Chapter 18

She fisted the sheets in her hands, twisting the silken material in her grasp as she extended her neck back, a deep moan rising from deep in her throat. She softly grunted her pleasure with every one of his deep penetrating thrusts. She never knew love could be like this, so tender and yet so fiercely passionate that it nearly brought tears to her eyes.

He planted kisses along the back of her neck, his large hands gripping her shoulders as he made love to her. He panted heavily against her back, losing himself in the intimate nature of what they were doing.

Being able to be with her again like this nearly brought him to release right there, but Garren wanted to make this last as long as humanly possible for her. She deserved this moment of sweet reprieve after all that she had been through, the long arduous task of carrying their child in her womb, being sentenced to this bed until their baby's birth.

"Garren…" she gasped.

Cara continuously cried his name now, a breathless throaty mantra on her lips as she inched closer and closer to that blissful precipice he was driving her to. His hands slid down her back to stroke the sides of her breasts, his kisses like fire against her sweat slicked skin.

He grunted as he began to quicken the pace, his need for release now growing painful. His hands slid up to her shoulders again, grasping her tightly as he drove into her. He pressed his face into the back of her neck as she rocked with him, the rhythmic dance propelling them both higher.

Cara ached to kiss him, but knew that would have to wait until after they were done. Once the baby was born, they would be free again to make love any way they wished. She could hardly wait to bring him the same intense pleasure that he was bringing her.

With a strangled cry she suddenly came, all four limbs trembling violently with her release and threatening to give out on her. Garren's powerful arms surrounded her as he came as well, emptying himself deep inside of her as he held her close.

He kissed down her spine before helping her sit back on her heels. Sitting behind her, he wrapped his arms and legs around her, brushing her damp blond hair out of the way and kissing along her neck as he fought to calm his thundering heart.

Her chest heaved as her eyes fell closed, her head lolling to the side as he continued to bring her back down with his love. He moved his hands to spread over her large belly, softly caressing where his child grew. Her hands moved to cover his, relishing this tender moment with her husband and unborn baby.

"Garren…" she sighed his name, still fighting to catch the breath he'd stolen away. "I love you…so much."

"Love you too," he whispered in her ear, causing a shiver to race up her spine.

"That was…amazing," she murmured with a soft moan as he drew her earlobe into his warm mouth, his teeth softly raking over the lobe.

"Very," he agreed, her back pressed firmly against his chest. He loved being skin against skin with her after making love.

"We definitely have to do that again soon," she told him, turning her head to finally find his lips.

He kissed her deeply, knowing that they would have to wait until later to make love again, but unable to resist her at that moment. There was just something so completely erotic about making love to his wife large with his child. And it didn't hurt that Cara was nearly insatiable.

"We have a celebration to attend today, remember?" he reminded her, his nose nuzzling against her cheek.

"How could I forget?" she replied. "It's the first time in over two weeks that I'll be able to leave this wretched suite."

Garren chuckled softly against her face, his hands continuing to massage her belly. "I love our suite...especially when I'm here alone with you...in this bed."

"I do too…when I'm not condemned to solitary confinement."

"Are you sure you're up to going out today?" he asked.

"There is nothing that could keep me in this bed today."

"Not even me?" he smirked.

Cara smiled at his meaning. "Well, any other day maybe, but I'd like to see our godchildren."

"I thought Kahlan brought them by to see you yesterday?"

"She did, but today's their birthday. It's different," she murmured. "And I'll actually be able to go to them instead of them being brought to me."

"If you say so," he sighed heavily, resigned to the fact that his wife was not about to change her mind about it.

"I do," she readily insisted.

Garren dipped his tongue into her ear, his hands moving up to her swollen breasts. "Are you sure I can't change your mind?" he huskily whispered in her ear.

Cara released a throaty moan, her heart beginning to race again with the things that he was beginning to do to her, the feel of his large hands gently kneading her breasts. At that point she was having difficulty remembering her own name let alone whatever it was they were just talking about.

"Cara?" he tried again, knowing exactly what he was doing to her. "Are you sure?"

"Hmmm?" she gasped in hazy confusion as her hands sought out his thighs on either side of her. "About what?"

"Nothing," he chuckled softly, knowing they wouldn't be leaving this bed for a little while yet as he began to move her forward onto her hands and knees again. "Nothing at all."

XXX

Lying on his side, Richard intently watched his wife as she slept, adoring the way that her long dark eyelashes brushed along the tops of her cheekbones, her soft raven curls falling over one shoulder. She was so breathtakingly beautiful, early morning sunlight casting a glow across her face.

Last night had been beyond passionate as Kahlan had moved over him like a spirit created to love him; stroking and caressing him, kissing and loving him until he could hardly catch his breath. He loved it when they battled for control, each wondering who would finally win out. She usually won, though, he unable to deny her anything she wanted especially when she was in this type of mood.

She had taken him to the edge of oblivion so many times last night only to back off enough to keep him from coming that he thought he'd go mad with the need for release with her that had thundered through him like a violent storm. He had finally come so hard he'd nearly blacked out, Kahlan collapsing in a limp quivering form on top of him.

He had held her there against his chest like that for the longest time, his fingers gently stroking through her long hair as they kissed. The feel of her body cooling against his, the musky scent of their love-making filling the air had been intensely intimate and yet so serene.

His heart began to race again just thinking about how amazing it had been, how much he wanted to be with her all over again. He could never get enough of her no matter how often they made love, his hunger for her never sated for very long.

Spirits, he loved this woman sleeping in his bed so very much.

Reaching out a hand, Richard ran the tips of his fingers lightly along the delicate curve of her face, completely mesmerized by her beauty. He could still scarcely believe at times that she was all his, would be for all eternity.

Kahlan softly sighed his name in her sleep as he brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. He hated to wake her, but he couldn't wait any longer to give her the special gift that he'd had made for her.

"Richard," she sleepily murmured as she slowly opened her eyes, his special smile creeping across her face at the sight of him lying so close beside her.

"Good morning," he smiled, leaning in and kissing her forehead, her eyelids, her nose.

"Morning," she replied, still drowsy with sleep.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Very," she said. "You wore me out last night."

Richard chuckled at her words. "I think that it was you who wore me out."

"Either way, it's the best kind of tired," she whispered as she leaned in and kissed him.

His hand settled on the side of her face before sliding into her hair as he kissed her. He felt his arousal beginning to sharply spike through him as she pulled her perfect form flush against his, their bodies fitting together so perfectly it was clear they had been created for one another.

She rolled him onto his back as she shifted over him, suddenly anxious to be with him again. There was still an aching in her legs, residual effects of last night's activities, but it had been more than worth it. She leaned over him, kissing him again as his hands settled on her thighs. Waking next to him, greeting the quiet still morning with him like this was one of her most favorite things.

He relished the feel of her skin so soft beneath his touch, her long legs straddling his hips. His hands slowly began to skim up her body, lightly caressing up and down her sides. Losing himself to her kisses, he was quickly beginning to forget why he had woken her in the first place.

"Kahlan," he finally said as he gasped for breath. "I have something I want to give you."

"I can tell," she seductively purred with a knowing smirk, capturing his lips again in a heated kiss as she shifted her position over him in preparation to take him inside of her.

"No, not that," he said with a throaty laugh against her lips even though he was more than anxious to make love with her again.

"Are you sure?" she murmured, unconvinced as traced the dips and valleys of his chest with her lips before heading towards his perfectly sculpted abdomen.

Reaching for the bedside table, Richard snatched a brown paper package tied with ribbon. "I had these made especially for you to celebrate Paige and Priya's one year birthday," he told her as he gave it to her, his hands reaching up to cradle her face. "I love you more than life itself, Kahlan. I'd give you the whole world if I could, but this will have to do for now."

"You didn't have to do that," she softly replied as she pulled the ribbon loose, unwrapping the package.

Her eyes widened in surprise as she held up two silver hair combs, each encrusted with diamonds. In the middle, there were three sapphires. It was so beautiful she suddenly found it hard to breathe, almost unable to respond.

"Richard," she gasped as she finally looked down at him through tear-filled eyes. "They're absolutely beautiful."

He smiled at the sweet expression on her face as he caressed her cheeks with his thumbs. "Not nearly as beautiful as you are," he told her. "Each sapphire symbolizes each of our three amazing children. I can have more sapphires added if…or when…we have more children."

"I love it," she murmured as she gently ran her fingertips over the brilliant jewels sparkling back at her. "I love you, Richard."

"Forever, Kahlan," he whispered, staring into her eyes that matched the sapphires. It had been the very reason he had chosen the bright blue jewel that matched her beautiful orbs.

Taking them from her hands, he carefully set them aside on the bedside table, more than anxious to be with her again. She swiftly leaned down, capturing his lips once more, his hands gripping her hips before smoothing up her back.

He immediately sat up as he deepened the kiss, his hands caressing up the length of her back. Her hands snaked up the back of his neck, disappearing into his hair and twisting the long strands around her fingers. Her need for him grew more intense the longer he kissed her, his tongue stroking her mouth and eliciting a throaty moan.

She was overwhelmed with his gift, his love for her like a warm cocoon surrounding her heart. What she wouldn't do for this man, wouldn't give up for him. She pressed her thighs against his sides, tightening her hold on him and earning a groan.

Before she could even draw a breath, he suddenly rolled her onto her back, his hips shifting and penetrating deep inside of her. She cried out with the sudden intrusion, nearly falling apart at the feel of him suddenly filling her so full.

Her hands immediately went to his back, her fingernails digging into his muscles that flexed and relaxed with his movements. "Richard," she gasped, heated arousal pumping through her veins with the force of his thrusts.

Their lips met in an open-mouthed kiss that stole the breath from both of their lungs, his hands hungrily roaming over her lush body, setting her on fire. He panted her name as he made love to her, secretly hoping that he'd be able to add another sapphire to her hair combs in the near future.

XXX

Morning sunlight streamed through a window as she quickly dressed, a smile lighting her face as she softly hummed to herself. The day that she had dreamed of, had planned all this time for was finally here at long last.

Sangria stopped before the mirror to check her appearance, her hands smoothing over the gossamer shimmering gray dress that she wore. She ran her fingers through her hair, allowing the straight strands to slip free and gently swing back into place.

She smiled to herself. Today was the day that her life was going to truly begin, the one that she had been meant to live.

Sabinus had his doubts, his resolve faltering now when she needed him most. She should have seen it coming. He had always been weaker than she, more emotional and prone to failure. She couldn't help it though. She loved him deeply.

Leaving the bedroom she didn't plan on returning to, she entered the main room to find Sabinus standing before the same window he'd been staring out of yesterday, his hands clasped behind his back. She thought that she had been able to get through to him yesterday, but it was painfully obvious that it hadn't been enough.

She drew a deep breath as she came to a stop behind him, folding her arms across her chest as she silently watched him. She was going to have to use everything she had to convince him that what they were planning on doing was right.

They deserved this…she deserved this.

"Don't start, Sangria," he softly said, breaking the tension that filled the air.

"Start what?" she innocently replied, her brow furrowing in thought.

"I told you I would go through with it," he told her, releasing a ragged breath. "There's no need to discuss it any further or try to convince me that this is our one and only chance."

Sangria appraised him for a long moment, weighing her options and deciding the best approach. She had to be careful when it came to Sabinus. One wrong word and he'd crumble for sure this time. She couldn't let that happen.

Still, she wasn't about to let her dreams be obliterated by him no matter how much she loved him.

"I just wanted to make sure that you were alright," she gently ventured, coming to stand closer to him.

He kept his back to her, stiffening as he felt her draw near. "No, you were wondering whether or not I would crumble…abandon you."

She lifted her hand to touch his shoulder only to let it drop to her side once more. He knew her better than she knew herself sometimes. "I was just worried about you, Sabinus," she softly told him. "I know you're worried that we'll fail, that we won't survive this."

"We won't, Sangria," he firmly said, acknowledgment of his fate filling his voice as he finally turned to face her. "But I've accepted that now. I won't let you down. I promise."

Sangria tilted her head as she gazed into his sad eyes, her hand coming to rest against his cheek. They shared a bond so powerful that it nearly took her breath sometimes, sensing him even when he wasn't near her.

"I love you, Sabinus," her hushed voice reaching his ears and eliciting a small smile. "You have never let me down. Never."

"No matter what happens today, I won't let you die," he swore to her, taking her hand from his face to hold it between the two of his. "I love you, Sangria."

"Neither one of us is going to die today," she told him with a smile. "It will all be over very soon. By the time Lord and Lady Rahl realize what has happened, it will be far too late."

Sabinus could only nod his head in agreement as he released her hand. As sure as Sangria was that they were about to succeed, he was just as certain that they were going to die. He wanted more than anything in this world to believe her, that she was the one who was right, but he had never been more certain of anything in his entire life.

They would not survive this.

XXX

Running a brush through her long blond hair, Nicci found herself lost in her thoughts, the things that Richard had told her about what he had experienced with Michael churning over and over again in her head. There was something about it that was nagging at her, something that she just couldn't see.

She wasn't certain if it was how Richard had been able to call upon his magic like he had, using it to remove the fever or the descriptions of what he had seen happening inside of Michael's body. She had gone over it for hours last night, replaying the things that he had told her, but nothing had clicked in her mind yet.

Laying her brush down on the dressing table, she stood to her feet, smoothing her hands over her black dress. The celebration would be starting soon, lasting all day and no doubt long into the night. She'd have to find time to talk to Ann about it at some point, see if there was anything that she had noticed or observed that might help them. Maybe she'd be able to pick up on something that Nicci wasn't seeing.

As much as she hated the idea of asking the Prelate for her help after everything that had happened, she knew she had little choice at this point. Zedd wasn't here to talk to and Michael was running out of time. There was no telling how long it would be before Zedd and the others returned.

Making her way to the door of her suite, Nicci attempted to shove aside the uneasy feeling that was pressing in on her. She just wanted to be able to enjoy the special celebration of the twin's birth, to have one day with her friends where they could have no worries.