Chapter 7
When they reached the resort, half of the family had already arrived and were waiting outside for them.
"About time you got here." Karen's sister Irene said with her hands on her hips. "They wouldn't let us have keys to our lodges until you got here."
"I told you that would be the case." Karen argued. "That's why I told you to take a later flight."
Irene glared and grabbed her bags. "Well come on, lets check in."
Sarah sighed. At least I don't have to share a room with her this year, she thought.
Karen went to the front desk and gave them her credit card and soon she had keys for the 13 private lodges. "Alright, Robert and I will take number 1. Irene and her kids can have 2. Aunt Minnie and Gordon can have 3. Sarah and Jay can take 4..." she handed out keys to the appropriate people and when she got to cabins 11 and 12, two larger group cabins with several bedrooms she gave one to the few singles that attended and one for the older children, which was set up for it with bunk beds and the like.
"I have to share a cabin with them?" Toby argued. Unlike the other kids, he was an only child in his home, Sarah having left home when he was 4 for college. He wasn't used to sharing a space with other kids his age and it made him feel uneasy, as some of his cousins, primarily his aunt Irene's 3, weren't very nice to him.
"It's that or get a cot in Sarah's lodge." Robert suggested.
Jareth glared at him but Karen spoke up before he or Sarah could. "Nonsense. If he refuses to sleep with the other boys we'll get a cot for him in our cabin."
Jareth sighed with relief. It was going to be hard enough for him to woo Sarah without having Toby in the room. "Shall we go to our cabins and freshen up then meet up in the main lodge for dinner?"
"Excellent plan Jay." Karen beamed. "We'll meet back here at 5."
They all separated and made their way to their cabins with their belongings. Jareth insisted on carrying all the luggage for Sarah, even though the resort had attendants.
Sarah opened the door and held it open for Jareth to walk through.
"This seems backwards." He said as he went inside and sat the luggage down.
Sarah laughed. "Well you kindly carried everything, I could at least open the door."
Jareth removed his gloves and looked around "This is nice. Much more luxurious than I had thought, for log cabins. The log cabins you find underground are little more than shacks."
The interior was made to look rustic but it really wasn't. The main area was quite plush, done in jewel tones, with heavy dark wood furniture accented with very thick plush cushions.
There was a stone fireplace and a kitchenette to the side. Through the door to the other room Sarah could see a huge queen size bed piled with pillows.
"Shall I move these to the bedroom?" Jareth asked, gesturing to the bags.
"Are you sure you don't want me to help?" Sarah reached for a bag.
"No need, love. We're alone."
He waved a hand and the bags disappeared. Sarah assumed they would be waiting for them in the other room.
"I keep forgetting you can do that." She said.
He grinned. "I've been trying not to but honestly I'm considering a nap at the moment."
Sarah was walking around looking at their accommodations. "Ohh, there's a hot tub out there." she observed as she looked out the back windows. She opened the door next to the bedroom. The bathroom was a perfect size to accommodate two people, with an enclosed tub and shower area.
It was perfect for a young couple in love, she thought to herself. It screamed "Honeymoon" with all the intimate spaces, made for lovemaking and quiet moments together.
The thought caused a shiver of fear and delight to run down her spine.
"It's nice." She said, trying to sound nonchalant. "We can take turns between the bed and the couch."
He snorted derisively behind her. "I think the bed is large enough for both of us Sarah. Let's not be childish. I, at least, can control myself. Or should I be worried you have nefarious plans to accost me in my sleep. Naughty girl."
Sarah blushed. "Get over yourself, Your High and Mighty Sparklepants."
He chuckled. "I'm going to have to keep my eye on you."
Sarah pointedly ignored him after that, going into the bedroom, choosing a dresser, and unpacking her things.
Jareth trailed behind, but he shrugged off his coat, slipped off his loafers and laid across the bed, cradling his hands behind his head and watching Sarah scurry about the bedroom and bathroom, which also opened into the bedroom, putting things away.
Sarah felt his eyes on her as she unpacked. Every once in a while she'd glance his way and he just be lounging on the pillows smirking at her.
Finally she got annoyed enough to stop and stare back at him, hands on her hips. "Aren't you going to unpack?"
He shrugged. "Seems a waste, as we'll only be here until Tuesday. I'll just leave my clothes in my bags until I need them, and set my toiletry case in the bath on the counter. Why don't you relax, precious, it's supposed to be a vacation."
"I can't just let everything sit out like that, living out of a suitcase." She answered. "What about wrinkles?"
"Too uncivilized for you?" He asked. "As for wrinkled clothing, that's something I can take care of with a thought.
"It's not that...well, it's just too disorganized for me. I know you're used to chaos Jareth, but I'm not."
"You need a little chaos in your life, Sarah."
She huffed and turned her back on him and started putting her underwear in a drawer. "You should have seen the 2 other dates I had before you came along. They were certifiable."
"Tell me about it." He said, suddenly right behind her.
Sarah jumped and dropped the several pairs of panties she had been holding.
He bent down to pick them up and she snatched them out of his hands. "Crap! Don't sneak up on me like that!"
He laughed. "I had hoped I'd eventually persuade you to drop your underwear but this wasn't exactly the scenario I had in mind."
She gave him a little shove away and rolled her eyes. "It's going to be a long weekend if you keep using lines like that, Your Majesty."
"Just an attempt to pry a smile out of you, you're far too tense, nervous, and tightly wound. I'm not going to bite you, try to molest you or do anything untoward...unless you want me too. Relax and enjoy yourself, Sarah. You're making this far more complicated than it has to be. How will your family ever believe we're happy if you can't even pretend to enjoy my company? "
Sarah had to admit, Jareth had a point.
Sighing, Sarah put the last of her underwear in the drawer and closed it. "You're right, I've just never done this before. I'm used to being alone at these family events and to be honest I've never had much luck when it came to dating either."
"Understandable, love." Jareth took her hand and led her to the other room. "Just relax, Sarah. You weren't anywhere near this tense when we had dinner, so its not that you're uncomfortable around me."
"I'm not. It's just... "
"Different because your family is around?" Jareth suggested as he walked her to the fire place.
"I guess."
"Sit down, Precious." He motioned for her to sit in front of the coffee table. As she sat, he placed a fluffy pillow behind her. "Comfy?"
"Yes, thank you." She smiled.
With a flick of his wrist, he summoned two mugs of hot chocolate. After handing one to Sarah, he waved his hand at the fireplace and a roaring fire appeared. He then sat beside Sarah and sipped his drink. They sat in silence for a bit, just sipping their cocoa and watching the fire.
After drinking half of his hot chocolate, Jareth turned to Sarah. "Feeling a little more relaxed now?"
"Yes, thanks."
"Good." Jareth smiled. "Now you're going to stay relaxed and enjoy this weekend. If there's anything you need me to do to ensure you stay relax, just say the word."
Sarah smiled and sipped more cocoa. "Family gatherings are always stressful. Karen and her twin sister, Irene, are the worst because Irene always complains and Karen is hell bent on everyone being happy. Toby is always the best part of my trip."
"Then we have our answer. Toby wants to build snowmen and have snowball fight, correct?"
"Yeah," Sarah smiled. "He loves having snowball fights."
"Then we shall entertain him as much as we can and you will leave your family to me. I shall charm Karen and Irene so that they leave you alone. And I do hope that you'll allow me to charm and spoil you as well." He gave her a flirty smile.
Laughing lightly, Sarah sipped her cocoa. "You'll have your hands full. But those two aren't the only ones you have to worry about. Uncle Bobby and Aunt Pearl are a hand full if they get into the spirits."
"Dare I ask what happens?"
"Uncle Bobby tends to sing karaoke even when there's no music." Sarah stated. "As for Aunt Pearl... well, let's just say tequila makes her clothes fall off. "
"Oh?" Jareth raised his eyebrow.
"Don't get your hopes up. Aunt Pearl is in her 60s and recently had a double mastectomy. But she did rake delight in showing off her scars last Easter as she stood almost naked on the coffee table and went on about how glorious God was to have spared her life."
"Thank you so much for that mental image." He said sarcastically.
Shrugging, she grinned. "Just giving you fair warning on what you may encounter while trying to charm the pants off my family. But they're good people. My uncle Bobby, well, he's had a lot of issues the past few years, with his wife leaving him and such, so he does what you might say, a lot of self medicating. He's my dad's brother. Most of the family here is Karen's side, except him and my Aunt Minnie."
Jareth gave her that wicked little smile once more, waggling his brows at her in an exaggerated manner. "More importantly, I need to work on charming *your* pants off."
Sarah laughed, tapping him on the arm. "Keep it up and you're sleeping outside."
"You don't trust me? I am wounded." He clutched his chest and fell to the side. "Once again you have conquered me."
Sarah laughed harder. "Would you stop?" She sat her mug on table and stood over him as he tossed around on the couch feigning pain, and rolled her eyes. "For a grown man, or whatever the hell you are, you're acting like a child."
But she was smiling, and laughing.
Jareth stopped and peered up at her. "Perhaps, precious, but are you not more relaxed?"
"I suppose." she reluctantly agreed.
"Then being silly, teasing you, accomplished what I meant to do."
He reached up, grasped her arm, and tugged her down, so she half fell on top of him. " Now, about your underwear..."
Sarah pushed against him, but rather half heartedly. She found she enjoyed his comforting warmth." I really don't want to discuss my underwear with you. Maybe someday, but we are definitely not there yet. Let's get through this weekend without complications, okay?"
"Very Well." Jareth sighed as if very put upon. He sat them both up and picked up the now refilled mugs, handing her one. "I added a touch of Irish whiskey, we're going to need it. It's almost dinner time." He gestured to the clock on the wall. "So drink up."
Sarah did so, grateful for Jareth's quick thinking.
They were definitely going to need it.
