"Joey, my love!" Pacey called into their apartment late the next afternoon, a large gift bag in hand. He shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on the peg near the door his favorite shirt, a dark green T-shirt with "Tony's Garage" emblazoned in white across the chest, had shrank in the laundry and now clung to his shoulders and chest, emphasizing the narrow taper of his hips. "I'm home!"

Joey tightened the belt on the short, red robe Jen had bought her as a birthday present before coming out of her room and continuing to dry her wet hair with a towel. "Must you be so loud?"

"Come now, Potter. You know I don't feel like I've come home unless I've announced it to the entire floor." He gave her his most charming smile. "And if I may, you look delectable in that. Red is definitely your color. Very sultry."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure."

"You doubt me?" He arched an eyebrow, daring her to ask him to prove it.

"Does it matter if I do?"

"Suppose not." He shrugged a shoulder. "I brought you something," he gestured to the large bag by the door.

She eyed it wearily. "What is it?"

He rolled his eyes, "A bomb."

"You're so not funny."

He smiled innocently, "I'm a riot." He picked up the bag and handed it to her.

"Open it."

She reached for it gingerly. "What is it?"

"And ruin the surprise?" He arched an eyebrow before moving around her to rest his hands on her shoulders, squeezing them lightly. She peered inside curiously before reaching her hand in and pulling out the gift.

His thumb traced the sinew of her neck as she lifted the framed photo of the mural she'd made on the wall he bought her all those years ago. "I knew you didn't have any pictures of it...and I had this lying around. So I had it blown up." He explained softly.

She bit her lip, quiet for a moment before smiling faintly. "Thank you."

"It was one of your best pieces," he kneaded her shoulders lightly. "I thought you should have a record of it."

"Thanks. It's really nice." She slipped it back into the bag. "I should put it away."

He dropped his hands from her shoulders in defeat. "You should hang it up."

She smiled and turned in his arms giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thanks. I will."

A smile flashed across his face, "You're very welcome, sweetheart." A small grin crossed her lips before she headed to her room, taking the gift with her. "You know," he smirked teasingly, "there are ways of expressing your gratitude..."

"Such as?" she asked over her shoulder.

"You're a smart woman," he sauntered after her. "I'm sure you can come up with something. If not...I have a few ideas."

She raised an eyebrow. "And thank you doesn't suffice?"

"Oh no, it does," he assured her with a nod of his head. "I just thought you might be interested in expressing your gratitude."

"Expressing my gratitude?"

He smirked knowing exactly what she was thinking. "My, you have a dirty mind, sweetheart." Bracing his hand on the wall, he leaned against it, crossing one ankle behind the other. "I was just thinking perhaps sharing a date."

"A date?" she repeated in disbelief.

"When you say it with that much disgust, I'm going to withdraw the offer."

"I did not say it in disgust," she protested. He tilted his head doubtfully. "I didn't," she said firmly.

"Then were I to ask you to spend a romantic evening with me, you'd say...?"

She paused. "I'd think about it."

The corner of his mouth twitched as he tried to hold back a smile. "Then perhaps I'll think about re-issuing my invitation."

She sighed and set the bag down by her dresser before grabbing a strawberry scented lotion off the top of it, and began to apply it generously.

"You know," He appeared in the doorway of her room. "It's completely unfair that you expect me to resist you when you smell so delicious."

"I'm sure you can," she said simply.

"I think you overestimate me." He walked slowly up to her, running his fingers through her damp hair, "I've been resisting that scent since we moved in together. It's gotten to the point where if I even see a strawberry, dirty images of strawberries, whipped cream and you start floating through my head."

She swallowed. "Tough."

He shrugged a shoulder and leaned around her to pick up the hair brush on her bureau, brushing against her as he did so. "I'm just saying, you can't expect me not to be affected." He ran the hairbrush through her damp tresses, watching her in the mirror to see if she'd protest.

She arched an eyebrow. "What's your point?"

"What do you think my point is?" He queried with a half-smile, working the brush through the tiny tangles in her hair.

"I'm not sure I want to know."

"You just keep telling yourself that," he said, his voice husky and teasing.

She frowned and reached for the brush. "I can do it myself."

He let her steal the brush from him, "Does that mean I can apply the lotion instead?"

She glared and then smiled smugly handing the bottle in her hand to him. "Here."

His eyes widened in surprise, before his lips curved into a satisfied smile. It was obvious to him she didn't think he'd do it, it just went to show how much she underestimated him. For that matter, he'd underestimated her, having hardly expected her to allow him the privilege. He lifted the bottle to his nose, inhaling the scent of fresh strawberries. "Hmm mmm." He regarded Joey mutely as she brushed her hair, where should he start? He knelt on the ground beside her chair and dabbed some of the lotion into his hands.

Joey kept her face blank as she ran the brush through her hair, not even wincing when it caught on a few tangles. She did her best to ignore Pacey, if he thought that she wasn't going to call his bluff he was sadly mistaken.

He warmed the lotion in his hands before he picked up her bare foot and rubbed the sweet smelling liquid into her skin. He kept his eyes down, not really wanting to see the expression on her face, fearing eye contact would earn him a kick in the side. Any chance he had to touch her, he wanted to prolong.

Her eyes widened in surprise and she stared down at him. "What are you doing?"

He glanced up at her and arched an eyebrow, he thought it was pretty obvious what he was doing. He smoothed the lotion up around her ankle to her calf. She bit her lip. "Stop that."

He ignored her as he gently massaged her muscles, feeling the smooth skin under his fingertips. "When’s the last time you had a massage, Potter?" He murmured, slipping his fingers beneath the end of her robe as he reached her knee.

She shrugged indifferently. "I don't remember."

He smirked, tickling the back of her knee before squeezing more of the lotion into his hands. Moments later his hands were back on her leg, smoothing them over her knee and then higher, around her thighs.

She nibbled on her lower lip lightly. "I--I think, think that's enough."

He nodded his head once, and instead of moving away, started to apply lotion to her other leg, starting again with her foot.

"Stop."

He sighed and willed his hands from her body with considerable difficulty. He lifted his eyes to her face, and smiled innocently, "You've always liked to ruin my fun."

"My one mission in life." She smiled tightly.

He leaned forward and placed a kiss on the crease of her knee. He gave her a smoldering look before he stood up. She returned to brushing her hair before tying it in a makeshift bun.

He licked his lips as she revealed the arch of her neck. "Um," he gestured behind him, "I've still got those videos. You know...the non-X-rated ones."

"So?"

"We could still watch them."

"Okay." She set the brush down.

He smiled and held out a hand to her, "Let's go."

She glanced down at her robe. "I think I'll change first."

"You look perfect to me."

"It's cold," she said vaguely.

He shrugged, "My loss."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm sure."

He winked at her, "Admit it, Potter, I'm wearing you down." He didn't wait for a reply before leaving her room to wait for her to change. Wearing her down, she glared. She'd show him. She went to her dresser and chose carefully and deliberately.

Pacey inhaled sharply as Joey sauntered into the living room and sank gracefully onto the end of the couch, folding her long legs beneath her. Long legs that were encased in the shortest pair of shorts she owned. A thin expanse of stomach was exposed by the tight little tank top she wore without a bra. He gawked at her, his eyes drinking in each of her soft curves.

She drummed her fingers along the arm of the couch. "So what are we watching?"

He cleared his throat, "I, uh, thought you were cold."

She shrugged. "I'm over it."

He ran his eyes over her, "Obviously."

"So movie?"

"Uh huh," he nodded.

She leaned over and grabbed the remote. "Okay, then." He dug his fingers into the material of his jeans to keep himself from reaching out for her. She pressed the play button and cast him a look. "This better at least be PG-13."

"I hate to break your heart," the corner of his mouth turned up, "But it's Risky Business."

She moistened her lips. "Can't go wrong with Tom Cruise."

"Nope," he nodded his head in agreement watching the moisture glimmer on her lips, "Not at all."

"He's hot." She leaned back against the armrest and stretched out her legs.

"Uh huh. Hot." He tugged on the collar of his T-shirt.

"And sexy." She lifted her arms above her head and arched her back in a lazy stretch. "Very sexy."

He wondered if she had any clue what she was doing to him. Once he'd acknowledged that the she did, he wondered if she remembered that he was the one who was supposed to be doing the seducing. He mentally shrugged, and decided he was very open to being seduced and adjusted himself on the couch, moving a little closer to her.

She muffled a small yawn and settled back against the couch, prepared to watch the movie.

He bit back a groan as one strap of her tank top fell off her shoulder. He tried for a fleeting moment to ignore it, but he realized if he didn't touch her soon he would spontaneously combust. Throwing caution to the wind, he moved as close to her as he dared and gently smoothed the strap back into place before reluctantly withdrawing his hand.

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she watched the screen. "Mmm...Pacey?"

"Yeah?"

"Do we have any popcorn?"

His eyes fell closed in defeat, "I think so." Biting back a curse, he rose from the couch.

She grinned. "Thanks."

He found the popcorn and threw it none-to-gently in the microwave and punched in the numbers. She was being deliberately cruel. Some part of her was getting off on teasing him. Two could play at that game. He returned five minutes later with the warm popcorn in a large, clean bowl. He handed it to her and sat down beside her, close enough that his arm brushed her and their knees were together.

If Joey were bothered, she showed no sign and took some popcorn off the top of the pile. "Thanks."

"No problem." He shrugged as Tom Cruise met up with his 'hooker'. He glanced over at Joey. "You know, Potter. I think you had the right idea. I'm feeling too warm myself." He quickly shed his shirt, revealing the taught muscles of his chest and abdomen. A light spattering of light brown chest hair fanned across his broad chest, then narrowed and tapered into an arrow that disappeared into his loose fitting jeans.

"Whatever." Her stomach dropped and she stared at the screen intently, her hands reaching blindly for the bowl.

Pacey tilted his head to the side as Tom Cruise got it on with the hooker. He smirked, "You know, I've always wanted to do it in a chair. The stairs look a little uncomfortable, but the chair....now that's just erotic."

She shrugged as she reached for more popcorn. "I wouldn't know."

He arched an eyebrow, "Really? We could rectify that." He faked a yawn and stretched his arm along the back of the couch.

"Not interested."

"Figured as much," he replied easily, taking a handful of popcorn and popping it in his mouth.

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "How many times do I have to say no before you get the hint?"

"When have I ever taken no for an answer?"

"You're an idiot."

"I'm persistent." He corrected, munching on more popcorn.

"Annoying," she mumbled under her breath.

He brushed his thumb over her shoulder as he settled in to focus on the movie. He realized he should stop pushing her, at least for the time being.

She set the bowl of popcorn down on the coffee table and licked her fingers clean of butter and salt. He narrowed his eyes and bit his lip. He wondered what she'd do if he just kissed her. Even if by some miracle she did return the kiss, he doubted it would keep her from leaving. He sighed and sank further into the couch tiredly.

She sighed herself and rested her head against his shoulder. "Can't things just be kind of normal between us?"

He pressed a kiss against the top of her head. He was quiet for a long while, "Can anything be normal with you leaving?"

She bit the inside of her cheek. "So if I weren't leaving then things would be back to normal?"

"No, probably not," He admitted. "But I probably wouldn't feel so much pressure to convince you of how I feel."

She frowned. "Are you sure you're not just doing this because you don't want me to move?"

He rested his cheek against her hair, giving her a little squeeze around the shoulders. "If that were all this was, Potter, I'd have given up and just found myself a new roommate."

She sighed at a loss.

"I love you," he reminded her quietly. She frowned not knowing what to say. He nuzzled her hair, "I'm sorry, but I do." He sighed, "You're one of those women who inspires love in everyone they meet."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right."

"You doubt me?" He teased.

She shook her head. "No, we're not going to get into that."

"Get into what? The doubting me? The being in love with you? Or just your general lovable personality?" He wondered.

"Let's just watch the movie."

"All right," he pressed a kiss to her temple and turned his attention to the movie. Holding her at his side, skin to skin, except where her tank top interfered, he was perfectly content to let everything fall away and enjoy the rest of the movie with her.

When the movie ended over an hour later, Pacey glanced at Joey, her eyes were closed and she was relaxed against his side, more relaxed than he'd seen her in weeks. He ran his fingers along her hairline, the wayward strands soft to the touch. The corner of his mouth turned up slightly and he pressed a lingering kiss to her lips.

Her eyes slowly opened, she curved an arm around his neck, pulled him closer and kissed him softly. He froze for a split-second, surprised to find her awake, before returning the kiss. He slanted his lips over hers as he slid his hands around her supple body.

Her touch illicited a shiver that ran down his spine. He knew kissing her would be wonderful, but he hadn't expected his heart to thunder in his chest. Smiling weakly against her lips, his hand found the bare skin of her waist and he slowly stroked her side as the tip of his tongue traced her lower lip.

A soft moan passed through her lips and she brought a hand between them pushing him back. She quickly straddled his lap and attacked his mouth again. He groaned, pulling her closer. Something nagged at the back of his mind that there was something not quite right about this. But he couldn't seem wrap his mind around anything accept Joey's warm, pliable body against his.

She kissed him hungrily, eagerly devouring the cavern of his mouth as she fought for dominance of the kiss. She pulled back a bit, playfully running her tongue along his bottom lip before slipping it in between his teeth. Their tongues thrashed together, dueling it out ferociously, she locked her legs against his sides and she ground her body against his.

"Joey," he moaned her name. His hands traveled down her back to the curve of her ass, pulling her over the hard ridge in his pants. She whimpered, her hands tightening on his shoulders as she lowered her mouth to his neck.

"Jo," he moaned, lifting his hips from the couch to her damp heat. Her lips on his neck were doing horribly wonderful things to him. "Sweetheart," that voice had grown more insistent. "Jo," he moved his hands to her hips, stilling the slow rocking motion.

"Hmm?" His words barely penetrated through the hazy heat of desire and she trailed her lips up to his ear.

The feel of her tongue tracing the curve of his ear distracted him from his thoughts momentarily. "Oh, Joey." He tilted his head to capture her kiss swollen lips with his again. She pressed herself against him, raking her hands through his hair.

"Potter," he broke the kiss through pure force of will. "We've gotta..." his lips trailed over her jaw and along her neck. She sighed and let her head fall back, her breathing ragged.

He slowed his kisses, gently suckling on her strawberry scented skin. "Jo...sweetheart...I can't..."

"Mmm...What?"

He pressed a kiss to her shoulder, "I can't do this," he forced himself to say. " We can't do this."

She shut her eyes for a moment and exhaled sharply. "What?"

He shut his eyes, not quite believing what he was about to say. "I can't sleep with you yet."

She nodded slowly. "Uh-huh..."

He opened his desire laden eyes, "Do you have any idea how much I want to make love to you?"

She shook her head. "No."

He smoothed wayward strands of her hair behind her ear, "So much, that I think I must be a complete fool for putting a stop to this."

"I agree," she murmured lowering her mouth down to his and flicking her tongue against his lips. He parted his lips and met her tongue with his. He kissed her with a force of passion that scared him. Everything in him wanted to continue what they were doing, but he knew it'd be a mistake to make love to her when Joey probably thought that was all he wanted.

Another few minutes passed before Pacey regained control of the burning desire to crawl under her skin. "Potter, we've gotta stop."

She kissed the corner of his mouth. "Okay."

He smiled thankfully at her, "I just don't want you to think I only want to sleep with you." He brushed his thumb over her cheek, "I want to, believe me, the state of my groin should be proof enough."

"Well...I guess there are other things we can do."

He tilted his head to the side with a bemused smile. "You want to do other things with me? You wouldn't feel..." he didn't think there was a good way to end that sentence.

She raised an eyebrow. "We can watch another movie..."

He smirked, "You're such a tease." He kissed the corner of her mouth and shifted beneath her, inhaling sharply as he accidentally brushed up against the heat of her.

She bit her lip. "I'm not a tease."

"Oh...don't do that." He groaned, leaning forward to soothe the bite mark on her lips with his own. Her lips parted and she kissed him once again. She ground herself against him bracing her hands against his chest.

"Sweetheart," he finally pulled away. "Movie...or...I'm going to need a cold shower." He groaned. "A very cold shower."

She adjusted herself on his lap. "Fine."

It was his turn to bite his lip, "Uhm...Potter?"

"What?"

"Are you trying to seduce me?" He asked with an arched brow and a smile the betrayed the fact that the thought pleased him.

Her eyes widened innocently. "Why would I do a thing like that?"

"I haven't a clue since you don't think you love me." He replied teasingly.

"Exactly."

He leaned forward and kissed her neck, "Are we watching the movie or what?"

She climbed off his lap and moved to the far end of the couch. "You can put it on."

He got up and switched tapes, hitting play before sitting down beside her. An arm slid around her waist and he pulled her into his lap, an arm around her back and another around her waist to hold her close. He placed a kiss on her shoulder and shifted so his stiff erection wasn't pressed against her. "You were too far away."

She smirked. "So what movie did you put on?"

"I have no clue." He admitted with a sheepish grin.

She elbowed him. "It better not be any porn."

"Would I do that to you?" He asked innocently, kissing her bare shoulder again.

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

"No. I really, really don't."

She smiled. "That's what I thought."

The credit's rolled along the screen as the movie ended over two hours later. Pacey buried his face the crook of her neck, inhaling the sweet strawberry scent. "God that movie was long," he murmured.

She muffled a small yawn. "Uh-huh."

"Tired, sweetheart?" he asked, loosening his hold on her.

She nodded. "A little."

He gave her a soft kiss, relishing the fact he was able to do so, before shifting her away from his still tented jeans and standing up. "Bed time for Potter then," he announced before scooping her into his arms.

She let out a surprised yelp. "Put me down!"

He rolled his eyes, "Why?" He started to carry her towards the hall.

"Because I'm not ready to go to bed and I'm perfectly capable of walking on my own."

He bit his lip, "Stop squirming."

"Then put me down!" He complied, letting her long legs fall to the floor, unable to stand the friction she created when she squirmed against him. She smiled. "Thank you."

He nodded in reply, his expression strained. "If you're not tired, then what are you?"

"The opposite of tired?" He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall, one eyebrow arched in inquiry of what she planned to do instead of sleep.

"Not tired, bad use of words." She bit her lip. "Energetic? Bouncy? Perky? Bubbly? Effervescent? Lively? Vibrant? Animated? Active? Awake?" She bounced on the balls of her feet. "You know let's not push it, awake it is."

He chuckled, "And to think, two minutes ago you were yawning."

"I'm over it."

"I see that," he grinned.

She turned. "But I think I'll go to my room and read."

"Grown tired of my company so soon?"

She smirked. "Of course."

He caught her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. "In that case," he tugged her closer to him, "I'm going to go take a shower and then go to bed."

She lowered her gaze significantly. "A cold one, I presume."

One corner of his mouth curled into a smile, "Ice cold."

"Too bad."

"Simply a tragedy," he agreed in a murmur, lowering his lips to hers.

She kissed him quickly and pulled back with a grin. "Wouldn't want to make that worse for you."

"Oh, of course not. You're such a saint." He teased turning towards the bathroom.

"I try."

He smiled happily as he retreated to the bathroom. She may not believe he loved her quite yet, but she was definitely on her way.