A/N: Thanks for all of the positive reviews and helpful advice. This story only has a few more chapters to go, but I will go back to writing TRWP and starting a new fic. I hope you read those as well. This chapter is the morning after. Warning for slight smut. As always I don't own the characters or story lines in Glee, I just like to play with them. Slight bit of Pezberry in this chapter as well. Enjoy!
Chapter 17
Clanking pots and loud conversation between Kurt and Santana roused Quinn and Rachel out of their slumber. They had kept each other up for several hours as they indulged their new favorite pastime. It was almost five by the time they curled up together, finally sated, if only for the moment. It was now only nine, but Quinn was too satisfied to care. Rachel's lithe, naked form was pressed tightly into hers and the brunette's hands were lazily stroking up and down her back.
Soft, warm fingers lingered over scars and Quinn gripped Rachel even tighter. Her eyes closed as a sudden wave of despair swept over her. She began to wish that Rachel was still asleep, so she could sneak out of bed and get dressed. Making love by candlelight hid most of her body's flaws, but she was still self-conscious about her scars and was afraid that in the morning light Rachel would think her body was hideous.
"Quinn, I can practically hear the gears turning in your mind. What's wrong?" Rachel's soft voice was soothing.
Quinn sighed heavily. How was it that Rachel could read her so well? She forced words past the sudden lump in her throat. "My scars...I just...I'm ugly and I don't want you to have to see it."
Rachel harumphed and wiggled partway out of her arms and brought a hand up to cup her cheek. Quinn leaned into the diva's comforting touch and opened her eyes. Warm brown eyes met hers with perfect seriousness as the brunette whispered huskily, "You have nothing to worry about. You are the most beautiful person I know, both inside and out. Your scars don't make you ugly or damaged, they make you strong. Quinn Fabray is more than her looks. She has charm, grace, intelligence, and poise. She's kind, romantic, and funny and her scars are a reminder that she is above all things a survivor."
Hazel eyes filled with tears as Quinn took in the brunette's earnest, truthful expression. She gave a watery chuckle, "You always did know how to make me feel like I was more than my looks." Her voice turned sultry when Rachel's fingers resumed their stroking, but lower. She could feel the heat between their bodies grow and she began softly rocking her hips against the brunette. "I want you," she husked before capturing soft lips with her own. Her own hands began to wander as the kiss deepened.
In a move that surprised Quinn, Rachel swiftly flipped them over. Desire zinged through the blonde as their cores rubbed together. She couldn't control the grinding of her hips into Rachel's. Nimble fingers alternately tweaked and caressed her nipples and Quinn was helpless to resist the sudden passion pouring out of the brunette. She was teetering close to the edge when Santana rudely barged into Rachel's room.
"Aaahhh! My eyes! What the hell? I can't unsee that shit." Quinn whimpered at the unwelcome interruption. It didn't help that her irritation was fueled by the delay of sexual gratification. She shot a withering glare in Santana's direction, but the Latina had a hand dramatically covering her eyes.
"Santana! Get out!" Even as Rachel yelled at her roommate, she was grabbing at a blanket to cover their bodies.
The situation only got worse when Kurt appeared in the doorway. "What's going on? I heard screaming and...oh my God!" He smirked at the two girls before covering his own eyes. "It's about time! The sexual tension between you two was making us all uncomfortable."
Santana snorted, "Yes, cuz this is sooo much better. I might be scarred for life over here! The last thing I needed to see was the mating ritual of hobbits in the shire. It's more disturbing than a dramatic wildlife production on Discovery."
Rachel huffed as she quickly grabbed two robes for herself and Quinn. "Now that you've so rudely interrupted us, what is it that you want, Santana?"
The exotic brunette made a show of peering through her fingers before smirking at the diva, "I just wanted to congratulate you on finally unpressing those lemons."
Kurt laughed, "Which one?"
Santana chuckled, "Both." She expertly dodged the pillow that Quinn aimed at her head. "Come on, Q, you need to do better than that. After all, I survived Sue's version of dodge-the-medieval-weapon game that she used in Cheerio training." She grabbed Kurt and pulled him from the room before tossing back, "We made breakfast if you're hungry, and it smells like sex in here, so spray some air freshener." With those words she slammed the door behind them.
The girls lay in stunned silence for a few moments before dissolving into giggles. They could distantly hear Kurt and Santana roaring with laughter, and reluctantly got out of bed to get dressed. Seeing Kurt and Santana had put a damper on any lovemaking, but the blonde could still feel the palpable desire that smoldered between them. She felt her knees go weak when Rachel pressed a kiss to her lips before whispering in a voice of pure sex, "I think we need a shower, do you want to scrub my back?"
The ache between her legs intensified as she whimpered a yes before the brunette dragged her to the bathroom. Breakfast could wait.
It was an hour before she and Quinn made it to the kitchen, but Rachel didn't care. She'd had an amazing night and an even better morning. Cold breakfast and coffee were small prices to pay for the way she felt, relaxed and carefree. Despite the soreness of long underused muscles and the lack of adequate sleep, she was energized.
Quinn was busy making a fresh pot of coffee. Kurt and Santana were mercifully out of sight. Rachel vaguely remembered that they both had to work the lunch shift. Without the two of them there to interfere and distract her, the diva was free to let her eyes roam freely over the blonde. She took in the damp, disheveled blonde hair, lean dancer's legs, and toned body. Her heart stuttered at the realization that this magnificent creature was hers. Quinn's heart was a beautiful gift and she vowed to herself that she would treat it like the treasure it was. She couldn't say that she was in love with Quinn yet, but the potential was there and she was surprisingly okay with that. She had made her peace with Finn's death and had decided to move forward. The pain would always be there, but for the first time it wasn't crippling.
A hot cup of coffee being placed in front of her broke her reverie. Unconsciously she rocked up on her toes to press a quick kiss onto soft pink lips. She felt them smile against her own before the kiss deepened and Quinn began sucking softly on her tongue. Without warning Rachel found herself lifted onto the counter. The blonde's mouth had moved swiftly down her body and was clamped over her breast and suckling hard. Need swamped through her body as she fisted hands in damp blonde hair, wrapped her legs around Quinn, and rocked against her. A sharp nip delivered to her nipple caused colors to dance behind her eyelids as her orgasm raced through her.
Quinn stilled above her and pressed their foreheads together. Rachel was just about to return the favor when her phone chimed. With a groan she picked it up only to have her eyes widen at the reminder that she had rehearsal. Smiling sheepishly, she held up the phone for Quinn to see. She murmured softly, "I didn't mean to get so carried away, but I can't help it. When I'm with you I just want to touch you or kiss you. And as much as I would like to continue this, I have rehearsal today."
The blonde chuckled as she pecked Rachel's cheek, "That's okay. We have all day tomorrow before I have to go back. What time will you be finished today?"
"I'll actually get out early as we're just blocking out one or two scenes. The bulk of the day is going to be costume fitting, but I'm one of the leads, so I get measured earlier than everyone else."
"Okay then, let me fix you some breakfast. You go to rehearsal and I'll get some schoolwork done while you're gone. We can do something later." Quinn gave Rachel a beatific smile before pecking her lips.
Quinn beamed at Rachel before setting her gently on the floor. The brunette retired to her room to get ready for rehearsal while the blonde began mixing together some breakfast smoothies. She tossed fruit, veggies, and vegan protein powder in the blender, covered them with almond milk, and hit the button. She also made toast and put Rachel's coffee into a travel mug as the diva strolled back into the kitchen.
Rachel quickly ate her toast and drank her smoothie before grabbing her coffee. She gathered her purse and bag as she walked to the door. Quinn smiled happily when the brunette turned around and rushed back to give her a deep, probing kiss before she hurried out the door.
As soon as Rachel left, Quinn finished her own breakfast and tidied the kitchen. After she dressed for the day, she grabbed her laptop and flopped onto the couch to work on an essay and do some research for her final paper due in a few weeks.
She worked steadily for a few hours until she heard the click of the lock and Kurt and Santana trudged inside. Santana spotted Quinn first and glance around the room. Kurt noticed her too and waved before he slipped past Santana into the bathroom.
"Hey, princess, I called the shower first." Santana yelled when she heard the sound of water running.
"Too bad I got here first. You know I have a strict skin care regimen and the atrocious atmosphere of that diner wreaks havoc on my pores. I'll do my best to be quick," Kurt hollered back over the shower spray.
Quinn chuckled at the antics of her friends. Santana just shrugged as she turned to appraise the blonde. "So where's the hobbit? I figured that you guys would be loved up all afternoon, especially now that you finally took her lady virginity."
Quinn studiously ignored the Latina's attempt to rile her up and simply replied, "She had rehearsal and fittings today, so I stayed here to work while she went to rehearse."
Santana studied the blonde for a moment. She settled on the couch and reached over to close Quinn's laptop. "Okay, look, I'm not good at this mushy stuff, but it's important. Thumbelina is still fragile, so you need to be careful. I know that you love her, but you can't put too much pressure on her. You have to go at her pace."
The blonde huffed, "I know this, San. What happened last night was Rachel's choice. I didn't pressure her into anything. Everything that we did was mutual. I know that she's not in love with me, but don't I deserve the chance to try and win her heart?"
"Of course you deserve the chance; I just don't want either of you to screw it up. She needs someone like you to keep her grounded. You just have a tendency to self-destruct and I can't have you disappearing on her again. I might live in New York, but I can still go Lima Heights on your tubby ass if you do."
"Noted." Quinn straightened her shoulders. It hurt a little that Santana was being so protective of Rachel and calling her out on her mistakes, but she was proud at the same time. The Latina's friendship with Rachel had come so far since those days of high school.
"Good. Now I wants deets about your date last night while dancing queen is still in the shower. Did the midget totally rock your world? Will you be having hobbity hybrid babies any time soon? Spill!"
A wicked smirk passed over Quinn's lips before she schooled her features. "Sorry, S, but I don't kiss and tell."
A playful yelp erupted from her lips when Santana smacked her with a pillow. She returned the favor with the another cushion and they began an amusing pillow fight. Soon they both collapsed on the couch while giggling uncontrollably. Quinn sighed contentedly. For the first time in a long time she was happy and relaxed.
A/N2: Happy Quinn is my favorite. Reviews are too! How did I do with Santana? I think that she is the hardest character to write so I hope I did her justice.