Disclaimer: Don't own these characters & certainly make no money from them, unfortunately!
Fallen
part 20
Clarisse paused at the top of the cliff path looking behind her momentarily she saw Joseph a few steps behind, he had stopped to take in the view. Removing her sunglasses she gazed down at the sea below, cool and still in the early Saturday sunlight. Closing her eyes she lifted her face to the warmth, feeling it travel down her neck, along her bare arms and seeping through the light dress she wore.
"Clarisse." He called to her and she turned her face towards him. "Smile for me dear."
Shaking her head she offered him a half-hearted smile, she knew she shouldn't have found her camera out.
"Are you coming or not?" She snapped as he took another picture.
He was laughing as he approached her. "I'm here aren't I, bossy madam."
"But too slow sir." She kissed him quickly. "Put the camera away we have to climb down, it's steep in places."
He glanced down the path they were supposed to be attempting. "Goodness, why are we doing this again?"
"Because it's a hot Saturday which means the beaches will be heaving, nobody ever comes here."
"For good reason, it looks dangerous."
"Are you backing out?" She faced him with her hands on her hips.
"Never, you look far more dangerous than the cliff, let's go!" He snapped his heels together and she swatted at him with her bag.
"Would you like me to carry that for you?" He asked putting the camera away.
"You already have plenty to carry, I'll be fine, let's go."
"They hardly look like sensible shoes for this path."
"They aren't…" she slipped her sandals off. "Which is why I'm going barefoot, its only sand."
She started off down the path before he even had the opportunity to object. He followed quickly to catch up.
"I'm beginning to think you are a slave driver."
"I am." She replied over her shoulder. "But I think you like it."
"Secretly perhaps I do, but I would never openly admit it."
"Ha! I do believe you just did, in fact I think… oh, woah…"
Joseph roughly grabbed hold of Clarisse's arm as she slipped and stumbled landing heavily on her backside.
"Oh bloody hell."
"Are you hurt?" Joseph dropped his bag and knelt down behind her. "Did you hurt your ankle?"
"No I'm fine, although I believe I may have bruised my derriere."
Joseph laughed and kissed the top of her head. "I'll rub it better for you later."
"An offer like that makes it almost worth falling over." Shakily she got to her feet, Joseph's hands holding her arms as he helped. "Ouch, oh dear, I really should be more careful. Don't talk to me whilst I'm trying to be careful."
"Okay I'll be silent until we reach the bottom."
Climbing down a little more cautiously it took a good fifteen minutes for them to reach the bottom of the small windy path. Clarisse stopped and glanced down over the rather awkward looking boulder that barred her last few steps.
"Are we there? May I speak?" Joseph asked leaning his chin on her shoulder.
"You may."
"Hang on a second." He took the bag from her shoulder and the one that hung on his back and dropped them to the beach.
Clarisse watched as he jumped down and then turned back to her holding his arms to her.
"How very caveman." She quipped as he reached up and took hold of her waist swinging her down to the sand.
"Caveman indeed," he kicked his shoes off. "Wonderful little spot this by the way darling."
"Don't start the darling business again." She picked her bag up and strode off across the beach. "I told you this was a wonderful secluded cove area, we can sunbathe here uninterrupted."
She glanced back over her shoulder. "Are you coming? What? Oh don't look at me like that…" dropping her bag she went back to him. "Call me dear, love, the most sexy lady you've ever seen, not darling… it makes me feel old."
"And I wouldn't want to do that… to the most sexy…" he kissed her nose. "Bossy, confusing, irritating, funny, wonderful lady I've ever known."
She threw her arms around his neck. "Oh darling you're so very romantic."
"Stop it, you're making me feel old." He quickly slid his hands down her body and before she'd had time to register the movement he'd hoisted her up into his arms and was carrying her to the shore edge.
"Where are you taking me?" She demanded tickling his beard.
"For a splash."
"A splash?" She smiled then screamed alarmed as she realised he was wading into the water. "Joseph, you're fully dressed."
"But the water feels good my dear."
"Don't you dare drop me, Joseph…" she tightened her grip on his neck. "Don't you dare."
"I won't, I won't." The water was above his knees now and he stopped, digging his toes into the warm wet sand beneath his feet. "Look at the view Clarisse. Look how alone we are."
She glanced up and, shielding her eyes, looked out across the ocean. "Hmm, it is beautiful. But if you allow me to change I will swim out here."
"Alright, back to shore." He turned and started back. "Spoil sport at times you know."
"We'll see… ahh, Joseph…."
She screamed as he stumbled on the uneven surface, his knees buckled beneath him and they both went crashing into the water.
Joseph sat up immediately, knees bent, hands resting atop of them chuckling uncontrollably. Clarisse jumped to her feet spluttering and shaking herself violently.
"My dress, ruined my dress." She cursed. "Don't laugh, it's not funny."
"Are you kidding, this is the most fun I've had in years, since my sons were young."
She splashed his face. "I told you to let me change before I swam."
"I hardly planned it… come here."
He held out his hand to her.
"No, I'm angry with you."
"No you aren't, not really, come here." He beckoned again and again she splashed him.
Moving forward slightly he caught her wrist, she was still splashing him with her free hand but giggling now as she did so. Laughing together Clarisse almost fell down on top of him, their mouths meeting softly.
"You taste of salt." Clarisse whispered. "Come, let's undress and swim."
"You're no longer angry?"
"Our clothes will dry on the rocks in the sun."
She pushed herself up using his arms then helped him to his feet; hand in hand they waded out of the water and across the sand.
Clarisse leant over Joseph's body, tiny droplets of seawater were running down his chest and she traced the pattern of one with her finger. His hand reached out and held the one that touched him and she smiled as their fingers folded together.
Reaching to the cool bag she pulled out a small tub and opened it up lifting a strawberry to Joseph's mouth. His eyes were closed and she teased him running the soft fruit along his lips, he snapped his teeth together and finally she relented and fed it to him.
"Mmm, that's good."
"More?"
He nodded and she moved the tub, resting it on his chest as she continued to feed the both of them.
"This could very well be perfection Clarisse." He said between bites. "Lying here on a blanket on a beach on a hot afternoon. With you."
"Private and secluded." She smiled kissing him briefly before giving him another strawberry. "Would you like something else to eat?"
"What do we have?"
"Lots, sandwiches, yoghurt, more fruit, cheesy snack cracker things."
Joseph laughed. "They sound good."
Clarisse hoisted herself up from his chest and sat back on the blanket, Joseph glanced up at her, at the way she held her head back to the sun's rays. Stray drops of moisture were sliding down her stomach from her bikini top as it dried.
Sitting up he moved closer to her, resting a hand on her leg as the other reached to stroke her hair.
"That's an awfully nice outfit you have there madam."
Her mouth twisted into a coy smile as she returned to a normal sitting position.
"I'm glad you approve, you know I wouldn't dare wear something like this on the main beach, thank goodness for seclusion. But black is my colour."
"Any colour is your colour." He brought his mouth to hers, she tasted of sweet strawberries, summer.
Clarisse wound her hand around his neck and slowly lay back bringing him down on top of her, she felt him pull back slightly and heard his smile but she kept her eyes closed. He kissed her again briefly and pulled back, she moaned her impatience.
"If we carry on kissing like this I'll get carried away." He whispered against her mouth.
"Then get carried away." She responded kissing him slowly and sensually, her tongue playfully teasing his mouth.
"You're dangerous." He said throatily.
"No, you are." She replied her nail gently scratching down his back.
Their mouths met again, Joseph groaned as she lifted her knee between his legs, she felt so good in his arms, smelt so good, tasted so good. His heart was already thudding uncontrollably, how could it be that he was even considering making love to her there and then, in the open air, in the middle of the day? He'd never been so reckless.
Clarisse parted her legs so that he instinctively moved between them. She murmured something next to his ear, he couldn't make out her words but the feel of her breath on his skin was enough to send shivers across his body. He moved his mouth to suckle on her neck.
In a second her manner had changed, she stiffened beneath him, her hands resting heavily on his shoulders.
"Joseph… Joseph, stop, I can hear somebody."
He looked up at her annoyed.
"Somebody's coming down." She whispered pushing him to sit up.
He sat back reaching for one of the bottles of water she had brought and drank deeply as he gazed up the cliff path, he couldn't see anybody yet but there were definite voices.
Clarisse grabbed her sarong and wrapped it around the lower half of her body, Joseph wished he could do the same.
"I think I should go for a swim." He said leaning forward and kissing her nose. "Put some cream on your nose, it's getting red."
She touched it momentarily as she watched him retreat towards the water, then reached into one of the bags searching for the sunscreen.
She replaced her sunglasses and opened up the cool bag taking out the food and arranging it for dinner.
Hearing a light giggling behind her she looked up toward the path, a little girl came bounding down and screeched to a halt when she spotted the large boulder blocking her way.
"Daddy!" She shouted back up the path.
Clarisse had to admit she was rather cute, blonde ringlets, a little pink summer dress, although her knees were rather dirty.
A tall gentleman who swung her up onto his back and jumped down to the beach soon joined her; a woman brought up the rear and clambered down behind them.
They spotted Clarisse and rather grudgingly she raised her hand and waved to them.
"Afternoon."
"Ah, hello, we're invading your solitude." The gentleman said as he walked towards her, the little girl bobbing about on his back.
"It's fine. Such a beautiful spot."
"Oh absolutely." The lady said. "We thought it would suit both our girls tastes."
"Both?" Clarisse raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Yes, Rachel is on her way down, slowly." The woman shrugged. "Becca here likes to play."
"Put me down daddy." The little girl squirmed down her father's back and stood politely in front of Clarisse, who felt rather odd sitting there in her bikini.
Removing her glasses Clarisse smiled. "Well hello there."
"Hello." She stuck her hand out oddly. "I'm Rebecca."
Biting back a smile Clarisse shook the little girl's hand. "It's very nice to meet you Rebecca, I'm Clarisse."
"It's vewy nice to meet you."
Laughing she watched as the girl ran across the beach, her parents made their excuses and followed her selecting a spot a little way around the cove area.
Clarisse looked down to the water edge and stood as Joseph waded out, waved to the family, and then proceeded to walk towards her.
A figure on the hill caught her eye and she glanced sideways at the young brunette who was scrambling across the rocks.
"Oh steady there young lady, you'll hurt yourself." Joseph took the girl's bag from her and laid it on the sand along with the book she had been reading. "Now let me help."
The girl rather awkwardly accepted his gesture and allowed him to lift her down to the beach, she couldn't have been more than fourteen. Her long hair was braided and she wore a baseball cap protecting her head, she held onto it as Joseph landed her feet safely.
"There we go, nicely done."
"Thank you." The girl stuttered, if Clarisse wasn't mistaken she would say that a pink blush had begun to creep onto her cheeks. "Thank you very much…" She collected her things and headed towards her parents.
Joseph sank down onto the blanket next to Clarisse.
"Feeling better?" She quipped over her shoulder.
"Yes, you tease." He picked up one of the small plastic boxes containing sandwiches and peeled the lid back. "Would you like one?"
Clarisse selected a sandwich and smiled warmly at him. "I think you've made a fan there."
He swallowed the sandwich. "Where?"
"Over there, Rachel I believe, you made her blush."
"Did I behave inappropriately?"
"Not at all, but I don't think she's ever had a handsome man, other than her father, swoop her up into his arms before."
"Ahh, not used to girls, with Pierre and Philippe it was all play fights and rough and tumble. Polo as they got older, tough game, got hit on more than one occasion, had bruises for months."
"Poor dear, I've never played, though I must admit I enjoyed watching a match or two… all those firm backsides in tight trousers."
"Who would believe somebody with as pure a face as you could behave so naughtily." He leaned forward to her, smiling at her serene expression. "Hmmm, Clarisse is a bad girl."
"Very bad." Their lips met once hesitantly, then she held onto his arm and kissed him fully, no longer caring who shared their beach.
I've been watching them; the couple on the beach, at first I thought they were married but neither has a wedding ring. He can't be English, she might be, but he has such a wonderful warm lilt to his voice. We've only been to Spain once and I was only 11 but I think that's what it is, Spanish.
They seem too old to not be married, kissing on a beach in public and not married. How romantic. And he has such strong arms; I can still feel his wet skin sticking to me as he lifted me down. He's lovely. Earlier I saw him dip a strawberry into his yoghurt and then feed it to her, I was pretending to read my book and I saw it, if I wear my sunglasses they don't know where I'm looking.
She is very pretty though, I wonder how old she is? Older than mummy, and different to her too, more curvy, my Mum tends to be straight up and down which makes me angry because I've noticed that my breasts are larger than most of the other girls at school. This lady, Clarisse I heard him call her, Clarisse, Clarisse… I might use that in something I write, it's a great name, I've never heard it before. Ohhh, they're moving……
AHHHH you will not believe it, Becca and Daddy were splashing about like idiots in the water and Joseph took hold of Clarisse's hand and pulled her down to the water too. They swam for a while, playing about I think, he was holding her really close at one point and he kissed her again, I think she was embarrassed because she tried to pull away but he held her and then… then he lifted her up and swung her around! She was screaming and my Mum started to laugh. I couldn't stop watching them then, it was like some book, better than the book I'm reading.
They were splashing and playing about for ages, they look too old for that! He kept swimming after her and she was trying to trip him up in the water I think because he was stumbling about and she kept on laughing. They swam off out of sight after a while, around the rocks, I wanted to climb over the top and look for them but I knew Mum would notice so I returned to reading my book.
Well they were only gone for about ten minutes then they swam back towards the beach, Joseph threw Becca's ball back to her in the water and for a while he and Clarisse stood holding each other… she had her back to him and his arms were around her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder. They look happy together.
OUCH! Becca's ball hit me in the head.
"Come play moody pants." The little girl squealed running up the beach and grabbing her sister's hand.
Clarisse glanced backwards momentarily and smiled as the two sisters waded into the water and climbed up onto the rocks.
"They're having fun." She whispered, the waves were high now, the water lapping around her waist, Joseph's strong arms holding her tight.
"So am I." He kissed her cheek. "This has been such a wonderful day."
"It has, my skin will not be forgiving tomorrow though, an entire day in the ocean, all that salty water and then the sun."
"I know." He kissed her cheek again. "I'll massage you with oils."
"You will?"
He nodded, holding her even tighter.
"The sun is shifting." She said gently. "We should start back home, it's a fairly long walk."
"I know, I don't want to leave though, so lovely here, I love the ocean."
She turned in his arms, resting her hands on his shoulders. "I know, you told me." She kissed him lightly. "I'm glad you've enjoyed it here."
"It's been wonderful."
"It has… I didn't even mind our guests."
"Me neither."
She traced her fingers over his beard, gazing over his shoulder back up the beach, at the shadows cast over the sand, at the water as it slowly began to work its way further up towards their belongings.
"What are dreaming about?" He asked kissing her forehead.
"Hmmm…"
"You have a dreamy expression on your face."
"Do I?" She smiled knowingly.
"What is it?" He tilted his head to the side watching her expression change.
Clarisse lifted her mouth to his ear, closing her eyes and whispering deeply. "I'm imagining you inside of me."
Joseph swallowed slowly. And again. "Well then," he coughed, "Perhaps we should start for home."
Clarisse laughed. "Yes I think so. Come on, I'll race you to shore."
Well i hope you enjoyed that little summery escape - please leave me a review Thanks x R
