Chapter Fourteen: First Taste of Heaven

When they reached the city, special arrangements had been made for Nessa's room to be on the first floor, but the hotel they were in was so crowded that Fiyero and Elphaba's room was located on the third floor. This made Glinda uneasy. What if she needed Elphaba because something happened to Nessa that she didn't know how to handle? Elphaba only laughed at that. If something happened to Nessa that Glinda wasn't prepared to deal with, it was likely no one was prepared to deal with it.

One afternoon while Nessa was resting and Fiyero was, in Elphaba's words, behaving like an idiot (he'd suggested they go on some stupid romantic rendezvous in the famous Lime Park, which she'd snubbed), Glinda and Elphaba snuck out and went shopping. Elphaba shuddered at the prospect, but went only because she felt awkward going anywhere with Fiyero at that point (they'd had an uncomfortable moment that morning when they'd woken up and she'd found herself pressed against something distinctively… hard).

Glinda, after making Elphaba try on a deep violet dress that she'd insisted looked gorgeous (that Elphaba herself had thought almost cast her in a pretty light) and pouted when Elphaba refused to buy it with the excuse of insufficient funds, wheedled her friend about her relationship. "So, you and Fiyero staying in the same room, must be awfully cozy, huh?"

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "It's fine. That's why there are two separate beds."

"Oh, you actually use them?"

"Glinda! Fiyero and I are not having sex. For the last time, I'm not going to tell you about anything else, so leave it."

Glinda pretended to hang her head. "I was just curious, Elphie."

"Maybe you should find some other subtle way of asking me questions, then."

"Is it weird? I mean, the two of you sharing a room?"

Elphaba sighed. "It is, a little bit. Sometimes it's very awkward when we have to change for bed, but I'm getting used to it. He's my boyfriend, Glinda. I'm not going to run screaming when he walks into the room shirtless."

"You've seen him without a shirt? Oh, what does he look like? Is he cute?"

"That is none of your business."

"Come on! Do you think he looks good like that?"

"Why does it matter to you?"

"Well, Elphie, I'm just wondering if you actually have the hormones to be attracted to anyone."

"Of course I'm attracted to him! I'm dating him, aren't I?" Elphaba folded her arms across her chest.

"Then do you think he looks handsome without a shirt on?"

Elphaba hid her face in her hands. "Yes."

"Aw, that's so adorable! I know you guys have kissed, but has he tried to do anything else?" Glinda prodded.

"Why should I tell you? I'm not going to talk to some outside person about a relationship that's supposed to be between two people, not the entire world."

"So he has." Glinda concluded

"Ugh! Just because I don't tell you about something doesn't mean I've done it!"

"Will you tell me when you two have sex?" Glinda was hopping up and down.

"When? Whoever said we were going to do it at all? And I don't know if I'll tell you, I'll approach that problem when it happens, and that hasn't come up yet. End of story."

"Fine. If you're not going to be a real friend and tell me secrets…"

"Sweet Oz, Glinda, would you forget it? That's not going to guilt me in to anything." Elphaba was all too glad that they'd reached the hotel again. She darted up the stairs and into the room.

"Hey," Fiyero looked up from the magazine he was reading and smiled at her.

Her face darkened. She still wasn't quite comfortable after the event that morning. "Um, hi. Just grabbing a book. I'll be in the lounge." She swiped her book off of the bedside table and turned right back out of the room.

"Why not read with me?"

The door was already shut before Fiyero had finished his question. She felt terrible about treating him that way, but she just needed to get reacquainted with herself and with privacy before she went back into the room. By the time she felt she'd done that, it was past dinnertime, and she'd forgotten to eat. Figuring she'd just have to eat a lot of breakfast the next morning, she shoved her key in the lock and opened the door.

No one was there, from first glance. But there was a tray of fruit and other such foods, along with a note. Elphaba could tell that much even with the lights off.

She smiled to herself as she headed towards the tray. He never gave up, did he? Elphaba giggled to herself when she realized she wouldn't want him too.

Elphaba, Glinda and I went out today while you were in the lounge and she showed me something she thought you might like. Consider it a gift, in honor of your meeting the Wizard. I left it on your bed.

Curious, she munched on an apple and went to her bed. There was the dress she'd tried on early that afternoon. Her breath caught in her throat. She hadn't seen how much it cost because she'd been afraid of knowing, since she was sure it was far out of her price range. But of course, that never mattered to Fiyero. "It's beautiful."

"Like you." Fiyero entered the room then and looked at her questioningly, as if asking if it was all right for him to get close to her.

She nodded. "You really didn't have to."

"I felt like it." He shrugged like it was no big deal and sat down on his bed.

She set the dress aside and tackled him. "You're so wonderful." Elphaba hugged him. "What did I do to deserve you? How am I any good?"

He laughed and pushed her off of him, wrapping his arms around her. "You are the wonderful one, Elphaba. You're not good. You're absolutely amazing."

"Fiyero…" Elphaba looked into his eyes, able to see her reflection in them perfectly in the fading light of the evening. "Why do you do all of this for me?"

"Because I…" He bit his lip. "Well, I just like to."

She raised her eyebrows at him, wondering what he'd been about to say. "Just like to, huh?"

"Yes. I do."

"Tomorrow I meet the Wizard," she said suddenly.

"I think maybe you should eat a bit more," Fiyero pushed her gently towards the tray of food. "You might be so nervous you won't have a stomach to eat anything tomorrow."

"I never get that pathetic!" She protested, but obliged and sat down, gesturing for him to come sit with her.

"It's never happened before, but you never know. Besides, I had this brought up for you. You can't just waste it." He sat across from her and watched her eat.

"That's true. You know how to convince me way too well. Aren't you going to have any?"

"Nope. I had a normal dinner down in the dining area, thank you. This is all for you. Eat up. Please?"

She laughed at the plea in his eyes and dug into her food. "I really appreciate this."

"It was really nothing, Elphaba."

"Um, Fiyero, would you like to sleep next to me again tonight?" She asked shyly.

"I'd like to every night." He replied honestly.

"I think you'd like to do more than that every night." Elphaba teased.

"One day, one day."

"How about today?"

It was lucky he hadn't been eating anything, for he would've choked at about that point. He gazed at her, meeting her eyes, eyes that told him everything he'd ever dreamed to know and more. "You mean…?"

"Yes, that's what I mean," she said softly. Elphaba held out her hand. "I'm done. Let's go to bed."

Fiyero took her hand and pulled her close to him. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. The only reason… when I woke up this morning, Fiyero, the real thing that caused me to get so uneasy was that I just wanted…" Her mouth reached his then, and she didn't feel the need to say anything more. She led him into a long but tender kiss and then let him pick her up and lay her on his bed. "I want."

"What a coincidence," he murmured, "so do I." His fingers traveled towards her back, to the zipper of her dress and he tugged it down slowly. He kissed her deeply and ran his free hand through her hair. "Are you sure you want the lights off? I'd like to see all of you."

Yanking his shirt over his head, she shook her head. "I like the idea of the lights being off. Maybe another time, okay?"

"Whatever you want." He assured her.

"Thank you," she lifted her arms over her so the dress could be easily pulled off. It was winter and the room had gotten chilly. She shivered a little and clung to Fiyero, pressing her cheek against his chest.

"Mmm," he worked his hands to undress her fully before he'd even taken anything off below his own waist. Fiyero concentrated on touching and kissing her, testing her skin, taking the time to really feel every bare bit of flesh he could find. As he kissed his way down past her breasts, he felt her tense. "You all right?"

"Yeah, fine." Her eyes were wide. He wasn't really going to use his mouth there, was he?

Nearing her waist, he sensed the essence of something savory, like honey, but a honey made by even better creatures than the bees, by the heavens. He had to try it. Fiyero slipped his tongue into her, eager and thirsty. His mouth teased her, moving and licking and lapping until there was a rush of syrupy sugary sweetness filling his mouth.

Elphaba cried, "Oh!" She felt her muscles release and pressure ease as he carefully swept his tongue over her thighs. "Wow."

He took a deep breath and faced her again. "You taste like nectar."

She turned away, too embarrassed to talk about the sexual actions they were doing, just wanting to do. Elphaba helped Fiyero out of the rest of his clothing and arched her back slightly, ready to welcome him. "I still want."

He took one of her hands, intertwining their fingers. His lips met hers and he cupped her cheek, gazing down into her eyes. "I do, too."