•16•

S I X T E E N

The next day

A L E X A

It was quiet around Alexandria. I felt weird and out of place. I was back in Carl's room, just like I was before.

I felt like none of the shit that went down between us actually went down. That maybe it was just a dream.

Carl didn't seem to think the situation now was real. He kept to my side, not letting me go. He slept with his arms wrapped tightly around me like if he somehow misplaced his arms, I would slip away.

He was just happy I was here. However, he was sleeping and I had been up for awhile.

I managed to slip my way out of his grasp a few minutes ago and sneak into the hallway. I took a deep breath in, rubbing my eyes and slowly trudging down the stairs.

I went into the living room, seeing rick in there. Once he heard my footsteps, he peered back at me.

"Hi." I whispered."Hey kid." He greeted back.

"My people still asleep?" I folded my arms uncomfortably.

"No, just your dad. The rest are out, helping make plans." Rick shook his head.

After a few moments of silence, I spoke up again.

"Rick, I'm really sorry about everything I did to you and your people-""Alexa, it's fine, it was the past." He cut me off.

"I don't think you understand me, rick. I don't ever have remorse. I never feel bad. I'm always excited to pick who gets it. Sometimes I even do it... but you guys... it was so much different. When I met Carl I knew exactly who he was and where he came from. He just thought I was by myself in the woods. I made him believe that so I could kill him... but he grew on me. Slowly and slowly you all began to grow on me and the day it was happening- I felt regret. So much regret. I wasn't excited or hyper. I truly care about you and your people... but I would never turn on my father. I love who I am and what I've done to be who I am... I'm my dad. I really am just like him... but I care about others. I saw who you all were. You're good people." I explained myself.

"You did exactly what we would have done, which is why we were so angry. We couldn't face the fact that you outsmarted us. Your strategy was better than ours. You and your father are stronger and smarter than most of us combined. That's why we need you here." He was oddly understanding.

He sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead."You make my boy happy. That's all I want is for him to be safe and happy. He's a smart kid, but he's a total idiot for you... so you're okay in my book, sweetie." His bandaged hand patted my shoulder.

That was something I'd never thought I'd hear. My heart fluttered and a small smile played across my lips.

"I've always liked you, rick. You were a challenge. We like challenges."

"Hey, guys." A tired Carl mumbled as he walked behind me.

"Hi Carl." I smiled. I felt his body behind me, his arms snaking to my stomach, hugging me tightly.

He kissed the side of my head, making me feel warm. Rick watched this with a tiny smile.

"What's everyone talking about?" Dad stepped into the living room."Hi dad." I grinned.

"Good morning pumpkin." He walked towards me, planting a kiss on my head. He had Lucille in his hand.

"So, who are we killing today?" Dad looked at rick.

"No one. Inspection first. With the map you and Alexa made, I decided you, a few of your people, a few from hilltop, a few from the kingdom, and I will go, check everything that we can see where they are and how we take them down." I was kind of glad I wasn't going.

But I was also kinda not glad. I wanted to be there to make sure my dad was okay. That everyone was okay. I hated not knowing anything about this group. I don't know their strength, their thinking, their guns... nothing.

"What about these two?" Dad pointed to us."On guard of the place. Keep it standing. They need all the rest they can get because I'm a few days... all out war." Rick said.

Carl let go of me to give his dad hug.

"Be careful out there." I embraced Dad tightly."Always am baby."

Dad must've noticed the unsure look on my face, because he placed his hands on my shoulder, giving me the 'it's okay' Dad look.

"Be careful, please, dad." I mumbled."I'll come back, so will rick. So will everyone else."

I sighed and squeezed Dad tightly. I know he knew I was acting strange. He knew I wasn't sure about this.

Once I saw rick let Carl go, I let go of Dad.

"We should get going." Rick said.

Dad swung Lucille to his shoulder and smiled."Let's get this show on the road." Dad and rick walked out.

My eyes watched them walk all the way down the long road.

I was a little scared just because I don't know how these people work and I don't want my father, my people... or anyone getting hurt.

Once they disappeared from my sight, I still watched, just in case they needed to come back.

"They'll be okay, baby." I felt Carl press his body against mine. His arms snakes around my stomach.

"I know, I'm just worried. We don't know this group." I admitted, turning around, letting Carl slide his hands down to my hips.

I smiled lightly when my eyes met his one."Look at you. You're so gorgeous." Carl muttered, his eye scanning my body.

"You're a really good distraction." I joked, my arms loosely wrapping around his neck.

I saw his lips curl into a smirk right before they pressed on my own.

It felt so good because it had been awhile since we shared such a passionate kiss.

His lips began to make the achingly slow kiss, but I loved it.

Carl's warm hands rose up into my shirt a little, squeezing gently, goosebumps surfacing my skin.

I pulled him closer, our lips not daring to separate. His hands began to adventure slowly up my back, taking my shirt with them.

I lifted my arms, pulling away from the kiss for a few seconds so he could successfully pull my shirt off, leaving me in my bra and jeans.

Our eyes made contact and I smiled lightly. "You are truly a piece of art, Alexa." Carla hands met my skin, making my heart flutter.

My cheeks flamed, turning pink.

Carl took his hat off and just let it fall to the ground. My fingers rolled his flannel off, then hooked at the hem of his shirt.

I pulled it up over his head, messing his hair up slightly but damn, did he look oh so good.

My body itched to feel his skin against mine.

Carl pulled me back to his body, our abdomens up against each other."I love you." I whispered. He grinned, one of his hands cradling my cheek."I love you so much, it's unreal." His eye observed every one of my facial expressions.

"I love how happy you look when I tell you that." Carl pulled me even closer."I'm just happy we're finally able to be together without worrying about our dads killing each other or us getting ourselves killed trying to see each other." My arms were still hooked around his neck.

"Me too." His fingertips almost hovered over my skin, moving up and down my back, giving me chills.

I pulled his lips back to mine, both of his hands returning to the small of my back.

Carl began to walk forward slightly, my knees hitting the couch.

I sat down on it, bringing him down with me, but pulling him over my body as I let my bare back hit the cushions.

Our lips fed off of each other, giving into our needs. Carl spread my legs, bending them at his hips so he could comfortably hover in between them.

Our bodies connected at the lips and the hips, sprouting butterflies in my stomach.

Carl's lips ghosted mine, trailing down to my neck. He kissed around for a few seconds until he began to nibble.

His teeth trapped some skin in between them, his tongue rolling over the sensitive skin.

My hands tangled in his hair, humming.

Carl pulled away, his baby blue eye now a darker shade. I felt the tenting in the front of his jeans.

I smiled, giggling a bit.

"We've had this opportunity from the start, Carl." I whispered, rising my hips against his. Carl reacted by pushing his hips forward against me. I smiled, knowing it's what he wanted.

Hell, I wanted it, too.

His face was just over mine. "I know, baby." Carl's index finger traced over my bottom lip. "We've had each other from the beginning. I knew you were gonna be mine." His voice was deep and seductive, making this moment much more arousing.

"Oh did you?" I chuckled."Oh I did, baby, I did." His finger gently dragged my bottom lip down just a little, then letting it go back to its place.

His lips vaguely curled as he looked at me."You are and always will be my dream." Carl added.

Carl leaned down, connecting our lips again.

This was much more passionate than the first.

My fingers caught in his hair, loving this too much.

This wasn't new to Carl and I. We knew what we were doing, not because we've done it before, but from both of our knowledge. We've done something like this before. The whole shirts off kissing thing.

Not to the extremes... but I had a feeling this time it might be to the extreme.

The button on my jeans was released, the zipper slowly zipped down.

Carl peeled the jeans off of my legs, neatly putting them on the floor.

I felt around for his holster clip and once I found it, I unclipped it and gently set it down so his gun didn't accidentally go off.

My hands next found the button on his jeans. I unbuttoned them and tugged them down to his thighs. Carl took the rest of his jeans off, leaving us both in undergarments.

He reached into the front pocket of his jeans, grabbing a square, foiled package that he must've found in ricks drawers.

"Oh, you were planning this." I giggled.

"Maybe." Carl's teeth nibbled on my jaw.

"I love you, so much, Alexa.""I love you, more." I purred, biting my lower lip with a smile.

"Mmmm baby."

They're so cute together I'm