Breaking Barriers (Chapter 28 up)

As soon as Curlique led Sarah into the theater the next morning Sarah was on the defense. She would get her answer out of Jareth no matter what it took! As she briskly walked down the aisle, Sarah felt a half-smile curve her lips. Jareth looked just as quiet and unassuming as he had the past six days. He was standing on the stage in the uncharacteristic stance he had been adopting of late. His shoulders were slightly hunched and his head was bowed. Little did he know Sarah was now going to make him work for her obedience. When Sarah reached the bottom of the stairs she looked up at the now meek Goblin King from beneath her eyebrows with an evil glint in her eye. Curlique, spotting the wicked glance, quickly escaped to the shelter of the lightbooth. For a while, Sarah simply stood there waiting for Jareth to take notice of her. After about a minute Sarah realized how seriously changed the Goblin King was and that if she wanted anything to happen she was going to have to make the first move. Sarah walked up the steps to the stage and stopped in front of the humbled Goblin King. Making a show of it, Sarah lifted her arm perpendicular to the ground and dropped her script to the floor. The white paper weaved in the air before falling to the ground with a soft swish. It lay sprawled out across the floor for a few seconds before Sarah chanced another glance at the Goblin King. His eyes had followed the script to the floor yet his face remained unreadable. Sarah had half a mind to wave her hand before his blank stare, but she controlled her actions and opted for a more direct approach.

"I refuse to participate in the next scene, Jareth."

Jareth blinked a little at this phrase, but otherwise remained unaffected.

"Did you hear me? I said I'm not doing this next scene."

Jareth didn't move. Sarah sighed. So he was going to make this difficult for her. Sarah tried a different tactic.

"Oh I see how it is," Sarah scoffed, "Too scared of what wee little Sarah Williams has to say about you and your juvenile writing skills. You're a bloody coward, Jareth."

Jareth grimaced at this. Seeing him finally crack, Sarah found her opening and took advantage of it.

"That's right. I've finally deduced it. You're a coward. You've stolen away an innocent girl for nothing more than your own sick amusement. How pathetic."

Sarah watched in triumph as Jareth's brow furrowed. He still refused to look at her, but Sarah could see she had found a weak point within the Goblin King.

"For someone who has just discovered that her nemesis is nothing more than a yellow-bellied school-yard bully I feel as if I've been decidedly diplomatic up to now. But as you can see I'm beginning to have second thoughts, especially because of this new scene of yours. I feel as if I've been far too easy on you all this time."
Sarah took a step forward, making sure the Goblin King absorbed every single word she said.

"Here I am, reciting lines a five year old could have come up with and acting out scenes that wouldn't even do an ignoramus justice and what do you do? Just... stand there! As if -I- am somehow being unjust towards you! And then you throw this at me?"

Sarah picked up the script and leafed through it, pointing at the offending action accusingly.

"You expect me to KISS you? After all the cruel things you have done to me you seriously expect me to KISS you?"

"Stop..." Jareth murmured.

Rather than pacifying Sarah, Jareth's plea annoyed her. Sarah couldn't understand why he refused to stand up to her.

"You want me to stop? After every single thing you have put me through in this ridiculous place, you want me to stop? Well I'm sorry to disappoint you but that is not going to happen. How did you actually think that I would calmly go through with this scene?!"

Sarah moved in closer, fisting the script in a vice-like grip.

"I want to know why. Why would you write something like this?"

Jareth still would not look at her.

"You have to... for your freedom... " he apprehended.

"Answer the question," Sarah demanded.

At her words, something in the Goblin King seemed to snap. Finally, Jareth looked up at her from beneath lowered eyebrows. The Goblin King flashed Sarah an expression she had never seen from him before. It was enough to make Sarah hesitate and wonder that perhaps intentionally provoking Jareth had not been the smartest thing to do. A slow grin spread across the Goblin King's features. It was a mischievous smile that bordered on evil.

"Because I know that you want to," Jareth pronounced slowly.

Sarah was shocked at this statement, but before she even had a chance to retaliate Jareth closed the small amount of distance between them and pulled her into a searing kiss. Their lips collided with the intensity of a lightening bolt. The offending script fell to the floor, completely forgotten. Jareth ravished Sarah with his mouth and Sarah, nearly forgetting her anger, melted almost instantly, recalling vividly how his kiss had made her feel previously. But she could not allow herself to give in so easily. Remembering her earlier resolution Sarah abruptly broke away and slapped Jareth across his face.

Jareth appeared to be momentarily stunned by this action. He held a hand up to his cheek as if surprised at how much the stinging blow hurt. Briefly, Sarah witnessed fury glint in the Goblin King's mismatched eyes. But almost immediately the anger lifted, and Jareth smiled the same teasing smile, this time biting his lip provocatively. Sarah felt her heart give a jolt. Her eyes widened, realizing Jareth had only been set back a mere second from his advances.

"I am not so easily fooled by your actions, Sarah..." Jareth murmured, "Why are you resisting what I know you've wanted ever since coming back to the Underground?"

Sarah gasped, completely stunned by his words. Disbelief raced through her mind as she wondered how Jareth could possibly know her innermost secrets. But that question would have to wait for a later time. With that Sarah swung her arm forward again, hoping two slaps would be enough to deter him.

But it was not. Jareth easily caught hold of her flying hand this time without the least sign of it having affected him. He pulled her arm down easily and Sarah finally got a sense of how strong the lean Goblin King actually was. Using her arm as leverage, Jareth again pulled her into his embrace. Sarah fought for a moment. She could not allow this to happen again! He was using her... tormenting her. She should stop this at once... But as his thin lips attached to hers in yet another aggressive kiss, Sarah began to forget why she was supposed to resist. In fact, maybe it was better not to resist. Yes, it would be impossible to stop him now. But she could still refuse to return his kiss, Sarah thought as she felt his tongue pass and intrude her parted lips. She would not return it...

But suddenly the kiss deepened. Jareth slowed his pace considerably and started gently exploring her mouth with soft, unhurried kisses. Sarah couldn't help releasing a shiver as his tongue languidly brushed against her teeth and finally plunged into her moist cavern. Slowly, Jareth wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her even closer to him. With a sigh Sarah inhaled his scent. He smelled mysterious and magical... and completely tantalizing. Jareth broke away, licking his lips suggestively and sending Sarah a look that completely undid her. Jareth leaned in again and to Sarah's surprised delight began assaulting the exposed flesh of her neck. Sarah emitted a gasp at the incredible sensations that suddenly flooded throughout her entire body. Between soft, exploratory kisses, Jareth whispered to her.

"Not... so resistant now... are we Sarah?" Jareth teased, "Just think... what with the play... we will be practicing this kiss... on a regular basis..."

Sarah felt a moistness on her skin and with a jolt realized Jareth was now kissing the expanse of her neck with an open mouth, his tongue daring to dart out and taste her white skin. A small erotic moan escaped Sarah's parted lips. The sound seemed to greatly encourage Jareth in his pursuits, and he kissed her more fervently, as if he could not get enough of her. He moved back up to her mouth. Sarah, unable to withstand his onslaught any longer without action, met his lips fiercely. She ran her hands up and down his back, wishing she could feel his skin. At this Jareth emitted a low groan, the vibrations tickling Sarah's lips. He seemed to lose all sense of restraint and kissed Sarah passionately, crushing her body to his. So close to Jareth, Sarah noticed that once again there was something deliberately poking into her abdomen. But rather than frightening her as last time, Sarah was enraptured, excited that she had managed to coax such a response from him without the enchantment of the dress. Dimly Sarah became aware that the hands that had been pressing against her hips were now under her shirt and caressing her lower back in deliberate strokes. Though she longed for the direct contact of his fingertips on her skin, Sarah still found the leather of Jareth's gloves intensely stimulating. In fact, it was so intense that Sarah couldn't help but emit a small cry of passion at their excursion.

Upon hearing the erotic sound escape Sarah's throat something seemed to register in the Goblin King. He pulled away, harsh breath escaping his lungs erratically. At this Sarah emitted a faint sound of protest and immediately tried to enter Jareth's warm embrace again, but he stayed her, holding a hand out as if to ward her, a small smile upon his lips. Sarah tried not to notice Jareth's burgeoning erection, but was unable to quell her curiosity before taking a small peek.

"Sarah..." Jareth breathed, "that was..."

Sarah was panting heavily, expectant.

"We... I..."

Jareth looked at her, his smile fading.

"... shouldn't have done that, Sarah," Jareth finished with regret in his voice.

Sarah couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could he say such a thing?

"Why not, Jareth...?" Sarah questioned hesitantly, a little afraid to hear the answer.

Jareth shook his head, as if not expecting her to understand. He seemed torn. Sarah didn't know what was going on in his mind. She had never gotten her answer as to why Jareth had been avoiding her this entire week. She didn't exactly know what was going on, but she thought that his reluctance must have something to do with how he had been behaving during rehearsals recently. Though Sarah longed to question Jareth further, she decided that perhaps it would be better to take the experience for what it was, and leave it at that for now.

"Well..." Sarah murmured tentatively, a bit at a loss as to what to say after the intimacy they had just shared, "I... I just want you to know... that if you want... we can forget this ever happened..."

Sarah gulped, bitterness rising in her throat.

"But if you should change your mind... all you have to do is ask..." Though Sarah stated these words quietly, she was a little surprised at the boldness of them.

Jareth looked at her with a bit of gratefulness in his eyes. He nodded silently, then gestured before him.
"I... release you from rehearsal early today, Sarah," Jareth said, then, sounding a bit more like his old self, continued, "However, we WILL continue this scene tomorrow."

Sarah nodded. She felt unsure of the situation she now found herself in with the Goblin King, but for once, she left it at that. Slowly, Sarah walked down the stairs and up the aisle. As if on cue, Curlique ventured down from the light booth, an astonished expression on her face. She followed Sarah at a brisk trot.

"Sarah...!" the goblin whispered loudly, "You were KISSI-"

"We were practicing," Sarah whispered harshly, equally loud.

If Sarah had turned around at that moment, she would have noticed a small smile spread across the Goblin King's features at her defensive remark.

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A/N :D :D :D :D

Again, I apologize for the delay. In an unforeseen set of circumstances I was insanely busy this week and had little time to write. I have a feeling it may be getting worse D: Due to the stresses of life I may not be able to update as often as I would like, but I promise I will update as often as I am able to. I promise I won't abandon you guys!

Thank you all for the reviews!

@Vyperbites- We can always hope! Though I'm sure there are to be plenty more ups and downs before these two finally get things right!

@Ginette1959- Thank you as always ;)

@kookookitty- lololol XD You continuously amuse me XD

Thanks for reading ~TheArtist