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Escalation of Hostilities
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Jareth watched Sarah lick the chocolate sauce from the surface of the plump, ripe strawberry; her eyes were closed and her pinkish tongue slowly flicked over the seeded skin, chocolate staining her lips. The very tip of her tongue swirled over and around the berry's pointed end and...OhGodsBelow...was she sucking on the fruit?
"I just adore chocolate covered strawberries, don't you, Jareth?" She faced him and he saw her lips moving, forming words but his brain lacked any comprehension. What did she say? Bloody hell, he'd better respond soon otherwise she'd think him a complete git. Just say something quick, old boy.
"Mmm...Yes...Quite..." He mumbled and nodded, staring at her lips and mentally groaned at the inanity of his response. No, she wouldn't think him a git, not at all. He remained unaware that her eyes sparkled; the berry twisting by its stem between her fingers as she dipped it in more sauce. Sarah brought the strawberry back to her mouth and resumed her ministrations. Jareth adjusted in his chair, his pants becoming acutely and intensely uncomfortable. This wager would be the death of him, of that he was certain as he ogled Sarah's mouth. The very mouth he desired so much to kiss, to fling the offending fruit from her, toss her upon the table and devour her, starting with those exquisite chocolate covered lips.
"Is something wrong?" She asked her voice oozing fake innocence as she leaned towards him and he jumped ever so slightly when he felt her hand slide up his thigh.
"No...No...Nothing." He strove for insouciant banter knowing he failed even as he heard the waver in his voice. Damn the woman, he internally fought between grinning and cringing; however did she manage to unsettle him so easily? He, an Immortal being with thousands of years of life experience unnerved by a Mortal female with merely one pointed stare or a single brush of her skin. Time to escalate his plans for the evening before Sarah pushed him beyond his self-control. He was determined to beat her at this game; not only would he drive her to give in to her desires first but she'd still beg him to return the favor. This time his grin was very public as his musings spread to his face, at least his doubts regarding whether she desired him or not were quite satisfyingly denounced.
"What are you grinning about?" The object of his ruminations asked with a great deal of suspicion. A silent, grinning Goblin King staring off into the void couldn't possibly be good for her long term mental health. Jareth's hand cupped his chin with his fingers curled inwards as he rested his elbow on the table leaning far into her personal space. His piercing gaze turned sultry and he reached over taking the strawberry from her hand and very deliberately dipped her fingertip into the chocolate sauce, which she allowed with a curious look at him.
"Why, Sarah, I'm grinning about all the delicious ideas your chocolate inspires." He pulled her finger to his lips quickly before any could escape in dribbles and claimed it with his mouth. Sarah gasped as nearly her entire first finger disappeared into Jareth's extremely warm, moist mouth accompanied by his excessively talented, swirling tongue. She felt the tip of said tongue lave every bit of her skin as he leisurely and ever so torturously withdrew her finger through his puckered lips. His eyes never left hers and she felt herself falling into their icy depths as she forgot to breathe in their waters. How long she stared into his eyes after he completed his sensual torment?...she wasn't sure but it was likely some time because her fingers were intertwined with his when Scott and Amanda interrupted them.
"Hey, Sss-arah! Amanda said you got here with your date! Glad to see you!" Scott slurred loudly as he stumbled into an extra chair at their table with Amanda reluctantly following behind to another chair. Sarah growled low in her throat and bared her teeth which only Jareth witnessed. He moved close into her space again, fingers still interlaced, and whispered conspiratorially.
"Patience, my Dear, we have all evening to test each other's mettle."
"That's what I'm afraid of." She whispered back sarcastically to which Jareth laughed aloud, throwing his head back and presenting a wide, happy smile. Scott obtrusively banged his highball glass on the table receiving disapproving glares from every occupant; Jareth, Sarah, Amanda, and three other persons unknown to Sarah.
"And you are?" Irritated by the rude action, Jareth haughtily addressed the dark haired, inebriated Scott.
"Scott McMahon," He stated briskly, tilting the majority of his upper body weight onto the table by his forearms and swirling the straight up, amber alcohol in his glass while meeting Jareth's eyes unafraid. Hmmm...Jareth considered the man presenting so obvious a challenge and decided that Scott McMahon was either very brave or very stupid. "I was supposed to be Sarah's date."
"Awesome." Amanda said flatly then added brutally, her arms crossed. "Really, Scott, I thought you were going to be a fun guy but once you started drinking all you've done is whine about Sarah. Seriously, let it go already." Scott ignored his date and chugged his drink. Sarah grimaced at the amount of alcohol he swallowed and wondered at how much he'd already consumed. She'd never seen him act in this manner; Scott was usually so polite and gracious that Sarah never would've agreed to attend with him or fix him up with Amanda if she'd known his penchant for over indulgence.
"Scott, don't you think you've had enough to drink?" Sarah firmly asked and he slammed the now empty glass upon the table again causing everyone to jump except Jareth and Sarah.
"Definitely not." He replied snidely although it rather sounded like 'definitely snot' due to his slurring and Amanda started laughing at her pathetic date which set Sarah off, than Jareth and the other table's inhabitants chuckled along with them, much to Scott's chagrin. "Stop laughing," He whined which only increased their laughter until Scott lost his composure, pushed from the table and stormed off leaving Amanda gratefully behind.
"What a loser. Amanda, I am so sorry I set you up with him. If I had any idea he was going to be such a jerk I would've never arranged it." Sarah placed her hand over her friend's and gave her a sincere look of apology. Amanda smiled and shrugged.
"It's okay, Sarah. You didn't know and honestly, if I had your friend to trade up for I would've dumped Scott, too."
"Mandy!"
"Seriously, you know you did, just admit it." Amanda's eye burned with humor as she flitted back and forth between the mortified face of her friend and Jareth's pleased one. "Besides, at least I finally got to experience firsthand this famous party you're always bragging about and...I think maybe I might have a shot at one of the super cute bartenders."
"Be careful." Sarah cautioned as Mandy had a way of getting herself into trouble.
"Don't worry,
mom, I drove myself tonight and I've barely drank anything."
"Okay, I just don't want to hear about a jogger finding your dead body on the 6am news tomorrow." Sarah teased.
"Spoilsport...Hey, Jareth, you show my girl a good time tonight." Amanda rose from her chair nodding in his direction, "I'm off to flirt with my bartender." Jareth nodded and smiled in return.
"I plan on doing that very thing, Amanda." He responded and watched as her cheerful friend strolled away leaving them with the three strangers at the table who attempted to maintain the appearance of indifference to the minor drama which just occurred. Suddenly perceptive of the audience they'd had since the strawberry incident Sarah decided an alternative location was required.
"You know the main exhibitions are open for the party...you want to go exploring?" She asked hopefully.
"Without question." Jareth's answer came rapidly upon her inquiry informing Sarah he was as eager to flee their spectators as she and en masse they stood from the table. They weaved their way through the crowd until they reached the main exhibition hall; holding hands they quickly strolled into the brightly lit hall finding several other people and couples admiring the displayed works.
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As they silently perused the artwork and sculptures Jareth slipped his arm around Sarah's back and gently pulled her to his side, his hand wrapped into the opposite curve of her waist, his fingers possessively curled into the cloth of her dress. A deep sense of security settled over Sarah and she rested her head against his shoulder. She'd dated plenty of men over the years before Jareth reentered her life and a few immediately after but none ever made her feel as safe or content as he did. Nor challenged her, angered her, entertained her, comforted her and any number of other amazing, frustrating things.
They came upon a large exhibit of Michelangelo Pistoletto's "mediterranean" tables that—according to the exhibit sign—'metaphorically represent the spaces that exist in the "middle of land", places whose in-between character provides a conceptual platform for conversation and exchanges across cultures.' The large, asymmetrical, often amoeba-like tables were strange conceptual art that neither Jareth nor Sarah truly cared for after staring at them at various angles for several minutes. Eventually they both shrugged and lost their countenances to outright laughter which brought disapproving frowns from several of the other patrons. They quickly left that area and continued their private tour elsewhere.
"Unusual consideration of artwork in this modern age." He remarked tilting his head towards her as they meandered through the museum.
"You don't care for abstract art?"
"It's not that. Pablo Picasso was a master artisan and a fascinating individual but the consideration of certain abstracts or conceptualism as art is quite unfathomable, take these utensils for example." Jareth pointed out the exhibit on the Alessi Company's kitchen objects.
"Alessi is considered the most innovative maker of kitchen utensils in the world." Sarah argued as he indicated a particular stainless steel teapot. "And you knew Picasso?"
"Yes, of course I knew him," He said nonchalantly unaware of her stunned expression. "But Sarah, it's a teapot from the modern age, why is it in an art museum?"
"Because some consider it art even if you don't. Picasso...
Really?" He faced her ignoring the offending teapot and grinned.
"
Really, I may have even engendered a bit of his inspiration a time or two." He said without a scrap of humility.
"Wow, that's kind of cool."
He approached her leaving the exhibit behind and cupped her face in his hands, running his thumbs over her cheeks. "I could show you the very essence of 'cool'." Jareth drew one hand down to her shoulder and watched her eyes flutter shut and her lips part which made him grin. 'Oh, my dear, not quite.' He thought. He moved his face down and around hers until his lips grazed her neck just below her jaw line and he could feel her pulse beat strongly beneath the delicate skin. He tasted her with only the tip of his tongue and heard her moan softly, her hands clutching at his forearms. Adding his teeth, Jareth bit her tenderly until he could feel the tendons of her neck quivering beneath the skin. Sarah's body jerked a bit and her head fell back until she opened her neck and shoulder completely to him.
"Oh, Jareth..." Oh God, his teeth, how'd he know? They felt exactly as she knew they would...focus...can't let him win. She sighed than he felt her hands reach for the buttons of his suit jacket, unfasten them and reveal his silken shirt to her attentions. Her warm, experienced hands roamed over his chest and he shivered when her nails scraped through the expensive fabric stimulating his sensitive skin.
"Sarah...my Sarah..." He murmured into her neck and moved upwards until he neared her face all rational thought fleeing, hands grasping her neck and back. His kissed her ear and jaw than moved to her cheekbone before drifting towards her mouth...and Sarah's lips beckoned him. Her eyes were closed; mouth barely open and he could just see the tip of her tongue as she licked the inner edge of her lips and tilted her face towards his. His very core begged him to ignore the blasted wager and make her his but his pride tossed ice water on his desire just as he was centimeters from touching her. Taking a deep breath and hard swallow, he backed away regretfully.
"Shall we continue our tour?" He said through a thick voice and Sarah's hazy green eyes snapped open in surprise.
"What?" She focused on Jareth now standing a few feet away and ground her teeth in frustration not entirely caused by her win slipping away.
"The exhibits, Precious, many more to admire." He teased snidely and held his hand out to her. Sarah let out a great 'argh' and ignoring his outstretched hand, stomped passed him with her head held high and her hands stiffly by her sides.
"You're an ass. Fine, let's go." She snapped over her shoulder as she briskly led the way further into the exhibit hall almost running down another couple around the next corner. Jareth jogged to catch up, nodding in apology to the shocked couple and seized Sarah's elbow, continuing to walk her along the gradually dimming hallway.
"Sarah," He hissed for her hearing only; he tired of her emotional outbursts when actions deviated from her intended path and decided a lesson was in order. "I don't appreciate your poor attitude towards our little game." He squeezed her elbow firmly to accentuate his point causing her to yank it from his grasp and spin towards him.
"Excuse me?
My poor attitude? You nearly lost to a Mortal and that just gets under your skin doesn't it?" She hissed back, her face contorted in passionate anger. Jareth heard more party goers approaching down the hall and decided this discussion entailed a private site. He gripped her elbow again and pulled her towards a side hall with a locked gate. Sarah unsuccessfully tried pulling away.
"What
are you doing? Let go, I'm not going in there with you!" Bodily she leaned away as Jareth waved his hand over the lock releasing its mechanism and dragged her through the moderately darker doorway, relocking it behind them.
"Will you hush until I can find us a suitable place of privacy?" He snapped still dragging her through the hallway until they were deeper into the dim lighting and away from the main exhibition hall, Sarah complaining and resisting the entire trip. Jareth spun her around and she stumbled, catching herself against a wall.
"What the hell?" She started to yell at him but he sprang forward and covered her mouth with his hand, pushing her back against the wall.
"Must you be so loud? I'm not going to harm you, Sarah." He released her mouth but remained near her. "But we do have unfinished business." His voice dropped an octave as he took notice of their proximity.
Sarah scowled, "Oh really?"
"Oh, yes. Do you know when I first tasted the
fruitcake I thought perhaps you might've tried to poison me." Jareth explained as he leaned bodily into her, one hand braced against the wall next to her head.
"Poison? Oh...Well...I know fruitcakes are vile but poisonous?" She said sheepishly, "Besides, you're healthy; so what's your point?"
He gave her a wan smile, "Sarah, do you know the punishment for attempted regicide?" Jareth's eyes hooded and he waited for her reaction.
Sarah's brows furrowed, "Attempted regicide? You must be kidding." She responded sarcastically, her head tilting towards his hand flat against the wall.
"Oh no, Precious, this is a serious matter. The usual punishment is death." Eyes agog, Sarah stared at him waiting for an admission of a joke. Jareth's smile became a grin, "However, I suppose I can make an exception this time and think of a more creative punishment for you." He snapped the fingers of his free hand and his riding crop appeared in his grasp drawing Sarah's worried gaze.
"W—what are you going to do with that?" She heard her voice stutter, unable to take her eyes off the stick with the leather flap on one end.
"Why...I'm going to punish you." He grinned and the points of his sharp teeth glinted in the low light. Jareth moved the leather flap end of the riding crop close to her face and down to her neck where he pressed the hardened flap edge to her skin, brushing it down towards the small notch at the apex of her sternum. "Yes, I'm going to punish you quite soundly, my Dear." He repeated his voice painting visions of sultry pleasures in Sarah's imagination as he bent his head to the opposite side of her neck and commenced to nibble as earlier. Sarah felt her muscles lose tone and strength, only Jareth's body pressing her to the wall keeping her upright. Jareth shifted his body allowing just enough space between them and she felt the leather flap travel from her upper sternum, down her cleavage and over her left breast where the hard leather edge grazed her taut nipple through her dress sending shockwaves of lust throughout her body.
"Uhhhmmmm..." She moaned torn between shoving him from her and attacking him full force.
"Yessss..."He murmured into her ear, "You desire this as much as I don't you Sarah?" Jareth persisted on dragging the riding crop lower pressing it firmly to her through her clothing. He moved it until it descended passed the length of her mid-thigh dress than ran the leather along her the skin of her outer thigh before slapping her once, lightly. Sarah jumped, startled, her eyes winking wide open. He withdrew from her neck to examine the effect and saw the lust hazing her eyes.
"Yes, you do like this don't you, my Dear?" He asked again and she nodded silently meeting his gaze. Jareth moved the riding crop around to the inside of her thighs and slowly began to move it back upwards underneath the edge of her dress. Sarah arched her back and whimpered, her eyes still locked with his. Until that moment she'd kept her hands clenched firmly at her sides afraid of what she'd do if she allowed them any motion. Now she ignored that caution and grabbed Jareth's shirt ripping it open to expose his pale chest, mother of pearl buttons scattering, and trailed kisses from his chest upwards towards his neck. Jareth growled in response to Sarah's attack, dropped the whip and grabbed her shoulders, pushing her from his neck to face her squarely, their eyes focusing upon each other. Seconds ticked by as they remained frozen by one another's intense gaze, lips inches apart, both straining towards and apart like magnets unable to decide which poles to allow dominance.
Then as one voice they spoke together, "Draw?" And before either could answer their mouths crashed together, their first kiss made unimaginably passionate by their evening's mounting frustration. Several minutes passed until Jareth spoke between hurried kisses, "My place or yours?"
"Yes," Was all she managed to gasp as he reclaimed her lips before teleporting them to her home. He assumed their first night of intimacy would be better received by her at her own home. As an afterthought he also teleported their coats to her home before his mind became too distracted. Later, Amanda would speculate as to when they actually departed the museum since she never saw them leave but their coats were no longer checked.
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Early the next morning Sarah awoke to a very content looking Goblin King watching her with something akin to adoration in his pale blue eyes. She smiled and snuggled closer with her chin upon his chest.
"Well, that was...amazing...and definitely worth the wait." She said and he returned a sincere smile to her compliment.
"A shared sentiment I assure you." He craned his neck to bestow a chaste kiss upon her lips which she returned then bite at her lower lip thoughtfully.
"What are you thinking, Precious?"
"I was just wondering what your wish would've been if you'd won last night."
A loving smile softened his features and he reached up to caress her face. "I've already received my wish."
And Sarah blushed before replying. "I guess we both got our wishes after all." Then a mischievous glint surfaced in her eyes, "But I still didn't lose by begging you to kiss me."
Jareth's eyes glinted mischievous as well, "Perhaps not but I do you recall you begging me last night for something else, my Dear." To which Sarah sputtered and stammered and blushed but was unable to deny his assertion. Eventually he made up for his tease by never making her beg again.
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tbc
