x Christmas Day - Continued x

Returning to the party moments later, Joe stood watching as Clarisse stood with Bella and Beth, talking and laughing together. He loved seeing his family making his love a part of the family, he loved seeing his daughter and Clarisse together, both happy and smiling. Grabbing a drink he made his way over to check on them before moving on to talk with Beth's husband and Charles.

After a while Joe looked over to see Clarisse sat beside Isabella, both deep in conversation.

"Joe?" Beth said smiling as she stood beside him, then looked to see what he was looking at. "Joseph?" She said smiling while looking back at him.

Looking towards her he smiled, realizing he had got caught staring "Hello Beth." Joe smiled.

"Enjoying the view were you?" She teased and sipped her drink as he smiled at her.

"And where do you know where I was looking?" He asked as she lowered her hand.

"Oh come on Joe, I am your sister.. I can read you like a book." She said laughing while slipping her arm around his "Walk with me?" She asked, nodding slightly as he began walking with her.

"What's wrong?" He asked, looking at her.

"Oh nothing, I just wanted to tell you I have packed a couple outfits for Clarisse, they are in the bag beside her stuff, up in my suite." Beth said smiling.

"Great, thank you so much." Joe said smiling and patted her hand.

"It's no trouble," She said smiling "Anything to help my future sister in law." She giggled and walked away.

As Joe watched her walk away he took a sip of his drink then sat down at the table, being joined by Clarisse just moments later.

"Well hello there." He smiled while turning to her "Having fun?"

"Oh I am, your family are so lovely." Clarisse smiled putting her drink down and turned a little to him.

"Of course, any friend of mine is a friend of theirs of course. And well Beth and Bella know you already so that makes it easier." He smiled as she nodded at him.

"Indeed." Clarisse smiled.

"Anyway I was thinking, we will head to my place after here in your car and leave my car here, I am guessing you hired the car from the airport anyway?" He asked.

"Yes I did." She smiled.

"Great, then we will use that one to go to the airport with tomorrow." He said watching her sip her drink.

"But what about yours?" She asked while looking at him as she put her glass down.

"Oh that stays here anyway, normally I have Beth or her husband take me to the airport but we can drive ourselves this time." He smiled while tilting his head a little.

"I see." She smiled and nodded slightly as Bella appeared behind them.

"Hey Daddy." She said smiling down at them as they both looked up at her "Charles and I are going now."

"Okay sweetheart." He smiled while watching her look at Clarisse.

"Thank you so so much for coming again today, and for staying." She smiled as Clarisse stood up in front of her.

"Oh it was a pleasure, thank you for asking me." Clarisse smiled while stepping closer and hugged her "Make sure you visit us in Genovia in the New Year, I know Mia and Pierre would love to see you." She said as they pulled apart.

"I will don't worry." Bella smiled as Joe stood up.

"Come on I will walk you out." Joe said smiling.

"Okay Daddy." Bella smiled at him then at Clarisse "Enjoy the rest of your Christmas and have a great new year."

"You too." Clarisse smiled and watched her begin to walk away.

"I'll be right back, okay?" Joe said as Clarisse looked at him with a nod.

"No rush." She smiled and watched him walk away.

After seeing Bella and Charles off, Joe returned to sit beside Clarisse, enjoying the rest of the reception.

Later that evening, after saying their goodbyes Joseph and Clarisse left the Elizondo mansion and headed to his home, a short drive away. On the drive over Clarisse called the Palace to make sure everything was alright and that it was still in one peace, hanging up just as they pulled into Joe's drive.

Closing the door behind them Joe turned to Clarisse as she took off her coat. Smiling he took it from her "Make yourself at home, I'll go and get us a drink."

"Okay." She smiled and watched him disappear through to the kitchen. Taking a deep breath she walked around the couch and stood beside the fireplace, looking at the photos on the mantel.

Returning a few moments later, Joe stopped and watched her for a moment as she studied the photos. "You've seen them before." He said several seconds, smiling as she looked over.

"You're right I have, well most of them anyway, but this one I haven't." She said pointing to one of him and Bella. Looking back at him as he passed her her drink "Thank you." She smiled.

"It's okay and no, that one is new, actually she gave me that for Christmas." He smiled and took a sip of his drink.

"I see." She smiled while looking at him.

"It's actually the one you took from her last visit to Genovia." He said and watched her look back at the photo "We were in your rose garden."

"Ahh yes, I remember now." She said smiling and looked back at him before taking a sip of her drink.

"Shall we sit?" He asked while motioning to the couch.

"Sure." She smiled and followed him over to the couch, sitting down as she put her glass on the coffee table in front of her before looking at Joe as he turned to face her, resting his arm on the back of the couch.

"I'm so glad we are alone now." He said while reaching over, brushing her hair back behind her ear.

"So am I." She smiled across at him.

"And what's even more better is we have the whole house to ourselves." He said smiling.

"But what about Bella and Charles?" Clarisse asked.

"Hotel." He answered, taking a sip of his drink before reaching over and placing it down next to hers.

"Ahh I see." She smiled watching him sit back.

"How about I put on some soft Christmas music?" He asked.

"And dance the night away?" She asked with a smile.

"If you like." He smiled.

"I would love too." She answered and watched him lean in, placing a soft kiss to her lips before standing.

After making his selection Joe turned to Clarisse as she made her way over to him, hearing the music begin she smiled while taking his hand.

"Frank is one of my favorite singers." She smiled while stepping closer, putting her arm up around his shoulder as they began moving slowly to the song.

"I know." He said nodding as he put his arm around her waist, smiling as she looked up into his eyes "And I also know this is your most favorite Christmas song."

"It is." Clarisse smiled while tilting her head "I am starting to think you know me better than I know myself."

"Oh I know a fair bit about you, of course." He smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder "Like I know your favorite color is blue.. and not just any blue, its the color of your eyes blue." He whispered and watched as she raised her head, looking up into his eyes "The blue I love." He smiled.

"That's correct."

"I also know that your favorite flower is a Rose." He said looking down at her as she smiled.

"Well everyone knows that." She giggled.

"Of course." He smiled while pushing her back gently, raising their arms for her to go under, grinning as she did and came face to face with him once again. Stepping closer he put his arm lovingly back around her waist, as she wrapped her arm around his shoulder, giving his hand a small squeeze as they swayed to the song. "I also know that even though you hate them when they hurt you, you secretly love wearing heels." He smiled as she started laughing.

"You got me." She smiled while looking into his eyes once again "What else do you know about me?" She asked.

"Let me see..." He said looking away for just a second before looking back at her "I also know that you don't like your smile..." He said watching as she looked up at him "Even though I have no idea why..." He whispered while raising his hand to cup her cheek as they stopped moving. "You have the most beautiful smile in the whole world. I fell in love with it and these beautiful sexy lips the very first day I saw you." He said softly while brushing his thumb gently over her lips, causing her to smile "See, it's that very sexy smile."

"So from what you've told me over the last several months, you basically love everything about me?" She asked.

"I do, yes." He smiled and studied her face momentarily "I have something for you." He smiled while reaching in his pocket and pulled out a small wrapped box "I know it's just gone midnight but still, Happy Christmas." He smiled and watched as she looked down at his hands.

"You didn't have to get me anything else, Joseph." She said while looking back up at him before unwrapping the box.

"I hope you like it." He smiled as she looked up for a second before looking back down at the box as she opened it. Gasping when she saw the vintage blue diamond ring "It was my Grandmothers, and now I want you to have it." He said smiling as she placed a hand on her chest while looking back up at him.

"This is the most beautiful gift that anyone's ever given me," She said tearfully while stepping closer and put her arms up around his shoulders, giving him a hug "Thank you so much." She whispered as she stepped back and looked back at the ring.

"Can I put it on?" He asked, watching her raise her head with a smile.

"I would love that." She said as he took the ring and her hand, slowly slipping it on her finger.

"It goes perfectly with your eyes, don't you think?" He asked while smiling at her.

"It does." Clarisse smiled while looking up at him for just a moment before stepping closer and kissed him slowly.

Stepping back moments later, she slowly slipped her hand in his and with a gently tug of his arm, she had him following her out into the hall and up the stairs to his suite.

"Clarisse? What are you doing?" He whispered as they walked through his bedroom door.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" She asked while turning to shut and lock the door behind them "I want to make sweet love to my fiancé." She whispered while stepping closer, wrapping her arms around his waist. "We've waited a long time for this moment and I don't intend to wait anymore." She whispered kissing and nipping at his neck.

Pulling her body closer to his, Joseph felt their bodies melting together as their tongues danced, moving wildly against each other.

Pulling back to catch their breath "I've never denied you, my Queen, my love, anything and I have no intentions of starting tonight." He finished as her lips once again captured his.

"Good." She whispered.

Moving over to the bed just moments later, where they laid together sharing heated kisses for several moments, Clarisse with her arm around Joseph's shoulder, her hand on the back of his neck and Joe with his arm around her waist, his hand on her back holding her as close as he possible could.

Running his hand over her hip and down her thigh Clarisse couldn't help but laugh as he raised his head. "I'm sorry I'm ticklish," She smiled as their eyes met "You should know that?"

"I do, and I will admit I got carried away." He whispered between kisses while running his hand down her arm, taking hold of her hand "But I didn't mind, I love your laugh. You should know that?" He said teasing her.

"I do, you're right." She smiled and watched him as he brought her hand to his lips, kissing her palm several times before moving to kiss her inner wrist. Cupping his face just seconds later, she raised her head and kissed him several times before resting her head back down on the pillow "I'm ready."

"Okay." He smiled, kissing her back.

After undressing they moved back to lay on the bed with Joseph hovering over her, his hands on the bed beside her sides while lowering himself slowly deep within her. Hearing the sharp intake of breath Joe raised his head, looking down at her as she lay with her eyes closed.

"Clarisse?" He whispered, watching as she slowly opened her eyes "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay." She smiled up at him while putting her hands up, cupping his face as he lowered his head, kissing her as he began to thrust in and out of her slowly.

Resting gently down on her body as he continued to thrust slowly, smiling into the crook of her neck as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, placing her hands on the top of his back and rested her feet on the backs of his legs.

As he began to go a little bit faster, he raised himself up on his hands. Looking down at her as she locked her legs around him, her hands on his sides, digging her nails in as he started driving her towards the edge. Moaning beneath him as he picked up pace, driving harder and faster into her as she raised her head, kissing him hard on the lips before shattering into a million pieces. And as her muscles contracted violently around him, he collapsed on top of her, coming hard.

Laying still in her embrace, his face buried in the crook of her neck as she smiled. "Merry Christmas." She whispered, watching as he raised his head with a laugh.

"Merry Christmas to you too, my love." He whispered back between kisses.

The End.

xXx

Thank you so so much for reading this story and even bigger thanks to those who left me awesomely wonderful reviews. You are simply by far, the very best.

This part was for all you C&J fans, I really hope its what you all wanted?

Merry Christmas to you all and thank you :)