This is my first Princess Diaries Fic, I hope you enjoy it. As always the characters don't belong to me :)
Joe knew when his queen had had enough she always just gave him a look which he knew meant she was done.
Joe had strolled through the crowds and gently tapped the Prime Minister on the shoulder suggesting it be his turn to dance with the Queen.
He bowed towards his Queen before joining in hold
"Thank you" she smiled "and I didn't get a chance to thank you for finding Mia"
"I was just doing my job Your Majesty"
"Joseph you always go above your duty"
"It's my pleasure"
They carried on dancing for a while longer when they both noticed Mia and Michael heading towards the garden.
"I was just about to say would you like to retire to the garden but it seems the garden is now ocupado"
She let out a small laugh and they carried on dancing
10 minutes later Mia and Michael returned and then the night really started to liven up.
"Joseph?"
"Your Majesty?"
"I think it's time I call it a night, it's been a very long day"
"Off course"
"And joseph"
"Yes"
"Please call me Clarisse"
Before he could say anything back she said her goodbyes to the people she needed to before she headed towards the exit of the ballroom with Joseph following closely behind.
They were now walking down the corridor side by side. Joseph ushered the security to vacate their posts with the small movement of his hand … He didn't want anyone to see what he was about to do next.
Clarisse was looking into thin air as she was too scared to look at him, it always made her nervous when they were alone together. Suddenly he grabbed hold of her gloved hand and in one swift move brought it up to his lips and placed a small but gentle kiss on her hand.
Her head turned and smiled at him as he then slipped his arm through hers.
They carried on walking arm in arm when she said softly "Where are you taking me"
"Wherever you want me to Clarisse"
"I'd like to make a stop at my Suite first"
"Off course"
As they got to the door he opened it and then stood to the side
She walked through the door and turned to see him not behind her
"Joseph" He suddenly appeared again "Would you like to come in"
"I don't want to impose" He'd been in her suite loads of times to discuss business but never like this
"I want you to"
He'd made it inside and closed the door behind them … He had been brave taking her hand in his but this was totally new territory
"I would actually like to go for a walk in the gardens if that's okay with you"
"Anything my dear"
"I do want to quickly get changed out of this dress first, I can barely breathe" She laughed
"Do you want me to wait outside"
"No Joseph that won't be necessary … I will head into my room" She hesitated for a second "Would you …"Struggling to get her words out "Would you mind giving me a hand with the zip before I do"
He couldn't believe it, she was asking him to touch her.
She turned around infront of him and he placed his hand on the small of her back and slowly slid the zip down not wanting to pull it too hard.
"Thank you … Now if you'll excuse me I will be back shortly … Please make yourself at home"
With that she turned on her heels and walked in the direction of her bedroom.
Joseph grabbed himself a drink of water and sat down on the couch going over in his head what had happened since they left the ballroom.
10 minutes later she came walking out in a much more comfortable outfit which had brought Joseph back to reality from his daydreaming.
"I'm ready to go … Do you want to stop by your room first"
"Yes please … I'll quickly get changed too then we'll both be comfortable" He smiled
She went to walk towards the door when he gently grabbed her arm "We'll go through the secret corridor that way no one will see us"
"Oh yes that's a better idea"
It wasn't long before Joseph was changed.
When he'd come out of the bathroom Clarisse was standing looking out of the window.
"I'm ready to go if you are" he said trying not to make her jump
They made their way through another secret passage which took them straight to a secluded area of the gardens where they sat underneath a beautiful tree.
They sat in silence for a few moments when Clarisse placed her hand on his leg which shocked him.
"Thank you again for tonight … I knew you'd be the only one to find her"
"It was like deja vu my dear"
"What do you mean?"
"I seem to remember a young princess running away 2 days before her coronation to be Queen"
"Ahh yes now that might of been me" She said with an embarrassed look on her face and pulled her hand away from his leg
"I knew exactly where you'd be" grabbing a hold of her hand and giving it a light squeeze
"How?"
"You had only been there twice and that was just before you married Rupert and the day you found out you were pregnant with Pierre"
"The hideaway was always where I went when I needed to think"
"It was its where I also found you when you found out you were pregnant with Phillipe and again after his death"
"You were always the one who came to find me"
"Because I didn't want you to be alone … I cared about you too much to see you hurting … I just wanted to be there to comfort you"
As he said this she let go of his hand
He let out a deep breath "I'm sorry I've said too much" He went to get up "I'm sorry your Majesty"
"Joseph … Sit down … Don't go"
As he sat back down he put his head in his hands before sitting up
"I'm sorry I spoke out of turn your Majesty"
"Joseph you didn't and please stop with the formalities"
There was silence again
Joseph was trying to build up the confidence for what he was about to say.
"Clarisse … I may be about to ruin everything here and if you want to end my employment I understand"
"Joseph …"
"Please Clarisse … I just need to say this" He took another deep breath "I love you and I have done for some time"
He got up and walked away for real this time and she quickly got up and went after him, she spun him round and pulled him towards her and kissed him on the lips.
They both pulled apart from the kiss in complete shock
"Joseph I love you too"
She pulled him back to the seat to sit back down
"You didn't have to say that to make me feel better you know"
"I was just speaking the truth"
"Really?" He questioned
"Yes really … I have cared deeply for you for a long time but I didn't realise I loved you until we were dancing in the ballroom three weeks ago after Mia left"
"I would have kissed you then had charlotte not have interrupted"
"I would have liked that"
"Can I kiss you again now"
Clarisse nodded
Joseph moved closer beside her and placed one arm around her waist
As their lips met the kiss was at first soft but then it started to get heated. After what felt like a lifetime they pulled apart from each other both being a bit breathless.
"I have waited a long time to kiss you like that Clarisse"
"As have I and now I don't really want you to stop"
"Let's go back inside first it's starting to get rather chilly"
Joseph took his jacket off and placed it around her shoulders
It wasn't long before they were back in her suite with the door locked behind them.
"Clarisse are you sure about this I don't want to push you into doing anything that you might regret tomorrow"
"Joseph, I promise now please stop talking and kiss me again"
He did not need telling twice
She wrapped her arms around his neck as his arms snaked around her waist
She couldn't quite believe she was being so bold she'd never done anything like this before not even when she was with Rupert but this was different this was Joseph.
As the kiss went on their hands started roaming up and down each other's bodies and it wasn't long before they were making their way towards the bedroom.
It was only moments before their clothes were just piles on the floor.
Getting into her bed he asked one final time "Are you sure Clarisse?"
"Yes Joseph please love me"
Later that night they lay in each other's arms reminiscing on what had just happened.
Little did they know that that night would change their lives forever!