A/N: This was a prompt from a sweet friend of mine, who I will never say not to. If the subject matter bothers you, please do not read this. My feelings wont be hurt. If you read it, let me know what you think.

The card said Lady Stephanie on it as he twirled it through his fingers, it almost felt hot to his touch but he knew that was his imagination. He was just…excited.

Daryl sat astride his motorcycle in the garage parking lot just looking at the pink card with black writing for a while. He had just lied to Merle, which he never did, about why he had to leave work early. He forgave himself quickly for that, because he could never tell his brother the truth and furthermore, he wanted this desperately.

The librarian at the local library had given him her card after he had checked out some books on the topic. Apparently it wasn't as uncommon as he had thought, even for this small Georgia town he lived in.

He just about fell over when that happened, though, when she gave him the pink card he was now staring at. So much for stereotypes and knowing people. She was right under his nose this whole time.

He had known Stephanie from the library for at least six years, but that was the first time he had checked out those kinds of books. She was a dark haired beauty who wore glasses and her hair up, like a typical librarian would and he had always liked her.

She was his age he presumed and attractive, but he couldn't talk to her about much more than what books were good to read and what was the latest best seller. Talking to women was not easy for him, but he knew he would have to talk to her now, about more than 'The Stand' and 'Fear nothing.' He looked forward to this somehow and he couldn't wait to get to her.

He didn't ask her about these latest books, and he had checked them out with the electronic scanner. So he wouldn't have to look her in the eye.

When he brought them back he tried to drop them in the drop slot at the library desk and just as he was turning to leave he heard her voice.

"Stop, Daryl." He stopped right there in his tracks, her voice was different, authoritative. Not at all the way her voice was when they were discussing Stephen King or Dean Koontz. She spoke as if she expected he would obey.

And he did.

He turned around and she slid the card across the desk at him and his head almost exploded.

He didn't call her for three weeks and he didn't go back to the library either. When he did call her, instead of wanting to meet somewhere private she asked him to meet her at a diner one town over.

Where no one they knew might be, he knew that was the reason.

She was late. He sat there for twenty minutes past the time she told him she would be there. Then he ordered a coffee. He waited some more, and forty-five minutes later she slid into the booth across from him.

He was so happy she showed up. He had thought he was being stood up.

"Well." She said. "I guess you're serious." She said without introduction but in a soothing voice. He noticed her hair was down and he couldn't remember ever seeing her hair like that.

"I called you didn't I?"

She laughed softly. "Daryl, lots of men call me."

He blushed and looked down at his coffee. He wasn't used to women being assertive, and he'd never imagined her this way. Not in his deepest darkest fantasy did he ever think the sweet librarian he knew liked to order men around.

Then again, he hadn't realized he wanted that until just recently. Every relationship he had ever been in had failed and it wasn't till he did a lot of soul searching and reading did he understand why.

"Look at me." She said and he raised his head. Her eyes were hypnotizing green; he couldn't look away. "They usually leave when I'm late. That's how I know who really wants it and who doesn't."

He looked at her like he had finally found the key to life. She got him, she had said four o'clock and wait for me and he did just that. She got him.

He had feelings inside of him that he couldn't tell anyone about. Maybe he could tell her what he wanted, he was thinking just that but then she stood up. He panicked for a moment and then she smiled.

"I'm going to the ladies' room, order me a coffee, light with Splenda, not Sweet and Low, and a garden salad, no tomatoes, oil and vinegar on the side and three lemon wedges."

She started to walk away and she turned back, and as she expected his eyes were on her. "Parmesan cheese on the salad."

She came back a while later and everything was on the table exactly how she wanted it and she blessed him with a smile.

"Thank you Daryl." She took her napkin and placed it on her lap, so dainty and lady like. He watched her every move, she was an incredible woman. "How did that make you feel, getting me everything I wanted, exactly how I wanted it?" she asked him.

He thought about it and couldn't bring himself to reply. He had felt ashamed for so long about what he wanted and needed. He liked pleasing her, and it was different than pleasing someone else. She made it clear she expected it and that was what he was looking for.

"It's just us here Daryl. You can tell me." She sipped the coffee. "It's delicious, you did well."

"I feel like this is a test." He considered it for a minute, he might as well be honest with her. He had nothing to lose at this point, although going to the library again was out of the question.

"Really?" She said keeping her eyes on him.

"I know it was a test." He had read that it was important to be honest and he knew he would never get what he wanted if he didn't tell her. "But I feel content."

"Well, you're right. This is my way of seeing if you are serious, I don't charge for this." She said.

This surprised him and his face must have given him away, he expected to pay for her services. He knew he could ask questions, communication was important, the books had said as much, every one of them as a matter of fact.

"So I have these little…tests to see who's in it for real." She said. "Because it isn't a game to me and I never take money."

"Then why do you do it?"

"Because I need it." She sipped her coffee. "Just like you do."

He waited for her to say more. He made eye contact with her so easily and that was a first for him. Stephanie made him feel comfortable, there was none of the awkward bullshit he had with other women. She was very frank and it was refreshing that she made no excuses for what she needed from him.

He needed something from her, and now he knew what to expect and it was a relief.

"Isn't that what it's all about, the mingling of what you desire and what I desire." She said and he nodded right away, that was exactly what he had just been thinking.

He fully expected to pay her for this, he was aware from reading that that was how these things worked, but she didn't want money.

"Tell me about your sexual history." She said

"Vast and unsatisfying."

"Ok, that will change." She said matter of factly. "I'll need you to get a blood test and bring me the results, proof that you're clean and I'll provide the same."

He nodded because he expected as much. It was customary in these types of agreements. No matter what the arrangement was, even if there wasn't any sex involved. Proof of good health and lack of STD's wasn't optional. It was just good practice these days no matter what the relationship was.

"Oh, but it doesn't have to get sexual." She said. "Please understand that's up to us to decide. It doesn't have to be, but we still both get tested so if it goes that way, there's nothing to worry about."

"Sure, I understand."

"I assume you would prefer not to use condoms. And as long as you're clean…"

"But…" He had been using condoms since he was fourteen, he was twenty-nine, he had never not used one.

"I can't have children." She said simply in a manner that made it clear there was to be no questions about it. "But that won't happen right away, sexual things, if at all, you understand that right."

He understood, she was the boss, everything would happen on her terms when she wanted it. He nodded that he understood.

"We'll talk about all of those things, I might be the one in charge, but I want to know what makes you tick."

"Oh." Who had ever even cared about what made him tick?

"Mutual desires right and consent? It's all very important."

He couldn't take his eyes off of her.

"And this is your first time right?" She asked, even though she knew the answer to that. He was curious about what was inside of him, that was why he read the books.

But would it be what he thought it was? So far he had responded exactly the way she expected, every step of the way. He had waited for her, showing that he was patient, which was important. He would have to be patient if this was going to work. He would have to learn to wait for rewards and so far, he was a perfect candidate.

He followed her directions about what to order exactly. That was also important.

This was her way to find out about him. Now she would tell him about herself, it would always be give and take with them.

"Yes. My first time."

"Ok, It's not mine. You need to know that. I've done this before, and I am currently available for you. Many Dominatrixes work with more than one person. But that doesn't work for me, you need to know that too. Next Friday we'll talk about that in more detail. I only ever get involved with one man at a time."

"So you're faithful." He joked and she laughed a laugh that made his heart sing. He wanted to make her laugh all the time. It was the best sound he had ever heard.

"I expect the same from you Daryl." She said. "It's all about trust, every bit of it. If we don't trust each other this won't work at all. I can't worry that you'll give me some disease, you understand?"

He nodded.

"Ok. Good, because the minute I don't trust you, it ends and of course, the same for you. You need to be able to trust me as well."

"Then can I ask you a question."

"Of course." She said. "You can ask questions anytime, unless I say you can't."

She grinned at him and he noticed she had a dimple on her right cheek, but not on her left. He had been memorizing her face as they were talking. He had noticed her before this, but he was painfully shy and could only ever be with a woman if he was drunk. He never looked at her face for so long before or anyone's face truthfully.

"But you can right now." She said smiling. "Ask away."

"You've done this before? And only with one person at a time?"

"Yes."

"How is it that you're…available?"

"Well, next Friday we'll discuss terms that both of us can agree upon. One of my terms which you should know right off the gate is." She poured the vinegar and oil on her salad. "Do you know what Transference is?"

"Yes."

"Sometimes that becomes a problem. It's important to understand this is an agreement nothing more." She said.

"And you'll end it if I can't keep it separate." He finished.

"Or if I can't." She said and then added. "I don't mean to say that we won't care about each other, because we will. Deeply."

He didn't say anything, just looked at her with soft eyes. He wanted to care about someone for once and not feel so empty inside. He wanted someone to care about him.

"Also, I don't drink or do drugs ever, I expect you to be clean and sober. That's the only thing I ask, this isn't Fifty Shades of Grey, I'm not going to patrol your food or make you go jogging. I won't hurt you, not physically or emotionally, no humiliation. I don't get off on that, if that's what you want I can put you in touch with…."

"No." He said. "No, I want you." He gulped out. "And I don't want that."

"Ok and about the word no." She winked at him. "We'll talk about just what that word means next Friday at my place, address is on the card. Same time, don't be late."

She stood up to go.

"Oh and Daryl, don't be afraid to come to the library or if we see each other somewhere. Friday nights are just between us, it's our secret."