Red River Blue

Chapter 45

The sun was hanging low in the sky, leaving streaks of painted color behind it. Crickets were singing. And the smell of rising bread dough and charcoal lingering in the air. The night was warm enough that a fire wasn't necessary. But they lit a small one anyway. Mostly for the comforting sound of the flames slowly turning the wood into ashes. And because the smoke helped keep the mosquitoes away. Most of their group had retired to their tents for the night. But there was a small cluster of people still relaxing around the flickering flames.

River stepped over the log that Merle was leaning back on, lowering herself onto his lap. Since she didn't have any further report of the boy's naughty behavior, Merle assumed their son had finally given in and fallen asleep in the small tent next to their larger one. After a day swimming and playing in the sun, it was a given that he would sleep hard once he finally gave in and passed out.

"I think he's missin' Hershel," River said. "He was complainin' that there's only girls around to play with." There were a lot of children around. Boys and girls. But most of them were younger than Axel by a few years at least. Not a lot of women got pregnant during the height of the outbreak. And most waited until after the alliance between the communities was formed before they started expanding their families.

"He'll be grateful fer that eventually," Merle replied with a smile. River hummed her agreement as she snuggled closer, resting her head against his chest.

Merle watched the fire, absentmindedly stroking his hand over the long silky strands of River's hair. She was a brunette. But in the light of the fire, her hair shone black as crow feathers. Merle moved his hand down, brushing the soft round of her cheek with his knuckles. He cupped her face, stroking the tip of his thumb up and down over the crook in her nose until she caught his hand in hers and pulled it down to wrap his arm around her waist. They'd been together so long, Merle could barely remember what his life was like without her in it. The times they spent apart were filled with pain and misery. River was the only thing that made life worth living. Without her, he was nothing. Sometimes he wondered why she still loved him. After everything he'd done. But he was grateful for it no matter the reason.

"Are you okay?," he asked, "...after what happened?"

River sighed. It was a soft sad sound against the crackle of the fire. She wasn't even sure what okay felt like anymore. She'd purposely kept herself busy all afternoon and evening to avoid thinking about the previous night's events. And now that she finally had a moment to reflect, she wasn't sure how she felt. Numb maybe? She was happy that Daryl and Carol made up. And she was oddly happy that Ian offered to take the boy that hurt her back to Riverbend and keep him there. River didn't want anyone else to die. Really, River didn't remember much about what happened the night before. Not the bad part anyway. And everytime she tried, all she could hear was the sound of Negan's laughter mingling with hers. She could feel his hands on her, steadying her so she didn't fall. It was bringing memories to the surface. Memories that she'd managed to stuff down and force herself to forget about years ago. Negan never hurt her. Not physically. But sometimes River wished he had. It would be easier that way. If she could just hate him.

"I'm mostly okay," River said, sighing again as she tilted her head back. Looking up at her husband, she repeated the question he'd just asked her. "Are you okay? After what happened?"

Merle stared down at her. Shadows were dancing across her face in the flickering firelight. Her blue eyes were like dark pools of liquid. And for a moment, she looked young as the day he first took her in his arms. Something else she ought to hate him for doing, but didn't.

"I shoulda been watchin' out for ya," Merle whispered. "I never shoulda let that happen. That shit was my fault."

River wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight. She could feel the heavy burden of guilt he carried. And she knew when Merle spoke, he wasn't just talking about what happened the night before. He might not even be talking about the things that happened after the outbreak. They'd been through plenty of terrible shit before the world went to hell. And even more after. River didn't have the words to express how she felt. And even if she did, she knew there was nothing she could say that would ease his burden. So instead of speaking, she slid her hand down, gripping him through the fabric of his pants as she whispered into his ear.

"Take me to bed."

The ceiling of the tent was high enough that River could stand up straight. But Merle had to stoop slightly to keep his head from rubbing against the synthetic fabric. His shirt was already hanging open. So River didn't need to help him with the buttons. Still she pushed the garment off over his shoulders before grasping his tank top by the hem and pulling it up and over his head. Her own top went next, exposing the ample cleavage her lacy bra was creating. Merle lifted his hand, running the tip of his finger along the edge of the lace. His touch was whisper soft and he smiled as River leaned into it, wanting more.

"We don't have to," he whispered. He'd be happy just to hold her if that's what she wanted.

River didn't answer him with words. Instead, she unzipped his pants and dropped to her knees in front of him. His erection sprung free, pointing towards the roof of the tent. She gripped the base of his dick, angling it slightly downwards. Starting at the spot her hand was gripping, she ran her tongue up the underside of his dick until she reached his flared cockhead. Pursing her lips, she spit on the tip of his dick and used her tongue to coat him in her saliva.

They'd slept together enough times that Merle knew to brace himself for her next move. Resting his hand gently on the top of her head, he let out a string of mumbled curses as she took him into her mouth. She always moved hard and fast, almost slamming his dick into the back of her throat. Once it was there, she moaned. The noise was deliberate on her part. She knew it made the muscles in her throat vibrate. Pulling back, River repeated the move until her chin was wet with spit and he was struggling to keep from blowing his load down her throat. Before he could get to the point of no return, Merle jerked back, pulling his dick out of her mouth with a wet pop. River reached forward grasping him by the fabric of his pants and yanking his hips back where she wanted them.

"I say when yer done," she scolded, sucking him back into her mouth. Instead of grabbing the base of his dick, this time she cupped his balls and began to massage them. He cursed under his breath, unable to stop himself from bucking his hips forward. He came with a groan, spilling over into her mouth. He could feel her gagging, the muscles of her throat contracting around the head of his dick. She pulled back slightly. But not all the way. She kept the head of his dick between her lips, milking the last few spasms of pleasure out of him.

Once River pulled away, Merle pushed his pants the rest of the way down. He flopped down onto their cot while River took a few sips of water from the canteen they kept next to the bed. When she crawled into bed with him, he felt the press of her naked skin against his.

"Yer gonna kill me one of these days," he teased, wrapping his arm around her as she kissed her way up the side of his neck.

"Liked that did ya?," River asked, rising to her knees next to him on the cot. Merle hummed his appreciation of what she'd just done, running his hand up over the curve of her waist to cup her breast.

"Good…," she said, slinging one leg across him so her knees were on either side of his head. Lifting her hips, she hovered over him before slowly lowering her eager pussy down onto his face. "...'cause now it's my turn."