CHAPTER FIVE: BLAME IT ON DESSERT
Phoebe's arms went instinctively around Joey's neck because her legs felt weak and she pressed herself against him for support. He felt her respond and he slowly lowered them to the blanket that was still spread on the sand.
Neither of them was thinking; feeling was enough. The taste of her was driving Joey mad. Joey's mouth left Phoebe's lips to start a trail along her jawline to her ear and down her neck. Phoebe was in a daze of pleasure, her hands were roaming all over his back and she could feel the sand still on his body.
Joey left Phoebe's body only long enough to take off her dress and she sat up to help him get out of his shirt. He was kneeling, but had to sit when Phoebe started kissing a path up his bare stomach to his chest. Little by little, she pushed him to a lying position with her kissing and sliding her body up his, and it was his turn to caress her. When his hands felt her bra, he deftly unhooked it and freed her breasts.
He quickly turned her around so that she was lying under him and he was about to kiss her when reality intruded. He had never seen Phoebe this beautiful. There was nothing he wanted more than to make love to her on this secluded beach until dawn, but he knew he couldn't. She'd hate him come morning. So he pulled away from her and sat with his back to her.
"What's wrong, Joey?" she said as she softly caressed his back.
"I'm sorry, Pheebs. I can't do this to you. To us. I don't want to see your face full of regrets in the morning and I don't want to lose your friendship, because it means the world to me."
Joey's words had a sobering effect. She was feeling some regrets, but of a different kind. Right now at this very second, she was very much regretting that she was married. She didn't want to dwell on why; she didn't want to analyze what she was feeling. This was something unexpected. She just knew that she wanted Joey to make love to her, but she also knew that Joey would feel bad for Mike and she didn't want HIM having any regrets.
She sighed and sat up, "You mean a lot to me too, Joey" she said softly "and you're probably right. I don't want things to be awkward between us. Let's just blame this on... let's see...the chocolate pie!!!... Bad chocolate pie!" Phoebe hoped that her feeble attempt at humor wasn't lost on Joey. She so didn't want any weirdness to ruin her time with him. She couldn't tell what his reaction had been, since he was still staring ahead at the sea.
Her feather-like touch on his back was torture, considering his body hadn't had time to cool off, but he withstood it. He knew she wanted to lighten the mood and he half smiled and slightly shook his head before he turned to look at her.
"No wonder people say chocolate is sinfully delicious" he joked back.
Relieved that she'd managed to put Joey at ease, suddenly she felt exhausted and she yawned. Boy. Putting up a front was really tiring. All she wanted now was a hot shower and a nice bed.
"Let's go, Pheebs. We have another long day ahead of us."
"Ugh!! Does that mean we have to get up early?"
"You mean in about three hours?" he said with a smile "No. You can sleep as late as you want. We'll just leave whenever you're ready. Disneyland isn't going anywhere"
Feeling a little more under control, he stood up and helped her to her feet. He was still wearing his pants, but was naked from the waist up and she was wearing only her panties. As he was helping Phoebe up, he pulled a little too hard and she rammed into his chest. He heard her gasp when her skin touched his and his resolve melted.
He pulled back to look at her in the dimness of the night, and slowly, as if leaving the decision to stop him up to her, he started kissing her. Phoebe parted her lips to deepen the kiss. She was afraid he would stop again so she held him tight, but having given up the fight, Joey wasn't about to.
Once again, they found themselves lying on the blanket, and in no time they had gotten rid of their remaining garments. There was some kind of desperation in the way Phoebe was kissing him, as if she was urging him forward, and soon they were joined. It was such exquisite pleasure for both of them that they wanted to savor the moment, make it last. But their feelings were just too intense, and their relief came quickly, leaving them exhausted, satisfied and full of a contentment that neither had experienced previously.
Phoebe closed her eyes to relish the feeling of being one with Joey. The happiness she felt made her eyes well up and as she closed her eyes, two tears slid down the corner of her eyes and she held Joey tighter.
Joey felt her embrace tightening and moved off her so he could hold her. He kissed her tenderly and then heard her whisper in his ear.
"No regrets, Joey"
"No, Phoebe. None"
