AUTHOR'S NOTE: Wow! You all keep surprising me! :) I had over 25 private messages on the last two chapters, with people either thanking me for the story itself, or wanting to discuss finer points of power exchange, and a couple others who just wanted to discuss my stories in general. Thank you for the lovely words and support. I am always happy when something I write seems to resonate with many people, and that thrills me beyond belief. While I write stories that strike my fancy, I always love it when something about my stories gets hold of readers and makes them feel things (yes, even the haters). I'm loving the fact that so many of you are taking the time to send me long messages to chat about the story, the dynamics presented and other things I've written. You all rock! So as a special reward we have… a bit of lemony goodness in this chapter (no, we're not going full lemon yet - but that is coming up soon!).
Enjoy… send reviews...and know I'm already busily working on the next chapter. My goal is still to try to finish this story around Christmas, so I can unleash a few other plot bunnies I've been holding back on. :)
Warning: This chapter contains D/s references (duh!), kink imagery and sexual themes. If those things offend you, then really...we have to wonder how you got this far into this particular story in the first place! :)
Ch. 35: Decisions Made
"Stop squirming Sarah and you won't drop the cupcakes. Surely you don't want to lose another bit of your funishment for later?" Jareth laughed, balancing another pink cupcake on the plate. The fine china plate wobbled, making the pink peonies seem to dance around the edges, while Sarah squeaked in alarm, her hands flinching as if wanting to grab the plate, before slowly relaxing once more.
"Jareth! I can't…" she mumbled through teeth clenched - not out of anger, but out of necessity, since to speak normally would surely upend the plate of teacakes precariously balanced on top of her head.
"Shush, darling. Tea cake tables shouldn't talk," he teased, pulling another teacake from thin air and adding it to the neat circle of cakes he had made on the plate. "You've made it to a second level this time. That's 20 swats you've lost for being a naughty table and spilling them, and another 10 you've added back again. A muffled whine was the only reply from Sarah as she knelt on Jareth's bed, still naked, her body held in the' present' position he preferred. "Keep your hands palm up Sara and locked to your knees. No trying to steady the plate again or we'll have to start all over and you'll be 30 swats in the negative."
Jareth hadn't planned to do much training with her until she made a decision about accepting the training collar, but as it turned out, she responded well to his methods.
When Sarah woke from her nap, to find him sitting next to her reading she had been perfectly content and relaxed, reaching over and petting his thigh with a lazy purr - until she discovered that the covers had twisted low around her hips as she slept, leaving her breasts exposed. In an instant she grabbed for them, but he stopped her, holding the covers down firmly.
"Sarah...relax."
Relaxation did not seem likely, given the way her face and chest flushed bright pink. Jareth offered to strip down himself to even the score, as nudity was nothing for his kind. Then he mistakenly explained that there were some formal parties when it was quite expected - a fact that made her blush crimson, and offered Jareth a delightful view of just how much of her body could turn a lovely shade of pink. As it turned out, he was reasonably sure the only part of her that wouldn't blush was the soles of her feet.
When that only made her embarrassment grow, he'd tried to explain that nudity was natural and not inherently sexual. When that didn't assuage her shame, he explained that he hadn't even been looking at her, as he had been reading and was only sitting there because he wanted to be near if she needed him. That didn't seem to affect her either. The only thing that started to calm her down was to remind her that nudity was a rule for pleasure slaves. He was pleasantly surprised when her hand came up to caress the collar, and her emotions quieted a bit. The bitter-sweet scent of embarrassment faded somewhat, overtaken with the vanilla and exotic spices of desire. As much as he approved of that response, he wanted her to understand that in the context of their relationship, she needed to feel comfortable being bared before him.
So he did the only thing he could think of to snap her out of being shy about her body around him - he made a game out of it.
They had been playing the 'game' for the last 40 minutes, at the moment however, Sarah was losing more than winning. Despite having a negative score, her mood was surprisingly light and happy. As an added bonus she was becoming far more comfortable taking instruction from him, as well as being in the positions she had tried earlier in the day, and simply being nude in his presence - all of which counted as a win by Jareth's standards.
For her part, Sarah was torn between trying to keep the teacakes balanced and giving into the other torments Jareth inflicted upon her. She knew he was devious, but this only further proved it...and she found she didn't mind so much. The first time she'd gotten up to 12 teacakes, he praised her, his eyes flickering darkly as he gave her a wicked smile - Then he told her the secret rule - she had to keep the plate balanced and could not, for any reason, break position. Once he placed the thirteenth cake upon the plate, he'd reached down and lightly pinched her nipple. The sensation of magic in his touch sent a jolt of hunger straight to core, setting up an aching hunger within her. This made her squirm and then… CRASH! The delicate plate shattered on the floor, and teacakes scattered across the carpet and the bed, leaving smears of purple and pink icing on the bedspread.
The second time he'd gotten up to 10 teacakes before pulling out the special rule. She lost that time when he came up behind her and starting kissing and nibbling along her spine. "You like it when I tease you don't you Precious?" he purred in her ear. "I'm going to touch all of you in this game… say 'No' now if you don't want me to touch you, Precious."
The plate started to wobble as her posture relaxed, but Sarah managed to keep it on her head. Her mind whirled with the implications of his words, but in the heat of the moment, she she didn't care. She was having fun with him and his silly game that seemed to involve two of his favourite things, teasing her and his sweet tooth. Locking her jaws tight, she said nothing, even as he purred in her ear and teased his fingertips over her nipple again, eliciting a strained moan from her.
"My greedy mate wants me to touch her, doesn't she?" he cooed in her other ear now, the low sound of his voice making her hips twitch, as a thick drip slid out of her, coating the throbbing pink petals that clung to the hidden pearl.
When he began the game she was embarrassed and thought it was silly, now she just wanted him to stop with the game and simply touch her - not that she'd ever tell him that. It wasn't until he pinched both nipples gently, but firmly that she gasped, her mouth wide as her back arched, sending the plate flying backward to hit him in the chest.
Which was how Jareth ended up shirtless.
"Naughty naughty, Sarah. You lose again and you've smeared icing on my favourite shirt," he purred as he took it off and tossed it aside. "You'll have to pay a penalty for that later."
Sarah's stomach fluttered wildly, wondering what he meant. Catching his eye in the dresser mirror, she saw the sly smile curling his lips and watched as his hands slid up her body and cupped her breasts, kneading them gently and pinching her nipples. Arching her back, she moaned, the feeling of his hands sending electric tingles flowing over her body. In the mirror she was entranced by both the sheer sensual intensity of his gaze, and the wide-eyed desire in her own.
His lips brushed her ear, teasing with each word he spoke, "But don't worry Precious… this game is fun, so any 'penalty' you pay will be in a similar vein."
It wasn't until the third round when he'd just barely ghosted a finger over her clit, that he ended up with pink icing smeared down his chest, from the teacakes that fell off the plate when her knees wobbled. Glancing at him now as he placed another teacake on the plate, Sarah groaned, fighting down images of what it would be like to be bold enough to lick the icing from his chest - she was close enough to do it too, if she only arched a bit forward...just a teeny bit.
Jareth hummed quietly, carefully balancing another teacake on the plate. "That's 12. Good girl. I think I'll give you two swats each for this plate of cakes. Which gets you back up in the red with 8 swats. Now be sure to hold still, you don't want to miss out on your spanking again, do you, darling?"
Whimpering now, as his finger pressed deeper to stroke the tender bud, Sarah whispered, "No...Master."
"Now, if you can hold fourteen teacakes without dropping them, I'll give you 30 fun swats tonight and a special reward this afternoon," he purred, plucking another cake from the air and delicately sitting it atop the first layer of teacakes. "There's thirteen," he murmured, kissing her and swallowing her longing moan, as his finger swirled easily around the slick pearl. "Such a good girl holding still for me."
Trembling, Sarah fought her screaming muscles which demanded that she respond to his touch, as more honeyed drips flowed from within her. She didn't know what the reward would be, but if it was anything like what he was currently doing, she knew she wanted it - badly.
"Last cake Precious," he drawled, holding the teacake before her face, so she could see the sparkling pink icing and delicate lavender and vanilla scented cake. Smirking, he flicked his tongue over the icing, her eyes riveted as he sucked it back into his mouth, then kissed her, letting her taste the sweetness of the icing and the spiciness that was uniquely Jareth.
"Do you want to know what you win if you can balance all fourteen cakes for the next three minutes?"
Sarah moaned, the sound rumbling deep in her chest. "Yes….S-Sir…" she panted through gritted teeth. The muscles in her legs twitched with the desire to slam her thighs shut and clamp down around his fingers.
"I'm going to lay you down, and feast upon this lovely, dripping pussy until you scream my name," he whispered in her ear, the heat of his breath and the feel of his finger tenderly stroking her clit, threatening to short-circuit her brain.
"Please…." she gasped, even as she cursed her traitorous lips.
Jareth purred, feeling a sudden rush of wetness coat his fingers. "Ahh… so you really do want to play with me today, hmm? Well, since you have been an exceptionally good girl, I'll give you what you need - if….and only if… you hold all fourteen teacakes for three minutes without breaking position or dropping the plate." Pausing the tender stroking of his fingers against her clit, Jareth held her gaze as he placed the last teacake on the stack perched on the plate.
Green eyes glittered brightly at him, while Sarah bit her lower lip. He could see the strain in her body as she fought to remain still. His touch was light when he began to stroke the slippery bud again, gently running around it, just enough to send warm bursts of pleasure up into her core.
"We will have all of forever to play games like this, Sarah," he murmured, his gaze still riveted upon her face, the blue of his eyes darkening in their intensity. "You'll find I can be very creative. You will never be bored, love."
Her hips pressed toward his teasing fingers, as a heated groan of longing hung in the air between them. Snapping her eyes shut tight, Sarah whimpered. Everything in her screamed to throw her arms around him and ride his fingers until she came apart for him, yet somehow she found the strength to resist.
Steadily the clock on the nightstand ticked down the time - with Jareth's eyes on Sarah and her eyes on the clock. 10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3….
The sound of firm knocking on Jareth's door, drew her eyes to him in a panic.
"Jar…" she gasped, the movement of her head over-balancing the plate on her head. Cringing she waited for the plate to fall, as Jareth growled and waved a hand, halting the descent of the plate and cupcakes so they hung in the air in mid-tumble.
"If that is my mother…." he snarled, just as the parlor door opened and Titania called out.
"Jareth… Sarah? Sorry to bother you darlings, but the others are arriving for dinner and the girl's oral report. You should come down and greet them."
The sound of Jareth's fingers snapping echoed loudly in Sarah's ears, startling her almost as much as the way she was suddenly swathed in his dressing gown once more, and the plate, teacakes and all traces of icing were gone from Jareth's chest.
"No fair," she harrumphed, crossing her arms irritably over her chest as she flopped onto her bum on the bed and glared at the bedroom door.
"Indeed, Precious. It is not fair," Jareth grumbled with her, and strode toward the door. Jerking it open he frowned at seeing his mother flitting into the parlor. Titania beamed warmly when she saw him. "Mother, we were resting, as instructed. Dinner is not for another two hours."
Waving a hand at him, Titania peered around him, smiling at the sight of Sarah bundled in his robe asleep on his bed. "Oh good, I'm glad you finally took my advice, dear. Well, you can let her sleep a bit longer while you get ready, but you really should be down to greet your guests, since you did invite them to hear the report."
Jareth rolled his eyes and huffed. Leaning against the doorway, he glanced over his shoulder at Sarah pretending to be asleep. "They are family, mother. I do not see the need to stand on ceremony in my own home."
"Don't be stubborn, Jareth!" Titania scolded, her voice dropping lower so as not to wake Sarah. "This is her first time to meet more of the family. You want her to be comfortable to give her report in front of them, do you not?"
Grudgingly he nodded, running a hand through his hair until it stood wildly about his head, the short strands giving a brief hint of the true Goblin King. "Yes, you are correct. I would rather that she not be overly nervous about the report, since it is already a rather sensitive subject for her."
Patting his arm, Titania smiled. "Wake her and prepare her for tonight. I will speak with the others and ensure they are on their best behaviour."
Jareth snorted and kissed his mother's forehead, "You and I both know that none of them will be on their best behaviour when meeting Sarah. I've been fending them off for the last three months. They will tell her all the worst stories of my youth and basically be just as incorrigible as Alais."
"Well, we can hope they won't smother the poor girl too much. Just keep her with you and I'm sure she'll handle it fine, Jareth. Whether you realize it or not, she responds to your presence."
Peering at the bed, Jareth chuckled softly, a gnawing heat curling in his groin, "Believe me mother, I am fully aware of just how well she is responding to me these days. Now if you would kindly take your leave, I have to get ready."
When his mother finally left, Jareth returned to the bedroom and sat next to Sarah. "You can stop playing at being asleep now, Precious - although it was a nice touch," he laughed, stroking her head as she pulled the covers down from her face, then abruptly sat up her face pinching in a frown, while her eyes snapped angrily, narrowing upon him.
"Jareth!" she hissed, waggling a finger at him. "I want to take the training collar and continue to spend my nights with you, but you have got to do something about your mother waltzing through the door whenever she bloody well feels like it!"
A laugh burst from him, as Jareth reached out, gently clasping her hand and bringing it to his lips, to kiss the finger she had been pointing at him, while a surge of warmth rushed through him at her words. "Do you mean it? Have you made your decision about the collar, Sarah?"
Pausing, Sarah blinked in confusion before realizing what she had admitted to him in her anger. Instantly, her mouth went dry and she swallowed hard, trying to make her voice work. Her heart thundered wildly in her chest as the full realization that she meant her words hit her.
"I...um...well...yes?" she muttered, then frowned again. "But only if you can keep your family out of this room."
"Darling, if I have to post a horde of goblins secreted outside the door to keep them out when you are in here with me, I will. Enchantments. Wards. Goblins. Traps. A dragon...whatever it takes," he murmured, his hand warm as it cupped her cheek.
Leaning in, Jareth captured her lips in a kiss that immediately pulled the breath from her lungs with the heat of it. Her fingers threaded through his hair, twisting into the fine strands and pulling him close. With a soft growl he broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers, as she giggled quietly, kissing the tip of his nose.
"I think traps, the horde and a dragon might be a tad excessive, although Toby would likely find them thrilling. Couldn't you… I don't know, just tell them that having them barge in embarasses me?"
Smiling, Jareth kissed her forehead then sat back, his fingers gliding over the links of the collar around her neck. "We'll speak to them together, love… that is how the Goblin King and Queen should deal with it. We'll do it tonight, after dinner and your report. For now however, we must get ready to join the family in the parlor. I want you to go shower. Use my special soap in the red container. While you bathe, I'll check on some things in the kingdom and select your clothing for tonight."
Sarah sighed and snuggled into his arms, a slow wave of contentment and love humming through the link. Still unable to believe how much she really did care about him, Jareth hugged her close, kissing the top of her head and drinking in the warm emotions she was pushing through the bond, the mark on his wrist pulsing in time with her heartbeat. He hated forcing her from his arms, but it was necessary.
"Go on, love. We both have things to do."
Leaning her head up Sarah kissed his jaw and smiled. "Yes...Master," she whispered, then stood in front of him. "Would you care to take off the robe?"
Jareth's eyes sparkled wickedly, as he tugged on the sash of the dressing gown. The heavy front fell open, baring her lightly tanned flesh. His hands curled around her hips, pulling her closer, to stand between his knees. Slowly he drew his gaze upward, taking in the tight pink buds and the way her pulse raced in the base of her throat, thrumming against the collar - his collar, that she had willingingly accepted.
"We will finish what I promised you later. You will get your reward, and your 'funishment' for breaking dishes and covering my shirt in icing," he chuckled, a warm smile breaking across his face, as a sheepish grin broke across hers. "But that will happen after our usual accounting in the library. Remember, you shall have cane strokes for last bit of cursing I hope to ever have to punish you for - 5 every evening this week. And you shall have another two for attempting to strike me in anger today. You do understand that to attempt to strike your king… or master, can't be ignored, love," he asked, his words quiet but firm.
He could see her gulp nervously, a sense of pride flooding him as she did not protest, but merely nodded and whispered, "Yes, Jareth. I'm sorry."
His fingers caressed her hips gently, measuring her response before speaking once more. "Hear me now, love...being obedient doesn't mean you have to become some shell of a woman. I love your fire and your passion, you just have to learn to channel it in more...acceptable ways. We will still argue. Hell, we'll still fight as all couples should. Don't ever stop being you, Sarah. Now that you have accepted my collar for training, your training will begin fully tonight."
Tugging lightly on the front of the collar, he smiled, "With this, comes a change in some rules and how we do things when we are alone. I will teach those things to you bit by bit so as not to overwhelm you with too many new protocols at once. For a start, the protocols concerning punishment will change. When we arrive in my study this evening and are finally alone, you will find your cushion next to my chair. You will kneel there and wait for me to sit, then you will ask me for your punishment. There will be no records made in your book from now on. While ever you wear my collar, any punishment levied is done between us as a private matter - of mates who have made the choice to trust each other. From this moment on, you will ask for any punishment you know you have earned, that honesty is a show of trust and obedience. In asking, you signal that you not only understand what was done and why it warrants punishment, but to show your desire to be mine and your willingness to obey."
Jareth rose, his hand caressing her cheek, while flooding the bond with love. Gently he kissed her, his words soft. "And you do want to be mine and give me your trust, knowing all that I can and will give you in return, don't you Precious?"
A shiver raced down her spine, as Sarah nodded. "Yes, Jareth… I will try. It's all I am ready to offer," she whispered.
Smiling Jareth pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, while his hands pushed the robe down her arms, letting it drop to the floor and baring her entirely. "And that is more than enough, love… Now, go shower."
Without a word, Sarah turned and headed into the bathroom. Jareth watched her walk away, the lack of clothing doing nothing to change the innocence that still remained - a woman touched only by himself, and if he had anything to say about it, she would only ever know his touch. As much as he wanted her fully, and waited for the day she would give in, a part of him felt regret knowing that someday, soon if her willingness to be touched was any indication, he would remove that last physical representation of innocence.
While he could turn back the clock to that moment any number of times, he could never give that innocence back, it was this knowledge that troubled him. He had trained novice pleasure slaves and had enjoyed many lovers in the past, but in all his years, he had never been with someone who was as inexperienced as Sarah. For the Fae, virginity was not a prized thing - experience was treasured, virginity was not. Many Fae had their first sexual experiences younger than Sarah, often with courtesans who were specifically charged with teaching them how to give and receive pleasure. Yet, while Sarah was rapidly transforming to her Fae form physically, emotionally she was still very much human and had been raised to think of her innocence as a prize, to be given only to someone who deserved to share that last moment which marked the true end of all youth for a human.
"Ancestors...please...let me be worthy of her trust...let me be worthy of her love," he murmured softly, his pale eyes falling to the twisted silver crown that now lay in his hands, a feminine counterpart to his own.
~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~
Stepping under the steaming spray of the shower, Sarah purred as the water washed over her. Tucked in in the marble recess, she opened the red bottle jar mentioned and breathed deep, unable to hold back her smile - the soap inside smelled exactly like Jareth. Scooping some of the soap out of the jar, she lathered it into her skin, drinking in the exotic spices. She had always thought of this smell as his natural scent, it was layered upon his clothing and his skin, so that it was always around him.
Sarah smirked as she slipped back under the spray, letting it wash the soap away. "I suppose having me bathed in his scent is just another way to mark me as his," she giggled, her eyes drawn to the way the golden soap bubbles seemed to shimmer and change to orange before washing away down the drain.
Looking through the other containers, she found a shampoo bottle with the same scent and poured a generous bit into her hand. "In for a penny and all that…" she hummed, leaning back under the spray. Sarah shut her eyes, and began to lather the thick cream through her hair, the spices and exotic aroma seeming to pour into her until it suffused every cell, soaking into her very soul.
It had been such a strange sort of day - relaxing….but strange.
While she was still very unsure about how she got to this point and what it meant for her future, the more time she spent with Jareth, exploring the intricate variations of Fae intimate relationships, the more sure Sarah became that accepting the bond was only going to be the first step. There would always be someplace new and exhilarating he could take her. She was, by the standards of his kind at least, innocent. It would so easy to feel outclassed and outgunned by the gorgeous Fae women he had to have known of the years, but when they were together, Jareth never treated her as if she were less desireable, if anything, she got the distinct impression that there was no place he would rather be than with her.
"Is that the bond doing it, or how he really feels," she wondered as she slathered her hair up with the thick conditioner. Finding a bottle of shower oil, she started to rub it into her skin with the sea sponge. Her thoughts still mulling over everything that had transpired.
Sure, when she screwed up and broke the rules she knew infuriated him, he treated her like a child, but if she was honest with herself, she understood why. If you act like a child you get treated like one...act like an adult and get treated like one as well. It made sense. When she acted like a child he treated her like a naughty child, she was half surprised he hadn't put her over his knee or stuck her in a corner. Idly staring out the ornate stained glass window of the shower that looked out over the garden, Sarah giggled to herself, remembering just how her body and Jareth's had reacted the one time he had put her over his knee. Hmm… yes...that would be why he doesn't do that. We both like it too much.
Even when she was in trouble, the dynamic still clicked in some strange way. She first felt it when she had gotten in trouble over the whole Halloween disaster, although she didn't understand the feeling then. She had been angry at being in trouble, but more than anything it was Jareth's disappointment that tore at her, eating holes in her soul each time he gave her that desolate look.
Punishment aside though, when they were alone, his focus was on her - solely on her. No matter what she asked, he gave her the answers she sought and never made her feel stupid for asking in the first place. If anything he seemed to go out of his way to reassure her that he wanted her to ask questions. As each day passed, she found that she preferred being with Jareth than being anywhere else. Being with him was intoxicating. She never believed that she would ever come to want his control, yet in the past 24 hours she had willingingly surrendered control to him in a myriad of small ways, only to find that giving him that power over her felt comfortable.
The hardest part of the past 24 hours had not been wrapping her head around the complexities of what training or a collar might mean for herself and their relationship...no the hardest part was getting used to being nude or next-to-nude around him. She almost expected him to be frustrated, but like everything else, he took her fear seriously and gently worked to help her deal with it- and it was getting easier.
Realizing she was on the precipice of something huge, Sarah's fingers fell to the reassuring weight of the slick links around her throat. True, the sheer depth and detail of the information Jareth had given her over the course of the day had been quite complex to take on board, but overall, the idea of accepting his training collar was thrilling, more so than frightening.
What was frightening was the fact that each time he touched her, her resolve to wait when it came to sex, was weakening.
He said he would not accept my offer if it was in conjunction with his collar… but what if that is exactly what I want? If the choice is truly mine, shouldn't I have the right to say how I want it to happen? Lips pursed in thought, Sarah mulled over her dilemma. I know what I want...I think. But how do I make him understand that I want it and know what it would mean?
A sly glint lit her green eyes as she turned off the shower, the beginnings of a plan starting to form in her mind. She needed to learn a few things first, but soon...very soon...she would make him an offer she was sure he would not refuse.
~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~
Stepping back into the bedroom, Sarah felt a pang of disappointment to find the room empty. The curtains were open across the balcony doors, letting the warm colors of sunset filter into the room. With a sigh she tugged the towel tight around her body and went to check out the clothing Jareth had left laid out on the bed. Running her fingers over the burgundy knit dress, she smiled. It was new, but her favourite color. The whole dress was patterned with a retro feel, a knit sheath, with a high cowled neckline that would hide her collar. Around the waist, fit a simple golden chain belt. Next to the dress lay a delicate bra that she did not recognize from her closet, the material a light, cream-colored silk with embroidered burgundy roses dotted across it.
"Color coordination is important to him," she murmured, then gasped as a warm arm slid around her waist, while lips teased lightly across the back of her shoulder, nibbling in a way that sent a cascade of goosebumps dancing across her back.
"Yes, I do believe in coordination," Jareth purred in her ear, his hand splayed low near her hip, in a way that made her stomach flutter.
Still running her fingertips over the dress, Sarah chuckled, "So I see. I suppose there are perks to being involved with the Goblin King - new clothes on tap."
Laughing, Jareth released her and moved around to lounge against the headboard as he sat on the bed. "Indeed. I did actually have this made to take you to dinner next week in London, but thought it would look lovely tonight."
Sarah arched an eyebrow, tilting her head to look at him. "I see...and I can't help but notice that a particularly important part of the lingerie is missing."
"Oh?" he replied, a sly smirk curling his lips. His pale eyes darkened playfully as he looked at her with great interest. "And what would that be, Precious?"
Picking up the bra, Sarah let it dangle from her fingertip. "Lingerie sets come in pairs, with a bra and knickers. The knickers that match this quite lovely bra are conspicuously missing."
The wicked twinkle in his eyes, sent liquid warmth rushing down her spine, to coil low in her belly. Deep down, she suspected she knew the answer, and he didn't disappoint.
"You have accepted the training collar, Sarah. As part of that, it is at my whim to dress you… or not. I have laid out what I want you to wear," he replied, waving his hand toward the outfit on the bed.
Glancing at the bed, Sarah noted that the outfit was complete from jewelry to shoes - all parts accounted for, except for the knickers. "But...um…"
"Let me help you," he chuckled, plucking the bra from her hands and rising. Before she could protest, Jareth untucked the damp towel from around her chest and dropped it on the nightstand, leaving her bare. For an instant her arm twitched as if to cover herself, then fell to her side. "Good girl," he murmured, kissing her forehead. "Lift your arms, love," he instructed her, holding up the bra. Without thinking about it Sarah lifted her arms and slid them through the straps, only to find herself being spun around as he deftly fastened it across her back, his touch light on the straps, adjusting them perfectly. "Hmm… very lovely, Precious. Now the dress."
With her back still to him, Jareth reached around her and picked up the dress, his fingers quickly unzipping it. Balancing on one foot, she lightly grasped his shoulder and stepped into the ring of material he held open for her.
"This feels so weird having you dress me. I could do it myself, you know."
"You could," Jareth chuckled, smoothing the dress up her body and turning her to zip it. "But for the moment, it pleases me to dress you, Sarah. I find that I enjoy taking care of you in this way...and others."
Feeling awkward, as he sat on the bed in front of her and slipped the shoes on her feet, Sarah tried not to focus on the way each movement caused the air to sweep up under the skirt of the dress, teasing around her thighs and across the still damp flesh of her sex. "Jareth, please…. Can I have the knickers? I'll never be able to focus on anything except my… well…." she began, her cheeks flushing brightly at the devious smirk upon his face.
"That is rather the point to the exercise, Sarah mine," he grinned, threading the belt around her waist and fastening it. "Pleasure slaves, while accomplished companions, are primarily there to serve their Master's lusts and sexual needs, therefore their silks are designed for access, but also to make them keenly aware of their own needs and desires, stoking the fires so to speak. Our activities this evening do not lend themselves to silks, so you must be clothed, but I still want you to be aware of your own needs and desires... So consider this an exercise in learning to accept that your desires are natural, Sarah," he said gently.
Feeling her stomach quiver, Sarah fought the urge to tug at the skirt of the dress, the feel of air swirling up between her thighs unnerving. "Will I have to go knickerless all the time?" she asked, vaguely horrified, by the idea, although the heavy warmth settling between her thighs suggested an all-together less objectionable feeling.
Jareth laughed and rose, turning her around, his hands threading into the damp strands as he began to brush her hair. Purring softly at the feel of the firm strokes smoothing out the knots, Sarah sighed, relaxing into the gentle touches of his hands. If brushing my hair is included as part of dressing me, I guess I could get used to it.
When he was through smoothing her hair down her back, Jareth turned her to face him once more, his pale eyes sparkling warmly at her. "Sarah, on a normal day, I will likely not bother to dictate what you wear, much less whether you wear knickers. On school days, you wear a uniform, so the choice is already made. I may decide that I want to choose your clothes on weekends, or I may not. It will depend greatly upon my mood and how busy we are. Choosing your clothing and dressing you takes time, and my desires may be dictated by our current needs. However, when you are alone with me, I expect you to be dressed in accordance with the status you have accepted… in the purple silks or anything else I may give you as an option - with no undergarments."
Sarah's emerald eyes narrowed a bit at his words, her teeth worrying at her lower lip. "But you said that intimate things were my choice…"
Jareth's hands cupped her cheeks, drawing her into a tender kiss. Releasing her, he sat on the bed and pulled her down to sit next him, his hands cradling hers. "Sarah, I've given you my oath on that. Whether to seek or accept intimacy will remain your choice. But as part of your training and generally to help you adapt to Fae sexual mores, you will need to become more comfortable with your own body and needs. And yes, it provides easier access should you wish for more intimate activities, or consent to any request on my part."
A frown pulled at her brow, as Sarah's nose wrinkled up in disgust. "Eww… but there are some times when…when being bare just won't work."
Feeling the sudden rush of shame through the bond, Jareth wrapped his arm around her and tucked her close to his side, smiling at the way she seemed to melt into his embrace easily.
"Sarah, any order I give you in training can be questioned. If I were to order you not to wear knickers to school and you were in a moon-bleed week, I would expect you to speak up and communicate with me - even to the point of being somewhat disrespectful should I not understand the seriousness of your request. But the fact is, that I would be highly unlikely to make such a request. I am Fae. You are my mate. I will always know when that time is upon you, Precious. So rest assured that I will not ask you to go without during that time, without having a good reason for it. All you need to do is trust that I will not put you in a position where you might be embarrassed by it."
Standing, Jareth took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. "For the moment, I just want you to relax and try to enjoy dinner. Remember, everyone here is family and they have been pestering me to bring you to visit them for months now. They will ask questions of you and likely fill your ears with tales of my exploits."
Groaning, Sarah followed him toward the door leading into the hall and what would surely be her most embarrassing evening ever. "I'm not worried about meeting your family. If they are anything like your parents and Alais, I'll love them. I'm more worried about the fact that I'm going to have to give an oral report on Underground Pleasure slaves, in front of your family, while I'm not wearing knickers!" she hissed as they stepped into the hall.
"Well darling, unless you tell them that you are standing there sans knickers, no one but you and I will know," he laughed,patting her hand up on his arm. "Seriously though, Precious...if you get nervous, just take a breath and pretend you are simply explaining pleasure slaves to me in my office as you did last night."
Blushing at the thought of how much doing that had turned her on the night before, Sarah felt the heat in her belly throb to life once more. "Somehow I don't think that will help me feel any more calm."
"Would it help to picture me naked?" he teased.
"No!" Sarah squeaked, her mind already more than willing to remind her just what he looked like nude - a image that was rather impressive.
"Are you sure? I've heard that such things are good ways to overcome nerves."
"NO, Jareth! Picturing you naked will definitely NOT work!" she snapped, her laughter ringing down the hall.
"I'm only trying to help," he chuckled as he led her along.
"Sometimes I doubt that," she muttered, the sound of his laughter humming around her and making her skin tingle.
As they turned enter the main foyer leading to the parlor, Sarah could hear sudden bursts of sparkling laughter, and a number of voices she had never heard before. Feeling her tense beside him, Jareth took her hand from his arm, threading his fingers through hers and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Remember, love...no one here wishes to harm you. Just stay by my side and draw comfort from your mate - that is one of the reasons a bond is so rare and wonderful. Use it for what it is meant to be used for, Precious. Use the bond to access my strength. Rely upon your mate to build you up."
Shutting her eyes, Sarah felt for the bond, amazed by the steady flow of strength and love that poured through it from Jareth. "I will always take care of my mate," he whispered, his words echoing in her head.
With a quiet node, Sarah opened her eyes, giving Jareth a warm smile as she squeezed his hand. "If I can't face your family, I can't be Goblin Queen so...let's do this."
"That's my girl," Jareth murmured, relishing the burst of pride he felt at her determination. "We'll make you a queen yet."
~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~
By the time dinner ended, Sarah felt as if she'd never be able to smile or laugh again, the muscles in her face aching from the laughter. From the time they had joined the family in the parlor, Sarah felt as if she had done nothing but laugh. Jareth's family took great pleasure in telling tales of Jareth's more 'questionable' antics through his youth, but Jareth wasn't the only victim. She had been regaled with stories about Oberon and the Troll Queen's 'maids night' party - which Sarah came to understand was similar to a hen's night, only far more...risque. Then King Garen took great pleasure in telling her about Alais and his own queen, Mairee's adventures when they decided to join the elite Green Guard of the Elven Army - a unit that was only filled by males. Apparently they had managed to make it through a month of training before they were discovered to be not only women, but Fae royalty.
One story after another filled the dinner, leaving little time for anyone to grill Sarah or Angel, a fact that left them both feeling relieved. The laughter did the trick though, she and Angel managed to make it through their oral report with minimal embarrassment, particularly given the fact that the report rapidly devolved into the family telling tales of the pleasure slaves they had known or heard of over the years - the good, the bad and the completely ridiculous things that had happened (or been rumored to have happened).
Tucked next to Jareth in the two-seater sofa by the hearth, Sarah let the warm laughter of the assembled family sink into her. It was hard not to feel happy when they went out of their way to make both she and Angel feel as if they were blood members of the household. Sighing softly, Sarah fought to keep her smile and pretend to listen to the tale Alais's paramour Henri was telling, while an icy lance of sadness slashed through her.
I shouldn't feel this happy….not with Daddy and Karen gone.
Jareth felt a sudden chill through the bond, glancing immediately at Sarah - the laughter upon her face at odds with the scent of pine and winter wind that surrounded her. Shifting slightly, he pressed his lips to her ear, "What's wrong, love?"
With the family engrossed in the story, Sarah turned until her own lips brushed Jareth's ear, safe in the knowledge that to the others, it would look like a simple whispered moment between lovers. "I love them, your family that is….but I feel like...like a traitor to Daddy and Karen."
Like a faint caress of velvet, his lips caressed her temple, as a gentle flow of love and reassurance rolled through the bond."They would be thrilled that you are loved and cared for, Sarah. Of that I am sure. Never feel guilt for being happy, to do so helps no one and changes nothing of the past. The best you can do is to go forth and live well."
Reassured by his words, Sarah found herself joining in the story-telling, sharing for the first time her thoughts about her time in the Labyrinth, and most importantly, her first impressions of Jareth.
"Did you really think he was an arrogant, glittery git?" Alais gasped, laughing so hard tears streamed down her face.
"More like a prancing peacock with all of the costume changes," Sarah giggled. Beside her, Jareth pursed his lips in a stern frown, the whole effect ruined by the way his pale eyes twinkled with amusement.
"That's quite enough, Precious," he grumbled, winking at Sarah who blushed crimson, which only made the family laugh more. Rising, Jareth offered her his hand. "It's nearly 9, love. We have things to see to."
Nibbling her lip nervously, Sarah stood and soon found herself passed from person to person, being hugged, kissed and fussed over, before Jareth managed to extricate her once more. "Alais, would you and Henri care to join us for a moment, there are several things I wish to discuss with you," he asked, sliding his arm around Sarah and escorting her toward the door of the parlor.
Clearly curious, Henri and Alais followed Jareth from the room, the four of them chatting quietly as they made their way through the halls of the manor to Jareth's study. Once there, Jareth settled Sarah in his usual chair by the hearth, then shut the door while Alais and Henri snuggled up on the sofa. Tilting her head, Alais regarded Jareth with open suspicion, the Fairie Queen's violet eyes snapping curiously.
"What is on your mind, brother? The whole family now knows that 9 o'clock is the time you have set for your evening 'accounting'. Why pull us aside for this?" she enquired, her violet eyes narrowing quietly upon her brother.
Waving his hand, Jareth perched himself on the arm of Sarah's chair, his arm draped over the back. "Sheath your claws, LaLa. This is serious, but not in the way you think. There is something I would ask that you share with Sarah, as I believe it would assist her in understanding some of the 'intricacies' we have been discussing of late."
The Fairie Queen frowned quietly, glancing from Henri to Jareth. "And just how might we assist?"
"Henri, with your Queen's permission of course, would you please remove your tie and unbutton your shirt?"
Sarah's green eyes widened in confusion as she looked up at him, "Jareth… I…"
Smiling at her, Jareth lightly placed his finger upon her lips. "Hush, love. Trust me," he murmured, then looked expectantly at Henri.
Henri ran his hand through his long red hair, his fingers flipping it over his shoulder as he glanced at Alais. "My Queen?"
Still wary of Jareth's intent, Alais gave a brief nod of her head. "If you wish to obey his whim, you may, Henri. He already knows and will have his own reasons for demonstrating such to Sarah."
Thoroughly confused now, Sarah watched silently as Henri unfastened his tie, then slowly unbuttoned his shirt. When the third button has been loosened, she saw a glimmer of gold at the base of his throat. By the time the fourth button was opened, a golden collar had appeared, with the mark of the Fairie Queen etched upon the metal.
"Henri...he's...you're….you're her pleasure slave?" Sarah gasped, her own hand immediately rising to her throat, now covered in the high cowl collar of her dress.
"I am," Henri beamed, taking Alais's hand and bringing it to his lips. "I have been so for the last three mortal years, although to this point, the only family member who knows has been Jareth. And now you."
Looking from Henri to Jareth, then to Alais, Sarah shook her head. "But you seem so… so normal. Like any other couple."
The Fairie Queen's laugh chimed lightly through the room. "I should hope so! What we do in private is just that, Sarah…. Private. Unlike royalty in other kingdoms, we don't go about showing off our pleasure slaves in overt ways." Smiling warmly, Henri kissed her cheek, as she giggled brightly. "But, I'm afraid it's more shocking than even Jareth knows." Sharing a brief look with Henri who smiled and nodded at her, Alais tugged at the neckline of her own dress, pulling it down enough to reveal a thin torc around her neck, with a tiny lock hanging from it.
Confused, Sarah peered up a Jareth only to see him blink in surprise, then grin. "Well, well… that is a surprise Lala. I suppose congratulations are in order?"
Looking from the beaming couple to Jareth, Sarah huffed. "Okay. So he is her pleasure slave. What are you congratulating them for?"
"Darling, that is no mere necklace Alais is wearing, that is a collar. Henri is the collared pleasure slave, but Alais is the one who actually submits," Jareth explained, his hand lightly caressing Sarah's hair.
"Henri has no royal rank, so when we marry, he will be my consort and act as my chamberlain," Alais added, snuggling further into Henri's arms. Glancing at Jareth, she cocked her head. "Why were you so keen for Sarah to learn of Henri's status?"
Caressing Sarah's cheek gently, Jareth smiled down at her, before looking at his sister. "That is for Sarah to divulge if she so wishes. However, should she do so, I would ask that it not leave this room… for now."
Sarah felt her cheeks flush hotly at the curious looks from Henri and Alais, her heart thundering within in her chest. "I… well...it's still very new to me, but," she mumbled, then pulled the neckline down far enough to reveal the silver links of her own collar.
She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but the excited squeal from Alais wasn't it.
"Oh! Congratulations yourself then," she chirped, beaming warmly at Sarah, her violet eyes shining with delight.
"I...ah...thanks...I think?" Sarah muttered, as her hands fidgeting awkwardly in her lap.
His hand falling to rest lightly on Sarah's shoulder, Jareth smiled. "Sarah has only accepted the offer of a training collar this afternoon, but I wanted her to see how 'normal' a pair involved in such an arrangement truly are." Rising, Jareth waved his hand toward the door, the lock clicking free. "Now...if you would excuse us, we are indeed late for our accounting of the day and have some 'things' that must be dealt with yet this evening."
Hopping to her feet, Alais swooped in and hugged Sarah tight. "I'm thrilled for you, Sarah. Honestly, submitting is freeing, as odd as it may sound. If you ever want to have another woman's side of things, particularly one who submits, come chat. My door is always open for you." Taking Henri's hand, Alais left the room, leaving Sarah and Jareth alone at last.
Jareth pushed the door shut, then flicked the lock. His attention focusing inward, he drew a single fingertip over the wood. A glowing blue sigil appeared at his touch, sealing the door from any who would seek to enter. Turning, he half expected to see Sarah still sitting in the chair, a warmth spreading through him to find her kneeling quietly on the thick embroidered cushion next to his chair.
"So, it is time to settle our accounts for the day, isn't it, Sarah love?" Jareth asked, settling into his chair. Dropping his hand to the side he ran his fingers through her hair, enchanted by the peaceful smile on her face. "I believe I owe you seven strokes of the cane."
"Yes, Master," she sighed, leaning into his touch. Her stomach fluttered at the gentle caress of his hand, and even the knowledge that she would receive a punishment did not seem to tarnish the calm that she felt the moment she took her position on the pillow.
Arching an eyebrow as he smiled at her, Jareth tilted her face upward, relishing the quiet calm in her eyes. "Being there feels good, doesn't it, Sarah?"
A faint pink flush filled her cheeks, while her stomach quivered. "Yes...it seems so strange, but it does feel good."
For several minutes he continued to stroke her head, his fingers occasionally caressing her cheek as she leaned against his leg. Around him the gentle scent of vanilla and roses swirled, intertwined with exotic spices. Despite the fact that a punishment was owed, Sarah was quiet and calm, happy in fact, in a way Jareth had not felt in her since she had arrived in his care. After fifteen minutes, Sarah sighed, the sound a mere whisper in the quiet of the room, "Do we really have to do the punishment?"
Chuckling softly Jareth, stroked her cheek. Truthfully, he had been expecting the question all day. She had learned several valuable lessons in the last 24 hours, yet it seemed she would learn another as well. "I suppose we can forgo the punishment, just this once, in favor of the fun we missed out on earlier, hmmm?"
"Really?" Sarah asked, her green eyes wide as she eyed him warily. "What's the catch?"
"No catch. I too would rather move on to more...pleasurable things," he blithely replied. Standing, he pulled her to her feet. Before Sarah made it two steps toward the door, she felt Jareth spin her and throw her over her shoulder.
"Jareth! Put me down! This isn't proper!" she squeaked with laughter, her hair streaming over her face, to lick at the back of his knees.
Waving a hand at the door to release the lock and the sigil which bound it against intrusion, Jareth merely laughed, "If you think this is improper, just wait until you see what I do to you once we are back in my bedroom, little pleasure slave."
Around them the world seemed to fold in on itself, until they disappeared from the room, leaving no trace they had been there, except for faint peals of girlish laughter.
~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~~J/S~
One minute Sarah had been lost in the lovely sleep of one who had fallen in to a deliciously sated sleep in the arms of the one they loved, and the next she was wide awake staring into the darkness at the side of the bed. Behind her Jareth breathed softly, the heat of his body warming her bare flesh, until she was forced to kick her foot out from under the blankets in order to cool down a bit. She didn't know how long she laid there listening to Jareth's gentle sleeping breaths, while her own sleep remained a distant memory.
Try as she might to find sleep, a pall of disquiet fell over her, a deep sense that something was not right, but she could not think of what would cause such a feeling.
They had returned to Jareth's rooms, and true to his word he had proceeded to cover make her scream his name - which involved spanking her bum until it was rosy and tingling, then rolling her over and covering her with swirls of pink and purple icing, before he spent the better part of three hours happily licking off of her - interspersed with giving her several of the most delicious orgasms she had ever felt.
With each quiet breath Jareth took, the disquieting feeling grew, until Sarah thought she might scream with the terrible force of it weighing down upon her. Fearful of waking him should she toss and turn, she finally gave up and crept from the bed, only to freeze when he snuffled in his sleep. Holding her breath, she watched the shadowy figure still in the bed, sure that the thundering of her heartbeat would wake him further. When the clock ticked over to 3:13 she let out a slow wavering breath and tiptoed from the room, her touch light as she shut the bedroom door behind her.
Sarah breathed a sigh of relief and dropped onto the sofa, cringing at the squeak of the springs. Grabbing the fluffy blanket from the back of the sofa, she pulled it around her nude body, the scent of vanilla and lavender icing still clinging to her skin. Curled in Jareth's bed she was more than warm enough, safe and protected in his arms. Without him, the house, and the world itself was a very cold place. Snuggling into the blanket, she sniffed miserably, scrubbing the heel of her hand against her wet eyes, as she willed herself to sleep once more. The steady ticking of the clock upon the mantle kept her company in the long minutes of the night, counting down time in an endless display of will. But deep down she knew she would be unable to suffer this disquieting feeling alone for long - either she would crack and seek Jareth out, or he would feel her absence and come to her.
Hearing the bedroom door creak softly, she cringed, even as she welcomed Jareth's presence to temper her misery. "It is late, Precious. Why aren't you sleeping?" he asked with quiet concern as she entered the parlor, his pale chest illuminated by the moonlight streaming in from the balcony. Unlike Sarah, he had pulled a robe on over his loose lounging pants.
"I...I…." she mumbled, shaking her head and falling silent, unable to put into words the terrible feeling that coiled within her.
Jareth sat next to her upon the sofa, his arm wrapping around her and pulling her close, until the very heat of him began to seep through the robe and her blanket. Despite the heat of him which warmed her from within, it did little to thaw the cold feeling of dismay that sat heavily in her chest.
"What is troubling you, Sarah? I cannot help if you don't confide in me."
Restlessly running a hand through her sleep knotted hair, Sarah sighed and shook her head. "I feel… off-balance."
Feeling her misery through the bond made Jareth's heart ache for her, knowing this was a lesson she must learn the hard way. His hand gently stroked her arm as he held her. He was familiar with the pain she felt and knew that she must come upon the solution herself, or the lesson would be for naught.
"Why is that," he asked, the gentle tone making the disquiet inside her writhe, digging deeper within her, like a cancer.
Miserably Sarah groaned, shaking her head before burying it in her hands. "I...I don't know. I thought getting out of the punishment would be easy, but it's not. I feel…like I cheated or something," she moaned, peering at him through her fingers. "I feel terrible. Nervous. Ill and jittery - all at once."
"You feel like you left something undone?" Jareth suggested with a knowing smile.
Sarah frowned, raising her head and looked at him. His eyes bore into her intently, but not unkindly, seeming instead to know exactly how she felt and why. "How did you know?"
"Because, deep down you know you owe me those cane strokes as penance for misbehaviour and until the accounting is properly done, you will continue to feel this way," he replied, as if the answer were obvious. "That is the nature of punishment in this type of relationship, my love. Punishment clears the slate, reinstating the equilibrium. It is that which you feel keenly now - you are, quite correctly as you put it, out of balance and will remain so until the account is cleared."
Sighing, Sarah hung her head, even as Jareth pulled her closer, his embrace comforting. "That's why I am supposed to ask for my punishment in the evening? Isn't it?" she whispered, already knowing the answer.
"It is."
He need not see her face or use the bond to know that she was wrestling with her disparate desires, wanting to avoid punishment, but finding the harrowing weight of an account owing, to be more than she could comfortably bear.
Silence echoed loudly in Sarah's ears. She felt without a doubt that what Jareth said was true, she would not find peace until she dealt with it and accepted the consequences. "I don't like punishment," she murmured, shrinking further into his embrace.
"No one does, my darling. That is why the distinction must be made between pain for punishment and pain for pleasure."
Shaking her head, Sarah sighed, her words thick with potential tears, threatening to be shed, "No, it isn't the pain I hate...well, that's not the worst part anyway. It's...your disappointment." Sarah muttered, burying her face against his chest and breathing deeply of the scent that clung to him. "You never say it of course, but I always know. I can feel it. And it's the worst part."
"Sarah, what you say is true. I am disappointed when punishment must be administered. There is no way around that, I am afraid," Jareth replied, his fingers gently stroking Sarah's arm. "All you can do when it is required is to get it over as quickly as possible, so that I may remind you that the disappointment is fleeting, but the love and care, those are infinite."
Falling quiet once more Sarah shut her eyes, drinking in the feel of him wrapped around her, protecting her even from her own fears and insecurities. Unable to stand the odd feeling any longer, she frowned, her words soft and pleading, "Please, Jareth… may I have my punishment now?"
The Goblin King's lips brushed the top of her head in a gentle kiss before releasing her from his embrace. "I think that is a very wise decision, Precious. Up you get, and bend over the armchair, so we may put this unpleasantness behind us, hmm?"
Without a word, Sarah rose and moved from the sofa to lean over the back of the armchair, her palms flat upon the seat. Hearing him moving around the room, her stomach fluttered wildly, sending goosebumps coursing down her arms. Around her the light in the room changed, until it was dark enough for her to feel the heavy weight of the early morning hours, but light enough that Jareth could see clearly for what must be done.
"I dislike the idea of punishing you in here, but for the moment, I think your need to clear the slate far outweighs my own preferences, Precious," he said quietly, his hand coming to rest against her lower back. A shiver of anticipation ran down her spine at his touch, accompanied by the frantic fluttering of her stomach. "Seven strokes… and there is no need to count them tonight, love. I think we both want this done as quickly as possible."
Hanging her head, Sarah nodded, her words a faint whisper, "Thank you...Master."
Jareth took a deep breath, pushing down the ache in his own chest at what must be done. The first stroke was delivered with a quick slash of the cane, striking true across her curved bum hard enough for a raised red line to immediately spring forth. Sarah gasped soundlessly at the impact, the stinging burn making her eyes water. The second stroke caught her just under the first, leaving a symmetrical line that throbbed and stung as heatedly as the first. By the third, she was unable to hold back her pained whimper, sucking in a lungful of air as tears dripped upon the leather seat of the chair. Each stroke stung, delivered with the same force and precisely applied so that no line overlapped another - yet Sarah knew that the force, while punishing, was not as hard as it might be, nor as hard as he had struck her before. Jareth was holding back, knowledge which only made her cry harder. The final cane stroke was the hardest, eliciting a startled cry of pain from Sarah, the instant before she found herself scooped against his chest.
Cradled in his arm, Sarah felt his heart hammering against her ear, while her tears ran down his chest. Swiftly he moved back into his bedroom, only to climb into the bed with her still in his arms, the robe disappearing as he lay her down. Drawing the covers around her, Jareth tucked her in, before wrapping his own body around hers once more.
"You were holding back," she whispered, sniffing as he wiped her tears away with his thumb, his lips tenderly caressing her forehead. "Why?"
"There was no need to use more force, my love. Your own shame made even the lightest blows hurt here," he replied, lightly resting his hand upon her heart. "Punishment is not about pain, but about effect. In the right mindset, the lightest of touches would be as punishing as the heaviest of flogger strokes."
Burrowing into his chest, Sarah sighed, letting her tears fall freely now. With every tear that fell against his flesh, a gentle pulse of love and compassion pushed through the bond, until she felt as if she were being cradled in a warm pool of his love. Surrounded by the security she only felt in his arms, Sarah finally drifted back to sleep.
"Rest, Sarah mine. The slate is cleared once more," he murmured softly into the darkness, his own sleep slow to return, as he lay in watch over the woman in his arms.
AUTHORS NOTE: As always...please review! :)