I am absolutely LOVING writing this story. My reviewers rock harder than Bowie himself at this point. (Quite a compliment, if you ask me. XD).

This could be considered a chapter in which Jareth is quite stupid and even extremely mean. But he can be cruel, remember. He said so himself.
AND MORE MAYA! I was convinced she wasn't going to be making a regular appearance.

We've hit another problem with my laptop. Trojans and malware and all that SO, updates may be scarce for a while because I'm too scared to turn my laptop back on XD. In the meantime, please enjoy :P

"Where do you think you're going?" he demanded with a teasing wink as she pushed half-heartedly against him. "I do believe I asked you a question."

Waking just a few minutes ago to find Sarah Williams snuggled in his arms comfortably was definitely what had given him his cockiness. He did not remember putting her there which he supposed meant she had gotten there herself. All the better for him.

"You were talking in your sleep last night."

Jareth felt a rush of warmth towards the slim young woman he held onto so tightly. However, he managed to keep up the mocking facade.

"And you decided to comfort me."

She protested for a moment, then suddenly agreed with him. Odd.

"Now can you let me go?"

With a surge of confidence, he smirked.

"Not just yet. I think you deserve a little thanks for your efforts, precious."

He saw the look of confusion in her eyes when he used the endearment, but he did not even care. It would soon be explained to her.

Keeping one arm securely around her torso which was pressed so perfectly against his, he quickly sat himself up. The sudden movement - and probably partial numbness in her legs - meant that she could really do nothing about it when he swiftly laid her down under him. Her legs - again, probably numb - seemed to splay for him and he quickly settled himself between them out of what one might call fear, should she close them.

It was perfect for a moment. If he moved a certain way...but no. He needed to take it slowly. He delicately fisted her hair and lifted her head so that he could meet her lips. They barely touched, but a spark of something shot through him when they did, and he wanted - needed - more of it.

He pressed his lips more firmly against hers, trying to be gentle. As he began to move them, her lips responded. Wanting to see how far she would allow him to go, he trailed his tongue across her lip. To his surprise, she opened, and he could not help himself. He kissed her hard and fierce. Her taste was driving him insane. He wanted her so badly. He needed her.

His hips seemed to move of their own accord. He pushed, pressed and ground against her as if trying to take her despite her pyjamas and the clothes he wore. It was almost too much to bare when she rocked in time with him, causing more pressure.

Pulling back so they could both regain their breath, she smiled up at him. Her eyes were alight with excitement. Her cheeks were flushed. He moved back towards her, kissing from her jaw to her chest, trying to taste as much of her slightly sweaty skin as possible. He trembled when he felt her light touch on his back. Even through the shirt, he felt her nails there, scratching upwards, sending ripples of pleasure through him.

"Sarah," he hissed, trying to warn her somehow that he did not have as much control as she would like to think.

"Jareth."

That was it. He needed her now. He feared he would go quite mad if he did not have her. He was quivering with anticipation. Heat and desire swirled inside him. He needed her. And he would damn well have her after waiting for four years.

He went to the bottom of the shirt she was wearing and began to lift it upwards. Suddenly, though, he felt her hands on his chest pushing.

"Wait. Wait a minute!" her voice wavered.

He froze. There it was. That little sliver of rejection he'd been fearing, dreading. Something cold seemed to plunge into him and he pushed himself off her.

"I'm sorry, Sarah," he said, hoping she was not as terrified as he expected her to be. "I went too far."

"Jareth, I wish-"

He spun wildly, some trace of pathetic hope left in him. She froze, looking unsure.

"Yes?" he prompted.

"I...ah, nothing."

"What do you mean, nothing?" he demanded, rage suddenly clouding his vision.

"Jareth...I don't know what you want me to say," she said weakly, holding her hands out as if hoping someone would drop the answer into them.

He gritted his teeth, not entirely sure where his anger was coming from. He only knew that a familiar heat was coursing through his veins like venom, making him rigid with rage.

"Perhaps you could explain what you think you are doing!"

"What?" she asked, her voice rising in pitch.

"Really, Sarah, I always thought that leading a man on was beneath you," he spat viciously.

She jumped to her feet suddenly, her chest and face turning red and blotchy in anger. He could not care less how angry she was at that moment. It could never match what he felt.

"That's not what I wa-"

"This is the second time you have rejected me, precious," he hissed. "Did you do this to Neal too? Or did you offer yourself up as a whore to him?"

Two long strides was all it took for Sarah to reach him. His head whipped to the side before he felt the actual sting of her slap as she glared up at him, tears of anger and hurt in her eyes. Her whole body was shaking now as she fought to keep herself under control, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

"You bastard!" she shrieked.

"How dare y-!"

As her hand reared back to hit him again, he grabbed her wrist in an iron grip and squeezed. To her credit, she did not flinch where many would have shrieked. She tugged against him, but he did not release her. He felt sure that if he did not release her soon, however, he would end up breaking her wrist.

He pulled her closer and leaned down, his voice and gaze threatening; warning.

"If you ever try to slap me again-"

"What?" she demanded, her voice unnaturally shrill with he did not care what. "You'll call me a whore again? Hit me back? Do it, Goblin King! It's nothing I'm not used to!"

With a growl of frustration, he threw her arm from his hand. Not quite as hard as he could, but just enough so that she stumbled several paces away and clutched at her already bruising joint, glaring at him with eyes that could kill. His mind vaguely registered that he had just broken his promise to her, but he was well beyond caring about that, or even rational thought.

"Are you trying to make me feel bad, Sarah? The Goblin King does not feel things such as guilt."

"Oh?" she asked, a hint of sarcasm in her high, loud voice. "And I suppose he doesn't feel a little upset over rejection? A little pissed off? You're so pathetic!"

He took a step towards her, intent on throttling her. She jerked back from him. He stopped himself and closed his eyes, trying to regain some composure. When he opened his eyes, Sarah had her arms crossed and her weight was resting on one leg causing her hip to jut out defiantly.

"You are about to cross a very thin line, girl," he told her through gritted teeth.

"I'm about to cross the line? What the hell do you think you just did?" she dared him. "You know what, Goblin King, if you can't handle the fact that I had second thoughts for a tiny second after what I've been through in the last few weeks, then you can leave! And for your information, you arrogant ass, I never slept with him. Not once!"

Jareth remained where he was, muscles tense, jaw clenched. He glared at the annoying little brat. The violent side of him wanted to rip her apart for daring to speak to him in such a way and striking him. The rational side of him - the one that was reminding him that every second they spent arguing, he was breaking his promise to her - seemed to be fighting with violence and anger. It was losing.

"What are you still doing here?" she shouted, angry tears falling fast. "Get out!"

She stepped towards him and shoved his chest. He barely felt the push, and did not move. He would be damned if the little chit thought she could order him around like he was some child.

Sarah gave a shriek of frustration and curled her fist. His rationality was coming back, if only a little. He caught her fist before it made contact with him, knowing that she would only end up hurting herself. She yanked her arm away, taking several steps back. He followed her until her back hit the wall and she could not move any further.

He brought his hands down at either side of of her head, and the wall actually cracked at her side. She flinched and he moved closer to her, not entirely sure why he was trying to frighten her. He only knew that he had had quite enough of her attacks.

"Don't you dare touch me," she hissed, glaring up at him as he towered over her.

"The same to you," he spat back.

"Oh, please, you barely felt that," she scoffed.

"True," he smirked. "But it's the principle."

"Get away from me," she demanded, pushing hard at his chest.

"Make me," he dared. "Prove to me that I have no power over you."

Her lower lip trembled when she opened her mouth.

"I wish you would get out of my house..."

"You will not reject me a third time, Sarah Williams."

"Right now!"

He transformed himself into an owl and took off through the window that magically opened for him, before he ended up doing something he would seriously regret. She did not call him back and he did not care. He did not want to return.

oOoOoOoOo

Sarah barely saw him leave through her eyes that were filled with tears. She wiped them away and once she was sure he was out of earshot, she let out a scream of anger and hurt. Much like the bratty teenager she used to be, she kicked at things and threw pillows, but it relieved nothing.

She picked up the mug of half-drank, cold hot chocolate and threw it so hard into the sink that it shattered. She left the pieces strewn around the worktops where they were.

She hated the Goblin King.

Glancing at the table in the hallway, she sighed and moved towards it. She picked up the phone receiver and dialled.

"Yo, Maya here!"

Her voice was too painfully cheerful for Sarah to handle.

"Maya," she said slowly.

"Sarah, what is it? Are you okay?"

"Can you please come over? Something happened with Jareth and I...I don't-"

"Alright, girl, just stay calm!" Maya chimed down the phone, concerned. "I'll come over right now. I'll bring the ice cream."

I realize Jareth's outburst here is quite OOC for the kind of guy I've been portraying him as. BUT as most people will know, anger makes you do and say crazy things. Much like love. Throw them both into the mix, add a little bit of rejection and past heartbreak and you've got some pretty hurtful things to say.

As I said, updates will slow a bit due to virus attacks on my precious laptop which I only just got back XD. My excuse? I'm sharing a family computer with two parents and two younger siblings and sometimes an older one. Please review :3