The air was filled with animated chatter and the twinkling of the nearby fountain. Rome in the beginning of June was already full of tourists and, naturally, they were all crowding around the Trevi Fountain. Joseph couldn't blame them; it was indeed one of the most beautiful places in the world.
From his seat on the restaurant terrace he had a stunning view over the square. Leaning back in his chair he felt a faint smile creeping over his features. All those people who threw coins into the water, hoping to return one day. He had been one of them too, during his first visit to the eternal city, some forty years ago. It had been his first job as a security guard, his first trip abroad in that job. With a blush he remembered, how overwhelmed he had been by the grandness and beauty of the city, how open-mouthed and wide-eyed, he had stared at all the sights. He was a na�ve adolescent back then, he knew, an uncut diamond so to speak. Not better than the tourists down there taking the same pictures that millions of others had taken before.
Well, despite his climbing the career ladder and refining his appearances and image, one thing had not changed. During every subsequent visit he had come to the fountain and thrown a coin into the water. The first years with the wish to return, later with the wish to return with her by his side. It had not happened yet.
Joseph sighed. The evening was beautiful; the nights sky dark velvet, the air balmy, the lights warm and intimate, the chatter unobtrusive. It would have been perfect to sit here with her, staring into her bottomless eyes twinkling with the reflection of the lights. They could have, and probably would have, held hands, enjoying a glass of wine, seeing the people walk by at a leisurely pace. Then after their dinner, they would have gone down to the fountain themselves, he would have kissed her and then thrown his coin - for the first time in his life wishing that everything stayed exactly the way it was.
He closed his eyes and laid his head back a little. The gentle wind was warm and pleasant against his skin, almost like the feathery touch of her fingertips. He sighed to himself; this was going to be another long night without her. Probably time to take out that red baby doll thing again. Chuckling to himself, Joseph was glad nobody could hear his thoughts. They'd probably think him a total pervert for carrying a piece of woman's lingerie with him and pulling it out to breath in the scent of his wife.
Taking another sip of his wine he stared off into space trying to pointedly ignore the couple on the next table. He wanted to dream, dream about her.
So concentrated was he on this that he almost missed the scraping of the metal chair on the pavement, behind his back.
"Una grappa, per favour." A female voice called for the waiter.
Joseph felt a stab of, he didn't know what exactly, but the stab was clearly there. He would recognize that voice anywhere.
All of a sudden all the chatter and hum of the evening faded out of his conscious. Suddenly he could hear the drumming of her fingers on the table top, the heavy breathing and the soft sighs of pain relieved.
She was tired. She was exhausted. Most of all she was annoyed.
He smiled to himself. There was nothing she could ever do to prevent him from recognizing her.
With an amused grin, he turned in his seat. He considered briefly whether to tap her on the shoulder, but decided against it. She did not like such things. However, she did like his voice.
"Don't you think it is too dangerous to drink such strong liquor?"
"Well, I'll drink whatever I damn well please, mister. Besides, it is none of your business." She shot around, her annoyance level rising exponentially. How dare this stranger question her drinking habits? All she needed after this horrendous day was some busybody invading her hard-earned rest.
She swung around. "Joseph!"
He smirked. "Still none of my business?"
She frowned exasperatedly. "Really now. I don't know what you are worried about. I can take it."
"Maybe you can, but you do know that I am the one to carry you home."
"Oh, tosh."
"Signora? Does that man bother you?" The waiter asked protectively, while placing the drink on the table.
She smiled the way that charmed the masses every day. "Only in the way I like to be bothered.�
Joseph almost choked. The waiter's eyes widened considerably and he quickly made his escape.
"Clarisse�!" Joseph sounded scandalized.
His wife only snorted. "After a day like this, I'm surprised I was even that polite."
The smirk seemed to be irremovable from his face. "But strong liquor, darling."
"Yes. I deserve it. Would you believe those incompetent plane people managed to lose my luggage. First they double-checked it and then they managed to lose it one the way from Genovia to Rome. How can they lose my luggage? Then my car was stuck in a traffic jam from the airport and I missed you in the hotel. So, I asked the concierge to tell me where you had gone. He didn't know and I just went searching and I had all but given up on finding you. And� what's so funny, Joseph?"
He could no longer hold his laughter in. Clarisse's exasperation was too funny. She was too funny, too endearing the way she was worked up over the flaws of travelling. "Darling. Darling, it is alright." He finally got up from his chair and turned it, so that he was facing her. He took her hands in his, stroking them reassuringly with his thumbs. "It is alright. They'll find your luggage. And you have found me. It is fine."
"Yes, yes, but can you believe the cheek of it? They lost my suitcases. And all the stores are closed. I have nothing to wear." She paused for a second to take a deep breath. "Stop laughing at me Joseph. This is not funny."
Cupping her cheek, he ran his thumb tenderly over her lips. "I know, my darling. Still, you are just too� how does Mia say, cute."
"I am not cute. I am annoyed." Clarisse could no longer keep up the pretence of anger and joined him in his laughter. Leaning forward, she pulled his face close to hers. "Hello, darling. I missed you."
He smiled broadly. "I missed you too, my love."
They met halfway in a sweet kiss. However, sweet did not last long. Three days of separation made sure of it. The moment their lips met, passion erupted between them, making them strain closer to each other, lips parting, tongues meeting and battling sensually.
Only the need for air caused them to break apart.
"Lets go." Clarisse whispered.
Joseph followed her without hesitation, throwing a few banknotes onto the table.
The couple never saw the incredulous faces, never heard the curious and excited whispers. There was no need and no place in their minds for such trivialities.
Outside the restaurant, he took her hand in his and led her down to the fountain.
Clarisse smiled serenely at the lights reflecting in the water. Laying her head on her husband's shoulder, she asked: "Did you ever throw a coin into the water?"
She could feel his sheepish smile without seeing it. "Every time, I come to Rome I throw a coin in here."
Her smile became a little watery. "Me too. I always wished to come back here and find love. And then, when I knew I had found love, I wanted to come back here with him."
Holding his breath for a split second, he tightened his arm around her shoulder. "And did you?"
She raised her head from his shoulder and smiled into his eyes. "Yes.� She said gently, reassuringly.
He leaned down to press a quick, but tender kiss to her mouth. "I dreamed about being here with you too. Just a few minutes ago, I wished for you to be here with me, so that we could throw a coin into the water together. And�" He took a deep breath. �Now you are here and I can no longer wish for anything. It all came true."
The gesture came unbidden and without thought. Cupping his cheek tenderly was such a natural thing to her; she no longer realized that she was doing it. "I know how you feel, darling. I feel the same. But do you have a coin? I know of one wish, I have for us."
Joseph didn't ask. There was no need for it. He only searched for a coin. It was a Gen D'Or with her profile, but that didn't matter. Placing it in her open palm, he wanted to withdraw his hand, but she quickly held onto him. "No," she whispered, "together. It is a wish for the both of us. We should throw it together."
He nodded in understanding.
"Close your eyes."
He did that as well.
She held his hand warmly in hers, the coin being like a connection between their skin. Then she raised their hands quickly and let go. Instinctively, he did the same and heard the distinct plink of a solid material hitting the surface.
Looking deeply into his wife's eyes, he asked: "What did you wish for?"
She didn't answer, only smiled at him. And then he knew.
"Lets go home, darling."
* * *
Clarisse gripped the back of the chair, eyes closed, mouth open as she breathed deeply. Joseph behind her pressed into her backside, licking her neck, whispering her name. His voice was deep and rough, almost desperate in his need to be with her and share his innermost thoughts and feelings. This wasn�t gentle lovemaking, this was raw need and desire surfacing� and she relished every second.
His fingers forcefully rode beneath her skirt, up her shapely legs to the top of her stockings. He left them in place, unconcerned whether she was naked or not. What did it matter, all that seemed to exist was the need to be inside her again. One hand was on her breast, massaging it through the material of her blouse, the friction could have been awkward but in fact she was moving against his hand craving more of his touch.
She found it was she who reached up to open her blouse, frantically pulling the buttons loose. The blouse pushed away he finally rested his open palm onto her skin and she shivered against him as the material slid down her shoulders and his mouth touched her.
He found the lace of her underwear with his fingers and smiled against the tender skin of her neck before nipping her shoulder blade gently with his teeth.
�My dear�� he breathed between kisses. �French knickers?�
She gasped as he ground against her. �Well� oh� a treat� Joseph.�
�Yes?� He whispered next to her ear.
She reached to his hand with hers, holding it in place over her breast.
�Yes.� He said again kissing the side of her face; she was moving against him, his hand between her legs touching her through the lacy material.
�Joseph�� She moaned again, head falling backwards onto his shoulder giving him free access to the creamy skin at her throat.
�Say it� tell me��
Her nails dug into his hand, her other hand falling loosely at her side. �Oh goodness� I want you.� She swallowed deeply, licking her lips. �I want you right now.�
Her husky voice was all the encouragement he needed and in one swift movement he deftly removed the enticing knickers, they pooled at her ankles and Clarisse quickly stepped out of them. With little thought her hand moved between their bodies to the zip of his trousers, almost too eagerly he thrust forward, the touch of her fingertips against him too much to bear.
He hadn�t realised he was this horny when he�d been sitting alone in that caf� thinking about her, in fact it wasn�t until they�d walked back to the hotel and been alone together in the elevator that he�d felt the overwhelming urge to take her there and then on the elevator floor. They�d kissed pressed up against the wall, tongues duelling and tasting and savouring each other, his hands roaming over her body, her arms holding him tightly against her, moulding his body to hers. If they�d waited two minutes longer to reach their floor it would have been too long and neither one would have been able to drag themselves apart and stumble from the elevator door to their room.
There wasn�t even time to find a light switch, Clarisse dropping her handbag as she entered the room. Joseph following her, loosening his shirt as he did so. She was slowly walking across the room, glancing out of the balcony window to the clear night sky and then she�d leant on the back of the chair as she slipped her shoes off and he�d lost control grabbing her from behind and attacking her neck with his mouth.
Clarisse pushed Joseph�s trousers aside, she couldn�t even begin to imagine how she must look, flustered and half dressed, Joseph�s fingers ruffling her hair, bent over the armchair in some hotel room with her skirt pushed up to her waist. Oh god� it didn�t matter, none of it mattered, her husband was making love to her with such passion and fervour, he was inside her and loving her and every ounce of her being was tied up in that.
�Oh god I love you Joseph, I love you, I love you�� The words burst from her lips uncontrolled.
�I love you my darling.� He was pressed tight against her back, leaning over the chair, holding her, moving inside her. �Clarisse�� he kissed her neck, her shoulder.
Clarisse reached around and grabbed his hand lacing her fingers with his. �Ohhh�� She breathed deeply, trying to keep control of the deep sweet sensation reverberating through her body. �You feel so good.�
She felt his smile against her skin, his hand tighten in hers. �You feel so good too.�
�We didn�t even make it to bed.� She gasped.
�You�re too sexy.�
She would have laughed if she weren�t so close to the edge. Instinctively she gripped the back of the chair a little tighter, felt the pace increase and Joseph lose some of the control he had. She hadn�t meant to get him this excited so quickly, it should have been slow and tender lovemaking, to make up for the days apart, to make up for all those years they had visited this beautiful city together but had never actually been together. But no it wasn�t to be, at least not just yet�
She felt a rush of pleasure sweep over her skin and gasped Joseph�s name, it was swallowed up by the intensity of her breathing as another invaded her body and she felt herself sliding over the edge. Tightness swelled throughout her stomach, Joseph�s voice groaned in her ear, she felt his warmth fill her and her body convulsed and softened around him.
Leaning together over the back of the chair Joseph�s mouth continued to kiss her upper back, she struggled for a few seconds to settle her breathing. She squeezed the cushion in her hand and closed her eyes; it was suddenly so hot in the room and her throat felt so dry and tight.
�My love�� He whispered warmly. �You�re so very beautiful. I missed you. I missed your smile.�
�You did?� She tilted her head backwards a little in an attempt to see his face.
�Yes, of course, every second we�re apart.�
She stood up straight leaning back against his firm body, revelling in his smell as it surrounded her. His kisses slowed down, he languidly caressed her skin and lifted his face to her hair. His arms circled her waist and rested on her stomach. He nibbled on her earlobe and she smiled.
�Oh you make me feel�� She sighed tracing her fingertips across his hand.
�How do I make you feel?�
She waited for a few seconds mulling her next words. �I don�t know� you make me feel things I never even knew existed.� Her smile was faint yet warm. �You make me feel so attractive, even�� she shook her head amused at herself. �Even sexy. I mean who would have ever thought that I would have done something like that� be standing here barely dressed making love up against the armchair.�
He laughed against her neck. �Oh I�m not sure about that, I think deep down you�re the one who leads me astray.�
She spun in his arms, a look of pure shock on her face. �What are you insinuating Sir?!�
He gently slid his hand down her face. �That you, my darling, are quite feisty these days.�
�Feisty?� She cocked an eyebrow. �Well I don�t think I�ve ever been called that before, in my many years of newspaper reports.�
She dropped her arms to her sides as he removed her blouse completely and laid it over the back of the chair. Then he bent slightly and removed her skirt, she rested a hand on his shoulder as she stepped out of it. Oddly she found the act of him undressing her deeply erotic, yet at the same time such a tender caress.
�Oh Joseph what shall I wear tomorrow?�
�They might have located your suitcases by then.� He replied folding her skirt and laying it next to the blouse. �Besides there are shops in the hotel, I�m sure I can be trusted to find one item that will suffice for the morning.�
�And tonight, what shall I wear tonight?�
He smirked. �I wasn�t planning on you wearing anything tonight.�
She smiled as his arms circled her waist again. �And I wasn�t planning on wearing anything neither.� He kissed her mouth. �Clarisse, my darling, allow me to take you to bed.�
She stepped back and graciously bowed her head before his strong comforting arms lifted her up and carried over to the crisp sheets of the elaborate bed.
* * *
The room, though unfamiliar, felt strangely comforting and homely. Clarisse lay on her side gazing across the room to the French windows; from the roof terrace she could see the clear almost starless sky. The moon was high and full and flooded the room with light. Joseph�s body was pressed against hers, one arm looped over her waist, the other stroking her bare arm. The silk sheets gathered around her hips and she realised rather smugly that they were hanging over her side of the bed and pooling on the floor. Arching her neck she cast a glance over his body and smiled at the sight of his naked backside.
As she returned her head to the pillow Joseph stirred and slowly opened his eyes. He kissed the back of her neck and tightened his hold on her waist.
�What are you thinking about as you lay there?� He whispered, lifting his hand from her arm to stroke her hair.
�I�m thinking, how very comfortable I am, and how much I love being in Rome with you.�
�Hmm, it�s quite a shame I have to go anywhere tomorrow, I could quite happily stay here forever.� He kissed her shoulder closing his eyes again.
�I�d wear you out.� She teased. �After all I am rather �feisty�.� She stretched her body out and turned onto her back raising her arms above her head.
Her movements caused the remaining sheets to slide to the floor and she gasped clutching at them and pulling them back onto the bed.
�Leave them.� He said placing his hand on her stomach.
�No, I�ll get cold.� She sat up dragging the sheets fully onto the bed and fussing as she rearranged them over their bodies.
Satisfied she turned to face Joseph and lay over him, placing her chin on his chest.
�Comfortable?� He asked.
�A-ha, I think so.�
�Good, do you still need something to wear for bed my dear?�
�Why do you ask?� She asked lying her head down.
�Well it just so happens I have a little something of yours.� He said absently.
�You do.� She replied amused. �Which would be?�
�It�s rather embarrassing.� He said moving a little beneath her. �Do you recall a certain item of negligee you wore once to� well to seduce me?�
Her head shot up. �Which one?�
�A certain red and black lace item.�
Her cheeks first paled then reddened. �But, but you hated that, we argued.�
�I know. We shouldn�t have.� He brushed the hair back from her forehead.
�I thought, well I�m not sure what I thought, that the maids had disposed of it, when I couldn�t find it the next morning � I never bothered to look for it again.�
�I took it with me, I sound like some kind of strange pervert don�t I�� He took a deep breath. �But it wasn�t for that at all, it, it smelled of you.�
She raised an eyebrow.
�In a lovely way.� He quickly added. �Your perfume, the scent of your skin, and of course you did look wickedly divine in it.�
�Your response certainly didn�t convey that at the time.�
�I know, but we were hardly working together at that point were we.�
�No�� she said half-heartedly.
They were silent for a while, Clarisse moved from his body and returned to lying on her side. After giving a few moments alone Joseph returned to lying behind her and tentatively slipped his arm around her again.
�Clarisse, darling.� He whispered. �Have I upset you?�
�No,� she swallowed. �No.� she reached down and squeezed his hand reassuringly. �It just surprised me, made me feel a little uncomfortable to recall wearing that, behaving so idiotically.� She sighed heavily. �I guess I�m a little embarrassed by it.�
�But you have no need to be, I�m sorry I was wrong to keep it all these months, I didn�t mean to upset you.�
She smiled turning to face him. �You haven�t upset me. Really, it�s fine.� She kissed his mouth gently. �I�m tired Joseph.�
�All right.�
He stroked her back as she lay her head down next to his and closed her eyes, not entirely sure she was perfectly all right, but certainly not wishing to push the conversation any further. He knew by now when Clarisse didn�t want to pursue a subject and certainly this was one of those moments. Still he cursed himself for raising the subject of the negligee and decided that he would get rid of it as soon as possible.
Part 28
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