Author's Note (kinda long but important :)
First, special thanks to Jetredgirl and starmommy for letting me talk through a structural issue I was having with this chapter. Having them to bounce ideas off of really helped me rework this. You ladies rock! :)
Well, we are heading into the home stretch! I wanted to insert a quick note about the apparent 'change' in their relationship. I was amused by several private messages that expressed dismay and utter shock at this turn of events (I kind of thought the disclaimer at the start of the story and the title would be a give-away as to the eventual outcome?). Sarah's 'slavery' is not permanent, as you will learn in this chapter. That said, I have never hidden the fact that this story would have strong kink themes - hence 30+ chapters that served to build them up to this aspect of their long-term relationship. The D/s (dominance/submission) power exchange part of their relationship that is happening now is actually an important part of her growth and their further relationship growth. BUT...things are not always as they seem in this place ;)
See full note at end for rest of message - :)
As for the question of whether Sarah will end up Jareth's pleasure slave - parts of that will be revealed in this chapter :) Just remember that while the relationship gives Jareth the control (ie. the power 'exchange'), Sarah will actually retain key parts of her autonomy over consent and THAT is what gives her the ultimate power in the relationship. :)
Anyway, as always, please review :) Luv on ya!
Rolling over, Sarah purred as she gave a feline stretch, then sprawled in the middle of Jareth's bed. The sheets under her back were still warm and smelled strongly of night jasmine and rain, indicators that her bedmate hadn't been up for long. During the nights, she rarely had the luxury to stretch out, as Jareth usually had her tucked tightly to his body, his arm draped over her in a gesture that was possessive, but oddly comforting. In the mornings, he would wake her when the sun rose to return to her rooms, since he preferred to get an early start on the day - this was the first chance she had to really stretch out.
Sarah smiled, lazily wriggling into the nest of blankets and enjoying the ability to hog the bed. I could do this in my own bed, but Jareth's is bigger...and bonus...it smells like him. Yawning, she cracked her eyes and looked up at the navy curtains that draped the ceiling above her, the length of the material twined with golden stitching that twisted in an elaborate knotwork pattern. From the bathroom she could hear the shower running. The thought of Jareth in the shower sent a delicious little shiver through her, her libido waking up and demanding that she go join him - an idea that was overruled by the more prudent part of her mind.
'Still, the thought of a nude Jareth is definitely something that is worth spending more daydream time on,' she giggled to herself.
Sarah shifted slightly, moving her body further into the sun beam that fell on the bed from the balcony doors, a contented purr rumbling in her chest. Flickering images from the night before played in her head, each one carrying a confusing mix of emotions with it - shame, lust, desire, fear, curiosity, anguish. They were all there, yet she lay there in his empty bed, the smell of him covering her like a blanket, feeling content… and loved.
And collared. Fuck! I'm collared.
At that thought, her hand immediately shot to her throat, slender fingertips caressing the fine silver links. The gentle weight of the collar and the sigil that lie in the hollow of her throat were oddly reassuring, a sign that she belonged somewhere. Lifting her other arm, Sarah turned her head, watching the way the translucent purple material glided over her arm, accentuating her body, without being fully on display - yet at the same time it did little to hide her.
Collared. To Jareth. Pleasure slave. Training.
Her mind screamed at her, yet still she felt a relaxed sense of calm.
A phantom breeze played over her body, sending goosebumps racing over her skin, the sudden sensation of being watched making her pause. Rolling her head toward the bathroom, a hot flush crept into her cheeks. She was being watched - by the Fae King whose collar she now wore.
Leaning against the doorway of the bathroom, Jareth's pale chest glistened in the sunlight, standing in stark contrast to the black towel wrapped low around his hips. His hair fell about his face, weighed down by the water that dripped down his neck, to roll in lazy rivulets down the smooth expanse of his chest. Still watching her, he ran another towel over his hair, drying it briskly until it fluffed up around his head. Gone was the short style he wore above. Here, in this moment, was the Goblin King.
An almost naked Goblin King!
His pale eyes glittered - looking at her as if he wanted to devour her whole.
"What?" she asked, blushing under his steady gaze, the intensity of it making her stomach flutter. Arching an eyebrow, his eyes shimmered, predatory and golden until she gulped, her cheeks burning hotter as she added, "Master."
"You'll learn," he chuckled, draping the damp towel over of his shoulder, his smile warm, yet somehow sensual. "Although if you don't, I have other games that will help you remember."
A shiver of delight rushed through her at the thought of what 'games' he might have in mind, the sensation pooling low within her. Biting her cheek, Sarah pressed her thighs together beneath the thick comforter on Jareth's bed. Keenly aware of the towel draped upon his hips, barely covering his body and her own state of near undress, Sarah felt her face burn and found herself scooting further across the bed away from him.
"With regard to 'what' I was thinking, I was merely enjoying the sight of you relaxing in my bed and marveling at your beauty, Precious."
With a bashful smile, Sarah tucked her hair behind her ear, her emerald eyes darting away from Jareth's knowing gaze. Pushing herself up to sit against the head of the bed, she felt the flush creep down her chest, as the wide opening of the shirt slid open, exposing her breast. With her cheeks tingling, she snatched at the shirt, pulling it across to cover herself, the movement teasing her nipple until it pulled taut, making itself more visible through the semi-sheer material.
"Yeah well, you've been wonderful about respecting my... fears and um...limits. So unless you plan on turning into a complete creep and trying to…."
Hearing a low growl from Jareth, Sarah's head snapped up, the word 'Master' rising to her lips then dying unsaid as he swiftly crossed the room and sat next to her on the bed. Capturing her hands in his, he lifted them toward his lips to press tender kisses against the pulse points of both wrists. The way his eyes darkened with emotion startled her. A sudden rush of pain flooded through the link, the force of it making her gasp.
"Sarah… I gave you my oath that I would only take that which you freely offered. I would never dishonor you as my bond-mate in such a way - whether that bond is fully consummated or not." Caressing the collar briefly, he shook his head, frustration and distress pulsing through the bond, twisting and twining around each other until they felt inseparable. Sarah's fingers found his, together toying with the chain around her neck. "This… this symbol does not change my oath to you, Sarah." Jareth sighed deeply, pulling her to him and wrapping his arms around her, his lips covering her face with tender kisses. "I will never harm you in such a barbaric way. You are far too precious to me, love."
Holding her close, Jareth pressed a reverent kiss to the top of her head, relishing the feeling of having her in his arms, only to be surprised at the feel of her slender arms wrapping around him, Inside, he could feel her timidly working to manipulate the bond, a slow wave of feminine reassurance and love washing through it.
"I know...I do...I just…I know I am safe with you, Jareth," she murmured quietly against his chest.
The two sat in silence for some time, before Jareth released her, kissing her forehead with a warm smile. "You could go back to sleep you know. There is no need for you to be up and about yet."
Sarah's emerald eyes narrowed, her face pinching in confusion. "Um… shouldn't I… I don't know, be up and with you… Master?"
"First, you needn't continue to end every sentence with 'Master'. I appreciate that you are trying to obey, but we are alone and are not involved in any form of play at the moment, so it is not necessary. Use it if you are answering a direct question, only - which signals respect and that you are obeying the implied demand of an answer."
Nibbling her lower lip, Sarah nodded. "Yes… Sir…" she replied, her tone creeping up in question.
Chuckling Jareth winked at her, "That is acceptable for times when you feel a little something 'extra' is needed, Sarah. Now, as to you being with me this morning, if I wished you to begin your day when I did, then that is what would happen. But I am also keenly aware of what you went through last night. You are likely to be tired today and I would far rather you sleep longer if you need it."
Leaning against the pillows that lined the head of the bed, Sarah shook her head and rubbed her face, "No...I'm awake now...I guess."
Jareth smiled, laughing inwardly. Always so stubborn, my Sarah.
"Well, as you seem to be up for the day, how are you feeling?"
"Lazy… and a bit… blah actually. My mood is up one moment, then down. Then sideways… it's just...blah," Sarah sighed, then caught his eye and added a hasty, 'Master' to the end of her sentence.
Jareth smiled warmly at her, his fingers deftly lacing her purple shirt up the center, covering her further. "That is normal, Sarah. I rather expected you might feel a bit of 'drop' today."
"Drop?"
"Yes. Following an intense physical or emotional experience, is is common to have something of an extended reaction the following day. Some people find their mood to be unstable, others may be euphoric. Still others might find themselves feeling melancholy. They may become clumsy, forgetful or just seem as if they are pleasantly numb. Any or all of those may apply, because each person is different."
Sarah's nose wrinkled in a frown. "So, it's a kink thing? Sounds like being drugged."
Shaking his head, Jareth ran his finger over the sigil hanging from her collar, relishing the show of goosebumps that skittered across her shoulders and chest and the light touch.
"Most would say so, but that is not entirely true. Think about it, have you ever gone on a wonderful vacation, then found yourself feeling blue and off-balance when you returned home?" Around her the scent of molding leaves rose, signaling her confusion, even as she nodded. Smiling, Jareth, stroked her cheek. "Drop is brought about by your body's release of various endorphins during an intensely emotional event or scene of some sort, more precisely, it is a function of them leaving your system."
"I'm not sure I like the feeling. It's… weird," Sarah muttered.
Nodding, Jareth rose from the bed and walked toward the closet. "The first few times it happens, it can feel like that. Over time, most people discover ways to combat any of the 'weirdness'. But this is an example of what I explained to you last night - this is the type of situation when a responsible Master would pay attention to and take care of the needs of his slave. Hence, why you are to remain with me today."
"So you can't just magic it away?" she asked.
Jareth paused and leaned against the dresser, watching her. The timidness in her tone concerned him, but she was clearly trying to do as he had instructed her.
"I'm afraid it doesn't work that way, Precious. One of the things we will explore if you accept that collar, is what types of scenes and interactions trigger positive 'drop' experiences for you, and which make you feel 'blah' or sad. In general though, the only known cure is contact. What you need is rest, good food and copious cuddles. And that is exactly what you shall get."
Blinking, Sarah gave him an incredulous look, the look on her face clearly suggesting she was waiting to find out what the 'catch' would be. "You're teasing, right?"
"No...why? Would you like me to?" he asked, his serious expression morphing to a wolfish grin.
The brief flash of his canines made Sarah blush thinking about just what they felt like when he nipped her tenderest spots. Flustered, she gulped and shook her head, "Um...no...that's okay, Master...um...for now."
"Later then," he chuckled. Turning toward the closet, he pulled the towel from around his hips and dropped it into the hamper near the dresser, only to freeze at the shrill squeak from Sarah.
"Jareth!"
Glancing back at the bed, his laughter got the best of him, spilling forth in rich peals at the sight that met him - Sarah huddled against the pillows her hands clapped firmly over her eyes.
"Is there a problem, love?"
"Yes! You're naked!" she squeaked with her hands still covering her eyes.
"Well, I've seen you nude, it seems only fair that I should extend you the same courtesy. I know how much you insist upon things being, fair," he teased, delighting in the way her cheeks turned an even more vibrant shade of pink than usual, the color flowing down her chest as if it were painted with a brush. "Isn't that generous of me, Precious?" When she squeaked and hunched lower in the bed, he laughed louder. "Would you like me to come closer so you can have a proper look?"
"NO! Put clothes on!" she yelped, sinking down in the bed until her head was buried under the pillows. Feeling a finger teasing her nipple through her shirt, Sarah squeaked and squirmed away from the probing hand.
"Excuse me, pet...but you are already forgetting your manners," Jareth purred, teasing her nipple again. "You don't give the orders around darling. And you are forgetting one teeny, tiny, ever-so-important thing...who am I, Sarah?"
The heat of longing stirred deep within her as his tone dropped, filled with seductive promise.
"Answer me, darling. Who am I?" he prompted her again.
"Master," Sarah mumbled from beneath the pillows. "Now will you put some clothes on… please?"
Laughing Jareth made his way back to the closet, "Silly girl. That is what I was trying to do when you screamed and started ordering me about. Not even wife, Queen or mated yet and you're already trying to order me around. What shall I do about that, hmm?"
Several minutes later, Sarah felt something heavy drop on top of her, falling over her head and part of her shoulder. Cracking an eyelid she peeked from under the pillow to find Jareth's favourite dressing gown draped over her.
"If you aren't going to go back to sleep, then you need to eat. Put that on and come with me," Jareth instructed her.
Sarah pulled her head out from the beneath the pillow, drinking in the sight of him. He was clothed now, in a pair of faded grey jeans and a simple button down shirt, his hair returned once more to the Aboveground cut he preferred. All in all he looked like a normal human man - but that did very little to dull the sheer sensuality that was just… Jareth.
Sitting up, Sarah looked at the dressing gown, a slight frown turning her lips. "It's your robe."
"Yes. I fail to see the problem."
"Well...um… I just...I thought that because of this," she muttered tugging on her collar, "...that I would only be allowed to wear silks or… this," she continued, gesturing toward the diaphanous purple shirt she was wearing.
"Darling, while I would like nothing better than to see you sitting in my parlor dressed in silks, it is chilly in the house this morning and I would rather you not get sick," he replied, picking up the robe, and holding it open for her to slide into.
Watching him warily, Sarah slipped out of bed and shrugged on the robe, biting her lip when Jareth turned her to face him, his fingers quickly tying the sash with a firm tug. With his hands still on her waist, he pulled her closer, the thick brocade doing little to hide the feel of his body against hers - hard planes and angles, accentuated by one particularly firm area that pressed tightly against her. The look in his eyes softened as he smiled at her. Leaning in, his lips caressed hers, parting slightly to suck upon the succulent flesh, only to drink in Sarah's quiet sigh. With a smile, Jareth stepped back and took her hand in his.
"Come, love… breakfast will be arriving soon," he said, leading her through the door into his parlor. Settling her at one end of the sofa, he tucked a plush blanket around her, and handed her a leather bound book. "I think you'll enjoy that, it is written by a well known courtesan in the Underground."
Jareth sat at the other end of the sofa and pulled her bundled feet into his lap. Watching him through hooded eyes, Sarah wondered at the way his mood shifted, from warm and loving to 'officious'. Physically he was still with her, yet his mind was a million miles away, as he began to tap upon the laptop. Tilting her head, Sarah took her time studying him. She'd been living in his house for three months now, and this was the first chance she had to really look at him. Her memories of him in the Labyrinth did not do him justice. Even in his Aboveground glamour, he was striking. The angle of the warm morning sunlight pouring through the window seemed to glow through the fine strands of his hair, as they fell carelessly over his forehead. Despite the 'human' guise, his eyebrows arched elegantly, giving him an ethereal look. 'The eyebrows are sculpted and feminine, but there is no question that he is all male,' she thought, biting her lip, and fighting the urge to squirm at the sudden throb of her clit. In the brief flash she had of his naked body, there was no doubt in her mind that he was all male...and a rather impressive specimen at that.
Feeling her cheeks heat, Sarah sucked on her lower lip, letting her eyes travel the sharp angles of his cheekbones and the bridge of his nose.
'I wonder if our kids will get his cheekbones...I hope so,' she mused, then blinked and dropped her gaze to the book in shock. 'Fuck! When did I start thinking about having kids with Jareth?! Shit...please don't let him sense it!"
Flipping the book open, Sarah tried to banish her errant thoughts by trying to read, but for as much of the text she understood at the moment, the whole thing might as well have been written in ancient goblin. No matter how much she tried to concentrate, her mind kept flitting from thing to thing and back again. Peering up at him through a veil of hair, she nearly giggled seeing the way he pulled at his bottom lip with his teeth. 'So that's where Toby picked that up,' she snickered inwardly, her lips curling in a grin.
"You're smiling at me, Precious. What's going through that devious mind of yours?" he chuckled, his hands falling to idly rub her foot. Sarah purred happily when Jareth dug his thumb into the spot that always made her melt. "Oh, it would seem I've found your pause button. Perhaps I should stop?"
Groaning, Sarah shook her head, her head falling back against the side of the sofa as she moaned. "Gods...no...please...don't stop…"
Jareth's eyes darkened at the breathy moan, a sly smile playing over his lips. Curling his tongue around the points of his teeth, he growled softly, "Hmm… I rather like hearing you say that. Although I can think of other scenarios in which it might be even more… pleasurable."
Seeing the wicked promise in his face, Sarah bit back another moan, a tremor running through her. "I… um…" she stammered, only to jump when a knock sounded on the parlor door. "Shi…ip." she gasped, trying to pull her feet from Jareth's lap, only to have him hold her ankles firmly, shaking his head.
"Stay, Sarah."
"Jareth! I can't… Mrs. Brown! She'll see!" Sarah hissed, struggling to get her feet free.
Her struggles were useless, Jareth only tightened his grasp on her ankles, holding her in place. "Sarah, in time you will have a suite adjoining mine in this wing. Tess needs to get used to the idea. She is a servant in this house and you are over the age of consent. I want you to stay right where you are," he replied firmly, as he reached over and lifted the collar of his robe so that it lay over the silver chain around her neck. Before she could protest further, he barked, "Enter!"
Gulping, Sarah felt vaguely ill, her stomach flipping and fluttering wildly. Unable to bear seeing disapproval in Mrs. Brown's face, Sarah kept her attention on the book in her lap, her eyes staring at the black type that formed neat lines across the pristine pages - while her mind failed to register a single word.
As the door opened, Jareth resumed rubbing Sarah's feet, pressing firmly with his thumbs against the spot that usually made her purr, short-circuiting her ability to think, much less protest. Beside him, she gave a soft groan of pleasure, the bitter smell of embarrassment fading momentarily, to be replaced with roses and vanilla as she relaxed a fraction.
"Good morning, darling… Tess was going to bring in your breakfast tray, but I thought it best that she should go see to Toby since Sarah is with you," Titania chirped as she breezed into the room, balancing a heavily laden tray in her hands. Seeing Sarah she beamed, "Ahh! You're up! I had thought you'd still be sleeping, Sarah dear."
Surprised by the sudden burst of irritation that rushed through the bond, Sarah glanced quizzically at Jareth - his jaw tight as he clenched his teeth, a fine pulse ticking near his ear. 'Why is he upset with her. He usually flows with love when Titania is around,' she mused.
Still chattering at Jareth, Titania ignored his obvious disapproval of her intrusion. The High Queen sat the laden tray on the coffee table, then waved her hands at Sarah and Jareth, neat breakfast trays appearing upon their laps.
"Now then, Sarah dear… for you something light but filling. It's a bad idea to have anything heavy after what happened last night. And Jareth darling, Tess sent up your usual breakfast."
Sarah peered from her plate to Jareth's, a pang of jealousy making her stomach grumble. Her plate held what appeared to be an egg white omelette stuffed with vegetables and some toast, whereas Jareth's held a stack of pancakes dripping with blueberry syrup, eggs and bacon.
"That's not fair. I love Tess's pancakes," she muttered, nudging the omelette with her fork, her lip poking out in a pout.
Jareth chuckled, finding the sight of her petulant frown oddly endearing. "I"ll share my breakfast after she leaves," he murmured in a stage whisper, only to flinch when his mother swatted him alongside the head with the napkin she was in the process of offering him.
"You will not! You will listen to your mother, Jareth! She needs light foods today. Nothing too rich until supper."
Frowning, Sarah arched an eyebrow at Titania, in a manner so close to Jareth's own scowl that TItania couldn't help but laugh. "Oh Sarah dear, you seem a bit grumpy. Perhaps you need more sleep? I know such things can wear a person out. Jareth you didn't keep her up too late afterward did you?"
Sarah harrumphed and crossed her arms over her chest, her own irritation melding with Jareth's through the bond, as the two of them glared at the High Queen with nearly identical expressions.
"Okay… just what do you think happened last night?" Sarah demanded, giving Jareth a dark look. "We didn't do anything if that is what you are getting at."
"Do anything?" Titania asked looking puzzled. A moment later she beamed, her voice light and lilting, as she waved her hand at Sarah, her laughter chiming through the room. "Oh, darling...I know you haven't consummated the bond. No, no...no...I was referring to your punishment dear," the Queen replied, her tone suggesting that the answer was obvious and somehow Sarah missed it.
Jareth groaned and rubbed the back of his neck, as Sarah's face went crimson. A rush of embarrassment flooded through the bond, then just as quickly it was replaced with an anger so strong it made his bond mark sting viciously. Absently he stroked the stinging mark, wondering at the new sensation. Sarah's emerald eyes narrowed on the Jareth, a faint buzz of magic electrifying the air around her.
"She saw that?" Sarah hissed, then pulled her feet from Jareth's lap, tucking them under her bum and away from his touch. "And just when were you going to tell me me about that?"
Running his hand over his face, Jareth cursed his mother to the four winds, while trying to keep the anger from his words. "Yes...I'm afraid she barged in while you were in the cage..." he sighed, hoping Sarah would understand.
"I never barge, Jareth," Titania tisked, moving to tuck a napkin in the neck of the robe Sarah was wrapped in, completely undeterred by the way Sarah clutched at the fabric around her neck.
Snatching the napkin from his mother, Jareth grumbled, "You barged in last night and again this morning. You are interfering, Madame."
"I am doing nothing of the sort, darling. Why are you so defensive? Unless you've done something untoward?" Frowning now, Titania looked at Sarah, her violet eyes quickly scanning her, "Are you feeling well dear? Has Jareth taken care of you?"
Sarah glared at him as he leaned forward, her irritation dying somewhat when he deftly tucked the napkin over the links of the collar, effectively hiding it from his mother's prying eyes. "What? Yes… Of course he has…" she replied, a frown creasing her forehead. "Jareth's always been lovely to me."
"Mother!" Jareth snapped, his voice rising. "She is my mate. I love her. I will always take care of her whether that is caring for her when she is ill or any other care she may need. Now will you kindly...BUGGER OFF!"
"Well, you needn't shout Jareth," Titania huffed, the hurt on her face at odds with her laughing eyes. Patting Sarah's shoulder, she smiled. "Now, don't let him wear you out today, dear. Sleep more, it will help. And don't you two worry about Toby, he's gone off with Auberon. Your Father has been dying to show the boy off at High Council."
Jareth's anger nearly got the better of him at that news. "I told you that I did not want Toby going Underground without his sister and myself!"
"Oh relax, Jareth dear. You're the boy's father, Auberon is not trying to usurp that. Neither of us will interfere in your role as father. They've gone to meet the others in London for one of their 'boys lunch' things they so love. Toby will be fine and home in time for dinner. Now...eat up while your breakfast is still warm," she said, patting Jareth's arm before she flitted back out of the room.
The door to Jareth's parlor shut with a muted thud, leaving the two of them in silence, both glaring at the door - if looks could kill, the door would have surely been ash. After a long moment, Jareth pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned, trying to ignore the sharp smell of ash and vinegar that wrapped around him from Sarah, her embarrassment and anger palpable in the quiet of the room.
"I'm sorry, Precious. I truly am. There is absolutely no excuse for that woman, sometimes." Reaching over he took Sarah's plate and put his own on her tray. "Eat the pancakes, love. Unlike my mother's views, in my own experiences a bit of sugar goes further for easing drop."
Still frowning, Sarah shook her head, her arms crossed firmly over her chest. "Not until you tell me how much she knows about what happened last night?"
Jareth sighed, then nodded. He would rather not be having this conversation, but his mother's intrusion left him little choice. Blast that woman...things were finally going well with Sarah and now this!
"Mother came in while you were in the cage, living through the crystal dream." Seeing Sarah's shock, Jareth reached out and took her hand in his. When she tried to pull away, he grasped her hand more firmly, gently stroking his thumb over her knuckles. "It's okay, Sarah," he murmured quietly. "My mother is familiar with what you were experiencing in the crystal, because my father used that very crystal on Alais when she was not much older than you."
Sarah paused, blinking at him as she tried to process his words. Through the various punishments she had endured at his hand, she had forgotten that what was happening to her was not unusual in their culture and that Jareth, as well as his siblings had been through similar things. "Wait...She… she had to go through that too?"
Feeling her anger fade a bit, Jareth squeezed her hand and smiled quietly. "Yes, love. I did not invent that particular punishment, but merely borrowed it. Alais was far more willful than you, so I knew it would make an impression upon you. With Yule nearly upon us, I needed you to finally understand the seriousness of this matter."
The irritation in Sarah's eyes softened further. After a long moment, she nodded. "Okay. But...next time, I want you to tell me if any of your family sees me when I'm...well...incapacitated."
Jareth raised her hand to his lips, gently caressing her fingers with light kisses. "I had intended to tell you, Precious, but did not have the chance before my mother decided to check up on us."
Looking at her hand, he caressed her ring finger where one day he would happily see the ring he already had secreted away in his dresser. A deep sigh shook him. Vulnerability was not an easy thing for Fae - if one were to show any hint of such amongst the wrong people, they might make themselves a target of another's power hungry nature. If I want her to trust me fully and let me rule her the way she craves, she needs to see that side.
"You know I value honesty, Sarah…" he began, raising his eyes to hers. "And that level of communication does flow both ways. So I shall be fully honest with you. When you are punished ordinarily, I make sure to lock the door. Putting you in the cage and setting you within the enchanted dream, was not an easy decision for me, since I knew what you would experience within it. It distracted me and quite frankly, upset me to such a degree that I completely forgot about the door, focusing solely on you to ensure your safety."
Stunned, Sarah sat in silence. This was Jareth. The Goblin King. Anger she could understand from him as a reaction - but this? A faint sense of disquiet and regret filtered through her, feelings she was sure did not belong to her. "Why would you regret that?" she questioned, her words quiet.
"Sarah, aside from our immediate families, Fae do not let anyone close to them, to see their true emotions. You are the first being other than my blood who I not only share my thoughts and feelings with, but who can actually feel them. To be that open is… unnerving," he replied, running his thumb over her finger, before raising her hand to his lips. "I suppose I feel regret, that you might think less of me for showing such weakness."
Looking at their entwined hands rather than be faced with the disillusionment he was sure was in her eyes, Jareth opened the bond wide. For a long moment it seemed as if the bond was gone. For three months he had constantly been able to feel her emotions on some level, yet in that split second, there was nothing. Until that instant, he had no idea how comforting it had been to constantly feel her coursing through him, as if she were a part of him. His heart clenched tight at the absence, threatening to stop all together until he was blindsided by a sudden burst of love and adoration, so strong it made him gasp and look up. All he saw was a flurry of brunette tresses, glittering green eyes and a mass of brocade velvet as Sarah launched herself toward him. Throwing her arms around Jareth's neck, Sarah captured his lips, swallowing his startled grunt as the force of her body hit him, the sensation of her demanding kiss distracting him from the sound of breaking china that surrounded them.
Sarah moaned into the kiss, when Jareth's arms slid around her, pulling her close. Weaving her fingers through the fine tresses of his hair, she nipped his lips, sliding her tongue along his when his lips parted to meet the passionate kiss. She drank the essence of him as eagerly as if it were the finest champagne, tasting the sweetness that was uniquely Jareth. Panting, she broke the kiss and burrowed into his arms without a word, leaving him marveling at the mercurial woman he would happily have as his mate.
Clearing his throat, Jareth chuckled softly, the sound reverberating deep in his chest, tickling Sarah's ear as she rested her head upon him.
"I take that to mean you do not think less of me?"
"Correct...Master."
Cocking his head so that he might look at her, he smiled at the self-satisfied smirk upon her face. "Master? You would still have me as such?"
"Yes. Because you really do care," she sighed, snuggling in until she could kiss the underside of his jaw, eliciting a throaty growl from Jareth. "You always said punishments hurt you as well. I guess now I finally see it."
Glancing down at the breakfast now scattered upon the floor, like an abstract painting punctuated with rather expensive mosaic pieces, Jareth shook his head. "I rather think perhaps you need more punishing - you've upset the breakfast dishes and caused quite a mess, darling. Just what am I going to do with you, hmm?"
"Spank me?" Sarah glibly replied, then giggled at the sudden feel of surprise rushing from Jareth. It wasn't often that she felt that from him, so she thoroughly enjoyed it when she could make him feel that way.
Jareth shook his head, his lips brushing her temple. "You are going to be incorrigible and insatiable, I can see that now. You are supposed to be resting today, Precious. Not instigating more energetic play." Hearing her cheeky laugh, he growled softly in her ear. "You have ten minutes to clean up the mess any way that you can. If you do it within that time period, I'll give you that which you so clearly need."
In the end it only took her five.
To his credit, Jareth managed to hide his surprise at just how far her magical ability had come in such a short period of time. In the end, the spanking would have to wait until later, his first responsibility was to Sarah's well-being and that meant breakfast.
~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~
"Can I ask you something?" Sarah asked, picking at the pancakes on her plate, while Jareth devoured his quadruple stack with a sweet-tooth that she was coming to see was legendary, both Underground and Above.
"Of course, Precious," he replied, laying his fork aside and giving her a warm smile. "What is on your mind?"
"Well, I thought pleasure slaves would basically be like...I don't know, ornaments. They sit around nude or in silks all day and wait for their Masters to seek their company, but from what is in this book, that isn't the way it is?"
His quiet smile, made her belly flutter, the heat in her chest spreading upward to her cheeks. All he had to do was smile at her and her body responded in ways she had not yet grown accustomed too.
"If I didn't know better, I might think the truth to that disappointed you, Precious," he teased, his lips curling in wicked grin that made her belly flip and flutter more vigorously within her. "You would be right, however...that is not the way things are for most pleasure slaves. Let's start with the issue of clothing, since it seems to be a recurring curiosity for you," he said, his pale eyes glittering with amusement. "While slaves may wear silks in private, the preferences and wishes of their Master take precedence. For instance, at this moment, it pleases me to know that you are warm and for that matter, I like seeing you in my clothing, so you'd do well to just get used to that," he chuckled. "Slaves do not spend all of their time in silks or naked, waiting.. or hoping… for use. They dress according to the tasks they are set or the situations in which they find themselves, whether that is in private or holding court in front of 200 of their citizens."
Frowning slightly, Sarah tilted her head as she looked at him, trying to process his explanation. Her train of thought derailed as he flicked the tip of his tongue over a bit of blueberry syrup that was clinging to the corner of his mouth.
"So, they have jobs other than… well… sex?"
'Such innocent questions, yet she seems eager for answers,' he mused, noting the way her eyes were drawn to his lips and her cheeks flushed brightly. 'Just what are you thinking, darling…?'
"Yes, they do. Remember, pleasure slaves are the consummate companion. They are valued for their brains and skills outside of the physical. A friend of mine is an unwed King who has had the same pleasure slave for the last century. She acts as his personal secretary. Everyone knows she is his pleasure slave, but outside of his chambers, she holds a great deal of power and respect as the king's chamberlain," Pausing, Jareth's lips pulled in a slight frown, making Sarah shiver and unconsciously attempt to pull her foot back from his lap. At the feel of her trying to retreat, he gave her a reassuring smile, caressing her foot through the blanket. "Not all who have pleasure slaves value them that way. This is why I was so angry with you and Angel turning your hair purple with hexes. Some royalty keep their own harems of pleasure slaves whose only purpose is to serve on their backs. They are locked away in lavish seraliglio's, but only ever see other slaves or their Masters. They are enchanted to remain silent anytime they are outside of the walls of the harem house."
Frowning, Sarah sniffed the air curiously, wondering at the bitter smell until she felt the slow creep of despair through the link.
"That upsets you?" she asked, her hand gently falling upon his arm.
Jareth sighed and looked at the hand resting upon his arm. "Yes, Precious, it does upset me. Thankfully, there are few with a rank high enough to have pleasure slaves who keep harems, but I feel for the women trapped in them. Once collared, they will remain there until their Master chooses to give them to another or they die - they are used for sex until such time that they can no longer perform that duty...then they are put to death. Expendable property."
Scooting closer to him, Sarah nestled against his side, her hand stroking his upon his thigh. His words painted such a horrible picture, she felt her own despair seem to twist around his through the link, a sensation that was almost as unnerving as the explanation he gave.
WIth a sigh, Jareth reached for her hand, twining his fingers with hers and stroking her palm tenderly with his thumb.
"Sarah, should you accept a training collar from me or a full collar as my pleasure slave, you will always retain the power of consent. Each day that you wear my collar, you will make the choice to be mine. You will always have the power to choose. The slaves in a harem no longer have that choice. They are objects, nothing more. It is a horribly lonely existence. So yes, I pity those who have found themselves in a harem. That is why I was so harsh with you and Angel, I do not want either of you to jokingly present yourself as a pleasure slave before the wrong person. Wars have been fought over less, Sarah… were someone to attempt to confine either of you to a seraglio...well… there wouldn't be enough left of their kingdom or family line to bother sowing with lime."
Gulping Sarah looked at him with wide eyes, the intensity of his emotion making her shiver. "I...I get it now, Jareth. I'm sorry. I swear, we won't do it anymore. You don't have to worry about that," she murmured softly, squeezing his hand tight. Biting her lip she pushed warmth through the link and wracked her brain for a way to change his mood. "Is it normal for Queens to be collared as a pleasure slave to their husbands? Do their court and citizens know? If so how does that work?"
Although she had not planned to deliver her questions with gunshot rhythm, it had the effect that she wanted - Jareth laughed. Chuckling, she felt the bitter scent of desolation fade, while the link was filled with amusement and love.
"I might have to limit you to one question at a time, my darling. To begin with, it isn't a matter of being 'normal', as many people keep the intimacies between themselves and their spouses private. Therefore if a Queen were to be collared to her King, it is highly likely no one would know except their close confidants. Were you to seek my collar as my Queen, that is not something I would shout from the rooftops," he teased, winking at her when she blushed. "My family would likely know, as would those servants and staff who worked closely with us or had access to our chambers, but they would be under a discretion order."
Pouring himself more coffee, Jareth smirked. "In fact, your idea of normal doesn't apply at all. For instance, I have another close friend who has no interest in marrying. He has had the same pleasure slave for quite some time. However, in private it is he who wears the collar. Yet another I know of is the pleasure slave of his Queen - he appears to rule the kingdom, but those close to them know that all major decisions are made by her, he merely enacts them. At times, a pleasure slaves serves by being the dominant partner. So you see, relationships, even those with a power exchange component, can take many forms - it is all up to the people involved and what suits their needs."
The sight of Sarah's eyes widening in shock elicited a rumbling laugh from Jareth.
"It seems so complicated," Sarah sighed, shaking her head, while her mind swam with all that he told her.
Kissing the top of her head, Jareth waved his hand and the remains of the breakfast vanished. "Enough deep thoughts for now, darling," he murmured gently, handing her the book once more, while her sketchpad and pencils appears on the coffee table in front of them. "Either nap or rest quietly, love. That is an order, and one I expect you to obey," he added, tracing his finger along the links at the base of her throat.
The feel of his finger pulling lightly over the silver chain, sent delicious vibrations through Sarah, the sensation setting loose a cascade of goosebumps that ran across her flesh. Smiling up at him, she leaned in and kissed his cheek. It was hard to argue with him when he seemed content to be taking care of her, and for once, she was content to let him. As Jareth picked up his book and began to read quietly to her, Sarah plucked her sketchpad from the table and began to draw.
~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~
After an hour of reading aloud to Sarah, Jareth fell silent in his reading, leaving her to her odd pastime - alternating between reading the book he had given her and sketching. For the last twenty minutes he had stopped reading entirely and sat there surreptitiously watching her as she frowned and flicked her pencil over the paper. Then she would pause, look at what she had done, before viciously rubbing it out of existence with the putty eraser she kept clutched in her off hand. Despite her penchant for disobeying him, Jareth was learning that she was something of a perfectionist in other areas of her life.
If only she would put that perfectionism to use in her lessons regarding Underground life.
Still watching her out of the corner of his eye, he felt through the link, wondering at the odd sense of frustration and irritation that seemed to be consuming her. A lot growl rumbled in her throat as she scrubbed several lines once more.
"Problem, Precious?"
Sighing, Sarah dropped her pencil onto the coffee table and huffed, glaring angrily at her sketchpad. "I just can't visualize it properly. What do they do with their hands?"
"What do who do?" Jareth asked, finding himself completely flummoxed by her irritation. "May I see?"
Sarah shrugged and thrust the sketchpad at him, her lips pulling downward as her growl deepened. Taking the pad before she could toss it aside, Jareth spun it around and peered at it. The page was covered with four different sketches of the positions of a pleasure slave. The woman's long dark hair fell in waves over her shoulders, just covering her bare breasts. Smiling he noticed that the woman in the picture was wearing a collar with his sigil dangling from it. The tilt of her lips and shape of her nose, was most revealing as to whom Sarah was trying to picture in the poses. 'Does she realize she has drawn herself as my collared slave?' he mused, noting the faint mark on the woman's breast and the matching mark near her hip.
Pursing his lips, Jareth gave an approving nod, before glancing warily at her. "These are quite good, Sarah, but I can see why you would be frustrated with the hands. I suppose the book doesn't describe them as completely as it could."
Folding her arms over her chest, Sarah huffed once more, her irritation seeming to build. Putting the sketchpad on the coffee table, Jareth pushed her feet out of his lap.
"Okay, stand up," he ordered, the suddenness of his demand taking her by surprise and derailing her frustration. Curiosity flooded the link, making him smirk.
"You...what?" she mumbled, blinking owlishly at him.
" Go on. On your feet. You wanted to know what being in training would mean for you, did you not?"
Biting her lip, Sarah nodded, as the first wave of nervousness hit her stomach, making it flutter wildly as her mind whirled with the possibilities for what he had in mind. Despite the nerves making themselves known, she stood before him, balling her fists into the rolled cuffs of his dressing gown.
With heat flooding her cheeks, Sarah's trembling fingers reached for the belt of the dressing gown
Swallowing heavily at the possibilities inherent in the wicked turn of his lips, she nodded again, a sudden bloom of heat taking root within her. His gaze was calm, but intense, as if he were sifting through the whirling thoughts in her mind. Unsure what he meant to do, her eyes fell shut the moment his hand cupped her cheek, caressing her gently. Not thinking about what she was doing, Sarah leaned her face into the touch, a deep, wavering sigh spilling from her lips.
"Without taking you and claiming you fully, your training will consist primarily of learning about Fae culture and such…" he began, only to be cut off when Sarah's expression changed, her emerald eyes snapping angrily.
"Hang on. So slaves learn Fae culture and courtesy and manners and everything too?" she demanded, pushing away from him.
Puzzled, Jareth nodded. 'And people accuse me of being mercurial. No wonder Mother is so convinced she is my match,' he laughed inwardly.
"Yes, of course they do. That is the basis of everything."
Pacing angrily Sarah pointed a finger at him and snapped, "So you've been grooming me all this time to be your...your what...pleasure slave?"
Jareth shook his head, amazed at how angry she was. "Of course not, Precious," he said. Seeing her hand raise, he instinctively stepped aside, his own hand snapping out and grabbing her wrist before she could land the slap. "That was a mistake, Sarah," he growled, as she struggled to pull her wrist from his hand.
"Let go of me...you...you...LETCH!"
"That. Is. Enough. GIRL!" he hissed, deftly spinning her around and pinning her to him with her back against his chest, his hands holding her own tight against her stomach. "Now… before you get yourself in any more trouble than you have already bought yourself, I suggest you settle down and listen to me." Sarah squirmed and tried to kick, only managing to make herself breathless in the process. When she finally stopped struggling, he began again. "There is a simple explanation and if you had let me give it, rather than throwing a tantrum, you would see your ire is unwarranted. You are the Labyrinth Champion, a Lady in your own right and have royal status in Underground society. However being raised as a mortal means that you are not ready to fulfill your roles because you have not been raised in our culture to understand how things are done."
"Wait… what…" she muttered, her body hanging in his arms, as her irritation deflated visibly at his words.
Turning her to face him again, Jareth tilted her face upward, chuckling at the sheepish frown that pulled her lips downward.
"Darling, most Fae nobility learn these things as children. Pleasure slaves are taught these things in the training houses because they are generally not of the nobility, so they have not grown up being trained in how to behave amongst the higher classes. Being trained in culture and comportment has little to do with the more intimate duties of a pleasure slave, and everything to do with being the consummate companion, or in your case, a lady in the Fae court….and someday my Queen."
Sarah froze, her gaze falling to his feet, as a cold sensation slid down her back, making her stomach drop. Unmoving she stood there for several moments, before raising her eyes to his, nibbling her lip. "I...um...I'm sorry. I thought you…."
"You assumed I had always had ulterior motives where you were concerned," he finished for her, his tone cool and detached. Sighing, Jareth shook his head, "Sarah, what more can I do to show you I am not the villain you thought me to be?"
Throwing her arms around him, Sarah buried her face in his chest, shaking her head frantically. "I'm sorry, Jareth. I know you aren't the bad guy. I do… I just... it's so much to sort through, y'know? We're bonded. You can read my emotions. Hell, I can read yours sometimes. I want to be with you constantly, but I feel like that has to be wrong because you're older than I am...like WAY older. But for the Fae it's normal...well it doesn't feel normal to me. None of this feels normal. I like it when you spank me, shi….p… I even like the idea of being collared to you. I like being in your bed with your arms around me. But I feel like I shouldn't like any of this and it's just...argghh!" she rambled before falling silent, her arms tight around his ribs.
Jareth smiled softly at the rush of emotions and thoughts that flowed from her. Wrapping his arms warmly around her body, he held her close, kissing the top of his head. "Those are a lot of deep thoughts and worries to keep bottled up in one heart and head, Precious. Rather than keeping them locked inside until they burst out of you like a champagne cork, why don't you try talking to me, hmmm?" Feeling her relax against him, Jareth chuckled quietly. "For starters, let's just toss out the ridiculous notion of 'normal', okay? You are free to like what you like. You are Fae now, or will be. Mortal standards no longer apply to you. You are immortal for all intents and purposes, so the 'age difference' as you see it, is a non-issue. Start there...and let the rest fall into place as it will."
For several minutes, Sarah didn't move, her face still buried against his chest. Jareth could feel the roiling mass of emotions tumbling restlessly through the bond, the tangled threads so knotted he could do little to pick out even one emotion, let alone understand them all. After a time, she settled once more, nodding against his chest. "Ok. I'll try."
"That's my brave Champion," he purred, kissing her forehead. "Now… back to training."
The moment the word 'training' left his lips, Sarah felt her stomach shiver within her, her heart starting to race.
"Really? Even after what I… um…"
"Yes, even after you tried to strike me. We will however, be dealing with that little faux pas tonight during your usual accounting," Jareth chuckled, seeing the way her face fell.
"Couldn't you do that… now? Waiting is cruel," she sighed.
Smiling, Jareth let his fingertips glide over her cheek. "No, Precious. For two reasons. First, knowing that the punishment will happen later means you will think about what you did to earn it. That is an important part of the process. Second, you will never receive any form of 'serious' punishment in my rooms, your rooms or someday… our rooms. Anything that happens in those rooms is for fun only. Those two things must be separate."
As much as she hated having to wait, knowing that an additional punishment would be granted that evening, Sarah immediately found that the logic of it made perfect sense to her. "I understand."
Jareth dipped his head, his lips lightly teasing over hers in a tender, yet brief, kiss. "For now however, on to more practical matters."
"When it comes to training and the way I like to do things, you will learn my preferences and desires. As a novice and an unclaimed maid, that will primarily be things that are, non-sexual - unless there are more intimate preferences you are curious about, then you are free to ask about them and I will always explain or show you," feeling her tremble in his arms, he stroked the hair that fell down her back. "It's okay to have desires, Sarah. I would prefer that you be honest with me about them. Anything that happens in that area will be at your wish and at your pace, nothing more."
"Thank you," she whispered, the words muffled against the firm planes of Jareth's chest.
Shaking his head at rush of desire, confusion and nervousness that flooded the link, Jareth continued. "Overall, in training the goal is for you to develop an understanding of my preferences and adjust to the way I like things done. So, to give you a taste, I'm going to begin your 'education' now," he murmured, the sound of his voice setting the heated ball inside her to burn until she squirmed where she stood. "We'll start with the basic positions you were sketching, to give you a point of reference. The robe will have to come off however, you need to see your body to position yourself correctly."
Blushing brightly, Sarah's hands fell to the sash of the dressing gown, unsure whether she intended to untie it or hold it shut - not that it mattered, because Jareth intervened. His hands slid down her shoulders to her wrists, gently but firmly pulling her hands from the sash and pressing them to her sides.
"While ever you wear my collar, if you are with me, you will never undress yourself. You are dressed at my whim and according to my preferences, you will be undressed the same way," he said quietly, all hint of teasing fading from his tone.
Unable to answer, Sarah nodded, the heat in her belly flooding upward through her chest, searing her from the inside out.
"If I do not give instructions or take care of it myself, you may of course ask me if I would like to undress you...or not, should you feel too timid.," he added. His lips brushed her forehead, as his fingers gave a firm tug on the sash of the robe, the knot falling loose immediately. "For today however, and I suspect for quite some time, there will be no need to ask if I should like to undress you - the answer will always be yes."
Turning her to face away from him, Jareth slid the robe from her arms and draped it across the sofa. His hands grazed slowly down her arms, the warmth of them teasing her flesh, while her nipples pulled taut in response to his nearness, accentuated by the fact that the semi-sheer shirt did little to hide her body from view. Reaching her wrists, he twined his hands with hers, pulling her back until her back was flush against his chest. A low purr rumbled deep in his chest, while his lips nuzzled the sensitive spot behind her ear, sending bursts of pleasure down her spine.
"Now then, I wouldn't wish to harm my slave, would I? And the hardwood floors can be a bit harsh on the knees. What we need, Precious...is a cushion," he chuckled in her ear, relishing the way she trembled in his arms.
Feeling his hand move, Sarah glanced down, fascinated by the way a shimmering blue crystal appeared in his fingertips. For several moments he let it spin and roll around his hand, before dropping it. The iridescent swirls that danced across the glittering shell entranced Sarah, and she watched it slowly float to the floor then burst in a gentle spray of fine droplets that vanished a moment later. In their place lay a large, thick, floor cushion of navy blue velvet. In the center of the cushion were two unicorns, holding a replica of the Goblin King's sigil. She felt Jareth's fingers teasing over the sigil that hung from the collar, marking her as his in a way just as tangible as the mark that was magically seared into her breast.
"Kneel, Precious. Try the first position… simple attention," he instructed her, his voice a soft rumble in her ear. The feel of his lips brushing her ear sent a rush of goosebumps racing down her chest.
Feeling him release her and step back, Sarah's knees wobbled a moment, threatening to drop her onto the sofa, before she gasped and fought to control them. Her eyes fell shut a moment, and she took a deep, shuddering breath before opening them. The sensation of the light purple silk shirt gliding over her bare skin was so much more pronounced without the protection of the heavy robe, making her feel as vulnerable as if she had been fully nude before him. Opening her eyes she turned and knelt on the pillow with her knees together. Her bum was nestled lightly upon her heels. Thinking over the description from the book, she kept her back straight, but relaxed and her chin up, while her eyes were cast downward, looking at Jareth's feet.
Leaning over, Jareth took her hands, turning them palm down upon her thighs. "This is also considered a formal 'at rest' position," he said, then walked around her, humming thoughtfully. "Very nice. Now try the 'present' position."
Nibbling her lower lip, Sarah hesitated a moment, trying to remember the description. She took a deep breath to steady herself, then parted her knees a bit, then clasped her hands behind her back. A heated blush crept across her cheeks and down her chest at the way the position arched her back, the sensitive peaks teasing against the silk of the shirt and pulling taut. Once more Jareth walked around her, observing her form, while Sarah kept her eyes down. After a moment, he squatted down in front of her and pulled her arms from behind her back, turning them so her arms were more relaxed and her hands lay palm up upon her thighs.
"While your form depicted the formal 'present' position accurately, I prefer this variation. It's easter to maintain longer without pain. Just keep your back arched a bit further," he instructed her, then smiled, teasing his finger lightly over one of the taut buds barely hidden by the shirt. "As you can see, different positions have different…'advantages'."
The sudden wave of vanilla, cinnamon and spices that rose around Sarah, told Jareth all he needed to know - just trying the positions was having an effect on her. "Now try the inspection position."
"I...I don't remember that one," Sarah lied, feeling her heart hammer in her chest.
Rising, Jareth chuckled and shook his head, tugging lightly on her hair. "Why Precious…. Do you really think it is a wise idea to lie to me while collared? I can feel the deceit and smell it on you." Jareth laughed softly at the wave of sheepishness that flooded the link, tempered with the scent of shyness. "Darling, why don't you want to do that position?" he asked, sitting on the sofa in front of her. Leaning forward upon his knees, he watched her silently, her eyes still diligently trained on the floor at his feet.
"I...I just…." she stammered, her hands twitching briefly as if she would break her position, before relaxing again.
"How does your current position make you feel, Sarah?"
Sarah fell quiet for several moments. He could feel her deliberation, brief flashes of her thoughts filtering into his own mind. Finally she sighed softly, her body relaxing into the position further.
"The first position felt strange but not bad. This one feels, more vulnerable."
"And the 'inspection' position?" he asked gently.
"I would be...unguarded. Completely on display," she whispered, her voice dropping even softer.
Despite her the sudden burst of anxiety, Jareth smiled at the way she did not break her position, instead seeming to subconsciously relax into it. "I'll position you this time, Sarah," he replied. Leaning forward, he pressed his hands upon her knees, pushing them wide. The scents around her changed, arousal warring with nervousness and fear. "Why are you afraid, Precious. You know I will not hurt you or force you to do anything you do not sincerely want to do or try."
Sarah shrugged, her heart thundering in her ears, as he took her hands and moved them until they were locked behind her neck, the position forcing her to arch her back further, as if presenting her breasts to him. Sitting back on the sofa, Jareth watched her, nodding quietly. "This position of all of them, is designed to allow the slave's body to be fully visible to their Master."
"It makes me feel… 'less than'... vulnerable and unprotected," she muttered miserably. "Just… a slave...and I...don't know that I like it. I do and I don't… what's wrong with me?!"
In an instant, Jareth was on a knee in front of her, his fingers caressing her throat and the silver links. "Sarah, hear me now… with or without the collar, you are protected when you are with me. I will not hurt you. Yes, this position will make you feel vulnerable, it puts every part of you on display. And yes, for full pleasure slaves, this position would only be used in private and the slave would be nude - so it is a vulnerable position. But would you like to know what I see when I look at you in these positions?"
Sarah's throat clicked in her ears as she whispered, "Yes...Sir."
"I do not see a slave, Sarah. I see a beautiful, intelligent woman who trusts me enough to give me herself in such a way. I see someone who needs me to be my best in order to protect and care for her."
Blinking, Sarah's gaze shifted slowly from the floor to Jareth's face, while the rest of her held the position. "You… you do?"
"Yes, Precious. This is what I've been trying to help you understand, the power exchange goes both ways, each person benefits, but not in the ways that people expect," he replied, caressing her cheek, as his lips tenderly brushed her forehead in a kiss. "You are beautiful like this, but… you are always beautiful to me. This sort of power exchange is not about a person as 'property' or being 'less than' it is about trust. It is about trusting another enough to let your true, authentic self and all the needs associated with it, shine. It is trusting them enough with your emotions and body, that you will hand yourself over to them to fulfill your desires, and their own, in ways that are mutually beneficial."
Settling into his corner of the sofa again, Jareth left her in the position a moment longer, then smiled as her emotions settled - slowly the fear and nervousness faded, while arousal and contentment began to grow, tempered with a warming thread of pride.
"Drag the cushion over here, Sarah," he instructed her, pointing at the spot to the left of his legs.
Curious, she pulled the cushion over, then knelt awkwardly on it, shifting from the general position to present and back again. Amused at her indecision, Jareth stroked her head, the gesture making her pause and look up t him, once more pinching her lip with her teeth. "For now, just relax. Sit however is comfortable, but I want you here...where I can touch you at my whim," he murmured gently, then handed her the sketch pad once more. "I think you have what you need now to correct the drawings."
Nodding she took up her pencil and set to work, while Jareth opened his laptop and began to go through work messages. As she drew, Sarah mulled over all of the things she had learned. It was nearly an hour later that she realized she was still sitting there, barely dressed in the purple, semi-sheer silks, and felt perfectly comfortable being curled up on the cushion at Jareth's feet - it was all so strange, but felt so right.
For nearly an hour, Jareth answered emails and stroked Sarah's head. Glancing down, he beamed at the way she had scooted closer to his leg and was now leaning against it as she drew, her head leaning against his knee. Opening up another file to review numbers, he was surprised when Sarah spoke, her words soft and hesitant.
"Have you had them before?"
"Had what, Precious?" he asked, his sculpted eyebrows narrowing at the wave of disquiet and despair that had crept through the link from Sarah.
"A pleasure slave...Have you had them before?"
Looking at her over the top of his laptop, Jareth's eyes flickered golden as he studied her face. The scents around her shifted, contentment layered with indecision, and dismay. 'Maybe he'll lie to me...I'm not sure I really want to know.' Hearing her fearful words echoing in his head, Jareth gave her a gentle smile, nudging a stream of reassurance through the link.
"I will always be honest with you, Precious. Yes, I have had pleasure slaves before. Princes, Princesses and other nobility often take a pleasure slave as a companion when they are young. For those of royal blood, they do so before assuming the crown and many keep the same pleasure slave until they are ready to begin courting with a view toward marriage," he said, his words quiet, as his fingers combed through the dark tresses draped over his thigh. "I have been involved with trained slaves, as well as seeing to the training of complete novices."
"Oh," Sarah mumbled, her face falling, as her attention returned to her sketchpad, her eyes glassy with the first hints of tears.
Caressing her cheek, Jareth spoke softly, "Sarah...love...look at me." With a despondent sniff she looked up at him through the veil of dark hair. "I have had pleasure slaves as companions, that is just the way things are done for my kind. But I have only loved one person in all my years - and that person is you. I have no intention of taking another to my bed - ever."
"Forever is a long time," she muttered miserably.
"Not long enough with you, Precious."
"Thank you...that...helps," Sarah whispered, her words so soft a human would not have heard them - but the Goblin King did. She did not look up, nor did her pencil move across the page - silent as stone she sat leaning against his leg her pencil tip barely touching the page as she stared vacantly at it.
Closing his laptop, Jareth pushed it aside and leaned over her. Without a word he plucked the pencil from her fingers and flipped the cover of the sketchbook shut, then lay them on top of his computer.
"Um..what are you doing?" she started, only to fall silent when he placed a gentle finger against her lips.
"Your mood has shifted, Precious. You need more rest," he replied, rising and offering her his hand.
"But...I'm not tired."
Arching an eyebrow, Jareth shook his head, a dark chuckle purring in his chest, "Do I have to make it an order, Sarah?"
Her lips still pulling in a petulant line, Sarah sniffed and stood, her arms folded over her chest. "No...Master."
Laughing now, Jareth swatted her bum, the surprise of it making her giggle in spite of herself..
"Bed. Now. Scoot, girl," Jareth ordered, swatting her again when she didn't move with enough speed enough to suit him.
Puzzled, she scurried into the bedroom, staying just far enough ahead of him to avoid being swatted again. Pulling back the covers to get under them, she felt a gentle hand fall upon hers, stopping her. Sarah looked up at him, questioning in her green eyes. "But you said…."
Slowly Jareth pulled her back, until her back was tucked against his chest and her head nestled just near his chin. The thin silk did nothing to dull the heat of him that surrounded her. Jareth's fingertips grazed lightly down her arms, teasing her through the silk.
"As my pleasure slave, you would only be allowed in our bed if you are nude, save for your collar...unless there were other circumstances at play that necessitated some form of loungewear," Jareth murmured in her ear. Feeling Sarah tremble against him, he slid his arms around her, his hands splayed low across her stomach, two fingers barely touching the dark curls barely hidden by the thin material. Hearing her soft sigh of longing, he allowed one finger to lightly stroke the curls. "Should you choose to keep this collar for now, whether to come to my bed nude will be your decision. However since you are not allowed to undress yourself, you will have to ask me to bare you."
A low moan vibrated in her throat, as she fought to quell it, and failed… the sound of longing sliding past her traitorous lips.
"Now tell me, Precious. For this particular moment, do you wish to remain clothed in the silks of a training slave, or shall I strip you bare?" he murmured in her ear.
The heat of his body and breath upon her flesh made enflamed the ball of heat that always seemed to burn within her when Jareth was touching her. Sarah gulped, struggling to think of anything, but the feel of his body molding to her back, his hips tight enough against her bum and lower back to giving her a feel for just what he hid beneath his sinfully tight trousers.
Burying his nose in her hair, Jareth growled quietly, letting the luscious scents that surrounded her wash over him - arousal and nervousness being the strongest, rich, spicy and faintly sweet. He could feel the war raging within her, her practical side fighting against the more primal desires she harbored, desires she wanted him to quench, even though the idea terrified her. As much as he wanted to have her in his bed, bared for his eyes and touch, the decision rested with her.
Sarah's eyes fluttered shut, the steady beating of his heart against her back being the only thing keeping her grounded. She wanted so much to take the leap and be his, even in a limited form, but the fear still gnawed at her. Shaking her head, Sarah clenched her hands tighter in Jareth's and took a deep, bracing breath.
"Please undress me, Master."
Releasing her hands, his fingers twisted in the hem of the thin material and slowly pulled the shirt upward over her head, then dropped it on top of his robe. "Get in the bed, Precious," he ordered her quietly. She immediately complied, her eyes wide and innocent as he tucked the covers around her, then bent and kissed her, his lips light and tender upon hers. "Now sleep, girl. I will join you shortly, I have a few tasks to attend to first."
The way her lips curled in a disappointed pout was oddly endearing, but unlikely to sway him. Nibbling her lower lip, he chuckled then stood. "No pouting. We can play later if you ask nicely, Darling," he said with a wink. "But nothing until after dinner tonight. We are having guests and I want you rested and ready to be charming for dinner and your oral report - otherwise we are likely to be faced with more visits from my mother, and I don't know about you, but I really would not like a repeat of her last visit."
"Fu….Forget that," she giggled, covering up her slip while Jareth rolled his eyes. Still snickering, Sarah rolled over and pulled Jareth's pillow from the stack at the head of the bed, wrapping her arms around it and hugging it close, her eyes falling shut. Within minutes, despite being sure she wasn't tired, she had fallen fast asleep.
~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~
As always...please review!
Additional Author's Note:
I've had a number of private emails about how their relationship is changing. I realize this type of relationship can be disturbing for some readers, who have been in abusive relationships where they were taken advantage of. Please understand that I am very aware of how that can happen, but part of what is happening in this story is to help Sarah understand the difference between consenting power games and outright abuse (which will become clearer in this chapter).
I also acknowledge that this type of relationship dynamic can be confronting for some people - and that's okay. :) Many different types of relationship styles exist… this is just one of the styles that I choose to write about, because it is so often misunderstood and automatically assumed to be abusive, when they can be structured in a way that gives the submissive partner a great deal of power and autonomy to live in a way that meets their needs in ways that a 'traditional' relationship may not - different strokes for different folks, as they say :)
For those of you who are in power exchange or D/s relationships yourself and have written to me - THANK YOU. :) I am so glad that you appreciate the way I am presenting things. One of the things I hated about the original '50 Shades' was the fact that it glossed over so many important parts about what makes a power exchange relationship work - so I am working hard to ensure that the principles of a power exchange relationship are presented more clearly to hopefully help people understand that such a relationship *can* be healthy, loving and a comfort for both partners.
Side note: if any readers want to discuss the intricacies of a kink relationship or ask questions about things, feel free to inbox me. I'm always happy to share what I know and point people toward more information if desired.