Chapter Text
The hotel bar hummed with energy, a warm current of pulsing music and laughter weaving through the air. Galinda Upland sat at the far end of the bar, tucked into the shadows, her posture carefully composed despite her efforts to go unnoticed. She wore a sleek, fitted black dress, understated but impeccable, the kind of thing that whispered elegance without screaming for attention. Her golden hair was pinned loosely at the nape of her neck, and though her appearance was deliberately toned down, it was impossible not to notice the way she carried herself.
She had already deflected three men tonight. Their eager smiles and obvious lines fell flat against her polite but firm refusals. A flick of her wrist, a disarming smile, and they moved on, muttering to themselves.
She didn’t need company. At least, not theirs.
Elphaba Thropp had been watching from her perch across the room, sipping her whiskey, her blazer draped casually over her chair. She wasn’t sure if she should go out, but tonight, she was glad she’d come. The blonde at the end of the bar had caught her attention the moment she walked in. Stunning didn’t quite cover it. There was an elegance to her that didn’t come off as fragile, more like precision. She was poised, yes, but also guarded, as though she was holding her breath and waiting for someone to call her out.
It intrigued Elphaba. Watching her brush off three men without so much as a flinch sealed the deal.
Elphaba waited, letting the moment ripen. She noticed how the blonde’s fingers hovered around her glass, how her gaze lingered on the bar’s back mirror like she was scanning for exits. When Galinda raised her drink for a small sip, Elphaba made her move.
Sliding into the empty seat next to her, Elphaba caught the bartender’s eye and gestured for another whiskey. She let the silence sit, her presence designed to be felt rather than announced.
“I saw you turn down three drinks in a row,” Elphaba said finally, her voice low and teasing. “What would you do if I offered you one?”
Galinda stiffened for a fraction of a second, her fingers tightening on her glass. Her brown eyes darted to Elphaba, sharp and calculating. It was clear she was on edge, as if expecting something.
When Elphaba didn’t falter, Galinda’s gaze softened ever so slightly. “That depends,” she said, her voice smooth but cautious. “Are you just here to buy me a drink, or do you have something better in mind?”
Elphaba smirked, leaning one elbow against the bar. “I don’t do half measures. If I’m offering you a drink, it’s because I plan to make sure you enjoy it.”
Galinda studied her for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as though searching for some hidden motive. Finally, she tilted her head, her lips curving into a faint, almost reluctant smile. “You’re confident, aren’t you?”
“Only when I’ve got a good feeling,” Elphaba replied, her tone easy but deliberate. She extended a hand, the gesture as casual as it was intentional. “Elphaba.”
Galinda hesitated, her fingers brushing against her glass as she processed the introduction. Then, as though making a calculated decision, she slipped her hand into Elphaba’s. “Galinda.”
Elphaba’s expression didn’t flicker. There were no raised eyebrows and no sudden spark of recognition. She simply held Galinda’s gaze with an intensity that made her feel exposed in an entirely different way.
“Nice to meet you, Galinda,” Elphaba said, releasing her hand and settling back into her seat as though nothing about the exchange had shifted.
Galinda waited, her chest tightening slightly as silence stretched between them. It wasn’t unusual for people to recognise her name, to follow it with wide eyes or an overly eager compliment. She braced herself for it, but when Elphaba simply nodded toward the bartender to order another drink, Galinda’s breath hitched in quiet relief.
“You don’t…” she started, her voice faltering before she steadied it. “You don’t recognise me?”
Elphaba tilted her head, her brow furrowing slightly. “Should I?”
The bluntness of the response startled a soft laugh out of Galinda. It was rare, the sensation of being truly anonymous. For once, she wasn’t Galinda Upland, the famous actress; she was just a woman at a bar, having a conversation with someone who wasn’t trying to impress her or leverage her fame.
“No,” Galinda said, her voice lighter now, as if a weight had been lifted. “I suppose not.”
Elphaba leaned against the bar, her green eyes studying Galinda with quiet curiosity.
Galinda laughed again, the sound warmer this time. “Alright, Elphaba,” she said, her tension beginning to melt away. “You’ve earned yourself a shot. Impress me.”
Elphaba ordered two whiskeys, sliding one toward Galinda when they arrived. “No wine,” she said, glancing pointedly at Galinda’s barely touched glass. “Something tells me you could use a change of pace.”
Galinda tilted her head, her curiosity deepening as she reached for the glass. “Bold,” she murmured, taking a small sip. The warmth spread through her chest, and she found herself wondering, despite herself, how this stranger had managed to disarm her so completely.
The conversation flowed easily after that, their banter laced with wit and just enough flirtation to keep the tension simmering. Elphaba was clever and sharp, her dry humour keeping Galinda on her toes. And yet, there was something about her that felt grounded, authentic in a way Galinda rarely encountered. She was used to people who fawned over her, who tried too hard to impress her, but Elphaba didn’t seem to be trying at all.
As the night wore on, Galinda found herself inching closer, the space between them shrinking with each passing minute. When the music shifted to a slower, sultrier beat, Elphaba set her empty glass down and extended her hand.
“Dance with me,” she said, her voice soft but commanding.
Galinda hesitated, glancing around the bar. It wasn’t crowded, but there were enough people to make her wary. But then her gaze landed on Elphaba, and something about the way she looked at her, steady and unyielding, made Galinda take the offered hand.
“Lead the way,” she said, letting herself be pulled toward the dance floor.
For the first time that night, she forgot to worry about who might be watching.
The moment they hit the floor, Elphaba’s hands found Galinda’s waist, pulling her close. Their bodies moved in perfect rhythm, each shift and sway a wordless conversation. Galinda looped her arms around Elphaba’s neck, her fingers brushing against the smooth skin just beneath her hairline.
“I have to admit,” Galinda murmured, her lips close to Elphaba’s ear, “you’re very good at this.”
Elphaba chuckled, her hands tightening on Galinda’s hips. “I’m good at a lot of things.”
The air between them was electric, the heat building as their movements grew slower, more intimate. Elphaba’s eyes never left Galinda’s, her gaze burning with a quiet intensity. The way she moved, smooth, deliberate, left Galinda breathless.
Galinda tilted her head up, her lips dangerously close to Elphaba’s. “You’re trouble, aren’t you?” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Elphaba leaned down, her lips brushing the corner of Galinda’s mouth in the faintest of touches. “Only if you want me to be.”
It was all the invitation Galinda needed. She closed the distance between them, capturing Elphaba’s lips in a kiss that was soft at first but quickly deepened. Elphaba responded with equal fervour, her hands roaming Galinda’s back as their lips moved together in perfect sync.
The kiss was everything; hot, dizzying, and impossible to resist. Galinda’s fingers tangled in Elphaba’s hair, pulling her closer, while Elphaba’s hands explored the curve of her waist.
Galinda’s breath hitched when Elphaba leaned in, her lips brushing the shell of her ear. “I want to taste you,” Elphaba whispered, her voice thick with desire.
Galinda’s heart thundered in her chest, and for a moment, she couldn’t breathe. Then, with a boldness she didn’t know she had, she grabbed Elphaba’s hand and tugged her toward the elevator.
They barely made it into Galinda’s room before their hands were on each other again.
Elphaba pressed Galinda against the wall, her lips trailing down her neck as Galinda gasped, her hands clutching at Elphaba’s blazer. “Bed,” Galinda managed to whisper, her voice breathless.
Elphaba chuckled, letting the blonde lead the way. Galinda gasped as Elphaba pushed her down to lay on the bed, and climbed over her. Their bodies pressed together, lips finding each other again.
Elphaba’s lips moved lower, a trail of kisses pressing against Galinda’s neck, her collarbone, and the curve of her shoulder. Her hands roamed Galinda’s body with deliberate intent, fingers brushing against soft skin, igniting shivers everywhere they touched. She was calm, steady, and entirely in control, savouring every gasp and arch from the woman beneath her.
Galinda squirmed, her breaths coming faster, but Elphaba pinned her hips down with a firm grip. “Be still,” she murmured, her voice rich and low, the command sending a fresh wave of heat through Galinda. “I told you, patience.”
“Elphaba,” Galinda whimpered, her voice trembling, half-pleading, half-frustrated.
Elphaba only smirked, her dark green eyes flicking up to meet Galinda’s. “Trust me,” she said, her voice dropping even lower, smooth and sure. Without breaking her gaze, she shifted lower, her lips skimming Galinda’s stomach, then the curve of her hip.
Galinda’s breath hitched, her fingers gripping the sheets tightly as she felt Elphaba’s warm breath against her skin. Elphaba moved deliberately, her hands guiding Galinda’s thighs apart as her kisses trailed lower.
When Elphaba’s lips finally touched her, Galinda let out a sharp, broken gasp, her back arching off the bed. The sensation was overwhelming, a perfect combination of softness and intensity. Elphaba didn’t hesitate, her movements confident, as though she already knew exactly what Galinda needed, what would undo her completely.
Galinda’s fingers tangled in Elphaba’s dark hair, pulling her closer, her moans growing louder with every touch, every flick of Elphaba’s tongue. Elphaba responded with a low hum of satisfaction, the sound vibrating against Galinda’s skin and making her tremble.
“Elphaba, Oh” Galinda’s voice broke, her nails raking gently along Elphaba’s shoulders as the tension in her body built to a breaking point.
Elphaba didn’t let up, her pace deliberate and unrelenting, her hands gripping Galinda’s thighs to keep her steady as she unraveled beneath her. Galinda’s cries filled the room, her body arching one final time before she shattered, pleasure crashing over her in waves so powerful she thought she might never catch her breath.
Elphaba stayed with her through every moment, her movements slowing until Galinda’s body finally stilled. Then, she kissed her way back up, her lips brushing over Galinda’s stomach, her collarbone, her jaw, before capturing her lips again in a deep, languid kiss.
Galinda sighed into the kiss, her body still trembling slightly as her fingers caressed Elphaba’s face. She pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, her own eyes heavy-lidded and dazed. “You’re… unbelievable,” she whispered, her voice hoarse from her cries.
Elphaba smirked, brushing a strand of hair from Galinda’s flushed face. “I told you I’m good at a lot of things,” she said softly, her voice still laced with quiet confidence.
Galinda let out a breathless laugh, shaking her head slightly. “You’re impossible.”
Elphaba chuckled, settling beside her and pulling Galinda against her chest. “And you’re a pleasure,” she murmured, her lips brushing against Galinda’s temple.
They lay tangled together in the warm aftermath, Galinda’s head resting on Elphaba’s shoulder, their breaths slowly evening out. Elphaba’s hand stroked lazy circles on Galinda’s back, her gaze fixed on the ceiling as a small, satisfied smile played on her lips.
Galinda glanced up at her, her own smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “So, what’s next?” she asked teasingly, her voice soft.
Elphaba smirked down at her, her hand sliding lower to rest against the curve of Galinda’s waist. “That depends,” she said, her tone almost predatory. “Can you handle another round?”
Galinda’s laugh turned into a gasp as Elphaba leaned in again, her lips finding hers with renewed fervour, proving that the night was far from over. She kissed Galinda deeply, taking her time as if to savour the moment. Her lips were soft but insistent, her tongue teasing just enough to coax a sigh of contentment from the blonde beneath her. When they finally parted, Galinda’s chest rose and fell heavily, her fingers trailing lightly over Elphaba’s jaw.
But instead of letting the moment settle, Galinda’s eyes gleamed with a sudden spark of determination. With a gentle push to Elphaba’s shoulder, she rolled them over, her body now draped over Elphaba’s.
Elphaba raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Taking charge now, are we?”
Galinda leaned down, her lips brushing against Elphaba’s in a soft kiss before she smirked. “You think you’re the only one who knows how to make someone feel good?”
Elphaba opened her mouth to respond, but her words caught in her throat as Galinda’s hand slid down, brushing along the smooth skin of her stomach before venturing lower. Her teasing smirk melted into something softer, more focused, as her fingers found their mark.
Elphaba’s breath hitched, her sharp green eyes fluttering shut as Galinda’s touch sent a wave of heat through her. “Alright,” Elphaba managed, her voice low and strained, “I’ll admit, I’m curious.”
Galinda laughed softly, pressing a kiss to Elphaba’s neck as her fingers moved with slow, deliberate precision. “I’ll make sure it’s worth your while,” she whispered, her voice filled with confidence now.
Elphaba groaned softly, her hands gripping the sheets as Galinda’s touch became more assured. She felt two fingers push inside her and her body start to rock against them. Galinda kept her movements steady, her fingers learning every little reaction, every quiet gasp and sharp inhale, drawing Elphaba deeper into the moment.
“I’m close,” Elphaba murmured, her voice strained and husky, her hands finding Galinda’s shoulders as she arched beneath her.
“I’ve got you,” Galinda whispered back, her lips brushing against Elphaba’s jaw. She kept her pace, her confidence growing with every shiver and tremble of the woman beneath her.
Elphaba’s control, so steady and unshakable in nearly every other situation, slipped completely under Galinda’s touch. Her breath grew ragged, her voice breaking as she finally shattered, her body trembling as waves of pleasure overtook her.
Galinda didn’t pull away immediately, her touch gentling as she guided Elphaba through the aftershocks. When Elphaba finally stilled, her breaths coming slow and deep, Galinda pressed a soft kiss to her lips, smiling as she settled beside her.
As the two of them lay tangled in the sheets, the room quiet except for their soft breathing, Galinda propped herself up on one elbow. Her fingers lazily played with the collar of Elphaba’s shirt, which was now discarded beside the bed.
“Wow,” Galinda said lightly, her voice still a little breathless.
“Yeah,” Elphaba replied, her green skin glowing faintly in the dim light as a small smirk played at her lips.
Galinda laughed softly, brushing her blonde hair out of her face. She hesitated for a moment, her fingers trailing absently across Elphaba’s shoulder, before adding, “I don’t usually do this, though.”
Elphaba arched a brow, her smirk widening. “Bring strangers from hotels back to your room, you mean?”
Galinda rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. “Something like that.” She leaned back onto the pillows, exhaling as she let the moment settle. “But tonight was… different.” Her gaze flicked toward Elphaba, a glint of something playful in her eyes. “You’re not like anyone else I’ve met before. You had this… confidence. I couldn’t help myself.”
Elphaba chuckled, her smirk softening into something more genuine. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Don’t let it go to your head,” Galinda replied, smirking as she settled deeper into the pillows. “You just… caught me at the right moment.”
Elphaba hummed in agreement, shifting to lie more comfortably beside her. “Right moment or not, I’m glad you let me buy you that drink.”
Galinda smirked, glancing over at her. “I didn’t let you do anything. I could’ve walked away, you know.”
“Mm, sure,” Elphaba said, her voice teasing.
For a moment, they lay in silence, the warmth of the night settling between them. Galinda’s eyes fluttered shut, her body sinking into the bed. But when Elphaba began to shift, her movements slow as she reached for her discarded clothes, Galinda’s voice cut through the quiet.
“Hey,” Galinda murmured, her tone soft but deliberate. “You’re not leaving, are you?”
Elphaba paused, her hand hovering over her shirt. She turned slightly to look at Galinda, a flicker of surprise in her expression. “I wasn’t planning on sticking around, no,” she said, voice a little softer than usual.
Galinda’s eyes met hers, the quiet confidence still there but laced with something more vulnerable. “Stay.”
Elphaba regarded her for a moment, something unspoken passing between them. Then, with a slight chuckle, she dropped her shirt back onto the floor, the tension easing in her shoulders. “Alright, alright. I’ll stay. Just don’t make me regret it.”
Galinda smiled, her eyes already closing as she settled back into the warmth of the bed. “I won’t.”
Elphaba shifted back onto the bed, curling up beside Galinda once more. The room fell silent again, but this time, there was no urgency, no need to fill the space. It was just them, and for the first time all night, there was no rush.