154 Stole Another Kiss

"Which part is not what I think? Is it the part where he stopped kissing you and you too stared lovingly at each other, like heart struck kids? Or the part whereby he stole another kiss right when you were about saying something, cutting you shut?" White-Fire asked, leaving Jareth and Astrid stunned.

"Or perhaps the part where you…"

"STOP!" Astrid yelled.

Jareth turned his gaze from White-Fire to her. Her face was completely red by now. He for one felt shy knowing they were being watched, but as compared to Astrid, he wasn't flushed. Rather he was stunned to see her embarrassed self.

She was too cute, he felt like teasing her more. And that was exactly what he did. After all who could resist an innocent beauty like her?

He snaked his arm on her body and pulled her closer to himself, then wrapped it loving on her slim waist. She was perplexed by his action. Who wouldn't be?

At one hand she is trying to brush of White-Fire's questioning gaze and the other, Jareth pulled her closer to himself. She looked up questioningly at the handsome young man holding her by the waist. 

'What does he think he is doing? Haven't I had enough embarrassment to last me a full year?' she asked herself.

He leaned in, bringing his face closer to hers. She turned her head to the side, avoiding his face and lips. Or better still, she was hiding her face from him.

He smiled to himself and planted a soft kiss on her neck.

'Such a tease!' She lamented her plight but didn't do anything.

'Is she trying not to feel affected?'

Sensing her lack of reaction he continued. He trailed three more soft kisses on her neck and nibbled on her nape. She was about letting out a moan, but quickly covered her mouth.

She tried to free herself from his hold and successfully squirmed away from his arms. She turned around, giving him a deathly glare. She really wished she could mind-communicate with him now, so she could scream herself out in his head.

'Since when did he become this shameless? How can I look White-Fire in the eyes after this?'

'How can one person be this cute and innocent, yet seductive? She's driving me nuts.'

Just looking at her cute and embarrassed self, he felt his blood begin to rush to his lower region. The next minute, he felt himself harden a bit against his trousers.

'No, no, no. Don't come now, please. Not in front of her like that.' He mentally chanted.

A while ago, he wasn't embarrassed much at the situation they were in. Now, he felt as though he needed to hide from their prying eyes.

Astrid noticed the look of discomfort on his handsome face and asked, "Jareth, are you alright?" Her gaze followed the line of his sight and noticed the bulge in his trousers.

'Yikes, she saw me. I don't want her to think I am sexually crazed.'

'Did he just get aroused because of me? This is not good. What do we do?'

White-Fire had already had its fair share of watching the embarrassing set in front of it. It cleared its throat and spoke to them through their minds.

"Are you two done feeling embarrassed at what you did? Get a grip of yourself."

Jareth quickly adjusted his trousers before he turned. This way his hard-on was less visible.

Astrid on the other hand, rubbed her cool palm against her cheeks to help her ease her hot and reddened face, before turning to face White-Fire.

White-Fire shook its head and rolled its eyes at them and whispered in their minds, "Children!"

Normally, they would have reacted to her comment, but now they couldn't. They were already too embarrassed to be in the same place as it right now, not to speak of arguing. Like the obedient children they were, they remained silent and listened to it.

It took in a deep breath and sighed before continuing. "How are you, Astrid?"

"I feel okay, more energized and strengthened."

"Same here," Jareth added.

"Was is it because we were too tired and have finally had a good rest?"

"While that is a contributing factor, this part of the forest caused it. It is rich in energy and revitalizes the body system and power. It also tends to help you heal better when you are asleep."

"Oh, I see. Good thing we slept, thank you." Jareth was feeling grateful.

White-Fire gave a nod to acknowledge his thanks and continued, "Other than that, do you still feel anything out of the ordinary?" It asked Astrid.

"No. I am fine."

"Good thing Grandfather was around or we would have had another outburst," White-Fired muttered.

Shocked, Astrid questioned. "What outburst?" 

She didn't quite hear what White-Fire said, but she heard an outburst and it didn't seem like she had one either. At the very least nothing was destroyed in the Wellspring. 

'Oh, she heard that part. I thought I barely muttered those words out.'

"It is nothing, Astrid. I am happy you are fine. What about the nightmares?"

"Well, I faced my fears," she replied calmly.

"I finally let go of my anger towards the fake Jareth from the mist and stopped being scared about hurting Jareth," she said to White-Fire through her mind.

"Better. If you face your fear, the fear that you fear would fear you," White-Fire spoke to her via the mind communication.

For a moment there, Jareth noticed that they stopped speaking and stared into each other's eyes. He could guess what was happening again.

"That is good then. We have nothing to worry about," White-Fire said out when she noticed he was becoming suspicious.

Following White-Fire's lead, Astrid continued their conversation. "Although, it did feel as if someone helped me."

"Helped you?" It was Jareth's turn to feel shocked.

"Yes."

"How?"