TITLE: The Seduction

SUMMARY: Two times Puck and Rachel try to seduce each other, and one time... well... you'll just have to read and see!

SPOILERS: All aired episodes

DISCLAIMERS: Glee is not mine, unfortunately. It belongs to Ryan Murphy Productions and FOX. Chapter titles and sub-heading lyrics belong to George Michael & Sony Music Entertainment; other lyrics in Chapter 1 belong to Kings of Leon & RCA Records.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This little plot bunny hopped into my head a couple weeks ago, when I downloaded George Michael's Faith from iTunes, because I was in the mood to listen to it, but the cassette (yes, I said "cassette") wore out long ago. "I Want Your Sex"came on, and I started thinking about how it would be for two people who really want to have sex with each other not be able to make it work the way they think it should. And because Glee has eaten my brain and taken over my life, the two people who immediately came to mind were none other than Noah Puckerman and Rachel Berry. This is what I'm calling a "near future!fic": it takes place after "Sectionals", but still during the current McKinley High academic year. Please, please read and review: this is my first fanfic ever, and constructive feedback is greatly appreciated.

I'd also like to give major thanks to une fille, Glow, Nova802, CountryGirl914, dress_without_sleeves, radcgg, and heymamawolf: fantastic writers whose Puckleberry stories, in particular, have inspired my own (as will be obvious by all the shout-outs I've strewn throughout my story).

Chapter 1: There's little things you hide...

And little things you don't

Noah Puckerman knows that Rachel Berry wants to have sex with him. Like, really wants to.

Of course, she pretends she doesn't: "Noah, I really feel that we should wait until our relationship has reached a level of maturity suitable to engaging in such a significant and profound event. And, although I am quite mature for my age - more so than you though you are older than I - this is not something that I want to rush into just yet because we've only been together - like, really together - for a few months, and the first time I have sex needs to be perfect and special and magical and befitting of my future acting career as the stunning young ingenue everyone roots for. And, even though I know that you are more than capable of providing such an experience for me given all the rumours about your sexual prowess - "They're not rumours, Berry" (he's surprised he actually managed to get some words in edgewise) - nevertheless, I just think we need to wait and be sure, that's all."

But, every now and then, he'll catch her... well... ogling him. Her big, dark eyes get - incredibly - even bigger and darker... like molten chocolate laced with fire and spice... And the colour rises in her checks, and she bites on her lower lip just a little, tinging it a deep, berry red. And sometimes, when they're cuddling/making out/talking/touching/just being on the couch together, she'll brush her fingers lightly down the back of his neck, or slide her foot along the inside of his leg just a little higher than could be considered accidental, or lace her fingers in between his so tight, they start to tingle from the numbness...

It drives him fucking crazy (not as crazy as Berry, though. No one's as crazy as Berry), because he doesn't know what to do. What will it take for Rachel to give into her obvious desire to have sex with him? Anyone who rocks the "sexy librarian" look as well as she does has got to have a freaky sex beast hidden inside. And Puck wants to be the one to let it out. But how? Pressuring Rachel to give it up is out of the question - he's a badass, not a douche. (Besides, as Lima, Ohio's only God of Sex, he's never had to pressure a woman to have sex with him. I mean, c'mon! Have you seen his guns?!) Begging Rachel is too ridiculous to even consider. Noah Puckerman Does. Not. Beg.

He has asked her, though, several times. He's not exactly sure how many. (Seventeen.) And each time, her answer is some version of the "I really feel that we should wait" speech: sometimes shorter (thankfully), sometimes longer (during which he stops listening because, after "No", why does he still need to pay attention?). It has gotten to the point where he feels like he's in some kind of Bizarro World game show, complete with a cheesy announcer who sounds like that guy who comes on right before Sue's Corner: "How Many Times Can You Ask Your Girlfriend to Have Sex with You? Guess right, and you could win One Million Dollars!!! (And also get to have sex with your girlfriend.)" At this rate, Puck is going to lose this game. Badly.

If he thinks about it - and that's a big if - his desire to have sex with Rachel is more than just 'cause he wants to have sex (well, it's mostly about more than that). It's 'cause he wants to have sex with Rachel: crazy, diva-to-the-max, driven, talkative, confident, bubbly, determined, sexy, hot, talented, smart, funny, dependable, beautiful, loving, caring, generous Rachel. His Rachel. Somehow, he thinks that if he can have sex with "his girl" - 'cause, let's face it: all the others were never his, no more than he was theirs - then it'll mean that he's really not just some fucked-up kid with no father and no future. He's someone who is loved. Who is worthy of being loved.

One night, he and Rachel are watching a movie at her place. It's called "Take the Lead" or something like that, and it has that Spanish dude who played Zorro in it. Puck thinks that the Zorro dude is kinda like Mr. Schue: he really thinks his detention students are going to be super-interested in something so totally lame like ballroom dancing. (Not that Puck thinks glee club is lame, not really. He actually enjoys it, because he's good at it. Plus, he gets to watch Rachel twirl around in those tiny skirts of hers.) Puck has only been half-paying attention to the movie, but he perks up when the Zorro dude brings one of his advanced private students to detention to show the class how to tango. The girl is hot - though, truthfully, Puck is so over the ice-cold blonde look: he much prefers warm, dark, mysterious girls whose eyes could swallow you whole if you'd let them - but the way she moves is... mesmerizing. She's strong, and sensual, and controlled, and it's sexy as hell. And the way the Zorro dude moves around her is... predatory and gentlemanly, all at the same time. (If Puck's English teachers ever knew that he was capable of such critical analysis, they'd probably have a heart attack.) Even though she's dancing with her teacher, and he with his student, there's nothing creepy about what they're doing. There's a clear understanding between them, and a deep sense of respect. The way they touch and move around each other gives Puck the feeling that this dance is actually a conversation, one that's as old as time. When it's over, realization hits him right between the eyes, kinda like the paintball pellets he once fired at Finn: he doesn't need to ask Rachel to have sex with him.

He just needs to seduce her.

(Duh.)

I swear I won't tease you, won't tell you no lies

Rachel Berry knows that Noah Puckerman wants to have sex with her. Like, really wants to.

Of course, he is a teenaged boy, not to mention the (self)proclaimed Stud of McKinley High School. So, wanting to have sex is pretty much a given. Yet, somehow, Rachel knows that it's not just about sex this time. Noah actually cares deeply for her, and his desire to have sex with her has a lot to do with the fact that he's not good at expressing how he feels through words. Rachel didn't fully understand this about him until all of the drama about Finn, Quinn, and the baby exploded several months ago...

As Rachel was leaving Quinn sitting alone by the trophy case, she passed Noah on his way over to her. They caught each other's eyes, and in that brief moment, it felt like a thousand meanings were conveyed:

"I know I fucked up, but I'm wanna man up and deal with it.

Good. I am very sorry that I outed you, but it had to be done.

I'm kinda glad you did, because not telling the truth was killing me.

I know.

Good.

I'll be there for you, too, if you want.

I know."

That wordless conversation stayed with Rachel for a long time afterward: all through the tension and awkwardness at glee practice; all through the time she spent alone with Finn (they never really dated, because Finn was absolutely destroyed by what his girlfriend and best friend had done to him. And at some point - she's not exactly sure when - Rachel realized that her feelings for Finn had morphed into the deep, abiding love that only develops between the closest of friends); and all through the uneasy peace that occurred before everyone in glee managed to create a new kind of equilibrium. Strangely, this new balance in glee resulted in Rachel and Puck becoming inexplicably drawn to each other. Certainly, they had had several conversations since the truth about Quinn's baby came out; and whenever the thought of giving away his daughter grew too much to bear, Noah would go over to Rachel's house, where she would take his mind off things by performing songs from her favourite musicals (this is why Puck now knows both the lyrics and music to "Don't Rain on My Parade", "My Favourite Things", "Defying Gravity", "Tonight", "Seasons of Love", "Shall We Dance?", and "Maybe This Time").

Mostly though, Noah kept to himself. However, Rachel began to notice that he always sat close to her at lunch or during glee practice, and that, even if he wasn't right next to her, she could feel his presence in the room. She also noticed that whenever she was practicing a duet, her eyes always strayed towards Puck and, somehow, her body always managed to orient itself in his direction. (Rachel has no idea why this was the case. She didn't consider Puck's brand of animal magnetism - er, degree of physiological desirability - to be suitable for the role of romantic male lead in her life's story.) In addition, Puck seemed to be working harder and harder to excel in glee, and whenever he finished a performance for the group, he'd look immediately to Rachel, as though her opinion mattered to him the most.

After several weeks of this strange chemistry between them, Rachel couldn't take it anymore. And, not being the type of person to sit back and wait for, well... anything, she approached Puck after rehearsal one day.

"Excuse me, Noah, may I speak with you for a moment?"

"'Sup, Berry?" (Rachel had long since given up on getting him to call her by her first name. She had decided to consider "Berry" a cool nickname, just like "Puck", and let it go. Mostly).

"I have been wondering if you have been having any thoughts about our relationship."

"Uh... what relationship?"

"Well, it cannot have escaped your attention that we seem to be strangely drawn to each other, yet we are not really that close, though I think you'll agree that we have a much better accord than we did prior to the revelation that you were the true father of Quinn's baby, and so I am wondering if you have any opinions about that."

"About me being the one who knocked up Quinn? Yeah, I'd say I have some opinions about that", Puck said. His twinkling green eyes belied the dry tone of his voice.

Sighing with frustration, Rachel exclaimed, "No, about the fact that you and I seem to have some unexplained connection, without any conscious action on either of our parts!"

"Oh. That. Well, I have seen you checking me out, not that anyone could blame you, because I am a fine piece of ass."

Rachel counted to ten. Slowly. Then she said, "I have not been checking you out, Noah! Stop being so crass. - "Your face is crass, Berry." - If I have been paying more attention to you than usual, it is simply because you have been making yourself more of a presence to me!"

"What? So all this is my doing?"

"Well, yes. Given all the rumours about your sexual prowess - "They're not rumours, Berry." - it is not unreasonable for me to assume that since you have been so obvious in your attempts to get me to notice you, it means that you are interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with me. Again. So, I just wanted to clarify that this was, indeed, the case before proceeding."

Puck stared at Rachel for what seemed like an eternity. He realized that every time he thought he had a handle on her particular brand of crazy, she did something else to up the stakes. It was irritating, fascinating, and... well... kind of hot, the way she always managed to surprise him. (Also, Rachel was right - seriously, she might actually be kinda psychic like that Carrie chick in that freaky movie he and Finn watched when they were kids.) This is what makes him say, "Proceed how?"

And so it began.

Rachel decided that it was unnecessary for her and Noah to make a "big announcement" about their renewed romantic relationship. If they didn't before, why should they do so now? Besides, she kind of felt a little thrill at leaving the McKinley student body to figure it out on their own. It appealed to her dramatic sensibilities: sometimes, it was indeed better to "show, don't tell". Interestingly, she was learning that "show, don't tell" worked on boyfriends, too. Although she didn't quite understand Noah's irritation with how much she talked - the whole point of living is to express one's self fully at all times isn't it? - she understood the need to broaden her horizons when it came to human communication, in order to strengthen her skills as an actress. So, she determined to show Noah how she feels about him, not just to say it. To the casual observer, it would appear that she was a tease. To said casual observer, Rachel would exclaim, "I am most certainly not a tease! I am simply letting my paramour know that my feelings for him are physical, as well as personal. I am interested in the whole package that is Noah Puckerman, and it is very important that he realize this, lest he fall under the erroneous assumption that I am not fully invested in our relationship!" ("Whatever", the causal observer would reply.)

In the months that she and Noah have been together, Rachel has realized that he really, really, really likes the short skirts she wears. (Not that she would ever seriously consider changing any aspect of herself for a boy, but it's nice to know that - despite what Kurt says - her style is appreciated.) So, whenever they meet for lunch in the cafeteria, she makes sure that Noah sits down first. She then stands oh-so-closely beside him, so that the hairs on his forearm brush the hem of her skirt, and lightly tickle the skin of her thigh. Once she is aware that he is aware of this - his eyes darken to a deep, hunter green - she slides in next to him, giving him her Bette Davis Eyes (which she has not practiced in the mirror at home, ever), before calmly beginning to eat.

Rachel has also learned that Noah is fascinated with her hair. Perhaps it's because he doesn't have much of his own, or perhaps it's because she had once mentioned how difficult it was to wash the slushie out of it. Whatever the case, she is loathe to deny the object of her affection such a simple pleasure, so she makes sure he gets many opportunities to appreciate her thick, chestnut locks. Whenever they hug, she turns her head into his neck so that he has no choice but to inhale the scent of her shampoo (Rosemary Mint, by Aveda). And when they're rehearsing at glee, or in her bedroom (the sound-proofed walls make it the ideal setting for music practice), she will casually lean over his shoulder and use her hand to flip her hair from one side to the other, so that it cascades down his face and neck (the better for him to experience its softness, of course).

At other times, she'll simply stare at him when (she thinks) he's not looking. She'll take in the breadth of his shoulders, and the narrowness of his hips. She'll linger on the shape of his mouth, and the length of his fingers. She'll marvel at the definition of his muscles, and smile to herself because she knows what they feel like. When Noah finally catches her eye, she'll nibble slightly on her lower lip, and silently congratulate herself because she can practically see the hitch in his breath.

Rachel thoroughly enjoys the "show" part of her relationship with Noah. Not only because she knows she's driving him f*cking crazy (despite having been with Noah for all this time, Rachel still can't bring herself to swear. Noah ribs her about this mercilessly: "C'mon, Berry... how're you gonna talk dirty to me in bed if you can't even swear?"), but also because she is as turned on by her little game as he is. She loves the feeling of his skin against hers: a warm, tingling sensation that spreads throughout her entire body, and makes her feel as though she really is a star. The sheer desire she sometimes sees in his eyes makes her feel wanted in a way that she never has before: like, if Noah can't have her righthissecond, he's going to spontaneously combust. The feel of his body covering hers as he envelops her in a hug makes her feel delicate, protected... loved. For all her brash confidence, Rachel secretly worries that the reason nobody seems to love her (except her two gay dads, of course) is because she's just not worthy of being loved. This is why she wants to "wait and be sure" before she has sex, although what, exactly, she's waiting for, she doesn't know...

Truth be told, Rachel Berry wants to have sex with Noah Puckerman as much as he wants to have sex with her. So, when he turns to her after "Take the Lead" ends and says, in a too-casual, "I'm-a-studly-badass-so-I-don't-care-if-you-say-'yes'-or-'no'" voice, "Wanna come over tomorrow night? Mom and Rebecca are going to some lame mother-daughter thing down in Columbus this weekend, so we'll have the house to ourselves. I'll cook...", she agrees.

And so it begins.

I can't take much more girl, I'm losing control

Puck's plan for seducing Rachel looks something like this:

1) Cook dinner for Rachel.

2) Eat dinner with Rachel.

3) Take Rachel up to his room, where the lights will be low, the bed will be turned down (with freshly laundered sheets, of course), and "Sex on Fire" by Kings of Leon is playing softly in the background.

4) Use his best "sexy voice" (he likes to think of it as a cross between Johnny Depp and the lead singer of that rock band, Jericho... what's-his-name-again?) to get Rachel to have sex with him.

The first part of his plan goes smoothly. While it's true that he does tune out most of what Rachel says when she's rambling on about something or other (in truth, he finds the sound of her voice and the rush of her words soothing... he doesn't need to actually know what she's saying), he pays attention every now and then. He remembers her once saying something about how good food arouses the senses like no other stimuli. (It occurs to Puck that the only reason he remembered this was because Rachel used the word "arouse".) Luckily, Puck is quite a good cook, because his mom works so much, and there's only so much cereal a man can eat, you know? So, knowing that Rachel loves Italian food, Puck made her seafood risotto with lots of oysters (he didn't know if they really were aphrodisiacs, but he figured that every little bit helped. Not that he needed any help, of course.), and cicale: Italian lobster/prawn-like creatures, marinated in olive oil, bread crumbs, salt and lots of black pepper, before being grilled. Served with a perfectly chilled bottle of Pinot Grigio (much to Puck's surprise, Rachel is not opposed to having a drink every now and then: "It is very important to my future celebrity status to be comfortable socializing in situations in which alcohol is present."), he can tell by the way Rachel's eyes widen and her neck flushes as she takes her first bite, and by the way she licks the salty, spicy olive oil from her lips, that he's golden. Fucking golden.

After they've finished eating and cleaned up the kitchen ("Noah, we can't possibly leave the kitchen in this state for your mother to take care of when she gets back. It would be unbelievably rude and disrespectful!"), Puck takes his girl by the hand and leads her up to his room because, "There's this really great song that I've been thinking of using for a solo, but want I you to hear it first, babe." He opens the door, and gestures for Rachel to walk through first. As she registers the low lights, the inviting bed, the pulsating music - "And you, your sex is on fire/Consumed with what's to transpire" - he slides up behind her, wraps his arms around her waist, and murmurs in her ear, "Wanna have sex, baby?" (Being short and to the point got Rachel to make out with him the very first time, so Puck figures he shouldn't mess with a good thing.) Rachel turns to face him, and the look in her eyes is so intense, he feels naked already: there's want, and there's need, but there's also vulnerability and insecurity. Puck wracks his brain, trying to come up with the words to let Rachel know that she doesn't have anything to be unsure about. He opens his mouth, but before he can make a sound, Rachel is there. Like, totally there. She's kissing him, and tonguing him, and running her hands all over his chest and back and neck. Puck's, uh, response is immediate, and he can tell that Rachel feels it too, because she makes this little noise of surprise in the back of her throat, and he almost loses it right there. But, Puck is not a Sex God for nothing, so he ends the kiss, scoops Rachel up, and lays her gently on the bed before crawling in beside her. He's gonna do this right: he's gonna seduce his girlfriend with slow, tender, luxurious sex, showing her with his body all the things he can't express to her with words.

Funny thing about that, though... As Rachel slowly unbuttons her shirt, and Puck sees her nipples peeking out from behind the black lace of her bra, he blurts, "Oh my god, Rachel, you're so beautiful, you take my breath away!" (The fuck? Where did that come from? Puck never says anything during sex, other than shit like, "Oh yeah", and "That's it", and "Right there".) Actual sentences, things he never he could say to her, are pouring out of him, and he can't seem to control it.

Rachel allows him to remove her shirt and bra: "Jesus, Rach, your skin is so velvet and soft I never wanna stop touching you." (Shit. Get it together, man!)

She rises up on her knees, and slowly works her skirt down her thighs, before tossing it off the side of the bed: "Your body is a wonder. I love the shape of you, and I can't believe you're mine. All mine, all mine." (That's it, dude... don't let Rachel make you listen to John Mayer. Ever again.)

Rachel pulls off his shirt, and undoes the button of his jeans: "Please, please, baby, just touch me. Touch me wherever you want. I'll do anything for you." (Ho-ly shit. This is not how this was supposed to go, Puckerman! What's wrong with you?)

She gets a wicked gleam in her eye and says, "Anything?" in the sexiest voice he's ever heard (seriously, when this is over, he's gonna ask her for pointers), Puck knows he's done for. She pushes him back on the bed, and then climbs on top of him. She starts kissing him all over his face, then begins to work her way down his torso, leaving the scent of mint and rosemary to invade his nostrils (god, how he loves that smell). All he can say is, "My Rachel, my Rachel, my Rachel", over and over.

Rachel then begins doing this amazing swirly thing around his belly button with her tongue, while her fingers slowly pull down his zipper, and find their way inside his boxers. The heat from her hand as it wraps around his dick makes him writhe on the bed and buck his hips in delicious agony. As she begins stroking him, "My Rachel" becomes "My beautiful Rachel, my beautiful Rachel". Puck takes a moment to register that he has been calling her by her first name, but then she uses her fingernails to lightly tickle his balls and the moment's gone. He quickly decides that he is wearing way too many clothes, and that he has to do something about it rightthissecond. So, he reaches down to start pushing off his jeans and underwear, and the angle of his body makes Rachel's hand tighten around him, and her fingers dig deeper into his balls, and it feels so, soooo good, and

Oh no.

This can't be happening.

This is not happening.

Oh nonononono.

No.

(C'mon, Puckerman! Think of anything other than where your girlfriend's hand is right now: football/math class/any class/Coach Sylvester/Coach Tanaka/Coach Sylvester fucking Coach Tanaka/dead kittens/dead mailmen...)

Shit.

...

As Rachel pads to the bathroom to wash off her hands, she smirks to herself and thinks, "'They're not rumours'? Your face is a rumour, Puckerman."

To Be Continued...