RIDE OR DIE | DARYL DIXON

gentle reminder

SHE COULD STAY THIS WAY FOREVER. She woke up each morning next to him, always admiring the way the sun hit him through the blinds of the windows. She was engulfed in his arms, the heat of their bodies intertwining.

"You're doin' it again." He didn't even have to open his eyes to know she had been looking. "It's weird."

She lifted her head off his chest and placed a soft kiss on his lips with a whisper. "I don't care."

He groaned, opening his eyes for a split second before shutting them again and placing his arm over them to block out the sunlight.

"So, what's the plan?" She brushed a few pieces of his hair out of his face.

He groaned again, obviously not a morning person.

She sighed, hopping up onto her knees and straddling him. "Come on. Are we just gonna stay cooped up in this house for the rest of our lives?"

"One more day." He still didn't open his eyes.

She leaned to the side, pulling the cord to shut the blinds, sitting back comfortably on his lap. "That's what you said last time."

He finally moved his arm, his eyes squinted as he was still half asleep. "You don't gotta stay with me. You can go out."

"I could..." Her fingers fidgeted with the fabric of his shirt. "But I want you to get out too."

"I've been out." He sighed.

She leaned down, hugging his sides and resting her head on his chest again. "The front porch doesn't count."

She felt his chest rise and fall with another heavy sigh. "Maybe I like stayin' here with you."

She tilted her head, looking up at him. "Yeah?"

He nodded, his hand trailing along her back gently.

"Well, I like it too..." She sat up quickly, taking his arms into her hands and pinning them to the mattress. "But we've gotta get out there eventually. Today."

She smiled at the scowl he had on his face, but it turned to a smirk real quick. With only his legs, he flipped her to her back and took position on top of her now, pinning her arms down like she did his. She stopped breathing for a moment as she stared up at him, a wicked look on his face.

"One more day." He repeated himself.

She rolled her eyes. "Daryl, you-"

He leaned down, his lips grazing the skin of her neck, his breath raising goose bumps on her skin. "One." He kissed the other side of her neck. "More." He finally met his eyes with hers before kissing her once on the lips. "Day."

Her eyes flickered between his, a subtle heat rising in her stomach. She nodded. "One more day."

He let go of one of her wrists, bringing his hand to her face and brushing her skin softly. He used his finger to trace the scar like he usually did, but she's learned to not turn away from it. She shut her eyes and willed herself to feel it all, and she loved it.

"I've got to feed Sienna soon." Her voice was quiet underneath him.

He glanced over his shoulder at the crib before turning back to her. "She's still sleepin'."

She opened her eyes, grabbing his hand on her cheek. "Well, she won't be for much longer."

Her eyes darted to the door when she heard a knock on it.

"We're busy." Daryl called out, keeping his eyes glued on her.

She slapped his chest. "Daryl!"

Another knock came a few seconds later.