Happy New Year everyone! Thank you so much for your patience. It had been awhile since I wrote a love scene, so I was a little rusty and it took longer than I had anticipated. However, I hope you feel it was worth the wait!

There will be one more chapter after this - an Epilogue.

Also, please note the rating definitely has moved towards the "M" category. If you are not old enough to be reading, send me a private message and I'll send you a modified version (once I can do an edit). Please read responsibly!

Finally, special thanks to Benswoman for helping me out with some research and answering a few questions for me (even if you weren't able to help me with the name! LOL)

Without further ado...

Chapter 3: Almost Perfect.

"What? Here?" Joseph couldn't believe she wanted to dance, especially after what had transpired the last time they had danced together.

"Here." Her tone left no doubt that this was what she wanted.

Joseph stood and looked deep into her eyes, wanting desperately to understand what her intent was. Not wanting to presume anything, he decided to be direct. "What is it you want, Clarisse?"

"What did Baby want when she went to Johnny's room that night?"

He couldn't stop the look of surprise that crossed his face. "You watched the movie?"

"A few times actually. It was quite interesting and the dancing was…enlightening."

"Clarisse…"

"Dance with me, Joseph." She repeated her earlier request.

"What happens tomorrow if we do this?"

"I trust that we will find a way to work it out…together."

Deciding that no further words were needed, she made her music selection. As the beginning strains of Ben E King's "Stand by Me" filled the room, she stepped closer until her body was only an inch or so from his. While he silently contemplated the ramifications of their actions, she placed her hands inside his unbuttoned shirt, slowly moving them in an upwards caress until it fell carelessly off his shoulders. "Much better." She whispered as she surveyed the muscled expanse of his chest.

Any arguments about what she wanted ended for him the moment her soft hands came into contact with his heated flesh. His eyes closed as velvet lips tentatively kissed the curve of his neck, paying homage to the pulse point now beating wildly just below the surface before she repeated the action on the other side.

With each step, Clarisse felt more emboldened. The solid muscled frame of Joseph's arms and chest provided an intriguing contrast to her softness. Rupert's power came from his position and upbringing, while Joseph's came from both inner and physical strength - pure male virility. A flash of pleasure pulsed through her body at the thought of experiencing his prowess firsthand.

Joseph was slowly accepting that this was going to really happen. He felt Clarisse's hand brush across his chest as she slowly circled his body. Gentle kisses on his back sent small tendrils of pleasure that spiked when her hand caressed his bottom. A small ray of male pride surged through him that perhaps she had admired that part of his anatomy as much as he had hers.

They embraced again and began to move with the music, their bodies flush; her hands caressing. She loved the smoothness of his tanned skin and the way the muscles quivered under her touch. Stopping their movements, she let her back arch as her head slowly dipped away from his body. Though her eyes were closed, she could feel his gaze burning her flesh as the fabric stretched across her bodice, leaving little to his imagination.

He watched as the elegant line of her neck and the swell of her breasts were displayed for his eyes only. It took every ounce of his control not to sweep her off of her feet and onto the bed right then and there. The heat radiating from her body fanned his flames of desire, leaving no doubt that they were going to go through with this. Please, God – don't let this be a mistake that we will regret… That silent prayer was the last rational thought he had as her body was once again pressed closely to his.

Clarisse felt his hands gently guiding her in the dance and she responded to his lead. They dipped and swayed to the music for several measures relishing in the warmth and comfort of being held by someone who needed you as desperately as you needed them. The tone of the dance changed from warmth to heat when his hand slid down her back, over her bottom and repeated the leg lift from the prior night.

His rock hard thigh was pressed against the apex of her thighs causing her own desire to begin to spiral out of control. Subtly her body pressed even further against his thigh, hoping to alleviate the growing ache of need that had started since their shared kiss last night. She was thankful for his arms holding her closely as she was unsure how much longer she would be able to stand.

Joseph stilled as Clarisse's lips found his neck again. The kisses were almost reverent as though she were worshipping his body. He couldn't believe that destiny was granting him a night like this. She was the most beautiful, desirable woman he had ever laid eyes on. Even as they had aged, her beauty remained timeless as flawless skin, blonde hair and crystal pure blue eyes continued to grace a body that he no longer wanted to be hidden from his view.

Her eyes found his and saw the intensity of his need. There had always been a small flicker of something unnamable in his eyes when he looked at her – something that caused her heart to beat a little faster. But now, now that he was making no attempt to mask his true feelings, the look smoldered and sent her pulse racing to a dangerous level. He wanted HER! Not the Queen, but the woman. She felt his hands skim up her sides prompting her to raise her arms. His gaze never left hers as his hands trailed slowly back down until it reached the hem of her shirt.

She gasped as the material slid over her frame providing the first sensation of skin against skin - his chest and torso moving against hers. Rather than tossing the garment aside, he held onto it as his hands moved to her lower back to hold her close once again. This time when his hands slid lower to cup her bottom, there was no hesitation or quick caress. It was done with a boldness that demonstrated possession. She would soon belong to him and that thought thrilled her. There was something strangely erotic about the way he caressed her through both her skirt and the shirt he still held.

There were not adequate words for Joseph to describe the view he had been given when the black fabric cleared her body. His desire further intensified as the red satin and lace came into view. Did she have any idea the affect she had on him? Wanting to demonstrate that clearly, he cupped her bottom and stroked her firmly, to be as close to her as physically possible with the layers that currently separated them.

The music changed to another sultry song with a varied rhythm. Their hips moved in counterpoint in time with the music, sending them hurtling down a course that would soon need to find completion.

"Joseph, please…" it was only a whisper but conveyed a desire so deep there was no possibility for refusal.

The world around them faded to muted shades of grey as he led her to the bed and slowly unzipped her skirt. The black pooled around her ankles drawing his eyes to the lithe length of her legs as she carefully stepped away from the garment. Before he could guide her to the bed, her hands deftly worked the fastenings of his trousers. Slow, deep breaths helped him keep his desire in check as warm hands slid under the waistband resulting in a similar pile of black on the floor.

While Joseph's eyes had been drawn to her legs, Clarisse couldn't help but admire the evidence of Joseph's growing desire. Her body reacted physically to the visual proof that he wanted her as much as she wanted him. Wanting to move things along, she sat on the edge and looked up at him, her eyes gazing deep into his, conveying the growing fire of arousal that was burning brightly in her sapphire depths.

Like a moth to the flame, he couldn't resist moving towards her – knowing, without a doubt, that once their union was consummated, her soul would forever be burned into his. She was a goddess - lying there on his bed - inviting him to worship and pay homage at the temple of her body. The cream of her skin was a stark contrast to the deep brown of the comforter; the red satin and lace providing the final vestige of resistance to her body being completely bared before him.

She leaned back to better watch him watching her. They were feeding off of each other, weaving an inextricable web of sensation that heightened with each movement. Her knees separated instinctively to make room for his body as he stepped closer. Resting on her elbows, her head fell back as his hands ran along her thighs with a maddening slowness that made her shiver in anticipation.

"So beautiful…" He whispered as his hands skimmed the softness. Later he would explore more leisurely, but now there was an urgency born from the primal need of man to possess that which he held dear. Slowly, he moved upward, allowing his thumbs a moment to caress the satin strands that held her undergarments in place. The slight hitch in her breath encouraged him and urged him forward.

Clarisse was having trouble focusing on anything besides the pulsing need that seemed to originate at her core and radiate outward. The slightly roughened pads of his fingers and thumb were electrifying her entire nervous system. It was hard to remember to breathe. A well placed caress resolved that issue as her breath caught in her throat before it released as a moan when strong hands cupped the fullness of her breasts.

The dresses had not done her justice. Years of admiring her décolletage had led him to believe he had a pretty good idea about every detail of her feminine curves. He was wrong. Keen eyes observed the front closure of the delicate garment and carefully slid the pieces that would unlock his first glimpse of heaven. Hearing the husky moan that filled the room when he palmed the precious weight sent a stab of desire straight to his groin threatening his tenuous control.

He leaned forward slightly to kiss the delicate breastbone as this thumbs circled the hardening tips. Her body arched to give him access. He took full advantage of her generosity by showering her upper body with open mouthed kisses. He explored the freckled expanse of flesh, alternately teasing and calming until their need became too large to ignore.

"Clarisse, I need you…need to finish this dance." He whispered into her ear as they moved further onto the bed.

After she had situated herself in the center of the bed, her eyes opened at the sound of his voice. She saw so much love and passion that her heart filled to the point that she thought it might burst. She had been loved by thousands, but never had she been loved like Joseph loved her. And… she loved him. Her hand extended to his cheek, cupping it in the familiar gesture. "I love you, Joseph."

Lying next to her, he knew without a doubt precious few in this world were able to experience a first time like they were about to share. Knowing that she loved him, deeply, only added to the myriad of emotions coursing through his body. "And, I love you…more than life itself."

His hand slipped lower to slip under the final satin barrier. Her eyes widened in response as his touch grew bolder, stroking her liquid heat. He watched as her body started to physically respond to the loss of control. Despite the many amazing sights he had seen in his many years, nothing compared to watching as desire and pure feeling overtook another soul. It turned the most calm and structured individuals into a mass of pure need, craving a touch as much as an addict craved their next fix.

"Joseph…oh my…oh yes…" Her voice was deep and she felt as though it came from a place outside of herself.

Removing the final scrap of satin provided him with freedom to further explore her most hidden secrets and desires. His mouth found hers as their tongues dueled, creating a dance of their own. She tasted faintly of white zinfandel, her evening wine of choice.

Emotions were spiraling out of control for Clarisse as her world continued to shrink to nothing more than the feel of Joseph's fingers, teasing – stroking – intensifying the heat that was already at an unbearable level. Vaguely she thought that the movie's depiction of the joining between Baby and Johnny seemed more sedate than the passion radiating from "her" Johnny.

Quickly removing his boxers, Joseph knelt in front of her, basking in the approval he saw in her eyes. "OK for an old man?" He smiled.

Her eyes raked over his broad chest that tapered to a slimmer waist and lean hips. Her attention focused, though, on the very physical evidence of his desire and excitement for her…for her! Her breathing became shallow at the thought of his body joining with hers sending a flood of desire throughout her system. "Better than ok…perfect."

Leaning over, he kissed her. "Liar," he teased.

Her hands slid over his chest, following the path her eyes had followed only moments before. In a moment of boldness, she wrapped delicate fingers around his velvet hardness, slowly stroking. Her eyes held his watching the fire burn brightly in the deepest blue eyes she had ever seen. "I never lie…" she whispered.

"Dios mio, woman," he growled as he carefully placed a hand over hers and then gently lifted it above her head. With his free hand, he braced himself over her body while she used hers to guide him to her heated center. With painstaking slowness, he sank deep within her body; listening closely and completely attuned to her reaction to ensure he wasn't hurting her.

Clarisse's body was strung as tightly as Joseph's. She could feel every nuance of his body from their connection: each slow breath, every heartbeat, every quiver of muscles as they held still waiting for the glorious moment when the tension would be relieved. Her eyes closed at the overwhelming emotions she felt at the precise moment when she realized she was joined with her soul mate. A small tear escaped the closed lids and she felt soft lips kiss it away.

"Am I hurting you, my love?"

Realizing he misunderstood the emotion, she opened her eyes – glistening with love and happiness. "You could never hurt me. Make love to me."

At her urging, he began to move in and out of her body, setting a pace similar to a Viennese Waltz until he was sure her body had accepted his fully. Their bodies moved slowly in the dance; luxuriating in the pleasant friction building between them.

"Shall we mambo?" Joseph asked as he increased the tempo slightly. A fine sheen of perspiration glistened on their heated bodies, easing their movements. Her legs opened further and her knees bent slightly, allowing her to counterpoint his dance with her own.

The slight change of position deepened Joseph's thrusts and Clarisse felt as though the world was slowly coming unhinged. The pleasure spiked each time his body drove into hers and she knew that they were close. Her veins were humming with a beautiful melody, providing music for this private dance. "Let's tango," she gasped as she felt the tight chords threatening to break as they soared closer and closer to the climax of their song.

He paused and opened his eyes, taking in the beauty of this woman as she prepared to give herself – body, spirit and soul over to him. Her chest was heaving and her normally perfect blonde hair was damp and curling at the ends. Those crystalline blue eyes were the most intense he had ever seen them, conveying so many emotions that he was certain he could see into the depths of her soul. "I've always wanted to tango with you."

At those words, he released her hand and moved so he had better leverage and began to thrust deeply within her; the tango lending itself to a more erotic and intense dance. The sounds of their lovemaking filled the room, forever sealing their love with a dance that was as old as time.

The music playing in their hearts climbed at a steady crescendo until with a loud cry, the cymbals crashed and measure after measure of sensation hurdled them both over the edge.

"Clarisse!" Her name sounded like a primal growl as his body collapsed on hers.

"My Joseph." She soothed as her arms welcomed him onto her body, holding him tightly as they both floated back to earth together.

"That was the best dancing, dirty or otherwise I have ever had the privilege of sharing with another soul." Joseph admitted as he moved slightly off of her, kissing her damp forehead.

"Mmmm…" Clarisse agreed. "So tell me, Joseph…have you had many women?"

Joseph quickly turned to his side and looked at her, relived to see a teasing glint in her eyes. He kissed her soundly, enjoying the slight murmur of pleasure she uttered. "You know…if we continue to play out this movie, I'm going to end up fired!"

Clarisse laughed and pulled him close again. Before she could respond, he asked, "So tell me, Baby, what's your real name?"

"Clarisse Mignonette Beckinridge Renaldi." She offered.

Caressing her cheek, he replied. "That's very grown up name, Clarisse."

"It's almost perfect."

"What would make it perfect?"

She turned so she was looking directly at him. Her voice was soft, but conveyed such deep meaning. "Clarisse Mignonette Renaldi Romero."

A stunned, but very pleased Joseph Romero kissed her soundly. "Now that WOULD be perfect."

tbc

^^C/J^^