Chapter Twenty-Three: Temptation

Just the softness of her lips was enticing. For a moment, though, he drew back, wanting to ask if she was sure, but he saw the desperation, the need in her face. Her saying that she needed him was probably a bigger thing than it would've been if she'd said she loved him. She always strove to make it clear to everyone that she didn't need anyone, she could do it alone, and she was dropping her guard for him. That was enough for now.

He'd seen her before, but he still never felt as though he'd seen enough and he loved undressing her, taking his time with each part of her, touching, sucking, biting, kissing and inhaling everything. It felt like her body was made just for him to touch, like it responded only to him. The way she whimpered when he did something she liked only spurred him further, and time began to blur together.

When he finally entered her, she gasped and looked up at him with wide, lustful eyes. He loved the way her skin felt around him, smooth and sleek, encompassing him. Each time he thrust into her, she let out a soft pant and met him with her hips until she peaked and tightened around him as she cried out his name. He wanted to spend forever inside her, exploring her depths and making her moan. When she came the second time, he joined her over the top and they held each other for a few minutes.

"I'd resolved to refuse you," he told her. "I didn't know if you were going to do that, but I had decided that if you did, I wouldn't take the offer. But you're irresistible."

"Why wouldn't you want to?"

"Because I was afraid you'd draw away again."

"I won't," she promised. "Fiyero, I just… I feel so alone right now and I hate to admit it, but I'm afraid. I just needed to hold on to something, focus on something. And you're the only one who can make me do that." She curled against him. "I hadn't intended to do that, either. But I looked at you, and I had to. I knew you could bring me back from the edge for a little while, take all of it away."

"I wish I could keep it that way. I just want to protect you. I know you don't need it or want it, but I want to."

"Sometimes I do need it, Fiyero, whether or not I want it." She kissed his cheek gently. "Oh, Yero, you're too good. And I'm going to ask you one more favor."

"What is it?"

"That I can talk to Glinda before I talk to you about whatever it is we are. You were right when you said I should talk to her about these things, and I haven't been able to. I need to come out and be honest with her. And I guarantee that we will talk about everything you want when we get back and I've had a little time to sort things through."

"You have to do me a favor, too, then."

She eyed him uneasily. "What?"

"It's pretty simple."

"What?"

"Don't run, don't try to talk in circles, just be honest with me. Fair?"

"That's what I'd planned to do anyway."

"Then we're good. I won't push the topic." Fiyero smiled to himself, thinking of how nice it was just to hold her without pretense. "My mother talked to you, didn't she?"

"Yes."

"I asked her not to."

"Oh, I know. I know you weren't behind it. I don't think she would've gone about it like she did if you had asked her to, or said what she did."

"What did she say?"

"That you aren't perfect."

He frowned. "How nice of her."

She laughed. "She said a lot of things, Fiyero. But we don't need to talk about them. In fact, if you want, we don't need to talk much at all right now."

"You're a temptress, Elphaba."

"Only to you."

When they got back to Shiz, Fiyero walked her to her dorm. Glinda hadn't gotten back yet. "Do you want me to sit with you some or…?"

"We have spent the last several hours in a continuous state of lovemaking. I'm probably a mess. I'm going to clean up and rest, Fiyero."

He grinned lopsidedly. "I wasn't going to say anything, but you may need to wear those scarves again…"

She glared at him. "You are too passionate."

"I can stop. And by the way, I've got some pretty bad marks myself on my back, you like to scratch when you…"

"Fiyero!" She sighed, and then bit her lip.

"I just said I can stop… Unless, of course, you like it."

"I kind of do." Her cheeks flushed. "And did you just imply that we were going to be doing that again?"

"That and so much more, I hope."

She grinned, but shook her head. "We're not having this talk right now. Go."

As he was exiting the building, Glinda was entering. "You look happy," she observed, clearly suspicious.

"I'm getting there."

"Oh really? Is Elphaba feeling the same way?"

"I hope so. She wants to talk to you. Please don't shut her out this time. You have no idea what happened this summer. She could use a friend right now."

"What do you mean?"

He paused, wondering if he should let Elphaba tell her. But Glinda might not even listen if she didn't know. "Her father didn't like me. He threw me out and threatened her physically. She left with me and he disowned her. She's pretty alone right now, Glinda. I know you're upset with her, but I think she wants to apologize. You're upset with me, too, and I'm sorry."

"You're not the one who won't listen to her best friend."

"You were right, you know."

"About?"

"It was a stupid idea in the first place. And I've had feelings for her all along. They didn't just appear. I thought it would just make it more believable, but it only made things more complicated than they had to be. She got hurt and I'm so sorry for that."

"You never wanted to hurt her. I know that much." Glinda smiled gently at him. "She has feelings for you, too, you know."

"So you've said."

"You don't believe me?"

"I do. But that's a topic for another day. I have some thinking to do, actually, before I see Elphaba again. And you need to talk to her." He waved her away.

He knew the first thing he would say to Elphaba would be how he felt. But where did they go from there? And what would they do about the parts they were playing? If he canceled their engagement now, his father might insist on marrying him to Sarima anyway. And if there was any chance with Elphaba, he couldn't risk that. He didn't want to force her to keep playing a role she was uncomfortable in, though. It wasn't like he could genuinely ask for her hand in marriage right away, no matter how he felt. They didn't know what it was like to be together in an honest way, and they needed to feel that before making such a decision, not to mention the fact that she would probably not agree to marry him this quickly, anyway.

He wasn't sure where this was going. The only thing he knew was that he loved her. Fiyero prayed that was enough.