Chapter 24. Payment rendered to the King

Author's note.

This chapter is full of sex. Fair warning!

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The transporting left Sarah dazed and worried. Where would he demand his payment? In the oubliette, where she'd been dumped by the helping hands? No, not spectacular enough. In the tunnel where she's insulted his precious Labyrinth? No too cryptic and lacking style. She prayed he didn't take her to the Crystal ballroom.

Jareth felt her trembling in his arms and smiled to him-self, let her wonder, let her suffer for a few moments. He kept her suspended, the darkness enveloping them. His cape wound about her tightly, protectively. Seeking to give her more discomfort he moved so he was pressed even closer and there would be no mistake of his intentions. He heard her breath catch and he smiled as he whispered. "Not long now, Sarah."

She looked down, and whispered to herself, "Wanta bet?"

He didn't even pretend he had not hear, threw back his head and let his laughter roar.

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Hoggle was the first to return to the throne room, followed by bemused Ludo and a disgruntled Sir Didymus. The three faced the Queen of the night as she entered the room. "He's restored, and reunited with the girl." She announced. "You may return to your duties."

Sir Didymus removed his cap, bowed with a flourish and asked. "Where are they?"

Gilgamesh answered for the Queen. "The Gods alone know."

Hoggle sat down. "Poor Sarah," He moaned.

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The darkness vanished as it had come, and Sarah felt solid ground beneath her feet. Jareth took his own sweet time about removing his cape from her. When it drew back she found she was not prepared for what greeted her. "You've got to be kidding!" She looked at the surroundings and drew back. "It looks like a temple."

"It is…a temple." He walked past her into the white marble arches that seemed to join above them in a gothic cathedral styled open ceiling.

Sarah stood stock still, only her eyes moved. Darting side to side to try and take it all in. The room, if it could be called that was fairly circular in form. Devoid of walls, open and yet not open at all. She didn't feel element or sun. She looked at the ground; it was the same type of stone she'd seen in the castle, only white. White misty fog hovered here and there above the stones moving like a snake. She took her first step in the space, and felt her knees shake so violently she expected to fall down. Turning to look behind herself, she noticed that there didn't seem to be anything beyond the grotto. No land, no mountains, on valleys, nothing, not even darkness. She looked forward again at the man she'd pissed off and now had to worry about. "A temple?" she questioned.

Long elegant fingers reached up and unfastened the cloak. He let go and it fell off his shoulders. "Yes." He said again, "A temple."

Sarah felt rooted to the spot. "Do you expect me to …worship you?"

Jareth raised a brow, "Should I require worship…." He began but saw she was taking him seriously. "No, Sarah, I don't expect you to worship me…" His hand came forward, "I only expect you to obey me. Come."

Sarah whispered. "My feet are… they won't…."

"God how I love the smell of fear," he commented brashly.

"I'm not afraid." She shot back. "Apprehensive, yes… even anxious, but I'm not afraid."

The cocky smile returned to his face. "Come here." His eyes became slits and his lips thinned as he smiled, he crooked his index finger and beckoned her. He had challenged her, and he knew she hated to be challenged. She moved one foot cautiously forward, then the other, repeating the steps until she was standing looking defiantly up into his face. "Do you like the accommodations?" He opened his arms and dramatically showed her the room.

"You brought me to a temple?" she asked, suspicious of his intentions. "Why? Who is this temple dedicated to? Aphrodite? Adonis, who?"

"You Sarah, this temple is dedicated to you." He crossed his arms, looking satisfied at her mystified gaze. "You don't believe me; look closer at the embossed design in the arches."

Sarah moved to one arch and looked closely, she had not noticed before the bas-relief that was part of the design of the white on white arch. She moved to the next one, then the next. "This is me… at different stages of my life…. From the time…my mother left….until…" She looked at the Goblin King.

"Until the night you ran the Labyrinth and rejected my offer." He finished for her. "I designed this edifice to be a temple to my love for you."

Sarah looked up at the arch upon arch design; it was unlike anything in her world. "You made this?"

"Yes."

"But why?"

"I told you, it is the temple of my love for you." He watched her like an owl, his eyes seeing more than she wished him to see. "Is that so difficult for you to understand?"

Sarah placed a hand on one arch, "When did you build this?"

"I began the first arch the first time I saw you." He moved to the first of the many arches. "I have spent much time in your realm, collecting unwanted and wished away children. Seeing this dark haired, green eyed waif of a child crying her heart out… I was drawn to her. So I ventured nearer, in owl form of course, and I listened as she poured her heart out to her companion… a dog." He moved toward her pointing to another arch, "Each time I visited, I created an arch and imbedded in it the events I witnessed." Sarah studied each of the arches, and then finally turned to him. Her expression was reminiscent of the expression she worn when she was in the ballroom. Jareth moved closer, his expression not betraying a thing. His voice held the same painful emotions as they had when she'd rejected his offer of love. "All this… everything…. I did it all for you." There was a touch of harshness in his tone. "I built this temple so to worship you here; you, my little mortal Goddess."

"You kept it after…." She looked at him, seeing his pain perhaps for the first time clearly. Her breathing became labored; she felt the rise and fall of her breasts as she faced the Goblin King. "You kept it…"

"I waited," he droned on, "expecting that you'd call…That you would open your heart…and stop painting me as the villain." The last word was a painful growl. Sarah looked down at her feet, his hand reached under her chin, pulling it painfully up. "Look at me, Sarah!" he snapped. "Don't you dare take your eyes off me."

Sarah's eyes moved to where he was forcing them. Her lips parted but she could not speak.

Jareth began to circle her, much as he had done in the stair room. "I'm not the villain." He growled, "But if that's what it takes to get to your heart," He stopped pacing about her, his hand shot out and pulled her by the waist to him. "If that's what it takes, so be it." He lowered his lips to hers; taking by force what he had wanted her to offer him. He had expected she'd begin to flail about, protesting and calling him names. Instead she clung to him as he wildly kissed her senseless. When he raised his head, she was panting for breath and moaning softly.

"After all you've done to me, to my kingdom, and my subjects…" He whispered in disbelief. "I still want to worship you." Crooking his fingers of his free hand, he stroked her cheek. He stopped, bent forward and scooped her up into the air. He walked though one of the archways into the center of the strange Fae love temple. In the center of the space was a great circular bed. Jareth deposited Sarah and took a seat behind her. "How often I dreamed of bringing you here, my love." He raised her right hand, and began to kiss the fingers, down to the wrist and across her palm before working his way up the arm and across her shoulders. He had pulled her hair off her shoulder and as he reached her neck she shivered.

"What are you doing?" She gasped.

Jareth seated behind her, his lips teasing and taking little nips as he kissed his way across her shoulders smiled. "I'm kissing you, Sarah."

"This is making me very nervous." She groaned.

"Good." He said as he worked his way down her left arm to the other fingers.

"Good?" She repeated in a squeak.

He took hold of her shoulders, turned her to face him. Cupping her face he kissed her lips. Pulling back he looked down at her as if she were a present, waiting to be unwrapped. The hands moved down her throat, and moved to the buttons on the front of her blouse. His eyes held hers captive as he began to unfasten each button taking his time. Her lips began to tremble and she began to shudder a bit nervously. Appreciatively he looked at her, "You've no reason to be embarrassed Sarah, you're lovely." His hands traced the soft satin that covered her breasts, "Very lovely."

Sarah jumped when he began to fondle her, "I can't do this." She said swiftly.

"You can," he crooned with a wicked smile. "And you will." Leaning toward her he let his lips tease her ear, "I could have just made all your garments dissolve, would you prefer that?"

"No." She stiffened.

"Relax," He suggested decadently. "This experience can be pleasant for both of us, my little goddess." His voice at her ear caused her to instinctually crane her neck. He kissed the length of it, and then began to kiss the soft swell of her that was not covered by the satin bra. "Take off your blouse." He murmured as he kissed her skin. Sarah moved like someone in a trance, freeing her arms from the fabric she'd been wearing. Jareth reached for it and pulled it away from her and tossed it off the edge of the bed. He knelt up right again and looked at her. "Show me." He said looking down at the bra, "Show me."

Hands shaking she reached behind her and unfastened the hooks. She looked up at him; his eyes were focused on her. She hesitated.

Jareth smiled, reached forward, tipping her chin up. "Show me." He whispered invitingly wanton.

Taking a deep breath she released the fabric, and she closed her eyes.

Jareth tugged the straps down her arms and pulled the bra free. He tossed it over the bed, as he had her blouse. "Beautiful." He said as he again fondled her, now touching her skin. He paused, shifted on the mattress and pulled off the poet shirt; it too went over the side of the bed. He pulled her into a kneeling position and pulled her forward. Her breast crushed up against the rock hard muscles of his chest. "Sarah." He murmured. Sarah opened her eyes and looked into his. His eyes were blazing with passion, "Do you remember your promise, under the stars?" He asked.

"Yes." She whispered.

"Give yourself to me, Sarah." He said softly.

Nodding she placed her face to his neck.

Jareth took a deep breath, the remainder of their garments vanished. He had magically called for pillows and he now lowered Sarah into them. They were covered by a long blanket of the same fabric as his owl cape. He kissed her eyes, her nose and then her lips. "Trust me." He urged as he began to migrate slowly down her abdomen. Hot kisses trailed down and suddenly she cried out startled and shocked. She heard him chuckle as he slid his tongue where no one had ever touched her. Her legs began to tremor, but he kept busy. Sarah began to pant, and moan softly, then arched and cried out. Jareth raised himself to his elbows, he looked at her, arching as the first orgasm swept over her. He leaned his head on her up raised knee, and slid his fingers where his tongue had just been. He heard her moan again and turned his face to kiss her thigh. "Sarah," He said softly. "It's time."

"Time?" she asked dazed.

He nodded as he moved to position himself at her warm, moist aching entrance. "Time." He moved forward, and slowly inched his way into her.

"Oh my god!" She cried out.

"Be still." He warned. "I don't want to hurt you."

Sarah lay back, biting fingers as she looked at him.

He closed his eyes, inching forward slowly. He felt the barrier and paused. "Take a long deep breath." He commanded. As she did he pressed gently on, slowly the barrier began to give way. He felt the break, and the soft flow of virginal blood. He pulled out and looked at her blood on his manhood. He rested his manhood on her abdomen, some of her blood staining her lily white skin. "You're mine now, Sarah." He said, looking pleased with himself.

Sarah looked down at the blood on her tummy and then up at him.

He lifted up, and repositioned himself and slid back into her with ease. "My woman, my lover," He said happily; "My Goddess."

"I don't feel like a goddess." She muttered.

"You will." He promised as he began to find the rhythm. Within moments she too was part of the rhythm and begging him for more. "Let me teach you Sarah." He beseeched, "Let me teach you all the joys of making love." She nodded, not trusting her voice. He moved deeper, and she arched to him. "I love you, Sarah." He said as he reached the heat within her. "I love you."

"Oh God!" she cried out as he went deeper still and began to spill his hot seed into her.

"Worship me," He begged. "Worship me, Sarah."