Chapter 7

Author's Note: Thanks for all the lovely reviews and big hug to Rach to beta this for me.

"That's all I ask." smiled Joseph and kissed her, as if he never ever wanted to let her go…

And it was true. They slowly moved closer and closer with each kiss, and a few minutes later, passion completely flooded them. Soon they were half-naked on the sofa; neither of them remembered how they lost their clothes. They were abruptly brought back to reality by a painful moan – Joseph bumped his elbow.

"I think the sofa is a bit small…" Joseph smiled against her lips.

"Then we should move upstairs."

Joseph just looked at her lovingly for a moment; amazed and surprised at the same time by her response. He quickly picked her up and headed to the bedrooms, but on the top of the stairs, he stopped.

"Your place or my place?" asked Joseph.

"Your place." Clarisse answered quickly, giving him a warm smile.

"Are you sure?"

Her answer was a simple, but passionate, kiss.

So Joseph carried her to his bedroom and gently laid her down on the bed. A moment later, he was right next to her, continuing the sweet kisses he placed all over her upper body…

At times Joseph completely lost touch with reality. He was not sure if Clarisse was real, or if he was dreaming again as he had so many times before. Then the feeling of her soft skin brought him back to reality.

Then out of no where, a realization hit him like a brick – suddenly something he hadn't understood before, was right in front of him, completely obvious. He thought back to what had happened the night before, and he his hands stopped their journey over her warm body.

Clarisse sensed that something was wrong, so she opened her eyes and looked at him with uncertainty. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"I'm sorry, I was just thinking… about what you said before," Joseph sighed and sat up a bit. Clarisse sat up as well, at a loss as to what the problem was. A moment later he continued, "What you said before about your life with Rupert. I don't want you to live through the same things with me." He hesitated, unsure of how to say what was on his mind. "You know…"

"What?"

"If you don't want this, you don't have to do it," he said at last. "I won't force you."

"Oh I see." Clarisse chuckled a bit. "Do you… Do you feel like you're forcing me?"

"No! But I don't want you to feel the same thing with me as you did with Rupert. Afterwards... you would close yourself off, withdraw into yourself…" He took a deep breath. "I just don't want to ruin everything, Clarisse. I've waited you for so long…" His voice trailed off and he looked at her with questioning eyes.

"Oh my." Clarisse smiled, her eyes filling with tears. "It will never – do you understand me? – NEVER be the same with you as it was with Rupert. I love you. And that's the difference. I know I have some fears yet to conquer, but you are more important than those fears. So don't worry. You can't ruin anything."

"But I so desperately want help you… I want things to be perfect between us," he whispered.

"I know, and that gives me power. But there is really something you can help me with…"

"Tell me… What should I do?" Joseph said hopefully.

"Just love me." was her answer.

Joseph had no problem doing that. Frankly, he was simply the best at that subject…

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

Later… Much, much later…

"So how do you feel?" asked Joseph and looked her lovingly. He was lying on his back with Clarisse in his arms, gently stroking her shoulder.

"Happy. Completely happy." Clarisse answered with a smile and looked up at him.

"Are you sure?" Joseph asked teasingly.

"Absolutely sure," she responded confidently.

"How can you be so sure?"

"It's simple. I only feel this way when I'm with you." Clarisse smiled as he leaned in and kissed her on the lips. They just relaxed for a few moments, then she saw him smiling.

"A penny for your thoughts?" she asked.

"I'm thinking of the past few weeks. I've just loved having you're here."

"Really?" asked Clarisse, while she tickled him lightly.

"Yes." laughed Joseph, then put on a long face and looked directly into her eyes. "I mean… I love everything. I love seeing you in the kitchen, making some tea. I love it when you are dancing in the living room. Yes, I caught you, don't deny it! I love it when I arrive home and the first thing I see is you. I love watching movies with you. I love kissing you… and I love… loving you," Joseph finished and leant over to kiss her again.

"And what else do you love?" asked Clarisse teasingly when he pulled away.

"I love bringing you something to drink." Joseph chuckled.

"How did you know?" Clarisse laughed, somewhat surprised.

"Because I know that look."

"Oh. Of course."

"I'll be right back." Joseph smiled and stood up, reaching for his robe. As he wrapped it around his lean body, he spoke again. "Oh, and I nearly forgot. There is something in the drawer for you…"

To be continued…