Wheel of the Year
Ch. 12 Feast of the Flesh
IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter has been SIGNIFICANTLY modified from the original version. The original version was missing three scenes that I had written, but for some reason were not uploaded to the final version here. I have rewritten those missing scenes AND... ADDED LEMONS!
SO...please enjoy and drop me a little review. I haven't written anything lemony for over a year, so I fear I'm a bit rusty! :)
When Jareth had said he would take her with him for his usual dinner, based on the way he spoke of spending late evenings working in his study, Sarah thought they'd be sequestered there while he worked, and with her mood she was happy with the idea. Much to her surprise, when he caught up with her running through the halls of the castle, he merely swung her up in his arms and marched out the front gate of the castle with her laughter ringing against the stones. For once, she didn't bother struggling against him, he seemed content to have her in his arms and she was oddly content to let him carry her along - neither of them paying any mind to the curious looks and outright grins of the delighted Goblin City citizens who saw their King carrying the Champion through the streets. As far as the citizens were concerned, there King was clearly happy having her in his arms, and she seemed to be happy as well so for them, things were as they should be.
"Um, Jareth… we've passed the market area and pubs. I thought we were going to eat dinner?" Sarah asked, her stomach giving a mighty gurgle, spurred on by the heavenly smell of roasted meats from the pub they just passed. Through the windows she could see patrons tucking into thick slabs of meat and roasted vegetables, the thought making her stomach rumble even louder.
Winking at her, Jareth continued carrying her along. "We are going to have dinner, Precious. Just not in the market district."
"I could walk, you know."
"Yes, you could," Jareth chuckled, jostling her slightly in his arms to change his hold on her, but showing no indication of putting her down. "But knowing you as I do, darling Harvest Maid, I don't trust you not to go running off into the nearest pub and spoiling my surprise."
Laughing, Sarah draped her arm around Jareth's neck and relaxed in his embrace. "Don't Queen's usually get carried around by really muscled and sexy, half-naked men on a palanquin? I could get into that I suppose."
"Oh! Insulting your King are you, Goblyn wench?" he chuckled, flipping her over his shoulder and swatting her upturned bum sharply enough that several goblins walking down the street in front of them paused and turned back. Seeing their King with the squirming and squealing Champion over his shoulder, then elbowed each other and moved to the side, giving the King room to get by. Jareth merely smiled, giving them a brief nod, never breaking stride.
"Jareth!" Sarah squeaked again, struggling harder now. "Put me down! This is hardly a dignified position for a Queen…"
"Ahh...but as you like to remind me, you are not the 'real' Queen," he laughed, bouncing her enough that her silk taffeta skirt flipped up, draping partially over her head and exposing the lean length of her legs, tightly encased in leather leggings. "Anyway...are you insinuating that I am neither muscled or sexy?"
Reaching down and pinching Jareth's bum, Sarah giggled when he swatted her again. "Oh...you are both sexy and muscular...and you have a cute ass, Goblin King. But you aren't half-naked."
Deftly flipping her back into his arms upright once more, Jareth paused, a filthy grin curling his lips and setting his pale eyes alight with glee. "Darling, if it would make you happy, I would gladly carry you to dinner stark naked. Of course, I can't promise we'd actually get to dinner if I did that, since if I am carrying you around naked, then you are going to be sans clothing as well - fair is fair afterall, Precious."
Sarah's cheeks flushed crimson at the mental image of a naked Jareth in general. Coughing, she shook her head, clinging to his neck once more. "Umm...no...no… you're fine as you are. Really."
"Are you sure? You know how much I would hate not to meet your expectations of me, love."
Nodding, Sarah felt her cheeks flush further. "Positive. Save the nudity for your chambers." Seeing his eyes light up again, Sarah shook her head frantically. "No...no...I didn't mean like that...or tonight...I… ohhh! Don't go getting any ideas."
Still laughing at the way her cheeks flushed whenever he brought up anything related to sex, Jareth started back down the street. "Darling, where you are concerned I always have ideas….it's just a matter of degree as to how much nudity is involved."
"Jareth!" she groaned, thumping his chest with her hand and hiding her flaming face against his shoulder.
"Well, at least let me prove that I'm more than a mere 'mouthful'?"
"Jareth!"
"But…"
"Jareth...no! Behave!"
Laughing, Jareth shifted her in his arms, one hand wrapping around her hip, his long fingers curling toward her inner thigh in a way that made her tremble. Despite the near virginal blushing and protests she gave, Jareth adored the way bits of her 'Charlotte' persona peeked through, teasing and taunting him.
As they neared the edge of the city, the sound of music began to drift toward them, twining with laughter, singing any many voices. At the edge of the forest that surrounded the city, Jareth finally set Sarah on her feet. Smiling as she fluffed her skirt and smoothed it back over her bum and legs. With a quiet smile, he offered her his hand, a warmth surging inside him at the easy way she took his hand without hesitation or question. The glow of multi-colored lanterns shone through the darkened trees, as the sun sunk fully below the horizon, blanketing the kingdom in the dusky blue-grey of early evening. From the hidden forest glen up the path, the sound of music and laughter floated upon the air.
Sarah smiled up at him, her green eyes glowing with a warmth that matched the sensation surging within him at the gentle pressure of her hand in his. "What is it, Jareth?"
"It's the Crystal Moon Fayre," he replied, walking her up the path alongside other citizens of the city, who followed the path in pairs and small groups, all chattering and laughing happily. "The Fayre is a magical carnival that travels the Underground, randomly popping up in cities and towns for only 24 hours. In my kingdom, a temporary holiday is always declared when it arrives, so that my people can enjoy the festivities."
"And the king?" she asked, her lips quirking in a sly smile, beneath hooded green eyes.
Jareth winked at her, his pale eyes sparkling with mischief, even as he raised her hand, his lips grazing her knuckles with a gentle kiss. "The King also partakes of the festivities, but usually on his own. Thus tonight is special, because I have you to share them with."
At the gate to the fayre, a willowy woman with pure white hair and bright blue eyes curtsied low, her bright blue dress momentarily brushing the leaves underfoot. "Your Majesty. We are greatly honoured by your presence this night," she murmured, her voice lilting, yet oddly soothing to Sarah's ears. "Please enter and enjoy, no charge of course for the King of these lands and his lady love."
Blushing, Sarah shook her head. "Oh...I'm not...I mean...he doesn't… we're just...friends…." she stammered.
The woman looked from Sarah to Jareth, her blue eyes sparkling briefly, as her lips curled into a knowing smile. "Might I suggest a visit to our fortune tellers, my lady. You might find the answers that you seek amongst them."
Chuckling quietly, Jareth dropped a small red pouch onto the counter of the entry booth, the faint jingling of the bag indicative of the coins inside. The woman shook her head, attempting to pass the money back to Jareth. "Thank you, Sire...but there is no charge for royalty, by order of the Crystal Moon owner."
"Then consider this a donation on behalf of the Crown and a thank you for gracing my people with your entertainments," he replied smoothly, before leading Sarah through the gate and into the heart of the fayre.
Entering the fairgrounds Sarah was momentarily overwhelmed by the myriad of sights, sounds and smells that assailed her. At the far end of the oval fairgrounds stood a bandstand, the roof twined with glowing paper lanterns. On stage, a band of dwarves, brownies, elves and even a troll playing a delicate silver flute, performed their lively song. Below the stage, revelers swirled and swung their way around three interlocked circles of dancers. Around the central ring of the fairgrounds, ranged a plethora of food stalls selling everything from the Underground equivalent of french fries and funnel cakes, to a variety of dishes that Sarah couldn't identify, much less pronounce. Behind the food stalls were three neat spokes lined with game booths and vendors, ending in a midway of sorts, with a strange (and somewhat rickety) collection of rides, that appeared similar to the carnival rides one might find Aboveground with one notable exception - Aboveground rides didn't levitate.
"What would you like to do first, Precious?" Jareth enquired, glancing about at the many options that awaited them. Hearing her stomach give a loud grumble that was audible over the laughter, music and chattering voices, he laughed, the sound rich and full. "Eloquently put as always, love. Food it is."
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Sarah bit back a grin as she opened her mouth, knowing full well that she had Jareth's undivided attention. With her eyes upon his face, she slowly ran her tongue around the thick tip of the meat in her hands, lapping at the cream which coated it already. "Hmm… I could happily eat this daily...for the rest of my life," she purred, her own stomach fluttered at the look of unadulterated hunger in Jareth's eyes. 'Serves him right for teasing me like he did,' she thought, as she ran her tongue from the bottom of the thick rod to the top, moaning at the taste of it. Seeing Jareth's eyes widen at the sight of her, she arched her neck, letting her own eyes fall shut. 'And to be fair to Jareth, he was right...one taste and I already crave more.'
Opening her eyes once more, she caught his gaze, then engulfed the whole rod from tip to base. Hearing Jareth's low moan, she smiled around the base of the meat in her mouth, then sucked deeply as she slowly pulled back, sucking the creamy sauce from it. When she reached the end, she flicked her tongue around her lips, savoring the taste, then sucking it half-way into her mouth once more and taking a deep bite with a hungry purr.
"That...was mine… wench," Jareth finally managed, his voice rough and hoarse, as he pulled the karlisha stick away from her satisfied smirk.
"I know," Sarah chirped, sitting back and plucking a deep fried potato ball from the basket sitting between them. Popping it into her mouth, she grinned at him. "But don't you know, food always tastes better when it belongs to someone else." Still giggling at the reaction on his face, and the very noticeable reaction of a more 'hidden' part of his anatomy, which was now clearly outlined in his tight breeches, Sarah watched him hesitate, before biting into the meat skewer he held in his fingers.
The two of them ate in companionable silence for some time, their hands occasionally touching as they reached for the same skewer of food at the same time. Before they had retreated to their vantage point overlooking the fairgrounds, Jareth had taken her on the equivalent of a 'food tour' of the Underground, stopping at more food stalls than she could remember and selecting a range of delicacies. By the time they climbed the hill, they each were holding a trencher filled with various fair foods, and Jareth was also managing a large 'lover's cup' of pomegranate-peach cider.
All in all, it was the best picnic Sarah had ever had.
"Do you want the last karlisha stick?" Jareth asked, his voice still gruff after her teasing.
Humming along with the song being played by the band, Sarah shook her head. "No, I've had more than my fair share. Really."
The cheerful music made her long to dance, so she contented herself with tapping her foot on the dirt as she picked up a skewer from the metal trencher between them and pulled the last sausage and cheese filled dough ball from the stick. Popping it into her mouth she purred. "Hmm… it's kind of funny, even in the Underground fair food is deep fried and drenched in sauces, or sinful sweets - not to mention delicious. You know, I have a theory..." she added, pausing to take a swig of the sweet cider from their shared mug.
"And what's that, Precious?" Jareth asked, glancing at the brunette as she leaned against him, looking relaxed and perfectly at home here with him, and his kingdom.
"Food on a stick just tastes better," she declared, unaware of the pale eyes transfixed by the way she was sucking the savory sauce from her fingertips. Glancing up at him, Sarah grinned and nodded toward the karlisha stick he was holding. "Can I have a bite?"
Arching an eyebrow, Jareth gave her a stern look, the laughter in his tone belying his amusement. "No. I asked if you wanted the last skewer of karlisha and you said you had devoured...how was it you put it? Oh yes… 'More than my fair share'. So this one is mine."
"Aww...come on Jareth. Just one bite. Just a tiny, wee mouthful," she teased, batting her emerald eyes at him.
"Wanton wench, do you really think batting your eyelashes at me is going to get you everything you desire?" he chuckled, lifting the meat skewer to his lips and preparing to bite into it, only to freeze at the feel of her hand coming to rest on his thigh. Her touch was soft and delicate, as she slowly slid her hand upward, letting her fingers curl around toward his inner thigh, then stopped, just shy of his manhood, which was already twitching with anticipation of the touch.
"But Jareth…. You promised you would do anything you could to make me happy," she purred, leaning closer to him. "Just one… tiny...insignificant little bite?"
Silently Jareth did the only thing he could do - he moved the skewer from his own lips, toward her waiting mouth. Verdant orbs studied his face, while his own gaze was transfixed upon her tongue. The sight of her tongue delicately flicking around the top of the skewered meat roll, lightly lapping at the garee sauce that coated it, made his mouth water from an entirely different type of hunger.
Licking a bit of the creamy sauce from the corner of her mouth, she smirked at him. "Hmm… sweet and spicy at the same time."
"Bogdamnit woman! You are doing this on purpose."
Sarah blinked slowly, giving him a coquettish smile from beneath hooded eyelids. "Whatever do you mean, Goblin King?" she purred, letting her hand slid up the fraction of an inch needed to barely graze the firm length of him, earning her a low groan of want from Jareth.
With Jareth distracted, Sarah deftly plucked the karlisha stick from his fingers and hopped up, racing down the hill with it. "It's mine now!"
Shaking his head, Jareth watched the sneaky wench race off with the last of his dinner, his cock giving a strong throb of desire at the sight of her shapely ass, even as she ran off. "That woman will be the death of me," he chuckled, waving his hand at the remains of their dinner, which vanished in an instant. "Not to mention the fact that her ass desperately needs spanking."
Jareth pushed himself up from the ground and surreptitiously adjusted himself, before starting down the hill after Sarah, each swing of his legs reminding him of the fact that he would far rather have her under him, and himself sheathed in her heat. His eyes flickered to gold, following her movements through the crowd. Nearing the ring of dancers, she easily slipped into their midst, as if she had always been part of the dancers. Jareth watched her join the steps, her feet moving with the surety of one who had been dancing them from birth, and not a woman who had only just joined the kingdom. Swirling through the intertwined rings of dancers, Sarah spun and twisted, her head thrown back, brunette tresses sweeping behind her as she moved. The freedom and joy she felt was evident in the smile upon her face and the way she quickly joined in the singing of the crowd.
Upon reaching the dancing area, Jareth stood at the edge of the moving rings, his eyes locked upon the brunette that held his heart in her hands - even though she still seemed wholly unaware of that fact. As she twirled and spun, flashes of gold and blue flickered around her, as her connection to the Labyrinth and the land sought her out, drawn by her euphoric dancing. Chuckling, Jareth shook his head, amazed at how quickly the land and Labyrinth had been attracted to her, feeding her natural magic to make her stronger. 'As gorgeous as she is, I can't let her continue...there's no telling how her own magic will react,' he thought, smiling as she was spun wildly on the arm of a lumbering dwarf, before joining hands with a lanky hobgoblin and spinning the other direction. Jareth watched her silently, marveling at the freedom with which she embraced the other dancers. Never losing sight of her, he counted the beats of the music, knowing them as surely as he knew his own heartbeat. One...two...three...four…. Seamlessly he slipped into the line of dancers, situating himself into the dance in the perfect position to intercept her. Seven… Eight… Nine….
The dancers spun to their left, pairing off with the person on their right. Laughing and singing along at the top of her lungs, Sarah grabbed the gloved hand to her right and let her partner swing her around. Feeling herself being lifted effortlessly and spun along with the others, Sarah threw back her head, her eyes falling shut, warmth and happiness flooding through her. As she was lowered, she opened her eyes, beaming at the partner who lifted her, only to have a surprised gasp catch in her throat. Two mismatched eyes smiled back at her, eyes that filled her dreams - both waking and asleep.
"Jareth…." she whispered.
He said nothing, but guided her through the dance, his movements graceful and fluid, spinning and dipping her in time with the music. Sarah felt a tingle of warmth spread through her, intensifying as he picked her up once more, turning her around, only instead of putting her back down and darting back into the throng of dancers, he slowly let her slide down the hard planes of his body, until the two of them stood in the middle of the ring of dancers. Panting and breathless they stared into each other's eyes - oblivious to where they were. Her heart beat wildly, feeling Jareth gently cupping her cheek, his thumb lightly caressing her. 'He's going to kiss me…' she thought, before all thought was chased from her mind with the tender touch of his lips upon hers, swallowing her startled moan. A warm blanket of magic seemed to wrap around them, sealing them outside of time and place for that split moment.
Breaking the kiss, he pulled her close, wrapping his arm around her and leading her, still panting, from the ring of dancers. Without missing a step, the dancers parted for the King and the Champion. "I think you've had enough, Precious. We wouldn't want you to soak up too much magic again, now would we?"
Surprisingly, she didn't argue, but rather wrapped her arm around his back and let him lead her from the dancers. "So...now what?"
Jareth glanced down at her, finding her flushed face, and the way her hair grew curly with sweat to be adorable. "Well, fancy playing a game or three with me?"
Sarah giggled and nodded. "Are you sure want to play games with me after losing so badly the last time?"
Arching an eyebrow, Jareth chuckled, the sound deep and purring. "This time, we play according to my rules."
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An hour later, Jareth had come to the realization that playing games of chance and skill with Sarah would never go the way he expected. His purse was 20 graplings lighter, and his dignity was quite a bit lighter as well.
From the first time he had attended the Fayre as a small child, he had been inordinately lucky at such games - but in Sarah he had clearly met his match, in all ways. It didn't matter what game they played, she won - and kept on winning. And he couldn't be upset with her, because each time she won, she only cemented her place in the hearts of his people. Each time she won a game, she selected a yellow stuffed chicken from the toys and prizes hanging around the stalls and gifted it to the nearest small child. After the first two games, word spread that the Lady of the Labyrinth was giving away gifts to children, and a pack of them began following the King and his Champion around the fairgrounds, cheering for her at each game. Any other time Jareth would have been furious to be seen by his people to lose so many games, but the fact that they clearly adored Sarah, enthralled him as much as she seemed to enthrall them.
In that hour he had not only lost 20 silver graplings, but he had lost all but one game against her - and he strongly suspected she threw the game on purpose. As it was, he had gifted her the one prize he had won, a purple dragon that seemed to breathe smoke. The last game was the most embarrassing of all, and yet, it touched him thoroughly. When she won the last game, she chose the largest stuffed black chicken on the rack of prizes and offered it to Jareth, beaming at him with a warmth he never thought he would see in her eyes. And that was how the Goblin King, who loathed all things about chickens, both real and fake, came to be carrying a large stuffed black pullet through the Fayre, much to the continued amusement of his subjects.
Linking her arm through his, Sarah leaned her head against his bicep, sighing happily.
"Are you tired? Would you like to return to the castle, Precious?"
Sarah shook her head, beaming up at him, then turning her face upward to admire the growing moon overhead, with stars twinkling in the velvet sky. "No… I don't want to go back yet. I'm happy and having fun. I don't want tonight to end."
Nodding, Jareth winked at her, dodging a group of children running toward the midway, then pulling her through the floral archway of the beer garden. Jareth found a small table for them near the back of the garden, and waved at the bar maid. "This will do for us," he said, settling her into one of the chairs before dropping into the other. A moment later the barmaid came up, sitting a large pitcher of goblin ale on the table and a lover's cup.
"We're out of mugs, Sire. I do apologize, for the inconvenience. No slight is intended," the pretty blonde hobgoblin said, dipping in a graceful curtsey.
Jareth smiled, waving a hand toward her. "No offense taken, my dear. It is not the first time that my Champion and I have shared a lover's cup, and I somehow suspect it will not be the last time." Winking at her, Jareth dropped a gold grinshot on the table. "Keep our pitcher full and bring a bowl of yarran nuts when you get a chance."
"Yes, Sire!" she chirped, picking up the golden coin and bobbing in another curtsey before darting away.
Sarah felt her cheeks grow warm with the intensity of Jareth's gaze, as he picked up the cup and raised it toward her.
"To my Champion and Harvest Maid...and a very enjoyable evening."
Seeing his throat work, as he took a deep swallow of the ale, Sarah felt her own throat tighten, her eyes drawn to the smooth arc of his neck. 'He's beautiful,' she groaned inwardly, her stomach fluttering when his eyes once more sought hers, the pale orbs flickering deep blue when he smiled. Swallowing against the lump that seemed to fill her throat, she bit her lip, then took the cup that he offered her, taking a long gulp to fortify herself.
Jareth sat back, watching Sarah as she watched others. Dragging her gaze away from his, she peered out the open 'window' next to them, watching the Fayre patrons. Families wandered by, with parents carrying sleeping children, while older children bounced around begging for more treats or rides on the midway. In amongst the families, couples walked by hand in hand, their minds more on each other than the entertainments available at the Fayre. Around them beer garden patrons were chatting, singing pub songs and playing games.
"Thank you for this, Jareth," Sarah said softly, still gazing out the window at a pair of lover's walking by arm-in-arm, their foreheads leaning against each other as they whispered. Feeling a warm gloved hand reach out and squeeze her own, Sarah turned to face him, her stomach fluttering again at the way he looked at her - as if she were the most beautiful woman in the world. "I really needed this."
"I would hope that in time, you would come to think of my kingdom as your home as well, Sarah. You are always welcome here," he murmured gently, the truth in his words evident in his adoring expression.
Sighing, Sarah traced a finger over the worn table-top, marred with rings of spilled ale and the scuffs and scratches of hard use. "I feel guilty for using you...um...your kingdom… as an escape though. I don't usually do that to...well...friends."
Gentle fingers curled under her chin, tilting her face upward to see Jareth's warm smile, framing pointed teeth, the only 'imperfection' she had ever noticed about him, and one that she found she didn't view as a 'flaw'. "Precious, I do not feel that you have used me unfairly. You felt the need for an escape, and I am honoured that you chose to come here."
Picking up the lover's cup, Sarah looked into the depths of the amber liquid, before taking another drink. The ale was cold and oddly sweet, with undertones of peaches and spices. Different to the cider they had shared earlier, just three gulps of this ale made her insides flood with warmth, and her skin seem to tingle pleasantly.
"I'm single, like I told you when we signed the contract. but my parents are doing everything in their power to 'fix' that... like it is some problem that must be remedied," she muttered bitterly. Staying silent, Jareth watched her, letting her say what she felt must be said without interference. "They set me up with a younger partner at Dad's law firm for the annual Fourth of July picnic hosted by the firm. He was nice enough... I suppose." Sighing, Sarah shook her head and wrinkled her nose, in a way Jareth found oddly endearing. Looking at him, her green eyes shone with a despondence that made his heart ache to see. "There was no… spark, you know?"
Jareth nodded quietly, his lips quirking in a knowing smile. "I am very familiar with that dilemma, Sarah. Afterall, I am a king… a single king… therefore nobles and royals from throughout the Underground are forever pushing their daughters...and a few sons... at me as potential spouses."
"Yeah, then you probably do know the feeling," she snodded, passing the cup back to him. "Well, I went on a couple of dates with him through the summer, but there was still nothing there. No spark. No hint of desire or anything worth pursuing. So I started to dodge him. I tried to let him down gently and just come up with excuses when he asked me out, but he just never got the hint."
Chuckling, Jareth shook his head. "I've got a courtier at the castle now who is that obtuse, so I understand all too well what you mean."
Sarah gave him a sheepish grin. "Well, tomorrow is the start of the fall retreat at the lake. I know he is going to be there and my parents are pressuring me to give him another chance. I tried to tell them I was going out of town, but they called my bluff. So, I left town, but I know missing the retreat won't put an end to it. The only thing that would stop it would be…."
"Marrying someone else?"
Blushing, Sarah giggled, the sound light. "Well, yeah...that would definitely get them off my case, but getting married is a bit like using napalm to kill a housefly at this point. What I really need is just a way to get them to leave me alone about it. To show them that I can find my own boyfriend. But who has time for that? And with the contract, I can't date anyway so what is the point?" she muttered, rambling more to herself than Jareth. 'Not like I want to date anyone but you,' her mind added, the thought making her heart race and clench painfully in her chest at the same time.
"So take me" Jareth suggested, biting back a smirk at the stunned look on Sarah's face.
"You...what?"
Jareth shrugged, digging his fingers into the bowl of yarran nuts that appeared upon the table. Casually he tossed several into his mouth. "It seems to me that the easiest way to get your parents to desist in their attempts to 'fix' you as you put it, and put this other fellow off at the same time, would be for you to attend the retreat with someone else. And, as you are my Champion and technically my wife for the next year, it seems that the obvious option would be for me to accompany you."
Sarah studied him a moment, worrying her lip between her teeth as she considered his offer. On the surface, it was the perfect solution since she was bound by the contract not to be alone with any single male except Jareth, so having him with her would free her of the chance of being cornered by Alex. And showing up with a bona fide male instead of a 'mysterious boyfriend who can't come along' would be more persuasive where her parents were concerned. As crazy as the idea was, it had merit. "Are you that comfortable in Aboveground social situations?"
"Precious, trust me. I will charm your parents and ensure them that you are more than capable of finding a man of your own, who is far better suited to you than this fellow they set you up with."
Running her hand through her hair, Sarah picked up the loving cup and drained the rest of it. The rush of goblin ale hitting her system left her feeling fuzzy and oddly giggly. "Hm… that's...good stuff," she muttered, more to herself than Jareth. "Lemme think about it...but first… a drink."
Jareth arched an eyebrow, looking questioningly at the brunette, who was now listing slightly to the left as she sat the lover's cup down with a solid thump. "I thought that is what we were doing?"
Sarah stood up, tucking her stuffed dragon under her arm and grinning at him. "Not here. I know just the place."
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The sound of raucous laughter drifted from the dull blue door of the pub at the end of the narrow alleyway deep in one of the more 'questionable' sections of the Goblin City. From the time they left the Fayre, Jareth had been content to let Sarah take him where she would, but this...this was one place he could not allow her to go. Cringing at the sight of the glittery sign that proclaimed the pub to be 'Kingy's Knickers," Jareth stopped and shook his head. "No, Precious. Come, I will find a more suitable pub and we can continue ensuring you are completely inebriated."
"Aww come on, Jareth! I saw the sign when I was here last time. It's so silly, I just have to go in. I'm dying to know why it is called that," she insisted, dragging him closer to the door.
"Absolutely not," Jareth protested, folding his arms over his chest and refusing to take another step toward the door. Changing tactics, he reached for her hand. "Honestly, Precious, this is not the sort of place that a respectable lady should be."
Laughing, she grabbed the handle of the door. "Ahh! But as you yourself have told me, I am not a respectable lady, I am a goblyn lady."
Still laughing, she gave the door a firm pull, only to be knocked backwards into Jareth, as a short woman came barrelling out the door, shouting, "Lemme be ya drunken cretins! Oi! Doan tear mah dress!"
The two half-trolls chasing the woman got wedged in the door, bellowing at each other in their attempt to get to the woman. "Get back...me first...no me first...yer in my way! I saw her first!" Panting, the woman stopped in front of Jareth and Sarah, her purple dress torn and far too long for her short stature. As Sarah looked more closely, she noticed that the woman's hair was not hair at all, but a dirty string mop that was sliding off her head. Grabbing the wig and shoving it more firmly on her head, the woman turned toward Sarah and Jareth, her faded blue eyes widening upon seeing them.
"Uh...lil missy...ah… yer majesty," Hoggle squeaked, ripping the wig from his head. "I kin explain…."
Behind Sarah, Jareth groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Hoggle?" Sarah gasped, only to be distracted by a voice from inside the pub.
"I say! Leave poor Hoggle alone, you stone-brained louts! There's troll women upstairs for you," cried Sir Didymus, while whacking the half-trolls soundly around the knees with his trusty staff. Pushing his way through their legs, he turned around and berated them. "Oi! Get back! Now!"
The two half-trolls muttered, then pulled back inside the pub. Through the door, Sarah heard the strains of a bawdy drinking song and saw what appeared to be a orc-ish stripper dancing on the bar, much to the delight of the patrons.
"What the….?" she muttered, her brain threatening to give it's own version of the 'blue-screen of death' as it failed to reconcile what she was seeing.
Hearing Sarah's voice, Sir Didymus whirled around, sweeping his feathered hat from his head and dropping into a low bow. "My lady! Why are you here? This is no place for a woman of status."
"I tried to warn you, Sarah," Jareth sighed, attempting to ignore the way Hoggle was tugging at the neckline of his dress, until a large pomegranate rolled out of it, leaving him with a distinctly lopsided, false bosom.
"H-Hoggle….why...why are you wearing...that!?"
Sir Didymus's muzzle twitched, while Hoggle's cheeks flushed crimson. "Oh, m'lady...tis nothing but a bit of a buck's night lark for the prince of the trolls. Hoggle here was supervising them and, well….things got a bit out of hand. You see we were..."
Holding up his hand, Jareth shook his head, his words crisp and firm. "No more. Just...go."
"Um...yes Sire," muttered Hoggle, giving the pomegranate a sharp kick with his stubby foot, before gathering up the ragged hem of his purple dress and trudging back to the door
"As you wish, your majesty. We'll bid you good evening," added Sir Didymus, pulling the door open once more. The stench of spilled ale and sweat flooded the narrow alleyway, making Sarah's stomach lurch. Silently, Hoggle followed the diminutive knight back into the pub, letting the blue door swing shut with a heavy thud.
Wide-eyed, Sarah shook her head and looked up at Jareth, "That was….that was…."
"Horrifying?" suggested Jareth. Revolting even?"
Sarah scrubbed at her eyes with her hand, nodding her agreement. "There isn't enough brain bleach in the world to get rid of that mental image."
"While I can't offer you brain bleach, I do have something that can make it so you'd have trouble remembering your own name come morning, let alone the image of Hogsweat in a dress."
"I don't care what it is… just...yes."
"As my lady wishes," Jareth chuckled, wrapping his arm around her as the alleyway faded from around them.
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Wobbling on her feet as the world solidified again, Sarah moaned, clinging to Jareth, her eyes clenched shut against the wave of nausea that flooded her. "Whoa…. That is unnerving," she giggled, finally releasing her grip on Jareth's arms - which proved to be a mistake.
In the next instant, she lost her balance and fell. Squeaking in surprise, she braced herself to land heavily, only to find herself landing in a soft bed of pillows and blankets, which molded themselves to her, cradling her gently. Sarah blinked dumbly up at Jareth, before her gaze was drawn further upward to the domed ceiling of the room they were in. Dangling from the ceiling by transparent cords were thousands of shining objects - pocket watches, necklaces, gems, bits of glass baubles. The gentle breeze blowing in through the open arched window set the baubles swaying, filling the room with a quiet tinkling sound.
"Wow...this is…" she murmured, pulling herself to sit in the sunken pit of pillows and blankets in the middle of the room. "Um...what is this?"
Amused by her reaction, Jareth opened a nearby chest and pulled out two bottles. Peering at them, he smiled and blew a layer of thick dust from them, before dropping down into the pit with Sarah. "Well, I suppose the best description of this room is that it is my… nest." He studied her reaction carefully, bracing himself for shock of revulsion, then relaxing when he found none.
"It's amazing, Jareth," she murmured, reaching out and lightly stroking his feathered cape, where it lay in the pit of pillows. "I didn't know owls collected shiny objects like magpies though."
Uncorking the first bottle with a loud 'pop' Jareth shrugged, giving her a sheepish smile. "Your ordinary owl may not collect shiny baubles, but I am Fae first and foremost. We like things that 'glitter', so even in my owl form, I am drawn to that." Waving his hand toward the ceiling, he nodded at the baubles. "I have picked up these items both in the Underground and Above. Each item reminds me of a person or a place that I have met in my role as the Goblin King. I store them here, as it is my place. No one can access this tower except me - in fact you are the first person I have ever allowed to enter it."
Sarah leaned against the edge of the pit, tilting her head upward to look at the gently swaying objects as they chimed against each other. "I...I don't know what to say...it's beautiful, Jareth." Turning her head, she beamed at him, her green eyes sparkling with tears. "Thank you." Silently looking at the items, her gaze narrowed. Sitting up she looked upar again, "Is that...that looks like my music box. That was lost when I was in college. Did you steal it?" she asked, glaring at him.
"Steal? Of course not, Sarah. Your roommate came in late one night and broke it while you were home for the holidays. Instead of confessing, she threw it out and I, well...I collected it. It reminded me of you," he replied, taking a drink from the bottle and purring at the intense warmth that immediately spread through him, making his skin shimmer with a faint purple hue.
Without speaking, Sarah reached out and took the bottle from his hand, and took a long drink.
"Go easy on that, Precious. Avalon Myst Spirits are quite potent, even for those who are used to it," Jareth chuckled, taking the bottle back from her. Sarah's head fell back and she purred when the wave of warmth hit her, leaving Jareth to admire the faint golden hue that suffused her.
Taking the bottle back from him once more, Sarah took another drink, then flopped back in cushions. Her fingers pulled uselessly at the laces of the waspie holding her waist, as she growled "Fuck, this may look hella cute, but damn it's a pain in the ass to get off."
"Would you like some help with that?" Jareth asked, plucking a shimmering crystal from the air and offering it to her.
Arching an eyebrow suspiciously at him, Sarah laughed. "Oh no...I'm not falling for that. You'd probably do something unseemly, like change me into some slinky lingerie or something."
"So suspicious of me still, Precious?" he chided her, letting the crystal float toward her. "Merely stare into the crystal and think of what you would like to be wearing. The crystal magic will do the rest."
Sarah nibbled her lower lip a moment, watching the crystal bob gently in front of her, then shut her eyes to make her wish. 'I want to be more comfortable with Jareth,' she thought. Next to her, she heard Jareth start to laugh, the sound low and rich, sending a throb of desire through her core. Feeling a cool breeze swirling lightly over her legs, Sarah opened her mouth and glanced down, gasping at the realization that she was wearing the shirt he had been wearing moments,nothing else save a pair of lacy knickers that left little to the imagination.
Still chuckling, Jareth smiled at her, running his hand over his suddenly bare chest and stretching out his legs, now covered in his favourite pair of loose linen lounging pants. "Well, well, well...your desires are rather interesting, love."
Blushing, Sarah grabbed the bottle from his hand again and took another large swig. "So, is there anything you can drink that actually affects you?" Seeing Jareth's dark grin, as he lifted the other bottle from where it sat on the edge of the pillow-pit, Sarah gulped, taking another long drink of the Myst Spirits, then gasped as the power flowed through her again. "Bring it, Goblin King. I hate getting drunk alone."
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The kitchen was the domain of Annilesse and everyone in the castle knew that nothing went in or out of the kitchen without her knowledge. During the day, she ran the kitchen staff with an iron fist, worthy of the Goblin King himself. Without guests, the castle kitchen served over 500 meals each day, when there were guests in residence they might serve 1500 per meal time and it was up to Annilesse to ensure that each plate met her exacting standards. She tracked individual preferences for all regular guests and the Goblin Court, as well as keeping tabs on the food served to the castle staff and military. In short, when it came to the Goblin Castle kitchen, Annilesse was the queen.
Checking the watch hanging around her neck, she nodded as the last gongs of the clock in the hall chimed the hour. Thirteen o'clock. It was her favourite time of day - late enough that the castle was quiet, which left her time to prepare for the next day.
She'd seen many things over her 50 years in charge of the kitchen of the Goblin Castle, but the sight of the Goblin King and the Champion attempting to sneak into her kitchen, drunk and half-dressed in the middle of the night was something she never thought she'd see. At ten minutes past thirteen, the door to the kitchen creaked open and the Goblin King backed into the room, wearing nothing but a pair of lounging pants. From her spot at the desk alcove in the corner, Annilesse watched him slip into the room, his finger to his lips as he loudly whispered, "Shh… be quiet… you'll wake Annilesse."
"Who's that," asked a light feminine voice. Chuckling, Annilesse watched as the Labyrinth Champion followed the King in, dressed in what appeared to be his shirt and little else.
The Goblin King peered around furtively. "She's head of the kitchen and she is a dragon about what happens in here. This is her lair. We must be verrrrrrrry quiet," he muttered, then promptly tripped over a stack of pots, sending them clattering to the floor. Wildly he waved his hands at them, 'shushing' them as if they had a choice in the amount of noise they made when they fell onto the heavy stones of the kitchen floor.
"Ohh...that looks yummy," Sarah purred, getting distracted by a basket of cookies, before spying several platters of pastries and pies.
Nodding, the Goblin King handed her a basket and started to load it with cookies and pastries. "She makes the best shortbread and ankalla sponge cake in the whole of the Underground."
From her spot in the alcove, Annilesse bit back a laugh watching the King and his lady pilfer her neat kitchen. Within minutes they had collected a basket of baked goods, two roast chickens, the remains of a loaf of sausage cheese bread, a bowl of cherries, half a blackberry garranock pie, a large bowl of pudding, another of chocolate sauce, and a serving dish filled with trifle. Biting her lip, Annilesse covered her hand with her mouth to stifle the laughter welling up inside her, as the two of them bickered over who was being too loud, as each of them had either dropped a plate or stumbled over the scattered pots, sending them rolling and clanking over the floor. A few minutes later they 'snuck' back out of the kitchen with their haul of food - leaving the kitchen dragon and head cook Annilesse free to burst out into the gale of laughter she had been holding in.
"She will be good for him," she chuckled, picking up the pots and stacking them up once more. "I should dig out the my mother's book of recipes for pregnancy and babes at breast - if these two keep up at this, I suspect I'll be needing it before the year is out."
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"Shh...you'll drop the trifle!" giggled Sarah, as Jareth stumbled over the edge of a carpet, of yet another long hall of the castle.
"Hush wench! You just mind your own booty and let me mind mine!"
"But I like your 'booty'," Sarah snickered.
"Loot...I meant loot!" snapped Jareth, as he leaned against a windowsill, blinking owlishly down each of the branches leading from the current junction. "Stop distracting me or I'll have no choice but to ravish you in the halls."
Watching him look confused down one hall, then the other, Sarah giggled. "I don't believe it! You're lost. In your own damn castle!"
"No I'm not," grumbled the Goblin King, grabbing a the bowl of cherries that was threatening to fall from its precarious perch atop a stack of platters and bowls. "It's this way. I'm sure now." Turning to the right, he headed off up the hall, leaving Sarah trailing behind him trying to balance her own stack of dishes.
"Are you sure you can't do magic?" Sarah laughed, looking around. "I'm pretty sure we've been down this way already. See… there's the cherries you spilled the first time you dropped the bowl."
"I already told you...I can't. That's the problem with the Bogwater Ale, it removes Fae magic for up to 10 hours."
Grasping the basket tighter, Sarah tried to balance the bowl of pudding on top of it, as she staggered down the corridor after him. "So why'd you drink it?!"
"Because you bet me that I wouldn't! You told me I didn't have the 'crystal balls'," Jareth whispered, the timbre of his voice echoing down the hall in a way that would've woken even the Wiseman from sleep.
"Yes yes...well done you...now you have no magic. And now we're lost."
Jareth grumbled, shaking his head as he blinked down the next hall. "No...well...yes...but damnit I drank it! I won the bet."
"Yes, you have very big, magic crystal balls, Jareth. In fact, you have the biggest fucking crystal balls in the whole world," Sarah laughed.
"And don't you forget it, love!" Jareth nodded in agreement, only to groan as the world seemed to spin and dip uncomfortably around him. Unable to stand the wave of vertigo, he listed to the left, slamming against a door as he tripped over his own feet. "Fuck!" he yelped, dropping to his knees, but managing to keep hold of the platters and bowls.
"Not tonight, Your Majesty...I'm too drunk," Sarah quipped, then giggled at the triumphant grin Jareth gave her from his position on the floor.
Holding his platters and bowls carefully, Jareth beamed at her. "See! I didn't drop anything!"
In the next instant the door he was leaning against was jerked inward. With an undignified squawk of surprise, Jareth tumbled backward, sending cookies, cherries and bread rolls scattering across the floor. "Damn… there go the cherries again," he mumbled, blinking blearily up at the woman in the doorway.
Unable to stop her laughter now, Sarah leaned against the opposite wall, the sound of her giggles echoing up and down the hall. "S-sorry… but you look...r-r-ri-ridiculous," she stammered, sitting the platters and bowls she was balancing on the table next to her and trying to pick up the things Jareth had dropped.
Glancing down at Jareth, the woman in the doorway pulled her nearly translucent pink robe tighter around her, the sheer material doing very little to hide her slinky pink negligee. Even in her inebriated state, Sarah could see the open hostility with which the woman glared at her, before turning her attention to Jareth still sprawled at her feet. "Oh Jareth, I was wondering when you'd take up my invitation to visit my chambers," she cooed.
Jareth snickered, and pointed upward at the woman, while grinning at Sarah. "She sounds like a har...harpy," he giggled inanely.
Oliviana's gaze narrowed upon Sarah, her lips pursing as she took in what the brunette was wearing - as well as what she was clearly not wearing. "And who is this then, darling? I suppose she is the reason you missed dinner?"
Pushing himself to sit up in the doorway, Jareth beamed at Sarah and nodded. "She is indeed. Best decision I've made in weeks, in fact!"
"So who's the bitch?" Sarah asked, stumbling as she tried to stand straight up despite the fact that the castle floor seemed to be lurching at a very odd angle - or maybe it was her head that was lurching. It took her three tries before she managed to put her hands on her hips and glare drunkenly at the woman in the doorway.
"Thatsh Oliviana… princess of some lesshhherer noble," Jareth snickered, his tongue feeling heavy and slurring his words. "She's got deshigns on being the Goblinish Queenie."
Pursing her lips, Oliviana frowned, the sultry purr of her voice at odds with her stormy expression. "Jareth darling, if you wanted to have a roll in the hay with a castle maid, you should have just told me. I've said a million times that I'm happy for you to have your little..flings with goblyn wenches. I totally understand it, my father did the same thing. Just let me know next time. And really, Jareth… when we are married I must insist that you confine your flings to your silly 'nest'"
A flash of sadness settled in Jareth's eyes at her words. Seeing the despair upon his face and hearing the insult in the other woman's words, Sarah felt a sudden burst of anger burn inside her. Picking up a bowl of chocolate pudding, Sarah straightened up and stalked toward Oliviana, stumbling slightly as she moved. Her green eyes flashed with the force of her anger, seeming to glow in the dim corridor. "Oi! Listen up , bitch tits! His nest is fucking marv...marv….majestic you..you... fairy fucktrumpet!"
Jareth spluttered and laughed, slapping Oliviana's calf in his mirth. "Fairy...fucktrumpet...oh fuck me...that's brill...brill... great!"
Oliviana's jaw dropped and her eyes widened."Who do you think you are to talk to me like that! Jareth!," she snapped, nudging him with her foot. "Are you going to let some servant wench speak to me like this?!"
Before Jareth could speak, Sarah stepped right in front of Oliviana, her green eyes snapping furiously. "I am not some servant wench! I am the Harvest Maid and I am the only one he'll be married to for some time, so you can just fuck right the fucking fuck...off!" Sarah yelled, raising her hands and dumping the bowl of pudding on Oliviana's head. The pudding gave a sickening 'slooshing' sound as it slid out of the bowl, and landed on top of her head. Roaring with laughter now, Jareth and Sarah watched as thick globs of pudding oozed down the sides of Oliviana's face, clinging wetly to her braids. Oliviana opened her mouth, but said nothing, save for an outraged shriek, before she slammed the door, knocking Jareth flat on his face in the middle of the hall.
Pulling himself up, Jareth bent over to collect the scattered bowls and platters of food, still laughing as the two of them began to stagger up the hall once more in search of his nest. "It may have been a waste of good pudding...but I'd pay money to see you do that again…."
"Sorry lover-boy...I'm saving the last of the pudding...for your head…" Sarah giggled, steadying a wobbling bowl of pudding with her chin.
Jareth's eyes lit up as he grinned at Sarah. "Ohh...which one…"
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
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Still giggling at the sight of Oliviana Grace covered in pudding, Sarah and Jareth continued their way through the castle, snickering and loudly entreating each other to 'Shush! You'll wake the whole castle' in stage whispers that echoed down the stone corridors. After several more false-starts, dead ends and circular paths which left Jareth cursing the Labyrinth and her sentient castle for making him look daft (much to the continued amusement of Sarah, who was sure she felt the castle giggle at the King's outburst), the two finally found their way back to Jareth's chambers – having given up on ever finding his nest until they were sober.
Along the way they lost a basket of cookies, one-by-one up the stairs leading to the Jareth's 'nest' - which they nearly found, were it not for the fact that Sarah dropped a round loaf of bread which bounced back down the stairs and into the lower hall. By the time they go to the bottom of the stairs and retrieved it, they had forgotten where the stairs led and turned around back down a different hall. Somewhere along the way they also lost most of a bowl of chocolate pudding, a number of cherries from another basket, half a roast chicken (which was set upon a vase while they argued about where the wrong turn was, then promptly forgot about it when they decided on a new direction), and several cream puffs that fell off a precariously balanced plate, to roll down the stairs leading to the royal wing of the castle. Lost in their laughter, neither one noticed the trail of goblins following them through the castle. Now and then several of the mob would pause to devour the cookies and other treats almost before they hit the ground. As far as the youngest members of the goblin horde were concerned, having the Champion in the castle was not only improving the King's mood, but their eating habits as well.
When the inebriated and noisy pair finally reached the King's chambers, the doors flew open, which the goblins took to be their signal that the moving feast was officially at an end.
"That was glorious," Jareth chuckled, setting the food out on the floor in front of the fireplace.
"And far better than the horrible woman deserved," he added, wiping a smear of pudding from his bare shoulder.
Seeing him raise his hand to his lips to suck the bit of whipped cream and trifle from his finger, Sarah impulsively reached over and grabbed his hand. With her libido cheering in the background, she caught his gaze with hers, her green eyes flashing darkly as she slowly wrapped her lips around his finger, suckling softly. A low groan slipped past the Goblin King's lips at the feel of her lips and the gentle, but firm sucking, which made his groin tighten sharply with want. Dropping to her knees on the plush carpet next to the food that had survived their journey to the King's chambers, Sarah pulled Jareth down with her, only to release his finger with a loud pop.
"Hmm…tasty. But still just a mouthful," she giggled. At the darkly blazing look from the Goblin King, she felt her blood sing within her, managing to hold only a last shred of self-control at the look of sheer hunger that he gave her. "Here, try a profiterole." Plucking one of the pastries from the caramel covered crockenbush, Sarah held it to his mouth – only to fight back a moan of her own as he delicately engulfed it with his lips, the velvety softness of them lightly teasing her fingertips.
'Danger…Danger….' Screamed the warning claxon in her head as she looked into the black eyes of the Goblin King – an aura of unmitigated desire shimmering around him.
Unfortunately, it was a warning that was soundly thrashed by her libido in favor of a more brash (and potentially dangerous) course of action. Glancing at the sticky sweetness of caramel still dotting her fingertips, Sarah clucked her tongue, her pursed lips drawing the attention of the already heated Goblin King. "Naughty boy…no more treats for you if you don't finish them off properly," she scolded, her voice dropping to a sultry purr as she held her sticky fingertips up to show him.
Jareth's eyes darkened further at her double-entendre. Before she had a chance to pull her hand away, he swiftly grasped it, his gloves seeming to melt from his hand the moment it wrapped around her slender wrist. The feel of his skin against hers sent a shiver of power through them both, resulting in twin moans of desire.
"I assure you, Precious… I have never yet left a woman wanting in my chambers. I always finish them off, properly – and at great length." With those words still ringing in her ears, he sucked the first fingertip between his lips. Jareth felt his blood roar in delight in the way her eyes widened in surprise, just before they nearly rolled back in her head. Releasing the first finger, he delicately flicked the tip of his tongue around her second finger, teasing her until her eyes opened again. Once the emerald gaze was once more transfixed by the path of his tongue around her fingertip, he wrapped his lips around the sticky digit and gave a slow, firm pull upon it. A low whimper parted the air between them, followed by a soft rumble of amused laughter from the Goblin King. "And what else does my lady desire of me, hmm?"
Sarah's libido was so beside itself at the invitation it could do nothing but flash images of a naked Jareth and Sarah in his bed in any number of compromising (and assuredly pleasurable) positions – leaving Sarah's self-control to make the only reply it was capable of, "Hurreakrph…."
Chuckling at the inarticulate reply from Sarah, Jareth released her hand in favor of picking up a nearby bowl of trifle. "Clearly, what you need is more food, darling." Jareth twirled his fingertips through the thick vanilla custard and gooseberry jam, scooping up the delicious concoction on his fingertip. "Open wide, Precious…this is definitely more than a mere mouthful."
If he expected her to continue in stunned silence, he was sadly mistaken. Blinking, Sarah's green eyes flickered impishly and she grabbed his hand, and without hesitation engulfed not just the one finger carrying the load of trifle and jam, but three fingers. Jareth's breath caught in his chest at the feeling of her tongue sliding languidly over the fingers, caressing them. "You… are no…blushing maiden," he murmured, the growled as she nipped the underside of his finger, worrying it lightly between her teeth.
"I never said I was," the green-eyed witch purred, then flicked her tongue over the bite. "Why? Did you expect me to wait for a fairytale king to woo me?"
"I tried to woo you, woman."
"No you didn't, Jareth. I was only fifteen. You offered me pretty promises," she replied, with a shake of her head. Pale blue eyes narrowed, watching her swirl a spoon through the nearby bowl of chocolate "And afterward, I was convinced you hated me, so waiting for you was just a fleeting thought." Jareth blinked in silently shock at her words, although she seemed not to register their importance, continuing on as she picked up the chocolate covered spoon and smiled at him. "Just because I won't fall into your bed to be your latest conquest now, doesn't mean I'm untried.
The thought of her thinking she was a mere conquest made Jareth's goblyn howl, his eyes darkening in anger at the thought of anyone treating his Queen in such a manner. "Have I ever treated you as if you were a mere conquest, Sarah? You are my Champion. The chosen Queen of the Labyrinth. You are no one's mere conquest – least of all mine."
Her eyes caught his in challenge, a sly smile quirking the corner of her lips. "Good. See that you remember that," she purred, then drizzled the chocolate sauce along the bare flesh of his collarbone, Emboldened by the stunned look on Jareth's face, Sarah leaned closer to him, her hand sliding up his chest. "Did you know that chocolate is thought to be an aphrodisiac in the mortal realm?"
The moment her tongue touched the chocolate, Sarah felt a burst of warmth rush over her like a wave caressing the shore, the sensation driving her fingers to curl, her fingernails dragging lightly over his chest. Judging from the low growl that rumbled in Jareth's throat, he was not immune to the wave of magic. It pulsed and flared around and through them with each delicate flick of Sarah's tongue. As she began to suck the chocolate from his flesh, Jareth groaned, one hand coming up and cupping the back of her head gently, while the other wrapped around her, pulling her to him. Purring at the feel of his touch, Sarah shifted into his lap, her legs wrapping naturally around his hips. Languid, chocolate-coated kisses made their way from his collarbone to shoulder, then up the taut tendon pulsing at the side of his neck.
"Hmm… I can't speak for you, but the chocolate seems to be working for me," Sarah murmured, her voice a soft, velvety purr that vibrated against the tender skin under his jaw.
His arm tightened around her back, as the hand caressing the back of her head threaded through her hair and pulled her head back, arching the slender column of her neck and making her moan. Jareth's eyes blazed darkly, the deep blue flickering with the intensity of his desire. His words, when they came, rumbled deep in his throat. "I'm rather fond of it, too."
"But you haven't tasted it yet…" she teased, only to give a throaty whimper when he pulled ever-so slightly on her hair, arching her neck as he forced her head back further.
"An oversight I plan to remedy, immediately."
Sarah gasped at the feel of warm chocolate sauce drizzling along her the arched length of her neck, a silver spoon hovering in mid-air. "No fair using magic," she panted, her protests disappearing as his lips began to caress their way along the sticky swirls on her skin.
"Darling…I assure you… no magic…is being used… to bend you…to my seduction," he purred between licks and teasing kisses. Nipping at the tender flesh of her throat, he was rewarded with a needy whimper from the woman in his arms. "You will give in of your own…free will, Precious." His grasp was firm, holding her to him, while giving her room to move – and move she did, squirming and rocking against his body. Each warm push toward his hips made his groin tighten and throb with the want of her, the growl in his chest deepening in return.
"Oh…God," she gasped, feeling the muscles in her thighs already pulling tight from the delicious sensation of her body rubbing against Jareth's. Deep down a muted alarm rang in her mind – the danger of her position readily apparent by the teasing 'throb' of Jareth's flesh. Ignoring the warning claxon, Sarah threaded her fingers through the wisps of his hair, dragging his lips up to hers. "We shouldn't."The burst of magic that ran through her at the feel of his lips against hers made her gasp, only to find Jareth taking advantage of her parted lips, his chocolate-coated tongue teasing past them to thrust against her own tongue.
Jareth's hands slid further down her hips, gliding over the gentle curve of her bum, before finding bare flesh – and earning him a longing moan of pleasure from the woman in his lap.
"Definitely…not," he murmured, sliding his hands back up again, under the silk of the shirt that covered her. "No…we shouldn't." With his hands splayed against her lower back, he slowly lowered her back onto the soft rug by the fire, between the abandoned and partially-empty bowls and platters of their late night feast. Still kissing her, his hips nestled comfortably between her thighs. A low groan rumbled in his chest at the feel of heat pouring from her. He wanted nothing more than to snatch the thin silk aside, vanish his linen trousers and sink fully into the wet heat of her. The moan that she gave and the way that she pushed back against him nearly undid his resolve, his hips pushing forward to meet hers.
Breaking the kiss, Sarah's hand came up, flat against his chest, her green eyes dark with desire. "No…no… we can't do…that…"
Still panting, Jareth nodded, kissing her tenderly as his hands slid out from under her back. "You need release, Precious. Your body is screaming for it," he sighed, forcing down the desire to have her fully, despite the way his goblyn howled it's need for her.
Sarah steeled herself for argument from Jareth, as judging by the thickness now nestled tightly against her, he wanted her as much as she wanted him, only to be surprised when he rested his forehead against hers. "As much as I would gladly have you screaming under me, Precious. I want you when we are both sober enough to remember it fully." Smiling, Sarah ran her fingers through the fine wisps of cornsilk hair, her fingers grazing along the slightly pointed tips of his ears, making Jareth groan and tremble.
A needy growl rumbled low in his chest as he raised his head, his pale eyes dark, boring into hers. "There are other ways to give and receive pleasure," he murmured, trailing heated kisses along her jaw to her ear. "At least…let me give you that."
"But….what about you?" she moaned, arching against his body involuntarily when his lips found her pulse-point and sucked firmly upon it.
A gasping whine slipped past her lips when Jareth nipped her earlobe, his fingertips brushing across her silk-covered nipple. The heat of his finger against the cool feel of the silk, making her shiver. "For tonight, let me worry about you…and you alone, Precious."
Writhing under his touch as her nipples pulled taut at the teasing touch, Sarah struggled to think of reasons why she shouldn't let him continue. "That's…oh Gods….that's not fair…to you."
His voice purred deep into her mind, sending a warm rush of lust through her, as he chuckled. "I wonder what your basis for comparison is."
With that her protests faded away - and so did coherent thought. With just those few words, Jareth rendered her protests null and void, leaving her a mass of nerve endings, aware of fleeting thoughts as her body burned with his touch and the need for it. His lips returned to hers, kissing and nipping at the fullness of them, teasing them open to plunder the warm depths, while his fingers skillfully loosened the laces that barely held his shirt upon her body. Slowly he kissed and licked along her throat, teasing the tip of his tongue around her collarbone, which elicited a longing whimper from Sarah. His low purring chuckle vibrated against her flesh, each kiss and nibble working lower until Sarah felt his warm breath wash over her nipple through the silk, the sensation so powerful her fingers tightened in his hair.
The heated warmth continued, until her nipple was suddenly engulfed by his lips, the feeling forcing an inarticulate moan from her throat, as her body arched toward him. His lips and tongue worked the nipple through the now sodden silk, flicking around and over the sensitive bud, each touch making it tighten further. Releasing the nipple, Jareth peered up at Sarah, smirking at the way her hands freed his hair, falling limply beside her head. Her eyes were shut, while here mouth hung open, panting and moaning. A rumbling laugh teased across the wet silk, now stuck to her nipple. "If that is what my mouth on your nipple does to you, on a regular night, I can't wait to see what it does during a mood festival."
Sarah merely moaned, when he gently kissed the hollow between her breasts, before gasping sharply when his fingers curled into the silk over her other nipple, pulling it aside. The cool air teasing the pink bud made her whine, only to cry out when the cool air was replaced by the searing heat of his mouth. While his movements started gentle, they soon intensified, the sucking growing steadily until she was caught on the precipice between pleasure and pain, a place she had never experienced.
"That….that...oh...it hurts…" she panted, her fingers twisting into the thick fur of the rug on which she lay. In response, Jareth grazed the taut nipple with his sharp teeth, making her cry out once more, her words rough as they tumbled past her lips. "Oh God...don't stop!"
'As if I had any intention of doing so,' he laughed to himself, biting her nipple harder and drinking in the rapturous cry she gave. 'It seems my darling Sarah is more goblyn than first suspected...she likes a bit of pain with her pleasure.'
Writhing from the feel of his mouth on her nipple, Sarah whimpered her head thrashing from side to side when his skilled fingers pinched her other nipple. Between the sucking and the pinching, she was awash in a wave of sensation that flowed through her. The magical surge from his touch was constant, making her skin tingle and buzz. Each burst of pleasured pain sent a jolt of pleasure straight to her core. Without thinking, she ground her hips up against the hardness of him, moaning at the friction against the sensitive pearl between her thighs, the sensation starting the delightful itch inside her. Jareth pinched her nipple tighter, his hips resting heavier against her, rocking to the perfect angle so that each movement of her body ground the tender bud against him through the lace of her knickers. The more he pinched and bit her nipples, the harder it became to hold back.
"Stop fighting it, Sarah," Jareth ordered, his words low and hoarse with his own need. "Just...give in."
Gasping as he bit the other nipple sharply, pinching it firmly between his teeth and sucking upon it, Sarah felt the itch begin to throb inside her. One thought flashed through her mind in a voice she clearly recognized as Jareth's. "Come!" it hissed, the sensation of his voice in her mind, combined with the random bursts of pleasure and pain from her nipples undid her. Crying out her pleasure, Sarah arched deeply under him, her body shuddering from head to toe as the magic surged between them. Wave after wave of pleasure pulsed from her nipples to the core of her, until she collapsed, panting and moaning softly on the rug.
Time ceased to have any meaning to her. In that moment, there was just the remnants of pleasure and pain still teasing through her body, and the feel of magic still tickling her flesh from where Jareth lay against her. She was vaguely aware of being moved, then nestled into something soft and warm. When she opened her eyes once more, moaning at the pleasant throb between her thighs, she felt Jareth wrapped close to her, his arm over her stomach as he tenderly stroked the side of her breast.
"That was… wow…" she mumbled, her eyes falling shut once more as a sudden desire to sleep hit her. "I didn't know...I could… come...from that…"
Leaning toward her, Jareth kissed her gently, leaving a trail of light kisses from her lips to her ear, his words a quiet purr. "You flatter me, love. But if you think that felt good...just imagine what it will feel like when I bed you properly. For now… sleep."
Not that Sarah needed the prompting - she was snoring softly before the last syllable left his lips.
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Checking the watch hanging from his belt, Alesander smiled to himself, his sure footsteps echoing as he walked briskly down the hall leading to the King's chambers. One minute to six. If nothing else, Alesander was punctual. While His Majesty might not care much for the pomp and circumstance of court, but he did prefer to see to the matters of the kingdom first thing in the morning, and as the chief advisor and steward of the castle, it was Alesander's job to see to that wish – so he did. Every morning, he would enter the King's chambers to wake him, with a kitchen server following obediently behind bearing the King's breakfast. Pausing in front of the ornately carved door at the end of the hall, Alesander drew his fingertips across the door to the King's chambers, just as he did every day.
After walking in on the king more than once in a somewhat 'compromising' position, Alesander had finally requested that the King enchant the door, so that if he were 'entertaining', the door would refuse to open. With a muted click, the door unlocked. Alesander pushed it open, sending the kitchen server and housekeeper in ahead of him. There was a faint clatter of cutlery, as the breakfast tray was set upon the table by the fire. Breezing through the door, Alesander nodded, at the server, releasing her to her other duties, only to trip over an empty bowl, sending it skidding under a chair. Frowning, he glanced about, finally taking in the empty and partially-eaten platters and bowls scattered around the room.
"Florina, go ahead and collect these dirty dishes and return them to the kitchen. It looks like His Majesty had a bit of a late night feast." Giving her a sly grin, he nodded as the bowls clattered together, "Don't worry about making noise. He needs waking up anyway," he added, waving a hand at the heavy canopy curtains that surrounded the king's bed, sending them flying to the four-posters with the loud rattle of curtain rings. Twin groans from the bed drew his attention.
"Good morning your Majesties," Alesander chuckled, finally noticing the brunette tresses entwined with the cornsilk fair strands of the Goblin King's across his own pillow.
"Go away," Jareth ordered, a wave of his hand and sending the heavy draperies flying around the bed once more. The sound of the curtain rings rattling on the railing made both the king and the woman snuggled up next to him, groan in pain. Rolling over, he wrapped his arm around Sarah more tightly, purring in her ear, only to hiss at the sudden light that assaulted them once more, as Alesander pulled the curtains open again– the room now filled with light from the balcony.
"Can't you bog him?" Sarah muttered, rubbing her sore head and burrowing her head lower into the pillows.
"I could, but Bethan would have my guts for garters if I did…and of the two of them, I rather like her," Jareth grumbled, then groaned as Sarah wriggled her bum back against him. "Careful, Precious. I'd rather not break my oath and ravish you without your full and willing consent, but you are making it quite hard."
"Yes…I can tell. And you're one to complain, your hand is on my boob."
A low purring laugh rumbled in Sarah's ear. "Yes, it is and I rather like the feel of it. Mind you, it's a bit late to start complaining about where my hands are wandering to. You certainly didn't object in the middle of the night."
Smiling to herself, Sarah's cheeks burned, as blurry images of snogging Jareth in the middle of the night flickered through her mind. At the time, it had seemed like a good idea and in fact, it had been wonderful.
Alesander cleared his throat, waving his hand toward the bathroom to start the bath. "Well, as delightful as this little 'domestic' scene is, you have meetings in one hour Sire."
Listening to Jareth muttering curses under his breath, Sarah giggled, turning her head toward the pillow. Sniffing at the brown tresses flowing across the pillow, she frowned. "Why does my hair smell like vanilla?"
Jareth snuggled closer, sniffing her hair as he wrapped his arms more comfortably around her again – showing no sign of leaving the bed anytime soon. "That's the trifle…" When Sarah giggled, he purred again, his lips gently teasing along the bottom of her ear as he rolled her further under him, the movement causing the sheet to slide down his body, exposing his back and half of his bum.
Seeing a brown-red smear across the back of Jareth's shoulder, Alesander started forward. "Sire…you've been bleeding!"
"No that is just chocolate sauce," Jareth replied, smirking at Sarah and trailing a finger along her neck. "See, she has some too. I'm surprised I missed that bit. I was sure I had gotten it all." Leaning forward he ran his tongue along the smear, earning a startled squeal and giggle from Sarah.
Bending over, Alesander pulled an empty bottle from under the sofa. "Ahh…I take it that you got into the Avalon Myst Spirits last night."
Jareth laughed while Alesander rolled his eyes, finding more empty bottles poking from under a cushion in front of the fire. "It always awakens your food fetish."
Ignoring him, Jareth pulled Sarah back against him and sighed contentedly. "I could send him to an oubliette and we could stay here."
Sarah sighed, patting the hand resting across her stomach. "True…but you have Kingly stuff to do. You know…running the kingdom, bogging goblins and such."
"But it's booooooring," Jareth protested.
"You sound like Toby when he has to go to school."
"I daresay I feel the same about my tasks as he does his."
Rolling her eyes, Sarah rolled toward him, teasing his ear with tender kisses as she purred, "Tell you what… you be a good boy and go do your Kingly things, and I'll give you a surprise tonight at the retreat."
Feeling his body already responding to her light touch, Jareth felt his heart warm at the thought that she would plan something special for him. "Oh… a surprise? For me? It's a deal!" Realising what she had said, he smiled and kissed her. "So I can go with you?"
"Yes...I'll clean up and go home to get things organized for us and let Dad and Karen know I am bringing a 'date'. Just get free as soon as you can, hmm?"
He nodded, kissing her forehead, then showering her cheeks with more tender kisses. "As my Queen commands."
"Oh…I didn't know you switched," Sarah chirped, then squealed as he swatted her bum through the sheet.
"Cheeky wench."
Rolling away from him, Sarah hopped out of the bed, his shirt hanging half off one shoulder and smeared with bits of jelly across her breasts, chocolate sauce along her back and fruit trifle along one shoulder. Sarah held her arms out and looked down at the mess, then at Jareth. "Shit…I really need a bath!" In front of her the secret door to the Queen's Chambers opened. Green eyes flashed irritably as she glared at Jareth. "I thought you couldn't open that door from this side!"
"I didn't do that, Precious. The Labyrinth and the people adore you. Is it any surprise that the castle would respond to your needs as well? Go bathe. Alesander will arrange for you to break your fast, as it appears I will be dining with the… Troll King," he groaned. "The man has the table manners of a rutting ox!"
The sound of Sarah's laughter echoing into the room as she ran through the secret passage made the king smile.
"Do you think she'll stay at the end of the year, Sire?" Alesander asked, leaning against the foot of the great bed.
Jareth pushed himself up on his elbows, his grin spreading as his eyes darkened. "I will do everything in my power short of breaking my oaths to her, to convince her that this kingdom, and more specifically this bed is where she belongs."