Chapter 9
She loved him. Not only had she spoke the words that he had longed to hear for so long, but she was kissing him. It wasn't the swift peck on the cheek like she gave him earlier; it was a soft, hot explosion that multiplied into shock waves reaching to the deepest hidden nerves in his body. The shock waves carried sparks, igniting small fires of passion where ever they went. She loved him. Clarisse Renaldi loved him.
Joseph could not pull her close enough. He lost all resolve to be gentle with her. His arms squeezed her like she would blow away with her next exhale. His mouth covered hers, attempting to breath for her. Never had he ever expected to be able to love her like this. It was too much; unbelievable; and Joseph was afraid it would end at any moment. He wanted to be under her skin, wanted her to depend on him like water. Joseph wanted to know that she could never do without him again. He had just gotten a taste of her, and he knew from the first touch he would never be able to live without it again.
Clarisse Renaldi had never felt so alive. Joseph was squeezing the breath from her, yet her body used him to live upon, craved him for more. This wasn't exactly what she had planned, but there would be no turning back, no turning back ever. She had tasted his fruits, just mere tastes of the hardness of the man before her. Without a doubt, she could never live without him this close again. It would be devastating to even try. After letting go and falling into him, she needed those tastes, and even more. Clarisse wanted so much more.
Feeling his arms around her, she could not understand how something so hard could wrap her in something so soft and loving. She knew his strength, even felt it; yet her skin ached to be wrapped with his arms. She melted at his slightest touch, melted and conformed to his body.
She so enjoyed his lips, tasting and teasing her own. They had finally admitted the love they shared, and had just begun to reap of it. They could never explain in words their feelings, and they did not have to. Now they understood each other, like this; wrapped in a totally passionate kiss.
Easing from the urgency, Joseph loosened his grip. He needed to see her, to look into her eyes, see if indeed this made her happy. Joseph pulled his lips away, slowly teasing her out of the passion they had just shared.
Her eyes were the lightest green, sparking with a radiance that not even her tiara emitted. If he had not even seen the smile on her face, he would have seen it in her eyes. Knowing he was the cause of it gave Joseph a whole new life.
"Joseph," she whispered, only inches from his face.
"Yes, my love?" He replied, although he was still engulfed in her eyes.
"What were you talking about earlier?"
"Talking about? Were we talking earlier?" Joseph was still engulfed in her eyes, running his hands over her arms and shoulders.
"Yes," she giggled at his charms once more. "Something about sand?" She placed a kiss atop his nose. "Remember?"
"Sand," he managed to speak and think both at once. "Oh sand. Yes. I was saying," he brushed his lips against hers, "I don't like Egyptian sand."
"Oh?" She questioned heavily.
"No, I like the sand here, very light colored sand...covered in freckles." Joseph met her lips again, pressing his wetness against hers once more in a pure delightful haze. His fingers traced her neckline, her collarbone, down the edge of her neckline. He smiled at her gasp.
"I love you Clarisse Renaldi."
"Joseph, sometimes I find you to be a rather mysterious and strange man, yet that makes me love you even more." She smiled to him, running the back of her hand down his cheek. "I hate to say this, but I have work I have to finish." Joseph nodded.
"So do I."
"Which reminds me...Joseph!" Clarisse became stern again. Joseph watched her in question as she stood, replacing the tiara on her head.
"Clarisse?"
"We have business right now," she stated as she sat on her throne, slipping one foot behind the other and smoothing her skirt. "Joseph, did you or did you not leave your Queen unprotected one night in Cairo?" Her words were slow and heavy, and in every sense belonging to a Queen. Her eyes were now dark, and she watched as her head of security flinched before her uneasily.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I'm afraid I did. I have no excuse. All I can do is ask for your forgiveness." Joseph bowed his head, really feeling ashamed at his earlier actions.
"I see."
"That's not all I'm afraid, Your Majesty." He needed to come clean, he knew. What relationship they could have together must be honest. Joseph raised his face to hers, and taking a deep breath, continued with his words. "I am guilty of jealousy, Your Majesty. I neglected my job as your head of security on more than one occasion. I took a second trip back to Cairo without letting you know I had left."
"So that's where you had been.." she trailed off. "Is there anything else I need to know, Joseph?"
"I...Well,..see..It was I who exchanged your tea for coffee." He felt like a young boy, a naughty little boy who had gotten himself in a lot of trouble. Joseph had never realized before that was exactly how he had been acting.
"YOU? You did that? On purpose? Really Joseph, that was quite childish..." Queen Clarisse thought for a moment. "However, I suppose I am guilty for a few things myself, and maybe I even deserved it. HOWEVER that does not get you off the hook." Queen Clarisse got up, choosing to walk while she thought. "Joseph both you and I are guilty of little things to each other. Those, well I'm hoping will be easy to repair and move on. However, I still am quite dumbfounded that you left me unprotected in Cairo..."
"But his security..."
"Joseph you are my security, and you chose to do your job that night. I knew you were there, and I depended on you. If you had chose not to come, Talmadge and I would not have went out in public like we did. I depended on you that night. I thought you were there for me." Clarisse was angry, trying to hide most of it.
Joseph hung his head in shame, knowing she had a right to be angry with him. Love had blinded him, even to her protection. He was ashamed.
Pulling himself to his feet, he walked over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders from behind as she managed to stare at the wall in front of her.
"I have no excuse, Your Majesty, Clarisse. I was so jealous I lost my train of thought." Clarisse nodded at his words. She understood, but still, he was her bodyguard. She had just lost trust in him.
"Joseph," she said, turning to face him. "I feel caught here, not sure what to do. If you were just my head of security, I would have to replace you." She stopped to take a breath. "You're not just my head of security though. You're my bodyguard, my friend, my confidant, my companion, my love and my life." Clarisse joined her hands with his. "Replacing you is not an option. I lost trust in you Joseph...after all these years, I feel like I've lost something in you..Can we find it again Joseph?"
"As long as he stays away, I do not see a problem."
"And if he shows up again?"
"If he shows up again, I promise I will only switch his tea." Joseph finally broke the ice, making that beautiful smile of hers come back.
"I want you back Joseph, back as my head of security and as my bodyguard. No one makes me feel safer and more secure. I need that feeling from you. Right now I must return to my duties. If you intend on continuing with your duties...You can start making all that up to me tonight...in my suite, about 10ish."
Clarisse broke away from him, waiting for his reply.
"I'll be there..."
"Good. I'll be waiting."
Clarisse headed out the double doors, leaving Joseph with a huge grin on his face.
"Oh, and Joseph, you make sure I'm not unprotected tonight or any other night for that matter..." She blew him a kiss, not really wanting to leave, nor wait until later tonight. They had both waited for far too long. Only a few more hours, and the waiting would be over, forever.
There will be a 'pear' posted on queenschamber for all chambermaids to enjoy (in 2-3 days)...
Otherwise this is considered FINISHED.
Laura
