The room was in complete darkness and his hand reflexively went to the light switch, but she stopped him from turning it on. "No, my love."
Instead she went directly for one of the cabinets, opening a drawer and pulling something out. The sound of a match being lit startled him a little. But then she lit the first candle and his eyes could make out shapes and finally see what was going on.
Tea lights? She was using tea lights? He shook his head.
She looked at him quickly and a tender smile graced her features. "Would you be so kind and run a bath, my love? I think, I might be busy for a while.�
He couldn't help his answering smile. When was the last time they had really been so light-hearted. He felt his heart swell at the thought.
Taking the few steps closer to the bathtub, he made it his business to pass by his wife very closely, so his body was brushing against her back. He smiled delightedly, when he felt her arching involuntarily closer. Running a hand over her arm and shoulder, he also felt goose bumps rising under his palm.
Chuckling slightly he leant closer to her and whispered. "Later, my dear."
Joseph eyed the assortment of bath salts and oils carefully. He couldn't choose just anything, somehow a bath salt or gel wasn't the right thing. It had to be an oil. Something that would allow his hands to glide over her skin. The mere thought of smoothing his hands over Clarisse's perfect skin made his member twitch in anticipation and he drew a deep breath to calm himself. No, not yet.
However, she had heard him and turned around her features suddenly full of concern. "Are you all right?"
He swallowed at the sight of her. The candles and tea lights behind her on the counter flickered, bathing her silhouette in light and shadows. To think that all of this glory was his and that she loved him. Loved him despite their arguments, despite their rocky times. Loved him so much that she even dared to embarrass herself only for him. Loved him enough to try quite risky underwear just to be sexy for him. He still couldn't believe it. The flimsy red piece of a baby doll came to his mind. Now, it was in his bag whenever he had to travel. It was a piece that had helped through more than one lonely night in a hotel bed. He would take it out of his bag and her scent would envelop him. Then he would imagine how she wore it and he would peel it off of her. It never made sleep come easier, but he would not miss those moments of fantasy for the world.
"Joseph?" He swallowed convulsively and schooled his face to a calm smile. His voice however, betrayed his turmoil with its huskiness. "Yes, dear. I am fine. Just thinking about the right bath oil."
Her smile turned a notch brighter. "Surprise me." Then she turned back to the counter to light even more candles.
Joseph had to smile at that. Surprise her? He could do that.
Eyeing his choices once again, his decision was easily made. Something warm and tender, floating, loving, a caress. Opening the bottle he took a second to savour the scent of the oil. Perfect. It would fit Clarisse so well. Seconds later, the scent of milk and honey wafted through the room.
Clarisse turned her head again and flashed him another brilliant smile. Yes, it was the perfect choice.
Another idea suddenly came to his mind and he quickly stepped out of the bath and crossed over into the living room.
Clarisse sent a questioning look after him, but it quickly turned into another smile as light classical music filled the scented air.
She just couldn't shake this smile. How long had it been that they had been so happy, so carefree? So at ease with each other? And Gods, how had she missed this. It was everything. It was so perfect. And she would hold onto this, with everything that was in her. They would hold onto this.
He was back in the room again, once again making sure to brush against her back as he passed her.
"My lady, your bath awaits."
�Why thank you kind sir.� She stepped towards him and kissed his lips lightly.
�We should really have Champagne.�
�Erm, I don�t want anybody to invade tonight, certainly not the maids.�
She took hold of his hand and stepped down into the large sunken bath in the centre of the room. He had the temperature just perfect. �My mouth is dry.� She said as she sank down into the water, her eyes closing at the relaxing sensation the water had on her body.
�Oh goodness you�re a pain at times.� He squeezed her shoulder and she listened as he exited the room.
A moment later he returned placing two glasses on the floor next to her arm. �There, ice cold water. Not champagne but it will certainly wet madam�s mouth��
She smiled up at him. �Perfect, thank you. Now get in.�
He shook his head but quickly stepped down into the tub, audibly sighing as the silky water caressed his skin. She watched, arms out at her side along the edge of the tub, as he submerged himself in the water. A moment later he reappeared shaking his head and running his hand over his beard to wipe away the excess water.
�Feel better?�
�Refreshed.� He said reaching across to her, his hands easily finding her waist and bringing her body to his in the middle of the tub.
�I was comfortable there, relaxing.� She complained yet her arms were already draping over his shoulders. �Perhaps I should try out your way of �refreshing�.�
�Why don�t you?� He was gently twirling them around in the water, almost a dance.
�The oil won�t be kind to my hair.�
�Then I�ll rinse it for you later.�
�Joseph��
�Go on, be a rebel.� He grinned.
�I�ve never been good underwater.�
He dipped her backwards and laughed as she squealed and gripped his shoulders.
�Why you absolute�� She tried to sound harsh but a smile was already invading her face.
�Oh her majesty doesn�t trust me to take care of her.�
Pulling herself back up to him and rubbing her breasts against his chest she smirked. �Oh I think you take care of me well enough.�
�My, my� thank you for the compliment.�
�You�re welcome. And I�ve told you not to use the �m� word, even if it is a joke.�
�Sorry my love.� He kissed her forehead. �Shall I let you into a secret?�
�Please do.�
�It�s only good because it�s with you.� He whispered to her ear, kissing her cheek and then gently tugging on her earlobe with his teeth.
�Oh you�re so wonderful to me�� She smiled holding his face and kissing his mouth fully. �So wonderful.�
�Most of the time, we have our moments.�
�We have recently.� Her expression darkened. �Do you think, well, I�m not even sure we should discuss it right now.�
�Then let�s not, it�s good just to have fun every now and then.�
�True.� She kissed him again, lightly, before holding onto his forearms and lying back in the water, her head just resting on the top of the water as he supported her. She closed her eyes and allowed the water to swirl around and over her body; she felt his eyes on her and was oddly comfortable under his intense gaze. In fact right then she felt
totally content and at peace.
She hummed along with the tune in her head, spreading her arms out in the warm water, skimming her hands along the surface.
�It�s not the pale moon that excites me, that thrills and delights me.� She whispered gently, slowly. �It�s just the nearness of you.� Her voice was husky as she said the words. �It isn�t your sweet conversation that brings this sensation,� she opened her eyes and smiled at him. �It�s just the nearness of you.�
�Why thank you.� He bent forward, sliding his arms further beneath her back and bringing her body back up to his, she slid her arms around his neck, nuzzling his chin with hers.
�When you�re in my arms and I feel you so close to me, all my wildest dreams come true.� She lifted her head and kissed him sensually.
Breathlessly he slid a hand into her hair and tilted his head back to watch her face. �You are quite the smooth talker.� He said, his voice deep and heavy with emotion.
�You bring out the best in me.� She shrugged smiling. �Your turn.� She teased, draping her body back again, her hair just touching the water, the lower half of her body grinding against his in a slow steady rhythm.
He groaned, and felt his arousal come to life again, growing firmer as he longed to be inside her again, how could it be that he wanted her again so soon? And her hips sliding forward to him in that slow deliberate way wasn�t helping matters.
He stifled a groan as he felt her thighs touch the side of his legs, �Clarisse, that isn�t fair.� He said holding her legs still, eyes half closed.
�What�� She asked innocently, suppressing a smile.
�It�s taking all my self control not to take you right now.�
�Wicked man.� She breathed before once again moving against him.
�Ahh, wicked woman, stop�� He leant over her, resting a palm flat on the bottom of the tub to support himself. �It isn�t fair.�
She moved back to the edge of the tub, her back leaning against it she held herself up, legs spread around his body. She slid her hands up his arms, smiling at the feel of his muscles taut and dripping with oily water. �You want me right now.� She whispered.
�Yes.� He kissed her forehead.
�Badly.�
�Oh, so badly.�
She breathed deeply, feeling his mouth on her neck, her nipples brushing against his chest in the most delicious way every time he moved. Feeling brave she reached down his body, stretching her arm as far as she could until finally she touched the place he longed for her the most.
He groaned against her skin, his tongue instinctively flicking out over her chest, his mouth closing over her nipple. She arched against him, closing her eyes, feeling him moving so gently in her hand.
�Too soon.� He whispered moving from her touch and lifting his face to hers.
She opened her eyes, feeling somewhat intoxicated by the moment, at the thought of what she was just about to do.
�Too soon.� He said again, smiling at her flushed expression.
�It doesn�t feel too soon,� she responded eagerly lifting her leg around his backside, pushing herself forward. �It feels right�� She kissed his mouth, meeting his tongue with hers, longing to taste every inch of his skin.
�Clarisse�� He warned.
�Joseph�� She pulled her head back smiling. �That is of course, unless you can�t��
He grunted at her comment and to prove his point pressed himself against her, she groaned at the contact longing for all of him inside of her again.
�I guess that�s a no then.� She said breathlessly.
�You�ll kill me one of these days.�
�Not yet.� She laughed, wonderfully light hearted and full of joy.
�What�s so funny?� He asked watching her, smiling himself, swept away by the gorgeous sound of her laughter.
She lifted herself up slightly, resting an arm over his shoulder as she moved. He knelt in front of her, still cradling her waist in his hands.
�Oh the fact that we�re not supposed to be doing this, that we hardly lasted a month before giving in.�
�Hmm, well technically we are still newly weds. Not even a year yet.�
�Yes,� she moved again, lifting her other leg around him. His hands slid down to cup her backside, holding her up, her arms linked around his neck and she directed him to turn around. �But, we are hardly young neither.�
�What does age matter?�
�It would seem, ahh�� She gasped as she slid down onto him, he leant back against the tub and her hands rested on the floor either side of his head. �Ohhh, it would seem not at all.�
Joseph smiled at her, then started to laugh, she felt his chest shake beneath her body and his laughter caused her own to rise again.
�Oh, oh, don�t laugh�� she gasped pressing a hand to his chest. �Oh, hardly the right moment.�
�Mmm,� He leant his forehead to hers and for a second neither moved, she could feel him throbbing inside her, desperate for the friction, desperate for the undulating sweetness of her body.
�I love you.� He whispered next to her ear.
She dropped her head back to look at him, gazing into his dark eyes, the way they gazed at her so intently, so much passion.
�I love you Clarisse.�
Oh how she adored hearing him say her name. She touched his face with her fingertips, somewhat shakily it must be said. �I love you too.�
Not able to stand the heat anymore she moved against him, sliding backwards very slowly before once again taking him fully inside her. For a while she remained gripping the side of the tub, guiding her body to his so tenderly, trembling with each delicious stroke of pleasure that flowed through her body.
She opened her eyes to watch his face, his head lay back, his mouth open, breathing laboured and uneven. She reached to his face, stroked his beard, along his bottom lip. He took her finger into his mouth and sucked on it mirroring their lower body�s touch.
She leant forward, one hand on his shoulder, the other still teasing his mouth. Her forehead on his, feeling his breath so hot on her neck, feeling his hands� oh one trailing down her back to her hips guiding her onwards, the other squeezing her backside then moving down between their bodies to tease her.
Her murmured her name, she responded with his own, moving her mouth to where her fingers had been. He eagerly kissed her, sucking on her lower lip, nipping at her mouth with his teeth, hungry to feel all of her, to devour each delicious inch of her body. Yet he made no attempt to move or change their positions, this felt far too good to alter.
�Joseph�� she gasped sharply, rising up on his body. �Oh god Joseph.�
He felt her body losing control, felt her take him deeper inside her, he held her hips, supported her body with his.
�Clarisse, my love.�
Her nails dug into his shoulder but the pressure only increased his sense of excitement.
The water lapped over the edges of the tub as their movements became quicker and more forceful. She was now gripping his shoulders, panting his name. Her eyes were squeezed shut, her forehead resting against his as she ground her hips against his desperate to be closer still.
She could feel him tense underneath her, his muscles taut. He was close; she could feel it and it drove her on. His pleasure-contorted face gave her an incredible sense of pride. How she loved it to make him feel like that. To make him feel how she felt.
Then his hands almost painfully gripped her hips to hold her against him as his movements and his breathing became erratic. His mouth covered hers in an ardent kiss. Her eyes opened at the sudden sensation and she stared into his, seeing her desire mirrored there.
She could feel the pressure building, spiralling tighter and tighter. His mouth went to attack the tender flesh behind her ear and she dug her nails into his shoulders again. The oily water made his hands glide over her body, frantically and fiery and suddenly he shouted his release.
Her name shouted into the darkened room, while his hands ran over her breasts set the tight fireball in her stomach loose and like an avalanche spread through her body only to explode behind her eyes.
Shaking together Clarisse felt his hands slide down her body as she moved back slightly, she was sitting on his knee now, the thought made her smile. She rested her head against his chest, her head swimming with delight, her body still floating with pleasure.
His mouth never left her skin, kissing her neck, her shoulders� she lifted her head to give him better access and felt his hand cup her breast.
�Clarisse�� he whispered. �Darling.�
�Mmm, talk to me.� She murmured, lifting her mouth to his, her hand touching his face, he held her so close to him. �Talk to me. Joseph�� their mouths were sticky as they kissed, their bodies melted together tenderly. �I love you.�
�Oh I love you� I love you.� He couldn�t stop kissing her mouth, tasting her, needing to communicate all the feelings that were cursing through him. �Mi solamente amor.�
�Mmm�� She kissed his face.
�Mi vida entera��
She leant her head back smiling warmly at him. �So very sexy� sorry I mean, tan muy� erm� atractivo?�
He nodded.
�See,� she breathed deeply. �I�m getting better.�
�Oh I think we both are.�
She laughed again, joyful and carefree and he marvelled at the sound.
Leaning against him, she sighed happily. �I could quite happily stay like this.�
Joseph smiled. �A wonderful idea, my love. But I fear before long the water will be too cold.�
Clarisse pouted and he chuckled at her childlike behaviour. Pushing her away slightly, he settled her against the edge of the tub and then took a bottle from a corner tray.
�Madame, I am at your service.� He announced with a grand gesture, opening the bottle of shampoo. Clarisse eagerly moved forward, settling herself against him and curling a leg around his backside.
His free hand stopped her as she started to run a teasing finger over his chest. �Oh no, my love. Not yet. First things first.�
Quickly he reached up and started to massage the shampoo into her dripping hair.
Tilting her head forward she closed her eyes and groaned with pleasure. �I give you about half an hour to stop that.�
He chuckled again. Then he carefully dipped her back to rinse the lather out.
Keeping her eyes shut, Clarisse felt her limbs getting heavy with exhaustion. But then a sudden cold jolted her out of her daze. Opening her eyes wide she realized that the sound of splashing water meant that her husband was no longer sitting in the tub with her. Twisting her head around she also realized that he was no longer in the bathroom either.
�Joseph?� she called anxiously.
�I�m here� his voice drifted soothingly through the steam-filled room. She shot around as fast as the water permitted and couldn�t help a slightly lecherous grin flitting over her face. Clad only in a towel that was loosely draped around his hips, his body still glistening from the water droplets her husband was a sight to behold. But by her alone.
�Where have you been?�
He held a glass pitcher up, ignoring the expression on Clarisse�s face. Inwardly he shook his head. Once Clarisse got in the mood, she didn�t stop.
The woman in question chuckled teasingly. �Seen a certain movie lately?�
He grinned back. �No. But do you care to re-enact a certain scene?�
Her smile widened. �Certainly.�
�Then move over.�
She did as she was bidden and settled herself against the edge of the tub. He knelt down beside her and filled the pitcher with water. Then he carefully dipped her head back and poured the water over her.
Clarisse laid her head back, her eyes closed, feeling completely secure with him. He brushed excess water away from her forehead so tenderly that she felt she could weep with love.
Repeating his actions several times, Joseph took care to remove any sign of soap. Then he put the pitcher aside and extended his hand to his wife. She laid her hand into his and supporting herself against the edge of the tub levelled herself upwards.
Guiding her carefully out of the tub, he also took a towel from a heated rail and wrapped her completely into it. Clarisse giggled slightly and leaned into his embrace. Smiling at him she said: �I feel like a small child again. So warm and secure.�
He chuckled. �Like a child, huh? Well, little children have to be in bed early, so lets get you dried off.�
His hands rubbed vigorously over her arms and back, moved lower to her legs and then up again, to dry off her hips and stomach and finally her shoulders. When he reached her face, he leaned forward and placed a quick kiss on her forehead. �So, child,� he said teasingly, �you are done. Now don your PJ�s and move under the covers. I�ll bring you a glass of warm milk and if you behave, I�ll even read you a bedtime story.�
Clarisse laughed and laughed, helpless to stop her mirth. Gods, she felt intoxicated with pure happiness. Life was so perfect, when he was with her. So very perfect.
�I love you, Joseph.� She cupped his cheek tenderly. �There are no words to describe how much I love you.�
He smiled and turned his head slightly to kiss her palm. �I know. I feel it too.�
Then his smile took on the teasing tone that had been evident before. �Now let me dry off so that I can tuck you into bed.�
�Tuck me in. I�ll give you tuck me in.� She laughed again, playfully swatting his chest. Taking hold of the towel that was still dangerously loose around his hips, she slowly and sensually began to dry him, taking care to touch all the right spots.
He groaned. �Gods woman��
�Yes?�
Suddenly, her body was crushed against his and his mouth was on hers. �You are incredible. Usted es incre�ble. And I love you so.�
She wound her arms around his neck and snuggled closer against him. �I know.�
Tightening his hold on her, Joseph closed his eyes and released a deep breath in utter contentment.
Silence began to settle over the room, but for the first time in a rather long time it was without any tension, without any underlying anger or sadness. For the first time in weeks it was an easy, comfortable silence.
He pulled back slightly and took her hand. �Lets go to bed my love.�
Her response was a simple smile. Warm and brilliant, he felt his heart soaring, rejoicing in their newfound happiness.
They made their way into the bedroom slowly, not caring about anything but the feeling of their enfolded hands, the smell of the bath oil still wafting through the room they left.
He led her to the bed and pulled back the covers for her to slip in. Then he quickly went to shut off the music and returned just as fast to climb into the bed behind his wife. He pulled her close against him and settled with a happy sigh, his nose buried in her still slightly damp hair. Clarisse caught his hand that had settled on her hip and entwined her fingers with his. As she settled back against his chest he could almost hear her happy smile and a similar expression settled on his face.
The couple lay in the darkness for some time enjoying their closeness and the only sound of their relaxed breathing. Suddenly, Joseph could feel Clarisse�s body shaking against him.
Immediately, concern took over. �Darling, what is it?� he asked anxiously, �Darling?�
The shaking continued, but suddenly he could make out an actual sound that went with her shaking.
Clarisse couldn�t help it. Try as she might, she could not stop the giggles. She didn�t even know why she did it, they just burst forth. Joseph�s concerned voice made it worse and another giggle started.
Twisting around, she tried again to control herself, but instead her mirth turned into full-blown laughter.
Even though, he had not the slightest idea, what was so funny, Joseph couldn�t help to join into her laughter. He loved it so much when she laughed. Such a warm and joyful sound. Such an infectious sound.
Laughing with her, he searched for her eyes in the darkness. Looking at each other, their mirth finally tapered off and he pulled her tight against him. Snaking her arms around his back she returned the gesture, settling against him as close as possible.
�I love you, Clarisse.�
�I love you too, Joseph.�
Mere minutes later, only the sound of deep even breathing could be heard.
Part 18
Joint Stories