Its New Years Eve.

Clarisse and Joe are attending Harriet and Steve's daughter, Sasha's New Years Eve party tonight, so Harriet is taking Clarisse shopping to get a new dress for the event while Steve take's Joe for a couple rounds of golf.

As Clarisse and Harriet sat down at the breakfast table the men was up getting ready.

"right I best get upstairs and get ready" Clarisse smiled and headed towards the stairs "see you in a bit"

"ok" Harriet nodded and watched her disappear up the stairs

Walking into the bedroom she saw Joe stood holding two t shirts

"oh just in time" he smiled turning to her "which one?"

"um..." she looked at them both then pointed to one "that one" she smiled

"thanks" he put the other one down and slipped his t shirt on "I bet you picked it because you got it me" he smirked

"actually Joe I got you both of them" she said undoing her robe as she headed over to the chest of drawers

"did you?" he asked tucking his t shirt into his pants "I don't remember" he looked at her as she pushed the drawer closed "are you still going shopping today?" he asked doing up his pants

"yep, I just came up to get ready then we are going" she smiled at him "hope you win at golf" she walked over and kissed him "I will see you later"

"ok" he watched her walk into the bathroom and pushed the door up

He slipped on his shoes as she brushed her teeth, when he was done he walked in and stood behind her, putting his arms around her while kissing her neck.

"you always look beautiful in the mornings" he whispered "well you look beautiful all the time" he said kissing her shoulder as he held her against him

"Joe don't" she answered "you have to go to golf, Steve's waiting"

"he will wait" he whispered while taking her hand, turning her to face him "we have time"

"No we don't" she answered as he started kissing her neck "Joe please, don't"

He lifted his head "what has got into you lately?" he said standing back

"nothing" she shrugged and turned back and turned the taps on

"that ain't nothing" he said looking at her "you've changed since we've been here"

"I haven't" she looked at him

"you have and I don't like it" he snapped "I'm going to golf" he turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

She sighed and looked at herself in the mirror. After a few minutes she got in the shower and stood under it for a bit before getting out and got herself together.

"Ok, Harriet" she said coming down the stairs "I'm ready"

"great" Harriet smiled standing up and grabbed her bag "Mom called, the girls are going to stay with them for the day while we go shopping"

"ahh ok" she smiled and checked her bag "they will be ok won't they?"

"of course" Harriet smiled "don't worry about them, we are going to have a great day shopping" she smiled as they headed out the door.

After shopping for a few hours, they decided to have a break and grabbed some coffee and cake in a cafe. Half way through however Harriet admitted something to Clarisse.

"actually, Clari" Harriet started as Clarisse took a sip of her coffee "there was a reason why the girls stayed behind"

"why's that?" Clarisse asked putting her cup back down

"I was voted to be the one to talk to you" she started "everyone has noticed that there is something going on, even Joe has talked to Steve as he's worried about you"

"this again" Clarisse sighed "why can't people just take my word that everything is ok" she said looking at her

"we would if we believed that was the truth" Harriet said watching her "come on Clari, talk to me please" she said reaching over and put her hand on hers "I am worried, so is everyone else"

Clarisse looked at her "maybe when we get back home, not here" she shook her head

"ok" Harriet nodded in agreement

They finished their cake and coffee then continued shopping.

After a couple more hours shopping they headed back home. When they got back they took their bags upstairs then came back down.

"glass of wine?" Harriet asked while looking over as Clarisse sat down

"sure" Clarisse smiled over at her then started going through the magazine on the table

coming over with two glasses and a bottle of wine "so are you going to talk now?" Harriet asked while pouring them some wine

Clarisse looked up and looked at her for a second "it's kind of embarrassing" she said closing the magazine as Harriet sat down

"don't be embarrassed, we are sisters and best friends aren't we?" Harriet asked while watching her drink some of her wine "good job I brought the whole bottle over" she chuckled

Clarisse chuckled and put the glass down "sorry"

"its alright" Harriet smiled

"but to answer your question, yes we are best friends" Clarisse nodded "Oh I don't no where to start"

"the beginning maybe?" Harriet smirked "why have things been odd between you and Joe lately?" Harriet asked and sipped her drink then looked at her "there isn't anyone else is there?"

Clarisse shook her head "no way" Clarisse exclaimed "I would never do that to him"

"then whats going on with you?" Harriet asked "its got to be you seeing though Joseph is still being how he always is, your the one whose gone cold"

Clarisse looked at her "I know" she nodded, took a deep breath and started "the last time which was five days before coming here..."

"wow" Harriet exclaimed "that is a long time to go without getting any, especially seeing though it's you two" she looked at her "poor Joe" as she said, she noticed Clarisse giving her a look "ok, I'm sorry.. carry on" she nodded

"anyway" Clarisse started and drank some more of her drink then carried on "everything was fine then after it was a bit painful" she said looking at the table "I got a bit scared seeing though we had never had a problem before" she looked up at her

"did you go to your doctor?" Harriet asked

"I did, the next day.. he couldn't find anything wrong and put it down to just maybe it was a bit to rough as that time it was rushed" she looked at Harriet

"but..." Harriet started

"I know and yes we have had rushed and rough sex before" she shrugged "but this time Joe was rather frisky and we had done it a few times over a couple days as I had been away for a couple weeks with Amelia" she sighed "I guess my body is telling me I need to slow down"

"oh rubbish" Harriet exclaimed as Clarisse looked at her in surprise "is that why you keep putting him off?"

"yes, as I am scared its going to hurt again" Clarisse nodded

"I take it you never told Joe any of this?" Harriet asked while looking at her

"no, I couldn't" she answered

"I think he would understand if you told him Clari" Harriet answered

"I can't" she took a deep breath and looked at her "how can anyone tell their husband that?" she asked looking at her "I mean how would it go? Hey darling I can't make love to you tonight because it hurt like hell last time?"

"no it wouldn't be like that, but I think you need to tell him" Harriet answered "he would understand"

"it would hurt his ego" Clarisse answered "and I can't do that to him"

"not sleeping with him Clarisse is hurting is ego" Harriet whispered "have you tried any creams like lubricants before?" Clarisse shook her head "maybe once you decide to try again you should give them a try" she smirked and sipped her drink

Clarisse drank some more of hers then poured another glass.

"by the way, for years I have always wanted to ask you something" Harriet asked "and I think this may be a good time to ask" looking at Clarisse as she sipped her wine

"whats that?" Clarisse asked putting her glass down

"is it true what they say?" Harriet smiled "about Italian men?"

"and what might that be?" Clarisse smirked

"that you no... they are well-endowed" Harriet couldn't help but giggle

"oh yes, well Joey is" Clarisse smirked and giggled too "I will tell you something though, from going with no sex for years to sex with this man was a big bloody shock" she and Harriet started laughing

"he must of been worth the wait though?" Harriet giggled

"oh he was" Clarisse blushed "he was well worth the wait" she smirked "sex with Rupert, never lasted long and it wasn't really that great" she sighed then smiled "but when I got with Joey everything changed, I learned things I didn't even no you could do" she gasped as Harriet laughed then she joined in too

They carried on chatting for a bit and finished the bottle of, not long after the men returned from their game.

"oh my god Clari, if we continue drinking like this we won't make it to Sasha's party tonight" they both giggled

"how many have you two had?" Steve asked walking over

"oh just a bottle between us" Clarisse smiled

"oh thats not to bad then" Steve laughed a little with Joe

"hey who won?" Harriet asked as Steve stood next to the table

"I did of course" Joe laughed standing next to Steve

"hands down, he is an awesome player" Steve smiled and looked at Joe "wanna beer?"

"sure" he nodded and looked at Clarisse as she sat looking up at him "hey you" he whispered and kissed her "sorry about this morning" he whispered

"it's alright" she smiled and looked as Steve brought him his beer

taking it from him "thanks buddy" Joe smiled and took a couple sips then put it on the table as he sat next to Clarisse

"we must do it again before you fly home" Steve smiled

"of course" Joe smiled and watched as Clarisse grabbed his beer bottle and took a couple mouthfuls

"oh my god" Harriet gasped as Clarisse put the bottle back down "you drank from a beer bottle"

"oh she does that sometimes" Joe smirked looking at Harriet then at Clarisse

"I do" Clarisse smiled putting her hand up and wiped the corner of her lips with the tip of her finger

"well I never thought in a million years that I would see Queen Clarisse drinking from a beer bottle" Steve exclaimed "would you like me to get you one?"

"go on then" she smirked as he sat open mouthed

"coming right up" he said looking at Harriet "do you want one?"

"sure" Harriet smiled as he walked over and got them a bottle each

"Clarisse" Steve said coming back over and handed her, her bottle

"yes" she smiled taking it

"please don't come here again" He smirked "you are giving my wife bad habits" they laughed

"I can't help it" she shrugged with a laugh

"actually" Harriet smiled "we are giving each other bad habits" she winked at Clarisse

"of course" Clarisse smiled

They sat talking for a while then Joe disappeared upstairs. After a few minutes Clarisse went upstairs too, Harriet watched as she disappeared up the stairs then sat smirking to herself.

"whats going on?" Steve asked looking at Harriet

"oh nothing" Harriet smiled back at him "nothing to worry about" she smiled then sipped her beer

"ok" Steve answered while sitting back

Meanwhile upstairs Joe took his watch of while sitting on the edge of the bed as Clarisse came in and locked the door behind her.

"hey" Joe smiled as she slowly walked over to him "are you ok?"

"uh huh" she smiled standing in front of him "you no I love you don't you?" she asked stepping closer, between his legs

"of course I do" he said putting his hands on her thighs "I love you too"

"you do" she smiled as she lowered her head and kissed him

After a moment Joe looked at her "are you feeling ok?"

"yep" she smiled locking her arms around him as she kissed him again

After a few minutes he wrapped his arms around her and moved, laying her down on the bed next to him, half covering her body with his as she bent her knee up resting it against his hip, he ran his hand down gripping her thigh as they laid kissing.

"stop" Clarisse said stopping him and pushed him up "I can't do this" she gasped climbing of the bed

"what?" Joe exclaimed while sitting on the bed and watched her

"I can't do this, I'm sorry" she said looking over at him

"Why? Clarisse what's going on" he said standing up "tell me what's going on?" is there someone else?" he asked not taking his eyes from her

"no oh no" she shook her head and walked over to him "I would never ever do that to you, you no that" she said putting her hands up cupping his cheeks

"then what is going on Clarisse" he asked

"I can't tell you" she whispered

"Clari, please I'm going out of my mind with worry" he whispered "I love you so much we've never had a problem then all of a sudden you don't want me to touch you, you won't let me make love to you" he sighed "I'm worried baby" he said getting upset

She looked at him for a second then took a deep breath "last time we done it, it was a little rough and it hurt"she looked up into his eyes

To Be Continued...