Disclaimer: Jareth, Sarah, and all Labyrinth-related stuff belong to Jim Henson, George Lucas and Brian Froud.

Chapter Eight

Sarah was standing in front of the window, a cup of tea in her hands, looking at the rain falling outside.

The rain... She sipped the hot liquid as her mind drifted back at the day when the Goblin King had popped back into her life. The image of him half hugging her under the umbrella lingered in her head, making her blush.

Well well, what is it, Sarah? You're really enjoying his presence after all, her inner voice teased her.

She bit her lower lip. She wasn't ready to admit it to herself, but she was starting to like that newly established routine. After their trip to the mall the previous day they had come back to her apartment, and Sarah had felt strangely serene and somewhat thrilled while they walked side by side, his gloved hand lightly brushing hers.

Sarah shook her head, chasing the memories. Dangerous thoughts.

She turned when she heard the door of the bathroom open, only to turn around again at the sight of Jareth covered only by a big towel wrapped around his lower body.

Her face and neck were soon of the color of ripe tomatoes. She noticed that she had spilled some tea on her t-shirt and almost ran to the kitchen.

"Glad you finished your shower, your Majesty" She said, trying to sound normal and indifferent while her mind quickly melted and her brain cells screamed.

Damn, it should be forbidden to be so hot. She thought, taking deep breaths. She peeked through the dark curtain of her hair to see that he had followed her in the kitchen and was now leaning against the doorframe, a wide grin spread on his regal face. She couldn't really help her eyes from wandering on his bare chest. She squeezed her eyes before they could reach his lower waist and forced them to look up at his face.

"Are you going to... stay like this for the whole day?" She asked.

Jareth's grin grew even wider. "Why, dear Sarah, does my... Clothing choice bother you?" Of course, he hadn't miss the sudden change in Sarah's skin color and her great embarrassment at the sight of him, and he was deeply enjoying the effect he was having on her.

Sarah opened her mouth to reply, but a lightning from outside suddenly lit his figure, somehow drawing her attention back at his muscled abdomen. She felt her mouth go dry. The rumble of a thunder made her jump, and the lights went out.

"Damn" Sarah said, taking a step to the door but freezing when she remembered that he was there, half naked, probably just waiting for her to "accidentally" bump into him.

"Sarah? What's going on?" He asked.

She bit her lip. Part of her was relieved of the sudden darkness that kept her from being distracted by him and his impossibly hot body. Another part of her was disappointed, but excited by the whole situation.

"Sarah?" She heard him call her from a short distance.

She took a step back, pressing herself against the cabinets. She turned and opened the second drawer, her hand searching in the darkness.

"Here" She said finally, striking a match. She turned and nearly bumped into Jareth, who was standing right behind her.

"Jareth! Back off, now!"

He smirked and took the match from her hand. "I was worried by your sudden silence, dearest"

Sarah frowned, noticing how the small source of light created dancing shadows on his face and chest.

The match was a bad idea, she stated.

"I'm fine. It's only a black out, probably caused by the storm" she crossed her arms on her chest. "You're still too close"

He smiled and took a step even closer. "Are you sure you're well, dear? You look flushed"

He was so close that it was impossible for her to look anywhere but at him. She bit her lip and decided that getting angry wasn't going to help, so she played his game. She put her hands on his chest, leaning forward until her face was inches away from his.

"Actually, Jareth, it's rather... hot in here, don't you think?" She almost whispered.

He was taken aback by her sudden change, but he smiled and put his hands at her sides on the counter top, the match magically floating over them.

"Oh, really?"

Sarah, what the hell are you doing? If you play with fire, you get burnt! A voice warned her.

But Sarah was currently completely lost in a pair of mismatched blue eyes.

His face was getting closer and closer, she felt his body press against her hands and instead of pushing him back, she let her hands slide down on his belly and hips, ending on his back. His skin was incredibly soft and warm, she noticed.

He couldn't believe she would let him get so close to her. He lowered his head and brushed his lips agains hers, his arms closing around her body.

Sarah's thoughts stopped and she closed her eyes, the feeling of his lips, his body, his bare skin pressed against her was almost overwhelming.

Not too far from them, three goblins were discussing. Another one lay down on the floor, his eyes open, his mouth moving without a sound.

"Told ye not touch the plastic cord!"

"But we wanted to help!"

"Look what you done to Kolp!" One of them pointed at the goblin on the floor, who was now moaning in pain.

"Me didna know! Cords burnt!"

"What yer doing here?" Pymp suddenly appeared behind them, his hands on his hips.

The goblins gasped and one of them ran to hide behind a piece of furniture.

"You!"

"Stay away! You got spell!"

"Spell?" Pymp looked at them, confused.

"The witch do spell on you" One of them whispered.

"And King!"

"We musts save King!"

Before Pymp could reply, another goblin came crushing against him and they fell on the floor.

"Ouch!"

"King!" The new goblin stood up, stepping on Pymp's belly, and looked at the other goblins, visibly shocked. "The King! We musts help King!"

"That we knows"

"No! Help him now! The witch.."

"What?"

"She... He.." With an expression halfway between horror and disgust, he gestured towards the room he had come from. "Witch attacked King!"

A shocked silence fell on the group of goblins, before they started yelling and ran to help their king.