Chapter Twenty-Five: Sweet Relief

She was jealous. Elphaba didn't understand what jealousy felt like until the moment she'd walked into that room. Of course, she knew Fiyero wouldn't have done anything. But she didn't like the idea of some girl just walking in there and practically prostrating herself on his bed. But she'd never say that to Fiyero.

The next day, though, she noticed that several other servant girls were fawning over him. He seemed oblivious to it (he was oblivious in general, of course). But at breakfast, the girls begged to serve him. At dinner, one dropped something and made sure to bend over at just the right angle, eyeing Fiyero the whole time. It made her angrier than she had considered it would. After all, he clearly wasn't returning the attention. What was there to be upset about?

Still, she found herself unable to sit still or focus when she returned to her room. Suddenly she wanted him – badly. There had been moments of what she called weakness, but she'd managed to resist temptation. But before she could even think about it, she was out of bed and walking down the hall.

She didn't knock, merely opened the door and shut it behind her, locking it quickly.

"Is something wrong?" Fiyero leapt up.

Elphaba shook her head. "I just… oh, hell." She was in his arms in an instant, kissing him passionately, pulling him closer. "I need you."

"This is new," he murmured, drawing her waist towards his. "I thought this wasn't going to happen all summer."

"I changed my mind." She pushed him down onto the bed. "Take off your clothes now."

He grinned eagerly. "Whatever you want, Fae."

She threw her nightdress over her head and stepped out of her undergarments as he undressed. "Gods, how bad I've wanted you." She climbed onto the bed with him. "I love you."

"I love you, too. You know you have to be quiet, right?"

She nodded. "I'll do my best." Elphaba pressed her mouth to his, pressing her hands to his shoulders to keep him pinned to the bed, loving the lustful look in his eyes as he looked over her form. She sunk onto him slowly, savoring each moment and every inch. "Oh gods…"

"It's been too long," he groaned, pushing into her. "You feel so good."

She moved her hips quickly. Elphaba knew if she tried to speak to him, only moans and cries would come out and they'd be exposed. Biting the inside of her lips, she ground against him, letting each movement press against that sweet spot.

He reached for her and pulled her mouth to his, probably hoping to keep her from making any noise. She moaned into his mouth and he rolled her over, thrusting into her harder as he kept both of their mouths occupied. Elphaba clutched him with reckless abandon, her nails tearing into his skin as he took her with everything he had. When release came, she grabbed at his waist and dragged him deeper, toes curling in pleasure.

"Slow down, Fae. I can't go like this all night." He drew back for a moment.

"Oh, but I can." She tightened her legs around his waist. "Please, Fiyero."

"You're going to finish me. There will be nothing left to give."

"As long as I'm the one who gets it all," she whispered before meeting his lips again.

By the time they were done, she could swear she'd forgotten her own name as she fell back against his sheets. He nuzzled against her. "Stay a little while."

"I think I need to recover, anyway," she informed him, breathless. "I'm sorry, Yero. That was a little unexpected."

"You were a little jealous, weren't you?"

"No." But they both knew she was lying.

"You were. Fae, it's okay. I don't mind."

"You don't?"

"Not at all. I think I'd feel the same."

"I'm still a little sorry for basically jumping you."

"Did you hear me complaining?" He teased. "It was a very pleasant surprise. Tell me you're going to do this again."

"I don't think I can help myself."

So once a week, when everyone else was asleep, she slipped into his bedroom. Hers was too close to Nessa's room. Fiyero's room used to be beside his mother's, but since their parents had married he was next to a usually empty guest room. They weren't quite as fierce the rest of the time, though. Both of them had left evidence all over one another of their intimacy, and covering it up had been a hassle. Fiyero could walk around with nail marks down his back and small bite marks in his neck without his mother asking too many questions. Elphaba, however, had to be more discreet.

Tiptoeing back to her own room one night, she ran into Nanny. The woman looked her up and down and stared at her, not saying a word. The silence made her uneasy and she bit her lip. "I was just downstairs. I got hungry." She was glad she'd stayed in Fiyero's room long enough for the sweat to dry and the flush in her cheeks to fade.

"You've never been one for midnight snacks, Fabala."

"Things change at University."

"I'm starting to see that." But the old woman didn't say anything more. "Goodnight, Elphaba."

"Goodnight." She brushed her hair behind her ears nervously and sneaked back into her own room, collapsing on the bed and falling asleep almost immediately. There was one thing (of many) to be said for sex, it led to some of the most restful sleep she'd ever had.

The way back to Shiz was uncomfortable, to say the least. She was cooped up in a carriage with Nanny, Nessa and Fiyero, straining for conversation. Fiyero, for his part, handled it well. "You're just going to love Shiz, Nessa."

"I certainly hope so." Before they'd returned for the summer, Nessa had not really had any definitive feelings about Fiyero. But he'd been making a good effort with her, and she appeared to be able to put aside her feelings about Ateri and get along with her new stepbrother. For some reason, Elphaba found this to be a relief.

"We will make sure you get acclimated and comfortable. I'll introduce you to all of our friends."

"So you two spend a lot of time together at Shiz, then?" Nanny shot Elphaba a piercing look. "I hadn't expected you two to be friends."

"We just travel in the same circles," Elphaba said quickly. "Probably because we're both outsiders as far as most of society is concerned. They'll treat you better, Nessie." She smiled gently at her sister and tried not to squirm under her Nanny's eyes. "Your skin is the same color as theirs."

"We are friends, I suppose. By circumstance, of course." Fiyero wouldn't look straight at her, and for that she was grateful. She knew any look he gave her would be fraught with yearning. He was not exactly the most subtle person.

"I look forward to meeting everyone," Nessa said amicably. "I'm sure it'll be a wonderful place. Father's already been in touch with the local minister and I'm very excited to go to services. Alone, apparently."

Elphaba shook her head. "Don't push it, Nessie."

"I just don't understand why…"

"Stop." Elphaba shrugged. "My feelings are my own. I respect yours. Respect mine."

Nessa wouldn't speak to her the rest of the ride, so she was left happily alone, reading a book, though she could feel Fiyero reading over her shoulder at times. She would've reminded him that he knew how much it irked her when he did that, but they were in close quarters and it couldn't be avoided, she supposed.

As soon as they arrived, Fiyero brought all of their bags to their room. He insisted on carrying every last one, which made Nessa beam and Elphaba frustrated. When they arrived, Glinda sat glumly on her bed, though she brightened a little and introduced herself to Nessa and Nanny.

On his way out, Fiyero slipped her a note into her hand. My room tonight? I've missed you. She nodded at him as he left, destroyed the note quickly and smiled a little. After running into Nanny in the hallway at Kiamo Ko, she'd cut their weekly meetings down to short, brief interludes. They had more freedom in his room. She could hardly wait.