Chapter 5

"How does it feel?" Joseph asked her as he moved his body around with hers in the sea.

"There's nothing quite like it. I do like it," she replied, "as long as you are with me." Clarisse ran her hands down his body under water. It was so smooth, so slippery, so exotic.

"Touch me here." Joseph guided her hands now, letting her explore the feeling as he relished in his own. Her breathing became deep, kneading his flesh along with his own hands. She could see the pleasure in his face, and it was just too much. Clarisse caught his lips, and again explored the salty taste, only this time loving the effect it had on her, on both of them.

Nothing was more natural in the world than making love in the sea. It's weightless atmosphere gave them an enormous advantage, allowing the two to unleash their passion completely. If not for air, they would have lost themselves in the depths for eternity.

"Joseph, we will come back," the concern clearly evident in her words. Clarisse looked to her husband, slipping on his shoes as he prepared to take her back.

"Any time you want." Joseph stood now, fully dressed. Taking up the few steps to her, he pulled her close, kissing her forehead. "Clarisse, I will never stop loving you. I want you to know that I am here, I always will be, and for as long as our bodies allow I will make love to you whenever, where ever, and however you desire. All you have to do is say so. I love being with you here, although you should know I have plans on showing you many more places and things you have missed out on." He looked in her eyes, watching them light at his words. My God, he loved this woman.

"That sounds so wonderful Joseph." She placed a simple kiss on his lips, leaving them touching as she rested her forehead to his.

"There is much more to come, I promise you that," he whispered to her.

"You are the only person alive who has never lied to me."

"I'll not start now." He held her there, gently swaying with the breeze, for a few more minutes. "It's time." He released her, silently asking her if she was ready.

Nodding, she took his hand and smiled. "I do need a bath."

"We both do. As much as I love the sea, the salt I could do without."

"Hmm, Joseph?" They began walking for the path that led to the nearest security office, where Joseph left their car.

"Yes darling?"

"I can promise you there will be no salt in our bath water..." She smiled big, looking at him in a naughty way. He loved it. Joseph squeezed her hand, acknowledging her suggestion.

"Grandma, Joe, you stayed out all night!" Mia gave them a motherly act as they slipped in one of the back patio doors.

"Mia, we are married." Clarisse reminded her granddaughter.

"I was worried. It's not like you."

"I'm sorry dear..." Joseph cut her off.

"Mia, your grandmother is old enough, and like she said we are married now. She shouldn't have to apologize to you or anyone," Joseph stated as he tried to hide his true feelings from her, "You need to get use to it. I intend on taking your grandmother to many places, and that includes staying out all night, maybe even all week." Mia stood, mouth gaped wide open. "Now, your grandmother and I need a nice, long, hot bath; preferably together." He smiled to Clarisse, noticing the slight blush on her cheeks. "Now, if you will excuse us..." He took her arm and made a quick escape to their suite.

"You should have been a little easier on her.." Clarisse slipped under the water again, allowing her hands to roam freely over him. He tilted his head back, sighing contentedly as he closed his eyes. She surfaced, wiping the bubbles from her face and hair. She was directly over him, barely floating in the warm tub, her body easing into position as the water rocked.

"Clarisse, she is Queen now. I know she still needs you, but she is doing so well on her own. Don't take this the wrong way, I am very happy the two of you have bonded so tightly, but Clarisse, she has to live and rule on her own." Clarisse crawled closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I know all that is true. However, I don't think that is really what's bothering you." She spoke with an ire of intelligence in her tone.

"Oh? So, what is bothering me?" He let his hand rub on her back, sliding over her warm, wet skin.

"You," she started, tapping her finger on his nose, "are jealous of her." He lifted his head at her words.

"What?"

"Don't start with me, Joseph. I know you, remember. I know you love me, and for how long you've loved me." She spoke softer now, in a tone she used when she made love to him. "I'm flattered you want me to be with you all the time, and don't think I don't want to be. I do. Oh, I do." She ran her hand over his cheek. "I am no longer Queen, but I still have obligations. Joseph, I like those obligations, well, they make me feel needed and still wanted, not by you, but by my country. I love those people, I just can't drop them. I don't want to." She took a deep breath before continuing. "I don't want you to feel jealous of anyone. If you need me, I will be here for you. Whenever you want to take me away, I will go, unless there is some emergency of some kind. You know that. If I spend too much time with her, Joseph, tell me. Don't let it get to you. Please." She waited now for him to speak.

"Clarisse, like you said, I have loved you for so long now; it's overwhelming to me to finally be able to be with you like this. I lose sight of the real world. When we make love, it's just you and I. Clarisse, I want to stay there."

"I know. I feel it too. However we can't just disappear into a 'happily ever after fairy tale', all we can do is make this life the best we can." She kissed him, softly, deeply. "I think I know what's wrong. You, my dear, have lost most of your patience."

"You're exactly right." He nipped her chin. "I hate waiting, it's drove me mad over all these years."

"Hmm. I bet if I made waiting a good thing..." Clarisse trailed off, rising out the tub and reaching for her towel. "I bet you could have the patience of Job." Lifting his brows, Joseph suddenly became fully alert.

"Just how do you plan on doing that?" he watched her pat herself dry.

"Oh, for example, if I promise to make life here VERY interesting for you in the next seven days, every day, you could wait another week before having to whisk me away again." Joseph sat erect, his whole body coming to life with ideas.

"Just what do you mean by 'interesting'?" He smiled a very naughty smile at her. She wrapped the towel around her, heading for the door.

"Mmm, let's just say we get a new lock for our suite, limit the staff duties in here, ace the camera on our balcony, get rid of the guards outside our doors permanently, and maybe, just maybe we play musical beds, after all, there are a hundred or so unused ones in the palace..." She smiled to him, loving the look she left on his face. He did deserve more of her, and she wanted to give him the best she had.