They moved quickly, Kahlan leading as she pushed herself farther, trying to put distance between herself and the castle. She stopped suddenly, causing Richard to bump into her. "What's wrong?" he asked stepping back from her. "I'm sorry Richard." she said softly, turning around to face him. "I shouldn't have said anything before." she avoided his eyes, looking at his chest. "It's alright Kahlan. I understand." her eyes moved to his, "You were hurt, upset and I-" she shook her head, "I didn't understand. I don't understand why you didn't want me." taking a deep breath, she stepped backwards, "Richard, that may have been the only time we could..." she didn't finish. she didn't have to. He stared at her, he felt horrible for making her feel like he didn't want her. "All I could think was that you didn't want someone who had been..." she closed her eyes, holding back the tears "I was so hurt." she said softly, her hands holding onto her skirt, giving her some security. "Then, when we were escaping and I saw that guard," she opened her eyes, red from the tears, "All their faces came flooding back. All I could think of was what they had done to me and then I thought..." tears were falling heavily down her cheeks as she spoke, her voice no more than a soft whisper. "How could you ever want me after someone else has had me?" she could barely breath, the color was draining from her face as she tried to take deeper breaths. She could no longer keep eye contact, she looked quickly to the ground ashamed. "Kahlan, I love you. What they did to you does not change that." he stepped closer, reaching up, he placed his hand under her chin, lifting her face to him. "What they did to you, raping you, does not make me want you any less." he sighed "It upsets me, makes me angry that you, the woman I love, had to endure that kind of horror. Kahlan, right now, this moment, I would gladly make love with you. I would gladly show you how much I care for you."
He cupped her face, his thumb wiping the tears from her cheeks, "I was being selfish." "What?" he asked, reaching for her as she pulled away. "Richard, I have never... They were the first to ever touch me." she wiped the tears from her face, taking another step back, "I was being selfish. I didn't want to remember the first time like that." his heart broke at her words, he had forgotten that the Kahlan he had made love to on the forest floor had not been his Kahlan and when Zedd brought her back he had discovered it was a completely different woman. "I thought if you and I were to be together, I would remember it with you." she took in a deep breath, "I was being selfish, I didn't think about what you wanted." he grabbed her hands, "I want you." he said softly, "I always want you. Kahlan, there's not a moment that passes by that i don't want to grab you and make love to you." he smiled, trying to show her the truth of his words. "Every time I see you I fall even more in love with you and when I think I can't possibly love you any more... I find out how wrong I am. You're smile drives my heart, your laugh helps me to breathe and your touch is my life." she quickly wiped the tears from her face before she grabbed him.
Her lips collided with his, all the passion overbearing the fear. Her fingers entangled in his hair, her body pressed flush against his, begging him to take her. His hand traveled over her back, slowly moving down lower, his hands traced the bottom of her corset, following it around to her stomach. He broke their kiss long enough for him to look down at her as he unlaced the corset. She was surprised at how quick he was able to unlace it. "I told you I've thought about this." he said, with a smile, answering her minds question.. her corset fell to the ground, exposing her chest to the wool wind, she pulled at his shirt, removed it from his body and tossed it to the ground. He pulled her back to him, her chest pressed firmly against his, warming them. His lips moved with hers, his hands explored her back, tracing his fingers along her spine. She arched her chest into his as his lips moved over her jaw and down her neck.
Moving his lips to her shoulder, his tongue dipped around her collarbone. She moaned at the feel of his tongue on her skin, her hands gripping his hair tightly, holding his head in place. Hearing her moan, he ran his tongue over her chest, before covering her breasts in warm, wet kisses. Her breathing turned to pants as her need grew stronger "Richard," she gasped out. She could feel him smile against her skin before he gave her chest one final kiss. "Spirits!" she gasped out softly as he ran his hands down her stomach to her skirt.
She grabbed his hands instantly, reality pounding into her, stopping him, she pulled back "We can't." she said as she tried to catch her breath. "I should not have started this." she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to cover her chest as she backed away from him. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I did that." she said trying to keep herself from crying at the heartbreak she saw in his eyes. "It's fine Kahlan." he said softly, bending down, he picked up his shirt and her corset, "Here." she took her corset and turned quickly to dress.
Richard didn't take his eyes off of her, his heart still pounding from the passion flowing through him. Her hands shook as she finished lacing her corset, her mind wishing she hadn't stopped him. "We should find Cara and Zedd." she said just as she finished. She turned towards him, her eyes focused on the ground, "Kahlan," she looked up, meeting his eyes. "It's alright." "No, it's not. You know what I almost did you to. I could feel it slipping." she took in a deep breath, "I didn't want you to stop. I never want you to stop, but I could feel my hold on my power slipping. I almost destroyed you." he smiled, dropped his shirt to the ground and walked towards her. "Kahlan, you can't destroy me. I'm sure of it." shaking her head, she sighed "I would destroy everything that you are. The man you are, that i love, would be gone." his smile widened "I don't think so, Kahlan, I already love you more than anything. There is nothing in me for your power to take." a small smile crossed her lips "I wish that was possible." "I am sure of it. My love for you would protect me." "Richard, it's not possible. If we were to-" "We could test it. Right now." she laughed, "And if you're wrong?" his heart swelled at the sound of her laugh "I'm not wrong." he said confidently.
His arms were around her, his forehead resting against hers, "If you are, you know I will kill myself to release you. I can't bare to live with you as my slave." he pulled back, looking her in the eyes "It's not easy is it? Having someone else's life in your hands." he stared at her, his mind racing over the thought of her dying for him. "You're not so sure now are you?" she asked softly, an eyebrow raised at his expression. "I'm still sure.: he said softly, "I am very sure." She stared into his eyes for a moment, trying to find some doubt. She found nothing. "I love you." he stated softly, "And, I love you." she leaned up, her lips lightly touching his, her arms wrapping around his neck, she pulled him to her.
"Richard? Kahlan?" A voice called from the trees causing them to turn. "Dear spirits! Are you both okay?" Zedd called coming into view, followed closely by Cara. Kahlan pulled her hands from Richards and ran to Zedd, wrapping her arms tightly around around him. "Are you both alright?" he asked looking from Richard, who was putting his shirt back on, down to Kahlan, who nodded against his chest slowly, but didn't pull away. "We heard you had been taken by Prince Hayden. How did you escape?" he asked as Richard walked towards them. "We had help." "What happen?" Cara asked staring at Kahlan, who still clung tightly to Zedd.
"We were held in his dungeon." Kahlan said quickly, pulling away from Zedd and turning towards Cara. "He asked us where Nicci was." she added, moving to sit on the ground. "Why would they want to know where she was?" Cara asked, looking at Richard, who shook his head. "You were gone for days and all they wanted to know where Nicci is?" Cara asked looking down at Kahlan. "Yes." "That was it? They just asked you questions?" "Yes." Kahlan said quickly, looking up at her. "Fine. Don't tell us what happened." she replied tossing a pack at Richard. "Your bedrolls are in there." she said pulling her own pack off her shoulders and pulling out her bedroll. By the time Zedd and Cara had set up to sleep, Kahlan was already laying on her bed roll, facing away from them all. Richard sat a few feet away, starting a fire and constantly looking over to her.
"What's wrong with her?" Cara asked softly as she sat beside Richard. "It's not for me to say." he replied looking past her to Kahlan. "What did they do to her?" she asked, following her gaze. "It's non of your business!" he half shouted. Cara blinked at his anger, he never lost his tempter with her. "They-" Cara stopped when Richard's eyes filled with anger. She turned to look at Kahlan, who was clinging tightly to the blanket Zedd had placed over her. "Why didn't you stop them?" Cara said turning back to Richard, confused. "I tired! There was nothing I could have done." she shook her head. "You should have found a way." She looked to him, "You don't know what she will go through now." Zedd said sitting up on his bedroll. "Richard, she will never forget this." Richard nodded as his grandfathers words. "Nether will I!" he said turning away from them, looking down at Kahlan. "You don't know what they did to her." he said softly "And you do?" Cara asked. He closed his eyes and fell to his knees. "I tried to get to her. I couldn't break free. I tried over and over as one after another came for her." he said, tears falling to the ground. "I told them everything I knew and it wasn't enough."
They stared at him, shocked by his words. "She needed me and I couldn't save her." he added as he crawled slowly to Kahlan's side. She jumped at his touch, "It's just me." he said softly, wrapping his arm around her waist, he looked down at her face. She had been awake, listening to them, the tear strokes giving her away. She hadn't fully understood how terrible he felt about it all until now. "I'm sorry." he said softly into her ear, his hand gently tracing up and down her arm. She squeezed her eyes shut, "I can't sleep." she said softly as she grabbed his arm and held it as she rolled onto her other side, facing him. He looked away from her eyes as Cara walked past them, "Kahlan, without you, I don't know what I would do. I-" Her lips pressed hard against his, her hands entangling into his hair, pushing him backwards as she moved over him. He didn't hesitate, his arms wrapped around her, holding her tightly against him.
She needed him, her body cried for his touch, his love. All thoughts leaving her as she lost herself in their kiss. Pulling his shirt over his head, she sat up, her knees holding her up, quickly she pulled at the lacing of her corset. Her eyes locked on his, the desire she saw in them adding to her own. Slowly his eyes moved from hers, trailing down her body, his mouth open, reminding him to breathe. Just as her corset was about to fall to the ground, he grabbed it, holding it in place. She looked down at him confused, he smiled reassuringly, "We shouldn't do this here." with his free hand, he pointed behind her to Zedd. Kahlan turned slowly, her cheeks warming as she reached down for her blanket and pulling it over her, wrapping herself in it.
With a sigh, she moved off of him, facing away from him, once again, she re-laced her corset. "Kahlan, we can go into the-" "No. This was a bad idea." she said pulling the blanket back around her. "It's not a ba-" she turned towards him, her eyes wet. "It is. We can never do this." he sat forward, inching closer to her, "We can, Kahlan, right now, let's go into the trees." she stared at him, his eyes pleading with her, begging her to listen to him. She could feel her heart pounding as she thought about it, her body was trembling with desire, her eyes staring into his, "I can't." she said softly "I don't want to hurt you." she added louder "You wouldn't hurt me, Kahlan." he said moving to his knees and moving to her. "I love you. I've given myself to you, willingly. There is nothing I wouldn't do to please you. You could tell me to jump off that cliff over there and I would. Not because you have stolen my soul, but because I love you. I would do anything you ask of me." He took her hands in his, gently caressing them as he spoke. "Anything." she stared at him, her mind so full of fear, she could barely think straight. "Please, just, hold me?" she said, tears streaming down her cheeks, he moved quickly, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly as he laid down slowly.
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The sun was bright, seemingly eracing the events of the past few days. Kahlan smiled as she prepared breakfast for the others, humming softly to herself. Richard couldn't take his eyes off of her, her smile always took his breath away. She looked up, meeting his eyes, "Hungry?" he nodded as he stood and walked towards her, being sure to step around Zedd, who was snoring loudly. Kneeling down beside her, he took the bowl from her, his hands lingering over hers for a moment, his head leaning towards hers, their lips touching lightly. "Do you two ever keep any distance from each other?" Cara's voice came from behind them, causing Kahlan and Richard to pull apart. "Cara, you have the worst timing." Richard said with a sigh, bringing a smile to Kahlan's face. "Zedd's timing is worse." she said, standing with a laugh. "You should be glad it was me who interrupted. If the wizard woke to the sight of you two, he would never leave you alone together." Cara walked to them, "You two should get cleaned up. You could wash each others backs." she smirked. "She's right Richard. We should clean up." she smiled widely, hoping they would be alone long enough to test his theory. He dropped the bowl to the ground and stood quickly, taking Kahlan's hand he started off through the tree. "Keep Zedd here!" he called over his shoulder as they disappeared through the trees.
Richard pulled her to him, his lips immediately hitting hers as she pulled at his shirt. Their clothes were removed quickly, their bodies begging for more contact. Pushing her backwards, she leaned against a large tree, her head falling back as his lips moved to her chest. She held his head in place, her back arching forward into his mouth. His hands moved slowly over her side, taking his time enjoying her silky skin. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she pulled him closer, her body slightly shaking with need.
"Get her!" Richard turned quickly, Kahlan falling to the ground, grabbed his shirt and held it over herself. "We don't want you Seeker. We only want your Confessor." Prince Hayden said taking a step towards them. "I will not let you take her." Richard declared angrily. "Either we take her and kill you or you both get dressed and come quietly." "What do you want with her?" he down to Kahlan, who was clinging to his shirt. "We need her to confess a few-" "No." Richard said quickly, looking back to Hayden. "As I said before, I will take her with me. You, on the other hand, have a choice. Death or simply come along." as he finished, several men came from the brush, surrounding them. "Make your choice now Seeker." Hayden said as the men came in closer. Richard wished he had brought his sword, anything to protect her. "Richard," he looked down to Kahlan, who was handing him his pants, her eyes on the ground. "I can't go without you." he could hear the desperation in her voice and see the fear in her eyes. "I'm not going to leave you." taking his pants, he turned towards the prince. "I'm coming with her." "Very well." He turned to his men, "When they are dressed, tie them up, I don't want to risk them escaping again." His men smiled widely, "No one touches The Mother Confessor." he said loudly as he grabbed the arm of one of his men, making his way to her.
"You alright Kahlan?" he asked softly leaning sideways towards her. She didn't look at him, she stared straight a head at the prince. "No." she said softly. "I'm not going to let them hurt you." she turned to him, a small smile on her lips. "I know." he smiled and walked closer to her, their shoulders touching as they continued on. "Richard?" Kahlan said coming to a stop "Maybe you shouldn't come." "What?" he stopped and turned towards her, "If you go back, you can tell Zedd and Cara what happened." he shook his head and pushed on her shoulder, trying to get her to walk again, "No, I'm not going to leave you." she pushed back, "Richard, if you don't tell them, we may never get out again." she took a deep breath "You still have a quest. You have to go back." "No!" he said loudly, not caring if they were heard "I am not going to leave you." a tear rolled down her cheek as she stared into his eyes, "I don't want you to get hurt." she said softly, looking a head of them at the men, now staring at them. "Keep moving!" Prince Hayden shouted over his shoulder "If you two don't start moving, I will have my men do what they please with your lovely Confessor." Richard's knuckles went white, as he tightened his fists in anger. Kahlan sighed, turned and walked towards Hayden.
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"Where's Richard?" Kahlan asked as she was shoved into one of the castles bedrooms. "You are about to be reunited." Prince Hayden said before closing the door. She grabbed the handle, trying to open it "It's not going to open." she spun around to his voice, her heart relieved to hear him. He was laying on the bed, his hands tied to the headboard above his head. "I've already tried." "Are you alright?" she asked moving to his side, "I'm fine. Are you alright?" she smiled a small smile, "I am fine." After untying his wrists, she leaned forward, hugging him. "I was so afraid I wasn't going to see you again." his arms wrapped tightly around her, pulling her onto the bed next to him. "You can't get rid of me easily." he replied as she snuggled into his embrace. "What happened?" she sighed at his question, she wished he hadn't asked. "I did what I had to." his right hand hugged tighter around her waist, while his left ran up and down her arm. "It doesn't make any sense. Why would he want you to confess anyone?" "He wanted information on Nicci." she moved her hand over his chest, lifting herself onto her elbow "She no longer works for The Keeper. He wants to find her and kill her." Richard's breath caught in his throat. "I think the prince knew her." their eyes met instantly, "What?" Kahlan nodded, "He doesn't want to kill her. He told The Keeper he hadn't learned where she is." "And he does?" she nodded, "I confessed a Sister of the Dark, she gave him everything."
"Kahlan, you were gone for hours..." she nodded "The others didn't even know she had left the will of The Keeper." she said, laying her head back on his chest. "I think Hayden wishes to warn Nicci." "Why?" she smiled "I think he loved her." a smile crossed his lips, "He's not going to let us go until he finds her." she added as she closed her eyes. "As long as I'm with you, I don't mind." she laughed "At least we have a bed this time." he laughed loudly, surprised by her comment. "Yes, it's much better than the cold stone floor of the dungeon." her hand moved under his shirt, sliding along his skin, "That too, but it's not what I meant." a soft moan escaped his lips as her hand moved back down, over his stomach. "We're locked in here..." he could hear her smile as she spoke. "In that case, we better take advantage of this." pushing her, he moved over her, pulling his shirt off before connecting their lips.
Kahlan's hand roamed over his back, pulling him closer to her. He could feel her heart racing under his lips as he kissed her chest, his tongue sliding over her skin. Her head fell backwards, her chest arched forward, begging him for more. She wrapped her legs around his, bucking into him as she released a loud moan of need. His hands moved over her corset, trying to remove it without removing his lips from her skin, her moan sending his desire into overdrive. She pushed him up, moving her hands between them, she quickly removed her corset and pulled him back to her, her body longing for his touch. Snaking her hands between them once again, she grabbed the laces of his pants, pulling them loose, then using her legs to pull them over his hips and down his legs.
"I told you it wouldn't make her want sex any less." Richard turned towards the door, Hayden stood in the doorway. Pulling on the blanket, he laid it over Kahlan, covering her exposed chest. "Don't stop on my account. I've already enjoyed all she had to offer." Prince Hayden smiled, Richard jumped from Kahlan and made his way towards the prince. "Richard, don't!" Kahlan called after him as she sat forward. "I would listen to your Confessor. I would hate to take you away from her." he smiled widely "Or I could simply allow my men here to play with her." Richard stopped instantly, his fist balled up, turning his knuckles white with anger. "Very wise dedcision. I wouldn't want to share someone that beautiful either." Hayden's eyes moved over Richard's naked body, his smile fading "Though it would appear you are well equipt to please her, I would much like another evening with her." Richard was just about to run for him, when Kahlan jumped him. Falling to the ground, she used all of her weight to hold him down. Immediatly, he noticed she was still naked, quickly, he wrapped his arms around her, moving them so that he now covered her body with his.
"How nice of you Seeker, protecting her modisty. I'm surprised she didn't tell you." Richard looked at Kahlan, her eyes locked on Hayden's, "You see, we didn't start the day with her confessions. We had to punish her for escaping." Richard turned towards him, enraged, "What did you do to her?" he shouted, "I had her stripped and tied to the wall in my dining hall." he said with a laugh. "And I assure you, she was very well looked at." he turned to her, "Kahlan?" she nodded, "It was nothing, Richard." she said softly, looking into his eyes. "They didn't touch me." he gave a small sigh of relief, his hands cupping her face, "Why didn't you say anything?" shaking her head she looked over to Hayden, "I never said you couldn't tell him. I said if you did, I would hurt him." he smiled "And now that I know what will keep you quiet, I can use you more efficiantly." Richard heard her give a soft growl of discuss.
"I need you to confess another." "No." Kahlan replied quickly "Oh, my dear, you do not have a choice." he replied angerily "I will kill your lover here and then I will have every one of my men have you over and over again and this time we will not be so gentle." Richard waited for Kahlan's breath to hit his cheek, he turned to her, her eyes widened with fear. "I'll do whatever you want." she said so softly Hayden barely heard her. "Good. You will dress and come with me now." "Give her a moment." Richard said, his hands gently caressing her face, "We do not have the time to wait, dress now." he turned around and shut the door as he left.
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"Where are Richard and Kahlan?" Zedd asked loudly looking at Cara as he paced around the fire. "They should have been back by now!" he shouted hoping they were close enough to hear him. "They are probably making love over and over and over again." Cara said clearly annoyed "They have been trying to go at each other for months, I wouldn't be surprised if they were laying on the ground unable to move." she found herself smiling at the thought. "I'm going to get them." Zedd said as he started towards the trees "No! You can't just show up and interurrupt them." Zedd turned towards her, "You shouldn't have allowed them to go off togther!" he sighed "We don't even know if they are able to be together!" "They can't go one minute without touching, kissing, staring... They'll be fine." Zedd turned towards her, "You're right. We will give them a while longer." he said softly as he came to sit beside her.