Chapter 13
MONDAY
Detective Allen called Daryl first thing on Monday, and by the end of the day they had the plan set up. Daryl would meet the Savage Sons at their bar for a buy, using some cash provided by the police. The cops would come in after the deal and make arrests; and both Merle and Daryl would have to testify. Daryl told her the details that night, as they sat on the porch swing, the boys asleep upstairs.
"I don't like it, you going in all by yourself like that." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked out into the night.
His arm wrapped tighter around her shoulder and he took a drink off of his beer. "S'cute, the way you worry after me, like I an't been deelin' with shit like this my whole life."
She let her hand fall back to his knee where it had been before. "I know, just..." She sighed, picking at the scratchy fabric. "... you won't let me do anything and I..."
"Nuh-uh. You did you're part. The safe part. Now let me do mine." His voice had gone from jovial to a little stern in a heartbeat.
"Huh. Am I still allowed to worry?" She was clearly perturbed.
"You can be a smart ass or worry yourself into a fit if you want to. As long as you're in this house while I'm in that bar."
"I will be, cross my heart." She reached up, tugging at his chin a little to get him to look at her. "Please be careful. I mean it. I want you back whole, with no chunks missing or brains lost."
"No worries there, ain't got no brains ta loose."
"Ha ha smart guy. But I mean it. I don't care if you have to kill every dude in there or run like bitch..."
"I ain't no bitch."
"Please- just say you'll be careful. For me?" Her brows were tight, and at some point her hand had dropped to the front of his shirt, gripping it snugly.
"Hey, come on now. It'll be fine." He pulled her head to rest on his chest. "I been to this place a million times. They ain't good dudes, but I know em' and how they are. Honestly, this ain't even the first time I got meth there, had to go there with Merle more than once to get his stuff."
"I guess that helps." She started yanking on a loose button that hung from his flannel. "You should let me fix that."
"You don' gotta. I can tend to it."
"Might as well; I fixed a half dozen pairs of your socks the other day. I pulled them out of the dryer but didn't know where you wanted them, so their up on the dresser." He grunted, that little fiery feeling in his gut suddenly blazing again. He wanted to be the one to take care of her, but she always seemed to be the one caring for him. And she actually wanted to. That fact was still hitting him every now and then, like a revelation from god that just kept getting more real all day long. He buried his nose in her hair, no longer worried that she would pull away from his gentle little touches in horror. He had tried it out all night long, a kiss here or a caress there; and not once had she pulled away. She would smile or touch him back even; it was amazing, like suddenly finding out you could fly. His hart hammered in his chest, and although he was dead tired, he wanted nothing more in the world then to just sit here and hold her forever. He let out a long, deep sigh of contentment and she giggled a little.
"You sound like a big ol' grizzly bear."
"Oh, that so?" He put down his beer slowly, then quick as a flash he had his fingers dug into her sides, tickling her ribs. "Well you better watch out, bears are dangerous!" She giggled and kicked, trying desperately to grab his hands, but he was far faster than her. He grabbed her legs and scooped her up across his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tried to ignore how one of his hands rested on her inner thigh.
"Don't do that- I hate tickling!"
"Bears don't tickle, we just play with our food." He licked his lips and kissed her, slow and deep, his fingers starting to dip under the leg of her shorts.
She pulled back suddenly. "Wait, don't you have work in the morning?"
"I do, but I'll survive. But let's not be horsen' around much more OK?"
She leaned over, whispering in his ear. "But now you've got me all hot Daryl." She popped a couple of his buttons while she spoke, dipping her hand inside his shirt. "Please, can I have you? Just a quickie?"
He swallowed, his mouth feeling very dry all of a sudden. She played with the lobe of his ear with her teeth and lips, while her fingers toyed with his pecs. "For fucks sake woman, you can pull my heart outta' my chest if you want ta'." He panted, fingers reaching up her thigh to her panty line.
"That's not the organ I had in mind right now sugar." She kissed him again, then stood up to take off her shorts and panties. "Stand up and switch places with me." He stood, one of his hands automatically going to semi hard erection, pushing it around in his pants to a more comfortable position. She sat low on the swing, and reached up to his belt, pulling him down to kiss her. Slowly getting the hint, he knelt between her legs. They kissed and felt at one another for a moment, before his fingers dipped between her bare thighs, seeing how wet she was. "I can't wait anymore Daryl, please, I need you inside me." Her voice was taunt and needy, and he suddenly felt incredibly thankful that he had hung the swing so low when he put it up.
"I ain't gunna lie..." He was opening his belt and pulling his pants down to his knees. "I fuckin' love it when you beg me. Ain't nobody ever begged me for it before."
"Well you must have been seeing some pretty stupid bitches because this..." she reached down, rubbing his length, "is a treasure. And you do amazing things with it. So please, pretty please, will you fuck me now?"
He was chewing on his lips, fighting back a grin. "You really want it baby?"
She reached behind her, gripping at the wooden back rest. "Oh my god yes. I need you Daryl." Her legs spread wide and he was pretty sure that whimpering sound he heard actually came from his own mouth. "Please fuck me. My legs are shaking I need you so bad."
He reached into his back pocket for his wallet, pulling out a brand new rubber. He rolled it down himself slowly, enjoying the view of his girl before him; trembling legs, wet lips, and messy hair. "It's alright sweetheart, I'ma do you real good." One rough hand caressed her thigh, the other rubbed the tip of his shaft along her lips. She realized that the deep, rich tenor of his sex voice was not unlike the one he used when talking to his motorcycle. Then nothing else mattered but his body, as he used the swing to push her onto his cock, again and again. She relished the sensation for a moment, before reaching out for her clit. She rubbed to the rhythm of his thrusts, but also to sight of his arm muscles working the swing, and the sound of his panting as he tried not to come. When she climaxed, she couldn't hold back her cries. His hand reached up over her mouth to dampen it, and she kept a rough grip on his wrist until she finished. When she looked up her gave her a little nod as if to ask if she was done, and she nodded back. His arms wrapped around her waist and she landed softly on the porch, his erection still inside her. He made a few short thrusts, then came, burying his face in the top of her hair to muffle his noises. She caressed the back of his neck as they both came down from the moment, their breath evening out and bodies relaxing.
"Thank fuckin' god you come so quick, I don't think I coulda' held out for another minute." He laid on her, enjoying the feel of her tiny body crushed beneath him.
"Well, if we play a little first that gets me going. And you played with me all night long, it was driving me insane."
"Really?" He pushed up on his forearms, not bothering to hide his grin.
"Yeah really. It was the worst when you kept playing with my hair when we were watching TV. God, I just wanted to rip your clothes off by that point." She dragged her nails softly across his shoulders, hitting her statement home.
"U'm sorry, didn' mean to wind ya' up sa' much." He buried his face in her neck, his breath hot on her skin.
"Bullshit. You love that you can get me so hot and bothered."
"Maybe." His voice got throaty again and she shivered, despite the humid evening.
He sat up, pulling her to the sitting position with him. "Come on, let's get you in in bed."
"Are you staying the night?" She pulled on her shorts, as he turned away to pull off the rubber and pull up his pants.
"I suppose, if you ain't had yur fill of me yet." He bundled the rubber and wrapper up in his old shop rag, shoving it in his pocket to dispose of later.
She got up and walked to the door, holding out one hand. "I'll never have my fill of you sugar. Now come on, I want to cuddle before you roll over and fall asleep."
He took her hand, walking into the house. "No promises sweetheart, I'm beat."
But she knew, no matter what he said now, that they would get into that bed and his hands would find her; almost of their own accord, greedy for affection. They would touch each other not only because she wanted it, but because he needed it; the kissing, caressing, stroking, that made him shiver in her arms. Reassurance, over and over again, that she wanted him. That he was enough, that he was deserving. She just hoped it was enough to keep him from taking any stupid risks when he walked into that bar, just a short 24 hours in the future.
TUESDAY
There's a certain smell that comes with rough, deep country bars; old chaw spit, stale beer, and sweat. When you walk in, there's a texture to the mood of the place; often times one of family and deep familiarity. But others hum with something else, a palpital danger, and an unease will fall on the outsider that will push them out, without a single word or motion from any of the inhabitants. Jake's bar was one of the later. Daryl likened the feeling to ants crawling over his body, the eyes on him were so focused and intense.
"I tol' ya Daryl, I can't sell that much product without Bleeker or LLoyd beein' here an I don' know where their at." Daryl sat across from a burly, bull of a man, hunched over a bottle of cheap beer.
"Now you listen here Rawley, I ain't playen' around. It took me a whole lotta' hustlin' ta get this much cash together. And if I don't get product back ta my guy then he's gunna' go back to his regular supplier. You got an opportunity ta' get in with a new dealer and hopefully Bleeker's gunna let me skip nocken' over the drug store. Everybody wins, yeah?" Daryl was sweating bullets. The situation kept going sideways on him. He had already been tasked by the police to incriminate as many people as possible, then the two most important members were missing, and now he was left to deal with the guy who usually just did the dirty work.
"Yeah, but..."
"Ain't you ever wanted to be more than just the muscle? Come on man, you make a move like this then Bleeker gets ta see ya as more than just some asshole, right? Maybe even give ya a cut of the profits."
"My old ladys been riden' me ta take more jobs." He finished off his beer. "Alright, let's do it. I'll go in the back an'..."
"Man, you're the one in charge right now, just send Max and Hader. They ain't dooin' nuthin' cept' loose'n at pool right now any ways."
"Yeah, huh? Hey you guys..." The rest of the night went off without a hitch. Twenty minutes later the cops swarmed in, making twenty-two arrests; mostly on outstanding warrants, drug trafficking, and illegal weapons. But the head of the gang, and his right hand man, were nowhere to be found.
Detective Allen stopped Daryl as he was heading away from the scene. "Keep an eye out over the next few days, alright? I have every confidence that we'll catch the two of them, but I sure as hell don't know when. And until we do..."
"Yeah I know. Got a big fuckin' target on my back." He got on his bike, heading home. He felt skittish, to say the least, and when he saw a paper bag on the steps of his trailer that night, he felt sure that it wasn't good. He opened it slowly, away from the house and trees, in case it was an incendiary device. Inside was a note from May, sitting on top of a large Tupperware container.
Daryl,
Text me right now, as soon as you get this note and tell me if you are alive or dead. I'll still be awake. Your dinner is inside, if you're still alive. You better be alive damn it. -May
He grinned, walking back up into the trailer, and heading inside. He put down his things, then sat down to eat and text her back.
-Still alive. You ain't rid a me yet.
-Are you home?
-Yeah
-In one piece?
-Yeah im ok. Ya worry to much.
-Well if there was anything worth worrying about this is it. Did it go alright?
-Two of them guys' r missing but Allen will find them. so calm down.
-Nope, calm is not really what I'm feeling about that situation.
-Nothing we can do about it baby
- I know. Just don't know what I would do if anything happened to you.
-You'd be ok. Girl like yous smart, pretty, you'd bounce back.
-Thank you for the compliment, but no, I wouldn't just 'bounce back'
-Why not? Theres plenty a dudes out there who would love to have a girl like you
-Because there's only one of you. I don't care about any other dude on the planet. I JUST WANT YOU.
-Oh
-So can you focus on keeping the only man, in the whole world, that I want to spend my life with, ALIVE?
-Please dont worry about me sweetheart, ive lived through worse, ill live through this
-You promise?
-I promise
-I miss you
-You know id be there with you if I didnt need to sleep
-You dont think you would sleep here? ;)
-Dont be all coy with me sweethart, you know i cant keep my hands off ya
-Really?
-Stop it. You got a face like a doll, a curvy body, and a smart ass mouth you know that theres my kryptonite
-Your'e so sweet
-Dont let it get around, i have a rep to uphold as a Dixon
-Ill stop texting and let you go to sleep.
-You know id rather be in bed with ya then here, right?
-I know. Go to sleep sugar, I'll see you tomorrow.
-Goodnight baby
-Goodnight tiger
He took a few more bites before stripping down and falling into bed. He thought about her for a while, not falling asleep until he pretended that she was beside him, just out of reach.