Authors Note: Sorry it took a few days to get this chapter up - I kept
rewriting bits of it because I wasn't really satisfied. Anyway, thank you
all for your reviews and hope you enjoy this chapter!
~*~
Chapter Three
In some ways, New York felt like a completely different world than Capeside. Instead of the quiet, small-town charm Joey had grown up with, it radiated noise, excitement, and most of all, life. The air was heavy and smelled of smog and pollution; the streets were bustling with activity and swarms of people, reminding her that she was just another nameless face in a city full of strangers. She didn't mind it too much, though. In fact, at times, she loved the anonymity. Having grown up with the same people all her life, she relished the chance to have a clean slate; to start over again with people who knew nothing about her or her past history. Still, it was nice to see a familiar face. especially when that face belonged to Pacey.
Stepping out of the yellow taxicab and onto the busy street, Joey reached into her wallet and plucked out a few bills. The driver merely grunted in reply when she offered him the money. She rolled her eyes, but opted not to say anything. Having lived here for quite some time, she was used to people like him - they seemed to run rampant here. His behavior didn't really faze her anymore.
"Wow," Pacey breathed, looking around at the variety of people who were passing them on the street. A girl with a green Mohawk walked by, noisily smacking bubblegum while she talked on a cell phone. Off to the right, a group of middle-aged men in leather jackets were chatting happily; playfully smacking each other around. "This certainly is. something."
"C'mon," she said, grabbing his hand and leading him around a corner. "My apartments not far from here. I can give you a personal tour."
He raised an eyebrow. "I like the sound of that."
Walking towards the tall building, they entered the lobby. It was nice to be back, she thought, smiling as they made their way along the familiar hallways. Much as she had missed Capeside, she guessed the old saying was true - there really was no place like home.
Together, they walked towards the elevator, hand and hand. Pacey whistled as he looked around, taking in all the sights.
"Nice place you got here," he commented.
Joey shrugged. "Not too bad, I guess." The elevator stopped and they got off. Trying to balance her duffle bag as well as her suitcase, she stumbled towards her apartment door, Pacey trailing behind her. "It isn't exactly what I would call homey, though." She pulled reached into her coat pocket and pulled out her keys, unlocking the door and stepping inside.
He bent down, pulling her in for a tender kiss as they made their way in. His arms were around her neck as they moved over to the couch, the personal tour long forgotten. They would worry about that later. much later. "Well, we can change that," he murmured into her lips.
Joey grinned at him, her eyes shining. "And how do you propose we start?"
"I've got a few ideas."
"Oh, really? And what might those be?"
He captured her mouth in a kiss. "Why don't I show you?"
Joey leaned back against the cushions, feeling him move on top of her. His mouth claimed hers in a hungry kiss and she moaned, arching her fingers along his back.
"Pace." she groaned, her voice a whisper. Tilting her neck back, she gave him access to her throat. He began trailing kisses down her jaw line, moving down to her neck and then to her shoulder. The blouse she was wearing was quickly discarded, leaving her in only a white tank top.
Wrapping his arms around her, he leaned in close - so close that that she could feel his hot breath against her ear. "Are you sure?" The question hung in the air between them for a moment, and then, finally, she snapped back to reality.
She nodded, dimly aware of what was happening, yet so sure at the same time. "I'm sure."
His hands were underneath her, cradling her against him. She inhaled his clean, musky scent as he bent down, scooping her up. Feeling giddy joy wash over her, she grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Not another word was spoken as he carried her towards the bedroom. They didn't need words; Joey felt like she had spent her entire life talking, and not really doing anything else. It was time to break that cycle. For once she was living, enjoying life; free. And she was going to stay that way.
~*~
Twilight. The room was dark, a candle illuminating the still forms. Joey sighed, feeling the satin sheets beneath her body, and the strong arm that cradled her around the waist. She felt contentment; complete and total contentment. It had never been like this with anyone else - not really. Only with Pacey was she able to feel completely at ease. It was a nice feeling. one she never wanted to end.
"I'm so glad I decided to talk you into coming here with me," she murmured, linking their fingers together.
"Believe me, you're not the only one."
Stealing a glance at the overhead clock, she realized hours had gotten away from them, just like that. It was nearing suppertime - and they had gotten in around mid-noon. Where had all the time gone? She grinned, thinking of the past few hours. It certainly hadn't been a waste, that's for sure.
"Whatcha thinking about, Potter?" he asked, drawing her gaze away from the clock. She leaned back against him, their bodies brushing together, sending an electric shock through her system.
"Oh, lots of things." She put on a mock serious face, tapping her chin lightly. "Come to think of it, there are some bills I need to pay, not to mention some phone calls I need to return."
"What?"
She chuckled at his horrified expression. "It's amazing what you think about when you've got all that extra time to. do nothing but think." The grin on her face widened. Oh, how she loved teasing him.
"Jo!"
"Calm down, I'm only teasing," she assured gently. "Do you honestly think I would have gone back for seconds and thirds if you had been that bad?"
"'That bad???' Come on, Jo, my pride is on the line!"
She rolled her eyes; feigning annoyance, although the lopsided smile on her face gave her away. "Okay, okay. You were wonderful. Fantastic, even. Not to mention any other colorful adjective that I don't feel like naming right now."
"I thought you were a writer? This should be your specialty."
"An editor," she corrected. "And I highly doubt professional ego-booster was part of the job requirement. Besides," she continued after a minute, looking thoughtful. "I don't think we need words to describe what we have together." There was a serious tone to her voice, and Pacey nodded, understanding. The playful banter was broken for a moment as they lay there in comfortable silence.
Until something broke that peaceful silence. Something loud.
"I'm hungry," came the demanding voice.
He stared at her blankly.
She remained silent, eyes narrowed.
"Well?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. "What do you expect me to do about it?" He lazily flopped back on the bed, closing his eyes.
"You own a restaurant, don't you?"
"That was back in Capeside," he pointed out.
"And you used to be a chef."
"A damn good one, might I add," he said. "I don't know why I ever thought becoming a stock broker was a good idea. The food industry turned out to be my calling all along."
"If you're such a master with food, why don't you show me what you've got?" she asked teasingly, raising a seductive eyebrow. "By making me dinner."
He groaned, before emitting a rather loud, noisy yawn. "I don't think I can move another muscle."
"Pace," she said slowly, stretching the words out. She moved over to him, trailing her fingers along his stomach. "If I were you, I'd want to keep me happy."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. And a fed Joey is a happy Joey."
He chuckled, pulling back the sheets and reaching for some boxers. "God, you're demanding, woman."
She arched an eyebrow at him, admiring the shape of his body as he started to dress. "And you're just now figuring this out?"
"Good point."
Pulling back the bed covers, she reached for her own clothes. They were lying in a crumpled heap in the back corner.
"Hey," Pacey said, pulling on a pair of pants. "If you're going to make me cook for you, you can at least be naked."
She shook her head as she begun buttoning her blouse. "Nope, sorry. Too drafty."
"Jo!"
Walking over to where he was standing, she placed a teasing kiss on his lips. "Maybe if you play your cards right, you'll get lucky come dessert."
"You really *are* sadistic."
A mischievous smile made it's way across her face. "Can't argue with you there." Taking his hand, she began to drag him out of the room, much to his protest. "Come to think of it," she said after a minute, once they were in the kitchen. "I never got to give you that personal tour."
"Who cares about the tour? The only room we'll really be using is the bedroom, right?"
She smacked him upside the head. "Pace!"
"Sorry, sorry." He began digging around in the cupboards, looking for something suitable to eat. "Do you, by any chance, happen to have any strawberries around here?"
Joey smiled at him dryly, opening up the fridge and taking out some pasta. "You really do have a one track mind, don't you?"
"My mind happens to have several tracks, thank you very much. Let's see. there's booze, sex, and uh. food? I do happen to enjoy good music every now and then as well." He grinned.
She tossed him the bag of pasta. "You're impossible."
"You're so cute when you're annoyed."
"Bite me," she said, before heading into the living room.
Pacey trailed in her wake. "Jo, are you really going to leave me in there all alone?"
"I think you can manage. I promise there aren't any monsters hiding in dark shadows."
"But how will I know where everything is?"
She gave an exasperated sigh. This man really *was* impossible! "Food's in the fridge, pots and pans are under the stove."
"You're not even going to watch?" He was giving her that little boy look now - which was so hard to resist - but no. she had to remain strong.
"You know what they say," she said softly, her lips forming a pout. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."
"Well," he said slowly, contemplating that thought. "If you put it that way." She smiled teasingly, and he turned to go.
Flopping back on an overstuffed armchair, she couldn't help the grin that suddenly overtook her. Teasing Pacey was highly enjoyable.
In fact, their entire day together had been quite fun, if she could say so herself. Very fun.
Her grin grew wider as she became lost in thought.
~*~
Chapter Three
In some ways, New York felt like a completely different world than Capeside. Instead of the quiet, small-town charm Joey had grown up with, it radiated noise, excitement, and most of all, life. The air was heavy and smelled of smog and pollution; the streets were bustling with activity and swarms of people, reminding her that she was just another nameless face in a city full of strangers. She didn't mind it too much, though. In fact, at times, she loved the anonymity. Having grown up with the same people all her life, she relished the chance to have a clean slate; to start over again with people who knew nothing about her or her past history. Still, it was nice to see a familiar face. especially when that face belonged to Pacey.
Stepping out of the yellow taxicab and onto the busy street, Joey reached into her wallet and plucked out a few bills. The driver merely grunted in reply when she offered him the money. She rolled her eyes, but opted not to say anything. Having lived here for quite some time, she was used to people like him - they seemed to run rampant here. His behavior didn't really faze her anymore.
"Wow," Pacey breathed, looking around at the variety of people who were passing them on the street. A girl with a green Mohawk walked by, noisily smacking bubblegum while she talked on a cell phone. Off to the right, a group of middle-aged men in leather jackets were chatting happily; playfully smacking each other around. "This certainly is. something."
"C'mon," she said, grabbing his hand and leading him around a corner. "My apartments not far from here. I can give you a personal tour."
He raised an eyebrow. "I like the sound of that."
Walking towards the tall building, they entered the lobby. It was nice to be back, she thought, smiling as they made their way along the familiar hallways. Much as she had missed Capeside, she guessed the old saying was true - there really was no place like home.
Together, they walked towards the elevator, hand and hand. Pacey whistled as he looked around, taking in all the sights.
"Nice place you got here," he commented.
Joey shrugged. "Not too bad, I guess." The elevator stopped and they got off. Trying to balance her duffle bag as well as her suitcase, she stumbled towards her apartment door, Pacey trailing behind her. "It isn't exactly what I would call homey, though." She pulled reached into her coat pocket and pulled out her keys, unlocking the door and stepping inside.
He bent down, pulling her in for a tender kiss as they made their way in. His arms were around her neck as they moved over to the couch, the personal tour long forgotten. They would worry about that later. much later. "Well, we can change that," he murmured into her lips.
Joey grinned at him, her eyes shining. "And how do you propose we start?"
"I've got a few ideas."
"Oh, really? And what might those be?"
He captured her mouth in a kiss. "Why don't I show you?"
Joey leaned back against the cushions, feeling him move on top of her. His mouth claimed hers in a hungry kiss and she moaned, arching her fingers along his back.
"Pace." she groaned, her voice a whisper. Tilting her neck back, she gave him access to her throat. He began trailing kisses down her jaw line, moving down to her neck and then to her shoulder. The blouse she was wearing was quickly discarded, leaving her in only a white tank top.
Wrapping his arms around her, he leaned in close - so close that that she could feel his hot breath against her ear. "Are you sure?" The question hung in the air between them for a moment, and then, finally, she snapped back to reality.
She nodded, dimly aware of what was happening, yet so sure at the same time. "I'm sure."
His hands were underneath her, cradling her against him. She inhaled his clean, musky scent as he bent down, scooping her up. Feeling giddy joy wash over her, she grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Not another word was spoken as he carried her towards the bedroom. They didn't need words; Joey felt like she had spent her entire life talking, and not really doing anything else. It was time to break that cycle. For once she was living, enjoying life; free. And she was going to stay that way.
~*~
Twilight. The room was dark, a candle illuminating the still forms. Joey sighed, feeling the satin sheets beneath her body, and the strong arm that cradled her around the waist. She felt contentment; complete and total contentment. It had never been like this with anyone else - not really. Only with Pacey was she able to feel completely at ease. It was a nice feeling. one she never wanted to end.
"I'm so glad I decided to talk you into coming here with me," she murmured, linking their fingers together.
"Believe me, you're not the only one."
Stealing a glance at the overhead clock, she realized hours had gotten away from them, just like that. It was nearing suppertime - and they had gotten in around mid-noon. Where had all the time gone? She grinned, thinking of the past few hours. It certainly hadn't been a waste, that's for sure.
"Whatcha thinking about, Potter?" he asked, drawing her gaze away from the clock. She leaned back against him, their bodies brushing together, sending an electric shock through her system.
"Oh, lots of things." She put on a mock serious face, tapping her chin lightly. "Come to think of it, there are some bills I need to pay, not to mention some phone calls I need to return."
"What?"
She chuckled at his horrified expression. "It's amazing what you think about when you've got all that extra time to. do nothing but think." The grin on her face widened. Oh, how she loved teasing him.
"Jo!"
"Calm down, I'm only teasing," she assured gently. "Do you honestly think I would have gone back for seconds and thirds if you had been that bad?"
"'That bad???' Come on, Jo, my pride is on the line!"
She rolled her eyes; feigning annoyance, although the lopsided smile on her face gave her away. "Okay, okay. You were wonderful. Fantastic, even. Not to mention any other colorful adjective that I don't feel like naming right now."
"I thought you were a writer? This should be your specialty."
"An editor," she corrected. "And I highly doubt professional ego-booster was part of the job requirement. Besides," she continued after a minute, looking thoughtful. "I don't think we need words to describe what we have together." There was a serious tone to her voice, and Pacey nodded, understanding. The playful banter was broken for a moment as they lay there in comfortable silence.
Until something broke that peaceful silence. Something loud.
"I'm hungry," came the demanding voice.
He stared at her blankly.
She remained silent, eyes narrowed.
"Well?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. "What do you expect me to do about it?" He lazily flopped back on the bed, closing his eyes.
"You own a restaurant, don't you?"
"That was back in Capeside," he pointed out.
"And you used to be a chef."
"A damn good one, might I add," he said. "I don't know why I ever thought becoming a stock broker was a good idea. The food industry turned out to be my calling all along."
"If you're such a master with food, why don't you show me what you've got?" she asked teasingly, raising a seductive eyebrow. "By making me dinner."
He groaned, before emitting a rather loud, noisy yawn. "I don't think I can move another muscle."
"Pace," she said slowly, stretching the words out. She moved over to him, trailing her fingers along his stomach. "If I were you, I'd want to keep me happy."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. And a fed Joey is a happy Joey."
He chuckled, pulling back the sheets and reaching for some boxers. "God, you're demanding, woman."
She arched an eyebrow at him, admiring the shape of his body as he started to dress. "And you're just now figuring this out?"
"Good point."
Pulling back the bed covers, she reached for her own clothes. They were lying in a crumpled heap in the back corner.
"Hey," Pacey said, pulling on a pair of pants. "If you're going to make me cook for you, you can at least be naked."
She shook her head as she begun buttoning her blouse. "Nope, sorry. Too drafty."
"Jo!"
Walking over to where he was standing, she placed a teasing kiss on his lips. "Maybe if you play your cards right, you'll get lucky come dessert."
"You really *are* sadistic."
A mischievous smile made it's way across her face. "Can't argue with you there." Taking his hand, she began to drag him out of the room, much to his protest. "Come to think of it," she said after a minute, once they were in the kitchen. "I never got to give you that personal tour."
"Who cares about the tour? The only room we'll really be using is the bedroom, right?"
She smacked him upside the head. "Pace!"
"Sorry, sorry." He began digging around in the cupboards, looking for something suitable to eat. "Do you, by any chance, happen to have any strawberries around here?"
Joey smiled at him dryly, opening up the fridge and taking out some pasta. "You really do have a one track mind, don't you?"
"My mind happens to have several tracks, thank you very much. Let's see. there's booze, sex, and uh. food? I do happen to enjoy good music every now and then as well." He grinned.
She tossed him the bag of pasta. "You're impossible."
"You're so cute when you're annoyed."
"Bite me," she said, before heading into the living room.
Pacey trailed in her wake. "Jo, are you really going to leave me in there all alone?"
"I think you can manage. I promise there aren't any monsters hiding in dark shadows."
"But how will I know where everything is?"
She gave an exasperated sigh. This man really *was* impossible! "Food's in the fridge, pots and pans are under the stove."
"You're not even going to watch?" He was giving her that little boy look now - which was so hard to resist - but no. she had to remain strong.
"You know what they say," she said softly, her lips forming a pout. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."
"Well," he said slowly, contemplating that thought. "If you put it that way." She smiled teasingly, and he turned to go.
Flopping back on an overstuffed armchair, she couldn't help the grin that suddenly overtook her. Teasing Pacey was highly enjoyable.
In fact, their entire day together had been quite fun, if she could say so herself. Very fun.
Her grin grew wider as she became lost in thought.
