Hey everyone, thank you all so much for reading and to you leaving wonderful reviews, I appreciate it so much! Here's the next chapter for you all, although I'm not entirely sure how you'll all feel about it given the circumstances, and this will probably give it away, but this chapter is rated M.
New Years Eve - Part 6 (Last part for New Year's Eve, I promise!)
Placing her hands on the edge of the sideboard to steady herself, Clarisse slipped on her shoes and picked up her shawl before turning to her friends, "thank you for a lovely evening," she smiled happily and wrapped the shawl around her shoulders, "I have really enjoyed myself."
"You're welcome," Harry smiled as Sabrina stepped in front of Clarisse and gave her a hug. "Glad you enjoyed yourselves."
"Oh we did, immensely," Clarisse smiled and looked at Sabrina as they pulled apart, "and I'll see you in the morning, for breakfast?"
"Yes, or for lunch? Whichever we get up in time for," Sabrina said and they both started giggling.
"That's true," Clarisse giggled.
"Come on," Joseph said as he put his hand on Clarisse's back, "let's get you back to your suite now shall we."
"Yes, and make sure you do," Sabrina slurred as Clarisse turned her head to look at Joseph standing behind her.
"Oh he will," Clarisse said and leant back against Joseph's firm body as he placed his hands on her waist, "he always does," she smiled and tipped her head back, resting it against his shoulder as she kissed his jaw.
Moments later, after saying their goodbyes and finally leaving Sabrina and Harry's suite, they were stood waiting for the lift when Clarisse let out a long sigh. "What was that sigh for?" Joseph asked as he looked at her standing beside him.
"Oh, I was just wishing that things were different that's all," she said and looked at him, "seeing how Sabrina and Harry were tonight, and how in love they are, made me realise how much I have missed being in this 'royal' marriage. I feel cheated."
"I can understand that," Joseph nodded slightly as the lift doors opened and they both slowly stepped onto it.
"Seeing Sabrina sitting in Harry's lap earlier, I realised that I have never sat in Rupert's lap, not once in the course of our marriage." Clarisse said and looked at him while leaning against the lift wall as he pressed the button for their floor and turned to her, "and there are other things too, that I have wanted to experience but haven't been able too."
"Like what?" Joseph asked as he moved to stand in front of her and slipped his hands in his pants pockets.
"Oh it doesn't matter, I'm just being silly," Clarisse said with a shake of her head, "forget I said anything."
"You're not being silly," Joseph said, giving her a small smile as she looked up into his eyes. The truth was he already had some idea to what she was referring too, but he needed to hear her say it. "Tell me what else you would like to experience."
"Alright," she said and took a deep breath, "the romantic side to a relationship, Rupert and I never really had that. There's things that you see other couples doing, like walking hand in hand, that sort of thing and you realise that you have missed out on that, and many other experiences. Does that make sense?"
"Yes it does," Joseph nodded as the lift stopped and the doors opened on their floor, "what kind of things did you want to experience?"
"Oh, too many things," Clarisse said as they stepped off the lift.
"Name a few," Joseph said as they began to slowly walk down the hall towards Clarisse's suite.
"I don't know," she smiled, "drinking hot chocolate together in the snow, horseback riding on the beach at sunset. I have done that one, but on my own and although it was nice, beautiful even, I still want to experience it with the one I love," she said and stopped to look at him while leaning her shoulder against the wall, "and there is one other thing, but it's a really very silly one."
"What is it?" He asked, watching her closely as he stood opposite her and rested his shoulder against the wall too.
"Promise you won't laugh," she asked and smiled mischievously at him.
"I promise," he smiled, "what is it?"
"I have never experienced a piggyback ride, oh I have with my sisters when we were growing up and with Sabrina when we were in university, but it's not the same," Clarisse said and looked down momentarily before looking back up at him, "see, I told you that it was silly."
"That's not silly at all," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, "but how did I not know any of this before?" He asked as she reached her hand out, smoothing it down the lapel of his jacket while averting her gaze downwards to her hand.
"Well there are some things that a lady must keep secret, you know," she smiled and averted her gaze back up at him.
"OK, well I may not be able to do some of those things like having hot chocolate in the snow, or the horseback riding on the beach at sunset, yet," he smiled, "but I can certainly do the piggyback ride," he said and stood back up straight before turning his back to her and getting down on one knee.
"Joseph, what are you doing?" Clarisse said as she stood up straight and watched as he looked over his shoulder her.
"Giving you a piggyback ride to your suite door," he smiled.
"What, Joseph no," Clarisse said with a shake of her head and watched as he turned on the spot to look at her, "you're serious, aren't you?"
"Absolutely," he smiled and turned once again so his back was to her.
"Joseph, I'm wearing a skirt," she said in surprise, "or have you forgotten that?"
"No of course I haven't, just hitch it up," he said, looking back over his shoulder at her and smiled as she laughed out loud while tipping her head back and resting one hand against her stomach.
"I can't do that," she laughed with a shake of her head a moment later and looked back at him, "someone might see."
"Sure you can," he smiled mischievously, "no one else is on this floor, just us two and Andre, who I can guarantee will be fast asleep at this hour."
"You're mad, you know that?" She said with a laugh, realising that what he said was right. They were the only three on that floor and wouldn't be seen. Smiling to herself, she moved to stand behind him and wondered how on earth they were going to do this, "alright, but you will tell me if I'm too heavy."
"You will not be too heavy," he said and looked down at the floor, because even though he had his back to her he could imagine her face with the confused expression.
"Okay, are you ready?" She asked while hitching up her skirt and shook her head before whispering, "I must be crazy."
"Yep, I'm ready," he smiled and closed his eyes momentarily as she pressed her body against his back and wrapped her arms around his neck. Instinctively, he bent his arms back and hooked his hands behind her knees before rising to his feet, causing Clarisse to laugh out in surprise.
"Oh god," she exclaimed with a laugh. "If Pierre and Philippe could see us now, they will think that we have completely lost our minds?"
"No they won't," he said with a shake of his head and laughed as he began walking down the hall with her on his back, "they will be laughing and loving the fact that you are having fun."
"I'm not so sure they will, they have their fathers sense of humour," she said honestly, "they've been raised royals after all."
"I suppose, but I think they are more like you than you realise," he said as they reached her suite and he turned so their backs were to the door, "here we are."
"Thank you," she said as he let her legs go and she slipped down his back onto her feet behind him. Smoothing her skirt back down, she watched as he turned to her. "That was quite fun."
"Yes it was, wasn't it," he smiled, his heart skipping a beat as he stepped closer to her and put one hand on her waist, "but tell me, have you enjoyed your normal night, like a normal person, tonight?"
"I have, yes," she smiled and licked her lips as he put his other hand up to brush her hair back behind her ear before leaving it resting against the side of her neck, "and it's all thanks to you."
"Well I just wanted to make you happy, that's all," he said, looking into her beautiful blue, desire filled eyes while smoothing his hand from her side, around her back.
"And you have," she nodded and studied his face a long moment, "I was wondering, would you stay with me tonight?" She whispered and bit her bottom lip.
"If you want me to," he smiled and studied her face.
"I do," she nodded happily, "yes."
"Then I'll stay," he smiled and watched as she took a step back and began to slowly turn to her suite door with a smile, but then suddenly stopped and frowned, "what's wrong?"
"I have just realised, I don't have the key," she said and looked back up at him, "it's in my bag, that I left it in Sabrina and Harry's suite."
"Ahh," he said and they both laughed. "If you stay here, I'll run and get it."
"Okay, but be quick as I really need the loo," she laughed.
"I will," he smiled, "I'll be real quick."
"Okay," she said, putting her hand on the doorframe and stood watching him as he started jogging down the hallway that they had just come along before he stopped at the door leading to the staircase and glanced back at her with a smile. Letting out a contented sigh, she watched him disappear through the doorway before slipping off her shoes and moving to sit on the floor in front of her suite door. Waiting for him to return.
"Ok, I'm back," Joseph said moments later as he walked towards her and watched as she looked up at him.
"Oh perfect, thank you." Clarisse smiled at seeing him carrying her clutch bag.
"Lucky you realised that you had left it there when you did," Joseph said as he stood in front of her and held out his free hand to help her up. "I think if I had knocked moments later, I would have definitely disturbed something."
"Oh," she said and laughed as he helped her to her feet before handing her, her clutch bag. "Doesn't surprise me though with how they have been acting all night," she smiled and opened her bag, searching for her door key as he put his hand on her side.
"Mmhmm," he nodded in agreement as she closed her bag and tucked it under her arm while turning to unlock the door, his hand smoothing to her back as she turned.
Biting her lip at the sensation his hand on her back caused, Clarisse opened the door and stepped in the room before flicking on the light switch and placing the room key and her bag, which ended up falling onto the floor instead, on the sideboard beside her. "I'll pick that up when I come back out," she said and hurried towards her bedroom door.
Chuckling to himself, Joseph bent over and picked up her shoes before stepping into the room and closing the door behind him. Turning to the sideboard, he crouched down to put her shoes down and pick up all the bits that had fallen out of her bag for her.
"Oh, that's better," Clarisse said as she came back into the room a moment later with her hand on her stomach and walked over to him standing by the armchair.
"I locked the door and I picked up your bag and all the bits that had fallen out," he said with a smile and looked down at his hands before holding something up, "I was surprised however, to find this as well as a couple others, in your bag."
Seeing what he was holding up, Clarisse's eyes widened as her cheeks flushed red. "Well this is embarrassing," she exclaimed while stepping forward and snatched it from his hand.
"Why are you embarrassed?" He asked while stepping closer to her and placed his hands on her sides as she looked down at the small package in her hands. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about, I was just surprised to find them in there, that's all."
"It's Sabrina, she insisted on putting some in my bag while you and Harry were out on the balcony," she said, finally looking up at him. "Just in case you didn't have any because apparently, I'm easy to read."
"Ahh, I see," he nodded and smiled as her cheeks flushed red once again. "You're cute when you blush."
Looking up and seeing the desire in his eyes, Clarisse put her hand on his chest and reached up to kiss him a couple times before tilting her head to the side, allowing him better access, as he trailed kisses down her jaw and into the curve of her neck. "Flowers?" She suddenly said.
"Flowers?" Joseph repeated, confused as he lifted his head to look at her and raised his eyebrow.
"Yes, there's flowers on the dining table," she said and began to walk over to the table as Joseph turned to look. Picking up the card that sat in front of the vase, Clarisse opened the envelope and pulled out the notecard inside. Reading it to herself before looking back up at the flowers.
"Are they from who I think they are from?" Joseph asked as he walked over to stand behind her and watched as she turned to face him.
"Yes," she said and handed him the card before turning back to the flowers, "but how, I mean who could have left them in here?"
"It looks like Andre's writing," he said and read out the card, "I'm so sorry Clarisse, I need you. I can't do this on my own, please come home."
"But if it was Andre, how did he get in? I'm the only one with a key?" Clarisse said with a small shake of her head as she turned back to Joseph and looked up at him.
"Maybe he got the key from reception, they always keep a spare for housekeeping," Joseph said as he looked up at her.
"That's true," Clarisse nodded and looked across the room a moment before looking back at him, "it wouldn't be Rupert, would it? He wouldn't be here, would he?"
"Well there's only one way to find out," he said while handing the card back to her before walking over to the phone and picked up the receiver as Clarisse watched on.
Moments later, he put the phone down and turned to her. "Well, is he there?"
"Yes, he is," Joseph nodded before continuing, "he retired to bed early after coming down with a bad cold."
"And they can confirm that?" She asked nervously and tossed the card onto the table beside her as he walked back over to her.
"Yes, it's all confirmed," he said, standing in front of her and reached his hands out onto her sides. "He is definitely at the palace."
"Oh thank god," Clarisse said and closed her eyes, feeling relieved that her husband was still in Genovia and not at the hotel. Nodding, she opened her eyes and looked back at him. "I need to know something before we go any further."
"And what might that be?" Joseph asked.
"You do want me for me, don't you?" Clarisse said as she held his gaze, "or is it for the novelty of who I am?"
"Need I remind you, I met you in New York when you were there studying literature and social politics. You were simply Clarisse Andrews then, I had absolutely no idea who you were, or who you were going to be, this woman I had fallen madly in love with, until I see you at the Palace when I arrived to start my new job." Joseph said.
"That's true, and I'm sorry for asking," she said while placing her hands on his chest, "it's just getting that card reminded me who exactly I am and who I have been for the last 25 years."
"It's okay," he said and studied her face a moment.
"If you had known who I was, or rather, who I was going to be back then, would your feelings be different?" She asked.
"No, absolutely not," he said with a shake of his head, "we can't help who we fall in love with, can we?"
"No, we can't," Clarisse said and smiled while snaking her arms around his shoulders, "that's very true."
"Clarisse, I love you, I always have and I always will," he said while snaking his arms around her waist, holding her body close to his. "Queen or not, my feelings for you will always remain the same."
Nodding, realising that's exactly what she had wanted to her, she reached up to kiss him. "Where were we?" She whispered against his lips.
"Oh I don't know, I think maybe here," he said and nuzzled her neck, making her laugh. One of his favourite things about her. Her beautiful laugh.
When Joseph had told her earlier that night that he still found her beautiful despite her stretch marks and not being as slim as she was all those years ago when they first met she didn't believe him. She wasn't sure she could believe him. But here she was now, lying naked on her bed, letting him place soft kisses across her stomach.
"Are you OK?" He asked softly against her stomach.
"Mmhm," Clarisse nodded and opened her eyes as he crawled up her body and hovered above her, placing a hand on the bed either side of her head. "I'm fine, perfect in fact." She smiled.
"Okay, good," he said, looking down into her beautiful blue eyes a moment, "and are you absolutely sure about this? Because there is no going back once we, you know," he said, feeling nervous that she was going to change her mind.
"I'm very sure," she smiled and reached her hands up to lovingly cup his face, "make love to me," she whispered and closed her eyes as he lowered his head to kiss her.
Trailing kisses down her jaw and into the crook of her neck, Joseph moved to lay as gently as he could on top of her. Neither of them could hardly believe that this was happening, but the moment he entered her and began to make love to her, first with slow strokes, followed by quick thrusts, with his strong thighs pressing her deliciously into the mattress, it all became real.
And after coming together, he collapsed on top of her a long moment, both of them breathless, before he lifted his face to look into her eyes. "Well I think we have established that the bed creeks, a lot," he said and they both laughed.
"It's a good job then that there's no one in the suite next door, isn't it?" She smiled, referring to it being his suite.
"Yes it is a good job, or we would be in trouble," he smiled and kissed her a couple times before burying his face back in the crook of her neck. "I didn't hurt you, did I?" He asked and kissed her collarbone.
"No, absolutely not," she smiled, her body tingling with pleasure as she smoothed her hands up his back. "I would have told you if you were."
"Okay," he said and lifted his head to look into her eyes. "I love you, Clarisse."
"I love you too," she replied and closed her eyes as he lowered his head and kissed her.