Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters, except for ones from my own imagination, belong to Jim Henson, David Bowie, and all the wonderful people that made that movie happen
A/N: Since this story was inspired by a couple by Jetredgirl I will use her term and start this way. Peaches (not lemons) will come. But not quite yet. Things will heat up this chapter, and I will give you some sweet and sticky peach juice in this chapter. I hope it is enough to entertain and keep everyone interested. I actually did enjoy writing this, but I am not entirely happy with it. I am happy to have any an all reviews. Thank you to everyone who has let me know their thoughts on it so far. I am humbled to be getting the positive reviews that I did. Thank you in advance for anyone who is continuing to read this little adventure. PB
At seven on the dot Sarah heard a knock on her door. She took a deep breath and opened it to the Goblin King on her doorstep. Seeing him in the park in his typical upscale human glamour was one thing. This was something else entirely. Her eyes took in a white silk shirt under a black waist coat, tight black breeches, tucked into black leather boots. Slowly her eyes traveled up and stopped at his light blonde hair a little shorter, but as wild as she remembered. Sarah was sure she stopped breathing for a minute.
Jareth chuckled as he stood at the door holding a single red rose. "Are you well Sarah? May I enter?" He asked.
With the return of her breath so was her power of speech. "Yeah, sure, come on in." She stepped aside and allowed him into the loft.
Jareth looked around and took in her living space. It had more of an industrial look than he would have thought she would have in her living space, with the exposed brick walls and the visible duct work. She had softened it a bit with her own artwork on the walls. He remembered how talented she was and had seen enough of her work to recognize it. A couple of guitars were also on the wall. Several bookcases were crammed full of books.
One end of the room was set up as a living space with a couch and two chairs facing a television. The furniture was overstuffed and looked comfortable. A small table separated the living space from the kitchen. A small office area was set up on one side in the back. And a partial wall that hid what he assumed was the bedroom.
Sarah shut the door behind him. Jareth turned around and offered her the rose. A sly smile on his face as he looked her over, knee length black leather skirt, red silk shirt, her long dark hair falling down her back, and bare feet with red painted toenails. His body started reacting just from seeing her like this. Yes, she had aged, but she was still the most beautiful woman he had seen.
She lifted an eyebrow at the flower. "This isn't a date Jareth. We are here to talk, to get everything out, and hopefully end on a better note." She refused to take the offered rose.
"Sarah it is just a gift, a small token for allowing me in your space, nothing more." Jareth said offering up the rose again. This time Sarah took the flower, sniffing delicately.
"Thank you." She said turning away from him. "Go ahead and make yourself comfortable." She said over her shoulder. "I just opened a bottle of wine would you like a glass?"
"Yes, that sounds lovely Sarah." Jareth walked over to the counter where she was pouring two glasses from the bottle of white. She handed one to him, and he walked over to the sitting area. "Dinner smells wonderful. What are you making?" He asked.
"Shrimp scampi, with homemade garlic bread, and peach cobbler for dessert." She eyed him. Sarah was pleased with the look of surprise on his face. "You know it hasn't been that long, I do remember your affinity for peaches." She said with a laugh.
"I remember much about you too Precious." He said looking at her.
"No now wait a minute. None of that no Precious, no Love, no Precious Thing we are not there, and not going to be there. Remember this is for closure right Jareth?" She hoped that her tone sounded more sure to him than it did to her. Seeing him, like that was causing her traitorous heart to start having feelings that were long buried.
"If that is your wish Sarah." He conceded.
"No we are not saying the w word. It's been twenty years since I have said that word, and I don't plan on doing it now." She countered.
Sarah served two portions of the pasta, and brought them over to the small table she had set for two. She carried over the bread , and brought the rest of the bottle of wine. She had put the rose in a bud vase and added it to the table. Jareth appeared and pulled out a chair for Sarah to sit. She raised her eyebrow again.
"Old habits." He answered. Going to his place and sitting. He took a bite and enjoyed the lemony taste. "This is excellent Sarah. I was not aware you were such a good cook."
"I wasn't when we were together. I have learned some skills over the last few years."
"May I enquire something?" He asked. He decided to start getting things out in the open. At her nod of assent, he continued, "You said you had not said the w word in twenty years." He smirked at her slow careful nod. "What was the wish that you made, that caused you to stop."
"The day after you sent me back to my dorm room, I 'w'ed that you would not be able to find me if you were looking for me, that you would not be able to contact me or see me." She looked a little guilty. "Hey, I'm not proud but I was only twenty one, I was hurt, and I told you I knew if I saw you, If you came to me we would go back the way we were and nothing would change. " She shrugged. "That reminds me how did you find me anyway. As far as I know there is no statute of limitations on a w."
"Actually I saw you downstairs working behind the bar." Jareth smirked. "My brother invited me to meet him there. So I was not looking for you. Imagine my surprise when I saw you there."
"Jar was here? She of course had met Jareth's brother. How did I miss that?" She was genuinely puzzled.
"I wondered myself since…You have no idea what Sanctuary is do you? Oh that is rich." He started laughing.
"What are you talking about? I am one of the owners. I've been here over ten years. " She was trying to see the lie in his eyes, but knew he was only telling her the truth. "Ok Jareth spill it. Obviously there is something I've been missing."
"Sarah. Sanctuary was opened decades ago as a safe space for those of the underground. A sanctuary, so to speak, here in the above." He was showing his teeth in his smile. "There is a general glamour spell that encompasses the building to protect the peace of mind of the human guests. In fact except for that there are magic dampeners to keep everyone honest."
Sarah was on her feet almost knocking her chair over. "You're telling me I own a god damned fae bar! That the Underground is literally at my doorstep?!" She was shouting without realizing it.
"Sarah calm down." Jareth was on his feet, around the table, and guiding her back down to her seat. "There is nothing that keeps humans from coming in the bar or club, but yes the majority of your patrons are from my realm. What I don't understand is since you are fae touched, and our history you like those from the Underground should see right through it. I have no idea why you don't."
"So Neaven…? She asked about her partner and friend.
"Yes he and I are actually old friends. I talked to him before I tried to approach you. He and many of those who come to Sanctuary know of you. I mean you were quite famous though out the Underground as the Champion of the Labyrinth. When we became betrothed anyone who did not know of you did then. I can only assume that they figured you did not want to discuss the Underground so they left you be." Jareth tried his best to explain what he knew. "Now that you are aware of it, I can only assume that your sight will have returned."
They returned to their meal in silence for several minutes. Jareth cast several glances at her watching the emotions cross her face. The blush of anger and embarrassment quickly changed to a look of melancholy. He did not push the issue, letting her have her space, he had just let her know that a large piece of her life was not what she had thought.
With a click she laid her fork down. "Well that explains something." She said. "This was the first place that I felt comfortable in in a long time. It felt like when I was Underground with you. I told you it always felt more like home than anyplace here. "She shook her head. "Now I need to rethink the people I've dated. How many have been from the Underground and I didn't know it." She took a large swallow from her wine glass.
"Well if it makes you feel better, your latest companion is human." He said tightly.
"What do you mean my latest companion? I'm not dating anyone right now. Not that it is any of your business." She fired back.
"I saw your rather enthusiastic greeting to a tall blonde gentleman downstairs. It appears that you still have "a type". If he was a mere acquaintance your salutations have changed since we were involved. And I feel rather cheated of mine when I showed up at your door." He could not keep the sneer from his voice, or his mouth.
Now it was Sarah's turn to laugh. "Jealous Jareth?" She had a sneer of her own. "Well I can truly say that I do love that man more than almost any other man in my life." She giggled a little. "You know that guy anyway Jareth. You should have said hello."
"Who is that man Sarah? I am certain I did not know him. " Jareth was not clearly not comfortable that there was information that he was not privy to.
"Jareth that man was my brother Toby. He and his family are visiting. He lives on the west coast now. I was excited to see him since I haven't since last summer. We are still close." Sarah was still giggling over the look on the fae kings face.
"My apologies, I misunderstood. It has been a while, and I did not realize how much older he would have gotten." Jareth could not deny the feeling of relief that it was her brother not her lover that she was greeting.
"So," He continued. "You said that you do not currently have a lover at the present time?" An eyebrow raise accompanied the question.
Jareth had decided at that time that he wanted her back. He promised himself that if she was happy with her current lover he would give her the closure that she needed and would walk away. Now armed with the knowledge that there was no lover, he felt stronger than ever that they were meant together. He would just have to get her to agree to let him woo her again.
"Down boy," Sarah said sardonically. "I'm not holding interviews for the position either. I'm quite happy with my life at the moment. I'm not a woman that needs a man to complete my life." She raised her glass and drained the rest of her wine.
Sarah collected their dishes, and took them to the sink. Taking oven mitts she removed the cobbler that was warming in the oven. Cutting two pieces she grabbed forks and headed back to the table.
"Here you are your Majesty. If I remember correctly you had quite a sweet tooth. Has that changed?" She wanted to lighten the mood.
"Not at all, I am flattered that you remember my preferences." He said in a teasing tone.
"Jareth, you and peaches will forever be linked for me. Something that I don't think I will ever forget. At least this cobbler won't make you hallucinate." Sarah said drily.
They ate in silence. Jareth watching her, and Sarah very aware of being watched focused on not looking up at him. Finally he made the decision to try forcing the issue a bit. He laid his fork down, stood and walked around the table. He held his hand out, his gloveless hand.
"What?" Sarah asked looking up at him.
"I just want to continue our conversation somewhere more comfortable, maybe your sofa perhaps?" He continued to hold his hand out to her.
She reached up and took his hand. Instantly a bolt of electricity seemed to travel up her arm and through her body. Looking at him she could tell that he felt it too. With a gentle pull, he brought Sarah to her feet. They walked to the sitting area, and both sat on the sofa. Sarah was keenly aware of how close his body was to hers. She could feel the heat radiating off of him. Damn, she thought I should move to one of the chairs. Put some space between us. There is no way that this is a good idea.
"So Neaven tells me that you have pretty much taken over this place, and he has enjoyed having so much extra time back home." Jareth figured this was a safe topic of conversation, and a little flattery could not hurt either.
Sarah nodded. "I found that I really enjoyed it. When I got my business degree I never thought I would use it to own a fae bar, but it is doing really well. I book live entertainment several times a week, we have open mic nights, and even karaoke sometimes. There are our regulars and the artists in the area usually are in." She found talking about Sanctuary was loosening her up more than she expected. She suspected it was part of his plan, but honestly did not care.
"How are things in the Underground and SoHo?" She asked about both his residences above and below.
"The Underground is as it always is. Fewer runners it seems each year, but the Goblin Kingdom thrives." He told her. "I enjoy the charity work I've been doing above, but am starting to step away from some of the business obligations. There is just not as much above for me as there used to be." He slid a finger up her arm.
"Jareth" She turned toward him warning in her voice. And she found her mouth covered by his. Ending whatever else she was planning to say.
Jareth's lips were soft lightly sliding over Sarah's not wanting to overwhelm or frighten, but he couldn't help himself. As the night had gone on the want had become a need. Especially after discovering she did not have a lover and was free.
A soft moan from Sarah was all he needed to deepen the kiss. He swept his tongue across her slightly parted lips. His hands moved one to the side of her face cupping her cheek, while the other tangled in her hair turning her head more fully toward him.
Sarah knew she shouldn't. That this is why she did not want him to find her, because she knew she would not be able to resist his advances. And damn it he felt so good. What he made her feel was so good.
Her lips parted under the persuasion of his wicked tongue, and it slipped past them and inside. She felt his tongue slide over and around hers. Igniting her passion and coaxing hers to come and play with his. As he felt hers respond he slowly slid it back, her tongue chasing his until it was sliding past his lips and into his mouth. Jareth moaned as she began to respond, and slid his tongue back into hers. He felt it moving behind her teeth and over the roof of her mouth.
Sarah broke off the kiss. "Jareth we shouldn't." She moved her head back out of the reach of his lips. Jareth took advantage of the position and began leaving open mouth kisses from her jaw, down her neck, to the open neck of her red button down shirt.
"Why not?" He growled between kisses. "You taste so good, you feel so bloody good Sarah." He ran his tongue up from the hollow of her throat up to her chin. This elicited a groan from Sarah.
Sarah could not stop her body's response to him. They always had a great physical chemistry, and one kiss was all it took for her to feel like she was about to combust. She could feel the wetness beginning to drip between her thighs.
Sarah leaned into him and captured his lips with hers moaning into his mouth. Jareth put his hands on her thighs, and slid them up to her waist bringing her skirt up with them. Once his hands were around her he gripped and lifted her off of the couch, and onto his lap straddling him, his mouth never leaving hers.
From this more dominate angle Sarah slanted her mouth over his, and drove her tongue into his mouth. Wanting nothing more than to loose herself in him, and what he was making her feel. She slid her hands up over his chest, feeling the leather of his waistcoat. They traveled over his shoulders to lose themselves in his hair. It was as feather soft as she remembered.
Jareth grabbed the bottom of her shirt and pulled it from the waist of her skirt. His fingers then traveled under her shirt. She leaned in rubbing her breasts against his chest, their nipples becoming hard and achy. The movement caused her to shift on his lap. As she did her crotch came into contact with the hard length of him, straining against his breeches. This caused the wetness between her thighs to start to pool. It also tore a moan from the fae under her.
This was enough to bring Sarah to her senses. "No, Jareth." Her voice was breathy as she tore her mouth from his. He ran his tongue over her ear instead. "We can't do this."
"Oh Precious, sure we can. Oh how I missed you, how I missed this." He groaned and held her against his throbbing erection.
"That's the problem." Sarah struggled to put some space between them, just as Jareth held her tighter on his lap. "Sex for us wasn't ever the problem. But it also isn't a solution to our problems. They are still there." She slid off his lap and proceeded to straighten her clothes.
Jareth took some breaths, trying to calm down his ragging libido. He stood up from the sofa and walked over to where Sarah was standing her breath coming in gasps. She held out a hand as if to fend him off.
"I'm not going to attack you Precious." He told her. "Unless of course you ask me to." He smiled down at her wolfishly.
"Jareth I'm not going to deny there is chemistry between us. There always has been. Even when I was in the Labyrinth at fifteen, I felt it, I was too young to truly realize it for what it was but it was there. You were my first, and my only for a long time. But the physical can't be all we have, because that is what our relationship was turning into." She need for him to understand.
"Sarah there is so much more to you than your body, I want your body there is no denying it, but I want you for far more." He looked at her with longing in his eyes. "Let me prove it to you. Let me woo you to court you. I know we are in many ways different people than we were. Let me prove to you we belong together." She could not believe the Goblin King who hated asking anyone for anything was practically begging her.
"Ok Jareth. I'll give you a chance. We will see how it goes." Sarah could not believe she was doing this. "But I am staying here not going Underground, and I reserve the right to end this if I feel it is going south." She told him, trying to get back some semblance of control that she felt she lost.
"I'll agree on that as long as you rescind your previous wish. I promise I will not abuse it or "spy" on you, but if we are honestly giving this a try, I want to be able to get to you to see you, to communicate with you, without depending on you summoning me. I will respect your requests, and privacy. That seems fair." The word was not lost on Sarah.
"Ok, Goblin King, deal." Sarah stuck her hand out. Jareth took it and used it to pull her towards him. His lips covered hers in a mind melting kiss. He released her, and before she could open her eyes she heard the door close and he was gone.