He was scheduled to spend a few days within the city, hearing from the people, but he didn't want to leave things the way they were with his wife. If he were to leave, she would have time to think and knowing the Confessor, her thoughts would go into overdrive. He didn't want to put her through it. She was in one meeting after another, never being left alone long enough for him to speak to her. As time passed, he began to fear it would be too late. Losing her was his greatest fear.

Cara followed him around as she usually did, but was even more annoyed. He had confronted her about what she had told Kahlan, but when she responded, it was not what he had expected. The actions she had preformed the night before had not been suggested by their friend, they were thoughts of her own. The revelation made it all much harder.

Unable to keep from her any longer, he hurried down the hall, looking over his shoulder to his friend as he told her not to follow him. Pushing open the large, heavy door of the Meeting Hall, Richard rushed inside and demanded to be given a few minutes with his wife. Kahlan had stood up in a panic, instantly motioning the others out as he approached her. He never interrupted one of her meetings; something had to be wrong. As the door closed behind him, the Seeker reached for her hands and pulled her close, intensifying the worried look on her face.

As she began to question him, he crashed his lips against hers and kissed her with everything he had. The passion and fire instantly taking over as he pushed her back against the long; detailed table. She went willingly, nearly forgetting where they were and that they had been fighting before. Lifting the bottom of her dress, he ran his hands ever so slowly over her thighs until she tried to guide him onward. Moving back, he pulled her off of the table and roughly turned her around. Pressing his chest down against her back, he reached around her and gently caressed her breasts.

She let out a low moan and pushed into him, trying to get him to stop teasing her. Suddenly, he had her laying forward on the table, her cheek rubbing against the smooth wood as he pushed against her. She didn't struggle against him and she now knew what he was doing. Her dress was twisted around her legs, restricting her movements as he remained against her. His chest still pressed to her back as his lips snuck contact with her cheek and neck. Pulling back, he lifted her up by the back of her dress and turned her to face him.

Her face was flush as she met his desire filled eyes. Untying his pants, he took a few steps away and motioned for her to follow him. She complied instantly, her arousal taking control of her as she watched him sit in her chair. She stood before him and waited, waited for him to tell her what to do and ease her curiously racing mind. Motioning to her with his fingers, he beckoned her to step closer so he could touch her. Grabbing her dress, he began to lift it from the ground, bunching it tightly as it became shorter.

Sliding his hands beneath the fabric, Richard eased his hands over her and pulled until she was forced to crawl onto his lap. Once she was straddling him, he began to unlace the top of her dress, ignoring her movements as she struggled to get comfortable in the chair. As her dress loosened, he began kissing her chest, sliding his tongue along the edge of her corset to bring out the moan he knew she would release. It took all of her effort to keep from pushing forward and rock against him until he could take no more and ended her torment. She was on fire and on the edge, each time his lips connected with her skin, she moaned louder.

Taking hold of her hips, he yanked her against him, giving her a small portion of what she needed. His body throbbed beneath her, aching for connection; for release. Guiding her down onto him, he pushed his head back into her chair with a moan. His hold on her hips tightened as he thrust into her. He was rougher than he had intended, but she didn't seem to mind. From the way she clawed at his shoulders, neck and chest, he was sure she liked it.

They finished together with power, the Confessor bending back to intensify the pleasure. Her body quivered above him, her muscles suddenly weary and unable to move. Opening her still darkened eyes, she met his and the world stilled. Releasing her, he laid his hands on the end of the chair arms and looked up at her.

"You made your point," she said softly as she started to move off of him.

Grabbing her arms, he held her above him and sighed. "I didn't have a point to make, Kahlan. I did this morning, but not after I spoke to Cara." She worked harder to get out of his grasp, embarrassed that he had spoken to their friend. "Why didn't you say something?" She remained silent, but didn't look away. Part of her wished that he already knew what was on her mind. "You can talk to me Kahlan, about anything."

Shaking her head, she relaxed above him and slouched her shoulders. "Do you remember how we were before?" she asked softly, already knowing the answer. "I- I wanted it back."

"Me too," he said quickly.

"I thought that if we- I hoped that it wouldn't hurt so much."

"Hurt?"

Closing her eyes, she lowered her head. "It's nothing," she breathed out in an attempt to make him believe her.

"It's not nothing. Kahlan, I know you."

"It's silly." Moving off of him, she stood and began re-lacing her dress. "I know that it's not true, but I... I can't seem to stop thinking about it."

"Thinking about what?"

"It was a joke," she said quietly, taking a few steps away from him as she turned around to face the door. "You and Cara had returned the night before. We hadn't seen each other in two months and..."

"They knew we didn't make love because your magic wasn't released."

"Mmm," she responded absentmindedly.

Standing, he started to walk toward her, but stopped himself. He didn't want to say what he was about to while being so close. "They said that I had been with Cara, didn't they? Because it would be the Rahl way, taking the Mord'Sith for their pleasure." The Seeker suddenly felt angry, but pushed it down as she turned toward him.

"I told you it was silly."

"Then why are you letting it hurt you?"

Licking her lips, she took a step forward. "You didn't wake me. I wouldn't have known you were back had I not seen the blanket on the floor."

"Kahlan-"

"After a week of traveling, you slept on the floor and what's makes me feel worse, I didn't think anything of it until that night when I saw you again."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because I know it's nothing and I didn't want to upset you, but-"

"You couldn't keep your mind from it."

She looked away from him as she nodded, taking an extra moment to think. "I imagined it all so differently and then I realized how mad it was."

"I was never with her, Kahlan."

"I know, but you weren't with me either."

Realization filled him as he met her eyes. "That's not what this is all about is it?" He didn't wait for her to respond, he didn't have to. "You needed me and I wasn't there for you. Kahlan, what happened?"

"Ari arrived."

His heart stopped at the mention of the other man's name. Ari was the Lord of a small city at the border of Aydindril; he was the man chosen to be taken as her mate. When they returned after sealing the rifts, the council had put up a small fight at the marital union between the Mother Confessor and Lord Rahl. Bringing in another man, even after their marriage, was something he would not overlook. Now, the statement about him and Cara made complete sense. The council had wanted to justify a reason for her to take Ari to her bed and they knew her love for her husband would stop her.

Stepping in close to her, Richard took in a deep breath. "What did they do when you declined?"

Kahlan shook her head, giving him a small smile. "What could they do? I didn't take Ari as my mate, I married you and I told them that I wasn't going to betray you. I had him sent home that afternoon."

"They couldn't have been very happy."

Nodding, she stepped back and looked to the door to make sure they were still alone. "No, but it was not their decision to make for me." With another step backward, she looked at him. "I woke up the next morning to you sleeping on the floor."

"Do you want to know why I didn't wake you? Kahlan, when I'm away from you, I- If I had made love to you, I never would have been able to..." Embarrassed, he turned away and pushed his fingers through his hair. "I hadn't seen you in so long that one look at you nearly ended me. I didn't want to disappoint you." Looking back, he stared at her hands as she folded her fingers before her. "Last night, I felt the same way I did the night you spoke of. The sight of you, at all times, makes me weak. I wasn't going to wake you last night either, but suddenly, I couldn't stop myself. One moment I was at the foot of the bed and the next, I could pull away."

She smiled and moved in close to him, resting her hands against his chest. "You didn't disappoint me." The sound of her voice made his body shiver with need. The amount of seductiveness she managed to pack into the sentence overwhelmed him.

Her eyes darkened as she looked into his, making his heart race, the arousal within her as evident as his. Sliding her hands down to the top of his pants, Kahlan pulled at the laces he had loosely tied before. Each time he went to kiss her, she pulled her head back, biting her bottom lip to keep herself from giving in. He held her to the edge of madness before; now she was going to return the favor. Abandoning the pants, she grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head. Running her hands over his chest, she fueled his desire with a deep, slow kiss that sucked the oxygen from his lungs.

Moving to the ground she laid over him, her body pressed firmly against his as he struggled to move his hands over her. Just as she had done the night before, she began kissing her way down his neck, chest and stomach. His body ached for more; desperate for the release she would give him. She held nothing back, doing her best to give the most pleasure possible with each kiss, bite and lick. His moans guided her this time; he was no longer trying to hold back as he had done the night before. His fingers dug into her hair, softly massaging her scalp as she continued lower.

His gasp and moan echoed throughout the large room as she held open the top of his pants. He bucked up instantly, unable to keep still as her mouth surrounded him. Time slowed and suddenly, he found himself panting her name in warning. Unable to keep still any longer, he pulled her to him as he sat forward. Her legs wrapped around him instantly while he lifted her dress. They couldn't keep their lips connected as they moved, their bodies rocking and thrusting roughly against the other.

The stone room filled with their sound of ecstasy, vibrating the walls around them as they slowed in each other's arms. He was holding onto her hips tightly, unwilling to lose contact with her. She was shaking above him, her body completely weakened from the double release of her magic. It was almost how it used to be, when they had first married. There had been times when she wouldn't be able to move and he held her tightly against him. It felt similar in this moment, reminding him just how much he missed it.

Bringing his hands to her face, he met her eyes and grinned. "How long do you think we have before someone comes in for you?"

Smiling, she shook her head, bringing her hands to his. "They won't, but we should find a place more private."

"What could be more private than this grand-"

"A room with a lock on the door," she interrupted seductively.

Moving slowly, she pulled herself from him with a low moan of discontent as he slipped from her warmth. She didn't stand like he thought she was going to, instead, she reached for his clothes. She grew impatient as he dressed himself, the disappearing view of his skin making her want to rip it from him. Coming to his feet, he reached down his hand to help her up, a wide smile plastered on his face.

"Will you accompany me to our bedroom?"

Taking his hand, Kahlan stood up slowly, being sure to move slowly as her body was not yet recovered from the release of her magic. He knew all too well her temporary fragile state. He made it easy for her by moving to help hold most of her weight until she was able to stand on her own. He loved feeling like she needed him and being able to be there for her, made it feel so much better. He knew that she hated the weakness, but to him, that's not what it was. There were times when she tried to pretend that it wasn't so bad, but he could always see through it, feeling it within himself as well.

Walking towards the door, he stopped and turned towards her, waiting for her to bring her eyes to his. "I don't want to go back to the People's Palace," he said quietly. "I don't want to leave you again."

Turning, she brought her hands on his chest, smoothing his shirt gently. "Leaving is a part of who we are."

"Does it had to be?" he asked. "I don't want to be like this. Kahlan we barely speak anymore and I- I hate being away from you. After last night, I don't want to hurt you again."

"This is who we are, Richard."

"I can't accept that. Kahlan, we're more than this."

Smiling, she nodded and lowered her hands and took his. "You're right."

Slowly, she leaned into the door and opened it. She had agreed with him; there was no need for more words. They walked out of the Meeting Hall slowly, ignoring the looks and stares by the servants and few council members who had lingered around. The love of the couple was something they had never heard of before and the people of the cities made sure to catch a glimpse. Neither minded, of course, it was entirely new to them too. At times, Kahlan found herself wondering if she would wake up one day.