Fresh and Clean

[confessorlove]

Title: Fresh and Clean
Author: confessorlove
Pairing: Richard and Kahlan
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Kahlan takes a bath, Richard loves how clean she is.
Author's Notes: Written for mykissbingo  Type: Clean. Not beta'd so all mistakes are my own.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. I just like to make them do my bidding.

 

 After spending hours in the dungeons with the condemned she always felt so dirty; she longed to feel clean.  That was her plan for the evening.  She needed to feel clean again.  When she had finished with the last of the prisoners and arrived back in her room, Richard was nowhere to be found.  It didn’t worry her, she was sure he was rocking their daughter to sleep or something of that nature.  She would have loved to peek into the nursery but she knew that the sight she would find there would hold her captive for hours and she wanted a bath before bed.  So instead she went straight to work drawing herself a bath, stripping off her dress taking with it the mantle of authority it held before sinking into the warm water.

She let all of her stress and worries float away as she took the soap in her hands, washing away all the worries of the day.  She soaked there, letting her mind wander to her husband and daughter in the other room as she washed her long dark hair.  She ran her fingers through her soapy locks and wondered if her daughter would grow up to have hair like her.  She smiled at the thought, their daughter with his eyes and her hair.

She still sat there, long after she had finished washing herself.  Even though she knew she was clean Kahlan didn’t want to move.  She was so at peace.  She rested her head against the back of the tub and closed her eyes, relaxing in that moment and taking in the scent of the soap, how clean it smelled.  She loved it even if she learned to love the smell of sweat and dirt from their time together on their quest.  She still loved this.

Eventually the water cooled to a point where she could no longer deny that she had been in that bath much longer than was necessary and got out, drying herself off as goose bumps formed on her skin.  She regretted staying in there so long now; she was cold and couldn’t wait to climb into bed with Richard.  Kahlan slipped into her nightgown and pulled her robe on for warmth before grabbing her brush and heading back out into their room.

He smiled when he heard her open the door and come back into their bedroom.  She had been in there for a long time and he was starting to get worried.  The look on her face now though, so content as she walked towards him, her damp curls in one hand as she started brushing out the tangles.

“That was a long bath.”

“I really needed to get clean again.  You know I hate it down in the dungeon.”   She sat on the bed and he took the brush from her, positioning himself behind her so he could work out all the knots and she could just relax.

“I know you do.”

Kahlan released a contented sigh as Richard brushed her hair.  This moment just seemed so perfect and she would give anything to stay like this forever.  She loved it when he took care of her.  Even when it was something as simple as brushing her hair for her, it made her feel so loved.  He brushed her damp curls out of his way, resting his chin on her shoulder as he kissed that spot behind her ear that always made her moan.  The smell of the soap, lingering on her skin as he kissed her neck; he loved how fresh and clean she smelled.  Her hair held that hint of a floral scent to it from the soap she used.  

“You smell so clean, Kahlan, like vanilla and lilacs.”

She smiled as she shifted in his arms, turning slightly so she could see him.  “I'm glad you like it but I thought you thought I was taking too long to get clean.”

“I did. But now I don’t mind.  You smell too good for me to care.”

She kissed him then, softly and chastely.  She was tired and didn’t want the kiss to lead to anything but she couldn’t not kiss him.  After how sweet and caring he had been, taking care of her and holding her she needed to kiss him, to show him she loved him.

When she pulled away he kissed her lightly once, smiling at the look that crept onto her face at his spontaneous decision.  “I love you, Kahlan.  Now and forever.”

“And I love you, my Richard.”

Kahlan pulled her bare feet up onto the bed, tucking them beneath herself for warmth as Richard ran his fingers through her silky locks.  She smiled at the way he lightly massaged her scalp, how he used his fingers to work out the last of her tangles.  She leaned back against him when he finished, his arms wrapping around her, holding her to him.  He loved the moments like these, this time they get to spend together, it made his heart soar.

After a time Richard could sense her body relaxing as she started to fall asleep in his arms.  He shifted them, lying down with her pulled back against his chest.  He nuzzled her neck, planting light kisses down her throat, the fresh smell of her hair, the hint of lilacs and vanilla wafting into his nose.  He loved how she smelled.  He always had and always will even if there is something about the way she smelled so clean that just made him smile. 

“I love you, my Richard.” Kahlan said with a yawn, her eyes drifting closed before sitting bolt upright in bed.  “I forgot to kiss Ella goodnight.”  She threw back the blankets Richard had covered her with and let her legs dangle off the bed.  “I’ll be right back.”

She made her way to the nursery through the dark room, only the moonlight streaming in the windows lighting her path.  She smiled when she saw her daughter asleep in the crib, the moonlight making her creamy skin almost glow in the light.  She crossed the room, watching her daughter’s tiny chest rise and fall with each breath.  “I love you my little angel.”  Kahlan trailed her finger down Ella’s soft cheek before kissing her forehead, the sweet smell of her daughter’s clean skin filling her nose.

She stood there for a moment, just soaking in the sight of her daughter before returning to bed.  Richard welcomed her back into bed, pulling her into his arms and kissing her lightly.  “I love you.”  Kahlan said as sleep started to claim her.

Richard buried his nose in her luscious hair, taking in the scent of vanilla and lilacs, the way she smells so clean.  “I love you too.”

Together the drifted off, letting their dreams take them to a world that is all their own.