Hey everyone, thank you all for reading and those who left positive words/reviews for me. I appreciate it so so much and honestly can't thank you enough. I always worry about writing those types of scenes, more so with my confidence the way it is, but I will try not to worry in future. Your support though really does help and I continue to look forward to reading what you think of the remaining chapters of this story :) thanks again.
M-rated warning again, to be on the safe side. ;)
Smiling contently, Joseph turned his head to the side and reached his hand out to her shoes that were on the floor a foot or so away from them. "I didn't realise that your shoes were lace overlay too," he said, picking one of them up and holding it in his hands in front of him. To study the detailing of the lace. "I hope it's Genovian lace," he laughed and looked back up at her for a brief moment.
"Why yes, of course." Clarisse smiled, averting her eyes down to the shoe he was holding. "I love lace overlay shoes, I already have several pairs. But this pair actually matches my dress."
"Are these new ones then I take it?" He asked while looking back up at her and watched as she slowly nodded, "thought so," he laughed, "another pair to add to your collection."
"I know, but I couldn't help myself," Clarisse laughed as Joseph teasingly shook his head. "What can I say? I love shoes."
"And scarves, oh and lingerie too," he laughed while putting the shoe back down where it was moments before and stood up the other shoe next to it that had fallen over in Clarisse's haste to get them off earlier. "At this rate, we are gonna have to buy a second home just for all the items in your closet."
"I know, I'm sorry," Clarisse smiled and put her hands up to frame her own face a brief moment before lowering them back down between them and nodded. "I will try my hardest, I really will, to stop buying so many."
"Please don't," Joseph said as he turned to face her, with one leg bent between them, the other leg that her leg was resting over, now outstretched on the floor beside her, "don't ever stop buying the things you love, we will find the room, I promise. We will buy a mansion with plenty of rooms if we have to."
"Yes it's true, I do love to buy these things," Clarisse said matter of factly and leant forward again, putting her hands up to frame his face in them. "But I love you more."
"Then I will just buy them for you instead if you stop," he said while putting a hand on her thigh, smoothing it around to the side and leant closer to kiss her. "I don't want you to ever stop having what you love just because we are married now."
"You don't have to," Clarisse said with a shake of her head as she lowered her hands from his face onto his chest then onto his leg. "Honestly it's fine."
"But I want to," Joseph said, smoothing his hand up and down the side of her thigh.
"No, Joseph," she said with a shake of her head, "they were my greatest pleasure, yes. They were my go-to, my enjoyment, a treat that I really did enjoy buying myself over the years. They certainly made me happy and whenever I wore them I felt that little bit more confident. But now that I have you, I have no need to keep buying them. Because you make me happy. You make me feel confident."
"So, now that we are married I'm your greatest pleasure?" He asked teasingly and smirked.
"Yes," Clarisse smiled as she studied his face and nodded. "You are."
"Mmm, you are certainly my greatest pleasure too," Joseph replied while moving to kneel in front of her before leaning closer and whispering between kisses, easing her gently onto her back. "I'm still going to buy you the shoes though."
"Joseph," Clarisse said, her voice stern, as she looked up at him now hovering above her. A hand resting on the blanket on either side of her shoulders. His knees between her legs. "No."
"I'm afraid I won't take no for an answer," he smiled seductively and lowered his head to kiss her, his body coming down to rest gently on hers as her inner thighs rested so delicately against his hips. "I'm going to spoil you so much," he said against her lips before trailing kisses down into the curve of her neck.
"Joseph," Clarisse said, her chest beginning to rise and fall more rapidly, as she snaked her arms around his shoulders. The thought of him buying her the shoes and spoiling her was the last thing on her mind right now.
"Mhmm," he murmured and smiled against her neck as she grasped the back of his head with one of her hands, while her other hand grasped the back of his shoulder.
"Well, as much as I want us to make love again, I really don't think my body would cope if we done it like this. Not on this floor," she said and gasped in surprise as he nipped, and very naughtily, sucked gently right on the curve of her neck. But decided, for now, to let it go. "I was wondering if we might move this inside now? Where we would both be much more comfortable."
"Inside?" Joseph said as he raised his head to look down at her, her hands moving from the back of his head and shoulder to frame his face in them, "we can do that," he nodded and kissed her once. Twice. Three times.
He didn't want to hurt her, that was the last thing he wanted to do, and he knew going back inside would be the best option but in doing so meant a delay of continuing where this was very obviously heading. Oh he wanted to make love to her again, couldn't wait to join them as one, but he had to put a stop to this. He had to calm down, he had to show some self-control, knowing what was waiting for them up in their suite upon their return. What had been arranged in secret. But he couldn't stop, he simply couldn't get enough of her as he deepened the kiss they were sharing.
"Oh good," she murmured against his lips a moment later and watched as he once again lifted his head to look down at her, her hands still framing his face. "What's wrong?" She asked.
"Nothing," he said with a shake of his head and smiled. "I love you," he whispered, studying her face.
"I love you too," she smiled and raised her head, kissing him a couple times as her legs instinctively wrapped around him. The need to feel him close to her to powerful to be ignored, and silently she cursed the fact there was a barrier of clothing between them.
Breaking the kiss and lifting his head again a moment later, he knew exactly what he had to do before things went beyond the point of no stopping. "Let's go back," he said, her legs unlocking from around his waist, and he pushed himself into a kneeling position before getting to his feet. Looking down at her lying on the pavilion floor before him, his gaze admiring his beautiful wife a moment before moving a foot carefully beside her leg and reaching out his hands to her as she moved to a sitting position.
Smiling, Clarisse positioned her feet and reached her hands up to take hold of his hands and as he pulled her up as gently as he could a light groan escaped her lips, her hips and knees already hurting from their earlier escapades. "Are you alright?" He fussed once she was on her feet and stood in front of him.
"Oh yes, I'm just not as young as I used to be," she smiled and looked up into his eyes, her hands finding their way to his sides as he stepped closer to her, so their bodies were touching. "But we knew this would happen."
"Well I think a massage is in order for you later then," he smiled mischievously and placed a hand on her side. His other hand going up to brush her hair back behind her ear before cupping her cheek.
"Thank you," she whispered and closed her eyes at the feel of his thumb brushing over her red, kiss-swollen lips. Her whole body tingled in reaction to his soft, loving touch.
"No need to thank me," he smiled, and watched as she opened her eyes to look back up at him. "It'll be my pleasure."
Smiling, she reached up to kiss him. A slow lingering kiss. Before pulling back just enough to look up into his eyes once again as he smiled. "I can't wait until we are back up in our suite, and finish what we started."
"Neither can I, but you might want to put the scarf back around your neck first, just in case we bump into anybody along the way," he smirked while raising a hand and pointing to her neck.
"Hmm, I know," Clarisse said, a knowing smile on her lips as she turned away from him and moved over to the chair she had been sitting in at dinner. "I think we are gonna have to have a chat about that sometime."
"Sorry," he laughed and bent over to pick up both of their glasses from the pavilion floor before turning back to the table as she picked up her silk scarf from over the back of the chair and slipped it around the back of her neck.
"Don't be sorry, I kind of liked it, liked how it felt," she said honestly and straightened out her scarf before looking up to find him standing with his eyebrow raised, a smirk on his lips, at her sudden admission. "Just don't make a habit of it. Please."
Laughing, he shook his head in disbelief and placed the glasses down on the table. "Oh I won't you vixen, you," he said and watched as she laughed, that beautiful laugh, before turning to grab the blankets from the floor with a smile on his face.
Smiling happily, Clarisse slipped on her jacket and watched as her husband folded up the blankets before putting them together on the stone bench. The truth was she was finally happy after years of being unhappy, and unsettled. She was finally free, she could do what she wanted and what she wanted was to experience, at least once, maybe twice, all those things that she had missed out on being married to the King. She was finally ready to live her life how she wanted. Not what was expected of her. And although she wasn't all that keen on having a love bite, she'd never had one until last night, and rather enjoyed the sensations she experienced when Joseph sucked lightly on her neck.
"Clarisse?" Joseph said, pulling her from her thoughts, and watched as she turned her head to look at him now standing by the table. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," she nodded with a smile and glanced at her glass on the table before looking across at her shoes. "I was just daydreaming, that's all."
"Okay," he said, watching her reach her arm out for her glass of champagne before walking over to her shoes. "Are you nearly ready to go back?" He asked, pulling his phone from his jacket pocket.
"Nearly," she nodded and looked down, slipping on her shoes before turning back to him writing out a message on his phone. "Who are you messaging?"
"Oh just Shades," Joseph said as he slipped his phone back into his pocket and turned to her walking back over to the table. "Letting him know that we are finished here and will be making our way back any minute."
"Ahh okay," Clarisse said, nodding a moment before raising her glass to her lips and downing the remainder of her champagne. "Now," she said, putting her free hand up to her mouth as she hiccuped. "I shouldn't have drank it like that," she giggled.
"No, maybe you shouldn't have," Joseph laughed and watched as she placed the glass down on the table and turned to him.
"Now, I am ready to go," she smiled. "Let's go."
"After you," Joseph smiled and extended his arm out for her to lead the way. Walking beside her and holding onto her hand as they made their way along the path back to the palace together.
Reaching their suite door a short time later, Clarisse turned to face Joseph, her back to the door, and grasped hold of his shirt, pulling him closer to her. "I think someone might be a little bit tipsy," Joseph smirked and put an arm up, placing his hand on the door frame, while his other hand held onto her shoes that she had taken off once they reached the foyer.
"I am a little, yes," Clarisse nodded, slipping her hands under his jacket and placing them on his sides. "I think it was because we were out in the fresh air, and quite possibly that last glass I downed before coming back didn't help. But it doesn't matter now, does it?"
"Why doesn't it?" Joseph asked, unable to tear his gaze away from hers. Her beautiful blue eyes so full of desire.
"Because we are going to bed now, aren't we?" Clarisse said coyly and slipped one hand up onto the side of his neck as she reached up to whisper in his ear. "I need you."
"Ahh, you might want to hold off on that, for the time being at least," Joseph replied and closed his eyes as she reached up to kiss him deeply on the lips, completely ignoring what he said as she pressed her body against his. He knew in his mind he couldn't react, but man what he wouldn't do to take her in his arms, carry her to bed and make love to her all night. Or even against this door. Yes, that's a thought. He just wanted to feel her. Make her happy. Something she had been deprived of for oh so many years. He was glad though, that he was the man that could do that now. Satisfy her in that way. Whether it be in their bed, outside, or even maybe one day against this door. Well no, not this door, not the door leading to her suite. But a door, any door, or even a wall. That could work too. "Damn it, man, pull yourself together. You. Must. Stop. This. Now." He thought to himself.
Breaking the kiss a moment later, Clarisse looked up into his eyes. "I've never told anyone that before, but my god I want you. I want you to take me to bed right now and make love to me, again," she whispered and smoothed her hands down over his chest and torso to the waistband of his trousers.
"Ahh, let's get inside before we start undressing, shall we?" Joseph panicked as he dropped her shoes and grabbed hold of her hands, stopping her from undoing his trousers.
"What's wrong? No ones around," Clarisse said, pulling back a little and studied his face, "or don't you want to now?"
"No, of course, I want to. I would have you against this door, or the wall, or any wall for that matter, if I had my way," Joseph said as he put one hand up to cup her face, the other still holding her hand between them. "But we both know that anyone could come through this hallway at any minute, so let's just wait until we are inside, that's all I'm saying."
"Okay, you're right," Clarisse nodded and reached up to kiss him once again, this time slow. Passionately. Sensually. Never before has she felt this way, so wanton, so aroused. Hearing him say he would take her against the door, or wall, if he could, excited her more than she thought possible. Oh she wanted him, and she wanted him now.
Getting so caught up with his own need of her, that, for a moment Joseph forgot where they were. Forgot what was waiting for them right behind that door. And before he knew it they were stumbling into their suite. One hand on the side of her neck, his other cupping her bottom. Their tongues dancing, bodies craving each other.
"Congr..at..u.." the cheer from inside the suite trailed off as Clarisse spun around in surprise to see a sea of shocked faces looking back at her.
"Oh come on guys, we don't wanna see that," Pierre exclaimed teasingly after a moment of uncomfortable silence as Mia, Lilly and Charlotte all moved closer to one another, covering their mouths with their hands in an attempt to stop from laughing.
Feeling herself blushing, Clarisse turned her head to her husband now standing beside her and watched as he shrugged slightly. "Surprise."