Found this on my hard drive - rules seemed to have changed now so I can post it without fear!

Part 3

It was so dark in the room, no window providing moonlight, yet it only added to the sense of excitement. It was getting hot too, and the damned silk sheets were of no help. He attempted to touch her breast at one point but only felt her through the sheet that had clung to her body. In fact, he was half lying on top of her only somehow the sheets seemed to have slipped between their bodies and he couldn't even feel her skin.

He fumbled with it attempting to pull it to the side without disturbing their kissing, which she seemed to be enjoying with quite some relish. He couldn't yank the damn thing from between them without disturbing the equilibrium; gently he tugged it, a little at a time, until one half of her body was accessible to his mouth. Breaking the kiss, to which she objected with a deep sigh he moved to her neck, licked down to the hollow, which he kissed, and she shivered against him. How many times had he dreamt of kissing this spot over the years – a thousand?

At the same time his hand curved around her waist, taking in each inch of her skin with his fingertips and palm. Memorising at which point she jolted against him, the most sensitive spots. Her hands were on his neck and head when he finally reached her breast with his mouth. He gently closed his lips around her nipple and she almost jumped into him, knocking him off balance a little. He regained his composure and took his time until she was grasping at his shoulders impatiently; her mouth open, her breathing deep and unmeasured.

Of course Clarisse herself wasn't unaware of the effect she was having on her new husband. She felt the tremble that went through him when she'd licked his mouth; she also noted his surprise at it. His assault on her breast ceased when she pulled him back up to continue the kiss. God, she wanted him so badly now, the aching that had started off so faint and pleasant had now turned into a dull throbbing at the very bottom of her stomach. It had been an eternity since she had felt this way; there had been the occasional dream, waking in the early hours with a sense of being unfulfilled.

She dropped her hands down his back, traced her fingertips along his skin, then she pushed at the sheets that covered the lower half of his body. She couldn't quite reach; they were in the wrong position. She groaned into his mouth as his knee fell between her legs and he rolled her over so she lay on top of him. Resting her hands on his chest she pulled back from his devastating mouth just long enough to tug the sheets free and push them away so she could both see and feel his body.

Now completely on top of him with free reign over where to touch, she was finally able to graze her nails along his torso, his mouth emitting a slight moan every time she caught a sensitive spot. She kissed him deeply, slipping her tongue into his mouth, and moving her body against his. She realised just how much pleasure she was giving him when her thigh encountered the hardness between his legs. She shifted away a little uncomfortably, oh goodness she wasn't used to this, she wasn't used to being in charge of the situation and enjoying it… hell wanting it, longing for it, she never wanted it to stop!

To her relief they twisted over again and he was above her, but the kissing had stopped, he was touching her hair, brushing it back with his fingers. She cautiously opened her eyes; he must have sensed her unease.

"Are you alright?" He whispered, so seductively.

"Yes." She mumbled, wrapping a hand around his neck to bring his mouth to hers.

"We don't have to rush this, if you're not ready."

"I am… just, slowly."

He folded her fingers with his and kissed her hand. "You're so very beautiful." He said gently, sincerely. "We've travelled the world together and I have never seen a woman more beautiful."

Could she blush in the dark? "Thank you." She took a deep breath. "It's just been, quite a while…"

Her kissed her forehead, her nose and then she tilted her head up to catch his mouth with hers again. His hands were on her legs, moving up her thighs to her hips, then down again, tickling her skin, leaving goose bumps where he touched. She listed each movement, added to memory each delightful flicker of pleasure.

"Ahhh…." She pushed him backwards and awkwardly doubled up.

"What the hell's wrong?" A rather anxious Joseph asked from his crumpled position next to her.

"My foot. Cramp in my foot." She explained rubbing her toes.

He groaned and helped her sit up in bed turning the lamp on before moving down her shin with his skilled fingers and rubbing her foot.

She relaxed back against the pillows and watched him lift her foot and expertly soothe her discomfort. His hands were slightly rough, years of hard work, but she liked it, she preferred it. His touch was like a gentle balm.

"You're too good at that." She said softly. "I might have found you a new job."

"I'm a retired man now." He replied glancing up at her.

"So you are, and a married one."

"For the first time in my life."

"I hope it doesn't disappoint."

"I hardly think so…" He smiled, his eyes sparkling. "Better?"

"Much, thank you." He replaced her foot beneath the sheets and moved back to the head of the bed.

She watched him settle next to her, his arm touching hers as he leant back against the pillows.

"I'm sorry, I keep upsetting the mood."

"Each second is a delight my dear." He said warmly and she laughed.

"Oh goodness," she giggled uncontrollably. "Oh Joseph you make me so happy." Her laughter stopped and she looked at him seriously now, placing her hand on his cheek. "You make me so happy."

"That's all I wanted."

"When I read your letter, your resignation…considering not having you every day, to not see your face or have your conversation, I couldn't imagine it. I didn't know what to do."

"It wasn't an easy decision to make, and I'm not quite sure if I would ever have been able to pull it off. Leaving you behind."

"I'm glad we don't have to face that now."

"As am I, though I wonder…"

"Hmm, what do you wonder?" She idly traced her fingers over his chest.

"I wonder if you would have ever begged me stay."

She raised an eyebrow lifting her eyes to him. "Oh, begging, me?"

"A-ha…" He caught her arms and guided her until she was lying down again. "On your knees begging me to stay."

"Never, a Queen would never beg."

"Really! I'll ask you that same question later." He smiled knowingly and her face flushed before him.

"Tease." She whispered, barely audible as his mouth reclaimed hers.

This time there would be no interruptions. Although Clarisse did scrabble about with her hand whilst they were kissing as she attempted to turn the lamp off and ended up knocking it to the floor.

He was sucking on her skin as if feeding on something life sustaining, tasting each inch of her. She wrapped a leg over his drawing him closer to her, he took her encouragement and finally they were joined.

Although prepared for it Clarisse still gasped, bit down on her bottom lip, felt him still, she opened her eyes to find him only inches from her face. He was watching her; she could clearly see the love in his eyes even in the darkness. She leisurely dragged her fingers across his beard, around his lips until he sucked on her finger. She couldn't deny the fact that it stung a little, so many years without a lover, but beneath that was a deep rooted need and want. He was waiting for her approval, waiting for her to say it was fine, he wasn't rushing it. She kissed him lightly, moving her hips upward a fraction. The tension eased and he steadily moved; each movement seemed to send a tiny shock through Clarisse's body. She closed her eyes not wanting anything to distract the moment. Revelling in the cocoon they had created, the warmth invading her skin, circulating through her blood.

The kissing had stopped and his chin rested on her shoulder blade now. His breathing was deep and steady and although she was drifting into an incoherent world she was vaguely aware of his words of love, confessions of how long he'd wanted this, of what she meant to him, words jumbled together that touched her soul. She had never felt so unbelievably close to another human being; her arms were linked around his back and she hardly dare move for fear of upsetting the niche they had both fallen into. He was so close to her, so warm, and yet so slow and gentle, offering that comfort she desperately needed. There was a buzzing in her head, the mindless droning of her own heartbeat.

Her body was taking over, responding to him by its own accord, her legs were wrapped around him, her arms clinging to his body. Oh god so this was what she'd been missing out on all these years… The world seemed to shrink and centre right there in that room and what was happening between them. She gasped his name as a swirling sensation filled her stomach, enveloping every last coherent thought and growing inside her until there was nothing left but the feel of him. She was aware of her voice driving him onwards, of his struggled attempts at holding back, of how she was sending him over the edge.

Closing her eyes she shut her mind off, fell into the sublime, rising and falling with his body in one smooth effortless motion. She held his shoulders, licked his neck, his face… anything she could reach. He was moving deeper inside her and all that mattered was the love they shared and wanted to share. She arched her body upwards, it didn't hurt anymore, she longed for more of him, to always be one with him. She caught the sensation that started in her lower stomach, her eyes shot open and she glanced her wedding ring digging into his shoulder. His face was buried in her neck; she slid one hand onto his head, whispered his name twice then screamed it. The blissful sweetness seemed to spread through her body, not one nerve untouched by the utter joy and ecstasy travelling within her.

She was vaguely aware of Joseph's body collapsing against hers seconds later. Her name on his lips, his mouth worshipping her skin. Exhaustion swept over her and she barely had the energy to lift her arms to cover his body, he moved a little dragging the sheets up around them then fell back against her, his face in her shoulder.

She felt the tears building, closed her eyes and allowed them to travel the length of her face. She held her breath, tightened her grip on his back. Her throat contracted, struggling under the weight of her tears and the need for air. She gulped back the noise in her throat, choked on the emotion.

"Darling." Joseph's hands touched her face, wiped the tears that fell down her cheeks.

She gripped his wrists. "I just need a moment, just…"

"I know. I know." He tenderly kissed her forehead, as gentle as a feather stroking her skin. He tasted the saltiness of her, the rarest taste, like nothing he'd ever known.

"My love." He folded his fingers with hers.

She cried openly now, grasping for his hold, for his comfort and support. And most of all his forgiveness. "I'm sorry… so very sorry."

"For what, my darling, for what?" He whispered between kisses.

"For waiting so long, I shouldn't have… how I've treated you…"

"No, no don't do that." He kissed her mouth, felt her struggle to put a stop to the tears. "Not now."

She stilled beneath him, shut her eyes fiercely against the flood of emotion. Finally she opened her eyes, licked her lips and rubbed at her face. "Oh, I'm sorry."

"Clarisse."

"I mean for this, it's hardly the way to behave on your wedding night." She stroked his face. "Thank you. I do love you Joseph."

"And I love you, I always will. I meant every single word of those vows."

After several minutes Joseph attempted to move, fearing his weight was hurting her, but she held him still.

"Stay…" She whispered gently.

His only response was to kiss her neck then settle down comfortably pressed against her body.