You are mine

      New Year's Eve was another day to forget about all the problems and just enjoy the moment. It was the second New Year their family had celebrated in peace and quiet, in a protected place that was a small remnant of the former civilization. Young children, born in the Commonwealth shortly before their arrival, were already running through the streets throwing snowballs and watching the white flakes of snow fall with wondering eyes. In two years the town had blossomed with new colors under Carol and Ezekiel's leadership, and Pamela was still sitting on her ass in a musty cell, about to celebrate the new year with the gray wall across the street. There was a rather tall Christmas tree in the center of town, the bottom of which was dressed up with children, teens, and adults leaving their mark on the main attraction. Carol was setting out the final dishes with the rest of the women, laughing and bantering intermittently. Daryl came up behind her, unobtrusively putting his arm around her waist and kissing her on the temple. He gently rubbed his nose against her hair, inhaling her native scent, and squeezed her slim waist tighter. He took one last look at the woman, took two bowls of salad and smiled at her with his brightest smile, went into the hall where the guests were gradually gathering. For some reason at that moment Carol remembered the moment on the canyon shore and the funny conversations with her friends. The picture of her constantly glancing back at the perpetually disgruntled Ed popped into her mind, and how he came closer because of her annoying hilarity, threatening Andrea and grabbing Carol's arm. The woman sighed thoughtfully and continued slicing the cheese. She hadn't cared about Ed in a long time, all the memories of that monster overshadowed the good times with Daryl, all the care, the hugs, the words and the real, sincere feelings in the blue eyes. Other sensual and tender aspects of their relationship flashed through her mind as well, causing Carol to blush and flinch when a voice came from beside her. "Caro-ol, Earth to Carol, come in" Michonne grinned and waved her hand in front of her face, attracting the attention she had apparently lost for a long time. "Uh, what?" she turned around, grinning into her friend's amused eyes and transferring her gaze to the rest of the giggling women. "Uh-oh, look at her, she's brighter than the sun in the middle of July" The princess playfully covered her eyes with fingers clasping her eyes and causing the others to laugh. "Oh, get off my back" it seemed her complexion could be compared to a sliced tomato in a bowl of salad. She turned away with a goofy grin, placing the cheese slices on the plate and carrying it over to a vacant part of the table. All they had to make was a roast turkey with apples and potatoes with cheese and mushrooms, which the other females in the kitchen were doing now. Gradually Carol got into the flow of the conversation, inserting her own opinions and jumping from one topic to another, as they often did. The men helped carry the dishes to the main table, exchanging remarks with their dates and throwing warm glances. She picked up the dish with her signature casserole, passing it into someone's hands without looking. Suddenly someone's fingers touched the back of her palm in an obviously deliberate manner and Carol looked up, gazing into the face of a guy... Thomas she thinks. He had recently become Connie's partner and at first glance seemed sweet and loving. "Wow, that looks very appetizing, you have golden hands!" he smiled broadly, shifting from foot to foot and trying to look into her eyes. "Thank you" the woman replied briefly, smiling her usual smile designed to endear herself to strangers. Through her side vision, she saw Daryl walking by with bottles of wine and frowned, glaring at the young boy. He stopped in a dark part of the hallway, clenching his teeth and the wine bottles, making the veins on his arms protrude and the muscles tense, rolling over his movements with his fingers. Carol suppressed a convulsive sigh and swallowed loudly, feeling the warmth tickling her belly creeping lower. She'd forgotten all about Thomas, and flinched slightly when she heard his voice. "All right, I'll be off, you're probably still busy here" he smiled, and the woman mirrored the empty smile, not listening to his monologue at all and trying not to look at the dark corner of the hallway beckoning to her. They all sat around the table together, raising their glasses and making sensual toasts to the new year. Daryl's hand rested on her dress-clad thigh for most of the evening, stroking it gently and thoughtlessly with the even strokes of his thumb. Occasionally she glanced over to the separate table of children where Coco was playing with Judith and RJ. Across from Carol sat Lydia and Elijah, looking happily at each other and not noticing anyone else around them, which made her feel warm that the girl had finally found her happiness and a home, just as she had found hers. The woman turned to face him, watching the smiling neat profile. The long, curly hair that always fell over his eyes, the rounded, beautiful nose, and the thin lips that she loved to kiss. As if sensing the burning gaze, Daryl turned to face her, reflecting a bright smile. The man brought his palm up to her forehead, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind the ear, quickly leaning in and kissing the desirable lips that immediately responded to the kiss. He pulled away, and slowly licked his own lips, returning to his conversation with companion, intertwining their fingers under the table. Toward two a.m., people with children began to disperse to their homes, with the most stalwart still staying to continue the festivities. Carol stood by the couch, watching some cassette movie on the old TV, waiting for Daryl. Someone approached from the side, but she didn't pay attention, deep into the movie's plot. "Good movie, saw it before the end of the world" came the same young voice that had tensed her hours ago. Carol mentally rolled her eyes, pulling on a fake smile and turning to the guy. "Yeah, nice one" she turned back, asking the almighty for this person to leave her alone. "I have a couple of tapes of good movies, if you want you can come over sometime and I'll let you watch" came a languid voice, causing the woman to turn her head sharply and in bewilderment. Before she could say a word, she felt someone's familiar warmth from behind her and a gentle hand on the waist, pulling her to his side. "Will you show me? I love movies of this genre, too," came a sweet, fake voice that made Carol bite her lip to keep from laughing. Thomas frowned, quickly changing his expression to a smile, and looked up. "Oh, yes, of course. I guess you could, just not in the next week, I'm working and all, well I guess you'll understand" he hesitated, jumping his eyes from Daryl's face to hers, and smiled awkwardly, excusing himself with urgent matters moving off into the crowd. "Asshole" Carol heard a low, husky whisper, and snuggled her face into his strong shoulder, giggling imperceptibly. *** Another hour passed before all the guests dispersed, before helping Carol pile all the plates into the sink and the remaining dishes into the refrigerator. Some went to continue celebrating with friends downtown, while the older folks went home, settling into their beds after a long and happy day, falling asleep with good thoughts and a pleasant tiredness. The snow was still falling on the ground, forming large drifts that tomorrow would become different, slightly funny and silly figures of children. In the meantime, Carol closed the curtain and went to the mirror, taking the earrings off her ears and putting the jewelry in the glass box on the table. There was the faint creak of a wooden door behind her and she smiled when she saw the reflection of beloved face in the mirror and felt strong arms gently wrap around her waist, giving a comforting hug. She tilted her head back, feeling the tip of his nose trail down her neck in a deep breath. "Hi," Carol whispered, stretching her lips in an intoxicated, tired smile. "Hi" replied the man muffled, replacing his nose with lips and tracing a path of kisses to her ear, kissing the sensitive spot, causing a ragged sigh to escape from her throat "Missed you." "You've been with me all day" the woman laughed softly wrapping palms around his hands and feeling the smile on her neck. "Oh no, today you belonged to our friends and all sorts of young boys" Daryl whispered in a husky mocking voice, not taking his eyes off his class and trying to put an indifferent tone to the voice. Carol smirked imperceptibly at the corner of her lips and for a second she remembered those tight lips and strong hands in the corner of the kitchen, making her stomach churn with heat. She swallowed and turned in the man's embrace, gazing into the blue of soft eyes. Her palms encircled his neck, stroking her fingers in caressing motions. She tilted her head slightly, smiling wider and reading everything in his eyes. "Are you jealous of that boy who's old enough to be my son?" Carol smirked slyly, raising an eyebrow. "Me?" he reflected the smile and bit his lower lip. A quiet, sweet giggle escaped her lips, and a gentle palm moved to his cheek, stroking the thin skin under eye covered with small scratches from a recent outing. "You think I could love anyone more than you?" his eyes exuded trust and fragility at those words. It seemed like Daryl would never get used to them even after 2 years of saying those cherished three letters every day. "I am yours and always have been, Daryl." He raggedly sighed, gazing into her calm eyes filled with tenderness and love. "Say what I said again" she whispered, pulling his head to hers and touching her lips to his earlobe. Daryl ran a hot palm down her exposed back, reaching under the dress and stroking her bulging ribs. "You're mine," his lips whispered in a strangled, husky tone into her fragile shoulder, pulling her to him and inhaling the stupefying scent. "Then prove me," Carol bit his earlobe, eliciting a low wheeze from her throat. The man traced a path of weightless kisses down her jaw, reaching the soft lips and nestling in a sweet kiss, running his tongue along her lower lip. Deepening the kiss, he eagerly began exploring soft mouth, eliciting a strangled moan. Pulling away after a couple minutes, Daryl gazed into the intoxicated blue of her eyes and smiled, licking his lips. Turning her supple body back to him, Daryl began unbuttoning the clasp on her dress, carefully removing the sleeve and tracing wet kisses along her bare shoulder, covered with hundreds of freckles that he was ready to tirelessly count every night. Returning to her neck, the man bit the skin lightly, eliciting a quiet sob and licking the bite away. "I'd say I'm unwrapping a Christmas present, but that would sound disgusting," came the quiet words. Carol chuckled softly as she watched the second sleeve slide down her forearm. "I don't mind being your Christmas present" the woman teasingly said with a sly grin, leaning back and rubbing her buttocks haphazardly against his hard groin. There was a strangled moan, and she leaned back as if nothing had happened. "You're teasing" whispered Daryl in a husky voice completely absorbed in his work, tracing a trail of kisses down her left shoulder, reaching her palm and kissing the wedding ring on the ring finger, making her heart ache. "I can afford it," Carol swayed playfully, turning her whole body toward the man. With a wink and a quiet hum, she placed her hands on the strong shoulders framed by the black shirt. Daryl gave the soft lips a couple quick kisses, bending over and slowly removing the dress flowing down her slender body, leaving only her black cotton panties on. Carol bit her lower lip in a sly smile and stood on her toes, pressing her lips to his in an insistent kiss. The man ran his rough palms over the soft skin of her waist, moving to back and covering her neck. Rubbing the curve of her jaw with his thumbs, he ran his hand through her gathered, fluffy hair and unraveled the bundle, pulling out the barrette and massaging the tense scalp, eliciting a satisfied moan. He shifted slightly, forcing the woman even higher on her toes, and stroking her naked thighs, he picked her up in the arms, forcing her legs around his body. Carol laughed softly into the kiss, pushing the corners of her lips apart in a smile, and nuzzled nose into his cheek. "Put me down, I'm heavy" she giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "You can't be heavy for me" Daryl murmured unintelligibly into the curve of her neck, covering it with kisses and watching the goosebumps from the tickling beard on that patch of skin. Walking with slow steps to the bed, the man carefully laid his precious burden on the soft sheets, climbing on top and hovering over her half-naked body, settling himself between the soft thighs. He quickly unbuttoned his shirt, peeling off the thin fabric and causing Carol to automatically lick her parched lips, causing the man to send her a playful smile. Moving close to her flushed face, Daryl pressed his body against her naked breasts, eliciting a contented sigh from her throat. She wrapped her arms around his neck, stroking the back of his neck and gently tracing down his back, stroking his skin with her fingertips and sending goosebumps all over his body. A man's hand traveled down the warm skin of her cheek, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. His lips broke away from the kiss and gradually moved lower, licking his collarbone and nibbling the freckled skin of his neck. "So sweet..." the man said in a husky whisper, causing her to shudder and moan softly.   Stroking her waist he circled the nipple that tensed under his caresses with his tongue, rolling the other over with rough fingers. Carol made soft gasping sounds, arching up to meet his touch, and placed a hand on the mess of her hair. Pulling away, he kissed the translucent ribs, moving lower and nibbling the soft skin of her belly, moving to the outside of her thigh and sucking in the thin skin, leaving his scarlet mark. Daryl rose back up to the woman's face, brushing his lips against hers in a gentle kiss and gently took both wrists in his palms, bringing her arms together above her head and squeezing them loosely with one hand without making them feel stiff. So that Carol could release them at any moment. She didn't want to, proving her unconditional trust for the hundredth time. His easy dominance made her dizzy, for only with this man could she let herself relax, putting all the action in his hands without feeling caged. Only with him could Carol be weak, submitting to the hot, caressing hands on her body, unaware of her actions and sprawled on the bed in a puddle, feeling overjoyed. Daryl moved to her right and broke the kiss, covering his eyes and rubbing sensually against her warm, eager lips, moving to her cheek, leaving light kisses along her cheekbone, then kissing her trembling, closed eyelids and moving his hot breath to her earlobe, pressing his cheek against her temple. "It hurts how much I love you," the man whispered, pressing lips to her jaw. She shuddered, making a long throaty sound, pressing her face against his forearm and clenching her thighs at the sudden flash of tingling in her lower abdomen. "So sensitive..." he whispered hoarsely in an excited voice, running his hot palm along the curve of her waist and stroking the rapidly heaving belly that responded to his touch. "S-stop teasing me," Carol said in a trembling voice. He pulled away, gazing into her face with a slight smile and gagging at the sight of flushed cheeks, swollen lips red from kissing, and black eyes staring back at him with a look that made every nerve ending in his body burn. "I can afford it," the man repeated her recent words, running his palm lower, getting under the cotton fabric and tracing the wetness of her desire where it hurt most. Carol let out a piercing howl, throwing her head back and arching over the bed in pleasure. He slid his fingers further in, stroking her gently and torturously in circular motions. "God, you're so beautiful" Daryl left a kiss on her jaw, reaching inside and stroking the convulsively clenching walls with the pad of his finger. She whimpered holding her breath and opened her mouth in a mute moan, then moaned languidly, thrusting her hips forward against his hand. Daryl returned to her face, touching a kiss to her ajar lips and gazing into her languid face. "Look at me" the man said in a soft caressing voice. Carol opened her eyes the moment he inserted a second finger, bending them harder inside and hitting the bundle of pulsing nerves. She opened her mouth in a mute moan, staring glassily into his eyes and arching her eyebrows in obvious pleasure. The woman moved her hand and Daryl removed his palm, allowing her to release her shaking hands. She wrapped arms around his neck, pulling him to her and buried her lips in an eager kiss, moaning loudly in time with the thrusts. His thumb found her clit, beginning to stroke it, watching her reaction and adjusting to the rhythm of his fingers. Carol pulled away from the kiss, leaving a wet trail on his cheek and exhaling sensuously into his neck. Clinging harder to the man's back, she leaned her forehead against his shoulder and squeezed eyes shut, straining to follow the movements of his fingers inside her. Daryl brushed lips against the freckled neck in a soothing kiss, keeping the rhythm of his tired fingers numb and focused on her surging pleasure. Carol moaned softly, tensing harder and biting her lower lip as the familiar wave of pleasure began to thicken with the steady thrusts of his fingers. "Yes, right there... Daryl... Don't stop god, I'm gonna..." she clung tighter to his broad back, whimpering loudly and exhaling hotly into the exposed neck. "Come on sweetheart, let go" the man whispered softly, after a moment feeling the fragile body tense and convulse around his fingers. She fell apart, crying out his name in a trembling voice and letting herself explode with pleasure in the man's arms, a few seconds later sagging like a helpless doll around his neck and shuddering violently from the intense orgasm. The man released his hand and wrapped his wet fingers around Carol's thigh, bending at the knee. He lay back on the bed pulling her to him and hugging her back, the other gently stroking the curve of her waist with soothing strokes. Turning his head, Daryl passed quick, light kisses over her ear and cheek, feeling the heavy breath on his neck and the still intermittent shaking of her hips. He closed his eyes and smiled, rubbing nose against the trusting neck. After a few minutes Carol pulled away, gazing into his eyes with a hazy and loving gaze. She brushed a gentle kiss over his lips and slid her hand downward, covering hard fly with her palm and squeezing lightly through his clothes. Hearing a long moan, the woman smiled into the kiss and unbuttoned his pants, sliding palm under boxers and squeezing the painfully hard flesh, beginning to move her palm in a medium rhythm. Daryl pulled away, growling hoarsely against her lips and biting her earlobe, squeezing his eyes shut against the surging pleasure. He squeezed her thigh with a ragged sigh and felt soft, warm lips on his shoulder and face. Daryl was aroused beyond belief as she screamed his name in ecstasy, that sealed itself in his memory and became his favorite sound forever, so he knew he wouldn't last long. Carol felt the palm of his hand tense on her butt and smiled as she touched her lips to the man's ear, exhaling two words hotly. "You're mine." With a prolonged moan burying his forehead into her shoulder, Daryl spilled out into the fragile palm of her hand, panting haggardly and feeling fireworks fire in front of his eyes. He lifted a satisfied gaze looking into the woman's eyes. Carol brought her palm up to face, and looking slyly into his eyes, licked her finger with a final smack and lick of her lips. He exhaled noisily through his nose, hearing a low, sly laugh. "You're going to get me soon." "Happy New Year, honey," she grinned, nestling her lips against his lips in a tender kiss.