Thanks so much for the kind reviews! It gets a wee bit heated here, so please brace yourself! Here's the next chapter, enjoy!! :o)

Chapter Two

The Princess had just settled into her suite, when there was a knock at the door. Heaving a sigh she made her way across the room and opened the door to find Charlotte.

"Oh, hi Charlotte!"

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Your Highness, but I'd like to introduce you to my new intern, Claire."

"Oh, of course. It's nice to meet you, Claire." Mia said smiling, extending her hand to the girl.

"Would you like to come in and look around for a moment?"

"Uh sure, thank you." Claire said, offering Mia a sweet smile.

As Claire made her way around the room, Charlotte quietly took Mia aside.

"So, what do you think of her?"

"Well, in the two seconds I've known her, I would say she's very nice."

"So, Your Highness, I understand you are set to marry Lord Andrew." Claire reappeared

"Yes, well, we shall see if all the preparations are finished within the next couple of days." Mia gives a light laugh.

As Claire continued to look around, Charlotte suddenly remembered the reason she was in the room. "Your Highness, I'm pleased to say that I was able to clear your schedule until after your honeymoon." Mia gave Charlotte a grateful smile.

"Her Majesty also requested that the two of you dine alone tonight, if that is agreeable with you."

"Of course, Charlotte. Please tell Grandma that that suits me perfectly."

Charlotte soon departed, Claire at her heels, and Mia was left alone with her thoughts.

Visions of her grandmother's tears invaded her mind. Never had she seen her poised and proper grandmother so upset. The Queen had always been a strong woman, never letting her emotions rule her. Mia was convinced that Joe held Clarisse's heart in his hand. And she knew they truly loved one another. She couldn't help but smile to herself at that thought.

"You look like you're feeling a little better," Mia commented when she was let into her grandmother's room. Clarisse's face was lit with a soft smile, almost a glow. Her eyes once again had their luster and Mia's intuition told her that things were going to be just fine between the Queen and her Head of Security.

Clarisse spoke with a twinkle in her eye. "A little..."

"Grandma, are you going to tell me what happened on or-" Olivia and Brigitta entered, carrying Mia and Clarisse's trays of dinner, interrupting Mia.

Mia waited for the lady's maids to exit before questioning her Grandmother again.

"So come on, Grandma, you have to tell me what happened!" Mia said excitedly plopping up on her knees as she sat beside Clarisse on the sofa.

"Amelia, darling, there really isn't much to tell." She briefly paused, "Oh by the way, there'll be a wedding soon after you take over." Clarisse finished quite casually before sipping her tea focusing her twinkling eyes straight in front of her.

"WHAT?!!"

Exhausted, Clarisse quickly changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed. Not bothering to turn on the light, she sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought. She softly began to cry.

"Oh Joseph, this all hurts so much. I wish we didn't have to wait and hide; I miss you," she whispered to herself

"I miss you, too." The low, soft, and sweet voice came from the other side of the bed.

Recognizing the voice immediately, Clarisse inhaled sharply, and turned to find a surprisingly comfortable Joseph under her covers. She stood quickly, whirling around to face him. Her hands reflexively went to her flushed cheeks, she swallowed hard before daring to speak.

"J-Joseph...What on earth are you doing in my bed?!"

He smiled at her nervousness, the smile reaching his eyes.

"Should I go? Just say the word and I'll leave." He couldn't hide his smile. "If you are uncomfortable with me being in your bed, I'll understand...although..."

He began to get up, slowly swinging his legs over the side of the bed, leaving him in a white wife-beater and his black-uniform dress pants; he spoke with his back to her. "...Although, I could have sworn I just heard you mention something about someone missing me?" He smiled teasingly at her; the smile still present in his eyes, he turned to look at her.

Through her tears, Clarisse couldn't help but drop her hands and smile happily. "Oh Joseph, of course it doesn't make me uncomfortable, it's just I-" She trailed off, noting that she'd never seen him in this sort of...wardrobe...before and she had to admit, she really rather liked it.

Clarisse's gaze found Joseph's chest as he faced her from the other side of the bed. Joseph noticed her sudden interest and he smiled to himself before standing and carefully walking over to her, not breaking eye contact.

As he approached her, Clarisse was snapped out of her hypnosis and smiled nervously to him as he reached her, his hand seductively going to her face and his other to her shoulder. He gave her a small, thoughtful smile while he stroked her jaw with his thumb, before he moved his hand to her other shoulder matching his other hand. He looked deeply into her eyes as his way of asking for permission; she closed her eyes and gave him a slight nod before her hands slowly reached the sash of her robe, where she untied it. He slowly and sensually pushed her robe down her shoulders and arms, dropping it to the floor.

Clarisse stood motionless as Joseph sensually moved his face closer to her, placing very gentle kisses - so gentle she could barely feel them, but strong enough to make her knees go weak - on her jaw, cheek, nose, forehead, eyelid, and brow. She breathed in deeply as a sensation entered her body that she hadn't felt in nearly a decade.

Joseph softly touched her lips with his finger, he held her face with both hands, and watched her for a moment before she slowly opened her eyes, surprised yet thrilled to find him so close. He slowly brought his lips to hers and electricity jolted through the pair. He moved his hands to the top button of her pajama shirt and looked into her eyes again. Clarisse placed her hands on top of his in order to communicate that it was all right.

Joseph slowly began unbuttoning a few of the top buttons of her pajama shirt, not moving his eyes from hers. As just enough buttons were undone to allow better access to her neck, shoulders and upper chest he lightly caressed his fingertips across her before moving his mouth to her neck, then placing light kisses across each shoulder. His kisses becoming more and more sensual as his mouth arrived at the other side of her neck. Clarisse tilted her head and lifted her chin allowing him better access. As he continued to suckle her neck she clutched his shoulders tightly in ecstasy, steadying her stance.

As Joseph finished his coddling, Clarisse instinctively took a step toward him. She put her arms around Joseph's waist, loving the feeling of her body pressed against his, he in his thin, white shirt and she in her thin, silk pajamas.

He gladly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her as close to him as possible, loving this feeling more than anything in the world. Still not breaking eye contact, he took Clarisse by the hand and led her to the bed. He settled under the covers before invitingly extending his hand to her.

She smiled coyly and reached for his hand, settling beside him in bed. He gently covered them both with a blanket, and gave Clarisse a sweet, loving kiss. He took her in his arms and they made passionate love until early the next morning before drifting soundly into a peaceful sleep.

To be continued...

Reviews are most welcome, thank you!

-Christina & Laura