DISCLAIMER: Lyrics belong to Led Zeppelin.

Chapter Eleven

"And now, I believe Puck has something he'd like to show us," proclaimed, nodding in Puck's direction and taking a seat, leaving the front of the room open.

It was a Friday. One of the first really warm days of the year, with sun streaming in through the windows and making everyone happy, lazy and warm. Puck chanced a look at Kurt; the other boy was sitting right there next to Blaine, feet dangling, dressed in an outrageously yellow sweater and smiling.

Just like that, Puck knew he could – had to - do it. Throwing the strap of his guitar over his head, he walked to the front of the classroom and turned to face everyone.

"So, this is, um…long overdue," he stuttered (and most decidedly not blushed, thank you very much) and scratched at his mohawk.

The first few chords were a little unsure, his hands sweaty and just this side of trembling. Puck's gaze was focused solely on the strings, making them stop jumping and rearanging themselves in front of his eyes. He'd practiced the song for months, dammit.

This is it, he'd thought right before he started singing, eyes lifting and immediately finding Kurt's wide, blue ones.

There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold
And she's buying a stairway to heaven

Out of the corner of his eye, Puck could see Rachel beam at him and Sam nod approvingly, immediately starting to mouth the words with him.

Kurt, though…Kurt was staring. The little tremors of life in his eyes that started reappearing in the last few weeks swirling about like an ocean, a clear question written in it's depth. Puck grinned; a silent invitation; a challenge. Come on, think. You can't be that dense.

And when she gets there she knows if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for

One of Kurt's arms twitched for a moment, like maybe he wanted to push himself up and run to him, but stopped himself. Something else sparked in his eyes, coloring them a light green.

Puck's grin turned into a smile.

And she's buying a stairway to heaven

Kurt's mouth opened and closed, ignoring Blaine, who was nudging him in the ribs.
'Are you…?' the other boy mouthed.

'What d'you think?' he mouthed back.

There's a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings

And really, the song was fucking long and Puck couldn't really play the last part so well…he'd really appreciate Kurt catching on right about now.

In a tree by the brook there's a songbird who sings
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven

Seeing Kurt twitch, he knew he'd won. A whole new flame came alive in the diva's eyes; the steady, comforting warmth and laughter and fucking perfection Puck had been waiting for.

And it makes me wonder

And then Kurt was stumbling down the rows of chairs, pushing the guitar out of the way, wrapping his arms around Puck's neck and kissing him like there was no tomorrow. Smiling wide, Puck brought his hands to Kurt's hips; wondered over the way they settled there comfortably, like they belonged.

Although, let's face it – they probably did.

They only pulled apart when Finn let out an entirely unmanly squeak, Kurt's fingers twisted in the front of Puck's t-shirt, his eyes glistening and lips shiny with spit. In that moment, he was literally the best thing Puck had ever seen.

"What are you—how—what?" Finn's voice carried above the noise that eurpted. He was a little red in the face, staring at the pair in front of the room like they'd just grown a new set of limbs.

"Really, boo, what's all this?" Mercedes jumped in, her fedora almost falling off her head in distress.

"Relax, it's a bet," Sam exclaimed, sounding awfully sure of himself.

If he was absolutely honest, Puck found the discussion hilarious (as did Mr. Schue, judging by his expression) and would have had no problem with letting it go on for a day or two, but Kurt gently punched him in the arm and nodded his head towards the group. He was taking the easy way out, the little fucker, and letting Puck speak.

Puck couldn't help grinning like a shark. "Dudes!" he shouted. Everyone cut off mid-sentece, looking at him, frozen like a set of statues. "Keep your shit together. Me and Ladyface here—" he pretended to ingore the sharb jab under his ribs, "are dating."

The look Kurt sent him was unforgettable – all wide pupils and happy tears and smiles and promises and an unspoken question of we are?. It was completely worth everything.

"Anyone has a problem, consult my right hook," he added, enjoying the way Finn's mouth snapped closed and he seemed to shrink an inch or two in his seat. "Now if you'll excuse us, Mr. Schue, we have a little making out in the parking lot to do," he finished and, taking Kurt's hand, he really, really didn't care if that wasn't a valid reason.

And make out in the parking lot they did. Right after the last period finished and a wave of students swarmed out only to stop and rub at their eyes to make sure they weren't seeing things.

Noah Puckerman, the resident badass jock troublemaker, was kissing Kurt Hummel, the resident gay dude. And, even after five minutes, didn't look like he was about to stop anytime soon.

There was a stray call of 'fag' piercing the air, followed by 'shut up' in a chorus of girl voices – as Puck has inadvertedly found out some time ago, chicks loved watching two dudes making out. His mouth stretched into a grin and he could feel Kurt's answering one before they both dissolved into giggles, leaning together and bumping their foreheads.

"Noah?" Kurt caught a hold his forearm, and if his grip was a little tight, Puck didn't say anything.

"Yeah?"

"I just, I—I love you." His voice was trembling a little and Puck felt the nervous energy coming off him in waves; as if he had anything to worry about after what they'd gone through. "I wanted you to know, before we, you know, start a relationship again and I—"

"I love you too, Princess."

It was said without a slightest bit of hesitation. A whole bunch of emotions played out on Kurt's face - sadness, when he realized again how much he could've lost; gratitude, when he looked into his boyfriend's eyes and saw the devotion he'd always had and never seen; happiness, when he thought into what the future could bring. "You in this for the long haul?" he asked.

"Most definitely. I'm dead serious and not letting you out of my sight ever again. You?"

"You bet," Kurt grinned; it made him look even younger. "Why are we making out in front of the whole school again?"

Puck smoothed his hand over Kurt's hair, kissed his temple and leaned over to growl into his ear.

"Because I want them to see you're mine and they can all go fuck themselves, Princess."

~*~

Kurt figured that was a completely legitimate reason.

With Noah holding him in front of everyone, close and sure like he never wanted to let go, he felt yet another wall breaking somewhere inside him.

Noah meant it; meant everything he'd ever said about loving Kurt, and it was finally close enough to the surface that he could see, even being as blind as he usually was. A boy who loved him was right there, his touch flooding Kurt's body with warmth, stars dancing behind his closed eyelids, lips on his that made him shiver and almost lose his mind. They were in this together; they both meant it; they both wanted to have a future together.

Pulling back, Noah smirked, the look in his eyes so affectionate it stole Kurt breath for a moment. How could he ever willingly leave this? Noah's embrace was the only place he'd ever really felt like he could just stay for the rest of his life and never get enough.

~*~

A week later, Puck failed his Spanish exam.

The reason behind it was easy, whispered in his ear during glee practice the day before: "I'm ready, Noah."

~*~

The thing was, Kurt really was ready. Probably had been for some time, but only getting back together with Noah finally made him see why'd he refuse to get intimate before.

It was simple, really – and so, so stupid.

You see, Noah used to be a…well, a manwhore. He'd had his reasons, but the point was, he couldn't get through a week without sleeping with at least three girls and leaving them brokenly snotting into their pillows afterwards.

Kurt, on the other hand, kind of considered himself a blushing virgin. He didn't deny he had dirty thoughts that sometimes resulted in dirty actions, but it had always been just him and his hand, as pathetic as that was at seventeen.

And, therefore, when Noah and Kurt collided and somehow discovered they liked it, they should've looked for the golden middle. Instead, Kurt made Noah promise to wait – and Noah did, which, in the end, was the problem.

Kurt, although feeling the pleasant ache in his belly whenever Noah touched him, was smiply too afraid of getting hurt; too afraid to give himself over and give up something he'd always held close. Even if he thought he did, he didn't trust Noah enough – didn't trust he wouldn't just get up and leave once he slept with Kurt, make another notch in his bedpost and forget about anything they might've had just the day before.

Based on that, their relationship wouldn't have lasted the first time, anyway.

Now, though, with everything clear between them and Noah proving himself – over and over and so much that Kurt knew he didn't really deserve it – nothing was standing in their way.

Which is why, standing in a drugstore on a Friday afternoon, Kurt was freaking out, complete with hyperventilating and nausea. He was supposed to buy condoms. And lube. And survive long enough to have his first time with Noah that night.

Somehow, all the macho experience of fucking girls he'd acquired over the past few months vanished – and even if it hadn't, it wouldn't be much use, since, a) him and Noah were guys and b) sex with Noah meant a million times more. It would've helped with buying the supplies, though – he had no actual idea what to choose from the rows of tiny boxes of various colors, not to mention the lube, which, apparently, came in every flavor known to man and really, what the hell was the flavor even for?

Kurt's trainwreck of thought was interrupted by his phone going off in his pocket. Noah, the display read.

Great. Just what he needed.

"Hello?" he picked up, turning his back to the aisle and trying to look like he was just innocently checking out cat food.

"Babe," Noah's voice sounded in his ear, and Kurt was pretty sure it wasn't his imagination making it raspy and breathy. "Where are you?"

"Um…in the drugstore."

Noah's breath hitched on the other end; then he burst out laughing.

"Let me guess – you're standing there looking at the condoms and blushing like Virgin Mary, because you have no idea what to buy."

Oh, come on, that just wasn't fair. "How do you know me so well?"

"Hey, babe, give me a little credit. By the way, I just called to tell you I can be at your place at eight. Burt and Carole still going out?"

"As far as I know, yeah."

"Great." Kurt could hear the smirk in his voice. "Gotta go, I still have a class to sit through."

"Okay, I—"

"Oh, and a little piece of advice? I like strawberries."

Hanging up, Kurt was absolutely sure that if he blushed any harder, he would spontaneously combust.

~*~
When eight o'clock rolled around, Kurt was so completely out of his mind he basically stopped caring.

That didn't mean he wasn't sitting in the hall like a dog waiting for it's owner to come home.

When the doorbell rang at five past eight, he shot out of the chair so fast he almost tripped. "Calm down, idiot," he scolded himself in the mirror, checking that every little hair was in it's place, before finally opening the door.

Noah looked—whoa, amazing. He was wearing a black shirt – probably the only one that was in his closet, and Kurt had to change that, soon-, with a red tie, dark jeans and a devillish smirk. One of his hands was firmly closed around the neck of a champagne bottle, the other holding out a single, red rose.

"I know you're not big on flowers, babe – that's why I only got you one."

And really, there was only one way to respond to that.

Pulling Noah in, Kurt shut the door with his foot, grabbing him by the collar and kissing him within an inch of his life.

"Whoa. Now that's what I call a welcome," Noah smirked again, toeing off his shoes – he was barefoot, idiot - and letting Kurt pull him into his room by his tie.

Kurt was considering lighting up a few candles, or getting some slow, pseudo-romantic music to play in the background, but decided against it in the end; he'd thought it would be too staged. Judging by Noah's appreciative glance when he took in the clean, white sheets and dimmed lights, he'd done the right thing.

For what felt like an hour, but was probably just a second or two, they stood there, side by side, neither of them quite knowing what to do.

Kurt screwed his eyes shut; the nervousness was coming back again, now accompanied with a headache. That was when Noah finally moved, putting the bottle and the rose on the dresser, taking a hold of Kurt's forearms and steering him to sit on the bed.

When Kurt opened his eyes again, it was to find Noah's brown ones staring at him from up close. "Babe," he sighed, and a swarm of butterflies took Kurt's stomach by attack at the nickname, "we don't have to do this."

"Wha—"

"Look, I know this is – well, technically it is – your first time, I'm aware of that, okay? I knew the whole six months I was waiting for you, but…you look like you're this close to breaking down, Kurt. If it scares you that much, I can wait. I can wait as long as you need me to." And he meant it. He'd promised to never lie to Kurt, and his eyes were clear and honest, and all Kurt could think of was how much he loved him and somehow—

Well, they ended up kissing again. Chaste kisses turned deeper, more passionate, Noah's hands found their way to Kurt's hips and held on, not even trying to sneak underneath Kurt's shirt.

"You can touch me, Noah," Kurt gasped, and even before he was finished, he felt a warm palm on the bare skin of his belly. It felt much, much bigger than it did on other parts of his body, making him shiver and sending a wave of pleasure right into his groin.

He gasped against Noah's mouth. "How about we get rid of some of the clothes?"

He felt more than saw the answering smirk, swift hands immediately sliding to Kurt's chest and undoing the buttons painfully slowly. Kurt reached for Noah's shirt, pulling off the tie, and, feeling a wave of cool air hit his chest and want spike in his belly, grabbed a hold of it and just tore.

Noah moaned quietly underneath him, then chuckled. "That was my only—"

"I'm taking you shopping for new ones," Kurt breathed out, his gaze catching on the wide expanse of Noah's chest. He was beautiful; all lean, firm muscle and tanned skin, and Kurt's mouth watered at the thought of exploring all that with his tongue. Sliding a little lower, aiming straight for Noah's nipples, he circled one of them experimentally, feeling it harden under the touch and Noah's breath hitch.

The next thing he knew, he was being flipped over onto the other side of the bed, Noah's hand pinning him down by the wrists, and fuck if that didn't turn him on.

"Nuh-uh, Princess. Tonight—" he broke off as his tongue trailed down Kurt's chest, all the way down to his bellybutton, "—is all about you." His hands – huge and oh, so good hands – slid down Kurt's denim-clad legs, all the fabric suddendly unncessary and just standing in the way.

Noah must've thought so, too, because he popped the button of Kurt's jeans open and slid the zipper down, his teeth scraping Kurt's navel, making him moan.

"You're gonna have to help me out here," Noah chuckled, warm breath through the boxers covering against Kurt's already straining erection, and the words barely registered. He understood when he felt a hand tug on his jeans – and really, why did he have to put on skin-tight ones?

"Just pull," he smirked breathlessly, helping Noah push the offending piece of clothing lower, until he could just kick them off.

And then, Noah's mouth dissapeared. Kurt looked up to find him roaming over his body with his eyes, then reaching out his hand and mapping what seemed like every inch of Kurt's skin. "You're fucking beautiful," he breathed, finally stopping the movement of his fingers on the hem of Kurt's boxers, looking into his eyes and smiling that slow, lazy smile nobody else ever got to see.

"Your call," he winked.

Kurt whimpered, grabbing Noah's head in his hands and kissing him, so dirty he was almost surprised at himself. "Just do it."

And Noah did – hooked his tumbs into Kurt's underwear, pulling at it, painfully slow, sucking at Kurt's neck, kissing his clavicle, his nipples, tongue delving into the bellybutton, licking at his hipbones and god damn, his cock – Kurt shut his eyes, almost imagined he could see fireworks. Looking down, he met Noah's gaze – he was smirking, pressing feather-light kisses to the head of Kurt's cock, the other hand fondling his balls.

It was almost too much; Kurt could already feel heat pooling low in his belly, stronger than ever before, and he grabbed Noah's shoulder. He wanted this; oh God, he wanted everything, but not right now. The only thing on his mind was to show Noah how much he meant, how much he was trusted, to give himself over at the mercy of his hands.

"N—Noah," he stuttered, "I want—I want you in me."

Noah moaned; long and low and sexy, shoving his jeans down his hips and kissing Kurt, making him squirm and arch up.

"You sure?" he asked, and really, wasn't that what Kurt just said?

"Of course I am. I love you."

And, just like that, the mood shifted – the urge falling a little, instead settling into a steady stream of heat passing through both their bodies, and they forgot themselves for a moment, just staring.

Noah kissed Kurt's temple. "I love you too, Princess. I'll make this good for you, okay?"

"Yeah," Kurt breathed, small and a little intimidated. It was going to hurt and he knew it.

Noah must've felt him tense – his hands immediately grabbed at Kurt's shoulders, kneading out the knots. "I'll stop whenever you want, just say the word."

Kurt nodded, reaching over and pulling out the drawer of his bedside table.

"Mmm, strawberries," Noah chuckled against his mouth, pulling out the bottle of lube and box of condoms. Kurt blushed all the way to his chest, relaxing for a while until he heard the sound of the cap being opened. Noah's warm palm settled on his belly.

"No worries," he murmured, hands stroking Kurt's cock, the insides of his thighs, slowly circling his entrance with one slick finger. Just when Kurt felt his muscles loosen up a little, Noah pushed in.

It was—strange. It didn't really hurt; not yet, Kurt supposed. Noah was kissing his neck, humming a calming melody like Kurt was a wild animal, and he couldn 't help but stroke his fingers over his boyfriend's mohawk.

Noah added a second finger; delved deeper, scissoring gently and making all the burn dissapear by biting Kurt's earlobe and whispering sweet nothings. He crooked his fingers, and just like that, Kurt was seeing starts again, his cock, starting to go limp, hardening.

"Do that again," he gasped – Noah obeyed, and the wave of pleasure sweeping over Kurt was almost enough to make his muscles cramp.

Puck used the distraction to push in a third finger, the unpleasant burn immediately back. It hurt; Kurt wanted it to stop, but then he remembered Noah's astonished face when he told him he was ready, the gentle look in his eyes when he told him he'd wait.

And, besides, the people who were doing this had to be doing it for something, right?

"Relax, babe," Noah breathed into his mouth, kissing his jaw and stroking his cock, one of his calloused fingers running over the head.

Kurt tried; he really did. But there was something in him; something that didn't feel like it belonged there, and his body's first instinct was to force it out. "Relax," Noah crooned again, his wrist moving lazily up and down Kurt's cock, mouth everywhere, flooding Kurt with warmth down to his toes. Noah's fingers, now buried deep in him, crooked again, hitting his prostate and making him shudder and want more, more, more, forget the pain.

He didn't even notice the tearing of the condom wrapper, or the lube bottle opening again, until Noah was pulling out and pulling Kurt's legs up gently onto his shoulders, the head of his cock right there at Kurt's entrance, making him shake with both want and fear.

Noah smoothed a hand over his hair and kissed his forehead. "Just say the word and I'll stop," he whispered, voice raspy, and slowly pushed in past the first ring of muscle. Kurt wanted to tense again, just out of instinct, but the pain wasn't actually that bad; Noah's hands were kneading the muscles in his legs, arms, helping him relax.

Noah pushed deeper; Kurt forced himself to breathe in deep and stay relaxed.

"You're amazing," Noah murmured into his shoulder, not quite supressing the wanton tone of his voice. "It'll get better, I promise," he said, pushing further and further, and suddendly he was everywhere, filling Kurt up, tongue licking and hands roaming gently.

When Noah raised his gaze, Kurt caught his eyes and smiled through the pain; just seeing Noah smile back was making it subside. There was something in the air between them that neither of them could put into words.

With Noah buried deep inside him, deep and meaningful and making him want to cry just a little, Kurt flashed back to his bed in Dalton and Alona's small frame next to him. There was no way it could ever be like this with a man, he'd thought.

He was right. This - Noah's fingers threading thorough his and alert brown eyes scanning his face for any sign of discomfort – this was so, so much more.

"Move," he gasped, and Noah did – pulling out and pushing back in, slow at first, until the pain dissapeared almost completely, overriden by pleasure, Kurt's prostate making him want to explode with every thrust. Noah was grunting, quickening his pace, and Kurt knew neither of the was going to last much longer.

Mustering up all his courage, he reached one hand down to squeeze his cock and clenched around Noah as tight as he could.

The sight of his boyfriend coming apart wasn't something that Kurt was very likely to forget. Noah's face was open; young, vulnerable, eyes rolling back in his head and looking back to say I love you; Noah covering his hand with his own, bringing Kurt to his own orgasm and holding him through the aftershocks, still buried in deep.

This, Kurt thought, was perfect.

When they cleaned up, shut the lights, and crawled back to bed, Kurt was surprised at Noah immediately pulling him close, burying his face in Kurt's hair and breathing in.

"Thank you," he said, raw and sincere, and Kurt took Noah's hand in his in an answer.

"I love you, Noah," he whispered, just because he wanted to; just because he could.

Noah chuckled; he could probably see right through him. "Me too…Porcelain."

And, as soon as they burst out laughing, Kurt loving the feeling of I want this forever spreading lazily through his chest, he had an idea.

"Do you have any plans for tomorrow?"

Noah looked at him, frowned for a while, and pulled him closer. "I don't think so…why?"

Kurt smiled and ran a hand through his mohawk. "I wanna make a roadtrip."