Richard could still remember that look of horror on her face. He'd give anything to wipe that look of her face. He still remembered Kahlan's soft

giggle and gasp and his own growl. He never experienced something that intense, that shocking and complete. He knew that Kahlan was

keeping distance because she could no longer ignore that impulsive need to jump him and go to a place where the rewards were dark and

mind numbing.

"Richard!", Zedd yelled. Richard looked up confused.

"Bags boy, you can't seem to keep focus."

"Sorry I just haven't gotten much sleep."

"Well, try. Seems like Kahlan can't seem to sleep either. I talk and she zones out"

Richard stayed silent. Bags! Zedd knew they still weren't talking to each other. At first he thought it was because they had nothing to say but

then he payed more attention and they both looked like they were holding something back. As if the other one was to say one word

everything would blow up. He had a feeling it was do to the fact that Kahlan confessed Richard. They didn't know that they could be together.

His love, Richard's love was saving him and the Boxes of Orden also played a part in it as well. Richard couldn't be confessed. Zedd couldn't

say anything, this was something they had to figure out on their own. Until they did, Zedd feared it was going to be an even more tiring

journey to Aydindril then first thought. Zedd could only pray to the good spirits that these two found a little bit of happiness before the world

came crashing down again.

"I'm about ready to eat, go and see that everything is okay." Richard only nodded and set off to find Kahlan. Hopefully nothing would go

down tonight.

She was a coward. Kahlan had been avoiding Richard throughout their whole journey to Aydindril. It was so hard not to talk to him. She

missed his smile and the way he looked at her when he was happy. She so wanted to just sit and listen to him breath but just being within

five feet of him made her jumpy and aware of him more than she wanted to be. She wondered if this insane attraction to Richard Cypher

would stop when she heard a rustling sound behind her. Thinking of the man who could possibly be her downfall, Richard came out from

behind the bushes. Just the sight of him made her eyes glaze over and the distant memory of him grinding against her came back.

"Hey, Zedd is becoming a grumpy old man back there." Richard said.

"Let me guess he's hungry?" Kahlan silently laughed.

"Yup that pretty much sums it up. What you manage to catch?"

"Just a rabbit. But I have enough ingredients to make spice soup."

"Cool. Come let me help you"

"No,I'm-"

"I'm helping you" Richard said firm enough to let Kahlan know that nothing she said was going to change his mind. Kahlan sighed, she knew

nothing was going to stop him when he had his mind, his heart set on something. That is one of the things she loves about him, he never

gives up. But it also makes her fear him, she knew that them, her and him was one of the things he had his heart set on. And by the spirits

she feared he was going to get confessed do to his persistence. She hoped that there would never be a moment where she wouldn't be able

to stop herself. Kahlan was about to pick up the small pot the contained the rabbit in it but Richard beat her to it. He picked up and Kahlan

put her hand on his to try and tell him he was okay that he didn't have to do it but the words never left her mouth. The moment Kahlan

touched Richard's hand that same intense need that she had felt on that second night came rushing back, and it came back stronger this

time. She could realize he felt it too by the way he way shaking.

He was holding back. Holding back his desire, his need to be next to her, to feel her breath on his face, her heat near his body, seeping into

his pores, into his blood until she was one with him. She didn't want that, not now when the heat running through her was so intense and

breath taking, that she got the strange thought that Richard could cool it like a river on a blazing summer day. She knew better, that he

would only add to the heat. She wanted that more then anything. Kahlan grabbed Richard's hair and pulled him toward her.

"Kahlan don't-" Richard began. He didn't want to see that look of horror on her face again. He did want to kiss her, with everything he had.

He wanted to hear a gasps and moans again. To feel her body pressed against him. She was soft where he was hard, silky where he was

rough. She was his living dream, his life, his fate.

"Shh, I know you want this" Kahlan said before she brushed her lips against his. All it took was that to set Richard off like lightning. Richard

grabbed Kahlan by the hips and kissed her. This kiss, took Kahlan's breath away. It seemed like Richard was starving and only Kahlan could

feed that hunger. Richard started to move Kahlan backwards as he kissed her until she was brushed up against a tree. Kahlan gasped and

put her hand underneath Richard's shirt and started to roam her hands down his chest, to his abs to the edge of his pants. While at the

same time Richard had his hands on her rib cage, stroking her underneath her breast, making her moan. Their mouths were still ingaged in a

battle, their hands where stroking and roaming over every available surface, when they both heard a shout. They broke apart to hear a

battle cry being called out from where Zedd was suppose to be.

Their passion forgotten, Richard pulled out the sword of truth, it's ring adding to the sounds of battle. Richard and Kahlan ran through the

path in time to see Zedd catch a D'haran soldier with his wizard's fire. Richard found a soldier and ingaged in a one on one battle with him.

Richard stabbed him in the chest and took out his sword just in time to hear someone come up from behind him. He spinned around and

caught the other guard square in the turned around to see Kahlan run her knife across a D'Haran's throat. All the D'haran soldiers were dead.

"How did they find us?" Zedd ask.

"I don't know but we have to move. We don't know if more soldiers are on their way here" Richard said.

"I'll pack our things" Kahlan said. Zedd went to go pick up his bed he made. They might be delayed and get to Aydindril a day or two later. Or get hardly any sleep for the next few days. Bags! Nothing was ever easy. Richard went to go help Kahlan with packing up their belongings, when he realized that she was bleeding.

"Kahlan, you're arm it's-"

"Oh, yeah. I got it while fighting. I'm okay."

"Come here"

"Richard it's no bi-"

"Kahlan" Richard said. Kahlan sighed.

She knew she should let him clean her wound or he'd be on her case all night. Richard ripped up some cloth and wrapped her arm after

cleaning it with some water they had got from a river two days ago. Richard wrapped Kahlan's arm and helped her to her feet. Richard then

gave a Kahlan a long stare and then gave her a quick passionate kiss before letting her go. Kahlan stood there in a daze for a few moments.

Then, she realized the burning heat from before hadn't come back when Richard was cleaning her wound. Instead a calm peacefulness took

over her. It was only there after Richard kissed her. That was good to know, that this fever flowing through them wasn't always going to be

there. Kahlan wondered where those kisses and groping would've lead to but then she remembered in a flash of horror and guilt that she

could've confessed Richard. No! She had to stay away from him at all cost, his soul was at stake. and she wouldn't put that up for anything

even at a chance to consummate her love for the one she loves.