Hotel Key

Chapter 23

RickyJo felt the pull of sadness and regret rising up inside her as she watched Merle walk away. She wasn't sorry for the way things worked out. But she was terribly sorry that she hurt him. That was never her intention. And she hoped that once all the high flying emotions settled down a little, they might be able to find their way back to being friends. He was always a good friend to her. Even when he was being an ass. And she felt the loss of that relationship like a hole in her heart.

Daryl's arm wrapped around her waist. And she leaned into the comfort of his solid body, letting him take some of the burden from her. He walked her back to their table, rubbing her back once they were both seated.

"Everythin' okay?," he asked. RickyJo nodded. Then shook her head. Then nodded again. She wasn't really sure if everything was okay. But everything was how it had to be. There was no other way it could be.

"He just seems broken," she admitted. Daryl leaned closer, pulling her against him. How RickyJo could still feel sympathy for Merle after all the bullshit he did, Daryl really had no idea. But he supposed that's what he loved about her. She was a kind person.

"He'll be alright," Daryl assured her. Merle was just throwing a fit. The person Daryl actually felt bad for in all this was Jessica. Merle clearly married her just to get at RickyJo. And now she was stuck dealing with his bullshit. And since they took off for Vegas without signing whatever crap they should have signed with the lawyer, Jessica was probably looking at a potentially very expensive divorce. The whole situation was a mess. The best thing Merle could do for himself at this point was pray to god that Jessica would be willing to give him another chance.

"I love ya," RickyJo said, pressing her lips against his. Daryl smiled.

"Love you too," he told her. When he leaned in to give her another kiss, he heard her stomach let out a loud grumble of protest. She laughed, pressing her hand against her middle.

"I'm starvin'," she admitted. Daryl nodded. He was hungry too. With all the craziness of the day, neither of them really had much time to eat. He told RickyJo to stay where she was. Then he hopped up to go investigate what was left on the buffet table.

RickyJo sipped on the sparkling juice that was in her champagne glass and took a moment just to watch and enjoy the party. She got to see a bunch of extended family that she hadn't seen in years. Most of them were her mother's cousins' kids. More of her co-workers from the university turned out than she expected, especially with the short notice. Against his better judgment, Daryl invited all the guys from the shop. And RickyJo invited all the tenants in her building. She was surprised when Shane and Carol showed up together. She wasn't sure if they were a thing. Or if they just rode out here from the city together. Either way, she was happy. Because if Carol was here at her wedding, that meant the woman wasn't back with her horrid excuse for a husband. And Sophia was having a ball running around with the other kids.

"When were you planning on telling me?," Jessica asked, plopping down next to her in Daryl's seat. She had her arms crossed under her breasts and she looked quite irritated. RickyJo felt her stomach bottom out, assuming that her cousin was referring to what happened between her and Merle.

"Telling you what?," RickyJo asked, deciding that playing innocent was her best course of action.

"RickyJo!," Jessica huffed. "Ya made us throw this whole weddin' together in a week with no fuckin' explanation. And yer not drinkin'," she observed. RickyJo held up her glass, displaying the bubbly liquid inside. Jessica snatched it from her hand and took a sip. "Tastes like juice ta me," she announced. RickyJo started to laugh and covered her mouth with her hand. But Jessica was not amused. "Why didn't ya tell me. I told you the minute I peed on that stupid stick thing."

"I'm sorry Jess," she gushed, grabbing Jessica's hand. "Daryl didn't want ta tell anyone until after we got married." It was a lie. But it was close enough to the truth not to feel like one. She didn't tell Jess because she didn't want Jess to tell Merle. Because if Merle knew she was pregnant the moment she peed on that stick, he was probably smart enough to figure out the baby might not be Daryl's. And that was a secret she wasn't ever going to be able to tell. Not even to Jess.

"Guess what!?," RickyJo demanded.

"Uh, yer pregnant," Jessica said, tilting her head and crossing her eyes like she was half dopey.

"Well yeah," RickyJo giggled. "...and I'm due on yer birthday!" Jessica squealed loud enough that the people around them stopped and stared. She threw her arms around RickyJo, hugging her tight.

"I'm so happy fer you!," she gushed. After Jessica got done nearly slobbering all over her, she plopped back down and asked what she considered to be the most important question in this scenario. "How's the sex?"

Daryl leaned in between them, setting two plates down on the table and trying not to laugh. He didn't hear the rest of the conversation, but he heard the last bit clear enough.

"We'll talk later…," Jessica teased, vacating Daryl's seat with a wink. He shook his head at her as she sauntered off back towards the dance floor.

"So," he teased, "...how is the sex?" RickyJo tossed her head back and laughed.

"Let's get the hell out of here and find out," she suggested, her tongue flicking out to wet her lips.

After some brief discussion, RickyJo decided that people would notice if they both got up and left their own reception together. So she got up first and headed out in the direction of the bathroom. Once she was sure no one was looking, RickyJo turned and hurried away towards one of the big pole barns. She hid right inside the door, her heart beating faster in her chest as she waited for Daryl to come through the door behind her. When he finally did, she pounced on him. He jumped, nearly knocking RickyJo to the ground while she laughed like crazy and nibbled up the side of his neck. Daryl swept her up into his arms, heading for the spot he'd been wanting to fuck her in for as long as he could remember.

RickyJo leaned back into the hood of the thunderbird, kicking her shoes off. She grasped the skirt of her dress, pulling it slowly up to reveal her long tan legs. Daryl ran his hands up her thighs, tucking his fingers under the sides of her wispy lace panties and sliding them off. She arched her back, bracing her heels on the bumper of the car. She could hear the quiet rustle of Daryl unzipping his pants. And then he was parting her legs with his hands on her knees. He kept going until she was splayed wide, revealing the glistening folds of her sex to him in the dim light that was filtering in through the pole barn windows. He ran his hands down the insides of her thighs, stopping just sort of reaching her core. RickyJo reached forward, grabbing his wrists and pulling him down on top of her. His lips found hers and she parted them with her tongue, hungry for the taste of him. She gasped into his mouth when he entered her, forcing her insides open with his dick. RickyJo ran her hands down his back, pushing his pants down off his hips and digging her fingers into his ass. She pulled him forward as she pushed up with her hips, groaning when she felt him bottom out inside her.

Daryl braced his hands on the hood of the car on either side of her body. The way she was wriggling under him, shifting her hips and thrusting them against him, was driving him crazy with lust for her. Her movement combined with the fact that he'd been waiting all day to get her under her combined and broke down what little self restraint he had left. He pumped his hips, pinning her against the hood of the car as he slammed his dick into her over and over again. She dug her nails into his ass, gasping his name as her insides flooded with heat. He pushed in one last time, cursing as he shot his essence deep inside her. He leaned forward, kissing her deeply before he withdrew.

"I guess we better get back to the party before someone notices we're gone," she said with a sigh. Daryl helped her back up off the car, smiling while he watched her straighten her dress out. Then he took her hand and led her back to their reception with her underwear still in his suit pocket.