|
She had desperately needed to escape. Joey had needed some time to herself away from Dawson, Bessie, Bodie, Alex, everyone in the court and, yes, even Jen. So far Joey had been confined with playing 'nice' to fat noblemans and their ambitious sons and daughters who were desperately trying to get Joey's favour in hopes of winning Bessie's ear. Not that Bessie ever listens to me anyway. Then there were the well meaning but far too gossipy ladies of the court who kept on approaching Joey telling her that she and Dawson made a wonderful couple. If they could have it their way, Joey would be barefoot and pregnant in less than a month's time. Joey was so sick of it all and Jen wasn't helping. After the experience at the local tavern Jen had decided it might be a good idea to lay low for a while and play Princess. Two full days of playing Princess was all that Joey could take and she just wanted some time alone. The beach was an ideal place and disguised as a male Joey was protected from unwanted solicitation. The vastness of the sea seemingly neverending created a sense of calmness within Joey. She could sit here forever imagining her childhood and her mother. Her mother had loved the ocean and had painted numerous sceneries depicting the blue entity. Joey closed her eyes and relived her past. "Ummph..uh sorry." Her idyllic daydreams were interrupted by an enormous quantity of sand that had been hurled at her. Disgruntled Joey snapped, "Well next time you should be more careful." She stood up brushing the sand of her clothes and turned to face her attacker. "You!" Outrage was evident in her voice. "So it would appear we meet again." "Do you think it is fun throwing sand at innocent strangers?" "Look, it was an accident. And I already apologised." "Somehow I doubt your sincerity." "Are you questioning my word of honour?" "A man like you has no honour." Suddenly Joey found herself in an intense duel with the stranger she and Jen had encountered four days ago in the local tavern.
All Pacey had wanted was some peace and quiet and freedom. Doug had been on his back again, nagging that Pacey's should not neglect his royal duties...blah, blah, blah. Pacey swore Doug was worse than an old maid - he could just imagine Doug in a brown dress and apron with one of those ridiculously looking, frilly white caps sitting on a rocking chair knitting. King Witter was being his usual pleasant self which was not a surprise. Jack was actually quite busy, he had been recruited by his sister Andie for one scheme or another. Pacey thought that he had heard Jack mention something about baking pies for the 'nice ladies of the court'. It was that or something to do with floral decorations. From experience Pacey knew to keep a safe distance from the McPhees when Andie was on a mission, preferably a good 50 mile radius. Besides Jack was acting too responsible for Pacey's liking and was urging Pacey to at least try to do the same. So Pacey had unilaterally decided to take off and get away from his father, Doug and the cautious constraints of his friend Jack. Only now he found himself in a duel with the lad from the tavern. Maybe I should have listened to Jack. Pacey thought wryly. The clash of steel reminded Pacey that he should pay attention to the fight at hand. To Pacey's surprise the boy was giving as good as he got and Pacey narrowly missed being sliced into half. Pacey saw from the corner of his eye the lad lunge forward completing a difficult manoeuvre and he quickly moved to deflect the blow Not bad, not bad at all. The fight was serving Pacey as a means to vent his frustration and energised by his emotions Pacey quickly changed tactics from a defensive stance to an offensive attack. The duel was taking a lot from both fighters and sweat was trickling down Pacey's forehead. Glistening from the sweat Pacey still moved like a panther, sleek and lithe, muscles rippling and flexing as he went in for the attack. Metal met metal again and Pacey kept lunging forward and forward, causing his opponent to reluctantly retreat whilst still maintaining an admirable defence. Pacey was glad his opponent wasn't a pushover but Pacey's combative skills were superior and he was beginning to find holes in the boy's defence. A quick twist of the wrist and Pacey had split the outer garments of his opponent revealing a cascade of silky brown hair and the distinct shape of a woman. He lowered his sword in surprise as the girl stood before him - flushed from the duel, her eyes glinting with a defiant fire and a hint of embarrassment at the unintentional revealing of her sex. "You're a girl."
"I'm a girl." Joey instinctively wrapped her arms around her chest feeling strangely vulnerable and glared. The hood that had hidden her hair was now differently shaped scraps of material and the doublet, specially designed to flatten and hide her curves was split into two. The only thing that maintained her modesty was a tightly fitted white shirt that showed that Josephine Potter was indeed female. She could feel the stranger's eyes on her, appreciatively noting every inch of her body and Joey felt herself flush with embarrassment...and something else. They stood there staring at one another. She couldn't take her gaze off him, it was as if his eyes held her, chained her to him so that they were bonded together. Somehow she knew this moment could not last and they were instead just pausing, pausing and waiting. But for what? He took a step closer, removing the distance between the two of them so that they were only inches apart. Instead of feeling frightened or angered Joey felt a surge of nervous anticipation. "You fight like a man. But you're definitely not...male...." His voice was smooth and liquid. Jen's right. His voice is deep and sexy. I'm insane. Suddenly her body and his propelled together closing all distance between the two and his lips were on hers. His hands were everywhere, burning and marking her and he tasted salty and sweaty. Delicious.
His tongue duelled with hers mimicking the swordfight they had recently been engaged in. Only this time there was no outright winner and no loser. Pacey sucked on her lower lip then moved from her mouth to the inviting hollow of her neck. She tastes sweet. Like berries. Her moans only enticed him to go further and he found himself groaning in reply. He felt this overwhelming need for her that went beyond reason. No one had ever made him feel this way and no one had ever elicited such feelings from him before. All the countless women Pacey had shared a bed with previously disappeared and it was his first time all over again. He moved his mouth back onto hers, his teeth gently nibbling her lip as his tongue probed her closed mouth seeking an invitation within. Stubbornly she refused before finally sighing and opening up to him so that his tongue met hers. They duelled again, his tongue on hers then hers on his. Oxygen became an issue and they parted, his lips still dangerously close to her mouth as they panted for breath. Just as it started it ended and Pacey felt himself being pushed away. Her eyes were wide with horror. "Oh my god...I..I..I have to go..." She took a hurried step backwards, stumbled then turned her back on him and ran. Pacey stared at her fleeing figure in disbelief. He had just met the most amazing girl ever. A girl who fought better than most men he knew. He had just had the most passionate and intense kiss of a lifetime. And he didn't even know the girl's name. Only that she paraded as boy on the two occasions that they had met. You're a fool. Pacey J. Witter, you're a complete and utter fool. |
|