We venture just the tiniest of bits out of T and put a big toe into M for a few sentences, but that's it. Just wanted to offer fair warning. Hope you enjoy!

CHAPTER 4

Joseph nodded to Felix, happy to know he'd been at his post while Joseph was off sulking. The outer room was quiet and empty. Since there was a guard present, it was reasonable to assume that Clarisse was here. His gaze fell to the bedroom door. He prayed she would let him in, not just now, but each night to come.

Not wanting to give her an opportunity to send him away, his hand gripped the knob and turned. It didn't open. He realized in an instant the door was locked. This was definitely not good. Why did he have to be such an idiot? He knocked softly. "Clarisse? Please, it's me. May I come in?"

He heard rustling on the other side of the door. "Just a moment please."

After several minutes, each second ticking off with the thunderous beating of his heart, he heard the lock turn and the door opened. Clarisse was standing there wrapped in a baby blue silk robe that fell to mid-thigh. There were words he was supposed to say, but the sight of her body in silk… well, it rendered him speechless.

"I think you've robbed him of his voice, Your Majesty." A male voice chuckled snapping Joseph out of his trance and to the source of the sound.

"Doc Weston? What are you doing here?" He didn't ask the rest of what he wanted to know. To be specific, he wanted to know why Clarisse was in a state of undress with her door locked with a man she'd known for decades.

The older man laughed. "Doing my duty, of course. Well, I have bad news and other matters to discuss with you, Joseph."

Joseph's head spun trying to process everything. The doctor was laughing so it couldn't be that Clarisse had fallen ill. Was he going to tell him since Joseph had stormed out, Clarisse had called the next man in the suitor line? Would that be the bad news? If so, what could possibly be the other news? "I'll take the bad news first."

The doctor closed his black bag. "Well, you probably already knew this, but your blushing bride isn't a virgin."

Joseph felt like he was at the brunt of some type of joke, but he wasn't even sure how to play along. Today had been too emotional for game playing as far as he was concerned. "News flash, Doc. Neither am I. Of course, I assumed with the birth of her sons that ship had sailed."

Despite the gruffness in his tone, he caught a slight smile from Clarisse out of the corner of his eye. Maybe she hadn't given up on him—on them—completely. "Since we've set the record straight on that issue, what's the other news?"

The doctor took the few steps necessary to be standing in front of Joseph. "Walk me out?"

Joseph chanced a glance at Clarisse who had the same look of concern on her face that Joseph had on his earlier when the Archbishop wanted to speak with her privately. But, just as he had done, she nodded. "I'll be waiting here when you return and we'll talk."

The two men moved out of the bedroom and toward the front door, stopping a few feet from the exit. "What's going on, Doc? What couldn't you say in front of her?"

"While the Archbishop knows I'll report back that Her Majesty is not a virgin, and no one expects her to be, I will be reporting that she hasn't been intimate since King Rupert, may he rest in peace, has been gone. Right?"

For the first time in years, Joseph was glad he and Clarisse had not allowed their physical relationship to progress past kissing and occasionally touching. "That is correct. You can tell him his Queen is as pure as possible. I might also ask you to relate to him…" Joseph's ire over this whole situation was on the rise again. How dare this man who'd never even had sex before invade his wife's privacy—invade their privacy-in such a manner?!

Doc Weston placed his hand on Joseph's arm, no doubt in an effort to calm the anger surfacing. "I will handle the Archbishop, you must trust me. I would tell him the same story even if you two had been active."

"Willing to lie to a priest, eh? Learned something new about you today, doc." Joseph teased. He felt it was time someone besides him was on the receiving end of all this nonsense.

Doc Weston chuckled. "Only for Her Majesty would I do such a thing. But, since it isn't necessary for me to lie, I need you to understand something very important."

The older man had Joseph's attention. "What's that?"

"The fact that you two have not been intimate means you'll need to proceed carefully to avoid hurting her. Do I make myself clear?"

Joseph's face heated at the implication, both from irritation and embarrassment. "I have been watching over my Queen for a long time now. There will be no difference now that she is my wife. Do I make myself clear?" Of course, Joseph had no idea how he was going to do that with an audience, but he would figure it out.

The doctor nodded. "I expect nothing less. I'll see you tonight."

Joseph exhaled loudly once the door closed. So the doctor would be there too? At this rate, they should just broadcast the whole damn thing on television! He took a few more calming breaths before returning to the bedroom. Clarise was standing at the foot of her bed, hands crossed in front of her. Her gaze snapped to his when he stepped inside.

"Is everything alright?"

At that moment, Joseph realized if the doctor had been here conducting an exam, there was a good chance Clarisse had very little, if nothing, on under that robe. The thought reminded him that despite all of this nonsense, he was married to this beautiful woman and tonight he would be able to finally make love to her. "Everything is fine, my love." He took the steps necessary to close the distance between them. His hand cupped her cheek. "As long as you still agree to be my wife, everything is perfect."

Her eyes closed at his touch as she leaned in. "Oh, Joseph, I'm so sorry for all of this. Stupid ancient traditions. I thought you might leave…"

His mouth covered hers stopping any more of that statement from being spoken. Clarisse melted into the heat of his kiss, wanting nothing more than to forget everyone else and all of those who wanted to muscle in on her special night with Joseph. She angled her head and circled his body with her arms as she pulled him closer. His tongue pressed for entrance and she invited him in with a moan of appreciation. She loved him so much. Loved him for being willing to go through with this. A breath of doubt crept into the heat of their moment. She assumed he had changed his mind and was agreeable to the ceremony. She had to know. With great reluctance, she ended the kiss. The look of love and lust in his ocean blue gaze almost made her rethink wanting to know. "Does this mean you've changed your mind?"

"About marrying you? No."

Her heart hammered in her chest. What was he saying…or not saying? "I meant about the consummation ceremony."

Joseph's fingers glided across her swollen lips, down her cheek, and into the vee of her robe making her breath catch in her throat while her heart continued its pounding beat. "I will only do it on my terms."

She licked her lips. "What are the terms?"

His hand slid lower to the belt of her robe and joined his other hand. He slowly undid the knot holding everything together. A moment later, he ripped his gaze away from the endless ocean of her eyes and let them drift lower to the alabaster skin, dotted with caramel freckles. The rise and fall of her chest begged him to reach out and touch her. This…this was how their first time should be.

"Joseph…" she whispered as his fingertips brushed lightly over the soft curves. A gasp escaped as his touch moved along the underside of her breast.

"Hermosa, me reina." He repeated the caress a couple more times before catching a quick glimpse of the rest of her body. He allowed his hand to slide lower, along the curve of her waist before coming to rest on her hip. "So, so beautiful, my love. Forgive me for taking such liberties, but I wanted my first glimpse of you to not be witnessed by others as it is a moment that should be solely between you and me."

Clarisse pressed her body closer to Joseph's and hugged him tightly. "Forgive me for not being able to give you the moment as it should be shared. Please tell me my love what are your terms? I would gladly give you all of my kingdom to convince you to share your life with me now and forever."

At her words, Joseph separated from her slightly. "I have no need for your kingdom, my love. Only you. Tonight, we will share our love with each other, as we did our vows, in front of God and however many witnesses there may be. I will make love to you, though. On this there is no compromise. You deserve nothing less."

He felt her hand on his cheek as her thumb brushed away a stray tear. She'd made a sentimental old man out of him. He'd always known she would. "As long as I'm with you, nothing else matters."

They held each other for a moment longer before Joseph finally forced himself to step back. "If I stay in your arms with you dressed…" he grinned, "well undressed as you are, the doctor may have to change his notification to the Archbishop about your being untouched since your last time with the King." He let his hand smooth one final time down her front before moving it around to cup her bottom. Feeling the firmness in his hand was almost his undoing. Thankfully, there was a soft knock on the door.

"Your Majesty? I just wanted to check on you and let you know that Paulo and Jerome are here.

Clarisse stepped away from Joseph's heated touch, the flames in her eyes matching the fire in his. She wrapped the robe around her body once again and retied the sash. "One moment, please."

She kissed Joseph, a gentle caress bearing a promise of more later. "Thank you for agreeing to this."

"You accept my terms?"

Her face heated at exactly what that might mean, but the thought of losing him was far greater than any potential embarrassment. She had one week left and after that, she planned to step out of the spotlight anyway. Let people say what they will. "I accept."

"I'll see you in…" He had no idea how long it would take or when anything was scheduled to occur. He smiled, "I'll check with Charlotte to find out when I can see you again."

"I love you, Joseph."

"I love you."