Disclaimer: We own nothing and nobody from The Princess Diaries - we are merely having a little fun with the characters.

Author's Note: A purely escapist chapter - a little morning glory - of course there is an uncut version of this story, if you would like to read it either e-mail me for a copy or, in time, it will be available on my CJ website. Enjoy :-)

Mixed Signals by Posh & Stoneygem

Part 22

Clarisse leisurely spread her arms out over the pillow. The sheets over her back slipped down and she felt the warmth of the sun caress her skin. She sighed contentedly wiggling the sheets even further down and turned her head over pressing her face into the pillow, allowing the sunlight to travel up her neck and into her hair. This was the way to wake; slowly and lazily, drifting into consciousness with no pressure or expectation upon her.

She felt his shadow cast over her, felt the dip in the side of the bed as he knelt down next to her and his fingers tapped on the nape of her neck and then travel down her spine. It felt even better than the sunlight. Where his finger had been his tongue now travelled, tantalisingly delicious, her skin tingled at his touch.

His hands gripped her hips and he leant even closer to her, kissing her neck repeatedly. She giggled and shifted beneath him.

"Stay still." He whispered.

"I want to touch you." She smiled.

"I'm counting the freckles on your back."

"Hmm…" She replied before laughing.

His kisses continued to move down her back, engrossed in his task.

"I was enjoying the feel of the sunlight." She said gently, finally opening her eyes and looking down at him over her shoulder.

He looked up her body, at the smile on her face, her enjoyment clearly evident.

"Good morning." She said.

"Good morning?" He moved over her body, allowing her to turn beneath him so he could see her face completely, "I'd say my love it's a wonderful, perfect morning."

He kissed her forehead and her hands rose over his shoulders holding him close; she lifted her mouth to his and he welcomed her kiss.

"Mmm, I'm sorry I fell to sleep last night."

"Don't apologise, it was perfect as it was." He kissed her forehead as he moved to lie next to her. "Just perfect, my little golden apple."

She laughed, taking his hand and massaging his fingers.

Side by side they lay in the quiet stillness of the room. Joseph held his wife's body close to him stroking her skin, eyes closed, fully content in the moment.

Clarisse stroked the back of his arms looking toward the balcony; the French doors were slightly ajar and the cotton curtains blew lightly in the morning breeze. From what she could see of it the sky was a perfect blue and she listened to the sound of the world outside, revelling in the simplicity of the morning, of having no immediate demands upon her.

"The birds are singing." She whispered, feeling the warmth of his body next to his.

"Mmm," he murmured next to her, kissing her head and, as she moved, her cheek.

"Are you hungry?" She kissed his mouth, his eyes were closed. "We could order breakfast, eat it out on the balcony before it gets too hot out." She folded her fingers with his. "We should have strawberries and pancakes and cream."

"And tea." He added kissing her head again.

"Ha, yes and tea." She turned in his arms to face him.

"What are your plans today?"

"Hmm I plan to be exceptionally lazy and lay in the sun with a good book and drift away. And you?"

"Ahh a meeting with the educational minister I believe."

"Marvellous, time for breakfast though?"

"Oh yes, the meeting isn't until 11:30."

"Good, and this afternoon?"

"Oh very important business." He said opening his eyes and looking up at her face as she leant over him.

"Important?"

"Yes, shopping with my wife."

"Really?" She almost squealed in delight. "Oh but you were so kind to me yesterday with the diamonds and…"

"I did promise though."

"Yes, you did I suppose." She moved on top of him. "And how do you feel right now?"

"Right now?" He folded his arms around her waist. "I feel rather good."

"Good, would you like to feel better?"

"Well, what did you have in mind?"

She kissed his mouth, then ran her fingers over his lips before tapping his chin and smiling seductively.

"Mmm, we should take more trips together, I'm rather enjoying this."

"Clarisse…" He ran his hand up her spine, "don't tease."

"Oh darling I wouldn't…" She giggled wiggling on top of him.

"Ahh, you are." He squeezed her backside. "Two can play games."

She kissed him again, exploring his mouth with her tongue, the delicious unique taste of him. When she felt his tongue touch hers she pulled back, laughing.

"Clarisse."

"Yes?" She answered demurely noting the frustration on his face.

"This isn't playing fair."

"When did I ever play fair?" She rested her hands on his shoulders and pushed herself into a sitting position, her knees resting either side of his legs.

With palms flat on his chest she brought her mouth down to his, briefly, then nipped his ear; kissed his nose, his forehead.

He groaned, his hands tracing patterns over her skin before slipping between their bodies and cupping her breasts. This time she moaned and pulled herself back far enough to grip his hands and hold them above his head.

He complained yet consented when she pouted. "Let me…"

His mouth was open, breathing deep and uneven, eyes closed, chest heaving as she moved over his body using her mouth to taste and tease his skin. He really was in wonderful shape, flat stomach, muscles toned beneath that bronzed skin. She took the time to trail her fingers over every single inch of his skin, they way he so often did to her, the way he loved her.

"Clarisse please honey…" His hands tangled in her hair massaging her scalp.

She relented and moved back up his body folding her fingers with his as their mouths finally met in a deep ardent kiss.

"Don't go out." She whispered, her mouth but an inch from his.

He groaned as she kissed him again silencing any possible response.

"Stay here with me, let's do this all day."

She giggled at his growl; at the way his strong arms curled around her waist and lifted her up, easily changing their positions in one smooth fluid movement.

"You are divine." He murmured against her mouth, sucking on her bottom lip. "You do realise…" he kissed her nose, gazed at the wonderful sparkle of her eyes. "…that we belong together."

She smiled, lopsided, her cheeks red and flushed, her arms locked around his upper back holding him tight against her. "Oh I realised that a long time ago, even when things were at there lowest I couldn't accept the possibility that we weren't made for each other's arms."

He breathed deeply, closed his eyes for the briefest of seconds. "I waited a lifetime to hear you say such things to me."

She touched his face. "Joseph…"

He dipped his head, kissed her mouth, long and luxurious kisses, he was practically shaking in her arms. Running her hand over his bare back she felt she warmth of the sunlight from the window shining on them and momentarily thought of the world outside. Here they were locked together in this blissful moment. A couple engaged in the act of lovemaking that was as natural and eternal as the turn of the tides.

She touched the back of his head, tickled his neck with her fingernails, it was time she gave herself up completely to this. She would never admit it to anyone, not even herself if she were honest, but somehow even though they were married and their love on full view she had still maintained her inner core of self-protection. She'd spent her entire life that way, it wasn't easy to break the cycle.

"Joseph…" She breathed into his mouth, her hand insistent on his shoulder as she urged him back. "I want you to know, I never would have given up… I know," she swallowed, tried to regain control of her erratic breathing. "I know I pushed you away, so many times over the years."

He brushed her hair, kissed her face repeatedly, he was so close to entering her; she raised her leg over his.

Her words were barely said, her voice faltering, their foreheads touching. "You've occupied my heart for far too long for me to simply turn my back on us."

The words stunned him. He couldn't move, he couldn't breathe. They were hanging on the edge of something, he didn't even know what. He stared at her, incapable of forming a word. This was too overwhelming. Too much.

He had no words. He had no moves.

His world had simply stopped turning with her confession.

It was she, who made it turn again. A butterfly kiss on the corner of his mouth. So light a caress he almost didn't feel it. Yet he did, just as he felt the light fluttering of her fingertips on his shoulder and his back.

Feathery caresses that became stronger and bolder by the second.

Clarisse's confidence grew just like her smile. She had said it. Told him what had been in her heart so long. It was him, always him. She was out in the open. Free now.

It was a glorious feeling. Almost as glorious as having him in her arms, feeling his weight pressing down on her, her feet scraping over the back of his legs. God that such a closeness could be possible…

Suddenly, she felt something wet splashing on her collarbone.

She didn't have to ask what it was. She felt it herself, this overwhelming, incredible happiness. The tears stung at the back of her throat as well. She knew it.

Tilting his chin so that she could look into his eyes, she saw those dark, mysterious depths brimming with moisture. He still hadn't uttered a word, his features seemed to have turned to stone, yet she knew that inside him a storm was raging, a storm to hold the emotions in check.

Smiling tenderly, she raised her hand from his shoulder to cup his cheek, while her other hand pressed down on his spine to bring his body into closer contact with hers. She needed no more words. She wanted to feel him.

Gods, he was no longer in this world. He had died and gone to heaven. And there his angel had waited for him, to love him forever. To let him love her forever. He couldn't stop the tears. He didn't want to.

Finally…

Finally…

Then he felt her hand on his back, pulling him closer. He felt her hips wiggle slightly to bring their bodies together. They were indeed made for each other's arms. Without effort, he eased into her willing body as naturally as a wave upon the surf. They needed no more guiding; their bodies knew their mate and found each other so easily as if they were indeed created to love each other alone.

It was surreal, he felt her move underneath and around him, felt her hands on his back, her legs wrapping around him, yet it was as if it wasn't a physical thing. They were floating somewhere above the real world in a realm where only their love existed.

She set the rhythm of their lovemaking, slow, easy, languid. They had all time in the world.

Finally…

At last, he found to himself again. The physical world took shape again. He became aware of her effortless breathing, deep and even, her brilliant smile, the warmth and softness of her skin and at last, he found control over his hands again.

Running a finger over her profile he bent down to kiss her smile, her eyes closed as the kiss deepened. They moved together, perfectly in tune with each other's bodies.

"Joseph…" She whispered against his ear, gripping his shoulders as she lifted her body up to his, rising and falling together. "Joseph…"

Lifting his face from her neck he murmured a response, she turned her face, their lips caressed, she was watching his face, drowning in every flit of emotion and pleasure that swam over those handsome features.

"Talk to me…"

He buried his face in her hair, pressed himself further inside her and couldn't help but smile as she moaned her satisfaction.

"My love…" He breathed gently, kissing down her face, running his hand over her stomach, up between her breasts and neck until his lips and fingers touched her mouth at the same time.

She sucked on his little finger, smiling at him, teasing. Her toes were digging into the back of his leg, he chuckled despite the heat between them, this was more than physical.

"You're extraordinary…" He kissed her neck, "incredible."

"Tell me,"

He glanced up at her face, at how she lie back on the pillows with the most divine tranquil look on her face as she watched him. She held her hand down to him, he kissed her fingers, her wrist, and moved back up to her face.

"Don't stop…" She whispered as he touched her face. Her body moved against his, eager and impatient.

"Clarisse my darling." He entered her again, smooth and complete. "I wanted you for so long."

"I've always been yours." She answered clinging to his back. "Always, dreaming you existed…"

He cried out, an odd mix of the pleasure he felt shooting through his body and the emotional core rocked at the thought they had always been drawn together, without even knowing it.

"I dreamed of you too, searched for you." She was barely aware of her words. "Tell me… oh god, I need you, always."

"I need you too." He was drowning in her, so close, wanting to give her every last shred of his being, to disappear entirely within her. "All my life…" His voice was failing, trembling. "For the rest of my life, Clarisse…"

"Oh, I love the way you say my name." Her hand rose up his neck.

"Clarisse."

Their mouths met again, the world shrank and centred between them, in their deep sweet movements. She pulled her mouth back long enough to catch her breath, to feel the swirling joy in her stomach tighten in a knot. He kissed her again, sucked on her lower lip, feeling her legs loosen around him, lift higher as she sank into the bliss.

"I love you." He whispered against her open mouth, she called his name, her eyes squeezed tight shut and he felt her body jerk against his. He buried his face in her neck, closing his eyes and allowing his own climax to spiral through him lifting him out of his body and into some tranquil sky of endless stars.

PHEW! Enjoy that? Please let us know what you thought in a little review. And thanks to MC for borrowing the lines ;-)