A/N: Between breaking my arm and getting caught up in the It's What They Do universe, I'd stepped away from this story for a minute. I'm back to it and plan to continue it through to wherever I decide it ends. Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, alerted and everything. I appreciate all of you so much! If I didn't get back to you individually, I'm really sorry. The first couple days on pain killers after breaking my arm are a little fuzzy. Still own none of Glee. It all belongs to RM and company.
Rachel groggily opened her eyes and glanced at the bedside clock -2:48 A.M. Her mind was completely blank for a second before all of last night came rushing back in a whirl; the dance, her dress, the conversation with San, coming home and Noah coming here. Noah! She didn't even have to look to the other side of her bed to know she was alone. The room felt empty. She thought back to the words she knows she heard before she'd been unable to fight sleep any longer.
I love you. Mine. I will have you. Naked, wet and moaning my name. Mine.
She knows she didn't imagine those words but? She sat up and looked around her bedroom. Where is he?
She stretched once, trying to loosen muscles that were stiff from sleep and trying to quell the slight panic that was starting to rise in her stomach. She walked quietly to her bathroom, wondering if he just got up to answer the call of nature in the middle of the night but when she didn't see any light under the door, she knew even before she opened it that he wasn't in there. While she washed her hands, she looked in the mirror and decided that there'd been enough running. If he's in the house, she'll find him and if he isn't, well…well, that's it then. No more nights sitting around crying because Noah Puckerman is too stupid to appreciate what's right in front of him!
Slipping on her robe (habit, even when alone), she padded softly to her door and stopped when she heard music. She shook her head, wondering if her penchant for mentally assigning soundtracks to all the important moments in her life had finally driven her around the bend to actually hearing imaginary music. No, there really is music. Piano. Someone's playing the piano. Not someone-Noah. Unless they've been home invaded by piano playing burglars, Noah's playing the piano. At 3 o'clock in the morning?
Feeling the knot in her stomach ease, Rachel crept slowly down the stairs, stopping about a third of the way to sit and listen and watch. She could see him through the rails in the banister but his back was to her and he seemed completely absorbed in the melody he was coaxing from the keys. She didn't recognize the piece but it was low and mournful and he seemed to know it well. She loves watching him play music and has watched him play his guitar often but the piano far less. She knew he played but it's a skill he seldom demonstrates for an audience. Part of that is his public persona-Puck. Puck is a badass and badasses play the guitar. Part of it she also knows is that his father taught him to play the piano years ago before he left their family and he doesn't like to stir the memories that come from those days. Lima's Jewish community is small and she's known him since they were toddlers. She remembers well when Mr. Puckerman left and she was there when Noah turned into Puck. She recognizes the symmetry of being here now as Puck has gradually made room for Noah to re-emerge.
Her reverie about their pasts and presents colliding is interrupted by his voice. "Sorry Baby, I didn't mean to wake you." He hadn't turned from the keys and she has no idea how he knew she was there but she isn't surprised. She and Noah have always had the ability to know when the other is in the vicinity. Even in the years that they seemingly hated one another, they could each tell you when the other was somewhere around.
"It's okay. I just didn't know where you'd gone, and then I heard the music. It's beautiful Noah. When did you write it?"
Neither of them made a move from their respective spots and he didn't answer her verbally but his hands covered the keys again and the haunting melody spilled into the silence, louder now that he wasn't worried about waking her. She knew the composition was his because she's well versed in music and she didn't recognize even a part of it. She also knew because she knows him and knows that this is something he doesn't share with the world.
Not wanting to break the mood, she closed her eyes and just let the sound wash over her. The last notes seemed to hang in the air when she heard him push back the piano bench and felt his tread on the stairs. He stopped a few steps below her and she opened her eyes to see him holding out his hand. She took it and they walked back to her room in silence. She knows she should be nervous. It's the middle of the night and she and Noah Puckerman are both half-naked in her bedroom. He's wearing nothing but a pair of boxers and all that's covering her is a pair of panties, a camisole and a thin robe. Funny thing though, she isn't nervous in the least.
He sat on the bed and pulled her down next to him. He hadn't really slept much (at fucking all) that night. He'd watched her sleep and thought about the last few weeks (and months and years). She loves me and I love her. I've fucked up so much shit in a short 17 years but somehow I didn't fuck this past repair. When he realized that sleep wasn't coming, he'd found himself downstairs at the piano. He'd played softly not intending to wake her, she needed her sleep, but knowing somehow when he wasn't alone anymore. That's what she's given me; with her I'm not alone, but somehow that doesn't terrify the shit out of me.
"C'mon Baby, it's late. Or too fucking early, however you wanna look at it. Lie down and go back to sleep."
"I'm not tired Noah. That really was a gorgeous piece of music."
"It should be. It's for a gorgeous girl. My gorgeous girl." A small part of him couldn't believe he was telling her while the bigger part acknowledged that she was his, had always been his even if they hadn't been able to get the timing right until now and he wanted her to always be his.
"I love you" she whispered. "Love you more," came his soft reply.
He briefly wondered when exactly he'd decided to hand over his balls in a gift wrapped box but knew, if he was honest with himself, that the answer was sometime around when they were 6 years old and he saw little Rachel Berry crying with a skinned knee in the park after Toby Jacobs push her off her bike. Toby wound up with two skinned knees and a black eye, his Ma had made him apologize to the little fucker and to Mrs. Jacobs but it was worth it because Rachel looked at him like he was her hero. In the years between 6 and 17 he'd made her cry far more than Toby ever had but somehow, now, she had the same look on her face that she'd had that day.
They sat quietly on her bed, her head on his shoulder, their legs intertwined. It almost felt like there was a spell over the room and neither of them wanted to break it. Both of them were thinking about the previous night and the promises he'd made. She wanted him to know that she hadn't changed her mind. He wanted to fuck her into the floor (shit, he'd wanted to do that for fucking ever) but there's no way he's doing shit without them having some sort of conversation.
A conversation. A chance to change her mind. Yep, balls in a box with a fucking bow.
"Rach. What you said earlier-"he faltered for a second. Sex is second nature to him and he's been with his share of virgins but never A) someone he loved or B) see A. He doesn't want to scare her or burst the bubble that they've been in since she came down and heard him playing.
"Which part Noah? The ready for sex, the wanting sex or the birth control?"
He chuckled. She never stops surprising me. So much for scaring her.
"All of it, Baby. Mainly, I know I've been a douche these last few weeks. My head's been all fucked up and- `"
"Noah, stop. Please. You already apologized for that. I don't want to go around about it. I understand why you were acting like a, a- that word. I forgive you. I meant every word. I've been contemplating us having intercourse for a while, I made sure I took precautionary steps and I haven't changed my mind. I want us to have sex."
There's the Rachel he knows-big words and plans. Contemplating intercourse. No way, Baby. We aren't just going to have sex. You're gonna see those stars you love so much.
"Rach, how far did you get with Finn or St. Douche?" He feels her stiffen and fuck that didn't come out the right way and before he can elaborate, she's off the bed and halfway across the room glaring daggers at him, pulling the belt of her robe tightly around her.
"Really, Noah? I'm telling you I want to have sex with you and you're grilling me about other people? What, you don't believe I'm a virgin or do you just want to make sure?"
He's up and in front of her before she can storm into the bathroom and this ends in a fucking disaster. He put his arms around her and while she didn't move away, she felt like a board in his arms and wouldn't meet his eyes.
"I didn't mean it like that Rach. Rachel, look at me." He put his hand under her chin, tilted her head up and saw the tears threatening to spill over. FUCK!
"Rach. I'm not trying to grill you about anybody. I really don't want to talk about them at all. I was trying…and I fucked it up…again…I was trying to get at how much you know from-shit Rach! I'm not good at this shit, you know that but-."
"But what, Noah?" He can tell from the tone of her voice that this is about two seconds from going to hell on an express fucking train.
"I know you're a virgin Baby. That was my point. There's a whole lot more to sex than just open legs, insert cock and I don't wanna scare you or push you or make you feel like you have to do this so I was trying-badly, I fucking see-to figure out how much you know from books and shit and how much you've actually done. I want this to be great for you. I don't want your first time to be-Baby, I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry. I just wanted to make sure you know that you don't have to do this."
He felt her relax against him and hoped that maybe, somehow, again he hadn't fucked it up beyond repair. His voice dropped lower and he growled into her ear, "I love you, Baby. That's all. I just don't want to fuck this up for you."
She stood there processing his words and realized that in his own emotionally inept way, he was trying to be-not Puck. She reached up on her toes and placed a kiss on his lips, letting him know that she understood what he was trying to say. Thank fuck! She walked back to the bed and sat down, thinking that this was never what she'd imagined for her first time but knowing it was exactly as it should be. Jesse had just wanted her to give in to him and Finn couldn't see past getting to touch her boobs. Noah wanted it to be about her.
Despite what she'd proclaimed at her one meeting of the Celibacy Club about girls wanting sex as much as guys and her book knowledge on the subject, discussing her sexual history with Noah was slightly embarrassing. Yes, they both know she's a virgin but she doesn't think he knows exactly how much of an everything virgin she really is and hoped the truth wouldn't make him change his mind.
She looked at her lap and then back up and him and mumbled, "Nothing. We made out, that was it. I haven't done anything else. You—your hands on me. That's the most I've done. I don't know much of anything."
He'd had his hands on her, sure, but always over her clothes. He knew she was a virgin but now he knew that no one had ever even touched her in the way he planned to. Mine. No one else ever gets to touch you.
He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers, "Baby, I'll teach you anything you want to know." She shivered at the words, the tone and the thoughts that ran through her head but before she could respond, he was changing the kiss, moving his lips harder against her and using his tongue to probe inside her mouth. She stopped trying to think and leaned into the kiss, letting her tongue dance against his until they both had to pull back for air.
She expected him to lean her back onto the bed but he surprised her, pulling her up to him instead. He reached in and placed a trail of light kisses from her shoulder to her neck and back again and she felt his hands reach the edge of her camisole as he lifted it over her head. "So fucking gorgeous. You are the most beautiful sight I've ever seen in my life," he whispered as his eyes roamed over her body. This was the most anyone had ever seen of her body and she'd thought she might feel exposed or nervous but the look in his eyes was so honest that she knew he meant every word.
He reached out and lightly placed his hand at the curve of her waist, caressing the smooth skin. She closed her eyes and let out a sigh. He had a musician's hands, strong and calloused on the fingertips and the dual sensations of roughened skin and soft movements had her purring like a cat. Her eyes flew open when she felt him reach behind her knees and she found herself off her feet and cradled in his arms.
You're so fucking tiny. I won't break you Baby but I'm gonna come damn close tonight.
He kissed her softly and laid her down on the bed, maneuvering until he was lying next to her on his side, his body covering hers. He reached over and turned the bedside lamp on, notching the button until the light was on low. He wanted to be able to see her but he didn't want the room too bright, thinking a little shadow would help her relax. He continued kissing her, moving from her lips back down her neck, nibbling lightly on her shoulders and keeping her off balance about where he would touch her next. His right hand skated slowly up and down her body, touching and stroking but not lingering in one place too long. When his hand slowed on her stomach she drew in a breath, uncertain if he was going to move up or down. His tongue trailed back up her neck while his hand followed, reaching her breast. He stopped, waiting for a sign from her that she was okay with this new development and when she let out a small whine and pushed her body closer to his, he smiled into her hair.
"You like that Baby?" he whispered as his fingers reached her nipples. He was already hard as fuck and with any other girl this would be fast and furious. Not tonight. He told her she'd be naked, wet and moaning his name and that's exactly what he intends to happen before they get anywhere near the main event. "You feel so amazing Baby. I love touching you and I'm gonna touch you everywhere tonight." He likes verbal foreplay almost as much as physical and he knows she likes it because when he talks, she shivers. Let's see how a little dirty talk goes over, "I'm gonna touch you and kiss you and lick you and make you cum hard…all before I fuck you." As he told her what he planned to do to her body, his fingers kept moving, rolling over and over her nipple, and with his words, the stiff peak got harder and she let out a moan from the back of her throat.
He leaned further over her and ran his tongue across her nipple. At that, her hips bucked up against him and he latched his mouth over the puckered skin, sucking and biting lightly. He moved to her other breast, laving and sucking as her body arched and her breath hitched again and again. While his mouth was fastened to her breasts, his hand was slowly moving back down her body. When he reached the top of her lace panties, he paused again. Lifting his head, he waited for her signal. She arched her hips again and whimpered his name, "Noooaaahh." Sexiest fucking sound I've ever heard.
His hand dipped lower inside the lace and he realized two things; she was bare and she was fucking soaked. "Bare, Rach? Sooooo sexy," he growled into her ear. "H-h-hhave t-t-to-d-dance-", she tried to explain but she was having trouble with coherent thoughts, let alone sentences. "You're soaked already Baby, you're dripping. I've barely fucking touched you and you're-"he stopped talking when he felt her try to close her legs and roll away. He saw the red flush creep over her skin. "Oh no, Rach, don't be embarrassed. I love it. I love you and knowing I can do that to you just makes me want you more." She turned back toward him and he caught her lips in a kiss that was hard and demanding.
She'd been caught up in every sensation but when he'd pointed out how aroused she was she'd begun to feel self-conscious until she heard his words. This was so much more than anything she'd ever felt. She'd touched herself before and she knew what an orgasm felt like, but this? This was nothing like she'd ever imagined it might be and nothing like it had been with Jesse or Finn. As his hands moved to pull her panties down, she stopped thinking about anything else except for him and how he was making her feel.
She lifted her hips to help him take off her last stitch of clothing and she was naked in her bed with him. He was still wearing his boxers and in the dim light, she could see the tenting that his erection was making. She pushed up on the bed to help return the favor and get him naked and her eyes widened at the size of him. She'd felt his erections before, pressing through her clothes when they'd made out and she knew what penises looked like but she'd never seen a naked man in person, let alone an aroused one. "That won't fit in me." He laughed softly and she realized she'd spoken out loud. "Yeah Baby, it will, I promise. But thanks for the ego boost." His reply broke the tension and both of them giggled a little.
Fuck, I'm giggling. About the size of my dick. Only with this girl. Only her. Only her-ever.
He leaned back over, brushing her lips with his and watched her face as his fingers ghosted back down her body to her slit. He dipped his finger in and ran in up and down, not touching her clit or entering her body yet. Her eyes closed as he circled around, rubbing lightly and then his fingers found her already swollen clit. He rubbed back and forth, moving away, moving back, touching the bundle of nerves then moving off and rubbing around it. Her hips started lifting and she was moving her body to try and reach his fingers. He let her set the pace and when she started digging her heels into the mattress and arching her back, he slooowly pushed one finger inside her, keeping his thumb rubbing around her clit.
"Relax Baby, that's it. Shhh, so tight. God, you feel amazing." She concentrated on his voice and on the feeling that was gradually building in the center of her body. "More, pleeeease Noah, more," her voice panted out, wanting something but not knowing exactly what. "More Baby? That's right-more-love you Rach, so much, love you Baby," he kept repeating trying to keep from blowing his own load. He eased a second finger into her, feeling her inner walls clamp around him and he knew she was on the verge. He increased the pressure of his thumb on her clit and moved his fingers back and forth inside her. His fingers felt the difference when her body tightened around them and he whispered in her ear, "let go Baby, I've got you. Just let go." Her body shook and her legs tightened and she let out a long, low keening sound as her orgasm rocked her body and she came all over his fingers.
He'd figured that with as much noise as Rachel liked to make out of bed, in bed she'd be a screamer but it didn't appear so.
Another thing nobody but me ever gets to know about you.
Her eyes opened gradually and she saw him above her, smiling down. Not his usual Puck smirk, but an honest Noah smile. "God Noah, that was amazing. I mean, I've done that before, myself, but it didn't feel like that, I didn't know it could feel like that." He groaned into her mouth, "Baby, I can't think about you touching yourself right now or this night'll end right here." She giggled again and then sucked in her breath as she realized that his kisses were moving downward.
He stopped at her belly button, pressing gentle kisses on her stomach. "Not done kissing you yet. Remember what I told you before?"and before she had time to tense up or get nervous about what he was intending, his tongue had replaced his fingers in her slit and he was moving through her folds with his mouth. "Nn-Nnnn-Noah, what-what-" He lifted his head, "Relax Baby. Don't think. Just feel." His tongue repeated the motions he'd made earlier with his fingers, circling her clit, backing off, and dipping inside of her. She tasted sooo sweet and between her taste and the little breathy moans she was making, he felt like he could do this for hours. He wanted her good and sated before he entered her. He knew it was going to hurt her and he wanted her to have all the good before she had to experience any of the bad.
She knew about oral sex of course, but knowing and knowing are two entirely different animals. She had no idea that a tongue could feel so good. Her clit was still sensitive from her last orgasm but the feeling of his tongue didn't irritate it. It soothed at the same time that it built up a whole new set of sensations. Oh my God, is he? Yes. Oh my God, his tongue is inside me. Once again, she lost coherent thought and just followed her body over the cliff where he led her.
Fucking responsive as hell! When her hips started bucking again and the mewling sounds coming from her throat were one long, continuous moan, he moved his mouth back to her clit and sucked hard, grazing it lightly with his teeth. This orgasm hit her hard. He felt her body bow up again and there was a gush of wetness on his mouth as she ground her hips closer to his face and he laved her clit like he had her breasts before. Her hands were gripping his as he'd reached up to grab them and he thanked God that she was tiny 'cause it felt like she could break his fucking fingers with that grip.
When she finally came down, he moved up to lie next to her again. She rolled over and kissed him hard, tasting herself on him. She'd never thought that she would do something like that but with him, it felt natural. He seemed to love everything about her and her body so kissing him with her juices still on him didn't feel anything but right.
"Love you, Baby."
"Love you more, Noah."
They lay together for a moment, her wondering what would come next, him try to get his own body under control. The primal urge to just shove her legs apart and bury himself in her was clawing at him and no fucking way was he going to do that so he just needed a second to get himself under control. He damn near came off the bed when he realized that she'd scooted down and he felt her warm breath and then her mouth on the head of his cock. He groaned and then groaned again when he felt her tongue swirling around his tip, licking and tasting. "Oh, no Baby. Not that tonight" as he pulled her off of him.
"I don't mind, Noah. I really-"
"I know Rach and trust me, we will explore that particular talent of that gorgeous mouth of yours. Just not tonight. I won't last 30 seconds if you do that now." A new feeling crept over Rachel. So this is what feminine power feels like. I can make Noah Puckerman weak in the knees. I think I like this.
He saw the little smirk on her face and smiled because he knew it well, it being a mirror of his own. He'd known she would like sex-she's a dancer, a physical person and very attuned to her own body. Wait till I show you what else that tight little body of yours can do, Baby.
He rolled over and covered her body with his again; kissing her like he had at the start, deep and probing, exploring her mouth. She got right back in the groove with him, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her body against his. He levered her legs apart with his own and soon he was pressing against her center, rubbing the tip of his cock up and down against her slit, gathering her moisture on him and getting ready to enter her body.
He stilled and looked down at her. "We can stop this now if you want. There's no pressure." He'd never imagined that he could be naked, hard and 3 seconds away from entering a woman and offer to stop without being pissed. And mean it. If she didn't want to do this, he could take care of his business in the bathroom. He wanted her more than he'd ever wanted anyone but this was her call.
"Noah, I want this. I want you. I love you, Noah."
"Love you more, Baby."
He kissed her lightly and nibbled at the spot on her neck that he knew drove her crazy. She looked up at him with all the trust in the world in her eyes and nodded. There was nothing else to say. There was no other way to do this and he'd gotten her as ready as possible. He rubbed his cock up and down a few more times, bumping against her clit and kissing her until she was breathing heavily again. He pushed the tip of his cock in and it felt like a vise. He eased in a little farther and stopped. He'd never been in anyone this tight in his life.
She whimpered and he saw her biting her lip. He leaned down again to kiss the corners of her mouth and she tried to smile at him but it came out as more of a grimace. Her breathing was coming faster but not in the good way, in the "trying to breathe through the pain" way. He made his body go stock-still and he kissed up and down the side of her face, whispering, "Sssh Baby. I promise it'll get better, I promise Baby." Her body was starting to shake and her face was white. Her eyes were screwed shut and there were tears starting to leak out of the corners. "Baby, look at me. Open your eyes and look at me."
She heard his voice and tried to focus on that. She'd known it would be uncomfortable and from the size of him, she'd had a pretty good idea it would hurt but she hadn't been expecting this. This hurts! How do people do this? She opened her eyes and looked into his.
"Baby, this is going to hurt for just a little bit more. Then, I swear, it won't be as bad." He canted his hips back and heard her wince. He knew that prolonging it would only make it worse for her, so he pushed himself all the way inside of her. He felt her barrier give way, and heard her cry out and he would have died rather than move at that moment. He would stay absolutely still until her body got used to him. Her eyes were scrunched shut and the tears rolling down her face made him feel like shit. He knew he'd hurt her but he knew that easing in would have made it ten times worse for her; she'd have felt like he was tearing her apart slowly.
"Baby, it's okay, ssshh, it's okay. The worst is over now. I promise, I swear. Baby, I promise," he crooned soft words in her ear, hoping she'd react to the tone as well as to his words. He'd stay like this all night if it made it better for her. Slowly, her breathing leveled out and she opened her eyes again. There were still tears shining but she seemed to be calming down. "I love you Baby. Soooo much. I'm so sorry, I wish there was a way to do this without causing you pain. Love you. Love you."
After what seemed like forever she whispered, "It-it's getting better. You can move but p-p-please go slow." Slow. He could do slow. He could do anything she wanted if it would help make it better for her. He pulled out just a bit and then moved forward. He did it again. Slow, small strokes out and back in. As much as wanted to bury himself in her, there was no way he was going to do anything to make it worse for her. He felt the change when her body started to adjust to his. It was small at first, but when he pushed in, her hips were slowly moving to meet his thrusts. Her eyes were still closed, but they weren't screwed tight and there was normal color returning to her face. He drew back a little farther and pushed in a little deeper. Her mouth opened and, "oohhhh Noah" came spilling over her lips.
"That's it Baby. I promised it would get better. Just feel it Rach. Just feel me. I've got you." He drove in deeper that time and there was nothing of pain in the sound she made. He still wasn't going to fuck her through the floor but he let his body move faster. Her arms came around his back and he felt her soft hands moving up and down his skin. He knew she was with him when he felt her left leg brush against his as she wrapped it around him.
The pain was gone. It had been so sharp, she'd wondered if this would be the first and last time she'd ever let him do this. Once he was inside her, and God, she could feel every inch of him, it took all her will not to push him off her and out of her body. Little by little though, the pain receded. He was right. It did get better. Now, she could still feel him but it was a feeling of fullness and pressure, not pain. Before too long, her body was rising to meet his and it felt like something was clawing inside her, just out of reach. She knew what it was, but she didn't know if she could reach it like this. She lifted her leg around his and that changed the angle. It was rightthere but not quite enough.
"N-Noah, I need, I, I I want-Noah, Noah" She wasn't stringing sentences together and it made him even harder that all she could get out was his name. He knew what she wanted and he wanted her to get there first. He reached between them and angled his body so that he was rubbing her clit as he thrust in and out. "Let go Baby, I've got you…let go Rach. Just let go Baby," his voice in her ear had the same effect it had all night, and she arched her body up to meet his one last time as that clawing feeling broke over her and her body trembled and she moaned out his name again. He felt her let go around him, felt the vise-like grip get tighter and he pushed his hips forward in one final thrust, emptying himself into her.
Their breathing slowed and quieted and he pulled out of her, smiling at the little whimper of disappointment she made when he left her body and pulled her close to him, kissing her face, her hair and running his hands up and down her back. He just wanted to keep touching her. She spoke first, "Noah, that was-" her voice trailed off because she knew what it was to her but she wondered if, with all the women he'd had over the years, it was okay for him. He probably didn't have to walk all those women through it step by step and they probably didn't cry. She wanted to tell him she'd get better at it but she didn't know quite what to say but she knew herself well enough to know that she wouldn't rest well until she asked him what she wanted to know. "Was that really okay for you? I know I cried and a crying woman can't have been all that wonderful for you and I-"
He kissed her hard and stopped her in mid-speech. He'd wondered how long it would take talkative, worrying Rachel to show back up. He wasn't surprised that she was worried about being good at sex. She worried about being good at everything. "Baby, that was amazing. You're amazing. The crying? Baby, I wish there was a way to do that without it hurting you. I hate that I made you cry, not that you did. I love that you trusted me enough to do that with me and I love you and I plan on doing that with you plenty more times. So stop your worrying and come cuddle with me. You know I can't sleep without my cuddles, Pookie," he teased her, laughing.
Pookie? His cuddles? That made her laugh. When Noah teased her like this, it was impossible for her not to laugh along. There was no malice in this teasing, none of the sharp edges that had characterized their relationship for so long. Just love. Her love trying to make her smile. And it worked. She knew that he'd told her the truth. Noah Puckerman likes sex and bad sex was not going to leave him smiling and happy, no matter how much he loved her. She knew that if she'd really been awful, he might not have said it that bluntly, but he wouldn't have been praising her so effusively.
She kissed him back and climbed out of bed to go use the bathroom while he went to use the one in the hall. She heard him go downstairs and wondered if he was going back to the piano. When he came back up, he was carrying a washrag that he'd run under cold water and rung out, a bottle of water and two Aleve. "C'mere Baby." She blushed and told him she'd cleaned off already. "It's not for that. Put it between your legs. The cold will help the swelling and the Aleve is for the soreness." She blushed again but she knew from dancing that he was right and she loved him all the more for thinking about it. She hadn't even been considering how her body might feel in the morning. She took the water bottle, swallowed the Aleve, and climbed into bed. Noah climbed in next to her and they rolled into spooning positions with him cradling her small body against his large one. She relaxed back into him and his arms tightened around her. "Love you, Noah." She started to say more but he hushed her and pressed his lips to her hair. "Love you more, Baby. Go to sleep, we'll have all the time in the world to talk."
He snapped awake, confused for a minute about what had dragged him from his dreams. He'd been dreaming about her, about that dance and their first time together as it finally penetrated his sleep and alcohol fogged brain that someone was knocking on his door. "The fuck?" he mumbled as he walked downstairs in nothing but sweatpants and threw open the front door. He just looked at Quinn standing in front of him, her hand up to knock again and saw Artie sitting in his chair at the foot of his porch stairs. "We need to talk to you. Would you help Artie please?" He shook his head to clear it and said,"I don't want any fucking company. Call first next time" as he started to shut the door in their faces. "DUDE" yelled Artie before Quinn could say anything. He drew a large envelope out of his jacket and held it up for Puck to see. "This isn't a social call. You need to talk to us. It's Rachel. I found her."