TITLE: Paradise Found

AUTHOR: LOTSlove®

CHARACTERS: Richard / Kahlan / Zedd / Cara/ Darken Rahl / Other Seeker Characters (Surprise Appearances)

RATING: R/M

WARNINGS: Author Chooses Not to Use Warnings

TIMELINE: Alternative Universe

DISCLAIMER: I'm completely obsessed with the show Legend of the Seeker and all things Richard and Kahlan. I love to write about them even though they cancelled my show and now I'm fighting to get it back!

SUMMARY: My very first AU fic! Team Seeker and gang set in the Wild Wild West. Hope you enjoy the adventure!

Chapter 13

Kahlan pressed her cheek against her husband's back, breathing him in and savoring the fact that he was hers now. The feel of him was making her tingle all over with anticipation of a night spent in his passionate arms. She could hardly wait to feel in his touch what burned in his eyes for her.

She tightened her grasp around his waist as they rode out to Michael's ranch, Richard's horse not moving nearly fast enough for her liking. His scent as well as his nearness was making her head spin, her pulse quicken.

As if sensing her mutual need to be together, one of his hands suddenly dropped from the reins of his horse to find her arm, lightly caressing her soft skin and leaving a ripple of gooseflesh in its wake. She tilted her head, trailing kisses along the back of his neck, slowly caressing his tanned skin with her lips.

She smiled against his neck as his throaty groan reached her ears, his hand now firmly gripping her arm, his thumb brushing back and forth against her skin. She could feel his body growing tense as she began kissing behind his ears, her teeth and tongue teasing the sensitive spot she found there.

Richard's eyes fell closed, his chest rising and falling a little faster with what she was doing to him. He suddenly couldn't get to their new home quick enough, his hunger to feel her surrounding him becoming stronger.

He sucked in a sharp breath as she took his earlobe into the warm wet cavern of her mouth, her teeth slowly grazing over it. His need for her was steadily growing hotter, fire for her beginning to roil in his belly before coursing through his veins.

"Kahlan," he softly moaned, something rough and desperate that sent a shiver up her spine.

Continuing her tortuous assault, she slid her hand up his abdomen, slipping inside the opening of his shirt. She lightly ran her fingers over his chest, slowly tracing over every dip and curve of the muscular plan she was exploring. She raked her fingernails back and forth over his nipple, releasing his earlobe and blowing softly on his wet skin.

He gasped loudly, his hand roughly snatching hold of her wrist and pulling it free from his shirt. He intertwined their fingers, bringing their joined hands up to his lips and kissing her knuckles softly.

"You keep that up much longer and I'm going to be forced to take you right here," his reply husky and full of such sweet promise.

"I'm not stopping you," she purred so sultry in his ear that he nearly came undone right there.

He growled under his breath, his growing frustration making it nearly impossible to even think straight let alone speak. He released a ragged sigh of relief when he saw their new home coming into view. He was growing more than anxious to get her out of that wedding dress and into his bed beneath him.

Richard urged his horse on faster as the sun began to set on the horizon, casting a warm wash of oranges and reds that made the mountainous landscape appear as if it was on fire. It seemed to match the blazing passion for his wife that burned through him. He was becoming painfully desperate to show her what he felt for her.

Kahlan could hardly believe her eyes as they approached the ranch sprawled out before them. It was more incredible than anything she'd ever seen, even better than Darken Rahl's ranch because this one was theirs.

Dismounting, Richard turned and took Kahlan's hand in his, surprised to find tears shining in her eyes. "What is it?" he asked, concerned. "What's wrong?"

She gently shook her head in awe. "I've just never lived in such a beautiful place before," she softly admitted, his hands grasping her waist as he helped her down, holding her against him and allowing her to slowly slide down his body.

He held her close to him for a long moment, his eyes falling closed as he pressed his lips to the most precious thing in this world to him. "You deserve so much more, Kahlan."

"You keep telling me that and I might begin to believe you someday," she sadly smiled, disbelief suddenly swimming in her eyes along with the remnant of her tears.

Pressing his lips to her forehead, Richard swore to himself that he was going to spend the rest of his life proving her worth to her. She was beyond invaluable, the only Kahlan there was in the world and she belonged to him now, not bought with money but earned through love.

"I'm going to spend every day proving to you how truly amazing you really are," he told her, his fingers tightening around her waist as he kissed each eyelid and her nose before finding her lips.

"You make me feel so beautiful…so wanted," she softly gasped as he began to kiss behind her ear, a tortuous assault that mimicked how she had tormented him just moments earlier. Her hands slid up from his forearms to grip his upper arms, her long fingers pressing into his firm muscles.

"You are incredibly beautiful, Kahlan," he firmly said, his hand gently gripping her chin as he stared into the bluest eyes he'd ever seen. "And I want you…very much. You do things to me, stir my heart and make me feel things that I've never felt for another woman before."

"I want you…more than you know," she murmured, her lips suddenly colliding with his in a fierce kiss as her hand gripped the back of his head.

Her tongue slipped out to glide along his lower lip, suddenly tangling with his as the kiss grew more passionate, more insistent. Kahlan cried out with a sudden gasp of surprise as Richard abruptly knelt down, sweeping her up into his arms. She looped her arms around his neck with a giggling sigh of pure contentment, her lips finding his again as he carried her up the front steps, across the porch, and over the threshold.

"Welcome home, Mrs. Cypher," he smiled softly at her as he set her down in the main greeting room.

Kahlan slowly turned to look around at the enormous home they now owned, in awe of the beauty of it. It was beyond anything she could've ever dreamed. "I wonder which way to our bedroom," she finally, softly said, slowly turning her attention back to her husband.

The darkening storm of desire in her cobalt eyes caused his heart to stutter, making his own need even more demanding, consuming him body and soul. "I don't know," he murmured as he came to stand before her, "but I guess we'll just have to start here and work our way through the house until we find it."

Kahlan's breath caught in her chest with his words, her pulse racing with sweet anticipation. "I love how you think…husband," she murmured, running her fingers through his hair.

Before she knew it, Richard kissed her hard, her back suddenly hitting the wall behind her as he pressed himself against her. His fingers tangled in her hair as he kissed her, his hips rolling into hers and causing sparks to shoot through her. She immediately began tugging at his shirt, yanking it free and pausing only long enough to pull it over his head to toss it aside, reconnecting in a flash of passion.

Leaving her lips, he began planting hot kisses down her neck as her hands explored his back, his defined muscles flexing and relaxing with his every movement beneath her touch. She tilted her head back against the wall, her body on fire with his kisses.

She gasped as his lips met the tops of her breasts, his fingers finding the buttons that kept her enclosed in her wedding dress. He was growing more and more desperate to feel her soft skin pressed against his, to touch and kiss every inch of her perfect form.

Kahlan felt her dress begin to slip free from her body as hot need began to throb deeply in her core, begging for him to take her and quell the firestorm raging inside of her if but for only a moment. Hands rough with need and yet gentle with love began to pull the dress from her body, his lips finding one of her breasts and eliciting a breathy cry as his hot mouth took her inside. Her hands swiftly found his hair, holding him against her as she arched her back, giving herself to him.

Releasing her, he gave equal attention to the other, causing her to hiss with pleasure. His mouth was like scorching flames licking against her body, his teeth creating a blissful sting against her skin that made her legs weak.

She began to pant heavily, her pleasure soaring as he gripped her hips firmly with his large hands. She reached down to grasp his face to pull him up, desperate to taste him again. Releasing her grip on his face, her fingers skated along his abdomen before disappearing beneath the edge of his pants earning a low groan.

A strangled growl slipped past his lips as she began to gently stroke him. He felt like he had been starving his whole life just for her and now he had found her, was finally with her.

He pressed his forehead against her shoulder, completely losing himself in the gentle erotic feel of her fingers against his hot skin. He felt tears begin to burn in his eyes as he panted hot blasts against her skin, his heart ready to burst with the love that she was showing him.

He had been so very lost and alone after his father's death, like a man lost in an endless desert of heartache. Finding Kahlan was like finding a beautiful oasis in the middle of a vast barren land. The tender love and compassion in her touch caused his tears to suddenly break free, slowly tickling down his cheeks as he gripped her tightly, pressing his hips into her touch.

Kahlan didn't pause her deliberate attention as she showered him with her love. She turned her head, kissing and caressing his ear with her mouth. She felt wetness begin to trickle down her chest, his pain breaking her heart.

Pulling her hand free from his pants, she wrapped her arms around him, holding him to her. "I'm so sorry for all that's happened to you, Richard," she murmured in his ear, feathering kisses along his jaw and neck to his shoulder.

She felt his lips begin to caress her collarbone in response, his hands pushing her dress over her hips and allowing it to pool at her feet. He turned his head, searching for her lips like a man trying to find his way through the darkness.

He kissed her slowly, deeply, pouring every bit of himself into her. His tongue slowly stroked and danced with hers. The fiery passion of just moments ago now turned into steadily smoldering embers by his tears was set to erupt once more, warming them and gradually building their passion all over again.

"Kahlan," he breathed, needing her more than he had ever needed another single living soul.

She was his salvation, rescuing him from a dark and isolated path filled with nothing but hatred and rage. And he knew that he had saved her as well, rescuing her from the loneliness and heartache that had stolen her life from her. They had needed each other more than either of them truly understood.

She stroked his hair as she kissed along his jaw, her fingers finding the laces of his pants and tugging on them. She needed him, needed this more than anything she had ever needed in her life. He was her savior, rescuing her from a life of pain and in the process becoming her all, the very center of her world.

"Kahlan," he desperately whispered her name again as he tilted his head, a reverent chant on his lips as his mouth collided with hers again.

She quickly began to free him from his pants, her hands gripping his backside and pulling him against her. Their combined moans at the feeling of being skin against skin caused them both to pause for a moment, relishing in the sensation of being with the one who had stolen their heart.

Kahlan partially opened her eyes, finding herself staring into the warm brown depths of the man that she loved. They stared at one another, savoring that thrilling moment just before they became joined as one body.

"I love you…Richard…" she panted softly against his face as he lifted her up, wrapping her legs around his waist.

Richard brushed his lips against hers, his teeth tugging on her lower lip. "I love you, Kahlan," he breathed, his hands caressing and gripping her hips as he nuzzled his nose against hers.

Her fingers dug into his shoulders as he shifted her position around his waist, holding her down as he gently pushed up into her. Her head fell back against the wall with a sharp hiss of pleasure mingled with pain, his lips finding her throat to soothe her as she adjusted to the abrupt intrusion.

"Kahlan…"

His drawn out moaning pant of her name was the most beautiful sound to her ears at that moment, the feel of him so hard and hot within her causing fireworks to explode through her body. "Rich-ard…" she ground out through clenched teeth.

It was all he could do not to fall apart right there, the feel of her hot wet depths so tight around him nearly taking him over the edge. He lightly scraped his teeth along her fair skin of her throat, his tongue soothing the sting as he began to move inside of her.

Kahlan clutched at him, the feel of him moving within her better than anything she could've ever imagined it would be. She pressed her head firmly against the wall as he made love to her, her fingernails clawing at his sweat-slicked back.

Her mouth fell open with a sharp gasp, his naming being torn from her lungs as he began to move a little more forcefully within her. "Richard…" she cried, one hand gripping his hair, the other his back.

He pressed his mouth against her chest, suckling and teasing her moist skin. She writhed against the wall he had her pinned to, overwhelmed by his fiery passion and yet she felt like she couldn't get nearly enough of him.

Richard panted against her breasts as sweat trickled down his back. Her heat pulsated around him, rapidly driving him mad as he drove deeper and deeper into her welcoming depths. He felt as though his thundering heart was about to burst from his chest with the love they were making, the feel of her fingernails pressing into his back, her continuous moans and cries spilling from her lips clouding his mind with a thick haze of euphoria.

With a sudden scream of his name, she gripped at him, coming in a heated rush and taking him over the edge along with her. They clung to one another's trembling form, each fighting to calm their hammering hearts, to catch the breath their lover had stolen.

He kissed her deeply, slowly as they caressed each other, loving each other down from the incredible rapture they had reached together. Keeping her legs wrapped around him, he carried her over to the couch, lying down with her and holding her close to him.

Kahlan nuzzled her nose against his, her lips brushing softly against his as she caressed his face. "That…was…" she whispered, still struggling to overcome the blissful sensations pulsating through her.

"It was," he agreed with a smile, capturing her lips in another kiss.

"I never knew love could ever be like this," she softly admitted, gazing into his eyes still clouded with rapture.

"I'm going to show you…" he kissed her, "over and over…" he kissed her again, "and over again for the rest of your life."

"I'd love nothing more," she smiled softly before suddenly moving to straddle him. "And I'm going to show you too."

Richard moaned a blissful sound that caused her smile to grow wider as she leaned over him. He gasped at the feel of her breasts sliding against his chest as she teased his lips with her teeth. His hands stroked along her thighs before firmly grasping her hips, more than anxious to surrender himself to her now.

XXX

They lay together in each other's comforting embrace, their panting breaths mingling as one just as their bodies had been a couple of moments ago. Pulling her over to lay against his chest, he gently ran his fingers through her long damp hair, relishing the feel of her perfect form molded against his.

Kahlan sighed contentedly as she softly caressed his chest with her fingertips, the sound of his still hammering heart beneath her ear warming her clear to her toes. It flooded her with such happiness seeing and feeling what she could do to him, what he did to her.

A soft breeze filtered through a nearby window, cooling their sweat-slicked bodies as they lay on the floor, limbs tangled and bodies sated at least for the moment. He breathed deeply, inhaling her heavenly scent. He thought that he had never been happier in his entire life than he was at this very moment.

"So this is the kitchen?" she said with a light chuckle that sent a shiver up his spine.

"Do you think we're getting closer?" he chuckled as well.

"Well, we've found the greeting room, the dining room, the living room, and now the kitchen," she counted off. "We have to be getting closer."

"I hope not," he murmured with a grin, pulling her to lie on top of him.

Kahlan returned his smile, relishing the feel of every inch of their bodies touching. She caressed his face before brushing a lock of long brown hair from his forehead. "We still haven't even gotten to the second floor yet," she reminded him.

"We have the rest of our life to explore our new house," he told her, his voice growing husky once more.

"Over…" she teased as she kissed him, "and over…" she kissed him again, harder, longer this time, "and over again…"

Chuckling against her lips, Richard slid his fingers up into his hair, pulling her down into another heated kiss, knowing that paradise had not only been found, but was just the very beginning for them.

THE END (?)