Sorry it took so long and thank for being so patient. Here it is, chapter four. Artistic licence with age. ENJOY! Armani doesn't belong to me. Thanks to Queen Jewels for my proof reading.

Clarisse smiled as the car came to a halt admits the hustle and bustle of the palace. Joseph, swinging open the door, smiled reassuringly from where he was standing as Pierre clambered out behind him.

"Pierre!", she exclaimed, rushing down the marble steps towards he older son. He laughed, as she scooped him into her arms - her motherly instincts taking over her - even if her son were a fully grown man.

"Mama", he laughed affectionately, returning her hug with just as much zeal, "it's so good to be home".

"Too long…..", she started. He rolled his eyes, the feeling that one of her "You're too far away from home" lectures was coming on. Joe, standing quietly behind his wife, saw it coming too.

"Darling", he interrupted, " I think Pierre might like to get his stuff upstairs, get settled in". Pierre smiled wickedly over his mother's shoulder, winking at Joe. The easiness between them on the journey there had been such a relief to Joseph, after all he wanted Pierre to be ok with their impromptu marriage.

"Ahh", she smiled, stepping back and pulling the sides of her jacket together, " you'd be right".

"Oh, Mama, I forgot to congratulate you", Pierre smiled, his tone slightly teasing. She smiled, a slight blush creeping up her neck.

"So you're not angry?", she questioned, gripping Joseph's hand as it reached discreetly for hers.

"No!", Pierre laughed, "No, of course not. I'm happy, no, I'm ecstatic. I'm so happy you two - well, anyway I'm happy", he laughed, pulling her into a hug, followed by Joseph.

"Pierre", she sniffed, hugging him tightly, " Oh, god I'm relieved".

"Me too", Joseph laughed, " I think both your mother and I were quietly apprehensive about your home coming, about how you might react".

"Well, no need", Pierre smiled, making for the stairs with Joseph and Clarisse in tow, " I'm so very glad".

Clarisse smiled beamingly at Joseph as he pulled her nearer, wrapping his arm firmly around her waist as they walked into the cool foyer. Surprisingly cool for the fact that it was full of people organising. Mia jumped when she seen them, smiling wildly to herself.

"Uncle Pierre!", she laughed, skipping toward him, charlotte hurrying behind her, looking stressed and brandishing her electronic diary.

"Hello, Princess", he smiled affectionately, then corrected himself, teasingly, " I mean, 'Your Majesty' ".

"Ha!", she laughed, slapping her uncle on the arm, " Mia to you".

"How about tea?", Clarisse suggested. Silently watching her family, quite contented as she stood in Joseph's arms.

"Wonderful idea", Joseph smiled, kissing his wife on the side of the head.

"Joseph", Pierre snorted teasingly, " When did you ever think tea was a good idea?".

"My dear boy", Joseph laughed, motioning the group to walk toward the French doors and into the summer sun, " I only find tea interesting because your mother is going to be there".

"Oh please", Mia laughed, linking her arm through Pierre's as they made their way toward the gazebo, " They can't get enough of each other". Pierre laughed, thoroughly enjoying the teasing.

"I'm sure they can't", Pierre smiled, joining in.

"Please you two", Clarisse laughed, stopping and turning to face her son and her granddaughter. "Pierre, grow up and Amelia...".

"Come along dear", Joseph interrupted, spinning her round and ushering her up the steps of the gazebo. Mia and Pierre shook their heads, suppressing laughs as they amused themselves with teasing the older couple.

Pierre, stood a moment, taking in his surroundings, taking in his home. Perhaps his mother was right, perhaps it had been too long.

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Her office, bustling and brimming with all assortments of people was hard to navigate for the husband and head of security of the queen. The Queen, his wife was sitting at her desk in the centre, a phone pressed to one ear, babbling what sounded like Russian down the receiver, a pen in the other, signing what looked like a contract and ordering her maid to "go tell her husband she wanted him". She laughed half way through her order as she seen him at the other end of her office, grinning broadly. She motioned with her hand as he neared her, both motioning him and dismissing her rather disgruntled maid - apparently the queen's new care free, joyous mood was not in the favour of everyone.

"Joseph", she smiled, wickedly, cutting into her Russian conversation, " What can I do for you?". He refused to voice what his real request was, he might cause her perpetual embarrassment. However, he doubted whether saying anything to Clarisse would embarrass her at the moment. She was so utterly happy, she looked as if she might burst. He had also seem, over the few nights of their marriage she wasn't all that proper, in fact she was devilishly wicked.

"Surprise, tonight?", he asked instead, strutting towards her through the throng of people that had descended on her office. Her face dropped a little and her eyes darkened considerably.

"I don't know if I have the time", she answered timidly, placing the phone receiver down and returning to the contract in front of her. She was, as often avoiding his eyes in case of disappointment.

"No time for a surprise?", he smiled, sitting on the corner of her desk and picking up her paper weight.

"I don't doubt you've checked with Charlotte?", she said slyly, knowingly, as she followed the antique paper weight he was bouncing up and down with her eyes.

"Oh, I always do what I need to", he smiled as he stood up.

"Now your majesty", he said, almost ordering her as he crouched down beside her desk so his face was just inches form hers, " I shall leave you to work but I can assure you, you have the time. Ready for 7". She nodded slightly and reaching up, brushed his lips with hers.

For a moment, Joseph startled, after all, he never thought she'd just do that right there. But apparently, caring much about her people's opinion was bottom of her list as she wouldn't let go of him. Fair enough, he wasn't putting up much of a fight. Dropping her pen on the desk, she deepened the kiss as she tightened her arms around his neck, oblivious to the may people who had stopped dead in her office to witness the very unusual sight.

"you may go now", she sighed royally, pulling back and smiling triumphantly at the shock on his face. It took Joseph a minute to recompose himself and try to rid himself of the complete desire and passion that had over ridden him.

"Never fail to surprise", he grinned, kissing her hand, " 7, please be ready".

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Clarisse couldn't understand why she felt so nervous as she stood in front of her full length mirror. She had butterfly's fluttering about in the pit of her stomach and she just felt shaky. The surprise she could deal with, perhaps it was the fact she hadn't seen him all day, only there little fumble in her office. God, how silly she was being. It was Joseph, her husband. He had seen every inch of her, every flaw and every freckle. He'd kissed her, made love to her, wrapped her in his arms and yet she was nervous. She felt suddenly better, this was Joseph, not some man who would care if she was wearing make-up or not, it was her husband who literally worshiped her. She grinned devilishly, that probably wasn't healthy.

No matter how much older she got, or how much weight she put on he had the wonderful ability to make her feel incredibly alive. Smiling she reached for her stockings and propping her leg on her dresser chair ran each one in turn over her foot, up over her leg and clipped onto her suspenders. Straightening herself up, she tightened the belt on her silk, black, wrap over dress. She felt good in this, the way it flowed and swayed when she walked was perfect. Her eyes fell on her dresser clock. God, 6.55 , she couldn't be late.

"Olivia", she said politely, turning to the young girl who had previously been standing by the dressing room door in silence, " Could you be a dear and fetch me my black leather gloves, one of my black coats and my….", she paused a moment to think and then continued warmly, " Black Armani court shoes, I think they're on the fourth shelf".

She turned back to her mirror and rummaging in an unexpectedly untidy drawer she had quickly tugged open, pulled out a lipstick from a wide array that resided in her make-up drawer. She applied it, pouting in the mirror and touching up her eye make up, smiled at herself. She looked good, in fact she felt very good about herself, surely that wasn't a bad thing. She fingered her necklace, tugged on her earrings to make sure they wouldn't fall out and finally, with five minutes to spare she was ready.

Olivia re-entered her vast dressing room, a plush coat slung over one arm, shoes and gloves dangling from her fingers. Dutifully she placed them in front of Clarisse, smiling sweetly at a woman who she was often in awe of as she did so.

"Thank you Olivia", Clarisse smiled, slipping into the shoes and gaining a few inches of height, " I might not have been ready if it weren't for you".

"Not at all your Majesty", she smiled, handing her the coat. Clarisse slipped it on, noting how it had seemed to grow cooler in the evenings of late. Not that it had much affected her, nights were always hot with her husband.

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Joseph couldn't resist checking himself over in the mirror one last as he left the security wing to meet her. Not in colour at all, a black shirt, black , tailored suit and black shoes, he felt more comfortable. No one could ever quite understand that strange, eccentric point of his personality. He didn't quite understand it either, why he dressed completely in black or why he, still, at 54 years old had his ear pierced. Not that it bothered him people thought he was a little screwy, Clarisse didn't. He was well liked, well respected in the palace but he ruled the roost. They knew never to mess with him, never to mess with people he loved or people he respected.

Tightening his belt buckle, and adjusting his wrist watch, something he often did when he was apprehensive. He lifted the 12 velvety, red roses from the table he had previously placed them on. They reminded him of her, the way they stood out, the way they smelled that filled him with a warm, comforting reassurance and in headiness made his blood boil with pleasure.

He felt himself aroused, simply thinking of her - surely that wasn't possible. He sighed, in his case, it was. Realising what time it was, just kicking 7, he tried to calm himself, god when had a woman ever been able to do this to him.

He turned on his heels and started briskly down the corridor to the foyer, whistling a little to himself as he came to the entrance.

He saw her then, looking almost lost as she appeared to have made it there quicker than him. Never had he seen her looking so sexy and it took his breath away. Beautiful yes, many times, almost heavenly and perfectly lady like but never so sexy. Completely, he admired almost hungrily, dressed in black, spare the red lip stick on her lips that cried out to be smudged and the sparkling diamonds she was wearing. A silk, from what he could make out under her coat, wrap over dress with a risqué low neck that he would surely make light work of later on.

Black, all in black. He couldn't help but have the inkling that she dressed in that for him. He had to admit though, she looked spectacular whatever she wore. Black, red, green, white….nothing. A cocky grin graced his features and he strode over to where she was standing, her back against a column.

She smiled gracefully as he approached her, the roses held casually behind his back and his footsteps making echoes around the foyer where the only people present where the men behind the security desk.

"You're late", she smiled sweetly as he approached, leaning against the column and tucking her hands behind her back, raised her leg a little. He swallowed, was she intent on making him want to take her right there, or was her severely sultry and appetising act completely unawares and innocent. He thought latter was less likely, never had he know his queen to be so knowingly tempting or flirtatious.

"My darling", he smiled, flourishing the roses from behind his back, " I apologise". she smiled endearingly, her eyes glittering as she took them from him and closing her eyes, inhaling the sweet smell in in one deep breath.

"So", she breathed huskily, her eyes flicking open, " My surprise, what is it?".

"The limo first", he growled, " And then……", he trailed off, offering his hand. She took it, and gently handing the roses to the security man at the door and ordered him to make sure they were sent to their suite.

She could barely contain her excitement about disappearing with him, even if it was only for a little while.

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"open your eyes", he whispered in her ear, his had firmly on her back, his other gently lifting from where it had previously been covering her eyes. She jumped as excitement captured her. The smell of the sea flooded her nostrils as the grand yacht bobbed up and down gracefully before her in the marina. It towered over her. Comprising of three floors and a massive private deck. He smiled at her reaction to his surprise.

"It's a wedding gift", he smiled, leading her cautiously up the gang plank by the hand, " So we can escape when we wish". She could hardly speak, so shocked by his beautiful, ultimately romantic gesture.

"I- can't, I don't…..", she trailed off, another bolt of surprise coursing through her. They had reached to top deck and god, how both the beautiful view and his further surprise took her breath away.

A waiter, only in his twenties, stood, smiling with a bottle of champagne beside a table for two, with silver platters and glittering candles. A pianist, well situated behind a piano struck the keys with romantic fluidity as the instrument whispered beautiful notes into the evening air.

"Oh, Joseph….", she managed, turning to him as he stood against the railing of the deck. He smiled, enjoying the sheer pleasure on her face.

" Have a seat?", he offered, closing the short space between them and removing her jacket. He slipped it off, chucking it on the plush white leather seats that surrounded the deck along with her gloves and ran his hands up and down her arms. She shivered, not from the cold and much to his pleasure. Taking the hand he offered, she took a seat at the small table as he pushed her chair in.

"Champagne, darling?", he questioned as he sat down and motioned to the young boy with the bottle.

"Yes, please", she smiled, resting her chin on her hands and studying his every move. She wasn't sure how he'd done all this but it didn't matter, what mattered was the fact he'd went to all this trouble for her and she hadn't even bought him a wedding gift!

"But Joseph, all this…", she suddenly said, " I didn't even get you a wedding gift". He frowned at her for a moment, scolding her silently for ever thinking such a thing.

"Clarisse, my darling", he smiled, leaning across the table and touching her cheek, " You were the best wedding present I could ever have hoped for".

After dinner was finished, after they had danced for what seemed like hours the people that had served them dinner and played the music left the boat, leaving them alone on what was now there's.

"I quite love this", she smiled, leaning on the railing and facing the vast expanse of sea that was in front of the tiny marina.

" I hoped so", he smiled, making his way over to the wheel of the boat and starting the engine. She startled a little, what on earth was he doing, they had to return to the place. However her part confusion, part anger was short lived as she couldn't resist the urge to burst into laughter as he husband donned a captains hat. She swayed over to him, standing beside him as the yacht picked up speed.

"Where are we going?", she questioned sternly, though her eyes danced in the dark.

" We're going away for a while, only two days. I had your maids sort fresh clothing, not that you'll be needing them", he said, quickly continuing as he seen the horror on her face, " We'll be back two days before the coronation, which is being organised by two very capable women.". She wasn't sure what to say, this little adventure with him was far to tempting to argue about. He'd even brought her cloths, though she hoped what he said was right, she hoped she wouldn't need them.

She made herself comfortable on the leather seats the lined the deck with a glass of champagne while he contented on steering the boat further and further out to see.

" I didn't know you could do this whole boat thing", she said absently, kicking off her shoes so they skidded across the highly polished, mahogany floor.

" I can", he bragged devilishly, "I can navigate and everything", he smiled, pulling back the gear and quelling the engine until the boat buzzed to a low hum in the middle of the Mediterranean sea. She smiled at him as he made his way over to her, his hat sitting firmly on his head. He sat down beside her as she handed him a flute of champagne which he accepted.

"So", he question, motioning round their luxuriously isolated and lush surroundings, " Is it to madam's liking?".

" It is", she answered, taking a sip of champagne and licking the little droplets on her lips, all the while keeping her eyes on him.

"Good", he swallowed, " Good".

"my, my", she smiled, inching forward and licking her lips, " Captain Joseph, lost for words?". She reached up to his head, lifting the hat and dropping it carelessly on the deck as her lips descended on his. He forgot everything in that moment, much as she did. His hands burned, roaming all over her body and up her legs as he laid her gently down on the leather seats. Her hands, gently tugging his shirt free from his trousers, fumbling with his belt buckle, stroking up and down his shirt front made him immensely heady.

"Clarisse", he whispered, kissing her neck, " Clarisse". She simply smiled, lifting his face up to hers and pressing his lips on hers again. His hands quickly found her stockings tracing along them, earning little sighs.

He knew it must be uncomfortable on the seats, not the type of place he ever wanted to make love to her.

"Darling", he smiled, lifting himself up and pulling her with him again as he began an attack on her neck and chest , " As much as making love to you is top priority, I think perhaps the bed, below decks is warmer and far comfier". she smiled, nodding slightly as she stood up and stooped down to pick up the hat.

"You play captain", she smiled slyly, jokingly, offering him the hat.

"No", he smiled, " No games tonight".

"Oh?", she questioned, clutching the tie belt on her dress and tugging slowly, almost torturously on it as she stood before where he sat, in between his legs.

"No", he sighed, in mock sadness, reaching for the belt and finishing it for her with one swift tug as the dress fell open before him.

He stopped, every two seconds to kiss her as he made the short way to the yachts master bedroom. Flinging open the door, she stepped inside, thoroughly pleased and thrilled by what she seen.

Considering it was a boat, the bed was nearly as big as the one they shared at the place. Candles littered the room, sweet smelling of vanilla and glittering in the dimness. The bed, the carpet, the built in furniture were coated with the velvety, blood red rose petals that he had handed her earlier that evening. She turned to him, slipping her dress completely off her body.

"have you ever made love on a bed of roses?", he questioned softly, relieving her of her underwear . She shook her head as she slipped his trousers down and tugged on his boxers.

"you want to?", he whispered as he bent, kissed her stomach and pushed her gently onto the petals that completely covered the bed linen.

"Joseph", was all she could manage.

Ok, my first ever M rated story.

Please review and I hope you enjoyed. Next chapter coming soon.

Yours,

M