Chapter 9: The Closest to a Life Together, Part 1

May 12, 2004

Joseph headed to Clarisse's office, like every morning. This time, it was a little earlier than usual when Joseph made his way to the Queen's suite. It wasn't uncommon for Joseph to arrive early at the Queen's suite, especially from San Francisco. They took advantage of it to have about ten minutes just the two of them. When Joseph entered the room, Clarisse was already at her desk working.

"Good morning Joseph." She smiled.

"Good morning, Majesty." Joseph said as he approached her.

"So, anything special this morning?" Clarisse asked.

"No, nothing to report. Camera number 8 was repaired early this morning, so everything is impeccable."

"That's good news."

"Your Majesty. » Joseph began, stepping forward and leaning towards her, but still keeping a suitable distance from the eyes of the surveillance cameras.

"If you knew how cruel it is to smell your perfume, to be so close to you, but so far away at the same time." Joseph continued, almost in a whisper.

"In two days, Joseph, be patient." She answered, cupping his cheek.

"I'm counting the hours." He smiled.

May 14, 2004

Clarisse was packing a bag for her 2-day getaway to her private house on the beach. Charlotte entered the room.

"Your Majesty, Joseph has brought the car forward, he's waiting for you at the door." Charlotte began.

"Thank you, Charlotte. So, don't forget, as usual. I'm not disturbed, except in the event of a national emergency. Obviously, I can be reached by phone directly there. Otherwise, Joseph will have his phone on him at all times. »

"Everything will be fine, your Majesty, go and enjoy your two days of rest in peace. You deserve them. The last few weeks have been busy, with the Queen of England's visit to Genovia, the preparations for the Princess's visit for the summer next month, the adoption of the new law on the protection of endangered species living in the Libet Mountains, the motion you prepared to present on universal health insurance, and not to mention yesterday's parliamentary session has exhausted you."

"Yes, thank you Charlotte. I will be back Sunday afternoon."

"Yes, of course, Your Majesty."

Upon arriving at Clarisse's house in Rocabruna, Joseph dropped the bags in the entrance and made a security tour of the ground floor of the mansion, while the four security guards who had followed them in the car took care of the exterior and the upper floor. Once security was confirmed, the four guards left to return to Pyrus' palace. Once alone and settled, Clarisse and Joseph sat on the back terrace to have tea and chat.

Meanwhile, in Pyrus, Charlotte received a call from Mia.

"Hello Princess."

"Hello Charlotte. Could you send me a car to the Genovia airport in about twenty minutes?"

"You're sending a car? What do you mean?"

"Lilly and I are landing in about twenty minutes. »

"But you should have notified us, we would have sent you security and the Genovia One."

"I decided to surprise Grandma. And Lilly needed a change of scenery, so I decided to come spend a week in Genovia and bring Lilly. Is that a problem?"

"Oh no, not at all. I'm sending you a car, Princess."

"Thanks, Charlotte."

Meanwhile, in Rocabruna.

"Finally." Clarisse expressed.

"Oh, I don't need to tell you."

"Joseph, this is just us, you can drop the officialdom."

"I didn't say Majesty." Joseph joked, raising his hands in defense, which made Clarisse laugh.

"Come here, Joseph."

Joseph did as she asked. He sat down next to her on the outside couch. She snuggled up to him and took a sip of her tea.

"We're so comfortable here. Just the two of us. It's a really good idea you had, Clarisse. Even if it's only for a few days, a few times a year. It's so refreshing and enjoyable. This place is soothing and being able to have you in my arms without feeling like we're hiding is better than a dream."

"It's mutual, Joseph. When I bought the house, it was with that in mind. I wanted to have a place of my own. Nothing that belongs to the Renaldis or the crown. Just a place of my own. It's for this reason I bought the house with my own money. The one my parents left me when they died. If I had used the money I get from my role as Queen, I know very well that one or two idiots in parliament would have judged that the house somehow reverted to the crown, just to try to prevent me from doing something that gives me a certain independence."

"That's completely stupid. Technically, your job is to govern the country, it's normal that you get paid for it. What you do with your money is none of parliament's business."

"I know that, but for some of them, I am the possession of the crown, therefore of parliament. I manage to shut them up and keep them quiet, after all I have more authority than they do. And that's just one who constantly gets in my way, but he always has a few following him."

"Let me guess. It's Mabrey." Joseph added.

"Touché." Clarisse laughed.

"If you knew how much I'd want to punch that one."

"At least when Mia takes the throne, she'll choose her members of parliament. She'll be free to remove him from parliament. I have to keep the same ones, because technically, I'm only succeeding Rupert's reign, so the members he chose have to stay there until the new coronation."

"Did he really choose that bastard?"

"Yes, but Mabrey wasn't like that at all with Rupert. He respected him and always agreed with Rupert's motions or projects. I feel like he only respects me out of obligation. I don't know if it's because I'm a woman or if it's because I'm not of royal blood. I really feel like he's scrutinizing my every move with a magnifying glass, waiting for a single misstep to take the crown from the Renaldis. That's why we have to keep a low profile, you and I. Because technically, as a widow, Queen or not, I would have the right to start my life over, to remarry even. But knowing most of the members of parliament, knowing Mabrey especially, they would no longer believe me fit to reign at all. As long as I'm Rupert's widow, they can't do anything against me. In any case, I have to remain Queen regnant so that Mia can accede to the throne when she turns 21, so I have no right to remarry or even have an official relationship with anyone other than the King, even if I am a widow. It's the law.

"Plus I'm one of your royal employees, it would definitely hurt. What do you call that again? Oh yeah, a commoner." Joseph joked

"Oh, you're so much more than that Joseph. If I could change things, believe me I would, but since I'm the one concerned first, I also don't have the right to propose a motion to abolish this law, there would be a blatant conflict of interest."

"I understand perfectly Clarisse. Don't worry. I told you, I'll wait for you. I love you and I'm ready to do anything for you. Even be patient for years. I know it'll be worth it anyway. And when the day comes, I'll make you my wife." He said, kissing the top of her head.

"I know. I'm lucky you're so understanding. You see, that was also why I bought this house. So I could escape, with you. I know you told me you'd be patient, but I was so afraid you'd get tired of waiting. I was tired of waiting. I had to find a compromise between my responsibility as Queen and my desires as a woman in love. I'm not just talking about physical desires, although those were certainly present too, but my desires to be with the man I love, to fall asleep and wake up with the man I love, to simply spend time with the man I love, with you Joseph. »

« It's true that I found it extremely difficult to know that my feelings were mutual, but not to be able to hold you in my arms, kiss you, say openly that I love you, in short, to be able to show only a few signs of love in secret, and the opportunities to do so were rare. And that's without counting the carnal desire that burned inside me. If you knew the number of times I just wanted to lock the door of your suite, and make love to you on your desk, or simply against any wall of the palace. In short, at the time, I had this desire too, and which could not be satisfied in any way. Even thinking about you at night was not enough. Now, I can satisfy my thirst for you occasionally, during our escapades here. And by thirst for you, I don't only mean my thirst for your body, but also my thirst for your soul. To live our love on a daily basis like a normal couple for a few days. But even without these escapades, I would never tire of waiting for you Clarisse, even if it was unspeakably cruel, I would never tire of waiting for you."

Clarisse, who was leaning against Joseph, smiled at his statement. She passed her cup, then turned back to him.

"Well, Mr. Romero. We thought about our Queen at night? What kind of thoughts?"

Joseph saw exactly where she was going with this.

"The kind of very naughty thoughts. The kind that were not very appropriate, especially concerning my Queen." Joseph replied, taking Clarisse's hip as she began to straddle him.

"Oh yes. You know that you could have been hung by your toes in the palace courtyard for such thoughts." She said, kissing his neck.

Joseph could feel his pants getting tighter and tighter.

"Oh, but I couldn't help it. » He replied, taking her mouth for a hot and languorous kiss.

"And what did you do with his thoughts?" Clarisse asked, moving her pelvis to rub his bulge.

"Hmm... Clarisse..." Were the only words that could come out of Joseph's mouth.

He tried to kiss her, but she moved her face away just in time.

"That doesn't answer my question Mr. Romero." She laughed, never stopping her hip movements.

"Hmm, Clarisse, you'll know my death woman." He growled before answering. "Hmm, I was unbuckling my seat belt first."

"Hmm… What next?" she asked.

"I was taking my shaft, so hard for you, out of my pants."

"Oh yes, humm… I can feel it right there." She said, taking it through his pants.

"Oh Clarisse. Humm… Yes! I was pleasuring myself, imagining being with you. It was all I could do to try to quench my thirst for you."

"Oh. Humm… Joseph… Continue." She breathed into his ear, rubbing his so firm member, through his pants.

"I imagined making love to you on your desk, in your bed, in one of the limousines… Ah Clarisse Humm…" Joseph was having trouble finding enough air to speak clearly, he couldn't take it anymore, he needed her. Now. "Clarisse, I need you. Let me make love to you now." »

"Here, outside?" She laughed.

Joseph didn't answer, he had started to unbutton her blouse to have access to the swell of her breasts. He finally got out of his trans and looked at her with a burning desire in his eyes.

"I'm not going to undress you outside, no. Come on, my dear, let's go to the bedroom." He said, helping her get up.

They headed towards the inside of the house, then towards the master bedroom. As soon as they arrived at the double doors of the bedroom, Joseph tenderly pinned Clarisse to the wall. He needed to taste her skin again. He untied the rest of her blouse then opened it. Her voluminous chest was revealed in a royal blue lace bra. He took one of her breasts out of its cup then kissed and sucked it. He did the same with the other. Clarisse knew she would be marked the next day, but she didn't care at all. She always had two or three love marks on her body after her escapades. Joseph was very careful, however, as he took care to mark only hidden places on Clarisse's body, such as her thighs or her breasts. She felt guided towards the inside of the room. Joseph then guided her towards the bed.