He turned and walked back towards the main chamber, leaving Sarah bewildered, undressing for bed. His fury was unmasked as he turned away from her and stalked down the corridor. He had wanted to take her to his chambers and keep the passion she had inside burning. But for some reason, he didn't trust himself. She had looked so young and innocent tonight, much the same as when she had frustrated him with her strong will five years previous, her lips still had their pouting fullness, but gone were the teenage angles, replaced with feminine curves. Oh he knew that she loved him and that she had been disappointed when he had bid her goodnight, but he couldn't, not until she wanted him completely, not until she made the first move, until her fear and awe of him abated. It wouldn't happen if she kept being hurt so cruelly by the many women he kept the company of. Until he had her fully, he would continue to keep their company, he'd just have to be more careful when Sarah was around. Walking through the main chamber to his rooms, a party seemed to be in full swing and an elfin girl caught his eye, smiling a smile that he was very familiar with. He took her hand, his cruellest smile on his lips as he led the girl into his chambers.
Sarah tossed in her bed, unable to sleep for the first time since she had come to the castle. Her body ached for drugs, of any kind, just to dull the senses enough to let her sleep off her strange night. She thought of Harry, wondered if he was missing her, she knew that the time laws in the real world carried on as normal while the Fairy Kingdom raced on years and years ahead. She thought of her parents, and Toby, her half-brother she barely knew now. She was sweating now, flashbacks coming at her quick and fast and she ran to the bathroom and heaved before lying against the cool, welcoming marble. She bathed and standing naked in the moonlit room, she pulled on a blue velvet robe and slippers and tiptoed out of her room, aware that even though there was no one in her particular wing of the castle, there was a possibility someone, somewhere would hear. She wandered around the castle in the darkness, unafraid, knowing she was safe inside the castle. She wasn't heading in a particular direction, just trying to tire herself enough to sleep uninterrupted from unwelcome memories. She entered a chamber she had come across on a previous exploration that seemed untouched by anyone. It was a second throne room, more feminine than Jareth's, and she had guessed it would be her own when the day came. She took her place in the throne and tired to feel something other than who she was. She didn't feel regal, or special, she was just her. She moved to a window seat and tucked her robes underneath her as she brought her knees up to her chin. At night the city was beautiful, and outside the city walls the labyrinth looked dark and foreboding. She knew the dangers that existed out there and shivered as she remembered some of the creatures she had met. She was so absorbed in thought she didn't hear Jareth enter the room until he was beside her. She felt his warm, strong presence before she looked to him.
"I couldn't sleep"
"Memories still troubling you Sarah? This must be the first night since you've been here that you haven't slept soundly"
She was quiet and he took his place, just behind her in the window. She felt her breathing change as she realised how close she was to him and how naked she was under her robe. She knew she should tell him, she knew that she couldn't hold it in forever. She wasn't in awe of him anymore, he was Jareth, the one love she'd had, and had been too blind to realise it until she got herself into the worst possible mess. She felt his hands on her shoulders, running down her arms and back up to her shoulders again. She trembled at his touch and felt him draw the robe off one shoulder and replaced the fabric with his lips. Sarah had never felt anything as tender, or anything as erotic as the feel of his soft lips on her skin. She moved her head and offered access to her neck and she felt his lips move along and up to her earlobe.
"Jareth!" she gasped, feeling herself push back against him, her body wanting more than what he was giving her. As his lips caressed the smooth skin at the nape of her neck, his hand slid down, releasing the bunched up robes as it travelled, until he could search out the bare, fresh skin underneath. The robes fell open to reveal one of her long, smooth, creamy legs and his hand travelled back up, finger's gracefully fluttering over the skin, bringing alive the sensitive nerves on her upper thigh as he moved yet further. Her arm reached up behind her, her hand stroking his neck, sometimes gripping as the feather light touching dipped deeper between her thighs. He was teasing her, and he could tell from her breathing how much she was enjoying it. She gasped loudly as his other hand slipped under her and raised her up into his arms in a fluid motion. She clasped her arms around his neck and in the blink of an eye, he was laying her back into his bed, the crisp white linen crackling as he placed her in the centre, her robe was parted and her hair was spread like a fan over the pillows. Her knees were slightly bent at the knee and she felt as shy and as self conscious as if it were her first time. Jareth looked down at her; she was so beautiful, so innocent and so small in his bed. She was biting her lower lip, her arms were up and she looked vulnerable and exposed. He positioned himself at her feet and kissed his way up her body, lingering, his lips cool on her hot skin. He unhooked the robe completely and removed her arms, tossing the heavy garment to the floor before continuing his exploration with his lips until they met with hers and their mouths collided passionately. Sarah felt like all her dreams had come together. She was his, and he was hers. Jareth felt Sarah's happiness as if it was his own and it provoked him to give her the complete happiness he could provide for her. They fit as if they had been made for each other and as Sarah settled deep into his embrace. She felt so at ease and the flashbacks didn't return.
