"Ohh my back, I must be getting too old for doing this on the floor.� She complained.
He smiled and kissed the back of her neck. �Never.�
�Will you now tell me, what you have planned, kind Sir?"
Instead of answering, he took her hand and led her to the French doors that led onto the balcony
"Joseph, it is still raining!" she said with a frown.
He only smiled. "I'll warm you."
He opened the door and led her out. Just before he followed her, he made a move, which she couldn�t see, but its effect she could hear immediately. Music was floating from inside the room onto the balcony.
"Dance with me, mi diosa."
She couldn't help but smile at his invitation or at his posture. He was standing there exactly the way he had been all those months ago, when he had suggested for her to abandon the black clothes which she wore like an invincible wall around herself. He had said those words and invited her to join life again in a dance. Not only life, but for the first time, love.
Since then they were dancing all the time. He seemed to enjoy it immensely and she certainly loved it.
"Dancing with you is like making love to you in public." He had once told her and now, finally she understood the whole meaning behind those words. Yes, dancing was like loving. So she took his outstretched hand and went willingly into his arms.
"You do realise I am naked beneath here." She whispered leaning her head down onto his chest. She felt, rather than heard, him laugh, his chest shaking beneath her cheek.
"It hadn't escaped my notice." He kissed the top of her head.
She wound her arms tightly around his back, breathing in the scent of him. "You know the cameras are probably on us, or at the very least some security guard�s eyes."
"And do you really think that our driver or the maid who caught you dripping all over the stairs won't already be gossiping..."
"Hmm." She mumbled.
"And does it bother you?" He tilted his head to look down at her.
"Not now... perhaps tomorrow when tonight�s actions are more, well, clear in my mind."
"Not drunk are we my dear?"
"Not on alcohol..." She smiled up at him. "We should have ordered Champagne."
"With all this rain we should have gone for hot chocolate."
"Ohh yes, and marshmallows."
"And whipped cream?" He enquired, as innocently as he could.
She was about to wholeheartedly agree, when the double meaning of his last words registered. She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. "Whipped cream would be sticky."
"Oh but I'd lick you clean..." He grinned.
Laying her head back so she could peer at him over her nose, she grinned as well. "Oh, I don't doubt that, but I think you still owe me several other promises."
"I do... and just what might they include my darling, because, as you very well know, I always aim to please." He kissed her perfect mouth holding her body tight against his.
Putting her arms around his neck, she snuggled even closer up to him. If it had been possible, she would have loved to crawl under his skin. However, since that could not be done, she untied his already soaked through robe.
He raised an eyebrow at her. "You do know that I am naked underneath this as well."
Her smile only widened. "Oh I am most certainly aware of this fact." Once she succeeded in her task, she slipped her hands under the material and wound her arms around his bare body again nuzzling his chest. "Now, as to your promises. Didn�t you say something about tasting the rain on my fingers? Or licking the water from my skin?"
"And I seem to recall something about you wanting to make love against a tree."
"HA!" She pinched his skin with her fingernails. "I was joking. I'm not a public person."
"I'd disagree..." He smiled tilting her chin up so he could see the sparkle in her eyes. �After all you are dancing on the balcony outside your room, dressed only in this flimsy piece of material, with a thunder storm going on around us."
"Oh it's only a light down pour." As she said the words a streak of lightening lit up the sky.
Joseph bit down on his lip. "You were saying."
"I would be embarrassed, somebody could see." She whispered, kissing his cheek.
"Oh my dear you see as head of your security I know every inch of this palace like the back of my hand. Therefore I know all the blind spots..." He began to untie her dressing gown, dipping his head down to take her breast in his mouth.
She gasped at the sensation, both sweet and achingly wonderful at the same time. "And are you going to... tell me.... Mmm where this spot might be, or am I to guess?"
"We'll see." He breathed in between moving to pay attention to the other breast.
"We will..." She pressed her body as close to his as she could. "Joseph, oh Joseph is that... already?"
He interrupted his ministrations on her breasts only for a second. "Is this already what, my dear?" Before turning back and coming good on his promise.
Clarisse gasped at the double sensation of the cool rain running over her skin and his tongue playing so deliciously over her.
"Is this already what?" His amusement was clearly audible.
She pushed him away a little annoyed. "The blind spot." Seeing his smirk, she playfully swatted him. "Stop trying to pull the wool over me. I know, I am naive."
He couldn�t help it. He just had to laugh. It was too funny how she stood there, in the pounding rain, her silhouette marked by a streak of lightening. Her dressing gown was open and sat only half on her shoulders; rain was running all over her and apart from her perfect naked body, her annoyance was most obvious to him. Yet it was the most endearing sight he had ever seen.
She was so incredibly beautiful to him; he shook his head to dispel the laughter and held her waist, kissing her lightly on the nose. "My dear, I would never think you naive. In fact..." he began to back her up to the wall. "In fact, you seem to have so many ideas I'm worried I won't be able to keep up with you."
She wasn�t so easy to sway. "Joseph, be serious. Can anybody see us out here?"
"Do you want to stop?" He was nuzzling her neck, his hands wandering down her body, sliding over her stomach, down to her warm thighs. "Because if you say the word I will..." His voice was deep, heady and intoxicating to her.
The tingling, which had been present for hours by now, became quite persistent again, when she felt his hands moulding over her body. Taking his face into her hands she pulled him down for an ardent kiss. "If you stop now, I swear, I would have you hung by your toes in the courtyard."
"Well my dear, I would rather like to keep my toes." In one swift movement he had lifted her into his arms and held her back against the wall, guiding her legs around him.
She closed her eyes and leant her head back against the wall. "Oh god, how do you do this to me?"
"Do what my love?" He was kissing her again.
"Make me feel this way... unbelievably attractive, for the first time." She held onto his shoulders lifting herself up.
"Because you are attractive, mi amor. You are beautiful." He bent down to tenderly bite the flesh of her shoulders and ground his hips against her.
"You are beautiful. Your eyes are beautiful." He straightened to kiss each lid in turn, while grinding himself against her again.
"Your nose is beautiful" He placed a short touch of his tongue on the tip of her nose. The obligatory move of his hips was met with one of hers and a sharp gasp. "Your neck is so elegant and beautiful. And tasty." He nuzzled along the shape of her neck.
"Your arms are beautiful, especially when they hold me tight. Your legs are incredible, and especially when they are wrapped around me like now...."
"Joseph, I love you so, you're everything... oh." She bit down on her lip in an attempt to stifle her moans keenly aware of where they still were. "I should tell you..."
"Clarisse." He buried his face into her hair, drowning in her scent.
"I love you, I love you..."
"I know." He kissed her forehead, her cheek; she moved her face to meet his mouth hungrily sucking on his bottom lip.
"I can't believe we're here." She dropped her legs a little, the warmth building in her stomach, travelling down every single nerve in her body, would she ever be able to get enough of this... of being with him? And how the hell had she managed to live her entire life and never experience something so amazing?
She gasped, his name on her lips, her hands clawing at his back.
The wet silk of his robe did nothing to diminish sensation of her nails scraping over his back, making him groan with pleasure. If possible he held her even tighter to him, his hands splayed over her bottom. The noises she was unconsciously making were firing his passion even more. Feeling his control slipping he ground his hips into hers with even more demand. His whole being came down to the moment when he would be finally joined with her again.
�Joseph� take me to bed.� She tried to breathe, kissing his face as much as possible. �I want you in my bed.�
�Clarisse?� He brushed the hair back from her face, stilling his movements, forcing himself to hold back.
�I want you with me, all night, no sneaking off at 3a.m.�
He smiled, full of love and adoration, kissing her gently on the mouth, her lips trembling, her body still unconsciously moving against his desperate for the friction.
He said nothing but held her even more tightly gripping her backside and lifting her up, she giggled, wrapping her arms around his back beneath his soaked robe. Her feet barely touched the floor before she was lifted back up into his arms, the silky material barely covering her, draping behind her as she was carried back into the warmth of the lounge then through to her bedroom.
Despite the fire lit in the bedroom's fireplace, the chamber was rather cold, but the couple barely registered it. If Joseph were honest, he wouldn't have known anything beside the woman who was so intimately wrapped around him. Her legs were wrapped around him and her arms held on to him tightly. Her face was buried in the crook of his neck and despite the water dripping from her hair on his skin; there was absolutely nothing he would have ever wanted to change. The thought of actually being able to wake up with her in his arms after dawn made his heart soar.
Upon reaching the edge of the bed however, he stopped and a frown began to form on his face. They were both still covered in their dripping wet robes and the way Clarisse held onto him, he saw no way to actually get them out of the clothes without losing their contact.
She felt his hesitation. "What is it?" She asked.
He smiled sheepishly. "Well, it seems I have run into quite an obstacle." her eyes widened in alarm. "What is it, my love?" she asked anxiously.
Kissing her forehead, he answered. "You see I am in quite a dilemma. I'd like to have you out of this robe. Because as beautiful as you are in it I would prefer you without. But to achieve this, I would have to stop holding you the way I do now. And I just cannot decide, my love."
She laughed, brushing his chest with her fingers. "I tell you what, we'll make a deal. You put me down and strip me of my robe and then I repay the favour for you. Deal?"
He pretended to be thinking hard about the offered bargain. "Hmmm..."
He couldn't help but join in her laughter, it was intoxicating, the way her face lit up, such a rare joy to share in. That childish, girlish giggle, those beautiful sparkling eyes. "I agree." He whispered.
Carefully, she unlocked her legs from his back felt how he supported her weight until she was standing safely on the ground again. Even though the loss of contact was only minimal she couldn�t suppress a little whimper to escape her. He didn�t seem to fare any better for he sighed and quickly pulled her closer to him again.
The taking off of the dressing gowns was no sensual, slow act. She couldn�t wait to be in his arms again, to feel the warmth of his body enveloping her and the strength of his physique moulding against her body. The wet silk fell into heaps on the expensive hardwood floor, forgotten the second they were no longer worn.
Clarisse pressed herself against him again, moving slightly as to rekindle the flame that had consumed them mere minutes before on the balcony.
Her gigantic, antique bed stood behind them, a welcomed site after the lounge floor... no matter how sensual the act was it wasn't kind on her back. Her mouth was assaulting his, her hands working wonders on his damp skin. She'd never been like this before, the argument from earlier in the evening must have affected her more than he first thought. She'd never been so abandoned, so free in giving her emotions, in allowing her passions to take over. He manoeuvred her back to the top of the bed, as gentle and graceful as any dance they'd ever performed together.
She felt the sheets brush the back of her legs and let go of him for the briefest of seconds as she pulled the sheets back and sunk down into the soft mattress. He joined her, kneeling in front of her and stroking her hair as he kissed her again, her tongue met his and he felt the need rise suddenly, demanding and unstoppable. There were times when foreplay went on for a little too long.
She had never felt anything like that. It was as if she was burning from the outside, everywhere he touched her, and from the inside from this ever-growing wave of fire. Her hands had taken on a life of their own, travelling frantically over his sides and his chest, finally coming to a short rest on his back, pulling him towards her. All she wanted was to feel him resting atop her, his weight covering her while he moved deliciously over her body.
She moaned his name, encouraging him with a sudden movement, opening her legs to him, her warm thighs welcoming him.
Her encouraging move was almost his undoing. Sometimes, every man realized that one of his dreams had come true. Joseph knew that he had such a moment. But then he felt her nails lightly scraping along his spine and no thoughts were left in him. With a quick lunge he was inside her. And as if she could read his mind or his hormones or whatever it was, she began to set a frenzied rhythm.
For once it was Clarisse, always so proper and reserved, who set the tone for the lovemaking. She guided him on, lifted her body up to his with every move, encouraging his mouth to her tender breasts, showing him exactly what she wanted and just how she wanted it. Breathless with anticipation and sheer energy cursing through her, driving her on, she gripped his upper arms, raised her mouth to his and felt the sweet pleasure starting deep down inside her. Oh this was what love was all about, there was no other feeling on earth, nothing could compare to loving him.
She closed her eyes, then opened them again realising she needed to see him. Her hand rested on his face, he sucked on her finger, she turned her head slightly until her mouth found his arm, kissing him frantically, licking his salty tasting skin she mumbled his name. She could feel just how close he was and the thought was just as overwhelming as the feel of him inside her.
She heard him repeating her name over and over again, a mantra, his voice deep, soothing, and oh so very sexy. She couldn't help but scream out as the deep sensuous wave of sweetness swept over her, so slow, rising up her legs, even at her knees, tingling each nerve. Down her arms, into her hands, her words ceased, her voice drowned out. It slid down her chest, pure heat, tight in her stomach then filling her body all at once. She fell back, numb with pleasure, with completeness.
He could feel the climax building up in her from the very first moments and as she began to writhe underneath him, he felt himself falling closer and closer to a peak. He could feel her all over and around him. She seemed to be everywhere. Her hands and her lips were all over him - frantic kisses on his arms, her hands gripping his biceps almost painfully, her smell encompassing him, her warmth, her... Something inside him snapped and suddenly his world came down to the forceful movements they made against each other. Their eyes locked and his only coherent thought was of her name, he called it again and again as the tightness in his groin became unbearable. Then he heard her scream of abandon, felt her shudder around him uncontrollably and he shouted her name as the blinding light took him over.
He collapsed against her; she was vaguely aware of wrapping her arms around his shaking body, of holding him to her sharing in his pure exhaustion and yet utter exhilaration. For a few minutes neither said a word nor moved a muscle, moulded together they remained joined both physically and emotionally. Gradually Clarisse floated back to reality, her mind clearing, her first thought was of his breath on her neck, it had slowed again, returning to normal. She lifted her arm, it felt heavy, sticky with moisture, she stroked his back and he shifted slightly.
�Joseph, my darling.�
�Hmm��
�Do you think maybe we waited a little too long for that?�
She felt his smile on her shoulder; he kissed her there, sweetly, delicately. �Well, it was the second time this evening� but I have to agree, that was some build up.�
He finally looked to her face again, stroking her cheeks that were red and blotched.
�You look hot.� He said gently.
�I feel like I�m on a fire.�
He tilted his head. �More rain?�
She giggled. �No, I�m quite happy here thank you.� She coughed a little. �Though, my throat suddenly feels sore.�
�I�m not surprised. I�ll get some water.�
�Not yet, just lay here with me for a moment.�
�I�ll just be a second.�
�And I just want to hold you for one more second.�
�All right.� He kissed her lovingly, then replaced his head on her chest and closed his eyes. She was right; it was far too soon to move.
* * *
Twenty minutes later it was Clarisse who climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom. She rinsed her face and stared at her smile in the mirror, a smile she couldn�t seem to curb. Joseph lay in bed, his eyes closed against the intruding light of the bathroom. She tiptoed into the lounge and made a brief phone call to the kitchens before moving back into the bedroom.
Climbing on top of the bed she noted the smile cross his face as she straddled his thighs and sat above him. She lowered her mouth to his.
�Where have you been?�
�Ordering Champagne.�
�Oh?� His eyes widened at her words. �A treat?�
�Yes. So don�t fall to sleep on me.�
He raised his eyebrow. "Falling asleep? Me? When I can actually expect a treat? Never!"
Running his hand sensually down her arm, he waggled his brow suggestively and added, "However, I thought my treat was already here?"
"You've had that particular treat twice already." She kissed his nose. "Insatiable."
"And you're a demanding boss."
She grinned cheekily. "But of course. Do you think you can meet my demands?"
"Always, my love. Whatever you wish."
Her smile vanished slowly at the sincerity of his voice and she had to swallow twice to deal with the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. "Would you...would you really?"
Running a finger tenderly over her cheek and then over her lips, he smiled. "Yes, I would. I love you, Clarisse. I would do everything to make you happy."
"And I lo...." She was rather rudely interrupted by the sound of somebody knocking at the door. She shook her head smiling.
"I will be right back."
"I'm not going anywhere."
She climbed off of him, slid from the bed and headed for the lounge. He noticed how she tightened her robe quite severely before closing the bedroom door leaving him in virtual darkness.
He could only hear the muffled sound of voices from the other room and closed his eyes as he waited, sinking back into the luxurious bed.
She re-entered the room in a flourish. "Joseph do you realise what time it is?"
"Would you like me to guess?"
"2:15, I just ordered Champagne at 2:15 in the morning."
"And?"
"What do you mean 'and', I don't do things like that."
"Well you just did, so stop worrying and pour the damn thing. And haven�t you been doing many things tonight that you �don�t do?�
"Very funny and I only asked for one glass." She said with embarrassment. �I didn�t want to fuel even more rumours.�
�Then we�ll just have to share.�
She smiled. �My thoughts exactly.�
She closed the bedroom door and sat herself down on the edge of the bed pouring a glass of Champagne.
�To us.� She said holding the glass up.
�To us.�
Laughing she took a sip then handed it to him and he took a rather larger sip.
She watched him lean back against the plush pillows. �Now this is the kind of comfort I could get used to.�
�Don�t tell me, you love me just for the luxury.�
�I always have.� His eyes slowly closed, a half smile on his face, how handsome he looked, how happy and relaxed.
For a while she simply sat watching him, the way the faint light of the lamp danced over his bronzed skin, his fine chest, muscled strong arms that held her so gently and lifted her body so easily. That face that she had come to know so well, had come to rely on so well. All the moments over the years he offered her an encouraging smile at precisely the right moment. She followed the line of his arm down to his hands, one still holding the Champagne flute which he leisurely sipped. Strong hands, worn hands, they�d worked so hard over the years, had touched so many lives, had fought battles, had been a lifesaver and yet dealt so many blows. Now they touched her, brought life to her old skin like no other ever had.
She leant forward and kissed the back of his hand then looked up to find him watching her through half closed eyes. She offered him a warm smile, took the glass from his hands and took another sip of the extravagant liquid before standing it on the bedside table. Pushing her dressing gown to one side she lifted her body on top of his, straddling his thighs and pressing her upper body against his.
�Hello.� He said huskily his face so very close to hers.
�Hello.� She responded kissing him slowly, languidly, taking in his scent, his taste, the texture of his skin, the tickling sensation of his chin brushing her smooth skin.
�I love you so very much Joseph, and I am sorry that I never told you that before because you of all people deserves to know you are loved. You who have treated me better than any other person on this earth.�
�Clarisse, my darling, you don�t have to say this.�
�I do.� She caught his hands and turned them over kissing his palms. �I need you to know, I don�t want you to ever doubt it. Whatever happens.�
�Clarisse.�
�Please� whatever happens, promise me you�ll never doubt it. I need you to know, to understand, I do love you, though I�m not always able to show it.�
�I know that. I understand.� He held her face and kissed her mouth gently. �And I love you too, I always will.� He kissed her again for emphasis. �You are the most beautiful woman, there is no one else but you in my heart, I doubt there ever has been.�
�Oh Joseph�� Closing her eyes she leant her forehead against his. �Why do we fight?�
�It�s what lovers do� besides you�re a jealous person.� He said sneakily.
�Hey.� She pulled her head back but his smile was infectious and she smiled too. �Insecurities, things always seem to go wrong at some point I seem to be waiting to lose you.�
�You won�t.�
�What if��
�Shhh, no, I won�t ever leave you, you must know that by now.�
�I want you here like this all the time but it just isn�t possible.�
�Then we�ll make it possible,� she was about to interrupt but he hushed her. �We will, together. Because I need you, more and more each day, so don�t push me away so much okay.� His voice was light despite the implications of his words.
She folded her fingers with his, grateful for his sincerity. �Okay, I�ll try.� She smiled cheekily. �I�ll do my very best to keep you satisfied.�
�Very funny.� He kissed her nose. �You already do.� He pressed his body against hers for emphasis and smiled at her sharp intake of breath.
�Dance with me.� She rasped.
�Again?�
�Again, here, just for a little while.�
He nodded.
Clarisse climbed down from his lap and readjusted her robe as he stood up to join her. She chose the music this time though he helped with the �machinery� as she termed it.
When the first strains of the song began to fill the room he looked up intently at her. His eyebrows rose in question. "Clarisse?"
She smiled, while looping her arms around his back and drawing him closer to her and for once, quite against custom it was she who took the lead of their dance.
Joseph stood there a little shocked for a short moment, but then accepted her invitation and pressed her body close to move in the mood of the song. They began to sway slowly to the sensual music, but as the song drew on, little by little they got swept away with it.
It startled him a little, when he heard her whispering along with the song:
Well here I am my honey
Oh, come on you cry to me.
Pulling back a little she cupped his cheek and he could read in her eyes the truth of this statement. They were not completely out of the woods yet, but maybe some day. Drawing her closer again, he asked himself, why this song appealed to him so and then he understood.
When you're all alone in your lonely room
And there's nothing but the smell of her perfume
How often had he gone through that. Sat in his office or hers after she had left, caught up in the remnants of her perfume that left him wanting, desperate and sad. And yet, it was a hope for now, he took the smell of her perfume with him wherever he went.
Clarisse closed her eyes as the sensations became overwhelming again, the heat of his skin under her fingers, the security his arms provided, the tenderness of his light caresses on her back and the sexy sway of his body against hers. She snuggled closer to him and let her hands wander idly over his back as well.
Well nothing could be sadder
Than a glass of wine, all alone
Loneliness, loneliness, it's such a waste of time
Never again. She would make sure that she would not ever be lonely again. She had had enough of this. All those well-meant comments, all this gentle advice from the archbishop be damned. She would not live without Joseph. She didn't believe she could.
Cupping his cheek again, she murmured with tears in her eyes: "Te quiero, Joseph."
He smiled and tenderly wiped the tear that had slipped down her cheek away. "Te quiero tambi�n, mi diosa."
You don't ever have to walk alone, oh you see
Oh come on, take my hand and baby won't you walk with me?
Taking his hands in hers, she leant forward and kissed him tenderly. "Forever, my love."
Review
Joint Stories