Désirée let her eyes roam over the area as he glided down it with a slower speed. She was looking for any sign of her father but felt her heart sinking further into the pit of her stomach. Daryl pulled to a stop and kicked the bike stand down and stood up immediately throwing her of balance slightly. His hand flashed out grasping her and keeping her place as she tipped.
She looked up into his eyes as he towered over her still and didn't bother hiding her nerves from him. He'd just call her out on it much like she would him. Something in his eyes and stance had her swallowing down all her fragile ass feelings and standing up and moving from the bike. Daryl let go of her but she grabbed his wrist.
"We will find him." Voice strong and eyes defiant. She wasn't letting her father go without a damn good fight. And if her life had taught her anything it was how to fight back.
Daryl nodded at her his eyes sweeping around them in quick flashing movements. She stayed quiet knowing he was scanning for anything out of the ordinary for the area. She followed his eyes as she kept her grip on him but she let her eyes eventually come back to him. The tension was gone from his body since they were outside the walls of the prison. She so very rarely got to see him like this and she would mourn the loss when they were back at the prison.
Daryl grunted and started pulling his pack and crossbow up, "Stay close and quiet Des."
His low drawling voice had dropped to a deeper cadence making fire shoot up her spine and she shook herself. Daryl looked in her direction raising an eyebrow at her before looking at her stuff still setting there. She quickly grabbed her pack and stepped next to him looking around for any sign of a path they could have used.
Daryl pulled her up next to him without talking. Désirée nodded letting her eyes keep searching for anything that was out there. She didn't need him to tell her to stay close to him, she could feel his Daryl started walking his long strides quickly leaving her behind. Daryl disappeared into the brush and she hastened her steps to get to him.
They had walked for over an hour with him scanning the ground and veering off at different times. She felt fatigue starting to get her but was pushing through it seeing that Daryl wasn't slowing in the least bit. She kept her eyes trained on his back watching as his shirt saturated more and more as the time wore on.
Within the next hour his shirt was soaked and clinging to him in the thick brush they were in. He squatted suddenly motioning her to him as his eyes watching out over the ravine they had just climbed. As soon as she was close his hand closed around her wrist and he pulled her between his legs and back against him. She sucked in a breath at the contact with his body feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest.
"He's been through here." His voice was low and spoke just into her ear.
Désirée released a breath trying to get herself under control. She couldn't focus this close to him with his body surrounding her own. His warmth and scent were getting to her and she tried to slow her breathing to combat the arousal pooling low in her belly. Daryl's arms came around her to hang between her spread legs, his chin set on her shoulder as he scanned to area quickly.
She felt the rumble of his growl against her back and shut her eyes trying to get the images out of her head that he was causing. She could distinctly remember different settings where she felt that exact thing and knew what he wanted. Daryl shifted pivoting slightly to look out over a wider area and she fought against grinding herself back against him.
Daryl's hand flashed up gripping her throat and chin swiveling her head to look to the right. He kept his hold on her, "Look." His rough voice whispered.
She let her eyes search for an answer out in the brush and woods around the ravine. She didn't see anything and sighed getting frustrated with him and whatever was out there. She knew it wasn't anything that was a danger to them or he would have dealt with it already.
"Listen Des and follow the sound with your eyes." Daryl instructed. She felt his chuckle brush her neck and shivered against him.
She closed her eyes listening for anything out of the ordinary when she heard the scrap and break of brush. Her eyes snapped open and went in the direction of the noise. Turning her head to track what she heard she seen the antlers before she seen the buck fully. She smiled and hummed in her throat causing Daryl to tighten his grip on it.
His thumb circled her beating pulse in her throat as he watched the buck move through the brush, "Goddamn shame." He growled.
"Maybe when we start to head back out he'll be back in this area." Désirée offered.
Daryl sighed releasing her throat and chin from his grip, "Nah, we find your dad I'm just gonna stay back. Finish out the hunt, it would have been time for me to get back out anyways."
Her heart beat painfully hard in her chest and she turned her upper body still in the cage he had formed around her, "Your gonna be gone again?"
Daryl turned his head looking at her and before letting his eyes scan around them again, "He's been through here."
She felt her anger spike at him blatantly ignoring her question. She spun the rest of her body quickly in the cage he had formed around her and shoved him hard knocking him off balance and on to his ass hard. Daryl's eyes snapped up to hers wide and feral letting her know he wasn't in as good of check of his emotions as she had thought.
She moved quick trying to straddle and pin him in place but his leg swept out knocking her own out from under her. She went spiraling for the ground but Daryl had moved to catch her before she could hit. He backed her up quickly a growl sounding around him as her back hit the tree. She watched him as he swept the area around them for danger.
She heard a thud and looked over seeing his crossbow laying haphazardly next to them as his hand made quick work of her shirt. She sucked in a breath at the feel of his eyes sliding across her torso and he jerked his head at her bra, "Off. All of it." His hand rested over the hilt of his knife.
She made quick work of her clothes and watched him as her breathing sped up. As soon as her pants hit the ground she was lifted and pinned against the tree with Daryl swallowing down her yelp. Just as the bark bit into her back angrily Daryl slid into her causing her to bite down on his bottom lip.
"Fuck."her breathless voice rasped against his cheek.
Grabbing for his shirt she unbuttoned it quickly wanting to be able to touch him. Biting her nails into his exposed chest he hissed through clinched teeth his eyes burning into hers. He jerked against her and she grinned at him and his grip on her ass tightened painfully. She nodded at him even though she would be bruised in no time.
Daryl hoisted her higher up on him and slowed his pace down grasping her hands. She jerked back still wanting to run her hands over him but he won and deftly pinned them above her head high enough it stretched and arched her back. Daryl gave her a lascivious smile when her arched breath came even with his face.
His eyes were still on hers when his mouth closed around her nipple sucking greedily. She nodded at him fighting to keep her eyes open as she strained against his hands. Daryl's hand left her ass and slid to the base of her spine pushing her forward. Her stomach slammed into his but he kept pushing her against him and she mewled when he took another step forward putting more pressure on her stomach.
With each slowed stroke she tightened her legs trying to draw him into her more. Daryl released her nipple and scorched a trail up the valley of her breast to her throat. She rolled her head back giving him more room but his forehead dropped to her shoulder just as he snapped his hips into her harshly with a deep growl.
"Hard Daryl, I need.." she broke off panting.
Daryl raised his head looking at her and released her hands from his grip. His eyes swept across her body and she shivered feeling his gaze like his roughened warm hands on her. She let her own eyes travel across him and felt herself growing wetter looking at him and watching his body move against hers.
Daryl was sweat slicked more so than her and she thank whoever was up there for the image it was giving her. His flannel shirt was hanging wide open and his pants dropped low around his hips with sweat coating him like a second skin. It was pulling her eyes to every dip and groove of his body as the muscles in his stomach rolled and moved with his thrust.
Watching him was catapulting her towards her orgasm faster than she expected. Whimpering she pulled him back close to hers and wrapped her arms around his neck running her hand up in to his hair. Pulling his hair sharply Daryl dropped his head back to her shoulder letting his teeth scrape against her shoulder to her neck.
She buried her face in his neck letting it muffle her as she surrendered to her release. She felt his grin against her neck with each shudder her body gave and his grip on her back tightened with a warning. Leaning back against the tree more and pushing back she braced herself for him. Daryl made a noise closer to that of an animal than man as he picked his pace up chasing his own release.
Daryl looked over his shoulder at her and snorted shaking his head before looking forward again. She looked up at him scowling feeling the stinging in her back from the bark. He turned towards her spinning her around and jerking her shirt up exposing her back to him. He tutted and unsnapped her bra quickly leaving it hanging open.
"It's over most of the places." His voice was terse.
She worked her bra off and shoved it into her pack looking up at him again. He was looking off towards the steeping inclines as if tracking something that wasn't there.
"We're burning daylight." bumping her hip into him.
Daryl looked down at her before looking back out over everything. Huffing Désirée started on her accent up the ravine. She got about fifteen feet before she realized Daryl wasn't following her. Stopping her turned looking at him holding on to a small tree to balance her, raising an eyebrow at him and his lack of movement.
Daryl shook his head and started in another direction than her and she felt like throwing something and hitting him. Moving down the small distance she had made she circled around to see where he went when she seen a small traveled path. How the fuck had he seen that from where the hell he was?
"You could have said something you dick." Désirée growled.
Daryl looked down at her and shrugged, "Wanted to see how far you'd get before actually looking around."
Shaking her head and fighting the grin that came over her face she swatted his stomach hard, "How did you know this was here?"
"We switched out sides to hunt on. He came through here but there was no tracks." Daryl's voice was low and barely carried to her.
Désirée kept quiet silently trekking next to him as they made good time against the falling sun. She was getting nervous not having spent any time outside the prison walls in such a long time. She was a creature of habit and routine, she didn't like the balance of her shit to be upset and this was fuckin' with her.
Daryl pulled her in front of him and hoisted her into the air without a word grasping the rock ledge she pulled herself up as he lifted her higher. Rolling over the side she quickly moved to offer help when she seen him pulling himself over. It reminded her how much he didn't need anyone, he was built for this world. He was a survivor.
Daryl stood up fluidly dusting his hands off and taking a deep breath a few times. He shook his head and took off again at a faster pace, "Keep up Des." he chided.
Taking off after him she seen the smirk tugging at the corner of his lips and some of the tension leave his body relaxing his form. She didn't know what it was that had him taking off but she was hoping that it was her father. Getting closer to him she finally smelled what he had when first pulling himself up. Smoke.
Daryl slid down a slight embankment and motioned for her to stay back and shushing her. Smoke was coming from inside a well hidden cave shrouded by brush and vines. Daryl walked quietly around and she felt her nerves running away with her wanting to be down there with him to have his back. Daryl had made her stay though for no other reason but that it could be someone besides her father and he didn't want them to get the drop on them.
Désirée leaned against a tree silently tracking every movement he made and sucked in a deep breath when he disappeared from her view. Désirée paced slightly not having heard anything at all after a few minutes she started down the hill silently. She didn't care how goddamn mad he got about it. They were a team and she didn't want to separate to begin with.
Just as she got to the bottom Daryl appeared and looked at her for a second as she walked towards him. His face was neutral but she knew better than anyone besides maybe Merle how good he could keep his emotions hid. She stopped in front of him and he turned walking back into the cave grabbing her hand and pulling her around in front of him.
Stepping around the thicket of brush and vines she was gifted with the smell of cooking meat and smoke. Her eyes scanned quickly but didn't see anyone around but her eyes landed on the pack setting against the wall. It was her father's. She let out a breath and walked further in and Daryl followed dropping down next to the opening his eyes watching.
She set staring at the pack knowing it was her fathers. It was the same pack he'd had when he got out of the special forces and had used ever since. She ran her fingers over the patches on it and let her eyes take in the disarray of packing that was her fathers signature style.
"Bout time you showed up Dixon." A deep southern drawl laughed.
Désirée whipped around looking to the mouth of the cave but the thicket was blocking him from view. Daryl snorted and nodded at the man and stepped aside letting him in. As soon as she seen her father she was across the small area almost walking through the fire itself in her haste to get to him.
"Where the hell were you!" She grabbed ahold of him checking him over for any injury.
Arvin gazed down at her passively grasping her wrist and stopping her once over of him, "Love you to darlin' but stop mother henning me. I had to go talk to a man about a dog."
Daryl snorted, "Heard that."
She looked over just as Daryl disappeared out of the opening. She looked up into the hazel eyes of her father and he gave her a half-smile, "Didn't think Dixon would let your ass trail after him."
"He didn't have a choice."
He nodded but didn't comment instead he set down repacking his pack. She watched him for a few minutes, "What kept you?"
Her dad looked up and over waiting on Daryl. He didn't say anything and she gritted her teeth against his silence. She wasn't one to be kept waiting on and she had so little patience. It felt like Daryl and him both always wanted to push her to see when she was going to snap.
"What happened to your wrists?" Her fathers low voice was loud in the cave.
Désirée raised her wrist looking at them seeing the bruises from where Daryl held her pinned to the tree. She felt her face burn red at the thought of her father even knowing anything to do with her sex life. He was standing up as she looked back up letting her arm fall back to her side and she shrugged at him.
Daryl stepped back in and looked at them, "If we're moving tonight we need to go now."
Arvin nodded stomping out his fire and snatching up the stick that held the skewered meat. "We'll talk later girl."
Daryl raised an eyebrow at them and she done the same to him, "What the rush, we still got time."
Arvin and Daryl both looked at her but her father spoke, "I quartered the deer and strung him up."
Désirée sighed as her father addressed Daryl and they spoke. Both responded in their own kind with gestures and more grunts than were human. It was annoying how they could be around each other and talk without fuckin' talking or looking at the other.
Daryl was gone again and her father motioned her with him. "He's gonna meet us at the rock drop."
"Rock drop?"
"I'm guess your short ass got hoisted up by him?"
Her face burned red and he laughed pulling her into his side roughly shaking her. She sighed in relief at the strong solid presence of her father and let herself relax. They got to the rock face and she looked down over it while her father scanned the area, "I'm gonna let you down and then I'll be down."
"What about Daryl?" Désirée challenged.
Her father looked up raising an eyebrow at her tone but she held his gaze. He let his eyes roam over her and his eyes lingered on her throat before going to her wrist and she seen his eyes change before he looked off.
"He'll be here in a minute."
She walked to him when he motioned her over and he let her lower herself down as much as she could before he grasped her arms. She was dangling her legs not able to meet the wall to give her balance. Looking up at her father his eyes were appraising and she swallowed when he didn't let her go.
"Is it you and Dixon or is another man at the prison?" Arvin questioned.
She didn't hear anything in his voice other than genuine curiosity but didn't want to answer. Not with her not able to get back up there if something happened. She heard Daryl grunt and her father looked over his shoulder before looking back at her, "Thing about men like me and Daryl darlin' we're straight shooters."
He let her hands go and she landed on her feet with a harsh thud. She let out a harsh breath scanning the rock face for either man. Both of them had explosive tempers and she strained her ears for any sound that would tell her what was going on. She moved further up the hill hoping it would let her see them. When she got there she scanned but neither man was there, nor the deer.
She stared at the spot willing them to comeback. She knew neither had left her behind but not being able to see either man who held her heart in their hands was pissing her off and scaring her.
"You coming or what?" Daryl questioned.
Désirée yelped jumping in the air and whipped around her hand flashing out slapping him soundly in the face. Daryl's face rocked to the side and his tongue slid across his split lip as he spit to the side. Her hand went over her chest and she let out a breath.
"Désirée Azalea Knox!" He scolded.
She clinched her jaw against the use of her full name like she was a child. Daryl was starring her down and her father was glaring at her before shifting his eyes to the younger man. Her father took in his appearance quickly and she felt her face redden when she seen the scratches visible at the top of his button down shirt and the reddened bite mark on his throat.
She knew he seen them but he didn't comment. Instead he let his scowl shift, "She got you good."
Daryl snorted and shifted the buck on his shoulders, "We need to fuckin' hoof it if we're beating the storm."
Désirée looked up not seeing anything to indicate a storm but her father and Daryl both looked uneasy. She didn't question either man knowing they knew more about the outdoors and the shifts in the weather around them.
They were almost back to the vehicles when Arvin made a hooting noise. Daryl dropped to his knee letting the buck slide from his shoulders with a soft thud. Arvin gestured and Daryl nodded moving off circling around. She followed him with her eyes not wanting to be separated again.
She settled next to her father and elbowed him raising an eyebrow at him, "Where is he going?"
Arvin sighed, "He'll be fine."
She huffed elbowing him again making him look at her again, "Don't fuckin' placate me, i'm not a child."
"No, no you're not. Buck, hundred fifty yards out. Wasn't a clear shot here." Arvin spoke his voice low.
Daryl appeared suddenly walking through the clearing in front of them. He whistled loudly and her father grinned passing his pack off to her as he lifted the deer and taking off. "Get ya ass in gear girl."
When they got to Daryl he was halfway through field dressing the deer. She cringed watching him move the gut out of the way quickly as he worked through the process. With a sickly wet slurp the guts rolled from the deer and Daryl stood up shaking his head. Daryl cleaned his knife against his pants and kneeled on the back side of the the buck grasping it's legs in his hands and with a practiced roll had it lifted and settled on his shoulders.
Désirée cringed when she seen the blood start to slide over his neck and soak into his shirt. Daryl didn't waste any time talking instead weaving through the trees avoiding the brush. Désirée grimaced as the sight of his shirt clinging to his back soaked in blood, it wasn't something she ever wanted to see. She felt her dads eyes on her and schooled her face back to normal.
She wasn't embarrassed by what she had with Daryl or worried about her father really saying something. She was thirty years old, if she wanted to be someone then she had the goddamn free will to do just that. Her father never stepped in where men and her were concerned unless he thought she was in a situation she couldn't get out of.
She looked up seeing the truck through the trees. She started walking faster and broke through sighing in relief and the promise of the prison. She watched as Daryl dropped his deer taking on the weight on of Arvins and they set it in the bed of the truck and repeated the process with the newest buck.
Jumping down and shutting the tailgate Arvin clapped Daryl on the shoulder thanking him. Désirée tossed the packs in the back seat of the truck walking around and leaning against the truck in front of them. Arvin's eyes went to her and she tensed at the teasing glint in his eyes.
"You're gonna be a fuckin' mess when we get back." Arvin acknowledged.
Daryl pulled out a cigarette lighting it and breathing deeply closing his eyes. Exhaling, "Fuckin' mess now."
"Désirée aint gonna let you in bed coated in all that blood." Arvin cackled.
Daryl's neck didn't show his burning blush due to the blood coating him but his face heated up and Désirée growled at her father. But he just smiled at her, "You telling me you have beard burn from another man on your neck?"
Désirée fought running her hands across her throat and then she remembered the slight bruises from the night before. She felt her face tint pink but she looked right at him and shrugged. She looked at Daryl surprised he hadn't walked off to avoid the conversation altogether. He was blowing smoke rings his eyebrow raised in challenge at her.