First of all I want to thank Johanna-002 for your help, it put everything in to place for this chapter and I'm very grateful to you :) Thank you!
Second I want to say a massive thanks to everyone for reading, following, faving and better yet, reviewing ;) It's all very much appreciated, thank you all so much :)
Now, I hope you all enjoy this final chapter and thanks again ;)
xXx
The following morning Clarisse awoke to find Joseph missing from the space beside her. Turning her head, her eyes trying to adjust to the light coming through the gaps in the drapes as she sat. Grabbing her robe she headed over to the bedroom door, leaning against it as she watched Joseph fuss over the table. Putting her hand up on the door, she rested her chin against it with a smile as he looked over at her.
"I thought I could sense you watching me." He said while standing up straight as she walked over and stood beside him "Did you sleep?" He asked and kissed her cheek while putting his arm around her back.
"Not much.." She said shaking her head and watched as he sat down.
"We are okay, aren't we?" She asked and watched as he reached over for her hand, pulling her closer to stand between his legs.
"We are more than okay, I promise you." He said putting his hands on her thighs as she put her hands down on his arms.
"Did you sleep?" She asked and watched as he looked up and shook his head.
"I couldn't sleep knowing that you've doubted my love for you." He said softly as their eyes locked "My intention was never to hurt you, and I am sorry that, that was the case, but my word is honorable. Your brother deserved nothing less. I do love you Clarisse, as much as you may be clouded in doubt, just know that, that is true. What we have is real." He said, never taking his eyes from hers as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close "I love you with all my heart." He whispered.
"I know..." She said with a small nod and lowered her head, kissing him a couple times before letting the last one linger "And I love you too." She whispered while lowering herself to sit on his leg and looked up to study his face as she stroked his cheek "And I'm sorry I slapped you last night, I was just angry and I shouldn't of done that."
"It's okay, I forgive you." He smiled and lowered his head, moving his face close to hers.
"Thank you." She whispered between kisses.
After a few moments she pulled her head back and looked up into his eyes "Shall we have breakfast?" He asked and watched as she nodded while going to stand up, but laughed out as he wrapped his arms around her waist "Not yet." He whispered, burying his face in the crook of her neck "You're leaving me soon to have lunch with Mia, I want this moment to last as long as it can before we get back to the real world." He added.
"Okay." She smiled, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
Later that afternoon, after spending a few hours with Mia, Clarisse returned home.
Slipping off her shoes she crept up the stairs, knowing that Joseph would be busy in the suite. Walking through the door she stopped in her tracks when she saw him sat reading the notebook she had tried to hide from him for the last couple weeks.
"Oh no, where did you find it?" She asked while closing the door and walked over as he smirked over the book at her.
"Now that would be telling." He smiled as she sat down beside him and tucked her legs up on the chair while snuggling up to his arm "I have to admit though, I have known about this for a while now." He said as she gasped and looked up at him "You can't hide anything from me, darling." He grinned and kissed her as she smiled.
"How did you find out?" She asked while resting her head on his shoulder.
"I heard you and Mia talking a couple weeks back," He said turning the page as she reached over and ran her finger under one of the plans "Yes that would of been nice." He said as she raised her head to look at him.
"What do you mean that would of been nice?" She asked.
"Clarisse, darling.." He said while closing the book and rested it on the arm of the chair before looking back at her "This is my first birthday with you as my wife, do you really think that I would want to spend it with anyone else? Yes the family is okay, but having dinner with them the day before of even the day after would be better." He whispered while turning just slightly and cupped Clarisse's face as they studied his each others faces "This is my first birthday as a married man, I would like to spend it with just my wife... either here or in a hotel somewhere, where we can spend all day in bed." He said as Clarisse looked down with a blush "God I love it when I make you blush." He chuckled as she looked up at him.
"Are you sure that's what you want to do?" She asked as he looked back at her.
"That's all I've wanted to do ever since I found out about these plans, I just didn't know how to tell you." He said "You've worked so hard on them."
"That doesn't matter, we can do whatever you want to do." She smiled "It is your birthday after all." She whispered and kissed him a couple times before resting her head on his shoulder.
"Thank you." He whispered against her hair before kissing her forehead "So tell me, did you have a fun afternoon with Mia?" He asked.
"We did." She said while running her hand down his arm, locking her hand with his "We had a good catch up, even bumped into Pierre." She smiled and raised her head "How about we go away for your birthday? Somewhere nice and peaceful?"
"Now that's a good idea." He smiled and nodded while looking at the coffee table "I actually love that idea." He smiled back at Clarisse as she reached her hand up and cupped his cheek.
"Good." She smiled while tilting her head slightly while moving it closer and kissed him.
Standing up moments later with a smile as Joseph sat watching her walk over to the bedroom door "Hey, where are you going?" He asked.
"Well with your birthday only a week away." She said while stopping in the doorway and turned back to him "Why don't we get started early?" She asked while starting to slowly undo her blouse buttons, giggling as she saw his eyes cloud over with desire while standing up and hurried over to her, slamming the bedroom door behind them, where they made an early start on his birthday plans.
