Chapter Eleven

The morning sun filtered through the half closed blinds of the bedroom and Beth slowly opened her eyes, shutting them quickly and turning her head away from the windows with a groan. She felt the cool cotton sheets against her bare skin and smiled wide, looking at her clothes scattered along the floor by the bed.

But where was Daryl? She saw the absence of his clothing and she moved to sit on the edge, stretching her sore legs out in front of her before she heard the back door close and the small patter of feet on the kitchen tile.

"Calm down, shrimp I'll find somethin' to feed ya." she heard Daryl say and chuckled softly to herself as the puppy started whining, "Yeah yeah, I know, I'm hungry too." Beth stood and grabbed her shorts, sliding them on as she heard his heavy footsteps coming down the hallway. She looked over and smiled as he came into the room, leaning against the doorframe with a wolfish grin as he studied her half naked body.

"Good mornin' to you." she said as she slid her bra on, clasping it quickly and running her fingers through her hair to comb it out quickly. He stepped closer to her and placed a hand on her hip, pulling her to him and up into a soft kiss.

"Mornin'." he said before a soft pitter-patter accompanied by whining filled the hallway and both Daryl and Beth chuckled softly.

"It's like havin' kids." she said just before a loud knock sounded on the door. Daryl moved to the window and peeked out, cursing under his breath and grabbing her wrist, "What's wrong?"

"Hershel's at the door. Go on out the back door." he said and she nodded, jerking her tank top on and running out into the hallway. She scooped up the pup, noting she was heavier than she looked and hurried to the kitchen. She heard Daryl open the front door as she quietly closed the back, setting the puppy down in the grass and sitting down with her.

"Mornin', Hershel." Daryl said and stepped to the side, letting Beth's father in who looked around the livingroom.

"Good mornin', Daryl. Have you seen Beth? I haven't been able to find her at all this mornin'." he said, his hands in his pockets as he stepped further into the room and eyed Beth's jacket laying in a crumpled pile on the floor next to her flip flops by the couch.

"Last I saw she was out back." Darly answered as he mentally kicked himself for not picking up her stuff, "Don't go in the bedroom..." he silently prayed as he remembered her white cotton panties hadn't had a chanced to be snatched up either, "We found a puppy this mornin', and she's been all over it like a mother hen since she brought it in here. She wants to take it to your clinic and get it checked."

"A puppy?" Hershel asked and bent down, picking up the jacket. It was still damp and covered in mud.

"She heard it cryin' early this mornin', said she left her window open all night and ran outside to check. When I heard her poundin' on my door she had it wrapped up in her jacket and asked if she could come inside with it. She didn' wanna wake ya'll up till later." Daryl said and prayed his boss believed him.

Boss.

His boss.

"I just fucked my bosses daughter." He felt his color drain when the realization hit and Hershel turned to look at him as he balled up Beth's jacket.

"You feelin' okay, Daryl?" Hershel asked with a raised eyebrow and Daryl cleared his throat, nodding as he tried to compose himself.

"Jus' tired from wakin' up so early. I'll go get Beth for ya if you'd like." he offered and jerked his thumb towards the screen door in the kitchen.

"Tell her to be at the clinic in an hour so I have time to look over the pup before my appointments start comin' in." Hershel said as he made his way back to the front door, Daryl following him.

"Will do. I'll grab some food and get to work right away." Daryl said and Hershel nodded, waving back at him as he dug his keys out of his pocket and headed to his old truck. Daryl stepped back in and shut the door just as the screen door shut and the puppy came running up to him.

"Coast all clear?" Beth asked as she stepped around the corner of the kitchen.

"Yeah, your dad wants you at the clinic in an hour."

"Good, that's plenty of time." Beth said and walked up to him, placing her hands on her hips and giving him a devilish grin.

"Plenty o' time for what?"

"It only takes me twenty minutes to get to the clinic." she said and raised an eyebrow as she slowly started to slide her tank top up her stomach.

"Girl, you're no good for me." he said and grabbed hold of her hips, pulling her to him and crushing his lips to hers.

"And why's that?"

"Because you're my boss's daughter, you're so much younger than me, I'm a guest here on your pa's farm."

"Daryl?"

"What?"

"Time's wastin'." she answered with a grin and he scooped her up, carrying her back down the hallway and into the bedroom.

Daryl let the hot water run down his body, watching the dirt and soap bubbles swirl around his feet before disappearing down the drain. His body was tired, his muscles sore from the farm work and rolling around in the sheets with Beth Greene.

It had been a long time since he had a good lay and damn her for making him want to come back for more. He knew he was getting a soft spot for her, knew he'd do anything for this girl if she just looked at him with those doe eyes and ask. He shut the water off and stepped out of the shower, grabbing his towel and drying off his upper body.

What was wrong with him? He thought he took it over the edge kissing Beth, but now he had fucked her. Twice.

Hershel was gonna kill him if he ever found out. And if Maggie was to find out, she'd castrate him that was for sure. He groaned and placed his forehead against the mirror, gripping the sides of the sink and letting out a big breath.

What was he doing? Beth was sixteen years younger than him. Sixteen. Years. There was no way Hershel and Annette would be okay with this. No way in Hell. He walked to his bedroom and slid his dresser drawer open, grabbing a pair of boxers and sliding them on, tossing his towel from around his waist to the floor by the door. He heard laughter outside and looked out the blinds of his bedroom window. He saw Beth running through the front yard barefoot, her hair loose and bouncing around her shoulders. She looked behind her at the ground and Daryl saw the puppy, now adorned with a bright pink collar and a shiny tag, running behind her yipping and snapping at the fireflies. She dropped to the ground and lay on her back, laughing and squealing as the puppy tackled her and began to climb all over her. He grabbed his pants and slid them on and a faded gray t-shirt, stepping outside and running his hand through his wet, stringy hair.

"Maisy!" she heard Beth call as the puppy started to wander off, rolling on to her stomach and propping her chin in her hands as she watched the pup scamper around after fireflies. She turned her head to look over at the guest house and saw Daryl standing on the porch, giving him a smile and a small wave. He nodded and started walking towards her, whistling and smirking as the dog stopped and turned quickly to look at him. Her tail began wagging quickly and her ears went back, running up to him with her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth.

"Maisy, is it?" he asked as he reached down and picked her up, Maisy licking his face as her front paws wrapped around his wrist.

"We have a healthy baby girl." Beth said with a smile as he sat down next to her, setting Maisy down who refused to climb out of his lap.

"Is that so?" he asked and scratched behind her ears, "Nice girly collar." he said and Beth blushed, shrugging her shoulders as she moved to sit up.

"She's a little girl, she should have girly things." she said and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Lord help the future young 'uns you have." he said with a small laugh and forced Maisy out of his lap to play, "She sleepin' in my place again?"

"She can stay in my room if you'd like." Beth offered and he watched the dog start trying to catch her tail, spinning in circles till she was dizzy and fell back on her haunches.

"I like the company, kinda lonely bein' in there on my own." he said and Beth smiled, picking at a Buttercup and running the waxy petals through her fingers. A firefly landed on her hand and she stopped moving, raising her hand carefully to watch it.

"Beautiful..." He felt his cheeks burning slightly as he watched her.

What was he getting himself in to?

A.N. I know this chapter was shorter than usual, and I apoligize! But I'm so grateful for all of the reviews you guys are leaving me! It's so heartwarming to read all the amazing comments you all leave, and I take all of your suggestions into consideration! Thank you all for following, favoriting, and reviewing! XOXO