Captain Weirdo: Thank you so very much, that´s such a great review :D
I like it too, it´s fun to have Clarisse interact with both Josef and Rupert- yes, the very public marriage, our poor girl... Hehe, yes, go Josef!
addlogcon: A very good question- aw, you should know me by now, she always will ;) Thanks very much for the review!
bluegirl- 783: Hey, aw, thanks so much- hehe, yes, I can´t resist my little jests towards Mia, I just love to tease her, even though I love her of course!
Well, sometimes you have to go for what you want after all- both Clarisse and Joe have sort of understood that now...
Clarisse Renaldi: Yeaaaaah- so sweet- I´m trying to get the character right of course and she´s the perfect lady, after all, so never anything too harsh or common ;)
Are we? Naw- we are NOT- thank you very much and I will now!
JUJUChick16: Thank you- nothing like a nice, passionate conflict- more to come now :D
She had been pacing her bedroom for hours, trying to come up with a solution for the situation she had gotten herself in- if it had only been her in there she wouldn´t have hesitated to forget about her own wishes and do what was best for her country, she always had and it had broken her heart a long time ago but it wasn´t just about her, it was about Josef as well.
She had picked up the phone to call Rupert countless times and put it down again, what good would it do to hear his voice now, perhaps it would strengthen her resolve to stay faithful to her husband but when she thought about it properly it could as well push her in the opposite direction, how many times had Rupert decided to stay faithful to her in similar situations after all?
And Clairsse didn´t even think that her husband ever had had feelings for one of his affairs, so wasn´t her own excuse much better than any the king ever had had?
She stopped dead in the middle of the room when she realized that she wasn´t even pondering wether or not to start a relationship with Josef but only how to conceal it properly.
She glanced at the clock over her desk, it was half past three and she should be in bed, it was going to be a long day the next day and yet she didn´t think she could sleep, at least not before she had seen Josef- could she go to his room at this time of night?
But he wouldn´t sleep anyway, would he?
Making up her mind Clarisse took her robe from the bed and pulled it on, knotting the sash as she stepped out into the corridor.
Relieved that no one was in sight the queen began to make her way down the corridor, her heart pounding in her chest, her thoughts whirling inside her head.
What was she going to do, simply knock at his door and tell him- tell him what exactly?
Before she knew it she had reached said door and was raising her hand.
Josef opened the door seconds later, proving that he had indeed been awake and waiting for her and stepped aside to let her in, closing the door again before turning to face her.
"I´ve been thinking" Clarisse began, nervously playing with the satin sash on her robe.
"About you and about Rupert and then I realized that I wasn´t thinking wether it was right or wrong to come here but how I could prevent people noticing- and then I stopped thinking and just came here because obviously that´s all I want."
Josef didn´t say anything, he just extended his hand and Clarisse took it, allowing him to pull her close to him and encircle her fully with his arms.
"So you don´t have a plan?"
He asked softly, his lips brushing against her temple as Clarisse relaxed into his embrace.
"I know, it´s confusing but no, I simply acted out of impulse and for some reason it´s not as terrifying as I thought, it rather feels- I don´t know, good."
"Yes, it does- so what´s happening now?"
Clarisse looked up, studying his eyes.
"I´m no expert but I suppose you should kiss me."
He laughed, a low, warm sound before gently moving his lips over her´s.
The kiss was nothing like the one they had shared previously, it was sweet and tender and Clarisse had the wonderful feeling to melt into Josef´s arms.
Finally they slowly pulled apart again without letting go of each other.
Clarisse watched as though in slow motion as Josef started to unbutton his shirt and pulled it off before reaching for the sash on the queen´s dressing gown, Clarisse shivered as the silk rushed down her arms and pooled around her feet.
"Cold?"
She shook her head.
"No, just a little nervous."
"Understandable- are you sure about this? We can wait."
"We´ve waited long enough and I do want this, I´m just- I don´t know what to expect or what you expect."
"I don´t expect anything, Clarisse."
His words calmed her nerves and she smiled again.
"Just about you and me?"
"Just about me and you- you could never not live up to any expectations I might have, you are my dream come true, any dream I ever had."
"God, I love you."
His smile widened and he reached around her and swept her up into his arms, his nose nuzzling her neck as Clarisse wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
"Josef, I´m not exactly feather light anymore."
She protested as he carried her over to the bed.
"Nonsense, Darling."
His whiskers tickled Clarisse´s ear and she giggled while Josef put her down onto the sheets.
"Are you always that generous with your complements?"
"You are allowed to get used to it, Ma´am.