"Do you remember that Charlotte came back in just moments later, too?" Clarisse asked as she studied his face. "Can you imagine if Rupert hadn't interrupted us when he did? She would have walked in on us and seen much more than she bargained for."
"I know that she became our trusted ally over the last few years, helping us spend time together and not be disturbed, even walking in on us herself sharing a kiss in your office a few times, but the poor thing would have been traumatised seeing us having sex on your desk back then," Joseph said and they both laughed, reflecting on the memory.
"Can I just say that," Joseph said softly while stepping closer to her as she finished doing up the last button on her blouse and looked up at him. Her heart skipped a beat when she realised just how close he was to her. "No matter how many flings or relationships I've had in the past, these women meant nothing to me. Not when my heart has always ached for you."
"Oh Joseph," Clarisse said as she reached her hand up to cup his cheek a moment. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't be sorry, it's my own fault for falling head over heels in love with you all those years ago," he said, looking into her beautiful blue eyes as she slipped her thumb slowly under his chin and gently gripped hold of his jaw in her hand. A move that surprised him.
The thought, the idea, of him being with another woman, especially her sister, when she can't be made her jealous. Even when she had no right to feel this way. He was, after all, allowed to see and be with whoever he wanted to be with.
"Are you okay?" Joseph asked, having watched the expression on her face change. Was she jealous, he wondered to himself. He wanted to ask her if she was, but decided not to. Not when he noticed her gaze lower to his lips.
Oh how she wanted to kiss him, she had an overpowering urge to press her lips to his, make him hers, even though she knew deep down he already was, but before she had the chance to act, her office door suddenly opened and she quickly removed her hand from his face while turning towards the person entering her office. "Oh hello, Charlotte." She said with a nervous laugh.
"Hello Your Majesty," Charlotte said and watched as her Queen turned to her desk, "is everything okay?" She asked suspiciously, having seen her pull back from her bodyguard. She wondered what had happened or was about to happen had she not walked in when she did.
"Oh yes, of course," Clarisse nodded while grabbing her hair clip from where Joseph had tossed it on her desk earlier and began making her way across the room to the mirror hanging above the fireplace. "Everything is good, we have talked and it's all sorted now, thank you."
"Oh that is good news, I'm pleased to hear that, Your Majesty," Charlotte said with a smile, feeling relieved that they had cleared the air between them at least, and both she and Joseph watched as the Queen put her clip between her teeth while standing in front of the mirror to do her hair. Again.
Putting her hands up, Clarisse brushed her fingers through her hair before gathering it into a low ponytail and knowing that they were both watching her, averted her gaze first to her assistant in the mirror, smiling at the curiosity on her face before watching her turn her head to look at Joseph stood beside her, biting her lip she chanced a quick look at her bodyguard and then quickly averted her gaze back to herself as she pulled her hair up while twisting it.
Why was her hair down, when it was perfectly fine before, Charlotte pondered as she watched her a moment before turning her head suspiciously to Joseph standing beside her, who couldn't tear his gaze away from her, his Queen, with a smug look on his face. "Um.. Your Majesty," Charlotte finally spoke with a small shake of her head and turned her attention back to the Queen as she took her hair clip from between her teeth and secured her hair with it. "Is there anything else that needs to be done today?"
"No I don't think so," Clarisse said as she absentmindedly turned her head from side to side, checking her hair in the mirror, making sure there weren't any stray strands sticking out anywhere, before turning back to her assistant and bodyguard still both stood by her desk. "I have to go to Rupert's office. He needs to speak to me about something."
"Okay, Your Majesty," Charlotte said with a smile.
"You may finish for the day," Clarisse smiled across at her, "and I'll see you bright and early in the morning."
"You will, of course, Your Majesty," Charlotte said, offering her a small curtsy.
"Joseph, accompany me to the King's office won't you?" Clarisse asked as she clasped her hands together in front of her.
"With pleasure, Your Majesty," Joseph said, bowing his head to her.
"Do you think that she suspected anything back then?" Joseph asked as Clarisse smiled at him.
"I think so, yes, going from the expression on her face when I was redoing my hair," Clarisse nodded as Joseph chuckled. "She's a clever woman. She never misses anything that one. And I actually think that's why she helped us spend time together after we agreed to give it ago in San Francisco. Because she knew how we felt for one another and had done for some time."
"That's true," he said, smiling. "She actually reminds me a lot of you, you know? You never miss a thing either."
"Neither do you," Clarisse smiled at him. "You are very observant."
"I gotta be. It's part of the job," he chuckled and looked down between them a brief moment.
"If I remember correctly, though, that wasn't the only time she walked in on us when we nearly gave in to temptation, was it?" Clarisse said as she studied his face, watching him look across the room and ponder a moment before looking back at her.
"No it wasn't, didn't she walk in when I returned from my last visit here two years ago? I had been here a few weeks and wanted to surprise you, so I never told anyone when I was returning," Joseph said as Clarisse nodded.
"Yes you did, I remember," Clarisse smiled and laughed a little. "If she hadn't walked in when you were walking over to lock the door, then it would most certainly have happened that day."
Settling down at her desk for the morning, Clarisse slipped on her glasses and picked up the first official paper of the day. But just as she started to read it, someone knocked on her office door. "Come," she called out and placed the document back down in front of her while looking over at the door as it slowly opened.
"Hello Your Majesty, I was wondering if you might have a spare moment or two," Joseph smiled as he entered her office, watching the biggest smile spread across her face as he closed the door behind himself and began walking over to her desk.
"Joseph," she exclaimed happily while removing her glasses and putting them down on top of the paperwork sitting on the desk in front of her before getting to her feet and hurrying around to him.
"Mm hello," Joseph smiled as she ran into his arms, which instinctively wrapped around her body as she locked her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I take it someone missed me while I was away?" He asked a moment later as she pulled her head back just enough to gaze up into his eyes.
"I have, of course," she smiled as she studied his handsomely tanned face, "you have been away for three weeks. That's a long time, you know."
"I know," he half smiled and smoothed his hands slowly up her back, "and those three weeks away from you have been the longest of my life," he said and kissed her again.
Smiling, she pulled back a little and moved one hand from his back to cup his face. "Why didn't you tell me that you were coming back today? I would have had Charlotte clear my morning so we could spend some time together."
"I wanted to surprise you," he smiled cheekily.
"Well you have certainly done that," Clarisse smiled up at him. "Unfortunately though, I have a busy morning ahead."
"Can you not spare just ten minutes," he asked while smoothing his hands back down her back and watched as she bit her bottom lip. "I haven't held you in my arms for what feels like a lifetime, and right now, that's all I want to do. Hold you in my arms and kiss you."
Tilting her head slightly, Clarisse reached up to kiss him a moment before kissing him a couple of times and looking up into his eyes. "Lock the door," she whispered and flashed him a flirty smile.
Smiling, Joseph moved his hands to her sides and kissed her before taking a step back. "You stay right there, I'll be back," he smiled and turned to make his way over to lock the door as Clarisse nodded, a breath hitching in her throat.
Pressing a hand to her fluttering stomach, Clarisse took her bottom lip between her teeth and turned to her desk. They were going to be alone, locked in her office for the next ten minutes. And after not seeing him for the last three weeks she realised just how much she wanted him. She wanted him to take her in his arms and make love to her. Something they have so far managed to hold off since they agreed to give their relationship a go two years previous. But all that could be about to change, until...
"Oh, Joseph," Charlotte exclaimed as she entered the office and nearly bumped into him, "you're home."
"Yes, just a few minutes ago," Joseph nodded as Clarisse turned to them.
"Well it's good to have you back. Things haven't been the same without you here," Charlotte smiled and looked over to the Queen standing in front of her desk. "Isn't that right, Your Majesty."
"Yes, Charlotte," Clarisse nodded and glanced to Joseph a moment, who was standing right beside her assistant with his hands in his pants pockets, before looking back to her assistant. "It is."
"Well I am back now and won't be going anywhere for that long again," Joseph smiled at Charlotte, then over at the Queen. "Unless it's to do with travelling with the Queen, of course."
"Oh, of course," Charlotte smiled at him, then over at the Queen. "The Prime Minister has arrived for your meeting, Your Majesty, shall I show him in?" She asked.
"Oh…" Clarisse replied.
"Or not," Charlotte said upon seeing the disappointment on her face. "Do you need a moment?" She asked while turning her head briefly to Joseph before looking back over at the Queen.
"No, it's okay, Charlotte," Clarisse said and reluctantly nodded. "Please show him in."
"Very well, Your Majesty," Charlotte said and bowed her head before glancing at Joseph once again and turning to leave the office, closing the door up behind her.
"Duty calls," Joseph said and walked slowly over to her as she stood sideways in front of her desk while putting a hand up onto her forehead.
"I know, I'm sorry," Clarisse said and lowered her hand while turning her head to look at him standing now close to her side. "I completely forgot I had a meeting with the Prime Minister this morning."
"It's okay, honestly," Joseph said as he kissed her shoulder before leaning closer and kissing her on her lips. "I understand."
"Why don't you go up and wait for me in my suite?" Clarisse said as she turned to face him and wrapped her arms loosely around his shoulders, "and I'll come up straight after the meeting."
"Okay," Joseph smiled mischievously and put his hands on her sides. "I'll wait for you up there."
"Okay," she smiled and reached up to kiss him just one more time before watching him walk out of her office.
"Damn it," Joseph laughed, looking into her eyes. "She might be a wonderful trusted friend and assistant, but that woman has the worst timing ever."
"Yes she has," Clarisse laughed. "You know, I did come up after my meeting, but you were asleep," she smiled.
"Why didn't you wake me?" Joseph asked in surprise.
"Because you looked so peaceful, I didn't want to disturb you," Clarisse said and studied his face a moment before looking away as silence fell between them.
"I know it was hard," Joseph said softly as Clarisse turned her head to look back at him. "Especially with the amount of times we nearly succumbed to temptation over the last several years but I am glad that we managed to, somehow, restrain ourselves until after we were married," he said and leant closer to her, resting an arm on the table in front of her, and placing his hand lovingly onto her folded arms while smoothing his other hand slowly up and down her back a moment before stopping halfway down.
"Me too, sort of, because had I known it was going to be as satisfying as it is, I wouldn't have waited. I wouldn't have been able to," she smiled cheekily and watched as he tipped his head back and laughed. A proper belly laugh. One that made her tummy flutter every time she heard him laugh that way.
"You know I'm genuinely sorry, don't you?" Joseph said softly a moment later and leant even closer to her as she turned in her seat to face him. Her legs moving between his.
"I know you are," she nodded and studied his face.
"Are we okay?" He asked and watched as she took her bottom lip between her teeth. "Because I hate the idea that we might not be."
"Yes, of course," she nodded and put her hands up, cupping his chin in them as she looked into his eyes, "we are more than okay."
"Good," Joseph smiled and leant in to kiss her before pulling back and looking into her eyes. "Everything's going to be just perfect from now on, I promise."
"But I don't want everything to be perfect all the time, Joseph, I'm tired of having to live that perfect life that was expected of me since I married.. well since I became part of the Royal family," Clarisse said as she reached in to kiss him before resting her forehead against his for a brief moment and lowering her hands down from his face onto the tops of his thighs. "I just want to enjoy my life now, I want to have fun, I want to keep being spontaneous and live a happy life with you. That's all I want now. I have done my duty."
Nodding, Joseph put his hand up and brushed her hair back behind her ear before cupping her face and looking into her gorgeous blue eyes. "If that's what you want, my love, then that's what you will have."
"Thank you, it is, very much so," Clarisse nodded as she studied his face. "I just realised something. We never had dinner."
"No we haven't," Joseph said as he thought a moment. "Shall I quickly rustle up something for us now?" He asked.
"Oh yes, please, I'm starving," Clarisse smiled and closed her eyes as he leant closer once again, kissing her while rising up from his chair.
"Is there anything in particular that you fancy?" He asked as he pulled back with a smile and turned to make his way over to the fridge.
"No, anything is okay," she said while turning back to the table and resting her elbows on the table in front of her. "I honestly don't mind."
"Okay," he smiled over at her, watching as she tucked her hands together under her chin before turning back to the fridge and opening the door.
"You know, I have been thinking that we should still go to the bar one night while we are here as planned," Clarisse said as Joseph closed the fridge door and turned back to her. "And if Gisele is working the night we go, then Diego shouldn't give her the night off. It's not fair that she should lose a nights pay just because I want to go there."
"Are you sure?" He asked while slowly walking back over to her, sitting at the table.
"Absolutely, yes," she nodded. "Yes, it might be a bit awkward between us to begin with, but she's part of your past, your history, and I need to accept that, I need to be okay with that. Just like you were okay with Rupert being part of my past. Part of my history. Well, you were sort of, but anyway, we need to look to the future now. We have each other, we are together and married, and that's all that matters," she said while lifting her face to look up at him standing next to her.
"Yes it is," Joseph nodded and raised his hands up to cup her face in them as they gazed into each others eyes. "I'm so proud of you, my love," he smiled and bent forward to kiss her deeply on her lips.
Smiling, Clarisse pulled back a moment later, just enough to look into his eyes and whispered softly, "it doesn't mean I'm going to stop being jealous, though. Because there are going to be times when I'll still get jealous over women paying you attention and flirting with you, Joseph, but when that does happen you'll know about it," she said as she studied her husbands face.
"Oh I know, it's only natural to feel that way. Just like I will be jealous too when men pay you attention. But you just need to remember that you're the one I'm taking to bed each and every night, no one else," Joseph smiled cheekily down at her as he smoothed his thumb over her delicious lips. "My one and only gorgeous wife."
"Mmm, that's one way of looking at it," Clarisse smiled and glanced down to his lips, while licking her own in anticipation as Joseph laughed and lowered his head to kiss her a couple times before removing his hands from her face and putting one hand on the back of her chair while placing his other hand on the table next to them. Remaining bent over slightly in front of her.
"I gotta say, I love it when you get jealous, though," he smiled. "I love that thing you do."
"What thing?" Clarisse asked, a flirty smile playing on her lips.
"When you grip my jaw in your hand, you did it last night when we made love in front of the fire, and a few other times in the past," he smiled cheekily, "you are so incredibly sexy when you do that."
"Ooh like this, you mean?" She smiled and put her hands up, one going to his shoulder while her other gripped hold of his jaw. Just how he admitted he loved.
"Yes, exactly like that," he growled and moved closer, burying his face in the crook of her neck and kissing the spot below her ear as she tipped her head back and laughed. "I love that. It does something to me, something I can't quite explain," he said, lifting his head and pressing his lips to hers.
"I'll have to remember that," Clarisse laughed against his lips and kissed him before watching him pull his head back once again.
"I just had a thought," he said between kisses before looking into her eyes. "After we have had something to eat, we should be adventurous and spend some time in the jacuzzi before we go to bed."
"Out there? Tonight?" Clarisse asked as she turned her head to look out of the floor to ceiling window a moment before looking back at her husband. "Alright, let's do it," she smiled and laughed. "Let's be adventurous."
Just a little note to say that I'm going to take a little break from this story so that I can think what direction I want to take it in. But in the meantime, thank you all so much for the support, I appreciate it so so much. So please, please, please do keep it coming. Thank you!
I will return, all being well, very soon x