Hey all, this is to everyone who has been reading this story and left me wonderful reviews, I really appreciate the support and honestly cannot thank you enough. It's because of you that I'm still writing, however I do have some news. I really don't want to do this, as I could continue writing this story forever but I am currently planning on wrapping up this story soon. I still have a few chapters planned and there's still so much I would like to include but I'm getting tired so will probably wrap it up earlier than I had planned which pains me as I have really enjoyed writing this story and the two prequels before it. I will try and include as much as I possibly can in the following chapters, but for now here's the next chapter for you all to enjoy.
Also, this is a M rated chapter, so be warned and remember please do let me know your thoughts.. it's much appreciated, thank you.
Sunday 15th June 2008.
Feeling movement beside him, Joseph turned his head on the pillow and watched as his beautiful wife rolled onto her back. "Are you awake?" He asked softly while putting his arm up to rest on the pillow above his head and tucked his hand under the back of his head.
Opening her eyes blearily, Clarisse turned her head to look at him and smiled. "I am," she said and rolled onto her other side to face him and tucked her hand under her cheek. "You're awake early."
"I am," he nodded, "I have been listening to the birds tweeting and the waves crashing on the shore."
"There's nothing wrong, is there?" She asked while snuggling closer and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Oh no, nothings wrong," he answered while wrapping his arm around her shoulders and slipped his fingers under the strap of her silk nightdress, "it's just the heat, it kept me awake most of the night," he said and lifted his head to look at her, "I hope it's not to chilly for you with the balcony doors open?"
"No, it's just right," she smiled against his chest and wrapped her arm around his torso.
"That's alright then," he smiled and kissed the top of her head before resting his head back down on the pillow to stare up at the ceiling a long moment as they both lay completely still, simply listening to the sounds coming from outside in each other's embrace.
"It's so beautiful here," Clarisse said several moments later, "it's a shame I have to leave today."
"I know, but we should definitely come back when we have some time," Joseph said when a thought popped into his head. "Maybe I could speak to Luca about booking another stay for our anniversary?" He said and watched as Clarisse lifted her head.
Pushing herself up onto her elbow as Joseph rested his arm along her pillow, and placed his hand on the back of her shoulder, Clarisse thought about what he said and smiled. "That would be nice, but insist on paying. I don't feel comfortable staying here for free."
"No, neither do I," Joseph agreed and smiled up at her while smoothing his thumb back and forth over the top of her shoulder, "and I'll see what I can do later."
"Ok," Clarisse smiled as he reached his other hand over to her and cupped her cheek.
"Do you know what I realised while laying here this morning?" Joseph said a moment later and let his hand slip down onto her neck before moving his arm to rest across his torso.
"I don't know, what did you realise while laying here this morning?" She smiled and shook her head while placing her hand down on his chest.
"I realised that, seeing Vicki get married was the last thing to do on my bucket list," Joseph said.
"Oh yes, so it was," Clarisse said and nodded before looking up into his eyes, "well now that everything is back on track between us and we are finally living together again, maybe we can start another one together?" She said and watched as he smiled.
"I would like that," Joseph said and watched as she leant closer, kissing him before resting her head back on his shoulder. "There is still a few things I would like to do."
"Mhmm, me too," Clarisse said and closed her eyes for a long moment, "one of them being to lose weight-,"
"You don't need to lose weight, what are you talking about?" He said, interrupting her as she opened her eyes and tipped her head back to look up at him, "you are absolutely perfect the way you are and are still that gorgeous woman I fell in love with all those years ago."
"That's sweet of you to say," she smiled and reached up to kiss his jaw before resting her head back on his shoulder, "but I do, I have slowly been putting weight on so it's now on my bucket list to lose it and to get fit while I'm at it."
"Oh tush," he said and she laughed.
"Don't tush me," she exclaimed and continued laughing before they shared a slow kiss wrapped in each other's embrace.
"Honestly," he whispered against her lips a moment later and looked deep into her eyes as she put her hand up to cup his cheek, "you are still my incredibly gorgeous wife and I wouldn't change you for anything."
"Thank you," she whispered and kissed him a couple times before turning herself over to sit up on the edge of the bed, "I suppose we better get up and get ready to join everyone downstairs for breakfast, well the ones who aren't too hungover at least."
"I suppose we should, yes," he laughed and smiled, watching as she stretched her arms up above her head and stood to her feet before walking into the bathroom.
Returning moments later, Clarisse stood beside the bed and ran her hands through her hair as she looked at Joseph sitting up against the pillows piled up against the headboard with the sheet ruffled up around his waist. "Are you not getting up?" She asked while lowering her arms.
"I am yes," he said, nodding slightly as he looked down towards the bottom of the bed momentarily before looking back up to her, "but I figured you can get showered and ready first, then I will go after you."
"Are you sure? I don't mind going after you, in fact it will give me chance to sort out what I am wearing today if you went first," she said with a smile and climbed to kneel on the bed beside him.
"Well the truth is, I can't get up yet," he said slowly and smiled mischievously up at her, "I need to, shall we say, calm down a bit first."
"Oh!" Clarisse exclaimed as she realised why he was insisting on her getting ready first.
"Yeah," he nodded while bending one of his arms up, placing his hand on the back of his neck and rubbed it up and down a moment.
"Well in that case," she smiled, placing one hand on the headboard behind him to steady herself and put her other hand down to hitch the bottom of her nightdress up enough to slip her leg over his legs until she was straddling his lap.
"Oh someone else is feeling a bit frisky too this morning," He laughed and smoothed his hands up the sides of her thighs to cup her bottom as they gazed into each other's eyes.
"I might be," she smiled while smoothing her hands down over his sexy hairy chest, causing his muscles to ripple under her touch. Biting her lip, she looked up into his eyes, "I love it when that happens."
"Me too," he said, a hungry look in his eyes as he sat bolt up right and kissed her while smoothing his hands up her back and onto the sides of her neck. Burying his face in the crook of her neck, he brushed his hands down over her shoulders and down her arms. "But what would the guests in the next suite say?" He asked and nipped her neck, just below her ear.
Pulling back, Clarisse smoothed her hands from his shoulders to cup his face and kissed him several times before replying. "I don't care what they say," she said softly and smiled mischievously at him.
"Oh my my, I am starting to believe that Bethany is actually right," he said, his gaze remaining locked with hers as she slipped her hands down between them and slowly removed her nightdress, tossing it to one side, "you are becoming a bad bad girl," he said and watched as she laughed.
"Is that a problem?" She smiled and raised her eyebrow at him as he shook his head.
"Certainly not," he smiled and lowered his gaze as he ran the tips of his fingers slowly over her sun kissed, freckled chest and shoulders, making her shiver at his touch. "I actually quite like this new-," he said, cutting off a moment as she wrapped her hand around his manhood, "this new side to you, it's very um..." he paused and nodded before continuing, "distracting, and oh so very sexy."
"Oh, good," she smiled and raised herself up in front of him as he placed his hands on her hips, and keeping her gaze locked with his she slowly, purposely, lowered herself back down, eliciting a moan as she took him all inside of her and settled back down on his lap.
"Oh god, woman," he mumbled and watched as she leant closer, cupping his face once again and began rubbing her nose with his, giving him Eskimo kisses as she slowly began to rock her hips back and forth.
"Mmm," she moaned in pleasure and wrapped her arms around his neck as she dropped her head back in sensual abandon.
Late Morning.
"All I'm saying is, I would like to start trying different things," Clarisse laughed as she and Joseph stepped off the lift and walked into the lobby hand in hand, "having lived most of my life a royal and having to follow strict rules-,"
"Ha, half of which, if not most, you broke anyway," Joseph interrupted and smirked as she started walking closer to him and placed her free hand on their entwined hands.
"Don't complain at breaking rules, loving you when I shouldn't have was one of them," she purred in his ear and smiled as he nodded.
"Yes, that's true," he said as they stopped walking and turned to one another, "but I'm glad you broke that one," he smiled, slipping his hands in the opening of her cardigan and put his hands on her sides.
"So am I," she smiled and gazed up into his eyes, "despite our differences, that was one of the best decisions of my life, loving you. And now that I know, well I hope that we are going to be alright, I want to start experiencing life a bit more. There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"
"Certainly not, and I couldn't agree more," he smiled as she reached up with both of her hands and cupped his face.
Loving the possessive way her husbands hands gripped her waist and held her close to his body, Clarisse pulled him in for a kiss. His lips hovered near hers momentarily and she could wait no longer. Tilting her head to the right, she closed her eyes as the space between them vanished and she felt the silky softness and power of his lips upon hers. The intensity stole her breath away and made her wish it never had to end.
When the need for air demanded she let him go, if only for a moment, she broke the kiss and leaned back just enough for him to see her smile. "Mmm, I rather enjoy kissing you."
"Well perhaps we should do it again then?" Joseph suggested, his smile joining hers as she slid her hands from his face and snaked her arms around his neck.
"That is a very good idea," she smiled and closed her eyes as he leant closer, kissing her nice and slow, completely forgetting that they were stood in the hotel lobby.
"Look who finally decided to join us," Gino smiled as he and Elly stepped from the lift and walked towards them, watching as they broke the kiss and turned their heads to look at them.
"Well good morning to you both," Joseph smiled as he and Clarisse parted and turned to them, "it's a beautiful day, isn't it? The sun is shining, the birds are singing and this song that just started playing outside in the garden, is one of my favourites," he smiled and grabbed hold of Elly's hand, pulling her gently towards him as Gino and Clarisse watched on in surprise.
"Oh goodness," Elly gasped as Joseph put his arm around her waist, placing his hand on her back while keeping hold of her other hand as they began dancing together on the spot and swaying their hips in time to the music a moment before he let her go to dance with Gino, while he grabbed hold of Clarisse's hand and pulled her closer to him as she laughed.
"My girl's name is Senora, I tell you friends, I adore her. And when she dances, oh brother! She's a hurricane in all kinds of weather," he smiled, singing along to the song as they swayed their hips together before he raised their hands above her head and watched as she twirled under them before spinning back into him where they continued to dance in time to the music.
"Bravo, bravo," applauded several members of staff and wedding guests as the song finished, taking all four of them by surprise.
"You all dance beautifully," Luca applauded as all four of them smiled, "well done."
"You're certainly in a good mood this morning," Elly said and placed her hand on her chest, trying to catch her breath as everyone got back to work.
"Must be the sun," Gino smirked as Joseph chuckled, "right buddy?"
"Right," Joseph smiled and looked at Clarisse standing beside him with one hand on her chest and her other on her hip, trying to catch her breath too as he slipped his arm around her back and leant closer to kiss her.
"Well now you are down here and since you missed breakfast, would you care to join us for lunch?" Gino asked and smirked at Elly before looking back at their friends as they both nodded.
"Sure," Joseph said while looking back at him and took hold of Clarisse's hand.
"Great," Gino smiled as they began walking through to the gardens, "have you packed Clarisse?"
"Yes, I have, I done it this morning," she nodded, grasping hold of her and Joseph's entwined hands with her free hand and looked up at her husband, "unfortunately."
"I know, but I'll be home on Tuesday," Joseph said, glancing at her as she nodded then he looked back in front of them as they stopped at a table. "Anyway, are you both still coming to ours next month to celebrate our anniversaries?"
"We are, of course," Elly smiled and took a seat at the table, "we are rather looking forward to it."
"So are we," Joseph smiled as Clarisse removed her cardigan and placed it over the back of her chair before sitting down. "Do you want me to get you a plate of food while I'm getting mine?"
"Yes, please," Clarisse smiled up at him and watched as he bent over to kiss her, "if you don't mind?" She asked and smiled as he pulled away and stood back up straight.
"Of course not," he said with a shake of her head and smiled at her as she rested her elbows on the table and tucked her hands together under her chin, "I'll be right back."
"Alright," Clarisse smiled and watched as he began walking away with Gino.
"So what's the plan for your anniversary?" Elly asked, drawing Clarisse from her daydream.
"Hmm?" She said, looking at her friend when what she had said registered. "Oh! I think, we are just having a few drinks and a barbecue at the house, but Joseph was on about booking another stay here for a few days afterwards."
"Me and Gino were talking about doing that too, maybe we can do it together? We can come and stay at yours for a few days for your anniversary then come here together?" Elly suggested, "and celebrate both of our anniversaries here."
"That sounds good, we should talk to the men about it when they return," Clarisse said as two waitresses appeared beside them.
"Compliments of the management," smiled one waitress as she placed an ice bucket on the table and the other placed four glasses down beside it.
"Oh how lovely," Elly smiled and lifted the bottle from the bucket to take a look at the bottle.
"Please pass on our thanks," Clarisse smiled up at them and watched as they bowed their head before walking away. Smiling, she looked back at Elly to see her sat showing her the bottle, "oh champagne, lovely."
"We have only just met him, but he already knows what we like," Elly giggled and looked back down at the bottle.
"Indeed, but Vicki probably told him," Clarisse smiled as Elly opened the bottle, "have you seen Pierre and Laura this morning?"
"We have, we had breakfast with them this morning," Elly smiled and poured some champagne into the glasses as the men returned.
"What's this?" Joseph said as he placed a plate down in front of Clarisse and a plate in front of him. "We have been gone just minutes and already you have ordered a bottle of champagne in our absence."
"We didn't order it, Luca sent it over for us," Clarisse said as she placed a napkin down on her lap.
"Oh that was nice of him," Joseph nodded as Gino passed Clarisse a glass, "I must say though it's unusual to see you with a drink at lunchtime."
"I know, but we are on holiday after all," Clarisse smiled at him and took a sip of her champagne before continuing, "which actually reminds me, me and Elly were talking about anniversary plans while you were gone and she mentioned that she and Gino were talking about booking to come back here too?" She said while looking at Gino and Elly.
"We were, yes," Gino nodded and sipped his champagne.
"And we said about perhaps plan to all come together, to celebrate our anniversaries here too," Clarisse said.
"Yes, we can do that," Gino said and looked up at Joseph as he nodded.
"Sounds good," Joseph smiled and looked at Clarisse as she leant closer to him, "me and Gino can talk to Luca about it later."
"Sounds good," Elly smiled and took a sip of her champagne as Joseph and Clarisse shared a quick kiss.
"Oh, I just remembered they had your favourite chocolate chip pancakes up there," Joseph smiled as Clarisse placed her glass down on the table and looked back up at him, "I didn't pick you up any, but if you would like some I can go and get you some."
"No, they are only my favourite when you make them," she smiled at him and studied his face as he smoothed his hand up and down her back and after giving him another kiss, she sat back and began eating her lunch.
Early Afternoon.
"Alright so," Joseph said as he stepped onto the plane and stood in front of Clarisse, "Shades and Lars will be waiting for you at the other end, and while Shades takes you home, Lars will be dropping Pierre and Laura off at his place," he said while averting his gaze across to them sat, ready for takeoff.
"Thanks dad," Pierre smiled and watched as he looked back at his mother.
"Now please call me when you get in the car, so I know you got there safe," Joseph said while stepping closer to her and placed his hands on her sides.
"I will," Clarisse nodded as she placed her hands on his chest, "but I wish I didn't have to leave now."
"I know, but you promised to help Mia and I'll be home on Tuesday, which reminds me, Shades and the team have set up a rota of who will be staying at the house with you while I'm here," he said and watched as she turned her head away. "I know you don't like it, but its only while I'm here."
"I know," Clarisse said as she looked back up at her husband, "but I am a grown woman who can take care of herself."
"I know you can," he said softly and leant closer to whisper in her ear, "I just feel better knowing that they are there looking after you while I am here, just in case anything happens."
"I know, I know," Clarisse nodded and snaked her arms around his shoulders as he pulled back to look into her eyes.
"Give Imogen a cuddle from me too when you see her later," he said and kissed her a couple times.
"I will," she smiled and moved one of her hands to cup his cheek as he smoothed his hands around to her back, slipping them under her cardigan as he did. "I love you."
"I love you too," he replied and kissed her while smoothing one hand down her back to cup her bottom, making her laugh as he gave it a squeeze. "I can not get enough of this bottom," he whispered in her ear as she laughed and put her arm behind her to remove his hand from her bottom.
"Will you behave," she said while looking up into his eyes.
"Oh come on," Pierre said and watched as they both turned to him and Laura, who sat beside him laughing. "Can you not leave her alone, just for one day?" He smirked.
"No, sorry," Joseph laughed and shook his head while looking back at Clarisse. "Well I better get off this plane and let you leave."
"Alright," Clarisse said sadly and sat down in her seat.
"Don't forget to call me when you get in the car," Joseph said while leaning over her as she looked up into his eyes.
"I won't," she said while putting her hands up to cup his face and kissed him a couple times. "See you on Tuesday."
"You will," he nodded and stood to his feet as she buckled up her belt, "see you all later."
"You will," Pierre smiled.
"Bye," Clarisse waved as Joseph stopped at the door and smiled back at them before stepping from the plane.
Later That Afternoon.
Unlocking her front door, Clarisse pushed it open and stepped inside as Shades followed with her case. "Where would you like me to put your case?" He asked as Clarisse turned off the house alarm.
"In the kitchen will be fine, thank you Shades," Clarisse smiled up at him and moved to stand in front of the sideboard.
"Of course," he said, bowing his head before walking through the hallway towards the kitchen as she picked up her mail.
Smiling, she stood rifling through her post when something caught her eye. Lowering her hands with the letters, "Hmm," she said as Shades returned.
"Right, that's in there for you," he smiled as he stood by the front door, "so whenever you are ready we will leave for the palace."
"Shades, can I ask you something?" She asked and turned her head to him.
"Of course," he nodded and watched her as she turned her head back to the sideboard and pointed to one of the drawers.
"Have you, or anyone else from the security team been in this drawer?" She asked and turned her head to look back at him as he looked down at the drawer to find it slightly open.
To Be Continued.
Just want to clarify that the words from the song Jump in Line that I used in this chapter do not belong to me and I'm making no money from using them.
