The moon was brighter this night, lighting the ground so that he could see her trail perfectly, though from what he learned earlier, he knew where she had gone. It was hot, making him glad he didn't put on his shirt when he left. The grass on the ground was softer than he thought it would be, the feel of it against his bare feet making him feel like he was back home in the comfort of the forest next to his small cabin. He could smell the flowers, a mix of lavender, rose and gardenia. He understood instantly why she loved the smell.

His eyes fell upon her and he froze. She was lying on her back, staring up at the stars with tears in her eyes. The flowers and bushes surrounded her filling her with their scent. The smell must have been a comfort to her the way she had always been to him. He hated that he had hurt her.

Forcing himself to step forward, he made his way toward her. Kahlan looked over at him and immediately thought he was going to say something in anger, but he did something unexpected. He laid down beside her.

"I'm sorry, Kahlan."

Shocked, she turned her head and met his eyes, wishing she could stop crying. "You shouldn't be."

"Why?"

"Because you were- are right. I'm a monster and you should stay far away from me."

"I wasn't right. I was cruel and Kahlan, I am sorry. I know that you would never hurt me."

Looking away, she closed her eyes. "I almost did. That night, before I left. When you kissed me... I forgot what I was."

Rolling onto his side, he reached over to her and laid his left hand on her right cheek, turning her face toward him. "Kahlan, you are not a monster."

"I nearly destroyed you."

Shaking his head, he moved closer. "You loved me." Her tears began to fall heavily, her breath failing her. "There is nothing wrong with that." His thumb rubbed her cheek, wiping the damp streaks. "I'm going to kiss you, alright?"

She didn't fight him as he closed the distance between them, rolling her onto her side so that he could pull her snugly against him. The return of his kiss set him on fire as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pushing her breasts against his chest. She wished her dress would disappear and as though he read her thoughts, he began unlacing the white fabric. The moan that escaped her rumbled through him. He paused his hands, but his lips continued to dance with hers.

"We can't..." she said breathlessly.

"Here," he whispered, pulling her on top of him. "You can stop when you need to."

She kissed him instantly, heated by his words and the desire in his eyes. He let his hands roam her body, being sure not to wrap around and make her feel like he was holding her still. She needed to be free, to have the option to stop when she needed to. Her body responded instinctively, rocking against his in all the right ways. She could feel his arousal, pressed against her and it pushed her forward. Shifting her weight, she rubbed against him until he had to break their kiss to get enough air.

He looked up at her, bringing his hands to her face. "Open your eyes," he murmured. When she did, he let out a loud moan. The darkness of her magic had covered the blue and it whispered to him. "It's beautiful."

Her eyes fell closed as she kissed him again. Her body screaming for his. Taking advantage of the moment, she reached between them and quickly unlaced his pants. Before he realized what she was doing, she wrapped her long, sender fingers around his manhood and gently pulled him free. He was thick and long, making her body ache for him in a way she had never ached for anyone. A way she could never have him. Immediately, he grabbed her hand and held it still, bringing her eyes to open again.

"You don't have to do this."

Blinking, she brushed her lips against his. "This is all the pleasure I can give you."

"Kahlan, you are all I need. What I said before, about Denna... I didn't mean it."

In a hushed voice, she lowered her eyes. "I don't want to disappoint you..."

"You could never disappoint me."

Meeting his eyes again, she tightened her hold on him. "Let me give you this."

"Kahlan-"

She silenced him with her mouth. Her tongue pushing forward until it was greeted by his and his hand left hers. She moved her hand skillfully over him, guided by the sounds leaving him with each motion. When her name began to leave his lips on loop, she quickened her movements until he spoke.

"Kahlan, I'm going to fall apart... I- Stop..."

She paused instantly. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Spirits no," he gasped, reaching back to her hand. "You're giving me this, let me give you... I don't want anyone else to have it."

"Richard-"

"Trust me."

Their eyes locked and she nodded. He responded instantly, his body moments from release. Grabbing her dress, he lifted it until it bunched at her waist. His fingers slid over her, testing her. The moan that left her mouth was joined by one of his own and together they moved their bodies together. Richard sat forward, wrapping her legs around him as she lowered herself onto him.

Her head fell back, a sharp pain hitting her as he pushed past her barriers, her body graciously accepting him completely. She took all of him, something no woman had ever done. They were made for each other. She lifted herself, slowly rolling her hips as he pushed his forehead against hers. Sharing a single breath, he came undone, her name on his lips in a growl, moan and slight scream. She had never heard anything more arousing.

He held her still above him, if she moved an inch, he wouldn't be able to survive it. Her hands were on his jaw and neck, keeping them close as she fought her body's basic desire. Her muscles continued to flex around him, her body unable to control itself as each breath sent wave after wave of pleasure through her. She didn't know how much more she could take. Just one, she thought to herself, her hips following instantly with a slow, delicate roll.

Connecting their lips, Kahlan moaned loudly, doing her best to keep from letting it all go. Dropping her head back, she sucked in a breath and lowered her hands to his shoulders. The feel of his skin and the forbidden contact between them begged for more. She had to stop and now. Lifting herself from him, she squeezed her eyes shut, focusing her mind on her magic to keep it inside.

Touching his hand to her arm, Richard removed the distance she had put between them. It was the only way he could think of to show her that he wasn't afraid of her. Her head turned toward him, he could tell she was holding her breath, holding everything inside. Smiling, he moved to kneel in front of her, taking her face in both of his hands. He couldn't take his eyes off of her, the darkness that flooded hers captivated him.

"It's alright," he whispered, trying to get her to breathe again. "Let it out. You won't hurt me, I promise." She shook beneath his touch, from the sudden wind or fear, he didn't know. "I can feel your heart beat," he added quietly, his hands moving down her neck, feeling the pulse. "If it pounds any harder, it may just tear through your chest..." His words had the desired effect, a smile hit her lips and she slowly let out her breath.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, staring at his chest. Her eyes ached to move lower, his manhood still exposed.

"You didn't do anything wrong," he tried to assure her. "You can let go of your dress now."

Her dress was gripped tightly in her hands, her knuckles white from the deadly hold, the fabric straining to remain in one piece.

"I didn't realize..."

His smile widened. "No, I don't imagine that was what was on your mind."

Meeting his eyes again, she frowned. "I'm sorry."

"You didn't hurt me," he countered.

"You don't know how close I was to-"

He was shaking his head, his eyes now losing some of their own darkness. "I do know. Kahlan, I felt it."

"It's like I'm holding sand in my hands," she whispered, trying to find a way for him to see the dangerous truth.

"And it slowly seeps through your fingers." He understood what she was trying to say. She thought that her feelings for him, her desire and every moment she spent in a compromising position was her failing to hold on. She thought it was weakness. "I don't know how someone can be that strong." Sitting back on his heels, he sighed. "I don't know how you do it. This whole time, I've been watching you, wanting to be with you and if I had the chance- When I got the chance, I didn't hesitate, but you... You have so much more to consider, not just your own feelings."

He felt embarrassed, his words having told her a secret he held for months. Looking down, he felt his cheeks flush and moving quickly, he tucked himself back into his pants, hoping she didn't notice. "Why'd you come out here?"

"I needed a place to think. When I came here as a young girl, it... Everything was different. My biggest worry was the punishment my father would give me for disappearing and now... I thought if I came out here, things wouldn't seem as terrible."

"Was his punishment worse than you imagined?" he asked, meaning to lighten the mood.

Kahlan took in a slow breath, looking past his shoulder and into the trees. "It's difficult for a child to know the horrors one can imagine."

"Kahlan, I'm-"

"It's alright," she said distantly. "You didn't know. I never told anyone what happened. Daniel- He found us one night when we were in the tavern with our father. We never had anyone care so much about us before. He worried when we didn't show up. I think it was the first time he saw men... My father hid my hair, they didn't know what I was until it was too late. "Wait until as many of them are touching you," he would say and he... He would wait until they were confessed and then rob them." Lowering her eyes to the ground, she felt her tears begin to fall again. "After knocking my father unconscious, Daniel carried me out and went looking for Dennee, who I hid in the forest. He took us home with him. They took us in, fed us and gave us clothes." Bringing her eyes back to his, she sighed. "No one takes in child Confessors. When we're older, we're given a room in every city, because they're afraid, but he... He kept us for over a year, raised us, until he found someone who, he thought, would be better for us."

"This garden," Richard said through a soft breath. "You and his wife did it together, didn't you?"

Nodding, Kahlan picked one of the white roses from their bush and handed it to him. "These are my favorites. Christina let me plant them after we added the gardenia. She said it would add to the life of the garden. Plant things you love with those you love and they'll live forever."

"Wise words."

"I had forgotten how much I loved the smell. They seem to have grown together perfectly."

Lying down, Richard motioned for her to follow, enveloping her in his arms when she did. "They're beautiful."

******

Richard woke up with the sun shining down on him and the sweet smell of flowers. It was then he realized that it was smell he associated with the woman sleeping in his arms. Her breath warmed his chest, sending a heat wave of desire through his blood. Turning his head, he looked at her, smiling as she snuggled just a little bit closer. He felt refreshed, he hadn't slept so well since they left Hartland. From now on, if he spent the night without her in his arms, he would have no sleep.

He wondered what would become of them now. When she awoke, he knew what would happen. She would tell him that though the night meant something to her, it could never happen again. Her voice would be soft, but firm enough to cut through him. When the words left her lips, it would break him. He needed to be sure she never got the chance.

Moving away from her, he eased her carefully down to the ground, making sure she was still comfortable. Almost silently, he came to his feet and walked away, leaving her alone in the sun.

Zedd and Daniel were sitting at the table, eating large bowls of what he thought was soup. They looked up as he entered the house, both surprised to see him alone.

"Where's Kahlan?"

"She's still sleeping," he told them as he tried to move to the room he had been granted.

"You left her?" Daniel asked in confusion. "Did you two not make up?"

Sighing, he walked to the end of the table and sat down. "We all know what will happen when she wakes up. She won't consider a life with me, I- I need a bit to think."

"She seems to have considered it a great deal."

Zedd leaned forward, dropping his spoon in his bowl. "Richard, there are things you should know about the way Confessors take their mates."

"I believe the Seeker already knows."

"Someone already told me," he informed the men, not caring to say the name of the Mord'Sith who had. "I know that she won't take me," he added after a moment. "She wouldn't if I was the only man left alive."

Daniel nodded with a frown. "And you don't need her to say it to know that it's true. Letting her wake up alone is not going to help you win her."

"No, but it will give me the extra time I need to find a way-"

"You don't understand, do you?" Daniel asked quietly, locking eyes with the younger man. "She allowed you to spend the night with her. After everything she's been through, after you've hurt her. Did it not occur to you that all Confessors by her age have already taken their mate? Yet, she has claimed none." Realization came to the older man as he stood. "Kahlan has never been like others, but she doesn't do anything without thought. Here," he said as he brought Richard two full bowls. "Take these to her, it will have given you a reason for leaving her."