Exhausted

[confessorlove]

Title: Exhausted
Author:confessorlove 
Rating: PG
Pairing: Richard and Kahlan
Author's Notes: Written for my kissbingo  square Type: Sleeping Beauty.  Thanks to confessorlove for the idea for this fic. I hope it is what you had in mind. Not beta'd so all mistakes are my own.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. I just like to make them do my bidding.

 

Richard awoke when the sunlight started streaming in through the sheer curtains covering the windows. He had no idea how he had managed to over sleep but he had and Kahlan was still sound asleep, her back pressed up against his chest, his arm draped over her, letting his fingers trail over the silky fabric of her nightgown. He placed light kisses along the exposed flesh of her shoulder, where her gown had shifted in her sleep. He knew they were running late for the meeting but he didn’t seem to care. All he wanted to do was hold the woman he loved for just a few more minutes.

She was so beautiful with the sunlight making her skin practically glow, warmth radiating out from her every pore. He hated the thought of waking her for the meeting. He just couldn’t tear his eyes away from the sleeping perfection in his arms. He just held her, listening to the sound of her even breathing and watching the strand of raven hair than hung in her face flutter with each one of her breaths; the way her eyelashes fluttered in her sleep. The sight of her always took his breath away. 

He hated to wake her but he knew she would be upset if he didn’t. She just looked so peaceful, like she was having a wonderful dream. He gently nuzzled her neck, leaving a trail of light kisses over her jaw as he worked his way up towards her ear. “Rise and shine, sleeping beauty.” He whispered in her ear, letting his tongue sneak out and trace the whorls before retreating.

She stirred some but she didn’t wake, just shifting in his arms and murmuring his name.   He smiled when he heard his name on her lips; even though she was unconscious she still knew he was there. “Wake up, Kahlan.” He whispered in her ear again before shifting and kissing her lightly. Still she didn’t wake. She just rolled over in an unconscious attempt to keep him from waking her.

“Come on, Kahlan.” He spoke a little louder this time, his hand drifting down her side and tickling her lightly. She squirmed in response, her whole body trying desperately to get away from his hands. “Wake up, sleeping beauty. We’re gonna be late.” He stilled his hand and kissed her lips chastely once again.

She stirred then, his actions drawing her out of the haze of sleep that was clouding her mind. She didn’t open her eyes; she just let her lips and tongue tell him that she was awake. She kissed him back, chastely at first before tracing his lips with her tongue, begging him for entrance.

Richard smiled into the kiss when he felt her starting to kiss him back, his kiss having woken her from the depths of her slumber. He readily parted his lips when she wanted it, giving her tongue free reign to explore the cavern of his mouth. They lay there kissing for a few minutes, letting the sensual feelings bring Kahlan to a full level of consciousness. When Richard finally broke the kiss he rested his forehead against hers, letting their noses brush against one another’s.

He stared down at her, her eyes still closed and if she hadn’t just been kissing him he would have sworn she was still asleep. She was so beautiful like this. She seemed so at peace. It broke his heart to disturb her, but he had no choice. They were going to be late for their meeting with the Council. “Good morning, sleeping beauty.”

He kissed her chastely once more as he watched her eyes flutter open. “Morning, Richard.” She kissed him softly before smirking. “If I’m Sleeping Beauty then are you my prince?”

His eyes sparkled with the playfulness of her question, a small smile forming on his lips. “I’ll be whatever you want me to.” Placing a light kiss to the tip of her nose she smiled before he rolled away from her and got out of bed. “We’re running late, Kahlan. We need to get going.”

Kahlan groaned as she sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. “I really don’t want to.”

“I know. Me neither.” He said with a nod as he started to get dressed.

Kahlan sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, contemplating getting up and dressing with him before her inner desire won out. She flopped backwards, lying on the bed and closing her eyes, wishing that sleep would return.   It wasn’t a minute and she was asleep again, exhaustion from her busy day the day before still obvious. She hadn’t been sleeping well for a few weeks and now it was all catching up with her.

Richard finished dressing, turning around he expected to find his wife lacing her Confessor’s dress, not laying crossway across their bed and sound asleep. He just chuckled. He knew she had not been sleeping the best for the past few weeks and was glad she was resting. He wasn’t going to wake her again when she was finally getting the sleep she so desperately needed. He didn’t know exactly what had been causing her insomnia but since she was so tired and was sleeping again, he intended to let her stay that way. The Council would just have to go without the Mother Confessor for the day.

He sat down on the bed next to her sleeping form, taking her hand in his and pressing a light kiss to her knuckles. He idly wondered if there was a reason her sleep had been so troubled lately and was determined to find out when she woke, he would ask her but for now he had to inform the council that the Mother Confessor needed her rest. He was sure they wouldn’t like it and demand that he go and wake Kahlan but he wouldn’t. He wouldn’t wake her from her dreams just so she could sit over yet another boring meeting. She was too special to him and he wouldn’t let her go without rest simply to appease the Council. He wouldn’t stand for that.

He pressed a soft kiss to her lips, her lips not returning the gesture, and then covering her with the blanket before getting up and walking to the door. He stopped in the doorway and just took in the sight of his wife looking so peaceful. It made him smile. He knew that soon enough she would be awake again and reaming him for letting her sleep though the meeting but it would all be worth it. This moment, just watching her sleep would make up for it all. She may rule the Midlands when she was awake but now she was nothing more than his beauty. His sleeping beauty and he couldn’t have been happier about it.