Of Wagers between Friends
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After Sarah retrieved her heavy, wool, trench coat from her closet, Jareth teleported them directly to the outskirts of the party's location; sometime during the travel a very stylish black, leather, trench coat appeared on him completing their look. Sarah hid a small smile at his weakness to vanity. He did nothing second class, but then when you possessed the ability to create whatever you wanted why should you?
Sarah's law firm won an especially important case earlier in the year and chose to reward the entire firm by reserving an extraordinary party location, even by their usual standards; the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Once she'd learned of the setting she couldn't wait to attend since the Museum of Art was one of her favorite hang outs; a place she'd taken Jareth to several times the past few years and he too had enjoyed it immensely.
As they regally walked up the vast entrance stairway—the very same that the movie character Rocky Balboa ran during his training and a bit of trivia that prompted her showing Jareth all the Rocky movies after she tried to explain after their first visit—Sarah realized a vital bit of information.
"Jareth?" She said sweetly, her heels clacking on the concrete steps.
He leaned his head towards her, all casual grace and elegance. "Yes?"
"When I win the wager what is my prize?"
He laughed lightly, "So sure of victory, my Dear?"
"I like to plan ahead." Sarah batted her eyelashes and presented a saccharine smile which gained her another laugh from Jareth.
"What would you like?" He asked in an indulgent tone.
"A wish." She stated firmly.
His brows arched, "One wish? For anything? My...You have expensive tastes." He tightened his grip upon her arm. "I know how rich your wishes tend to be, Precious." Sarah glanced away for a moment considering before reclaiming his gaze.
"How about upping the ante for said wish then?" Her eyes were playful but her voice was serious. Jareth froze mid-step forcing Sarah to stop as well and turned to face her, a slow smirk stretching his lips and those sharp teeth of his causing her to shiver again. What would they feel like against her neck?
"I adore the way you think, Sarah Williams. Exactly what do you have in mind?"
Sarah moved closer until their bodies pressed together, their arms caught between, "In addition to the original wager, whoever of us to is the first to voluntarily kiss," she teased one finger of her free hand lightly across his lips catching his lower one with the tip of her painted nail. "...the other
on the lips before the end of this evening...loses. And grants the other one wish." Jareth's eyes narrowed, his pupils dilated, and his nostrils flared but he gave no other indication that her touch affected him. "Are you
up to the challenge, Goblin King?"
"Sarah," Jareth lunged his face forward slightly catching the tip of her finger between his teeth, running the sharp tips over the sensitive skin before releasing her. He watched her eyes dilate in return as she felt a spark radiate from her finger to her body. "You'll find I'm
up to any challenge, especially from you."
"I'll take that as yes then." She managed to say through her dry mouth.
"Indeed." He smirked before turning away from her and resuming their climb, her arm still firmly wrapped in the crook of his elbow. Sarah had little choice but to follow his lead as her rational mind rebooted from the feel of his teeth scraping her finger. Too think such a small touch could send her nervous system into safe mode; how far would he go and how long could she resist? Suddenly, Sarah regretted upping the ante on the bet realizing that if she lost he would never allow her to forget. But, oh what a way to lose!
The top of the stairs brought them to the beautifully decorated main entrance to the museum; hundreds of small, white lights twisted with natural evergreen garland adorned each corner of the building. The fresh smell of pine drifted over them and Sarah breathed deeply, enjoying the crisp, festive air. Jareth watched as Sarah closed her eyes and partook of the fragrant atmosphere, a tiny, open smile gracing her lips.
So beautiful his Sarah and not only in appearance, he admired so many of her traits—the ability to take joy in the moment one of them. He gently released her arm, reached up, and traced the shell of her ear with his fingers, twinning them in her loose, dark curls. So beautiful. Her eyes caught his in blatant admiration as she turned to face him, their breaths quickened and they froze staring at one another. Jareth's fingers brushed her cheek and they both leaned incrementally closer.
"Sarah..." He whispered. Her lips parted.
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"Sarah. Hey, Sarah!" They jerked apart, the spell broken by a woman's voice calling her from the entrance. Her friend Amanda walked up to them, shivering as her coat was already checked inside and she wore a sleeveless dress. "Finally, I've been wondering when you'd get here. Scott and I arrived a bit early, almost an hour ago and he's already deep into the alcohol."
Sarah gave Jareth a sheepish grin and pivoted towards her friend. "Hi, Mandy, how's the party so far?"
"The party's great, my date is so-so. What'd you do...kill his puppy?" Amanda asked as she ushered them towards the door eager to be out of the cold.
"Sorry, remember I told you about my mix-up. Well, this is my originally planned escort, Jareth Noble." Sarah introduced Jareth by nodding towards him while they entered the museum. Amanda's eyebrows rose and eyes widened once she really focused on Jareth rather than Sarah. She offered her hand and a very, bright smile.
"Pleasure to meet you, Jareth."
Jareth grasped Amanda's hand and rather than shaking it as she expected he turned it palm down, bowed and brushed a light kiss over her knuckles. "The pleasure is all mine, I assure you." He purred before releasing her hand and sneaking a peek at Sarah's reaction which could only be described as green.
"Oh...wow..." Amanda said in a husky voice.
Sarah slipped off her trench coat and thrust it roughly at Jareth's chest forcing him to scramble to catch it before it fell. "Why don't you check our coats,
Jareth."
"My pleasure,
Sarah." He answered with gritted teeth and walked to the coat check desk with a pointed glare at her over his shoulder. Amanda huddled with her friend and quietly asked about him.
"How long have you known him? I don't remember meeting him before."
Sarah shrugged, "Oh, for years and years but he lives out of town and I don't always know when he'll pop in."
"Geez, Sarah, you said he's just a friend, right?"
"Yep, just a friend." She said but somehow when she said it out loud even she didn't quite believe it.
"Well, if I were you I'd change that pronto cause he's prime real estate." Amanda whistled softly.
"He's not property, Mandy! Get a grip." Sarah shook her head but couldn't cease watching Jareth's backside as he finished speaking with the coat clerk. The double breasted Armani suit did drape him perfectly.
"Oh, really...you don't think so?" Amanda gave her a skeptical look and crossed her arms. "Well, if you don't think so I'm sure there's a woman somewhere that does." Sarah gave her friend a sharp look and her last words bounced in her ears.
"Ladies," Jareth approached them with both elbows extended and an overly pleased expression coating his face, "may I?"
"Why thank you!" Amanda eagerly looped her arm in his while Sarah joined with his opposite arm with a distinctive lack of enthusiasm.
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A gigantic, glittering Christmas tree dominated the center of the museum lobby surrounded by numerous tables, several bars and in the background Sarah saw the elaborate buffet. She rapidly counted easily over two hundred people in attendance; clustered throughout in smaller, more intimate groups and from one corner tasteful live holiday music played by a string quartet which drifted delicately over the open room.
"Where's your date, Mandy?" Sarah asked, Jareth swore he heard a touch of spite...was it...in her voice. 'So cruel,' he thought with glee.
"I left him at one of the bars earlier." Amanda waved her hand about randomly and Jareth decided he'd better intervene before Amanda became an ex-friend and perhaps headless, too.
"Let's locate him, shall we?" He purred at Amanda adding a touch of magic to the suggestion, happy to see her eyes fog a bit.
"Yeah...let's locate him." Amanda answered in a sing song voice causing Sarah to look over his shoulder at her friend then glare at him.
"What did you do to her?" She accused pulling her arm from his. Jareth released both woman and lightly pushed Amanda off the direction she wanted to walk, then faced Sarah.
"Nothing harmful or permanent, Precious, just a bit of a suggestion to gain our privacy." He stepped close to her, "You do prefer privacy or am I mistaken?" He quirked one eyebrow and she huffed and rolled her eyes.
"Whatever, fine, as long as she'll be alright."
"I swear it." He placed a hand over his heart and bowed his head slightly prompting another eye roll from Sarah.
"Oh brother, I need a drink." She spun and stomped away towards the nearest open bar, Jareth trailing behind her. The bartenders were efficient and the cash bar served a limited selection so Sarah was able to receive service immediately. Sarah leaned on the edge, her elbows on the bar top and ordered a rum and coke determined to shake off the last few minutes. A warm hand placed itself flat against the small of her back; a motion which normally would cause her to react badly but she knew only one person who'd dare touch her so intimately tonight and she refused to flinch.
The hand, fingers spread, slowly moved up her spine bringing the extreme warmth with it and chills sprung up in its wake; chills which quickly turned to tingles racing over her skin and ending at her most sensitive spots. The hand reached her shoulder blades and moved under hair to her neck and then he spoke just inches from her ear.
"Please order another drink for me as well, Sarah." His voice was silky smooth and she felt his breath on her skin as he violated her personal space and placed a subtle lick just under her ear, causing her to jump in surprise. The bartender grinned at their display as he presented her drink and Sarah tried to act nonchalant, afraid her voice might crack.
"Another rum and coke, please." She requested.
"There's she is! My star, up and coming attorney." Sarah twirled; drink in hand, to face her boss.
"Mr. Montgomery!" Her face felt hot and prickly and she downed a quick gulp before speaking further.
"Ms. Williams, how are you enjoying the party?" Mr. Montgomery was a bulky, older man with salt and pepper hair and a constant cheerfulness which most suspected to be pharmaceutical in nature; at least it made for a pleasure working environment.
She gulped her rum, "It's great, very lovely, the best so far!" She gushed and Jareth tried to restrain his smirk.
"And who's your young man?" Mr. Montgomery asked causing Sarah to choke on her drink, a coughing fit raking her lungs. Jareth immediately took her drink and placed it at a safe distance on the bar then touched a hand to her back releasing a bit of magic to ease her breathing.
"Goodness, Sarah, are you alright?" Her boss asked his face sincerely concerned.
"Yes...yes...I'm okay." She gasped out, her breathing quickly improving and she shot Jareth a suspicious glare. Jareth turned to her boss and held out a hand.
"I'm an old friend of Sarah's, Jareth Noble." He introduced himself and Mr. Montgomery gripped his hand giving it a firm shake.
"Good to meet you, Mr. Noble. Our Sarah, she's a prize isn't she?"
Jareth's eye's narrowed slightly before releasing the other man's hand, "Yes...Quite."
"Well, it was great to see you, Mr. Montgomery." Sarah added with a brilliant smile and fervent wish for him to scram.
"Don't forget to enjoy the buffet; we went all out this year." Her boss urged.
"Oh, we will definitely."
"Most assuredly, delightful to have met you." Jareth smiled showing his teeth and her boss's smiled faltered for a second before it returned in force.
"We'll talk more later, Williams, enjoy and Merry Christmas!" Mr. Montgomery waved as he strolled away and Sarah raised her drink in goodbye. Jareth had picked up his own drink and tossed back half needing the liquid courage to face more of her insipid co-workers. Sarah guessed his reasoning.
"They're not all that bad." She said as she indicated for him to follow her away from the bar.
"I suspect I'll discover they're worse." He groused taking another swig.
"Hey, you're the one who wanted to come to this thing, don't complain to me if you don't like the attendees!" Sarah threw back at him and he frowned.
"You're correct. I retract my statement."
Sarah stopped walking, "Wait...what? You admit you're wrong?"
Sighing, Jareth stopping walking and faced her, "A rare occurrence but it has been known to happen." She laughed at his embarrassment which reddened his face further.
"Must you enjoy my discomfort so much?"
"Sorry, how 'bout I buy you dinner?" She nodded towards the buffet and he followed.
