Hello everyone, I just want to say thank you to you all for reading the latest chapter and a special thanks to bee-327, Mari (guest), DW.618 and to Chelsietx for taking the time to leave such wonderful reviews. I really do appreciate it and can't thank you all enough.
Also, DW.618, I have private messaged you. I hope that you received it?
Now, here's the next chapter for you all :) I hope you enjoy it…
"I'm nearly ready," Clarisse smiled as she appeared at the top of the staircase and draped the fitted blazer she had chosen to take out with them over her arm, the strap of her handbag grasped in her hand, and put her now free hand out onto the banister as she began to make her way down the stairs towards her husband sat waiting patiently for her on the edge of the sideboard in the foyer with his legs stretched out in front of him, crossed at the ankle.
"Okay, when you say nearly?" Joseph asked as his gaze lowered down over her body, all the way down to her feet, then slowly back up again. "Because you look ready to me," he smirked.
"I just need you to zip me up," she smiled down at him. "Then I am ready to go."
"Ahh, now that I can do," Joseph smirked and twisted his body to pick up the shot of scotch he had poured for her from the sideboard behind him and stood to his feet before walking over to meet her at the bottom of the staircase. "One shot of scotch for you," he said, holding out the glass to her.
"Mm thank you," she smiled while stepping from the last step and took the glass from him with her free hand before turning so her back was now to him. "I'm sorry about my wobble earlier."
"You don't need to apologise, my love. I completely understand that you're feeling nervous. I would be too if I were in your shoes," Joseph said as he stepped closer and zipped up the back of her dress for her before putting his hands out onto her hips. "There all done," he smiled, stepping even closer to her and tipping his head forward to kiss her shoulder. "You look beautiful, by the way."
"Thank you," Clarisse smiled as she turned back to him, his hands remaining on her waist as she turned, and raised the glass up close to her face. "Hopefully this will help settle my nerves," she said before downing the scotch and pulling a grimacing face. "Oh god," she gasped as she pressed the back of her hand, the glass still in her grasp, against her mouth.
"Are you okay?" Joseph asked with a small laugh. "Is it burning your throat?"
"Yes, but it's not just that. It tasted disgusting," she exclaimed and looked at the glass before looking back up at her husband. "I forgot that I haven't long brushed my teeth."
"Oh my love," Joseph laughed while taking the glass from her and walked back over to the sideboard. "Well everything is off, and all the windows and doors are locked, but the question is, though. Are you ready to leave?"
"I am now, yes," she said and pulled another grimacing face at the taste in her mouth as he placed the glass down on the sideboard and turned back to her. "But tell me, how is this going to work? You're driving us to Vee's, but we will be drinking when we go to the bar. So, how are we going to get back tonight?"
"We will be leaving the car at Vee's, then Diego will drive us home tonight, whenever you are ready to leave the bar, and he will then bring the car back over for us tomorrow," Joseph said as they both walked over towards the entrance doors as she nodded slowly.
"Ahh I see, okay," Clarisse smiled as she put her free hand down and took hold of her blazer and her handbag strap, so she was now holding them in both hands in front of her.
"Now, do you have everything?" Joseph asked as he opened the door for them and turned to her. "After you."
"Thank you," she smiled, leading the way out of the house and started walking slowly down the path towards the drive. "And yes, I do. But do you?"
"Good, I do too," he smiled, following her outside and closing the door behind him. "Oh wait," he said, looking up at her.
"What is it?" Clarisse asked as she stopped and turned back to him with a mischievous smile.
"I forgot the gifts for my niece's and nephew's," he laughed and stepped back inside to grab the bags from where he had placed them next to the front door earlier. "They'll never forgive me if I turn up empty-handed."
"I was wondering when you were going to notice," Clarisse smiled cheekily as he stepped back outside and pulled the door closed behind him.
"Would you have told me if I hadn't realised when I did?" He asked while locking the door and walking down the path to her as she laughed. "Or would you have let us get all the way to Vee's?"
"Oh no, I would have told you before we left the drive," Clarisse smiled up at him as he stepped incredibly close to her and moved his face closer to hers.
"Mhmm, I'm sure you would have," he smiled against her lips and kissed her a couple of times while placing his free hand onto her side.
"I'm not that mean," Clarisse smiled as she reached a hand up to cup his cheek and gently brushed her thumb over his lips, removing the remnants of her lipstick before lowering her hand back down and gazing up into his sexy blue eyes.
"I know you're not," Joseph smiled, and they both turned to make their way across the drive towards the car. "Do you realise that this will be the first time we have been out in the car since the day we arrived."
"I know, I was just thinking the same thing," Clarisse smiled as Joseph pressed the key fob to unlock the car and stepped forward to open the boot. Putting the bags of gifts inside before closing it back up and turning to her as she stepped closer to him. "Had we not been going to your sister's today, we wouldn't have been going out in it today either."
"No we wouldn't," Joseph smiled as she tilted her head ever so slightly and gazed up into his eyes.
"We will have to start going places soon though, see a bit of the place, because we are already halfway through our first week," Clarisse smiled, her gaze still locked with her husband's as he put his hands up onto the tops of her arms, "and all we have done so far is eat, drink, relax-,"
"And make love," Joseph smirked, a mischievously glint in his eye, and gave her another quick kiss before looking back into her eyes, "and if we don't leave now, that's exactly how we will be spending our evening instead of going to Vee's for dinner," he smiled and put a hand on her back as they both turned to walk around to the passenger side of the car.
"I just can't believe how quick it's gone," Clarisse said as he reached his hand out and opened the car door for her.
"Neither can I," Joseph said as he turned to her, "but they do say that time does fly when you're having the time of your life."
"And we certainly have been having the time of our lives," Clarisse smiled as she put her hand up on his chest.
"Mmm mm mmm yes we have," he smiled, and they both laughed as he took hold of her hand resting on his chest to help her into the car. "And I wouldn't want it any other way."
"No, neither do I," Clarisse smiled as she placed her handbag down in the footwell, and her blazer across her lap, before looking up at him and grabbing the seat belt. "Thank you."
Smiling, Joseph closed the car door once she was settled in her seat and chuckled to himself as he made his way around the car to the drivers side and climbed in beside her. "I think I'm gonna need a minute," he said, shutting his door.
"Why, what's wrong?" Clarisse panicked and turned in her seat to him as he briefly closed his eyes. "Are you okay?"
"Just us talking about making love," he said, looking back at her as she bit her bottom lip. Now knowing exactly what was wrong with him. "Don't do that either," he smirked and shook his head, "it's not helping."
"Oh, my love, I'm sorry," she said, trying her best not to laugh, as she watched him tip his head back against the headrest of his seat. "Maybe I shouldn't have brought it up. I'm sorry."
"Hey it wasn't you who said the words 'making love'. It was me," Joseph said as he turned his head to look back at her and reached his hand across the armrest between them for her hand. "Yes you don't help being as beautiful as you are, but all this is my fault."
"You may have said the actual words, but it was me who brought up what we have spent the last few days doing, instead of going out in the car," Clarisse said as she watched him pull her hand across to him, to kiss the back of it before resting his head back against the headrest. "I'm sorry, my love. You take as long as you need to."
"It wasn't from then, it started when I see you coming down the stairs and zipping up your dress, by saying the words, and seeing you bite your lip only added fuel to the fire," Joseph said a moment later and rested his elbow on the armrest between them before tipping his head forward, his hand now covering his eyes as he tried his best to rid all thought of being with her.
Her beautiful tanned body laid oh so deliciously on the bed in front of him. Kissing her. Making love to her. "It's frustrating," he said after another moment as Clarisse watched him intently. "Over the last few days whenever I, we, whenever we, have felt this way, we have made love. But we can't this time."
"And you can't go take a cold shower, either," Clarisse said, and he shook his head.
"No, or take a swim," he sighed and lifted his head, to briefly look back up at her before resting it back against the headrest of his seat. "Oh you are so lucky that you don't have this problem."
"Who said that I don't have this problem?" Clarisse smirked cheekily as he turned his head to look at her. His stomach doing somersaults at the twinkle in her eye. "It's just easier for us women to hide than you men."
"You're really not helping, you know that?" He smirked and shook his head as he turned to look out the front window. The image of her beautiful taut nipples confined in her lace bra, begging for his attention, teasing him.
"I'm sorry," Clarisse said, a smirk playing on her lips as she looked down at her hands resting together in her lap. She was ever so thankful that she was wearing a dress with a frill cape around the top of it this evening, making it easier to hide the evidence of desire for her husband.
She feared that they wouldn't get anywhere had she not been, had he been able to see her reaction. What he had done to her too when he spoke about them making love. Because the truth was she wanted him right now, just as much as he wanted her. And if she didn't stop these thoughts now, she would end up straddling his lap right there in the car. "Can you start the car so I can open the window, please? It's just got really hot in here," she said her voice low, her heart racing, as a flush crept over her entire body at the thought of them making love in a car that wasn't even there's.
"Sure," Joseph said and started the car for her to open the window.
"Thank you," she said, fanning herself with one hand while the other went to the door to press the button to lower the window as Joseph chuckled beside her. "What time should we have been at Vee and Diego's?"
"About ten minutes ago," he replied, shutting off the engine and checking the time on his watch before closing his eyes.
"Did you message them to let them know we were running late?" Clarisse asked and looked back up at him, her hand still fanning her face as he nodded.
"I did, yes," he said and let out another sigh. Noticing the change in her voice. "I think I need to step out of the car a moment. I need some air."
"Okay," she nodded and watched as he opened his door and stepped out of the car before turning back to her. "Do you need me-,"
"No," Joseph interrupted and shook his head profusely before looking up at her. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that. I just need a few minutes out here, on my own."
"I know, it's okay," Clarisse nodded and watched as he stepped aside and shut the car door behind him before turning and resting back against the car.
Looking in the wing mirror, Clarisse watched him a moment as he put one hand on his hip and raised his other hand up to his face, pinching the bridge of his nose. A move she had done numerous times over the years whenever she felt overwhelmed or frustrated but had never actually seen him do it before. He was usually the calm and collected one. But not this time. He really was in a predicament. They both were, and she could only hope that they would soon calm down so that they could leave. Not that she minded staying home and making love, of course. But she knew how important it was to him that she spent time with his family and got to know them better.
Hearing the car door open several moments later, Clarisse turned her head to look at her husband, climbing back into the car and shutting the door behind him. "Are you okay?" She asked softly and reached her arm across the armrest between them, her hand going to rest on the top of his arm.
"Uh huh," he nodded and turned his head to look at her as she lowered her other arm from where her elbow was resting against the door. "As hard as it was, no pun intended, I managed to push all thoughts to one side. How long it'll last, I don't know."
"Okay," Clarisse nodded and gave him a small smile.
"What about you?" He smirked and watched as she nodded.
"I'm okay," she said, giving him another small smile while tilting her head ever so slightly.
"Good, now let's get on the road, shall we? Before it happens again, and we end up getting nowhere tonight," he said and buckled his seat belt as Clarisse nodded.
"I had an idea to distract us," she smiled as he started the car. "Why don't you tell me about your niece's and nephew's, you know their names, ages etc. So I will know a little about them before I actually meet them."
"That's a good idea," Joseph said as they began to move from where they were parked on the drive, to finally leave the property. "Okay, so I'll start with Vee and Diego's brood first."
"Okay," Clarisse smiled and watched intently as he looked from left to right a couple times, making sure that the main road was clear before pulling out of the drive and starting on the main road.
"Well we have Lucia first, she's twenty-eight and married to Carlos, they have one daughter, Marie-Rose, named after my mother," Joseph began while concentrating on the road, "she's six and a cute little, but feisty thing. She takes after her mother actually," he laughed.
"Aww that's a lovely name, I knew your mothers name was Marie but I didn't realise it was Rose too," Clarisse smiled as he glanced quickly to her before looking back at the road. "I only ever called her Marie."
"Yeah, well, Rose was her middle name, like it is yours. But she just went by her first name Marie, however Lucia wanted both names for her girls first name," Joseph smiled, and holding the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand, he reached his other hand across the armrest to her, taking her hand in his and pulling it across to his lap.
"Ahh okay," Clarisse smiled and looked down at their hands resting in his lap before looking up out of the front window. "Who do we have next?"
"Next we have, Isabella, she's twenty-three and the wild child of the family, she's a right party animal," Joseph smirked. "A right social butterfly that one, hardly ever at home, but has made time to join us at the bar tonight."
"Oh, well, that'll be nice spending time with her there too," Clarisse chuckled and turned her head to look out of her car door window a moment or two.
"Yes it will be. We have Ana next. She's nineteen, and even though she and Isabella are close and always have been, she is the complete opposite. She would rather stay home and read," Joseph smiled, remembering how he would often find her hiding in some cosy little nook reading whenever he visited. "She would love the library back at the Palace, that's for sure."
"Well she is welcome to visit anytime," Clarisse smiled back at him as he nodded. "All of them are welcome, of course."
"They know," he smiled. "Next, there's Luna, she's nine and is crazy mad about horses, Princesses, and castles. Actually, Marie-Rose is too. So I apologise now if they both hound you with questions about being Queen this evening."
"Oh that's okay, I don't mind," Clarisse smiled as she studied her husband's face.
"They were both really excited when they found out we were coming for dinner today, not because they were going to see me, oh no. It was because they were going to be meeting you, a real-life Queen," Joseph smirked as he glanced between her and the road a couple of times before focusing solely on the road.
"Well, I'll have to make them honorary Princesses then," Clarisse smiled, and Joseph chuckled as they came to a slow stop at a set of traffic lights.
"You know they will love you for absolute ever if you did that, they won't want to know me no more," he smiled at her and lifted her hand from his lap up to his mouth. To kiss the back of her fingers before looking back out the front window and lowering their hands back down into his lap, his thumb brushing back and forth over the top of her fingers while waiting for the traffic lights to change.
"What about Juana and her husband?" Clarisse asked and pulled her hand from his grasp when they began to move again. "Do they have any children?"
"Yes, they do. They have two sons, Andre, who is eleven, and Luis, who is seven," Joseph nodded, both hands now on the steering wheel. "They are sports mad and will probably be filtering between dinner and watching some football match on the television. So I apologise in advance for that too."
"You don't need to apologise for that, remember I have two sons myself, who were also both sport mad when they were growing up," she smiled and watched as he glanced to her before looking back at the road, "so I certainly know what that's like."
"You're gonna get on with all of them just brilliantly, and I know that they all love you already," he smiled happily at the thought, "but I do think you and Juana will have more of a connection."
"I hope so," Clarisse smiled and let out a contented sigh while turning her head to look back out of her car door window.