••8:05A.m••
Connie awoke to the savory smell of what she believed had to be some kind of meat wafting through her cracked bedroom door. Bringing her palms to her eyes, she rubbed the tiredness away before giving the side of her bed a glance. Seeing Daryl hadn't been sleeping in was a bit surprising, but caused a feeling of question as she now had an excuse to get out of bed to start her morning.
Throwing her legs to the side, she was careful to look down before getting up because dog had been sleeping peacefully by her side of the bed. With a weary smile, she leaned down and pet the space between his ears before quietly stepping over him. Opening her door, she made her way up the stairs, hand gliding on the railing. The savory smell became more intense the moment she made her way up.
Standing in his over sized flannel the sleeves hung past her fingers though it did leave her legs feeling a little cold from its short length just an inch or two above her thighs. Remembering why she had his shirt on in the first place made her forget about the smell in the air and a blush rise to her cheeks. They'd had a good night together. It was always nice with him. The special moment they shared together last night was everything to her. They always were.
Slow and steady they got to show their love for one another. Sweet enough to leave her in his shirt, cuddling into his side while he held her with an arm. Resting her head on his chest and feeling his heart beat while she drifted off to sleep in his arms. A smile grazed her lips at the pleasant memory that could always bring a genuine blush to her cheeks. The thought of him brought her back to reality wondering where he'd been at this time of morning.
Following the fragrant smell in the air, her feet had taken her down the hall and to the kitchen. Appearing in the doorway a smile danced onto her lips. Admiring him from the distance, she leaned against the doorway, crossing her arms. He was by the stove, laying sizzling slices of bacon onto the pan that smoked vigorously when he laid another slice down, popping grease. He was dressed and ready for the day, but his hair was still messy and tangled from his previous sleep.
Smile lingering, she watched as he then brought his hands to his sleeves and rolled them up to his elbows. Something about him rolling up his sleeves made her feel warm and tingly inside, or maybe it was his concentrated stare. Feeling her cheeks heat slightly at the thoughts that began to swim in her mind, she bit her lip.
Knowing he hadn't known her presence was rare. Though she took the opportunity to quietly sneak up on him as she stepped into the kitchen. Back facing her as he continued turning over the bacon slices. Approaching from behind him mischievously grinning before wrapping her arms around his middle and resting her head onto his back.
She felt him tense slightly under her touch just seconds before he relaxed once knowing whose arms were wrapped around his torso belonged to. Withdrawing from her hold on him, she stepped to his side, watching him give her one of those shy yet sweet smiles of his every time they touched.
"Mornin'."
"Good morning" she smiled, eyes questionably furrowing," Your making breakfast?"
He nodded while placing a lid onto the sizzling pan,"Yeah" he spoke, turning to face her," figured I'd make us somethin' to eat before we head out."
Head out?
Curious, Connie rose a brow," Head out? Isn't there a council meeting this morning?"
His eyes avoided hers. Returning them back to the pan he'd lidded before taking it off.
"Yeah.." she read from his lips while he placed the crispy bacon slices onto a paper plate sitting on the counter beside the pan. Glancing at her through his bangs, she tilted her head to the side, eyes squinting and arms crossing.
"You know they need you there."
"I will be" He assured while turning off the gas to the stove though she still had questions to ask.
"What plans did you make?" She signed, brows furrowing in question as she watched him for an answer.
"I wanted to take you to the river. Go fishin'. Maybe catch a few fish." He spoke signing the words with a shrug, while keeping his eyes on hers.
Shortly enough his eyes broke contact before they briefly trailed to the flannel she was currently wearing. It's oversized, baggy fit was comfortably drooping over her small frame almost like a dress. It wasn't all the time she'd rarely catch him looking her over when she'd worn something. Usually he gave brief glances quick enough to not be seen, but this time he took his time outlining her hidden figure in his shirt before his eyes rose back to her with an almost timid look written in his eyes.
"You look nice."
A smile couldn't help, but graze her lips at his sweet words that caused a warmth in her chest. Before she could give her thanks his eyes fell from hers. Finding a different distraction when he then reached for the open jar of peanut butter that had been sitting tall by two plates that had a delicious variety of breakfast items laid on them.
Eggs, bacon, tomatoes and some toast that had been slathered in peanut butter. It all looked scrumptious. Though she curiously eyed him when he'd held the jar. Giving a gentle tap to his arm, she signed.
"Is it just us today for breakfast?"
He nodded," Yea. Michonne left early this mornin' to get the council meeting ready" he spoke, holding the jar," and Jerry's watchin' Judith and RJ."
Nodding at his response, she couldn't help but keep her eyes on the jar of peanut butter in his hand. Watching intently, she felt her body tingle as he'd dipped a daring finger into the smooth consistency, scooping up a good chunk before putting it into his mouth.
Immediately Connie felt her face warm. Those thoughts from earlier came swimming right back as she watched him though as quick as they came she blocked them out while giving a light smack to his chest, and watching his clueless eyes return back to her.
"Daryl" she signed sternly," Don't do that."
"My hands are clean."
She rose a brow, gaze becoming more narrowed at his simple explanation. He'd seemed clueless, but a small, twitching smile gave him away.
With a light shake of her head and roll of her eyes, she crossed her arms as he then sat the jar back down and went to the sink to wash his hands. Giving her time to breath, she felt her heart pumping with a new energy. Taking her gaze off of him washing his hands at the sink, she looked at the plates set beside her and had a thought.
Breakfast looked good, but he looked better.
Returning her eyes back to him from the short distance, she felt herself swooning over his rugged stature. His tousled hair made her want to tangle his brown locks some more. She wanted his hands in hers and to be closer. Contemplating the devil inside that rose with each passing thought, a mischievous smile played on her lips when he'd finished his hand washing and made his way back towards her with a towel in hand.
Eyes meeting, she witnessed a faint pink tint rise to his cheeks at her longing stare. Eyes falling to the towel in his hands he continued to dry, he mumbled.
"What" He said it like a question, a choked chuckle in his voice when his eyes rose back to hers. A seducing glint maybe, but it was intriguing if he'd had to admit.
"We're alone this morning" she signed with a smirk, taking a step towards him. He shifted in his spot before she took the towel from his hands and placed it on the counter beside them eyes staring into one another. Hands reaching out to hold his they were inches apart now.
"Hungry?" She asked with a knowing look while watching him nod, eyes glancing back to the freshly made plates.
"We can hurry with breakfast and head out before the meeting."
While she couldn't read Daryl perfectly, she had learned through their time together that he was conflicted and avoiding what was really offered to him. Bringing his eyes back to hers once more, she withdrew her hands from his, seeing a hesitance in his eyes.
"Daryl" she signed with a soft smile," I'm going to head back to the room." With one last deviled glance to his face, she watched him process what she was bringing to the table. A moment lingered while his eyes briefly fell to his feet for several seconds before raising back to hers with a hesitance.
Finding his middle ground and wanting nothing more than to stay with her, his hand gently grasped hers causing a grin to break out onto her face. Heart pumping, she watched a small smile of his own appear just before she turned and led them out the kitchen. Heading to their bedroom, she felt butterflies. Feeling like kids who were up to no good while they quietly, but quickly made their way to the stairs of the empty house.
Breakfast would be cold, but there was nothing wrong with warming it up later. They had other plans better than breakfast.