Special thanks to PrettyCrazy, RevSue, NikNik4, Mainer2121, Monker and Properlyprim18 for the great feedback and encouragement. I appreciate Monker's suggesting about naming the chapters, so I hope I chose a good one for this chapter! Please note that this chapter contains wedding night interaction between C & J and although I have made every effort to tone it down, I just wanted to give fair warning to those who might be offended by such content. For those who would like, I'll be happy to send you the "uncut" version - just let me know. Thanks again and enjoy!
Chapter 4: Night Dancing
Present day
He entered the bedroom suite. He had changed into black silk boxers and a black silk robe. It had seemed silly that he had no idea what to wear or what not to wear. He had always thought that was the biggest issue for women to deal with. It had taken him almost a half an hour to freshen up and decide what to wear. He only hoped Clarisse had not encountered the same dilemma he had.
The lights were turned down and there was a faint glow in the room from the moonlight streaming in the window. Music was softly playing in the background. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust and to find her lying, rather stiffly, in the bed. Once he could see more clearly, he noticed a tear running down her cheek. "This certainly isn't the scene I expected…" he thought to himself.
"Are you alright my love?" He asked as he moved towards the bed.
His voice seemed to startle her. She looked up at him and smiled.
"Are you alright – you seemed a million miles away?" He asked again.
"Yes, yes, I'm fine. I was just taking a not so pleasant trip down memory lane. But I'm back now and I'm sure you can make things much more pleasant, can't you?" She had been smiling but he noticed that she still seemed slightly distressed.
"Are you tired? I noticed you are already lying down."
She sat up some against the pillows. "I'm afraid I had absolutely no idea what I should be doing or how to proceed, so I fell back into old habits. I'm sorry." Her head was hanging low and she seemed very unsure of herself.
He too remembered and knew what she was talking about. He knew the King would come to visit her at certain times – though only through the secret passageway in her room. Joseph had stood guard outside her room many nights and, because his hearing was so astute, he could always hear the door opening which would signal the King's entrance. Normally after that, it would be very quiet until he heard the door again. Joseph had always wondered, inappropriately so, if the Queen was just a quiet lover or if things were just really that bad between them. Occasionally, he heard some slight crying after the King had left. The exception to the quiet being that one night – he knew they had been arguing earlier in the day and no one was more surprised than Joe when he heard the door open from within the Queen's bedchamber. Then there was yelling. An eerie quiet had followed and then crying and tears 'before' the King left. Joseph wanted to go to her that night to see that she was alright, but he felt at the time it would be inappropriate. He knew she would tell him in good time, which she had. As he started to feel angry remembering the night she told him…no, he wouldn't go there - notright now. Right now was a time for happiness and love. A time he and Clarisse had long awaited for and he wasn't going to let unpleasant memories destroy that tonight.
Pulling himself out of his thoughts, he turned to Clarisse. He reached his hand out to her and pulled her out of the bed and towards him to a standing position. He held her chin in his hand and tilted her face up towards him. The tears that stained her cheek reflected in the moonlight and he saw all of her fear, doubt, and vulnerability exposed. "Dance with me" was all he had to say. She nodded her assent and they joined hands and began to sway in time to the music.
At first she thought it might feel odd to be dancing with him in the moonlight with him dressed only in his robe (she had no idea if he had anything on underneath it) and her in her little nightie. As they began the dance, though, it seemed as natural as breathing. In his arms was where she belonged. With each measure of music, she grew more confident and bold – allowing her hips to sway seductively in close proximity to him. As she would turn, she would ensure that she would just barely brush up against him. Joseph was trying to keep his calm and to keep things moving slowly, but damn this woman was driving him crazy. He wasn't sure if she was doing this on purpose or if it was just a subconscious reaction to dancing in their night clothes, but he was going to have to kiss her and touch her very soon or he felt he might go mad with desire.
As the song ended, their lips met in a kiss again. Not as tentative as before, they started where they had left off in the hallway earlier in the evening. He teased her mouth until she allowed his tongue to find its way into her warmth. He enjoyed the way their tongues danced together just as their bodies had done moments earlier. She finally came up for air needing a moment to try to compose herself.
"By the way," he said breathlessly, "you look absolutely amazing." He let his finger trail down her jaw line, collarbone and over the swell of her breast concealed beneath the lace. He could feel her heartbeat increase exponentially as his finger continued it's explorations over the lace and satin.
She tried to respond, but for once in her life, could not form a coherent thought. So she decided to see if there was anything under that robe after all. With a boldness she still wasn't sure where it came from – she pulled at the tie of his robe and pushed the fabric off of his shoulders. She allowed her hands to caress his chest causing a sharp intake of his breath as her nails scraped over his now very alert body. He continued to allow her exploration for a few minutes letting her learn his body as he had every intention of returning the favor very soon. She then stepped even closer so that her satin and lace was pressed very nicely up against his bare skin. Her arms encircled him and repeated the same exercise over his back and finally down to his thighs and backside. The music had stopped and nothing could be heard in the room except their breathing which was increasing at a rapid pace. She looked up at him and smiled as she knew emotionally and physically that her attention to learning his body and her closeness was having the desired affect.
Seeing that smile, Joseph decided that two could play at her game. He gave her a quick kiss and then put his hands on her shoulders and turned her around. At first she felt saddened by the loss of contact, but that was only momentary as she felt him close behind her and his hands began massaging and caressing her shoulders. She found it to be a strange contrast – his hands at one moment relaxing tension with the massage and then in another moment creating a different kind of tension with his caresses. His hands moved from her shoulders and arms to encircling her waist. He began to caress the soft material surrounding her waist while placing gentle kisses where his hands had been on her shoulders only moments before. She began to sway against him to music that only they could hear. They continued for a few minutes this way until Joseph's hands moved higher. She froze as sensations she had never felt before in her life were now radiating through her body creating a sensation of electricity and heat. She arched her back to push herself even more into his marvelous hands. Immersing herself in the sensations he was creating, she allowed herself a few moments longer before turning back around and stepping back.
Now it was his turn to feel saddened by the loss of contact, but before he could say anything or react, she gently lowered the spaghetti straps that held her gown in place and let the garment fall to the floor in a pool of satin. Time stood still for Joseph as he saw the love of his life giving him such a precious gift. She was bathed in moonlight and her body was flushed almost the same color that the gown she had just divested herself of.
He closed the space between them and once again murmured in her ear how absolutely - magnificently beautiful she was before he kissed her with all of the passion and desire he had pent up for so many years. They moved to the bed and Joseph quickly lost the rest of his garments as well. They continued to explore each other's body. As Joseph began to pay special attention to some of his favorite parts, he swore he heard her chuckle. It took a moment for the chuckle to register as he was consumed by desire, but he listened intently as he continued and he was certain she was giggling. Finally he could take it no more.
"Am I tickling you or is there something you find rather humorous about this?" He was trying not to sound hurt, but not sure that he was succeeding.
The giggling stopped as she realized what impression she must have just given him. Her hand cupped his cheek as she replied. "Oh dear Joseph, you are not tickling me; I was just remembering the look on your face the night Pierre was born as you watched me nurse him for the first time. You looked positively jealous."
Joseph turned unusually red as he knew exactly what she was talking about. He then laughed back, "Well, that's because, my dear…I was! I didn't think it was fair that he was getting to touch and taste something that I could never have. It's crazy and wrong, I know – but it is what I was feeling. I just apologize that I was so obvious – that was very improper of me."
She turned serious as she adjusted her body so his head was now lying squarely on her chest. "My love, you have always had my heart, my mind and my spirit and tonight we will complete the circle and you shall have my body as well. All that it is and will be is forever yours."
With that, the talking and trips down memory lane were done for the night. They continued to learn and explore each other's body. Joseph discovered that night that the Queen was definitely not a quiet lover as her gasps and moans were very evident as he discovered her favorite places to be touched – perhaps because she was learning for the first time that night as well.
Joseph had taken a long time for foreplay as he wanted to make sure she was ready and didn't want to hurt her. She had confided in him once that Rupert and she had not had sex again after the night Phillipe was conceived – andhe felt certain he knew exactly what night she was referring to and knew that it was a long time ago.
As the mutual exploration continued, the sensations continued to build in her – her whole world ceased to exist except for Joseph and his loving touch. Somewhere in her haze, she heard Joseph's sultry voice, "Are you ready?"
"Oh God yes…if you don't do something soon to bring this to a climax I fear you shall kill the Queen of Genovia with your bare hands!"
Now it was his turn to slightly chuckle at her choice of words and the thought of how Elsie Kentworthy would report that? Queen dies her first night of marriage – former body guard's hands arrested!"
Fortunately she didn't hear the chuckle or his momentary pause as she was far gone down the path of desire. She faintly heard him through her heart beating wildly in her ears, "First my heart, my mind, my spirit and now my body. I love you with everything that I am and ever will be." They moved together in a dance as old as time that ended with her crying out his name and him collapsing on to her as they both achieved their final release. Neither moved for several minutes until Clarisse finally said, "Since you weren't able to kill me with your ministrations, are you trying to suffocate me?"
Laughter rang from both of them as he realized that she was bearing the full brunt of his weight. He moved to her side and pulled her head down to lie on his chest as he put his arm protectively around her. It took only moments for her to be asleep. Joseph took a little longer though as he knew there was still much to talk about and resolve before they could go on to live "happily ever after."
I look forward to your feedback and hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it!
