Sorry for the delay my lovely readers, strep throat sucks. So does procrastination.

But shout out to the reviews!

Chapter Seven Recap: Rick finds out Michonne's secret, he has a talk with her, they kiss. Rick gets a phone call. Philip is dark and creepy and has thoughts about Michonne.

Warning: Adult content.

Chapter Eight

"Why didn't you go with him?"

"Rick wanted me to stay here."

"To what? Play babysitter?" Carol asked, irritation in her voice, but Michonne ignored her as she washed the dishes.

"I can't believe they went by themselves. It's dangerous."

"I think Rick, Shane and Daryl could handle it." Michonne softly said.

"Aren't you optimistic..."

Carol watched Michonne with curious eyes. Michonne's back turned as she faced the sink. She had on an apron, her hair up as she washed dishes in a domesticated fashion. Carol was captivated by this woman in Rick's life. Because he didn't define this relationship, in fact, he left his future for any relationship in a doomed tunnel.

But, this morning when she and Daryl walked in the house. Rick sat at his table and ate the breakfast Michonne cooked for him. What captivated Carol most was the look of liveliness in Rick's eyes as he watched Michonne at the stove. The look a man gives when desires are on his mind.

"Rick seems pleasant lately…" Carol whispered she crossed her arms and approached the sink next to Michonne.

"I guess…" Michonne knew what Carol wanted to address. But what exactly could she tell her? Whatever it was with Rick was confusing, and they never talked about the kiss, which Michonne was sure only happened because of solace and attraction.

"He seems light. I don't think I've ever seen Rick like that." Carol thoughtful, looked away before she faced Michonne again.

"However I was before, I'm not usually like that, it's just...Rick's done a lot for me-I'm pretty protective."

"I understand. No need to apologize."

"I- just hope whatever you guys have going on doesn't hurt anyone." Carol had a solemness in her eyes as she thought about how this relationship would end.

Michonne faced her then, eyes just as severe. "I hope whatever Rick and I have, stays between us. Not you, Daryl or any of his friends."
Carol gave a short nod, hint of respect glinted in her expression. "Deal."

A peaceful silence fell between the two women and Michonne dried the dishes.

"Still…" Carol continued she brushed away Michonne's small breath of irritation. "Rick helped you a lot. I'm sure he proved you wrong, what you thought of him before."

"Rick is very compassionate. He's a good man."

Carol smiled recalling their first conversation,"So you do need Rick Grimes?"

"Exactly."

Five miles outside of King County, Rick met with Philip at a 24-hour diner.

The Mayor called him late last night and asked him if he got his message, in the most friendly voice. Rick met him, but on his terms, outside of the place he had the most control over, Michonne sat with him last night and they discussed just what should happen.

He turned, a few parking spaces behind him Shane and Daryl sat in Shane's truck and gave a wave of reassurance.

Rick entered the diner, he spotted Phillip at a round table, eating a full lunch. With Milton by his side and two guards.

"Rick!" Philip called and waved. As Rick approached, he quickly put out his hands as the bodyguards approached him and patted his clothes for any weapons or wires.

Rick took a quick glimpse at the redheaded partner of Shane, who moved up his body and nodded to Philip in approval that he was clean.

Philip waved his hand to the chair. "Please."

Rick sat down and waited, his eyes flashed between Milton and Philip, Milton's pen scribbled on some notebook.

"Thank you for meeting me here under such tense circumstances-"
"Cut the crap. What do want?"

Philip laughed and tapped on Milton. "A man who gets straight to the point. I like it."

Milton, a playful smile on his face continued to write. Philip grew serious, a flash of his true face came to the surface, and Rick had to laugh to himself, as he remembered their first meeting.

Finally, Philip spoke.

"Time's up. I need you to take the job offer."

"I still need time to think about it." Rick looked to Milton, then Philip, his eyes steady.

"You had enough time, Rick. I've given more time than allowed." Philip leaned in, voice lower. "Was my message not clear enough? Michonne, who do you think, stole her things?"

Rick tapped his finger against the table, to damper the instinct to hit Philip as he remembered Michonne's bruises.

Philip continued, "...They're watching you. Time is up. Your dog Shayla. Shame what happened to her Rick. I know you loved that dog."

He held a false sympathy in his eyes and gave a nod of understanding. "It's going to get worse. If you're not on my side here."

Rick knew just how worse it could get, "Why me?"
Milton and the Mayor smiled.

"It's obvious isn't it? You're getting your nose in things that shouldn't be opened up, King County does not want to be known for those murders. You solved the case! You did an excellent job might I add."

"Obviously, I didn't, You 're not locked up."

Philip's eyebrows raised, "But still, you're still doing a good job. Michonne. I'm glad she's under your watch. I need you to keep her in line."

Rick looked away, resigned. "Sounds like I'm walking into trouble. What do I get out of this, job?"
"Your family is back in town. Accepted. Your son, Carl goes back to school. Not to mention the salary is better than what a Sheriff makes."

Philip watched Rick carefully and wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin.

"You'll live a beautiful life, Rick. I'm not all bad. It's a great community! You know that we just need to keep things in line here. I'll give you two days."

Philip signaled Milton to stand and he offered a hand to Rick to shake.

Rick refused, and Philip had a small hint of anger in his dark eyes. However, he straightened and pulled his suit jacket to present the perfect imagine.

"Two days, Rick."

Rick arrived back to his house, Shane, Michonne, Carol and Daryl were in the dining room as Rick told them the details of the meeting.

"I think you two should put an end to it," Shane spoke he ran his hand through his thick dark hair as everyone watched him.

"Look, I know it's awful. But Rick, it's not a bad deal, you can come back to King County."

"Listen to what you're saying." Daryl interrupted Shane as Carol watched in silence.

"You're saying Rick makes this deal he's under his watch the whole time. He might as well be in jail."
"Still, nothing happens to Carl or Judith." Carol softly probed as she looked at Michonne. "Or Michonne."

Rick's eyes fleeted to Michonne. Everyone sat at the table while he stood at the entryway, thinking carefully.

He noticed Michonne was quiet the whole meeting. As lost, he was, what stood out to him most, was his need to hear what she had to say.

"Excuse me." Michonne slowly stood and walked to the porch. The group grew quiet while she walked away.

Shane waited til he heard the front screen door swing before he continued.

"Rick. I get why she wants to solve the case. But, we need to start caring about the safety of you, your kids."
Rick nodded, he understood fully, but still he wanted to talk to Michonne.

Michonne leaned forward on the porch her eyes looking off into the distance.

She jolted out of her thoughts when she heard the door open. However, she knew the footsteps behind her, not needing to glance at the presence that stood beside her in silence.

"It wasn't supposed to be this way." She had whispered before she looked at him, his eyes showed fatigue, and she felt just as exhausted.

"There wasn't supposed to be this hard. Usually, it's just me in these life or death situations." Michonne took a breath and Rick's solemnly watched her, he shook his head.

"Rules change."

Michonne faced Rick, her eyes squinting from the bright sun.

"I think you should take his offer. I don't want you getting hurt." She said with reproach, careful as not to order him around.

"Michonne-"

"I don't want that. Just let me figure it all out." She reached out and squeezed his arm. He ignored the warmth of her touch. He knew what she was saying, but he couldn't accept it. He knew his children should be safe, and he wouldn't question that security. He also couldn't question the need for Michonne's safety. He felt responsible for her, and he had to push away the fear.

"We'll find a way." He stepped closer, and she took a step back admonishing his promise.

"Rick-"

"We will. He's giving me two days. We'll find something. Michonne."

She turned away from the sureness of his stare, the softness in his voice. She faced the sun. She wasn't sure whether she could handle the burden of Rick helping her and putting himself in danger.

But, a small part of it, deep down felt reassuring and comforting that he would be there, Rick. No one else.

"He told me things…" Rick continued once he felt Michonne's accept his promise. "Things that made me think there had to be a reason he framed Mike."

"Like what?"
"He said that if I work for him, I just have to follow the rules, stay in line, Milton is doing a great job."

"Obviously." Michonne rolled her eyes and cleared her head, "So, you're saying, Mike must've have done something to provoke Philip?"

"He didn't follow the rules. Only Mike could tell us."

You've got to be fucking joking."

The typical visitor's room in the Georgia Correctional Facility, the one outside of the glass and phone lines did not pertain to inmates who had murder charges.

But today, Mike received special privileges actually to touch and hug Michonne.

Those privileges were from the Sheriff, who beat him to a last bloody year as he sat at the table. Next to Michonne, a little too close for Mike's liking. His hands clasped in front of him. Blue eyes suspicious as Mike continued to stand, his wrists chained in front.

"Mike sit down," Michonne said calmly.

The worst part about it, the police officer who sat next to Michonne, she didn't seem too concerned about his presence.

Mike still stood, jaw tight as his eyes darted from Michonne to Rick. A beat. He sat down. They were quiet, as Mike eye's watched Rick for a few seconds.

Finally, he decided it was best he ignored officer Rick Grimes and turn entirely to Michonne, moving just a bit closer so he could softly speak.

"Michonne." He whispered. "Let me just say, I didn't mean for you to find out that way at all."

Rick crossed his arms, grew rigid when he noticed Michonne cast her eyes down, and her shoulders slightly tense.

But Mike continued, eyes pleaded for forgiveness as Michonne avoided his gaze.

"If I could take everything back, what happened with Amy. I would."

Mike stiffened when he heard a sarcastic huff from Michonne's right.

"Something funny?" Mike asked, his eyes venomous as he looked in Rick's direction.

Rick looked at him just as challenging. "Nothing."

Rick leaned in, "Just that she doesn't have time for your bullshit."

"Rick-" Michonne chimed in, but Rick continued.

"This isn't a pity party. We're running on a ticking time clock to get you out of here. So we need some questions answered. "

Michonne shook her head; she hated that Rick had to come. She knew how he was going to react. She told Rick to stay calm, and he promised profusely.

Mike looked to Michonne and Rick again assessing the very situation between them before his eyes rested on Rick.

Mike raised his cuffed wrist to his face, pointing at his right side of his face.

"You know my eye still twitches from the muscle damage you caused."
Rick clasped his hands and let out a breath. "You've done things. I've done things. Both were mistakes. I get that now."

Rick leaned in, closer to Mike. "You couldn't tell me if you were in my shoes, with Amy. You wouldn't do the same thing?"

It was quiet, and Mike froze before he gave a slight nod so that small one could miss it and he met Rick's blue eyes with less malice.

Michonne had waited before she pulled out her pen and paper. Rick leaned back in his chair. Rick noticed the slight shake in Michonne's hand, but he mentally brushed it away.

"We need to talk about the election. You need to tell us about the Mayor." Michonne gently probed.

"What do you want to know?" Mike leaned in and asked.
"Everything."

"Be more specific." Mike countered.

"Fine. Was there any disagreements you and Philip had during the first election a year ago?"

"Well, a lot of his budgets weren't well thought out. At all."

"That was the only thing? What was it about the budgets that stood out to you?"

Mike sat back to ponder. "From what I remembered. He was way too giving. I liked that about him at the beginning, he had visions for King County, made sure money was put to schools, parks, new businesses. He'd give scholarships."

"For college?"

"Yeah he was big on that, he used to give his money to women. Said his mother never went to college. He was big on that issue."
"Scholarship for women, to go to King County Community College?"

Michonne wrote down quickly on her notepad. Rick watched her, fascinated by how quickly she was able to shut down her emotions and start work.

"For all schools in Georgia." Mike nodded.

Rick lit up and nudged Michonne, he whispered to Michonne and leaned into her, and he ignored Mike's glare.

"Jessie," Rick whispered. "She told Shane, she was going back to school on a scholarship."

Rick turned to Mike. "Did he just pay for the schools out of his pocket or was it coming from the county?"
Mike turned away from him, a smug look on his face as Rick's question was left unanswered.

Forgiveness wasn't that easy.

Rick could only smile. Michonne however, was the impatient one as she sighed.

"Mike." Michonne reprimanded.

Mike faced Michonne answering the question as if she asked it.

"That's when I noticed the budget. King County's taxes was donating over 30 % last year to these scholarships."

Michonne wrote in the notebook.

"Did you confront him about it?"

"Yeah, I did and so did, Dale."

"Who's Dale?" Michonne asked she turned to Rick instead.

"He's Philip's lawyer," Rick answered quickly, Michonne looked to Mike fully invested in the possibly of getting closer to solving the case.

"What happened?"

Mike sighed. "Dale didn't like it. I didn't. We spoke with Philip. He was calm about everything in front of Dale, but, with me, he was kind of upset I mentioned it in the first place."

"Specifically?"

"Don't know. He'd tell me maybe I was better off with some other town if I didn't know what they stood for..."

Michonne sighed. "That's heroic of him."

"Yeah. I guess." Mike shrugged, Michonne noticed the sadness in his eyes.

" Was Amy involved with this scholarship? Tell me about her and Andrea's background."

"Pretty poor family from Florida. Andrea met Philip when she interned with Dale about ten years ago. Philip's family grew up near Macon. The family was rich. They were opposites, fell in love. He gave her money and even paid off her loans. Amy told me he even helped her with school."

"So he paid for Andrea and Amy's school?"

"Yeah." Mike's eyes. "Do you think he put me in here?"

"Makes sense. You didn't stay in line, and he didn't like it." Michonne pursed her lips in thought.

"Not to mention you slept with the women he provided for…" Rick said as it grew quiet, he ignored Mike's glare.

"Look, Philip's a powerful guy. It's going to be hard to show the evidence that he did any of this to me…"

"So we need your help." Michonne urged. " We need to know more about him, what's going to make him tick?"

Rick and Michonne waited for Mike. His brown eyes suddenly watching the television above them, a confident smile fell from his mouth as it gleamed, the same charming smile Michonne fell in love with, Mike raised his hands to point to the screen.

Rick and Michonne turned to the television to see the local news on the screen and the running candidate against Mayor Philip Blake in an interview.

The headlines under her name stood out.

"Deanna Monroe leads the approval polls for Mayor."

Michonne faced Mike again his eyes still sparkled as they shared the same idea, he smiled again, "Losing for sure."

Much to Mike's dismay the way Michonne and Rick talked to each other, there was a familiarity between them, and she slowly forgot about him.

A few minutes later, he watched Rick and Michonne exchange ideas. Before she walked away, Michonne turned to Mike and tentatively looked to Rick before she quickly walked over to Mike and his surprise she wrapped her arms around him tightly.

"Be patient. We'll get you out of here." Mike searched Michonne's brown eyes, they still had the hurt in there from his lies, but he still could see the path of forgiveness.

Unfortunately, Mayor Blake saw the same story on the news; the Democratic politician was winning much to his dismay. Milton knew just how determined Philip could be in these situations. However, the Mayor due to his competitive streak always produced good results. Philip would use his charming ways to get back into the graces of the town.

But sometimes, due to the stress, Mayor Blake needed a good distraction.

Milton Mamet closed his briefcase and quickly stepped out of his limousine, in front of King County's police station. He quickly walked over to the King County's holding cell place; his Gucci loafers made it up the steps to where he stood at the office.

"Milton, long time no see." One of the deputies on desk duty had gruffed before he pointed to a cell behind him.

Without a word, Milton watched the young woman of the police officers arrested a few days ago.

She wasn't someone special. She was around seventeen or eighteen and arrested for prostitution, a third offense this year.

She was a teenager, young and no one knew about her in this town.

She'll do for now.

"You think she's capable?" Milton asked straightening his glasses as he watched her from afar.

The deputy shrugged."The sheriff told her about the scholarship. She said she'll join."
_

Outside, the young girl walked with Milton down the steps; she was quiet, but he was sure she was just happy to be out of jail.

"So I get to meet the mayor?" She asked a thick southern accent graced her tongue, Milton opened the car door for the teenager and gave her small smile.

"The Mayor heard about your story through the Sheriff's department, and he likes to give everyone a chance."

The girl smiled a goofy smile before she rushed into the limousine.

"This is the shit! A limo!"
She was an easy one, and Philip needed someone as compliant as the young girl.

Milton smiled to himself, soon the Mayor would take out his frustrations on the young girl, and things would get back to normal.

Michonne for the first time was upstairs, in Rick's bedroom. It was neat everything put in its rightful place. He sat in the chair in the corner of his room. While she sat on the bed, reading an article by The King County Weekly on the poll numbers and specifically about Deanna Monroe.

She noticed how quiet Rick was while she researched. She decided not to poke the bear. He still had options to consider, and those options burdened him.

Seeing Mike today created sadness and a peacefulness she dreaded to face.

She finally came to terms with how Mike felt for Amy and what he had loss. It didn't hurt less, but she had to deal with it, she had to move past it.

"Do you still love him?" The question almost startled her, not because of what he asked, but that Rick finally spoke.

Michonne shrugged. "Of course, I do, we had a history."

Rick shook his head and took a breath. "That doesn't mean anything."

Rick wasn't sure why he was so frustrated. Seeing Michonne with Mike today drew out jealousy, a trait he rarely possessed.

The one thing he could point out was that he became more protective of the woman across from him today when he faced Mike. It made him question just how real his relationship was with Michonne and whatever their relationship had become.

"What's wrong?" Michonne asked softly, she put down the newspaper and faced him fully, her legs folded on top of his gray comforter, her shoes were off, and she only had on her socks, her button up untucked and a few buttons loose.

Rick's heart fluttered as a thought appeared in his head; that she belonged there in his room, her attention fully on him.

Rick looked away, and his mouth felt dry as his tongue touched his lips.

"I don't know…" He confessed and could feel her full attention and concern focused. It was the truth. He wasn't sure why he was so angry about Mike and Michonne's relationship.

"Just, seeing you with him today. How you were still- kind after everything you found out about him. Made me think a lot about my marriage."

He paused as Michonne waited. "A lot of times I wasn't too kind to Lori, I wasn't as understanding as you were to Mike. I should have been, but I wasn't…"

"You're learning." She said with hopefulness and Rick laughed dryly.

"A man could do terrible things to a woman, Michonne." Rick stood suddenly, and she watched him as he approached her slowly. Feeling the impulse to be close to her as he sat next to her on the bed, she turned to him.

"Did you cheat on Lori?" Michonne asked carefully. Rick appreciated it, even though he didn't need that openness in her voice for any reason. But, it was nice that it was there in the first place.

"I'd never do that...but I could see why she thought I did. I was never there for her emotionally. Physically. My job changed me. I became someone she couldn't recognize. But, I could never talk to her about it."
Rick's eyes went to Michonne as she listened carefully, he tried to ignore the soft rise and fall of her chest, the tantalizing skin that peeked through her blouse.

"You see first hand the terrible things we see, Michonne. How could I come home and tell her everything I've seen, or been through? Tell her I actually enjoy solving those dangerous cases? I became so different than how I was when we first married. I could never let her in on that."

Rick looked away, waiting for anything Michonne could give him. The thought of his marriage always pained him. He didn't want to think about past regrets; he needed to forget somehow.

"I guess, each relationship has a lesson, we only learn about ourselves with each person we give ourselves to...I don't think in the past I could ever be as forgiving to Mike as I was today. But I know I have to move on."

To talk about Mike finally in the open was so much more healing than she thought it would be, who knew Rick would be the one who helped her through it?

She noticed the discomfort in his eyes, to speak about Lori, he didn't feel the same way at all as his eyes held unshed tears of the what he couldn't fix.

Rick moved closer to Michonne, it was a smooth move that she had to second guess until their thighs touched. Rick looked ahead and was in thought before he faced her again

"When Mike gets out of there. Are you going back?"

"With Mike?" She asked, and his head gave a short nod.

"I don't know." She answered honestly if he meant a relationship that was not going to happen, she wanted to come to terms with their relationship and she wanted to make sure Mike was okay in all of this.

Rick watched her closely. He didn't like her answer, he was jealous once again. Because Mike had a second chance at a relationship he ruined. Something Rick could never have a chance at and something he could never understand.

"He doesn't deserve you, Michonne." Michonne laughed and Rick turned to the woman who couldn't take a compliment.

"I'm serious." He told her, his eyes challenging her to see if he was lying.

"What I did for Lori, after she died. That anger I had in me for the woman I loved. The anger Mike had for Amy after her death." Rick shook his head, recalling his mutual understanding with Mike earlier that day. "You deserve that man who would make the same sacrifice for you."

His words and the serious look he possessed. Made Michonne look away, the grief and realization that she never experienced that amount of love.

"You just forgave him. So easily…" Rick drifted and Michonne not ready to release tears. She cried enough for the past few days.

"I had no choice."

"You did." Rick said and they locked eyes for long second, neither had the urge to look away.

"When you kissed me the other night…" Michonne bit her lip, remembering just how good it felt to have him want her and the affection he offered.

"Why did you do it?" Michonne waited and Rick waited, for what he wasn't sure...an answer he searched for, but finally determined. he stared at her again, no longer avoiding eye contact.

"I'm attracted to you." Rick answered quickly and Michonne felt her chest cave in, her heart tap quickly.

Rick knew there was more to why he was drawn to kiss Michonne last night. But, he wasn't comfortable baring all of what he felt.
Truthfully he was afraid, that the ghosts that still haunted him will somehow step into this relationship he had now.

A relationship that would soon close, because Michonne would readily hold on to Mike.

It was safe for him to say it was an attraction. A psychical attraction because it was just that and he could just have what he wanted from her and her body tonight. A way to comfort them from Mike and Lori.

His stare was intense, so much so that it caused a flare inside the pit of her stomach. It scared Michonne, but yet, it pulled her towards him all at once.

She was the first to break from his blue depths, she looked at her watch and fixed herself to stand.

"It's getting late, we have a long day tomorrow."

But, her words disappeared into the dim bedroom when Rick's calloused warm hand gripped her thigh, to keep her from standing, his fingers just on the inside of her thigh purposefully parting her legs. Daring Michonne to leave him, she could hear his breaths deepen next to her and his touch made lit her skin on fire.

"Stay."

His whisper was dark and gruff. She should turn away and deny him before they get too close before boundaries were finally crossed.

But the look in his blue eyes and the way his mouth parted and left heavy breaths as he waited for her answer. He would give Michonne something she knew had been absence in her life.

Want. He wanted her, even if it was temporary, and would disappear into a faded the few hours of the morning.

He wanted her, something Mike couldn't give.

"Okay."

Her statement was simple, but it pulled him closer, instantly to her lips. It wasn't new and hesitant like the other night. This one was filled with lust, and the need to share her warmth.

Michonne opened her mouth wider and allowed his tongue to explore her, she groaned when he pushed his body against hers, pushing her to collapse on his bed. His hard thighs touched her legs and his chest pressed against her as he kissed her mouth, hungry and alive as he moved his body between her legs.

Her fingers tips brushed along his neck, grabbed him by the collar of his shirt to pull him impossibly closer to her mouth.

Rick's mind whirled, his body begged to be inside and bury himself inside Michonne, inside everything she was, her heart and soul, her body brought on the strong wish inside him to belong.

His suspicion at the beginning clouded his judgment about her when they first met. He couldn't see who she was, the very light that was Michonne and how she wasn't tainted by the ruthlessness of this town.
He finally found someone he could open up to,share a different intimacy he never had, someone who could hear his deep dark thoughts.

He found a woman who wasn't broken.

So beneath his hands, he felt a strong woman who was just as fragile, and hurt by what was before but she wasn't weighed down by it, not as much as he was, or Lori, or Mike even. He found an innocence inside her, a light that couldn't be dimmed. A light he wanted to be a part of, even just once.

Rick's mouth latched onto her neck, and she arched into his nips and kisses against her skin.

His hand slowly parted her white button blouse beneath his fingers until her bra showed and he kissed the hollow part of her throat and moved his lips to the flesh of her breast that peaked out from her bra.

He, however, stopped suddenly and breathed against her when he felt that caring gesture.

The one where her hands cupped his head softly and her lips kissed the top of his head. It was so small but so nurturing and honest.

Rick finally looked up to stare into her face, and finally, he was able to catch up with the very feelings he felt for the woman beneath his body.

He cared about Michonne.

Her eyes were still closed, mouth parted in anticipation for his caress.

He cared for her, and he could see just how giving she was, she gave Mike her love and her life, now she wanted to give Rick her body.

Rick felt that need, no longer a want, but a need to give.

He'd give her a night to forget her hurt, even just for a moment.

Rick, continued to her kiss skin, her ribs and stomach until he reached the top of her jeans.

Michonne opened her eyes and watched as he pulled her jeans and underwear. His eyes briefly made contact and she still saw the same existent fire, but this time there was a softness, a compassion that stirred her curiosity for its presence.

Michonne sat up and kissed him again she worked her lips to his neck and she reached his shirt to pull it off his body. But his hands on her wrists startled her and she watched him.

"Lie back." He gently whispered and Michonne followed his order.

Questioning his actions, wondering what he was going to do. Rick gripped at her thighs and pulled them apart.

"Wait…" She admonished, she sat up when she realized what he wanted, when he moved lower, to where his lips caressed her thighs.

"Shh…" He held on to her other thigh and kissed the inside, he worked slowly and her worries disappeared into the silence of his house when his mouth touched her intimately, his tongue gentle and shot sparks through her core.

This was no longer the lust she saw earlier, even though that was very much so present in his eyes when he'd occasionally meet her hazed look of pleasure.

She pulled her head back and arched when his mouth was no longer gentle, it was nothing but all tongue and lips that sucked, nipped and fingers that plunged into her as she pressed against him, heating her in ways she never knew existed.

She felt the release that quivered from her toes to the very center his mouth latched onto, her thighs shook and stomach clenched, small thunder flew behind her eyelids as she released a cry.

He was sweet and merciless in his ministrations, giving her a second release before she held onto to his curls to get him to stop.

Rick licked his lips and opened his eyes. He made eye contact with Michonne as she caught her breath into a steady rhythm.

They were content in the silence that surrounded them, their feelings bare and clear. Rick's blue eyes intoxicating, as dark as a night ocean and holding that same darkness she'd seen so many times before.

For the first time, since Michonne met Rick, she saw the darkness in his eyes, and she wasn't

TBC

I hope you liked this chapter. What did you think of Michonne and Rick?