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I Will Follow You Into The Dark

Chapter 66

~Author's Note: Good morning guys. This chapter, I'm not going to pretend that it is anything substantial. Just some cute, some awkward, some realistic...a lot of fluff. I promise there will be something more substantial next time. Thanks as always.~
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The earliest grays of morning were peeking in through the edges of the curtains, not morning yet, just the first deceptive lights of false dawn...deceptive but still the herald of the day that was to come. Beth didn't remember falling asleep, just slipping off into oblivion without even knowing, but she needed it after the stresses of the night were sated by the bliss Daryl shared with her. It didn't just seem early, it was early, but Beth knew better than to try to close her eyes again; it would be useless. She was so wide awake the moment she realized she was caught, wrapped up in his arms. She couldn't see Daryl, but she could feel the steady rise and fall of his solid chest against her back. Beth gently traced his rough, scarred knuckles where his hand rested on the bed beside her, stopping, focusing on the ring...the silver wings that held his finger captive.

And Daryl...her thoughts quickly shifted to him. He was such a possessive sleeper...but no, that was wrong, not possessive. Protective. He was a protector above all things. Maybe it was that she never imagined Daryl in love before or sleeping with someone...not sex. Sex didn't require the vulnerability and intimacy of sleeping beside someone, and they had been there long before they were ever together. Beth smiled remembering that first night sleeping beside him, on the floor of that cabin in front of the hearth after she'd been attached. It had been a cool day, a definite chill in the air, and a cold night. He had given her his blanket first, then the warmth of his body. But maybe Daryl knew that she didn't just need his warmth, intuitive enough to realize she needed the sturdy comfort and security of him by her because he didn't just lay next to her, Daryl offered to hold her. When she went to him that first time, took the comfort he was offering, Beth had never felt someone so extremely tense. He had been frozen, not even breathing. Eventually he relaxed, loosened up, starting to breathe again. It was either that or suffocate. Maybe then for Daryl, that seemed like the easier choice, suffocating, but he finally let go.

Let go...

Thinking those words just brought back all the images and feelings of last night, and that wasn't going to help her stay still and not bother Daryl. She forced herself to push them away....

Waking up after that first night of sleeping next to him, Daryl was still holding her when he woke her, and it was like he was just a little changed, more comfortable, like nothing about sleeping next to her fazed him the night before when that was far from the truth. After that, the momentum of their life, their relationship, had been so fast, but the lack of time spent getting there didn't matter when you felt, especially when you could never really know just how much time you had left. And here they were now, sharing a life...Daryl the protective sleeper, and Beth learning and loving her new role as Daryl's lover and wife, sharing the most intimate things two people could share.Beth's mind was back to wandering now, nothing to do about it.

Pulling free of Daryl's muscled arms, not an easy task, Beth rolled onto her back, brushing the stray tendrils of hair out of her face and staring up at the canopy. Daryl had been different than he was the first time. He had been more sure, more uninhibited, no hesitation on his part. Maybe she wasn't all the way prepared for the way it had been. He wasn't rough, not by any means, and Daryl, from the way Beth could feel his restraint, the tightness in his body when her hands were on him, his muscles rippling under her touch, the way he held back, the strength and sheer power Daryl possessed...Beth had no problem imagining what Daryl was capable of...what he'd been in the past. It was just, rationally, maybe she needed another night where Daryl was exceedingly gentle with her, but Beth was learning pretty quick that rational had very little influence over love and actual need when she and Daryl fell into bed together. Gentle hadn't been what they wanted...what they really needed.

Her entire body was aching because of it, still not used to the way things were, Daryl's touch, his weight on her, the way he moved, but there was no way she would ever complain. Daryl was hers, she just needed to learn how to be with him. And the deeper soreness...Beth crossed her knees under the sheet, pressing her thighs tight together for the comfort of the pressure. She wouldn't trade that distant pain for anything...the memory of what caused it, that reminder...still being able to feel him there. It was the best sore she could ever imagine.

When Daryl touched her this time, it was like he owned her...knew every part of her body. Well, this really wasn't new. From the beginning, Daryl always seemed to know just what to do...knew every curve, every dip, every sensitive spot she wanted...needed him to adore. Maybe it was just Daryl's amazing instincts that made him so good at touching her. Whatever it was, Beth was happy to be owned by him, and in return, taking possession of Daryl, capturing the parts of him that no one else would ever have.

She'd been left breathless and overwhelmed by his sudden advance, the shift in him from doubtful and defeated, the way he came to her after what happened down at the gates, to something she couldn't describe...Daryl just driven into a hedonistic moment with her after she said it...just let go. There wasn't much to remember in those fevered moments except the scarcity of breath and Daryl consumed in her, finally forcing her back on the bed. It was intimidating, but she wanted it; her body sure hadn't denied that. But Daryl backed off on the bed, and she had a moment to breathe, process, feel her lips stinging but still aching for more. Beth watched him carefully, saw him...where he was...at the edge of a place he didn't want to go to.

She had thought that maybe Daryl just needed to have her, do whatever he wanted to her, but that wasn't it. Knowing enough about him, she understood that past; that part of his life was something he wanted to leave behind. They'd talked about "just sex" before, Daryl saying he didn't need "just sex". He told her he hadn't been with anyone since before the turn...reminded her of that last night when he went off on her about never having sex with Carol. And it wasn't like he wouldn't have had the chance. Things got comfortable and secure at the prison, not just for their family, but others...a community. There were plenty of people there, most of them people Daryl brought in, and those people, they worshipped him. Beth was sure there would have been plenty of women who would've been willing to share their bed with Daryl Dixon even if it was only for an hour. But that wasn't Daryl.

He made her come to him. He wasn't making her give; Beth knew he was trying to still himself. When she went to him, she had to remind Daryl who she was...who he was. He might need something more primal, more aggressive...there was part of her that needed it too even though she had no idea what that was...but she had to remind him with soft kisses, gentle touches, fingers skimming over his skin...bringing him back from the edge, back to her, to be with her. They could go to that place of abandon, let go, but they had to do it together. And letting go with him, she couldn't wait forever. She needed him between her legs, any sense of hesitation gone, too impatient for love play, what Daryl was willing to give her despite his pressing state. Beth took matters into her own hands quite literally. His hardness, the weight of him in her hand, the contradictory expression of pain and pleasure etched rough across his face, it all made the anticipation in Beth's tummy impossible to bear. Relief and desire, a fire burning behind his eyes when he realized, understood what she was doing...what she wanted.

Beth had to stop her thoughts again, embarrassment burning through her cheeks. Covering her face with her palms, a tiny breathy giggle hidden behind her hands. She hadn't blinked an eye doing it...during, but now...That action though had driven Daryl...driven him to what she wanted but somehow still wasn't expecting, maybe not fully ready. His swift thrust, that immediate sense of being filled, forced to accommodate, it was a shock, and Daryl, he realized as soon as he did. But that feeling, it made Beth not just feel Daryl but feel whole...complete.

I'm sorry was on his lips; that wasn't what she wanted to hear. She just wanted him to feel, wanted to feel with him. She needed him to be still for just that split second but not stop. He didn't need to regret or doubt himself. His face was in her hair, his lips at her neck, his ragged breath hot against her skin. And Daryl, the tightness in his body, muscles flinching under the stress of the stillness when every part of him was screaming out to move...it made her an absolute mess. Beth begged him not to stop, the desperate plea of her hands trying to pull him closer, pull him deeper even though there was nowhere left for him to go...no more of him she could possibly take. His lips...his lips that had been at her neck...it wasn't his lips anymore but his teeth pressed against her sensitive skin. It wasn't a bite, not even the threat of a bite, but just the raw knowledge of that wild inclination tempered by the restraint not to go there...

Beth didn't know what allowed for his abandon, but Daryl showed absolutely no hesitation after that moment. Maybe it was her plea, her lack of trepidation, giving herself fully with no doubt, but his confidence, his sure, natural movements, his full possession of her, it was everything Beth imagined Daryl would be in bed...not what he was before but what he would be like with her. Strong, commanding, just aggressive enough, every inch the man in bed as he was out of...no apologies needed. This was Daryl...her Daryl, and he showed her just what it was like to be his lover. She felt like a woman, clinging to his hard body, caught in the throes of raw passion, crying out Daryl's name when she tired so hard not to...tried to make sure there was no chance anyone would ever know or hear, but as the cold light of morning crept into their room, she still felt like an inexperienced little girl, blushing and flushing at her own thoughts, embarrassed by the memories. Still so new...it was just going to take a while. She was comfortable with Daryl; maybe she just needed to be comfortable enough with herself...with letting go.

Turning over, she hadn't noticed Daryl had gone to his back. Watching him, Beth moved close again, contemplating the man beside her, whether or not she should wake him up.

"What were you thinkin' about?"

That startled her. She didn't think he was awake. His voice still sounded soft and sleepy, maybe not all the way awake, but awake enough to be coherent.

"How long have you been up?" Beth avoided his question.

"Since you pulled away...the whole time you've been fidgeting and thinking about last night."She really couldn't protest because it was the truth, but if he knew, why was he asking?

His eyes were still closed, hadn't opened to the day yet, but he was smiling just a little, all content and sweet with just a hint of cocky. He knew because he was still feeling it too, and he asked because he just wanted to hear her say it.

The alarm clock's shrill yell was a shock to the system, a harsh wake up call back to reality.

"Umm-errr..." Daryl growled, exerting an extreme amount of morning effort, stretching across the massive bed and swatting at the clock violently, sending it flying off the nightstand.

It clattered and clanged against the floor, but the alarm persisted. Smiling to herself, Beth knew all along that Daryl's assault wouldn't silence it. She watched Daryl try to rub the sleep from his eyes, swiping his hair out of his face groaning, flipping on the light beside him, not comprehending. He stretched and reached, leaning off the bed almost to the point of falling over trying futilely to reclaim the alarm until he realized there was no possible way he was going to get it without leaving the bed, and even if he was willing to, there was no point.

"What the hell," Daryl righted himself on the bed, no longer teetering precariously over the edge.

"It's not ours; I think it's Rick's," Beth informed.

She never set their alarm. There hadn't been a reason to when it was just her and Daryl. They didn't need to conform to a larger schedule, consider anyone else except themselves, and Daryl was always an early riser. Then, once everyone got there, it was just a whirlwind of events...Daryl getting hurt, finally getting alone time, Daryl deciding to listen to Bob about taking it easy and healing. None of those things called for setting an alarm. But now...well, with Daryl, it was easy to forget they weren't alone, so when the world reminded them, the fall back to reality was all the more cruel. Time was a cruel master.

Rick apparently finally took the initiative to silence his alarm just as Daryl resituated himself next to her in bed, letting out a sigh of relief, his eyes closing, face falling back to a serene place like the alarm never went off. Propped up on the pillows, Beth reached down, brushing his bangs off his forehead, her finger tracing the line of stitches above his eye.

"Does it still hurt?" She kept her voice soft to try to preserve the reclaimed quiet of their morning, allowing Daryl to ease himself into the new day.

"Nope. Itches like crazy though."

"We'll take the stitches out in a day or two," leaning forward, kissing his hurt, smiling.

Daryl captured her hand just as she started to move again, caught her, seemed to know exactly where she was headed before she could get anywhere near his sewn up side. He just brought her hand to his chest, holding it there.

"I'm fine."

He might be fine, but the fact that he wouldn't let her touch it meant the wound was still tender...healing but tender. Beth would have been more worried if he did nothing, had no reaction at all, trying to mask any pain he was feeling. But he was getting better at trying not to hide things, at least from her. After a few still moments, just resting her cheek at the side of his chest, Beth felt him loosen his grip on her hand, realizing she wasn't going to try to go there again. Instead, Beth idly trailed her fingers over his stomach, absolutely no intent of anything, just innocently exploring. Daryl had come such a long way from where they started, laying naked beside her, their clean white sheet draped below his hips, just barely coveringhim. Beth's hand wandered past his belly button to the lowest part of his tummy, fingertips tracing through the line of hair that started there.

"Treasure trail..."

She could feel his quiet laugh rumble in his chest at her silly whispered words, looking up at him, seeing that smile, Daryl rubbing his face to hide just a hint of embarrassment. Things were still new for him too, no matter how much life experience he had. It was beautiful sharing...even the awkward moments. After that, her fingers didn't have any focus, any real purpose or intent, just needing contact, closeness, connection.

"Lil' Bit, you can touch me harder than that. I ain't gonna break. All you're doin' now is...tickling me."

Tickling or teasing? He meant teasing, and something in Beth liked that, liked that reaction from him, that her touch, no matter how innocent the intent, unsettled him. It was probably the happiness in her eyes that read as mischief, as the hint that she was going to exploit that weakness. Whatever it was, Beth suddenly found herself pinned under Daryl.

"What are you gonna do now, Beth?" Voice full of grit, pressing a knee between her thighs. Daryl read her playful touch as something more.

It wasn't that she didn't want to; she did. It was just there were still other factors of the newness of it all. Beth knew if she didn't go about this carefully, she would kill Daryl's newfound confidence.

"Daryl, just be gentle..." He stopped, confused by her sudden reluctance. "It's just...I'm a little sore and..."

Daryl went from confused to self-conscious and concerned. This was exactly what she didn't want to happen.

"I hurt you? I'm sorr..."

She wasn't going to let him say it again. There were no apologies needed.

"No...I didn't say hurt, I said sore. It wasn't you; it's just how it is," Beth tried to explain.

There was a huge difference between being with Daryl and talking to him about it, especially when he was so close, over her, looking down on her, and she had absolutely no way to avoid even if she wanted to.

"I thought that would be done after the first time?"

Daryl might not be handling the reality well, but talking about it, he was handling that with more maturity and openness than she was. That seemed to make communicating a little easier.

"Maggie said...probably the first few times...that's normal..." Beth cringed inside, bringing her conversation with Maggie into their bed.

"I should've known better, Beth," Daryl sighed. At least it wasn't an apology.

There was no way he could've known...that had never been his world.

"It was what I needed...what I wanted," Beth reassured, feeling shy admitting it, but he accepted. "I'll be fine tonight."

That brought an almost smile to his lips, one she didn't get to see for long before his face was nuzzling against her neck. Where his mouth had been possessive with brutalintent in the dark of the night, now, with the light of morning, he was gentle, worshipping her.

"I got this, Beth."

The way he said it, the way she could feel him saying it...her name, his words vibrating against her neck, it sent shivers down her spine. This she could handle, luxuriating in him adoring her body, showering her with kisses and soft touches. Lips brushing against her as light as whispers, fingertips barely grazing over her skin following the path of his lips, prolonging the magical sensations, her shuddering breath testament to his effect on her. Daryl's beard scratched against the delicate skin just below her breasts where he rested his chin, taking a moment to look up at her, reaching out, hand running down the side of her neck before his lips went back to work. Beth let herself relax against the pillows, closing her eyes, just enjoying, threading her fingers through his hair.

The calming effect didn't last for long...not long at all...totally banished when Daryl's lips met the tender flesh of her inner thigh, a shock of lightening sending panic through her stomach. Last night she couldn't get Daryl between her legs fast enough; now, her flight response wasn't quick enough. He caught Beth's thighs firm in his hands, steadying her, cutting off her escape.

"Beth, you're fine. Just let me make it up to you."

His eyes on her, looking at her like that, how could she say no? Why would she say no now? She said no once already, but that seemed like a lifetime ago. Thinking on it, Daryl offering, asking nothing in return...that was huge. And more than likely, Daryl had never been here before either. It was just them...something just they would share. He was waiting, just watching with those blue eyes that always burned so bright when they looked at her. Daryl wasn't going to do anything without her assent, so she nodded nervously even though her heart was beating so fast it was about to burst and the irrational panic in her wanted to cry out no.

She said yes, but Beth wasn't really all that cooperative, moving away, squirming under his touch, nervous and fearful movements she couldn't control. Daryl tried to soothe her, hand running down her side, but Beth still felt like she wanted to die a little on the inside. Daryl's hand spanned the distance between her hipbones, pressing gently against her abdomen, just firm enough to hold her still, thumb caressing back and forth...enough to make it feel like he wasn't forcing her, just trying to calm her. Beth had no idea what to expect, keeping her eyes shut tight, scrunched together. But with the first contact, that first moment Daryl's mouth found her, dipped down, tasted her for the first time, all her fear and inhibitions melted away. Her body arched towards him involuntarily, Beth clenching the sheets beside her in balled fists. Clearly Daryl could feel there was no fight left in her, sliding his hand off her stomach, finding her hand instead, threading his fingers through hers, creating that small connection and intimacy she needed.

His tongue was hesitant...shy...barely touching and teasing...Beth chewing on her lip, trying to keep breathing. But when his tongue curled around her...so much contact, such a sensitive spot alive with intense shattering sensations, she didn't have the power to try to do anything anymore. It wasn't just the butterflies beating in her tummy...the fluttery feeling was at her very core. Tiny pulses of concentrated pleasure started tingling...

"Daryl..." Rick's call proceeded his soft knock on their bedroom door.

Both Beth and Daryl froze, caught in a compromising situation. The knock was louder the second time.

"Daryl, you awake? Daylight's burning. Need to go handle that situation at the gates and get those fences fixed."

Beth was mortified. This was almost as bad as the idea of Daddy coming to knock on her bedroom door while...it was an awful feeling. Daryl was sitting up now, shaking his head and smiling wryly at the irony of it all.

"Daryl?"

"Yeah...I'm up. Be down in a minute," Daryl called back after contemplating, maybe thinking if he didn't answer, Rick would just go away.

But that alarm clock went off, the sun was up, and reality was firmly in place. Rick left with his answer, leaving them to their last precious moments together. Daryl sighed, pushing away from her...but...

"Daryl..." Her voice was soft and pleading. "You're going...?"

He stopped, face spread with half a smile...a smile like he won something...well, he did. She had fought him hard on this one...about letting him...and now, once she got a taste, Beth was desperate for him to stay.

"I'll stay if you wanna tell Rick why I'm making him wait." Daryl said it all playful, but Beth knew it was a serious matter. He wouldn't go if it wasn't.

Daryl leaned down placing a chaste kiss on her forehead.

"I'll come back to you, Lil' Bit. You rest. Get some sleep."

Yeah, like that was going to happen.

Beth just sat there, sheet pulled tight over her breasts, watching Daryl throw on his clothes straight off the floor. He stopped by the side of the bed after he secured his crossbow over his shoulder, resting his hand on her bare leg where it was peeking out from under the white linen. Seeing something, Daryl narrowed his eyes, Beth seeing too, his gaze focused on the shadow of light bruises forming on her thigh. Noticing them now, Beth blushed and smiled soft, remembering how they got there, Daryl's hand gripping tight in the last instant when he spilled his warmth into her...the imprint of his fingers. He saw her reaction, realizing it was nothing for him to be worried about, even smiling a little too when hers didn't go away.His lips pressed soft against her thigh before he turned to leave, not in apology, just in acknowledgement. Beth stayed sitting for a moment in the bed after the door closed behind him, wrapping her arms tight around one of Daryl's pillows and drawing it close. Letting out a sigh, Beth fell back into her own pillows, exasperated and alone.

Notes

Comments

@Smokey85
Awww...thank you so much for coming back to read! You are amazing. I truly appreciate it!

Aireabella Aireabella
3/30/19

I am so happy you are back! I love your stories and always look forward to your updates! Thank you for sharing your work :)

Smokey85 Smokey85
3/26/19

@McDrogoInaNewWorld
So glad that you enjoyed it! It always makes my day when I can make people happy by doing what I love! Thank you so much!

Aireabella Aireabella
6/14/18

Yay!!! Another great chapter on the books, can’t wait to see what happens next!!

@blesdirishangel
Thank you so much for coming back to my fic and for your comment! I am glad that you love the update. You are amazing!

Aireabella Aireabella
6/7/18