Chapter 48
I woke up anxious, confused, a drop of fear slowly dissipating as sleep drained from me. My heart was pounding inside of my constricted chest, but I felt a deep heat at my back and brawny limbs pressing against mine. A demon slipped from my mind, a spiral of green leaves fading from behind my eyes once I comprehended that I wasn't in a tangled bed of dead pine needles, but I'm in my room, lying with the person I cared about the most, one of his arms hugging me to his bare body. The realization was a soothing balm for the despairing ache inside of me, and I pushed past the memories, the nightmares, that had plagued me incessantly as I adjusted to consciousness.
The blinking alarm clock at my bedside caught my attention. It was still early, the dim light from my lamp somewhat blinding, but I had a while before I needed to get up which I was thankful for. So, I closed my straining eyes and snuggled back into Daryl, his soft breath heating my neck, and I held onto the arm that was wrapped around me. A creeping blush warmed my cheeks as I recalled the night before and how ravenous we'd been with each other. The impatience of wanting to be intimate with him had been tumultuous, and I would have felt embarrassed at how gaudy my actions were had the sex not been so good. We had needed each other and we both took what we wanted greedily, and if I could have my way, Daryl and I wouldn't leave this bed until it was time to abandon this place for good.
I turned over in his arms to bury my face in his neck, inhaling his musky, male scent. It was enough to render me wanting him once more and I draped a leg over his hip as I ran one finger from his jaw to his chest. He stirred and mumbled sleepily, shifting so that his body weight laid me back onto the mattress. I debated on if I should continue to wake him or let him sleep. I could try to reach for dreams again myself, but the thought was unappetizing. They had been terrible memories more than fantastical illusions as of late, and I had no need to return to them immediately. Besides, I felt so alert that I knew it would be impossible to fall back asleep. I guess last night was good for more than one thing, and I didn't want to get up, didn't want to leave Daryl. We'd finally had our moment, and I wanted it to last as long as it could. I wasn't sure how many more of them we would have.
With my mind made up, I relaxed, finding comfort in Daryl's body on mine rather than letting the feeling of claustrophobia take over. I knew I was nothing but safe in this room alone with him, so I let the anxieties subside and slowed my breathing, rubbing one hand along his sturdy arm to help distract myself.
"Mmph," Daryl grunted.
My hand stopped moving as his arm tensed, pulling me closer, and I tried to remain still so as not to disturb him any further. He was already awake, though, and I could feel him growing against my thigh as his fingers combed into my hair. I smiled against his neck, pursing my lips against the smooth skin, and he let out a deep sigh before moving his face to mine.
His lips darted over my mouth, soft and warm, and he settled on top of me, his arms on either side of my head as his hips grazed against mine, the friction soft but tantalizing. A compulsory moan flowed out of my throat and Daryl took the opportunity to stifle it with his tongue as I spread my legs for him.
He slipped over me, his hard length pressing fervently on my throbbing core, and I thrusted upwards encouragingly, wanting him to take me without hesitation, but he was slow and patient this morning. He was savoring me, and I struggled to do the same; to not flip him on his back and take charge like I did the night before.
I shivered, my skin prickling, as his hands moved down my body, massaging me as they went. Daryl released my lips, trailing kisses down my neck and to my breasts. He was gentle with each one, nipping them softly and running his tongue over the shallow bite marks while his hands continued downward to my hips, pinning them gingerly to the bed. Despite being held, it was an effort to remain still as I writhed in anticipation, my breathing hitched and noisy, and I buried my hands in his hair, eager for more.
"Daryl."
His name, a lustful moan on my tongue, escaped me thoughtlessly as every nerve ending in my body was lit on fire, pulsating with desire. I arched up into his tightening grip, the scruff on his chin scratching down my belly as he moved slower still. I knew where he was going and it caused my legs to open wider the closer he got.
The air above me was a whirlpool, sucking away my strength the faster it went, and my senses began to unravel as I focused on only one of them. I inhaled sharply, my teeth biting painfully into my lower lip, as Daryl's hands relocated to my thighs, pushing them up and down to blow softly on my wet heat.
My bound hand clutched the cotton sheets, twisting them in a way that shot stabbing pains through my knuckles, but I persisted with the pressure and ignored the discomfort, needing to feel something besides unfulfilled desire. I whimpered, craving Daryl's touch, and he only teased me a second more before dipping his head and placing his mouth over me.
Involuntarily, I bucked up, and he matched my movements fluidly as he stroked me with his tongue, back and forth. Gasping now, unable to maintain control, I felt myself rushing to the edge of a cliff, ready to dive headfirst into the depths below. My body was shaking, the intensity overwhelming, and when Daryl applied more pressure, drinking the most sensitive part of me, I convulsed into him and let out a string of incoherent moans and mumbles.
As my orgasm subsided, I pulled on Daryl's arms, wanting his lips on mine again. I wanted to feel him inside of me, needed to feel him inside of me, and as I tasted myself in his mouth, I grabbed the stiffness between his legs, running my hand from the head to the base and back up again to direct him into my drenched center.
He pushed into me in one swift movement, a short gasp tumbling from his lips and over mine as he experienced all of me. Hooking one leg across his back, I let him set the pace as I cherished him with kisses, licking and nibbling on the underside of his jaw while dragging my nails down his ribs. The motion of his thrusts, pushing in and pulling out of me fluently, had me tingling all over. It was almost an experience all on its own with how good it was, and I grabbed his skin, my fingers curling into his toned backside as an open invitation for him to move faster.
Getting the hint, Daryl's movements picked up, becoming frenzied the more I encouraged him with my mouth and hands. Soon he was unable to control himself as his hips slammed into mine repeatedly, and he grunted in my ear like a man without restraint. He propped himself on his forearms, allowing him better advantage over me, but they were starting to shake and his skin was turning slick in his effort, and the heat between us was rising, a spark igniting to a raging blaze.
My cry paralleled a curse from Daryl as I tensed and spasmed around him. I was in the middle of falling again when he left me barren and pulsing, aiming to come undone outside of me once more. Through the indulgent fog, I reached for him and pressed him against me, rocking my hips along his length to complete the friction for the both of us. A white pool gathered on my stomach, running down my side, and I watched it blissfully as Daryl closed his eyes, lost.
It was several moments later when we finally drifted back to ourselves, and Daryl pressed chaste lips to my damp forehead. He grabbed the towel we used the night before, cleaning us up before getting back into bed.
"One hell of a way to wake up," he mumbled and buried his face in a pillow.
"A wonderful way." I smiled at him and caressed his cheek.
He smiled back and wrapped me up in his arms before falling asleep once more. But I laid awake, moisture shining in my eyes as I tried to embed every detail of this moment, and those of last night, in my memory.
We only had two more days left, and I was feeling antsy. It seemed as if the minutes ticked by sluggishly, the days shifting in slow motion, as our forthcoming getaway drew nearer, and the more I thought about it, the more stir-crazy I became. It helped being with Daryl, though. He was more than enough of a distraction, and we couldn't seem to satiate the other. If I wasn't with him, I was thinking about him, and I caught myself more than once remembering intimate details about us; they way his rough hands felt as they passed over my skin or how raw we were with each other, barely containing ourselves. I found it hard to keep my hands and mind away from him; I was nearly drooling just thinking about it.
"Hey," a sly voice said behind my ear.
I jumped, turning to see Sarah smiling from behind my back. Her blonde hair was in a ponytail and it bounced as she came in front of me, looking me square in the face and smirking like she knew a secret.
"Whatcha thinkin' about, smiley pants?"
"Nooothing," I replied, trying to stifle a smile of my own.
"Oh, I think it's something." She said and pushed my shoulder playfully. "You've been grinning ear-to-ear since yesterday morning. I wanna know what about."
"Nothing," I repeated, shrugging my shoulders, but the smile I was trying to hold back broke through. I glanced over at Suzanne to my left, begging for her assistance. She stopped what she was doing and joined us.
"Sarah, leave poor Everly alone. She's had enough to deal with since she's been back and you don't need to add to her troubles."
"Troubles?" Sarah exclaimed and gestured to my flushed face. "She doesn't look troubled, she's fucking glowing!"
Sarah threw down the item in her hand, cocking her head to the side and running her tongue across her teeth as she narrowed suspicious eyes at me. A smirk grew on her face as she looked me up and down and nodded her head.
"I'm gonna give you three seconds to start talking about what's changed or I'm gonna get you in a headlock and squeeze it out of you. I think I already have a good guess, though." She wagged her eyebrows at me and poked my side, causing me to giggle and swat her hand away.
"What are you talking about?" I furrowed my brows as I turned to help them with the supplies. "I'm just in a good mood today. Can people not be in good moods?"
I blushed knowing she wouldn't leave me the option of being subtle, but I feigned ignorance anyway.
"Hell, no!" Sarah's eyes widened. "I know it's been a very shitty week for you, and something definitely happened between the other evening and now to lift your spirits - or your skirt if you know what I'm talking about- and I wanna know the details before I lose my freaking mind!"
"Oh my God, Sarah, she doesn't want to talk about it!" Bobbie threw a hand up before placing it on a jutted hip. She looked at me, shaking her head. "Don't worry about this one, honey. She's been sniffing around all these men, trying to find a new side piece, but clearly, she hasn't found one yet."
"Bobbie, I have found and am currently in possession of plenty of side pieces, so if you'll butt out of our conversation and let the woman speak…" Sarah turned back to me and grabbed my shoulders, shaking me in excitedly. "Spill it!"
"Uh," I stumbled, a smile growing on my face as I searched for appropriate words.
At that, Sarah let me go and clapped her hands once, holding them up in the air as if in praise.
"I knew it! I knew it." She pointed a finger at me. "You got fucking laid!"
"Sarah," Suzanne's voice was a soft admonishment, but I could tell she wanted to hear my story too.
I quirked my lips to cover a smirk, but when that did work, I ended up pressing them together and mumbled, "Maybe…"
"Yes!" Sarah yelled, attracting multiple stares from inside the room.
"You ladies working or gossiping?" Nathan, a fellow Savior, called out. "Everly, quit fucking around and do your job. I'd hate to have to tell the boss."
"Go for it, Nathan," I countered. "I'll indulge him with the tale of the missing peanut butter jars or did you think I didn't notice?"
"Ooooh, busted!" Sarah gave him a one finger salute and he returned it with one of his own.
"Any time, sweetheart." He looked her up and down lingeringly before sauntering away.
"You're going to get us into trouble," Bobbie huffed, bending over a tote at our feet to look busy.
"No, I won't. He's one of my side pieces." Sarah blew her a kiss and Bobbie waved her off. "Also, please don't tell Negan about the peanut butter, Everly. We only took two jars and I honestly don't think he'll want them back..."
"Ugh, God!" Bobbie swore dramatically as she looked up, and I bit back a laugh as Sarah casted a disparaging look her way.
"Ssh!" She hushed her and whipped her ponytail around dramatically, setting batting eyes on me. "Please, do share with us all the skimpy details and be sure to shock us with how big his dick is."
"Sarah!" Suzanne and Bobbie whispered harshly.
"Was it this big?" Sarah held up both hands apart in a large gap, a huge grin on her face. Instantly, she pushed her hands together, closing the gap significantly as disappointment transformed her features. "Or was it this big?"
I covered my eyes with a hand and laughed. "You're fucking ridiculous."
"Answer the question, Everly," she whispered manically.
With an eye roll, I grabbed her hands and set them at the appropriate distance from one another and her eyes rounded, a startled smile appearing on her lips. "Damn! Now you're making me wish I'd been there to witness it!"
"Okay, that's enough," Suzanne said, shooing Sarah. "Leave Everly alone. Her private life isn't any of your business."
"Uh, hey now, if Everly wants to share, that's completely up to her. Everly, tell these old biddies you want to share sexy time details with me." Sarah nodded her head, egging me on to nod back.
"No," I chuckled again, and left to patrol the room.
"Aw, thanks for ruining story time, ladies. I've been looking forward to it for weeks. Now I'm just going to have to use my imagination." Sarah sounded genuinely disappointed.
I turned, and she perked up when I said her name. "The one thing I will say is that he's an amazing lover." I paused as her face fell, clearly not at all satisfied with the tiny tidbit of information. "Also, no one has ever gotten me off as quickly as he has with just his fingers and his tongue."
Before they could see the redness blossoming in my face, I hurried away as Sarah let out another triumphant 'yes', following it closely with a promise that she'd be hearing more. I shook my head, holding back laughter when the sight of Simon lounging by the supply room door drew my attention and the mirth quickly drained.
He had his arms crossed over his chest, one foot hiked over the other and he was gazing at me with a straightforward simper. My throat closed as I realized what he must've heard, but I tried to convince myself that he was too far away to hear and perhaps he was smirking about something or someone else. When he cocked a finger at me was when I really felt heat fanning my face, and I begrudgingly walked over to him, hoping he needed me for nothing important.
He pushed from the wall and straightened as I got near, meeting me as I stopped by the doorway.
"Good morning, sunshine. Don't you look the picture of a well-watered rose?"
"Simon," I greeted him back shortly. "What's up?"
"Just making my rounds, checking on the workings of the compound." He shrugged. "Also, Negan has requested you come to his office immediately. Something about having a surprise for you? I'm not too sure."
"A surprise?" I instantly didn't feel right, and the gleam in Simon's eyes caused the dread to sink further down into my gut.
"Follow me, sugarplum." He gestured to me as he walked out the door, and I did.
Don't panic. He hasn't found out anything. There is no way that he knows.
It was a lame attempt to convince myself that I wasn't in the same position from a few months ago when we were first caught trying to escape, but the fear started to bubble within me and it took all the self-control I'd been practicing to not bolt for Daryl.
Find out where Dwight is. Keep Simon talking. Maybe I'll get a useful hint.
"So, what's this surprise?" I asked as casually as I could, coming up to Simon's side and looking into his face.
He smiled down at me. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Well, yes. That's why I asked."
"Right," he chuckled. "Well, kiddo, let's just say it's one you'll want to have, but the point of a surprise is for you not to know until it's given to you, and seeing as I'm not the one who's arranged it, you'll have to wait."
"Who's in on it? Just you and Negan? Dwight?" I pressed.
"I guess you could say everyone that you know." He cast me a significant look that I couldn't read, and I became frustrated that he was being so cryptic about it.
I resigned myself to silence, knowing I wasn't going to get anything significant from him, but I wrung the bottom of my shirt in my hand, my bruised one tapping my thigh as we ascended the stairs to Negan's office. When we reached his doors, I took in a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever it was he was going to "surprise" me with, and I followed Simon inside.
Negan glanced over at us, smacking his hand on his desk as he swiveled lazily in his chair.
"Good fucking morning!" He greeted me, and as Simon left to speak with Negan, I saw Daryl already sat in one of the leather chairs.
Oh, no. I froze as Daryl's piercing gaze met mine, and my eyes darted over to Negan and Simon, catching the latter whispering to the other conspiratorially. They both looked at me, matching grins slitting their cheeks, and Negan gestured to the seat by Daryl which I took hesitantly.
With as much confidence as I could muster, I made eye contact with Negan, showing him that I had nothing to hide and nothing to be afraid of. Daryl's hand slipped into mine, and I squeezed it, the aching bones protesting in pain, but I let it course through me, choosing to use it rather than let it use me.
"Well, don't you two look cute as fuck," Negan commented as he strolled in front of us and leaned against his desk, propping Lucille next to his legs. He crossed his arms and shot me a clandestine smirk, and I remembered my first visit in this office with him. I shot him a glare back. "I'm glad I've got the two of you in here together because the surprise I've got planned is really for the both of y'all. I debated on leaving one you behind, buuuut I figured two bodies were better than one, right?"
I quickly glanced at Daryl, but he kept a steady sight on Negan, not once looking away from him. I forced a lump down my throat as my heart throbbed, a stable but forceful rhythm in my ears.
"What's this about?" Daryl asked in a strained, gruff voice.
"This is about setting things right once and for all, Daryl," Negan's tone was condescending. "This is about me finally doing what I should've done three fucking months ago. I'm not a bad man. I'm truly not. Everly can have my fucking back on that one, but for some goddamn reason, I can't shake the fucking stigma that I bash peoples' brains in for no good goddamn reason off my chipped fucking shoulder."
Whose fault is that? But I keep my mouth shut.
"So, this is what I'm going to do," Negan sighed, standing up straight and pacing around our chairs. "I'm taking you both back to Alexandria."
I immediately perked up, wide eyes finding Daryl's as he finally looked at me. He slowly let go of my hand, shifting around in his chair as he worked to remain stoic, but he was having a tough time of it. I could tell he was, in fact, surprised, and I was, too.
I was hesitant to ask, but I did anyway. I'd rather know the answer now than find out it's a hoax later. "Are you honestly taking us back and leaving us there? For good?"
"Yes. However," Negan raised one finger in the air as he stopped in front of us, "it all depends on how we're greeted when we get there. You see, I'm willing to work with Rick on whatever bullshit grudge he's been holding against me, and I figured giving two of his people back will be a good move to show him how much I actually do care. And frankly, all of us know this hasn't been working out since day one. I'm hoping this will finally show him what a good guy I am; that I can play nice if he plays nice back."
As soon as the words leave his mouth, I know he's a liar. There is no way in hell he would give up that easily after so long. Something must have happened. He had to have learned some sort of information on Rick that has set whatever Negan has planned in motion, and the initial excitement I felt at going home is rapidly washed away.
Negan smirked again as he watched my reaction and he came up in front of me, placing his hands on either side of the chair as he bent down to whisper in my ear, "You smell my bullshit, don't ya, darlin'?"
I tensed, wracking my brain on how to warn Daryl, but Negan didn't wait for my response as he quickly whispered again, "Don't say a word or I'll cut your hunter boyfriend's throat and make you watch him bleed out."
He swiftly backed away from me and Daryl was already on the edge of his seat, waiting to strike if Negan made a move he didn't approve of. The offending man grabbed his beloved baseball bat, throwing her on his shoulder.
"Damn, lover boy!" The Sanctuary leader exclaimed. "You're fucking ready to go and I didn't even touch her. Simon, you see this shit?"
"All too clearly," Simon responded flippantly, but his hand rested on a gun at his hip.
"Alright, that's enough flirting for one morning. It's time we took a little fieldtrip, buddies!" Negan pointed at Daryl. "Simon, take that one down to the trucks. I'll escort the other. We still have a conversation to finish."
He gave Daryl a pointed look as Simon beckoned to him. Daryl didn't budge from his seat, leveling Negan with a deadly stubborn stare.
"Daryl," Negan warned, and Simon's hand went to his gun again. "She'll be right behind you. I swear."
"It's okay. Just go," I whispered to him, grabbing hold of his hand again.
His blazing blue eyes held mine and he tugged me forward, meeting me half-way across the gap between the chairs to place a blistering kiss on my lips.
"I ain't leavin' you," he argued. "Never again."
"Jesus, stop," Negan interrupted. "You're making me pop a fucking tent in my pants over here."
He regarded us for a minute before eventually relenting, gesturing us both up with a flick of his hand. We stood, keeping our fingers locked together, but Negan grabbed my arm and pulled me roughly away, breaking us apart.
Daryl let out a snarl, quickly sidestepping Simon to get to him, but the leader shoved the wired end of his first lady under Daryl's chin, his face calm but menacing.
"Try something," Negan taunted. "I promise you, you won't like what happens if you do. I've been more than forgiving the past five minutes. Don't. Push. Your luck."
The burly man held his ground, stepping forward an inch to match Negan's threat, and I acted before the situation could advance, placing my hand on their shoulders to push them apart. Negan only smiled, a sign of the calm before the storm, and he lowered Lucille as he held Daryl's gaze.
"Control your man, Everly. He's gone rabid again," Negan spoke, and I resisted the sudden urge to punch him.
"Daryl, I'll walk in front of you. It doesn't matter, just stop. Please," I pleaded with him, and he let out a derisive huff, finally backing away.
"Damn, she has got you pussy whipped." Negan laughed, and he pushed insistently on my shoulder, guiding me with a hand on my arm to the door. He opened it to reveal several men waiting in the hallway. "We'll meet ya out there, man."
Negan gave a swift incline of his head and I heard the crunching sound of a fist hitting skin. I looked over my shoulder, terrified as the men rushed past us into the room, and I saw Daryl clutching his jaw before swinging back at Simon.
"No!" I hollered, struggling against Negan's straining grip, but he dragged me down the hallway, the sound of striking fists and boots a horrifying melody that haunted me the entire way.
Edited by lolasskicker.
Thank you to the guests who reviewed last chapter! Negan is definitely the dude you love to hate but hate to love in this story. And is he falling in love? Hmm, idk. What do you guys think? ;)
Also, shout out to Berrydog and Blue Moon for reviewing a couple of chapters ago! Sometimes I forget to thank reviewers without accounts, but I always appreciate your comments and feedback. :)