Chapter 8

"How do you feel now?" Her voice was soft and caring, and Joseph had longed to hear it coming from beside him in his own bed, such as now. She moved closer, if that was even possible, snuggling in to him.

"I'm wonderful, almost as if it's a dream."

"I mean your head, silly." Clarisse snickered, knowing exactly what he had meant. It did seem like a dream; a wonderful, fulfilling dream. Joseph kissed the tip of her nose.

"That is exactly what is in my head." He kissed her again, a soft, slow adventure for the both of them. "If you mean the throbbing from the cut, it's much better. Still a little sore, but better."

"Mmm, I'm glad. I hate it when you get hurt. I always have," she confessed.

"I'm not fond of it either. However when I realize that it was for you, it doesn't seem so bad, not bad at all." Joseph cupped her cheek, tracing her lips with his thumb.

"Was this for me Joseph? It was, wasn't it?" She looked at him with those big green eyes he had always melted at seeing. Slowly he took in a breath, trying to figure what and how to tell her.

"Honestly Clarisse, it was, and was not. I told you what happened."

"Yes, you always tell me what happens, however you usually skip the part that deals with my wrongdoing. Tell me, Joseph." Clarisse raised up on her elbow, covering herself with the thin satin sheet.

"What I told you was true. I left out the part where I was looking for you. I, well we, thought you had disappeared. To make the story short, you had fell asleep in my old room, and I had in here. I never thought to look for you in my room. When I awoke, well ...no one knew where you were. They had assumed you were with me. From there hell broke loose inside me, Shades, and Charlotte. I was on my way to somehow inform Mia." Joseph felt like a great load had been lifted. He was able to breathe deeply, when he saw the single tear escape the corner of her eye.

"I'm so sorry. I never...I just wanted to..."

"I know love. It doesn't matter now. It's over, and I'll be fine. Most importantly, you are fine and here with me." Joseph wiped the tear trail with his thumb, and gently kissed her once more. "I was afraid...afraid for you, for me, for both of us. I love you."

"I love you too. I have no idea what I ever did to deserve you. No one has ever cared for me the way you do." Clarisse wrapped herself around him, feeling his arms surround her.

"It's late. You should get some sleep," Joseph whispered in her ear.

"Joseph..." Clarisse tried to form the words she needed, "Joseph it's our first night together as husband and wife..."

"Yes it is."

"I mean, wouldn't you rather.."

"Make love to you?" Joseph finished the sentence for her, knowing exactly what was on her mind. "Yes I would. A million times I would Clarisse. I do not want you to be tired tomorrow though. Both of us have to be up in..." as he looked at the bedside clock, "a little over five hours. I have a tough day ahead, and you my Queen, have an even tougher one." Joseph ran his hand up and down her arm, her smooth, soft skin rubbing against his rough, calloused hands.

"You are such a gentleman...That's one of the reasons I fell in love in with you." Clarisse felt herself becoming sleepy as the warmth of their bodies together became overwhelmingly soothing. "So you put me to bed tonight bare as the day I was born, and you just want to sleep beside me?" It was something she had not thought possible, not with Joseph. The physical attraction was so strong, so electrifying. Yet, here she was beside him, more content than if they had made love.

"We have all the time in the world. Tonight we sleep. Good night my love." Joseph kissed the top of her head, feeling drowsy from the pain killers himself.

"Good night." Clarisse had barely finished the words before she drifted off.

Joseph watched the monitors from the main control room of the palace. Two had been placed in the conference room, due to the heavy load of such political figures that attended. One focused on her, plainly the main view of anyone interested in watching, as Joseph was. The other centered on the opposite end of the table, the long, heavy antique centuries old with secrets.

Jealousy had always ran heavy through his veins, ever since the first time he had the privilege of kissing her hand. It ran heavy now, as he watched several men flirt with her. He had seen that too often, but this morning, this morning she was not only his Queen, but his wife. Surly the news had spread, for it seemed to be an ongoing topic here at the palace since the wedding itself several days ago.

Joseph sat and watched. One tried to cover her hand with his own. Another simply ran his tongue over his lips at her. Then even another had tried to touch her earlier before the meeting had been called to order. Joseph had seen it all before, but had been able to put an end to it. Today however, no one had been allowed inside that room since the security check directly before it began. He took a deep breath, knowing she was just as frustrated as he. Today it bothered him more than usual. He had always loved her, but ever since he held her last night, held her tightly in his arms, body to body, Joseph felt even more a part of her than he had ever felt before. He wondered how it would feel when they would finally make love to one another.

First minutes, then hours had ticked away. When a rather large argument had broken out, Joseph and Shades thought it best if they replace the men at the doors of the conference room. This required skill and know-how, attending to such hot headed dignitaries. The two stood for awhile, listening in on the constant battles was easy. Finally pulling up two chairs, they resigned to sitting and playing cards, killing the massive amount of time that was sure to pass.

When the chimes announced noon, lunch was promptly served. Joseph and Shades stretched their legs, able to stand freely as they kept watch inside the doors. Joseph took the opportunity to peek in, seeing the stress level on her face high. As she noticed him, Joseph smiled and winked, the effect a beautiful smile on her face. He loved that smile, and knew he had given her an incentive to keep going. Proud of himself, he sat down again as they finished lunch and their noon break.

"So you're just going to let him grope at her?" Shades couldn't help but ask, not liking the idea himself.

"Grope at her? I saw a few earlier flirting...who was groping her?" Joseph looked in, seeing a man standing behind her, his hands firmly on her shoulders as she tried to excuse herself. Heat turned his face red, seeing the older man trying to fondle his wife, and in a full room.

"Hold on there, you can't just get crazy," Shades held him back, knowing Joseph had a short temper when it came to anyone else with Clarisse.

"I can't just let him keep trying to feel her up!" Joseph's first words were louder than they should have been, quieting the last of them so only Shades could hear him, Shades and the ring of security tapped into the 'hotline', as they called it.

"No, but calm down first," Shades reminded him. "There's ways to handle every situation, as someone once taught me."

"AH, you're right." Joseph held his temper, watching as Clarisse finally managed to walk away from him. He let out the breath he had been holding.

Making her way into the corridor, Mia nodded politely to the guards. She took a deep breath, encouraged by Joseph, before entering the room. It was after 2pm, and Mia had come to take over as referee, freeing her grandmother to finish the Queenly duties she was still expected to do that Mia was insecure about handling herself.

Minutes later the door opened, Clarisse emerging into the hallway alone. Shades shut the door behind her quickly, ensuring the privacy they so desired.

"You need to control your temper," Clarisse stated firmly to her husband. "It's nothing I have not put up with for a lifetime, Joseph, you know that. Your face turned three shades of red and I almost expected steam to come from your ears." By the time she was finished, her words were stern and cross, sending shivers up Shade's spine. She had always been known for her wrath. It was seldom used on her part, but well known.

Looking into his eyes, she softened. He was her husband now, and it melted her heart. Last night had melted her heart. "I am very flattered that it bothers you so much. You do take very good care of me, and I love you." With those words, Clarisse wrapped her arms around him, bringing him into a deeply passionate kiss. Shades couldn't help but drop his jaw, having never seen this side of his Queen, not realizing just how passionate she really was.

Joseph delighted in the warmth of her mouth, the sensuous movements of her body next to his. He lost himself, drowning in her, his Clarisse. It was all new, being out in the open like this, but still felt the same. It was a feeling he could never use words to describe.

Pulling away, and gasping for air, Clarisse smoothed over her jacket and skirt, taking a moment to primp her husband as well. "Have tea with me before I need to busy myself with my country?" She arched a brow at him.

"I'd be delighted, Your Majesty," Joseph teased.

"Shades, really, pick your jaw off the floor, we are not a codfish," she added as Joseph escorted her away from their new head of security.