Chapter 16

Third Person POV

Later that night...

Daryl was an absolute wreck as he paced the cell blocks, the bathrooms, the dining areas, and the endless hallways.

"...tonight...he said tonight, but...but should I...I mean...?" the archer's thoughts had been on overdrive for the past few hours as he drove himself crazy, talked himself down, but then made himself worry all over again.

"Maybe he just needs someone right now...maybe it's not sex..." Daryl's new line of thinking made him stop his tireless walking as he peered down the darkened corridors, "...maybe I'm thinking about this all wrong. Maybe he just wants someone to talk to."

"Get a fuckin' grip, Dixon," he spoke aloud to himself, huffing a bit before heading back towards the bathroom.

Daryl checked the nearby hallways and cells to see if anyone was there before stepping inside the quiet bathroom, able to see the shapes of the urinals and sinks in spite of the scant lighting.

The archer breathed out another sigh as he rearranged the crossbow a little higher on his shoulder and then placed both of his hands on the sink.

"It was right here that we were first together...and he had kissed me like he might die if he don't. I've never been kissed like that before..." he mused to himself upon recalling when Rick had sought him out in this very spot and had brought him to climax with fire in his sky-blue eyes.

"He still kisses me like that...but...but why?"Daryl's thoughts turned a bit bleaker and he lifted his hands from the sink and scrubbed them up and down his face a few times, his mind still a jumbled mess at the moment about what Rick had meant to him earlier.

"Damnit...stop being such a pussy..." he voiced aloud to himself once more, berating himself just like he was used to as he checked his face briefly in the mirror for any smudges or dirt and then marched out of the bathroom.

"Just go see him...go see what he wants..." the bowman affirmed to himself as he strode now through the eerie corridors, heading directly towards the place he knew where their group leader would be at this hour.

The watchtower.

X

Daryl's POV

"He's up there..." I thought a bit sheepishly, staring at the steps now that I was inside the ground-level doorway, "...here goes nothing."

The steps winded up the tower until you reached the room at the top of walking area that wrapped around the perimeter, making this spot the best site to keep watch throughout the whole prison.

You could see for miles with enough moonlight to illuminate the surrounding tree-lines and roads that circled the area.

Finding this place had really been a blessing...somewhere that we all agreed felt like home.

"You did tell yourself that meeting with Rick shouldn't be all about you...you promised yourself that, you jerk..." my thoughts reared back with a pointed memory of something I had thought of not too long ago.

I did want to please Rick as he had done for me several times now.

I had long accepted that being with Rick was nothing short of wonderful.

Freeing. Liberating.

Being with him...he made me feel like I was the only person in this world he cared about and that he actually wanted to be with me and do those kinds of things for me.

Shane had acted like I was a chore he had to do.

Rick acts like I'm his saving grace.

I remembered how he kisses me...with so much fire and passion - things I had not known before with anyone else.

And he would do those things so easily with me.

I couldn't understand it and that was part of the reason I was climbing these steps right now.

Part of me didn't want to know...but part of me did, and the latter was winning at light-speed.

I had to know if this was real or not.

"The man just lost his wife...he probably don't want nothing right now, especially your sorry ass," I thought again and my steps slowed down right before reaching the small hatch to the above room.

I sighed through my nose and swallowed down some spit to moisten my dry throat, hoping for the best but dreading the worst.

The latch clanked against the hinge as I opened the little horizontal door and stepped the rest of the way up, hauling the massive crossbow carefully on top of the enclosed platform and setting it down first.

"Hey," called a familiar voice from somewhere behind me as I turned to close the door and latch it shut again.

"Hey..." I replied with less self-assurance than how it had been spoken to me, turning again and seeing Rick leaning against the glass of the room.

He was watching me with his arms crossed over his chest, a calm look on his face as he just kind of observed me check over my shoulder back towards the little door, then at the field out beneath us, and finally landing on him.

"Well, he doesn't look upset," I noticed as I made my way over to him, also seeing how he was not turning back to look out north like how he was supposed to, "...just looks a little lonely is all."

Regaining some of my misplaced confidence from seeing him look a bit melancholy, I joined him by the windows, looking out into the blackened scenery and decided I could keep him company after all.

"Maybe he does just need someone to lean on right now. I can do that for him," I promised myself and chanced a quick look at him from underneath my bangs that had fallen into my vision.

He was still staring at me and I was instantly met with that striking blue color of his eyes.

"I'm glad you're here, Daryl," he said firmly to me, catching my attention right away that he was breaking the silence again.

I nodded.

He shifted closer until his thigh and side were pressed up against mine.

"I'm here for ya, Rick...whatever you need," I spoke vaguely, the words just kind of flowing out before I could think to change them first.

I had meant them, though; whatever he needed from me, just like how he was there for me. All he needed to do was tell me.

I did not miss the way he smirked at my words and then unfolded his arms, already leaning closer to me still.

The evening air was a bit humid but not entirely uncomfortable this time of year, but I could barely notice it was nighttime at all as I watched how Rick stepped in front of me.

I looked up at him, still keeping my arms wrapped tightly around my middle, feeling pinned by his stare that seemed to be electrifying my very soul.

"I think you're all I need right now," Rick whispered to me, placing his hands on my sides and taking one more small step closer so that he could count my eyelashes if he wanted to.

My reservations were deflated in an instant, his careful touches to me seeming to hold that power lately.

Once again, I had let Rick get close to me before I could do the same. Once again, he was making his move first even though I knew he was the one who was hurting this time.

That ended now.

If he wanted me, he could have me.

Just him.

Just like this.

I unwrapped my arms from myself and encircled him in one movement, pulling the ex-cop closer to me and already feeling him bury his face against the top of my shoulder.

I think in this moment we were both struggling with something, and that the only thing either of us could do about it was hold onto each other.

I understood all too well what it felt like to have the ground pulled out from underneath you so quickly that the only thing you can do is hope that someone else is there to catch you when you fall.

My jaw locked in place as I realized that I would always be there to catch Rick Grimes if he were to fall. I think that that was responsibility now.

I could feel tension leave his body, just as mine would after we spent time together so I would forget my anger. I could only hope that I would have the same cleansing affect that he had on me, though.

"Tell me what you want me to do...anything, I'll do it. You just gotta tell me," I quietly plead with the group leader, needing for him to be okay, needing him to continue to be strong not just for my sake but for everyone that counted on him.

If he asked me to move a mountain right now, I'm pretty sure I would grab a shovel without even thinking twice.

I trusted him completely and I knew that he trusted me.

So I would do anything for him and I was proud of that fact.

After a beat of hearing my words, the former sheriff relaxed even more in my embrace and then slowly started to run his nose along my cheek.

I felt rather than heard him inhale my scent and hum in his throat as he placed the softest hint of kiss to my ear.

I shuddered hard at that, almost sinking away from him with just how many tingles ran through my body from such a pleasant sensation.

"I love hearing you say that," Rick smiled against my neck as he flattened his hands across my stomach and slid them down, "thank you, Daryl."

I swallowed, still not having my answer.

I had to do something, though, or I just might go crazy.

I relaxed my shoulders which had gone rigid at his bold touches, and then gently brought both hands up to his face.

He looked surprised and that was exactly what I wanted.

I smirked at his expression before slowly bringing our mouths together for a chaste, lingering kiss.

He needed to know people still cared about him. He needed to know that I...that I...

"...mmn," he purred warmly against my lips before both of us opened up and deepened the kiss, my tongue slipping inside his mouth and tasting all what he had to offer.

His taste was savory and rich and I worshiped his mouth the best way I knew how, just like how he had taught me.

His hands pawed at my stomach, my chest, then around to my shoulders, squeezing and clawing and I knew that he was enjoying everything I was doing.

So I kept going, ready to please him in any way.

I stepped away from the glass pane behind me and turned us around, reversing our positions so that I could press him fully back against the surface.

"...Daryl..." he whispered my name and I heard the need as well as the sadness in his voice.

My heart thudded painfully in my chest at the sound and I knew immediately what I needed to do.

He had given me his answer.

I nipped at his lips and dropped my hands to his belt buckle, quickly snapping it open.

He broke off our kiss and leaned his forehead against mine, and I noticed his hands were not stopping mine as I parted the top folds of his pants.

His breath was hot against my cheek and I knew why were not speaking that much right now. We did not need to even though there was a lot going on with the both of us.

But there was no point in dwelling on any of it, so we weren't.

This was us moving past all of that awful shit...

...but it also meant something else for me, and I think the wise, handsome man in front me was starting to pick up on that, too.

"I um...I just want to help you, Rick...just like you do for me when I feel like I'm losin' my mind," I tried to explain in a soft tone as I trailed my hands lower along his hips until I could feel his solid length against my fingertips.

His breathing stuttered as I wrapped my hand around his cock, my other hand squeezing his thigh, as I let myself get used to the feel and weight of him against my palm.

"...you can stop me...if ya want..." my airy words trailed off as I crushed our mouths back together, not able to keep from falling with him in this moment while his eyes were begging me to do more with him.

He dominated my mouth, seeming to purposefully do so on account of me offering for us to stop what we were doing, and I slowly began stroking his long member in my grasp.

I shivered against his lips as he pulled his fingers through my hair, effectively moving it out of my face, as he held me even closer to him. I could feel his pre-come making my ministrations slick and smooth as I gave his tip firm tugs before going back down the whole shaft again. Rick was so swollen, I could feel his cock throb the more I pumped my fist over him, and I knew it would not be long at this rate until he reached his limit.

So I stopped what I was doing and pulled my lips away from his searing mouth.

His expression turned dangerous in an instant.

"Daryl...don't make me come get you..." he warned but with a growing smirk and a flash in his eyes.

I returned his smirk and wordlessly curled my hands in the front of his shirt and dragged him down to the floor or the walkway.

He complied but his intense glare into my eyes never ceased.

Once he was lain flat, I straddled his hips, sighing a bit as I did as I shook my bangs out of my eyes.

Gun-hardened hands went to my thighs, gripping my muscles there, before sliding roughly up and taking hold of my waist.

I let him grab at me as he liked as I made sure to stretch my body as I removed my angel wing vest, shrugging it off onto the floor.

Lightening blue eyes narrowed at me and I saw him pull his bottom lip in between his teeth.

"Daryl..."

It was not a warning this time.

It was a whisper. Longing.

It was...well, it sounded like...

I leaned down and quickly claimed his lips, and then I was already easing down his lithe, strong body.

I settled in between his spread legs and took hold of his leaking member.

I cast my sharp gaze back up towards the group leader, needing to see that this was okay with him...needing to see that he wanted this.

...wanted me.

"...I can't wait any more...do it," he commanded me.

Just like I had wanted him to.

I took my time swallowing his hard member down my throat, pressing my lips against the base as I scratched my fingertips down his sides. His length was hot and as soft as silk on my tongue, shocking myself thoroughly how much I actually enjoyed having my mouth on him like this.

His curly head tipped back, kiss-reddened lips falling open, as he squirmed underneath my hands and mouth, trying to voice his pleasure for me to hear.

"See? It's not that bad...plus...look how much he's coming apart from you doing this..." my thoughts were crystal clear inside my head in this moment as I flicked my gaze back towards the writhing man lain out before me, watching as he lightly bucked his hips to meet my mouth when I descended on him once more, "...you're doing good."

I relaxed my cheeks and trailed my palms up his shivering torso, feeling his taut muscles move every time I sucked his flesh a little harder and tongued at the tip once I came back up again.

He liked like salt and earth and everything I wanted to fight for in this fucking world, and I groaned with his cock down my throat as he drove his fingers through my hair again and scratched affectionately at my scalp.

"...Christ, Daryl...so good..." Rick murmured breathlessly above me, the former cop resting his upper body on his elbows as he watched me accept his cock over and over again in between my lips.

I increased my pace and encouraged him to thrust his hips harder, just like how I knew it would make this feel even better for him.

He did not delay before fucking his cock into my mouth, his fingers at the back of my head and giving a slight tug down every time so that his member was getting stroked hard and fast and wet.

"Ohh...fuck, Daryl..." he breathed again, this time his voice growing louder, hotter, with each word and I could feel my own pulsating cock drip with need in the confines of my pants, "...so good...just like that, baby...feels too fucking good...uhn..."

I freed a hand from his stomach and seized his balls in a tight grip, rolling the soft, sensitive flesh in between my calloused fingers.

He wrestled with so much concentrated pleasure wracking his body, trembling under my touch and reaching that rock hard cock of his far down my throat even faster than before.

I knew he was getting close as his moans toppled over one another, his hands alternating from pulling my hair to pawing at the floor beneath us.

He was mesmerizing like this and I could not help but be in awe that it was someone like me who was making Rick Grimes act like this.

Addicting.

"Is this what it's like for him when he does this to me...?" the single question flooded my brain without my permission, and a small amount of understanding started growing inside me.

Abruptly, Rick arched his body almost to where he was sitting up. His knees bent and his hands flew to my shoulders to brace himself as he unloaded his warm, creamy come into my mouth.

I closed my eyes and cleared my mind so that I would be as relaxed as possible as I swallowed the two mouthfuls I received with relative ease. Only a few drops fell on my chin but I didn't care – I felt elated that I had just done that for him, this man that I cared about.

It was an obvious step forward for me as well as for our relationship...whatever it was.

"Ask him...you gotta ask him..." my thoughts before earlier rushed back to me as I leisurely started to remove myself from him, sitting back on my heels he brushed back his hair and sat up fully.

His eyes were half-lidded and as he looked upon me as if in suspended disbelief and, again, I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment that I had made him look like that.

"Listen, I uh...I've been...meaning to..." my words were unsure as they crept passed my lips, but were quickly cut off as Rick surprised me by closing the distance between us once more and pulled me into a powerful hug.

"Don't...don't leave...stay with me tonight," Rick voiced against my ear, his grip tightening on my shoulders before sliding down my clothed back, almost pulling me on his lap.

He had misunderstood what I was trying to say and had become possessive. I smiled at the revelation and returned his embrace.

"...wasn't gon leave...just got somethin' to ask ya..." I sort of mumbled, damned shyness quieting my voice and making me duck my head a little.

Rick was not having it though, and freed a hand that he brought to my cheek and tilted my face back up to meet his patient gaze.

He always did this. Reassured me. Made me speak my mind because he genuinely wanted to know what I had to say. I was still getting used to mattering.

"Daryl...you can ask me anything. Whatever's in that pretty head of yours...just tell me...please," he reasoned with me, but it was when he said 'please' that I cracked.

"I don't um...don't know how to really ask this, but..." I struggled to pick the right words, to not sound desperate and like a stupid, hopeful redneck, even though my heart was pounding in my chest and I was afraid I might run out of air to breathe, "...the way we are together...what are we...?"

I could practically hear Merle's voice shouting at me. Calling me every name in the book and ridiculing everything that I was hoping for.

I grit my teeth and scrunched my features, needing my Merle to go away and let me have this.

Suddenly, lips as soft as rose petals and sweet as wine started pressing endless kisses to my forehead, my cheeks, my eyes, my nose, my lips and chin, over and over and I quickly melted into the sanguine ministrations that pushed my brother's venom totally out of my head.

"Shh...calm down... I got ya," Rick soothed me with his words, scooting even closer to me on the floor of the watchtower, before capturing my lips in a time-stopping kiss that was making my senses leave one after the other.

We slowly parted after what felt like a wonderful eternity, both us breathing hard in the small space between us. My hands were gripping onto his shoulders for dear life, my gaze was comfortably lowered and feeling a little tired as I waited for him to address my question.

"...I don't know if you're ready to hear this," the former sheriff began, making me raise my gaze to his neck and catch the way he swallowed hard and I knew his beautiful eyes were watching me closely, "...I was going to wait, but...you saying that and then this happening now..."

He trailed off as if lost in his own thoughts, and I finally snapped my gaze up to seek his out, needing to see what was going on with him.

To my amazement, his gaze was even on mine and a lazy, certain smile was gracing his handsome features, as if he had been waiting to have my total attention before continuing.

His hand cradled my jaw, letting me lean into his touch, as he stroked his thumb across my lips and cheek.

I could probably have fallen asleep just like this; I felt so peaceful for once.

"I care about you. I know you already knew that, but it's more than that," Rick spoke to me and I could hear the sheer volume of the heart and spirit he was putting in his words to me as he held my stunned gaze, "I've been in love with you...for a long time, Daryl."