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Here's the next chapter for you…
A Rose A Day - Part 2.
Stepping into the lift at the hotel a short time later, Clarisse turned to face the doors as they closed behind her and removed her jacket. It had been a smooth drive over to meet Sabrina for lunch, and she even managed to walk through the hotel lobby and the small length of hallway leading to the lift area without being noticed. Quite an achievement, especially at the moment with her youngest sons pending wedding and their small town being overrun by paparazzi hiding at every corner, trying to get a photo at every opportunity they got.
Letting out a small, but content sigh, she draped her jacket over her arm and took her bottom lip between her teeth as her bodyguard, her love, leant closer to her. "Did you enjoy your breakfast this morning?" He asked while placing his hand on her lower back.
"I did, yes," she nodded, feeling thankful that they were the only two in the lift as she turned her head to look at him with her gorgeous smile.
"Good," he smiled and studied her face momentarily, relishing in the few moments alone. A rare occasion of late. "And did you like the rose?"
"That was you?" She exclaimed in surprise as she turned towards him slightly.
"Of course," he nodded with the biggest smile as she turned back to how she was stood before, fully facing the lift doors as he smoothed his hand across the bottom of her back and around onto her hip. "I thought, what with us not getting to spend much time together lately that it would make you smile if I left you a rose on your tray."
"Oh it did, even more so now I know that it was from you and not just something Éloise had done," she beamed while putting her hand up under his chin, her finger tips briefly brushing along his jawline before lowering her hand.
"That's good, because I have decided that I am going to leave you a red rose every morning, either on your pillow or on your breakfast tray," he said huskily while moving to stand directly behind her so their bodies were touching. Placing his hands on her side's, he lowered his head and placed a quick kiss, or two, to the curve of her neck, eliciting a sharp intake of breath from her.
"Oh, I will look forward to that," Clarisse said as her eyes fluttered closed and she tilted her head slightly, giving him better access to her neck as his lips on the sensitive spot below her ear began to stir something so wonderful deep within her.
As the lift come to a stop a moment later and the doors slowly opened on Sabrina and Harry's floor, Joseph had to resist the urge to pin her against the side of the lift and ravish her delicious neck. Instead, he reluctantly stepped to stand beside her once again as she opened her eyes at the loss of contact and turned her head to look at him. "After you," he said softly, gesturing for her to lead the way from the lift.
Clearing her throat, Clarisse nodded and placed her free hand on her chest as she stepped from the lift. A blush spreading across her features as she turned to take a few steps sideways while looking at him following her. "I completely forgot where we were for a moment then," she said and turned to walk forwards as Joseph chuckled beside her.
"I thought you had and admittedly, I did too," he said, placing his hand on her back as they walked side by side down the hotel corridor, "I'm just glad that there was no one waiting to get on the lift when the doors opened."
"Me too, thank god," Clarisse nodded as they reached their friends suite and she knocked on the door. "But we must be more careful, we've come this far. Let's try not to slip up now."
"I agree," Joseph said and they both nodded, "but I think we let our guard down this one time because we haven't really spent much time together lately, which obviously lead us to both getting caught up in the moment."
"I agree," Clarisse nodded as she turned her head to look at him, then at the door as it suddenly opened. "Hello!" She exclaimed happily and held out her arms to her best friend.
"Hello," Sabrina exclaimed and hurried forward to embrace her in a hug, where they stood for several moments. "It's been far too long."
"Hello," Harry said with a smile as he came into the suite while doing up the last few buttons on his shirt and walked over to them hugging in the doorway. "I'm so glad you could make lunch today."
"Us too," Clarisse smiled as she and Sabrina finally stepped apart and looked at Harry and Joseph as they shook hands.
"Ok, come in, come in," Sabrina smiled as she stepped back to let them through, "before someone sees you."
"Thank you," Clarisse smiled as she and Joseph walked into the suite.
Closing up the door, Sabrina folded her arms and turned to her friends. "So, I thought, because it's been so so long since we last spent anytime together," she said as Harry leant closer to kiss Clarisse's cheek, "that us women can have lunch up here, while Joe and Harry can go down to the restaurant?"
"Works for me," Clarisse smiled as she hung up her jacket and turned back to them. "That way we can have a proper catch up and gossip, men free."
"Yes, that's exactly what I thought," Sabrina smiled and turned to Joseph, "hello you," she said and leant closer to kiss his cheek.
"Hello," Joseph said and watched Sabrina step back to stand beside her husband, as an unsettling feeling began to form in the pit of his stomach. "Um, Clarisse," he said and watched as she looked at him. "Can I have a private word with you, please?"
"Sure, we can go out into the hallway," Clarisse nodded and looked to their friends. "Excuse us a moment."
"Oh, you can go and talk in the bedroom," Sabrina suggested while gesturing to the bedroom door. "If you'd prefer?"
"Oh yes, thank you," Clarisse smiled and began to lead the way across the room.
"Won't be a minute," Joseph said and followed her into the bedroom.
Turning to him once inside the room, Clarisse watched as he closed up the door behind them and turned to her. "What's the matter?" She asked.
"I don't feel comfortable doing that, leaving you up here when I'm meant to be protecting you," Joseph said quietly, "what if something happens?"
"I'll be fine, honestly," Clarisse said as she stepped closer to him, "we just came through the hotel lobby and up here completely unnoticed, no one knows I'm here."
"I know, but," Joseph said and stopped as Clarisse put her hand up, pressing her forefinger to his lips to silence him. "I can't help how I feel," he said softly against her finger before kissing it.
"I know," she nodded and moved her hand to cup his face while slipping her thumb under his jaw. She had to admit that she loved this side to him, his protective side. Even though he had been part of her life protecting her for years already, since they became an item, lovers, he had become even more protective over her and she found it quite a turn on.
"I just don't want anything to happen to you while I'm downstairs," he said softly and leant closer, resting his forehead against hers. "I'll never forgive myself if it did."
"I know and I understand, but honestly I'll be fine," she said softly as he lifted his head to look into her eyes, her hand still on his jaw. "Go and enjoy yourself with Harry, please."
"Alright," he said and nodded reluctantly, still feeling unsure if he should leave her or not. "You will send for me, if you do need me, right?"
"Of course I will," Clarisse nodded and gave him a small smile while glancing down at his lips. "You should know that."
"I do but it still doesn't stop me from worrying about you," he said and leant closer to kiss her a couple times as she moved her hand from his jaw and wrapped her arm around his shoulders.
Pulling back, Clarisse looked down at his lips and smiled. "We better get back in there," she said as she cupped his face and rubbed her thumb over his lips, removing the small amount of her lipstick from his lips before looking up into his eyes. "I'll be fine, okay."
"Okay," he nodded and took a deep breath as she opened the bedroom door to lead the way back into the suite, where Sabrina and Harry had been waiting patiently for them. "Sorry about that."
"It's okay," Sabrina smiled as she stood up from the arm of the chair where she had been sitting and looked at her friends walking towards her and Harry. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes," Joseph nodded and looked at Clarisse as she stopped and turned to him, before he looked towards Harry sitting on the sofa. "I guess we are being kicked out?"
"Yes, I believe we are," Harry agreed and laughed as he stood to his feet.
"Yes you are," Sabrina laughed and gestured to the door with her thumb, "so off you go, the both of you. Us ladies have a lot of catching up to do."
"Alright, alright," Harry laughed and kissed her cheek, "we will see you later."
After the men left, Sabrina poured herself and Clarisse a glass of wine before they moved to sit on the sofa in the hotel suite. "So what's been happening over in England?" Clarisse asked as she slipped off her shoes and knelt on the sofa before twisting her body to sit back against the armrest of the seat, with her legs tucked up under her.
"Well, the business is doing well. Harry's well, I'm well. And you know Julia was dating Ross?" Sabrina said as she sat the other end of the sofa and tucked her legs up under her, like Clarisse was doing.
"Yes, he was a lovely young man," Clarisse nodded, "don't tell me they broke up?"
"No," Sabrina said with a shake of her head, "they got engaged last week."
"Oh how lovely," Clarisse exclaimed happily, "please pass on my congratulations to them."
"I'll let them know," Sabrina smiled.
"Yes, please do, and tell them not to forget my invitation," Clarisse said and they both laughed.
"Oh don't worry, they won't forget," Sabrina smiled and took a sip of her wine.
"Good," Clarisse smiled, "and what about the other two, how are they doing?"
"Well Lucille is still studying hard in New York, and Heather is… well she's turned into a typical teenager," Sabrina laughed, "who very much takes after me in that department."
"Aww I'm sure she's not that bad," Clarisse said as she studied her friend.
"Oh no, of course she's not," Sabrina said with a shake of her head, a smirk playing on her lips, "she's actually worse," she said and they both laughed a moment.
"I think we all say that about our children, don't we?" Clarisse said and took a sip of her wine after they had composed themselves.
"Hmm I think we do, yes," Sabrina said as she looked across the room thoughtfully a moment before looking back at her friend, "I think I said the same about Julia and Lucille too."
"You did," Clarisse nodded with a smile, "and I said the same about Pierre and Philippe too when they were teenagers." She said and they both laughed once again.
"Anyway," Sabrina said a moment later as she reached forward and gave her friends leg a small rub before sitting back. "I know we haven't seen each other in what, two and a half years? Or talked much on the phone either, so please tell me everything that's going on here?"
"Oh, where do I start?" Clarisse laughed lightly and took a sip of her wine.
"At the beginning," Sabrina said and they both smiled.
"Ok, well… let's see. My père's doing really well. He signed the family home over to Elaina and her family, so that they could move here quicker, and he moved into one of the cottages on the palace grounds. Lyle still works at the palace and is doing very well, and Elaina's just Elaina." She smiled. "Addie moved into her own place, got together with Justin and announced a few week's back that they are going to have a baby." She beamed.
"Oh how wonderful," Sabrina smiled, "another baby in the family."
"Yes, père's over the moon," Clarisse smiled, "we all are."
"I imagine you are," Sabrina nodded and watched as Clarisse took a sip of her wine. "What about your handsome son's? How are they."
"Pierre is doing good, he still wants to abdicate to join the church," Clarisse said as she looked back up at her friend, "and as you know Philippe and Helen are getting married tomorrow," she said and they both laughed.
"Yes, and what about you, tell me what's going on with you?" Sabrina said curiously. "I've been trying to keep up to date on your outings and such through the papers and on the news, and I can see that you have a spring in your step, and now seeing you face to face for the first time in forever I see that you are positively glowing too," she smiled, "but does that mean you and Rupert are back together or what?" Sabrina hesitated and nervously chewed on her lip, "because you don't get that spring in your step and that glow from being single."
"No I suppose you don't," Clarisse said with a shake of her head and looked at her friend as she rested her elbow against the back of the sofa and her hand against the side of her head. "But you're right, I do have a spring in my step. However, it's not Rupert that's caused it," she said and watched as Sabrina gasped and sat open mouthed a moment.
"Not, Joseph?" Sabrina said slowly and watched as her friend averted her gaze downwards with a tell all smirk on her lips, "you mean to tell me that you and Joseph are together?"
"Yes," Clarisse nodded and sipped her wine before venturing a look at her friend to find her sat open mouthed, staring at her. Laughing, Clarisse tipped her head back.
"Since when?" Sabrina finally asked.
"Since a couple days after my mother's funeral," Clarisse said as she looked down and rested the bottom of her glass on her thigh, "Rupert came to me with the idea of us going into an open marriage and I took it. Yes, it's not ideal as Joseph has expressed how one day he would like to marry me, but at the moment it's better than nothing."
"Well I'll be goddamned," Sabrina said with a laugh and shake of her head as Clarisse looked up at her, "but what about Rupert?"
"Far as I'm aware he's seeing Ruth," Clarisse said with a shrug.
"The one you caught him with?" Sabrina asked and Clarisse nodded before taking another sip of her wine. "You are so sly," she smirked with another shake of her head, "I just can't believe this, you and Joe have been together for two and a half years and you never told me."
"Well, it's not something we could talk about really over the phone and I never intended it to be this long that we see each other again." Clarisse said.
"That's true, but I'm curious how does it work with you being Queen, and obviously still being married to Rupert. I mean, how do you get to be with Joe?" Sabrina asked.
"Well we have dinner together twice a week in my suite, sometimes he leaves shortly after, depending on what shift he's working, and sometimes he stays the night with me and leaves early the next morning," Clarisse smiled, her heart beating that little bit faster as she spoke about her relationship with Joseph, "and he stays in my suite whenever I have to go away for Royal business too."
"I can't believe this," Sabrina laughed, "after all this time?"
"I know," Clarisse nodded with a smile, "he's so attentive, Sabrina, he's heavenly, intoxicating, and completely different to Rupert," Clarisse said as she gazed at her wine glass resting on her thigh a moment before looking back up at her friend. "He's awakened so much in me, I feel young and alive since being with him and honestly, we can't get enough of each other."
"I can tell," Sabrina smiled.
"I've actually lost count how many times we couldn't wait and my skirt ended up around my waist," Clarisse said and they both sat giggling.
"Oh my," Sabrina giggled.