Disclaimer: Still not mine, and they're still sighing in relief that they're not.

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-Chapter Two-

He stood, masked in the darkness and the storm, awaiting her reply with a graceful patience she envied. The very air shimmered, alive with magic, and it stirred something deep inside her.

Despite the odd feeling burning in the pit of her stomach, Sarah didn't look up. It wasn't fear, not exactly. She didn't know what it was. "No. Leave us be." How had the words come out right?

She could feel the slight pressure change in the air as he drifted forward, hear the rustle of his heavy cloak as he knelt before her. The smell, the pure *feeling* of him was nearly overwhelming. She'd been far from him these ten months, had not once felt the sharp tingle down her spine as his presence flooded the room and settled around her, warm and dark and opulent.

God, but she had missed it.

"Leave you alone on a night such as this?" he inquired softly, barely a foot away. Too close. She'd either suffocate or break like this. The warmth of his body was sweet and inviting, a half-terrifying caress against her frozen form. If he touched her - no!

"If you don't mind, please," she managed, somehow not choking on the words. Silly, childish words. Spoken by a silly child - or was she? Did age even matter anymore? Years, days, months, all had vanished into a colorfully swirled nothingness she couldn't begin to comprehend.

Another low chuckle rumbled through his slender frame and buzzed pleasantly against her skin. He felt so...

"Sarah, Sarah," he chided, amusement lurking within the velvet tones of his intoxicating voice, "Such a foolish little girl."

She finally raised her head to answer his unspoken challenge. Her breath caught despite herself. Beautiful as ever, but had she expected any less? Draped in shadow, pale hair cascading down his collar and teasing his brilliant eyes, lips curled in a devastating grin - breathtakingly perfect.

"Foolish, perhaps," she replied slowly, clear gaze fixed evenly on his mischiveous one, "but not stupid."

"No," he acknowledged, tilting his head slightly to regard the babe in her arms. "Not stupid, little one."

A scream from below.

She flinched involuntarily. Jareth watched her with the lazy patience of a jungle predator, raising an elegrant brow when she looked away.

"Why do you resist me so?" he inquired slowly, one darkly-gloved hand drifting up to tangle in her hair. Soft, so very soft, the leather supple and warm as it just barely brushed her delicate skin.

How dare he!? "I have to. I know what you want." Her voice didn't tremble as her enfuriated gaze swept back to meet his. He released her just as gently, folding his hands under his chin, posture teasing.

"Is what I want so horrid?" he asked playfully, a coy smile on his handsome face, seductive in the dark.

She didn't have to think. "Yes."

The silence was far too still now. Below, dimly, she could hear the din start up again, useless shrieks and vicious words. Here, the storm was silenced by the power of its master; here was danger, not like down there, where the only threat was the loss of your soul.

She stared up into glimmering, knowing eyes. Even though her heart was heavy and black as the night outside, it skipped.

No, here she would lose herself and the child, and where would she be then?

Thick lashes swept low, shading the vibrancy in darker shadow, so that only their wild, inhuman glitter pierced through. "With me," he invited, voice low and purring.

Her lips firmed. "No."

He tossed his beautiful hair back and laughed, the sound silken and menacing. "Oh, child," he chortled, deftly seizing her by the chin and forcing her eyes to his, "To try so very hard...."

She crushed Toby against her chest. "Go," she spat.

Unsurprisingly, he raised a mocking eyebrow and gave a delicate snort.

Then, surprisingly, he kissed her.

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Response:

Abyss Demon: Thank you! I'm considering expanding it - maybe.

LadySorrow: Thank you! Yes, I'm continuing. There will be at least one more chapter after this. :)

Email: mjalta@yahoo.com

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