CHAPTER 10

After Thanksgiving dinner, Quinn had chosen to follow Frannie's advice and take the right amount of time to distance herself and see things in perspective. She had been so involved in getting things back on track with Rachel, that she had lost sight of how things were getting there. She was not going to play the "other woman" nor to be the "dirty secret" in Rachel's closet, while she lived her romance with Jesse or whomever else, into the spotlight because the biz world wanted her to.

She had decided not to seek her at the theater, nor initiate any of their conversation and to just wait for Rachel to make her move and come at her, whenever she felt ready to do so. Her feelings were clear and she was still wearing her heart on her sleeve, waiting for the other woman to put her own feeling onto the plate and share it with her, not just with words.

"Busy evening, huh?" A brunette leaned over the counter to speak directly to her, catching Quinn's attention.

"I am sorry, you've been waiting for long? What can I get you?" The blonde quickly cleaned the counter and sat a coaster down, along with a branded napkin.

"What about your number and a screaming orgasm? Maybe at my place?" She licked her lips, eyeing the blonde from head to toe. She had read about her in the NYT article, but the photoshoot hadn't captured her beauty, at all.

"I am afraid you'll have to stick with the drink, I am not interested in that offer." Quinn chuckled and started mixing the drinks. It was not the first time someone propositioned her for sex, with the same lame line. "There you go, you better make it last because it's the only way I can give that to you." She winked and sat the drink down, wiping her hands on the towel at her side.

"Shame, who got you on that tight leash?" The brunette played with the cherry, rolling it around in her mouth in a sexy way.

"I am just not interested. I bet there are tons of girls who'd rather take my place though." Looking around, she had already eyed a couple of women taking interest in their exchange, waiting to make their move.

"No one is as hot as you are. I promise your girl won't find out." She grabbed a pen from her designer purse and scribbled something on the napkin. "I am staying at the Strand, down the street, until Friday. Call me." Leaning over, she slipped the folded napkin in the front pocket of her jeans, leaving a kiss on her cheek as she retreated and walked away.

"Who was that?" Rachel walked from around the bar, having witnessed the whole scene as she approached the blonde owner.

"Just a customer." Quinn shrugged and grabbed the half empty glass, throwing the contents into the sink to her right before running the glass under the hot water, to wash it properly.

"Do you let all of your customers touch you like that?" Rachel stood across from her, in the place vacated by the other brunette.

"She was just flirting, Rachel. It's not a big deal." Moving around, she grabbed two more glasses and started filling them with tap beer, before sliding them down the counter to her other bartender, who was serving his own customers. "It was harmless."

"Are you going to call her?" She nodded to the napkin in her pocket.

"You tell me, Rach. Should I?" Shaking her head, she dropped the apron on the bar and slipped from behind the bar, walking upstairs toward her office.

"You didn't turn her down, nor you trashed her phone." Rachel slipped inside the office behind her, locking the door behind herself.

"Oh, fucking hell, Rachel!" Quinn grabbed the napkin and destroyed it in front of her, throwing the remaining pieces her way. "There! Happy? Are you fucking happy now that you don't feel threatened by a stranger? Do you think I could ever think of going after a meaningless fuck? Do you think that low of me?" She was angry and disappointed, at the same time. How could Rachel still not trust on that? She had never dared to look at another woman when they were together, let alone now that their relationship was still so fragile.

"I don't…I am…I was just jealous of that woman." Rachel rubbed her own arms, looking down at her shoes.

"Jealous of what? She was just a flirty nobody." Sighing, Quinn dropped on her couch and held her head between her hands, breathing slowly. "I can't keep doing this, Rachel. I can't keep taking two steps ahead and three back, it is not a dance I am willing to have with you." Looking up at the brunette, she saw the confusion written all over her features. "You don't trust me, I get it, but I did all I could to try and prove my feelings to you. I have nothing else up my sleeve, I'm sorry."

"Quinn…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made a scene." Rachel took a seat on the edge of the coffee table, trying to take the girl's hands in her owns, but she just pulled back. "Quinn…"

"Maybe we rushed things and messed it up, again. You are still with Jesse, for God's sake." Quinn rubbed her temples and stood up, walking to the window to look outside. "You need to make up your mind, Rachel. I can't do anything else, right now."

"Don't say that, I told you I would break up with him…" Rachel stood up as well, taking a step forward toward her.

"When? When are you going to do it?" She looked over her shoulder, hoping to get a clear answer but Rachel adverted her eyes and she got another kind of confirmation. "Right…" Chuckling, she went to stare outside once again.

"Why are you being like this? Don't you trust me?" Rachel wrapped her arms around herself.

"I trust you have my heart in your hands, right now, but I don't know what you're going to do with it." Quinn sighed sadly and closed her eyes, leaning her forehead against the cold glass. Why were things so complicated?

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"Quinn?" Rachel reached across the mattress, with her eyes still closed, and ended up smacking her girlfriend into the face, albeit lightly.

"Ouch." Quinn took that wandering hand in her own, kissing her palm softly. "Good nap?" She smiled, scooting closer, to get the brunette in her arms, as she came back from her drowsiness.

"I am sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep…" Rachel rolled over on her stomach and snuggled up into her girlfriend's front, who smiled and just closed her arms around her head to hold her in place.

"It's okay baby, don't worry." She kissed her forehead, lingeringly. Her fingers massaged the back of her neck, where her hair started. "Are you okay?"

"Never been better." Rachel looked up at her lover and leaned over to kiss her softly, reassuring her with a simple action other than with her words. "You've been amazing." She muttered against her lips, still reminiscing the intense moments shared together.

"Good, I'm glad you are not regretting that." Quinn smiled sincerely, tucking her hair behind her ear. "My parents won't be back until tomorrow morning, guess they are taking advantage of that alone time like we are." She chuckled softly.

"That's an image I'd rather not to have in my mind, right now." Rachel leaned over the blonde to grab her own phone and send a quick text to her own fathers. Once done, she slipped fully on top of her girlfriend whose arms locked around her back, massaging the skin above her backside and down to her hips.

"Are you hungry? We can cook something or just order in." Quinn nuzzled her cheek, kissing her skin softly. "Up to you."

"Later, maybe…" She pulled back to stare down into her girlfriend's eyes, that shone with happiness and matched the beauty of her relaxed smile.

"What's on your mind, star?" Quinn whispered against Rachel's lips, that had lowered on hers.

"I want to touch you…" She sucked the girl's bottom lip slowly. Her lips held it captive, while her tongue traced every dip and played with it, earning a guttural moan from the blonde beneath her. "May I touch you, Quinn?"

"Yes. God, yes…" Quinn arched into her as those lips trailed down her chin and neck, latching on her still fresh hickey. Her fingers dug into the skin of the brunette's back, holding her against her while her hips bucked up, to brush her intimacy against the girl's thigh, that had slipped between hers.

"Tell me if…I don't want to do something you don't like." Rachel licked the red skin of her neck. Her right arm slowly slipped between their stomachs, to cup the blonde where she needed it the most and to replace her now damp thigh.

"Keep going…just touch me." Quinn's head was throw back against the pillow. Her legs parted further to make more room for Rachel's fingers, that slid through her slick folds and teased her hardened nub. She could easily come with just few strokes over her clit, without even going inside.

"Like this?" Rachel looked up to see her girlfriend's reaction, not wanting to miss a single moment. Her fingers tentatively rubbed along the underside of her clit, pulling it back from its hood and pushing it against her folds. Probably, she was doing it right because she almost got bucked off her lover, who writhed under her and canted her hips forward, to meet her fingertips. "Guess so…" Chuckling, she lowered her lips on Quinn's, who panted in her mouth and pulled her closer by her ass, rolling their hips desperately together.

"Don't stop…" She whimpered through her kisses. Her legs tangled with Rachel's and her nails scratched along her spine, urging the brunette closer. She felt like combusting and only Rachel could placate her senses, with her touches and with her kisses.

"I love you, Quinn." Rachel's forehead dropped on hers. Their mouths brushed together, in several open kisses, that mostly allowed them to share oxygen, despite the heated situation. Her middle finger dipped lower and slid into the blonde, who moaned louder and bit down on her lip, causing it to bleed. "You're tight." She blushed at the memory of those words being spoken to her, but now she knew what Quinn meant. Her finger slipped in and out, dragging more wetness with her as she pumped steadily in. The faster she thrusted, the wetter Quinn felt.

"I'm close…" Quinn stretched under her. Her thighs closed around her hips, holding her in place as she ground down onto her sole finger, meeting each movement in with one of hers.

"Come for me, Quinn…please." Rachel nudged their noses together, giving her a soft Eskimo kiss. Her mouth was slightly open, welcoming each moan escaping from the blonde, who was chanting her name so beautifully. "Like that baby…" She whispered, as her wrist rotated and pushed harder in. it almost hurt but it was so damn worthy, that she'd rather dislocate it than stop.

"Rach!" Screaming out, Quinn tightened impossibly around her middle fingers, before unclenching and covering Rachel's hand with the evidence of her orgasm. Slender fingers kept on rubbing along her clit, as she rode out her orgasm against the brunette' digits.

"I love you, so much." Rachel dropped her head against her shoulder, resting her whole weight on her girlfriend's, who weakly pulled her into her arms, burying her nose into her sweaty hair.

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He knew things were no longer the way they used to be. They barely spoke on the phone or texted each other, besides the cold greetings and rare "how are you?", said out of pure politeness than real interest. For their fans, they were still together – stronger than ever, despite the long distance – but the truth was so far from what they were selling on magazines. Their PRs teams were aware of their situation, waiting for the right moment to release a joint statement to confirm the end of a relationship, that was supposed to be 'it'. At least, for him.

When he saw Rachel wandering around the set, his first instinct was to drop everything and just take her into his arms, forgetting about everything that had occurred between them. Water under the bridge. Moving on. Anything to just go ahead and start over; but her face and her eyes – the most revealing part of her – said all he needed to know and all he feared for.

"Did you have a good trip? I could have come pick you up from the airport…" Jesse leaned back into the comfortable chair, taking his glass with him. As soon as the daily shooting was done, they had moved to their hotel to have a private dinner and have the chance to talk, face to face.

"It was fine. Cassie booked me a business class ticket, you know how it is. They pamper you, almost too much for my liking." Rachel shrugged, loosening the silk scarf around her neck. "How is the movie coming along? It is a huge production…"

"It is. The producers are investing tons of money in it and I am glad to be part of it and we will start the promo tours in early Spring, so I'll have to be back her by then." He finished his glass, that was soon refilled by the waiter hovering not too far from them.

"Well, you are expected to be here. Guess that Broadway show will be put on hold…" She nodded, mostly to herself, fully aware he was temporarily moving to Europe until the movie promotion was over.

"Sebastian already handled that." Jesse leaned over, sliding his palms across the table to take her outstretched hands in hers. "I want to make this work, Rachel. I know distance may be an issue, but I can fly back to US and I'll find new projects in NY. This movie opened few doors for me…for us…"

"Us?" Rachel raised an eyebrow inquisitively.

"I spoke with the movie director. He wants to cast you in his new project, we'd be his movie leads." He smiled, squeezing her hands softly. "Isn't it great? It is just a rom-com, but it could still get you closer to that EGOT you've always wanted."

"I'd rather find these projects on my own, Jesse." She slipped her hands out of his grasp. "I know you mean well, but I am going to pick my next project and right now, I am going to focus on a music album. I am already in touch with a producer in NY."

"Oh, that's great. I didn't know that…" He crossed his hands over the tablecloth, sighing.

"I know. We don't talk anymore about this stuff, you couldn't know." She looked up at him, taking a deep breath in. "We don't talk anymore about anything, Jesse. This is not how it is supposed to be."

"We used to be so good together, we can still do it. We can still have that, it doesn't have to end." He leaned over, to take her hands back, but she pulled away and crossed her arms over her chest. "I love you, Rachel and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You used to want that too, before that girl came back and ruined everything."

"Keep her out of this. It is between you and me." She snapped harshly, keeping her voice down. "I know what we had, Jesse. I was there too, but it hasn't been the same for a while and it didn't start because of Quinn. We were so busy living our romantic life in the spotlight, that we forgot about living it privately. Our fans knew about each other's projects, even before we told each other."

"You make us sound Brangelina or something, we were just Broadway stars." He shook his head. "We can find time for us and I can work around my schedule here. I will also come visit your Dads, for Christmas."

"I don't want you to give up on your career for me, Jesse. It is not fair to you." She sighed and reached for her purse, behind her chair. "We shouldn't choose our professional lives over our personal ones or vice versa, but just make them compatible. I can't imagine this going anywhere, even more now that there's geographical distance between us."

"It is a sacrifice I am willing to make, if I can still be with you." He scooted in the chair, closer to her, and cupped her face into his palms. "I love you, Rachel. I am in love with you."

"Jesse, don't…" Rachel looked away and grabbed the small box from within her purse, sitting it on the table between them. "I can't keep this."

"It was my gift for our 3rd anniversary…you should keep it." He pushed it back, only to meet the girl's hand, blocking it.

"I can't. It meant something big, for us, and we cannot hold onto that promise anymore."

"You mean that you can't?" It was his turn to snap now. "Have you ever loved me, Rachel? Was there a part of you, even a small one, who loved me at all? Or was it just out of convenience for you?" He grabbed the box and slipped it inside his jacket.

"I did, even if I was never able to say it." She sighed and tried to take his hand, but it seemed the roles had been reversed. "I thought we could make it, that I could learn how to open up myself with you and let it go. I really believed that, Jesse, and I wish I had done that."

"Why couldn't you? Did I give you any reason not to trust me? I would have never hurt you." His eyes were filled with unshed angry tears. "I didn't leave you behind, like that girl. I would have never done it to you, but I guess you can return the favor with me, huh?"

"Don't say that. It is not a sort of payback for my past. You and I are a different thing." Rachel grabbed onto his hand, squeezing it softly. "A part of me really thought I had moved on and that this was 'it' for me. That it was exactly what I needed to start over and be happy."

"Have you ever been happy, Rachel? Do you know what happiness is? Because I was happy, when we were together and I thought you were too."

"I know what happiness is, Jesse. I've been happy…really happy."

"But not with me…" With that said, he stood up and walked away without even giving her one last glance. It'd be too painful to watch her sit there, allowing him to walk away without even fighting back.

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She didn't know what day or time was. She had succumbed to tiredness and just lost grip on anything around them, anything but the brunette dozing off against her chest. Craning her neck, she got a glimpse of her alarm clock and was surprised to see it was not as late as she thought. It was only 8.30 PM.

"Mmm, Quinn…" Rachel nuzzled the skin above her heart with the tip of her nose and cupped her breast through the blanket, brushing the pad of her thumb along the tip of her still hard nipple.

"It's dinner time, sleepyhead." Quinn took her hand in hers and kissed her palm, barely sniffing the remaining evidence of her own release there. "What are you in the mood for?" She brushed her lips along her forehead, kissing it softly despite the hair tickling her nose.

"You…" Rachel stretched lazily against her. Her arms slipped around Quinn's head and her body slid up against hers, till they were back face to face with the blanket draped around their lower bodies and legs. "I want you for dinner, breakfast, lunch, dinner and-"

"I got the hint." She chuckled huskily and leaned up to catch her lips in a soft kiss. "I can't provide you with all the nourishments, that a future Broadway star needs." She smirked and rolled them over, swiftly, keeping the brunette under her as she settled between her legs. "But I can supply you with an infinite dose of kisses and cuddles and something else."

"I like how that sounds." Rachel smiled and pulled her down for another kiss. She couldn't help but sighing happily in the blonde's mouth, that was moving against hers deliberately slow, in time with their hips rolling together.

"How do you feel?" Quinn dropped her forehead on hers and stared down into her eyes. They had taken a big step together, a huge one, so she wanted to be sure there were no regrets. She had none, but she was not the virgin between the two of them.

"Like a virgin, touched for the very first time…" She sang softly, earning a chuckle from the girl above her. "I couldn't feel better, Quinn. It was perfect, because you made it perfect."

"Anything for you, star." Quinn smiled and kissed her softly, lingering a little longer to fully prove her point. "We should order something in and we can cuddle on the couch, for the rest of the night. Sounds good?"

"It sounds great. I am famished." Rachel caught her lips in one last kiss, before letting her roll off her and reach for her phone, still wrapped in her blanket. "I didn't know sex was so tiring, but it is better than 30 minutes on my elliptical."

"I'd surely hope so." Quinn chuckled placing the order via the app. "All done, it should be here in 30 minutes more or less." She threw the phone aside, just in time to have Rachel crawl back in her lap and brush their lips together. "Do you want to jump in the shower or should I?" Her words were muffled by the brunette's lips, that kept on pressing against hers.

"Are you implying that I stink?" Rachel pouted and lowered her lips on Quinn's neck, latching on the hickey that was not going to fade for a couple of weeks, at least.

"God, no. You smell pretty amazing, right now." Quinn's hands slipped under the hem of the blanket to grab onto her asscheeks, pulling her closer and into her neck. How could Rachel find her weak point so quickly? It felt like her lips were made to kiss it or just mark her there.

"Only right now?" Rachel smirked into her neck, rolling her hips forward when the blonde's hand slipped between her thighs to teasingly rub circles around her clit. "Oh, yes…" She dropped her forehead on her shoulder and just humped her long fingers, that were now rubbing up and down her slit.

"Yes, indeed." With her left arm wrapped around her hips, she easily slipped two fingers inside her girlfriend who started working herself up and down, to meeting her thrusts. "I am never going to stop making love to you." Quinn breathed hotly into her ear and just slid her fingers inside her, stretching her.

"Please don't stop…ever." Rachel cupped her face and crashed their lips together. Her legs wrapped around her waist, trapping her girlfriend's hand between her thighs. With each roll forward, she could feel Quinn's long digits hit her spot – or so she thought it was – and her palm rub against her clit, slapping it whenever she thrusted in.

"I am not planning to, baby." Quinn looked up at her girlfriend, who was now straddling her legs and bounced up and down her fingers. With her flushed face, sweaty hair and bouncing breasts, Rachel was like the perfect definition of sex. She was so sexy, that her own core throbbed whenever she slid her fingers in and caressed her intimacy.

"I'm close…" Rachel bounced on top of her. Her hands gripped her bare shoulders for support, while the blanket pooled around her thighs, leaving her completely naked and exposed to Quinn's hungry eyes. With one last move, the petite brunette found herself on her back and a familiar blonde hair buried between her thighs, having replace her fingers with her tongue. "Oh fuck!" Both hands gripped her by the hair, pushing her into her core that was throbbing so hard, waiting to be relieved of that pleasurable ache.

"Cum for me…" Quinn whispered against her folds. Her tongue pulled out to slide along her core and to tug her clit back, triggering the girl's tumble off the edge.

"Quinn! Quinn! Quinn!" Rachel screamed out, pushing her girlfriend's tongue back into her spasming core, that was now releasing the evidence of her orgasm, all over Quinn's mouth and chin. Her hips rose from the bed, grinding up into the blonde's face who was still lapping at her folds, licking the copious gush as much as she could.

"Fuck, you taste amazing." Quinn sat back on her heels, licking the "cream" off her metaphorical moustaches like a sultry cat, who was done with their meal. "You are so hot…" She crawled back up into her girlfriend's arms, making sure to trail her way up with her face before stealing a wet kiss from Rachel, who was still catching her breath.

"Why did we order food? I just want to keep having sex with you, non-stop." Rachel lifted her leg around her hip, holding the girl in place.

"I need some energy to keep going or I'll pass out while we are at it." Quinn chuckled and raised herself on her elbows, each side of her girlfriend's head. "Did I turn you into a sex addict?" She smirked and lowered her lips on Rachel's, who smirked back and wrapped both legs around her hips.

"Girls want sex as much guys want, Quinn. Are you complaining?" Rachel trailed her hands down her muscular back, to cup her backside and roll their hips together.

"Fuck, no." With that said she leaned down and crashed their lips together, enjoying as much time as they could, before their dinner interrupted them.

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She had read the tabloids and caught up with the last gossip news online and on TV. Their pictures were everywhere and that small velvet box on the table weighed like a shitload of bricks dumped on her head, but it was really her heart buried underneath. Quinn knew that this kind of news were made to raise curiosity more than ever, but it still put some small doubt in the back of her mind and the fact Rachel was not even returning her calls or text was not helping at all.

She had paced around the apartment, worked out and tried to find a distraction at work, but her mind was somewhere else entirely and she could not even mix drinks or do paperwork at the club. Her mind was too focused on what she had read, to process something else. Had Rachel decided to move on from her, once for all? Was her professional reputation worthier than what they had before? Was Jesse the one for her? The safe harbour to navigate to and where to remain, for a long time?

She was asking herself all those questions, waiting to hear a famous "I told you so" by Frannie or get a worried call from Dave, who hadn't seen her for the whole day. She sat on the couch, going through the pictures once again when the knock happened and snapped her out of her jealousy daze. She didn't even bother to look through the peephole, knowing her doorman wouldn't allow some crazy psycho to go past him and bother her, and just opened the door, finding herself face to face with her.

"Hi." Rachel looked up at her, with a soft smile and tired eyes. She had a suitcase by her side and a heavy bag hanging from her shoulder, but couldn't look more beautiful to Quinn.

"Hi." Quinn stood frozen in the spot, holding onto the door with one hand and bracing herself against the doorframe with the other. "You are here…" She breathed out, as a mix of a statement and of a question.

"I'm here." The brunette smiled even more, totally amused by the surprised look on the blonde's face.

"You're not in London?" Quinn couldn't still believe her eyes. Were they deceiving her?

"I'm in NY, on your doorstep?" She chuckled and stepped closer. "May we talk inside, this hallway is kind of cold." She brushed past of the blonde, who had stepped aside to let her in and had just closed the door behind herself, leaning against it.

"Why are you here?" Quinn mentally kicked herself for the way it came out. She was not questioning her, nor wanting to put any doubt in her mind, but she needed to know. What did it mean? Was Rachel going to call it out once for all?

"Keeping up with the news, I see." Rachel picked the magazine and went through the article and the pictures, chuckling at the headlines. Throwing it to the side, she walked up to the stunned blonde who was trying to get a glimpse of her hand, but it was safely hidden behind her back.

"I didn't know where you were and then I saw the pictures." Quinn rubbed the back of her head, sighing loudly. "Look, Rach…I get it, I missed my chance and I shouldn't have come between you two. I hope that you'll find your happiness with him. I just want you to be happy."

"I want to be happy." Rachel stood in front of her and raised her left hand, to cup her cheek. "I want us to be happy." She whispered softly, but Quinn had heard her perfectly.

"Us?" Quinn couldn't keep her smile in check. Her palm covered Rachel's against her cheek, feeling the lack of the metal band against her skin. No ring was there. "Do you mean…"

"I can't keep lying to myself and we all deserve more than a big fat lie." Rachel tugged her head lower, so they could rest their foreheads together. "I love you, Quinn. It's always been you." She looked deep into the girl's eyes, who circled her waist with her free arm and held her close.

"I love you too, Rach. I've never stopped loving you." Their noses brushed together softly, anticipating the moment their lips met once again, for the softest kiss they had ever shared.

any review is more than welcome!