Work Text:
As Daryl is speeding up his bike he feels Carols arms tighten around his waist.
“You good?” he yells over his shoulder and against the roaring engine.
“Yes!” he hears Carols voice and because she sounds more happy than scared he believes her.
They are out on a supply run, heading towards a bar they have seen from afar a couple of times but didn't have the time to search through. It's the first time they are out together since they are more. And it's the first time they are riding his bike together since they are what they are now. A month since both of them finally got their shit together and she didn't let him leave her house that one night. So he stayed. And he stayed the night after. And he has stayed ever since.
It's different to have her behind him on his bike now and yet familiar at the same time. She holds on tighter, arms snaked around his waist but she seems more relaxed then the last time he can remember.
That time had been crossing his mind more than once, the way she had been a little restless against him, uncomfortable even as they got off the bike. He couldn't make out the reason for her discomfort back then, he only assumed. Maybe he had driven too fast, she didn't feel save enough or the closeness made her uncomfortable. He hasn't offered her a ride since that day and she hasn't asked.
But today she had asked him, had insisted to take his bike actually and he wonders why. It didn't really make any sense for them to drive like this, the car would have been a more clever idea for collecting supplies but he didn't have it in him to deny her this.
And he doesn't complain, because now he can enjoy having her this close to him, her arms around him, her chin on his shoulder. The heat of her body now familiar to him, the curves of her body a nice and welcome addition. Back then it had been almost torture because being this close to her had made his head spin and his body react in ways that would have definitely crossed a line that had existed at that point.
The bar comes into sight and he slows down, already scanning the area for any walkers that could get in their way. When he brings the bike to a halt they climb off, rounding the small building to secure it. With half an eye he watches Carol for any sign of discomfort. But she seems okay, good even so he doesn't press the issue.
Inside there are only two walkers waiting for them in the restroom. After taking them down, Daryl locks the door of the bar from the inside so they don't get surprised by anything or anyone that comes in from the outside.
Again he watches her closely only but this time he gets caught.
“What?” she asks.
“You good?”
“That's the second time you're asking this.” she realises, “Why wouldn't I be?”
He chews on his lower lip, contemplating whether to ask or not.
“Last time we were on a ride, you seemed pretty uncomfortable. Just wondering why.” he finally says.
“I was never uncomfortable, I-” she stops and Daryl could swear she just blushed. “Oh, that time.”
He waits for her to explain but she doesn't seem eager to tell him. “What happened?”
“Nothing, really. Nothing bad at least.”
“So tell me.”
“Oh god Daryl, I'm not sure you can handle that truth yet.” she laughs.
“What the fuck 's that supposed to mean?”
“You really want to know?” she asks with a smirk.
“Just spit it out already...” he mutters, grabbing a bag of chips that he just found in one of the cabinets.
“I wasn't uncomfortable, I had an orgasm on the back of your bike.”
The way Daryl almost violently rips open the bag of chips completely at her words, has them falling all over the floor in front of his boots.
“Knew you couldn't handle the truth.” Carol says with a small laugh, turning away to search through the counter behind the bar.
“Ya only messing with me.”
“Nope.” she says, “I swear to god I had a wonderful orgasm on that ride, which was why I was a bit embarrassed and flustered when we stopped.”
Daryl swallows. He remembers the light sheen of sweat on her forehead, but it had been a hot day so he hadn't dwell on it. Her flushed skin, her ragged breathing and the way she couldn't really look him in the eyes for a while, it all comes back to him now. He still feels her moving around with her hips, almost squirming in her seat and the thought of her having an orgasm while she was pressed against him on his bike makes his pants suddenly very tight.
She goes back to looking through the cabinets but she can feel him staring. A smile creeps up inside her and she waits for the question she knows he is dying to ask.
It takes him longer than she expected.
“Did you...today?”
The smile she was wearing turns into a big grin at his shyness. “Did I what?” she asks, while trying to look occupied with some whisky bottles.
“Forget it.” he mumbles.
She suddenly feels a little sorry for him because she knows how hard it is for him to ask such intimate things, always scared to cross a line, still thinking it's none of his business, when it really is only his business and no one else's.
Carol walks towards him, coming to stand before him, leaning causally against the bar.
“I didn't come on your bike today.” she tells him and she can swear a flicker of disappointment crosses his features. “But that's just because you did take good care of me this morning.”
“Stahp...”
“You should learn how to take a compliment.” Tugging him down by his collar she whispers:” You're the best I've ever had, Dixon.” And then she kisses him.
The kiss wasn't supposed to lead to anything more but then she forgot how intoxicating it is to kiss him. How hungry she gets by only feeling his lips on hers and his body pressed up against her. And suddenly she doesn't care where they are or what they are actually here for. Her fingers slide down to his pants, opening them and shoving them down. He's already hard against her hand and he growls as she touches him the way she learned he likes.
“Want ya.” he mumbles, sending a shiver down her spine.
“Good.” she smiles while she shoves down her own pants and underwear, stuck now somewhere around her boots. Turning away from him, she bends down against the counter, not only giving him a perfect view but also an exact idea of what she wants.
Daryl swallows. They've never done that position and somehow he hasn't thought they ever would.
“What's wrong?” Carol asks over her shoulder, taking his hand to pull him closer.
“'m not fucking you like this in a shady bar.”
A rush of warmth curses through Carol at his thoughtfulness and yet she almost groans in annoyance at his bad timing of being a gentleman. She loves him for exactly this but at the same time he's so close to killing the mood with it sometimes that she can't take it. She contemplates for a moment whether to tell him that this is their only option because there's no way she will put her naked ass on that dirty counter.
She decides against it, pulls him closer with her hand instead until he's plastered against her back. Taking his hand down between her legs, she lets him feel her wetness.
“Fuck, Carol.” he pants, his fingers gliding easily over her slick flesh.
“I want you, Daryl. Just like this. Don't make me beg.”
He touches her for a little while longer, suddenly in no hurry to do anything else than this. That's another thing she loves about him. He seems always so grateful to be allowed to touch her in any way she offers. And he takes anything he gets from her, but never takes it for granted.
Leaving her centre he places his hands on her hips. “Ya sure?”
“Yes.” she nods.
Widening her stance for him, she feels his tip stretching her open as he slides into her slowly. She knows him by now, knows how good he feels when he moves inside her, how good he fills her but with every position they haven't tried yet it's overwhelmingly new again. His thrusts are long and deep which she loves most. She hasn't told him that but somehow he knows, or he likes it like this all the same or maybe they are just meant to be and this is what it is supposed to feel when you make love to your soulmate. She doesn't know and doesn't care what it is.
She hasn't had that with Ed, not even in the beginning. God he had been a lousy lover, even back when he pretended to care but he never really did. She had always tried to be better and better each time, until it wasn't something she enjoyed and she realised Ed never cared if she did.
Daryl's hand snakes around her waist and under her shirt to cup her breast and she lets the past slip from her mind.
“You feel so fucking perfect.” Daryl growls into her ear.
She still gets used to his compliments, words like beautiful or perfect something she had accepted weren't made for her a long time ago. But Daryl has a way of making her feel beautiful and worthy without saying it so his words aren't even necessary but she takes them anyway because she knows he means them. She secretly loves that he expresses himself so openly when they make love and she really should tell him. Not now, but after. He should know how much she loves him and every single thing he does. None of them has said the three words yet, but she knows he does love her and is sure he does know too.
Today, she will tell him today.
Speeding up his thrusts is a safe sign he's getting closer and as his fingers leave her breast to fall between her legs she quivers. He finds her clit effortlessly now, his thrusts faltering a bit at multitasking but that doesn't stop her from crashing over the edge after a couple of strokes from him. Daryl is following her, trying his best not to collapse on top her from behind.
“I will never let you ride a bike with another person.” he murmurs breathlessly and she laughs.
While Carol is already pulling up her pants, Daryl is still trying to catch his breath. As she watches him fumbling with his belt those three words are on the tip of her tongue again but she pushes them down, kissing him instead.
Later, she thinks. She will tell him later.
After collecting the couple of things they found, they make their way outside.
“Uhm, I'll just have to... you know, take a piss.” Daryl says, walking around the corner of the bar.
She smiles at the choice of words he used.
It takes him a while to come back and when he does he looks more than a little breathless.
“Everything okay?” she eyes him closely.
“Yeah.” it's all he offers before climbing on his bike to wait for her to do the same.
They drive in silence, the air cold so Carol snuggles against Daryl, trying to hide behind his broad back and shield herself from the cold breeze. He's driving rather slow and she is sure they will never make it back until darkness at this speed.
Her mind drifts back to the bar, the concern in his voice as he tells her he won't take her from behind in a place like this warming her all over again. No one has ever cared enough to even think of what she might deserve. Ed hadn't cared about anything while Daryl cares about everything.
She hugs him a little tighter, the urge to tell him how she feels almost unbearable now.
She will tell him at home, she thinks.
The bike slows down suddenly until Daryl stops them at the side of the road. Before she can even ask him if something is wrong he holds out his hand towards her.
“Wanna show you something.” He is shy all of a sudden and when she takes his hand she can feel his palm is sweaty.
They abandon his bike, take a quick walk through the woods until they step out behind the tree line only to end up standing at what looks like a small cliff. A beautiful landscape spreads in front of them, bathed in the orange sky of the sunset.
“Daryl...” she whispers, fascinated by the beauty in front of her.
“Thought this might be nice...” he says a little unsure.
Carol leans into him from the side, wrapping her hand around his arm and squeezing his hand. “It is.”
He looks at her closely and it's not long until Carol can feel the intense stare he gives her.
“What?” she asks.
“I...” he clears his throat, turning towards her, mouth suddenly dry. “...uhm, I love you.”
He holds the flower he collected earlier behind the bar when he pretended to take a piss in his shaking hand, suddenly feeling like a complete fool for telling her like that, that stupid flower making him look like a little school boy.
She's shocked for a moment, overwhelmed by the sweetness this man has in him until she realises she hasn't said anything and he is already taking half of it back.
“Aah...'s was a stupid idea...so-”
“Don't you dare apologise for this.” she interrupts him, cupping his face with both her hands, resisting the urge to kiss him senseless. “I love you too. I love you so much.”
She kisses him softly, letting her lips linger on his for a while.
"Please just... don't ever ride a bike with someone else." he murmurs against her mouth, repeating his earlier request. "Not after what you told me today."
"I won't." she smiles, "I promise."
-FIN