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Rahl woke up while the sun was at its highest point in the sky. He felt refreshed and rejuvenated, and the pain in his shoulder from the night before was nearly gone. He saw Kristina focusing in her needlework and realized she had not left his side while he had slept. Rahl's mind was clearer than it had been a few hours ago and he knew what he had to do. He had a plan and the situation with the Seeker might end up in his favor after all.
Rahl rose and splashed some water on his face. Kristina remained engrossed in her embroidery, but he could see her holding back tears. Rahl stood next to her but she ignored him as he gently brushed away the tears that had escaped onto her cheeks. Rahl took the needle and the cloth from her hands and led her to the bed. Kristina continued to cry silently but was compliant. What happened next shocked her more than anything.
"What's wrong." whispered Rahl, "Tell me, let me help you." Rahl did not know why, but he had an intense desire to ease her pain before he continued with his plan to kill the Seeker and recapture the boxes of Orden.
Kristina only sobbed harder at his attempt to help and buried her face in his chest. Rahl wrapped his arms around her trying to comfort her. Rahl felt these strange emotions that he had never felt before. Equally confused and afraid of what she was feeling Kristina could not stop crying. She realized that this attention, this comfort was what she had wanted. Rahl was the one who had caused her so much pain, but he was also helping take some of it away.
Kristina decided to confide in Rahl. She needed to talk to somebody even if that person was her oppressor. "I can't do this." she said softly, the words tumbling out. "I can't take the pain and the confinement, so I chose to be good and to do as you asked of me just to make things a little bit easier so you wouldn't punish me. But I made sure to still hate you. Now, even that is too much, it's too difficult because I am too weak. I am so tempted to just become... become someone else. It's hard to explain... What I mean is if I make myself into someone who cares about you then my whole life will cease to be torture. I would want to do everything you told me, and the pain would go away. I would want to live in this castle. I would..." she looked away. "I would be able to withstand the nights. But that is a coward's way out. I would be giving up the pain but also my dignity. That would be the ultimate surrender, and I don't know how I could live with myself after that, but I don't know how much longer I will be able to resist." Kristina felt a sense of relief in finally being able to vocalize her conflicting, tumultuous emotions.
Rahl did not know quite what to make of this. He should not care about her pain. Rather, he should relish in it and use the fact that she confided in him to further hurt her. However, he truly wanted to help her, but he did not know how. So he just held her. Rahl was overcome with a strange longing and he kissed her, not with his usual urge to dominate but with a true passion. This time Kristina kissed him back. She, on the other hand, was overcome with anger, with power. She was determined to make him pay in the only was she could. Her only power lay in his attraction to her. She rolled over so that she was on top of him and smirked with the knowledge that she would take back a modicum of control at least for a few moments. Rahl saw her smiling wickedly and smiled himself. The Seeker could wait. Kristina would be worth it.
Kristina kissed him with an anger he mistook for passion. She roughly unbuttoned his shirt and quickly pulled off his pants. She continued to kiss him while leisurely taking off her dress. Wearing only a corset she unlaced it slowly, teasing him. Rahl wanted her urgently and her stalling was unbearable. This was her goal: to drive him crazy. She finally undressed and straddled him. Kristina paused for a moment enjoying her sensuality; she felt like a real woman. Intoxicated with her power, Kristina sank back then moved back up to Rahl's mouth while her breasts skimmed over his bare stomach. Rahl let out a moan of need but she would not satisfy his ultimate desire.
Kristina ran her hands all over his body tracing him with her fingertips. Her hands stroked him as he became completely aroused. He grabbed at her urgently as she brought her breasts up to his hungry mouth. He took the opportunity to pleasure her as his lips traced over her breasts. This time she was the one moaning with pleasure.
He rolled over her and kissed her; moving his kisses lower to her breasts and lower still. She kissed her between her legs and stroked her with his fingers as well. He brought her pleasure unlike anything she had ever known. Unbelievably sweet, it blossomed between her legs, growing until she climaxed in a burst of sweetness that flooded her entire body. Panting she fell back against the bed. Her plan to dominate him had failed but she did not care. She was ready for him. He entered her gently making her feel full, satisfied. Together they rode mountains of pleasure, reaching their peaks at exactly the same moment. They were utterly connected in the deepest way possible. Spent, they fell asleep in each others' arms.