Chapter 1: The Introduction That Changes Everything
Rachel Berry had just left History class. The petite brunette wore a white blouse under a green sweater that accentuated her small breasts, a short pleated plaid skirt that highlighted her bottom, and, as usual, knee-high socks with black shoes. She still had an hour before heading to the Glee Club rehearsal room.
As she descended the main staircase, a smile came to her involuntarily. It had to be said, everything was going well for her. The Glee Club had qualified for Nationals, and she was going to have the main solo. Finn had finally broken up with Quinn Fabray, the head cheerleader, and was now with her. She was in love with the quarterback of the high school football team.
They had spent their first night together three weeks earlier and had done it twice more. Honestly, it wasn’t the kind of pleasure she’d been hoping for.
The first time was in his truck, parked by the old quarry. The seats groaned under them. His hands were clumsy, grabbing at her sweater, his breathing hot and panicked against her neck. “You’re so beautiful, Rachel,” he’d mumbled, and she’d smiled, wanting it to be perfect. It was over in maybe three minutes. He’d shoved his jeans down, fumbled with a condom, and entered her with a stifled grunt. The pain was sharp, then faded into a dull, distant pressure. He’d pistoned his hips, the truck’s suspension squeaking in a steady, embarrassing rhythm. His face was buried in her shoulder. “Oh god, oh fuck, Rachel—” A final, shuddering thrust, a wet warmth inside the rubber, and then he’d collapsed on her, panting. She’d stared at the roof liner, one hand patting his sweaty back, wondering when the screaming, earth-shattering ecstasy would kick in.
The second time, in her bed while her dads were at a school board meeting, was marginally better. He’d lasted longer. She’d felt a flicker of something when he’d rubbed his thumb over her clit, but it was gone too fast, replaced by his earnest, heavy grinding. Again, the finish was his: a loud, guttural groan, his body stiffening, then going slack. She’d held him, whispering it was amazing, swallowing the metallic taste of a lie.
Finn had ejaculated very quickly, and Rachel Berry had enjoyed herself a little, but certainly not those orgasms the girls in the Glee Club had talked about. But she was in love with Finn, and time would take care of it. She was certain he would become a wonderful lover with each passing time.
Reaching the ground floor, she saw Finn at the end of the hall, beckoning her over. Right next to him stood a veritable giant, despite the distance between them. A Black man wearing the high school football team jersey.
When she reached Finn, he kissed her on the mouth. The giant seemed even more immense next to him. Finn was a head taller than Rachel, and the giant was a head taller than Finn. His arms were like iron beams, corded with muscle; his jersey strained across his torso, his pecs far more defined and massive than Finn’s.
“Hey, you,” Finn said, grinning. “This is Will. Just transferred. New weapon on our offense.”
“William,” the giant said, his voice a deep, quiet rumble that vibrated in the linoleum-floored hallway. He held out his hand to Rachel.
The little brunette’s hand looked tiny next to the Black man’s. His fingers enveloped hers completely, his palm warm and calloused, a gentle but undeniable pressure. “Rachel Berry,” she said, her own voice sounding strangely high.
“Rachel, my girlfriend,” Finn added, slinging an arm around her shoulders.
William held her hand a beat longer than necessary, his dark eyes scanning her face, drifting down to her sweater, her skirt, and back up. “A pleasure, Rachel.” He released her hand and turned his head toward Finn. “You weren’t kidding. You’ve got a very pretty girlfriend.”
Finn puffed his chest out, laughing. “Damn right I do. But hands off, man. She’s mine.”
William’s smile was slow, white teeth against dusky skin. “Of course,” he said, but his gaze slid back to Rachel. It wasn’t a friendly look. It was assessing, hungry, a predator noticing something fragile and interesting. It stripped the green sweater and plaid skirt right off her.
Rachel began to squeeze her thighs together. A hot, sudden pulse throbbed low in her belly, entirely different from the lukewarm flickers Finn elicited. Her skin felt tight. She didn’t consider herself racist, but she never would have imagined sleeping with a Black man. The thought had literally never entered her mind. Yet, this giant unsettled her greatly. Objectively, if she had gone to Finn, it was because her secret fantasy was to be possessed by men much taller than herself. A symbol of protection, she thought, unless, without admitting it to herself, it was actually a symbol of submission.
“I should get to the library,” William said, his eyes finally breaking from hers. “Coach wants the playbook memorized by Friday. Nice to meet you, Rachel.” He nodded at Finn and turned to leave.
As William walked away, Rachel watched him. She had to admit that William’s imposing size didn’t go unnoticed in the hallway. His shoulders seemed to fill the space between the lockers. Rachel saw several girls, including cheerleaders in their red and white tunics and ponytails, staring at the giant and then whispering to each other as he passed, their eyes wide and lips curved. One of them, a blonde from the squad, bit her lip openly.
Finn snapped her out of her thoughts, his voice pulling her back from the retreating figure. “You okay? You’re staring.”
“I’m not,” Rachel said too quickly, feeling a blush heat her cheeks. “He’s just… very tall.”
“Tell me about it. The dude’s a monster. Gonna make us champions.” Finn squeezed her shoulder. “Come on, it’s time to go to the Glee Club rehearsal room. You can serenade me on the way.”
Rachel took his hand. His grip was familiar, slightly damp. She interlaced her fingers with his, but her skin still tingled where William had touched her. They both headed down the hallway, the flickering lights casting their elongated shadows ahead of them. From the choir room, the faint sound of a piano scale drifted out, but all Rachel could hear was the fading echo of a deep, rumbling voice, and all she could feel was a warm, unwelcome ache settling stubbornly between her legs.