AN: Hehe! Let's just say, when you're a couple and want to have a little...fun, make sure to check the area before doing anything frisky.
Sally shifted in her sleep. Her mind was starting to wake, but she felt so comfortable. She snuggled into her pillow. Just a few more minutes, she thought.
Then, something caught her attention. Her pillow felt harder than normal. She tried to move but something had her pinned to the bed. Carefully, Sally slid her hand over the pillow under her. A chill made her halt in her actions. The cold made her shiver, drawing the last of her consciousness from sleep. Sally opened her eyes.
The room was dark, the fire gone out sometime late in the night. The small bit of light told her it was nearly dawn. Another small chill made her burrow deeper into the warmth of the blanket. She remembered that the window had come loose during the night, the likely culprit for the fireplace going out. It was too cold to leave the bed, so she surveyed her surroundings from her spot.
Sally knew she was not in her room, she could see that despite the darkness. She was in Jack's room. In Jack's bed. She looked over her shoulder to find herself in Jack's arms. His bare arms!
Sally slipped from his embrace and pushed herself up. Jack turned, still sound asleep, and lay on his front with his head facing the other side. Sally let her eyes roam over her lover's exposed back. His shoulders blades and the bones around his neck displayed small pale, off-white marks. She first thought they were bruises. Looking closer, she could see that the markings were not as gray as the last time she remembered Jack bruising himself, though the ones around his neck were a much darker, ashy-gray than his shoulders. In fact, as she examined them more, they almost looked like… Then she remembered; they were bite marks. Her bite marks.
Looking down, Sally saw Jack wasn't the only one bare. Her hair acted as a covering, though it was a mess and she felt a little sore yet wonderful all at once. She looked down at her own body. Small dark blemishes covered the upper part of her chest and collar. She wondered if her back resembled Jack's. She brushed her hand over her neck and found the area, as well as her shoulders contained similar marks as well. She recalled Jack had been especially eager along where her arteries would have been. Curious, Sally continued to examine her body.
Moving aside her hair, she saw the bite marks continued down the valley of her breasts. She pulled the blanket back to find they continued further. Her cheeks warmed as more marks traced along the curves of her hips, making a trail down to her thighs. Even her inner thigh had not escaped Jack's branding.
So last night really did happen. We really… The feeling that came over her was overwhelming. She never thought she could feel so loved and cherished. She starting to recall the events of last night.
Jack had been so gentle with her. She remembered how his fingers ran threw her hair, and the way his hands caressed her. It was though he needed to ensure ever inch of her was tended to, right down to the last stitch. And when they came together… Sally could not believe how…how… Oh, words could not even begin to describe how much she loved this man!
She gently looked down at her skeletal lover. He was still asleep, a dreamy smile on his lips.
He must be tired after last night, she thought with a small chuckle. She leaned down and kissed his cheek, making his sleepy grin widen. Seeing as it was still early, Sally turned so her back was facing him and lowered herself back onto the bed. She then reached behind her and pulled Jack's arm over and scooted back, tucking his arm around her body. In his sleepy state, Jack pulled her closer against him, nuzzling his skull against her back.
Sally sighed. The blissful feeling enveloped her, and she closed her eyes to savor the warmth of Jack's bones pressed to her cloth. She let out a sigh of content and closed her eyes.
Light from the dawn poured into the window, and the crow of the skeletal rooster sounded from the open window. Sally cracked open her eyes and frowned. It was too early to get up.
She wasn't the only one to think so.
A low groan was heard before Sally was startled by a large fireball shooting out the window. A frightened squawk and some kind of clunking sound followed after. She didn't understand until she felt more than heard the deep chuckle against her shoulder.
"That nuisance bird…" Jack murmured sleepily. "Don't get why it can't use someone else's house as its perch…" He yawned impressively, displaying both rows of fangs as he arched his back, joints popping. Jack sighed in satisfaction and proceeded to burrow his skull in Sally's hair.
"Sleep well, my bride…" he lovingly whispered, gently squeezing her waist in hopes of not waking her, and shut his sockets again with a deep, blissful sigh.
Sally giggled. She couldn't help it, he was just too cute! "Jack…" she softly called. "Don't you have a meeting with the Mayor to discuss plans for the Forth of July celebration?"
The abrupt choked snort that Jack let out disturbed the regaining silence of their room, his skull shooting up so fast it would make anyone dizzy if they were in his place.
"Meeting with the Mayor?!" he rapidly questioned, sockets huge in panic as he rifled through his suddenly clear mind. "But that's not until next–" Jack stopped, mouth snapping shut, and shot a dirty look at a certain rag doll who was doing a poor job at hiding her amusement behind a lip-bitten smile.
His brow arched. "Now that wasn't very nice…"
"Sorry, couldn't help it." She giggled. Turning slightly, she leaned over her shoulder and kissed his nose. "Morning, love."
He grumbled, but lost the battle with his smile once she kissed him. Though it didn't stop him from giving her his two cents.
"Oh yes, what a way to wake up. The image of the Mayor with megaphone a'blaring, bursting into my bedroom while I'm naked as the day I was born is exactly what I want my mind stewing up first thing in the morning…" His words droll, but his hands lively with the caresses they gave along her stomach and down her hips. "Plus, add the fact that he'd get an eyeful of the beautiful and very, very bare future Queen in said bed with me."
Jack boldly pressed himself completely against Sally's back after grabbing her hips, relishing the airy gasp she gave from him pulling her back while he moved forward. Removing one hand from her curves, Jack carefully pushed away the locks of hair covering her ear, and placed them behind it as he spoke.
"And personally, I have no desire to share such a heavenly sight with anyone." He growled, forked tongue tasting the spot just underneath her ear.
"Jack… We just woke up!"
"I'm sorry, Sally, but can you really blame me for wanting you?" He laughed, smirking into the open-mouth kisses he lavished upon the spot underneath her ear and following with her jawline.
"Besides, I seem to recall you literally jumping my bones last night quite a few times. Don't tell me that after all that teasing, pressing your body against mine, and popping open button after button was all for show?" Jack taunted cheekily, brow cocked and sockets twinkling in challenge as she peeked at him from over her shoulder.
"Oh, you devil, you're incorrigible." She turned around and pressed her lips to his. She giggled into the kiss as she felt Jack wrap his arms around her and pulled her on top of him. She began kneading his ribs, deepening the kiss while her legs came up to hook around his hipbone.
Jack groaned and chuckled into her kiss, hands massaging her upper back as he held her tighter.
"You're not much better, darling," he growled, catching her lower lip gently between his. "If I'm the Devil, then I guess that makes you my very own fallen angel…" He grinned like the devil himself, and with a hand cupping the back of her head, kissed her passionately.
Sally let him deepen the kiss a tad longer before pulling back, resting her forehead against his. "Jack, as much as I'm enjoying this–" She had to grab his hands, stilling them from their very distracting journey down her hips to her rear. "I should warn you that the window is wide open," she said with a smirk. "So unless you want to risk someone getting quite the show, your majesty, we should really do something about that."
Peeking over Sally's shoulder, Jack shot the seemly innocent window a rather annoyed pout for a few moments before sighing. "Yeah, I guess so…"
He sat up after Sally rolled off of him, though not before she teased him by purposely pressing herself very close on his body that it made his thoughts swim. Jack looked at her longingly, a pitiful pout on his mouth even as he stuck his legs out from under the sheets and swung them over the side.
When she sassily blew a kiss and winked at him, Jack childishly stuck his forked tongue out at her, making her burst out in laughter after throwing the extra quilt at him.
"Oh, so mature," Jack playfully mocked, rolling his eye sockets at her as he wrapped the quilt around himself toga-style, leaving one skeletal shoulder bare.
Sally gave an approving whistle. Jack went with it, strutting over to the window with all the swagger of a prized racehorse. He closed it, turned around, and much to his surprise, Sally was standing at the foot of the bed. She was wrapped in a sheet, hiding the curves he had become well acquainted with last night. He couldn't help but gaze upon her and just marvel at the woman before him.
"Babydoll, what are you doing?"
"Jack, you weren't planning on staying in bed all day, were you?"
"Well…" He grinned crookedly, wagging his brows.
"Never mind." Sally giggled. "I wasn't kidding about the meeting with the Mayor, you know," she continued while searching for her clothes. Her dress was still behind the curtain, but she couldn't find her undergarments. She tried over by the fireplace and under the bed. "Remember, you both agreed to get a head start on them as the wedding would be in June, and with two weeks for our honeymoon, we wouldn't be back in time."
"Yes, now I remember," Jack muttered, snapping his fingers. "Then again, making love to the most beautiful female creature all night is bound to make any man's memory a bit foggy…" He smiled innocently at the look Sally shot him, and taking a page from her book, winked cheekily.
"Oh, I give up!" Sally huffed and walked to the door, holding her dress in one hand while clutching the sheet to her chest with the other. "So, seeing as how we're both up, I'm going to my room to grab a change of clothes, and then I'm going downstairs to make us some breakfast. You can join me whenever you're ready." She grabbed her dress and turning so her back was to him, she let the sheet drop. She tried not to laugh as she slid the dress over her body. She knew Jack was watching, so she went a little slower than usual, even sashaying her hips a little.
Jack groaned and laughed shakily. "I can't tell if I love that dress even more…or if I'm jealous of it."
Once her dress was on, Sally turned to the side and blew Jack another kiss before leaving the room.
"Evil temptress!" Jack called after her and chuckled to himself, shaking his skull of the sexy image burned into his sockets.
Walking over to the tall wardrobe across from his bed, Jack dropped his makeshift toga and began picking out what he needed. He plucked a fresh shirt and dress pants from one of the racks, and opened a pair of drawers for his socks and boxers.
And speaking of boxers… Jack's sockets searched along the floor of his room as he finished buttoning his pants, giving his belt one last tug before getting off his bed. He checked behind some of his furniture and even under the bed and rug, but found nothing. He scratched his skull in thought, sockets drifting upward to ponder where else they could be when he nearly choked on his own laughter.
There on the legs of the metal tarantula chandelier hung his boxers from last night, the spiderweb print making the location especially ironic. What made the scene more comical was the fact that on the next leg over hung Sally's cotton panties.
They had been a little… "hasty" in their need to do away with the last barriers separating them. The passion and anticipation of finally being together as a man and woman had made them erupt in a frenzy of kisses and caresses, moans and bites. Obviously, they hadn't been very mindful of the few bits of clothing they were still wearing—the scattered buttons on the floor and new "decor" on the chandelier were proof of that.
With a mischievous smirk, Jack quickly climbed up on his bed, using it as an extra boost so that the chandelier was in easier reach, and carefully unhooked their underwear. That smirk of his growing all the more as he reflected on the events from last night. The only reason he could figure how exactly their unmentionables had ended up on the light fixture was because a certain doll had blindly thrown them out of the bed after squealing in surprise when he ripped open the shirt—his shirt—that she wore.
Jack hopped off his bed and walked over to the hamper, tossing his boxers into the wicker basket, and was about to throw Sally's in as well, when he paused. He took another look at the garment and couldn't help half smiling as he recalled the first glance he had of them last night. White in color but with thin strips of black—almost a reverse pattern to his own infamous formal attire.
Jack had no idea where she had gotten these. Although Halloween Town did have quite a number of businesses ranging from an inn to a general store, and even a post office—his horrible kingdom did not however have much in clothing unless handmade, ordered by catalog, or through foreign trade.
Suddenly, a very devilish smile crosses his boney lips. He took a quick glance down at the fresh shirt and socks laid out on his bed, and walked out of his room with a rascal's stride towards the stairs.
"Perhaps I'll just have to ask her…"
Meanwhile, outside Skellington Manor, an odd pair was walking up the steps with an excited ghost pup circling them. He led the duo to the house where the smaller of the two use a key to unlock the front door. She held it open so her partner could carry his burden inside without fail.
Zero flew in beside him, happily wagging his sheet. "Arf, arf!"
Will laughed. "Okay Zero. I'm happy to bring you back, but keep it down," she shushed. "Jack and Sally might still be asleep." She then looked to her pack mule. "Alright, hand over the goods."
Puck chuckled. "As you wish, my tiny tyrant." He handed the boxes over to her and watched as she made her way to the kitchen. "You sure this is okay, Will?"
"Don't be such a fraidy-bat," she said, shifting the packages. "Sally gave me permission as long as I wait in the living room for them. Besides, I do really want to apologize to Jack."
Zero and Puck followed after Will as she walked into the kitchen. She set the boxes down and turned back to Puck. "I mean, Jack seemed pretty steamed last night. Maybe Al and I went a little too far."
"Arf!"
"Hey! No need to rub it in, smart guy," Will said. "Besides, I'm here to apologize and make up for going into little sister mode."
Zero huffed and flew up to her side. He nudged his nose against the item she had placed on the table. "Arf?"
"What? It's a peace offering," she explained. "I still can't believe we found the one Starbucks that makes seasonal drinks year-round. Thanks again for the inside tip, Puck."
Puck chuckled. "My pleasure. Truthfully, there are over thirty-five drinks they make special if asked, but I didn't realize no one didn't know about them."
"Lucky we ran into you, literally."
"Yes, that was quite the surprise." Puck chuckled. "I never imagined I'd see both you and Zero in Portland, but once you explained your plan, I was happy to assist."
"Yeah, that was a happy accident, huh?" They both laughed, making Zero roll his eye sockets.
Truthfully, the pup had been happy to go with Will when she suggested getting breakfast for his master and mistress. Jack would love the chance to try something new, and Sally would enjoy something sweet to eat. Will suggested a favorite donut shop of hers, and while they walked, she had accidentally run into the young vampire. Puck had apparently had been visiting relatives and was sent on an errand to purchase the delightful confections as well. Will helped him order, and after dropping of the treats, Puck suggested taking Will to coffee as gratitude for the assist. She complied and also picked up drinks for Jack and Sally. After that, and seeing as Will struggled to carry all her purchases, Puck had kindly offered to help her carry them and to the boy's surprise, Will allowed it.
Zero couldn't help snickering. No matter how much Will denied it, the ghost pup sensed a much stronger bond than friendship between the mortal and vampire. Even now as they playfully bantered back and forth, they seemed to be very close.
"Alright, enough horsing around," Will said. "Unless you want to face the wrath of waking a tired Pumpkin King, help me get everything set out."
As Will unloaded the different cups, Zero perked up and flew out of the room. Will looked up and spotted Sally. "Morning Sleeping Beauty!"
"Oh goodness!" Sally clutched her chest and stared at her in disbelief. "What-What are you doing here?"
"Surprise! I brought coffee." Will help out a cup to Sally. "Your favorite, spiced pumpkin latte," she added, then looked to the other cups. "And I got a Candy Cane Frappuccino for Jack, and I even got Zero a little treat. It's my way of apologizing for getting impish last night. And since Zero had to sleep over, I'm guessing things got a little heated around here too."
"Y-You might say that." Sally felt her face heat up. She really hadn't been expecting company, let alone Will. She tightened her hand around the collar of her robe. She had tried finding something to cover up Jack's love bites, but everything in her wardrobe either was too warm or showed too much. So she had settled on her black satin robe. Not exactly the attire one greets guests in—Will maybe, but certainly not the godson of the Vampire Brothers!
"Apologies Sally, we didn't mean to intrude," Puck said, blushing a little. "If this is a bad time…"
"Oh, I'm sorry, it's just… Well, you've definitely caught me off guard…"
"My fault," Will interrupted. "I might've taken your offer to come over any time a little too literal. I hoped that if you and Jack weren't awake yet, I'd leave my surprise and an apology note."
"Oh Will, that's so sweet of you," Sally said, "but that really wasn't necessary."
"I know but I wanted too. And look, we brought food too!" She pointed to two pink boxes on the table. While the pink color was striking, Sally was curious as to the design featuring illustrations of voodoo priests.
"The smaller one is for you and Jack. If Al found out I went to Voodoo Donuts without her, she'd hunt me down and gut me like a fish," Will continued. "I wasn't sure what to get, so I got you a Diablos Rex and Mexican Hot Chocolate for Jack, and then I thought you'd each love a voodoo doll."
Sally looked up curiously. "Voodoo doll?"
"Yeah, it's their signature donut." Will reached into the other box and pulled out a donut. The top had been given arms and was decorated with a frighten face, and there was a stick poking out of the center. "See! And the inside is filled with a raspberry jelly blood for added effect. That's the best part!"
Puck smirked. "Seems you've had a bit of vampire in you beforehand."
"Oh shush, you!" She swatted his arm. "At least this wasn't my first time to Voodoo Donuts. You thought it was some kind of cult the moment we walked in."
"It seemed like it, but as I said before," Puck explained, "my sister-in-law is the one who sent me out while my brother attended a conference. She only told me I needed to pay with cash, not what ind of decor the place had, or some of the rather vulgarly named pastries they had."
"Whatever. I'm not the one to order an ODB." She smirked and stuck her tongue out him. "Perfect donut for you, old man."
"Hey!"
Sally laughed. "Now Will, that wasn't too nice."
"One, made you laugh, so it was funny," Will said through a smirk. "Two, this vamp's fault he ordered the one thing on the menu called the Old Dirty Bastard. He practically walked into it!"
"Oh, come on! I'm not some disgusting cradle robber," Puck defended.
Sally smiled. Deciding to take pity on him, she walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. As I've told Jack many times, age isn't a number. You're not old, you're timeless."
"Thank you, Sally." Puck turned to Will. "Now I see why you needed such a feast to apologize. You truly are an imp!"
Will snickered and gave him a wink. "Three older brothers, Puck. Being a brat comes natural."
"Honestly, you're almost as bad as Lock, Shock, and Barrel."
"Aaaah! Why you say that?" She cringed. "I'm nothing like those little devils, plus, they've been...better since Jack made them scrape out all the decaying fungus in the Underground Burial Chamber."
Sally laughed. "Oh, believe you me. Those three may have been reformed, but they still get in plenty of mischief. Why just the other day…"
Will tried to listen but as Sally continued to speak, but she noticed that her friend seemed to be touching her neck a lot. She tried to remain upright in her chair too. Will thought it might've been because her robe wasn't tied that tightly, but with the tight hold she had on the collar, Sally wouldn't need to sit so straight. She wanted to ask if Sally was feeling well when Zero nudged her leg. Sally laughed at the pup's plea for attention. When she moved her hand away to pet Zero, Will spotted a large dark spot on the upper part of her friend's neck. It looked like a large bruise and there was another one just below it peeking out from Sally's collar.
"Hey, Sally…" she started today. "I think you got something on your…"
"Babydoll, you'll never guess where I found our underwear."
Will felt her whole face warm while Sally turned around, her eyes widening in horror. Jack strolled casually into the kitchen with a devil-may-care smile on his mouth, one arm crossed behind his back, and loosely swinging a familiar pair of white pinstripe panties on his finger.
"No answer, darling?" he asked, still swinging the pair of lady's underwear on his finger before chuckling. "Let's just say you have quite the arm since I found them hanging from the chandelier."
"JACK!"
"Why Sally, what's the matter? I thought–" Jack opened his eyes…and immediately wished he had never left the bedroom. Before him was Sally in a long, sinfully desirable black robe in a state of a full body blush, a sight that would have stirred him. However, while he had expected to find his blushing bride, he had not expected her to be with guests.
"I…uh…I-I…"
Sally hid her reddening face in her hands. Puck had turned to the side, coughing awkwardly. And then there was Will, trying to look anywhere but at the entrance where Jack was still holding up Sally's underwear. He immediately jammed both hands behind his back, the evidence crumpled from sight as he blanched all the way to his neck and collar bones in humiliating embarrassment.
"Merde…" Jack swore with an awkward attempt at a smile.
No one moved nor spoke. They were too nervous to say anything, hoping someone else would be brave enough to go first. The tension in the room could be cut with a knife.
Sally couldn't look up from her hands. She could feel the heat from her face on her palms. Under better circumstances, she might have laughed at Jack's little joke. She might have blushed while she laughed, maybe even tried to take back her undergarments from him while he kept them out of her reach. Then she might have kissed him as a distraction, only to lead to a breakfast long forgotten as he swept them back into his room, clothes left behind as they went.
However, now that two of their close friends were sitting in the room to witness, and given that last night had been the first time they had made love; Sally began to wish she had warned Jack about their guests.
On the other end of the room, Puck and Will weren't sure what to do. Will was regretting having come in unannounced. Oh sure, she had seen Jack without a shirt thanks the bath incident last year, but never quite so exposed and so comfortable about it. There was also the matter that both skeleton and rag doll were covered in hickies, and judging by Jack's statement and the fact he had been swinging Sally's underwear… Will felt like her face would explode from how badly she blushed. Suddenly, her earlier statement about things getting "heated" last night took on a whole new meaning.
Not to be left out of the blushing frenzy, Puck was trying to figure out how everyone could still save face. Clearly, he and Will had interrupted a rather private moment between the Pumpkin King and his fiancée. He decided they should probably leave before anything else happened that would cause further embarrassment. Leaning over, he gently placed his hand on Will's shoulder, hoping to quietly suggest they take their leave.
The feeling of a hand on her shoulder caused Will to abruptly stand up, nearly knocking over the pink boxes on the table. "Well… Umm, that happened, so uh… I-I think I'm just gonna grab my Butterbeer Frappuccino and Puck's London Fog, and umm, yeah, I think we're gonna go." She pushed herself out of her chair and walked to the other side of the table. She tried to force a smile as she turned to Sally.
"Sally, great seeing you—we need to talk later," she said, whispering the last part to Sally. She then walked to the doorway. She had a difficult time trying to look the tall skeleton in the eye. "Jack, uh… Yeah, bye!"
Jack had not seen someone race out of a room that fast since he had last been out scaring. Puck also offered a quick farewell, grabbed the forgotten drink cups and one of the boxes before walking out after Will, leaving the Pumpkin King and his bride alone.
Jack wasn't sure what to say and Sally couldn't bring herself to speak either. They were both still in a state of shock and embarrassment.
"In all my six hundred years, I don't think I've ever wished for temporary amnesia…"
Sally peeked through her fingers over at Jack. He was leaning against the wall, his head back, and his eyes shut tight. He looked resigned. She watched as he slid to floor, shoulders slumped as if exhausted from the whole uncomfortable encounter.
Sally took her hands from her face, wondering how to help him. "I'm…sure that this will be something we'll look back and laugh about?" she tried to say. Her encouragement sounded about as believable as someone trying to scare a family of three wearing a couple of old bedsheets.
Jack peeked at her through one eye socket and begrudgingly smiled. "Or, if we play our cards right, we can probably trick those two into thinking it was all some odd shared dream." He pointed at Zero with a snap of his fingers. "Zero, you'll be our star witness."
The ghost dog, who had been hiding under the kitchen table, tilted his head at his master. "Arf?"
"Yup," Jack continued scheming, though there was a note of sarcasm in his voice. "We'll make Will think it was all some very odd dream, probably influenced by some of the more "adventurous" costumes you modeled, and whatever jokes or comments Al made from then to the moment they left yesterday."
"Oh dear. And just how do you plan on managing that?" Sally asked. She knew now from his tone that he was just trying to make light of the whole mortifying situation by being sarcastic.
"Well, who else is clever enough to help me pull off such an elaborate plan, hmm?" Jack smiled charmingly, a gleam in his sockets as he recited a very familiar question. He patted the space next to him on the floor.
Zero floated out from under the table and planted himself across his master's legs. His sheet wagging as he looked up at his mistress with a smile on his muzzle, whining eagerly.
"Tempting, Jack, very tempting," Sally stated. She smoothed out the wrinkles in her robe a little. "Though I think you might've overlooked one thing. How will you explain this to Puck? A vampire is not so easy to fool, you know."
Jack bit his lip in thought then grimaced. "…Ooh, you're right…" he groaned sourly, petting Zero after his fateful pooch had licked his cheekbone in comfort.
"Sorry my love, but there's no other way around this one. You made your bed with that scene, I'm afraid…"
Jack groaned again, the back of his skull bumping the wall behind him as he slumped all the more, mentally reliving the scene from moments ago.
"Came down with the idea to tease and flirt…maybe even convince you to let me play hooky from work today." He sighed, pitching the bridge of his skeletal nose. "That's what I get for acting like a randy teenager." A short self-deprecating chuckle escaped him, before he turned to look at her guiltily.
"Oh Sally, my darling, I can't imagine how you must be feeling. Here I am talking about my embarrassment, but it wasn't my underwear that I paraded around like a house cat with its kill."
"Jack, don't be so hard on yourself. You didn't know." Sally tried to add a little humor, hoping it would cheer him up. "So it was a little embarrassing, but in a way, there was hilarity in it. Besides, it was only Puck and Will. Had it been Al, we might be having a different discussion right now."
"I don't even want to think about the what-if scenario…" Jack grumbled, sockets narrowed in displeasure. "Al is merciless! It would have been a dozen times worse."
"But it wasn't. Don't forget, they were just as…surprised by the, uh, incident," she explained, hoping it would help. "I'll bet one day we can all look back on this and have a good laugh about it."
Jack snorted, staring up at the ceiling. "What I'd give for time travel…"
Sally frowned. She hated to see Jack like this, so unlike his abnormal, happy, mischievous self. If only there was something she could do.
Sally let her eyes roam the kitchen. She wasn't looking for anything in particular when her gaze fell on the far kitchen counter. There sat Jack's old record player and a collection of various music. He had always been a fan of the classic swing and jazz of the 1920s. Perhaps one of his favorite records would cheer him up.
Sally got up from her seat and approach the records. Most of them were by Frank Sinatra—Jack's favorite singer—but there were a few artists Sally didn't recognize. She thumbed through them when one in particular caught her eye. The cover had a pencil sketch of woman with short hair and a gorgeous low cut dress. Sally recognized the outfit as one of the costumes Will had tried on last night. The girls had told her this woman had made herself famous with her music and Sally recalled that Jack had a couple of her records. This particular record had a song with a scat style that Will had sung while wearing the costume.
Suddenly, Sally got an idea and pulled out the record.
Jack continued to absentmindedly pet Zero. He was just about to pick himself up so he could finish getting ready for his meeting with the Mayor when he heard the faint scratch of a needle on vinyl.
The resigned expression on his face disappeared as he perked up with curiosity, sockets blinking as the first notes floated up into the air. Jack looked up curiously to see what his fiancée was up to. His sockets instantly widened as his throat became very dry at the sight before him.
Sally swung sensuously along to the beat. She had one hand on her jutted hip while the other dangled at her side. She waited for the music to build before turning around, a sultry smile on her lips as she looked right at Jack.
I want to be loved by you, just you,
And nobody else but you,
I want to be loved by you, alone!
Boop-boop-a-doop!
She pointed to Jack, giving him a wink before putting both hands on her hips and slowing walking towards him, doing a quickstep to keep in time with the beat.
I want to be kissed by you, just you,
Nobody else but you,
I want to be kissed by you, alone!
Sally turned, blowing him a kiss. She let him watch her back while she quickly altered her robe before turning back to face him.
Boop-boop, I couldn't aspire,
To anything higher,
Than, filled with desire,
To make you my own!
Boop-boop-a-doop, boop-boop-a-doop!
Jack gulped thickly, sockets trained on Sally as a brief spark lit between his shoulders and continued randomly along his ribs. The hands that had previously been petting Zero now rested on the floor, skeletal fingertips curling just enough that they started to look like trembling claws. He swallowed again, watching in excited anticipation. She had fixed her robe so the neckline opened to just under her bust line, and the belt was tightened on her left side.
Sally saw the effect it was having so she went and did a kick. With her robe fastened the way it was, she gave Jack a full view of her entire left leg, strutting about provocatively as she continued to sing and dance along with the song.
I want to be loved by you, just you,
And nobody else but you,
I want to be loved by you, alone!
Jack visibly jolted, sparks turning into small flames so quickly that one could hear as they greedily devoured air, the color dancing between reds, orange, and yellows at her daring dance. A small smirk appeared on his mouth at the sight of those legs. The very same that he had kissed, caressed, marked, mapped out, and felt wrapped around him just hours ago. The song not lost to his ears, and making him smile all the more as Sally cooed airy lyric after lyric with sass and confidence in every step.
Eat your heart out, Miss Monroe, he mused to himself with a lazy huff of a laugh, hungry sockets still taking her in—skin, love bites, stitches, curves, and all. Though his jaw did drop in pained desire when she'd tease him with a short tug of her belt, swinging one end lazily while the flames grew along his spine.
Zero's ears shot straight up at the same sight before he looked up at his master's stupefied face. He snickered since it looked like his jaw might pop off at any moment. Deciding to help him out, Zero bopped his muzzle under his master's lower mandible, sending it up so fast that Jack's jaws snapped shut with a click that shook him out of his daze. He snickered again at the sheepish smile his master gave him and the sound of his mistress's giggles.
Zero was many things, but stupid was certainly not one of them. He recognized a mating dance when he saw one, and he knew exactly what his master and mistress had been up to the night before.
Nonetheless, Zero was happy that they had become a mated pair and if that meant that he'd have to haunt Will's home—where he got treats and pets and belly rubs, and got to play with Mogwai and Whiskey, and even pull a prank or two on Whiskey's mistress—then he'd just have to make the best of it, wouldn't he?
With that, Zero floated up off his legs and winked cheekily at the two before phasing out through the front door as Sally started to sing again.
Aa-ah-um! Boop-boop-a-doop!
Daddle-at-dat-dat-dumb, I couldn't aspire,
To anything higher,
Than, filled with desire,
To make you my own!
Bup-bum, butle-doodle-dumb-bum!
Sally moved closer so she was right in front of Jack. She never lost his gaze as she moved along with the music, throwing in turns to give him a more open view of her legs. She then leaned in and pressed her hands on either side of him, her lips a breath away from his. She kept the playful tone as she lowered her voice.
I want to be loved by you, just you,
Nobody else but you,
I want to be loved by you, a-lup-a-dup-a-dup-a-dup!
Sally moved his arms back and sat herself down on his lap. She shimmed herself closer as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Before Jack could speak, Sally tapped his nose socket with a finger as she sang the last line of the song.
Boop-boop-a-doop!
Sally smiled triumphantly as Jack groaned, bones rattling in arousal as he gave her a love-drunk look, sockets hooded dreamily. She giggled.
"Now there's my Jack," she quipped, kissing his chin. She lifted her hand to close his mouth. "So Mister… Still letting what happened this morning get to you? Or…" She lowered her hand and traced her finger along his collarbone, eliciting a pleasant shiver from her lover. With a bemused sigh, she began a trail of warm, open mouthed kisses along his neck up the side of his skull where his ear would be if he had one.
"Does my King need me to do…something else…to help him…relax?"
Jack groaned, the sound deep and low from within his chest, before letting out a breathless laugh as he nuzzled the hollow of her neck. Besides, in his absolutely unbiased opinion, it really was a lovely neck. It would be an honest shame not to show it some love.
"You know… I'm feeling a bit saucy this morning…" he husked against her throat, his lips barely feathering her skin and the single line of stitches that crossed the width of her slender neck. It was his turn to smile in triumph as he both felt and heard her moan, her pulse hitching beneath his lips as he tilted his skull, tenderly sucking on those stitches. He was very mindful of his fangs, and only used them to nip and graze the skin bordering the seams.
He pulled back just enough to admire his work, though not before giving the coloring skin one last warm lap, and softly blew on it.
"Mmm… What were you saying, Jack…?" Sally asked, her voice hitched from the feeling of Jack's breath. He certainly seemed to be feeling better thanks to her distraction. And if that meant her skin was subject to more of Jack's tender, and completely sensual mouth caresses, then who was she to complain?
She reached behind him and began to caress the back of Jack's skull, searching for that particularly sensitive seam she had found last night. She recalled the rather fun and interesting "surprise" she received having giving that particular seam attention.
"Would you say it again, please?" she pouted, deciding to tease him further with some nips to his mandible. "I'd like to know how I can help you…in any way I can, my sexy skeleton."
Jack shook then arched into her touch, pushing his skull more into those caressing fingers. His breath growing heavier and quicker with each pull of air he took through his nasal sockets, causing the flames encasing his chest to draw in with each breath. The glow and heat emitting from within could easily be felt and seen through the spaces between Jack's ribs, which pulsed brightly along to the racing beat of his phantom heart. Steadily, the fire climbed up the inside of his thoracic and cervical vertebrae with that same heat and glow spreading with it.
Tilting his skull down, Jack stared at Sally, his sockets not reflecting any of the glow but instead channeling all the heat in a calm stare. He smiled that famous skeleton grin, tilted his skull back again, and opened his mouth just a tad—enough to see a bit of space between those two rows of razor sharp fangs—and breathed.
A brilliant plume of fire rose up high in the air above their heads, a rich mix of reds and orange and yellow that stretched higher until Jack stopped with a simple click of his teeth, the minuscule gap from which the fire came from now gone. The last flames in the air now dying and leaving only heat in its place.
Jack chuckled smoothly, small lines of steam escaping his mouth and nose before dissipating.
"Well," he began casually, completely at ease as if his earlier feelings of shame and embarrassment had been a thing of the past. "I was saying that I am feeling rather–" He chuckled, leisurely walking his right hand up Sally's leg and making it "kick away" the folds of her rope that was blocking his fingers. "– restless."
"Now that was a surprise," she humored him, giggling as she watched the steam curl around his mouth.
She certainly had not been expecting him to spout fire like a dragon. It was incredible to watch, like the time he had done a similar trick during that Halloween festival before the Christmas incident. That had made both her and the audience gasp in delight as the flames teased the crowds. There was just something about how he handled the flames with such ease—hot enough to create a dazzling display, yet the heat never burned those close by, let alone the bones that manipulated them.
She shivering as he toyed with the seams on her thigh. It took everything within her not to laugh. Her seams just had to be sensitive, and terribly ticklish whenever Jack touched them. It was completely unfair. No matter what she tried, Jack's bones were never quite as sensitive. How was it that he could tickle her whenever he pleased, but she could do nothing back? Granted, she didn't mind being tickled now and again, but just once she would've liked to have gotten him back.
Jack's fingers inched higher, causing Sally to bite the inside of her lip so Jack wouldn't notice. The topic would need to change fast unless she wanted to wind up in yet another tickling war.
She reached up and began to softly trace just under her new favorite seam on his skull. "I'm surprised that you did that," she added in flirty tone. "Last time I touched that seam, you literally lost your head."
"Not surprising since you did catch me off guard last night while I was busy mapping out certain stitches…" he replied lazily, leaning again into Sally's caresses.
"I know. You landed on me, remember?" Sally laughed. She pulled back her robe and pointed to a rather large hickey just under the right side of her collar bone. "You gave me this one for laughing then saying you looked rather adorable all bewildered like that."
Jack stuck his forked tongue out at her then snorted, narrowing his sockets at her.
"Yes, well, I was trying to be romantic and masculine and sensual, but that sort of got tossed out the window when you called me cute while I was still wondering and worrying if I'd crossed the line what with my skull basically being against your breasts."
"Considering you ripped the remaining buttons off your own shirt to get to them, I think that line become a mere speck to you," she teased, sticking her own tongue out. She laughed as he blanched and muttered something about "voluptuous rag dolls" and "teasing neck lines" before she moved her hand down over his neck.
"Says the one who yanked my boxers off of me that I'm surprised my legs didn't pop out of their sockets."
Sally laughed and playfully slapped his shoulder. "Oh, you're positively wicked, Jack Skellington!" she squealed. "So, getting back to the present, you mentioned feeling restless, yes?" She fluttered her eyelashes at him with a sweet smile. "I think I might know how to help with that."
"Oh yes, terribly terribly restless—don't know how I'll possibly focus on my meeting," Jack mourned with a pitiful frown. "Perhaps, I could get something to tide me over…" He leaned in for a kiss, only for Sally to place her fingers on his lips.
"I was thinking more along the lines of the breakfast Will brought us before a certain naughty rascal chased her out," she teased. She tapped his nose and removed herself from his lap, much to Jack's disappointment. She looked at him from over her shoulder.
"You may not always need to eat, but I for one am a little peckish," she continued, sitting down at the table. She took the cup with her name on it and then opened the pink box. Then Sally pulled out a round chocolate donut with a chocolate glaze, decorated with red sprinkles and a white pentagram.
"They look tasty. And you should see the others. Will thought you might like these ones. She said they were voodoo dolls."
"What?" Jack got up, curious to what she meant. He walked over and sat down next to her at the table. He peered inside the box and nearly choked on his laughter again. Along with another round donut that appeared to be dusted with a reddish- or yellowish-brown powder, there were two donuts that looked utterly absurd. Both had a chocolate glaze, given "arms," and were each designed with different characteristics.
One was a cyclops with a large blue eye and decorated with purple and orange spots. The pink mouth was drawn into a smile with a little tongue sticking out. Jack picked up the other. This one had two beady eyes and a large red mouth filled with pointed teeth. The middle displayed a blue swirl and just over the "heart" was some sort of stick.
"What is this?" Jack poked at it. "And here I thought humans did this type of thing only around Halloween."
"Apparently they are quite popular, though I suppose they pre-pin the doll so it can be enjoyed without actually causing someone pain."
Jack pulled the little stick out and popped it into his mouth. It was a salted biscuit. Tasty, but there was another flavor. He stuck the tip of his finger into the hole. When he pulled it out, the tip was cover in a red substance. He tasted that too.
"Not bad," Jack stated, looking over the donut. It really was amusing to think someone could use a pastry to hex another person. He decided to try it and took a bite, taking the head clean off. It was childish, but then again, where was the fun in not playing with your themed food? He cackled madly. "Poor bugger didn't see it coming."
Sally was enjoying her pentagram when Jack decapitated his treat. She smiled until she noticed it hadn't been an entirely clean kill. "Jack, you've got some jelly. Right here." She pointed to her own lips as reference.
"Oh oops!" Jack chuckled, smiling in thanks.
Before he could get it, Sally leaned in and kissed him. He felt her tongue lightly trace over his lips. He closed his eyes as she deepen the kiss, seeming intently focused on his lips.
Sally smiled. Jack had already been sweet, but the added sweetness from the raspberry jelly and the chocolate glaze made him taste even sweeter. She pulled back, sucking the last of the jelly from his lip. She smiled impishly.
"Got it," she said before taking a bite of her own treat.
A hazy eye socketed Jack smirked at her, taking a swig of his own coffee, the mix of peppermint and chocolate helped get his voice back.
"Funny, and I thought you suggested breakfast to help with my restlessness–" He tore off one of his donut's arms. "–not reminded me of it." He spoke carefully over his mouthful and swallowed, then popped his blood-soaked fingertips into his mouth to clean them of his kill.
"Well, I hadn't expected you to play with your food, my dearest Jack," she quipped, sipping her own drink. "I forgot that sugar tends to make you rather mischievous. Remember? Those chocolate covered cherries?" The wide toothy grin on his mouth at the mention of those cherries was answer enough in her eyes.
"So looks like I'll have to find another way to help you make it through the day." She took another sip. "Unless…"
Jack quirked his brow. "Unless…?"
Sally placed her hand over his and began tracing circles on the back with her thumb. "If you still wanted to play hooky, then that's up to you," she said lazily. "Far be it that I keep the Pumpkin King from his royal duties. I was actually going to relax and draw up some new sketches this morning. After last night, I think I'll need to make a few…alterations to some of my bridal designs."
She released his hand, finished her breakfast and got up from the table. She raised her hands over her head and stretched her back. She smirked, watching as Jack looked at how her robe adjusted to her position, giving him another view of her leg and bust. She made a little sound as she felt her spine pop.
Jack sat there, a thoughtful expression on his face, his fingers steepled over his mouth while his sockets trailed over Sally again before he peeked at a nearby clock.
A carefree smile on his mouth, Jack stood and stretched, his arms high over his head and fingers entwined as he flexed them outwards. He lightly grunted as the tension released itself with the popping of his joints. He then brought his arms back down and walked over to one of the kitchen windows, rolling his bare shoulders as he did so before opening the window.
Bringing her arms down, Sally watched from the corner of her eye. She hummed at the sight of Jack's arms as he rolled his shoulders. Despite having no muscle, those toned bones were remarkably strong, completely contrasting her lover's reedlike frame. She loved the way they held her tight, whether they were locked in an embrace or when Jack carried her. She was tempted to entangle herself in them while he stood at the window.
Patience Sally, she told herself. Don't want to rush and ruin the plan.
Unbeknownst to her, Jack had a plan of his own. Sticking his head out the window and giving a quick look around. The last thing he needed was for any of the citizens to get curious at the sight of their half naked leader. Jack could see that it was early enough that many of the townsfolk were still within their own homes—most likely just starting their mornings—meaning that it was safe for him to leaning out a bit more. His smile growing at the sight of his kingdom, the rays of the jack-o-lantern sun spilling slow but steadily along the cobblestone streets. It had been quite sometime since he had a chance to appreciate how everything looked at the start of a new day.
He laughed to himself, ducked his head back inside. He began rummaging through one of the kitchen's drawers, and pulled out some spare stationary and a fountain pen
"I knew I left this here for a good reason," he muttered with a pleased grin, easily drafting up a message, and leaned back out of the window.
Sally continued to watch, curious as to what he was up to, but mostly she couldn't keep her hungry eyes off him. Jack had no idea that he was unconsciously showing off his back and front in the most desirable way. As he leaned farther out, she also was reminded just how flexible he was. Sally bit her thumb as she paid special attention to how the morning light showed off his elongated spine, broad shoulder blades and the back of his ribs, not to mention all the hickeys that decorated those bones. She smiled, pleased with her handiwork.
Suddenly, Jack gave a short sharp whistle that pierced the air. A bat soon answering the call, fluttering down from its perch under the manor's tower, and hung from the Pumpkin King's outstretched finger as he ducked back into the kitchen.
"Jack, what're you doing?" she asked, walking up behind him. She wrapped her arms around his chest and laid her chin on his shoulder so she could get a better look.
He pressed a quick kiss to her cheek before turning back to the bat, a smile on his skeletal lips as the nocturnal creature gave a mighty yawn then peered up at him and his future Queen.
"It's quite simple, my love. You see, our dear Mayor is notorious for not picking up calls in the morning. He has a tendency of sleeping through the ringing, then having a panic fit once he sees that he also slept through his alarm." Jack chuckled good-naturedly at the absurdity of the rather common occurrence. "Which leads to his usual panicking at the start of the day, and then he pays even less attention since he's in such a rush to get to Town Hall or here."
"Hmm…that makes sense, but I don't see how a bat changes any of that?"
"It's actually quite funny. Although the Mayor can easily sleep through a screaming alarm clock and telephone, he oddly enough awakes up at the faintest sound. Now, this is where our little friend here comes in." Jack chuckled again and pointed at the bat. "The Vampire Brothers have made it a priority to train many of the town's bats to help deliver messages—especially those to the Mayor. This bat will take my rescheduling message to the Mayor's house, tap at his bedroom window, and wake up the Mayor long enough for him to read it after rewarding this little guy for a job well done."
"Well, isn't that clever." Sally reached over and pet the bat's head. "Seeing as it's so early, I do hope the Mayor treats you. If not, I'll make sure there are some tasty mosquitoes waiting for you when you come back."
The bat chirped it's thanks and gave her finger a lick, making Sally smile.
"Well then, little fellow," Jack addressed the bat, an amused smile on his face from seeing how any creature could be charmed by his enchantress. "Let me just fold up the letter and you'll be on your way."
Feeling Sally lazily unwind her arms from around him and pull away, Jack folded the letter twice and gave it to the little bat, who clamped his jaws securely around its delivery.
"If you like, Sally, you can go enjoy the rest of the treats Will got you. I'll join you shortly. I just have to give this little guy the directions to the Mayor's window," Jack offered, peeking at his beloved over his shoulder and giving the bat a scratch between the ears.
Sally laughed. "Alright, whatever you say, your highness." She did a little curtsy and turned back to clean up the table.
Oh, he was definitely getting back at her for that sass.
Turning his attention back to the bat, Jack quickly gave it the information it needed, and then gave it a little toss into the air after it chirped confidently once he finished reciting the directions. He snorted in amusement, closing the window, and then turning to lean against it with his arms crossed at his chest.
"You might want to start getting used to hearing that, Babydoll, since in two months you'll finally be my Pumpkin Queen," he purred out suavely, voice deepening at the last three words.
Sally sat down at the table. She grabbed her donut and looked up at him. "Funny, I distinctly remember that at the last Town Meeting no one had to refer to me as such," she said before she took a bite, finding she got a mouthful of chocolate chips. She swallowed.
"Unless…you were referring the use of that title solely to yourself?" she added, giving him a daring look.
"Oh ho!" Jack exclaimed laughingly, getting up from the window, and stopping just in front of her.
"I may be King, but I'm really a terribly humble skeleton deep down inside of these bones. Though, I will admit, I do take great pride in my work and craft." He smirked, seemingly rubbing his knuckles on an 'invisible shirt' before nonchalantly looking at them. "But that's neither here or there at the moment…"
Jack leaned down, bending forward so that he was now eye socket to eye with Sally, skeleton grin on his face while she blinked innocently back at him.
"Oh, I know the pride you take in what you do, my love." She giggled. She broke eye contact and was about to take another bite when she said, "You made that very clear last night."
"You're one to talk, you vixen," Jack bantered, smirking crookedly. "Don't think I haven't felt your eyes raking over your artwork that you so graciously bestowed upon nearly every inch of me."
"Touché."
"You started it." Jack leaned in, tongue and lips curling around a stray chocolate chip near her bottom lip.
Sally hummed, nipping his lip when he pulled back, a mere inch from her face. "I guess I did, didn't I?" She stroked her finger over her donut, getting a generous portion of frosting on the tip.
"First with that scandalous picture." She looked at her finger.
"Then I tempt you tremendously by wearing only your nightshirt, leading up to our first, long night of passion together." She brought her finger closer to her lips. "Waking up in your arms only to walk away, and then my little…performance. I really was terrible to use one of your records and then dance about wearing only this satin robe." She snuck a glance at Jack, a little smirk on her lips.
Jack had been watching her. He wasn't quite sure what she was getting at, but suddenly he was too focused on her finger. The way the chocolate frosting was temptingly close to her luscious red lips. He almost didn't hear her.
"Jack?"
"Huh…"
Sally giggled and before he could move, she drew her finger across his nose cavity. Jack blinked in surprise. If he had eyeballs, they would be cross-eyed as he looked at the glop of chocolate perched on his nose. Sally just laughed.
"Oh Jack, you should see yourself." She tittered. "You look so cute!"
"Cute, huh?" he challenged. He glanced over to where his decapitated donut still lay on the table. He grinned wickedly and reached for it.
"So, you think that was pretty funny?"
Sally had her eyes closed and her hand over her mouth. "M-Maybe…"
He hummed in understanding, secretly warming the hand clutching the maimed treat with the faintest bit of Pumpkin Fire.
"Really, darling?" he asked, voice silky and inquisitive. "Have you not learned from last night what happens when you tease me, and call me cute?"
The chocolate started to slowly drip along the length of Jack's fingers, a bit of the jelly that made up the voodoo doll's innards also stained his fingertips. He sneakily set the messy treat back on its plate without her noticing.
Sally stopped her giggle fit and sat back. She cocked her head to the side in a confident way, eyeing him from under her long lashes with a challenging smirk.
"Now dearest, I only speak the truth." She licked the remaining icing off her finger before continuing. "It's hardly fair to condemn my saying it when it's your fault for looking as adorable as you do," she replied. "You may be the Master of Fright, but I'm afraid to tell you that around me, you have also become the King of Cute."
"Well then…" Jack drawled. Quicker than a whip, he wrapped his unchocolafied hand around Sally's waist so that she couldn't escape, and presented his other hand with a wicked gleam in his sockets. A toothy grin split across his skull as he saw her previously challenging eyes suddenly widen. He barely suppressed a menacing cackle once she started wiggling.
"I wonder what that makes you then, Sally love?"
She saw his hand and immediately knew what he was about to do. "Jack Skellington! Don't you dare–"