A/N Hi everyone, and thank you all so much. A special thanks to everyone who voted for this story in the Moonshine Award, I appreciate it.
Gee, what does Beth have in mind? Daryl has no idea but I can tell you, there's a lot going on here :)
Enjoy!
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He's sitting on the miniature couch with brightly colored floral patterns all around him, while Beth packs up whatever the hell she thinks she needs to pack up. He doesn't know and he's not asking. She can bring whatever she wants, Daryl just wishes he knew what's on her mind. It's too bad he can't think of a way to ask her. What would he say, "So Baby, ya plannin' on spendin' the night in my bed, with me in it?"
Fuck.
"Okay Daryl, I'm ready."
He stands and asks zero questions, "Let's hit it."
The feel of her behind him on the bike, hands planted firmly on his hips as they make the short ride to his place, has him temporarily forgetting his questions. Whatever the fuck else might happen tonight, Beth will be there with him and he's going to tell her all about the dream. He's nervous, but he's more excited about sharing with her than he is nervous.
As for the other, sure, he'd like to make love to her, but after what happened before he's accepted the fact that they'll have sex when she's damn good and ready for it to happen. For now, he can be satisfied just having her with him.
He unlocks his front door, turns to her and smiles, then spontaneously lifts her into his arms, "I gotcha Baby," he's gentle and playful and they're both laughing as he carries her inside and flops her down on the couch. "A'ight girl, I'ma go down ta the bar real quick. I wanna check in with Jesus and I'ma grab a case a beer. Ya want anythin'?"
"Like what?"
He bends down, gives her a quick kiss on the lips and teasingly answers, "I dunno, like a slim jim or a pickled egg or…no…wait, I got it. I'll bring ya home sumthin, be back in about 20 minutes," then he stops, "do I need ta think about givin' you a ride home later? If I do, I won't get the beers."
"I think you should have a beer, Daryl; I'll be fine." Well shit, that's nice and all, but it still doesn't answer his question.
When he's out the door and she hears the key turn in the lock, Beth's on her feet.
She takes her backpack down the hall to his bathroom and begins changing out of her boots, jeans and sweater and into something far more comfortable for lounging around the house on a Saturday night. As she pulls her sweater up and over her head, she thinks about it and decides, why not, he'll never know she's not wearing a bra and gosh she hates that darn thing. She slips it off before putting her sweatshirt on. Better.
She neatly folds her clothes and sets them on the bedroom chair, placing her boots on the floor next to it, then smiles as she puts her slippers on. Oh yes, so much more cozy.
She's just walking back in the front room when the key turns in the lock and there he is. He's got a case of beer in his arms, and a box of something else he's balancing on top of it and Beth hurries over to help, "Here, Daryl, let me take something."
"Nah, I got it," and Beth does what she can, shutting and locking the door behind him. Daryl carries the things over and sets them on the counter, then turns and he's smiling as he checks her look, "Shit, Baby ain't you cute. I like that a lot better than them leathers," and adds, "I dig them furry shoes too."
"They're slippers Daryl."
She's wearing snug gray yoga pants with a waistline that sits just below her bellybutton. Her pale yellow sweatshirt has a boxy cut and it's cropped to just above her bellybutton. It's all giving Daryl an irresistible view of Beth's tummy and he's not even aware he's walking to her until his open palm begins to slowly glide along the bare skin of her waist, he pulls her in close and kisses her hard. The kiss is full of heat and yearning, and although he caught her by surprise, she returns the same. He draws her closer to him and Beth doesn't resist, not even when his hand slides inside the sweatshirt and lightly skims along the soft skin of her back. He leans back and smiles, "No bra?"
She turns a little pink and says, "It was uncomfortable."
"I see," he starts right where he left off, but then stops himself. He pulls back and she can see the question in his eyes before he even asks, "What're we doin' Beth? You stayin' the night to be with me, in my bed, or are we just havin' a little fun and then I sleep in the spare room?"
He's not mean, or pushy, he's not forcing any issues, he sounds perfectly mellow. She's grateful for that because, "Honestly Daryl, I don't know what I'm doing. I've, well I, I mean, I want to but I'm not sure I'm ready. All I know for sure is I want to be here with you right now. I want to spend all the time with you I can. I, I wanted to get in comfy clothes and just hang out while you tell me all your plans and I, I, as for the other, I'm just not sure."
He nods, pulls her in and her head rests on his chest. She can feel his heartbeat as he speaks, "I want ya here too. I want ya ta feel comfortable here, sittin' around talkin' and watchin' TV, havin' a meal or a drink, whatever we're doin'. It's better when you're here, and I want ya in that other way too, whenever you're ready. I ain't some kid, I can be patient as long as I have ta be," he quietly laughs, "Maybe I don't wanna be, but I will be."
"Thank you Daryl."
He pulls away completely then and says, "Let's have a drink. I'm havin' a beer. I brought you a buncha shit ta pick from." He walks over and looks in the box, pulling things out one by one, "I got this bottle of White Rosé, it's kinda the rage with the ladies these days. I also got these canned flavored club sodas, not too much alcohol in em, and there's even canned margaritas and some hard lemonade. Any a that sound good?"
She smiles, gosh he's so sweet, "Hmm, I guess if it's the rage I should try the White Rosé, and thank you Daryl. It was very thoughtful of you to bring all those for me. Now can we have our drinks and you can finally tell me about your dream?"
He smiles, "Yeah, lemme just pour ya a glass and grab myself a beer."
He sets their drinks on the coffee table and tells her, "Have a seat, I'ma get my laptop. I got some stuff in there," and when he returns he sits close to her, setting the laptop on the other side of him. He shrugs, and says, "I guess I should start at the beginnin'."
She sets her hand on his knee and smiles, "That's usually the best place."
He takes a swallow from the bottle, then looks at her and notes, "Ya know Baby, this is strange, I mean, what am I doin' layin' all this on you? Shit Beth, we ain't even known each other that long. Hell, I've known Merle my whole life and I ain't said a thing ta him about any of it."
Beth has no idea how to respond to that except to say, "Well then I feel honored." She can almost see Daryl's wheels spinning as he chews at his bottom lip and she knows he's thinking about what he wants to say. She just waits for whatever comes next.
Something's happening to him. He's a man who doesn't talk a lot about his feelings, but right now it's like once he starts talking about how he feels, he can't stop himself, "I don't care that it ain't been a long time cuz, I dunno, it's a thing I can't explain, but somehow, I just feel like you're a person I can share this with, not just the story, but the dream, and not just 'a' person, you're 'the' person. You Beth. I want ya ta be my partner in this. I want us ta be together too, like today, today was the best day I think I ever had. Just cruisin' along with you on my bike, feedin' them little chipmunks and havin a meal at my favorite place. It was just simple stuff, but it felt like a lot more and I know why, it was cuz I was with you. I, well I think I must love ya."
He's never strung so many words together, and he damn sure never told a woman he loves her.
It's not the romantic way a girl dreams she'll hear those words, but when the words come from a man like Daryl, she knows they're sincere and the feelings are real. He's not just saying it because he thinks that's what she wants to hear. She speaks from her heart too. "I love you too Daryl."
"Ya think?"
"I know." She's smiling broadly when she adds, "Now kiss me and tell me about this darn dream Mister Dixon."
He grabs her in his arms, kisses her and says, "A'ight. I'd been goin' into Beer n Grub since before I's old enough ta drink, just ta grab a burger or whatever n see what was goin' on. I always liked the place and even then I thought if I ever had a bar I'd want it ta be like the Grub. When I bought the roadhouse I felt like I got my start. It's in a perfect location for what I want, but I knew when I bought it I wouldn't be able ta follow through with the dream for a long time. I told ya the place needed a lotta work, and I did what needed ta be done, but I didn't over do. I left myself plenty of bare bones to work with."
He opens the laptop and clicks on a page, explaining, "There's a reason I never done nuthin' with that storeroom, I mean, I cleaned it up, made some repairs, and put some shelves in ta keep things off the floor, but I didn't do a remodel. I left it a nice square space." He smiles nervously and goes on, "Cuz the thing is, I wanna take that storeroom and turn it into a kitchen so Dirty Dixon's can serve real food."
"Oh my gosh Daryl, that's an awesome idea, what kind of food are you thinking of serving?"
"Well, I gotta keep two things in mind. The first, mosta my customers are gonna prefer simple stuff, and if I can get new customers comin' from the general area, let's face it, they ain't gonna come to a place like Dirty Dixon's cuz they're lookin for a fancy five course dinner."
"True."
"The other thing I gotta think about is, I gotta keep it limited. I can't be offerin' a menu with twenty different things. I'd have to carry way too much food inventory, and food spoils, plus, I'd have ta make sure everyone that works at Dirty's knows how ta fix everythin' on the menu."
"So, decidin' the menu is the part I'm havin' the most trouble with. I worked construction for years, I even put in a couple of bar kitchens down in Atlanta, so I ain't worried about that part, I can get it done. Look here," he points to the screen, "I did this kitchen at a neighborhood bar. The room was almost exactly the same size as the store room. I can easily recreate it."
"Oh, wow, that looks really nice. Gee Daryl, you do such wonderful work."
He smiles, "Thanks Baby. We got a buncha tables n chairs in the back of the bar that don't get much use right now. I'm thinkin' of moving the shuffleboard and darts back there, makin' it a game area. Where they are now, closer to the new kitchen, I could put in three booths and have a few tables. That area would be strictly for dining. If I section is off people can even bring their kids. Plenty of bikers have families. And folks can just eat at the bar too, or wherever else they're sittin'."
"I got a small area out in front of the building where I could put three or four tables, but if this thing takes off like I want it to, I'll build a big oversized porch with an overhang. We can put a bunch of wooden tables and chairs out there and a lot of folks can sit outside. I expect that ta be the most popular with people who ain't regular bar customers."
"Oh my gosh Daryl, I can see how it could all come together."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"It's figurin' out what's on the menu that's throwin' me. I wanna keep it simple, but I gotta have some variety too."
"Can I help? I think I could come up with some ideas."
"Hell yes you can help, shit, that's what I's hopin' for."
"How about one constant, something you would always have available. That would be chili with all the toppings, cheese, diced onions, sour cream, plus cornbread. All guys seem to love it and you just ordered it at Beer and Grub. I bet you order it every time you go there."
He eyes her suspiciously and asks, "Yeah, how'd ya know that?"
"Call it an educated guess. So, the great thing about chili is you can make it ahead, and it freezes great. I bet some days are slower than others at the bar, like maybe Monday. If that's the case, maybe on Mondays the menu consists of the chili and also hot dogs, and for a special price you get both, a hot dog and a side of chili."
"Yeah, hell yeah. I'd order that myself."
"Okay, one down and we're on a roll. So, Tuesday…every place has Taco Tuesday, we want to be different at Dirty Dixon's, right? My Dad came up with this idea when I was growing up, we had Spaghetti Tuesdays. Seriously, who doesn't love spaghetti? You just serve it with grated Parmesan and a big fat Italian roll, and yum."
"I like the idea, a lot. Do we still have chili too?"
"Yes, there's always chili."
"Okay, so what about Wednesday?"
"I don't know, I'm stumped."
"K, let's think." Daryl's brow is furrowed, and then he smiles, "Wing Wednesday! How's that sound?"
"It sounds hot and spicy and I like it! I'm sure that would be super popular, and how about this, you have some certain beer, I have no idea what kind, and you run a special on that with an order of wings. Maybe there could be something like honey mustard wings too, you know, for the wimps like me," she giggles.
His arm immediately wraps around her shoulders and he pulls her close, "You're a lotta things Beth Greene, but you ain't no wimp. I seen what ya went through Baby, you're a tough woman." He kisses her sweetly and says, "But yeah, better have honey mustard for you n the kids."
"Me and the kids thank you Daryl. So how about Thursday?"
"Thursday's are always a busy night, people gettin' tuned up for the weekend, and I got a good one that's pretty easy."
"I'm all ears."
"Pulled pork sliders."
"Oh I like that! Yes! With Cole slaw and big dill pickles."
Beth's been writing everything down in a notebook, a notebook with a floral cover. It makes him smile, she's all girl. That's okay, like she said, they're meant to be different, and he knows he's all boy. She looks up at him and asks, "Friday?"
"Maybe that's the night we have tacos?"
"I think yes, and if we want to, we could offer both beef and fish tacos. What do you think?"
"Yeah, yeah, I like it. Nobody around here has fish tacos on the menu."
She's writing it down, "Okay, you told me Saturday is your busiest day of the week, from morning until closing. It's a no-brainer then, hamburgers, chili cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chili dogs, slaw dawgs and loaded fries, all day long from 11 in the morning until 10 at night."
He's smiling, "Oh yeah, now you're making me hungry. Sunday. Whaddya think about Sunday?
"I think Sunday calls for a real deal meal, especially if you want families. I vote fried chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits and corn. If it's summer, make it corn on the cob."
"Man, that sounds good. And here's the surprise. Every day of the week we got dessert."
"Dessert? Like what?"
"Like Jerry's killer cobbler, oh shit yes, that's what we'll call it on the menu, Jerry's Killer Cobbler. Write that down, k? We have that with vanilla ice cream every day. Jerry's favorite is peach, but he also makes cherry, blueberry and apple so we can change it up."
"I love that idea. So, who's going to be cooking all this food?"
"I was thinkin' I'd talk ta Jerry about it. He used to be a diner cook and he's been wantin' ta get off the bar, and Jesus has been wantin' ta come on as a full-time bartender. I thought I could talk to em both this week, and I was hopin' you'd agree ta manage the kitchen and I'd manage the bar."
"But Daryl, I have a job."
"I know ya do, but you said you ain't feelin' creative. You could be plenty creative runnin' the kitchen. You could change up the menu any time, have specials, all that stuff."
"Hmm, that would be a big move. I'll have to give it some thought. Can I have some time?"
"Yeah, I still gotta build a kitchen and do some remodeling for seatin'. If I get Jesus, Abe and even Merle helpin' out I think I can knock it all out in a month."
"Okay, I promise to have a decision by Wednesday. I want to really just think about it long and hard because I wouldn't want to make a big change like this and then feel like I made a mistake. I hope you're okay with that."
"Sure, I get it. I don't wanna force ya to do anythin', includin' helpin me run a business."
"Wow, helping you run a business, I hadn't thought of it quite like that," she squeezes his hand and says, "I have a really fun idea. Well, at least I think it's fun."
"Oh yeah? I'm listenin'."
"Sunday afternoons in the late spring, summer, and early fall, we have music. Outside, where the the tables are. Something different than what you play all week, more family-friendly but fun for everyone. Blue grass, mountain music, southern rock."
He looks stunned, "Damn girl, that's a great idea. Fuck, I love that. Now ya made me wanna get busy on that big porch. Shit, yeah, maybe I won't wait like I planned. Maybe I just go for it. But right now, all this talk has me hungry again. It's been a while since that burger. How about some bacon n eggs? That sound good?"
"That sounds delicious, and I'm starving. Let me help."
They cook the meal together, and sit back on the couch side by side to eat. She smiles and says, "I have another idea, not for right away, but after this food thing takes off. The first Sunday of every month, Dirty Dixon's Delicious Breakfast served from 10am to noon, and Daryl, you cook that because you cook the best breakfast I've ever eaten." Then she adds, "Don't tell Mama I said that."
He laughs and says, "I don't think your Mama has a thing to worry about, and yeah, breakfast is sumthin' ta think about. Nuthin' cures a Saturday night hangover like a big Sunday breakfast."
They make quick work of the dishes, he pours her another drink and opens himself another beer and they sit back on the couch. They talk about the food again, the seating, the décor and the music. Daryl sketches out a picture of Dirty Dixon's with the new porch, and Beth sketches a picture of the indoor seating area, joking, "And look, no flowers anywhere."
They share a laugh, but when Beth yawns Daryl stands, reaching his hand out to her saying, "C'mon, let's get ya ta bed."
She takes his hand and gets to her feet, noting, "My stuff is in your bathroom."
"I figured," he walks her down the hall to his bedroom door, gently cups the back of her head in his hand and draws her in for a sweet kiss, "'Night Baby, see ya in the mornin'."
He goes to the hall bathroom, strips down to his shorts, uses the toilet, washes his hands and face, brushes his teeth, heaves a sigh and walks across the hall to the spare bedroom. He's just reaching to turn back the cover when she softly calls to him, "Daryl?"
He turns toward her voice and sees her standing in the doorway pink-cheeked and looking a little nervous, "Everythin' okay Baby?"
She swallows and manages to get the words out, "It will be if you come to bed with me."
He's got nothing to say to that, he just walks to her, takes her in his arms and carries her to his room.
He's carried Beth to bed several times, but it's never been like this time. He sets her on her feet, gently takes her face in his hands and asks, "You sure Baby?"
All these years she's planned to wait for marriage. She always thought she'd save herself for her husband, that doesn't seem so important anymore. She loves Daryl, she believes he loves her too and she wants to express her love for him in every way. "Yes, I'm sure. I want this with you Daryl."
His hands still gently clutch her face but this time when he kisses her it's so much more, it's like he's a starving man and Beth is the sustenance he's waited for. She returns his kiss and her arms wrap around him as she presses herself into his bare chest, then draws her lips away to tell him, "I love you so much."
Her words affect him in so many ways. He's full of emotion and desire and he wonders how he can have so many feelings for one women, but his response is simple, "I love you too," and his mouth once again covers hers as he reaches down for the hem of her sweatshirt, and it happens in one swift motion, the sweatshirt is off and tossed over on the chair.
His mouth seems to be on a journey as it slowly moves down the slim curve of her neck, while his tongue softly licks and his lips tenderly suck at the pale white skin. His hand is on a tour of it's own, skimming over her slender arm, along the gentle curve of her waist, and neither misses the contrast between the skin of his powerful work-worn hand and Beth's soft, smooth flesh.
Daryl's mouth moves along her shoulders and over the flushed skin of her chest until suddenly it covers her breast. She startles at first and he stops what he's doing to ask, "Ya okay?"
She whispers a breathless, "Yes," and surrenders herself to him as he lifts her once more, this time laying her in his bed and sliding himself in next to her. He kisses her lips and their tongues tease, while his hand glides to her breast cupping it gently as his fingers pinch at her nipples. He can tell by the way her body is reacting to his touch, Beth is becoming more and more aroused. He's feeling it too, he's hard and ready, but this is her first time, their first time, and he doesn't want to rush it. He raises his head to kiss her lips, look into her eyes and tell her, "You got such a pretty body," and his mouth is back on her breast while his hand glides over the yoga pants and in between her legs where he rubs and teases. She flinches just a little at first, but soon her movements are matching the stroke of his hand and he asks, "Can I take these off ya?"
Her hands are rubbing his shoulders, his arms, and his back like she can't get enough of him. Everything about him makes her desire him that much more. She's so nervous she could simply die, but she wants him so desperately. Beth never knew it could be like this. The longing, the frantic need for more of him, and she's telling her truth when she says, "Yes, and Daryl, by the way, you have the most beautiful body I've ever seen."
Although her words excite him, he can't help but snort a laugh. He has never thought of himself as good looking, much less beautiful. He smiles up at her, "Thanks Baby, I'm glad ya feel that way," and goes back to what he was doing, but it's not long before he eases up on his knees and quickly slips the yoga pants off her, along with her panties.
What's come over her? This is not like her, but she's lost in the moment and lost in the lust like it's an insatiable hunger, and she asks, "Can I take yours off?"
He's surprised in the best of ways, 'Yeah, sure," and now he's the one who's a little nervous and embarrassed, but man, it's such a turn on to have this pretty woman he cares so much about want to undress him.
It's not something he does, not with the kind of hookups he's had, they're mostly just touch and go. It's not like that with Beth, this couldn't be more different and his desire to do this with her is deep, so he doesn't bother to question it. His mouth goes between her legs and she squeals, "Daryl!"
He stops and asks, "Okay, please?"
She whispers, "Yes," and he's back doing what he was doing. She never thought they'd do something like this, oh she's heard about it, but Beth never imagined it would be something she would do. At first she's embarrassed and tentative, her body is rigid, but what Daryl does with his lips, his tongue, his mouth, all send a thrill through her like she never could have dreamed of, and as he continues his attentions something happens to Beth Greene, for the first time, she cums.
His body seems to crawl up hers and they're face to face. She's breathing so hard and her heart is racing and it felt so good. He kisses her and she tastes herself on him, and she's surprised by the excitement that brings. She doesn't have time to think too much about that though, because Daryl's back to doing things that have her body reacting and her mind going blank.
Oh my goodness, she feels it happening all over again, the longing and the deep need for him, and then she watches as he reaches over for something in the night table. When she sees the small packet in his hand she's instinctively aware of what it is, and she's fascinated as she watches him roll it on.
He's between her legs and then he warns, "I ain't ever been with a woman like you Beth, someone so innocent, but I know a little about this stuff, and I know the first time can be painful for a woman…"
She interrupts, "Well I'm not surprised, that thing is gigantic, will it even fit?"
He can't help himself, he starts to laugh and answers, "Well shit, I hope so," and he grabs her in a hug, promising, "it'll fit, but there's gonna be a little resistance, that's the part I hear hurts. I'll be as slow n easy as I can be."
"Okay," she tenses and squeezes her eyes shut.
Daryl smiles, "It would be better, be easier, if ya try n relax."
"Oh, okay."
He takes it as slow and easy as he possibly can, and man, he has to fight his desire to just do what he knows will feel good for him, but damn, he doesn't want to hurt her. She's making little noises that hit somewhere between pleasure and pain, while she grips his shoulders and whispers his name, "Daryl, Daryl," and then it happens. He knows as soon as he feels it, and when he pushes through she let's out a little yelp.
He freezes immediately and asks, "Ya okay Baby?"
She knew to expect this, she's heard stories from Maggie and some other women she knows, and she just has to be brave, right? "I'm fine Daryl, don't stop."
He keeps his movements slow at first, letting her get used to the feeling of him inside her and the motion, but soon, as his own need is about to consume him, his strokes become more forceful and a little faster. He hasn't forgotten her though, he wants her to feel that pleasure again and he's kissing her on the lips, nibbling at her ear and her neck, and sucking and gently biting her sweet little breasts.
Soon he buries his face in her neck while his hand slips down between their bodies and he finds that little nub that he knows is a pleasure source for her. He rubs and pushes and teases, while he continues his strokes at a hard steady pace, and it happens. Her body tenses and relaxes and she quivers and throws her arms around his neck, and then she's calling his name as pleasure consumes her, "Daryl! Daryl!"
His orgasm comes just seconds after hers as the pleasure thunders through his body and he calls back to her, "Beth! Oh Baby, damn."
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A/N So that happened. Please leave a comment. As always, the chapter photo of our amorous couple is on my tumblr blogs, gneebee and bethylmethbrick, please check it out. I'll be back next week with a new chapter of The Accidental Christmas, and I hope you'll be back too. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee