CHAPTER 36

THE MORTAL WOMAN AND THE GOBLIN KING

The night wore on. She danced with Sprout and her brother. Lady Cottonwood mesmerized the guests with an enchanting elf song. Sarah wondered at the words. She felt love and longing in the elf's voice. Part of her wondered if the elf had ever known love outside of her kindred; there were such emotions in her inflections. Jareth came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her to his body. "Come take a walk with me." She couldn't recall responding to him, but found herself walking with him into a long gallery. He held her hand and pulled her out of sight. "Where are we going?" she asked.

He gave her a grin. "I'm escorting you some where special." He raised his eye brows in two quick movements, enticing a giddy laugh out of her.

When Lady Cottonwood had begun to sing and he heard the words, he had sought his wife out almost out of instinct. The hour was late and his impatience was getting the better of him. The elf's song of yearning, devoted love played on his imagination. As far as he was concerned Sarah's "rules" from the twenty four hours past, were no longer in play; he understood every thought that ran through her mind.

She could barely hear the last of Lady Cottonwood's song. "Special?" she asked. "What are you about?"

"Shh! Now there's no need to draw attention to ourselves. Just come with me."

She looked about her- paintings and tapestries lined the walls. Ahead the gallery veered to the left. On he led her still being elusive. It suddenly occurred to Sarah that this long gallery with its occasional turn was slightly impossible, as the grand stair case was the only entrance to and from the ball room. She looked at him, mouth open, ready to call his bluff, but stopped. If it was a game he wanted to play, she would be a willing participant.

Eventually she noticed that the surroundings were looking very much like the bed chamber quarters. He had purposefully created a route that would lead them here, but without seeming obvious. She gave him a long side wise glance, contemplating how she could slightly foil his little plan. Sliding her hand out from under his arm she took a few steps away from his side. "So where are you escorting me to?" She feigned looking at a tapestry on the wall while waiting for him to respond.

He watched her closely. "To a decent place to full fill our agreement." He indicated an imaginary watch on his wrist. "My twenty four hours are officially up my dear." He began to advance towards her.

She took a few steps away, putting herself just out of arms' reach. "Hmm, but my rules are still in play and you sir have not been playing fair."

"Oh I'm sure you'll punish me for it later." His eyes flickered feral. He advanced again and she skirted him. "Come here," he coaxed.

"No," she replied batting her eyes.

He smiled half amused and half annoyed. "Are you suddenly afraid of me?"

They were almost performing an awkward dance down the hall. His taunts were leading her in the exact direction he wanted.

"Hardly!" she retorted. "I just enjoy making you wait." Her intentions were cruel, but true. He stopped advancing- a look that was near predatory crossed his face.

"If you make me wait much longer, I cannot guarantee how nice I will be later."

The fabric of her skirt was in her hands before she even spoke, "Catch me then!" With a wild smile and girlish laugh she took off down the hall.

For a second he was caught off guard by her boldness. Was this the same innocent who had chided him in the alcove? He was in pursuit though. He had broken her rules well in advance- he knew what her current desires were. He had her running in the exact direction he wanted. She looked back at him, laughing. Roughly he caught her about the waist and deterred her to a doorway. Bracing two arms on either side of her, he held her captive. "My little flower has turned in to a little minx!" He saw her eyes dart to his arms. "No escape this time my dear and the formalities are over."

Her breath was short from their jaunt down the hall- she found that she could not control it now. His nearness was causing her to tense with anticipation. She felt his hot breath on her cheeks. Then he kissed her- slight and quick at first they soon turned into demanding kisses. He was right- there wasn't any escape this time. She felt one of his arms slide around her, pulling her to him. Their abdomens met and her stomach muscles tightened at the contact. She could hear him fumbling with the door. He felt her tension and smiled in one of their kisses. Taking steps forward he eased her into the room. He broke away from her demanding lips to see the door properly shut and locked.

A million things began running through her mind- nervousness, lust, scared, happy, lust; wanting to please, wanting to run. She breathed deep while he saw to the door. His one arm never released her; he held onto her almost like a possession- it nearly frightened her how excited the notion made her feel. This was going to be their first time. It was going to be her first time. Her cheeks were burning.

He wasn't going to let her go. For the rest of the night their bodies would be touching. He nuzzled her neck. His first thought was to throw her on his bed and have done with it. He was ready now. Her flushed skin brushed his. He noticed her tenseness had not eased. Caressing her arm he asked, "Are you alright?"

Her hands were on his hips- she flexed them across the curve of the bone before answering, "I'm- I'm a little nervous."

His hand traveled the length of her arm, his fingers reaching her neck where he traced the line of her jaw. "What can I do to help?"

His tone was a mixture of intense sexuality and sincere concern; it spoke to both sides of her current state. What did she want? His fingers lazily moved along her neck. Gone was any nerve to be playful with him. She wanted this though; she wanted him, but it was going to have to be at her own pace.

He cheated and read her thoughts. Most Fae women would be throwing him to the bed as well.

"I-" she finally started. "I need you to go easy. I," she paused again. Turning to look him in the eyes she finished, "I need you to treat me like a woman, a mortal woman."

He kissed her nose. Her pace was going to be divine torture. "And how would one treat a mortal woman in this situation?"

She felt as if she were divulging some deep, dark secret. He was asking her what she wanted- as if she really knew. "Go slow."

"Slow," he repeated with a slight nod of the head. He moved, raising his arms out to the side. "Help me with my jacket."

Her hands moved along his shoulders and her body brushed against his. The jacket off he reached around her neck to re move her necklace.

Piece by piece they each took a turn removing an item: his jacket in exchange for her necklace; her hair pins for his half moon pin; his vest for her outer skirt. Bringing her close he slid his hands to the clasp and hook that held the under skirt in place. His kissed her hard as he released the last hook and the skirt fell away, leaving her legs exposed. Still possessing her mouth he felt for the ties that held her bodice in place.

Sarah felt her bodice loosen and a light panic struck her. She had never been naked in front of a man before. She had hardly been naked around anyone for that matter. Her innocence rushed her- she tensed her shoulders, brought a hand to her chest, and clung to him in such an awkward way to prevent the bodice from slipping. She expected objections, maybe even a slight game of tug of war. Instead he raised his head and looked down at her with affection. "I want to see you," he simply said.

She stammered slightly as she tried to respond. "No one…no one has ever seen me before…"

"I am honored to be the first." He kissed her forehead and then her cheek.

"I want you to like me."

"Darling as beautiful as you all ready are, the rest of you," he indicated the length of her body. "is just an added bonus. Let me see you," he gently coaxed.

Hesitantly at first she relaxed and let the item of clothing fall away. He leaned back to survey her in the room's dim light. "Beautiful," he exclaimed breathlessly.

She looked at his face to find his eyes completely entranced by her. "Really?"

"Would that every man was blest with a wife with a figure like yours." He met her eyes. They both smiled. He took her hands and brought them to his chest. "Your turn."

He had seen her, now it was her turn to see him. She pulled the shirt free of his slacks and began to unbutton it from the collar down. In the time it took her to perform this task he began to understand her desire to be liked; for her body to meet approval. Jareth had been with Fae women who enjoyed Fae men's bodies, but he had never been with a mortal. Part of him wished that he could claim the same right's to innocence as she did, for in such small ways this felt like a first time for him. She slid his arms out of the sleeves and tossed the shirt aside. Her fingers traced his skin, feeling the smoothness and the complete lack of hair. Just as he had done, she leaned away enough to see his exposed body.

"I like what I see."

Her words, her body melted the last of his patience. Kissing her full on the lips he took her in his arms and brought her to his bed.

Shoes were kicked away, stockings removed, trousers and garters were gone. They were soon two bodies working as one on the bed. She breathed deep and felt her head spin when he sought to join. There was a combination of pain and pleasure so intense she could only tilt her head back and howl. In the final throws his lust consumed him and he moaned with her. They lay one on top of the other breathing together. Brow moist with sweat and breath raspy, she laid there enjoying the feel of his body against hers. He rolled onto his side taking her with him- legs and arms enter twining around each other. "Mine, "he said kissing her forehead.

"Mine," she replied kissing his chest.