Here's the last chapter before the epilogue! What kind of ending would you like to see? Enjoy this chap and as always any comments are welcome!
He watched her sleep for some time, allowing her to get more sleep but also to have more time next to her. Everything was quiet in the room except for the sound of her slow and calm breathing. She was lying on her stomach, her face turned to him, resting on one of her hand. The smile on her face left no doubt of their previous activities. She was draped in a sheet that only revealed the skin of her shoulder and neck. The memory of the night they had spent together made him smile even more. He felt her stir beside him, it was the signal he was waiting for since he had first opened his eyes. The only thing he wanted to do was to taste her skin and explore her body once again. He didn't waste any time and began a trail of butterfly kisses from her arm to her shoulder. He watched her face as her smile grew bigger with every kiss.
"Good morning my love." He whispered, teasing the skin of her shoulder with his tongue. The only reply he got was a content sigh. He resumed his exploration after gently brushing the strands of hair blocking the way to her neck.
He teased, grazed and kissed slowly his way to her ear and whispered: "You can open your eyes you know."
"No." She whispered, her smile never leaving her face.
Her lips parted as he took her lobe in his mouth, desire stirring in her stomach.
"Why not?" He asked between kisses.
"Because I'm dreaming that an awesome and handsome man is kissing me right now." She said softly.
"Well, before I woke up I was dreaming that the most beautiful woman on earth was sleeping next to me. When I opened my eyes I found you by my side, so now I can say that dreams really do come true. You should try." He told her, giving one last kiss on her shoulder.
She finally opened her eyes and turned on her side to face him. He immediately captured her lips for a sweet kiss and he hooked his leg over hers.
"Dreams really do come true. Good morning handsome." She told him when they broke the kiss. She allowed her hand to caress his chest and down to his abs, enjoying the sigh of his muscles responding to her touch. Just like her, he only had a sheet to cover his naked form.
"You know those night pants I got you, I won't be mad you never wear them again, sheets look good on you." She told him, biting her lower lip.
"Sheets look good on you too." He replied, kissing her as he rolled on top of her. She welcomed him in her embrace, letting him settle between her legs.
"Although, I must deplore that sheets are covering too much of your skin." He added, slipping his hand under the material to caress her tight.
She brought a hand to his face, her expression grew serious and he instantly knew that something was on her mind. He kissed her again, pulling apart he stared and smiled at her, waiting for her to say something.
"What's wrong?" She finally asked.
"You tell me. Looks like you have something on your mind." He told her, nuzzling her cheek.
"Nope, everything's fine." She told him.
"Kahlan…" He warned softly.
"Sometimes I hate it." She stated with a sigh.
"Hate what?" He asked.
"That I can't use my confessor face on you. That you immediately know when there is something bothering me." She explained.
"You shouldn't have to use your confessor face on me, you can tell me anything." He told her.
"I know… but… It's kind of… embarrassing…" She trailed as her cheeks turned red.
"Oh really?" He asked, amused by her shyness. He kissed her neck and teased with his tongue, her hand plunged in his hair, pulling his head closer to her, encouraging him to continue his sweet torture.
"Come on, tell me." He encouraged her, whispering in her ear before going back to kissing her neck.
She took a breath, closed her eyes and said: "Was I… huh… was I…"
She cleared her throat and tried again: "Was I satisfying to you last night?"
He raised his head to look at her and instructed: "Kahlan, open your eyes."
She obliged and said: "Because if I wasn't, you have to tell me and I'll understand if you want to be with someone else."
She spoke so fast that it made him chuckle.
"Don't make fun of me." She said looking down.
"I'm not…" He said, shaking his head. "My love, last night was mind blowing. You are beautiful and passionate and I love you. Ever since I met you I dreamt about make love to you but now that we did, all I can think about is making love to you. I'm dying to share this with you again because it was better than anything I ever dreamt of." He added, looking straight in her eyes so she could see the truth of his words.
She smiled the special smile she saved for him and they kissed passionately.
When they pulled apart he asked: "Now, was it satisfying for you too?"
She bit her lower lip and nodded and he told her: "Then we both agree that we have to do this again… right now."
He pressed his body into her and kissed her as she ran her hands in his hair. It was wonderful, the feeling of him on top of her. She felt protected and safe, his strong shoulders and chest shielding her from the cold of the world. She wished she could stay in this cocoon of warmth and love until the rest of her life but she knew that he had to go and save the world of the living. As much as making love with him had been wonderful, her heart ached because he had to leave. She shook her thought away from her head, she had to be strong for him and enjoy the little time they had left together.
Their kisses became much more heated and she trusted unintentionally her hips against him, making them moan. They pulled apart just enough to breathe and once again Richard was devouring the skin of her neck.
A knock at the door interrupted them. Richard groaned, no doubt it was Cara.
"No, no, no, no." Kahlan whispered, tightening her hold on him as he was about to pull away from her.
"You know she's not going away until I open the door." He told her between kisses on her neck.
"Then I'm going to open the door and tell her what she wants to hear and she'll leave us alone." She told him before giving him a kiss and unwillingly leaving his embrace and their bed. She stepped on the petals of red roses that Richard had put all over the room and smiled at the kindness of the man she loved. When she finally reached the door, she grabbed the doorknob, ready to deal firmly and quickly with Cara.
She quickly opened it and spoke quickly, determined not to let the Mord'Sith talk before her.
"Yes, Cara, we did it." She said, without taking time to look at Cara.
Her jaw dropped when she realized that it wasn't Cara standing in front of her. She panicked and quickly closed the door. Clutching the sheet tighter around her, she pressed her back against the door and looked at Richard, her eyes opened wide in shock.
"What's wrong?" Richard immediately asked as he got out of bed to reach her.
"It's Zedd." Was all she could manage to say.
Richard laughed and said: "You actually told Zedd that we made love."
"Dear Spirits…" Kahlan whispered.
Richard kissed her forehead and opened the door slightly, hiding Kahlan and her embarrassment behind the door.
"Hi Zedd." He said with a proud smile on his face.
"Hello my boy, and I guess congratulations are in order." The tall Wizard said.
"Thank you. Is there something wrong?" He asked, wondering why his grand-father came so early.
"It's probably not the best time to share the news but, rumors say that the banelings raised an army… We should find a way to defeat the Keeper soon before he kills us all." Zedd explained.
Kahlan felt her heart constricts in her chest at the mention of the Keeper, well-knowing that it meant that Richard had to leave. She felt panic rising through her whole being and her breathing became jerky. Feeling her distress, Richard slid a hand behind the door and took her hand in his.
"I know Zedd, I know what I have to do. We talked about it and I know what must be done." He said.
"I know my boy, I just wanted to give you an update on the situation." Zedd said.
"Well, I'm going to leave you two alone." The Wizard added before giving his grandson a smile.
Richard nodded and closed the door. He immediately pulled Kahlan in his arms, burying his face in her hair. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pushed herself against his chest, holding onto him as hard as she could.
When he felt her tears on his skin he whispered: "It's okay my love."
Kahlan nodded but did not let go of him.
She looked up at him and said: "I love you so much."
He crushed his lips on hers as a response and they kissed passionately.
When they pulled apart, she told him: "The Mother Confessor is alright with you leaving to save her people and the Midlands from the Keeper but Kahlan Amnell, she just doesn't want to let you go because she needs you."
"Kahlan Amnell is the strongest and bravest person I know. She thinks she needs me, but she doesn't." He told her, gently caressing her arm.
"You said that I can tell you everything right?" She asked.
He nodded and kissed her forehead, encouraging her to go on.
"I'm scared of two things. The first one is you leaving before I'm with child and the second is having to give birth and raise our child without you." She told him, tears filling up her eyes once again.
"Because, I don't think I'll be able to deal with the consequences. I won't be able to lay with someone else for the Confessor's line sake and I won't be strong enough to raise our baby without you." She added.
"I can't promise you anything but I hope my quest won't last more than nine months so I can be with you when our baby comes and you don't have to worry about being with child before I leave because I'm about to rip that sheet off of you and make love to you again." He told her with a smile.
"I'd like that." She told him.
"What? Me being with you when the baby comes or me making love to you?" He asked, raising an eyebrow teasingly.
"Both." She replied with a shy smile and blushing.
He kissed her passionately and lifted her up, she wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, giving in more fully into their kiss. He carried her to the bed, laying her gently on her back as she kept her legs wrapped around him. He let one of his hands slid under the sheet and caressed her tight just like he had done a few moments before Zedd interrupted them. She broke their kiss and let out a soft moan as she closed her eyes, enjoying the marvelous feeling of him doing wonderful things to her body. He watched her for an instant, still massaging her tight and he told her: "You're beautiful, I love you."
She opened her eyes and smiled at him. "Make love to me Richard." She replied, pulling him against her and kissing him passionately.