Chapter 10

Author's Note: First, I wanna say thanks to Rach for beta this chapter for me. Thank you. And I know I'm stubborn… Sorry. And now I'm sending a big hug to all of you, who left me a review, namely to VictoriaGrant, my dearest Liesel Meminger, risingdancer, Prettycrazy, bluegirl-783, Minerva M McGonagall, Kristi-Julie and to Stacy Vorosco!!Thanks again, and thanks for the waiting too. I know it was a long long time, but please forgive me. I love you all. And now let's see what happened…

Clarisse just stood there for a few minutes, still crying in Joseph's arms, while he tried to comfort her. It was not an easy thing…

"Sshh…" Joseph whispered softly. "Clarisse… Clarisse, please don't cry…" But she was sobbing more desperately.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…" was the only thing she could say.

"Why?"

"You always see me crying. I can't seem to do anything else when we are together - just crying…"

"That's not true." Joseph smiled and stroked her hair. "You smiled in the garden and also when we were chatting earlier. So you do not cry all the time. Clarisse, please don't cry. Clarisse?…"

Joseph waited for her to look up, but she didn't move, so he tried another tack. "Hey, Pretty…"

And that was effective - a slight smile appeared on her lips as she looked up at him.

"You haven't called me that for a long time."

"Yeah, I know." Joseph smiled and looked at her lovingly. "I love calling you that."

"I love it too," she whispered, her voice steadier than before.

"That's better. It's good to see the twinkle in your beautiful eyes again." he said softly and looked right in her eyes. "Would you do something for me?"

"Oh…" She hesitated, unsure of what was coming. "Of course."

"Will you… Will you try not to be so scared all the time?" He asked so lovingly, that she barely could breath. The depth of feeling in his voice shocked her. Shocked, but in a good way. She finally regained her senses and her voice.

"I promise I will try," she answered with a smile. Joseph didn't say a word, instead leaned closer and kissed her. As their lips met, she began to forget everything. She didn't think - only felt. Felt… as Joseph drew her closer and the world slowly disappeared…

Neither of them knew how long did the kiss lasted, but it really didn't matter. Clarisse was happy, and she wanted to enjoy it as long as she could.

"Are you feeling better?" asked Joseph softly as he loosened his hold on her.

"Yes… Much better. My back is still killing me, but otherwise…"

"Oh! I'm so sorry. We forgot to foment it." said Joseph worriedly and started moving. "I'll be right back."

"Don't worry. It will be all right if we do it tomorrow," Clarisse tried, but he already disappeared in the bathroom. So she just carefully removed her pyjamas top, then laid face down on her bed, leaving her bare back fully visible and accessible for Joseph's ministrations.

When he stepped back inside with the bottle again, Joseph could not believe his eyes. Clarisse was laying half naked on the bed, no wearing bra…

"Did you find it?" asked Clarisse without looking up.

"Oh… Uhm… Yes. Yes, of course," Joseph answered as he pulled himself together… a bit.

Hundreds of fantasies ran through his mind while he bent down and started massaging the medicine into her back. He imagined gently turning her around, or helping her remove her remaining clothes before he would make love to her until morning.

Time seemed to slow down. He found himself leaning closer and closer to her back with every movement and soon she could feel his warm breath on her skin. It sent shivers down her spine. It was extremely erotic, and a moment later, she caught her breath, because Joseph's lips finally touched her back. He started kissing her back slowly, sensually… one place after the other, while Clarisse moaned ever so softly, lost in the pleasure his lips provided.

"Oh… my… God." whispered Clarisse as she fought the urge to immediately turn in his arms. "That's so good."

"So are you feeling better?" asked Joseph with a smile between two kisses.

"I'm not sure," she teased. "Can you continue? I need a little more time to decide."

"Mmmm." He smiled against her back. "I could do this forever…"

"Oh please…. don't ever stop," answered Clarisse with eyes closed and just lost herself in the moment, when banging and shouting sounded at her door.

"Open that bloody door you bitch!"

To be continued….