Chapter 2. The boyfriend's back

He smiled at her with that same wonderfully cocky smile he'd graced her with on their first meeting. "So…do I get my second chance or do I leave you with that octopus in the front hall?"

Sarah grabbed the lapels of his jacket, and was just now realizing he was not dressed like he had been in the Labyrinth. "You wouldn't!"

He gaze softened, "No," he admitted. "I wouldn't." His eyes were dazzling as they held her attention. "I do however want that second chance."

She peered past him, back toward the front hall and the boy still fuming there. "You've got it." She said quickly, and then looked up at him. "But no funny stuff, understand? No tricks."

"My word of honor," He mused as he followed her back toward the hall. He stood quietly waiting for Sarah to take the lead.

"Jareth, this is Kent Davis, he's the son of one of my Father's clients." She looked at the boy with a challenging look. "Kent this is Jareth, the man I was telling you about."

"Your boy friend?" Kent didn't seem as impressed as he had been when the man walked in.

"Boyfriend," Mused Jareth softly. "I prefer the term beau."

Sarah wondered how in the world she was going to explain this to her parents. "As I said before, Kent I was expecting him to drop by."

"You often have men drop in when you're babysitting?" Kent asked insultingly.

Jareth answered for her, "No, she does not." He placed his hands on her shoulders. "She was raised better than that."

Sarah looked up in wonder and gave him a pleased look, "Thank you."

"Your welcome," He smiled back.

Sarah looked at Kent, she wondered if she could shove him out the door. Kent was staring at them and the easy way they seemed to have in dealing with each other.

"So how long have you been seeing Sarah?" Kent interrogated.

Amused, the Goblin King decided to play the game being dealt by the boy. "Oh we've only been seeing each other for a few weeks… but I was aware of Sarah long before that." He teased. "We have mutual friends."

"Really?" Kent felt he'd caught the man in a lie, as he had been told Sarah had no friends. "And who would that be?"

Jareth, realizing the boy was seeing him as a rival, went into battle mode. "I'm sure the names of our friends would mean nothing to you, but if you really must know there's our friend Hoggle, our friend Didymus and Alfee."

"Didymus," Kent repeated, "Sounds Greek." He said in a slur and wandered back into the parlor to take a seat.

Sarah looked up at Jareth, "What now?" she mouthed.

"Follow my lead," He mouthed back following the lad into the parlor, he took a seat on the sofa. His hand reached up and he pulled Sarah to sit beside him. "As I said, I doubt that you would know the same people Sarah and I do. Her mother, Linda was very active in the arts council before her career took off. She was also a member of the Historical Society as is Sarah."

Kent was even less impressed. "Yes, nice little clubs for geeks." He took on airs of superiority. "I've never had to bother with that, much too busy with a real social life if you know what I mean." Again he made a comment directed at Jareth's age. "I'd have thought someone of your… age… would prefer something less… naïve and simple."

Jareth laughed, "Is that how you see Sarah?" He was amused that the boy thought he could strike at him.

"She's not exactly the most… expirecanced girl." Kent observed.

"There's a difference in being expirecanced and being complex." Jareth countered. "Sarah is most… complex." He mused. "She's a physiological Labyrinth."

Sarah shivered, and wished they would both just disappear. But she knew better than to voice the thought. Jareth was libel to take her at her word. "How are things at the office?" she asked trying to change the subject.

"Peachy," Jareth teased as he slipped his hand into his jacket. "Sarah, I've brought you…a gift."

Sarah, startled shook her head, "no…" she whispered.

He shook his head, and instead of the item she feared, he pulled out a small velvet case. "Just a little something I saw and thought would look wonderful on you, my dear." He passed the cast to her hands and ignored the boy.

"Jareth," She opened the little velvet box, inside she found a small pendant image of a castle. The charm had been made with great care of the finest silver and was a perfect copy of the Castle beyond the Goblin City at the center of the Labyrinth. "Oh," she held it up to the light. "It's so …beautiful…"

Jareth took the long sliver chain attached to the pendant and placed it around her neck. "I thought you'd like it." He said contentedly. He watched as it slid into the opening of her shirt and disappeared into the crease between her breasts.

Sarah turned to him, her fingers touching it and a bush coming to her cheeks. "Thank you."

"I had no idea you were still such a child," Kent mused. "Still dreaming of castles in the sky, Sarah?"

Slowly, owlishly Jareth turned his all seeing eyes on the boy. "You have a problem with that?"

"Only in that it's stupid." Kent huffed. "She's got to get her head out of the clouds some time."

Jareth took hold of the trembling fingers of the girls hand without even looking. "No she doesn't." He said coldly. "But then perhaps you are too…mundane… to understand a creative being like our Sarah."

"Our Sarah?" Kent leaned forward.

"I include her other friends when I say our." Jareth smoothed his explanation. "Sarah is a very special girl."

Kent laughed, the sound was brash and sullied, and bordered on immoral. "I'll bet she is."

Sarah had a sudden urge to rip the eyes of the young man from their sockets. "Would anyone like a cool drink? Karen has some spiced cider in the fridge." She offered needing an excuse to exit the room swiftly before she uttered a wish.

"Cider would be lovely." Jareth released her hand.

Kent said nothing but nodded as he glared at Jareth. When the girl exited the room he looked at the man and asked, "So, just how friendly have you two gotten? I've been told she's an iceberg."

Jareth was astounded that the boy would make such a suggestive remark. He was offended for Sarah that the boy wanted to cheapen her virtue. "My relationship with Sarah is very private, to both of us." He warned.

"Come on, man." Kent jeered. "It's just us guys now… tell me….is she hot? Does she writhe? Does she scream… she looks like a screamer to me…" His eyes lit up with arousal and the chance to hear something juicy.

Jareth for a moment gave the questions thought, more than he'd have liked to admit to. He could see the boy was aroused. He looked toward the kitchen, and watched the girl pouring glasses of the beverage she offered. "Hot, oh yes…" He muttered. "She's hot." He felt his breathing decelerate and deepen. He smiled a wickedly knowing smile. "Hotter than you could ever imagine, boy."

Kent also looked toward the kitchen.

Jareth watched her graceful moves. "You would not believe what she can do." He hissed.

Kent gulped, had he miss judged the girl? Was the innocents everyone saw only an act? He looked over at the man, and wondered if he could trust what was being told to him.

Jareth leaned back, "That my boy, is no mere girl… That's an Amazon!" he praised.

Sarah entered the room, served the glasses the way Karen was always telling her to do, and noticed the intent look Kent was watching her with. She took her seat beside Jareth again and wondered what had transpired between the two. She looked at Jareth with suspicion. He raised his cider glass and toasted her silently. Now she was sure he was up to something and she was going to regret having claimed he was her boyfriend.

Kent sipped nervously. "Thanks." He muttered.

Sarah looked at Jareth and mouthed. "What did you do?"

Jareth gave her an innocent smile and asked how Toby was.

Sarah stood up, "I really should check on him."

"I'll do it." Jareth offered but remained seated.

"No you won't!" Sarah held her hand out, in warning. "I'll see to him." She headed for the stair and paused. "Jareth…" she looked at him and gave a silent warning. Praying he'd heed, she quickly went up the stairs and down the hall to her brother's nursery. She sat down on the guest bed that was still set up in the nursery.

Karen had spent the first few weeks after Toby was born in this room. Sarah had never given it much thought until tonight. She wondered if it had been a difficult delivery, and why Karen had cried so much of the time when they'd brought her home. She sat on the bed watching her baby brother sleep the sleep of an innocent. His little face relaxed and peaceful, beside tucked up close was Lancelot. She recalled the look of shock on Karen's face two weeks ago when she announced she'd given her beloved bear to the boy.

She moved to the crib and looked over the rail. "This was suppose to be my room." She whispered to him softly. "My grown up girl room… with a grown up bed." She looked over at the four posters that mimicked the one in her parent's room. "I don't mind that I'm not going to get it, not now… I've got you…" She stroked his hair, softly. "And I'll never let anything harm you, again…not even my hurtful words."

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Kent waited until Sarah was up the stairs. "Are her boobs real?" he asked needing to know.

Jareth would have liked to tell the boy to go to hell; in fact he would have liked to have sent him there. He was not sure what devil it was that made him answer the boy with a low dangerous growling, "oh yeah." The boys face went slack, and Jareth was sure he detected drool at the corner of his mouth.

Like the weasel he really was, Kent peered up the stairs, seeing no movement he looked back at Jareth, his eyes alive with craving for something forbidden. "Have you," He looked up the stairs again to be sure the girl was not on her way down. "You know…" His hand formed a claw and began to squeeze the air suggestively. His face eager for information, he smiled wickedly.

Jareth looked at the boy, wanting on one hand to throttle him, and on the other to drive him insane. "What do you think?" He asked quietly.

"Oh man!" He looked up the stairs again. "Oh God," He moaned aroused by the girl who was not even present. "Just tell me, are they …soft?"

"Little love pillows." Jareth said lowering his voice. He noticed that there was a strange feeling of superiority he was sensing. He quickly reminded himself that this was all subterfuge, that he had not molested Sarah. Not that he didn't want to on the contrary the opportunity had not presented itself. Now he was wondering how fast he could get rid of this unwanted competitor and give opportunity a chance. He looked at the over active gland that called itself a human male, "Listen, how bout you make yourself scare and give me some quality time with my girl?"

Kent nodded, "Yeah, I know how it is, want private time without parents looking over your shoulder." He reached for the phone. "Let me make on call, and I'll be out of your hair." He dialed and when someone answered he purred. "Hello baby doll, want to play dirty games?" he heard a giggle and said into the speaker of the phone. "I'll be there in ten minutes." Hanging up he looked at Jareth. "Good luck man, hope you score." He headed for the front door. "Have Sarah tell my folks I remembered plans I'd already made."

Jareth loosed the jacket by unfasten his buttons. "I'll do that." He relaxed as he heard the boy walk down the block. "Alone at last," He murmured and looked up the stairs. "Come on down, Sarah." He whispered.

Sarah wondered how long she'd been standing there staring at the baby. She began to fret about what was going on in the parlor and after making sure the bed was tucked up tightly she exited and went down stairs. When she saw only the Goblin King on the couch she worried all over again. "Where's Kent?" She asked in a quiet voice.

"Gone." Jareth said with a sneaky smile.

"Gone where?" She squeaked.

He laughed. "That's charming my dear." He teased. "He left."

"On his own?" She looked toward the door, then back at the Goblin King.

"Of course on his own… no one wished him away… well not out loud, though I admit I came close to uttering the dreaded words..." He teased. "He made a call to someone he called 'Baby Doll' and then left. He plans on getting lucky."

Sarah looked back at the door. "Swear it; swear he left on his own."

Jareth gave her a wounded look. "Sarah."

She sunk to the seat beside him, "I'm sorry…forget I said that."

"On one condition," He sniffed.

"What condition?" She began to edge away from him. Too late she remembered who it was she was dealing with here.

Seeing her reaction he whispered, "Wise move, little girl." He had already turned, his knee was on the seat cushion and a predatory expression filled his eyes, "But a little late." He moved like a bird of prey and she was ensnared in his arms. "Now," He breathed at her ear sending icy shivers up and down her spine. "Say it again, and this time, mean it."

"Say what?" she gasped for air as he pressed her into the cushions.

"That I'm your boyfriend." He purred.

"I only said that so he'd leave me alone…" she protested as his mouth toyed with her ear.

"It worked," He said softly. "So say it again."

"Jareth," she squeaked as his teeth took hold of the soft skin of her lobe.

"Say it," he teased.

"Ah god… not fair..." she moaned softly.

"No, not fair." He agreed. "What's said is said, and I want to hear it again from these oh so tempting lips." He nuzzled her neck, "Say it."

"No way," she squeaked. "I'm not calling you my boyfriend."

"But Sarah," He moaned teasingly. "You already have."

She groaned exasperatedly, "You tricked me."

Nodding he nuzzled her again; "Now stop struggling." He urged.

She paused, "Why?"

"So I can give you a proper hello kiss…" he lowered his face to hers, when but a breath away he smiled, "The boyfriend's back." He crushed her lips with his, enjoying the renewed weak struggles of the girl wiggling enticingly within his grasp. Capturing her wrists in his grasp, he pulled her arms over her head and kissed her until she shivered deliciously. Her sweet mouth parted and he gained access. Snakelike, his tongue darted to where he was sure no other had ventured. She tasted young, sweet, tender and innocent. He raised his head, and smiled. "That was very nice." He teased.

Sarah looked up at him, "What are you doing here?" she moaned.

"I told you, I came to rescue my girl." He released her wrists and sat up. "The least you could do is be… grateful."

Grateful she thought to her self, that's a laugh. "I don't trust you!" She announced hotly coming up from the cushions. Her face flushed with color as she stared at him. "You can leave now."

"I don't think so." He said putting his feet up on Karen's coffee table. "Someone has to stay here and protect you."

"From what?" she demanded. "The danger is gone, he left!"

"Someone has to protect you from you." He lounged lazily eyeing her like a peach. "I'm volunteering."

Sarah stared in disbeleife at the man she knew was the Goblin King. "You're crazy!"

"Undoubtedly," He agreed with a faint smile. "Now, Sarah, how shall we pass… our hours together?"

His eyes made suggestions, and Sarah found herself giving them consideration much to her bewilderment. Color rose to a deep red in her cheeks with the thoughts. She looked at his mouth, and for an instant toyed with the idea of begging him to kiss her again. "Pass the hours?" she repeated.

"Yes, my little echo." He nodded and caressed her face with one hand. "How shall we pass the hours? Were we in my Kingdom I'd have any number of fascinating ways to entertain you."

Sarah remembered his Kingdom, and fascinating ways to entertain was not how she'd refer to it. "At least I won't drop you down an oubliette." She leaned back on her elbows, her legs on top of his.

"I'm fond of the oubliette." He commented with a smirk.

"Oh yes, wonderful spots," she snapped sarcastically. "I highly recommend them! If you want to forget somebody!"

"Sarah," His hand rested lightly on her leg sliding upward. "I could never forget you."

She looked at the hand dangerously near going into the skirt. "Watch the hands Highness!" She snapped.

"Someday, little girl, you're going to beg me." He warned.

"Well this is not the day." She shook her leg, "Move it or lose it."

"Little spitfire." He teased, instead of moving his hand away, he clamped it down on her kneecap and refused to move.

"You are the most stubborn man I've ever known!" she growled.

His eyes filled with mirth. "Sarah, darling, I'm the only man you've ever known."