�Yes, sixteen, granted they�ve flown by but darling we�ve shared morning showers, I�ve held you naked in my arms, I still can�t believe I�m allowed to hold you naked in my arms��
�Joseph.� She admonished as he sat down on the edge of the bed and began to pull his trousers on.
�But� you still insist on covering yourself up.�
�Just because I don�t want to lie around here parading my body��
�It�s not that, it�s about being comfortable with me.� He leant over her, hands resting either side of her head on the pillow.
�I am comfortable. Surely last night proved that.�
�You were drunk.�
She touched his cheek. �Not completely. I find it odd at times, difficult to adjust.�
�I know, and I understand that, I understand why you pull away if we�re in public, or distance yourself slightly. I can accept that. But when we�re alone��
�I know, I know... and I will try, I do try.�
�I�ll go get breakfast. Tea?�
�Of course, if you can get it.�
�I�ll sell my body if I have to.�
She laughed. �Just to get me tea?�
�Just to get you tea.�
He collected his wallet and keys from the table, the table that was barely still standing, and headed out the door.
* * *
As he stepped out into the crisp morning he was instantly reminded of his childhood days. Autumn when the air seemed to be infused with toffee and the last of summer, the final warmth just fading away. All was fresh and bright and he felt thoroughly good to be out there this morning.
He took a deep breath and set off across the street, he couldn�t actually recall walking this street the night before, and he was damned if he knew how they�d found their way to this little Bed and Breakfast. Yet what did it matter now, they�d made it there and all was fine.
Spotting a patisserie some way along the street he headed towards it, the streets were still quiet despite the fact it was almost 11 O�clock. He wished Clarisse would have ventured out with him; she would have loved this, sitting outside having croissants and coffee. Well Tea for her but never mind. It was no use dwelling on that; breakfast in bed would be just as good, though they better not lean on that table whilst they ate.
As he rounded the corner he recognised a small bar across the street, slightly different in the daylight but he recognised it nonetheless, the windows were a giveaway. Clarisse had almost tripped out of those doors�
* * *
Laughing and giggling in a most un-Queenly manner Clarisse stumbled out of the doors, Joseph caught her arm but she shrugged him off.
�I�m fine, fine, these silly shoes.� She walked past him and back towards the bar.
He was about to drag her away again when she actually sat in the window ledge adjusting her shoes.
�Erm Clarisse� are you feeling alright?�
�No I�m not, my feet are killing me. All that dancing.� She laughed again. �I haven�t had so much fun in� oh I don�t know� perhaps never.�
�Never?�
�I enjoyed that.� She sighed and brushed her hair back from her face. �I�m hot Joseph.�
He shook his head trying to think of an amusing retort but was silenced when she stood and abruptly removed her coat and handed it to him. He watched silently as she walked along the cobbled streets, lifting her head back and allowing the cool evening air to trace down her neck.
Smiling he quickened his step and caught up to her. �Are you my wife?� He asked behind her.
Turning quickly she threw her arms around his neck. �Oh absolutely, aren�t I?�
�I do hope so.� He swung his free arm around her back and lifted her slightly from the ground twirling her a little and she brought her mouth down to his, a brief tempting kiss, a promise of what the night still had ahead.
�Should we find somewhere to stay?� Joseph whispered as she rubbed her nose with his.
�Hmm, somewhere�� She dropped her feet back to the floor but still held her face close to his.
�We could hail a cab, or I have my phone, I�m sure the Ritz could find room for us, given your status my sweet.�
�Hmm�� She tickled his chin. �But I want us to disappear this weekend, let�s find somewhere tiny and out-of-the-way.�
�Anything you wish.�
�Good.� She let go of him and spun around again. �So this is freedom�� she sighed as she hooked her arm through his and together they moved down the street.
Clarisse rested her head on his shoulder as they walked, both her arms holding onto his, he felt warm and strong, she could feel the muscles in his arm, the heat radiating from his body as they walked. There was something fulfilling about walking down a city street early in the morning with her husband, no polite smiles and discreet holding hands, she could touch him however she wanted, whenever she wanted.
�I like it here.� She said gently, almost reverently.
�I�m glad, I like it here too.� He leant over and kissed the top of her head. �Are you tired?�
�Not yet.� She said with just a trace of humour to her voice. �But I have a few reservations.�
�Concerning?�
�Inviting a boy back to my room after only our first date.�
�Ahh I see.� He nodded. �But then you have just kissed me in the middle of the street.�
�I know.�
�You�ll get a bad reputation.�
�Oh I do hope so, I always wanted one, I was always too prim and proper to ever seriously consider risking Papa�s wrath, but secretly I would have loved to have been one of the bad girls.�
Joseph laughed.
�What?�
�Prim and proper indeed� if only he�d seen you knocking back those cocktails.�
* * *
Clarisse watched the sink fill with cold water, her hands rested in the bottom, she could barely feel her fingers anymore, they looked somehow distorted in the water.
Bracing herself she took a deep breath before plunging her face in.
If she�d been slapped straight across the face it couldn�t have felt much different, yet as she adjusted to the sudden cold and dabbed her skin with a towel she found it automatically refreshing. Her eyes were waking up, her skin didn�t feel so tight and her senses were clearing.
She glanced at herself in the mirror, leant forward and touched the lines at the corner of her eyes. Age was unforgiving, especially after a night like that. Reaching for the small pot of cream she dabbed it onto her cheeks and began to gently rub it in, thank god she kept it in her handbag.
Goodness it would probably take her weeks to recover from last night, weeks and weeks! Though somehow it was worth every second, every single second. From the moment they�d stepped from the plane and Joseph had escorted her to �his� black jaguar she�d been transported away from this goldfish bowl lifestyle and thrust into the outside world.
The sun was just setting as they�d driven through the city streets, and she�d felt almost giddy as she glanced around at the sights. Somehow they looked different to her now, she�d visited the city many times but never like this, never as a woman on a date.
Wandering back into the bedroom Clarisse couldn�t help but giggle at the memory of entering that first bar, she�d had his hand in a vice like grip, almost terrified that somebody would recognise her and their evening of intense privacy would be shattered.
* * *
�You�re shaking.� Joseph whispered next to her ear. �Relax, we�ll get a drink, that will calm you.�
He led her through the throng of people to the main bar, she wasn�t used to being in such close proximity to others, all those bodies pressed together, moving together in the same rhythm as the steady bass line thudded across the floor.
�What would you like?�
�I have no idea what they have.�
�Cocktails, it�s a cocktail bar.�
Clarisse glanced around and Joseph smiled at her obvious nervousness. �You choose.� She finally said. �What are you having?�
�I shall have� a Whisky Manhattan, how about that?�
�I�m not very good with Whisky.�
He squeezed her waist. �My dear I�m not sure you�ll be �good� after any of these, whisky or not.� He kissed her head. �Why don�t you just start with a simple� ahhh look, �Between the Sheets.��
�A what?� She gasped.
Joseph chuckled. �Or a Screaming Orgasm�� he dropped his head next to her ear. �But then again we should probably save that for later.�
She swallowed feeling her cheeks warm but then straightened her shoulders and sternly said. �I�m not sure who thinks up these ridiculous names for drinks.�
�It helps them sell.�
�Yes sir?� A young man leant across the bar expectantly.
Clarisse watched as Joseph ordered and paid.
A moment later he handed her a small glass.
�And I have?�
�Have started you off with a fairly normal run of the mill Vodka Martini.�
She took a sip, swallowed, then took a deep breath before smiling serenely. �It tastes alright� I think.�
Chuckling again Joseph placed his hand on the small of her back and led her across the dance floor, up a small set of stairs and to an empty table.
�I feel awfully old.� Clarisse said taking another drink.
�Sorry?� Joseph leant closer to her, moving his chair around the table. �Couldn�t hear you.�
�I said� being here I feel awfully old.� She glanced down at the couples dancing.
He reached across and took hold of her hand. �Don�t, you have no need to, you look wonderful.�
She felt his other hand beneath the table, on her knee, he was slowly moving her skirt up and then he slid his hand beneath and squeezed her warm thigh.
�And you certainly don�t feel old to me.�
* * *
Clarisse felt herself trembling at the memory, trembling at the memory of a touch how ridiculous was that! Sighing she fell back onto the bed, suddenly she felt awfully frustrated being here alone.
She closed her eyes, then opened them again and looked across at the window, across the wall, to the carpet, up again to the door to the room, at the table that stood just a few feet away� the rather wobbly table. The rather convenient table.
* * *
Clarisse twirled Joseph�s tie around before throwing it across the room. He watched as she dropped her shoes to the floor and leant back on the small table that stood next to the window.
�Joseph�� She drawled seductively.
He took his time hanging her coat up on the back of the door and placing her scarf on top of it before turning around.
This time she watched him as he very slowly, very deliberately, unbuttoned and removed his shirt and dropped it to the floor. Again she licked her lips, her mouth suddenly felt dry.
His hands moved to his belt, he unbuckled and discarded it then pushed down his trousers. Calmly he sat on the edge of the bed as he took them off along with his shoes. She was almost throbbing with desire as she watched him.
Casually he moved across the room in just his briefs and pulled the curtains closed, she hadn�t even noticed they were still open. He switched a lamp on and she placed her hands either side of her steadying herself on the table.
�Are we going to bed then?� He asked softly, she saw the dark tint to his eyes, that look he had when he was overcome with lust and desire.
He was standing in front of her now; she deliberately gazed down his body, across his muscled chest, down to the prominent bulge in his briefs. He stepped towards her, his hands either side of hers on the table as he leant into her, his face was so close to her, she breathed in his cologne, the unique scent of him. He teasingly kissed her bottom lip, sucking on it, tugging it gently with his teeth. Just as she was leaning into him he backed away.
He caught the short look of annoyance in her eyes, smiling he placed his hands on top of her legs, smoothing down over her dress until he reached her knees.
She uncrossed her ankles and parted her legs slightly, waiting for him. He slipped his hands down to her thighs, around her until he cupped her backside and lifted her up slightly. She gasped then smiled, he covered it with a searing kiss.
All that slow tension they had fought so hard to build up dissolved in seconds and they frantically and forcefully smothered each other�s mouths. One of his arms was around her back now and he lifted her from the table and back against the wall. His other hand was busily pushing her panties to one side and sliding down the slick sweetness between her legs.
She groaned at the sudden touch, clawing at his shoulders. She was desperately trying to lift her leg up higher; her foot banged against the wall and she hard the table clatter to one side below her. Joseph had knocked into it as he urgently pushed to get closer to her.
Dropping her hand down to join his they both thoughtlessly pushed her panties down her legs, she wiggled them off the end of her foot then reached for his briefs. She made short work of casting them aside and taking him in her hand.
His mouth was on her neck as she stroked him; he was licking and tasting her skin, smothering her in his warmth. She moaned his name as she grabbed his ass and brought him closer to her.
Her dress was up around her waist, pushed off her shoulders as he kissed her there, he groped her breasts with his free hand, later he would strip her naked and reverently worship every inch of delicious body. Now he was simply desperate to join with her.
She was so hot now, so wet, part of him was amazed they were still managing to hold themselves up against the wall, part of him spurred on by the rawness of their actions. He took her nipple in his mouth through her dress; she pinched his skin with her nails and again muttered his name. God it had been a few months since they�d made love like this. Achingly and yearning for each other, almost desperate, that deep longing, that incredible force that brought them together.
Clarisse was the one who ended the foreplay, guiding him inside her; he was so hard, throbbing and taut with tension. She held him inside her for a few seconds and their kissing slowed, they teased each other�s mouths, tasted and savoured as their tongues met and stroked.
Then she moved her hips and shot of searing heat rushed through them both, this wasn�t going to last long.
Their rhythm was instantly fast and deep, her orgasm seemed to have been building the entire day. She squeezed her eyes closed as Joseph�s fingers continued to touch her bringing her closer and closer with each thrust. Her head fell back against the wall and she wrapped her legs up around his waist.
Never would she have imagined it could be like this, never. Two years ago she was content to settle into a life of more State Balls and political meetings, of growing old gracefully and becoming the countries favourite Grandmother. Now, right now, she was vibrant and alive and filled with such intensity... she wanted to scream about it to the world.
He was whispering in her ear, how much he wanted her, what she did to him, how extraordinarily beautiful she was, how sexy, how much he loved her.
She failed to find words to express how she felt right then, that deep pulsing sensation was getting stronger and stronger until they were barely moving, his mouth rested on hers and slowly he felt her body tighten against his then relax as she flooded with pleasure. Closing his eyes he whispered her name as he fell over the edge.
Breathless and panting Joseph lifted his face to hers; she smiled for him and touched his cheek.
�I do love you.� She said gently.
�And I you.� He kissed her amazing mouth, feeling her hands slide around his shoulders. �My darling.�
Finding some ounce of strength he lifted her up and crossed the short distance to the bed, they fell down together and lay there for a while tangled as one.
* * *
Joseph held the two paper packages securely in one hand as he flipped open the boot of the car and heaved out the overnight pack he�d hastily packed the day before. No doubt Clarisse would be entirely grateful for his hindsight, and the presence of clean underwear and toiletries.
Swinging it over his shoulder he took a left down a small alleyway, he felt more at ease now, he recalled his surroundings, they hadn�t walked that far the previous night, it had simply seemed like it. In less than ten minutes he would be back at the bed and breakfast.
Glancing around he noted the streets were deserted and he casually stretched his back and neck. Last night was glorious but his body was paying for it now. Nevermind, a few lengths of the pool when they returned home and he�d be fine again. Or perhaps he could convince his wife to give him a massage, certainly she resented it when he got one of those lovely young masseur ladies to do it for him, he could gently coerce her into it with a few well-aimed jokes.
It still amazed, left him breathless, when he actually stopped and mused on the fact that Clarisse Renaldi was his wife, that he was allowed to touch her, she allowed him to hold her every night. There had been times over the past ten years when he�d fantasised about doing such things, but they had been few and far between, he hardly allowed himself to indulge his mind in such whimsical pastimes, it was worthless.
After Philippe had died she had changed though, come to him for comfort and in time those whimsical fantasies didn�t seem so far fetched any longer. Walking the grounds together, taking the horses out together, dancing privately� those memories he still held as his most precious. Then in San Francisco, that night after the Ball, after Amelia had brought such relief and joy to Queen and Country, they�d been alone. Alone in her suite, sharing a bottle of wine, and she�d sat so close to him, her hand sliding into his.
He recalled being frozen as he observed her lifting their entwined hands; at the way she examined how their fingers fit together. He wasn�t sure whether it was the alcohol or the sheer relief at how the evening�s events had panned out that did it, but she�d leant across and kissed him. This light fleeting touch, almost uncertain about what she was doing, she�d pulled back shocked and stared into his eyes. He could see her searching her mind for something to say, for some answer; some explanation� there was none.
He�d closed the short distance between them and pressed his mouth to hers, so gently, so lightly, a whisper of a kiss. Her hand had gripped his tighter and the pressure on his lips had increased. His mind was racing, here she was kissing him, the reserved, highly guarded Clarisse was kissing him.
They must have sat there for well over an hour, learning how to kiss one another, exploring each other, stroking each other�s skin. It hadn�t gone further, he hadn�t wanted it too. He�d decided long ago that if he ever made love to her then it would be as a married couple, he couldn�t ask that of her, couldn�t smash her beliefs and sensibilities by asking for sex. Besides, it wasn�t about that; he wanted her, not just her body.
Sighing heavily Joseph turned onto the street where they were staying; his mind was suddenly clouded with memories. Soon they would spend their second Christmas together, time passed so quickly, things altered and changed so much, yet his love for her remained, a constant, growing and insistent, yet always there.
Last night he�d danced with her in a jazz club, some slow sensual number to begin with until she felt confident. Until she�d downed another two cocktails as was no longer aware of where she was or who was watching. Her arms had been around his neck, her face buried into his shoulder, they�d swayed together in time with the music in the semi-darkness.
When the song had changed, something more upbeat, she�d remained holding onto him rather than dragging him off the dance floor. He vividly recalled the image of her dress spinning around her as she�d turned then caught his hand again. They may have been the oldest couple there but they were by far the best dancers.
* * *
As Clarisse lay in bed she found herself almost dreamlike as she recalled the previous nights events. She stared at the spot on the wall where they�d made love so intensely, there was no denying the fact that simply remembering it was arousing her all over again. Only this time she wasn�t fuelled on by alcohol.
She pulled herself up the bed and clambered beneath the sheets, bringing the top sheet over her head she lay in the dark warmth remembering.
It hadn�t ended there, that night of utter delight, so much pleasure and joy, so much love. Yes that was exactly it, she decided, they were sharing their love, in the most age-old and sacred of rituals, in a way that was experienced time and time again the world over. Yet right then it had been just the two of them, here in this room, only they existed and only they mattered, their love had been immensely personal.
Certainly she would never reveal what they did to another living soul! She�d be far too embarrassed for one thing.
* * *
Clarisse was dosing when she felt Joseph lift himself up next to her, he leant over her body and tugged at the tie around her waist, her wraparound dress fell to either side of her body and he bent to kiss her stomach.
She sighed as he tickled her skin, stroking her abdomen with his tongue. He�d swirled over her skin, across her hips, down her legs. She felt serenely at ease, floating and escaping in the moment, drowning in his touch. He�d reached her feet and kissed the soles of each one, she�d shivered at the contact. At the sweetness of him adoring her in such a way, loving her to the point of massaging and kissing her feet.
On his knees now he�d leant over her kissed her nose, she�d giggled and lifted her arms up around his back.
�That was lovely.�
�Hmm, I haven�t finished.� He whispered huskily next to her ear.
He lifted her body up slightly and pulled the dress from her body, quickly unclasping her bra and dropping it to the floor. When she lay back on the bed he had remained watching her, staring down at the beauty of her body.
She lifted her leg, her knee aiming between his legs as she teased him. He smiled down at her.
�Wicked woman.�
She nodded and spread her arms across the bed lifting her breasts higher. His mouth was instantly upon her again, teasing and stroking each nipple in turn with his mouth, fondling and caressing her body. She moaned as he crawled down the bed, moving lower and lower, parting her legs easily with his palm he moved to kiss her thighs. Overwhelmed by the sweet intoxicating scent of her.
�Joseph�� his name fell from her lips in honeyed tones as he lifted her legs higher and kissed her centre.
Clarisse gripped the bed sheets beneath her, her fingers entwining with the material as she tugged at it just as Joseph manipulated and rose her body to such heights� she realised she was groaning incoherent words, noises in the back of her throat, gasping for air, her head dropped to one side, unable to find the energy to even lift her face and look down at him. She felt like clay beneath his expert hands, he was expertly moulding her into whatever shape he desired.
He slid one hand up beneath her lower back and lifted her up as her orgasm steadily built and flowed through her, only then did he stop and lift his head to look at her face. Such softness to her features, such complete fulfilment.
When she�d floated back down and was sighing and writhing on the bed in front of him he�d urged her to turn over and begun the worship all over again.
He licked up her spine, over the smooth silky skin of her back. Lovingly kissing the light freckles that adorned her skin, the small dimples near her shoulders.
�So very beautiful.� He murmured. �So beautiful��
�Joseph�� she twisted her head round in a desperate attempt to kiss him. He leant forward and met her mouth. �I love you so,� she whispered between kisses. �I want you.�
Their kissing had intensified and he became acutely aware that he was kneeling between her legs, that he was positioned and overwhelmed with the need to enter her again.
She must have sensed it also because she began to wiggle beneath him, pulling herself up and also to her knees. Perhaps she meant to turn and face him but she seemed to lose momentum or the will to even try when his hands moved around her back and cupped her breasts, rubbing them again as his mouth worked wonders on her neck. She fell forward, stopping herself with her hands against the wall, and he�d moved up close behind her.
It was so easy, felt so right, to make love to her again, to do it like this when both were so willing and so full of heat and yearning.
Clarisse was hardly aware of what was happening, just that her body felt incredibly sexual, burning with the extreme want. She moved against him and let out a low whimper of relief as once again he was inside her.
* * *
�Honey I�m back.� Joseph said as he swung the door open.
Clarisse shot up in bed and forced her eyes open, her face was burning and her eyes felt heavy and sore.
�What�s wrong, do you really feel that ill?�
She wordlessly shook her head.
Placing the bag and packages down on the side he sat down next to her. �Are you sure, you look a little flushed.�
�I was just� I mean�� she swallowed uncomfortably. �I was remembering� I do remember.�
�Remembering?� He quipped but he already knew exactly what.
He stood and removed his shoes and jacket, his trousers and shirt before climbing into bed next to her. His arms were around her body and he brought her to lie next to him.
�Were you remembering this?� Joseph whispered as he kissed her mouth.
�Or this?�
He cupped her breast and Clarisse gasped and sharply pulled back. �Your hands are freezing.�
�Warm me up.� He closed his eyes and lay back on the bed.
Clarisse sat hunched over his body, watching him, that face she had come to know so well, so handsome, so much kindness and warmth and devotion in his eyes� when he looked at her� god sometimes when he looked at her everything stopped.
She reached down at stroked his cheek, down to his beard. He kissed her fingertips.
�It was rather intense.� He said without opening his eyes.
She nodded again and gruffly answered. �Yes, it was.�
�But nothing to be ashamed of.�
�I�m not ashamed.� She said happily leaning on top of him. �Far from it, I feel absolutely fantastic.�
�Really?� He finally opened his eyes and stroked her hair.
�Yes, my hangover seems to be clearing and my body feels blissful.�
�Blissful?�
She kissed his forehead. �Yes, blissful, tingling��
She kissed his nose. �And content� and very, very right.�
He held her tightly. �Well I�m glad. I got croissants, chocolate, and tea, we better drink it soon or it will get cold.�
�Good I�m hungry. And thank you for going out.�
�You�re very welcome.� He stroked her shoulders with his thumbs, back and forth across her warm soft skin.
�What time do we have to leave?�
�I made a call, our plane will be ready for 5:30, we have a few hours, do you wish to go out?�
She shook her head. �Some other time, I want to enjoy what time we have left in this room.�
�I thought you hated it.�
�I do, but it now holds rather fond memories for me.�
�Fond!� He laughed.
She chuckled and kissed his mouth before burying her face against his chest. �Oh Joseph this has been so good for me, so good, thank you.�
�So a successful first date?�
�Incredibly successful� in fact if you�re free again I�d rather like to do this again sometime.�
�Oh I think I can possibly squeeze you in.�
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