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Slips of the Tongue
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Watching Sarah hug her friend goodbye for the night while he stood apart gave Gerard a strange sense of disconnection. Actually, the detachment started prior to dinner and worsened during Todd's comprehensive, aromatic account of the water treatment plant, otherwise known as the Bog to him and his co-workers. Todd Evans, the officious fellow, made Gerard's skin itch which escalated to nearly algetic at the touch of hands.
Throughout the evening, he sensed Todd viewing him as if he were a criminal set to besiege the lovely, yet quite perilous, Sarah. He wondered if Todd knew of Sarah's preliminary attack upon his person, however unintended; but suspected the man cared naught for the opening salvo, only for any impairment of Sarah. Well and good, then...all very well and good. Gerard saw Todd's guarded eyes tracing him over his shoulders after he and Kathy waved their final farewell. Gerard offered the retreating Todd a gracious nod. Todd finally turned away slowly.
"Do you think that went well, Gerard?"
"Yes, I believe so, luv." He kept his voice upbeat while they turned and walked in the opposite direction.
"Todd and Kathy are great. I've known them for years and just adore them."
" Hmm, charming couple." He smiled, taking her hand in his as they strolled through the night air; numerous other couples and late night groups bustling around them on the sidewalk.
"But I can't believe he told that old story about the Bog again, at dinner no less!"
"He does that often, then?"
It's called the Bog of Eternal Stench. The sharp pain revisited Gerard's skull as the phrase echoed in his thoughts. '
Bog of Eternal Stench...sounds fitting for the man who dare threaten me,' he thought then added,
'This reminds me too much of Sarah's Goblin King story, but I would enjoy tossing the man into his own Bog.' "No, he hasn't told that story in years; don't know why he did tonight," she said bemused and shrugging, "He knows how much it disgusts me, although I've never really told him why."
"Perhaps he undertook a protective role for your benefit."
If she ever kisses you...His headache amplified, the pain changing from a sharp point between his eyes to a rolling throb when that phrase came to mind. The thought of anyone else kissing his Sarah; Gerard gritted his teeth in pain and jealously. Lost in contemplation of the concrete, Sarah missed his grimace.
"You think so? Todd did seem a bit older-brotherish tonight."
"Sarah, your friends care for you a great deal. It's only right they look to your best interests."
I'll make you a Prince of the Land of Stench... 'Yes, rule in your Bog of Stench, Todd Evans. You think to command me? I will treat Sarah as a queen with or without your approval.' Gerard's eyes pinched at another new spike of pain before Sarah pulled him to a stop facing him. He swiftly recovered, hiding his distress.
"Gerard, did Todd say something to you?"
"Why do you ask, luv?" he said doing his best to sound insensible to any undercurrent of drama.
"Because you're trying so hard to defend him, and I could tell the two of you were hardly what I'd call friendly all evening. You know," Sarah squeezed his hand a bit tighter, "I don't expect you to be best friends."
"He's only alarmed that you may get hurt, as any good friend should be." He placed his hands to either side of her face, his thumbs caressing her upper cheekbones, "Sarah, I would never knowingly harm you, especially after you've given me another chance. You do believe me, don't you?"
Studying his face for any difficulty and finding her answer she said, "I do believe you, although I can't explain why. It just feels right. Is that crazy?"
"No, luv, it's not crazy." He kissed her, rapidly progressing it to more than a peck before he rested his forehead to hers, "And I thank the gods everyday that I met you."
"You mean God."
"What?" he said moving his head backwards to see her fully.
"You thank God everyday that we met, right?"
"Yes, of course, that's what I said."
"No," she gave him an odd look, "You said 'thank the gods'. You practice some strange, ancient religion you need to tell me about?" She chuckled awkwardly.
Gerard laughed, took her hand, and continued walking, "Don't be daft, luv. Stuffy ole' Church of England once my parents divorced and I was dragged back to London. Perhaps I'm becoming more open-minded since meeting you, hmm?" He winked, flashing his killer grin and Sarah couldn't help her brain melting, just a tad, under the blitz of that much raw sexuality aimed at her.
"Right, probably just a slip of the tongue."
"Tongue...mmm...I know what I'd rather be doing with my tongue, my sweet, delicious Sarah." He smirked, curling said tongue behind his teeth and watched her eyes dilate, her breathing accelerate.
The walk, or rather jog, back to her apartment took twenty minutes which was exactly five minutes less than the initial walk to the restaurant. En route Sarah repeatedly thanked her guardian angel that she wore flats instead of the dead sexy, three inch heels she mulled over than rejected. Not because she worried about offending Gerard's sense of masculine vertical achievement—they would've been close to a height—she just preferred experiencing the joys of not having sore and achy feet. Really...that was all.
Another few minutes wasted at the first door, building entry hall, and then her door as she fumbled the keys again. He didn't help with his body pressed to hers from behind, his gifted lips...
and don't forget tongue...doing all sorts of things to her neck and ears that were probably illegal in certain backwater states while his hands shimmied their way under the front of her shirt.
"Open, damn it, open," she cursed at her stubborn door. Her skin felt too tight and the temperature in the hallway rose several degrees.
"Allow me," Gerard said, his voice purring in her ear. His hands encompassed hers and self-confidently assisted with the lock, the click vibrating in her hand.
"Shall we?" He said his lips grazed her neck and shooting electricity down her spine. Nodding mutely, Sarah pushed open the door and Gerard followed closely behind, his hands in close contact with her hips. She heard him shut the door and engage the lock. Really, he knew her front door better than her by now. She barely dropped her purse to the floor when he spun her in place and shoved her against her entryway wall.
"Jer, what-"she managed to say before his mouth covered hers, that tongue slipping in between her lips. Having envisioned making it to her bed this time, Sarah pushed at his shoulders until he released her.
"Allow me this, Sarah. I've imagined doing this very thing since our first morning together."
"Alright..." She nodded, uncertain what she agreed to but melting at the kindled lust in his eyes; and then Gerard sank leisurely to his knees, his open palms fondling her through her clothes until they reached the bottom edge of her dress. Groaning, she arched her hips from the wall as he pushed the gauzy material upwards exposing her bare legs.
"You smell delicious," he said burying his face to the apex of her thighs, his teeth nibbling at her through the satin of her panties. When he hooked his thumb through the elastic and tugged downwards, she braced herself with her hands flat to the wall. The feel of the satin delicately scraping over her inflamed skin made her shiver and moan.
"That's right, luv, lift your leg for me." Gerard guided one leg free then draped it over his shoulder before running his hands back up both legs, every movement slow, deliberate.
"Oh, God, Jer..."
"Relax; put your weight on me. I'll be here for you." He whispered, French kisses trailing his hands and both ending where she throbbed. He shifted to angle her legs wider and Sarah watched his blonde head as he descended upon her. Once the flat of his tongue contact her spread labia, Sarah jerked; her head fell back to the wall with a thud and her eyes fluttered shut. How she stood on her one quivering leg she couldn't remember later because all she felt was Gerard's tongue swirling, lapping and probing at her most sensitive skin.
Her flavor...his Sarah! Pure heaven, ambrosial nectar of the gods as he imagined; and every touch and taste of her made his manhood painfully harder, but determined to pleasure her first, he denied his own needs. The feel of her shuddering muscles and moisture coating his hand and mouth; the sound of her moans, whimpers, and gasps were nearly his undoing as he worked his wiles upon her. When he added a finger, then two inside of her snug channel and curled them forward she bucked into his face, her hands flying from the wall to grip his hair.
"Oh, p-please..." So close, in less than a week and already he knew her body better than his own, and she was so close...just a few more plunges.
"Jer! Oh,
God!" Her muscles clamped his fingers as his tongue flicked a final few times. He felt her body go slack as his supported the majority of her weight.
"Don't move, Sarah." Sarah mumbled something unintelligible. Meanwhile, he quickly unbuckled, dropped his pants, and stood, maneuvering, and picking Sarah up until her legs wrapped around his waist. With one efficient thrust, Gerard seated himself to the hilt causing her to tighten her grip around his torso, her hands to claw his shoulders, and her eyes to pop open.
"Yes, yes!"
"Sarah," he hips pumped rhythmically, "precious," his strength pressing her to the wall, he buried his face in her neck, "won't..." he braced one hand behind her and held her up with the other, "last..." his panting timed with hers, her ankles digging into the back of his thighs as he drove into her, "long..." she moaned, he felt her reaching another climax and gave his last deep thrusts before they both fell over the precipice. Sarah bucked against him and nearly dropped her. The muscles in his legs failing, he collapsed to his knees with her wedged safely between him and wall.
Getting her breathing back under control, Sarah raised her head from his shoulder. He brushed sweat dampened hair from her eyes and kissed her. She gifted him with a weak but happy smile.
"Better, then?"
"Oh yeah, much."
Laughing softly, his own face shining with perspiration, Gerard rested his head on her opposing shoulder and listened to their matching, racing heartbeats.
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The narrow stone path crumbled in his wake compelling him to boost his running speed, his lithe legs stretching for longer strides. A black void awaited him below if he slowed, a void waiting to devour all that he was. He had to escape!
'Must go faster, must go faster, faster, faster...' Gerard chanted to himself. The path extended ahead of him: its gradual slant endlessly spiraling upward to a vital conclusion. His salvation of unknown origin awaited him, but time was at a premium. If he fell, if he slowed...
'Don't think about that just run, you'll make it!' No dwelling on the unalterable, only actions mattered now; the past an immutable painting to be admired, scrutinized, and analyzed at a later time. Focusing on the path at his feet, he didn't look up and ran into a person; their collision knocking him off balance he flung his hands out grasping someone's shoulder's as he meet the shocked eyes of...
"Sarah..."
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Sarah awoke to a racing heart and an empty bed; she sensed Gerard's missing presence. Sitting up in the dark, she stretched to turn on her lamp confirming her solitude. Feeling the bed sheets, she realized they were cool; he'd left awhile ago and this thought disconcerted more than any other.
"Gerard?" Flipping the cover back, she stepped, naked, out of bed in search of him. Nothing...
She flipped on her overhead bedroom light then checked the bathroom, still nothing. A shuffling from the living room attracted her attention.
"Jer?" Walking through her bedroom doorway into the darkened room beyond, Sarah eyes adjusted to the gloom until the edges of her couch, bookcases, table, chairs and... A man resolved from the night.
"Gerard? What are you doing?" she asked him from the far side of the room, he didn't answer and even in the dark she could tell his back faced her. Naked, he stood at the balcony window, his hands pressed to the glass with his body weight leaning forward. The glow of the streetlights and blinking neon set off the silhouette of his body and spiky hair. The reflected colors acutely reminded her of his Jarethness, and his otherworldly beauty clawed at her lungs. Cautiously she walked closer, around her couch, and approached him from behind. Her arm outstretched, trembling fingers questing, she brushed the tips along his shoulder blade.
"Sarah..." he whispered then twisted around and grasped her shoulders in his hands, his nails digging into her skin. She yelped in surprise and pain. Gerard's eyes blazed at her through the gloom.
"Turn back, Sarah," he shook her lightly to emphasize, his voice harsh and demanding, "turn back before it's too late."
"How do you know..." she asked in a strident tone, her hands clawing at his bare chest leaving behind red abrasions, "Jareth?" Sarah leaned closer, inspecting his eyes. They appeared glazed and faraway. "
Who are you?" she demanded, tears streaming down her face before ducking her head, sobbing quietly. "Why are you doing this to me?"
"Sarah," Gerard said, his voice sounding normal again, but distressed, "Sarah, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" She looked back up and his eyes peered directly at her, focused and clear.
"Don't you remember?"
"Remember what?" Gerard's brows furrowed and pinched above his nose as he regarded her earnestly. "What happened?"
"Oh God,
oh God..." The uncontrollable shaking started in her legs and traveled upwards until only Gerard's strength held her upright. Was she losing her sanity? Everything cluttered and fogged her mind. She wanted to believe, to believe in him but the things he said, the things he did, how he acted occasionally...
"You're alright, I've got you, it'll be okay," he murmured into ear, his arms tight around her as she cried and trembled. As he comforted her, he gradually realized he stood nude in her living room without any memory of how he got there.
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The next day Sarah called in sick again, this time she truly felt out of sorts, they both did. Neither came to any rational explanation for the bizarre incident the night before, and decided to drop the matter for the present. Especially after Sarah suggested a trip to the hospital for one or both of them since it obviously sparked the beginnings of an epic fight, and neither like the thought of hospitals or fights.
They did, afterall, have plans to meet Cassie for
another double date tonight, ironic and annoying, but Sarah could hardly complain and she did want to meet his sister. So, Gerard ran back to Cassie's to grab personal items and a few changes of clothes as they planned to spend the day sleeping, talking, and generally enjoying each other at Sarah's. While Gerard left to run his errand, Sarah immediately called Kathy for the requisite girl-to-girl post date analyzing discussion and break-down of possible relationship pit-falls.
"So...what'da think?" Sarah hardly allowed Kathy to answer her phone before launching the all important question.
"Sarah, hey, where's Gerard?"
"He ran over to his sister's for a bit, but he'll be back soon. So...answer the question, what'da guys think?" Sarah didn't bother to hide the eagerness from her voice.
"Well, he seemed nice enough."
"But?" She didn't particularly care for Kathy's noncommittal tone.
"It's just..."
"What?" She said with a nervous laugh. Geez, Kathy sounded so grave. What could she be possibly withholding?
"Sarah," big rushing sigh over the phone receiver, "during dinner Todd got a weird vibe from Gerard."
"A weird vibe? What's that supposed to mean?"
"He's not sure but we wanted to warn you just in case of...well...just in case."
"Just in case of what?" Sarah said hearing how defensive her voice sounded and tried to remind herself that this was her friend,
her best friend, and Kathy would never say anything without good reason. Forcibly restraining her impulse to snap at her, Sarah kept her mouth shut and listened.
"Look, I don't know exactly, just a feeling. We love you, Sarah, and we just want you to be okay. I'd rather tell you this than not."
"Alright," she said tersely, "considered me warned."
"Sarah, I'm sorry..."
"No, it's okay, really. Look...um... Kathy, I'll talk to you later."
"Sure, call me."
"I will. Bye."
"Bye."
Hanging up the phone, Sarah frowned in dismay. She and Kathy never had awkward conversations, and she couldn't remember the last time they disagreed on anything more than where to eat lunch. A very uncomfortable feeling settled in her chest as she replaying their conversation. What type of vibe did Todd sense? Why didn't he mention it last night? How serious should she take this? Was this related to Gerard's strange behavior? Or was she the one losing her grip on reality? Anxiety made her bite her lower lip, and she wished Gerard was present to kiss it all away because she now knew she needed him and this knowledge both comforted and frightened her.
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"Cassie?" Gerard knocked on his sister's bedroom door knowing she dwelled within since her purse lie tossed on her entryway table. "Cassie, please open the door." A few moments passed then it cracked and her surly face peeked through.
"Yeah?"
"Hey, I'm sorry about yesterday."
"Which part? The part where you acted like an arse or the part where you refused to take care of yourself for your family's sake?"
"You know how much a dislike hospitals."
"But if there's something wrong...
"I'm fine, Cassie. Just stress, I swear." He said using his best wheedling and flirt-appropriately-with-your-sister eyes.
"Oh, shit, Jer, don't look at me like that!" Cassie flung open her door and shoved him in the chest causing him to stumble backwards. Smirking, he knew he'd gotten passed her defenses. "Geez, you're hopeless, you know that? You'll likely suffer a massive stroke then I'll be then one to deliver the bad news to Mum and Dad."
He slung his arm around her shoulders pulling her tight to his side, "I'm not dying anytime soon."
"No, with my luck you'll be permanently disabled and I'll have to play live-in nurse for your sorry arse for the rest of your life."
"Forgive me?" He asked kissing her temple.
"Only if you promise to see a doctor if it happens again."
"I promise," he said as he pulled her into a bear hug. Cassie wrapped her arms around his torso resting her head under his chin.
"I know lots of great docs, Jer. You'll be well cared for, just say the word."
"If and when, luv...if and when you'll be the first to know." If felt good to be back in her good graces again, he loathed fighting with his sister, but due to their dominant personalities they often disagreed. Yet they always made up, always came through stronger and closer siblings. He was thankful for that.
"You still up for going out tonight? Jeff got us reservations at this trendy new place."
"Yeah alright, luv. I was hoping you'd say that." He stepped from their embrace, "I've come for some things then I'm off to Sarah's for the day."
"Oh...I see."
"You don't mind, do you?"
"No, no, it's okay." She smiled, "I'm chuffed you guys are hitting it off."
"Then let me just grab my kit and I'll see you tonight, yeah?"
"Yeah, okay." Cassie nodded releasing her brother with a small smile. She couldn't upset him while he looked so happy, but she was disappointed, jealous even if she dared admit it. For so long she worshiped Gerard, the perfect older brother and friend; made it damn difficult to find a permanent boyfriend when you compared every male to him. Her whole life he flitted from one female to the next and she never feared his settling down until now. Even vapid Melinda held no true threat other than bruising his heart. This Sarah Williams was changing their entire world and it scared Cassie to the depths of her soul.
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From her place outside and untouched by mortal measurements of life, Aphrodite studied the cycles of time and dimension in order to find the perfect point to reestablish the timeline; it must be seamless. None, specifically Zeus, must sense her changes else he might tamper further. A delicate task...altering time whilst nudging free will in the proper direction.
Many believed that destiny and fate were incontrovertible. So far from the truth
and tip of the entire, grandiose reality; destiny was a malleable thing if one knew how, and possessed audacity enough, to shape it to one's will, whether mortal or immortal. Even the gods bowed to the power of free will upon predestination. And yet...some choices were too large to be left out of gods' and goddess' hands. Some needs too great to drift on the winds of chance and fickle emotion.
Her new strategy must work to further her goal. Too long had she plotted and planned to allow her father to destroy it all now on a random whim. It would be difficult for those involved. Likely they would despise her and the prospect of losing mortal faith, and therefore power, loomed as a specter. Given the alternative, however, Aphrodite deemed it a worthy risk if it created what was needed, what the realms needed—
salvation.
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A/N: Muhahahaha! So happy that I'm keeping you off balance Moira! That is, of course, my intention! This is a very nuanced and deliberately written fanfiction. hint hint.
