Santana was absentmindedly running her fingertips up and down Quinn's bare shoulder. There was a dark purple hickey reaching from her collarbone to her shoulder. The Latina couldn't suppress the proud smile that overtook her features.
They only had 15 minutes left before they had to check out but neither one felt like moving. Santana wanted to stretch out the last 15 minutes as long as she could. She wished she could make it 15 years and not just 15 minutes. Quinn was so warm and she felt utterly at ease with the blonde in her arms. Everything was so much easier laying in bed, away from the rest of the world and adult problems.
Quinn slid her hand further up Santana's side, her fingertips ghosting behind her back. Santana cracked a smirk when she felt Quinn's fingers to run across deep scratch marks.
"Someone needs a manicure." Santana teased but her light tone contradicted her statement.
Quinn moved back so she could look Santana in her eyes. She was sidetracked when the sun struck Santana's eyes making them look like melting chocolate. Looking into Santana's fierce eyes still brought Quinn to her knees in intense approbation. Something else that was the same was Santana's face. Her cheekbones were still soft but defined and would jut out when she smiled.
"Maybe I'll just have a spa day for myself." She needed her hair cut and probably a pedicure now that she thought about it.
Santana grinned and pressed a lingering kiss to Quinn's lips. A thought slowly started to form in Santana's mind. How had they gotten back to this? They hadn't seen each other in two years (and not much the three years before that Santana realized) and on the first night they're already jumping into bed together. Santana blamed herself for terrible self restraint and missing Quinn too much. But was Quinn really just sexually frustrated?
She seemed stressed the entire night and something that went beyond sexual frustration. It wasn't just physical but mental and emotional. Santana prided herself in being able to read Quinn's body language and facial expressions. Come to think of it, the blonde hadn't really been acting like she was sexually frustrated. She wasn't squirming around in her seat or had her eyes glazing over when looking at someone attractive, she didn't seem to be dozing off with dilated pupils or checking out anyone.
No, Quinn seemed stressed internally. All night she seemed on edge, like she was ready to flee at the first sign of conflict. There was something that was bothering Quinn and Santana wanted to know what. She had been in the dark for two and a half years, she wanted to be in on the goings inside Quinn's mind.
"Why were you really stressed out last night?"
Quinn stilled against Santana causing the brunette to worry. The last time she had engaged Quinn in a heart to heart she ended up flying off the hook and calling her a quote, "hypocritical bitch that needs to finger out your own shit before sticking your nose in other peoples business and preaching about what to do and opening up." unquote.
'Wait. Was that the last time we talked? No, it couldn't be. I wouldn't have gone two years without seeing her if we left things that way.' They must have met up, even briefly. Or texted or called or Skyped, something!
Santana bristled, ready for the blonde to retaliate. She was surprised when she actually got a response and not a verbal beatdown.
"I thought you hated me."
She was 100% aware that Quinn had chose to be open with her without any probing. Coming from Quinn that was a ginormous step. She knew she should probably reassure her that she didn't hate her or ask her why she would think that. But Santana still wasn't all that skilled at serious talk. So she opted to make a joke out of it instead.
"I usually don't let people I hate go down on me."
Quinn pulled back to look back at Santana and smiled. Relief flooded Santana's body at the gentle reaction. She thought that she might have yelled at her for not taking her seriously.
The blonde positioned herself so she was on her stomach facing Santana. She leaned down on her left arm and used her other hand to trace random shapes on Santana's stomach. It tickled and was a bit distracting.
Quinn bit her lip. She had to find a way to say how she felt without confusing Santana or making it come out wrong. In the past two years she had made a lot of progress but it still wasn't easy being open. Santana was exactly like her with it came to feelings, they both would rather lock it down and hide it away until, inevitably, they exploded. Feelings made them uncomfortable and scared of reactions.
But Quinn had learned how to be open and honest. It was still every bit nerve wracking but for the most part, it never bit her in the ass. This was Santana though. She hadn't been around her in two and a half years and if she knew herself, she knew Santana would avoid getting serious at every chance. And she knew Santana tended to make jokes when forced into a serious situation.
Santana was the one that brought it up though, so maybe Quinn wasn't the only one that had learned some social skills. Quinn lifted her head and melt patient, encouraging eyes. 'This must be how Brittany felt.' Quinn thought briefly before shoving it away. That wasn't what was bothering her last night.
"The last time we had talked face to face, things didn't quite end so well."
Santana sniggered as if to say you don't say. But her smile was soft and her eyes were still encouraging. Quinn found it nearly impossible not to continue with Santana Lopez looking at you with God tier eyes that were encouraging you to go on.
"I mean we patched things up over text and we called but, we haven't talked since. So I didn't know if you thought my apology was cheap or fake. And I figured that if it had been you ignoring me for two years plus, I'd be pretty pissed at you." Quinn was talking with her hands, something Santana had never noticed her do before. Her eyes kept darting off to the side like a baby's attention. Her fingers pointed at Santana then herself at the end, an action Santana found insanely adorable. "So all night I was on pins and needles, wondering if you were going to blow up at me or sucker punch me because honestly I'd deserve it."
Santana couldn't help but chortle at that, stopping Quinn. The blonde gazed up at Santana, her lips parted and eyes somewhat glazed.
"Quinn, we may have gotten handsy in the past but in no way would I sucker punch you. There are just lines I'm not willing to cross. I'm classy like that." Santana winked slyly at the end earning a fit of giggles from Quinn.
"Sure." Quinn snorted.
Santana leaned back against the headboard and contently watched Quinn for a moment. She was using her left hand to rub her right ring finger in circular motions, almost as if she actually had a ring on. Her hazel-green eyes were flicked to her left in overthought Santana knew. Every now and then her tongue would peek out to moisten her lips before retreating.
Quinn and Santana were best friends, despite their rocky high school years and two years of silence. But they had always been honest with each other (almost) and never had to hide who they really were. Everyone in glee club had a deep understanding and overwhelming love for each other, but Brittany, Quinn, and Puck were really the three people who knew Santana better than herself sometimes (with honorable mentions to Hummelberry). For Quinn it was Santana and Mercedes, and Brittany because the girl was perceptive in her own genius way.
With that being said, it was still strange to see Quinn so bare. Here she was, naked in the same bed after a night of pleasure, spilling her guts to Santana. Never had Santana ever been more attracted to Quinn, emotionally or physically.
"If we're talking about blame, it really isn't all on you blondie. The phone works both way ya know."
"I didn't really give you the impression I wanted to talk though. And you did at first, you texted every day and I had numerous missed Skype calls and voice mails."
Quinn always ended up taking responsibility for her actions in the end and feeling terrible for it, but doing it on her own accord was new. Santana trying to take some of the blame was new to Quinn. It seemed both were surprising each other this morning.
Santana sighed. She was beginning to realize there was no changing Quinn's mind about who the reigning asshole was. But at least she could help her feel better about it.
"Whatever. It's in the past." Santana shrugged indifferently.
Quinn had to bite her lip to keep from smiling. This was Santana's way of saving all was forgiven. It was something so purely Santana it made Quinn feel rooted.
Santana grinned a cheshire grin and crawled towards Quinn, her movements languid like a cat's.
"I could think of a few things we could do in the present to make up for it."
Quinn grinned matching up to Santana's flirtatious abilities.
"Enlighten me."
Quinn slid her fingers through Santana's unkempt hair and met her in a heavy kiss.
Watching Quinn get dressed was messing with Santana's head. Her eyes traced the outlines of Quinn's marred body. Quinn made her stretch marks sound worse than they actually were. After Beth she had gone overboard on cream and kicked her body back in to shape. The marks were still there but they were faint and pale. Santana wouldn't care either way, despite what remarks she may have made in the past.
On Quinn's left side there was a long gash from the driver mirror that cut her in the crash. She had a few other small scars from glass and car metal scattered on her left side and the left of her stomach and back. There used to be burn marks mushed into the skin at her waistline but over time had healed. Quinn could still see them when she looked down though.
The marks on Quinn's body only intensified her beauty for Santana. She thought Quinn should see them as a badge of honor but that was easier to say when they were scars on Quinn's body and not hers.
Santana smiled and crawled to the end of the bed. She wrapped her arms around Quinn's midsection making it difficult for her to finish zipping up her dress. She didn't want to have to watch Quinn walk out the door and wonder when the next time would be when they saw each other. So maybe she got a little soft over the years, not like she would let anyone else find out.
"Stay." Santana kissed the hallow of Quinn's throat making her eyelids flutter.
"Santana." Quinn was smiling but Santana could hear the warning in her tone.
"We still have some time."
"We have five minutes before we're getting thrown out, I don't think you'd want to be banned from your favorite hotel." Quinn teased pulling out of Santana's arms.
Quinn turned and shielded her eyes. Santana sat on the bed stark naked smirking. Quinn tossed Santana's dress at her face, her eyes never leaving Santana's mirthful ones.
"You're evil."
"No one's stopping you from getting a bite of this." Santana once again tried putting her body on display for the retreating blonde.
Quinn halted her movements and dropped her purse back on the chair. She swayed her hips as she tip toed back to the smitten Latina. Quinn leaned down so her face was mere inches from Santana's. She knew how Santana always got caught up in her eyes and used it to her advantage to draw the Latina in. Sure enough Santana was compelled by dark hazel eyes that were swift and sexy like a lioness.
Santana's senses were in overdrive. Quinn smelled of the hotel shampoo and bar of soap but Santana could still taste her on her lips. She licked her lips hungrily and leaned in to attach their lips. Her skin was tinging in anticipation, her heart thudding against her chest like a bowling ball.
"I'm full." Quinn promptly walked away grabbing her purse.
"All about the teasing." Santana muttered under her breath.
"And not about the pleasing." Quinn finished whipping around.
Santana lifted her chin and gazed into Quinn's wondering eyes. She knew Quinn was taking a trip down memory lane from her far away eyes. She looked like she was on another planet.
"God, that feels like a lifetime ago." Quinn breathed.
It really did. To think that 14 years ago it was just Santana, Quinn, Brittany, and Puck. Finn was there but he wasn't hot stuff yet. Him and Puck were just beginning to be friends and Quinn couldn't give him a single look. All they cared about were themselves and being popular. They would have done anything to be on top of the social hierarchy. Now they were adults and friends with Glee club members. 'Oh how the mighty have fallen.'
Really though Santana was happy Sue forced her and her two blonde friends into the Glee club. It was a blessing in disguise. That club and the people in it saved Santana's life more times than she could count throughout the years. She owed Mr.Schue and honestly Sue her life. She felt it was safe to say that everyone felt the same.
"I better get going, my mom's wondering where I am." Santana just now noticed Quinn's fingers tapping across her screen.
"Well I'll see you tomorrow right?"
"Yeah, glee club reunion right?" Quinn asked with the quirk of her eyebrows.
Damn Santana loved it when she did that.
"Afraid so."
"Shut up, you know you love them and all their dramatic flares."
"Yeah but they don't need to know that."
Quinn smiled and shook her head at her friends antics. She bit her lip and shuffled her feet.
"I don't know, I'm suppose to head back to New York the day after tomorrow."
"What?" Santana asked in outrage.
Quinn sighed. She knew this would be her reaction. Everyone in Glee club would be bummed but Santana was different. Santana had always been different and that's what made things difficult.
"But you just got here."
"I know but I have a job Santana. I have responsibilities."
"Oh come on, if I can get a couple of weeks off from teaching ungrateful twats how to dance and Rachel can find time to stop being famous, you can find time to get a couple of weeks off from, whatever it is you do." Santana came to a halting realization that she didn't even know what it was Quinn did. 'Damn. It has been two years.' Santana still felt guilty, just because they didn't keep in touch didn't mean she couldn't ask others what Quinn was up to. "Even Puck got time off." She added for good measure.
Santana slid off the bed and slipped back into her underwear and dress before walking up to Quinn. The blonde was already in her heels so she was pretty much towering over the brunette.
"Everyone's gonna be here. Trouty Mouth and Puck Jr are already here, we'll get to meet Mercedes's hubby, Britt, Marley, Kitty, and everyone else are all coming down. And Kurt's husband wants to talk to us about his new book he's writing so if you don't show he'll just track you down and ask for your review. It'll be like old times Q."
Quinn looked up in an attempt to hide her smile. Those five words always drowned her in nostalgia and longing. Things would never be the same as they used to, grown ups didn't get that luxury. But they could be like how they used to. And she did miss everyone, terribly.
"Plus Puck's throwing me a birthday party, you can't skip town on your best friends birthday can you?" Santana stuck out her bottom lip and pulled her best puppy dog eyes.
Quinn always pretended to be a cold hearted bitch in school but in privacy, when it came to Santana's pooling eyes and fucking adorable pout, she was a goner. She would delay and act like it didn't bother, but even as friends-before the sex and longing gazes and need, it bothered her very much so. Now sexual bonds had been formed, lines had been crossed, feelings had come to the surface. Everything was different.
There was no way Quinn could refuse Santana. 'Damnit Lopez.'
"I guess that would make me a pretty shitty friend huh?"
"The worst." Santana confirmed.
Santana was relieved Quinn was deciding to stay longer in Lima with everyone else. It wouldn't be the same with glee club if Quinn was gone and she knew it wouldn't be good for Quinn to be all alone in New York with her surrogate brothers and sisters in Lima. That was definitely all there was to do it. It definitely did not have to do with her getting to spend more time staring at Quinn's eyes or hearing her laugh or maybe have more sex. She also tried to not think about Quinn possibly getting to hang out with her and her family or her hanging out with Judy, like old times.
Quinn shook her head smiling that dazzling Quinn Fabray smile. "Guess I'll see you guys tomorrow then."
"Guess so." Santana said sweetly.
Quinn smiled one last smile and headed for the door making sure to sway her hips for Santana. The Latina shook her head and collapsed in the chair. Quinn was for sure going to be the death of her.
(AN)
Hey! I'm sorry for not posting last week, I was just really busy. To make up for it, I'm going to post an extra chapter. It's small so it'll be like a little treat. If I'm feeing spontaneous I may post another one later tonight or tomorrow, we'll just see!
The second part is most definitely inspired by Change Your Ticket by One Direction.
I hope everyone is having an awesome SPOOKTOBER and a great day!