Mostly chatting in this one... x R

All I Know of Love - Part 5

He lay on his side watching her, how her chest rose and fell with her deep even breathing.

"Tell me when you realised there was no going back?" She said gently.

"With you?"

"Yes."

"Probably after my first week of working here. Being in your presence."

"You old romantic." She laughed and turned her head. "You are lying."

"Never to you." He reached a hand over and touched her chest, sliding a finger down and beneath her breast, tracing the smooth curve.

She closed her eyes. "Was it agony?"

"Absolutely."

She looked at him again searching his eyes.

"Absolute agony, and absolute pleasure."

"At the same time?"

"At the same time." He said simply.

"Like child birth." She said ironically.

"I wouldn't know." He laughed and leant over to kiss her cheek. "I'll take your word for it."

He snuggled up close behind her, kissing her shoulder and sliding his hand over her stomach. "It's hard to believe I can finally touch you like this."

"I know. Dreamlike."

"Mmm. Married to Clarisse." He smiled sucking on the skin of her shoulder.

She giggled and shook in his arms. "Oh you're funny."

"I've often been told that. Clarisse, Clarisse, Clarisse…" He kissed her repeatedly.

"Stop it."

"Why?"

"You make me blush." She squirmed in his arms, his tongue tickling her skin.

"Clarisse. My wife."

She laughed and switched onto her back so she could see his face. "That does sound rather good."

"Only rather good?"

"Rather perfect."

"Yes. Rather what I hoped for, for many years, and dreamt of, and fantasised and imagined…"

"Fantasised hey?" She tilted his chin with her index finger. "Do I even want to know what that consisted of?"

"I have every intention of showing you." He said deeply and attacked her throat.

"Ahhh Joseph!" She laughed grabbing his shoulders and forcing him back. "What if I don't agree to these fantasies?"

"Hmm, what if I tell you mine, you tell me yours."

"And what if I have never fantasised about you?" She said sheepishly.

He raised an eyebrow then pouted. "I'd be hurt."

"Well darling," She rested her hand on his chest. "I don't wish to hurt you anymore than I already have."

"Clarissssseeee…"

"STOP!" She rolled him onto his back covering his mouth with hers.

He melted beneath her touch, folding his arms over her, sliding his hands down her silky smooth back.

"Now, that's better," she smiled touching his mouth. "Despite the fact I love the way you say my name, a lady needs a little peace and quiet every now and then."

"Spoil sport."

"Gorgeous."

"Better."

"Happy?"

"Oh incredibly. Unbelievably." He squeezed her backside and she jerked against him.

"Taking liberties."

"Aren't I allowed now?"

"We'll see…" She kissed him again. "You make me laugh."

"Good. So…"

"So?" She smiled.

"So, what shall we discuss now my darling?"

"Anything you wish," She folded her arms and placed them on his chest resting her chin on her folded arms. "Anything at all."

"Anything?" He queried.

"Anything." She nipped his chin with her teeth.

"Ow, all right, question and answer session."

"Fine." She rested her chin on his chest looking up at his face.

"Question one…"

"Erm, who said you got to go first?" She smiled.

"Me, now question one, my dear do you really enjoy pears?"

She stared at his serious expression for a few seconds then closed her eyes and collapsed in a fit of giggles. "That's your question?"

"That's my question – Pears, love or loathe?"

"Well…" She tried to curb her laughter. "I supposed neither, I can take or leave them."

"Diplomatic answer."

"As always." She shifted on top of him. "Now my turn, so Mr. Joseph, just how many woman have you romanced over the years?"

"You can't ask me that!"

"Why ever not?" She played with his beard.

"Because, you just can't."

"Shouldn't husband and wife share everything?"

"Clarisse… why do you even want to know?"

"It won't upset me."

"Well it should!"

"Oh that's not what I meant, you know that, I am insanely jealous of any woman that met you before me my darling."

"I should…" She kissed his open mouth. "Think so."

"I'm still awaiting your answer."

"I'm still avoiding it."

"Joseph…" She teased his mouth with her finger, running her nail along the edge of his lip then dipping her finger inside.

"Clarisse." He sucked on her finger. "Ow!"

"What?"

"Oh sweetheart, watch where you place your knee."

"Oops sorry." She shifted her weight on top of him. "So are you going to permanently avoid giving me an answer?"

"Will I be allowed to?"

She shook her head. "If you really don't want to, I get another question for free."

"Deal."

"Who was your first love?"

"My first love? I'm not sure I ever was in love until I met you."

"Oh Joseph." She touched his face. "Your much too handsome to have always been single."

"I didn't say single, I said not in love."

"Ahh. I see…"

Her head fell to his chest, her eyes closing. "I do believe your answers were a little poor considering my honesty on the pear front."

"I know, I'm sorry, ask me about pears." He grinned resting his hand on the curve of her back.

"Hmm, I would ask your favourite food but I already know." She murmured.

"And?"

"You love seafood, I've noticed that… and quite often you smell of oranges."

"I do?" He asked incredulously.

"Yes, only faintly, fresh ripe sun-drenched oranges."

"Spanish ones actually."

"See, I told you I knew." She laughed lightly, her body shaking against his.

"Well you sneak chocolates when you think nobody is looking."

"Ahh, how did you know that?"

"I've seen you on more than one occasion."

She glared up at him then realisation hit her. "On those horrid cameras, do you know my hiding places too?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"I won't reveal them, it's more fun to tease you."

"Don't steal any, I may have to have you hung." She shifted a little so she could see him more clearly.

"You won't share." He asked touching her hair.

"You'll have to get your own."

He laughed, she was completely amazing, completely utterly amazing. And finally his wife.

"Clarisse…" he whispered after a few minutes of silence.

"Hmm?"

"Are you falling to sleep?"

"Yes I think so," she lifted her head, slowly, and moved up his body. "I'm sorry, I'll try and stay awake."

"Actually I'm rather tired to."

"Oh thank goodness, you know I'm not used to all this exertion…" She said the words before her brain even registered the meaning but he was smiling at her toying absently with her hair.

"What makes you think I am my dear?"

She kissed his nose. "Oh you're fit, look at this chest…" She ran her palm across his chest and down his stomach.

"You wouldn't have employed an unfit security guard."

"Oh I don't know." She smiled warmly at him, her eyes getting slightly heavy but nevertheless she felt completely content and incredibly safe and satisfied.

He gently manoeuvred her over to her side and turned next to her, she snuggled against his chest as easily as if she had always been there, as if they had been sleeping together like this forever.

Joseph lifted the sheets up over her shoulder and wrapped his strong arms around her body. She repeated the move, her arms caressing his back.

"Joseph…" She mumbled kissing his chest.

"Clarisse." He smiled at her giggle.

"Joseph…"

"Clarisse?" This time he kissed her head.

"Oh I'm so tired yet I don't want to go to sleep…" she looked to his face again. "I want to stay like this just chatting about everything and anything."

"I know, I for one don't won't to waste a second in this glorious bed simply sleeping."

"Joseph!" She admonished her hands lightly tapping his back.

"Ahh, I'm joking." He smirked taking in her expression.

"Are you really?" She lifted herself up in his embrace to look into his eyes. "Because if you need… I mean if you want to…"

"Clarisse." He kissed her extraordinary mouth. "I've never been happier, felt healthier or more alive than I do right now here with you, nothing is missing. Nothing at all."

She couldn't help but blush. "Well, good." She bit down on her lip. "I can't believe you know where I hide my secret chocolates."

"Ha!" He squeezed her tightly. "Oh how good it is to have the real Clarisse all to myself."

She cuddled up to him again, closing her eyes and feeling sleep gradually invading her mind. "You're the only one who ever sees the real Clarisse. You always have been."

He closed his eyes at her words floated to him, he felt her body relax totally against him and realised she was already asleep. Slowly he lifted his hand from her body and wiped at the few stray tears that swam down his face.