Under A Mistletoe
Author's Note: Well, Christmas is fast approaching! Wiii! I'm so excited for my gifts! Hahaha, Our Christmas vacation will start on 21. But, still, we have a HECTIC schedule in school. But I will do everything possible just to update in both of my stories. *winks* Merry Christmas in advance, by the way! Hope you'll enjoy this! :D
Chapter 1
"Your Majesty, you don't need to help here. You just had your last meeting for the year, you should be resting by now,"Joseph reasoned to Clarisse as they arrived her suite's doorsteps, her steps was ahead of him by two or three.
For this year, Clarisse had insisted that every room in the castle should be adorn with Christmas ornaments and garlands. If one deemed to have their own personal touch in their own room, they had the permission to do so. And as this was her suite they were talking about, she intended to decorate it to her taste.
"Tosh, Joseph! Helping here won't break a bone! Besides, this is MY suite and Christmas only happens once a year," she countered as Joseph opened the door and let her make the customary lead.
"But..."
"I want to help," she smiled at him that knee-weakening smile that all he could do was to comply.
Yielding to her request, he chuckled,"Could I say no to you?"
"Would like to hear a list of our arguments where you've disagreed with me? "
"Is it that long?"
"Well, not that long. But, I must admit, you've disagreed with me, with a good and plausible reason for every argument," Clarisse said as they settled themselves down on the sofa.
"Grandma! Joe! Halloooooooo!" Mia boomed, who was standing atop of a ladder, as she put a mistletoe in front of the bedroom's door, turned around and weaved at them.
"Ohh, Amelia! Be careful!" Clarisse chided.
"No worries, Grandma. I'm always careful," Mia grinned as she clambered down. The irony of Mia's statement only made Clarisse shook her head.
"Where's Charlotte, Princess?" Joseph asked.
"In here, Joe! Good evening, Your Majesty,"Charlotte greeted, carrying five balls of different colors, as she and a white-furred poodle emerged out of Clarisse's walk-in closet.
"What were doing in there?" Joseph queried.
"Ahmm, Her Highness was playing 'catch-the-ball' with Maurice earlier before we had started to put the decor. The other balls rolled in there so I went inside to get them."
Clarisse just sighed inwardly... When would Mia really behave like a true princess!?
"You two should have some snacks and rest downstairs. And why not just also check the decorations there? Her Majesty, as she has insisted to help, and I will just continue decorating here, " Joseph suggested, his eyes looking to both woman, Mia and Charlotte, in a pleading way.
Charlotte, a witness of their long and strong friendship and a close friend of both, knew there was 'something' between her Queen and Joe, but both couldn't just admit it publicly as Clarisse still had her burden on her shoulders. She would gladly do anything for them to have a few secret moments together.
"Ohh, yes... Yes, we should," she said, pushing Mia towards the main door.
"Uhhh?" was Mia's bewildered expression.
"We should give them some privacy," Charlotte mouthed.
"Ohhh..."
"We'll be back in an hour!" Charlotte shouted as they exited the suite.
"What has gotten to them?" Very confused of both women's demeanor, Clarisse asked.
He chuckled, "Perhaps the Christmas spirit."
Clarisse emitted a 'unqueenly' giggle, tossing a pillow at him, "Ohhh! Let's just get started!"
"As you wish, Your Majesty," he teased as they both rose from the sofa and walked towards the bedroom's door, Clarisse noticing the mistletoe that was hung by Mia.
"Tsk-tsk, that cheeky girl... She left this mistletoe dangling and undone here." She began to ascend the ladder when Joseph quickly rushed to her.
"No! Clarisse! I'll do that! You might fall!"
"You're there to catch me, aren't you?" She smirked, now standing atop of the ladder.
Whenever Joseph was near to her, even she was in a bad mood, a smile never missed to form on her lips. He had this power over her that made her slipped the Queen's mask and quickly replaced it by the cheerful face of Clarisse Renaldi.
"Okay, just don't blame me later," he teased.
"You hold my word, my diligent head of security. And, sir, would you be so kind to hand me the nails over there on the table?"
He retrieved the nails and returned to his post behind her.
"Here."
"Thank you," she smiled in return.
A few clumsy attempts later, as Clarisse was not so 'skillful' in nailing things and doing other things of that matter, she accidentally pricked her own thumb and lost her balance on the ladder.
"Jo-Jo-Jo- seph!" She yelled, swaying back and forth.
"Clarisse!" In one fluid movement, Joseph stretched his both arms, and Clarisse dropped herself into them on time.
"Gracious! Thank you, Joseph."
"I've told you that..." Joseph drifted off, his eyes staring fixedly into her.
This beautiful woman under him... He would not get tired of just kissing the back of her hand, putting a hand on her small back, and protecting her even his own life would be at risk. Her eyes... Those cerulean depths were so beautiful he could spend his entire life just staring into them, drowning deeper and deeper as days would pass by. And her lips... So tempting and looked so smooth to be kissed.
"Clarisse..." What had gotten into him? Surely it was not the Christmas. Why was this happening now? Maybe the fact that there was only three years left for Mia to finally take the throne and Clarisse would be free to marry him, made his restrained emotions slip out of his control.
"Yes?" She could feel there was an internal fight wagging inside of him, and there was even also a war starting inside of her.
"If you'll not stop me, I'll kiss you..."
What would Clarisse do now? Would she let the Queen win, or Clarisse Renaldi?
She nodded- Clarisse Renaldi out stood the Queen, pushing her far aside for a moment.
Of that, Joseph felt like he was in heaven, long gone and dead. He thanked whoever is above that made Clarisse give him the permission to kiss her. He then took his time in closing the distance between his face and hers until their lips were only a kiss away from each other. And when their lips met, everything seemed to be fading out as another surrounding appeared in replace.
They were now in a strange sea of borrowed happiness, sailing to their destination, to their own heaven. And if they were to choose, they would rather be stuck here than on land. But no. They had no choice, but only to wait. They were chained by reality and sailing away could never help them escape from it.
Clarisse backed away, breaking their kiss and the sensation in an instant- the Queen was now back, and the chains tugged them away from their voyage.
"No. What was I thinking? Why did I..." Clarisse murmured to herself, obviously disoriented and confused.
"I... I apologize, Clarisse, if I've taken your action as a yes," Joseph repentantly apologized, settling her to her feet and reaching for her trembling hands.
"I... I should... I should go downstairs. You were right I need to rest..."
"Clarisse... Your hands.."
"I... What was I thinking? I..." Not feeling her thumb's bleeding, she rumbled.
"Clarisse!" Joseph shook her, waking her from her subconsciousness.
"Joseph...," she turned to face him. " I... Sorry.. If you'll excuse me," she muttered, excusing herself and quickly making her exit out of her suite.
What had just happened? What would happen to their Christmas now that a misunderstanding had occurred between them?He should haven't kissed her there... What had just happened only proved to him that the tradition of a couple kissing under a mistletoe, which is believe to lead to a marriage, would turn wonderful, was a BIG mistake.
"Clarisse..."
TBC. :)