"Never Give Up (On Each Other)"
Author: carmen_085
Disclaimer: I do not own any Walking Dead Characters. I do own all original characters.
Summary: In the months before the beginning of the apocalypse, Daryl finds himself homeless, alone, and with no direction. An adult Beth is struggling to balance her job, sick parents, and the farm. Feeling like the world is suffocating her, will taking a chance on a stranger change everything ? Can these two find what they need in each other before life as they know it ends and they must do anything to survive. AU but eventual ZA with full cast.
NSFW content this Chapter. You've been warned
Chapter Twenty-Four
The woods were dark, pitch black in fact, with no moon or stars. Trees blurring together in inky blackness that swallowed him whole. He didn't mind, though, he knew these woods just as well as he knew his own home having lived his entire life just at their edge. Since the turn, since Teresa and the kids got sick, he'd spent more time out here; looking for an answer that he didn't actually believe to exist. At first he was totally consumed by depression, wandering aimlessly up one path and down the other. When it became clear that Daryl was more than just the hired help to Beth, he began keeping an eye on him as well. Tucking in behind a tree and watching the two of them comfortable just to be with each other as they worked in the fields. It occupied his time and gave him a distraction that quickly turned into an obsession.
Letting Beth go was the biggest mistake Jimmy ever made. He loved his wife but he had never been in love with her. She was a good woman and their children meant everything to him, but Beth was never far from his mind. Good and kind and so very smart; she'd gone off and gotten her education and made something of herself. He told her he couldn't wait for her, but why he couldn't he? Wasn't like he was going anywhere or had shit to do. Ever since Jimmy had been a little boy he'd known that it was expected of him to take over the farm. To continue the Campbell family traditions and farm this land like he was born to do. He didn't object to his predetermined destiny, in fact he embraced it, working alongside his father from the time he was a young boy. Still, somewhere in the back of his mind he always thought that he would have a little time for himself. A few years after high school to go to college or enlist in the military; to see the world beyond Coweta county and say that he made something of himself all on his own. He'd never admitted that to anyone but himself, not even to Beth, keeping up the farce that taking over his daddy's farm was all he ever wanted.
It wasn't meant to be, however, and before he even graduated high school his dad had dropped dead out in the fields. There was no time for grief, no time to mourn or recall happy memories. Almost immediately he had needed to start working; if he hadn't the bank would would have foreclosed on their loan, taking the house and the land. That's how farming was- tricky at best- although the land had been in his family for generations all it took was one bad crop, a drought, or blight and you were holding on for dear life. In those years, the lean years, his grandfather and then his daddy had gone down to the bank and borrowed against what they had. It was what needed done and when the next year came and everything set itself right again they would pay back the money and the land would belong to them once again. The year his daddy died was a lean year- a very lean year- and they had no room to spare. Even if he had wanted to turn his back on the whole situation he couldn't; the bank threatening to throw his mama and sisters out on the curb. So he did what he had to do, the only thing he knew how to do, and he went straight to work sacrificing so much of what he wanted for himself.
Beth was a good girl and she loved him back then. Staring up at him with adoration that bordered on worship. They were teenagers and in the end it didn't mean much, in fact it didn't mean anything. Their love wasn't even strong enough to last a whole year of separation. It was his fault, he took full responsibility in the matter, restless with how his life had turned out, he wasn't willing to sacrifice anything else that he wanted. So sitting around and waiting for Beth to live out her college dreams was never going to work. He didn't even have the balls to tell her to her face; he did it over the phone and that was it. Done. He knew she was upset about it, had even heard through whispers around town that she'd done something stupid. He hated to believe gossip but he knew he'd been cruel to her, breaking it off like that. Jimmy didn't see her for a long time after that. When they did run into one another in town one day, Beth was wearing scrubs and he was wearing a wedding band. It was a surprise to them both. He didn't know she was back, figuring that she'd stay in Atlanta and work in one of the fancy hospitals downtown. She, of course, had heard the he married but could hardly believe it until she saw the thin gold band on his finger. Teresa was her name, a tall dark haired girl that had come to work at her Uncle's Feed Store two summers ago. Beth bit her lip as he explained and then offered him a smile. She was happy for him, really she was. And they went on like that, running into each other here and there over the years.
The night that Shawn died, he held her in his arms and let her cry against his strong chest. Her daddy taken to the hospital, her mama laid up in the house, and Maggie off doing whatever the fuck she did; Beth was left to bear her grief alone. So she turned to him and they began to talk once again; he'd ride over at least once a week and see if she needed anything around the farm. Time had matured her and hardened her though, and the sweet girl he had once dated turned into a capable adult. Most of the time she assured him that she was just fine; once in a while when a job was too heavy she would relent and he would assist. It opened up a tentative place in her life for him again and he wasn't about to screw that up. Frankly, he loved that she needed him. That nobody in the world could do for her what he could.
And then came Daryl.
He didn't even know where she found him. Had never actually thought to ask although it seemed more than apparent he was down on his luck. Beth had always had a soft spot for those in need and Jimmy worried that she would be taken advantage of. Especially by someone like Daryl that appeared worldly in more ways than one. He tried to impress upon her that the man could be dangerous, unpredictable and was clearly just waiting for his moment. She wouldn't hear it though and very quickly, too quickly in fact, Daryl and Beth became all but joined at the hip. When she wasn't at work or sleeping she was with him. He knew, he watched from the safety of the forest, her bright smiles and his hesitant smirks. It made his blood boil. Beth wasn't his, hadn't been since she was eighteen, but in more ways than one he was the guy. The one she called when she needed something. The one who held her and let her cry herself to exhaustion that horrible night last year. That was him. Not Daryl. HIM
Teresa and the kids were sick. They'd been visiting her parents on Springer Mountain when the whole thing broke out and had gotten jammed up on the highway trying to get back. Before the phone lines went down he told her to stay there, that they would be safe there. But she didn't listen as usual and insisted upon coming back home. It was a dumb decision- perhaps the dumbest- and he told her as much when she pulled in, driver's seat soaked in blood. He couldn't look at her, couldn't speak, the children weren't even spared and from that point forward Jimmy knew he would do whatever it took to try and save his family. Stopping the bleeding was easy, it was the fever he couldn't get a handle on. He tried everything he had and still it wasn't enough. Pete, the kindly pharmacist in town, had told him to try codeine. A remedy as old as time, he said it wasn't just for pain and could work wonders with a cough or fever. He was desperate so he took the bottle home and gave it one last shot.
Mercifully the children slipped away painlessly, the medication sedating them as the end came. Teresa, on the other hand, slipped into a delirium babbling incoherently and thrashing in bed. Her end was violent and it took everything Jimmy had to keep her from hurting herself. When she turned, the first thing she did was lunge for him. Initially he'd been elated that perhaps she's only just passed out and was now back, still delirious but alive nonetheless. Her beautiful green eyes had turned gray and unseeing as her lips snarled up in a vicious sneer that was wholly foreign. His wife was gone, but somehow she was still here and that was good enough for him.
Getting the lot of them out to the barn was no easy task as he used a pole with a hook to lead them away. They would stay there until this passed and someone figured out what to do. There had to be some kind of medicine that could cure this. But as days slipped into weeks he began to accept that no one was going to help him. So he needed to help himself. He'd not seen Beth since everything had happened and he was sure that she was out of her mind trying to see to her mama. He hadn't wanted to impose and he knew that Daryl was certainly still around, Beth clearly not willing to believe anyone when it came to him. At his wit's end, Jimmy set off for the farm hiking though the forest with no more protection than a hunting knife. That was when he ran into Old Man Mitchell. Jimmy had happened upon the old, salty drunk before out wandered the woods well after dark. But this time was different, instead of telling him to fuck off and heading in the opposite direction; the old farmer staggered right toward him hissing and moaning. It wasn't until he was nearly on top of him that he realized the old man had turned just like Teresa and the kids.
Trepidation filled his chest as he wondered how long he had before he too was shambling around out of his mind. But then another notion took over. He had someone he could practice on, try out anything and everything until he found something that could help his family. It was brilliant actually. But alas with no hook or rope or any means to lead him back to his farm he would need to detain him somehow and come back later. The ravine and the vines were just too convenient, presenting themselves just when he needed a solution. One good push over the hillside and into the bed of vegetation, and Old Man Mitchell would be staying right where he landed. Even Jimmy had to congratulate himself on how smart he was.
Smart yes but fast, not quite enough. By the time he'd made it back to the area where he left him it was well after midnight. The forest familiar, but still difficult to navigate in the pitch dark he stumbled here and there pressing on until he heard a man's voice yelling.
"Hey ! Hey ! Are you hurt ?"
Raspy and thick, despite only hearing the man utter a sentence or two he was fairly certain it was Daryl. Not just because he recognized his voice but also because he was the only other person Jimmy would even think of besides himself who would have the balls to be out here this time of night. Slowing his steps to near silence he tucked himself into a thicket of bushes and watched- something he'd become good at. He watched Daryl slide down the hillside, ready to help the man if he could. Jimmy rolled his eyes. He yelled at him, getting no response, and then when he got too close Old Man Mitchell reached out and latched onto him pushing Daryl flat onto his back. Maybe if he was lucky he'd have two bodies tonight instead of one. Moreover, Beth would be his again and with his own family fighting this illness he would be available for whatever she needed. Daryl, however, was too strong and was able to throw the old man off of him, load an arrow, and plant it right in his chest. He kept coming. Jimmy licked his lips in anticipation. Another in the neck. Still nothing. Down to his last arrow Jimmy knew that this was going to be it. Miserably, Daryl hit him right between the eyes dropping the old man cold in his tracks. Anger flared inside Jimmy, now what the fuck was he supposed to do. Surely he could find another sick one, but Old Man Mitchell had been perfect; no family and no one to care that he was gone. Part of him wanted to stalk right out there and give Daryl a right piece of his mind. But then an even bigger part of him weaved an idea so brilliant he couldn't believe he didn't think of it sooner.
When the sun came up, he would go into town and and report that he'd witnessed a murder. A kindly old farmer, killed for sport in the middle of the night. Daryl would be gone and Beth would finally see. It was perfect.
But instead of Beth turning toward him she turned away from him, violently so. It was all his fault, at least that's what she said, as he watched her beg the deputy to let Daryl go. He was a good man, he wouldn't do anything like that. Jimmy had to suppress the urge to snort. They loaded Daryl up and took him just like he wanted. The drugs rolling out of Beth's pure were a surprise and only made things worse for him when he took responsibility. She was upset though, so completely beside herself, and he was the only one to blame in her eyes. Jimmy knew those drugs were from the hospital, and that Beth had probably taken them for her mama not knowing what was ahead. She was inconsolable falling to her knees and yelling out. Tentatively he came to squat next to her. They could make this right…the two of them together. Anger shown bright in her eye though as she slapped him and away and made for the house slamming the door behind her.
He'd give her a few days and she'd come around like she always did. Ever since they were kids, Beth could never stay mad at him for long. But he'd underestimated her and the fanatic devotion she had for this redneck. Somehow she managed not only to get her daddy back from wherever the hell he was, she also found Daryl too. Shocked would be an understatement for what Jimmy felt when he laid eyes on them leaning against one another on the porch swing. Anger quickly filled every inch of him. What the fuck ? Why couldn't she see the truth.
The hunting accident, the kid, the deer. He never meant for any of that to happen. It was all an unfortunate situation that took away from his end goal. To get rid of Daryl and to finally have Beth for himself. Wasn't like she had many options these days. He'd lost hope for curing his own family, nothing he tried was helping- all they wanted to do was eat. Chickens, a goat, anything that was flesh and blood they consumed mindlessly never satisfied and always looking for more. He couldn't end them even though he knew he should. He gotten a few others after Daryl eliminated Old Man Mitchell from the equation. A woman who he recognized from the drug store in town and a man with a construction uniform on. He tried everything he could think and still there was nothing. Putting them in with Teresa and the kids he began to feed them as well.
That morning he'd set off with the only rifle he owned to put a bullet in Daryl's back when he wasn't looking. Cowardice if there ever was, but at this point he just didn't care anymore. He knew the man was near superhuman in the woods creeping around silently. When he heard the deer he didn't look, he just shot. And now here he was; without Beth, and Daryl still very much alive. He'd left that prick Shane back at the high school without a second thought. What did he care about that boy, his own children were hopelessly gone. Now he walked and wandered through the woods that had become a sort of second home to him.
It was almost dark, the sun dipping low into the western sky when he saw him. Bent over and staring at something he wasn't paying attention at all. Jimmy had never seen him so unaware. A golden opportunity if there ever was one. In one swift motion he came up behind him pushing down over the hillside, a yelp of pain was the last thing he heard. A walker ambled up from behind a tree as Jimmy's lips spread into a smile. Dodging rotting arms and snapping teeth he had just enough momentum to push it over right behind Daryl. A short laugh left his lips. That should take care of it. Tomorrow morning he'd come back out and get Daryl headed back toward the farm. Once Beth knew he was gone she would turn to him and everything would be just as it should.
Blackness gave way to pain and pain gave way to awareness. An instant and deep understanding that he wasn't dead, at least not yet anyway. Forcing his eyes open Daryl blinked, the last streaks of twilight making it possible for him to realize that he was at the bottom of a ravine. A searing pain radiated through his left side. Trying to move it was only then that he realized he was pinned to the ground by one of his own arrows. So many thoughts went through his head at once, but the one that he settled on was that he hadn't kept his promise to Beth. She would be worried, probably wearing a hole in the front porch waiting for him. More than anything else he hated that the most. Slamming his head back to the ground harder than he needed to, Daryl let out a moan.
His side throbbed in pain- so much it was making his brain short circuit. Laying there paralyzed and motionless he gasped. He couldn't wait for someone to come rescue him, not only because they'd never find him but also because no one would ever know where to look. More than that, however, he'd never waited for rescuing a day in his life and he sure wasn't about to start now. The bolt was straight through piercing his flank and pinning him to the ground. Wrapping his hands around it he grit his teeth giving it a hard tug. Not budging he moaned letting a gasp of pain escape his lips.
In the underbrush next to him he heard a familiar hissing. Growling and the snapping of teeth bidding him to hurry. Forcing his eyes back open, Daryl grit his teeth as he wrapped his hands around the bolt. This was it, he couldn't fuck around if he wanted to get out of this alive. Still, he couldn't do it. The pain blinding and radiating like a current of electricity from his shoulder to his toes. He was such a fucking pussy, if Merle saw him right now he would puke.
It was only then, laying there in an endless pit of self loathing that Daryl became aware that he wasn't alone. Moaning, hissing, and the snapping of teeth brought him back to reality. Freeing itself from the gnarly undergrowth it lurched toward him, held back only by a few thin saplings. Daryl kicked his feet planting a boot square in the walker's face and still it had little effect. Of all the things that he'd gathered about the undead thus far, the clearest was that they didn't give up. They were relentless; pressing on until a bullet was placed right between the eyes. This situation was no different, except that Daryl was facing a disadvantage that he'd never had before. It had been easy to gain in the upper hand against them when he was on two feet, now it was more of a struggle.
Wrapping his dirty fingers around the arrow one last time he took ahold of it and inhaled deeply. At his legs he felt the walker latch onto his boot and gain purchase. He thought about Beth, not for the fist time, and he felt like such a fuck up laying here moaning and whining. Before he could think about it anymore, he yanked as hard as he could. A scream ripped from his throat and the walker lunged. Having nothing more than the bolt in his hand he thrust it pinning the walker through the chin and directly into the base of its brain. It stilled, falling slack along with Daryl himself whose surge of adrenaline abruptly faded causing him to fall backwards into blackness.
"Woo Wee…look at you, little brother." Daryl opened his eyes again and this time Merle was there. It was now light out and he wondered if he had been out all night or if this was all just a dream. Either way, his brother knelt down next to him, surveying the damage and giving him a shit eating grin. "That piece of tail you been chasing got you all mixed up…now you out here looking for a little girl that ain't even yours." Daryl's eyes rolled back in his head as he exhaled mumbling.
"You best shut up…" The retort only made Merle cackle louder, throwing his head back and howling.
"Or what little brother ? Huh ?" He shook his head in disgust. "Let me ask you somethin' now. Have you even gotten a taste of her yet ? Sweet thing like her…." Merle smacked his lips together. "She gotta taste sweeter than honey." An image of Beth floated through his mind as he briefly recalled the night they spent together in her bed. Tongue on her small breasts and hand between her legs it made his crotch throb even in a half unconscious state.
"Leave it alone…" He kicked at Merle, missing wide as his brother stood back up and shook his head.
"You want her, don't you ? Feel her on top of you rocking, moaning your name, hands all over you." He exhaled now more for dramatic effect than anything else. "That's the stuff man…" Putting his hands on his hips, Merle looked down at him and shook his head, "Shame old Jimmy's going to get there first…" Squinting west back toward the farm Merle shook his head. "He's probably there right about now snatching her up and taking her…"Before he could finish Daryl tried to kick his legs out from under him.
Merle, even the ghost of Merle, was too fast easily dodging the effort as he'd done when they were kids and he won every fight. Bigger, stronger, smarter; Daryl never stood a chance against the elder Dixon. "You don't know shit, never did."
"Oh come on now, Darylina how'd you think you ended up down here in this hole ? Think you slipped, tripped over those high heels you been wearing ?" Merle bent over laughing in his face, spit flying in every direction. "No son…you were pushed. Pushed right out of the way. You want somethin' in life you gotta take it !" His brother's taunting eyes suddenly turned serious. "Now get your ass up and outta here or he's gonna take what's yours. Come on little brother wake up and climb. WAKE UP !"
Daryl's eyes snapped open just as a walker was lunging toward him. Even in the dark he could see the shambling outline. Having nothing else but his hands, he caught the corpse mid way and pushed it to the side. Scrambling to his feet he ignored the pain, the dizziness, and the very real feeling that his dead brother had just been by his side and stomped the hissing corpse to death. The forest fell silent with one last blow to the head and a gasp of pain. Even without looking he knew that he was bleeding substantially, instantly recognizing the warm trickle of blood down his side. Gathering his crossbow and the ripped, stained doll Daryl began to limp back toward the farm desperate to see Beth and let her know that he was alright.
Falling to her knees when she saw him emerge from the forest, the last thing that came to Beth's mind when she saw Daryl was alright. Bruised and bleeding, barely upright, he stumbled into the east pasture. Thankfully it was dark and the blonde woman, Andrea, was an awful shot. Wanting to fire off a round in his direction from her look out post in barn, it was only at the last minute that Rick stopped her. He and Shane going to investigate the mysterious figure themselves and returning to the house with Daryl slumped over and unconscious between them.
It had taken everything Beth had to keep herself together and direct the men to take him around back into the small room off the kitchen. Throwing an old blanket over the bed she immediately set about assessing him, getting a round of vitals, and starting an IV. She'd struggled to keep the tears at bay the whole time she was working on him, biting down hard on her lip to stop the overflow of emotion. 'You have a job to do, Beth. There will be time for this later.' She curtly reminded herself.
Carl, now becoming more stable each day, was with his mama as Hershel came to assess the injuries to Daryl. The rest of the group was preoccupied with the discovery of Sophia's doll tucked into the crook of Daryl's arm. Even Shane had to concede that the girl could still be alive. Carol, already teetering on the edge of hope, began to weep with joy- Dale holding her up and ushering her back to the RV. Had Daryl not been in such serious shape Beth would have been extremely proud of what he'd done. No one knew the woods like Daryl did, and he had found the proverbial needle in the hay stack. Anytime he ever dared to think he wasn't good enough she planned to remind him of this exact moment. He wasn't just good enough, he was so much more than enough- he was everything.
That thought along with so many others ran through her mind as she sat in the chair and stared at him. Her daddy had patched him up quickly, determining it only to be a flesh wound much to Beth's relief. The IV bag had run dry and Daryl was still deeply asleep. Hershel had gone back to check on Carl, but she said she wasn't going to move, not an inch not until he woke up. So she stayed, staring at his lifeless form in the meager flicker of candle light. Minutes faded to hours as night began to slip into the early light of morning. Beth's eyes were heavy with sleep and that was why when Daryl finally woke up she wasn't sure if it was a dream.
"Beth…" His voice was rougher than usual from hours of unuse. Still she heard him call to her and within a second she was on her knees at the side of his bed tears finally spilling out over her cheeks.
"Daryl..I thought you were dead." He stared at her for a moment as if he was confused, squinting his brow furrowed. For Beth it seemed like he was still out of it, confused about where he was and what had just happened. For Daryl he was totally overcome by the fact that he'd survived and not just survived but had been rescued once again by the beautiful, strong woman in front of him.
Reaching out slowly he rested his fingers lightly against her cheek. Gently, tentatively, he cupped her face wiping the tears away with his thumb. Daryl had never initiated affection before and it took Beth so much by surprise that she gasped. Before he could pull away however, she came up and rested her own hand over his. Staring at each other her lip trembled as Daryl again took the lead and moved forward to kiss her. It was light at first but before long the pressure had deepened and Beth was leaning all her weight against the bed hungry for more.
When Daryl pulled away she couldn't help but to whimper. Although just kissing she couldn't deny that an ache had started to build between her legs. "Need to get cleaned up first…" He trailed off grateful for the dim lighting to hide the blush across his face. He wanted Beth more than anything right now but the thought of himself being dirty for her was enough to make his stomach churn. Pushing himself up he was surprised when she placed a firm hand on his chest anchoring him in place.
"Let me." Her tone said there was no arguing. Eyes drifting upward Daryl met her gaze and relaxed back into bed. This was unfamiliar territory for him, letting someone take care of him. Silently she went to the sink and drew some water into the basin adding a few pumps of lavender soap. With anyone else, under any other circumstance, Daryl would have balked at such an idea. But this was Beth; she'd already seen and accepted every part of him, there was nothing to hide, nothing to be ashamed of.
His eyes followed her as she came back to his bedside, basin in hand. Daryl took a deep breath. He trusted Beth more than he had trusted anyone else in his whole life, even Merle. She was that important to him. If he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, however long or short that might be, he needed to surrender himself completely to her. Every single ugly part. And he needed to start right now. Taking a deep breath Daryl settled back into the bed.
"Lay on your side." Doing as he was told he used every ounce of willpower to make himself relax. To not flinch under her touch. To NOT let his bastard of a father ruin this moment like he had ruined so many others. The wash cloth was cool as it touched his skin and Daryl couldn't help but to sigh deeply. Abraded by the hillside, his flesh was raw and burning, aching in places he didn't even know existed. She was gentle though, like he knew she would be, ghosting the cloth over him and lightly wiping away the dirt that had collected there. They were quiet as she worked across his back cleaning, drying, and bandaging him. When she finally did speak her voice was rough and full of emotion. "I thought you were dead. And when I saw them carrying you across the yard I…" She couldn't go on. Inhaling a shaky breath, she continued her work in silence as Daryl thought about her words. Turning over to face her, their eyes met.
"You were the reason I came back. The reason I survived." His face was open and earnest, his words coming straight from his heart. "You're the reason for everything, Beth." He took a deep breath licking his lips, this was it, no turning back now. "I love you."
Something he couldn't identify passed across her face; something he'd never seen in anyone's face before. It was open, unconditional love. The kind that takes a lifetime to find and build. With three little words he saw forever reflected back in her eyes.
"I love you Daryl." It was a whisper, reverent and solemn, like she was speaking to God himself. Every syllable said with the utmost sincerity. Pulling her toward him their lips met, this time there was no hesitation behind it as they fell into a deep and passionate embrace.
Her body was plunging forward at a hundred miles per hour while her brain struggled to keep up. Daryl rolled onto his back, not caring one shit about how much it hurt as he pulled her toward him. Beth felt an almost immediate wetness between her legs. Perhaps this was a time to feel and not think. Turning her brain off she allowed him to slide her across his lap so that she was now straddling him. It had been a while since their last time but they were no strangers to each other's bodies. Settling herself against his pelvis she immediately felt his arousal. Hard and bulging against his zipper he did little to hide it this time. Just sitting on him like this was enough to undo her. Slowly she ground her hips into him earning a moan of pleasure in return. God he felt so good underneath her; warm and hard and so so ready.
Their kissing intensified, Beth rocking herself against him already feeling a wave of heat descending into her pelvis. She wanted him more than anything else in the world but not like this, fast and desperate. No, she wanted to feel all of him. Slowing down she took a deep breath collecting herself until she came to stop taking a deep breath to steady her racing heart.
"Daryl…" She met his eyes. "I want to feel you….all of you." Beth was a thirty one year old woman and it was ridiculous that she needed to look away for the next part. Still, she had been raised to be a good girl and the words she was about to utter went against everything she had ever been told. "I want to feel you inside of me." She blushed furiously, as if she was only sixteen years old, keeping her eyes averted and letting the notion settle in his head.
For his part Daryl swallowed hard. Not because he didn't want her, nothing could have been further from the truth, but because he was afraid that he might disappoint her not having all that much experience himself. His hesitancy was apparent and within a few moments, Beth shook her head silently chiding herself for being so forward.
"It's alright. I shouldn't have. We don't…" She was scrambling, her brain reeling between flaming embarrassment and abject disappointment.
"Just want it to be good for you is all…." She stopped inhaling sharply as she shook her head.
"Oh Daryl…There's no way it couldn't be good. I love you." Those three words and that look on her face was going to be his undoing. Plain and simple. It would bring him to his knees, completely destroy him, and then save him all over again.
Staring into her eyes she let him look his fill until he found what he needed and nodded. Slowly he ran his fingertips along the hem of her shirt causing goosebumps to bloom across her skin as he lifted the material over her head. She hadn't been wearing bra and instantly her tiny breasts were out on full display. The sudden exposure of something she was so ashamed of caused Beth to look away. She'd shown him her chest before and he'd assured her that she was beautiful but she still couldn't get over herself.
Daryl, never good with words, allowed her a moment to relax before reaching up and gently taking one of her breasts in his hand. Palming the slight mound he teased her nipple hard causing a noticeable tremor to roll down her spine.
"Ohhh…." Beth bit down on her lip hard, her eyes slamming shut. Encouraged by her response, Daryl began stroking the other one kneading the tissue in his hand. He remembered how sensitive she was and propping himself up he carefully took all of her into his mouth sucking and biting her nipple with the slightest amount of pressure. Beth couldn't handle the electricity running down her spine and needing friction she ground herself against him hard. "Ahhh…ohhhh." She moaned, breathy and light throwing her head back and squeezing his hip to steady herself. Daryl continued, feeling a surge of pride that it was him who was putting the pleasure on her face and the moans on her lips.
Beth was dragging herself against him now, needing friction more than anything else. Unlike the first time, she hadn't been concerned about grinding his zipper into him, her own pleasure superseding anything else. And he was fine with that, more than fine actually. Beth deserved to lose herself, to not worry about anyone else, to satisfy her own needs for once. Sucking harder on her nipple he felt her rhythm become short and uncoordinated grinding hard and insistent. She wanted to come so badly he could feel her body strung tight as a bow. Needing once last thing to push her over the edge he gently bit down on her nipple holding it between his teeth until she went completely stiff. Her release came in a tremulous wave, shooting down her spine and radiation outward from her pelvis. Releasing her breasts, Daryl caught her as she collapsed onto his chest shaking like leaf almost completely incoherent.
He held her close, stroking her hair and providing a safe place for her to completely lose control of herself. She moaned and whimpered, nuzzling herself into his chest as she fought to catch her breath. Beth had never come like that before, so intense she nearly saw stars. She knew that many other men would have ridiculed her for what just happened. But not Daryl, never Daryl, and that safety made the whole experience that much more intense.
They lay quietly for a moment, before Daryl hesitantly broke the silence. "Do you want to keep going?" If she didn't he would have been fine with that. His body would have ached but that would have been alright. Beth was the only thing he cared about now. She propped herself up looking into his eyes.
"Yes." Her voice was low and husky, the determination and lust in her eyes more than apparent. Slipping out from under her, Daryl dropped his pants on the floor. His throbbing arousal begging to be set free, he hesitantly shed his boxers and turned to face her. Any thoughts of his body quickly evaporated when he laid eyes on Beth completely naked for the first time. She was, for lack of a better word, a goddess. Milky white skin with smooth defined muscle on her arms and legs. Blonde hair like cornsilk falling over her shoulders and down her back. Blue eyes, clear as the sea, staring back at him with nothing but love and unbound adoration. And then inevitably his gaze settled between her legs on her moist, swollen pink center. Daryl trembled just looking at her.
Slipping into the bed, Beth lay back on the pillow adjusting herself to feel comfortable. If it wouldn't have been weird he would have stood there and stared at her all day, she was that beautiful. Suddenly remembering something, Beth jumped out of bed to the medical bag she had left by the door. Curious Daryl followed her only to stop when she turned around and he saw what was in her hand.
"They were Shawn's…you know before…." He stared at he condom fresh in its wrapper. Her eyes coming to stare at him leaving no doubt that this was exactly what she wanted. "I want you inside me….the whole time." Daryl's dick twitched at the mere idea, a sharp breath clicking in the back of his throat.
She'd already touched him before, sliding her slender fingers along his smooth shaft. This time, though, when she took him in her hand and rolled the condom over his length he couldn't help but to release a bit of wetness. He would need to control himself if he didn't want this to be over before it even started. Daryl had only had sex a few times, all strippers and all mostly against his will. Merle desperate to prove that his baby brother was no fag. Taking a deep breath he lined himself up at the edge of her slit, feeling the heat practically pulsing off of her. Beth was small and he didn't want to hurt her, so at all costs he was going to be slow and gentle even if it killed him.
Already wet from her first time, Beth was completely relaxed as Daryl slid through her opening. She thought he would slide right in, but he was thick and it had been quite some time. Her body stretched to accommodate him as she winced at the intrusion. Immediately Daryl backed off pulling himself out and refusing to look at her, a jolt of fear rushing through him. He'd already fucked up. They'd not even begin and he'd done something wrong.
"It's alright, I'm just a little tight. It's been a while." He nodded although not clearly convinced. Needing to relax them both, she took his length in her hand and stroked up and down, the stimulation immediately causing him to moan. "There…nice and easy alright." Guiding him back to her entrance she stroked his tip in wiggling just a bit. Keeping her attention on him, she guided the rest of him inside her stroking him as he took over and slid all the way in. Once Daryl was completely sheathed inside of her Beth took a deep breath letting her body adjust to his size. Above her, Daryl held himself up on shaking arms using every bit of his willpower to hold completely still until she was ready for him to move. Keeping her eyes closed Beth bit down on her lip as she angled her hips up and rolled against him. It pinched just a bit but she found she had already relaxed against him.
"I'm ok." It was breathless but it was all the confirmation he needed. Slowly, Daryl rolled his hips forward pulling out and pressing back into her. Immediately her walls squeezed him, hugging him tightly as she moaned. What just felt uncomfortable now felt good as she rolled her own hips up to meet him.
"Shit…" He was dizzy already, more on the edge than he could have ever imagined. Rocking back and forth, Daryl quickly found a rhythm. "God Beth…" He was stimulating parts of her that had never been stimulated before, awakening hidden sources of pleasure. Eagerly she lifted herself to meet him as he bottomed out inside her with a gasp. She moaned in response whispering his name like a prayer over and over as he quickened his pace.
Daryl was already losing control, he could feel it begin in his feet and then in his legs- muscles shaking and spasming out of control. For her part, Beth wrapped her legs around the back of his squeezing him in to her as he began to visibly tremble. The intensity of what was happening to him frightening him for a moment as he slowed his rhythm and looked at her pleadingly. "I can't….." He gasped trying to slow his onrushing climax. "I'm gonna cum…". The apparent fear on his face mixed with the way he was pleading with her to allow him this one pleasure made her heart break. Daryl was such a good man but he really would never believe it. Squeezing her legs around his she eased him down off his shaking arms on top of her. Holding him close she whispered in his ear.
"Please cum for me Daryl….cum inside me." His breath hitched, not believing that this goddess of a woman was asking him to cum inside her. Knowing he needed to do something he kissed her, long and deep, before he started to move again his strokes changing. Instead of slow and hesitant, he became desperate and uncoordinated- searching for his release. Beth cradled him against her, holding him tight as his breath came in short stuttered gasps against her cheek. They were both slick with sweat as she stroked her hand through his short hair. Biting out a whimper his body became tense as he trembled from head to toe. Beth wrapped her arms around him holding him tightly against her not just for physical purposes but to also let him know that he is safe with her. That he could fall apart in her arms just as she did in his. Inside of her he stilled for a moment before she felt a throbbing spasm. Letting out a huge rush of air he held himself tense as he sharply jerked against her. Just as the first time, when they both still had their underwear on, the force of his climax stimulated her bringing her back to the edge. Thrusting her hips up into him once, twice, three times, she felt her walls begin to flutter and contract. Daryl knew that she was trying to cum again, this time with him. Using all his willpower he stayed hard jamming himself against her walls knowing that she needing just a little more. When her release did come and she slammed shut around him, clenching so tight, he felt another less intense wave of heat come over him as his dick twitched inside of her. Totally spent and bordered on incoherent, Daryl collapsed onto top of her relishing the feeling of being held. He'd never admit that to anyone but himself. It was something he missed out on a kid and now, in this moment when he was so vulnerable and open, it felt absolutely amazing.
After a while he slid out for her earning himself a whimper of disappointment. She'd just felt so full and satisfied, now she was empty and longing for the next time they could be together again. Gathering her in his arms he pulled her against him burying his nose in her hair. Even in the middle of the apocalypse when no one was bathing Beth still managed to smell fresh and clean, like lavender and vanilla. This could't be real; in that moment as in so many others he couldn't believed that this was actually happening. Out of every sorry mother fucker left in this world, Daryl had to be the only one whose life was better now than before. Taking a deep breath he squeezed her tight against him content to shut out everything but her for just one night.
"Love you, Beth. Love you so damn much."
TBC….
Was going to end on a cliffhanger but we can pick that up later. For now enjoy this "climactic" moment for Bethyl.
Thanks to those still hanging in, I'm still writing.
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