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Day Four: 1994; Winter Palace, Genovia
"Oh Joseph," Clarisse breathed as she bit her bottom lip, "This one's hard."
"Hard, indeed.." Joseph smirked and sipped from his wine as he watched Clarisse stare at the challenge before her, taking a sip on her own glass.
This had been a normal occurrence every afternoon on a serene boring day.
Since King Rupert specifically asked him to be a part of Her Majesty's security team, Joseph became closer to her and thus came out of the shadows where he used to protect her.
Observe her.
He had to admit, aside from Her Majesty, who is really close to him now as both the queen and Clarisse, he also felt more close to the King. Too close in fact that it's only him who reminded Joseph a lot of his initial sexual preference.
How did the King know? Joseph's not plainly sure how but he's sure it's either Clarisse or Chris that tell.
"Got it!" Clarisse clapped as she showed Joseph her move, "You think you can get passed my knight easily huh.."
Joseph smirked and took his own knight to eat hers. He met Clarisse's lifted eyebrows as she smirked and moved her bishop, "Checkmate."
Joseph looked at the board and gaped as he noticed how clever her pieces were placed.
If he moved his king, her pawn, bishop, two rooks can eat him out. If he moves his knight, her other bishop can still eat him, if he moves his bishop, one of her rooks can eat it and it's still her game. It's not help if he moves any of his pawns either.
His queen is also in grave danger with her knight or bishop if it moves to eat any of the pieces and that's no help on protecting the king either.
"You are very clever," Joseph smiled and surrendered as he leaned on his chair and messed up with the pieces, "That made us fair, 85-85."
Clarisse chuckled and shook her head, "You could have won if you're not busy drinking my damn wine and staring at my clothes."
"Who wears silky thin loose clothes that shows enough cleavage on a cold February afternoon?" Joseph said and smirked as he cleaned up, "And I told you it's too much than you usually show. If I'm other guys, I would have fainted or could be having sinful thoughts by now."
"Oh! To heck with that," Clarisse said as she helped him, "We both know I could flash my bosoms to you and none of us give a damn care."
Joseph smirked and hid the board, "Do you usually swore a lot when it's a very special day?"
"If that's the logic then I'll be cursing like a sailor everyday." she smirked back and stood up to face him, "We both live long enough to realize that everyday is special."
"Okay, fine. But when I fix that, the logic means you're almost not yourself at New Year and Valentine's."
"No I'm not."
"Yes you are."
"Nope."
"Yes."
"I said no!"
"You're getting crossed," Joseph smirked, "Does that mean I'm right?"
"Oh go back to your mother's womb," Clarisse rolled her eyes and finished her wine, "More wine?"
"That's enough for today," he said as walked closer to her, "We can't have you stumbling like a drunk old around the palace."
"We can't have anyone seeing me like this," Clarisse breathed and sat back on the stool, "I always hated Valentine's and New Years."
"Why so?"
"New years are meant for leaving the past to face the unpredictable future. Valentine's is pointless if you can love, feel loved and love yourself every single damn day. No one needs an occasion as a reminder for love when it's everywhere anytime."
Joseph raised his eyebrows and sat beside her, "You're being bitter. As someone who went through puberty, Valentine's can be the only time where I can send flowers and chocolates for someone, it can be the only ego booster for someone who's incredibly shy as a young adult."
"And as someone who went through puberty as well, Valentine's is a perfect ego killer for someone who dreams and hopes a lot," Clarisse snapped and raised her own eyebrows as she smirked, "And if you want an ego booster, skipping classes can make you heighten up that confidence level."
"You know what," Joseph smirked back, "You took that one from Chris."
"Just like you took the puberty thing,"
"Alright we both stole Chris' lines," Joseph smirked and finished his wine. As if on cue, the phone rang and Clarisse rolled her eyes.
"Who'll call my personal line at this time?"
"Don't be displeased. Who knows, that could be someone to bid you Happy Valentine's!" Joseph smiled as she stood up to answer the phone.
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Clarisse smiled and spoke, "Hello? Oh- Rupert… it's you. Mhmm… What do you want? No, I lost on a chest game that's why. What? Are you asking for a- oh… alright. Gonna meet somebody tonight? Oh it's fine. What about me? Uh- well Joseph can accompany me all night. Uh-huh NO! No! I am fine, just a bit irritated still. Of course because of that! What else? Oh- really? Oh you and Joseph both really bother me a lot today you know? Again, I am fine. Go to your game, I'll cover up the meeting for Spain."
Her eyes found Joseph as she nodded and hummed a few more times, "I am and will be fine. Of course… uh-huh… I love you too. Take care! And don't get caught."
She slammed the receiver down and started cursing in varieties of languages, "Argh! Now I need to fix myself and face Spain!"
"And we have to keep each other sane and sober, so no more wine." Joseph mocked her groan and hid the bottle of wine, "Shall I call Olivia to help you 'fix' yourself?"
"No thanks," Clarisse said and entered her wardrobe, "I told her to have this day off. It'll be rude if I suddenly called her."
"Yeah right…" Joseph muttered and cleared away the pillows, "I'll call Darin to fetch the car."
"Finally!" Clarisse exclaimed and collapsed on the couch after the door closed, "I missed you my lovely fluffy coldy couch and pillows!"
"Honestly Clarisse, I just made that two hours ago." Joseph mocked and sat beside her, "I know I told you we should keep each other sane and sober but I think we deserve that bottle of wine."
Clarisse hummed and opened her eyes, "Of course! I shall have one more bottle before I chop off Rupert's head."
Joseph laughed and appeared with a bottle and glasses, "Speaking of Rupert, can I ask something personal?"
"Anything as long as it's not about his manhood or bed manners." she smiled as she sat up and crossed her legs, "Who knew? Maybe the next day you'll be spending the night with him rather than me."
"Not in my wildest dreams." he huffed, pouring drinks on glasses, "Chris warned about having affairs with royalty."
Clarisse took one glass and frowned, "Let's get with the question."
"Later, let me think of a toast."
"Do me the honor," Clarisse cleared her throat, "Happy Anniversary to dear Joseph! May our relationship continue as we live."
"I wasn't expecting that but here's to us!" Joseph smiled as they lifted their glasses and took a taste on their wine.
He sat beside her and cleared his throat as she faced him, waiting for the question.
"Look, I don't want you to be upset or anything-"
"Joseph, you cut roses off my bush, took a bullet for me and let me annoy you as you did on me," Clarisse sighed and swallowed some unnecessary lump on her throat, "If you ever upset me, I assure you, you do not."
"Okay, so here it is…. I- well you do know that he's with someone else right? I mean- I haven't met a wife who's supportive to her husband's extramarital affairs."
Clarise raised her eyebrows and opened her mouth while nodding, "Ah~ so you mean to talk about my reaction? Well I have you know, dear Joseph… that our relationship is open."
"Isn't it a bit unfair? I mean, I don't know how open relationships work but he's having some of that while you're drinking wine with me."
"Well, it's my choice if I want to have sex with someone," Clarisse mumbled, "You want to know how it started don't you?"
"I'm quite curious."
"Very well!" Clarisse clapped and set down her glass, "About twenty~ is it? No! Twenty five~ twenty five years ago, the palace became quite empty and Rupert's at the peak of his boredom. So am I but my life's initially boring. Anyways…. the boys mounted to boardings schools and there's nothing much to do so Rupert and I got ourselves into.. well let's say more bedroom acts. But as me in those days, I'm quite unimpressed in his manners."
Joseph raised his eyebrows and took a sip on his wine. He, himself, becomes more serious and curious about those bedroom acts and the thing that doesn't impress this woman. The queen and Clarisse.
"He's fetish and- well he's very rough. I don't really know what happened then but sooner or later I found myself in bed with Chris. I confessed to Rupert and he- well he said he's having quite a lot of it those days."
Joseph waited for the next words as he watched Clarisse take a sip on her glass and watched a rebellious drop travel down her jaw to her throat. Disappearing to her cleavage behind the tight ensemble she picked for the occasion.
If she doesn't wear very loose clothes, she wears tight ones. Not too revealing but not that decent for a queen either.
Luckily she has numerous blazers and scarves to hide her outfits that are outrageous on the elder's eyes.
"That's it?" he asked, his eyes looking at his own glass as his cheeks warmed up for the too much attention he's giving to her outfits and body.
"Why? Of course not." Clarisse blurted, "But I'm not sure if you're ready to hear the others."
"Oh don't think about me" Joseph muttered, "Think about yourself… if you're ready to share them."
"Someday.." she whispered and leaned in against him, "If I talk too much, I'll have a headache in the morning."
"Whatever you do, you'll always get a headache. You've been drinking a lot today.." he chuckled, enjoying her body against his. Her warmth and softness.
Clarisse closed her eyes and took a sip on her wine, "Honestly, Joseph…"
"Mhmm…"
"I'd sleep with you if you allow me."
"Who was that?" Joseph asked as Clarisse leaned into bed beside him.
Clarisse closed her eyes and snuggled beside him, "Rupert said he wanted to meet you first thing in the morning."
"Oh," Joseph muttered and snaked his arms around her, "What do you think he wants from me?"
"Do I look like I know what he wants?" She snapped and sighed, "I'm sorry."
Joseph caressed her hair and pulled her closer to him, "Don't apologize."
"I have to… I dragged you here and~ well I don't even know if you want this." Clarisse breathed and inhaled Joseph's scent. Finding another thing to love from him.
Love, she thought, Damn it Clarisse! Everytime….
Joseph caressed her hair, the nape of her neck and her naked back. Adoring the feeling of her breast against his chest. Her breath on his neck and her legs tangled with his.
"I'm a fool if I don't want this," he slowly spoke and felt her head move to look at him. His darkened eyes met her that are starting to have that spark again, "You need this, Clarisse. And I have to admit… I need it as well."
"Even if I'm not exactly the person you wanted to have it with?"
Joseph kissed her forehead and moved to do the same to her nose and cheeks, "Who said you're not.."
A/N: Hi! I'm very sorry for not updating sooner :'))). I hope you enjoy! Please r&r! Please lemme know your thoughts (idc if that's positive or negative cuz I'm dying without feedbacks :'(() and I really thank those people who appreciate this story. Thank you very much!