Chapter Eighteen

Sarah

What have I done?

With my heart on the floor

I must be out of my mind

To come back begging for more

But if you stay

If you just stay for the night

Swear that I'm yours

And I'll prove that I'm right

- Litost, X Ambassaders

October 5th, 2002. Day 18 of quarantine.

Jareth visited her while she slept, and she wasted no time kissing him senseless while ripping at his clothes. Things slipped forward and back in the way of dreams. She was clothed, and then she was not. They were kissing, and then he was seated deep within her. He told her they didn't have to do this, and then she was falling to her knees before him.

His teeth at her throat.

Her head thrown back.

Crashing into her. Coming apart. There was nothing that was not him. His eyes smoldering, the soft fall of his hair against her breasts. He twisted them, so she rode him, and she marveled in the sight of him beneath her. His lean body stretched out, fingers woven through hers.

Then she woke in the dark.

One moment he was hot and throbbing within her, and the next, she was lying chilled and empty next to him. Only she was not entirely cold. Her core pulsed with need, and when she shifted her thighs, she felt how slick she was. And an incredible warmth radiating from her left, inviting her to touch, to take, and caress.

She rolled to her side, reaching for him, fingertips finding the bare skin of his chest and the sharp points of his pendant. Tracing the metal talisman, she felt him begin to stir. "Jareth," she whispered. "That dream—"

He grasped her before she finished her sentence, rolling her on top of him. His hands tangled in her hair, bringing her mouth down to his. She breathed in the heady scent of him. He smelled like the moments before a thunderstorm, petrichor, and electric possibility, and that scent that reminded her of the Labyrinth itself. Old magic.

Jareth's hands flew down her body, rolled her nipple between clever digits, and felt for the wet heat between her legs. She gasped and bucked against his fiery fingers, almost dizzy with the sensation. She hated not seeing, but the lack of sight made her other senses come alive. She nipped his lip and smiled against his growl while he continued to work her. Surges of warmth spread through her until she trembled above him, still locked to his mouth but wanting more.

She ripped away from the kiss as her orgasm hit her. Her fingertips dug into his chest while she gasped and cried out, writhing against his skillful hand. "Jareth," she moaned.

He pulled his hand away from her and flipped them, so he ground between her open thighs, his breath hot against her throat. "I want you," he whispered. "Gods, Sarah, I want you like I need to breathe."

A whimper fell from her lips as she clutched him and reached for the juncture of their bodies, feeling him stiff and heavy in her hand. He hissed and thrust against her. She arched her back and stroked him, loving the sounds he made. "I want you too," she whispered back at him. "Don't stop."

He went very still above her, even as she continued to touch him. The tips of his pendant grazed her chest in a hot line. He let out a gusty sigh and buried his head against her neck. "I want nothing more than to be inside you, Sarah precious." He lifted his head and pressed a kiss against her cheek. She hummed and leaned into it, but he pulled away. "It may be selfish, but I want your eyes on mine when you come," he murmured. "I want you watching me while I join with you."

She shivered and pushed against his chest until he shifted, and she pressed him back down on the bed. Her fingers found his lips, and she moaned into a swift, hard kiss. "Then there are other things I want to do," she whispered.

Jareth said nothing but let loose his own groan of pleasure as she kissed her way down his chest and took him in her mouth. Sarah had never much cared for this act in the past, but the way he tasted, the way he smelled, made the experience into something which made her core pulse in time to each of his inhaled breaths. His muscles clenched as she ran her hands up his thighs to his stomach, and his hands fisted in her hair as her pace quickened.

"Sarah..." he said, the word a plea and a warning both.

She gripped the base of him, squeezing as she sucked him down as far as she could. His breathing sped up, and he let out a hoarse cry, her name on his lips as he emptied himself in her.

When she pulled away, he grasped her arms, pulling her up against his body, so he could kiss her with abandon. She leaned in, threading fingers into the silkiness of his hair and losing herself to the moment. Because at that moment, he was everything. Every sense. Every breath. Jareth's heart beat hard against his ribs and in the pulse point along his neck. Magic licked between them, little jolts which left her breathless.

He reached for her again between her legs, rolling her gently, so she lay beneath him, but never breaking the kiss which had turned slow and sensuous, with languid brushes of tongue and teeth. Never had she been kissed like this, even from him. The sweet press of his mouth made her feel as though she were the only thing in the world to him, too. And then his scorching fingers were sliding inside her, and all her thoughts turned liquid.

Jareth took his time, and she could tell in the way his lips quirked up that he was enjoying every second of blissful torture he put her through. When she crested and crashed at long last, his mouth was there to swallow up each cry.

Sarah clutched him, realizing in the same moment he did that tracks of tears wet her cheeks. "What is it, love?"

Her lips trembled and throbbed with the lack of him, but she managed a smile. "I've just never felt anything like this before. Not with anyone."

A finger traced the edges of her mouth. "Neither have I."

Her throat suddenly thick, she felt for his face and drew him down for another kiss, tender and swift. He held her for a long while, rolling to his back, so she could wrap herself around his body. Her fingers played with his talisman. "Remember our first kiss?"

"Vividly."

"There was something so right about you. I've been fighting it for a long time, I think." She rubbed her cheek against his chest and sighed. "But even after I said no and pushed you away, I could not stop thinking about it. For years."

"I could tell," he said, something smug in his tone.

Sarah grinned. "You're so full of yourself." He hugged her tighter, and she relaxed further into the warmth of his arms. "I'm scared to go back."

"To the Underground?"

"Yes. What if something else comes after me?" Her grip around him tightened. "What if this time you can't find me?"

"I'll always find you," he said, his voice a rumble beneath her ear. "But there is something I wanted to discuss with you."

"What is it?" Again, she wished she might see him instead of relying upon his tone of voice and how his body tensed or relaxed. But she also loved the liberty it gave her to touch him.

"Remember the bracelet I gave you which allowed us to communicate with each other while you met with Aldric?"

"Yes. He turned it to ash. I figured that's why you never gave me another one. Because he'd do the same thing again."

"True enough, precious. But there is a spell I could work he would never be able to break. A way for us to communicate with each other through the worlds. The only reason I have not brought it up before now is that it is permanent. There is no unweaving it, even if the original caster is the one to make an attempt." His fingers traced the curve of her ear, and goosebumps rose along her spine.

Sarah licked her lips and swallowed. "So, I would hear you, and you would hear me all the time?"

"No. The spellwork is tied to ink. You have some in your body, in that lovely tattoo on your shoulder. Whenever you touch it, you can send a message directly to me. In turn, I will have a mark somewhere on my body that if I touch it, I can speak to you. This way, if you are ever taken again, you'll always have a way to reach me." His hand glided through her hair, fanning it out. "I would not abuse this link, my Sarah. I promise."

There was a large part of her that was reticent. A portion of her which still pictured a relatively normal life after the quarantine lifted. But there had been monumental changes in the last few weeks. Ones she could never have anticipated but which had altered the trajectory of her life considerably. "I'm always going to be hunted, aren't I?"

"Not necessarily, love. My protection has been enough to secure your independence for many years. That protection has been weakened by my inability to connect to the Labyrinth. I rely on its power to keep you safe." His hand came to rest on the crown of her head, fingertips still playing a little along her hairline. "Once I have access again, that protection will snap back into place. If I could remove it, I would have offered it to you more than a week ago, but because it's permanent, I never considered it as an option until now."

Sarah lifted herself up on her elbows. "I'm going to take a shower. I'm leaning toward a yes, but I want to think it over for a little while. It's a big commitment."

His hand cupped her face, then his thumb ran over her lips, which were swollen from his kisses. "Take whatever time you need, precious."

Jareth helped her into the bathroom, and she shooed him away. "I need some privacy. I'll be fine; I navigate the shower with my eyes closed all the time."

He kissed her forehead. "Call me if you need me, and be careful of your wrappings. I'll make breakfast."

Sarah took her time under the warm spray, retracing the path Jareth's hands had taken with soap which smelled of orange and ginger. She kept touching the shower wall to steady herself, the constant dark making it difficult to stay balanced. When she turned off the water, she could smell toasted cinnamon and sugar.

She managed to dry herself, get to her bedroom and put on what she felt was a perfectly functional outfit—yoga pants and a tank top, with a cardigan thrown over it. Everything took three times as long. The apartment she thought she knew so well presented unforeseen obstacles, and Sarah nearly tripped over some clothes she had left on the floor.

The entire time she was distracted by whether or not to accept the communication spell. It would be incredibly useful if creatures like Fia and Khana got to her again. I would not abuse this link, he had said to her. And Sarah once again faced the question she had been asking herself ever since she had accepted Jareth as a suitor: can I trust him?

She made her way to the kitchen, hand sliding over the rough plaster of the wall to keep herself oriented. The fragrance of baked goods and the sound of frying bacon grew stronger the closer she got. Gooseflesh prickled along her neck, raising the fine hairs there, and Sarah knew his attention lay on her. She stopped outside the wide archway, unsure of the distance between the wall and the bar stools.

He strode toward her at once, his hand closing over hers and giving a soft tug. "This way." When she was settled on one of the seats, Jareth went back into the kitchen. "Everything will be ready in a moment."

"It smells delicious." She tucked her damp hair behind her ear. "I feel bad. You're always cooking for me. I think I've only made three meals the entire time you've been here."

"I enjoy doing this, Sarah. It is a rarity I am allowed time to slow down and experiment with food the way I want to. There are affairs of state to attend to, and of course, the difficulty of keeping a clean kitchen in a castle full of goblins." She could hear the smile in his voice. "There are many drawbacks to being stuck in your world, but the quiet and peace are not among them."

Jareth soon had plates for both of them set on the bar between the kitchen and living room and had taken the seat next to her, his knees brushing against hers. They ate while chatting a little about the books they were currently reading, all the while Sarah flipped over the pros and cons of the spell. When they had finished, and Jareth was done cleaning up, she said, "I think I want to do it."

"Do what, precious?"

"The spell, in the tattoo. I want to do it."

He let out a breath. "Thank you, Sarah. I promise you won't come to regret it."

There was not much prep work. Jareth led her to the couch and helped her out of her cardigan, smoothing his bare hand over the peach blossom tattoo. Explaining what he did each step of the way, he summoned a crystal and pushed it into the skin of her shoulder. To Sarah, it felt as though someone had cracked an egg into her body, a spreading cold infusing the area.

"I need to install my own, and then it will be done."

"Are you going to put it into the mark on your hand?"

He chuckled. "No, precious. I have to create a new spot on my body for a mark to go. Have any suggestions?"

"I do, actually. But I need your help to find it. Can you take me to my desk?" He did, and she felt for one of her drawers, pulling it open and pushing aside loose papers until she found the small spiral-bound sketchbook she had been doodling in for years whenever her thoughts strayed to the Labyrinth or her Goblin King. She held it out for him. "In some of the last pages are a few designs you might think about. If you want," she added shyly. "I'm not the best."

There was the sound of rustling pages, and Jareth let out a breath. "Owls."

Heat suffused her face. "It's silly, I—"

"It's perfect, Sarah. You are a very talented illustrator. I think I know which one I want."

"Can you describe it to me?"

He laughed, and she felt the brush of his lips against her forehead. "I'd like to leave it as a surprise. Give me a few moments."

The scent of ozone filled the air, and after a few seconds passed, Sarah heard his voice slide through her mind, a little louder than a whisper. Can you hear me?

She touched her shoulder. Tingles erupted from the spot. Yes, she thought back. This is kind of cool.

"I'm glad you think so, precious."

Her stomach did a little flip. She had just connected herself to Jareth in a way she could have never anticipated even a week ago. But though a part of her still worried over what it could mean and what he could do now, the majority of her was relieved. She felt safer.

Fingertips grazed her bottom lip, followed a moment later by his mouth. His hair tickled her cheeks, the kiss slow and gentle, a subtle scraping of skin against skin. It was enough to inflame her, desire coiling like a spring.

Then the tapping started.

Sarah pulled away from Jareth with an exasperated sound. "Aldric is calling."

He huffed. "Of course. Let me pack you some supplies."

She went back to the couch, finding her cardigan and slipping it on. The desire to touch her shoulder and speak to him was strong, his voice in her mind like velvet or satin. She wanted to roll in the sensation of it all. "Has the portal mirror arrived?"

"Yes. It's in the hall as usual." Jareth moved to her side, a line of heat against her skin telling her where he stood. He wrapped her hand around the straps of a heavy bag. "Take care while you're with him, Sarah, love."

"There's actually something you can do to help before I leave." She described to him what a white cane was, and a moment later, she had a light, slender pole in her hand. She stumbled a little as she tried to navigate the living room with it. "It'll take some getting used to, but this will be better than relying on Aldric to lead me everywhere."

"Agreed," Jareth said, following her as she made her slow way to the hall. He embraced her from behind when she stopped before what she knew to be the mirror, the scent of magic heavy in the air. He kissed the side of her neck. "Be safe. Be smart. Above all, remember I am here for you whenever you need it. I'm only a touch away."

Sarah twisted in his arms, reaching for him, finding his hands buried in her hair and his lips seeking hers. She sighed into the kiss, their breath mingling, his sweet and tasting of cinnamon and orange frosting. There was a great deal of reluctance as she pulled away. "I'll see you soon."

Feeling for the edges of the mirror, Sarah lifted her leg and stepped through, Aldric's hands helping her out on the other side. "Good afternoon, pet."

Sarah tilted her head toward his voice. "You sound strange." And he did. There was an edge to his voice she had never heard before.

He let out a small huff of laughter. "How would you feel if the object of your affection came into view with the signs of being kissed by another? I can smell him on you, Sarah, and your lovely lips look ravished." A hand squeezed her elbow, the motion gentle before the touch fell away. "I cannot help but feel I have lost."

She did not know what to say to that, and he laughed again into the silence, the edge back. "I'm sorry," she said at last. "It's just... we have a history. A long one. I barely know you."

"I know," he said. "Come. There is something I want to show you."

She shouldered her pack and began tapping around with the white cane. "Where are we? This isn't your tent." The floor beneath her was wooden, not carpet laid over dirt, and the room they were in felt cavernous.

"It is my estate in the wilds. I'll be spending the next several days here before returning to camp. We're in the ballroom." There was the tread of his boots on the floor leading away, and she started to follow, moving cautiously with the aid of her stick. "There are some matters I need to attend to here before I can rejoin my troops."

"What sort of things?" She asked, genuinely curious.

"When I declared war on your paramour, I may have made some other nobles nervous and a few outright furious. Jareth is the main source of human changelings. The wished-away children are often brought up by childless fae couples, of which there are more than a few. Has Jareth told you about our species difficulty in conceiving?"

Sarah shook her head, an uneasy feeling coming over her. Drawn in by his forthrightness, she had to remind herself truths were subjective, and Aldric had already twisted and manipulated her into accepting a fifth hour in the Underground. "No, he hasn't."

He clicked his tongue. "It's another reason human changelings and the fae touched are so prized. It is far easier for a fae and human coupling to result in children, especially if the human is female."

The sense of foreboding strengthened and Sarah slowed her steps. "Why are you telling me all this?"

"You asked about my business here. I need to reassure those who would come to Jareth's rescue that they will still have access to the Aboveground and its mortals once I seize control of the Labyrinth."

The matter-of-fact way Aldric said those words sent a shiver down Sarah's spine. "What if the Labyrinth doesn't accept you?"

She could hear the smile in his voice. "Let's just say I have several contingencies in place to prevent that from happening. I have been studying the ways to conquer this anomalous place ever since my brother acquired it. The notes left by my sisters helped, but there was still much they had yet to learn. Things I have gleaned from careful observation, and a few well-placed spies."

Once again, she felt drawn in by the confessional style of his conversation. "So that's what you think is going to happen, that you'll become the new Goblin King?" She was almost sick at the words. There was only one way Jareth would let Aldric take his throne, and that was if he were dead.

"Why not? I am of the nobility. I am better known than him and better loved. There are only a few holdouts, and they will be arriving within the next day. I'm to host them while we discuss what the future of the Underground will be. Ah, here we are." His footsteps stopped, and there was the whisper of a door opening on well-oiled hinges. "After you, pet."

Sarah made her way into the room, her hand outstretched along with the cane. That hand brushed against his chest as she passed him, and she heard the slight intake of breath. It made blood rush to her face, and she looked down, knowing she was blushing.

The room was quite large as well, though it did not have the echoing, grand feeling of the one they had come from. Sarah stopped a few steps into the space and waited. There was the soft click of the door closing behind her.

The hair rose on the back of her neck a moment before his fingers brushed her there, hot through the linen of his gloves. "Step forward a little more." She did, but his fingers did not leave the spot as he moved with her. "Reach out. No, a little more to your left. There."

Sarah's hand collided with something warm and rough and alive. She jerked back as a muffled cry reached her ears. "What is this?"

"Can't you tell?"

Her hand sought out the creature. Leather with thick stitching greeted her touch this time before she traced it down to a bare, wrinkled cheek, a jowly chin, and narrow shoulders. She let out a startled sound, pulling her hand back again to cover her mouth. She had almost said his name, but maybe Aldric didn't know?

"This is Hoggle. A dear friend of yours, I believe."

Her stomach sank. "What are you doing with him?"

"Holding him hostage," he said, his tone almost gleeful. "I have a favor to ask of you, Sarah, and I really cannot have you saying no. If you say no, I'm afraid the dwarf here will be in for a very bad time. But if you say yes, I will release him and pledge never to use him in such a way again. He'll be free to return home."

She clenched her jaw, an icy rage rushing through her, making her limbs tremble. "What's this supposed favor?" She spat, reaching for the tattoo. She needed to let Jareth know what was going on.

"Touch that spell, and I'll remove one of Hoggle's fingers," Aldric said, tone cold. She dropped her hand. "Did you think I wouldn't notice?" He scoffed. "You may as well have let Jareth brand you like a prize heifer."

Sarah prickled. "What is it you want?"

"I need someone on my arm while these fae come to visit. Someone warm and affectionate. Someone known far and wide as the only champion the Labyrinth has ever seen. You are crucial to my convincing these people to switch any potential allegiance from Jareth to me. And you can't be seen sporadically, you'll need to remain here for the next four days. You must convince them you belong to me." He paused, and there was a warm air current that passed her face. She flinched away from it. "There will be no more flinching from me, Sarah pet. If you do this, you need to accept my touch."

"I'm not going to sleep with you."

"You might," he said, teasing threading through his voice. "You gave my brother a chance to seduce you, but you never extended me the same courtesy. Perhaps you'll like my touch more than you think."

"He's not holding my friend hostage."

"How many lies and half-truths do you think he has woven since you've known him, hm? At least I will be upfront about it. I will use every advantage I can find to keep you by my side. I want you, pet. And I always get what I want." His fingers grazed her jaw, and despite the turmoil in her mind, she stayed put, letting his touch trace up to her ear and down her neck. "What say you, Sarah? Will you do me this favor?"

"What choice do I have?"

"Not much of one, I grant you, yet I still need your oath and answer if we are to proceed with letting this creature go back to his little life. Formalities must be observed." What sounded like a slew of muffled curses came from the space Hoggle occupied. "Be silent," Aldric hissed. "I've heard enough of your voice, dwarf."

Sarah took a deep breath, her heart pounding, and stomach plunging. She wanted to talk to Jareth, her fingers practically itching with the need to touch the tattoo and tell him everything. Yet even if she could, she knew there was not much which could be done in these circumstances. Aldric had Hoggle. She was lucky, she knew, he only asked for four days. She would do much and more to save her friend's life. "Alright," she said, swallowing hard. "You have my oath I'll stay here for the next four days and play along as your... consort."

There was a pressure of magic in the air. "In exchange, I vow your friend Hoggle will be released from my custody and brought safely to his home, free to live out the rest of his days in peace."

Sarah clutched her cane in both hands, her grip so tight she knew her knuckles would be white. "It's a deal."

Ozone was suddenly thick upon the air, and the pressure released as the bargain took hold. Aldric snapped his fingers, and magic peppered the air again. "I've sent your friend home. I would have let you speak to him further, only I find his kind insufferable. Honestly, I don't know what you see in him."

Sarah shook with suppressed anger, which only grew when his hands came to rest on her shoulders. "Your guests aren't here yet. I'd appreciate it if you don't touch me until they are."

"Don't want to practice, Sarah pet? I assure you it would be pleasurable." Despite his words, he pulled his hands back. "Come. I have a suite of rooms prepared for you. They adjoin with my own."

She followed the sound of his movements, using her cane to check for any potential obstacles. One positive was the manor had wide walkways, without the clutter of too much furniture. "Am I allowed to speak to Jareth while I'm here?"

"Of course. Only not in the presence of the guests. That would be a tell. I can see the mark of my brother's magic, but to the others, they will only see you have a communication spell. We can pretend it's one you have with me. Did he tell you this is permanent?"

"Yes," the word was clipped. "Despite what you so obviously think, he doesn't keep everything from me."

Aldric gave a soft snort. "He keeps enough."

They walked the rest of the way in silence. He held a door open for her. "There's an en suite bathroom I think you'll find acceptable, and two rooms. This is the parlor; to your left is the door to your bedroom."

"And these rooms are attached to yours?" She did nothing to disguise her disgust.

"Our parlors have a shared door, yes. But there is a lock on both sides. There is a key in yours. They both have to be unlocked for the door to open." He paused. "I will have my servants attend you later. You will join me for dinner." He did not phrase it as a request. "There are oils and soaps in the bath which will more thoroughly remove Jareth's scent. Your mortal means are unsatisfactory."

Sarah felt as though a spring were twisting tighter and tighter in her gut. She felt a moment away from exploding. "Fine," she said. "Can I get some privacy, please?"

"As you wish. I will see you soon."

She did not respond, only waited until she heard the door snick closed behind her. She immediately raised her hand to her shoulder. Jareth?

Yes, precious, I'm here.

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, and she slid to the floor, telling him everything that had happened. I didn't know what else to do, she finished. I'm afraid. If he got Hoggle, who else could he have?

Remember what I told you, Sarah. He will use your soft heart against you. Do not sacrifice everything you are to save your friends.

But they would do the same thing for me, and it's my fault they get targeted in the first place. Oh, Jareth. She sighed aloud. I wish I had never made the stupid bargain to come to the Underground. I'm frightened this is only the beginning.

Jareth was silent for some time. When he spoke, his words were slow and careful. You have done the best you could do with the resources at your disposal. Whatever you do, do not renege on your promises. If he is ever given total control over you, he will strip away your free will. He does not want you for you. He wants the power you represent. Be careful, love. Please.

Sarah let out a sigh. I wish I had been able to see you before I left.

We'll have more opportunities, precious. Do not worry.

There came a knock on the door, and she lifted her head. "Who is it?"

"Maisy and Gretchen, miss. We're to help you with your bath?" The voice was kind but businesslike. "May we come in?"

His servants have arrived to help prep me for dinner, Sarah said, tone dry.

Be careful. And reach out to me as often as you can, please. I'll keep an eye on you as much as possible, but it has always been difficult to see through my brother's warding.

She promised she would stay in touch, then called out to the two women. The one who had spoken through the door, Maisy, clucked her tongue. "What are you doing on the floor, miss? Let's get you up and into the bath."

She let herself be tended to, staying silent despite the two women's friendly banter and gentle teasing. They appeared to be titillated there was a fae touched in the house and that she "belonged" to Master Aldric. Sarah guessed the farce extended to the staff to some degree, unwilling to say anything to the contrary if it broke the bounds of the agreement. She had to play the part. If she did not, she could lose everything.

Author Note:

Hi everyone,

This chapter was difficult for me to write. Not for the usual reasons, either.

It's hard to write about two people in love when I just got the court date for my divorce. It hit me a lot harder than I expected. I thought I had moved firmly into "Fuck this guy" territory and would be glad to be rid of him. Instead, I feel raw, like I've been hollowed out. I have shed too many tears to count.

I used to have arms to hold me when I felt this way. Now I have nothing. Well. I have a cat that really likes to be the little spoon, but it's not the same.

I'll be taking a break after this chapter. I need to regroup. I also need to concentrate on the final installment of my original fiction trilogy. NaNoWriMo is underway, and I'm hoping to complete at least the first third of my novel during that time. #Goals

This story is still a priority for me. It's my "comfort food" project. It's a pleasure to work on and a great deal of fun. I won't abandon it. I'm only taking a brief hiatus. You'll probably see a lot more activity around late January/early February. Maybe. We also have to move before April, but not knowing exactly when puts things up in the air.

I wrote a short one-shot called "I Dare You." It has a much darker, morally ambiguous Jareth, but it was a plot bunny which needed to be written down. The tone is very different than 31/32 here, but if you're into that sort of thing, I think I did a fairly decent job at it.

Thank you for all the comments and all the love. You are my favorite people.

Xoxo,

CrimsonSympathy