Chapter Twenty-Five Pacey's P.O.V.
"Ready?" I ask as the five of us stand on the Leary's front porch.
"As I'll ever be, I guess!" Joey says gripping my hand tighter.
Jack knocks on the door and a few moments later Mitch opens the door and smiles warmly at all of us.
"Merry Christmas! Come on in." He says.
"Hi Mitch." I say warmly shaking his out stretched hand. He then hugs Joey and Jen before shaking Jack and Tobey's hands.
"It's good to see you all again. Let me take your coats. Gail has everyone gathered in the living room."
"Thanks." We all reply.
I help Joey out of her coat, admiring her again as I do so. Placing a reassuring hand against the small of her back guiding her towards the party.
"Hi kids, Merry Christmas!" Gail says hugging each of us, making small talk as she goes.
"Jo, do you want something to drink?" Jen asks.
"No thanks I'm good."
"Pace, you want?"
"Nope, I'm fine for now."
"Okay, you two mingle. Jack, Tobey you're with me."
Jo and I walk around the room talking to a few people. As we talk I can feel her starting to relax a little and her once forced laugh and smile become genuine. I spot Doug across the room and wave, not making any effort to head in that direction but I figure I should acknowledge him. I become lost in conversation after a few minutes someone taps me on the shoulder.
"Pacey." Doug greets me extending his free hand, the other holding his drink.
"Hey Doug." I say really making an effort to be civil; we are at a party after all.
"Merry Christmas little brother."
"Merry Christmas Dougie." I say stepping away from Joey a little so as not to disturb her conversation.
"Um, so how are things?" he asks tentatively.
"Good, great in fact."
"Yeah so I've heard. I understand congratulations are in order."
"Thanks, I've never been happier."
"Well you're a very lucky man."
"I tell myself that everyday, man."
"Listen I'm sorry about before. I was such an ass last time I saw you. Mom was really upset and worried, I guess I over reacted. I shouldn't have taken it out on you guys like that."
"No problem Doug. I did kind of deserve it."
"How's school? And before you say fine, I know about the scholarship."
"You do?" I ask a little shocked.
"Yeah, Mr. Kasden asked how you were doing. He was surprised when I told him I had no idea what he was talking about, so he told me all about it. Congratulations by the way."
"Thanks. I didn't feel much like sharing when I got back; I was kind of still in a dark place. But I'm doing great now, I finally decided on a major. Marine Engineering. I even made the Deans List last semester."
"You're kidding right?"
"Hey Doug, and no he's not kidding. He's third in his class." Joey says proudly entering our conversation.
"Wow, that's great. Hi Joey. Merry Christmas. He says embracing her. So congratulations on your engagement. Don't let my little brother treat you badly; if he does let me know and I'll kick his ass for you."
"Thanks Doug. But, you don't have to worry he's a Prince." I can see her love for me shining in her eyes as she talks to my brother.
"Hey, I'm still here you know!" I say pouting a little.
"Aw, poor baby." She says wrapping her arms around my neck and lifting her face to kiss me.
"God, you two really are in love aren't you?" Doug asks rhetorically.
We just smile at him, at that moment we hear a scream from across the room and turn to watch Andie run into the arms of her brother. They hug each other tightly. It's easy to forget how close they are when they're not around each other.
"Baby, lets go say Hi!" I say excitedly.
"Okay. Doug it was great seeing you. Merry Christmas." She says.
We walk hand in hand up to Jack, Andie, Tobey and Jen.
"Hey, McPhee, Merry Christmas."
"Oh my God!" She screams, hugging us. "Pacey, Joey, wow you guys look great. Jack told me the news. Congratulations, I'm so happy for you." Andie says excitedly.
"Thanks!" Joey says smiling at her.
"Oh, let me see your ring." She grabs Joeys left hand and examines the diamonds that lay sparkling against her finger. "Pacey it's gorgeous. Jo your lucky most girls would kill for a ring like that. Heck, most girls would kill for a guy like Pacey."
"I know. In-fact at first I was a little scared to wear it, but now I feel naked without it. And you're right he is quite the guy." She smiles up at me, and at that moment I fall a little more in love with her.
"Aw, Jo." I say blushing a little.
"I love you Pace." She says bringing our entwined fingers up so she can kiss the back of my hand.
"I love you too Potter." I say looking into her eyes, and repeating her actions.
Suddenly I feel Joey tense up beside me. I follow her gaze and see Dawson entering the room. Andie sees him as well and rushes over to hug him. As they embrace Dawson's hungry eyes never leave Joey. I don't like the look I see in his cold grey eyes. Instinctively I wrap a protective arm and Joey's waist, and Dawson's expression falters slightly as she leans into me.
"Come on Jo, dance with me." I say pulling her towards the small area Mitch and Gail have cleared, where a few other couples are swaying gently to the music. I pull into my arms and we begin to dance. As we stare into each others eyes the rest of the world disappears and then its just us. The song ends and another slow song begins. I pull her closer and she wraps her arms around me and rests her head on my chest. I close my eyes and savor the feeling of holding her close to my heart.
"Mind if I cut in?" Someone asks from beside us. I open my eyes to see who wants to take my angel away from me, and I am met with the expressionless face of Dawson.
"Actually, I was about to go powder my nose; so if you'll excuse me." Joey says pulling out of my arms and practically runs from the room.
"Dawson." I say dismissing him as I head back over to our friends. He reaches a hand out and grabs my arm, stopping me in my tracks.
"She's never going to marry you, you know." He says smugly, and evil smirk on his face.
"Excuse me?" I say, startled by his comment.
"Joey, she's just using you to punish me. But very soon she'll forgive me for leaving and she'll come back to me."
I laugh, at how delusional he is, "I don't think so."
"We're soul mates she and I. We belong together. You'll see." He says sounding desperate.
"You're crazy if you believe that. She made her choice on that dock two and a half years ago. Don't you think it's time to move on?" I ask pulling my arm free and walking away from him.
"You'll see!" he calls after me; I ignore him.
"What was that about?" Jen asks, concern written all over her face.
"Nothing really. Just Dawson being Dawson. He actually still believes that Joey is going to go back to him. He thinks that she's just using me to get to him, that she'll realize she's making a mistake of some kind by not being with him. That they're soul mates."
"He really is insane isn't he?" she asks.
"I'm starting to think so. I'm going to go find Joey; I'm not incredibly comfortable leaving her alone right now."
"Okay, I saw her heading towards the downstairs bathroom."
I make my way through the crowd of people to the washroom. The door is closed and Joey is nowhere in sight so I knock softly.
"Just a minute!" I hear her call through the door.
"Jo, baby it's me. I just wanted to make sure you were okay." I say.
She opens the door and smiles up at me. "I'm fine, just hiding. Care to join me?" she asks seductively, pulling me into the small room and then re-locking the door. She wraps her arms around my neck and presses her lush body against mine. I groan at the contact, and as my body responds I wrap my arms around her waist.
"Have I told you how sexy you look in that dress?" I ask my hand slipping lower to cup her ass. She makes her really cute thoughtful face.
"Um, nope! But, why don't you show me."
"Well someone's playful this evening!" I observe, pulling her closer, and pressing my rapidly hardening erection against her stomach.
"What can I say, my fiance has corrupted me." She rubs against me as she speaks, and again I groan.
"Well, I like corruptible women." I say grinning, do you think this fiance of yours would mind if I had my wicked way with you right here in the bathroom." I say raising my eyebrow suggestively.
"I don't know, I mean he is big, handsome, and strong but you look like you could hold your own. If you want to take your chances with him then I'm all yours." Her eyes are dancing with mischief and she giggles softy.
"I love you Joey Potter!" I growl before roughly swallowing her response with a passionate kiss. I grip her waist tightly in my hands and she wraps her legs around my waist as I lift her onto the counter. I leave a trail of hot kiss along her neck; her head falls back granting me better access. I feel her hands move to my belt, skillfully she unfastens it; lowering the zipper on my pants she pushes them and my boxers over my hips. Both garments fall to the floor, pooling around my ankles.
"Pace, now. I need to feel you inside me now." I can feel her trembling as she speaks. My hand slips inside the slit of her dress, and up her thigh. Reacting my destination I tear the silk panties from her body and plunge into her hard and fast.
"Pacey!" she cries out my name, her hips lifting to meet mine, her head thrown back, she looks amazing, desire for me burning in her eyes. I don't think I can last much longer as I watch us move rhythmically in the mirror. She is so tight and wet, I feel her inner walls clamp down around me, gripping me like a vice and I am lost. My own orgasm coming directly on the heals of hers.
"Joey!" I call out her name as I empty myself into her and see stars behind my closed eyelids. Expelling one final breath I collapse against her.
"Thank-you." She says as our heart rates slow back to normal and our breathing becomes less ragged and labored.
"I was about to say the same thing." I say smiling at her.
"Damn it Pace, that's two pairs you owe me now!" she says spotting the silk I tore from her body minutes ago lying on the floor ruined.
"Sorry," I say smiling sheepishly at her, "forgive me?"
"Of course, we should get back out there though." She says hopping off the counter straightening her dress, and bending down to retrieve her underwear, slipping it into her purse.
"Okay. I pull my pants back up and refasten them. Come on Cinderella."
We make our way back to the gang, after stopping for drinks.
"Well, well, well! Look who it is." Jen teases knowingly. "You two look a little flushed. Being adventurous again?"
We both look guiltily at her, before smiling at each other.
"Next time you might try being a little quieter though."
"Oh my god, you heard us." Joey hisses at her.
"Yeah, I needed to pee. But don't worry it wasn't anything I haven't heard before." She winks at me.
"Oh." we both say, blushing slightly at the thought of Jen knowing so much about our sex life.
"What did they do now?" Jack asks walking up to Jen, handing her a bottle of water.
"Nothing!" I say a little too quickly.
"It's only nothing if you consider having sex in Mitch and Gail's bathroom, with Dawson not ten feet away, nothing." Jen whispers to him.
"Ah, too much information." He laughs. "Hey have any of you seen Andie?"
"Last I saw she was on the dance floor." Jen tells him.
"Right, thanks. I'll be right back." With that he goes off in search of his sister, leaving us alone again with Jen.
"So, you guys about ready to get out of here?" she asks.
"Yeah, it's getting late and Alex will have us all out of bed at the crack of dawn, wanting to see what Santa brought him." Joey says.
"I'm getting tired my self, so anytime your ready so am I." I say stifling a yawn.
"Well, I'm ready, let's go round everyone up." She suggests. We follow Jen as she heads across the room to the rest of our friends.
"Guys, we're leaving now. Andie if you want to come with us you can." Joey offers "We're having hot chocolate in front of the fire and tree when we get back to the B&B."
"Um, sure just let me go tell Dad, I've got my car so I'll meet you there." She says looking around for her father.
"Okay see you there." We call after her. As we collect our coats and say our goodbyes to Mitch and Gail I notice Dawson watching us from the top of the stairs, and he doesn't look happy.