Chapter 14, To Take From The Willing
Jareth stood in the doorway to Sarah's room. The morning light was starting to peak over the horizon, casting a golden hue on her sleeping form. He slowly crossed the room and knelt by her side. She was buried in a mess of blankets and pillows. He watched her for a long time, silently smiling at her innocence. He gently reached up and pushed a strand of hair from her face.
His finger lingered at her ear, and then slowly traced the line of her face. He loved the way the morning light played across her skin. Look how you glow my love. My yellow diamond in the sunlight. I will hold this vision for every morning to come.
He leaned in, taking in her smell. He paused before placing a soft kiss upon her lips. He felt her stir and reluctantly pulled away. Her eyes fluttered open. She stared at him for a moment, registering what she was looking at. He was only a few inches from her face, all she could see were his piercing blue eyes and blonde hair. She wasn't sure if she was still dreaming.
"Jareth?" She mumbled, starting to stretch. He let a small smirk emerge as he moved the rest of the hair covering her face.
"I hope you can forgive me. There was quite a disturbance at the castle; it seems I placed too much faith in the Goblins with my absence." He spoke tenderly.
"I told you, you shouldn't have slacked. I was getting worried though." She grumbled. Jareth gave a light laugh.
"I assure there is no need to worry. Just an overabundance of paperwork." He had no desire to tell her what had really happened. "But, I have made sure that no such thing will happen this day. I'm all yours." He pulled her hand to his lips and gave it a subtle kiss. Sarah was a bit more awake now. She stared at him intently, a conniving smirk on her lips. Jareth was taken back a bit. That look, mixed with her tousled hair and messy clothing made her radiate seductiveness.
"What if I don't want you?" She teased.
"Do you mean that precious? Words are a powerful thing in this realm." He teased back.
"No." She said with a huff. The truth was Sarah was positively ecstatic, if it wasn't for her groggy state she would have jumped him from across the room. "But I suppose this means I have to get up now?" She asked rhetorically.
"Unless you would prefer me to crawl in there with you. Spending a day in bed with you is something I would simply be unable to refuse." He meant his playful statement, and as much as he wanted to simply crawl in bed with her he had other things planned. She stretched her arms, wrapping them around his neck. He thought she was about to kiss him when she mumbled,
"Carry me to the bathroom. I can't believe you woke me up at the crack of dawn." Jareth swallowed his breath as he realized what wasn't going on.
"As you wish my lady." He said in a charming manner, scooping her from the bed leaving all the loose blankets scattered on the floor.
He set her on the couch next to the fire place. She was about to complain when he gestured for her to wait, disappearing behind the bathroom door. He emerged soon after and proceeded to scoop her up once again and bring her to the bathroom.
The room was filled with a pink and purple haze, accented by the golden sunlight beaming through the window. There were orange and pink bubbles practically overflowing from the tub in the center of the room. Jareth set her down gently, fighting the urge to undress her and lower them both into the steaming water.
Sarah walked over to the tub, running her fingers through the bubbles. At her touch they started to scatter and float around the room. Some grew larger, and images started to appear. Some held butterflies, others chirping birds. The singing of the birds and the flutter of the butterflies made a hum that turned into a soothing song, something familiar.
"This is amazing. You did all this?" She asked in wonderment. It was a beautiful site, no matter how overwhelmingly girly it was. Jareth leaned against a wall, watching her gaze around the room.
"There is no limit to what I can do, for you." He added. He was really laying it on thick, but he was never more sincere.
Sarah thought for a moment. A surge of emotion coursed through her all of the sudden. The setting was perfect. He was perfect. She reached for her shoulder, beginning to pull the fabric down her body. She was still unsure of what to do, what she wanted. She turned to look at Jareth, who was watching her intently.
"Promise you'll be here when I get out?" Her voice was pleading, but she didn't know for what.
He was torn. He didn't want to force his hand too soon, even with the time constraint, but this was about the third green light she'd given him and he'd be a complete idiot to pass it up. In the end, his moronic voice of reason won out. Returning from his inner conflict he simply nodded at her and left the room; both winced hearing the door click shut.
Jareth ran his hand through his hair was he walked away from the room containing his Sarah. He refused to think of the task at hand, refused to be distracted by it. This was merely another day of courting he had told himself. It was a war, being alone with his thoughts.
Sarah sat in the tub deep in thought. After everything that happened, he should hate me yet...This is all so perfect, such a dream. Is this really how it's been all along? Was I really so naive before? Could he possibly...does he really love me? She smiled into the bubbles when she put those words together. If this is real...It is real. He's done nothing to deceive me. She shook her head slightly. He wants me to stay, it's obvious right? But what happens after...I have no idea what will happen if I say yes. Can I assume he'll want me? Want me to stay with him? That's not something I can just ask...Look at me, theorizing becoming Queen of the Goblins, having all my dreams come true. I gave it up once, why would it be offered again? I can't take any of this for granted. Nothing here is what it seems, you learned that last time, don't forget now. She lectured herself over and over.
After a while, she decided it was time to get out. She rose from the tub and dried herself off, noticing the bubbles were still floating about. She walked over to a closet, expecting to rummage through a heap of old clothing. When she opened the door she became quite perplexed. Where there was once a messy assortment of mismatched garments, there was now one hanger. And on that one hanger was one dress. She reached for the dress and held it in front of her.
It was long, and flowing with full sleeves. It was a rich yellow, with gold accents. The underside on the skirt, sleeves and neckline were traced with a shimmery white lace. It reminded her of the dress she'd worn to the Ball. The sleeves however were perfectly secured on the shoulders and the neckline was a bit less revealing.
"I wonder if this one comes with its own salon too." She said to herself.
She put the dress back on the rack and went to dry her hair. When she was finished, her hair was soft and wavy. She'd put a braid in it that started at one temple, stretching across her head to become lost in her dark tendrils behind her ear. She put on a light assortment of make up, just to give herself an edge. She then found herself facing the dress once again. She stepped into it and pulled it up the length of her. After she'd slipped her arms into their slots she waited to feel the laces tighten.
She looked around the room, seeing the dozens of tiny warped reflections staring back at her. She stared at one in particular as it glided past her nose.
"I could use some help." She said sarcastically.
The bubble popped in her face, causing her eyes to flutter. As soon as she turned away she felt the corset tighten. She became curious when she realized it was taking far longer this time. She could feel the laces tighten through each loop, when before they had simply tied all at once. She was almost startled when she felt a hand trail up her back.
"Well aren't you rude. You could have knocked first." She said with false irritation. Jareth tightened the last not before answering.
"You said you needed help." He let his hands trace the curve of her waist before she turned to him.
"I didn't think that meant you would pop up in the middle of me dressing." She had her hands on her hips.
"What is it they say in your world? No harm, no foul." He said with his casual charm. "Come, I have something planned for us today." He took her by the waist, pulling her close. She placed her hands against his chest as they went up in a puff sparkles.
"Where have you taken me this time?" She asked playfully. He pulled away, and spun her around.
"Why don't you see for yourself." He replied.
They stood on a small hill. Sarah looked every which way, taking in everything she saw. They were in the middle of a field, in a valley to be more precise. She could see mountains and grand hills in the distance. She scanned the valley more closely and saw it was a whirlwind of color. They were flowers. The entire valley was covered in beautifully alien flowers the likes she had never seen before. She turned back to Jareth.
"This place is beautiful, what is it?" She asked.
"These are the Chimera Fields. There are many within the Underground. I just so happen to be lucky enough to have one in my kingdom." He said, taking her hand, leading her down the hill.
"Where are we going?" She looked u at him.
"Over there." He pointed towards the center of the field. It was empty when she had first looked, but now there stood a great tree. That wasn't there a second ago... She was about to say, but decided otherwise.
"It looks awfully far." She thought she actually heard him snort as he turned to her with a sneer.
"My dear, we're already there." He said, and moved out of her line of vision. He was right, they were already standing under the monstrous tree.
Sarah examined the bark. It had a deep engraving that wound up the trunk and branches, there was a gray tint to it. She could tell it was ancient. Each branch was thick and sturdy, yet there wasn't a single leaf or bud. Sarah frowned when she thought of the possibility of it being dead. She lightly dragged her finger along the carvings, lost in her daydreams.
"This is the Tree of Acumen." Jareth interjected into her thoughts. "One of eight. Together they're known as the Mark of Anima." He gazed up at the looming mass.
"What does that mean? Tell me more." She was highly intrigued by all this. All this time she thought the Underground consisted of the Labyrinth and its King. The epiphany of all this history, all this culture, was fascinating.
"Acumen, the tree of reason. It is what gives life to this place. There is the Tree of Amity, Valor, Credo, Armistice, Demure, Candor, and Parity. They too give life to each of the Chimera Fields." He waited for her signal to continue.
"But what are they? How did the get here?" She took in each and every detail of the bark, listening to cracks as the wind blew and the birds chirping in the distance. Jareth stood behind her, watching her with just as much interest.
"Long ago, just after the creation of this land there was...a wizard more or less. His powers were so great that he transformed into the first Fae."
"Wait, so the first Fae was a human? How did he get to the Underground?" Sarah interrupted.
"Our planes were once one. All the races coexisted, though humans proved to be quite...troublesome. As they grew and evolved their greed took hold. They took to means of science and technology to further their exploits. Slowly, they lost their faith in magic. As you know faith is what fuels us, gives us life." Sarah stopped her dazing to fully listen to what he was saying. " As more and more humans dismissed the mystical creatures sharing their world, they started to persecute them. You know of such fairy tales, knights slaying dragons, religious men hunting vampires and werewolves. These tales aren't fare off."
"So that's all true?" She interrupted again. Jareth gave her an eye.
"In a manner. Can I finish?" She nodded in compliment. "Anyway, There was a human, perhaps the last to hold faith in our world. He was a great and powerful wizard. He watched as man tore apart the world and destroyed all the beautiful creatures in it. One day, he cast a spell separating the two planes. The purity of his soul enhanced the power of his spell, changing him into a superior being in the process. The first Fae. He then planted eight trees across the land, encrypting each with a part of his soul. In doing so he forever protected the land from dying do to a lack of faith. He then brought whatever humans left who still believed, and through their descendants came the world you see before you."
Sarah marveled in the wonder of his tale. There was so much that she didn't know about. So much she wanted to learn.
"So that's why there's a festival every ten years, and you? You don't really turn wished away children into goblins do you?" She asked.
"Heh, no I do not. Each wished away child is turned into a Fae and given to a couple who desires it. The Fae are a rather infertile race." He said.
"Well, that's an epic story Jareth." Said said, leaning slightly into the tree, pondering all this new found information.
"I thought you'd like it." He too leaned into the tree, placing one arm against the trunk, to look down on her. She didn't expect him to be so close when she turned around.
It was silent. A gentle breeze blew through their hair. It was calming, but did nothing to diminish the anxiety growing in Sarah. She decided to take hold of the situation, ending this awkwardness.
"You picked quite a spot." She said, pushing her hair behind her ear, looking around nervously. Jareth watched her in amusement.
"Are you hungry?" He asked. She raised an eyebrow to him as he turned with a sweeping bow, revealing an extremely elegant take on a picnic.
She looked at him with a huge smile, taking his hand and practically skipping over to the blanket. God he made her feel like a princess. She took her seat on the ground, and he took his across from her.
"Magic is the most amazing thing ever." She exclaimed before ravishing whatever food she could get her hands on.
Jareth took this moment to fully look over her. He'd gotten the idea for the dress after watching her sleep. A little bit of time alteration and bam, brand new handcrafted dress. When he saw her gleaming in the fresh sunlight, he though of a yellow diamond. He wanted this dress to embody everything that he saw in that moment, and he was satisfied. The light gold and yellow made her hair look even darker and richer, and it made her green eyes as bright as stars. He far preferred her wearing outfits made for him than those drab human ensembles.
They ate and laughed, talking about happy nonsense. Neither knew how long they had been there, the sun hadn't moved an inch all day. Jareth broke their laughter with a question.
"So Sarah, how are you enjoying my kingdom?" He asked oh so innocently.
"Well, without the threat of being chased by the cleaner, I'd say I'm enjoying it far better the second time around." She tried to seem serious.
"I see, maybe I'll just have to conjure something else to chase you then." He replied mischievously. She eyed him down, unsure of what he meant. His body tensed. He still had that evil look in his eye, like a lion about to strike its prey. Shit. She thought.
The second she leaped from her spot Jareth took off after her. She didn't make it very far. She laughed and giggled, trying to pull her dress up so she could run properly. He gave her a few seconds to flee before tackling her to the ground. They hadn't realized it, but they were at the top of a small incline. The moment they hit the ground they went rolling down the hill.
Sarah laid on her back, surrounded by flowers, gasping for breath. Jareth lay on top of her, a boyish grin masking his own exhaustion. He held her tight, refusing to let go. He grasped the fabric of her dress, secretly roaming his hands along her body. Her hair settled around her, framing her perfect smile. Jareth's wild mane hung low around his face. While they both panted she reach up with a free arm and moved the stray stands that were blocking his perfectly chiseled face.
With their hearts beating to fast to talk, Jareth's gaze roamed down her neck. His nostrils flared a bit when he saw the way her chest was rising and falling within her dress due to her breathing. Distracted by her breast, something caught his eye. He hadn't noticed it all day, but resting just above her cleavage was the owl pendant he'd given her. He slowly brought his hand to her chest, with no intensions of any kind, and lightly caressed the delicate metal.
Sarah looked down at him, watching him look her over. He had such an odd expression on his face. She too reached up, and placed her hand over his as they both clasped the pendant. He looked up at her with waiting eyes, eyes which widened when she lifted her head to kiss him.
It was tender at first, slow with longing. Neither wanted to move, as if they were living between a heart beat. Jareth then squeezed her hand a little harder continuing the kiss. He parted her lips with his tongue and entwined it with hers. She pushed her face into his in response, deepening the kiss with a burst of passion.
Feeling the slight strain in her neck, he pushed her back to the ground. her hand left his and reached up for his hair. She held on to the back of his head, making sure he couldn't leave her again. He used one arm to steady himself above her while the other roughly gripped her body.
She started moving against him, a steady fire burning between them increasing the intensity of their kiss. Jareth was feeling and gripping any part of her his hands could get. She arched her back towards him. Jareth returned her movements by thrusting into her in a rough and rhythmic motion. They were writhing with each other on the ground, lost in a frenzy of kisses burning progressioin.
His mouth never leaving hers, he brought his hand to the hem of her dress, yanking it up past her knees. Her arms were securely around his neck, and started moving to claw at his shoulders. While his one hand was busy escaping the folds of her dress the other had started grasping at her breast through her gown. Soft gasps escaped from Sarah as she lost herself to him.
Jareth's hand had finally freed itself, allowing him to firmly caress the skin of her thigh. He moved his hand up and down until he tightly gripped her rear. With each squeeze he would thrust harder into her. He removed his mouth from hers and proceeded to kiss along her jaw and down her neck, stopping briefly at the base of her neck. When he started nipping at her chest, she looked towards the sky and closed her eyes.
"Jareth, take us back to the castle." She begged.
By the time she opened her eyes they were indoors, and they were standing. She tried to look around the room but was intercepted by Jareth's mouth. He pushed her back, making her fall on his bed. His bed. This is HIS bed! She screamed inside. They picked up where they had left off in the field.
They continued moving against each other, when he brought himself back to reality.
"Sarah, before I go any further I need to know your decision." He managed to say between kisses. She didn't respond. "Sarah please, this is important. What is your answer?" He demanded. They were both half distracted. He gave up for a minute, thoroughly engrossed in every inch of skin he could get his hands on. He forcefully pulled his mind back once again.
"Sarah, Sarah stay with me." Jareth mumbled between gaps and kisses. Sarah didn't answer, all she could focus on was Jareth's mouth. "I need to know. Say yes." He panted. Although his lips and hands were lost in a flurry, his mind was becoming increasingly aware. Sarah pushed at his shirt, ignoring him. "Sarah.." Jareth repeated. She murmured into his mouth,
"Jussss..shhu..up." She had moved her hands to untie his pants. Jareth felt a rage burst from deep within him. He pulled away sharply, a piercing sneer and clenched teeth were all that held him back.
"No! I will not shut up! You must give me an answer. Now!" He shouted. There was fire in his eyes that would have knocked Sarah off her feet if she wasn't laying down.
"What? Are you serious? Right now? You really want to talk about this NOW?" She sat up, situating her dress. Jareth clung to her shoulders, his fingers digging into her skin. "Jareth that hurts! What is wrong with you? How can I make that decision right now, right on the spot? I can't...I-I don't know.."
"You don't know what Sarah?" He had become the menacing Goblin King she used to fear. "What do you have back there? A run down apartment and a worthless dead end job? You said so yourself. Your friends are detached, there is no mortal man who will ever be worthy or able to make you happy. What is it you find so hard to leave exactly? Or is there something that makes it so hard to stay?" He sent her a murderous glare.
His hair was a mess, his clothing was pulled and distraught. "Have I not been so generous? Have I not given you everything you've asked for? You foolish girl, I am The Goblin King for gods sake!" He saw her start to tremble. She was afraid, and hurt by his words. His face turned stone, as he watched her eyes swell.
"Why are you acting this way? I-I still have a few more days, you can't make me choose right now!" She pleaded. She wasn't ready for this.
"No you don't! The Labyrinth has no hold on you, our spells do not work on you, the magic keeping you here is gone! If you do not choose now you will be gone forever by morning!" He shouted. He forced himself to calm down a bit, seeing the shock and horror in her eyes. "I-I couldn't just tell you. That would be too much pressure, you wouldn't choose rationally. I thought, I thought if I could convince you to stay before tonight..." He trailed off before changing directions.
"If I take you now, I will never let go. You stole my heart from me once, it can not bare you ripping it apart. I can not live! Within you." He tore away from Sarah, flailing his arms as he ranted. He whipped his head around to look at her, The fire in his heart was weighed by dense blackness.
"If I can only have you this night, if I may only feel your skin, your warmth tonight...then I will not have you at all. I can not, I will not! If you can not choose to stay with me-" His eyes were bursting with inevitable tears of rage and sorrow. He was on fire. He rushed at Sarah, grabbing her once again by the shoulders, pressing his face close to hers. His eyes bore deep into Sarah's heart. His walls were down. There was no more charm, no more tricks, no more pride. She saw him. Everything he really was, everything he kept within his heart flowed from his eyes into hers.
"If this is to be the last night my heart beats in your hands...then I must take it back."
Sarah's mind was in shambles. In a split second she chose to think of her happiest moments. Images from the past week raced through her mind. The night at the lake, the way they'd laid next to the fire, the Goblin Festival, the balcony at the Ball, what had just happened at the Chimera Fields. Time started again when she noticed something. never once had she thought of her life in the Aboveground. He was right, what was stopping her? Why was she so afraid to say yes?
Jareth stared into her eyes for what seemed a millennia waiting for her to answer. he used every ounce of strength to keep himself still.
"If you must take it, then it is yours to take. But..." She paused, choking back the tears. "You must take mine with it also. As it has always belonged to you." Jareth's eyes never once blinked. And only a single tear slid down his cheek.
"I know why. Why I can't say yes." Her heart jumped in her throat, seeing the tears in Jareth's eyes building making them cloudy and distorted. Yet he refused to give in.
"I'm-I was afraid. Afraid of what will-would happen...If I gave it back to you." She kept her eyes from his, afraid of losing control. She slowly rose to look at him.
All the world was silent when she met his gaze. Their hearts were beating furiously, yet they were hallow.
"As the world falls down, I will survive your naked eyes. And I will be there always. You are my pale jewel, my yellow diamond high. My love has waited between the stars, searching for the day you reached for the sky. My precious Sarah, you've stolen a heart I willingly gave, and I swear, as everything falls around us I will never let you down."
Sarah lunged at Jareth, throwing her arms around his neck pressing her lips firmly to his. She clenched her eyes tight, sending all the pent up tears rolling down her face. At the touch of her kiss, he let loose his pain, letting it flow between them. Subtle tears streaked his cheeks as he too closed his eyes, afraid that the moment wasn't real.
Their tongues and lips entwined in a dance of sorrowful passion. He pulled Sarah too him, clutching her fiercely with one arm while the other pulled at her hair, pressing their faces closer. They moved in a rhythmic motion, lost in the feeling of each other. Their hands shared an electric spark that flashed between the two with each touch.
Jareth clawed at her dress, practically ripping it at the seams. Sarah's hands moved in a frenzy, pushing and pulling at his shirt. After untying the front she pushed it over his shoulders letting it fall to the floor. Once her fingers reached his shoulders she clung to him, lifting herself up, wrapping her legs around his waist. Never breaking the kiss
He placed his hands on either side of her waist, tracing along the curves of her body. He turned and gently laid her on his bed. He stood, leaning over her. His stare was blank, as he took in every inch, curve and crevice of her delicate skin. Never taring his gaze, he reached down and in one full swoop ripped the remainder of her dress from her body leaving her completely exposed before him.
She waited, looking up the length of his body, admiring the muscle of his chest and the pale skin that shone like a god. He lifted his hand, and with the flick of his wrist the remainder of his clothing was gone. A slight blush spread across Sarah's face and down her chest. It turned out his pants didn't do him much justice. Jareth watched in amusement as his eyes continued down her form.
He knelt down between her legs, looking up into her eyes. He gently caressed the inside of her thigh and planted a delicate kiss upon her knee. He then placed supple kisses along the length of her leg. Just when she was about to jump from the anticipation, he placed his hands underneath her knees and lifted her, pushing her fully onto the bed.
Jareth loomed over her. This moment was real, it finally hit him. He almost collapsed on her with the thought. She was practically squirming beneath him, waiting, wanting. She brought her hands to his chest, and lightly traced its contour. she rubbed her leg along his, bringing it just above his hip. She gave a forceful tug, pushing his hips down into her. The hardness of his girth pressed heavily against her. She brought her arms around his neck, and dug her fingers through his tangled mess of hair. She pulled him down, planting a chaste kiss upon his lips and she started to move beneath him, pulsing herself against his hardness urging him on.
He deepened Sarah's kiss, circling his arm around her head to pull at her hair. He turned her head, leaving teasing nips and kisses on her ear, trailing down her jaw and neck. He started to bite and suck at the space where her neck met her shoulder, eliciting a moan from Sarah. He moved from her neck to her collar bone, and slowly down her chest. He planted dozens of kissing across her body, taking in her smell and taste. He spread her legs with his hips and positioned himself at just the right spot to enter her. He rubbed the head along her opening, teasing her until she was dripping wet.
She had started moaning at a steady pace, leaving Jareth unable to prolong himself any further. With one hard thrust he entered her as deep as he could go. Sarah shot out a scream of pain, digging hers nails into his back before settling down to the bed. Jareth paused, he was just as shocked as Sarah had been. He waited for her pain to pass, he was unsure if he should continue at all. He was losing his ability to restrain himself fast. Sarah's whimpers of pain turned to soft moans of pleasure. She writhed beneath him, her eyes shut tight.
Jareth brought his hand to her cheek and gently caressed along her jaw.
"Sarah..." He whispered. "Look at me." His thumb circled her chin as she opened her eyes. With their stares locked he began to move within her. He was slow, he tried so hard to keep his pace. The urge to ravish her was overwhelming. He arched his hips with each thrust, hitting a spot inside Sarah causing her to jump at each sensation.
Their eyes never moving, he dipped his head to kiss her. He intended it to be sweet, caressing. But the moment their lips met a new passion was born. She attacked him, not wanting to continue at their current pace. He was cautious at first, not wanting to hurt her. But she wouldn't stop. her hands raced along his body, she thrust herself into him, harder and harder. The ferocity in their kiss growing, she began to bite and suck his lower lip, curling her tongue around his teeth.
That was it. The last string of self control he possessed had snapped. He quickened his pace considerably. Each thrust went harder and deeper than the last. His breathing became hoarse and primal. Sarah's moans became louder and turned to screams. She wasn't fully ready for what she had asked for. She was stunned in the beginning, but soon caught up. They moved sporadically, fully entwined.
Things started moving too fast for either to register, they were rolling around the bed ripping at blankets and pillows. At one point, Jareth reached for Sarah's hands, pulling them above her head while holding himself up. He felt her walls tighten. The feeling constricting him to the point of suffocation. He let out a deep gasp followed by intense moans as she approached her climax.
Sarah's back arched as her entire body tensed. She fought him vigorously to free her hands but with no avail. She threw her head back, her mouth gaping open with silent screams of pleasure. She thought she saw stars explode above them. A wave of her first real ecstasy raged through her. It pounded and rippled through every bone in her body.
Jareth watched Sarah's reaction to him. She had tightened her grip around him to the point where he could barely move from the immense pleasure of it. At the last second he released her hands so that he could better support himself. Her fingers immediately dug into his arms, encompassing his biceps. He let out a hoarse moan as he felt himself slip. Everything he was feeling was more powerful than anything he had ever experienced. He gave a few final thrusts as he released everything he had within her.
He staggered. Remaining jolts of pleasure coursing through him. He was panting furiously, beads of sweat dripping from his brow. He finally allowed himself to collapse on top of her. His arms framing her face as he smiled down at her. his nose brushing against hers. She stared at him in wonderment, a bit dazed from all the physical and emotional band slam.
"I believe I've made my decision. I choose to stay." She said, a grand smile beaming onto him. He let a light chuckle escape between pants.
"Good, because I plan on never letting you leave this bed."