Joseph opened the double door leading into the suite to Clarisse. Behind them followed one of the staff members that was carrying their suitcases. The young man put the luggage down, bowed to Clarisse and left.

The room had a dreamy glow from within. The air smelled roses, which some were displayed on the bed. Beside the bed was a bottle of champagne with fresh strawberries. Obviously, the hotel has been informed of their arrival. Since they would be here for two weeks, they decided that it would be better if they unpack and place their belongings into the closets. Clarisse and Joseph exchanged a look and both laughed childishly. Clarisse's cheeks reddened… Both were trying to relax but to think that they would be sharing the same bedroom for two weeks… for the rest of their lives! They unpacked and after they were done…

"If you'll excuse me for a moment, I shall go and get changed." Clarisse said to him. "I will not be too long." She added before disappearing in the bathroom with her white satin pyjama in one hand and her robe in the other. While she was changing, Joseph looked around the room and went toward the champagne bottle. He opened it and poured two glasses; then he went toward the couch that was in front of the foyer and sat down.

When she got out, she looked around, searching for Joseph.

"Lost something?" he said. She smiled and went toward him. Joseph gave her the glass of champagne he had poured for her. Clarisse sat down beside him and looked at the blazing fire. Distant, she seemed so lost in her thoughts. Joseph would take a look at her and couldn't help notice her tensed muscles. He could tell just by her posture. It wasn't easy for him either; he had wanted to touch her skin for far too long and now that he had every right to do so, he still felt as if he couldn't. Clarisse was aware of that and the thought that it would be her cue to make the first move scared her a bit. "What if he doesn't want me as much as I want him?" she thought for a second, before gazing at him. How deep his eyes seemed at this very moment, how intoxicating it would be to dive into it, how he looks somewhat nonchalant at the other end of the sofa…

"Is all of this real Clarisse?" Joseph finally asked her. Her smile softened and she turned her head toward him; his face was so serious and yet the light of the fire was reflecting in his eyes. Would her heart of ice ease his burning passion? Clarisse leant forward to Joseph who did put away his glass of champagne. He could see her face bigger as she got closer to him. Her eyes seemed to be locked with his. She'd put her hand forward her to slide it from his wrist, passing by his elbow, to his shoulder, to finally make it rest at the back of his neck. What was into her? As if she was now concient about what she was about to do, she shook her head and pulled away.

"I can't… not now… I'm not…" She said, starting to sob.

"I know… Shhhhh…" Joseph said, passing his arm around her shoulder to have her lying by his side. He rested his hand on her shoulder and kissed her forehead. This yet "ordinary" gesture made him tremble. Feeling him tremble, she lifts her head up, seemed not decided either to look at his eyes or his lips, she brought hers to captures his gently. She pulled back not long after, bringing back her head to rest on his chest and tried to relax. He slipped his body on the sofa, to be comfortable. She was supported against him and she followed. Clarisse felt secure, on such level she never did before. She closed her eyes and let herself be invaded by his delicate perfume.

Later in the night, Joseph woke up and found Clarisse still asleep, snuggled against him. The thought that they didn't have a "usual" wedding night didn't scare him before he wanted this first time to be when she would be ready. It would be Clarisse who would have to tell the rules, make the first move, because new that when the moment would be appropriate, he would freeze. "It would have been easier to let our senses take over when we danced that wango…" Joseph thought to himself as he looked at her; how angelic and peaceful she was. He leant forward and kissed her forehead, making her grin and move but yet she wouldn't wake up. Joseph slipped up from the sofa and walked toward the bathroom to change into his pyjama.

When he got back, he went to Clarisse and he picked her up. How light she seemed in his arms. Isn't an angel supposed to be light? He felt as if he were carrying the world in his hands, careful not to drop it, although the room was now darker. He was able to get one of his hands free to undo the sheets and he delicately put Clarisse on the bed then pulled the sheets to cover her body, brushing his fingers along her curves, as he would pull the sheets. She'd yawn something, turn over and continue to sleep. Joseph couldn't decide either he would slide in at her side or if he'd go sleep on the sofa. They weren't stranger anymore, thought he never thought they were, he was now his husband…

"Won't you join me in?" Clarisse asked softly. "She's half-asleep, she probably doesn't know what she's saying. Could she be talking when she sleeps?" Joseph thought to himself as a discreet smile formed on his lips. He slowly bent down toward the bed and got in beside Clarisse. Clarisse, his wife… Feeling that there was movement beside her, Clarisse rolled over on his side but as soon as she reached out to extend her arm and place it on his chest, she jumped surprised to find somebody by her side.

"Joseph! What are you doing here?" she said, nervously. He didn't have the time to rest his head on the pillow that he got straight up and looked at her.

"You… you ask me to join you in, Clarisse…" he said to her, not trying to get her to think she would have lost her mind.

"Why am I here by the way?" she replied.

"You've fell asleep on the couch and I thought you would be comfortable here."

"Well, I… I… I…was…comfortable…Joseph…" Had she just admit to him what she felt inside? Could she already be opening up to him? "What's the harm anyway?" she thought for a second before placing her glaze back on him and saw his grin.

"I'm nervous Joseph… I… I haven't shared my bed with anyone since…" Clarisse calmly said.

"I know…" Joseph answered. He passed his hand in her hair, bringing her closer so he could kiss her forehead.

"Come…" she added, taping her hand on the mattress, inviting him to lie down next to her.

She wouldn't need to place her request twice; he pulled the sheets off and slides in but stayed on his side of the bed. Clarisse went inches closer to him and whispered to his ear:

"Hold me…" She snuggled her head against his chest and rested her hand on his waist as he brought his arm and brushed his hand from her tummy and extended it until he had reach her waist, making her shiver under his touch.

In the wee small hours of the morning, Clarisse still couldn't sleep. She opened her eyes and looked at Joseph, who was sleeping peacefully. "Could he be dreaming of me?" she wondered. Being careful not to wake him up, she gently kissed his forehead. She opened her suitcase and took out a book, untitled. In the center of the blank pages was a pen, which Clarisse picked up. She went to the foyer and sat on the sofa, on which she was sleeping earlier, being tossed against Joseph, their legs entwined, both quietly longing for a contact with the other. She opens her book, sits down and starts to think... That could be her weakness; thinking too much. She would have to listen to her heart. This relationship with Joseph was about her heart, not about Genovia. How could she find the power, the will to open up to him? She writes...

"We've done it, we're married! I think I was the first to be surprised by it. It all happened so quickly but still, it seemed like the minutes were hours instead. I'd take in each and every new scent, new emotion. Emotion? How can I have emotions and be so cold at the same time? They all seem to see me as the definition of being strong, flinty, and impervious but if they only knew how little I feel... I do what I believe is right... They don't have to know everything of what's going on with "me" so it made me become an "ice Queen"... I've been all my life... I still hear his words in my head, "would you open yourself?" it was frightening, I didn't know how. I don't think I do to this day. But it's so simple yet so complicated at the same time! I want to be with him, make him see who I am; I feel I have so much to give... Can I just let myself go? How he's always been by my side, how he would be there when I needed a friend... I didn't need to say something, he knew, he could read my eyes, read my soul. How did he manage to always seem to catch me off guard? How could he shatter that defense wall I've built and kept around myself all of my life? Does it really matter? I just want us to be together; it's simple..."

Clarisse got straight up, touched her forehead; she has been sweating and she felt her cheeks had reddened. She looked at Joseph; he was peacefully sleeping. She decided to get up, to pull herself together and went toward the foyer. She looked at the stereo, then at Joseph and back at the stereo. She stopped thinking for a second and pressed play. She backed a bit and lied down on the sofa.

"I don't know how to love him. What to do, how to move him? I've been changed, yes really changed. In these past few days, when I've seen myself, I seem like someone else. I don't know how to take this. I don't see why he moves me. He's a man. He's just a man. Should I bring him down? Should I scream and shout? Should I speak of love? Let my feelings out? I never thought I'd come to this. What's it all about? Don't you think it's rather funny? I should be in this position. I'm the one who's always been. So calm, so cool, no lover's fool. Running every show. What's it all about? I want him so. I love him so."

Joseph stretched; slowly awaking to the delicious sound he could hear in the room. He turned around and saw that Clarisse wasn't there. He scanned the room but still couldn't find her. The French doors leading to the balcony were slightly open, making the drapes waltz sensually to the rhythm of the wind. He walked around in the room, went toward the balcony but she wasn't there. He turned around and saw her lying down on the couch; she was looking at the ceiling, "probably thinking", he thought.

He still wasn't sure if it was real; if Clarisse Renaldi was now his wife. HIS WIFE! Thinking how she would find the way to have him pull the drapes covering his soul, not letting anyone seeing through his eyes. How she would do simple gestures such as brushing his hand to remind him that she's there by his side, how her smile could take him to a world he's never known.

Clarisse heard him moving around in the room and got up from the sofa.

"It wasn't my intention to wake you, it's pretty early." She said, looking at him. He took a moment to look at the clock, which indicated 3:30AM. He daren't move and go toward her.

"Are you alright, Clarisse?" he asked, concerned at what she could possibly be up to at this hour.

"Hum hum!" she nodded. "I... I just needed to..." she didn't finish her sentence that some magnet made her walk toward him, slowly closing the gap between them, looking at him, searching his eyes. In a movement, she opened her arms wide open and somewhat shyly put them around him. He responded by placing one hand on her waist and the other at the back of her neck, bringing her closer to him. Their eyes locked and she leant her head closer to his. He could feel her heavy breath; she must have felt his loud beating heart underneath his shirt. He was the one to capture her lips with his, making her sigh. They moved together to the rhythm of the slow, sensual song that was still playing. Starting to feel somewhat impatient, her hands started to roam on his back, going from the bottom of his spine to the back of his neck, passing by his waist and brushing his arm. His hands hungrily roamed over her shoulder, crushing her body against him. Yet she didn't protest. He would deepen the kiss and as a response, she opened her mouth wider and placed her tongue on his bottom lip. That movement took him by surprise and he got captured fast enough. Joseph would bring out his, gently, sensually brushing hers, pushing it back into her mouth, where their tongues would be engaged in a sensual duel. Breathless, she broke the kiss, slightly opened her eyes and looked at him.

"Carry me..." she whispered.

"What?" he wasn't sure of what he heard. Their kiss was intoxicating; it left him with some strange, yet delightful impression, as if he couldn't think.

"Carry me..." she whispered to him again. A small smile formed on his lips as he picked her up and walked toward the bed where he carefully put her down. "There's no backing out now... but I don't want to..." she thought to herself as she pulled the sheets to the side. Joseph stayed beside the bed, unable to move, now that he realised that he just couldn't think straight anymore. He's waited so long… She's waited so long…

Turning her face for her eyes to meet his, she sat up, smiled and brought her hands to the top button of her night blouse, slowly undoing it. His jaw dropped open and his breath was deeper. She had seen this sparkle in his eyes before; this sparkle of desire that would take control of every inches of his body. Clarisse looked at him, smiled and brought herself toward Joseph, until the inside of her knees would reach the edge of the bed. There, she lifted her head up to him. He brought his hand to her burning cheek and softly brushed his fingers on her smooth skin, making her shiver.

Could he see that despite her fear, he has such effect on her that her body responds by itself? Could he see that she's trembling, needing a comfort she's been longing for? Asking Joseph to simply put his arms around her, telling her that everything will be alright wouldn't be enough; Clarisse felt she needed more. She lifted her hand but seemed to hesitate for a second. She brought it up again to grab his neck so she could pull him close to her.

"Clarisse," Joseph started saying on an intimate tone Clarisse had never heard before. "you were seen by the people as their ruler. Every person that crossed your path had never known they've just been in contact with the most wonderful woman. Because I know that you are and because I see that, it makes me feel privileged. I've looked at you long enough to see your humanity, Clarisse. You have the biggest heart. And to let me being a part of it is something I would always be grateful for…" She silenced him by bringing him with her in her fall back, which got her lying on the bed with Joseph half on top of her. She'd take great delight in noticing how his body felt against hers.

Clarisse's hands running hungrily over Joseph's back made him sigh in her mouth. By which power this fire was awakened? Both wouldn't know; wouldn't wonder the whys now. It was just about opening up to the other, feeling the teases, the whispers, the cries, the promises one toward the other.

Joseph brought his hand to cup her face and felt her burning cheeks.

"Are you alright?" he softly asked her. Her eyes closed, Clarisse nodded, bringing her mouth to his in an impatient movement. Joseph was surprised by her sudden impatience but didn't care as he had lost all thought for quite a long moment now. She took his hands and put it on the next button of her pyjama shirt, guiding him into the action of undoing it. He got where she would be going and pushed her hand aside to let him continue freely. He undid her button and moved to the other, then the other, then the other… Until he had his hands on both side of the tissue, ready to take it off of her. Breathing deeply and uncontrolled, she said "yes", nodding to amplify her acknowledgement.

Joseph pushed the material aside, revealing her body. Joseph bent down and kissed her fully on the lips.

"Beautiful, Clarisse, beautiful…" he whispered to her. "Hum, may I?"

"Don't be silly Joseph, not the time to…" she didn't have the time to finish that he shut her with a kiss that seemed different than all the others. Clarisse wouldn't know what magic had awakened all of this but she was in pure delight of the events. Joseph moved to kiss her neck, which made her arch her back a little bit and she sent her head backward to give him better access. He explored her body, taking in everything that would make her push herself upward, what makes her sigh. He paused for a second and let Clarisse run her hands on his chest, undoing every button of his pyjama shirt. When he removed the material, Clarisse was astounded; she would never have noticed how in good shape he was. She sat on the bed and kissed his chest. The warm pressure of her lips on his skin sent shivers through his spine. Clarisse moved from his chest to his lips, capturing it with hers, pushing Joseph back so he'd be lying on the bed with Clarisse on top of him.

If it weren't for Clarisse to give him the pleasure she had just given him, he would have pulled away, asking for her forgiveness for putting her in such position; he got carried away. He's not the only one to get carried away so it seems. Sitting atop of him, she looked intensely at him and brought her delicate hands to his pyjama bottom, starting to slide it down but stopped midway to look at the scar on his hip.

"Some lost bullet, a long, long time ago…" he said to her. She bent down her head to place her lips on his skin, making him drop on his back and grin in excitement as physical answer to the warmness of her breath on his skin, the softness of her lips. Joseph sat up, took Clarisse by the shoulders to roll on the bed with her, to rest on top of her. She'd run her hands along his hip until she reached his pant and helped him remove what was left. He daren't remove his slip, wanting her to be certain of her acts. Slightly teasing him, she slowly removed her own pyjama bottom. Joseph's eyes widened as he noticed she wasn't wearing any underwear. His shy smile warmed her heart and made her blush as she realised that no other man had seen her naked. Rupert has but he'd never take the time to capture the beauty, the perfection of her body.

"Oh, Clarisse…" he whispered, moving toward her, feeling her hand on the material he had left on, pulling it away. He was naked in front of her. Joseph was trembling, so was Clarisse. All of this hidden longing and now they finally were where they needed to be. She moved forward a bit, as did Joseph. She started to move toward him again but it was he who closed the gap between them and lied down Clarisse on the bed, where, together, they'd taste each other, asking, answering unanswered words, asking, needing more as time went by until they'd drift away in each other's arms.

VIII