Mountain Lion in the Palace
She sat at her desk trying to concentrate on the new stack of papers Charlotte had just brought in for her to sign; but try as she might, her mind just kept drifting back to one very good looking man in black, her former head of security and now her husband, Joseph.
As she picked up a rose he had given her and inhaled its sweet fragrance, she knew it was useless to fight her feelings for this man. From the very start of their relationship, Joseph had always stirred such powerful emotions in her. Now that they were married as husband and wife and had come together in every sense of the word, was it any wonder then that all she could do was think about this man?
Enough was enough! She quickly set the paperwork aside and stood up. She would find Charlotte and get her to cancel her appointments for the morning and then go in search of Joseph. Smiling to herself, her eyes fell upon the rose lying in front of her once again. Tracing it lightly with just her fingertips, she picked it up and brought it to her nose, breathing in its scent. She carried it with her as she exited her office.
"Your Majesty?" Charlotte hung up the phone as she noticed the former Queen of Genovia headed towards her. Immediately rising to her feet, she noticed the determined, yet happy look on Clarisse's face and the rose she carried in her hand. Charlotte couldn't help smiling to herself, truly happy that her former sovereign and friend had finally found the happiness she so deserved with such a wonderful man. Those two were made for each other, she thought to herself. She loved them both as her own family and now with Queen Mia on the throne, they were free to finally love each other after having waited so many years to be together.
"Good morning, Charlotte." Clarisse greeted the young aide who had become such a wonderful friend to her over the last few years. "I was wondering if you might clear this morning's schedule for me." Her face flushed, not quite having come up with a reason as to why she needed her schedule cleared. "Something has come up that needs my attention right away!" She felt the heat rising up her face even more at the excuse she gave.
"Good morning, Your Majesty." Charlotte returned. "I would be happy to, but I'm afraid Queen Mia has requested yours and Joseph's presence for a drive into Pyrus in about an hour. She said to tell you she knows you've only just returned from your honeymoon, but it's a surprise she knows you will enjoy and to please come. Shall I let her know...?" Charlotte stopped mid sentence when she noticed how the Queen's face had suddenly fallen, disappointment evident in her eyes.
"Your Majesty?" Charlotte faltered a little uncertain.
As Clarisse realized that Charlotte was speaking to her again, she quickly masked her disappointment and smiled at her former aide. "Charlotte, would you please let Mia know that I shall be ready within an hour and will meet her at the main entrance?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." The aide replied.
Sighing to herself, Clarisse headed back to her suite to change and get ready for their drive with Mia. Though she appreciated her grand daughter's thoughtfulness, she was indeed disappointed not to spend the rest of her morning and perhaps afternoon making love with Joseph. Speaking of her loving husband, where exactly was he?
Upon entering her suite, she nearly screamed as she found herself suddenly pinned against the wall. Recognizing her husband's familiar scent and the feel of his body as he crushed himself against her, she instantly snaked her arms around his neck and gave herself up to his heated kisses. Pulling away breathlessly, she tried to regain her composure. "Joseph, we ...we can't do this now!"
"I know!" He replied while his hands began their own tantalizing exploration under her blouse. His lips were trailing hot kisses across her jaw line and down her neck. She felt her knees going weak as every other thought except his loving mouth and hands flew out of her mind.
"Oh, yes...Joseph!" She moaned when his lips found a particularly sensitive area below her ear. Her body felt as if it were on fire and she almost came apart when his lips moved from her neck to her very sensitive nipples as he swirled his tongue around the berried tips, making her feel as though she would swoon.
"Grandma?" A voice suddenly penetrated the haze Joseph found himself in as he kissed his wife and he pulled back with a loud groan.
"Joseph?" Clarisse whispered breathlessly, too far gone to have heard anything.
"It's Mia, Darling." Joseph replied. "She's at the door."
"Oh!" Clarisse closed her eyes for a moment and tried to pull herself together. Straightening her clothes and patting her hair into place, she called out for her grand daughter to enter. She had taken a few steps toward the door to greet Mia, when she felt her legs suddenly began to sway. Instead of hitting the floor as she had feared, she felt herself being supported by two very strong arms.
"Careful there, my love." Joseph whispered, brushing his lips across her ear.
Smiling gratefully at her loving protector, she took a deep breath and moved to greet her grand daughter. About 20 minutes later, Joseph, Shades, Charlotte, Clarisse, and Mia were all seated in the limousine and on their way to Pyrus. It was a hot and humid day and just starting to rain hard when suddenly they heard a bang and realized they had blown a tire out.
Joseph and Shades got out of the car to change the tire while the ladies remained inside, but after just a few moments the two emerged with umbrellas as the rain really started to come down in heavy torrents.
"You ladies really should get back into the car; we'll be fine out here." Joseph said, knowing he'd never convince Clarisse to just get back in.
"We're all right, Joe. Besides, it's a little warm in there with the car turned off and I just love watching the rain." Mia sighed and looked up at the sky.
"As you wish, ladies." Joseph replied. The men had managed to get the car jacked up but for some reason could not get the tire to come off, one lug was obviously stuck and still holding the tire in place. "Damn!" Joseph cursed under his breath. Both he and Shades had tried and been unsuccessful and with the rain pouring down, Joseph couldn't even seem to get a tight grip.
Without giving it any further thought, Joseph quickly removed his shirt and wrapped it around the wrench to finally get a good grip and loosen the lug nut. It worked. After just a few moments he successfully removed the tire, so Shades could mount the spare.
Clarisse had been engrossed in the conversation going on between Charlotte and her granddaughter when her gaze drifted back over to Joseph. What she saw took her breath away. He was kneeling down next to Shades as they were fastening the last of the lug nuts into place on the spare tire. Beads of water ran down Joseph's back, making his skin glisten in the rain. All Clarisse could think about was that beautiful, perfectly-tanned chest she had touched to her heart's content just last night. She froze right there on the spot, unable to move or look away. Had she been able to, she might have noticed the smirk beginning to spread across her granddaughter's face as Mia studied her grandmother.
Joseph got up and turned around to roll the flat tire to the back of the car when he noticed Clarisse just standing there watching him. He started to say something to her but then stopped when he noticed the way she was looking at him. He could scarcely breathe. He had never seen her look at him so boldly before, not even on their honeymoon or in the privacy of their own bedroom. Yet here she was in broad daylight in front of everyone staring at him with lust and desire in her eyes. It was obvious to anyone.
Mia looked from her grandmother and then to Joseph, but what really got her attention was the many scratch marks all down Joseph's back as he approached her grandmother. Mia's mouth fell open. "Hey, Joe! What happened to your back?" she asked loudly. "Did you get into a fight with a mountain lion or something?" She just couldn't imagine what had happened and then it suddenly hit her, causing her to groan and slap her forehead with the palm of her hand in disbelief.
All eyes were suddenly on Mia and then on Joseph. He wasn't sure what to do. His wife's face had drained of all color and then turned beet red. Before he could react, Clarisse had pivoted around and thrown herself back into the car, dropping her umbrella on the muddy ground and slamming the car door shut behind herself.
To Be Continued…………..
