Thanks everyone for following along and especially for those of you who took the time to leave a review! It's greatly appreciated. Hope you enjoyed this. I'm off to start the sequel...

Forever (Chapter 14)

Holding her hand as they walked through the Palace, Richard couldn't take his eyes off of his new wife. She practically glowed and not just because of her shimmering gown. It was a warmth that was lit from within, an air of serenity that he knew emanated from her heart. It made his soul sing to know that he was the reason for it.

Tears pricked his eyes, overwhelmed by the depths of their love. He had never dreamed that anything like this was even possible. Growing up in Hartland, he had always hoped to find someone to love, to marry and raise a large family. He'd had crushes on girls including Anna, but it was never anything compared to what he felt for Kahlan. From the moment he had seen her running through the woods, her white dress floating around her, she had unknowingly reached into his heart and captured his attention.

Richard had never been one to believe in love at first sight; that was until the first time he looked into those piercing blue eyes. He had known in that briefest of moments that his life would never be the same, nor did he want it to be. And when he left Hartland, Richard already knew that he would never go anywhere that she wasn't with him. He would follow her to the Underworld and back if necessary.

Casting a glance at her new husband, Kahlan lovingly squeezed his hand. Seeing the emotion that swam in his eyes, she brought his hand to her lips, tenderly brushing a kiss against his knuckles. She could see what she felt in her heart mirrored in his chocolate brown eyes. It made her heart soar to know a love like Richard's. It was something that she had never dreamed possible. She had dared to believe in his love for her and he had proved worthy of her, stronger than even her powerful magic.

Richard suddenly pulled her to him, kissing her as he backed her up against a nearby wall. He didn't think he could go any further without tasting her again. He could never get enough of this woman.

After the ceremony, they had dined in the shade of the trees in the garden, talking and laughing with their friends for hours. Story after story was told of their countless adventures over the last several months, many being heavily exaggerated by Zedd with frequent eye rolls and huffs from Cara.

Richard and Kahlan had already shared a lifetime of experiences together, both magical and heart-rending. And neither of them would have exchanged a moment of it for anything in this world. Because if they had, they would have missed being with the one that they loved.

They had barely taken their eyes off of each other the entire afternoon, their hands always touching some part of the other. Whether it was Kahlan's hand caressing his thigh, Richard's hand softly stroking the bare skin of her back or the way that they gazed longingly at each other, it was obvious how much in love they were.

Unable to bear it any longer, Richard had finally stood to his feet, pulling Kahlan up with him and announcing to everyone that they were retiring for the evening. With a wink at Aggie, Richard told her she could have the guest room back again.

Aggie had giggled, covering her mouth in embarrassment. "Oh, Richard," she had scolded, her face turning pink as tears of joy flooded her eyes once more.

"How much further to our suite?" he muttered against her lips.

"It's not far…just around the corner," Kahlan breathlessly replied, her lips moving to tease along his jaw, her arms wrapped limply around his neck.

Pulling her to him, Richard abruptly swept her up into his arms, eliciting a throaty laugh of delight from his wife. She immediately began nibbling on his ear, her tongue enticing the sensitive skin. Her warm wet mouth on his ear was pushing him further and further over the edge.

"Keep that up and I'll be forced to take you right here," he huskily breathed, his eyes sliding closed for a moment as he savored the sensations she was inciting deep within him.

It didn't help him that her response was a soft giggle in his ear. He instantly turned his head, connecting their lips in a heated kiss. "I can't wait to take that gown off of you," he murmured as he reached to open the door to their suite.

"I'm anxious to find what's beneath that coat and pants," she whispered seductively into his ear, causing him to groan as he kicked the door closed with his boot.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look?" he softly asked as he set her down near their bed. He lightly brushed his knuckles along her cheekbone as he gazed into her eyes.

"A few times I think, but I don't mind hearing it," she softly smiled at him, leaning in and brushing her nose against his.

"You look so exquisite in that dress. You completely took my breath away when I saw you walking towards me this afternoon. I thought my heart was going to pound right out of my chest."

"I felt the same way seeing you standing up there in your jacket, your sword at your waist. You looked so handsome there beneath the tree."

Richard smiled at hearing her describe what she felt when she looked at him. It made his heart swell knowing that she found him so handsome, that he alone made her feel the things that she felt, that her body responded the way that it did to his touch.

"I'm going to make tonight unforgettable for you," he leaned in and whispered into her ear. "I plan on making all your days and nights unforgettable."

She gasped as her arms encircled his neck, his lips teasing her earlobe as his hands began roaming over her bare back. She had never known that such a response of wanton desire could ever be stirred within her until Richard. The way he caressed her and kissed her, his hot ragged breath against her skin, the fierce look of longing in his eyes for her and her alone incited such a searing need that she thought for sure she should be consumed in its flames until he finally brought her that sweet release she craved.

Kissing and licking down her throat, Richard was so fascinated and amazed by her response to his touch, the reaction he could elicit from her with a kiss here or a caress there. He was just as amazed by how readily he responded to her as well. He relished in the ecstasy of completely losing himself in her and to her.

Returning to her mouth, Richard lovingly brushed his lips against hers, his tongue darting out to glide along her lips. Opening her mouth to him, he readily accepted the invitation, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss. His hands immediately went to the back of her neck, holding her so he could drink her in. He could never get enough of this woman.

Pulling back to stare into her eyes, his fingers slowly trailed up to her hair, finding the small ribbons and gently pulling them. Curls fell freely about her face with each ribbon he pulled. Removing the last ribbon, he continued to run his fingers through her soft silky strands, relishing in the luxurious feel of it. He had always adored her hair. Now, it was his to take care of for her.

Kahlan groaned, her eyes sliding closed as she relaxed into the feel of his fingers massaging her head. He was slowly and methodically teasing her desire along, building it gradually, enjoying each and every moment of their love for one another.

His hands slowly travelled down her neck, his fingers massaging her back. The feel of her soft skin beneath his touch was quickly igniting the passion that always smoldered within his core. His lips caressed the smooth flesh of her shoulder, his tongue sneaking out to taste the exquisite dip of her clavicle as his fingers toyed with the ribbon tied at her neck.

Kahlan tilted her head to the side, exposing more of her throat to him as her fingers found the buttons of his jacket. She quickly worked her way down the jacket, anxious to remove anything that kept them from being flesh against flesh. Her hands snuck inside the jacket and swiftly pushed it down his arms.

Richard paused long enough to allow her to remove his jacket before hungrily returning to her delicious neck as she set to work on removing his sword and his black shirt. Despite the thunderous passion that engulfed them, their movements were unhurried, deliberate and loving, savoring each touch, every kiss and moan of pleasure. They didn't want to forget any moment of this experience as husband and wife.

His fingers gently pulled the ribbon around her neck, letting it fall from her shoulders. His lips left her throat and slowly followed the ribbon down, his hands stroking her sides. She moaned as her hands found his hair, her fingers massaging his head and holding him to her. His fingers grazed over the small pearl buttons, reminding him of how anxious he was to undo them.

Richard swiftly began kissing his way back up to her neck before turning her around. Gently gathering her hair in his hands, he swept it over her shoulder. His lips began kissing the bare flesh of her back, blazing a trail down to the bodice. Kissing along the top of her dress, his fingers began working the delicate buttons.

Kahlan felt her knees grow weak, his lips propelling her need for him higher and higher. Reaching behind her, she placed a hand on the top of his head in order to keep herself standing. She prayed that he would finish soon. She was frantic to have his lips on hers again.

Finishing with the buttons, Richard's hands snuck inside her dress and tenderly began caressing her sides and belly as he kissed his way up her spine, his nose brushing against her back. He smiled against her flesh as she shivered beneath his touch.

Kahlan abruptly turned around in his arms, desperate to feel his mouth on hers. Crushing her lips to his, she frantically began removing his shirt. Slow passionate love was quickly becoming heated and frantic need as they discarded the rest of their clothing.

Picking her up in his arms, Richard carried her to their bed. Settling her on the big soft bed, he slowly kissed his way up her body, starting with her ankles and working his way up to her thighs. His powerful hands gently grasped her torso, his thumbs caressing her belly as his lips moved over her soft flesh, tasting and enjoying her.

Her breathing already coming out in short pants, Kahlan repeatedly moaned his name, anxious to kiss him once more. She could never get enough of his kisses, the passion that he poured into each expression of his love. Reaching for his hand, she urgently tugged him up her body, leaning up to capture his lips as he reached her face.

Richard grinned against her lips as he returned her kisses, adoring that the fact that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. "I love you, Kahlan…"

"…forever, my Richard…"

Grazing his fingers enticingly along the softness of her thigh, he pulled her leg up, anxious to show her again just how deeply he wanted her. As he connected with her once more, Richard began to make passionate love to not just his Kahlan, but his wife.

XXX

Lying on her side, Kahlan felt as if she were living in an amazing fairy-tale, a dream that was better than anything she could have ever created in her own heart or mind. She relished the feel of his peaceful breath lightly tickling the back of her neck, his strong arm draped over her side, their fingers intertwined.

Last night had been thrilling. Even though it hadn't been their first time together, it had been incredible making love with him, bringing each other pleasure again and again. It was somehow different now that they were married. Somehow it was better even though she had doubted that had ever been possible before last night.

As she recalled the passion of last night, Kahlan's eyes drifted around their suite, over his boots lying discarded by his pants, her shoes – one lying here and another over there, his sword abandoned on the rug by the fireplace, her wedding gown left in a gold heap on the floor near her dressing table, his shirt flung over the back of the chair. The heat of their desire had been so intense, so powerful. Spirits, she loved this man so much she would do anything in this world or the next to make him happy or just to keep him safe.

Her gaze finally drifted over the nightstand and a book that was resting on top of it. She hadn't remembered setting a book there. Of course, the last several days had been a whirlwind of chaos for her, ending in the sweetest moment of her life next to meeting Richard.

She slowly reached for the black book, not wanting to wake her lover. Grazing her fingers over the cover of the book, she felt a slight tingling sensation in her fingertips. Finding it unusual, Kahlan grasped the curious volume.

Laying it on the bed beside her, Kahlan flipped open to the first page. It was journal or diary of some sort. Wrinkling her brow in puzzlement, she read the first paragraph about the owner. The name Da'Tavius rang a very faint bell in the back of her mind, tugging on a distant memory that had been long forgotten. Richard must have found the book in the Keep, but why did he have it?

Kahlan was pulled from her thoughts by the form stirring gently behind her. She smiled softly, closing the book and placing it back on the nightstand. She decided to ask Richard about the book later as she had more pressing issues at that moment that she wanted to handle, namely her new husband.

"Good morning, my wife," he murmured into her hair, nuzzling her neck with his nose and his lips.

"Morning, my husband," she purred, releasing a throaty hum of pleasure at actually being able to actually call him that now.

Richard groaned against the back of her neck with the words and the sound of her delight. Last night had been unbelievable, even better than the first time he had made love to her. Grasping her, he flipped her onto her back, swiftly moving his body over her. He couldn't wait to experience it all over again with his amazing wife. Kissing along her cheekbone and down to her ear, his eyes suddenly caught site of Da'Tavius' diary lying on the nightstand. He couldn't wait to uncover the answers he needed to protect her from himself, the world from their Seeker.

Closing his eyes once more, he began blazing a trail of kisses along her throat, anxious to make her feel again what he held in his heart for her alone. The sudden thought of creating a baby with her, that they could have already made a baby caused his heart to hammer in his chest, his passion bursting into flames once more as his breathing became ragged. The idea of creating a family with the woman he loved more than life hardened his resolve to tame the raging beast that dwelt inside his soul. They had the rest of their lives ahead of them and he wasn't about to let anything interfere with their happiness or their dreams…

TO BE CONTINUED…