Chapter 14 - Lauren

I awoke during the night and was momentarily confused on where I was. Since leaving Alexandria we didn't stay in the same place too long, so I was used to waking up in strange places, just not with someone's arms around me. Then I remembered… Daryl. He was holding me after my slight panic attack during the storm last night. However, I realized that we were no longer sitting up. Somehow we were both now lying down on the couch. Daryl was on his back and I was on my side next to him with my arm across his chest. This was definitely an unexpected piece of heaven.

The room was filled with a soft glow of a single lamp, but I could have sworn we had more lights on last night. Somehow the magic of Daryl had most of the lights off and we lying in each other's arms. I slowly drifted back to sleep, I prayed that that we were still together because that's what he wanted and not because it was what he felt I still needed.

Morning finally arrived with the sound of another round of torrential rain, but the absence of thunder and lightning was wonderful. I slowly opened my eyes, sighing lightly in the comfort I still felt from Daryl.

I heard a soft "Hey" and looked up into his blue eyes.

"Hey yourself," I smiled at him. I reached up and gently brushed his bangs out of his eyes and snuggled deeper into his hold on me. "Thank you for last night. I've been dealing with this silly phobia my whole life and nothing's ever calmed me like that before. You have a magic touch." This was my moment and I had to take advantage of it now if he didn't. If I made a fool of myself because he didn't feel anything romantic towards me, then at least I would know and I'd deal with the embarrassment.

"That wasn't no magic. I could tell you were scared. I wanted to help." These were words weren't actually that encouraging. Damn. "But it also gave me the excuse I've been waiting for to get closer to you." Whoa! Now that was a hundred times better.

Daryl turned onto his side so we were both looking at each other. Our faces were only inches apart and I wanted him to kiss me so bad. Not knowing what to say, I just kept smiling at him and placed my left hand lightly on his cheek. He gave me one of his rare smiles back, then leaned in and brushed his lips across mine. He was playful at first, nipping and kissing me softly. I couldn't believe this was happening.

Then his kisses became more powerful, more passionate. Our bodies pressed up against each other with the heat we were creating radiating out in waves. I had imagined myself with him so many times, but I never thought it would be this good. I was trembling both from desire and the reality of what was finally happening. Our tongues danced together in a wild game of tag. I would never think of that children's game in the same light again. He tasted so good. So strong. We kissed for a long time, but neither of us taking it any further….yet. I knew he wanted me. I could feel it.

Suddenly Daryl pulls away from and breaks the kiss. He pulled his arm out from under me and jumps up off the sofa and starts to pace. What was he doing? Everything was so perfect.

"Daryl?" I said looking at him as he paced back and forth running his hand through his dark hair. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" he growls at me "What's wrong? There's no way in hell we should be doing that! That's what's wrong!"

I can't decide if I want to burst into tears or yell at him. "I'm sorry, I thought you wanted this like I do," I tell him with tears threatening to fall. "I'm so embarrassed."

"What do you have to be embarrassed about? I started this, not you."

"But I wanted it Daryl. I wanted you, but … you don't feel the same, that's why." I pull my knees to my chest hugging them. My heart is breaking into a million pieces. He doesn't want me.

I look at him with tears coming down my cheeks. I know guys hate tears, but I can't help it. The only bit of happiness I had in this godforsaken world just crumbled to dust.

"Fuck, Lauren…of course I want you, how could I not? You're smart, brave and beautiful…but you don't belong with a guy like me. You deserve better than some redneck loser."

I quickly wipe away the tears and get up standing right close in front of him. "Redneck loser? Are you kidding me? Is that how you see yourself?" I shout at him. The tears are gone and now I'm just mad. "Are we talking about the same Daryl Dixon? The Daryl I thought I was kissing was the man that's first through the door every damn time, the man that hunts non-stop to feed his friends, the man that is trustworthy…loyal and who every single person in our group respects…including me. That's the Daryl I'm looking at and he isn't a loser, maybe a redneck, but definitely not a loser!"

"Nah…you're dreamin' that ain't me," he says in his soft gravelly voice. 'That ain't me."

"Of course that's you! Why don't you see that?" I asked calming down a bit. "Daryl…you are a really good guy."

"No I'm not," he said firmly. "You don't know!"

"I don't know what? Tell me what I don't know!"

"You don't know where I came from before the turn. How I grew up. I've heard you talk about your family and I could tell you had a great life before all of this. You went to college and I didn't even graduate high school. You had some fancy job in a big office and you wanna know what I did? Nuthin'. Fuckin' nuthin'. I followed Merle around like a dog and we drank and ran drugs to make cash. Is that the type of guy you want?"

I sat up astonished at his words. "You aren't good enough for me? Are you serious? What the hell makes me too good for you and where the fuck did you get that idea from?" I was pissed. He always put himself down. He and Carol were pretty close and when I would try to pry information out of her she said as much. I always suspected his tendency to be a loner was behind that too.

His eyes bore into me daring to deny what he said was true. "You were an ass when you and Merle joined our group. You were angry all the time with a huge chip on your shoulder. Honestly, you both scared me back then. More so Merle than you, God Daryl he was so creepy the way he looked as me, but you still were an ass. But I did think that you were a cute ass." I smiled at him hoping to lighten the serious mood that had developed. I could see his face relax a bit.

"After Merle was left in Atlanta and then when we lost Sophia and you spent all that time searching for her, you changed. It was like Merle wasn't there to pull you down into his gutter. You started to become the man you are today. Daryl, who you were before the turn doesn't count…it's the who you are now is what matters. The courageous, trustworthy and dependable man you have become is the man I want. That's who you are now. Plus it doesn't hurt that I think you are hot as hell!" I knew that last part would embarrass him and the red blush on his cheeks confirmed that. "Do you get it Daryl?"

"Is that really how you see me?" he asked. I could hear the hope in his voice.

"That's how we all see you Daryl. Except… I hope that I'm the only one that thinks you're hot."

Daryl reached over and pulled me into an embrace. "Are you sure about this? It'll change everything?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life. I like you Daryl Dixon. I really, really like you." I just offered up my heart to him, now it was up to him to either take it or crush it.

I could see him relax and the angry and tension he carried just melted away. I moved closer to him and placed my hands on his chest. He kissed me again and I felt every ounce of him wanting me in that kiss. I returned it eagerly. After a minute to two he whispered in my ear, "I really like you too."

It only took that one kiss…that one long kiss for me to be consumed with that intense hunger for him… a need for only him. Suddenly kissing wasn't enough, I needed more… I need all of him. I wanted all of him. We move back to the sofa and I'm back to lying in his arms. I'm loving every moment of his taste, his touch and his lips.

We were so in sync with each other, because as my body tells me it needs to be touched, caressed, I feel him start to stroke my left breast. Millions of tiny electric shocks filter through me at just his touch.

He starts outside my shirt, but quickly moves under it. I feel his rough hand on my bare skin and it's heaven. I can only imagine what it will feel when he's inside of me. He starts to move my bra away, but I stop him. "What? Why?" he whispers against my neck. "I thought…"

"We have a whole house to ourselves, Daryl. Let's go upstairs and enjoy a bed, instead of our first time…on this sofa," I said with a wicked grin.

Our eyes meet again and his face is full of intensity. He stands up and holds out his hand to me without a word. I give him my right hand and he pulls me up quickly into his arms. His lips touch mine and they are demanding and hungry. It was the most passionate kiss I had ever had. We break apart even through it's the last thing we want to do and walk up the stairs hand in hand. I steered us into my old bedroom. Letting go of his hand, I laid down on the bed while Daryl stood at the end looking at me. "Come here biker boy," I purred giving him a sexy look. "I want you…now."

"Fuck yeah," he said slowly climbing up towards me.

Well that was exactly what I had in mind.