“Maybe we should move out here,” you said, one corner of your mouth twitching up. Daryl glanced back over his shoulder at you and then looked up at the house ahead on the hill, a dilapidated Victorian that could have come straight out of a Gothic horror novel.
“Are ya insane?” he said with a laugh, holding his hand out to help you step over a particularly uneven spot in the ground.
“What? It’s a big house with a wraparound porch! No neighbors… Spruce up the paint job, patch the roof and a few windows, perform an exorcism or two….” you grinned, “it’d be great! What’s the problem? You’re pretty handy,” you said, prodding him playfully in the ribs.
Daryl shook his head and let out another gruff laugh. “Not with exorcisms, I ain’t,” he drawled.
“Well,” you said thoughtfully. “It might not be haunted. We could stay the night and find out…”
Those words and that tone stopped Daryl in his tracks. He turned completely around to face you and the coy smile on your face grew until you laughed again. “Something I said?”
“Are ya just teasin’ me?” Daryl asked.
You bit your bottom lip and shook your head. “No,” you breathed, your heart suddenly racing a little nervously. “It’s been a bit crowded back home lately…” you mused.
Daryl was pacing back toward you and his hands landed lightly on your hips. “Haunted or not, I will carry ya in there and take ya righ’ now,” he said with a smile. “So, please… dun play with a man.”
“I’m not playing,” you said softly. Daryl let out a low growl that had you bursting with satisfied laughter. Your cheeks flushed as he buried his face into the crook of your neck, kissing down to your collarbone. You sighed and leaned into him. “Slow down,” you said with great effort. “We’ve at least gotta make sure it’s clear before you get yourself too hot and bothered,” you laughed.
Daryl withdrew and sighed. “’M always hot and bothered when I’m with ya,” he said, grabbing your hand. “C'mon. Let’s go clear out our haunted mansion…”
Prompt: “It’s a big house with a wraparound porch! Spruce up the paint job, perform an exorcism or two…. it’d be great! ”
