The chapter you were all waiting for :D ;)

SSC

You say you don't like it
But I know that you're a liar
'Cause when we kiss
Ooh
Fire

-Fire by Baby Face & Des'ree

I walked out of the infirmary with no direction in mind, except far away from people.

Sweetie there is no point fretting about it now, just admit you can't do these things on your own, there is no harm in it.

Leave me alone.

Leave you? I am the only one here who keeps you rational or have you forgotten that? I warned you, didn't I? I told you not to get attached but what do you do? You go and get distracted.

"What was that?"

I was snapped out of my thoughts by a very pissed of Daryl Dixon that stomped in my direction. I looked around for a way to escape to find that I had managed to corner myself in between two walls.

"What was what?" I demanded trying not to reveal my straying sanity. He approached me and I was irked by his glowering face. I had never seen Daryl look as furious as he did in that moment. With each step he invaded my personal space and before I knew it, I was backed up into the wall.

"What ya pulled back der, runnin off on yer own. Are ya suicidal is that what ya are?"

Is he blaming me? What the fuck?

"I didn't expect those assholes to show up the way they did. I had the situation under control." I snapped I had to practically rise up on to my tip toes to glare up into his piercing blue eyes.

"Under control? Is that what it was?" He hissed "Tha' bastard was cuttin' ya and ya'ere just standin' there."

My mouth fell open in disbelief and shock, to make things worse my eyes stung from the harsh blame in his words.

No. I refuse to cry, especially not in front of him.

"I cannot believe you are giving me shit about this." I hissed, determined not to let the hurt creep into my voice. "You think I am some bimbo scream queen to attract the entire walker neighborhood?"

I looked away, unable to withstand his hounding stare any longer "They were just messing around; they would have let me go eventually."

Daryl's reaction to my words was primitive. I was startled when he roughly grabbed me by the elbow and pulled me to him. I was forced to look upon his scowling face. I was a little terrified by the murderous glint in his eyes. I wasn't entirely sure it was directed at me.

"After they'er done screwin' ya in every possible way." He whispered ruthlessly, making sure to enunciate each word with razor sharp precision. This was dangerous territory, the vicious tone of his voice and stern gaze was scaring me.

Survival instincts combined with an internal rage within me took over. I wrenched my arm free from his bruising grip and looked him dead in the eyes "I don't need this, any of it. I was fine on my own I had everything under control but ever since you came in with your cross bow and your fucking red-neck superiority complex, my life has been a spiraling black hole of bullshit."

I was aware of my rise of pitch in my voice but I didn't care, I wasn't going to let him get away with talking to me with such audacity.

Daryl reeled back as if my words had physically slapped him. His shock was for a moment before that rage took over once more and he snarled at me. "Before I came in? Yer life was shit long befor' ya met me."

I tried to ignore the grain of truth in that because the moment he stepped toward me I lost all my train of thought. There was literally a centimeter of space between us, his nostrils flared and his eyes narrowed accusatory. "Maybe it's time ya get yer head out of yer ass and start seeing things fer what dey really're."

"You just want me to admit it don't you? Fine I will, I am pathetic and defenseless and the only way I had survived this long is because of that damn dog, without her I am nothing. Without you I am nothing." The realization slowly sunk into me. Heavy, deep and depressing as hell "I am nothing."

Admitting is the first step darlin' now you can listen to reason.

"Please stop." I whispered shutting my eyes, gripping my head in agony. The throbbing in my head was relentless, just like her taunting self-righteous voice.

You never listen to me, such shameful pig-headedness. Mommy is all you have and all you will ever have. When are you ever going to listen?

A warm, rough grip cupped my face and I was caught off guard. My eyes snapped open in question only to widen in shock. Daryl had pressed his mouth against mine, so roughly and demanding that I had trouble breathing. Scratch that— I actually couldn't breathe.

His kiss was hot and bruised my lips and felt the brush of his stubble across my skin, but I didn't push him away. I was too stunned.

I did not know whether it was from my unresponsiveness or the fact that he had just realized his impulsive act, but Daryl pulled away quickly. He didn't move away though, he stood there, staring at me. His fingers were still buried in my hair but the grip was considerably softer. I gazed back silently, my mind a complete blank.

I couldn't hear her... she wasn't there. The throbbing madness in my head had seized entirely, I only heard the pounding of my heart.

My wide eyes travelled down from his eyes to his lips, thin and alluring and I just couldn't help myself. I threw my body on to his, my mouth smashing on his. I heard his breathe hitch from the suddenness of my kiss and I didn't care. I wanted that mouth on me again. I hadn't felt something this powerful since that adrenaline rush at the store.

His reaction was explosive; his fingers clenched my hair and forced me against his strong body. I had never been this rough before, never this desperate but my God, I wanted him. His lips tasted of nicotine and salt, the strangest most delicious combination ever and I just couldn't get enough. I was pretty sure at one point I moaned and I didn't give a fuck.

All the sexual frustration and desire I kept such a tight leash on had come undone from such a simple thing as a kiss. I didn't regret it, not one bit. Sure the kiss wasn't as romantic as I fantasized it in my head, no—it was much better.

I wanted to be closer, deeper in his arms. I wanted to feel every inch of him dense against me. In my fierce eagerness I brought my arms up, to wrap around his shoulders when a sudden pain tore through my side.

I tensed and pulled away on reflex.

Fuck, I think I just reopened my wound. Ugh but I didn't want to stop kissing him, pushing past the pain I attempted to reach out to him again but Daryl gently pressed me against the wall.

"Easy..." He whispered his voice low and delectably raspy. He grasped my hands in his, curling my fingers into my palm as he held my gaze. But I was conflicted, part of me wanted to listen to him but he had ignited a fire in me. I couldn't look away from his enticing mouth and to make things worse, he was biting at his lower lip contemplatively.

Such an attentive bastard.

His left hand on mine moved up to comb his fingers through my tresses. My eyes automatically glazed over at the soothing sensation of his nails dragging through my scalp. I could have fallen asleep from just the feeling alone. I struggled to keep my eyelids open but the seriousness in his clear stare intrigued my senses.

"If ya weren't bleedin on the ground, if ya weren't injured, I would 'ave found those two and ripped them in two, bite of der ears an' create myself a fine ornament." He vowed gruffly and firmly. I gave him an incredulous look, trying to tell whether he was just spouting words or stating the truth, I didn't see any deceit in his unyielding gaze.

Just a hell of a lot of suppressed anger that I could confidently say, wasn't directed at me. I was a little abashed by his protective nature towards me, I averted my gaze diffidently.

"Something tells me you've done that before." I murmured my words coaxed a smirk from him.

"I'ave." He breathed, but then his expression sobered "Yer not nothin'."

I was taken aback by the insistency in his gaze, it was actually really cute the way his dark brows were furrowed all solemn like.

I was embarrassed, recalling my mental break down a minute ago. Chagrined by his words, I smiled wanly, shrugged and mumbled "You don't know my mother."

"Ya don't know yerself."

I shot him a sardonic look, he gazed back boldly.

"And you think you do?" I demanded challengingly.

"I know I do." He stared confidently, his slender fingers distractedly played with a thick ebony curl of my hair "I know wha' ya want an' need." He murmured and our eyes met.

I stood there immobilized by the sheer lust in his stare, I think at one point my heart ceased. Okay that was an exaggeration, but the organ did come pretty damn close. I was brought back from my rambling thoughts when I felt his warm hands settle on my waist. My flesh practically burned under his touch.

His lips neared mine and I shifted nervously alongside the wall, but his grip on my hips tightened possessively, his stare cutting into me.

"Don't move." He ordered in a sensual gruffness that made me shiver in delight. I stood still and surprisingly obedient. I watched him lick his lips and then lean in again. Giving one last longing glance in my direction, our lips met. My breathing hitched, warmth spread through me and made my toes curl in my shoes.

I was never more aware of the surface of my skin than I was in that moment. It wasn't like I hadn't been touched before, but this was just...electric. Despite his touch being rough his kisses were gentle, exploratory and slow. My feelings were conflicted on the matter, on one hand I hated how measured he was but on the other hand, it felt so good.

I wanted to feel him, giving into my desires I trailed my fingers up the breadth of his chest. I was startled when he weaved his fingers between mine and pinned them beside my thighs, touching the wall. His mouth left mine and for a moment I feared my disobedience meant he would stop kissing me. I meekly raised my gaze to meet his. He glared back, his stare dark and possessive.

"I sed don't move." He grinded his hips against mine and my eyes pinched shut from the sudden jolt of pleasure that shot through me.

"Vivi...anne." Daryl growled sexily into my ear.

He nipped at the shell of my ear and I melted right then and there. His thin lips moved down the length of my throat, burying his face into the curve where my neck met my shoulder. The back of my head lightly hit the wall I was pressed up against, part of me wanted to make myself comfortable and receive pleasure from that gorgeous mouth of his.

Is he planning on feeling me up? Right here in the middle of the—where hell, are we? In my messed up mental state I hadn't realized where I had stomped off to before Daryl found me. It was hard to focus on the task of reopening my eyes when he was so good at distracting me.

Daryl was fighting his own desperate urges while trying to memorize the taste of her skin. How can one woman smell so good in the middle of an apocalypse did not make sense to him? Yet he wasn't complaining. Vivian Bell smelt like rain on a hot day, calm and earthy, like the humid forests of Georgia. She was trembling in his arms and that only further ignited his fire for her.

He loved her little reactions to him, the way she would hiss softly when he grinded his strong hips against hers, making sure she felt all of him. All of him that wanted her, right then and there.

No. His grip on her hands tightened, his blunt finger nails digging into the skin between her knuckles, gently not to hurt. Daryl had to find control, they were in an open space between the shades of the two blocks, and there was a risk of being found. What he planned required the privacy and no witnesses.

But it physically hurt to pull away from her ripe body. Pressing one last kiss to the hollow space under her ear, Daryl leaned back. His eyes heavy lidded with passion took in the sight of her. Her eyes were shut; she was biting down on her lower lip and chest heaving in anticipation.

Vivian opened her eyes; they were a deep swirling pool of lush green.

His pants felt painfully tight.

"Vivian!"

I was pulled out of my daze, I wasn't sure if it was Maggie's voice that called out in search of me. Or the fact that Daryl stomped off in such a hurry, leaving a trail of dust behind. I stared at his retreating back, both confused and in disbelief.

THAT ASS WAS JUST ABANDONING ME?

I didn't get a chance to yell out in protest when Maggie abruptly appeared, smiles and all.

"There you are, I was afraid ya ran off again and hid in your damn tower." She said, grinning in both relief and wonder.

"I was on my way there." I answered quickly.

"What stopped ya?"

I froze at her question, struggling to form words with my still dulled brain from that kiss earlier. Seriously what the hell kinda kiss was that? I could still feel it like the after math of lightening.

"My smell, I need a bath."

Her nose scrunched up in distaste, before she nodded frantically in agreement.

"You got that right." I crescent fell, I was not expecting her to agree.

"Hey are you alright? You are all red in the face and you're sweatin' to." I stepped back when Maggie took and abrupt step towards me. Peering at my face like she was searching for a bug or something.

"Yeah, it's the heat." Well my brain is gain some form of its function back, the lies—although shaky—still sounded believable.

The concern on the farmer's daughter's face never left. Her chestnut brown brows furrowed in worry."We better get some food inta that belly, lord knows you haven't been eatin lately."

I was surprised when she grasped my hand in hers. They were sweaty and I could feel grains of dirt but I honestly didn't care. It would probably be from my hand and she was the one who didn't care.

She didn't care, she accepted me—flaws and all—just like Daryl and the rest, and Luna.

I suddenly felt extremely blessed, also like I had blinded myself from the truth of it all.

"Wouldn't want ya to get ill now do we?" She added, snapping me out of my revelation.

"Thank you Maggie." I said, allowing her to drag me in the direction of the kitchen.

"No problem Vivian." She chimed back, glancing at me over my shoulder. I stopped the lethargic movement of my legs and stood still.

"No really, thank you." Maggie looked to me, with wide eyes. Probably surprised by the genuine gratitude in my voice. I smiled at her, wide and full of ease and she was taken back for a moment, before returning the smile with a dazzling one of her own.

"You're welcome." Her smile curved into a playful grin and she tugged at our connected arms again "Now come on, there are some beans left from lunch."

After Maggie had fed me enough beans to the point of puking—I hated beans—I walked off in search of Luna.

I needed to apologize. I realized my errors; in my psychotic emotional state I had put too many ideas in my head about Luna. At the end of the day, she was just a dog. Loyal, brave and she would never just stop caring about me.

She wasn't like my so called friends from before.

I found her with Carl in the farm, wagging her tail with her back facing me. But the moment I had entered the farm she had gotten a whiff of my scent from a few feet away. Her reaction at the sight of me was instantaneous. She was a merry ball of golden fur that came bounding my direction. I dropped to my knees to accept her hug only to be floored by her enthusiasm.

I took a lot of painful grunts and gentle squatting hands to her face to get her off me. I sat there on the grass for a moment, scratching at the back of her ears and staring deep into her soulful eyes. It was amazing how easily she could forgive me.

How did I ever think I could live without her?

I would have cried from the emotion I felt, if Carl hadn't approached us.

"Glad to see you again Vivian." He stated smiling down at me, I grinned back while petting Luna in my seated position on the grass.

"You too Carl." I responded before averting my gaze to Luna again. I noticed the lack of blood and mud on her fur, amazed by the shiny golden coat

"Did you wash her?" I asked, Carl took a seat on the grass too, running his fingers through the dog's fur.

"I supervised, can't be sure about that those kids would do to her without me around."

I stared silently at him. Of course Carl would see himself as more mature than the other kids. Truth be told, he was. He didn't carry around innocence and vulnerability like the other kids did. No, Carl had the eyes of a boy who had been through ill and still managed to wake up the next day.

"Thanks." I said gratefully, ruffling Luna's fur some more. Wisps of platinum strands of her hair floated into the air.

The sun was descending around us. I spend an hour talking with Carl before I went around in the neighborhood. Chatting with anyone I had gotten to know, it was brief exchanges of course. Mainly because I was distracted by the thought of Daryl and I was slowly but surely getting frustrated by the lack of his presence and an explanation to what the hell happened with that kiss.

Pretty soon dinner had arrived and I was back to sitting at the table with the rest of them. I was extremely aware of the lack of Daryl beside me, saying whatever he could to rile me up during a meal. No one else seemed to notice, like they knew Daryl wasn't going to show up for dinner.

It was like I was left out of a party or something.

I was so fucking annoyed I didn't eat as much as I wanted to. They had ham that night too.

After dinner I marched off to the tower. This was so typically Daryl, why was I expecting any different?

It was like his solution to everything. Tell him something he doesn't want to hear—he stops talking to you for three days. I wonder how long he will avoid me for a kiss that I didn't even initiate.

Now everything he had said that seemed to heal me felt pointless. I could feel the darkness begin to creep in again.

No. I learned my lesson. Maybe the kiss was meant as a momentary distraction. It was probably just a spur of the moment.

Where is Luna? I was suddenly aware that she hadn't followed me to the tower. Huh, she is probably hanging out with Carl. Great, who am I going to rant to now?

Grumbling under my breath I turned the bend to the entrance of the tower only to freeze from shock. There was shadow lingering by the entrance, it took a lot of squinting to see it was Daryl.

Well I'll be damned.

He was yet to notice me, his back was to me and he was leaning against the door of the tower. Just at the sight of him tipped the scales of my rage and I marched up to him.

"What the hell was that?" I exclaimed, he wasn't even startled by my voice. He turned to face me, cool and casual like with his arms folded in front of his chest.

"What are ya yapping about woman?" He asked, unperturbed by my glowering form.

"Don't 'woman' me." I snapped direction a finger full of warning up at that well-defined jaw of his. His dark brows disappeared behind the brown strands of his fringe, in amusement probably.

"You can't stomp up to me like some—some—cave man. Kiss me the way you did and expect me to just forget about it." I told him, frankly and through gritted teeth. Although just at the recollection of his mouth on mine sent my temperature flaring.

He stared silently, as if absorbing my words. Then he unfolded his arms, I was a little mesmerized by the slow way he stepped to me. His piercing blue eyes demanded my attention and I didn't turn away. He leaned down, close. To the point where if I just moved a centimeter, my lips would be on his.

I was fighting the urge like druggie at rehab.

"Believe me girl, when I kissed ya I had no intention of letting ya forget about it." He murmured, full of hot intent. All the nerve I had was threatening to crumble, just like the previous anger I had. It was replaced by a fierce lust that was further flared when I detected the taunting challenge in his voice. He was daring me to shy away, like hell.

"If you are going to get me that hot and bothered then be a man about it and get the job done."

It was like putting a beef steak into a tank of Piranhas because the moment those words left my lips, Daryl pounced at me like a Jaguar in heat. My back met the door of the tower and Daryl pressed his body into mine while kissing me feverishly. I was clenching his gorgeous head of hair as our tongue mated eagerly. I don't think I have ever been so hot for a man before, and it was Daryl of all people.

Well that escalated quickly.

Maybe it was the lack of any sexual activity in the past year, but I knew that if I didn't get some in the next few seconds, I was going to spontaneously combust.

I honestly don't know the sorcery behind it but we somehow ended up in the tower, furiously yanking at each other's clothing while struggling to keep our mouths apart. I was a panting hot mess and I wasn't the only one.

I was straddling Daryl's waist, my knees buried in the mattress that I will find to be too small for two, in the morning. He was seated, shirtless and dragging those slender finger deliciously under my tank top.

My hands were still clenching his hair while making out with him. I had never made out or been in a half naked situation with a guy who had long hair, well longer hair than most. It was actually quite a turn on, having something to hold on to, feel and be aware of.

I tore my mouth of his too take in a deep ragged breath. Daryl trailed his hot lips down my throat, nipping and sucking in ways that made my inside turn upside down with need.

"You smell good." He grunted into the crook of my neck before continuing his kisses down my chest.

"Well I am glad soap does it job, otherwise the world would be in chaos." I felt his lips curl up into a smile against my flesh; my heart thudded at the tickling sensation of his stubble.

"No, it's more than dat. It's ya." The southern drawl in his words added a certain appeal in his statement, it was hot.

I parted my lips to reply when he began to roll up the material of my top. I raised my arms and he brought the clothing over my head before leaning back to admire my body.

I haven't really had the need to be self conscious when it came to my body before—having been in leotards plenty of times—But the apocalypse had its toll on everyone and I had enough scars to write a memoir, plus the one I got this morning which was still bandaged.

But Daryl didn't seem troubled by the litter of wounds; I watched the expressions on his face. There was such a hunger in his eyes that made his face seem more alive than usual. I would have gawked at the beauty of his expression more. If he hadn't pressed his thumbs into my side in such a pleasurable way that made my eyes immediately press shut.

His touch danced up my torso, careful to avoid the bandaged wound. I was so distracted the sensation of his hot hands on my skin that I didn't see his face nearing mine until he captured my mouth again. I kissed back instantly, my arms wrapping around his wide shoulders.

The moment my fingers grazed his back I was abruptly thrown on the mattress. I was a little startled by the suddenness at first but I was distracted by my slacked bra straps that slipped down my shoulders.

What the fuck? When did he undo my bra?

"Wat?" He asked in between breaths. He had noticed the confusion on my face while towering over me.

"You undid my bra."

"Are ya not fermaliar wit' da process, girlie?" I shot him a look at his smart-ass comment, he smirked slyly before lowering his face closer to mine. I rolled my eyes at his ways though I was more charmed than annoyed. I reached up and clenched at his soft hair again and my heart skipped a beat at the press of his lips again.

They were so supple and he really knew how to kiss. The right amount of pressure and precision. The rest of our clothes came off and next thing I knew I was naked under him as his kissed his way down my body.

Protection was of course vital; the last thing I needed was to get knocked up in the middle of a zombie apocalypse and become a two in one meal for those Walkers. Daryl had said the reason he was missing in was during dinner was so he could steal a few condoms from Glen's bag, without being spotted.

I was both marveled and flattered by this, he skipped ham day to get us condoms. He loved ham too, it was actually bizarrely sweet.

I felt his strong hips between my thighs and a familiar heat pooled in my belly. Daryl balanced himself well using those strapping arms of his. Speaking of, he was leaner than his large plaid shirts made him seem. I liked that his chest was wide, my hands wandered in a dream like state. Fingers dancing across the patch of ink on his chest down to his hard taut belly. He shuddered under my touch, which only further fueled my desire to have him.

"Vivi-anne." He groaned low and sexily. He was glaring down at my playfully with those iridescent eyes of his. "Stop distracting me, woman."

"From what?" I retorted as my hands continued to explore the breadth of his chest up to his head, where I began to play with his hair again.

"Everything." I stilled at his words looking into his eyes that were a swirling deep blue. I couldn't look away and I half expected him to shy away, but he didn't.

His grip tightened around my waist, our eye contact never broke even as he entered me. It was so fulfilling, I had forgotten what it was like, to feel actual toe curling pleasure. It was pure passion that night, and a whole lot of built up sexual frustration. I think at one point I was rougher than Daryl was, then again he was trying to be attentive of my wound and at one point just gave up.

Honestly his hands were nowhere near the bandage; they spent most of their time in the northern and southern regions of my body.

By the end we were a sated, panting mess on the single mattress. Bodies tangled in the thin sheets and limbs thrown over the cool steel panel under us.

"Jaysus." Daryl whispered through ragged breaths, he was lying on his back like I was. Staring up trying to regain some energy.

"You saw him too?" I replied jokingly, though it sounded serious from the lack of effort placed on the delivery of the words. I heard him scoff, humored by my statement. I grinned and just lay there, not bothering to move.

It was too hot to put on clothes anyway so I am not going to bother looking for my pants...

The woman was an animal and he was pretty sure he would have the red lines on his back to prove it. Daryl never felt so satiated in his life, it was a little worrying. He figured it was the lack of any action over the year and a bit before that.

His head lolled to the side to gaze at her. Wrapped up in the tattered sheets, her bronze strong curvy legs up to her thighs. Daryl could feel himself growing hard again. The woman was more well maid than he thought and the scars accented the wild thing he knew she was. His stare travelled up to her face, hoping to see those emerald eyes to find her sleep.

Reality fell on his like a brick to the head and panic immediately set in. He wasn't planning on sleeping here, in fact he didn't even think this would happen but it did and now it felt and looked so, permanent.

He sat up, fighting the fatigue and began shrugging on his clothes while keeping a cautions eye on her sleeping face. He didn't want her to see his scars; no woman wants to see that.

He knelt down beside her, considering waking her and then asking her to move from on top of the latch. But Daryl looked to the far end of the space under the window like structure that had enough room for her. Slowly and carefully he picked her up and placed her under the sill. Vigilantly opened the latch before descending the steps, Daryl couldn't resist the urge to take one last look at her. The sereneness in her expression beckoned him in a way that slightly frightened him.

Daryl was not expecting Luna to greet him at the bottom of the stairs. Sighing in aggravation he moved back up the steps and opened the latch. Luna merrily walked up, licked at his face the moment she was a step above before entering the room. He shook his head at the dog's antics before closing the latch a second time and exiting the tower, lost in his thoughts.