a nod, a slightly dazed expression on his face as he reached for her again.

He moved his mouth down her throat and she lowered her hand to tug the zipper on his jeans down, shoving his clothes, boxers and all out of the way.

He was still sticky when she wrapped her hand around him, but then he was groaning softly as she tightened her grip and his dick twitched in her palm and she didn't mind as long as he didn't.

"Oh, fuck," he moaned as she began to stroke him.

"Am I- am I doing it alright?" She asked.

"Ungh, hell yeah," he grunted, moving his hips to guide her pace. "Feels even better'n when I do it myself."

She smiled into his shoulder for a moment before tilting her head to kiss his neck as she reached to ghost her hand over his balls before gripping his length again.

He shivered, groaning as he tightened his hands on her arms and she increased her pace, twisting her wrist in what she hoped were the right intervals as she jerked his cock.

He closed his eyes, still moving his hips along with her strokes. "Shit, Carol, that's good."

She watched his face for a moment, all scrunched up in pleasure and sweat drops rolling across his forehead and then suddenly he thrust his hips sharply into her grip with a loud grunt as he squirted all over her hand.

"Mmmmm," she murmured as she slowly loosened her hand from around him.

"Hell yeah," he said again, handing her a rag to dry her hands before moving to clean himself up.

She ran her hand along the mattress, feeling around for her clothes. "It's late," she said. "Everyone else'll probably be getting in any minute now. It's probably safer if you just stay the night in here."

He nodded, pulling his own shirt on over his head. "Want me ta take the floor?"

"Are you kidding?" She asked with a slight grin. "Hell no, I don't want you to take the floor. Just sleep here, next to me."

He settled back with his head against a pillow, eyes carefully watching her for a moment. "Carol?" he asked.

"Hmmm?" She responded, clutching her own pillow in her arms.

"Things ain't gonna be weird with us now, right?"

She laughed, rolling over to face him. "Course not."

XXXXX

The next morning, Carol busied herself at the kitchen counter while Michonne sat at the table, eating dry cereal and reading an outdated newspaper as she straightened her collar and tie.

They both looked up when they saw Daryl emerge from the hall, and she smiled sweetly at him.

"Hay," he grumbled, nodding to them both.

Michonne wordlessly went back to her newspaper.

He strode over to join her at the counter, placing his hand at the small of her back. "Gotta go out wit Aaron," he said lightly.

She nodded.

"Shouldn't be gone too long," he added. "See ya when I get back?"

"Yeah," she said, swallowing the lump in her throat that always formed whenever he said goodbye.

"Alright," he said, leaning his head down awkwardly and placing a clumsy kiss on her lips.

"Stay safe," she called as he headed out the back door.

He grinned slightly. "Nine lives, remember?"

"Yeah," she said softly as she watched his retreating form. "I do."

She turned around to look at Michonne, who still hadn't said a word throughout the whole exchange, although her eyebrow was raised as she tried to hide her smirk in the newspaper.