Cuddling into her pillow, Rachel exhaled, starting to shift into a more comfortable position when more awareness filtered in. Warm, a long arm thrown over her side and a knee pressing into the back of her thigh, it took approximately five seconds before the residual moisture between her legs sparked sudden, sharp recollection, and she was uncomfortably awake. If she concentrated, she could feel the nipped and sucked hickey on her shoulder, which led her mind down to the memory of Santana's hands and mouth on her bare breasts. A hesitant move to touch her chest reassured her her top was buttoned up again. It was fuzzy, and she could barely remember, but the memory of Santana kissing her forehead and whispering praises and reassurances as she gently buttoned it for her was there. Another thought, and another touch made it clear that, yes, her bra was gone. When had that happened?

Had… Had she really orgasmed from Santana's mouth and hands on her breasts?

And even more embarrassing, fallen asleep right afterwards?

Naive, virgin-like actions aside, as Rachel could only describe them to herself as, did that mean she'd left Santana hanging? Again?

Oh Barbra. Rachel opened her eyes, darting them back as if she could look at the slumbering cheerleader through her shoulder and pre-dawn darkness. What was the girl going to say the next time they talked? In the morning? Was she going to be disappointed? Teasing? Critical?

The arm around her suddenly tightened, drawing her back against the Cheerio's firm body, and lips pressed against her neck in a light kiss that made Rachel's head swim.

"You're thinking too loud, Babs," came the husky, sleep-filled voice. It made Rachel shiver slightly, her thighs tightening for a second. "Go back to sleep."

Rachel's heart skipped at the… sort of command, but instead of trying to obey, she turned to face the taller girl, resting her head under Santana's chin. "We need to get up soon," she said, desperately trying to push back the onslaught of inappropriate thoughts bouncing once again around her brain.

Santana's hand idly scratched up and down her back, near her hip, and Rachel couldn't stop herself from yawning - nor stop how her body heated up at the responding, growl-like chuckle.

"It's 5am. We don't need to get up until 7. If you don't go back to sleep now, I didn't do a very good job last night, and I'd have to make up for it, right now."

Despite the heat pooling in her gut, there was a twisting knot, and Rachel swallowed hard.

She shifted up to look Santana in the eyes, the cheerleader's lids heavy and gaze smoldering. Another skip of her heart, and Rachel bit her lip.

Santana's eyes opened up a little more, and soft fingers gently brushed aside Rachel's bangs. "Hey. What's wrong?" she asked. The tone was so soft and light that any attempt to keep her words inside were broken apart.

Quietly, tentatively, Rachel replied, "Could we… maybe… slow down a little bit?"

Santana shifted back, then up, brows furrowed. "Are you okay?" she asked, concern wrapping around her words and worry etching her features. "I went too far, didn't I? Fuck. I'm sorry. I mean I thought- and you didn't- But-"

Rachel sat up as well then, cutting Santana off, for the first time, with a kiss, her hands cupping the Latina's cheeks. She kept their lips pressed together until some of the tension in Santana's grip on her hip loosened, and then pulled back only a few inches. "I definitely wanted everything that happened last night. It was… just… Okay it was a little embarrassing realizing that I… that I orgasmed just from you touching-"

"And biting."

Rachel's blush became hotter. "And biting my chest… but I mean. It definitely wasn't bad. At all. But I also really haven't had time to just process, you know? And I'd like..." she trailed off, looking down and biting her lip, clearing her throat a little. "I'd like to get to… know us better. With this… whatever it is we're doing. Exclusively with one another."

She looked back up at Santana, who still seemed agitated, but, to her own surprise, Rachel could feel that the agitation was directed inward, not at her. She pulled Santana back down to the bed with her, forcing the girl to hold her close. "Stop it," she said, already feeling drowsy again, Santana's heat and being able to get some things off her chest aiding her tiredness. "I'd have told you to stop if I had wanted that. And I didn't. And you aren't allowed to be cranky because it was a really great evening and everything felt great and-"

A light brush of lips against her forehead quieted Rachel's ramblings, followed by Santana settling down more firmly and curling around the smaller girl. "I get it," she chuckled. Annoyance with herself remained, but it was eased by the insistent, ever sincere words of the singer. Enough that she decided to reevaluate the night and analyze things at a later time at least. "Go to sleep, Twinklebell. There's still a solid hour and a half before I have to feed you."

"And my dads?"

Santana chuckled, relaxing even more into the smaller girl. "If they're 'wake, sure. Your dads too."

"Thank you." Rachel's breaths deepened, and, "You're sweet," she barely managed to finish before her body became heavy with sleep.

Sometimes. Santana kissed her forehead again, following shortly after.

Santana woke up to Rachel's lips pressing into her shoulder, a small, curious hand stroking and feeling her abs through her camisole. Evidently having rolled over in her sleep, she mentally smiled at the ridiculous image of Rachel having been spooning her, but kept it in as Rachel's hair slid over her skin, making her shiver.

"Good morning," Rachel whispered, smiling into her next kiss.

Grunting, Santana finally allowed her smile. "Tryin' to be the big spoon?" she teased.

Rachel's lips trailed up Santana's neck, her soft cheek pushing Santana's hair out of the way. "Is there something that says I can't?"

"The fact that you're the size of a toddler does," Santana smirked, unsurprised in the least when sharp fingernails jabbed her warningly in the stomach. When that didn't elicit a reaction, however, Rachel's hand paused disappointedly. Grinning, Santana rolled over; she laughed at the pout that greeted her. "Disappointed I'm not ticklish?"

Having leaned back on her elbow to give Santana the space to move, Rachel exhaled out of her nose. Still pouting, she wrinkled said nose when Santana tapped it, only to squeal, arms flailing when Santana pounced up, hands wrapping around her shoulders to push her back and down, hovering over her. "Santana!"

Santana smirked down at her, heat stirring as she took in how sleep-mussed hair on Rachel looked entirely too much like similarly sex-mussed hair. The girl's eyes were dark and twinkling, her plump lips spread in both laughter and a wide grin, and her hands fell back around Santana's hips. Still halfway under the covers, everything was warm and comfortable and smelled amazing, the barest hint of the sexual activities they'd been up to mere hours before making her heart thud.

A gentle touch along her cheek, Rachel's fingers stroking curly bangs back from her eyes brought her back to focus.

Rachel smiled up at her. "You're beautiful." A faint blush rose, accompanying her words.

"You mind morning breath?"

"What?"

Santana shook her head, shifting more onto her right so she could cup Rachel's cheek with her left hand. "Either you don't, and I kiss you, or you do, and I speeds up my plans to get out of bed and go to the bathroom." She marveled at how soft Rachel's cheek felt under her thumb.

"Oh." Rachel shyly met her eyes.

Santana raised an eyebrow. "Well?"

In answer, Rachel slid her arms around Santana's neck, raising her chin.

Smiling, Santana kissed her, lowering herself to rest in between her legs, arms moving under Rachel's back and shoulders to hug her as she supported herself on her forearms, mming in the back of her throat as every touch of her body and swipe of her tongue and exhale of her chest made her nerves thrill.

For her part, Rachel could only hold on as Santana expertly kissed her, the girl solid and warm and so nice even after spending the night in her arms.

Still…

When Santana pulled back, tongue flicking out to lick her lips before moving to nuzzle and smile along her jaw, Rachel softly scratched her scalp, trying to get her attention.

"Mmm? We's don't have time for mackin'?"

"That's not it." Though it was true, especially if Santana really was planning on making breakfast, that they should get up within the next few minutes. "I'm just…"

Santana's eyes widened, and she pushed up. "What? This counts as…? Oh, jeez, crap, damn, lemme' - "

Cupping her face, Rachel yanked her back down, kissing her strongly. "No," she gasped, having to catch her breath when they separated. After a second, she lightly wrapped her calves around Santana's, keeping her snugly on top of her. "No, that's not what I meant. I just…"

Her eyes narrowing, Santana studied her. Her own chest heaving from the kiss, pressing into Rachel's, she frowned, moving her hand to push the girl's bangs back from her forehead. "'M listenin'." When Rachel still seemed to have trouble getting out what she wanted, Santana rolled her eyes and affectionately tapped her forehead. "Rachel. Spit it out."

Rachel exhaled, but she finally met Santana's gaze. "I just don't want you to feel I don't want to touch you back, to reciprocate, o-or make you feel good, because I do."

What?

"I do! I know I really didn't, uhm, do too much even before I called for slowing down, but I've just been thinking I haven't been really fair - and I don't want to continue being unfair."

Santana stared at her, Rachel continuing to ramble, trying to fill the empty space.

"I mean obviously I still have some… reservations about certain things. And not really because of you but because of me. Not like I'm necessarily unsure or anything- I mean, yes, I am, nervous about some stuff, but it's mostly just the not knowing and I really feel that the exploration we do is helping a lot- It's just that me not wanting to be touched everywhere yet doesn't actually mean that- Obviously you don't have those same nerves really and-"

She was finally quieted by fingers gently tugging at the back of her head, tangling in her hair and pulling her up a bit, just enough for Santana to kiss her soundly. The cheerleader kept the kiss soft, simply moving their lips together, only nipping Rachel's bottom lip lightly as she pulled away.

"I get it," Santana husked, and Rachel swore the girl's eyes were black. "You wanna touch me, yeah? Make me feel all hot and wet for you?"

Rachel's cheeks heated up, her heart lodging in her throat, but she swallowed it down hard and nodded. "I've done some research," she fumbled out, barely managing to not look nearly as embarrassed as she felt by saying those words.

To her absolute relief Santana didn't laugh, only chuckled, and Rachel swore that sound was nearly breathless.

"Fuck, Rachel," Santana practically moaned. "That should not be so fucking hot."

The Cheerio sat up, settling herself on Rachel's stomach, hands just under the singer's breasts, and licked her lips. "This weekend, I want you to sleep over. And I want you to… show me what your research has taught you."

Rachel bit her lip, but nodded slowly. "Oh. O-okay. But p-please remember that it's not necessarily working knowledge by any means. Merely theoretical-" This time she was cut off by a single finger pressing against her lips, Santana arching an eyebrow at her, and Rachel cleared her throat. "Practice, then, I assume."

Santana nodded, a small smile on her lips. "Makes perfect." She lifted up, throwing her leg over Rachel and standing from the bed, "For now, clothes and breakfast." Turning back with a wink, the Cheerio smirked. "And maybe some sweet lady kisses in the Mustang before school."

Rachel's dads wouldn't stop raving about Santana's breakfast. Having managed something suitably vegan and delicious, it really wasn't a surprise to anyone except Santana when LeRoy slid his arm around her shoulders, pulled her into a sideways hug, and made puppy dog eyes at his husband and daughter. "We're keeping her."

"Daddy! You can't kidnap one of my classmates just because she cooks well."

"Well?" Santana arched an eyebrow, smirking smugly, "That kicked ass, and you know it."

Rachel made a face at her, but shook her hand in the air, turning to her other father. "Any help?"

Hiram shrugged. "I'm with LeRoy on this. Santana, any time you want to come over and cook for us, you're welcome to." Ignoring Rachel's cross look, he stepped forward, holding out his hand. Santana took it, and they shook, LeRoy finally letting go of her.

"See?" Santana grinned, later when they were shrugging on their jackets, lips warm against Rachel's ear, "Parents love me."

Barely even bothering to pretend to be grumbly, Rachel snagged the bottom of Santana's Cheerio jacket, pulling her back to her. "You're aware you're now probably going to be in charge of dinner and breakfast whenever possible, right?"

"Meaning…" Santana settled her jacket better on her shoulders, "I'll be sleeping over at least twice a week? I think I can deal with that." Quickly glancing behind them, not seeing either Berry Dad around, she cupped her hands on Rachel's hips, pulling her in for a soft kiss. When the kiss ended, her smirk came back. "Just think, now when they find out I'm 'defiling' their daughter, they'll only have their stomachs to blame for it."

Rachel closed her eyes, shaking her head as she stepped away, out of Santana's reach. "Aren't you the last of the true romantics."

Santana grinned, winked, and took Rachel's hand after slinging both their backpacks over her shoulder, leading the girl to her Mustang. "You know it, babe."

Study hall together found them in the auditorium, hidden from prying eyes in the shadows of the wings, Rachel straddling Santana's lap and the cheerleader's hands firmly resting on the singer's hips. There wasn't much conversation, their eyes closed, foreheads leaning against one another's, merely breathing each other in as they recovered from a particularly hot makeout session.

"Hey… Santana…?" Rachel's voice eventually broke the silence.

"Hm?" was the soft grunt of acknowledgment.

"You're sure about… You aren't upset, are you? About going slower…?"

Santana opened her eyes, meeting Rachel's own, and tilted her head back so that they could properly look at one another. Her brows were furrowed, a frown twisting her lips, and Rachel hurried to say, "I swear I'm not implying - or not trying to imply - anything bad about your character."

Santana relaxed slightly, her thumbs playing with Rachel's hip bones over her skirt. "I know you're a virgin. And I'm sure all… this - last night, in the locker room - it's more than you ever did with the dick-less wonders."

Rachel bit her lip, nodding, barely meeting Santana's gaze from under her eyelashes. "It's… It's new. And I feel…" She swallowed, sitting up straighter even as she wrung her hands in front of her. "It's easy to feel…"

"Vulnerable?" Santana asked, an eyebrow arched.

Pink rose lightly on Rachel's cheeks, and she nodded. She almost felt like she needed to apologize. "I've never… Anything. With anyone. I couldn't, with Jesse, and I'm not like you with your 'never say no'..."

"Rachel." Shaking her head, lips slightly curled, Santana shifted, bringing the singer more firmly against her and kissing her cheek. "The day you don't say no when you mean it is frankly not a day I want to see. It would mean Armageddon, and I am way too sexy to die from something as lame and anticlimactic as that. No. This body and spirit is meant to go either from partying too hard in old age or from being a backup singer for Alicia Keys on her comeback tour, offing myself via assassination by the sheer awesomeness that is Alicia Keys' voice."

That, thankfully, had Rachel smiling, and relaxing more fully against the Cheerio. She nodded. "Okay… Okay, but then, I just want to make something clear," she said.

Santana quirked her eyebrow.

"What we do together, especially in the bedroom, is certainly not 'defiling'. That implies it's morally dirty somehow. And while my fathers have zero wish to know about my sex life in any way, I assure you they are sex positive. So long as we're both very safe and honest about it."

Santana snorted, biting back the laughter bubbling up in her chest as she wrapped her arms completely around Rachel and pulled her into a tight hug. "How do you possibly say that with a straight face?" she asked, giggling into Rachel's neck.

The smaller girl huffed. "Santana, I am being very serious here."

"I know! That's- Geez, Twinkle." Pulling back, Santana managed to control her features, pecking Rachel's nose. "I know. I know. And I agree with like, it not being bad or dirty, and communicating, blah blah blah, just… You're so adorable."

Why couldn't Santana have thought so years ago? Still, the look in Santana's eyes, as well as the tone in her voice and the weight of her arms around her made another blush erupt on Rachel's cheeks. "I'm glad you've come to that impression, but I do want you to know I'm a willing participant with what we do together. And that this…" She smiled shyly, motioning between her and Santana, "Is so much more positive than 'defilement'."

Santana's lips covered hers, the cheerleader sitting forward a little to meet her. "I know," she repeated herself, a real smile taking over her face for a couple of seconds. "And though I would have denied this to hell and back before I'd gotten to know you better… I think so too."

Rachel bit her lower lip, smiling. She stroked Santana's bare arms, then slid her hands back to circle the cheerleader's shoulders, leaning into her.

Santana met her kiss, a pleased noise sounding in the back of her throat. "Mmm… Shoulda done this sooner."

"Better late than never?"

Snorting, Santana opened her mouth to reply,

Bzzt- Bzzzt- Bzzzt

Both girls jumped, Santana grumbling as she took out her phone. She groaned, rolling her eyes. "Q's wondering where we are," she explained, pulling her other hand from Rachel's back to quickly type a response.

Rachel nodded, smoothing her hair behind her ear in one of her auomatic nervous tics.

Santana smiled, pushing her phone back into her sports bra. "You know she already knows."

Rolling her eyes, Rachel moved from straightening her hair to straightening her skirt and blouse, mussed from Santana's hands and Rachel's… adventures on her lap, sliding off her legs as gracefully as she could. "It doesn't mean I appreciate what she most probably inferred to you within that text."

"That I was knuckle deep in you, your legs wrapped around me as I rocked your world?" Santana smirked, pleased at the reaction that got. She stood as well.

Easing the knee-jerk reactionary face she'd made, Rachel finished patting down her skirt. "I'm sensing a theme with you and people's expectations. Especially since we've previously agreed…" She raised her chin, competition making her lips turn up; she gave Santana a pointed, sultry look, "I would be the one more likely to be inside of you."

Fuck that should not make Santana as wet as it did.

"Mmmph," Santana exhaled through her nose, closing her eyes. "Tell me again why we're not skipping and having that sleepover already?"

Rachel took her hand. Playing with her fingers, making Santana's breath catch and heat spiral up her legs into her core, the singer took a step closer, closing her other hand around Santana's. "Because…" she breathed, leaning in to whisper in Santana's ear, smiling at the unconscious tremble that elicited, "You're aware how important I believe my academics are, and also know…" She stroked Santana's middle and ring fingers, "The happier I am… The more satisfied I am… The better and more in depth my practice with you will be."

Hissing, Santana turned her head, catching Rachel's lips with hers.

She pulled back slowly, tugging on Rachel's lower lip with her teeth before finally leaning back fully. "Just remember, cupcake," the cheerleader husked. "If you make promises to me, I will make sure you keep them." Before Rachel could make a proper, coy retort, two hands were firmly on her ass and forcing her body firmly against Santana's, the taller girl roughly thrusting her hips hard against Rachel's own. The singer gasped, whimpering as her hands flew to Santana's shoulders to steady herself. Her cheeks stained with a light blush, and Santana's amused, throaty chuckle had the flush deepening.

"That was completely unnecessary," Rachel finally managed to say, swallowing hard and stepping back when Santana loosened her grip.

The Cheerio smirked, crossing her arms. "Consider it a gentle reminder," she replied, making Rachel snort, crossing her own arms.

"Gentle reminder for what exactly?"

Santana stepped forward, reaching out to lay the palm of her left hand against Rachel's neck, her smirk softer but eyes dark. "That even when you're knuckle deep in me? M'still in charge. And you like it that way."

The bell ringing to announce the end of the period interrupted anything Rachel wanted to say, or try to say, and with a small huff, promptly ignoring the blush that had still refused to leave her face, she took Santana's hand and headed out of the auditorium.

She could practically feel Santana's smugness, but ugh, the Cheerio was right. And if anything that was even more annoying than the Latina's smirk.

But by the time Santana had walked her to her next class, a fair amount of Rachel's tension had dissipated. The light kiss on the cheek just before Santana made her way to her own class evaporated the rest of it, and Rachel was glad that she was already ahead in that class because now that she wasn't annoyed anymore, all she could think about was the earlier conversation and Santana's many, many plans for them.