It seemed to take an eternity for the two men to reach the palace. When eventually they did, they were lucky enough to escape a violent thunder storm that had forced itself over the country. However dismal the weather, Joseph was absolutely oblivious - all he wanted was to see her. Quickly leaving the King, or Rupert as he was now calling him, he tried to dodge the security men who wanted to speak to him or the maids that wanted to flirt. Rushing to her suite, was, in hindsight a rather blatant and obvious thing to do but right now, that really didn't matter. He could feel his body heating up, just at the thought of her - improper thoughts about his monarch. Yet, she was so much more than that and those thoughts, they were proper now. Coming to her door, he faked on hearing a disturbance to the young, gullible guard guarding her door and the spotty faced youth scurried off to check the 'disturbance'. Joseph surveyed the corridor for a moment, then deciding it was safe slipped into her room.

His nostrils filled with the sweet, flowery scent of her and immediately he became heady. Trying to control himself, he sucked in a breath of the sweet air and started towards her bedroom.

The sight that welcomed him made it worse, well the persistent bulge in his trousers anyway. Her bed was rumpled, evidence of her having slept in it. Her clothes lay discarded on the floor and from over the spray of the shower in the adjoining bathroom, he could just make out her humming to herself. He licked his lips and proceeded to unbuckle his belt as he entered the shower room.

The ceramic tiles and marble were slippery from the moisture that coated them, dripping in small droplets in the thick air of the room. He watched her silhouette through the frosted glass of the massive shower for a moment and licked his lips again, registering every shadowy curve of her body, filing them in his memory.

He swallowed slightly, trying to breath and relieving himself of all his clothing, he pulled open the glass partition and slipped in behind her.

She jumped quickly, a scream escaping her mouth as she swivelled to face him. He chuckled slightly as her face became a picture of anger but humoured none the less.

"you would think you were being murdered", he laughed over the spray.

"Tell me", she said regally, with a flirty bat of her eye lashes, " Just what is my head of security doing in the shower with me?"

"He wants to ravish you", he laughed, pressing her up against the glass. She ran her hand down the riveted muscles of his chest.

"Mhmm", she confirmed, tipping her head back as his lips came into contact with her neck, " I've never been ravished with fear in my life!"

"No?", he murmured, smiling as she shivered against him.

"No", she managed, moaning slightly.

"Well, lets not waste ANY time".

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Summer came over the palace, bringing with it a load worth of sweet pears, butter-balls of sun in the blue sky and the hottest summer the country had witnessed in years. Joseph had spent most, well all of his free time at their hide away. Physical labour had always been something that he was used to and this he revelled in. perhaps it was the thought she'd love this place was even more of a drive. Mopping the sweat of his brow with a grimy hand he heaved a sac of slate tiles up the ladder. Setting them down in the gutter he began working, wishing the reality of this place would transpire far quicker.

The sun was beating down on his bare back, burning him in all honesty. He was starting work in a few hours and already he was exhausted. Slating in the last tile he dismounted the ladder and taking a few strides back and shielding his eyes from the sun, he surveyed his work with a smile. Yes, he was proud of it. The place looked inhabitable now, well at least the outside did. The inside, however, was something else. That would only take a few weeks though, most of the work had been done now. Rolling his stiff, burnt neck a little, he tidied away the industrial mess and carefully slipping on his t-shirt, mounted his motor bike.

Clarisse watched as her head of security's motor bike sped past the gazebo where she sat with the German diplomat who was, well, quite frankly putting both her and Rupert asleep. The boys, who had managed to find an excuse to run away a good hour ago where to be seen chasing each other with those damn water pistols Rupert had bought them.

"….Your Majesty?", the German said with his thick accent, leaning in from the side of her, " Do you agree?"

"Err", she looked at Rupert, who looked just as stumped, " If you'd forgive me, I feel rather ill".

Her eyes followed the zooming flash of the black motor bike into the garages at the far end of the grounds and, looking towards her company, she addressed them.

"I have to excuse myself, I feel very ill", she said, eying Rupert. He nodded, smiling slightly.

Standing up, she brushed the front of her dress as the two men stood up in the presence of a lady. She smiled at both and turning on her heels headed for the garage.

It was stiflingly hot in there, with all the metal of limos and vintage cars and motor bikes. It reeked of oil and petrol and grease and Clarisse felt rather claustrophobic as she stepped into the dull bike house. He was standing lovingly over his bike, polishing the paint work. She chucked a little to herself, he treated that bike a little like he treated her.

"Joseph", she smiled after a while, leaning on the only semi clean surface she could find.

"Oh, hello Your Majesty", he answered, looking about to check if they were on their own.

"We're alone", she smiled wickedly.

"Ah, I see", he answered, dropping the cloth and sauntering over to her.

"Yes, I'm sure you do", she laughed, settling herself on the bonnet of one of the limos, " But all I can do is kiss you just now". His face dropped a little, and he pouted.

"But I….". he trailed off, running his hand down her leg.

"No, no", she giggled, " No!"

"Tonight, I'll come by. I have something for you", he suddenly whispered, his tone becoming more sentimental.

"Be careful when you do", she said quietly, kissing his cheek as she turned to go, " Don't get caught".

"I wont".

She stepped out into the sun and as she did so, a terrible wave of diziness came over her. Her eyes blurred had she felt terribly cold. Swaying a little, she tried to walk forward but to no avail, she fell to the gravel with a horrible crunch and her eyes slid shut.