Chapter Four

A Matter of the Mouth

Tanith was enjoying all the kissing. She hadn't dated anyone properly since Frightening Jones, and she missed having a good smooch now and then. And Ghastly, for all his scars and his ability at fighting, was a great kisser.

She smiled and pulled away as Skulduggery walked back to the van. "Having fun?" The skeleton asked as he turned the key in the ignition.

"Yes, actually. It's a matter of the mouth. Is that mean? You don't have a mouth. Sorry. I'm so mean." Tanith answered. Ghastly smiled at her and gave her another peck on the cheek. The couple laughed.

"I'm going back to being a proper man tomorrow, you realise. Get your skeleton fix now, people," Skulduggery announced. "Thanks to my new girlfriend, Val, I am going to have flesh again. Oh, and hair. God, I miss hair."

Tanith and Ghastly looked at each other. Then Ghastly said, "I really can't imagine you in the flesh, Skul."

"Then it'll come as a surprise!" Skulduggery said cheerily, as he indicated and pulled out onto the road.

Tanith raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"Do you want to pick up the Bentley?" Ghastly asked. "If you know where it is you can get it and I'll drive the van home."

Skulduggery hesitated. "Yeah. That's a good idea. Expect I have no idea where it is. Where did I last have it, does anybody know?"

"Aranmore, I think," Ghastly answered. "Let's go."

"But it'll take ages!" Tanith moaned.

"No, it won't," said Ghastly and kissed her with a passion that would surely cure boredom. Skulduggery would have rolled his eyes but he didn't have any, so he merely sighed. The sooner Valkyrie could get this spell over with, the better. He so wanted to be able to do that with her.

Nevertheless, he drove out to Aranmore. There was the Bentley, still perfect after a few months exposed to the elements.

He thanked Ghastly and Tanith and told them about the holiday. They indicated their interest and with that, Skulduggery left them.

Ghastly didn't get in the front seat. He was too busy pashing Tanith.

A knock on the window startled them. They broke apart suddenly and turned, but it was so dark and they couldn't see out the window. Ghastly summoned a flame but still couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.

"Probably a bird." He elevated himself with one elbow and checked his watch. "It's nearly nine. Where do you want to go now?"

"Why not down to the beach?" Tanith suggested. "It looks really pretty in the moonlight."

Ghastly nodded. "Sounds like a plan."

He reluctantly let go of Tanith's hand and got in the front seat. Starting the engine, he drove away from the place where the world had nearly ended.

"The pier?" he asked.

"Yes."

"OK."

They drove in silence. Then Tanith said, "Actually, I've changed my mind. Let's just stop here."

Ghastly stopped. "Why, may I inquire?" he asked coolly, already knowing the answer.

"Can't wait any more."

Ghastly chuckled, reached in the back, grabbed her hand and kissed it. "We've at least got to wait until Italy. It would be weird until then. The moment will come, I promise. Then we'll be real lovers."

"Can't wait."

Ghastly knew she meant it.

"I should probably get you home."

"Nonsense. I'm staying over. I can't be arsed going back to my apartment."

Ghastly sighed, but he didn't object. Starting the van again, he drove off.

The ride back to Bespoke Tailors' was short and quiet. He parked his van in the back and helped Tanith out. Hand in hand, they entered the house.

Ghastly grinned. She was his. Finally, she was his. But he was still unsure.

He asked Tanith if she wanted to sleep on the couch and got a shake of the head in return.

"Where then?" he inquired.

"Beside you."

Ghastly grimaced. "Really? I'm not putting out or anything."

"I'm not expecting you or anything. I respect your space. But there's an awful draught that goes up your back when you sleep on that couch. It's not very well placed. No offence."

"None taken. All right, my pretty, you can share my warmth for the night. But tonight only."

"I can't promise that…"

Ghastly sighed, exasperated. "Because you're not at all keen for this love to take over."

"Haha. I love you too, Mr Bespoke."

Tanith kissed him on the cheek and went to clean her teeth. She had been around here so often she had about fourteen toothbrushes that had been left behind.

Ghastly shook his head slightly, grinning. That woman. That woman was a fighter, all right.

He went to bed. Thirty seconds later he felt a rush of air on his back, but then warmth as Tanith put her arms around him.

"No monkey business, now, Tanith. I am a boxer."

Tanith snorted, and almost immediately went to sleep. Ghastly couldn't sleep. He lay awake for a long, long time, just thinking.