Chapter 48. A Mousetrap

Sitting before her vanity mirror, hands trembling as she drew her brush through the long strands, Circe pondered. Her lips were dry and her throat constricted as she thought of her behavior this evening. She'd behaved like a wonton slut, she had enjoyed the King paying court to her, far more than she'd envisioned. Even now wondered what it would have felt like to have been ravaged by the Goblin King. Even better if he had publicly ravaged her, she mused. She shook off the thoughts, finding her pulse racing. When she'd arrived at the Castle beyond the Goblin City she'd no intentions of allowing the King to take such liberty. Now basking in a pleasant glow, she thought of being with him in even more intimate surroundings. "Jareth," she whispered his name to herself.

She had listened to her father boast all the way home of his conquest of the King's one time paramour, that stupid twit Lady Rosalind. She'd heard him brag of his prowess with her as he always bragged once he'd plundered some willing female. He prided himself on being able to strut with the young studs he'd said. Said he gave her a good trouncing, even better than that fool boy king. He made some mention of perhaps taking the satisfying redhead as his mistress once they ruled the Goblin lands. More than before, Circe was sure that she didn't wish to share the throne with this oaf. He was drunk and beyond sense, and she was thankful and relieved when he stumbled off to his wing upon their arrival at home.

Her mind as she moved to her own chamber was on the Goblin King, the handsome, oh so sexy Goblin King. She had never before found him so alluring, so tantalizing, and beguiling. Before she'd always considered him a fool, until tonight; now she saw Jareth in a new and arousing light. He was rough and demanding and had caused her delicious pain. Something few lovers had ever achieved. She longed to feel more pain at his hands, and she began plotting how to rid him of the nuisance of the human sex slave, and make it look like someone else had freed her. She wondered if that fool mortal she'd made a pact with could be tempted to use a gift given her. She gave Lilith a little more thought, she wondered if there would be some way to use her to free the Goblin King of the human toy and also rid herself of that insipid daughter of Duke Winderspire. Perhaps a well placed word in the silly girl's ear would do the trick; she would give it more thought. Crawling into her bed, she allowed herself to fantasize being with Jareth.

--

Jareth smiled coyly at Rosalind who was glowing with blissful contentment beneath his rippling muscles, "Satisfied?"

"Ecstatic and over the moon," she crooned as she unwound her legs from his frame freeing him to move now that she'd achieved several thunderous climaxes.

Sitting up Jareth poured wine into a goblet and after tasting it passed it to his pleasing partner. "Good, I've a reputation that must be maintained."

Rosalind sat up, unashamed of her nakedness. "May I spend the night?" she asked coyly sipping from his chalice.

"You may," he rested back against the many pillows behind him. "It will be good practice for your role in my harem. I cannot promise you many nights of being allowed to remain in my rooms, but you may have tonight."

"A harem girl," she snickered. "How many do you intend to have?"

"Many," his hand reached out to touch her. "Human, Fae, Goblin, Elf you name it, I want it."

"Greedy," she teased.

He looked down at his still engorged manhood. "I've so much to offer, don't you agree?" he boasted. On impulse, with a giggle, Rosalind bent forward to plant a kiss on the bulbous head of the king's throbbing cock beneath the coil's cage. Jareth trapped her with his hand, keeping her face-to-cock, so to speak. "You know what I want," he insisted menacingly. "Try it Rosy, you may find it to your taste." He sneered.

Rosalind looked at the throbbing beast that had filled her lower regions with warmth. Looking then upward toward the mismatched eyes that were watching her with feral intensity, she knew there was no escaping what he wanted. Pressing her lips to the head in a chaste kiss, she allowed it a seamless entry into her mouth. Jareth had never before suggested or requested this, and she wondered if she could fit the length of him into her open mouth. She knew she'd most certainly try to.

Fluid warmth engulfed his cock like a comforting woolen blanket on a chilly night; Jareth stroked her hair, "Very nice," he praised as his fingers knotted. "Let's step it up a bit, my fine hungry wench." His hand directed her head, up, down, up, down, and up again. "That's it," he sneered. "Come on Rosy, put some heart into it. Take it deeper."

Wonton lust overcame her senses; Rosalind enthusiastically began to move up and down, sucking his cock and swirling her tongue about the head delighting in the metallic taste of the coil. She moaned and tried to hog down his cock, trying to fit every inch of his extension into her maw. Her reward was Jareth's unbridled lusty pleasure. When she'd finished, and he'd spilled his hot fluids down her throat, she pulled back and licked her lips. "That was fun," she giggled.

"You're a sexual addict," he said sipping some wine; "A very good thing for any harem girl of mine to be."

"Are you serious about keeping a harem?" she asked deftly taking the wine from him.

"Yes," he said with a chill in his tone, telling her he was not opening the subject for discussion.

"Would you accept a word of warning from a loving… subject?" she lowered the goblet, to watch him. He nodded and she continued. "Jareth, I do love you, you know that; I will ask nothing of you, and accept whatever you see fit to bestow upon me." He nodded letting her go on. "There are some among your subjects, your Fae subjects who will not be so… loyal. If you keep a harem, they will revolt."

"They can leave," he said boldly. "My kingship and the kingdom are not dependent upon their staying. This is the Lands of the Goblin, my dear. And my Goblin subjects come first, the good of this Kingdom is for them. Any Fae or Elf or other refugee who no longer wants my protection is free to leave," he appeared completely confident. "Labyrinthia was and is a Goblin Kingdom, the Hobgoblins and the common Goblins who have been kept under heel are about to rise once more. Many who live here will have to choose sides."

"May I ask whom you intend to take as harem girls among the Fae?" she asked deep in thought.

"No," he touched her face, "it is not your concern. Whom and how many are my concern, not yours."

She put the goblet of wine aside, crawling forward to straddle him. "I know about your Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan," her eyes were soft with passion. It was a confession that she dreaded making.

"What of her?" his hand moved over the Fae woman he'd known for several human lifetimes.

"I remember her, I know who she was, I remember what she did" his face hardened and he looked at her with suspicion. She continued. "More importantly I know who she is you intend to have children with her," she stated; he didn't deny it. "I'm accepting," she told him as he fondled her.

"I'm gladdened to hear that," he murmured while observing her. "As you have no say on the subject." His tone had become stern and his fingers tightened on her. "She is my chosen Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan," it was more than a warning.

"Yes, yes," she agreed quickly adding, "If I could, I'd like to offer to bear you a child too," she offered without thinking it through.

Jareth leaned back, wondering and studying her closely; "Without my making you a wife or offering you a crown or position other then mistress?" He had his suspicions of most Fae women's agendas, Rosalind was no exception; "Perhaps only one of many?"

"Without benefit of marriage or crown," she professed impassioned. "For you, I'd crawl in to a pit with snakes; lord knows I've let Talagon soil me at your behest." She shook back her curls and looked at him with appealing charm. "You're a very powerful man, Jareth Tuatha Dé Danann Huukec Mec, Warrior King, you should make that harem a breeding harem," she suggested coyly."You need little ones to follow your in your shoes."

"You're a very charming woman, Rosalind," he simpered. "Do You really want my child, and are willing to be only a mistress?" His voice was serious. "Even knowing that though you are a Fae, a lady of the gentry, the Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan will carry my heir?"

"You will be a good father to all your children I think," she considered her words and looked at him with honest eyes. "I don't care that I'm not first, or that my child would not be heir."

The Goblin King smiled to himself, the Goddess was blessing him in so many ways, and only a cad would turn down such a fine gift. "Rosalind," he felt the stirrings and urges leap into his now swelling cock. "I should like to believe you're sincere there's no going back, as I'll be marking you as property of the Goblin King," he teased as he lifted her so he could once more slide within her. "Up to now you've been a free agent; I will not share you once I mark you."

Rosalind arched, "Anything you want, Jareth." She moaned as she began to gyrate on his hardened shaft.

"And you'll do what I tell you to?" he asked as he thrust upward.

"Yes," she moaned.

"When this is over, this business with Talagon, I will want you to move into a chamber here in the castle, and to submit to training by the Guild Master." His hands forced her hips down to meet his upward thrust.

"Yes, anything;" she purred melting upon the shaft shoving upward.

"I don't love you, you know," he said icily. "I care for you, but I don't love you."

"It doesn't matter," she cried out as he began to speed up his thrusts. "I love you, my king."

"You may have the child you wish for," he rolled and she was on her back, he plunged into her deeper and deeper. "I will give you one of my daughters."

"Yes," she arched and moaned, "God yes."

He leaned over her, his breath hot against her cheek, his hips pounding into her at a forceful speed. She was close; Rosalind lifted her heaving bosom spasmodically into him, grunting in her attempts to match his pace. There was no space, no air between their bodies. Jareth's medallion was the only inorganic item between the lovers. With a small about of magical effort, Jareth channeled a portion of his passion through his sign of office. Her pace quickened as she reached her zenith, never feeling the heat at her breast. As she crested the searing pain melded with the white hot spasms that coursed through her body. She cried out in release. Jareth grunted as his seed coursed violently into the woman. Steadying himself on his elbows, he pulled back and felt the medallion peel off her, leaving its pattern for the world to see.

--

Tanya had trouble sleeping, the hurtful words of Circe rung in her ears. 'And you're just a want to be whore,' She heard the words over and over. Finally she sat up in her bed, tears in her eyes and wondered if the cold cruel woman had been right. She had after all offered herself to the King in his father's own palace on Solstice. Had he not been wearing that evil looking contraption, would she have gone through with the plan to seduce the man? She had allowed her father to dangle her before the king, in an effort to make him more reasonable. She had listened to her mother's advice on how to attract him as well.

The ride home from the Goblin Palace had been a very long and silent one. Her mother had been stunned into silence by the goings on. Her father, a man who understood so much of the politics of court, had not seemed bothered by the taunting words Circe had tossed at her after coming out of the nook and looking as if she'd have been pleased to have been publicly ravaged by Jareth.

Then there was Jareth, the man was insufferable, she thought. Insufferable, arrogant, piggish and more than anything right now Tanya wanted to be used by him. She flushed, and accepted the fact that she'd been aroused by him. Even when she'd slapped him, she half way expected him to come after her, her tears were due in part to the fact that he had not. No other man, no other King would ever do. She would have to find a way to submit herself to him, even if it meant she was not asked to be queen. Lying back down on the pillows, Tanya planned on finding an excuse for taking a morning trip to the castle on the sly. She would seek him, she vowed.

--

Looking at the woman sleeping so peacefully in his bed, Jareth for one brief moment pitied her. Rosalind deserved far better than she was choosing, but as she'd committed herself to him, and he had planted his seed, and branded her, the point was now mote. She would be a good mistress, he told himself, not like Sarah, but Rosalind would be acceptable. She had such willingness when it came to sex, much like Circe only not nearly as dirty. Still he supposed he could force himself to enjoy Circe if it came right down to it. To keep peace in his Kingdom it just could come down to that. Riding himself of Talagon didn't mean he'd be rid of Circe.

He looked at the red curls spilling over the pillow beside him, and the perfect body of the Fae woman. Yes, Rosalind was going to make a very good mistress, and that pleased him. There would be many hours of pleasure to be had from her. And he could always reward her devotion with the gift of a daughter. Sons he planned to reserve for Sarah alone. He formed a crystal and focused, wondering how his other pigeons were. The image formed showing the sleepless girl, "Well, well," he commented looking into the orb.

Roused by his murmuring, Rosalind looked through her hair at the orb in the King's hand. "What's that?" she yawned.

"Tanya, pining for me," he held the orb for her to see. "I am becoming her obsession." He sounded most pleased.

"You're insatiable," she muttered before turning over to go back to sleep. "Horn-dog," She'd heard the vulgar human phrase once, and used it now for the first time.

"Yes, I am," he said looking at the girl who he'd chosen to be his next victim, his weapon in an undeclared war. "Like father, like son."

--

Jareth was sitting in a chair watching Sarah sleep; he'd been there for an hour wondering if she were ever going to wake up. The sun would soon rise and Tanya would be arriving to make her petition to him. He wanted to settle things with the Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan before the Duke's daughter arrived. When she turned over looked his direction he gave her a warm grin. She groaned and turned over again, he frowned. This could prove to be more difficult than he'd anticipated.

"Go away," she waved a hand at him. "I'm not interested," she pulled the pillow over her head in an effort to send him a message.

"I'm building a harem," he said from what he hoped would prove to be a safe distance. It wasn't the suggested way of waking one's lover up, informing her that he was giving her competition.

There was dead silence for a moment, and then from under the blanket and pillow came a low rumbling, "What?"

"I'm building a harem," he repeated carefully.

Sarah pushed back the blanket, lifted the hair off her face and out of her eyes, glaring at him as she sat up. "And you're telling me this at this ungodly hour for what reason?"

"You are my Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan," he shrugged. "I thought you should know."

"You're a pig," she spat at him glaring with disgust.

"Oink," he replied.

Daisy cleared her throat; she'd been watching them from her resting place near the wall. Rather she'd watched him watching her sleep. "I need air," she whistled and vanished on the back of the griffin.

"Coward," Jareth called after her.

"She's smarter than you are," Sarah barked, still glaring at him, "Just how soon do you intend to start collecting your bevy of beauties?" Sarah didn't even try to hide the sarcasm from her tone.

Leisurely he rose from the chair and took a seat on the foot of her cot. "Last night," he stated one hand resting on her leg.

"Doesn't count," she yawned. "You already own me."

"I don't own Rosalind;" he whispered with a measure of guilt. "At least I did not until last night,"

Sarah's jaw dropped. "Lady Rosalind," she questioned with a squeaky voice; "The redhead with the big boobs and the low cut gowns, Rosalind?"

"That would be her," he sighed, finding he agreed with the description.

"Jareth everyone in this Kingdom and several others knows she's been one of your paramours for years," Sarah snarked.

"Well now she's part of my harem;" He lounged waiting for Sarah to explode. Some inner voice told him not to be so cocky but he chose not to listen as he was enjoying the banter. "And I've got her knocked up like a cheerleader."

"What makes you so sure she's knocked up?" She scratched her head, "I remember reading that Fae women have trouble conceiving; now I don't know if that's an old wives tale or true, but from the looks of things… it has a measure of truth to it. So how can you be so sure you… knocked her up?" she'd never cared for that phrase and wondered how it was Jareth had come across so vulgar a term let alone used it so easily.

Giving her a woeful smile he admitted to her, "In truth, most Fae women do have trouble conceiving," He began to look too pleased, "I however do know when I've planted seed in fertile soil." He patted her hipline with one hand, meaning he had known full well that it had been Sarah's fertile time. "It's a gift," he remarked with a tantalizing gleam in his wickedly beautiful eyes.

"That aside," she pushed his hand away, "Lady Rosalind and I do not constitute a harem. That is unless you're planning on adding Bryn to the mix after last night's little game of flirtation." She found herself still miffed at his behavior of the previous evening.

"Heavens no," he laughed, "Bryn is going to marry Devon, it's all arranged." Smiling like a tiger awaiting a human treat, he purred. "I'm adding sweet little Tanya Winderspire to the inventory today."

Sarah reached forward gripping his shirt, and roared, "Are you out of your mind? She's just a kid."

Jareth breathed in the enticing scent of his Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan, "She's got several centuries on you, Sarah."

"Don't do this," Sarah begged with a panic she didn't bother to hide. "Please don't do this."

"It's out of my hands Sarah; I need her as a weapon against retaliation from the Seelie Court. She's the perfect insurance policy;" He stated as if commenting on the weather. "The Goddess has put her in my path, and I will use whatever means the Goddess gives me." He moved forward on the cot as he spoke.

"You're declaring war?" she questioned in fear. "On the Seelie Court?"

"More or less," he brushed the hair back from her face, "Wash your face," he kissed her brow, "Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan."

Rising from the cot she went to do as he'd bidden and relieved herself before returning to him. "Why tell me about any of this?" She asked upon reentering the room. "What has it to do with me?"

"You're Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan," he watched her move, devouring her every movement.

"Your slave of bondage, yes I know." She pouted.

Jareth began to disrobe, "You really must learn more of the nuances of the Goblin Language, Sarah." He motioned her to come to him and surprisingly enough she did without giving him a fight. He removed the fabric acting as a barrier between them, pulling her into his arms wanting to feel her breath quicken. "No other woman will ever carry that title as long as you live; it is yours and yours alone."

"Title," she mocked.

"Sarah, this tower was the lodgings of the first human Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan," his body pressed her into the thin mattress upon her cot. "She was not however the first Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan, only the first human one." With ease he sheathed his shaft within her. "The male heirs of the Goblin throne are born of the Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan." He growled against her ear. "She is not a queen, but a captive who is considered royal. Hunted, taken prisoner, and forced to bear his touch and then his sons."

"You bastard," she began to struggle beneath him. "They'll never let you get away with this! Seelie Law…"

"They can't stop me," he laughed as he toyed with her. "You can't stop me either." He quickened his pace; knowing he only had a short time with Sarah this morning.

Trying to keep her thoughts from becoming scrambled, she focused. "The Winderspires are gentry, Jareth… they have groomed that girl to be a wife, not a paramour or mistress. The Duchess expects you to wed that little twit! You can't just treat her like a mouse and you the mouse trap. Her parents will expect you to marry her, Jareth."

"They will have to learn to live with disappointment Sarah," he crooned threateningly. "And Tanya will have her own lessons to learn. I think Donatien is going to be very busy giving those lessons."

"And Rosalind is accepting of this convoluted scheme of yours?" the green eyed girl growled. "Where is Rosalind right now?"

"She's resting," He held her still and looked into her eyes. "I gave her a little gift this morning before coming to see you. A nice little branding that proclaims her as one of my possessions." Seeing the shock and disgust on his Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan's face he smiled wickedly and lifted the medallion he wore. "All the secondary players will be branded."

"Bastard," she moaned. "Don't Jareth, don't do this to Tanya… she thinks you are decent and fine… don't do this to that little girl. Don't destroy her pretty dreams the way you stole mine."

Sighing, as if giving in to her on this he spoke gently. "I'll make a bargain with you Sarah," his voice was dripping with sarcastic confidence. "If Tanya does not come here seeking me, I won't go seeking her. Should she come here, and offer herself to me, I will take her."

"If," she felt her eyes nearly pop out of their sockets as she exclaimed loudly. "With you baiting her, there's no if, she'll be here the poor sap. She doesn't understand what you're about to do to her!" Sarah's tone was goblin, not human as she spoke; "She thinks she's a Fairy Princess, that you're some kind of prince charming and are going to make her dreams come true, not pitch her into a nightmare from which there is no escape. Jareth, that's not right."

"Then it's time she learned, Sarah," sated, he pulled back from the still worried woman.

"Learn what? That Jareth the great King of the Goblins is little better than one of his subjects?"

"That life's not fair." He blew her a kiss as he moved toward the window turning to owl, not even bothering to don his clothing. Ignoring the curses flung at him by the woman he'd just ravaged. He was especially partial to her calling him a big fairy. He flew skyward, up into the last bit of darkness. Before the sun rose like a great orange sphere, he returned to his bedchamber to bathe and dress for his day. Taking into consideration the words of his Tagaan or Rhuukarlaan, she was right about one thing. Tanya was under the dilution that she was going to be living a fairy tale, and that he was relegated to the role of prince charming. Knowing that, he chose to dress in a more romantic fashion for the day. Why not give the girl encouragement, even if it were subliminal. He found a deep purple colored poet shirt that would work, and breeches that were handsomely cut to show off his muscular thighs. A wide leather comber-bun belted his middle, and he donned fitted knee boots in black leather. Severe, and yet so romantic, he mused.

--