Stop The World
Title: Stop The World
Chapter: 2
Characters: Richard, Kahlan, Zedd, Cara, Others (Originals)
Rating: NC17/R
Timeline: During season 2
Summary: After waking up in an unfamiliar place, Richard must fight to save not only himself, but the life and honor of the Mother Confessor, facing a bigger challenge than he ever imagined.
Paring: Kahlan/Richard; Richard/Other; Kahlan/Other
Story Type: Drama/Romance
Word Count: 3,036
Disclaimer: I own NOTHING. I simply play with them as toys. *Evil Laughter*
Author's Note: HUGE thanks to @StinaJane and @ConfessedByBR for being awesome BETAs!! *hugs*
Comments are awesome folks!
Their escape was slow, Sam's guards had come in and one by one, they attacked with full force. Kahlan had taken one of the guard's knives and without a sound; she killed every man who came close. There was no emotion on her face, even when they left the small prison. She walked silently beside him, clinging to her dress to hold it closed. He walked close to her, hoping to help keep her warmer as they figured out where they were. The forest around them was nothing like he had seen before.
The sound of flowing water seemed to perk her mood; she spoke for the first time in over a day. "Can we sleep here for the night?"
It wasn't a place he would have suggested, not wanting to risk anyone coming upon them while trying to get water, but the way she looked out at it made him change his mind. "If you-"
"I want to wash it off of me," she whispered, bringing her eyes to him.
"All right. I'll find us something to eat."
She didn't wait for him to leave. Walking quickly, she went to the water and tossed what was left of the dress into the dirt as she moved deeper. She couldn't pull the image of Richard from her mind. Seeing him with another woman, a woman who looked like her made her wish that it was she he had been with. She was wearing a Rada'Han; her magic wouldn't be able to destroy him. His body responded to the sight of her, she watched it happen and it thrilled her.
No man has ever desired a Confessor, but he- It was something she had tried to deny, but now she couldn't keep the images from her mind. Dunking her head under the water, she held her breath in an attempt to focus on something other than the imaginings of his hands upon her. It was useless; nothing would ever take the thoughts from her mind. She gasped for air as she emerged from the water, turning to Richard who stared out in concern.
Her nod eased his mind, telling him that she was all right. He had looked up, after starting the fire to cook the rabbits he had caught and she wasn't there. He had been moments from jumping in after her when she reemerged. Sitting back onto the ground, he brought his eyes back to the food in an attempt to give her some privacy. She was nearly under the waterfall and the thought made it nearly impossible to keep his eyes off of her.
The rabbits were done cooking, but he refrained from calling out to her. To keep himself busy, he folded her dress and laid it by the fire. With it ripped open and the cooling air, she would need some help to get warm after her bath. He wished they had found the clothes she had been wearing or maybe some blankets, but they didn't find anything other than his clothes dropped carelessly outside of the room. He had offered her his shirt, knowing that it would cover her a little more than her dress, but she refused.
Looking out to the water again, he jumped to his feet and called her name. There was no reply and she was nowhere in sight. Pulling his shirt over his head, he raced to the water and jumped in. He searched the water in a panic, calling her name every time he brought his head up for air. Coming to the waterfall, he swam under desperately. Kahlan was a few feet away, pulling at the Rada'Han around her neck as she cried. The sound of the rushing water would have drowned out all other sounds; she wouldn't have heard him calling for her.
His heart pounded in relief as he moved closer, reaching a hand out to comfort them both. She jumped at his hand on her shoulder, too lost in thought to notice him beside her. Taking her hands into his, he pulled them away from the cold metal. She stared at the water, afraid to look into his eyes and have him see what she had been thinking. He could never know.
"I'm going to find a way to get this off of you." His voice sounded soft, but she was sure he was yelling, the crash of the water around them was too loud for it to have been the whisper she heard. "Kahlan, I promise. You will be yourself again."
It was just like Richard to say something like that, she thought as she nodded. She had been thinking about how this could be the only chance she would have to be with him and the thought didn't cross his mind. She wanted it off of her instantly, the feel of it around her neck, suppressing her magic, only made her desire for him grow. She was naked before him, but his eyes never strayed from her face, and the water was clear enough for him to view her without restrictions. She wanted him to look at her; and see the same desire she felt within him. Abandoning all thought, she reached out for him and pulled herself close.
He returned her kiss without hesitation as he wrapped his arms around her. The feel of her pressed against him made his heart pound. She turned him away from the falling water and pushed his back against the rock of the wall of the small cave around them. Her hands ran smoothly over his shoulders and back, sliding lower in an attempt to get closer. He pulled his head back as she reached between them and grabbed the top of his pants. She ignored her name leaving his lips in caution, her desire for him too strong to keep at bay any longer.
Grabbing her hands, Richard pulled them from the laces of his pants and pushed her back. "You don't want to do this."
"Yes, I do," she breathed out, instantly knowing that he was able to hear her soft words.
Shaking his head, he released her hands and grabbed her face gently. "This isn't you."
She pushed away from him, breaking their contact. "What if it's not?" she snapped, hurt by his decision to stop her when he hadn't stop the other woman. "It didn't stop you before!"
He swam after her, making sure she wasn't able to get away from him. "You know that I never wanted to-"
"Yes you did," she interrupted, trying to pull out of his hold.
"I wanted to be with you."
"You were."
"How can you say that?" he questioned in shock. "You saw everything. You know that it wasn't her that I wanted."
Turning around to face him, she met his eyes. "She gave you me."
"No, she gave me someone who looked like you." His voice was calm, surprising her when she knew that he was angry that she had accused of wanting to be with another woman because she looked like her. "Kahlan, you know me better than that. I betrayed you and you're angry; I understand, but don't you for a second believe that I wanted to do it." His eyes were locked on hers, making sure that she understood his words to be true. "I didn't want to hurt you. I- After what I did, you shouldn't want to be near me." He sighed, looking down to the metal around her neck. "And you- Kahlan, when you're wearing this, you're not you."
"Yes, I am," she whispered. His right hand had come up to the Rada'Han as she spoke, his fingers lightly touching the cold metal. Taking hold of his hand, she held it in place as she moved closer. "I just can't hurt you anymore."
Cupping her cheeks, he pressed his forehead against hers and sighed. "You could never hurt me, not with your magic."
"I wanted to be her," she admitted quietly, almost ashamed of her own desire.
"I wanted it to be you too."
Grabbing his arms, she pushed closer and closed her eyes. "Please..."
Their lips connected with a slow kiss, their bodies pressing together gently as they pulled each other close. Her hands were between them almost instantly, trying to remove his pants before he pulled away again. His kiss was filled with passion and just as desperate as hers. She knew he still had doubt, but she couldn't let him stop them.
The water made it difficult to remove his pants, the khaki fabric sticking to him as though they were a part of him. Richard grabbed her legs and wrapped them around him, pushing her back against the wall as he moved to deepen their kiss. She pulled him nearer, holding him to her as she rocked against him. He couldn't get close enough; the water around them seemed to be pulling them apart while they fought to remain together. He broke their kiss as his pants floated to the surface and looked around.
The cave was deeper than it had appeared and there was a ledge of dry rock that would keep them out of the water. Pulling away, he grabbed her hand and brought her along with him, lifting her carefully out of the water while his eyes devoured her form. The way he looked at her made her heart pound and her body ache. He eased her back, running his hands over her as he lifted himself above her. His lips covered her body slowly, teasing her before his tongue slid out for a taste. Grabbing his hair, she panted his name and gasped for more.
The sounds of her moans echoed throughout the cave, almost drowning out the rushing water, making it impossible for him to concentrate. His hands continued to move over her as he brought his lips to hers. His desire pressed against her stomach, waiting for release as he expected her to stop him. To his delight and surprise, she reached between them and took hold of him. A light gasp of her name left him as the only way he could warn her that her touch could make it end before they had begun.
She brought him to her entrance and released a long moan as he pushed into her. Richard dropped his head to the crook of her neck with a grunt, trying to remain still as her body adjusted to his. Pushing her fingers into his back, she encouraged him move as she lifted herself up to meet him. Lifting his head, he took her face in his hands and waited for her to open her eyes and look at him.
"Are you sure?"
She could only nod once, words failing her as she looked into his eyes, the pleasure of their union burning within them and matching her own. Their lips connected as he shifted himself above her, their hands clinging to each other as they moved together. It thrilled her. In all her life, she had never imagined anything like this. He needed to touch her anywhere and everywhere, wanting to hear her gasp his name again and again. Each moan, gasp and whimper he heard from her drove him insane.
Grabbing one of her breasts, he began sucking on the soft skin, just below the Rada'Han, thriving off of her pleasure. She never wanted him to stop. Hooking her leg over his, she pulled him harder against her. She felt her release coming; his name began leaving her lips in a constant moan as he sent her flying over the edge of passion. He followed almost instantly, grunting as he pushed his face into her chest.
Her fingers ran through his hair as he rested above her, their bodies still connected as they gathered their breaths. With his eyes closed, he listened to the pounding of her heart, racing as he trailed his fingers up and down her sides. Her skin was soft, softer than he had ever imagined and the feel of it against his was heaven. He wished this could be their life, wished that all they had was each other and he was able to love her the way he always wanted.
It was a dream and though they had been together this evening, it mustn't happen again. The metal around her neck kept apart of her locked away and he couldn't settle for a part of her. He now understood completely why she wouldn't confess him. It wasn't only because she cared about him, but because it would lock away a part of him as well. Their love was lost between them.
Lifting his head from her chest, he kissed her deeply as he rolled them onto their sides. He never wanted to lose contact with her; the feel of her body against his was all he ever wanted. Kahlan brought herself closer, pushing her head beneath his chin as she took in a deep breath. She had expected him to smell like the water, but his scent was entirely the same. Never before had the smell of the forest make her weak.
"You're freezing," he said after a while, her body shaking against his. "We should get you by the fire."
Shaking her head, she tried to get closer. "I don't want to move."
Grinning, he pulled his head back to look at her. She looked peaceful, her eyes closed as she took in slow, deep breaths. "Even if I carried you?"
"We'd drown," she said through a light laugh.
"I'd never let anything happen to you."
Opening her eyes, she smiled. "I know." With a soft sigh of discontent, she sat up and looked back at him. "Let's go."
His smile widened as she eased herself into the water, hissing lightly at its coolness. For the first time, he noticed the water around her. It was glowing, lighting the small cave as though there was a large source of light. It made it easy for him to see through the water as she turned around toward him with a grin. "What?"
"It's getting warmer." Leaning back, she moved her hair through the slow flowing water to help warm her.
His eyes fell to her breasts as they peaked out of the water. Her body was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, the flawless porcelain skin that was decorated by freckles. The sight took the breath from his lungs. He couldn't tear his eyes off of her, even as she tossed his pants onto the ledge beside him. She moved closer, grabbing his legs and pulling them into the water.
He was sitting on the edge of the ledge, his legs bent at the knees in the water and his manhood inches from her face. His desire more than obvious, but her eyes were locked on his. The pounding of his heart was so loud, he was sure she could hear it. With her hands on his thighs, she lifted herself out of the water. It happened slowly; he could see each drop of water fall downward as she leaned close to him. The low growl that escaped his throat gave her the courage to continue.
As their lips connected, she took him in her hand and slowly began messaging him. He held onto her face, keeping her close as he deepened their kiss. She stopped suddenly and lowered herself back into the water, leaving him desperately wanting more. Moving quickly, he lifted her back to him so that she sat above him. She went willingly, settling above him as he took her breasts in his hands. He entered her almost instantly, filling her completely.
Her gasp of his name echoed in his ear as she clung to him. His forehead was pressed against her shoulder, his eyes closed as she rocked above, trying to help him last a few moments longer. She arched her back with a loud cry of passion, her body quaking around him in release. Pushing his fingers into the back of her shoulders, he dragged them down her back as he emptied himself within her. In a quick moment, he allowed himself to pray that he had given her everything. He wanted a child with her.
She collapsed in his arms, her entire body completely relaxed in his arms as she rested her head against his shoulder. He liked holding her this way, feeling her in his arms as though nothing else existed and nothing could pull them apart. From the way she clung to him, he knew that she felt it too. Tightening his arms around her, he closed his eyes and leaned back, wanting to hold her against him as long as possible.
Lifting her head from his chest, she grinned down at him. "What are you thinking?"
Opening his eyes, he tucked a few damp strands of hair behind her left ear and smiled. "I was thinking about how I wanted this to last forever and how I never want to let you go. What were you thinking?"
Giving him a quick kiss, she returned her head to his chest and then whispered. "I'm thinking that I have never felt safer."
"Kahlan, I-"
"When you hold me like this, I feel safe, loved... and at home."
"I'm never going to let you go, Kahlan."
Her eyes slid closed for a moment, trying to keep from believing him. "I don't want you to."
He knew what was running through her mind and he hated that she thought about it. "Removing the Rada'Han will not change anything."
"It will change everything. That's why I wanted it off." He felt her tears fall onto his chest as she spoke, her whispers louder than he anticipated. "All I could think about was being with you and I knew- I know that once this comes off, we can never be together. As long as I wear this, I can't hurt you."
"I will find a way, Kahlan."
Lifting herself from his body, she moved away and handed him his pants. "I'm a Confessor. There is no way." Slipping back into the water, she disappeared through the falls.
Chapter: 2
Characters: Richard, Kahlan, Zedd, Cara, Others (Originals)
Rating: NC17/R
Timeline: During season 2
Summary: After waking up in an unfamiliar place, Richard must fight to save not only himself, but the life and honor of the Mother Confessor, facing a bigger challenge than he ever imagined.
Paring: Kahlan/Richard; Richard/Other; Kahlan/Other
Story Type: Drama/Romance
Word Count: 3,036
Disclaimer: I own NOTHING. I simply play with them as toys. *Evil Laughter*
Author's Note: HUGE thanks to @StinaJane and @ConfessedByBR for being awesome BETAs!! *hugs*
Comments are awesome folks!
Their escape was slow, Sam's guards had come in and one by one, they attacked with full force. Kahlan had taken one of the guard's knives and without a sound; she killed every man who came close. There was no emotion on her face, even when they left the small prison. She walked silently beside him, clinging to her dress to hold it closed. He walked close to her, hoping to help keep her warmer as they figured out where they were. The forest around them was nothing like he had seen before.
The sound of flowing water seemed to perk her mood; she spoke for the first time in over a day. "Can we sleep here for the night?"
It wasn't a place he would have suggested, not wanting to risk anyone coming upon them while trying to get water, but the way she looked out at it made him change his mind. "If you-"
"I want to wash it off of me," she whispered, bringing her eyes to him.
"All right. I'll find us something to eat."
She didn't wait for him to leave. Walking quickly, she went to the water and tossed what was left of the dress into the dirt as she moved deeper. She couldn't pull the image of Richard from her mind. Seeing him with another woman, a woman who looked like her made her wish that it was she he had been with. She was wearing a Rada'Han; her magic wouldn't be able to destroy him. His body responded to the sight of her, she watched it happen and it thrilled her.
No man has ever desired a Confessor, but he- It was something she had tried to deny, but now she couldn't keep the images from her mind. Dunking her head under the water, she held her breath in an attempt to focus on something other than the imaginings of his hands upon her. It was useless; nothing would ever take the thoughts from her mind. She gasped for air as she emerged from the water, turning to Richard who stared out in concern.
Her nod eased his mind, telling him that she was all right. He had looked up, after starting the fire to cook the rabbits he had caught and she wasn't there. He had been moments from jumping in after her when she reemerged. Sitting back onto the ground, he brought his eyes back to the food in an attempt to give her some privacy. She was nearly under the waterfall and the thought made it nearly impossible to keep his eyes off of her.
The rabbits were done cooking, but he refrained from calling out to her. To keep himself busy, he folded her dress and laid it by the fire. With it ripped open and the cooling air, she would need some help to get warm after her bath. He wished they had found the clothes she had been wearing or maybe some blankets, but they didn't find anything other than his clothes dropped carelessly outside of the room. He had offered her his shirt, knowing that it would cover her a little more than her dress, but she refused.
Looking out to the water again, he jumped to his feet and called her name. There was no reply and she was nowhere in sight. Pulling his shirt over his head, he raced to the water and jumped in. He searched the water in a panic, calling her name every time he brought his head up for air. Coming to the waterfall, he swam under desperately. Kahlan was a few feet away, pulling at the Rada'Han around her neck as she cried. The sound of the rushing water would have drowned out all other sounds; she wouldn't have heard him calling for her.
His heart pounded in relief as he moved closer, reaching a hand out to comfort them both. She jumped at his hand on her shoulder, too lost in thought to notice him beside her. Taking her hands into his, he pulled them away from the cold metal. She stared at the water, afraid to look into his eyes and have him see what she had been thinking. He could never know.
"I'm going to find a way to get this off of you." His voice sounded soft, but she was sure he was yelling, the crash of the water around them was too loud for it to have been the whisper she heard. "Kahlan, I promise. You will be yourself again."
It was just like Richard to say something like that, she thought as she nodded. She had been thinking about how this could be the only chance she would have to be with him and the thought didn't cross his mind. She wanted it off of her instantly, the feel of it around her neck, suppressing her magic, only made her desire for him grow. She was naked before him, but his eyes never strayed from her face, and the water was clear enough for him to view her without restrictions. She wanted him to look at her; and see the same desire she felt within him. Abandoning all thought, she reached out for him and pulled herself close.
He returned her kiss without hesitation as he wrapped his arms around her. The feel of her pressed against him made his heart pound. She turned him away from the falling water and pushed his back against the rock of the wall of the small cave around them. Her hands ran smoothly over his shoulders and back, sliding lower in an attempt to get closer. He pulled his head back as she reached between them and grabbed the top of his pants. She ignored her name leaving his lips in caution, her desire for him too strong to keep at bay any longer.
Grabbing her hands, Richard pulled them from the laces of his pants and pushed her back. "You don't want to do this."
"Yes, I do," she breathed out, instantly knowing that he was able to hear her soft words.
Shaking his head, he released her hands and grabbed her face gently. "This isn't you."
She pushed away from him, breaking their contact. "What if it's not?" she snapped, hurt by his decision to stop her when he hadn't stop the other woman. "It didn't stop you before!"
He swam after her, making sure she wasn't able to get away from him. "You know that I never wanted to-"
"Yes you did," she interrupted, trying to pull out of his hold.
"I wanted to be with you."
"You were."
"How can you say that?" he questioned in shock. "You saw everything. You know that it wasn't her that I wanted."
Turning around to face him, she met his eyes. "She gave you me."
"No, she gave me someone who looked like you." His voice was calm, surprising her when she knew that he was angry that she had accused of wanting to be with another woman because she looked like her. "Kahlan, you know me better than that. I betrayed you and you're angry; I understand, but don't you for a second believe that I wanted to do it." His eyes were locked on hers, making sure that she understood his words to be true. "I didn't want to hurt you. I- After what I did, you shouldn't want to be near me." He sighed, looking down to the metal around her neck. "And you- Kahlan, when you're wearing this, you're not you."
"Yes, I am," she whispered. His right hand had come up to the Rada'Han as she spoke, his fingers lightly touching the cold metal. Taking hold of his hand, she held it in place as she moved closer. "I just can't hurt you anymore."
Cupping her cheeks, he pressed his forehead against hers and sighed. "You could never hurt me, not with your magic."
"I wanted to be her," she admitted quietly, almost ashamed of her own desire.
"I wanted it to be you too."
Grabbing his arms, she pushed closer and closed her eyes. "Please..."
Their lips connected with a slow kiss, their bodies pressing together gently as they pulled each other close. Her hands were between them almost instantly, trying to remove his pants before he pulled away again. His kiss was filled with passion and just as desperate as hers. She knew he still had doubt, but she couldn't let him stop them.
The water made it difficult to remove his pants, the khaki fabric sticking to him as though they were a part of him. Richard grabbed her legs and wrapped them around him, pushing her back against the wall as he moved to deepen their kiss. She pulled him nearer, holding him to her as she rocked against him. He couldn't get close enough; the water around them seemed to be pulling them apart while they fought to remain together. He broke their kiss as his pants floated to the surface and looked around.
The cave was deeper than it had appeared and there was a ledge of dry rock that would keep them out of the water. Pulling away, he grabbed her hand and brought her along with him, lifting her carefully out of the water while his eyes devoured her form. The way he looked at her made her heart pound and her body ache. He eased her back, running his hands over her as he lifted himself above her. His lips covered her body slowly, teasing her before his tongue slid out for a taste. Grabbing his hair, she panted his name and gasped for more.
The sounds of her moans echoed throughout the cave, almost drowning out the rushing water, making it impossible for him to concentrate. His hands continued to move over her as he brought his lips to hers. His desire pressed against her stomach, waiting for release as he expected her to stop him. To his delight and surprise, she reached between them and took hold of him. A light gasp of her name left him as the only way he could warn her that her touch could make it end before they had begun.
She brought him to her entrance and released a long moan as he pushed into her. Richard dropped his head to the crook of her neck with a grunt, trying to remain still as her body adjusted to his. Pushing her fingers into his back, she encouraged him move as she lifted herself up to meet him. Lifting his head, he took her face in his hands and waited for her to open her eyes and look at him.
"Are you sure?"
She could only nod once, words failing her as she looked into his eyes, the pleasure of their union burning within them and matching her own. Their lips connected as he shifted himself above her, their hands clinging to each other as they moved together. It thrilled her. In all her life, she had never imagined anything like this. He needed to touch her anywhere and everywhere, wanting to hear her gasp his name again and again. Each moan, gasp and whimper he heard from her drove him insane.
Grabbing one of her breasts, he began sucking on the soft skin, just below the Rada'Han, thriving off of her pleasure. She never wanted him to stop. Hooking her leg over his, she pulled him harder against her. She felt her release coming; his name began leaving her lips in a constant moan as he sent her flying over the edge of passion. He followed almost instantly, grunting as he pushed his face into her chest.
Her fingers ran through his hair as he rested above her, their bodies still connected as they gathered their breaths. With his eyes closed, he listened to the pounding of her heart, racing as he trailed his fingers up and down her sides. Her skin was soft, softer than he had ever imagined and the feel of it against his was heaven. He wished this could be their life, wished that all they had was each other and he was able to love her the way he always wanted.
It was a dream and though they had been together this evening, it mustn't happen again. The metal around her neck kept apart of her locked away and he couldn't settle for a part of her. He now understood completely why she wouldn't confess him. It wasn't only because she cared about him, but because it would lock away a part of him as well. Their love was lost between them.
Lifting his head from her chest, he kissed her deeply as he rolled them onto their sides. He never wanted to lose contact with her; the feel of her body against his was all he ever wanted. Kahlan brought herself closer, pushing her head beneath his chin as she took in a deep breath. She had expected him to smell like the water, but his scent was entirely the same. Never before had the smell of the forest make her weak.
"You're freezing," he said after a while, her body shaking against his. "We should get you by the fire."
Shaking her head, she tried to get closer. "I don't want to move."
Grinning, he pulled his head back to look at her. She looked peaceful, her eyes closed as she took in slow, deep breaths. "Even if I carried you?"
"We'd drown," she said through a light laugh.
"I'd never let anything happen to you."
Opening her eyes, she smiled. "I know." With a soft sigh of discontent, she sat up and looked back at him. "Let's go."
His smile widened as she eased herself into the water, hissing lightly at its coolness. For the first time, he noticed the water around her. It was glowing, lighting the small cave as though there was a large source of light. It made it easy for him to see through the water as she turned around toward him with a grin. "What?"
"It's getting warmer." Leaning back, she moved her hair through the slow flowing water to help warm her.
His eyes fell to her breasts as they peaked out of the water. Her body was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, the flawless porcelain skin that was decorated by freckles. The sight took the breath from his lungs. He couldn't tear his eyes off of her, even as she tossed his pants onto the ledge beside him. She moved closer, grabbing his legs and pulling them into the water.
He was sitting on the edge of the ledge, his legs bent at the knees in the water and his manhood inches from her face. His desire more than obvious, but her eyes were locked on his. The pounding of his heart was so loud, he was sure she could hear it. With her hands on his thighs, she lifted herself out of the water. It happened slowly; he could see each drop of water fall downward as she leaned close to him. The low growl that escaped his throat gave her the courage to continue.
As their lips connected, she took him in her hand and slowly began messaging him. He held onto her face, keeping her close as he deepened their kiss. She stopped suddenly and lowered herself back into the water, leaving him desperately wanting more. Moving quickly, he lifted her back to him so that she sat above him. She went willingly, settling above him as he took her breasts in his hands. He entered her almost instantly, filling her completely.
Her gasp of his name echoed in his ear as she clung to him. His forehead was pressed against her shoulder, his eyes closed as she rocked above, trying to help him last a few moments longer. She arched her back with a loud cry of passion, her body quaking around him in release. Pushing his fingers into the back of her shoulders, he dragged them down her back as he emptied himself within her. In a quick moment, he allowed himself to pray that he had given her everything. He wanted a child with her.
She collapsed in his arms, her entire body completely relaxed in his arms as she rested her head against his shoulder. He liked holding her this way, feeling her in his arms as though nothing else existed and nothing could pull them apart. From the way she clung to him, he knew that she felt it too. Tightening his arms around her, he closed his eyes and leaned back, wanting to hold her against him as long as possible.
Lifting her head from his chest, she grinned down at him. "What are you thinking?"
Opening his eyes, he tucked a few damp strands of hair behind her left ear and smiled. "I was thinking about how I wanted this to last forever and how I never want to let you go. What were you thinking?"
Giving him a quick kiss, she returned her head to his chest and then whispered. "I'm thinking that I have never felt safer."
"Kahlan, I-"
"When you hold me like this, I feel safe, loved... and at home."
"I'm never going to let you go, Kahlan."
Her eyes slid closed for a moment, trying to keep from believing him. "I don't want you to."
He knew what was running through her mind and he hated that she thought about it. "Removing the Rada'Han will not change anything."
"It will change everything. That's why I wanted it off." He felt her tears fall onto his chest as she spoke, her whispers louder than he anticipated. "All I could think about was being with you and I knew- I know that once this comes off, we can never be together. As long as I wear this, I can't hurt you."
"I will find a way, Kahlan."
Lifting herself from his body, she moved away and handed him his pants. "I'm a Confessor. There is no way." Slipping back into the water, she disappeared through the falls.