"You never did find out�� She drawled leisurely, her body already relaxing.
"Find out what?�
"About my underwear.�
As quickly as she said it she felt him run an inquiring hand along her spine. �Definitely a bra�� he continued down. �Yes, in tact I�d say, but the suspenders, now they are intriguing. I never had you down for that.�
She looked up at him, her eyes wide and bright. �They were for you, a treat, I intended to seduce you this evening. I�d forgotten about this damned thing.�
"A treat hey.� He twisted around so he was facing her. �And seducing me, tut tut Clarisse, not very regal.�
"Oh stop. It isn�t funny, you know you��
She never finished her sentence because he�d pulled her into a kiss. Why were his kisses so good? Just how did he know exactly what to do and when to do it, how to have her moaning within seconds and practically straddling his leg. Oh god she was straddling his leg. The thought came to the randomly but didn�t stop her actions. She was aware of Joseph�s smile as he moved back against the seat to accommodate her.
She pushed his jacket off and broke the kiss to look at him.
"These windows are secure aren�t they, I mean, nobody can see a thing.�
"Not a thing my dear.� His voice was deep, husky, she smiled realising he wanted her just as much as she wanted him.
"Well then,� She moved back from him, �time for your treat.�
Joseph�s eyes widened in both shock and utter pleasure as she gradually slid her dress up her legs revealing an inch at a time of stocking clad flesh. He reached out to touch but she moved back keeping him at arms length. If she hadn�t have known him better she would have sworn he was almost drooling by the time she got to her thigh.
"Clarisse,� he swallowed, she was driving him insane. �You do realise it�s only a fifteen minute journey.�
"Well, how long does it take you.� She teased leaning forward, she rested her hands on the seat either side of his body.
"You�ll get longer than fifteen minutes, trust me.�
"I should hope so, this can be extended foreplay.�
"You�re going to kill me do you know that.�
She giggled. �Oh I do hope not, I like having fun with you.�
"You�re a terrible tease.� He grabbed her waist and pulled her on top of him.
Her mouth was on his, her tongue drawing delicious patterns along his bottom lip. Her hand, god her hands, she�d opened his flies and dipped inside and now that bulge that had never really disappeared was growing, rapidly. He took another sharp breath trying to control himself when the car came to a sudden halt. Clarisse looked sharply at him.
"We can�t be back yet.� He breathed, more than a little annoyed.
He tapped the intercom. �Something wrong?� The irritation was barely contained in his voice and Clarisse�s hand wasn�t helping matters. He gave her a warning stare to which she smiled sweetly and nipped his chin with her mouth.
"Traffic sir, we seem to be in a queue.�
"Oh, right, can�t be helped I� erm� ah suppose.� He ended the conversation and cast his mischievous wife a harsh look. �That wasn�t funny.�
"It was enjoyable.� She teased.
"I�ll show you enjoyable.� He tipped her onto the seat and moved above her so she couldn�t escape. �I have never known a woman so determined��
"Hmm I know.� She wrapped her hand around his neck and brought his mouth to hers.
His hands were sliding up her stocking covered legs, she was squirming against him longing to be in charge again.
"Ah my dear, wait one second.�
She gasped as he reached her underwear and toyed with her suspender belt. �My treat I believe.� He smiled seductively and in one swift movement had removed her new black lacy knickers.
"Won�t be needing these.� He said stuffing them into his pocket.
Then his hand skimmed lightly up her torso, ran over her shoulders and her neck and finally her face.
He traced her profile as if he was trying gauge a perfect marble statue, which in a way he was. There were still times when he couldn�t believe that it had actually happened to him. This perfect goddess loved him.
But seeing her now lying before him, with her eyes closed and her perfect lips open in a sigh, while her dress was bunched up at her thighs � all of this waiting for him to touch and to taste and to feel, then he really believed that his dream was true.
�Oh my darling, you are so incredibly beautiful,� he breathed.
She opened her eyes lazily and gave him her wonderfully serene smile. �Only for you, my love. Only for you.�
She pulled his head down for a heady kiss leaving no doubt about what she wanted. Her hands skimmed over his back in a frenzied fashion, pulling the shirt from his trousers. He felt the rush of cold air on his skin, but it was replaced immediately by the burning the touch of her hands evoked.
As if of its own volition the hand that had so far stroked her leg tenderly, moved inwards. With his mouth he trailed a moist path from her lips down to where the neckline of her dress revealed the tender skin of her d�collet� and was rewarded with a sharp intake of breath from her.
Clarisse felt as if she was in heaven. Finally she could feel his touch again, his tongue tracing lazy patterns on her skin, while his hands gently massaged her breasts and her thighs. Finally�finally�
Her hands were quite occupied themselves, wandering up and down his spine. He shivered as she came to a spot he was particularly sensitive at and his hands involuntarily gripped her a little tighter. Knowing that her touch had caused him this excitement gave her an enormous feeling of power.
Another deep sigh escaped her. The warmth spreading through her body and the tingling of her skin were just so wonderful. But it was not enough. She wanted to feel more of him. Much more.
Realizing that their position kept her trapped in an almost inactive role, she pushed against his shoulders. He reacted immediately and moved to sit up; she however followed him instantly, attacking his mouth passionately.
Suddenly, everything was a haze and all she could think of was to feel all of his body under her fingers, to taste all of his skin, to be joined with him. Kissing him deeply her fingers made short work on the buttons of his shirt. When she had managed to open a few buttons she splayed her hands out on his chest and ran them over his shoulders, torso and abdomen.
Joseph groaned into her mouth. Four days of abstinence didn�t exactly help his endurance and he knew that his point of no return was not far off. But her hands on his skin were so intoxicating and her mouth tasted so delicious that he was helpless to fight.
Clarisse scooted closer to him and dipped her head to kiss his abdomen. Then she moved higher, scooting another bit closer and another and another one until she was pressed against him completely and nibbling on his neck. All he could do was run his fingers up her sides, moulding the feminine curves of her body.
A sudden movement caught him off his guard and his eyes, which he had closed in pleasure, snapped open. Taking one look at his wife his eyes widened in surprise, when she hiked up her skirts and climbed into his lap.
�Darling�� he began, but another sensual kiss stopped his words. Feeling her body so intimately pressed against his and moving so sensually made coherent thought as well as any control left in him fly out of the window. He crushed her body against his and his mouth closed over one of her still covered breasts.
A jolt of the car stopped them cold.
Joseph bit his lips to keep himself from crying out in frustration. Clarisse was not so successful, however, and a groan escaped her. Angrily she slapped the intercom. �What is the matter now?�
The driver and the security guard in the front seat exchanged a nervous look at the irritated voice of their former monarch.
�Nothing your Majesty. The road is now clear and we started moving again. We will reach the palace grounds in about seven minutes.�
�Well, next time kindly announce such stunts.�
The intercom was closed again and the two men in front made faces of nervousness at each other.
�I really wonder what had made her so bitchy these last days?� the security guard wondered aloud.
�Probably nothing a few hours on her back under a specialist won�t cure.� Dansen, the driver smirked.
The man next to him choked on his own saliva. Between coughs he managed to grunt out: �You better hope, nobody will ever hear this line from you again. The man in the backseat would probably kill you for it. Kill you first and then dig you up and kill you again.�
Looking out of the window, he only shook his head at so much stupidity. Honestly, were those new guys not briefed that they should never say anything disgraceful about their former queen, lest the man in the back would be out for blood?
The man in the back was having another problem entirely right now. The short interlude with the other occupants of the limousine had thrown him back into cold reality. Joseph stared at his wife.
There she was, sitting on his lap, her face flushed with arousal, her eyes wide and overly bright � eager and ready for him. And that smile. Her hands again traced lazy patterns over his chest and he felt the earlier ardour stir again.
Yet he realized that they were actually in the backseat of a car. The backseat of a car, for goodness� sake. He had not made out with a woman in the back of a car since he was 19. And this frenzied, almost desperate act was not the way he had imagined this night to go.
Yes, of course, he wanted to make love to his goddess. Heaven knew, just how much he wanted that. And from his physical reaction he had no doubt that Clarisse knew as well, but he had wanted to take his time loving, worshipping her body. Spread out comfortably on silk bed sheets he had wanted to follow every curve and hollow of her body with his eyes and his hands. He had wanted to kiss and lick every inch of her skin, before he finally moved over and inside her body, bringing them both to the heights of pleasure. And then he wanted to start all over again until they were both sated and too exhausted to move.
But now he was sitting in the backseat of a car, painfully aroused and with this wonderful, beautiful and very passionate woman straddling his lap.
�We have to stop this,� he breathed, inwardly cringing as the disappointment crossed her face. He took hold of her shoulders, holding her body back from his just far enough so he could regain his control and not be tempted.
"I don�t want it to be here, I�m not nineteen.�
"I never did this when I was nineteen.�
Was she seething?
"Clarisse.� he took her hand wanting to explain but she scooted away from him.
She sat on the edge of the seat smoothing her skirt back down.
He watched her for a second whilst fastening his shirt. �Surely you�re not angry with me��
"No.� Her voice was distant though.
"Sweetheart,� he touched her shoulder. �Darling this has nothing to do with you, it�s being here, you deserve better. Silk sheets, nice big comfy bed,� he kissed her neck gently, warming his way back into her affections.
"It�s just.� She sighed deeply, turned her head slightly to look at him. �You�ve had these moments, you�ve done all that, back of the car frenzied sex. I never did. I don�t want you to think you�re missing out with me.�
"Oh god, darling the reason it�s better with you, the reason it�s more is because we never have sex.� He kissed her nose. �We always make love, and I want to make love to you properly, lord knows how badly I want to.�
She smiled, turning around fully to face him. �You do?�
"Unbelievably.�
"And you weren�t attracted to that woman tonight?�
"What! No, never, I�ve not looked at another woman since the day I met you.�
"Flatterer.�
He took her hand and kissed it, just like he used to. It still remained the most intimate act.
"Did you really think I was?�
"No, not really. I worry I suppose, that�s why,� she smiled, blushed even, �The suspenders, I wanted to seem exciting. Sexy. For you.� She took a deep breath.
"You are the sexiest woman I�ve ever known. The most beautiful.� He kissed her mouth, his hand resting on her neck. �The most caring, sensual, kind, funny,� he kissed her again. �Not to mention inventive.�
"Joseph,� She stroked his beard. �You�ve brought out feelings in me I wasn�t aware even existed. We�ve been married almost six months, I wanted to keep the passion alive.�
"I have a feeling it always will be.� He smoothed her hair back from her face and straightened the straps on her dress; her chest was still flushed and red. �Here, put his on, it�s freezing outside.�
He slipped his jacket onto her shoulders; she wrapped it snugly around her breathing in the scent of his cologne. Her room smelt of him now, her bed did, some mornings she would turn over and find him gone, an early morning jog or swim, and his pillow was full of the smell of him. She adored it.
Silently she watched as he fastened his trousers and tidied himself up. She laughed.
"What�s funny.�
"You�re all lopsided.� She smiled reaching for his buttons and refastening them in the correct position. �Better.� She said staring into his dark eyes.
"Presentable?�
"Yes. I must apologise to them...� she indicated the front seat. �I was short with them, off-hand.�
"It will be forgotten tomorrow.� He said reassuringly.
"I need to get a hold of myself Joseph, this is getting ridiculous.�
"No more self induced cooling off periods!� He smiled warmly at her. �We have all the time in the world to love each other.�
"Don�t tease me so much.� She squeezed his hand.
"Don�t be so alluring.� He leant forward and lightly kissed her.
The car stopped. Clarisse let go of his hand and moved back in her seat, ready and proper for the door opening.
"Your thing!� He said randomly staring at her throat.
"Sorry?�
"The thing, the necklace.�
She clutched her throat. �Oh goodness the ruby, did I lose it here?�
"Unless you�ve been fooling around anywhere else.�
She shot him a �not-funny� look and began searching the seats.
"Ah, it�s here.� Joseph pronounced digging it from the cushion. He refastened it for her. �There you go my dear, fully dressed.�
"Hardly.� She warned looking away from him. �Somebody has my underwear.�
The door opened and she accepted Dansen�s hand smoothly stepping out of the vehicle, Joseph was right, it was freezing tonight.
�Thank you.� She smiled at her driver; her smile usually did the trick. Well one of her smiles anyhow, there was one particular one she saved simply for her husband.
She felt his hand on her back and heard him wishing a good night to the men before guiding her up the steps.
Joseph rested his hand on the pocket of his jacket which she wore; keenly aware of what lay inside. A reminder of the last thirty minutes they had spent �playing� in the back of the limousine. He smiled to himself as they passed down the long corridors, certainly life was never going to be dull with this woman, it never had been.
As they neared their suite he began to tickle the palm of her hand with his fingertips. In response she walked closer to him, rubbing her hip against his. Then she abruptly tugged her hand free from his and moved to walk in front of him, gently swaying her hips as she walked, the long dress sensually flowing behind her in one elegant fluid motion. And she called him a tease - ha!
He followed her into the suite and watched as she tugged her gloves free and dropped them onto the floor. The lamps were lit, the room warm, he had quite gotten used to this all being done for him.
"I was thinking,� He said watching her watching him.
"Yes.� Her voice was low, he watched her lick her lips.
"Perhaps you need to cool off a little before bed?�
She raised an eyebrow. �Mmm. What did you have in mind?�
"Perhaps a bath.�
"Really.� She folded her arms attempting to give him one of her harsh looks.
"Yes, and another thing.� He deftly lifted her into his arms, the heavy dress draping over his arm.
She kicked her shoes off and hooked her arms around his back.
"Tomorrow I�m going to enquire about getting this room fully sound proofed.�
She giggled. �Good idea,� She kissed his forehead. �No more interruptions.�
"No more interruptions, otherwise somebody is going to suffer.�
"Hmm.� She was tickling his neck, pulling his tie off and throwing it down alongside her gloves.
"Your bath milady.�
He put her down onto the chair that stood in the corner of their bathroom. After kissing her forehead, he went over to the bathtub and opened the taps to let the water flow. From her seat Clarisse watched him as he studied the vast array of bath salts available.
�Hmm�rose-scented? Nice, but too conservative for tonight. �Sex bomb bath ballistic�? Sounds intriguing,� he threw her an impish grin, �and rather fitting, but not what I am looking for.� He paused again carefully studying all the choices.
Clarisse could have happily stayed there forever watching him, but as her gaze strayed for a moment, she caught a glimpse of the candles. She got up and moved to light the dozen that were standing on the various counters. It was a matter of mere seconds and she quickly returned to her seat taking up the watch again.
�Is it so difficult to decide what kind of bath salt to use, darling?� she asked with a smile.
He turned for a moment and smiled at her. �It isn�t. I only need to find the bottle. Ah, there it is.�
A few moments later the steam rising from the slowly filling tub was incensed with the smell of milk, honey and�peaches. Clarisse closed her eyes in delight. She loved this smell. Warm, comforting and yet fresh and lively. She remembered that he had given it to her as a gift for Christmas five years ago. When she had asked him back then, why he had told her� His voice shook her out of her memory: �Yes, it still reminds me of the dress you wore the night we first made love.�
The tenderness in his voice was palpable and she could not stop a tear escaping from her eyes at its utter sweetness. Seconds later, Joseph knelt before her.
She snapped out of her trance: �Joseph, your knee.�
�Is fine,� he assured her, �nothing will keep me from worshipping you tonight.� He placed a quick kiss on her mouth to quell any argument. �This is for you and me to enjoy, my love.�
His hands came around her neck and busied themselves with the unfastening of her necklace. A quick tug at the band and it came off. He placed it carefully on the counter top and then moved his hands up to her ears. First, he unfastened one earring, then the other. Clarisse tilted her had backwards as she drew a deep breath. Never had she imagined that taking her jewellery off could be such a sensual act. Her skin was tingling, where he had touched her, eager for more of him. When he took the earrings away, he placed a kiss on each of her ears, then on the tender skin underneath. She drew in a sharp breath at the sensation and could feel him smiling against her skin.
Her eyes snapped open again, when she heard the low sound of a zipper. But quickly she realized that he had started to open her dress. She could not help but smile languidly at the sensation of slightly cooler air and the brush of his fingers against her back. He really had talented hands. She must ask him some time where he had gotten so good at undressing a woman�on the other hand, she didn�t exactly want to find out, so it was probably better to enjoy his skills without question. And skilled he was.
By now he had eased the zipper completely down and began peeling the dress off her, slowly sliding the material off her shoulders and down her arms. Clarisse sighed in utter bliss, when he made sure to graze every inch of newly exposed skin with his fingertips.
His rich chuckle penetrated her sensuality-fogged brain. He ran his index finger down from her throat, through the valley between her breasts and down to her navel. �Front closure bra, who would have thought?� He muttered, amusement evident in his voice.
�All for you, my love. All yours for the taking.� Clarisse answered with a saucy grin.
She was rewarded with a low growl from him and a flick of his tongue against her skin just above the fastening of her black lace bra. She had to bite her lip to keep from crying out at the shot of pleasure that went through her.
The bra was snapped open and quickly discarded and Joseph went to work on her lower half. He slowly traced his way up from her feet, passing her thighs under her skirt to her waist. There he hesitated and seemed to be thinking for a second. �No, to early,� He decided and retraced his way to her thighs again.
There he tenderly caressed her skin between the strings of the suspenders and then opened the fastening on one of them. Clarisse started a little at the sound. Only now did she realize that the water was no longer running, though when Joseph had turned it off, she couldn�t remember. Tracing her skin along the seam of her stocking, he smiled proudly when he saw her gripping the edges of the chair as a response to his actions.
He repeated the same procedure on her other leg and finally found his way back to her waist. This time he drew lazy patterns on her skin under and above the lacy suspender. She breathed a sigh of relief, when he finally ended this pleasant torture and removed the material.
Joseph inspected the lace dangling from his hand with great interest, making his wife smile at his reaction. �Like what you see?� she asked teasingly.
He swallowed heavily. �Oh yes, very. And I would have liked to see you in nothing else.� At her �why didn�t you�-look, he smiled: �But not this time, my love. I am sure we will find an opportunity for you to show me, how sexy you look in it.� He placed a finger on her lips. �Tonight, I want to enjoy, how sexy you are without.�
He placed a quick, but tender kiss on her mouth and once again returned to the task of undressing her. With incredible slowness, he peeled down first one stocking, then the other, caressing her legs leisurely. By the time he had worked each stocking off her feet, Clarisse was almost panting. She couldn�t wait for more. She wanted him now. She needed him now.
But Joseph had other ideas. He stood up and pulled her into a standing position as well. The open dress slid down her body in a rustle and pooled at her feet.
He took a step back, mainly to divest himself of his shirt, but also to take in the sight of his wife standing gloriously naked and unashamed before him. His breath caught in his throat. She was perfect. Even though she was certainly no young woman anymore, her body was still absolute perfection in his eyes. Her endless legs that felt so good wrapped around him, the roundness of her hips, the fullness of her breasts, her perfect face�that was sporting a pout right now. �Why can�t I undress you as well?�
He chuckled. �Because, my love, it is not in my plan. I have this all staged. You just have to wait and see what happens.�
He quickly stepped forward again and swept her up into his arms. She giggled in surprise, but eagerly put her arms around his neck and leant her head against his now bare chest.
Joseph stopped next to the tub and carefully lowered her into the steaming, incensed water. She sighed deeply as the warmth began to soothe her body, slowly easing the tension in her muscles she hadn�t even realized was there. He retrieved a washcloth from the nearby shelves and started slowly to wash her shoulders and upper back. She moaned in delight �Oh, this is wonderful.� He smiled. There was more to come. But first�
He tenderly took hold of her shoulders and dipped her back carefully, so as not to scare her. But Clarisse was far from feeling any fear. This was paradise. The warm and wonderfully smelling water surrounding her and Joseph�s hands caressing her had made her afloat in a sea of contentment and pleasure. Suddenly, she felt some cold liquid on her hair and then his hands unhurriedly massaging her scalp.
For a few minutes the couple lost itself in the sheer pleasure of him washing her hair until he told her quietly to dip under so the soap could be drained out. When the last soap had been washed out of her hair, she turned to her husband with a questioning look and cupped his cheek. �Will you be joining be in here?�
He smiled and kissed the inside of her palm. �I will soon, my goddess.� Clarisse blushed at this endearment and so he continued, �First, I have to finish my worship, though.�
He retrieved the washcloth again and ran it tenderly over her arms and shoulders, her back and her legs. Upon reaching her chest, he took his time gently massaging her breasts, which caused Clarisse at some point to dig her nails into his arms. But he merely smiled and continued. To her slight disappointment, he made short work on washing her most private parts, but the dissatisfaction was short-lived.
Wringing the washcloth out and placing it on the rim of the tub, he stepped back and quickly removed the rest of his clothing. If he was honest with himself, he would have liked to put on a little show undressing for Clarisse and judging from the gleam in her eyes, she would have loved a little striptease as well, but they could file away all this for a later opportunity. She gave him a short nod and he knew that there would be another time, indeed.
He climbed into the tub across from her, happily noting that the water was indeed still warm and smelling just as she had in their first night together.
Clarisse curled her legs up to her chest to give him more room, thank heaven for double baths she smiled closing her eyes. The steam surrounding her head was sending her mindless, not to mention the feel of her husband�s hands on her body. Feeling him worship her in such a way, touching her so slowly and sensually, it made her feel incredibly sexy, incredibly beautiful. Gone were all thoughts of any other women occupying his mind.
He took hold of one of her legs and brought her foot to his chest rubbing her toes.
�You have perfect feet.� He kissed each toe and she giggled at the sensation.
"Ticklish,� She warned.
The water rose around her as he moved placing her leg beneath the water and shifted his attention to the other. He stroked her calf, up to her knee and tickled in the hollow behind it, she twisted in the water but kept her eyes shut. His body hunched forward, his hand was at her thigh, she was trembling with anticipation, biting down on her bottom lip. But he passed straight up to her hip, to her waist. Both hands now, either side of her body, he was leaning over her.
"Won�t you open your eyes my love?� He kissed her nose.
"Mmm, I�m dreaming.�
He smiled; her voice was full of joy. He kissed her forehead, she was right this was joyful, a rhythm was invading his body, a rhythm they shared. She tilted her head up to catch his mouth with hers and the kiss was full of promise. Her tongue touched his and he felt a jolt of pleasure flow through his veins.
"Oh I love my wife.� He smiled looking down at her.
This time she did open her eyes and took in his smile, resting a hand on his face she drew her finger along his bottom lip then along his top, then dipped it inside his mouth until he sucked on it.
Joseph gasped when her hand moved between his legs.
�Oh sweetheart, if you do that I won�t last.�
She giggled playfully and kissed him again. �I don�t want you to wait.�
She continued her ministrations and it was all Joseph could do to remain resting above her and kissing her delightful mouth.
�Ahh, Clarisse, stop!� He pulled himself free and moved down her body, kissing her chest, sliding down her silky skin, over her breasts so eager for his touch.
She moved beneath him and lifted herself up so she was half sitting. �My turn,� she said as he leant back against the bath.
She leant over him this time. �Close your eyes.�
He did as instructed; let his hands fall into the water and his mind drift as she continued her sweet torture. If her plan was for the maids to hear his voice that night it seemed she had succeeded. When she kissed his open mouth afterwards, resting a hand on his rapidly beating chest, she whispered seductively in his ear.
�I also had plans for this evening.�
He held her waist and turned her around until her back was resting against his. She folded her hand with his and closed her eyes, satisfied with her results.
His other hand stroked down over her breast, stroking her until she murmured incoherent words. He continued down her body, tantalisingly close to the place she needed him the most. Her thigh was soft and smooth, he imagined their warmth wrapped around him, that would be later, for now it was time to repay the favour.
Her nails dug into his hand and he was thankful for the easing water, she moaned his name and jerked in the water. He kissed her head, let go of her fingers and allowed his hand to join the other in bringing his wife such pleasure.
She fell against him, holding his arm, floating back down into the water. Her head was heavy, hazy.
�Mmm, this is what I�ve missed all week.� She said softly.
Their hands never stopped touching the others body, stroking, caressing, whispering words of love with touch. She could hear the passion in his voice when he said her name; the evening was far from over.
�The water�s getting cold.� She proclaimed holding her hand up to expect the skin. Bubbles slipped from her wedding ring.
He brought his hand up and folded it with hers, stroking his finger across the gold band. �I love you so much it�s almost unbearable at times��
She twisted her head to look at him. �Only at times?� She kissed his chin and he tickled her waist then sat up with her leaning against him.
He lifted himself out of the water and wrapped a towel around his body as she stood in the bath waiting. He took another towel and wrapped it around her, drying her from head to foot and kissing each inch of her skin as he gradually moved down her glorious body. She tugged his towel loose and caught his hand smiling knowingly and leading him from the bathroom through to their bedroom.
�Clarisse,� he kissed her shoulder. �The candles.�
She couldn�t help but laugh, his damned sensible security side rearing, he returned to the bathroom and blew the candles out. As she climbed onto the bed she distinctly heard the bath being emptied as well. She was still laughing when he returned to the room and watched her climbing beneath the sheets.
�It�s cold this evening.� She said as he joined her.
�Hmm�� He was kissing her collarbone almost instantly. She closed her eyes, best to let him enjoy himself after all, she mused.
Joseph moved down to her stomach, kissed and tasted each part of her all over again, she smelt so good, she felt so good. Who knew that he would ever receive the love of somebody so magnificent.
On his knees between her legs he stopped and glanced up to her face, her eyes still closed, a half smile on her face, her cheeks flushed.
�I don�t deserve you.� He whispered.
�Oh yes you do,� she looked at him, her eyes shining. �You brought me joy, you made me feel like a woman.� She sat up her legs wrapping around him, her hands joining around his back. �I love you. More and more each day.� She kissed his smiling mouth. �I want to make love to you every second of the day� and I�m an old woman.� She teased.
�Not old, beautiful, and I kind of noticed your recent addiction.�
�Don�t make me wait.� She said breathlessly.
They made love like that, wrapped around each other, in the darkness of that grand historical room. Then they lay down side by side, touching, worshipping, talking about unimportant things before sleep claimed them. Joseph had no doubt they would be making love in the morning again, when the sun would filter in through the window and light her beautiful face. The days couldn�t come quickly enough, but when they did he wished they would last longer.
* * *
Charlotte made her mid-morning rounds as usual. It was Sunday and she would be free by lunch but now she just had to pass on a few pieces of information and finish off a few things before a new week began. She went to Queen Mia�s suite first and joined her in a cup of Tea and discussing any upcoming issues before moving onto the former Queen�s rooms.
The guards stood outside, no sign of any movement inside; taking a deep breath she entered the suite. The curtains were still drawn, it was past 11:00 now, surely the maids should have been here and opened them by now. She noted it down, another thing to check up on.
As she crossed the room she noticed a pair of long black gloves on the floor, she bent to collect them along with the tie that was there. Joseph�s jacket was in a heap a little further across the room. Yet another thing the maids should have done. Yet she couldn�t help but smile to herself, obviously the couple wouldn�t be emerging anytime soon. Oh dear, Clarisse had gotten quite carried away since she married.
Charlotte had noticed the change in her moods that week, hell she�d felt the brunt of it. Still for the majority of the time she was happier than ever, and it was wonderful to witness such adoration in the pair, it gave her hope that she too would find somebody to share her life with. Perhaps she could get some advice from her former Queen. She couldn�t help but giggle at the thought, �Clarisse�s guide to a happy marriage�, how fitting.
She slipped the jacket over her arm as she exited the room, she would drop that off at dry cleaning on her rounds, little knowing about the small slip of material still lying in the pocket.
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