A/N: This chapter contains sexually explicit material.

June 3. Pacey opened the door to room three-one-five and stepped aside so Joey could walk in first. He smiled at the pleasure she displayed as she once again marveled at how beautiful their hotel suite was. He made sure the door was locked and secure before stepping further into the room. He hoped the hotel had done what he had asked. When he opened the door to the bedroom, he was relieved to see chocolate-covered strawberries and chilled champagne on a cart next to the table in front of the large bay window.

Joey walked in behind him and gasped with excitement. She rushed over and plucked a strawberry off the silver tray. "I'm starving." She closed her eyes when she took a bite. "My goodness. Pacey, taste one of these. It is so good."

He went over to the cart, and tasted one. He hummed appreciatively, nodding while he chewed. "These are delicious."

"This was a lovely surprise," she said. "Thank you. But you really didn't have to splurge like this."

He shrugged and popped another chocolate-covered strawberry in his mouth. "Think of it as a combo celebration. Our one-year anniversary is a week from today."

"That's right," she said with a dazzling smile. "It is."

Pacey turned to the ice bucket and lifted the bottle of champagne. He popped it open and poured each of them a glass.

"I can see why told me not to go overboard with the punch." She smiled as she took a glass from him. "I think I like this two-for-one deal. Happy Anniversary, Pacey."

"Happy Anniversary," he chuckled. They clinked glasses and sipped the champagne enthusiastically. "Classier than drinking straight from the bottle, huh?" he grinned.

She laughed at the memory of their night on that North Carolina beach last summer. "Well, that was fun, too."

Joey excused herself to use the bathroom, and after emptying her bladder, she kicked off her Converse All-Stars and went rummaging in her overnight bag she'd left in there earlier when she was getting ready for the party. She quickly found what she was looking for. When she returned to the bedroom, she sipped her champagne and watched Pacey. He went over to the door that led out to the balcony and opened it, letting the salty breeze into the room. Staring out at the ocean, he downed his glass of champagne.

"I found a deck of cards," she said as she took the bottle over and poured him another drink. "Why don't we play a hand or two of poker?"

His gaze swung towards her.

"I know you're used to winning," she said. "But you've never played me. I'll try not to embarrass you, though." She knew Pacey couldn't resist a challenge.

"Is that so?"

Giving him a cocky stare, she swaggered past him and paraded over to the table in front of the window and slapped the deck onto the surface. "Let's play cards."

"You're taking a chance, Jo."

"It's not that big of a chance when I can predict the outcome."

He sat down in one of the chairs and set his glass on the table. "That sure of yourself, are you?"

Joey poured herself some more champagne. She remembered what had happened the last time they'd sat at a poker table together, the way he'd thrown her over his shoulder and carried her out of that house. A little flicker of heat licked at her insides.

"Something wrong?" Pacey asked, his eyes keen as he expertly shuffled the cards, then placed them in front of her.

"Not a thing. Why?" She grabbed another chocolate-covered strawberry and sat down in the chair opposite him, praying as she cut the cards that her sudden nervousness hadn't been apparent in her voice. "I mean—" she shrugged "—we're just playing cards."

"Just so you know, I don't have a lot of cash on me."

"That's okay. We're not playing for money. Did I mention this was strip poker?"

He froze. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Strip poker, five card draw. Whoever wins the majority of five… they… get the prize," Joey smirked.

"And the prize is…?"

She chewed on her lip. "Oh. Um, I hadn't exactly thought that through. I guess the prize would be…"

His mouth curved into a grin. "Well, you better make it interesting. There's gotta be something worth competing over."

Her eyes glinted mischievously as color rose in her cheeks from more than just the champagne. "Winner gets total control tonight. Loser gives up all control and has to go along with whatever the winner does."

"Sexually?" he replied, intrigued.

"Yes, of course, sexually."

Desire began to tighten his stomach, made his balls tingle, sent heat surging through his veins. "Well, okay, then." He paused, eyeing her a moment. "But let me get this straight. You… want to play strip poker against me?"

"Well, if that makes you uncomfortable, Pacey, we can just say that I win and forget the whole thing."

"Oh, you think so, huh?"

"I'm merely offering it as an option, Pace."

His eyes narrowed as he watched her pop another strawberry in her mouth. Concede without a fight? Who did she think she was talking to? He leaned back in his chair. "Deal the cards, Potter."

She did so, snapping the cards onto the table, then placed the rest of the deck in the center. Joey scooped up her cards and fanned them in her hand, cautiously rearranging them by suit and color. She had very little to work with. She peeked up to see Pacey with his cards folded into his hand, looking very much as if he had every good card in the deck.

Putting her hand down, she picked up the deck. "How many?"

"None. How many are you taking?"

All of them, she wanted to shout. But she managed to keep her poker face and say with a laconic gesture, "I think I'll take three."

She dealt herself the cards. Then she put the deck down and picked up her cards again. He smiled a little teasing smile that made Joey grit her teeth. He was bluffing, she thought. His hand wasn't that great—he was just playing a mind game. She wasn't going to fall for it.

Joey glanced down. She had a pair. That was better than nothing. She threw it down. "Pair of tens."

Pacey smiled as he laid his cards face-up. "Sorry. Three queens." Then he looked up at her expectantly. "I'm guessing you do understand the rules of strip poker? You suggested the game, after all. Or would you like me to review them?"

She smirked. "Who do you think you are, Edmond Hoyle? There's no need to speak to me as if I'm a five-year-old. I understand the rules perfectly. You lose, you strip."

"Well, you remove only one item of clothing per loss. You don't strip unless you're not wearing that many clothes to begin with. In which case I suppose…" His darkening eyes roamed over her dress, and she could see they were brimming with laughter.

She blushed. Making a big deal of it, she lifted her left leg dramatically, bending it at the knee. Then she found the elastic edge of the high black stocking. "Don't you want to hum some stripping music?"

Shocked, he grabbed his chest. "Josephine Potter, what would a nice girl like you know about stripping music?"

Keeping her eyes fixed on his, she licked her lips and slowly rolled the stocking up her thigh, lifting her smooth, shapely leg in the air until she pulled it off her foot. The glazed look on his face filled her with a heady satisfaction. Her heart picked up speed. "Maybe I'm not as nice as you think I am," she said, tossing the nylon to the floor.

Eyes wide, Pacey grinned. "That sounds promising." It was clear the other Joey had come to play. A warming sensation began to spread through him. "My turn to deal."

He reached for the cards and took his turn in a quick, efficient manner. They played the next hand in virtual silence. She'd thrown the gauntlet, had intrigued and surprised him. Now it was time to concentrate and pray the luck of the draw was in his favor. He was determined not to lose.

She smiled. "Well, well, well, would you look at that. I have a straight. Isn't that nice? And what do you have, sweetheart?"

Pacey looked up, folding his hand. He only had a pair of nines. "Looks like you're gonna win this one."

"I think I'd like you to remove your bowling shirt so I can sit here and stare at your chest while I kick your butt."

"Jo, the rules don't say you can tell the other person which item of clothing to remove."

"But there's no rule that says you can't," she challenged.

He shook his head with a smile and stood up. "Never let it be said I'd ever disappoint a girl."

"I know you wouldn't." That was an understatement. Nothing about Pacey could be termed a disappointment. She practically choked on her champagne as he faced her with a heated look in his gaze. She could scarcely keep her eyes off him as he unbuttoned his shirt. He made sure it took him a long time to push each button through the hole. Then he slipped it over his shoulders, letting his arms hang down straight, allowing the fabric to fall to the floor. Unfortunately for her, he'd worn a white tank top beneath the bowling shirt.

She knew his body; she'd seen it countless times, she'd smoothed her hands over it, her lips. But it was somehow different when she sat back as a voyeur. Her gaze roamed over his shoulders, then went lower, glancing over the perfectly smooth skin of his strong arms, down to his stomach to where the undershirt was tucked below the waistband of his black cargo pants. Her breath became a lot quicker. She'd like to—

"Those kinds of thoughts could get you in trouble, Miss Potter."

Joey could feel the blush flooding up her neck and into her cheeks as Pacey gave her a smile that had a whole lot of satisfaction in it. She giggled. Retrieving her control, she forced a cool comment from her lips as she stood up to get a chocolate-covered strawberry. "If you're done with the show, the score's tied, and I'd like to get on with the game."

After sitting back down, she began to shuffle the cards. "My deal, I believe."

They played intently, each focused on the cards, each trying to second-guess the other. "You might as well fold, Pacey," she said before refilling their glasses with more champagne and eating another strawberry. "There's no way you'll beat this hand."

"I'll take my chances, Jo." With a flourish he laid down a pair of aces and a pair of jacks. "Beat that."

She returned the bottle to the ice bucket and sat back down. Hesitating, she glanced at her cards again, and then plunked them on the table facedown.

"Maybe if you paid more attention to your cards instead of the strawberries, you'd be winning," he said glibly.

"Well, I told you I was starving, Pacey."

With a disgusted sigh, she pulled her sleeveless black dress over her head and flung it aside, not bothering to add any finesse whatsoever. Her stomach fluttered with butterflies. She told herself to relax and not to think about how silly she must look to be sitting there in only one stocking and brief scraps of black lace and silk. She leaned forward, accentuating her cleavage induced by the new padded push-up bra. Then she looked up and saw Pacey's expression, and all thoughts of relaxation flew out the window.

He blinked owlishly and gaped at her, his mouth falling open. He could feel his face turning red. Blood rushed to his groin. "You… you…" He cleared his throat and tried to stop himself from staring at her breasts. He couldn't recall ever seeing that bra before. "You, uh, didn't ask me what I…"

"I don't have to, remember? You said so."

"But then you said—"

"I don't care what I said, Pacey. I lost the third game, and I removed my dress. That's it."

She knew she sounded like a snotty little girl who wanted her own way or she'd go home, but she couldn't help it. She wanted to win, and the longer this game went on, the more frustrating it was becoming to her attention span, not to mention her hormones. She could feel his gaze on her breasts as strongly as if it was his kiss. Wetting her lips, she hunkered down in the chair and watched him reach for the cards. Hopefully with her dress off, she would prove to be enough of a distraction for him so she could gain some advantage.

They played again. This time the loser was Pacey. He stood up with a disgusted sigh.

Joey's gaze journeyed up his body, ending at his smiling eyes. "That seems to be your favorite position for removing your clothes."

His fingers toyed with the button on his cargo pants. He gave her a teasing grin. "I thought you might appreciate the view."

Would she ever! Her gaze kept going back to his pants as he opened the button, staring at the outline of his semi-erect cock, and then his hand hovered over the zipper, about to pull it down… until he removed his watch and set it on the table. She felt the disappointment down to her toes, but she couldn't help giving a short laugh.

"Very nice move there, Pace. Completely unexpected. Yes, very smooth."

He bowed. "Thank you, thank you. A bit of suspense helps build the tension. Don't you think?"

The tension was high enough, she thought, squirming in her seat. She felt heat rise in her face, spreading through the rest of her body, as he stared at her push-up bra and licked his lips, but she just nodded and collected the cards. "Final round," she said as she began to shuffle. "How's your luck hanging?"

"Hanging tight." His eyes twinkled seductively. Then as she dealt the last hand, he asked in a very formal, polite voice, "And how is yours, Joey?"

She couldn't help laughing at his tone, but her pulse had already begun to beat faster from the warmth of the alcohol in her blood. She downed the rest of the champagne in her glass and then grabbed another strawberry from the cart. "I guess we're going to find out, aren't we?" she replied before taking a bite. God, was she already slurring her words? She honestly didn't think she'd drank all that much.

Fanning the cards out in her hand, she said a quick prayer before looking down. Nothing. She was holding absolutely nothing. She debated trying to bluff him, but that hadn't worked too well the last time. "I'm gonna take five."

She slapped down her old cards and took the new. That was more like it. She shuffled the suits, pleased to see a hand top-heavy with matching face cards. She almost chuckled, but swallowed it as she looked up to meet Pacey's steady gaze. He didn't take his eyes off her as he finished off his own glass of champagne. Why did he look so calm? She wondered. What did he have?

He grinned confidently, still trying to keep his eyes from drifting down from her face. The growing erection in his pants was starting to throb. He didn't need that kind of distraction. The sight of her in that black lingerie had only increased his desire to win this game. "I'll call you."

Just like that. He'd given her no warning. She now had no way of building up any suspicion, of mentally convincing him to throw in the towel. No—just a bold, sure statement from the cool customer that was her boyfriend sitting across from her.

She threw it down. "Two kings, two jacks. Read 'em and weep."

He let out a breath. "Not quite, sweetheart." He fanned his cards on the table in front of him. "Full house."

"It seems this is your lucky night, Pacey." Both disappointment and excitement warred within Joey as she stared down at his two kings and three queens. Her gaze lifted to meet his. "Funny. I thought it was gonna be mine."

"Lady Luck is a fickle mistress." He hesitated a moment before finishing in a low voice, "I'm sorry, Jo. I know you wanted to win."

She shrugged it off. She'd wanted to win, but now her reasons were becoming fuzzy. The champagne was going to her head. Suddenly losing didn't sound so bad. "Don't be sorry. You won fair and square."

"You were a worthy opponent, Jo, but no one has yet to beat me at poker."

She smirked. "Something to aspire to, then."

"And someone who's a little drunk is definitely not going to beat me."

"You're a little drunk, too, Pacey."

He chuckled, unable to deny the fuzziness in his head. "Tipsy. Maybe."

"So, if we're both a little drunk or tipsy or whatever, then that means we cancel each other out. So, maybe your win doesn't actually count."

"I'm… not sure that's how it works. It counts."

"Is that so?" she taunted.

He pushed the chair back from the table. "Get over here, Potter," he said, his gaze smoldering with intensity. "I definitely won."

Joey felt a nervous energy flood her underneath the buzz of alcohol in her veins. She stood and walked over to his side of the table. He shifted the chair to face her as she studied him. There was no sign of arrogance over his victory, only a gentleness and a humility that went straight to her heart. "Well, you do have a prize to claim."

"Now I get to make love with you, and I get to have all the control." Pacey cupped his palms on her forearms, caressing her skin, lust coursing through him. "Now that I think of it, maybe I should've tried to lose."

She placed both hands on the arms of the chair and leaned down to him. "On purpose? You actually would've ignored the burning desire to win any competition?"

"Well, strong as that desire is, something burns a little hotter." Her eyes were intent on his, searing into him until he could feel the embers stir. He slipped his arms around her waist and leaned forward to press a kiss on the skin just above the waistband of her black lacy underwear. Then he pressed a kiss higher on her abdomen.

Joey straddled him, feeling the erection she suspected had been growing bigger as their game proceeded. It felt so good against her. She settled herself fully on him, enjoying his hardness rubbing against her as he automatically responded to her bold move. She slid her hands down his chest, taking her time to lean forward and press tiny kisses to his forehead, his cheeks, chin, nose. She pressed her lace-covered breasts against him, her stomach clenching as a bolt of desire spiked her at her center.

Her fingers slipped inside his unbuttoned cargo pants and lingered there. Her head buzzed with champagne and her desire for him. Then she started to ease his zipper down, teasing, "I hope you don't mind my doing this, Pace. You seemed mighty attached to these pants a few minutes ago."

"Not so attached that I won't rip them off faster than you can say—"

"Take me?"

"Oh, Jesus…" He groaned. "Take me's good."

She leaned forward and kissed his mouth, pulling his bottom lip between her teeth, caressing it with her tongue. "All during the game, I was watching you. And I kept getting hotter and hotter."

They moaned into each other's mouths. She grabbed him by the hair and pulled him closer. She couldn't tell who was ravaging whom. They ignited the moment their lips touched.

He groaned again as she leaned back and cupped the outline of his sex with both hands, her thumbs and fingers kneading and stroking him through his boxers. Then his lips claimed hers, the hunger almost knocking her into the next universe. They kissed passionately for several minutes, both tasting of champagne and strawberries, until they were breathless.

Pacey then stood and sat Joey on the table, pushing the cards of his winning poker hand aside. He looked down at her long legs, one bare and the other encased in sheer black nylon, and laughed to himself. "You're somethin' else, Potter."

She smiled at the affectionate tone in his voice. "You like?"

"I do." He held her stocking-clad foot with his left hand, and ran his right hand slowly up her leg, never taking his eyes from hers. When he reached her upper thigh and felt her smooth skin, he pulled down the black stocking, ever so slowly, until it came off the end of her toes. Then he froze, awestruck by her magnificence as she sat on the table, eyes smoky with arousal, breasts high in the push-up bra, legs wide and welcoming, the only barrier between himself and satisfaction a tiny scrap of black silk. He fingered the lacy trim, sliding his finger under the edge.

He smiled as his finger teased her. "I like this new taste in underwear."

"I'm glad," she whispered, arching her hips as he stroked her skin. "I got it for you, you know."

He trailed his fingers over the damp patch of silk barely covering the sweetness between her legs. "You're just full of surprises tonight."

In a haze of lust and champagne, Pacey kissed her with a hunger that turned her bones to water. Joey clung to him, her arms circling his shoulders, her heart pounding wildly. Her muscles trembled with a heady combination of excitement, lust, and nerves. With her breasts pressed against his chest, her nipples hardened into points that ached for the wet play of his mouth and tongue. His erection was rock hard against her belly, shooting delicious ripples of heat down between her thighs. Her feet might or might not have been touching the floor—her brain was that fuzzy by this point—but she knew Pacey would take care of her, of that she had no doubt.

His head came up for a moment, breaking their kiss, giving her a chance to catch her breath. Then he slipped his finger under the fabric of her panties, teasing her until she moaned. "My God, you're gorgeous," he murmured.

She reached for him, arms greedy, her breathing fast and shallow. "Hurry, Pacey."

"Not too fast, Jo. I want this to last." He continued to caress her soft flesh. He was so enthralled with the heat of her, he never wanted to stop touching her and watching her respond. "And I'm the one in control, remember?"

"Please," she gasped. "Please." She pressed her hands against his, holding them against her.

"You're so wet."

She whimpered, and when he looked down at her, his dark blue eyes blazing with reckless passion, she lost her breath all over again. His head came down and he recaptured her mouth, and the kiss was that of a man who knew exactly what he wanted and intended to take it. He claimed her, his tongue thrusting hot and insistent between her lips. Joey welcomed the invasion, just as she knew she'd welcome him into her body when he stripped off the rest of her clothes and parted her thighs, opening her wide. And even though some hazy part of her didn't want to rush, wanted to feel the slow burn building inside of her, she found herself shaking with need.

Even if Pacey took her now, right there on the table, ripping away her panties and thrusting hard into her, she'd be ready. In fact, she welcomed the idea since her soft inner muscles were already clenching with the need to feel him inside her. Slow and gentle foreplay wasn't on her agenda at the moment, and so far, it didn't seem like it was on Pacey's either.

Her eyes closed tight again, and reveling in the overwhelming sensation of him surrounding her, Joey gave a little shudder as his hand slipped inside her bra. For a few moments, he rested his palm over the stiff nipple and the contrasting plumpness of her breast. The fractured draw of breath in her ear told her how much he liked it, as did the feel of his erection against her belly. Her stomach muscles tightened from imagining that thick, rock hard length pushing into her soft flesh.

Then Pacey began to move his fingers, loving the feel of her, a rumbling murmur of approval escaping his throat. The tips of his fingers captured her nipple. Joey's eyes flew open and her gaze jumped to his face. "You feel so good, baby," he said in a husky whisper.

He was focused on her body, his gaze narrow and utterly intent. He could feel his face flush with heat as he played with her, gently rubbing his fingertips across her aching peak. Then he tugged on the tight point, and she moaned, beginning to lose whatever shreds of self-control she'd been clinging to. A moment later, when he shifted his body and pulled her closer, his bulging erection sliding right against her sensitive clit, she did lose it.

Now urgent, desperate, she clasped her legs around his waist and reached for him. She felt almost frantic to have him inside her. And for that to happen, it meant getting him out of his clothes. Clumsily, she pushed back a bit and grasped a handful of his undershirt and yanked it up and out of his cargo pants. Her hands shook, greedily tracing the soft skin over chest and the vaulting of his ribs before drifting down to his stomach and the dark trail of wiry hair the ran south from his belly button.

When her hand went to slip inside his pants, Pacey stopped her. He could feel his cock ache with pleasure as it throbbed against the constraint of his zipper. "Listen, baby, I'm gonna fuck you right here on this table if you don't stop it," he said with a husky laugh. "I think we can do better than that."

"Tables are good." She tried to wiggle free of his grasp, but that only served to rub her groin hard against his erection, almost tipping her over the edge. She squeaked and grabbed his biceps, pulling back on the throbbing little contractions that threatened to overwhelm her right then and there.

"The bed," he rasped. "Now."

He stepped back with a grimace, letting her scoot forward until her feet touched the floor. She couldn't help glancing down at the massive bulge straining against the zipper of his pants as he pulled the tank top over his head.

"Um, that looks painful," she said with a choked giggle. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this giddy and excited. Maybe their first night in the ski lodge.

His eyes flashed with laughter as he grasped her waist with his hands. "Don't worry. You'll be taking care of that."

Even as he started walking her backwards towards the bed, Joey couldn't stop the thoughts that came forward unbidden in her mind, remembering what Drue had said to her earlier about all the other women Pacey would surely meet in Boston. He was so sexy and so unrepentantly confidant in his masculinity that she couldn't imagine anything but a parade of them wanting to get between his sheets. And she almost couldn't believe how strongly the idea of that suddenly ripped through her, digging in with nasty, green-tipped claws. For just a second it had her mentally tripping and coming up short.

Fortunately, Pacey banished that unwelcome thought from her head by unhooking the front clasp of her bra and easing it open. He took a deep breath as he admired her breasts, the peach nipples taut with desire. "Perfect," he murmured.

They stood at the edge of the bed, his body looming over her, only inches apart from each other. They studied each other, both of them breathing in erratic rhythms that somehow still managed to mirror one another. Finally, his big hand came up to gently cup her breast. The contrast of his long fingers, hard and male, on her creamy soft flesh, made her insides clench with longing. She ached for his hands and his tongue to caress her, to reach deep inside and touch every hidden part of her.

And Pacey looked like he wanted to devour her, his darkening eyes sparkling with both a feverish lust and his deep love for her. His heart beat even faster as he gazed at her. He felt her hands move to his zipper. He ignored her efforts to undress him, too caught up in the worship of her body.

"God, Jo, you're so beautiful," he breathed as he skimmed both hands along her sides and to her back, briefly reaching down to cup her bottom before returning to settle possessively on her breasts. His voice was low and heavy with emotion. "I would have waited forever for you."

"It's a good thing for both of us that you didn't have to wait forever," she whispered, and he smiled.

When he gave both nipples a little tug, Joey sucked in a gasp as the heat shot straight to the juncture of her thighs, turning her incredibly soft and damp. "Too many clothes," she moaned, pulling his zipper all the way down. She snaked her hands down the front of his cargo pants and under his boxers to grab the thick base of his cock. Her fingers trailed down his long, smooth shaft. She swallowed, as always entranced by his size and by how hard and warm he was under her cool hands.

Pacey let her play with him for a minute or two—which got them both incredibly hot—but then he gently pushed her down on the white duvet comforter. "Don't forget who's in control here, Potter."

She giggled as she squirmed up to the pillows, her bra wide open, fully exposing her to his avid gaze. When Joey lifted herself a little in invitation to strip off her black panties, he shook his head.

"No way. Not so fast, Jo. I want to enjoy this since you went to the trouble to wear it for me and all." He let his fingers skim along the lacy edge of the material, tugging on the tiny black bow in front.

Oh, but she wanted fast, needed fast. She knew slower and gentler was exquisite with Pacey, but not now. Now, her body already screamed to come. "Stop messing around," she panted. "Get on with it."

He glanced up and gave her a lustful grin that practically incinerated her from the inside out. "Then you shouldn't have worn such fuckable underwear, Jo. Or you should've beaten me at poker, and then you could've had your way. You'll just have to wait until I'm good and ready." His only response to her groan was a low, wicked laugh as he shucked off his cargo pants and tossed them to the floor.

For a few heart-stopping seconds, Joey studied his broad shoulders and strong arms, smooth chest and stomach. God, he was perfect, and she knew she could spend many enjoyable hours just looking at that body. But her gaze quickly drifted down past his waist to his muscular legs and the cock that strained over the top of his black boxers. It made her go hot and wet just looking at it, and if she didn't get it inside her soon, she just might explode with frustration.

That, or have an orgasm on the spot.

Pacey could tell by the way she was squirming and whimpering that she felt desperate for a hard and fast taking. But he had something else in mind. Instead, he reached down to grasp her hips, pulling her towards the foot of the bed. Her surprised giggles filled the room, making him smile. Then he fell to his knees, spread her legs wide, keeping his broad palms planted firmly on her inner thighs, and came down to her. He slid one hand up and slipped a finger inside her panties to find her wet inner lips, just as his tongue flicked the silk and lace at exactly the right spot.

"Oh, my God," Joey moaned, arching her back as shudders raced through her. Instinctively, she tried to close her thighs against the beginnings of the contractions, but he kept her wide open.

As she arched and squirmed, Pacey followed her, his tongue dancing over the tight bud of her clit, tantalizing it through the silk. The gentle abrasion of the fabric and his tongue drove her crazy. He nudged a finger deep inside, stroking her wet flesh in a rhythm that matched the flicks of his tongue. When she clenched her inner muscles around him, he responded with an approving growl that came from somewhere deep inside him. His own desire throbbed.

He was going to make her come before he even got her panties off. Joey could already feel a climax building under his sensual onslaught, hovering just a few licks and strokes out of reach. Pacey sensed she was close, feeling her start to clench around his finger. He drew back and yanked her panties down, tossing them aside.

With a great gasp of relief, she arched again to meet him as he came back down between her thighs. He pushed her left leg to the side, his tongue hard against her clit and two fingers thrust deep inside her. Overcome by her driving need to open herself to him, Joey spread her legs wide and dug her fingers into the duvet, gripping the comforter as hard as she could as the throbs of pleasure built inside her in a tumbling wave.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes, Pacey…"

And still it kept building. Almost frantic for release, Joey grabbed Pacey's head, holding him against her to increase the pressure on her sensitive, aching clit. She hadn't even realized how much she'd wanted this—how much she'd need it—but now she had to have it, had to go over the brink into the kind of orgasm only his mouth could give her.

Pacey's free hand went up to her breast. As he squeezed her stiff nipple, he circled his tongue around her tight clit, then sucked on it hard. A moment later, overcome by the storm of sensation, Joey shattered. Her high, keening moan seemed to go on forever as she writhed underneath him, waves of outrageous pleasure wracking her body.

When the storm passed, she cautiously cracked open an eyelid. Pacey still knelt between her thighs, the look on his handsome face a tight, intriguing combination of hunger, frustration, and satisfaction. She stretched out a limp arm and drew him to lie beside her, throwing a leg over his hip as she snuggled into him, nuzzling from his jaw to his mouth. Joey could taste herself on his smooth, warm lips. She found the earthiness of it unbearably erotic.

"You taste so much sweeter after you come," Pacey said, and she hummed appreciatively. "Do you need a little breather?" His cock throbbed and he gave her a glittering look that told her he was seriously hoping she would say no.

"The only thing I need," Joey managed to get out as she slid her hand down to stroke the length of his straining erection, "is to have this inside me as soon as possible."

He rolled her over onto her back, but she didn't let go even for an instant. "Sweetheart, your wish—"

"Is my command," she finished. "I like the sound of that." She slid her hand down to stroke the full length of him, and she was rewarded with a low moan. When she reached the base, she slipped her fingers down to gently caress his balls, which immediately tightened under her touch.

"Joey, you keep that up and I'll be coming in about ten seconds," he said with a rasp. "You don't want that, do you?"

"Uh… no." She giggled as she pulled her hand away.

Joey fell back against the pillow, drawing her legs up, opening to him as Pacey climbed on top of her, easily supporting his weight with his arms. He slipped one and then two fingers inside her, making sure she was still ready for him. A luxurious ache pulsed through her flesh, making her gasp.

"Oh, baby, you couldn't be more ready for my cock," he whispered. "I want to be inside you."

The crude, delicious language made her insides quiver with anticipation and clench with need. As their eyes met, and he looked down at her with tender affection, her heart filled with emotion, her deep love for him flowing through her like warm honey.

"But I think I can wait a little bit longer," he said, his lips curving into a teasing smirk. His body ached with wanting her, needing her, but driving her crazy was also fun.

She whimpered with frustration, and he laughed. "You are so beautiful," he said, taking off her push up bra and tossing it over the side of the bed. "So perfect."

"I'm far from perfect, Pacey." She tilted her head to the side as he kissed her neck. "But I'll let you believe that if you want to."

He chuckled. "I do believe that."

She gasped with delight as he kissed one of her nipples.

"Let me show you," he said, kissing it again.

He moved back up her body. He tilted her head, angled his own, and pressed his mouth gently on hers. She opened for him, as she always opened for him, body and emotions. Their breaths mingled, and just that nearly thinned his control to a thread. He pulled back and gazed down at her.

So beautiful, perfectly round breasts now flattening a little, curve of the stomach, small dark patch of feminine curls that he loved to sink his fingers into. He looked between her thighs, and his cock twitched, and he had to yank his stare back to her face. Her lovely face, the overall shape of her, the just plain rightness of her.

Her skin felt like silk under his fingers. With the lightest of touches he stroked one nipple, then the other, watched them tighten even more into small thrusting peaks. His mouth watered. "Just gorgeous," he said.

She smiled, flushed darker, the pink of her blood making her even more striking. "You too," she whispered. Her glance went to his erection and her fingers crept close, but he caught her hand and raised it to his lips.

"I'm in charge tonight, Josephine."

"You're being awfully slow about it," she pouted.

"Incentive to improve your poker game."

She laughed, shaking her head with a smile and rolling her eyes. Their gazes met and matched, and as they looked at each other, everything else dropped away. Only Joey was real. "Who is your best friend in the whole world?" he asked her.

"Principal Peskin," she deadpanned.

"Don't make me tickle you."

She laughed again. "You are. Who is your best friend?"

"You." He smiled, his eyes twinkling.

Before she could say anything in reply, he bent his head and took one of her nipples in his mouth, sucking strongly. An instant cord of electricity shot to her core, causing a resonating throbbing that drew a groan from her. Pacey growled deep in his chest, wanting to devour her. Her nipples, so sweet and swollen, were delicious on his tongue. He couldn't get enough of her taste, the softness of her skin. He put his hot mouth to her lush breast and sucked long and hard while his hand caressed her silken twin. He suckled until she cried out in pleasure.

Pacey finally moved to hover over her, settling between her legs. Skin against skin. Was there a more glorious feeling in the world? He felt her mouth against his throat, felt her hot breath against his ear. Felt himself getting harder, when he'd thought he was as hard as he could get.

Joey gazed up at him, her mind a wonderful haze of champagne and love and lust. She waited for his invasion, already feeling another delicious tightening down low in her belly as he positioned the broad tip of his cock and began to slowly press into her. He was ever so careful, obviously mindful of his girth, and the drawn out, burning stretch was almost agonizing in its slowness. But it was also sweetly gentle and wildly erotic, the way he so thoroughly took possession of her.

She drew her legs up high and wide, seeking the deepest possible penetration as Pacey thrust his cock in up to the base. When she was completely filled—and, boy, did he ever fill her—there was no discomfort. It felt perfect, like it always did, like he was made just for her. Like it was absolutely meant to be.

When she sighed with satisfaction and draped languid arms around his neck, Pacey grinned down at her, his eyes blazing with heat as she squeezed around his cock. His eyes practically rolled back in his head. God. Wonderful. Had sex ever felt so right before being with her? He couldn't recall. Couldn't remember any woman other than Joey, not right now. They'd faded from his memory.

"Christ, you're perfect, Jo. So warm and tight, so wet." His dark head dipped and he swiped a lazy tongue across one of her breasts, then swirled it over the nipple. "So hot and beautiful," he finally whispered as he came up to nuzzle her ear. "I've never felt anything so good as being inside your pussy."

His words made her burn with lust. Her skin felt as if on fire. Every part of her body came to life, reacting to him with fierce electricity. He was so big, so hard… and his hum of pleasure filled her ears and she felt sexy and beautiful and adored and who cared about anything else. She had the man she loved above her, inside her, and would make damn sure he knew that no one would ever need him as much as she did. No one would ever give him more.

Pacey started to pump his hips, at first slowly, but then building his thrusts to a controlled speed and rhythm. Joey arched her back, tilting her hips to meet him, and they fell into perfect unison as he withdrew almost to the tip and then plunged in again as deeply as he could go. With each long, sensuous stroke, the friction on her clit built higher and higher, and she found herself moaning and tossing her head from side to side, desperate for release but aching for it to go on forever, too.

Pacey's hands went to her breasts again, molding them and teasing the tight, peach nipples with his circling thumbs. His smoldering blue eyes locked with hers as he stared down at her, breathing heavily. Joey could feel every ounce of his strength, his masculinity, his raw sexuality. She never felt more beautiful or desirable as she did in these moments when their eyes met, and she shuddered at the naked intensity of the feeling.

She was nearing the edge again, and by the quickening pace of his thrusts and his low moans, Pacey clearly was, too. Joey clenched and released her inner muscles, massaging his cock as he stroked her. He gasped and let go of her breasts. One big hand circled her knee and lifted her leg over his shoulder, deepening the penetration, making her cry out with surprise and pleasure. He was in total control, and she loved it.

Joey was so, so close. The waves kept building and building, and her every sense of the outside world was gone except for the man above her—inside her, surrounding her with the force of his body and his love. She gripped the duvet again in clenched fists, straining against the fabric, her arms extended and rigid. It felt like she was going to explode.

Pacey's vision blurred and his need took over. He couldn't hold himself in check any longer. He thrust harder, faster, focused on satisfaction—not just his own, but hers. His senses were flooded with the slick feel of her, the scent of her, the salty sweet taste of her still on his tongue. She was all there was. All he could see. She filled his world as fully as he filled her.

"God, now, baby," Pacey growled as he clenched his hands on her hips. He'd tried to slow down, to prolong the pleasure, but she was so hot and so tight, that he couldn't hold back anymore. "Come for me again."

He slicked his thumb and pressed it to her clit. It throbbed beneath his touch. She contracted around him, crying out his name as waves of pleasure began crashing through her. The sound of his name on her lips pushed him over the edge. With one last thrust, nudging hard against her clit, he stiffened and came with a long groan, filling her with his release, sending shivers of ecstasy throughout her body. Hearing her name repeated in breathless moans, feeling him coat her inner walls, Joey bucked against him as she climaxed, staring into his eyes and shaking with the intensity of her orgasm.

For long seconds, Pacey hung suspended above her, his gaze burning into her as he continued to pump in and out of her, relishing in the pleasurable sensations for as long as possible. Then he blew out a long breath and slowly, gently collapsed on top of her. "Unbelievable," he muttered, almost as if to himself.

Joey wrapped her arms around him and cradled him between her legs, running her fingers through his damp, mussed brown hair. "Unbelievably wonderful," she whispered, holding him close.

When he could feel his limbs again, Pacey lifted himself on his elbows, removing his weight from her, but not withdrawing completely, unwilling to break their intimate connection. He couldn't resist pressing his lips to her breasts, first one, then the other. "I love you, Joey," he breathed.

Smiling, she reached up to caress his cheek. "I love you, too, Pacey."

He pressed kisses to her face, and she softened beneath him, all warm and sated and sweet. They stayed like that until her breathing changed, slowed, and he grew flaccid and slipped out of her body. "Don't move," he whispered, and rolled off her and darted to the bathroom.

He came back with a warm wet cloth to clean her. "Allow me," he said quietly. Then he inched her legs open and wiped her with the warm cloth.

She moaned in contentment. "Thank you, sweetheart."

He crawled back in beside her and pulled her against him. He closed his eyes to the blissful aftermath of making love, the pleasant hum that vibrated through his body. The euphoria living inside him was magical, and he could damn near believe it would stay with him forever. Those final moments of coming deep inside her, of her soft walls clenching around him, had transported him to another world where no one had gone before, except the two of them. Together. Nothing in his entire life could ever feel that great. He knew without a doubt that this was where he wanted to be, where he needed to be. Always.

He felt the mattress dip and then Joey was gone for a few minutes. He thought he heard the water running, and then she was back, climbing onto the bed next to him. He kissed the top of her head as she flipped a leg over his thigh and stretched an arm across his chest, snuggling in deeper.

She kissed his shoulder blade and breathed a deep sigh of satisfaction. Joey looked at him through the combined haze of her sexual afterglow and the alcohol in her veins. "I feel… fantastic."

A grin formed and he chuckled. "Same here."

He laughed and kissed the top of her head again, and then glanced at the clock on the bedside stand. It was after four. "We have to check out by eleven. I better ask for a wake-up call so we don't oversleep." Then he groaned, remembering it was now Sunday and final exams started tomorrow. "I have so much studying to do later," he said as he picked up the receiver on the telephone that was on his bedside stand.

While he called the front desk, Joey suddenly remembered her own plans for later that day. She chewed her lip, hesitating. "Uh… Pace?" she spoke after he hung up the phone.

"Yeah?"

"Um… well, I forgot to tell you something… I kind of made these plans and…"

His brows furrowed in confusion, but then he recalled his conversation with Jen in the limo and thought he might know what she was getting at. "Uh-huh…"

She sat up, pulling the sheet around her, and nervously tucked her hair behind her ears. "Well, I kinda… told Jen that I'd go with her to New York City for Ditch Day," she said in an anxious rush. "The train leaves on Sunday afternoon—which is now today, technically—and we won't be back until Monday night. I know I should've told you much sooner, but I totally forgot with prom and Worthington and everything else going on lately. I'm sorry." She frowned, giving him an apologetic look.

"It's okay, Jo. I'm sure you'll have a good time with Jen."

Relief spread through her. "You really don't mind?"

"No, of course not. You deserve to enjoy your Senior Ditch Day. Go. Have fun. Enjoy the big city."

She studied his face for a moment, looking into his eyes, and knew he was being sincere. Filling with warm feelings of gratitude and appreciation, Joey wrapped her arms around him and thanked him with a tender, passionate kiss.

After he got up to turn out all the lights, Pacey crawled back into bed beside her and pulled her close. Her soft brown eyes slowly closed, sleep pulling her under. He tucked her against him, and covered them with the duvet, looking forward to waking up together in the morning.

Hours later, Joey woke up from the best night of not sleeping she ever had and glanced at the clock.

Eight-thirty. In two and a half hours, they had to be out of the hotel suite. She knew Pacey would probably want to partake in the complimentary breakfast downstairs before they left, which meant they would need to get up and shower soon. But for now…

She snuggled into him as he spooned her. He reflexively tightened his grip around her waist and pressed his hips into her. He was hard again.

Amazing.

He shifted a little, and his hand moved up to cradle her right breast. Joey sighed again as his fingers did delicious things to her nipple. "Are you awake?" she whispered.

Her answer was even breathing and his weight settling more heavily against her. Easing out of his embrace slowly as not to wake him up, she burrowed under the covers until her mouth was level with his groin. She reached out and ran a finger from the tip down to the root. The duvet rustled as Pacey shifted in his sleep, pushing into her hand. Moving closer, she traced a path all the way down with her tongue, lingering with a few licks at the tip.

He groaned, unconsciously thrusting up against her lips. She opened her mouth, took him in, and suckled. He groaned louder and his hands came down to gently grip her head, moving it up and down on his length as he pumped into her mouth.

She flushed with exhilaration. Giving was as exciting as receiving, and she was getting just as turned on by this as she did when he touched her.

"Joey," Pacey gasped, waking up to the sensation of unbelievable pleasure. He pushed the covers down and then speared her hair with his fingers again.

She looked up. He stared down at her with heavy-lidded eyes. His jaw was clenched and his hair stuck out wildly from his head in all directions. Joey giggled at the sight. She could tell by the way his hips bucked off the bed that he was close. Before she could do anything more, he dragged her up his body and kissed her hard.

"Good morning," she said when he let her up for air.

"Morning, baby," he breathed huskily. He rolled them over so he was on top. Holding her hands out to the side, threading their fingers, he bent to take a taut nipple into his mouth.

She gasped and arched up.

Pacey rubbed his nose against the inside slope of her breast and then nibbled on her stomach, working his way down. He worked her into a frenzy before she straddled his hips and slid him all the way into her, hard and hot, and rode him over and over again until they both cried out in release.

"I like it when you're my wake-up call," he mumbled into her neck afterward.

She tightened her arms around him. "Me too. Thank you for giving me the perfect prom night, Pace."

"No, thank you for giving me the perfect prom night."

"Okay, well, then I guess we're even."

They lay like that for some time, limbs entangled, kissing softly, until the telephone rang, the hotel front desk calling to wake them up.

Later that afternoon, they arrived at the train station in Hyannis shortly before five o'clock. After the Jeep was parked, Pacey opened the trunk and removed both Joey and Jen's overnight bags.

"Thanks, Pace," Jen said as she took her bag from him. "And thanks for the ride. Grams especially appreciates it."

"I know," he replied with a smile. "She seemed very happy when I also offered to pick you up tomorrow."

"Yeah, she doesn't really like to drive at night."

Then Joey slipped her hand inside Pacey's and they walked together into the train station. Once inside, they followed signs to the right platform. It was busy. Tourists swarmed around. The girls' train was there and people were already boarding.

Jen glanced between them. "I'll go ahead and get on board, find our seats... leave you guys alone for a bit."

"Thanks, Jen. I'll see you in a few minutes," Joey said. She watched her friend approach the line to get on the train, and then turned to her boyfriend.

Pacey pulled her to him. His hands held her firmly around her hips, and he cocked his head to the side as he looked down at her. "Be careful in the city."

She smiled and slipped her arms around his waist. "I will. Don't worry." They stared at each other for a long time. "I'm sorry you'll be on your own on Ditch Day. Are you sure you're gonna be okay without me?"

"I think I can manage to survive—" he lifted his wrist and glanced at his watch "—twenty-eight hours without you, Jo." He squeezed her and gave a playful laugh when she didn't look convinced. "For your information, I'm not completely helpless. I'm just gonna be in school, and then I'll be home studying for finals, and then I'll be here to pick you up. I'll be fine. I'm sure it'll be a regular, boring day in the life of Pacey J. Witter."

She laughed, rolling her eyes. "Well, okay."

"It doesn't mean I won't miss you, though," he said quietly, his eyes full of warmth and affection.

"I'll miss you, too." She hugged him tighter. "Okay. Kiss me goodbye."

His mouth curved into a smile, and then Pacey's lips were on hers, so sweet and gentle as he kissed her. Joey kissed him back with tender, loving feelings. After pressing a kiss to her forehead, he loosened his hold on her hips.

"Okay, I have to go."

"Have fun. Look after Jen."

"I will."

She stepped out of the embrace. "I love you."

"I love you."

Pacey stood there and watched Joey board. After a few minutes, the train started to pull away. Her seat must have been on the opposite side. He didn't see her in any of the windows. He watched the train move slowly around the bend in the track, behind some trees, and then it was gone. With a sigh, he turned to walk away. The only thing waiting for him at home was his history book and more studying.