Okay, because I couldn't get the ideas for this out of my head, I've wrote and taken what would have been the last chapter to Finally and turned it into the first chapter of this sequel and not wanting it to go to waste, even if my confidence is shot right now, here it is for you all. There will be more, I think, but I wanted to see how this chapter is received first.
I really hope you all enjoy it and leave a review, letting me know that you did - it's very much appreciated :) thanks in advance.
Early hours of the next morning, Clarisse woke with a start when she felt a hand on her hip and movement behind her, and it took her a few seconds to remember that it was Joseph. "Joseph," she said, her voice raspy, as she twisted her shoulder back and turned her head to look at him.
"Hey, my gorgeous wife," Joseph said softly and moved closer to her before slipping his hand up onto the side of her neck, his thumb resting against her jaw. He couldn't help but smile at her tousled hair, and the drowsy look on her face.
"Hey, my handsome husband," she smiled sleepily, her tummy fluttering at the thought of him now her husband, and closed her eyes as he lowered his head, kissing her a couple of times.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Joseph whispered against her lips before lifting his head to look down into her eyes.
"It's okay," she said, blinking several times. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes, I'm okay," he said and kissed her bare shoulder, "I just need the bathroom. Go back to sleep."
"Okay," she said quietly and closed her eyes as he leant down to kiss her once more.
"I won't be long," he smiled and climbed from the bed as Clarisse turned back to how she was just moments before.
Moving around the bed, Joseph stood and watched her a moment. Simply watching her breathe as she drifted back of to sleep. It took every ounce of his being to stop from climbing back into bed with her. To hold her. To make love to her. To sleep snuggled together with her. But he knew it wouldn't do any good, he wouldn't be able to sleep now he was awake, and so he reluctantly turned and made his way into the bathroom, leaving her to rest. Something she desperately needed.
Awaking again a short time later, Clarisse turned over onto her other side and reached her arm out for her husband, but he wasn't there. And realising that his side of the bed was empty, Clarisse's eyes flung open. Rolling onto her back she tried to think how long she had slept for when she remembered that he had got up to go to the bathroom, so she lay listening for any movement coming from the bathroom a moment. But when she didn't hear anything, she sat up and held the sheets to her chest. "Joseph?" She called out.
But when she was met with silence, she climbed from the bed and slipped into her pyjamas and robe before making her way out into the suite, where she saw that the balcony drapes were open. Knowing where he was now, she made her way over to the balcony doors and found him standing with his back to the door, in the same spot she had been standing last night.
Stepping out into the cool morning air, Clarisse walked over to stand behind him and put her hands on his sides. "Hello my love," she said softly, resting her chin against the back of his shoulder.
"Mmm hello," he replied and turned his head to look at her over his shoulder as she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her hands against his torso, "that sounds strange hearing you call me 'my love', but I like it."
"Good," she smiled and reached up to kiss him before studying his face for the briefest of moments, "I was worried when I woke to find you weren't there," she said while turning her head to the side, rested it against his strong back.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you," he said and placed his hands over hers as he turned his head back to look out over the palace gardens. Savouring the peaceful moment of them stood this way on her balcony. Savouring how her arms felt around his waist and how her gorgeous body felt pressed against his back.
"Is everything alright?" Clarisse asked and kissed the back of his shoulder.
"Yes, of course," he nodded, "I just couldn't sleep."
"Oh! You're not regretting what's happened, are you?" She asked quietly, her stomach knotting with dread.
"What? Oh god no," he exclaimed and turned to face her as she lowered her arms from around him and took a step back. "Is that what you think? That I regret all that's happened this last twenty-four hours."
"Well, it all happened so fast, and you were prepared to leave yesterday morning," Clarisse began to explain why she thought he might be now regretting what happened, as Joseph reached out and took her hands in his. Bringing them up to his mouth and kissing them both before looking back into her eyes.
"The only thing that I regret in the last twenty-four hours is hurting you when I gave you my resignation yesterday morning, but I could never ever regret what's happened between us," letting go of her hands, he stepped closer to her and snaked his arms around her waist, "I could never regret loving you, or marrying you. I could never regret us, Clarisse. It's just my body clock. After years of waking so early, it still thinks that today, of all days, I had to wake this time again. And because I didn't want to disturb you, I thought I would let you sleep and come out here to watch the sunrise, because, well, we did have rather a late night in the end last night," he smirked.
"Oh," Clarisse said, a blush creeping over her features at the thought of their late night.
"Though, thinking about it now I should have woken you up, and we could have watched the sunrise together for our first morning together as husband and wife," he said, looking into her eyes.
"We have plenty of mornings ahead of us to watch the sunrise together," Clarisse said as she raised her arms and wrapped them around his shoulders. "But as long as you're sure that's all that's wrong."
"Oh, I'm sure that's all it is," he smiled as she smoothed one of her hands to the back of his neck. "I promise," he said and kissed her a couple of times.
"Okay," Clarisse nodded and watched as he took a step back and took hold of one of her hands. All her doubts soon forgotten about.
"What about you?" He asked, gently pulling her with him as he moved over to the balcony table and chairs and took a seat. "Do you have any regrets?"
"Oh hell no," Clarisse exclaimed and turned to sit slowly in her husbands lap, wrapping an arm around his shoulder, as they both laughed at her choice of words.
"Oh such shocking, and very surprising, words coming from you, my beautiful Queen," Joseph said with a chuckle and wrapped one arm around her waist, his hand resting on her hip, while putting his other hand up to brush her hair back behind her ear before coming to rest against her neck. That very neck, among other places, he couldn't get enough of last night.
"It's true," she smiled and glanced down at his lips before looking back up into his handsome blue eyes, "the only regret I have is waiting for so long, because if I had known what I know now then I certainly wouldn't have waited that's for sure."
"Oh, I'm sure you would have. You had a duty and all," he said, studying her face as she put her hand up onto his wrist.
"Oh, no, I didn't mean that part. I would have still had to wait for marriage, unfortunately," she said coyly, a mischievous grin playing on her lips, and looked down between them as Joseph gasped in surprise at the sudden realisation.
"One night spent with me, and it's like you're a completely different woman," he said, watching her bite her bottom lip as he lowered his hand down from her neck and onto her thigh. "Who are you, and what have you done with my wife?" He said, and they both laughed.
"Oh no, I like to think that she's always been in here, but just deeply hidden away," Clarisse said and put her hand up onto his chest as they gazed into each others eyes. "She just needed the right person to set her free, so to speak."
"Oh, I see," Joseph nodded and smirked slyly, "I take it then one was very satisfied."
"Yes, one was very satisfied indeed," Clarisse blushed, a contented smile on her face as she looked down between them once again, her finger tips toying with the collar of his nightshirt. "I thought we established that last night."
"Well, yes we did, and it would certainly explain the glow," Joseph teased as Clarisse looked back up at him.
"If I am glowing, then it's all your doing," Clarisse smiled and studied his face as he laughed.
"I'll happily take the blame," he said proudly and leant closer to her, kissing her slowly a moment before pulling back to look into her gorgeous eyes.
"And so you should," Clarisse smiled and slipped her hand from his chest up onto the side of his neck as she kissed him back.
"Oh god, I love you," he smiled and kissed her deeply on the lips before burying his face in the crook of her neck.
"I love you too," Clarisse whispered and closed her eyes. The feel of his lips on her neck, kissing the sensitive area below her ear, causing a shiver to run down her back.