THIS CHAPTER IS QUITE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT. NOT INTENDED FOR MINORS.

He hadn't even touched her yet and his heart was hammering through his chest.

The moon shone brightly through her window, the night only filled with a few stars. Candles were variously placed throughout the room, offering a soft light. Other than the first day she came and he walked her to this room, he had never set foot in it. He was now feeling very nervous and felt his hands get clammy. Kahlan showed no signs of apprehension.

She was walking over to the dresser to light another candle. They were strategically placed, offering light in all different areas of the room, leaving no spot completely in the dark. Richard didn't know if it was the candles or the situation that was spiking his body temperature. Kahlan took her time as Richard stood there, completely unaware of what to do. This was different than the previous encounters they had. Those were spontaneous, on a whim. This was deliberate, more serious. A promise of what was to happen. Richard started getting a bit dizzy.

Kahlan turned to him, smile beaming on her face as she walked up and tugged at his pendent, bringing him in for a kiss.

"Hello there, lover." He liked this pet name the best.

"Well, hello there beautiful." He responded, leaning forward to place a light kiss on her nose. She pulled her hands away and took a step back, smile still gleaming.

"I suppose the two didn't come up with a solution?" Richard shook his head, unable to stop smiling. She pouted slightly, eyes diverting away from his. She rolled her tongue along her top teeth before addressing him again.

"Are you sure about this, Richard?" In all of this, she was still concerned for him. It only seemed to solidify his decision. He took a step forward and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush him as he kissed her, his tongue begging for entrance. He didn't receive it. She pulled her head away slightly, looking up at him through dark lashes, her blue eyes turning stormy. He leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on her lips.

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life." Kahlan smiled the genuine smile she seemed to only have when he was around, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, pulling him down for another kiss. This time, her mouth allowed him access.

Richard's nervousness subsided as he melted into her, the kiss deepening. Although they held up the appearance of fighting for dominance, it was no competition. Kahlan always won. He wondered just how in control she planned to be.

She pulled away and started to pull his shirt out of his pants, tugging insistently on the cloth. When it was loose, she pulled him closer with it before lifting her arms to raise it above his head, dropping it to the ground. Her hands traced along his torso as he reached for the laces on her dress, pulling and tugging - but only seeming to make them tighter. Kahlan playfully batted at his hands as she chuckled, loosening the ties so it would be easier for him to undo them completely. She leaned in and placed soft kisses along his neck and down to his shoulder, diverting Richard's mind from the task at hand. Before the dress was unlaced he was already meeting again with her mouth, using his hands to pull on the fabric instead of untying it. After a few tugs, the ties seemed to loosen. Kahlan laughed into his kiss as she pressed her body closer to his, hands resting on his hips. His hands glided over her shoulders, gently pushing the dress down her arms. She retracted her hands from his skin to allow the dress to fall onto her hips. He reached down and gave a sturdy tug, the white dress falling completely off of her and on to the ground.

Kahlan reached her arms around his neck, her left hand burying deep into his hair as the kiss became more passionate. His arms enveloped her once again, this time with the intent to undo her corset. His nervousness returned when he realized just how difficult it was to do without seeing - with your mind being in a totally different place. He broke the kiss and seized her neck, kissing and nipping, eliciting small giggles from her as her hands wrapped around him, resting on his back. His mind started to clear slightly, and it was enough for him to be able to concentrate long enough to untie the corset all together. He felt it loosen and traced his hands up her arms, pulling at the straps, encouraging Kahlan to drop her limbs. She did. The corset shrugged off her, quickly falling to the ground with her dress. She was now only wearing her skirt.

Richard caught his breath as he felt her skin press against his, chest to chest. Her skin was hot and soft, slightly glistening with sweat. His mouth returned to hers as she wrapped her arms around his neck once again. His hands roamed her flesh, running their way up and down her spine before moving towards her hips. He ran his fingertips up her body, coming in brief contact with the sides of her breasts before running them back down. Richard's desire swelled when he heard her moan into the kiss, slightly rocking her hips into his. At the contact Richard returned the moan, and Kahlan lightly bit his bottom lip. He moved to kiss her jaw, down her neck. He could see the wet trail he was leaving on her flesh in the candlelight.

His hands were running along the front of her stomach and her hips, slowly moving up to the mounds at her chest while his mouth was descending. Her left hand was buried in his hair, urging him down. He smiled against her skin as he licked around the peak, Kahlan squirming and arching towards his mouth. He complied and took the flesh into his mouth, lightly sucking and nipping. His other hand made it's way up her side and started to trace lazy patterns along the opposite breast. When she started murmuring inaudible sounds, he let her go with a pop before replacing the newly neglected area with his hand as he migrated to the other side, eagerly taking her in once again. He felt her squirm and reluctantly removed himself from her chest, placing his hands on her hips as he trialed wet and sloppy kisses along her stomach. He got on his knees before her, licking along her skin right above her skirt. His fingers started to pull at the fabric, slowly dragging it down her legs as she swayed her hips to help assist. When the cloth hit the floor, she used her foot to push it out of the way.

The only barrier left on her was her shorts.

He picked up her right leg and started placing butterfly kisses along the inner knee, working his way up her thigh. When he reached the fabric of her shorts, he started receding, following his path back down her leg before picking up the opposing one to repeat the action. She seemed to purr as he touched her. He set her leg down and ran his hands up the back of her thighs, making light contact with her backside as she moved her hips towards him. He was about to lace his fingers into her shorts when she pulled him up by his pendent, seizing his lips with hungry kisses. She broke the kiss, pulling back as her breaths came out ragged. She moved to take his earlobe in her mouth, biting down slightly. She let go and placed her lips by his ear, her hot breath leaking it's way inside.

"My turn." Richard shuddered as her mouth started to explore his skin, leaving open mouthed kisses all over his flesh, a seeming trail of burning sensations. His breath hitched as her nails started scraping along his back, moving down as her mouth took up more of his skin. She kissed along the indentation of his hips before her hands went to work at the laces, undoing them enough for his member to feel slightly relieved, but not enough to allow the pants to be pulled down. She made her way back up to his neck, her tongue licking every contour of his skin. She placed a kiss along his jaw before pulling his pendent forward, her mouth hovering dangerously close to his, but not close enough for contact.

"Bed. Now." He leaned down and placed his arms around her backside, hoisting her up as she wrapped her legs around him tightly, her breasts smashed against his skin as she wrapped her arms more firmly around his neck, placing light kisses on any skin she could come into contact with. He wasn't exactly sure where he was in the room, his eyes closing involuntarily to Kahlan's kisses, her legs wrapped tightly around him. His shin made contact with the edge of her bed, and he placed a hand on the bedding as he eased them up, laying her down and recapturing her mouth. Her legs loosened, falling to the bed, her hot hands brushing over his flesh. His hand reached to grab her thigh, running his palm along her skin until he met the coarser fabric. He slipped two fingers under the garment, pulling it down. He moved backwards, giving her room to move her hips up and allow him to drag the cloth down her legs. He threw it to the side as he climbed back over her, smothering her skin with kisses as he made his way up to her lips. Her hands moved down his stomach, untying the lacing that was left to contain him. When she felt him slip out, she moved back to take her place back on the bed as he removed his trousers.

He picked up her ankle and placed a kiss on it before moving his way up her leg. Without the shorts to stop him, he was now dangerously close to her sex. Kahlan started to wriggle under his touch. He leaned forward and flicked her nub with his tongue.

"Richard!" She gasped, quickly grabbing his hair with her hand to hoist him back up to her lips. He could feel her arousal against his leg and groaned into her mouth. Her blue eyes fluttered open as she gripped his hair in her hands, pulling back to force him to look at her.

"Inside me. Now." Richard smiled at her demand, placing kiss on her neck before positioning himself at her entrance. He slowly pushed in, feeling her lift her hips and moan. When he looked up at her, her head was thrown back onto the pillows, eyes fluttering as she tried to catch a breath. He stayed still a moment, hovering above her face and waiting for her to look at him. When her lids opened, he leaned his head against hers.

"Kahlan," she started to move under him, trying to urge him to thrust. "I love you." Kahlan responded by embracing him in a kiss, wrapping her legs around him while she tugged at his pendent. Richard couldn't hold on much longer and started to move, thrusting into her slowly at first, increasingly picking up speed.

Kahlan's nails were digging into his back, the pain allowing him to keep some control over himself. She started panting as his speed picked up, her hips bucking against him. He supported himself on his left arm as he used his right hand to grab her thigh, guiding her into the rhythm even more. His lips found refuge on her neck, kissing and sucking eagerly, slightly biting. Kahlan moaned as her chest heaved. She pushed on his shoulders as she rolled him over, settling herself on top of him as she started to move up and down. Richard threw his head back and his eyes shut. He felt himself starting to lose control. Kahlan's rhythm was slow, seeming to want to prolong the moment as long as she could. When she started to slam down on him with more force, Richard knew she was close to her climax.

"Richard-" He quickly wrapped an arm around her before flipping her back onto the bed, his hand lifting her thigh as he gave one last thrust. He felt her sex contract around him, her body writhing beneath him.

Then he felt it.

Thunder with no sound.