AN: Thanks for the feedback! It's always appreciated. And not to worry, Crissy, I'm a strong believer in reciprocity.

Thanks also to Hailstorm for creating Pearadyne II. Long may it reign!

The Act Part 2

Some time later, Josie felt Z shift slightly beneath her. Not wanting her comfortable position disturbed, she said, without opening her eyes"You're a dead man if you move an inch."

Z laughed softly. "Unfortunately there are a couple of things I need to take care of. Even sex as fantastic as that was, is a bit messy." He patted her on hip. "Just lift up for a second, I'll be quick" he promised, soothingly.

Josie grumbled a bit but raised her hips a bit. She felt him quickly remove the condom and do a quick clean-up with tissues. He then caressed her hip again. "There, all done" he said and wrapped his arms around her as she sank down against him again with a contented sigh.

After a couple of minutes, Josie raised her head to look up at him. "So, it was hot, hunh?.

"Measurable on the Kelvin scale" he said firmly and then grinned down at her. "Also I don't think I'll be able to go into a Starbucks without thinking of tonight, Cinnamon Girl."

"You" Josie pushed at his shoulder and then collapsed back against him in giggles. "I don't I've ever felt this good before." She looked up at him again."Thanks."

"Thanks aren't necessary."

Josie slid up a bit. "How 'bout kisses"

He cupped her face and smiled"Kisses, on the other hand, are highly necessary."

After some long enjoyable moments, Josie felt him shake with laughter. "What" she asked.

"I was just remembering that you said earlier that you weren't the cuddling type" he chuckled.

"I'm not" she replied with what dignity she could, since she was wrapped around him and was even rubbing one of her feet along his shins. "I just like the way you feel against me."

"My mistake" Z replied mock-solemnly. He traced a finger along her cheek. "Do you need to get back to the reunion, or can you stay the night" he asked in a carefully neutral voice.

Josie didn't hesitate. "Nah, I left a message on Corrine's cell that I'd meet them up with them tomorrow as planned, so I don't need to go back. Besides, all the fun is here." From the sweetness of his kiss, she knew that she had made the right decision.

She remembered that when they had first talked, she had promised that it would be only be for this one night and was determined to make the most of it. To distract herself from that depressing thought, she asked him after the kiss ended. "I suppose you'll want me to take the high road and not look up old boyfriends and punch them out for giving me such a negative attitude towards sex.", she grumbled.

"That would be a good idea. After all they've been punished enough." He replied, turning them so they were both on their sides, facing each other.

"How so"

Z's mouth quirks slightly in a smile. "Another thing to add to your list of things I didn't tell you during sex education. I wasn't being completely altruistic by making sure sex was enjoyable for you" he admitted. "Great sex is almost like a feedback loop with each partner's pleasure building on the other's. They may have had an orgasm, but it would have been pretty one-dimensional. They seemed to have missed out on the spectacularly, wildly passionate Josie, I was privileged to experience earlier, which is rather sad for them."

Z had the knack for saying the right thing, she thought warmed by his words. "I take it then you're not mad that I bit you earlier" she asked as she touched the mark on his neck.

Z laughed at that"I knew I was playing with fire."

Josie leaned over and kissed the mark. She touched the bruise with the tip of her tongue and then lapped along his shoulder, enjoying the slightly salty crisp apple taste of his skin. She was curious to see if he tasted that good all over and began exploring along his collarbone. She felt him grow still.

"Josie, you don't have to do anything. This is night is for you."

"But I want to" she replied. "I certainly don't my night to be one-dimensional. It also doesn't seem fair that you know everything about my body and I know very little about yours."

"When you put it that way …" Z relaxed back against the pillows. "Knock yourself out."