Silk and Sand – Chapter 7
He was poised to push up into her. Kahlan could feel him against the folds of her opening. But, the moment she spoke, Rook froze above her, his eyes going wide as he stared deeply into hers. And that's how they stayed, staring at each other, seeing past the masks they wore. The audience, the music, it all drifted away and it was just the two of them.
"Ka—Kahlan?" he gasped.
"Yes," Kahlan murmured. "Richard?"
He lowered himself over her, bringing his face inches away from hers. She shivered slightly when she felt his hardness brush against her inner thigh. The laughter of the crowd pulled Kahlan from her focus, and she knitted her eyebrows, hoping that they were assuming that Rook was just taunting her about what he was about to do. No… not Rook… Richard… Oh, could it be her Richard?
Rook hovered over her, their masked faces inches away from one another. "Oh, spirits, I thought I lost you," it was his voice, and with his face closer, even hidden behind that ghastly mask, with his eyes staring into hers, Kahlan knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Rook was her Richard. She could tell by the way his arms tensed that he was fighting the urge to simply wrap her in his arms.
"Oh, Richard," Kahlan whimpered, her voice filling with joy at being reunited with him, even under the present circumstances. Then her cheeks blushed as she realized what she had done. She… she had touched Richard down there, felt him grow firm and hard in her hand. She had stimulated him, brought him to the aroused state he was now in. Her blush grew warmer as she felt said arousal pressing against her thighs as he leaned over her. Kahlan racked in a deep breath, opening up her senses and feeling the heat radiating off his naked body as he loomed over her. And… and he had touched her down there, in her special place. Spirits, his hand was still down there, touching her most private of places.
She blinked and looked up into his eyes, seeing his hidden smile reflected in his warm brown eyes. He released her wrists, allowing her to bring her hands down to her sides. She fought the urge to hug him in a fierce embrace, though she made her feeling plain in her eyes. "We… we can't let them know that we know each other," Kahlan forced out in a quick whisper, hating herself for saying it when she desperately wanted to touch him and be touched by him. She squirmed beneath him, feigning resistance and letting out soft cries that were elicited from vile things she pretended the personification of Rook was taunting her with. The audience seemed to buy it, because they were all laughing loudly.
Richard's other hand was still between her legs and she rolled her hips, encouraging him to continue touching her down there. She might have to feign anguish and terror, but she wanted to enjoy the feel of Richard entering her. He leaned back slightly, his eyes screaming confusion and worry. He gave a slight shake of his head, just enough that only she could notice. Beckoning with her eyes, she instructed him to lean back down.
"Grab my breast," she hissed softly when he did so.
"What?"
"You heard me," Kahlan almost snapped. "Richard… they're expecting us to perform for them. And make it look rough!"
"But Kahlan… I can't…," he gulped. "Spirits, you know I've wanted to do this for so long, but not like this, not now, with everyone watching. I… I wanted it to be special when… And what… what about your powers? I… I'd be confessed."
"They don't work here," she told him quickly. "I cannot confess you." It touched her heart that he wanted it to be special for her, but Kahlan understood the importance of surviving in a place like this. And her strength had just quadrupled with the knowledge that her Seeker was alive and well, not to mention poised to do that which she had always dreamt of him doing.
"Kahlan…," he murmured, pleading with her, though his hand had moved and he was cupping her breast, his thumb slowly caressing her soft flesh.
"No… just… just do it, Richard," she stammered, having already made up her mind. If this was the only time she could have Richard, even despite the circumstances and in the present company, Kahlan wanted him. "I'm not going to let this opportunity slip by, Richard," she spoke in a calmer voice. "I have wanted to give myself to you for so long, I have been aching for this. And… and I want you to do it, even if it cannot be special, as we both wish… at least we can finally be together." She paused and took a quick breath. "You will do as Betto commanded you to do, Seeker. You will ravish me like the Keeper did with the Creator in the beginning of all things."
There was a long pause, where all she could hear was the jabbering and laughter of the depraved people whom they were performing for. "If that is what you want, Kahlan, then… then I will do as you command, my… my Confessor," Richard relented, his hand caressing her breast. He squeezed, and though the act looked rough and hard, it was actually surprisingly gentle, and oh, how she enjoyed the feel of his hand on her flesh, especially with the way his thumb teased her nipple.
"Before we do this, Kahlan," Richard leaned closer to her, lowering his voice even more. "I must tell you something." She nodded and waited. "I… I love you, Kahlan Amnell."
"I love you, too, Richard Cypher," she murmured back.
Her heart seemed to burst with joy at hearing him say those words. Richard was probably the first man to ever truly fall in love with a confessor before becoming confessed. Spirits, there was even a part of Kahlan that thought that maybe… just maybe, his love might be strong enough to overcome her powers. She had even allowed herself to hope beyond hope that Richard could find a way past her powers. But now, here they were, in the Angress Valley, surrounded by a negative field that negated all her powers just as effective as a Rada'Han would. It was at the moment, with Richard looming over her, preparing to enter her, that Kahlan suddenly remembered that the mysterious ore that those magical collars were made of came from the mountains that loomed over this very valley.
"Now…," Kahlan turned her voice more serious, despite the burning desire and wanton need that was rising in her chest. "We must convince them that I am not a willing participant… even if I secretly am."
She winked and cried out, pushing him back, her fingernails drawing blood. Kahlan winced when she saw the blood drip from his chest; she had not intended that. She mouthed sorry before she remembered that the mask covered her lips. However, looking through the eyeholes in the snarling Keeper mask Richard wore, she could tell that he understood, and was not injured—at least emotionally—from her scratch, understanding that they needed to put on an act.
Initially, when Kahlan found out that Rook was Richard, her first thought had been that they needed to escape. But then she had reminded herself that they were in a packed room and that, though Necor was an honorable man, the same could not be said for the other guards. So, Kahlan had decided that she would have that which she had wanted since she had met Richard. Him.
The crowd laughed as she and Richard feigned a struggle. "See… what did I say, she's a fighter!" Vintell roared, elbowing Betto.
Richard grabbed her kicking legs and steadied them as she thrashed beneath him, groaning and crying out in fake terror. However, she made sure that she kept her knees away from his groin. She did not want to injure him, especially since she was going to take this one shot to finally be with him, even if she had to do so while pretending she was being raped for the amusement of the degenerates who were watching them.
There was also a part of her that was a little turned on by their role-playing. She could already feel a wet warmth coalescing between her legs, something that she had only ever felt since she had met Richard and begun daydreaming about him. Richard grappled her legs with his, holding them still. Kahlan wiggled a bit, not really trying to get away, because she actually wanted it. Her heart was pounding with excitement at the feel of Richard resting himself between her thighs. She had longed to feel this, and even though it was not under the best circumstances, she was glad to be feeling it now. He grabbed her arms and held them to her sides. Kahlan relished the feel of her breasts pressing up against his bare chest as he leaned over her.
"Are you ready?" he breathed out in a fast whisper.
"I… I don't know?" Kahlan gulped, suddenly remembering that she knew nothing about sex except that Richard would be inserting himself into her. She was worried she would not be pleasing to him.
Richard shifted her arms, holding her wrists in one hand—for show—as he backed off her a bit, slipping his free hand between them, feeling her femininity. Kahlan shivered with delight when his fingers touched her, and she could swear by the glint in Richard's warm brown eyes that he was smiling at her reaction.
"Oh, trust me, you're ready," he replied, his eyes beaming at her.
"Then do it, my Seeker," Kahlan murmured. "Make me yours."
"You have no idea how long I've waited to hear you tell me that, Kahlan," Richard whispered back. His hand came back up and he gripped her as she squirmed for the show.
A tingle ran up her spine as she felt him brush against her folds. Then ever so gently, Richard pushed himself past her threshold, breaking her barrier. Kahlan involuntarily gasped, and it must have been loud because the crowd cheered for Rook's success. She squinted as tears escaped from her eyes, feeling the pain of her barrier being broken. Kahlan could have endured the pain, even if it had not been Richard. But it made it easier to do so, knowing the man above her was Richard, the man she had longed to be her first and only.
Richard leaned over her, moving his hand up her arm, secretly rubbing it tenderly. "Are you all right?" he shot out in a whisper.
She sniffled and gave a slight nod, barely visible, but just enough that he could see. She heard him take a deep breath and he moved his hand, gripping her side. Slowly, he pushed himself even further into her. Kahlan felt her body tremble and quiver, the pain seemed to increase for a second and then it was suddenly gone. Richard backed his hips up, groaning slightly before thrusting himself back into her.
Kahlan caught her breath, feeling his length push up into her. Almost instinctively, she commanded her inner muscles to clench around him. Richard let out a low throaty groan and she glimpsed his eyes fog with pleasure. She relaxed her muscles and let him continue to move. Her hands felt useless as they just laid at her side. She no longer wanted to fake a struggle against this, even if the people were watching. As the pain of her barrier being broken had subsided, it had been replaced by the slow rising sensations of pleasure. Kahlan wanted to bask in the feel of Richard inside her. It had been a feeling she had longed to feel ever since she had begun to fall in love with him. As Richard continued to thrust himself back and forth within her, Kahlan let out a soft whimpering moan, feeling the first stirrings of the physical pleasure she had often heard normal women speak of.
Her cheeks flushed and her breath grew heavy as her heart quickened in pace, causing her chest to heave. Richard let go of her arms, and moved his hand to her breast, keeping his other hand on her side, holding her. Kahlan arched her neck, looking through the eyeholes of the mask, watching as his large hand massaged and squeezed her breasts. Throwing her head back, Kahlan sucked in a deep breath. She had no idea what it would have felt like if Rook had not been Richard, but the pain had only been temporary, only lasting for about a minute or so. And with each one of Richard's movements, her insides screamed with pleasure, causing her mind to become fogged with a kind of bliss she had never felt before. She heard Richard groan softly, and she smiled behind her mask, hoping that that was a sign that she was pleasing to him.
"Flip her over, Rook!" Betto's shout reminded Kahlan that they had an audience, and that this was not the ideal time to lose one's self in the ecstasy of physical love. "Take her from behind!"
Richard cocked his head and nodded, pretending to be the loyal arena champion. He lowered himself over Kahlan. "You're not resisting enough, Kahlan," he told her in a low whisper. "Remember…?"
"I… I… okay… I'll try," she managed to choke out, still overwhelmed at how perfectly Richard seemed to fit inside her. It was hard to think clearly, especially when everything the Seeker did, either with his hands on her chest or between her legs, caused her to go numb with pleasure. She let out a soft whimper when he pulled himself out of her. Her eyes flirted around and she noticed Vintell and some of the others jostle for position to see her femininity and the virgin's blood. She swallowed in disgust, but then Richard's hands turned her attention away from those vile creatures.
Gripping her hips in feigned roughness, Richard spun her around, pushing her head into the pads on the bench and pulling her silver-painted bottom up into the air. Kahlan did her best to make it look like she was resisting, kicking her legs, until Richard pushed them down, using his own legs to lock them in place. He grabbed the back of her neck with his hand, and gently pushed her down, though they both made it look like he was being rougher than he actually was. Kahlan let out a scream when he thrust himself back into her. She knew that Richard was not hurt by the feigned anguish and pain in the scream, because she squeezed at him with her inner muscles when he pulled back in his thrust, letting him know that she was enjoying what he was doing, even if she had to pretend otherwise.
Richard's hands snaked around her body and grabbed her breasts. Planting her knees into the pads of the bench, Richard pulled at her until her back was pressed up against his hard chest. He rested his masked head on her silver-painted shoulder and continued taking her from behind. Kahlan moaned softly, just loud enough for only Richard to hear as he released one of her breasts and let his hand drift down her body to her femininity. She had no idea what he was doing, but he touched her down there in such a way that it made her quiver. His touches stirred sensations that were eerily similar to that of the release of her powers. But she knew it was not her powers, because that feeling started in the pit of her stomach and clenched her chest before she released it. This feeling just seemed to coalesce and mix together between her legs, while also causing her cheeks to flush. She bit her lower lip as she felt a wetness drip down her inner thighs. Kahlan had no doubt that her pale skin was flushing bright pink beneath the silver paint from her arousal and sexual pleasure.
"Richard… what… what are you doing to me?" she murmured between breaths, just loud enough for him to hear.
"Have you never pleasured yourself?" Richard whispered back in a husky voice as he continued to pound his hips against her backside.
"No… no."
Richard chuckled softly. "Then this is all new to you? All right…," he took a shallow breath, pausing briefly in his movements, having pushed himself as deep as possible from this position. "I'm helping to stimulate you to climax, Kahlan. I want you to reach release as well."
Kahlan's eye grew wide. She liked the sound of that, however, she did not think it was wise. "Richard… that might not be a good idea," she informed him in panting breaths as he continued his motions.
"Huh?" he grunted.
"Remember, as far as they are concerned, I am being raped," Kahlan muttered. "If… if I release, they may figure out that we know each other."
"I… I don't care, Kahlan," Richard huffed, his voice a little too loud. Her eyes darted across the audience, hoping none of them had heard. Thankfully the music in the background was loud enough to hide their words, and their masks covered their moving lips.
"All… all right," Kahlan relented with a shudder, letting herself go, enjoying what he was doing to her.
Oh, how she loved it when his hips made contact with her bottom as he thrust up into her. Spirits, she was fighting the urge to move her hand to rest it over the hand that was holding her breasts. And oh, how she wished she could kiss him, making the act they were doing more intimate and meaningful, even if they were performing for degenerates. But since they were performing, Kahlan would give them a show.
She tried to move away from Richard, but he gripped her tight. "The paint's smudging," he chuckled quietly in her ear, pulling back almost all the way before shoving himself back up into her, causing her entire body to quake with delight.
"Well, you smell terrible," she joked back, panting. "Whose idea was it to plaster you in filth and mud?"
"Who do you think? The Consul," Richard answered, bringing his hand up to her throat—while keeping the other between her legs—faking a choke hold on her to make her comply. Kahlan obediently let out a loud whimper of anguish. "He thought it would be amusing for me to be covered in such filth since I would be defiling a vir—" his voice cut off and he stopped his movements. "Spirits, Kahlan… I… I…"
"Shh," Kahlan hissed, noticing the glances of Betto and Vintell. "It's all right. I wanted you… I've wanted you since the moment we met. Do not worry. I want you. I want you even now, when we are being watched and made to perform for these sick people."
"Oh spirits, Kahlan… I love you," Richard groaned into her ear and continued humping her. Kahlan shivered, feeling the cold metal of his mask brush against her bare shoulder.
Richard's hand around her throat tensed, and she knew he must be approaching his release. She looked around, feeling guilty for not relishing the moment of connection between her and Richard as she worried about the people around them. Kahlan knew that for them to be safe, these degenerates needed to be pleased with the performance. So, Kahlan reckoned that Richard needed to last longer.
"Richard…," she stammered out through soft moans of pleasure, still trying to find a balance between her own pleasure and the fake cries of anguish and terror she was supposed to be making. "We… we need to make it last longer. Tell… tell me what to do to help."
"Spirits, Kahlan… I don't know if I can last any longer," Richard groaned into her ear. "It's been so long since I've been with a woman and finally to have you… it… it's overwhelming."
"You… you have to slow down," Kahlan whimpered feeling him pound into her backside. "And… and you might have to stop trying to pleasure me." She hated telling him that, knowing by the groan he made that he wanted to do nothing else but please her. But Kahlan knew that these people were not expecting to see her react at all in pleasure. To them, she was an unwilling participant, and they would grow confused if she should let her true feelings of being in the heat of rapture manifest.
"Kahlan?" his voice was pleading as he slowed his movements.
"I… I know you want to please me," she whispered back quickly, wanting to end the conversation. Kahlan was noticing that Betto was beginning to grow suspicious with how long they had been holding this position. "But for our survival, you must. Do… do it for me, Richard. Do it for us."
"Yes… yes, my Confessor," Richard whispered softly, so that only she would hear.
His hand moved away from her special place and he grabbed her breast, squeezing it. He pushed her face down into the padded cushion and shoved himself deeper into her. Behind the mask, Kahlan's face contorted in pleasure at the feel of Richard's length pushing into her depths, though she managed to let out a horrific scream that convinced the audience that she was in terror.
"He certainly has a long threshold, this Rook," Vintell said, nodding with approval. "But I grow tired. Tell him to finish with her. My wife and I wish to start our own entertainment soon."
Betto gave a nod. "Rook!" he shouted. "Stop fooling around. Get it over with. Seed the bitch!"
Richard growled in response, slipping himself out of her and flipping her over. He pressed her back into the cushions and yanked her legs apart. Kahlan looked up through the eyeholes and looked past the hideous snarling mask into Richard's eyes. His hands caressed her silver-painted legs and he thrust himself into her. He loomed over her, moving with purpose. Kahlan obediently whimpered and moaned in despair and misery, though in truth she was relishing every second of it, and she made sure to tell Richard with her eyes.
He grabbed her hips, ceasing her squirming and pounded into her, thrusting himself as deep as possible. Kahlan felt him tense and then a warm feeling erupted inside her. Richard's shoulders stiffened and he let out a low groan before collapsing on top of her.
"Ah!" Betto cheered and pounced up onto the stage. "Planting his seed within the fertile womb of the Creator, the Keeper has fulfilled his role in the creation of life." He clapped his hands in the air and the flutes and drums did a little tune. Betto arched his head back to them and grinned. "Excellent performance, Rook," he winked. "Perhaps you will like to entertain her some more once you have had time to bathe."
Underneath the mask, Kahlan smiled, liking the idea. She conveyed this to Richard by squeezing his still hard manhood with her inner muscles. He groaned slightly, just loud enough that only she heard.
"Yes, I would like that very much, Master," Richard said, leaning back and slipping out of her. "You are most kind and generous."
Betto nodded, seemingly pleased with himself, and turned back to the audience. "Now, for the rest of the evening's entertainment! My slaves will escort you to the proper rooms. Enjoy! Enjoy!"
The crowd applauded and begun to buzz about, eager to move on to the other part of the evening's activities. Some of the men passed by them, squinting and arching their necks, trying to get a glimpsed of her ravaged femininity. Kahlan shuddered and curled up, doing her best to look like a terrified victim of rape. Richard stood up off the bench, his shoulders tensing, and Kahlan got the feeling he was contemplating snapping Betto's neck. Before the Master of the House turned back to them, Kahlan grabbed Richard's hand and caught his attention, shaking her head, telling him not to do anything.
As the group dispersed, Betto jumped off the platform and summoned Necor. The fair-haired guard came up with Esser and Helios. He pounded his fist to his chest. "Master?"
"Rook performed well," Betto said, grinning. "He has earned the reward of company for the rest of the night." He hooked his thumb over his shoulder and pointed to Kahlan. "Let him have Kaya for the rest of the evening. We'll see if he can soften her up. I have plans for her."
Necor pounded his fist to his chest in salute and bowed his head. "As you command, Master."
"Good," Betto wrinkled his nose and looked at Richard. "Take them to the bath, they can have the room to themselves. I'm sure Rook is looking forward to doing more intimate things with his Creator." He laughed and then strolled off to speak with his other employees and household slaves.
Necor stepped forward and stood before the platform. "You heard the Master, Rook," he said, glaring at Richard. "You get to spend some more time with her. Go with Helios to the baths."
Richard nodded and glanced over his shoulder at Kahlan. His eyes told her that he was looking forward to seeing her alone in the baths. Kahlan did her best to continue the display of a violated victim, curling up in the fetal position and ignoring Rook's stare. Richard hopped off the platform and followed Helios and Esser out. When the room was empty, Necor stepped up onto the platform and knelt beside Kahlan.
"I'm so sorry, Kaya," he mumbled. "It appears you're evening is not over yet. The Master has promised Rook that he can have you for the rest of the night."
Kahlan darted her eyes around, seeing if they were truly alone. When she was convinced that they were, she spoke: "Good."
"What? Kaya, are you alright?" Necor furrowed his brow as he reached behind her head and untied the ribbon. He removed the mask from her face and gaped her face, reading her expression. "Rook. You… you know him?"
Swallowing past the uncertainty, Kahlan squinted up at Necor as he helped her sit up. With the mask off, her true emotions were made apparent, and to be honest, she was still overwhelmed with finally having been given the opportunity, no matter the circumstances, to be with Richard. She quickly ran through the decisions, weighing the pros and cons. In the end, Kahlan decided she was going to have to trust Necor. Out of all the people she had met in this place, he was the most trustworthy and honorable.
"Yes," Kahlan spoke softly in a confident and firm voice, nodding. "I know him."
Necor gaped at her. "How?"
"We… we were captured together," Kahlan answered. "He is the man I love, the man I thought I would never get to see again."
"Really? You're not just telling me this to ease my conscience?" Necor asked, looking dubious as he helped her stand.
Kahlan laughed slightly. "Yes, really. Rook… well, his name is not really Rook—"
"The Master gave him that name after he saw him fight," Necor interjected.
"Yes, well, he is quite a fighter," Kahlan grinned, her eyes brightening.
"So it was all an act?" he questioned, removing his cloak and draping it over her shoulders. "The screams and moans of agony and despair…" Necor's eyes were watery. "I… I believed them. It was hard to watch."
Kahlan went stone-faced. "I… I was unaware we were that convincing," she said. "I'm sorry you had to suffer through that… Rich—" she paused, not knowing if she should use the Seeker's name just yet. "Um… Rook, he wanted to please me, but I told him that we had to focus more on the display." A grin formed on her face. "But now that Betto's given me to him for the evening I know he cannot wait to show me what he has longed to showed me since the day we met."
Necor blushed slightly, placing a tender hand on her arm. "Then, Kaya, despite the circumstances, I'm happy for you, that your first time was with a man you loved and not someone else."
"Thank you," Kahlan inclined her head, tugging the cloak tighter around her.
"Now," Necor grinned, stepping off the stage and offering her his hand. "Let us get you to the bath so you can spend more time with your love."
Kahlan beamed. "Yes, please, let's do."