A/N: Here we come, dear readers, to the final stretch. Only one chapter to go and this one will finally get marked as complete. Phew! Thank you so much to those of you who continue to read, favorite, and follow this story. It's been a long time coming, but I'll be glad to have another one of my many WIPs finished. Special thanks to Princess of the Fae, Wonderland-fae, EmRaHShadow, SolasGealalainn, BustedBrain, Wynni, and BexyLexi. Your reviews and suggestions of characters for this chapter really fueled my muse. Without further ado, here is the second to last chapter of The High King's Bride.
[Warning, the final portion of this chapter is all lemony goodness (I know, finally!).]
Disclaimer: I once figured out that I'm three degrees of separation from David Bowie. I wish that was something more than a cool fact, but it still doesn't mean I own anything you recognize here and a lot of what you don't.
~~~~~J/S~~~~~
Ryan stood before the group and quickly noticed that the Council membership was in a different configuration. He'd known a new Council Head would need to be appointed as the former one was currently in chains. However, the biggest change was in the demographics. Although women had always been able to serve, they were usually in the minority. Now, it seemed that this had shifted. He was looking at a Council where eight of the eleven members were female. His surprise at seeing the changes in the Council was concealed with a royal bow.
"My greetings, Lords and Ladies of the Council."
"Your Majesty, we understand that you have a matter to bring before us today," intoned Lady Nova.
With her dark green hair, copper skin, and eyes of bright amber, she had a rather exotic look for a fae woman. Her coloring was due, in part, to her siren heritage on her mother's side. Many years ago, her birth had created a minor scandal. A fae lord mating with a siren was a rarity in the Underground. In all reality, Ryan was unsurprised that the halfling had been appointed to lead the Council. She was a rather formidable woman who had no problem voicing her opinion. However, her sense of justice was as strong as her personality.
"Aye," Ryan affirmed. "I bring before you Lord Trahaearn and charge him with grievous misdeeds against the crown."
Before coming to this meeting, Ryan had visited the prisoner in his cell. He'd been unsurprised to see a healer had been summoned and was working on bringing him out of his paralysis. Once the man had been released from Sarah's spell, his magic had been bound by the High King and he was physically restrained.
Motioning to the guards to bring Trahaearn forward, the Council watched as their former member and head was sneering at them as he shuffled into the room. Ryan pushed the sullen man in front of him, forcing him to lose his balance and fall before the gathered fae. He carefully watched the reactions of the Councilmembers, but was soon satisfied that the man had no further allies on the Council. They were all looking at him from their individual stations, but not one of them gave him a look of sympathy. Instead, their eyes blazed with fury at the way they had been used to commit his crimes.
"Rise, Lord Trahaearn," commanded Lady Beatrix. Her twinkling blue eyes, blonde ringlets, and petite frame belying the stern tone.
King Ryan bit back a grin at the fae woman. Though she looked like a child, he knew that she was older than him by almost a millennia. A magical mistake made during her formative years had made her youthful appearance permanent. She had seen many elders skilled in rare magic, but none had been able to reverse her appearance. Consequently, she had become well versed in rare magical spells. For many years, she had used a glamour to hide her appearance. When she got older, keeping up the facade had gotten tedious and she had decided the rest of the Underground could just 'deal with it or go to hell,' as she was fond of saying.
At first, it seemed like the man in question was simply going to ignore the directive. The guards twitched slightly, ready to force him to comply if so ordered. Trahaearn looked up at his former station with red-hot hatred, but finally managed to stand before them. It was apparent that he despised them all, but no one really cared. They had a job to do and his feelings towards them, at this moment, had no bearing on the facts.
One of the members looked at Trahaearn with what could only be described as loathing. "What have ye to say for yourself?"
Silence loomed over the chamber as Trahaearn refused to say a word, content to simply stare at them all with contempt. Each member attempted to catch his eye and force him to take responsibility for his actions. No one dared to move, even to shuffle a paper or change their position in their seat. Even Ryan stood perfectly still, willing to allow the man's actions to speak for themselves.
After several moments, Lady Nova broke the uncomfortable stillness that had settled. "Fine, say nothing. It is your right. Guards, bring in the other subject."
All eyes were on the door as the guards did as they were told. In a mere moment, a man in iron shackles was led into the room. He lost his footing and stumbled forward, but was caught and righted by Ryan. Connelly gave the High King an appreciative half smile before taking his spot in front of the Council. His face lost all trace of mirth at their cheerless faces and he could feel himself begin to tremble.
"Aren't the shackles a bit much?" protested Lady Trina, an older member of the Council.
"Indeed," agreed Lord Aiden. Soon, other voices were joining in on the dissent.
Before the room could descend into disorder, Lady Nova pounded her fist against her desk. "That's enough!"
Ryan looked to the other man and then back to the Council. "I have no objections to the removal of Lord Connelly's shackles."
Lady Nova nodded to the guards and the bigger of the two men placed his hands on the iron cuffs. He spoke a few words and soon they popped open. Once they were off of his wrists, the other guard carried them away; his gloves ensuring that the iron would not touch his bare skin.
"Now that that's been dealt with, we are ready to hear your testimony, Lord Connelly," Lady Seraphine remarked, tapping her quill lightly against a parchment scroll unfurled on her desk. The bard always seemed ready to record a new story or song. It was important to her that her people remember their history, lest mistakes be repeated. Ryan assumed that was one of the main reasons she had been chosen to serve on the Council.
Connelly took a deep breath and tried not to look at his once-upon-a-time associate. "Lords and Ladies of the Council, I stand before you in shame for my part in the plan to overthrow the current High King of the Underground."
"Yes, yes," Lady Etain sighed, rolling her silver eyes. "Please tell us of the plan. Give us details and spare us the unnecessary groveling."
"The plan was to convince enough of you to put a test on His Majesty to find a wife or abdicate the throne. Once you had agreed and put the test forward, we were going to introduce my eldest daughter to the High King and encourage them to marry. If King Ryan were unwilling to marry Meinwen, we had a potion that would secure the match. Once Ryan was married to my daughter, we were going to get rid of him and put Trahaearn's son or Trahaearn himself on the throne."
"Get rid of him?" asked King Neill. "Don't mince words, Lord Connelly. You were planning to commit regicide; a treasonous offense."
If possible, Connelly's head hung even lower. Only the thoughts of his daughters kept him from fleeing back to his cell in shame. "Aye."
"Who concocted this plan?" asked Lady Rose, her golden brown eyes staring sharply at the man in front of her. She create a purple, rose-shaped crystal and twirled it on her fingers to keep herself grounded. Just as her name would suggest, the fae woman loved to find beauty in everything. However, she could be fierce when someone she loved was threatened. Under the pinks and purples she regularly wore, beat a warrior's heart. Defending her family, she was only at this hearing to make sure nothing was missed and justice was served. As she was Ryan's niece and Jareth's cousin, she knew she would have to recuse herself from the final decision.
"I could lie and tell you that it was all Lord Trahaearn's idea, but that would only bring more dishonor to my family. In truth, it was concocted by the both of us. He came to me with the idea of gaining power and prestige nearly a half a year ago. I thought his plan could help my family and so I helped him develop his idea into a plan."
"You have always been a fair and honest man, Lord Connelly," remarked King Shaun. "Why did power and prestige become so important to you that you would go to such lengths to obtain it?"
"I really was not interested in power and prestige for myself. When my wife passed on, I found that she had kept a secret from me. She had been going to some unsavory places and had gambled away all of our savings and accrued several debts. I felt like I had lost everything when she died, including the security I had built for my family. My daughters are my world and I would do anything to protect them. I felt that if I had enough prestige, I could ensure that they could marry into good families. Now, I realize that I should have had more faith in them and less concern about my status. Please forgive me."
Lady Nova looked to the rest of the Council and received nods from all those present. "This Council has heard enough to render a decision. This is your last chance, Lord Trahaearn. If you do not speak now, you will get no further chances before our decision will become final."
Still, the man stubbornly refused to utter a word. Several Councilmembers looked at him with pity, but none would speak for him. They all knew what he had done and why. In fact, he had used them to commit his crimes so they all had to take a share of the responsibility. In any case, it was a sad situation all around.
"Fine then. We shall discuss this amongst ourselves and declare our decision on the morn. Guards, take these prisoners back to their cells."
The guards did as they were ordered, taking each of the prisoners – willing and unwilling, alike – back to their cells. Ryan watched them go with mild interest until turning back to the Council. The members has dissolved into a cacophony of voices, each wanting to discuss what they had heard and their thoughts on the matter. He waited for them to acknowledge him so he could get on with the last part of his business.
Lady Nova looked to Ryan and called for order in the chamber once again. "Yes, King Ryan?"
"About the matter of the test," Ryan started.
"I did notice that your son and your fiancé seem to be absent from these proceedings," remarked Lady Seraphine.
Ryan coughed gently into his hand, trying to smother the smirk that wanted so badly to appear on his face. "Ex-fiancé, actually. It seems that my son has been in love with his champion for a long time."
Lady Rose grinned. "Does she love him in return?"
"Yes," Ryan answered. "In fact, I believe that they have left my castle to make an impromptu visit to the temple of the Croí Ró-Naofa."
Hushed murmurs erupted at the news. The Council Head was again insistent that the room come to order.
"Due to the changes in my relationship with the Lady Sarah, I am prepared to abdicate my throne and allow my son to ascend."
"That will not be necessary, Your Majesty," intoned Lady Nova. "In light of the recent events, the Council has already decided to remove the requirement that you marry to continue your rule. As a side note, those of us that were on the Council during the time that that idiotic rule was conceived apologize for the grievous misdeed. I, for one, am grateful that things seemed to have turned out for the best."
"Many thanks," Ryan replied, bowing.
"If there is no further business, this meeting of the Closed Council will come to recess. We shall observe our repasts and reconvene in one hour to discuss the matter at hand."
One further strike of the gavel was heard before the room began to empty. Members paused in their chatter to offer a quick word of gratitude and apology to Ryan as they made their way to their separate chambers. When it was Shaun's turn to leave, Ryan asked to speak with him privately for a moment. After a moment's indecision, Shaun agreed and followed him out of the chamber and to a private room.
"I didn't expect to see so many changes," Ryan remarked, once they were alone.
"Aye," Shaun agreed. "We had a long meeting after Connelly's crystals reached each of us. It was rather intense. Several members stepped down and we had to quickly find new members in order to have a quorum. All of us agreed that it was time to go back to our beginnings. We chose many elders and those whose judgement and insight were valued traits."
"It will be interesting to see how these changes play out."
Shaun nodded. "I, for one, think that this change can only be positive. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere I need to be right now."
Before Shaun could transport himself away, Ryan had one more thing he needed to say. "Thank you, Shaun. For everything."
With a bow, Shaun smiled and vanished. Ryan grinned and transported himself back to his own castle. He had things he needed to do, however, there was really only one thing on his mind. On his fingertips, a crystal formed. He peered into it and smiled as the scene played out on its smooth surface. When it was complete, the crystal darkened. As the orb disappeared, Ryan gave his blessings to the couple he had seen in its depths.
"May you know nothing but happiness, my children."
~~~~~J/S~~~~~
When they appeared in the temple, Sarah looked at Jareth with a grin. "You certainly didn't waste any time."
"I'm taking my father's advice quite literally, precious," Jareth explained. "I don't want to live another moment like I've lived the last ten years."
Placing a gentle hand on his cheek, Sarah turned to face him fully. "I know what you mean."
"I stand by my words, Sarah-mine. Marry me…complete me…command me…I am your slave."
"Just be my Jareth."
His lips gently caressed hers in a kiss that took her breath away with its simplicity and sincerity. If she hadn't been his before this moment, she would have certainly given him her heart then and there. He had pulled away slightly to look into her eyes, though it felt as if he were looking into her very soul. She knew what his searching eyes were asking. Did she love him as much as he loved her? Her answer was given to him with a decisive, yet sweet, kiss of her own.
"I have been expecting you."
The couple turned to see the cleric as he placed a candle in an unoccupied space near the altar. They'd been so caught up in themselves that they hadn't heard the wooden door open and the small fae man enter. Once he was done lighting the ceremonial candle, he began to make his way over to Jareth and Sarah. When he got closer, Sarah was able to see the twinkle in the eyes on his kind face.
"How did you know we were coming?" Sarah asked.
"Lady Sarah, I am Cleric Elwynn," the cleric said, ignoring Sarah's shocked gasp. "Before you ask, I have been given the gift of sight among other things."
"Greetings, Cleric Elwynn," Jareth said. His mouth fought against the urge to smirk at the expression on Sarah's face.
"So, you've finally deigned to grace me with your presence, Goblin King."
Sarah laughed at the blush that rose on Jareth's cheeks. In return, his hand reached out and pinched her side. That only caused her to laugh harder.
"Children," Cleric Elwynn chided, not bothering to hide the smile that rose on his own face.
Taking a moment to look around her, Sarah couldn't help but admire the sacred temple. The ceiling looked like an ornate, painted ceiling at a quick glance. However, if you turned your head a certain way, it looked like the night sky. By holding your head another way, it looked like a sunny day with birds flying overhead. Likewise, the walls first looked at first to be any average wall you'd see in a place of worship. Then, they morphed into a scene out of nature with trees, flowers, and creatures of all kinds.
Cleric Elwynn saw her contemplation of the temple and chuckled. "It's a crystal, Lady Sarah. It shows the infinite possibilities of the universe."
"Oh," Sarah said, in awe.
"Shall we begin?"
Startled out of her admiration for her surroundings, Sarah quickly moved to join Jareth and Cleric Elwynn. While she had been looking around, she hadn't noticed them moving towards the altar. When each of them had reached the center of the altar, the older fae looked at the couple and began to say the words that would start the ceremony. Sarah listened to the melodic tones and realized that she had no real idea of what he was saying. She was suddenly reminded of the things that Trahaearn had told her in the castle library.
"Wait!" Sarah cried. "I have some questions that I have to ask before we do this."
The two men both looked at her with raised eyebrows, but it was Cleric Elwynn that said, "Yes, I can see that you have been given some very confusing and misleading information. Let's see if we can clear some of that up for you."
Sarah's eyebrows raised at his words, before remembering his earlier comment about his abilities. Ignoring Jareth's hastily smothered laugh, she turned to fully look at the cleric. "Thank you. I'd appreciate anything you can tell me about marriage in the Underground."
"Your father told you that the fae do not keep to monogamy as a practice," Elwynn asserted.
"My father?" Sarah asked before remembering the earlier revelations about Trahaearn. "Oh, yeah. He said that many royals have had lovers. In fact, he offered to fill that role which, in hindsight, is pretty gross."
"What?" Jareth growled.
"Quiet, young pup," Elwynn warned. "There is no use getting your hackles up over such nonsense. Now, Sarah. Strictly speaking, the fae don't generally practice monogamy."
Sarah's face fell. "So, he was right?"
"In a way," Cleric Elwynn replied. "However, that has less to do with fae lifespans and more to do with the practice of marriage. In the Underground, especially with royalty, marriage is an act of law and not love. Marriage contracts are typically drawn in order to build allies and bridge kingdoms."
"Have two faes ever been married for love?"
"Many non-royals and even some royals have married for love. Take Jareth's father, for instance. The High King fell quite in love with Seanna. They had marriage contracts drawn, but went one step further. The King and Queen decided to have a bonding ceremony."
"Bonding ceremony?"
"Bonding is so much more than a marriage. When two fae have found their other half, they can choose to bond their souls. A bonding requires both love and commitment. The two fae come together and pledge themselves together for life. It requires a bit of a ceremony and includes the sharing of blood. At the conclusion, the couple then gives themselves to the other intimately to seal the bond. Only death can break a bond. If one of the two fae ever strays, I've heard the pain is like no other. In fact, I have only come across one fae who ever dared try."
"Wow," Sarah gasped. "That's a lot to take in. If I heard you correctly, a wedding is really unnecessary for a marriage."
The cleric nodded. "Most do an elaborate reception to honor a marriage, but a wedding, as most humans practice, is not really done in the Underground."
"Then why are we here?"
"Any solicitor can draw up a marriage contract. However, only a cleric may perform a bonding. I assume that is why Jareth brought you to me."
Sarah turned to Jareth, who'd been uncharacteristically quiet during the exchange. "Is that true?"
Jareth looked down before swallowing hard and looking her in the eye. "Yes."
"When were you planning on telling me?"
"Now?"
Sarah looked, for a moment, like she would explode. Jareth braced himself for her wrath. She surprised him by rolling her eyes and slapping him on the shoulder.
"Good thing for you that I love you and that I always planned to make a lifetime commitment when I got married. However, don't get me wrong, try something like this again and I'll have no problem kicking your butt."
"Duly noted," Jareth said.
"Now that your questions have been answered, are you ready to proceed?"
"Yes, I'm ready."
"Excellent," the cleric said with a smile.
Cleric Elwynn placed two plush pillows on the ground in front of him and indicated that the two should kneel. When everyone was situated in their respective places, he began with a prayer to the gods to bless their joining of souls. The melodic sounds were both soothing and hypnotic. Unlike the last prayer he had spoken, Sarah found she could actually understand him completely. She smirked, knowing magic was afoot.
A white light highlighted the center of the altar and bathed Jareth and Sarah in its glow. Their skin shimmered briefly as if lit from within before the light flickered back out of existence. Both looked slightly alarmed and looked to the cleric for guidance. His joyful smile mixed with a serene countenance told them that he had knowledge far beyond their scope of understanding.
"The gods have smiled upon you. We will proceed."
An embellished dagger was produced from inside the cleric's robes and handed to Jareth. He took a moment to admire the bejeweled handle before noticing the sharpness of the blade. In an instant, he knew what he needed to do. For confirmation, he looked up at Cleric Elwynn and noticed his slight nod. Without a thought, he drew the blade across his palm. Bright red drops of blood began to appear almost instantly. He handed the dagger to Sarah, who held a breath and did the same.
"Palm to palm is holy palmer's kiss," he said, taking their hands and pressing them together. Sarah's eyebrows raised at the familiar line and she received a wink in return from Cleric Elwynn. "Now, you shall each give your pledge of devotion to the other."
Jareth looked at Sarah and she could feel the depth of his feelings for her. "Sarah mine, I pledge my love and my life to you always. I give you my oath that I will never stray from you. Instead, I will be there for you even as the world falls down."
Sarah swallowed the tears that wanted to fall and gave her answering vow. "My Jareth, you once told me you'd paint me mornings of gold and spin me valentine evenings. I pledge to always be worthy to receive those gifts. Even if forever is not long at all, that's how long I will give you my love and my life."
The cleric smiled at them before putting his hands on both of them. "Your two souls have become one. What the gods have joined, no other may part until death itself calls."
Sarah felt Jareth tug her hand until her face was close enough for their breath to mingle. Her eyes closed as his lips reverently touched hers, sealing their vows. A single cough reminded them that they were not alone before they could get carried away. Jareth grinned and stood, helping Sarah to stand next to him. She pulled her hand away and looked at her palm with amazement. Where there had been a cut, now only held a small scar and a slight stain of blood.
"Go, children, and live fully within each other as bonded husband and wife."
Jareth grinned and picked Sarah off of her feet, spinning her around right on the altar. She gave a small squeak of surprise before ending in a peal of happy laughter. The cleric simply watched with a small smile of his own as he blew out the candles. Sarah's laughter died on the breeze as the pair disappeared from view. The cleric just shook his head with a smile.
"That was well worth the wait," he muttered, as he began to put things back into order.
~~~~~J/S~~~~~
Sarah looked around the room and grinned. It wasn't hard to tell where he had taken her. The walls were a midnight blue with hints of sparkle in the tapestries hung as decorations. Something about the colors reminded her of the jacket that Jareth wore during her ballroom dream. There was no doubt that this was his bedroom. Everything in it practically yelled his name.
As she was about to comment on their location, Jareth's arms wrapped around her from behind. His lips found the side of her neck and began to ply kisses to the soft skin. She couldn't help the giggle that escaped her.
"Sorry, I'm ticklish," she laughed.
Sarah could feel his grin against her skin and the low laughter that puffed out, causing her to laugh again
"Is that so?" he asked, a teasing lilt coming to his voice.
Jareth soon had her in fits of laughter as he peppered her neck with kisses. His laughter mingled with hers and it was a merry sound in the silence of his once lonely room. It wasn't long, however, until he gave up his little game. He tightened his embrace and kissed the top of her head.
"I love your laugh."
Sarah turned in his arms and hooked her own behind his neck. "I love you."
"I'll never grow tired of hearing you say that. I never thought I'd get the chance to tell you I love you; to have you in my rooms; to have you in my bed."
"Your bed, huh?"
"What can I say? I'm an optimist."
"I like how you think."
Jareth cut off all further conversation by placing his lips over hers. Sarah poured everything she had into the kiss, longing to show him just what he meant to her. He responded to her passion with an urgency and desire he had never felt for another woman. Sarah could feel him, hard and ready, against her. Although she could feel her own arousal, she knew she needed to warn him. With much difficulty, she broke the kiss and stepped back slightly.
"Before we go on, there's something I should probably tell you. I haven't done this before."
Jareth's eyebrows rose as a surprised, "oh," escaped his lips.
"Don't look at me like that," Sarah snapped. "I'm not a total prude. I know my own body and I've enjoyed the occasional oral, but I've never found anyone worthy of going all the way with me."
"And do you find me worthy?"
Sarah cupped him and gave him a wicked grin. "Most definitely."
Jareth groaned at her touch, but wasn't about to let her have all the fun. His fingers reached out and began to undo the lacings down the front of her bodice. When her dress loosened enough, he yanked it down and allowed it to pool at her feet. He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed before gently placing her in the center.
Sarah's hands wanted to be everywhere at once; covering herself from his intense eyes; revealing herself to him fully; undressing him as he'd begun to undress her. She finally settled for the third option and began to rip at his shirt, not caring if she tore it in her quest to get him naked and ready. It embarrassed her a little, this frenzied need to become one with him. Her feelings didn't stop her though, not when she was so close to her goal.
Once they were both finally lying on the bed face to face and skin to skin, they began to explore one another slowly. Each taking their turn at learning the other's body. Sarah gasped as his tongue swirled around her nipple while his fingers circled the other. She could feel his other hand taking a journey down her side, over her rounded backside, and then back around her hip. It settled between her legs and she rolled onto her back to give him better access.
Tingles filled her as his fingers worked on her sex, teasing her clit before sliding down and entering her. It was both the same and different than when she touched herself. Somehow, the sensation was more fervent and reached somewhere deeper inside. She could feel herself pant as her bliss began to crescendo into an orgasm so strong that it made her legs shake.
Jareth's mouth crashed down onto hers in a kiss that rocked her with its intensity. Before she realized what was happening, he was on top of her. Their kiss continued with the two of them simply reveling in the feeling of the other's skin on their own. His hands caught hers and their fingers linked. She could feel his erection pressed against her, but still not where she wanted him the most.
When he pulled away from their kiss, she looked into his eyes and realized that he was asking her permission. A simple nod was her answer. His hands released hers and reached down to push her legs further apart. She watched him use her own wetness to lubricate his shaft. Closing her eyes, she waited. She could feel him guide his member and then he entered her. She felt a slight pain and a sense of indescribable fullness.
Jareth stopped to allow her to adjust to his size. Sarah was grateful for his thoughtfulness, but she already wanted more. She reached up to kiss him and began to move against him. Jareth needed no more encouragement as he took up the rhythm she had set. Together, they started the dance that would bind them together forever; not really that long at all.
Their eyes locked and, in that moment, Sarah felt the bonds between them begin to weave into a beautiful tapestry of feelings. The vulnerability she saw in him echoed her own. She had to resist closing her eyes against the almost overwhelming urge to make herself less exposed. Instead, she allowed herself to remain completely in the moment. Every sense was heightened and she heard herself cry out as something within her was pushed over the edge of ecstasy.
Sarah had thought he would join her soon after her orgasm as that tended to happen in the books she'd read. When he kept going, a look of pure concentration on his face, she almost laughed at her absurd notions. Jareth was anything but ordinary. As he continued to move within her, she could feel another climax beginning to build. This time, she chased after it, wanting to feel herself fall once more. She put her legs around him and pushed her hips up to meet his.
The only sounds in the room were their breathing and the slapping of flesh upon flesh. Every once in a while, one of them would moan, but words seemed to allude them. Their rhythm would pick up only to slow down once more as they savored each other. Neither had turned away from that soul deep stare, instead choosing to revel in their bonding.
The familiar feeling began to grow inside Sarah, but orgasm seemed to be a step ahead of her. When she felt him stiffen as his own peak came, she placed her finger to her clit to finish herself off. His hand came to join hers and, a moment later, she was finally able to find the pinnacle of pleasure with a scream. Grinning, she watched Jareth roll off of her and came to rest on his side facing her.
The frantic beating of his heart could be felt through her fingertips as she rested her hand on his chest. She could feel her own heart racing as she struggled to catch her breath. It had simultaneously been everything she had dreamed of and nothing like she had expected. Sarah had spent many hours reading racy romance novels. As she had told Jareth, she was no stranger to her own body's needs. However, nothing could have prepared her for the experience of making love to a man who put her pleasure before his own; to a man who loved her and she loved in return.
Sarah could feel herself beginning to slide towards sleep. It had been a long day and, now that she was satisfied and relaxed, she could feel the weight of the hours pressing upon her. One glance at Jareth told her he was feeling the same way. Before her eyes completely closed, she heard Jareth mumble something as he began to drift away himself. She smiled and, just as she felt herself slip into slumber, she gave him her reply.
"I love you, too."
