A/N Thank you all so much for reading along. We had a big chapter last week when Beth told Daryl her story. Then she told him something else he hadn't expected. Let's pick up there.

00

"Yes Daryl, I'm sure. It's soon and we're both a guilty mess and I don't care. I'm willing to take the risk. Do you know why Daryl?"

"Why?"

"Because I love you."

Feelings and desire were running high in the big bed he'd built.

He buried his face in the curve of her neck and his arms wrapped under her as he rolled onto his back, taking her with him. She lay atop him, his fingers woven in her hair while his blue eyes studied her intently. This look from him was different, there was none of the darkness and none of the danger. His eyes were searching hers and when he spoke his always rough voice seemed even lower and huskier, "I ain't sure how ta say this Beth. I never wanted this. I never wanted love in my life, you changed that. I want it with you. I want everything with you. This is it, there ain't gonna be no goin' back for me, never. I love ya."

She could feel her heart beating with excitement, he said he loved her! If she hadn't been there, laying right on top of him she might not have believed it. She smiled down at him, brushing back the hair from his eyes, "I want it all with you too Daryl, all of it. Ever since the very first day I met you when you didn't even seem to notice I was there. I felt it so strongly, you were meant to be in my life and I was meant to be in yours."

The pad of his thumb was lightly stroking along her cheekbone as he continued gazing in her eyes, "So ya felt it too? I thought I's crazy, or imaginin' things or both. I's so drawn in and I kept tellin' myself 'no', that I couldn't take a risk with ya. Shit, I almost blew my chance."

"Well you didn't and we didn't, and we're here now, together."

He rolled them over again, his lips were on hers and as his open hand slid up the back of the t-shirt her leg wrapped around him. Suddenly he pulled away, not just his lips but his hand. Her heart felt like it stopped, she was sure he'd changed his mind, that he had second thoughts. Disappointment shot through her, but it quickly faded when he said, "I gotta get sumthin' now or I might not…well hang on. I think I got sumthin' out in the glove box. Be right back." Wearing nothing but a t-shirt and his boxer briefs he hurried out of the tent.

She smiled with a combination of relief, happiness and just knowing he was being Daryl, always protective of her. This was happening and maybe they were moving too fast, but she didn't think so. She was firm in her belief that time didn't matter, it wasn't relevant because she and Daryl were supposed to be together. She'd felt it so strongly and for so long, it wasn't just chance that brought them together, they were supposed to find each other. When, for just a brief moment she thought he'd suddenly changed his mind and it was all lost, she realized just how fully she believed they were each other's destiny.

He hurried back inside and set the small packets on the night table before practically diving under the covers. As soon as she moved closer to him she found out why. It wasn't just desire that had him moving so quickly, his skin had an icy chill. He snuggled close, "Damn, it got cold out." She moved closer to him, trying to share some body heat and rubbing on his arm to warm up his skin. His hand cradled the back of her head and he drew her to him, kissing her deeply before teasing, "I'm hopin' we'll be able ta heat things up."

She loved hearing that but it also made her a little shy, still she responded, "I'll do my best." His hand caressed her cheek and he smiled, "I ain't one bit worried that ya won't do your part."

Since the moment he'd first seen her he knew she was special. He'd seen the light that surrounded her and he'd known since that day he wanted to bask in her light. He'd been so afraid though, not of her but of what kind of danger he might be to her. She seemed so sure he wouldn't be and that's what he wanted to believe too because these feelings he had for her were so powerful. Maybe it didn't make any sense, maybe it was crazy to think this way, but he was sure they were meant to be together. He was meant to be with this woman and she was meant to be with him. Somehow their very different lives had come together and it all felt so right.

Beth was in his bed and he couldn't quite believe this was really happening. She wasn't some fleeting one-night one-time rendezvous. She was everything good. She was all he'd never had, and she was everything he wanted. When he made love to her he had to let her to know how special and how important she was to him. He needed to take it slow with her so they could both savor every moment of their first time together. He didn't just want to satisfy her physically, he wanted to make sure she could feel how happy she made him and how deeply he loved her.

He also felt the need to lay his cards out now, before he and Beth took it any further. This was a life changer for both of them, but probably more so for him. He'd been living his life a certain way for a long time, he couldn't remember the last time he had someone to answer to. He'd never answered to a woman. But he knew if this was going to happen it would happen fully for him because she wasn't that one night rendezvous, she was Beth. Like he'd told her, there would be no going back. He needed her to understand that and exactly what it meant to him. Then he wanted to hear her say just one more time, she was sure. He just wasn't certain he had the right words to convey all these thoughts and feelings. He let the backs of his fingers lightly brush across her cheek while he looked in her eyes and explained the best way he could, "I ain't ever been in love Beth. You're it for me. Ya gotta know I'ma be like a stray dog; the one ya throw a bone to and show him a little affection. He ain't ever leavin' after that, he's yours for good. You think you can handle that? Handle bein' with me?"

She'd been using her fingers to lightly comb his hair back from his face and she paused, but she didn't hesitate in her answer, "I'm sure I can. I want this with you. When I told you I love you I didn't mean just for tonight. I'm in this to stay."

Those were the words he needed to hear and when he did his mouth covered hers. The kiss they shared was full of heat and heart and a deeply passionate need. They lay side by side with their arms around each other as his hand started to skim along the back of her leg, before slowly sliding up her body as she wrapped her leg around him. When his hand reached her bottom he clasped it firmly while pulling her low body tightly into his. With the tantalizing sensation of their bodies pressed into each other both let out a low moan at the promise of what was to come.

His hand seemed to float along the soft skin of her back as it slipped further up inside the oversize t-shirt before slowly discovering its way around her body. He took his time as he ran it lightly over the curve of her slim waist and over the smooth skin of her stomach, before finally reaching her already taut nipple. As he teased at the sensitive skin he drew his lips away from hers and huskily whispered, "I been wantin' ta touch ya like this for so long." She could only respond with a "mmmm" sound.

While his fingers softly pinched and teased her nipples, his mouth moved to the delicate skin of her throat and he licked and gently nibbled the warm skin, while their low bodies rhythmically rocked and rubbed together.

He shifted then, moving his hands away just long enough to roll on his back, pull his t-shirt up and off, and slide his boxers down and off, tossing both to the floor. He wanted hers off too, he wanted to see her body and to feel her soft skin pressed against his. He smiled at her with eyes that looked so shy and yet so full of desire as he tugged lightly at the hem of the shirt asking, "Okay?"

She smiled back and she felt that shyness too. This was the first time they were seeing each other's bodies and as far as she could tell his was perfect. But she was having a moment of anxiety, what if he was disappointed? Still, her desire for him far outweighed her concerns and in a voice barely above a whisper she answered, "Yes."

As he removed her shirt he took it slower and far more gently than he had with his own. He tossed it toward the bottom of the bed as his hand caressed her cheek and he smiled, "Beautiful. You're so beautiful Beth." With those words from him she forgot the anxiety she'd felt as she relaxed in his arms. She and Daryl had touched each other in such a deeply emotional way and now she wanted to feel that connection physically. He leaned in taking her small round breast fully into his mouth and began sucking softly while his tongue flicked along the nipple and his hand stroked her warm skin. Her body responded to his sensual play and she moaned in pleasure.

Her hand ran along his chest softly at first, but with increasing passion as she felt the warm firm body of the man she'd given her heart to; and now wanted to share her body with. Her hand rubbed along his abdomen and his slim hips before gliding around to his back. She didn't hesitate in her touch, she stroked and kneaded at the tightly muscled skin with its jagged scars as if those scars didn't exist. At first he cringed, he'd been concerned it would be a turn off for her, that she may be afraid to even look at the damaged skin. But her reactions to his body and her soft moaning were all about pleasure, not about past pain.

She nuzzled into his chest, kissing and licking at the skin as she murmured, "You have such a nice body." He didn't respond with words, his hand went to the side of her face and he gently nudged at her chin, she looked up at him with a small smile. Her simple words adding to the fire already burning in him and he kissed her with that deep burning passion.

His mouth moved to the curve of her neck where he breathed in her sweet, natural fragrance. He began to suck and lick at the flesh working his way to her earlobe where he nibbled lightly before letting his lips and tongue slowly travel down her throat, over her collarbone all the way to her shoulder and then back. While his lips and tongue had been bringing her one sensation, his fingers brought another as they continued teasing her nipple, pinching it lightly and he let his open palm rub over the stiff little nub. Through it all their bodies continued a slow rocking motion in anticipation.

Her breathing had quickened and her hand tugged at his hair, then skimmed down his arm where she rubbed and squeezed at the muscled bicep. She felt the heat of desire spread through her body as her need for his touch grew increasingly more intense. It was all such sweet torture but she needed more of him, "Daryl, please. I need..."

Before she could finish the sentence he had her panties off and his hand had slipped between her legs. He smiled at the feel of the warmth and the wetness that told him she was ready for him, but he had a little something else in mind first. She moaned his name as he kissed and suckled his was down her body until he reached the warm wetness between her legs. As he slid his own body down he didn't have to nudge, her legs spread welcoming him.

He took her up on the invitation, settling his body between her open legs. He teased her for just a little longer, letting his tongue lick at the soft flesh of her inner thigh while his lips sucked at the sensitive skin. She began to squirm and he knew it was time as his mouth nestled into that warm, wet and welcoming place. He took his time teasing her with his tongue and his lips, then it was him who couldn't hold back as he began sucking hungrily while her fingers tangled in his hair trying to tug him even closer. She alternated between moaning and calling out, "Oh Daryl, please, please." Her reactions to him increased his passion and as his finger slipped inside that warmth she squealed and squirmed. He continued teasing and pleasuring her with his mouth and fingers, and her hips rose in response as her need for him grew.

In her heightened state of arousal and with her craving for him so deep, it wasn't long before he felt her body start to tense and quiver, and she softly cried out his name as her delicious release came. He smiled and let out a low kind of humming groan, happy and satisfied he could bring her to that place. He slowly began kissing and licking his way down her inner leg until he reached her toes; and then started working his way back up her body, pausing only long enough for one more taste of her warm, wet sweetness.

He was on his knees between her legs, sitting back on his heels while tenderly stroking his fingers along her thighs and hips. She saw that need in his eyes when he asked, "All good Darlin'?" She tried to prop her body up, "Daryl let me…" as she reached for his engorged manhood. He took her hand and kissing her palm smiled, "Nah Beth, tonight it's all about you."

She smiled up at him, "Not fair Daryl, not fair." He smiled back, "Ain't ya heard the news? Life ain't fair." He reached over and grabbed a packet off the bedside table as she ran her fingers teasingly along his thighs and hips. The pleasure of her light sensual touch almost distracted him from his duty, but he managed to slip the condom on.

His flattened palms were on either side of her as straight arms balanced him. The sight of him poised above her intensified her desire for him, her hands clasped his hips as her fingers massaged the firm flesh. He moved his low body closer to hers and she felt the hardness of him against her. Even that little bit of a touch increased her passion and she caught him by surprise when she took him in her hand, raised her hips slightly and guided him into her. She gasped in pleasure at the feel of him, she didn't think it was possible but her pleasure became even greater.

It was as if their bodies had always known each other as they began moving in a slow, perfect rhythm and those low pleasure moans grew louder and more frequent. Her hips were rising to meet his, and the sound of her whispering his name while his hands roamed over her body were making it tough for him to hold back his release. He wasn't going to let it happen though, he wanted her to come again.

His open palms slid under her hips as he bent down taking her breast in his mouth, all the while keeping his strokes even but deeper and with an ever increasing urgency. When her body seemed to tense and shiver he knew she was close again. He quickened his strokes while hoarsely encouraging her, "Come for me Beth, c'mon Darlin' I want ya ta come for me." When she did he was done holding back and he joined her in shared bliss.

Their skin was glistening and they were both feeling breathless as they tried to steady their heart rates. He shifted his body to lay next to her, their legs remaining entwined. He was pushing back strands of her damp hair when suddenly he wrapped an arm around her, pulled her close and in that still hoarse voice whispered, "I love ya."

"mmm I love you."

"Just a little sumthin' I gotta do now involvin' the bathroom so, um ya might wanna look the other way."

She smiled at him as she rolled over and he rolled out. He disposed of the condom, washed his hands and brought her back a warm cloth. Then it was her turn, "Uh oh, now I think I need to use it."

"A'ight I can step outside."

"No, you're not being fair again. Just turn around and maybe put the pillow over your head." They both laughed but as she got up he said, "It just don't add ta the romance at all, does it? I'ma figure out a way to enclose that damn bathroom and comin' back next weekend ta do it."

"I like that idea. I'll make the mac n cheese."

She slipped back in the bed nestling into his side and laying her head on his chest. His fingers played with loose strands of her hair while his arms loving wrapped around her and she felt the protectiveness in his caress.

Neither one knew exactly what might happen next or how they would make this work. But for that night they knew exactly where they were. They were laying in the bed he'd built, warm, satisfied and in love.

00

A/N There it is. Thank you all for reading along, and thanks to Norman. I loosely paraphrased what he said about Daryl and love in the dog story. I'd appreciate you leaving a comment / review. The chapter photo is on my tumblrs gneebee or bethylmethbrick. I hope to see you all back here next Wednesday for more of Dark & Dangerous. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee