DISCLAIMER: I don't own Labyrinth, Jareth or Sarah. I wish I owned Jareth though *rower*!
WARNING: LEMON ALERT! Yup…this chapter is for mature readers only. According to my beta readers, you might want to have a cold shower on stand-by. Consider yourself warned.
Author's Note: My regular readers know that I have a phobia of writing lemons (not that it stops me). So…if you want more lemons, give me constructive feedback (ie. Am I too detailed, not enough, etc… Do you get all fangirlie and have the urge to 'squee'…) and help forestall any lemony panic attacks on my part. :)
Special Thanks to futrCSI1490 who acted as one of my FF betas for this chapter. I have 'stage fright' when writing lemons and love having betas for them. So, if any of my regular readers/reviewers would like to be considered for 'lemony beta' duty...please let me know. :)
The dancers gave way to Lord Lugh as he led Nana Gunn onto the dance floor. As he began to guide her around the room, she smiled at him, shaking her head softly.
"I would have thought with all your experience of women, you would have instructed the boy better," she chided Lord Lugh, her green eyes bright and smiling. "For being High King, I'm surprised you didn't know what was going on."
Leaning in close, his lips brushing near her ear, the High King chuckled, the sound making her heart flutter pleasantly in her chest.
"I do have a kingdom elsewhere to run, Colleen. I can't be nosing about in the boy's business all of the time you know."
Nana Gunn laughed, loving the feel of being back in his arms after so many years. Dancing with him was as she remembered - like dancing upon clouds.
"So tell me, my sweet Colleen, what has the rascal done to your killean to earn your ire?" he asked, spinning her effortlessly through the crowd.
"Quite simply, he proposed. She accepted and then he saw fit to tell her that he was under a time constraint so as not to lose his throne," she replied, laughing merrily at the look of horror that crept over the High King's face. "Aye. But the boy is not alone in this mess. My killean is young, even for a mortal girl, and tends to react impulsively."
"Daft boy," Lord Lugh grumbled, his ice blue eyes shining with mirth, "I thought I taught him better than that when dealing with females, whether Fae or mortal."
Gazing down at Nana Gunn, the High King's face softened. Pressing her close he twirled her through the dancers.
"When I invited Sarah to the celebration as a guest for the boy, I had no idea that he was the one she was running from. I only knew she was fae-marked and had hoped that my boy might be able to find out more from her," he mused, peering over the heads of other dancers to where Jareth and Sarah glided through the crowd. Winking impishly at Nana Gunn, he grinned, "They make a handsome couple, don't you think?"
Nana Gunn nodded, peeking at the couple as they danced past. "Aye. And will make even prettier children. Tho I do wish they'd get on with it, I'd like to hold them before I die."
His lips brushed lightly against her cheek as his deep velvet voice whispered, "You still have the choice, my wild Irish rose. Why did you not seek me when your husband had gone?"
Nana Gunn's eyes flickered momentarily, a hint of pain passing over her face.
"He was a good man, but after you I was never fully content in his arms. Guilt is a powerful force, m'Lord. I couldn't bear the thought of disgracing his memory by seeking you," she replied, her voice tinged with sadness.
"Aye. He was. But you deserve happiness, my sweet Colleen. If I were to make my offer once more, would you accept?"
Nana Gunn sighed, her pale eyes flickering with an unnamed pain. "And be but one of the High King's lovers secreted about the worlds both Above and Below? No… I think not m'Lord. As one who has loved both long and deep, to settle for less would surely corrupt the memory of my beloved Daniel, inflicting more pain than pleasure over the ages."
The High King nodded, his lips pursed as he considered the strong woman in his arms. She had turned him down once before, he was therefore not surprised that she had once again. As a young woman she had enthralled him, but demanded more from life than to be a mortal plaything of the High King.
"And should your killean desire that you join her Below when you become weary of being Above? What then, sweetling?" he asked, his strong fingers caressing her back as she pressed against his firm chest.
"Then I would gladly go to be with her, I am not yet too old for the adventure," she smiled wistfully.
"And should an old friend happen to call upon you there? Would you welcome his arm's embrace?" he enquired, the power of his very being and question making Nana Gunn blush.
"Forever and a day, m'Lord," came the breathy reply.
Jareth guided Sarah around the floor, his pale eyes studying her. When he answered his father's summons to attend the annual event, she was the last person he expected to find in the small village of Balleymoney. Farmers, their wives, cattle and copious numbers of sheep – Yes. His beloved Sarah, Lady of the Labyrinth – No.
As he danced her gracefully through the hall, Jareth noticed many of the local farmers smiling and nodding at her, while giving him stern, somewhat protective glances as if to say – 'she belongs to us and woe-betide the man who trifles with her.' Jareth couldn't help but smile at the way his Sarah seemed to enchant those she met, making them protective of her. She had done it when running his Labyrinth and apparently had the same effect on the farmers of Balleymoney.
Sarah let Jareth guide her around the floor, thinking back upon the many times she had danced with him since what she had come to think of as 'the Peach Incident'. Since she was 16 she had danced in his arms many times, for Halloween parties, a masquerade fund-raiser, private dances at home and even a frat party. No matter how many times she had been twirled around in his arms, she still felt a thrill from his firm touch upon her back guiding her, while his other hand tenderly held hers as if she were fragile and might break.
Dancing with him, she longed to put what happened behind her, but her inner-self demanded that the feeling of betrayal be dealt with. Sighing, Sarah finally spoke.
"So, I suppose you used your magic and found me after all?" she asked, a hint of despondency edging her voice.
"Honestly, love?" he replied, bracing himself for her to react badly to what he had to say, "I did use crystals to try to find you, but they stopped working several days ago."
"Really?" she asked, surprising him as instead of arguing with him, she merely smiled slyly.
Holding her closer, his eyes sought hers, "Precious, you do still have the Goblin Queen's sigil, yes?"
Nodding, she whispered, "I have carried it close to my heart the whole time. I couldn't let it go. It was from you."
Sarah delicately plucked the black velvet ribbon from the front of her dress. She smiled mysteriously as she held the ribbon out, showing him the pendant as it swung, clinking softly against the iron key.
Jareth threw back his head and laughed seeing the iron key. Cheeky minx, he thought. So that is how she thwarted me.
"My clever Sarah. Someday I will learn not to underestimate you," he grinned broadly, shaking his head. "I was wondering how it was possible that I could not see you."
He held his hand so that it was shielded from others by their bodies and conjured a crystal that roiled with green haze.
"See," he said, "The crystal should show you since you bear the sigil, but the iron blocks it. It shows others though."
With a slight twist, the crystal showed Nana Gunn and the High King. Peering down into the crystal, Sarah gasped as she saw the High King kiss her grandmother.
"Oh now seriously," she muttered, not sure whether to laugh or be outraged. "I think your father is a bad influence on my gran."
Raising an eyebrow, Jareth smirked mischievously at her, "Think again, Precious. You haven't seen where her hands are."
Sarah blushed, unable to stop herself from giggling. The idea of her grandmother having been a lover of the High King was hard enough to accept, but seeing her kissing him, and apparently touching him, was a bit much to take.
Gliding around the floor in Jareth's arms Sarah sighed, gradually melting into his embrace. They danced in silence for several minutes. Jareth longed to explain and make her understand, but didn't know where to begin, settling instead for the pleasure of having her back in his arms. Humming softly, he pulled her in close as he pressed his cheek against her head, reveling in the scent of her, cinnamon, citrus and vanilla.
At last Sarah spoke.
"Jareth," she murmured softly, her voice muffled against his shoulder, "why didn't you tell me what the council was forcing on you in the first place? If we are going to survive this, you have got to start sharing council matters with me."
Smiling tenderly, Jareth brushed his lips across her forehead, eliciting a deep sigh from Sarah. At her reaction, he pulled her more closely against him, his hand warm against her back as he caressed her.
"Because, Precious, you are a dreamer and a romantic and I want to give you your heart's desire. If I had told you what the council wanted from me, then I would not have been able to sweep you off your feet with a proposal you would remember fondly," he explained quietly. "After all, had I explained, you would have known what was coming."
Sarah cringed at the realization that he had hidden things from her in order to fulfill her dreams. With a soft moan, she lay her head against his shoulder, shutting her eyes against the tears that threatened to fall.
"I'm so sorry, Jareth," she whispered, her voice breaking as she clung to him. "I said terrible things to you. Can you forgive me?"
His fingers sought her chin, gently cupping it as he raised her face. Seeing the tears in her eyes made his heart ache further. Tenderly, he brought his lips to hers, heedless of the eyes watching as the locals danced around them.
"Always, my love," he murmured softly. "Besides, it seems we are fated to be together, despite the misunderstandings that seem to befall us."
Seeing her puzzled expression, Jareth chuckled. "Sarah, I couldn't find you in my crystals. Your friends refused to tell me as they didn't know. And my father didn't know that the young woman he wanted me to keep company with tonight, was in fact my beloved who ran out on me last week. Yet, here we are once more. If you needed proof that we were destined for each other, I would think this would be enough."
Jareth and Sarah danced though the room, not noticing as the songs changed from one to another, losing track of time. Spinning her gently, Jareth smiled, is eyes flashing brightly at the sight of her, the long silk skirt swishing against her lithe legs while the corset caressed her breasts, as if enticing his touch. Sarah sighed contentedly as he moved her, her cheek pressed against his chest, letting the steady sound of his heartbeat fill her.
When Jareth stopped their movement, Sarah saw that he had danced her out onto the now empty veranda, the fairy lights in the trees glittering like stars. Jareth's lips gently sought hers, before he dropped to his knee before her. Sarah's emerald eyes opened wide in surprise, a pink flush creeping over her face as she looked down at him.
Taking her hand in his, Jareth smiled, his eyes soft as he looked at her. "Sarah, I ask this now for no other reason than the fact that I love you. My heart is already your slave and has been since I first held you in my arms. You are my equal and I long for no more than to have you by my side until the end of my days." Jareth pulled the sapphire ring from his pocket, sliding it once more upon her finger he gazed at her, his eyes shining pools in the lamp light of the great hall. "Please say you will be my comfort, my love and my queen from now until the end of time."
Sarah's hand caressed his cheek, tracing the aristocratic features she knew by heart. She opened her mouth to speak but found no sound, her eyes blurring with tears at the earnest expression on his face. Blinking back tears she whispered, "Yes," before pulling him up and throwing her arms around his neck. Her lips sought his, tenderly at first, as if pleading for his own. The heat pouring form his body combined with the intensity of the emotion coursing through her was incredible, threatening to burn her alive.
Jareth groaned hungrily against her lips, responding fervently to the plea inherent in her kiss. Wrapping his arms tightly around her, he lifted her up, crushing her against him as he spun her around, losing himself to her kiss. Setting her back on her feet, he let his lips move from hers, heedless of the whimper she gave at their loss. Jareth kissed her cheeks, nose, eyelids and forehead in a flurry of tender caresses, before pressing his cheek to hers, his eyes shut as he tried to still the frantic beating of his heart that was thrumming joyfully.
Caressing her shoulders absently with his fingers, Jareth whispered hoarsely, "While I want nothing more than to whisk you away to the nearest private room, as the future Lord and Lady of the manor, we should probably restrain ourselves and socialize a bit longer."
Looking into her eyes, Jareth saw the barely restrained desire lurking beneath the surface and the way her pulse raced at her throat. He pressed her against the railing of the balcony, his hands framing her hips as his thigh slid firmly against her, making her gasp, quivering at the feel of him teasing the seat of her need. With a low groan, he devoured her lips, relishing the way she yielded at the onslaught. Sarah arched toward him as her hands wound their way into his hair. He felt her tremble, then her hands were sliding under his suit coat to caress him, before dragging her nails forcefully down his back. Shuddering under her rough caress, Jareth growled against her lips, desiring more of her and knowing that he would not find relief in merely kissing her.
"Damnit woman, are you trying to torment me," he murmured, his voice raspy with need as he pressed his forehead to hers, the usually pale eyes darkened with growing lust that demanded to be slaked. "Gods…. I want you…. Now."
Sarah's hands caressed the sides of his face, her velvet tongue lightly flicking over his lips, teasing him with the hints of dark promises. Breathing softly, her voice was hoarse in reply, "Then have me, my king."
With an audible groan, Jareth grabbed her hand, quickly leading her toward the side entrance to the manor. While he could have transported them directly, he could not risk one of the locals seeing them just vanish from the veranda. Seeing that the foyer was empty, he pulled her through the side hall and rushed up the stairs leading into the upper levels of the house. Sarah laughed softly as he practically dragged her through the house, finally stopping to wrench a door open, before thrusting her into the room. As soon as the door closed, he had her pressed against it, his lips crashing down upon hers. His tongue took possession of her mouth, swallowing her lusty moan.
Jareth's kiss ignited pure need in her, the fire boiling through her veins screaming for release. Sarah returned the kiss with a force of her own, no longer merely melting against him but fighting back and taking more. He tasted of sweet ale, the lingering flavor of apples and hops coating his tongue as she suckled it, forcing a low growl from him in response.
Ripping his lips from hers, Jareth attacked her neck, biting and sucking on the tender flesh until she whimpered, a sharp cry of pain and desire.
"Jareth…please…" she panted, her hands pushing at his jacket, desperate to touch him. "Jacket…off…" Sarah whimpered, squirming in his arms as his bites teased her further, making the fire in her belly flare hotter than she thought possible.
Biting her earlobe, he drawled darkly, "Eager are you Precious? Did you miss my touch that much?" He trailed his fingers lightly along her neck, teasing her as they ran down her arms.
Sarah shivered, at his touch. "More than you could imagine," she gasped, arching against him.
Chuckling low, Jareth's voice very nearly made her frantic. "I've a good mind to tie you down and tease you until you are screaming down the house, begging me to fuck you."
Sarah moaned louder at his words, feeling her core melt into liquid fire. Twisting a hand into his hair, she sharply tugged, a wicked smile teasing her lips as she purred, "Is that a threat or a promise, Goblin King?"
Growling, Jareth sunk his sharp teeth into the tender spot where her shoulder and neck met. In a flash she found herself naked on the bed, her arms stretched above her, unable to move.
"You push too far, Sarah love," he teased, his eyes devouring her as they raked over her naked form.
Blushing, Sarah relaxed against the bed, her emerald eyes flashing in playful defiance. "And you cheated," she protested weakly.
An evil smirk twisted his lips as he saw the way her body reacted to being naked and restrained before him. Her face flushed in a most beguiling way, the flush spreading from her cheeks downward, nearly suffusing her breasts. The cool air teasing her nipples, hardening them to taut peaks.
Forcing down his urge to ravish her, Jareth turned from the bed and walked toward the fireplace. With slow, deliberate movements he removed his clothes, draping them over the arm of a chair, leaving her wanting and waiting. Even with his back to her, he could tell her body was humming with desire, her breath ragged with the force of her need.
Returning to stand over the bed, Jareth looked down at her, his eyes dark with lust and wicked ideas. He leaned over her, his hand poised as if to touch her. Ever so slowly he traced the hand over her body, his fingertips hovering barely above the surface of her skin. A seductive smile glinted in his eyes as he watched her squirm and gasp at the mere thought of his touch.
Without warning, he did touch her, his fingers lightly gliding over her tight nipples, teasing them tenderly, before sharply rolling them in his fingertips. He felt his heart race as he watched her arch further under his touch, she had long since given up trying to hide her need from him. The more she showed him her desire, the more he wanted to taunt her, tease her, drive her wild. And he did.
Sarah's eyes fluttered closed. She could no longer remember why she was mad, only that she craved him, all of him. Sarah whimpered as his touch seemed to radiate through her like electricity dancing under her skin. As he glided his fingertips down the valley between her breasts, heading with a knowing smirk toward the fire burning between her thighs, Sarah moaned with abandon, surrendering to the sweet torture of his touch. Jareth chuckled, the sound a sultry rumble that assaulted her senses.
When his fingers found her core, he knew she would be wanting, but was unprepared for just how much, the slickness dripping along her inner thighs, so warm and inviting. Kneeling upon the bed, he watched her face as his fingers drove deeply into her, twisting inside until she arched violently upward, her jade eyes flying wide as the touch tore a cry of absolute delight from her parted lips. His eyes darkened visibly as they locked with hers, a wicked smile sliding over his features as he rubbed against the spot once more, relishing the mewling cry that wrenched from her throat. Repeatedly he caressed the sensitive spot inside her, teasing and taunting the vibrating nerves, knowing the continued sensation would be both thrilling and torturous.
With each thrust of his long fingers against the nerves inside her, her back arched – Sarah couldn't stop it if she wanted to. Forgetting the fact that they were in the manor and a party was still going on downstairs, Sarah whimpered and moaned with abandon now. She was unable to form a coherent sentence, as all thought and consciousness was focused upon the sensitive bundle of nerves that his hooked fingers were dancing over. Sarah cried out, begging him for more with inarticulate mewling noises, heedless of the wicked smile he gave her as he tortured her, keeping her on the edge, then backing off, only to tease her more and drive her closer. The feeling was both pleasurable and agonizing as the muscles in her legs and thighs tightened painfully to try to drag the orgasm from her.
Leaning low over her, Jareth's mouth found the tender bud nestled above her entrance, the warmth of his breath making her cry out fervently, begging him.
"Pleeeeease!" she gasped, panting and arching against the bonds that held her hands fast above her head.
Seeing her desperation, he was torn between wanting to tease her further and wanting to see her surrender fully to him. Finally, the realization that he could tease her for the rest of their lives proved to be too much for him. With a snarl of unbridled lust he bent over her, his teeth grazing roughly against the seat of her pleasure.
Sarah screamed, her body spasming violently as the pain of his teeth against her ignited the fire inside her. She felt her body clamp around his fingers, gripping them tighter than she thought possible, yet he continued to press against the sensitive nerves inside her, prolonging her release until the line between exquisite pleasure and delicious pain was fully blurred. Sarah knew neither pleasure or pain at that moment, only the unbearable feeling of both flying and falling. Her head thrashed as she lost herself to the orgasm he ripped from her. She was aware that she was screaming, but couldn't hear it, all she heard was the white noise crashing through her head as her vision clouded only to explode in a flash of white light behind her eyes.
He watched her succumb to her base instincts and need, momentarily halting his touch as he watched her thrash on the bed. As her breathing began to slow and her body relaxed, he flexed his fingers, an evil smirk teasing his lips as she cried out once more. Once. Twice. Three times and then, she mewled loudly, her body crashing around his fingers once more, her core forcefully clamping down upon him. Pulling his fingers from her, he heard her whimper at the loss, only to mewl as he thrust his tongue deeply into the silken sheath of her, tasting her lust and need as it coated him.
She thought the first two orgasms would rip her soul from her, but the sudden feel of his tongue deep inside her completely undid her. Arching against his chin, she felt every muscle in her body tighten, her core spasming repeatedly upon his tongue, which never stilled its movement. Screaming his name she gave in, letting her world crash down around her in a thundering cacophony of white noise and her own frantic heartbeat as it tried desperately to escape her chest.
Feeling her go from frantic thrashing to panting stillness, Jareth gently stilled his movements, purring inwardly at the pained whimpers she gave as he moved from her, knowing every nerve of her sex was now buzzing painfully from over-stimulation.
Sarah gasped as his touch turned from torturous to tender, feeling the warm heat of his tongue as it bathed her, washing away the slick wetness of her need. She panted, gasping for air as her blood still thundered loudly in her head. Feeling her body rock, she opened her eyes to see him crawling up the bed toward her, finally laying next to her and pulling her into his embrace. She found that her hands were freed and his were gently massaging her shoulders. With a purr of pure pleasure, she wrapped her arms around him, her lips seeking his. Tenderly she kissed him, thrilling at the taste of herself upon his lips. Tentatively she flicked her tongue over them, moaning softly as his lips parted for her. Slowly she sunk her tongue between his lips, unconsciously mimicking the movements his tongue had used to bring her to the brink of pleasure.
Hearing him groan against her, she pressed herself tightly against him. Feeling the rigid warmth of his erection against her belly, she threw her leg over his hip in an effort to pull him closer to her core, which still begged for completion that only he could provide.
Jareth growled feeling her heated core teased the tip of him, inviting him inside - an invitation he would not refuse any longer. Shifting slightly, he rolled her over, pressing her back firmly against his chest as his hand gently bent her waist, tucking her body against him. He lifted her leg over his as he grabbed her hips, teasing her entrance as he bit and licked at her shoulders. Slowly he pressed into her, groaning at the tight feel of her in this position, the way her body caressed him exciting every nerve with each stroke. Wrapping his arms tightly around her, one found her breast, while his other teased her sensitive pearl. His caress upon her sensitive flesh alternated between tender and sharp, tearing cry after cry from her body, knowing she was driven solely by her need for him.
Feeling her pressing harder back against him, meeting each slow stroke firmly, he rolled her further onto her stomach, his body pinning her to the bed. Jareth guided her hand under her body, until her fingers found the tender bud, her body writhing beneath him. His freed hand found her hair, entwining tightly in it he sought her mouth, ravishing her lips as he thrust deeper inside her, the rhythm building. The feel of her surrounding him the sweetest torture he could ask for.
Unable to hold back as she squirmed wantonly under him, he pulled her head back, his teeth sinking sharply into her vulnerable neck, making her scream as he pounded into her. Her body responded to the delicious mix of pain and pleasure and he felt her explode around him, the slick warmth spilling from her as he slammed against her soft body, screaming his release against her neck as he held her, crushed against his body.
"Mine…" he growled repeatedly as he shuddered within her. "Always mine."
Time seemed to stop. There was nothing but the feeling of naked flesh upon flesh, entwined legs, pleasantly sore muscles and sweat soaked bodies. They lay there, basking in the warmth of the fireplace as moonlight poured through the windows. Jareth's arms held Sarah close to him possessively, he had her now and would not let her go again.
A knock sounded at the door, making Sarah start. As she started to move, reaching automatically toward the sheet that had been pushed onto the floor, Jareth snarled, pinning her to him even tighter, "Piss off Father! Your room is down the hall, Old Man!"
Sarah blushed furiously hearing Lord Lugh laugh.
"Looks like they had the same idea," laughed Lord Lugh, the sound an amused rumble.
"Aye, m'Lord. Best leave them to that room and find one of our own," Sarah heard Nana Gunn say, a merry laugh chiming through the hall. "G'night Killean…sweet dreams," she laughed wickedly.
Hearing Sarah gasp, Jareth flicked his tongue over the bite marks on her shoulder, a deep velvet chuckle rolling from his chest as he whispered seductively in her ear, "I think I should make you scream some more and really show the old man how it is done."
Sarah whimpered needfully at the thought and blushed until she was sure she was glowing in the dark of the room.