Author's note: I waited to post Chapters 33 and 34 together because even I thought it would be cruel to leave you hanging. ***Warning*** Some of you aren't going to like this chapter when you're through, all I ask is that you read both 33 and 34 before making up your mind. I hope I didn't go off the reservation with this one.

It wasn't the question that upset Rachel. It unnerved her, yes, but it was the gleam in his eye that left her panic-stricken. The cocky pursed lip smile didn't help either.

Rachel tried to stall for time. She gathered the forks and plate, and quickly stood up and moved towards the desk. The temperature in the room seemed to have shot up ten degrees, and the air felt heavy. Her mind was racing, trying to come up with a plausible explanation for her actions. Setting the plate on the desk, she turned around.

"I was originally planning on going to Tina's after the game, so it wasn't actually a lie…" She hoped he hadn't heard the wavering in her voice.

Rising from his seated position, he closed the gap between them in one stride, but he didn't touch her. She reached back, and gripped the chair behind her.

"Really?" he asked, but she could see in eyes that he didn't believe her.

"Of course, I… I mean, of course things changed, after the game, with, well… you know, the kiss…well, technically kisses, and … and then you asked me to the party, and then at party… well obviously you know what happened at the party… you were there, after all… and then Santana… and you kissed her, or actually she kissed you… but I didn't know that…"

"Rachel," he said, interrupting her, "breathe."

She took a deep breath in, and looked up at him.

"Anyway, so after all that, it was too late to go to Tina's."

He tilted his head to the side and gave her that smile again. He leaned into her and raised him arm. She held her breath and closed her eyes, waiting for his touch, his kiss. She waited and… nothing. She heard a clicking sound, and suddenly music poured from behind her. Her eyes flew open; she turned her head and saw the iPod and speakers sitting on his desk. How had she missed that earlier? She vaguely recognized the song, but before she could identify it, he was kissing her neck. She knew she was quickly losing control of the situation.

"W… what song is this is?" she asked, breathlessly.

"Kashmir," he murmured into her neck.

"Oh," she said, "any particular reason you chose this song?" She knew that was a stupid question, but she couldn't think. She needed him to slow down so she could think.

He paused for a second and raised his eyes to hers.

"Because I don't have Led Zepplein IV on my iPod."

She was utterly confused by his statement, and the laughter in his eyes, but at least he had stopped kissing her.

"Anyway, so as I was saying, I was planning on going to Tina's, but by the time everything happened with the party, it was too late."

He resumed his attack on her neck, and wrapped his arms around her.

"Berry," he murmured, "you are a lousy liar."

"Pardon me?"

He slid a hand up her back, and tangled it in her hair. Pulling back, he stared into her eyes.

"You were never planning on going to Tina's."

"Excuse me? Yes I was.

"No," he said, smiling, "you weren't. Remember when I asked you about your curfew?"

She frantically tried to recall the conversation.

"I told you I didn't have a curfew, that I was supposed to go to Tina's."

"Nope. Try again."

She racked her brain, trying to figure out what he was getting at.

"That's exactly what I told you…"

"No, you said you told your dads you were staying at Tina's."

"You lost me…" she said.

"If you were planning on staying at her house, you would have said that. But you didn't, you said you told your dads that, which means it wasn't true. "

When did Noah Puckerman get so freaking smart? she wondered to herself. She was annoyed with herself for falling into his trap.

"So tell me Rachel Berry," he purred, "what was going through that pretty head of yours when you lied to your parents."

What had she been thinking? It had all been so logical at the time. The mental Pro/Con list she had made clearly indicated that it was a good choice. Her plan had made perfect sense. But now that she was standing here, with only a few articles of clothing keeping that plan from becoming a reality, she was terrified. She needed to stop, she couldn't think. God, she couldn't breathe.

He was kissing her neck again, and she felt his hand slide up under the sweatshirt again.

"I think I know why you lied…"

"Oh r…really? Why's that?"

"Because you wanted this."

"W…what's this?"

"You… Me… Us… together."

"T…together?"

He didn't answer her. He devoured her mouth. His hand was sliding over her bare back, and his touch was pushing her toward the brink of insanity.

"Tell me, Rach…" he whispered against her lips.

"Tell you what?"

"Tell me why you lied… what you were thinking about…. what you want…"

Oh God. Her head was going to explode. He was right, she did want this. She didn't want him to stop touching her, ever.

"I…I don't know…"

He pulled back again, and his eyes burned into her.

"I think you do…"

He knew… she could see it in his eyes. There was no way she could hide it.

"You. I want you."

Before she was done saying the four words, he had swept her up and laid her on the bed. His mouth was on hers and she could feel the weight of his body pressing down. She felt him tugging on the sweat shirt, and he stopped kissing her long enough to slide it over her head. Tossing it across the room, he pushed himself up on his hands, and looked at her.

"Jesus Rach…" he breathed, "you're beautiful."

That should have thrilled her. That should have made her heart flip. When it didn't, she knew that this wrong. Every fiber of her body wanted to be here, to be with him, but not like this. It was too much, too fast. She looked up him with shiny eyes. He was going to hate her.

"Noah… I..."

Before she could finish, he dropped his mouth back to hers and she lost her nerve.