Chapter 16: Pull Over at your Own Risk

When the car stopped, the Goblin King got out and went around to open Sarah's door and draw her out to stand with him. Sarah slammed the door behind her, and was promptly slammed against it herself. The king cupped her face in firm, gloved fingers and lowered his mouth to hers. His body came flush against hers, and Sarah's breath caught in her throat at the feeling of his slender, undeniably aroused frame pressed tightly against hers.

The kiss was incredible. Gone were Jareth's tender brushes of the lips, his gentleness that Sarah had found so appealing. The Goblin King was not gentle, and he made no secret of his hunger for her as his hands slid behind her head to hold it in place as he ravished her mouth. Sarah's heart thundered and she reached up to bury her fingers in his wild mane of pale hair. She had never felt such a keen longing in her life, never felt such a blatant need. When the king finally broke the kiss and allowed her to draw breath, Sarah realized she was lightheaded and sagged against him. His lips went to her neck then, his hands pushing her blouse down her shoulder before he attacked it with his mouth. Sarah made a strangled sound, clutching the back of his shirt in a white-knuckled grip as she gasped out his name. "Jareth..!"

And suddenly his grip loosened and he slid his arms around her, supporting her and holding her tightly against him. "Oh, Sarah," he whispered. With a shaky hand he drew her shirt back up over her shoulder and stepped back to look at her face.

Eyes wide, lips reddened, and panting, Sarah gazed back at him, realizing that it was Jareth now. The Goblin King was gone along with his spiky hair, low-cut shirt, and pendant. Jareth wore a leather jacket with an uneven collar, open over a high-necked ruffled shirt like the one he had worn in the Ballroom. His hair was tamer as well, lying softly over his shoulders.

He leaned close, gently stroking her shoulders with gloved hands. "Oh, Sarah. I'm so sorry. I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"N-no," Sarah replied, her body still humming with arousal. "I wouldn't call it pain. Exactly."

"Oh!" Jareth smirked with the realization of what the problem was, and drew her back into his arms to hold her for a few more minutes. "Should I apologize for that, or not?" he asked with a gently teasing tone.

"Uh... I- I'm not sure," Sarah replied, now beginning to blush. "Jareth, what on earth is going on?" She stepped back in an attempt to calm down her rocketing hormones.

"I am sorry about that, Sarah. I had been planning to let you visit your family in peace, but when you invoked the Goblin King's name I had to show up as him. I guess he must have thought you needed company for the long drive or something. I certainly didn't intend to get caught up in another game with you!"

"Yes, well... His Majesty seemed to find it... stimulating," Sarah said with a wry smile. Her smile widened when she noticed that Jareth was... No, it couldn't be! She absently wondered just how many mortals had ever been treated to the sight of Jareth... blushing! Unable to resist, she went on, "When you told me that you loved games, I had no idea you meant you meant it carnally!"

"Yes, well," he said uncomfortably, "That was new for both of us. Shall we go?" he asked politely, opening her door for her. He walked painfully back to the passenger's side and eased himself back into the seat.

Sarah laughed, but let it go and started the car again. "So..." she said as the silence threatened to stretch as long as the miles. "Now that we're both here, want to tell me what's going on?"

"Are you referring to what you saw this morning? Or my presence here now?"

Sarah shrugged. "Either. Both. You leave so suddenly last night, apparently spend the morning brooding, and then show up here in all your intimidating royal grandeur when all I did was say thanks for filling my gas tank. I don't think I'm reading too much into it when I say I think there's something larger going on here than you taking me to a wedding."

Jareth nodded slowly. "You are right; there is."

Sarah chose her next words carefully, not wanting to pry too much, but not wanting to remain in the dark either. "Is it something I should know? Anything I can help with?"

"Yes," Jareth answered both questions at once. Shooting her a swift glance, he went on, "But not yet."

Sarah frowned thoughtfully but said nothing. Jareth sighed. "There are a number of ramifications to everything I do as a king, both personal and political. Please don't think badly of me for having to consider how much I tell you--or when."

Sarah nodded. "So it's on a need-to-know basis, and I don't need to know yet. Is that right?"

Jareth thought over her statement. "That is essentially correct."

"I understand. I think." There was an awkward pause, and Sarah realized they were more than two-thirds of the way to her parents' house. She decided to change the subject. "So, are you coming with me to meet my parents? Or are you just coming along for the ride?"

"Is that an invitation?" he asked. "Do you want your parents to meet me?"

"That depends. How long are you going to stick around?" Sarah wanted to know. It was actually one of the burning questions that had been buzzing around her mind for the last 24 hours. "I mean, are you going to be showing up a lot from now on? Or is this just two weeks of mad flirtation until the wedding, and then you'll disappear for another dozen years or so?"

Jareth's tone sounded grim, as if he knew he wouldn't like the answer he got as he told her, "I would like to be part of your life, Sarah, if I would be welcome."

Sarah smiled, a great weight lifted from her shoulders. "Then I'll introduce you to my family." There was a long pause and she finished quietly, "And you're very welcome." With a grin, she amended, "Both of you!"

Jareth laughed in relief. "Think Toby will remember me?"

Sarah scoffed. "I doubt it. He was less than 2 years old when you took him."

"Ah, but he was such a lively little chap," Jareth teased. "I'll bet he does remember!"

"He won't."

"How much are you willing to bet?"

Sarah laughed. "Oh, no, not this again! Honestly, Jareth, how can you afford to make all these bets all the time?"

"Simple; I rarely lose."

"All right. I'll bet you twenty-four hours that he won't remember you. If he does, I'll stay an extra day in the Underground, but if he doesn't, you have to visit me for a whole day. Next weekend. Deal?"

"Deal." Jareth was immeasurably pleased by the stakes. He sat back in the seat, looking smug.

Author's note: Sorry for the delay, but I was busy working on the ending to this story. You'll be pleased to know it's within two chapters of the end! Or at least, I'm pleased to know that. I just have to add a few more things and then I'll be able to call it done. Won't that be nice? --CL