She was walking past his suite, as she figured he would be in the hub, and felt him grab her arm and pull her into his suite. "I'm being reassigned." Joseph told her after the door closed behind her.
"No, you're not. I convinced him that we needed you here, and he agreed." She smiled.
"How did you manage that? I tried to convince him I was needed here too, but he just said that he'd think about it."
"Simple. I used his words against him. One thing Rupert can't do is argue with himself." She took a step closer to him. "I'm glad you're not leaving."
"As am I. Besides, the rest of the security team would never be able to keep track of you." He teased as she jokingly narrowed her eyes at him. "Clarisse, about last night…"
She cut him off. "Joseph, please…"
He returned the favour by cutting her off. "Let me finish." He waited as her eyes trailed up and locked with his as she remained silent. "I need you to know that I can't find it in me to be sorry for what happened, regardless of the fact that you are my married queen, I just can't. I selfishly find myself wishing for the impossible, and I know that I can't do that either. It would be best if we remained strictly professional." It hurt him more than he thought it would to have to say this, but looking into her eyes, he didn't see any pain.
"You're right, it would be best, but it also would be impossible."
"I can't ask for you love Clarisse." Joseph's voice was softer now and far too quiet.
"No, you can't." She agreed. "But would it be fair to you if I asked you for your love?" He just looked at her with pure puzzlement in his eyes. "If I asked you to continue to love me as you do, would it be fair to you? Would your love for me hinder what love you could have for another?" The solemnly sad look in her eyes didn't go unnoticed by Joseph.
"There could never be anyone else. No one else is you or could ever be you."
"Suppose then," she began, walking passed him towards the window, "I asked you to continue to love me."
He turned and watched her, from the soft steps of her feet to the way her shoulders relaxed from their proper position. "You wouldn't even have to ask. I can't do anything but love you." He took a few steps forward, but stayed behind her a bit. He was on such an angle that he could see the side of her radiant face.
"If I were to ask for the sweet caress of your lips on mine." She added as her hand gently reached up to touch her lips as she remembered the magnificent feeling of his lips on her.
"I…" He began then stopped as she turned around to face him.
"I can't promise you a future Joseph, but I can promise to love you. Can you accept that? Would you be okay with that?" She asked as she looked down at her now clasped hands. As she continued to look down, she suddenly saw his feet inches from hers, so she looked up to see him right in front of her.
"The king." Was all Joseph needed to say, he knew that she knew what he was thinking.
"Has made his choice, and now it's my turn to make mine. He and I might be married, but you out of anyone know that we don't act like it. I've made my choice Joseph, and I want to be with you. I can't lose you Joseph and I…" She was cut off as he surged towards her lips and kissed her as if nothing else mattered. It was only she and him as he wrapped his arms around her waist, and her arms wrapped around his neck as one of her hands tangled into the hair at the nape of his neck. When their lips finally pulled apart, they didn't release their hold on each other, but rather stayed there holding each other so close that there was barely a centimetre between them. "I can't lose you." She repeated.
"You won't, I'm here."
"Can we give this a try Joseph?" Her eyes were almost sad, fearing he'd tell her no, but it would sting more, especially now after a kiss like that.
He saw that look in her eyes and knew exactly what she was thinking. Rupert was once a good friend to Joseph, but now Joseph stood at the crossroads of love over his friend. Here Clarisse, the woman he loved, was, standing in his arms as he was in hers, asking him to be hers. While Rupert, his childhood friend had teated the woman Joseph loved and couldn't have, as far less than she was. She was perfect, but Rupert never treated her as such, and if Joseph were honest, that was one of the things that hurt him the most about about what he'd done to Clarisse. Even this new baby scandal didn't bother him nearly as much. He only realized he was thinking longer than he should be when he felt her arms loosen around him and almost fall to her sides. They only stopped and retook their place around his neck when he tightened his hold on her, drawing her as close as he could. "I want to." He finally spoke.
"But…?" She knew there was a 'but,' there had to be.
"If it were to be found out by someone." She knew that he was talking about Rupert.
"Then we will deal with it together, but this someone really can't complain, all things considered." She slid one of her hands around to gently caress his jaw. "Joseph?" She asked tenderly. He captured her lips in a searing kiss that answered her question. Nothing else mattered to him except the happiness of this stunning woman in his arms.