Chapter 5
The next two days flew by and before Sarah knew it, it was the end of the work day on Wednesday. Vacation had officially begun. Just as she reached her apartment, her phone rang. She chuckled when she saw the name. "Good evening, Your Majesty." She greeted him as she answered the phone and entered the apartment."
"Hello, Sarah. Are you busy?"
"Not at the moment, I just got home from work and I'm officially on vacation." Sarah replied as she sat her purse down. "So what do you want this time?"
"Do I need to want something in order to call you, Precious?" Jareth asked trying to sound hurt.
"Well last time you wanted to sight see and we wound up having lunch." As she was talking, Sarah grabbed a bag of kibble out of the cupboard and poured some food in the dish on the floor for the hungry black cat rubbing against her leg in greeting.
"Something wrong with that or with me wanting to see you and spend time in your company?" Jareth asked.
"No I suppose not." Sarah opened her fridge and stared at the empty shelves. She needed to buy groceries but there was no point seeing both she and Glenda were going away for the weekend.
She had made sure she stocked up on Smudge's necessities for the cat sitter she had hired to come and feed and care for the cat during the weekend, but hadn't taken into consideration she would need to eat until Friday too. Oh well, take out it was. She could hear her roommate moving around her room. "Hang on," She put the phone down so she wouldn't be yelling into it. "I'm home Glenda!"
"Okay!" She heard Glenda answer. She then put the phone back to her ear. "I'm back. ."
"Do you have plans for dinner?" Jareth asked, his voice low and seductive.
"No, and it seems I have nothing here to eat either." Sarah sighed. "What did you have in mind, Goblin King?"
"Well there is a lovely little Italian place I know of that makes a delectable pasta al pomodoro."
Sarah thought a moment. "Italian does sound good. Alright, I'll join you for dinner, but it's my treat tonight. I can't let you pay for everything."
"Very well, Sarah. Shall I pick you up in an hour?" Jareth asked.
Glancing at the clock, Sarah headed for her room. "Yea, sounds good. I just need a quick shower first."
"Perhaps I should come over now," Jareth suggested in a playful tone. "I could wash your back."
"No thanks, Jareth." She said with a smile. "I will be showered and fully dressed when I see you in an hour."
Jareth sighed dramatically, "Very well. I suppose I can entertain myself for an hour. Perhaps I'll rehearse the background story I've prepared in case I need it this weekend."
"You do that. I'll be quizzing you at dinner. I'll be ready when you get here."
"I shall be prepared. I'll see you soon."
"See you soon." Sarah began to hang up but Jareth called to her.
"Oh and Sarah."
"Yes?"
"Enjoy your shower, love
Laughing, Sarah sat down. "I will. Bye, Jareth." She hung up and grabbed her clothes and headed to the bathroom.
After a quick shower, Sarah dressed in a knee length red velvet dress with low cut v-neck. She dried and brushed her hair and pulled it back into a loose messy bun. As she finished applying her mascara, she tossed it back in her makeup bag and laughed. "Am I seriously getting all dressed up for Jareth?"
She looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. "I guess I really am." Shrugging, she grabbed her lipstick and removed the cap. "Oh well, if I'm going to do it, might as well do it right." She applied her lipstick and continued by curling her eyelashes, dabbing on a bit of perfume and even carefully picked out her jewelry. When she was done she looked herself over in the full length mirror in the hall and grinned. "Eat your heart out Goblin King."
Just as she slipped on her black stilettos, there was a knock on the door. "Be right there!" She called as she fastened the strap on her shoes.
She passed by the kitchen where her roommate was making tea. "Hey Glenda, going out to eat. I fed Smudge. Be back later." Glenda's eyes widened when she saw how her friend was dressed.
Sarah hurried to the door, grabbing her purse on the way. When she opened the door she nearly laughed.
"Hello, Prec..." Jareth stopped mid greeting as his eyes took in the sight before him. His mouth hung open, paused in mid sentence as he was, as his eyes looked her over slowly from head to toe.
"What's the matter, your majesty?" Sarah teased as she stepped towards him slowly. "Goblin got your tongue?"
"You are beautiful, love. All the men in the restaurant will be green with envy that I'm escorting such a beauty." He said.
"Hey Sar...oh hi there." Glenda came out of the kitchen just then. "I'm Sarah's roommate and obligatory best friend. You must be Jay." She stuck out her hand, looking him up and down with obvious approval
Jareth took her hand and bowed politely over it. "Ahh. I'm honored to meet you, best friend of Sarah."
"Wow you look hot!" Glenda said when she again got a good look at Sarah. "I haven't seen you so dressed up in months!"
Sarah gave her a glare. "Of course you have." She turned back towards Jareth. "We should go. Don't want to be late."
"Bye you two, don't do anything I wouldn't do!" She gave Sarah a grin and a wink, mouthing "Damn he's fine" behind Jareth's back.
Sarah waved and closed the door behind her.
"Excuse my roommate, she's crazy and likes to tease me about my poor dating record."
"We all have a past." Jareth escorted her to the car, which was the one from their first meeting, with the driver.
Once in the car, Jareth reached over and took her hand. Sarah looked over to find him staring, a smirk on his lips. "What?"
Leaning over his whispered in her ear. "So did you really get dressed up just for me, Precious?"
Blushing, slightly, Sarah turned her head. "No, I always like to look my best when I go out." She replied as she tried to ignore the tingling sensation his thumb rubbing circles on the back of her hand was causing.
Inhaling deeply, Jareth closed his eyes briefly. "Well the perfume is new. You weren't wearing any when we went out preciously. And don't try to deny it, love. My sense of smell is better that of a mere human."
Sarah stared out the window and muttered under breath, "Damn sparkly monarch."
Chuckling lightly, Jareth leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I heard that. And just for the record, if you did get dressed up for me you didn't have to. I adore you just the way you are, but I'm honored you felt being in my presence was worthy of dressing so deliciously." He ran a gloved hand down her bare arm slowly, sending shivers down her spine.
He gave her a wink, then put the car in gear and pulled smoothly into traffic.
They rode the rest of the way in silence. Sarah was unsure what to say and didn't trust herself not to comment on how amazing he looked, so she simply looked out the window.
When they reached the restaurant, Jareth got out of the car the moment it parked and rushed over to open the door for her. Offering her his hand, he help her out and escorted her like a proper gentleman to the door. Sarah couldn't help but notice the looks she was getting from people as they walked in and were taken to their table in the back corner.
After ordering their drinks, Jareth was the first to speak. "So, I believe you said you were going to quiz me."
Sarah went through their background story point by point over dinner, with Jareth answering with practiced ease.
"I'm impressed, Your Majesty." Sarah said with a toast of her glass. "You have a good memory for details."
He gave her a wry grin. "Now yes, I'm well practiced at it. It was not a skill I've always had or cared for. As a boy I rather preferred the" winging it" attitude, as you humans say."
Sarah laughed." I can't imagine you as a kid. Not at all."
"I wasn't hatched, love. I came into my world the same way you were born into yours, and learned through trial and error."
"Hmmm...no I didn't think that...I assumed you were just...there I suppose. Like magic."
The king nodded. "Common misconception, no pun intended. The underground was created by magic itself, milennia ago. A place it could freely exist. Humans have risen and fallen many times, in our Mythology. It's hard to know absolute truths, except that somehow when it all was said and done, we were there, and humans were here. There are those that say, and ancient texts where it is written, we were all one, once."
"I'd love to hear more about that some time." Sarah replied, fascinated. His voice was like a drug, the way he wove his words together.together. "And read those books. I love old books."
"I'd enjoy reading them too. But they aren't available for perusal. The stories are told but those who are in charge of caring for our ancient library of underground history are fiercely protective. During the last round of warring, the sanctuary which was open to visitation was attacked and nearly destroyed. It was rebuilt in a secret location and shielded with a small order of keepers caring for it. Only the High King and Queen are allowed to know its location. Perhaps someday. "
" Oh. Well, that makes sense." Sarah nodded. She wanted to hear more but felt like they were drifting too far from the purpose of what all of this was.
" We aren't really here for an underground history lesson, however, but we can talk about that more after this weekend if you like." He changed the subject helpfully.
"I'd like that but you're right."
"I usually am." He teased.
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Typical macho attitude."
"Moi? I think not. Machismo displays of buffoonery by The Goblin King? Such things are a smokescreen for insecurities and a latent fear of women."
"And..?" Sarah eyed him up and down. "we have all seen the pants."
Jareth tipped his head back and laughed mightily.
Several of the patrons turned to stare.
His laughter faded and he reached over, tipping her chin up with one finger, and leaned to put his mouth next to her ear. "Rest assured, precious, I'm completely secure, and am perfectly willing to prove it. That includes anything that involves my trousers or anything that lurks within them." His lips brushed her cheek and he leaned back.
"You are one cocky fucking bastard, Goblin King." Sarah said as she tried to remember how to breathe.
This probably shouldn't be turning me on right? She thought to herself.
He grinned his toothy grin and leaned back. "Why yes, yes I am. What can I say, It's good to be the king."
"Well, Your Majesty," her tone was teasing, "just remember for the weekend you are not a King and I better not see any of your subjects showing up randomly."
"Any goblins that dare to interrupt my week away from the kingdom will suffer a fate far worse than the bog." Jareth stated as he lifted his wine glass.
"There's something worse than the bog of eternal stench?" Sarah found that hard to believe.
"Oh yes, Precious. My kingdom hold many wonders, both beautiful and treacherous." He grinned wickedly. "Shall I show them to you sometime?"
Sarah studied him carefully. He was still grinning which made her wonder what he was up to. "I think I'm fine for now, Goblin King." She replied warily.
"Pity. I think you'd enjoy my gardens. And while the cliffs are dangerous, they are still a stunning sight to see. You, of course, would be perfectly fine anywhere in my Kingdom. I would would personally see to your safety." Jareth told her sincerely.
"Well, I must admit that wasn't what I was expecting." Sarah commented as she took a sip of her water.
"And what were you expecting, Sarah?"
Sarah looked up when she heard the way he practically purred her name. His gaze was dark and she suddenly felt very warm. "I don't know..." she hesitated and took another drink to wet her suddenly dry mouth. "Something perverted I guess."
"That wasn't in any immediate plans, but we can amend the agreement to include any so called "perversions" you can think of, if you like, " He refilled his empty glass." Don't hold back on my account."
"I don't think so Jareth. Jumping into bed would only complicate things for this weekend. Let's stay focused." The waiter came and brought the check, and Sarah handed him her credit card. "Remember it's on me tonight."
Jareth nodded. "I remember. Feel free to spoil me all you want, I enjoy it. Companions should spoil each other." He downed his last glass of wine.
The waiter brought back her card and receipt which she signed. "Shall we then?"
A few minutes later found them back in the car, and it wasn't long before Jareth was escorting Sarah to her door, his hand on her elbow.
"Sooo..." Sarah hesitated there, the door unlocked, Jareth waiting expectantly.
"So...a needle sewing thread.." He sang softly.
She giggled. "Don't get that stuck in my head, Jareth."
"Oh the horror." He joked. "Well, do believe we are ready?"
"I think we are as good, as ready as can be. I suppose I should go in, I still have some packing to get done." She said as she looked up at him.
"I also have a few things to see to before I take time away. Than I will leave you now and see you when it's time to go."
"Jareth wait." She stopped him with a hand on his arm.
"What!?" he paused and turned back.
"Kiss me."
He didn't hesitate, he stepped forward, pulled her in and did as she asked.
Sarah thought he would give her a peck but that's not what happened.
His lips were over hers, his tongue slipping against her tongue, and she melted into him.
When he finally pulled back, she knew she must have looked dazed and goofy.
"Damn." Sarah said.
"You're welcome, now can you tell me why the abrupt change of heart?"
"I just wanted to get it over with to keep it less awkward."
"That's flattering." he answered with an amused drawl.
Sarah laughed. "I didn't mean it like that."
"I know. Sarah you need to be able to distinguish the difference between teasing and not." Jareth told her.
"I must go." He picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles.
"Until Friday, my dearest."
After he left Sarah went inside, leaving her with a strange longing for him once again.
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A/N: Just noting Sarah's cat was named Smudge well before there was a now famous internet meme cat named Smudge :)
