She sat up in her bed, groaning at another day and still not feeling totally used to the painted walls and ceiling surrounding her and the light coming in from the curtain framed windows. She jumped slightly when she heard a groan in response to her, her eyes narrowing slightly when she found Daryl's hunched form on the floor.
"What are you doing down there?"
He shrugged, stretching wide and looking up at her. "Missed ya when I was out there. Wanted to be close to ya a lil bit, convince myself you're doin okay here."
She frowned. "I meant on the floor. You could've slept in my bed if you wanted to stay in here, you know."
He stood, brushing his hands on his pants out of habit before sitting next to her at the edge of the bed. "You were out cold. Didn't wanna disturb ya."
"And I didn't wake up?"
He shook his head. "Guess ya really needed ya sleep."
She covered a yawn in her hands. "Well, if you ever want to…. be close again, you don't have to ask."
He nodded, eyes lowered and cheeks flushing slightly. "Ya got work today?"
"Yeah, I'm bringing food over to the Millers', check their water stock. You?" She stood without really waiting for an answer.
"Stayin inside tha walls." He bit his lip, gazing at her out of the corner of his eye for a moment.
"What?"
"Nothin. Ya got plans for supper?"
She whirled around to face him, her blue eyes locking on his. "Um… I wasn't thinking that far."
He cracked a half smile. "Just thinkin… if I gotta be here today, pretendin ta be all normal and shit, might as well do it with you."
The corners of her mouth twitched and she pushed her hands into her pockets. "Are you…. asking me to have dinner with you?"
He nodded, hiding behind his long bangs which had fallen into his face. "Guess I am."
Her eyes widened for a moment and she had to swallow hard before her voice would work. "Where are we going?" She asked softly.
"Best pasta in town's at Aaron's."
She was quiet for a moment while she tried to digest what he was asking her. "You spend a lot of time there, don't you?" She said, her head cocked slightly.
"I guess. Pretty much whenever I gotta be inside that I'm not here. You comin or what?"
"Oh." She nodded, keeping her gaze locked on his. "Yeah, I'm coming with you."
"Alright," he said. "I'ma come get ya here after your shift."
XXXXX
She took a deep breath, shifting her weight from one foot to another as she stood on the stoop. Daryl knocked loudly on the door and she tugged at the hem of her cardigan.
"Welcome," Aaron said, ushering them inside and even though it had been weeks since she'd seen him in person, his smile was as bright as she remembered.
She followed him past the living room, her eyes sweeping over every corner as she took in the layout of the house, which was nearly identical to the one she and her friends were occupying. Her shoulders tensed when she observed the casual way Daryl strode by, almost as if he was more comfortable here than in their own house.
"When you said you were bringing a friend, I didn't realize you meant a lady friend," Eric said teasingly, laughing out loud when Daryl shot him a dirty look. "It's Carol, isn't it?"
She nodded silently, her eyes still taking in their surroundings as they moved to the kitchen.
"Dinner should be ready in just a moment," Aaron said, still with that ever-charming smile.
"Can I help you with anything?" She asked politely as Daryl noisily dragged out a chair from the table.
"You can help me set the table!" Eric enthused, already handing her a stack of plates.
"You'll have to excuse him," Aaron said with a wink. "It's not very often we get this much company."
She smiled slightly, grateful to be put to work. When she was finished Eric handed her a glass of wine, gesturing for her to take a seat.
She carefully sank down into the seat next to Daryl, only relaxing slightly when he reached under the table and squeezed her knee.
She was glad when Aaron set the pot on the table and everyone started eating. As soon as all four plates were full, Aaron and Eric were making eyes at each other through their small talk. She smiled politely and laughed at the right intervals, listening to the comforting sounds of Daryl noisily slurping his spaghetti next to her.
"You can take the boar out of the wild, but you can't take the wild out of the boar," Eric joked.
She grinned, placing a hand on Daryl's forearm. "You should've heard him when he was eating actual boar," she said.
The two men chortled loudly and Daryl nudged her leg with his foot and she found her smile widening.
After dinner, they retired to the living room with more wine and stale crackers. Daryl plopped down ungracefully on the sofa, patting the space next to him until she joined him.
Aaron and Eric were sitting real close in the same easy chair and they were all still talking and laughing from dinner.
Daryl draped an arm across her shoulders and then he and Aaron were mapping out plans for their next scavenge and she was thinking idly how it was the most she'd ever seen Daryl talk but really the only thing she could concentrate on was the tingling feeling his fingers running up and down her arm was producing.
She looked across the room to find Eric smiling knowingly at her. After a moment, she found herself smiling back.
XXXXX
It was late when they were walking over the lawn to the sidewalk. Daryl slowed his stride to match hers and she slipped her hand into his, surprised when he didn't try to let go.
She tightened her grip on his fingers as they walked home together.
"Thanks for that," he said gruffly.
"It was nice," she said with a soft smile.
He nodded. "Ya like it alright?"
"Yes," she said honestly.
"Think ya might come back?"
"Yes," she said again. "I think I might."
"Good." He opened the side door, gesturing for her to go in first.
"Are you sleeping in my room again?" She asked, her voice a little shaky towards the end.
"If ya want," he said quietly, checking to make sure there was no one around.
"I wouldn't say no," she whispered.
He closed the door behind them, his breathing turning heavier in the surrounding darkness.
She moved closer to him until she was brushing up against his chest. "Hi," she whispered.
"Hi," he said, his arms encircling her waist.
She tilted her head up, closing her eyes as she felt his breath on her face as his lips pressed against hers. He kissed her tentatively at first, then grew more sure as she tangled her fingers in his hair.
She kissed him back tenderly, gently teasing her nails across his scalp.
He groaned softly, deepening the kiss and she eagerly opened her mouth against his.
She wasn't quite sure how long they were kissing, only that it was a long time. Eventually he moved his mouth down her neck, tilting her chin back with his hand as he nibbled her soft flesh.
She pressed herself against him, moaning softly and he walked her backwards until she was flush against the wall, his mouth still pressed to her throat.
"Daryl," she breathed as he began to suck softly. She pushed her hands up the back of his shirt, gliding her fingers on bare skin as he continued his delicious assault on her neck.
Her nipples were hard and she squirmed against him, hoping he'd take the hint. He clumsily reached around her back to unhook her bra, his mouth lowering to her collar bone as his hands cupped her breasts.
"Daryl," she moaned again. "That feels good."
He groaned into her skin, moving his mouth back up to her neck and kissing her roughly.
Her hands fisted in his shirt as she closed her eyes, getting lost in his hungry kisses and rough hands. At some point she realized they were on her bed and his breath tickled her ear as he licked at her lobe before moving his mouth lower.
"Daryl, wait…." She said.
He pulled back, gazing at her quizzically.
"Don't leave any marks on my skin," she said quietly.
"Sorry," he mumbled. "Guess I got carried away. S'pose ya don't want any hickeys for work, right?"
"Well… not on my neck," she said with a mischievous grin.
She giggled as his mouth dropped slightly open. "Ya tryin ta kill me?" He asked, pushing her shirt all the way up and tugging it over her head before dropping his face down between her breasts.
She sighed as his mouth went to work, shifting her hips against him and tugging at his hair. Just as soon as he'd started, he stopped, placing a loud kiss against her cheek and pulling up the blankets around her as he cuddled her close.
She frowned in the darkness as she turned around to face him. "Daryl?"
"Hmmmm?" He asked, lazily nuzzling her face with his nose.
She paused for a moment. "Are you ever going to ask me to have sex again?"
He was quiet for awhile, his hands gently smoothing her hair back. "No," he finally whispered.