*Here you all go... R/K's wedding night!


Chapter 44 – Together

Kahlan coughed and spat out the quicksilver liquid, all the while the sliph kept purring and humming, telling them to breathe. Richard's hand was still intertwined tightly around hers and she felt him tense as he, too, purged himself of the silver liquid that was the sliph. It had been wonderful within the sliph, but Kahlan was quickly heaving her chest to gasp in the cool air, wanting to recover from the traveling as soon as possible, especially with what she knew was just around the bend.

"I please you?" the sliph asked, purring.

Richard pushed himself up, nodding. "Yes, sliph, you pleased me." He paused and reached down helping Kahlan up with two hands. "Now, you can go and sleep," he said, smirking slightly as he looked at Kahlan. "We'll be busy for a while."

The sliph's brow seemed to crease with confusion, but then enlightenment dawned on her face. After all, from what Richard had told her, Kahlan knew that the sliph used to be a high-class courtesan. The quicksilver creature gave a nod and slipped back into the silver liquid, going to sleep.

Richard turned around and hugged her tight. His eyes closed and he lowered his brow. Suddenly torches, encased along the walls, puffed to life. Kahlan blinked in the suddenly light. He backed away and began walking away, and stopped when he noticed she was not following. He turned on his heels to come back to her, and gripped her hand.

"Kahlan, what is it? Don't tell me your nervous," he smirked. "It's not like this will be your first time…," immediately after he said it, his expression dropped and he looked horrified. "Kahlan… I'm sorry, I didn't mean to remind you of…"

She reached up and placed a finger on his lips. "No, it's okay," Kahlan replied. "And yes, I am a little nervous… but just a little, and not about making love to you." She paused, unsure how to say this. She clutched the necklace Shota had given her in her fist and held it up, showing him. "I'm just concerned about Shota's warning."

Richard shook his head, not wanting to have this conversation. Kahlan inched closer and placed a hand on his shoulder, gently rubbing it.

"Like it or not, all of her prophecies have come true," Kahlan said, feeling terrible admitting it. "Until we talk to Zedd about it, I… I think we should err on the side of caution."

He looked at her with sad brown eyes as she held back her hair and slipped the necklace around her neck. Richard bit his lip and lowered his gaze. He took a deep breath that seemed to rock his entire body. "I understand, Kahlan," he finally spoke. "I really do." He looked back up and placed a hand on her face, playing his fingers across the back of her neck. "But I promise you… one day, we will have a child. And she'll be just as beautiful and amazing as you."

That brought a smile to her, and Kahlan allowed herself to forget about wearing the necklace—not being able to conceive his child yet—and focused on just being with Richard. He wrapped his hand around her waist, and his fingertips played across the top of her bottom. She looked at him and smiled as he began leading them away from the sliph's well.

"So this is the place that Alric Rahl created for you?" she asked, as they passed through the first opening, entering a tunnel like corridor. The torches ensconced on the walls continued to burst to life as they walked, seemingly on their own according.

Noticing her eyes, he nodded. "They respond to my Rahl blood," he said. "Apparently, according to the sliph, Alric Rahl linked them to only respond to a Rahl with both subtractive and additive magic."

"You mean you?" Kahlan asked, gazing upon his handsome face, enjoying the way the warm light bounced off his features.

"Yes," he said, grinning, his eyes glancing down, as he openly admired her cleavage. "As the Mud People say, you have nice breasts."

Kahlan laughed, and she draped her arm around his shoulder, playing her fingers through the hair on the back of his head. "So…," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Why'd you bring me here? Why didn't we just go back to my big bed?"

"Well, for one thing," he said, looking at her with mischievous brown eyes. "This place is hidden and you can only get here through the sliph, which she claims she'll only bring the true Lord Rahl to, meaning me, of course." He paused and they turned a corner. "And… there's this nice big bed with velvet sheets and plush pillows that's just begging to be broken in."

Kahlan gave a light laugh and eased into him. "Well," she murmured into his ear, softly blowing against it. "Why aren't we running to it, then!" Before he could say anything, she reached over and tickled his ribs. Richard laughed, and his eyes lit up with enjoyment as he turned on her to begin assaulting her ticklish places with his fingers.

Kahlan was overcome in a matter of moments, and Richard buried his face in her neck, brushing her hair aside, as he sucked and nibbled at the soft flesh between her neck and shoulder. Kahlan opened her mouth and gave a low moan of exquisite pleasure, as he pressed her up against the wall, running his hands down her sides, teasing her breasts, reaching for her hips, and then gripping her bottom with his hands, giving her a playful squeeze. Kahlan raised one of her legs and wrapped it around him, pushing back, grabbing his head in her hands, raking her fingers through his hair, tugging at him and pulling his mouth to hers to feel his lips.

Richard eagerly complied and shoved his open mouth against hers, giving her one of the warmest and wettest kisses she had ever had. But the heat and passion of it ignited such a stirring within her very core that Kahlan did not want it to end. They opened their mouths and shared a hot moist breath that sent shivers running down her spine to explode in her with unimpeded desire and want.

He stepped back and she laughed out loud as he picked her up in his strong arms. "Let's continue this in the bed, shall we?" he winked and gave her neck a quick nibble, before rushing off with her in his arms. They came around another corner and this hall had a doorway carved into it. Richard carried her through the threshold and candles sprung to life on their own accord.

Kahlan looked over and saw the bed. Spirits, Richard was right. It was a massive canopy bed with gold curtains, pulled back to reveal soft black velvet sheets with golden plush pillows. Richard made a move to set her down on the mattress, when she wiggled out of his arms and gave him a playful smile as she unhooked his golden cape, causing it to flutter to the floor. He gave her a questioning look as she knelt before him. She stared at his groin as she reached up and unfastened the Sword of Truth, taking it with her as she stood up.

"Kahlan," he groaned, his eyes begging. "What are you doing?"

She smirked, placing the sword down on a desk, and raised her eyebrows, looking around the room. She found what she was looking for and she pulled it over. "I want to do something for you," Kahlan said, gripping his shoulders and pushing him down in the chair. His hands reached out to wrap around her waist, attempting to pull her into his lap, but she pushed him back, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

A slowly lazy smile slowly spread across his face, as Kahlan began to move before him, suggestively running her hands down her body. Locking eyes with him, Kahlan slowly slipped her fingers under the hem of the dress and slowly began pulling it up, exposing her legs and thighs.

Kahlan had listened to the Mord'Sith and had learned that some men liked it when a woman teased them while they undressed as they moved about erotically. So, on their wedding night, Kahlan wanted to do that for Richard. She wanted to be sexy for him. She really did not know what she was doing, but as she watched Richard's smile continue to grow and his eyes dropped down to follow her movements, she figured she must have been doing something right.

She brought the hem of her dress barely up to her hips and stopped, still covering the place she knew Richard was aching to see. He let out a heavy breath and shook his head at her teasing, as she spun around and slowly swayed her hips, mimicking the way Berdine had shook her bottom at the wedding celebration.

"Spirits, Kahlan," Richard's chest was heaving, as she slowly backed up, pulling the back her dress up to give him a glimpse of the soft flesh of her bottom. Covering it again and giving it a good shake, she laughed at his groan and look of frustration. But he made no move to stop her, as she continued to sway her body before him. She looked over her shoulder and slipped the thin straps of her dress off, pouting her lips and gazing back at him with amorous eyes.

Slowly, she slipped herself out of the top of her dress, exposing her back to him. Covering her breasts with her arms, she continued to move about him, swaying and thriving her body around to a silent beat. Kahlan spun around and flashed her breasts at him before covering up against, pulling the fabric back up and dancing around him, rubbing up against his side and pressing her lips against his temple, nibbling his earlobe, and blowing soft kissing down his neck.

Richard shuddered in delight, and groaned throatily, closing his eyes. "Kahlan… you're killing me here," he pleaded. As she moved around him to position herself behind him, she completely removed her dress. She laughed, knowing he was resisting the urge to simply jump out of the chair and pull her into his arms.

Kahlan hung the blue dress over his head and dropped it into his lap. He let out a breath. Slowly, she knelt down behind him and danced her hands around his shoulder and down his chest, pressing the soft mounds of her breasts against the back of his head. Richard moaned and she could feel his body temperature rise as her became aroused. Kahlan stood up and laid a hand on his shoulder as she spun around him and slipped into his lap, smiling as she felt his excitement trying desperately to escape his trousers.

She took his hand and brought it up to her chest, much like she had when she had tried to stop him before he left her to go to the Temple of the Winds. But his time, he moved his fingers on his own accord, and kneaded her breasts, caressing them and rubbing his thumbs against her nipples. As she straddled him, she arched her back, pleading with him to touch her.

Richard looked up at her as he continued to touch her soft flesh, and slowly moved his neck forward, brushing his lips slightly against the top of her bosom. Kahlan's mouth dropped slightly and an ecstatic gasp escaped her lips as his finally made contact with her skin, kissing her breasts. She ran her fingers through his hair, pushing his head into her, as he sucked and nibbled at her nipples, sending ripples of pleasure down her spin that only made her wish to sway her hips over his growing excitement.

He groaned into her chest, and backed up, bringing his hands up to run his fingertips down her spine, until they came to rest on her hips. He looked up at her and smiled. "If you were seeking to make me aroused, you've succeed—big time!"

Kahlan laughed as Richard gripped her around her waist and lifted her into the air, standing and adjusted his grip on her as he carried her over to the bed. His eyes gleamed in the candlelight and his lips curled into a grin. "Now it's my turn," he winked and tenderly laid her down on the bed.

He arched back and quickly removed his tunic, climbing up onto the bed, moving on all fours as he crawled over her, kicking off his boots. Kahlan caught her breath as his hands ran down her legs, tickling them with his fingertips as he deftly removed her delicate shoes. He winked and tossed them over the edge of the bed.

His hands glided back up her body as he fondle and kissed her. Kahlan ran her hands down his back, feeling his muscles and firm smooth skin. He was so warm and already wet with the sweat that came with lovemaking. She laughed, realizing that she, too, was already starting to perspire as well. But it was another wetness, one down between her legs, which she wanted to warm and become moist.

Richard danced his lips around her neck, kissing and tickling her with his stubble. He moved over her and brushed her hair away from her face, cupping his hand around her jaw and caressing her cheek with the pad of his thumb.

"Spirits, Kahlan, you're so beautiful," he murmured, and leaned down to seize her lips in his. Kahlan closed her eyes and grabbed his head in her hands, pulling him closer, wanting nothing more than for him to remove his trousers and enter her.

When he backed up, he laid his forehead against hers and whispered soft words of love to her as he ran his hands through her hair. She took quick breaths, as his began to move back down her body, rubbing and playing with her breasts, before dancing down to her belly. He stopped at her navel and licked it teasingly, promising future deeds further south. His hands dropped down and he massaged her thighs, as she opened her legs for him.

Kahlan heart was beating rapidly with anticipation. She remembered all the exquisite sensations he had given her last time, and she wanted to feel them again. Richard rested his chin against her stomach and looked up at him, smiling. She stared at him. "Well, Richard," she said through panting breaths. "What are you waiting for?"

His breath was warm on her skin and it sent shivers up her spine. A cornucopia of sensations and feels erupted in her mind as he moved down and descended upon her femininity. This time, unlike that one night when he first drank from her, Richard moved with more purpose and vigor. He captured her special spot in his mouth and sucked on it, grazing his teeth against it, causing an endless supple of ecstasy to rack her brain.

Kahlan opened her mouth and gasped his name, as she arched her neck to watch his head move between her legs. Spirits, she was becoming so wet down there. She was almost afraid he'd drown with how long he stayed there, lapping and licking at her essence. This time his fingers joined his tongue and lips. Kahlan panted and moaned as he spread her folds with his fingers and dipped his tongue inside her. She pushed her hips up into him, losing herself in the rapture he was causing her to feel. Slowly, he began to slip his fingers in as well. First one, then two, then… spirits, three!

He rocked them back and forth, all the while blowing and kissing her special spot. His brown eyes darted up and locked with hers as he watched her face crease with pleasure at his touch.

"Oh, Richard… yes… oh… yes, Richard," she gasped as she began to move her hips with his fingers. He kissed her inner thigh and shifted up, keeping his fingers moving inside her. Kahlan had no idea he could provide her with so much pleasure with just his fingers. She almost felt guilty that she could not do more for him.

"You don't have to do anything, Kahlan," he whispered, as if sensing her thoughts, bringing his hand back out and rubbing her special spot, causing a thrill to run through her stomach, her inner muscles clenching at the phantom feelings of his fingers. "All you have to do his love me, and allow me to love you… and I will be pleased."

He eased down onto the bed neck to her, and slowly ran circles around her breasts, moving his fingertips softly against her flesh. Kahlan turned onto her side and looked at him. "I want to do more," she said. She was about to say that she wanted to have his child when she felt the necklace shift against her skin. Kahlan bit her lower lip, holding her thoughts back.

Slowly, she moved over him and began kissing his muscles, running her lips along the curves and lines, feeling the firmness beneath the skin. She kissed his chest, and blew on him. He groaned and arched his head back as she nibble at his flesh, trying to mimic some of his ministrations. She flicked her tongue out and made contact with his abs as she made her way down. Kahlan's eyes rolled back into her head. Spirits, how she loved the taste of him; the sweaty musky manliness that was her Richard.

Kahlan stopped at his beltline and looked up at him, folding her arms across her chest and pouted. "I take off all my clothes, and you… you don't?" she huffed in mock anger.

Richard laughed. "You know… I thought you might enjoy removing them for yourself."

Kahlan rolled her eyes and gave him a playful jab in his ribs, before going to work at his belt. She unbuckled it and began unlacing his trousers at a rapid rate.

"You seem to have been practicing," he said, arching his neck to watch her, the bulge in his trousers visibly increasing.

She looked back up and smirked. "Comes from years of wearing a confessor's dress and corset," she said, finishing. "Now," she looked back up at him as she tucked her fingers beneath the waistline of his trousers. "Let's just see our excite my husband is."

Richard lifted his hips up and Kahlan tugged at his trousers pulling them down past his knees. She smiled when his manhood came out, standing at attention, awaiting the commands of the Mother Confessor.

"Well?" Richard said, as she slipped the trousers past his feet and tossed them on the floor. "Do I met with you approval, wife?"

Kahlan laughed and crawled back up to him, running a hand down his chest and hard stomach, to grip him in her hand. He gasped slightly as she stared into his eyes and began moving her fingers up and down his length. Kahlan laid on her side, and pressed her moist soft body against his as she quickened the stroking motions of her fingers.

"What do you think?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

Richard's cheeks flushed and he moved his hand down to stop her. "Kahlan, if you keep that up I'm going to erupt," he joked, and turned onto his side to nuzzle her neck.

Kahlan shivered with delight as she felt his hardness brush against her thighs, causing her quivering flesh between her thighs to spring anew with even more wetness. Richard slowly pushed her back and rested her head against the pillow, as he moved over her, kissing her cheeks and grabbing her lips, rubbing his tongue against her teeth.

She opened her legs for him and he eased down between her, his hands rubbing her thighs. Kahlan felt him brush against her, and she pushed his head back and gazed into his warm brown eyes. They were filled with nothing but love and desire for her. He gazed down at her and slowly, with deliberate and delicate care inched his hips closer. His hand came up and gripped the side of her face, caressing her cheek.

"Are you ready, Kahlan?" he asked.

She smiled and nodded, waiting with batted breath for the moment she had been wanting ever since he came back to her. He moved his hand down to her neck and dug his fingers into her hair. His warm brown eyes locked with her blue ones, and he slowly moved his hips forward. Kahlan's jaw dropped and she let out a gasp of pleasure feeling him push past her folds and enter her.

Kahlan gave a soft cry of ecstasy, calling his name, tugging at him to pull his lips to hers as they began swaying together. Their flesh touched, sending sparks of instant rapture and pleasure trickling and dancing throughout her body. Every part of her being seemed to come alive as they moved as one. Richard guided their movements, kissing her and slowly grabbing one of her hands, their fingers intertwining as they continued to make love.

Kahlan was overwhelmed with the sheer amount of rippling pleasure that trembled throughout her very being as he moved inside her. She opened her legs wider, wanting to take more of him in. He kissed her cheeks and neck and shoulder as he began moving faster and with more aggression, pounding harder and deeper into her, sending her bucking against the mattress. Kahlan could not help but respond to his movement, moving her hips to match him. Their flesh smacked together as she loved the sound.

The fierceness of his lovemaking made Kahlan tremble with delight and she actually giggled out loud. She felt his lips curl into a grin, as he heard her. She ran her fingers down his back and gripped his backside, loving the firmness of his back muscles. She kneaded his flesh for a while, dancing her fingertips across his skin. Every move she made only seemed to intensify his response, and he moved even fast, plunging deeper and deeper into her with each thrust.

Their breathes grew heavy and they we both sweating like mad. Richard had stopped his kissing, concentrating all his attention on his powerful thrusts as he moved in and out of her. He would bring himself barely out and then push all the deeper in. Each time he did so, Kahlan would push her hips up and arch her back, moaning and screaming his name. She was so near the threshold that she was amazed she had not released already.

Richard rested his forehead against hers, and they looked into each other's eyes as they moved and thrived together, they wet bodies making contact at quicker and quicker intervals. Kahlan's mouth dropped and her breath became erratic as she felt her control loosening. Richard closed his eyes and groaned softly as he leaned forward to kiss her. His hands moved down from her hips to help hold her still, she was trembling with so much pleasure that she could understand his need to steady her.

His cheeks flushed and his jaw tensed. "Oh, Kahlan," he moaned as he leaned down to capture her lips, his eyes glazed over with indescribable pleasure. It almost looked as if he was taking some sort of drug, and that that drug was her. He was high on Kahlan.

Her own body tensed and her inner muscles was grasping and clutching at him as he moved inside her. Then it came, the power surged up and she lost control. Kahlan held him to her as she screamed in orgasmic ecstasy, calling his name, crying it so loud it engulfed all hearing.

Richard grunted and plunged himself deeper into her, shouting her name, his voiced laced with unadulterated love and pleasure. Kahlan felt his whole body tense and she smiled, blinking back from her release, feeling a warm sensation spill out into her insides. She tightened her legs around him holding him closer, wanting nothing more than to keep his seed inside her. She knew she had the necklace around her neck, and that it was spelled by Shota to keep her from conceiving, but just the same, she wanted to have his essence, his seed, deep within her, fighting against the vile magic to create a child.

He held himself up on his elbows and brushed her damp hair away from her moist forehead. Richard smiled and kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes, relishing the feel of his lips on her skin, as he danced them down, kissing her eyelids, and then planting a loving tender kiss on her lips.

Gently, he pried her legs apart and slipped out of her to rest down beside her. Kahlan closed her legs, crossing them, trying to keep anything from seeping out. She wanted his child so badly that she almost regretting wearing the necklace. But Richard was right; they would have plenty of time. They had a lifetime to build a future together, and she knew… she just knew that they would have children in that future.

Richard pulled her into his arms, and she rested her head on his heaving chest, as they both recovered from their mutual climaxes. His fingers danced down her back, tickling her spine. Her lips curled into a smile and she pushed herself on her elbow, using one hand to tuck her hair behind an ear.

"How soon until we can do that again?" she asked, smiling.

Richard chuckled and his whole body shook with amusement. "You're already ready for another round?"

Kahlan smiled and leaned forward until their noses were touching. "If you're having trouble," she smirked, her eyes gleaming with want. "I can help you." Her hand drifted down past his waist to grip him. Richard gave a low moan, as she began dancing her lips down his body, teasing him at his hard stomach, before brushing her breast against his growing excitement.

"Oh, spirits, Kahlan," he let out a gasp, as she opened her mouth and took him in.

She licked and moved her head up and down on his growing arousal. Kahlan lost herself in the erotic nature of what she was doing. With each motion, Richard, her husband, the man she loved, grew harder and harder. When he was fully awakened, Kahlan backed out and ran kisses down his length, laughing. "Am I that good?" she asked.

"No," Richard said, sitting up and pulling her up into his lap. "You're better!"

Kahlan moved her legs to straddle him, as Richard rested his back against the headboard. He ran his fingers through her hair, brushing it away from her face. He cupped her head in his hands and gazed at her with the love she had feared she had lost when he had gone to the Underworld. It was there now, and she knew she would never lose it again.

"I swear, Kahlan," he pledged, as he gazed at her, caressing her face. "As long as I live and in the world beyond, I will love you… for always."

"And I will always love you, my Seeker, my Lord Rahl… my Richard," Kahlan murmured and pressed against him, seizing his beckoning lips in a fierce kiss.

Richard wrapped his arms around her, his hands dropping to her rear as he helped to direct her into the proper position. As they backed away, she gently bit his lower lip, flicking her tongue out to tease him, before plunging back into him. She pressed her soft feminine body against his hard masculine one, and she felt his hardness twitch and stir against her belly.

She adjusted her legs and pushed herself slightly up off his lap. Kahlan trailed one hand down his chest and gripped him in her fingers, directing him towards her. Their eyes glued together and Richard held her, helping. Kahlan gasped as his hardness shot up into inside her. He bucked his hips and grinned at her response as she wiggled her hips around him, pressing herself down to him, taking him all the way in. She moved with him as they made love once more, clutching on to him and burying his head in her breasts as she rocked above him.

They stayed there, in the place that was hidden, for hours, making love, taking breaks only to rest so that they could recover enough energy to make love once again. Kahlan lost track of all the positions and times they made loved, but she knew that each time Richard brought her to climax. He was so attentive and caring, wanting her to reach pleasure before he sought his own.

Hidden in this place, the Mother Confessor and the Seeker of Truth, made fierce and passionate love to one another, not knowing whether it was still night or if the next day had dawned. It mattered not to them. They had long ago lost themselves in the pleasures of each other. When they finally ceased, each both two exhausted to even move, they laid curled in each other's arms.

Kahlan stirred in his arms, suddenly thinking of something. It had plagued her from the moment Nicci had given her that book and told her the words. And Zedd's response to it had been puzzling. She had a feeling Richard knew something about it, as well, but he had yet tell her. She hated having to intrude on this moment, but her mind would not rest until she had an answer.

"Richard?" Kahlan murmured softly, as her as her eyelids grew heavy.

He made a humming noise in response, and she could feel it reverberated down his throat and into his chest. "Yes, my beautiful Kahlan," he purred, tendering caressing her arms.

"What did those three names mean?"

THE END… or is it?


*Epilogue to follow.