This chapter is mostly why I've chosen a relatively high rating for my
story. It's a lot more. . . randy. . . than anything I've ever written
before. It was difficult to get into at first, but I soon got a . . . feel
for it.
No pun intended.
I've actually had to blindfold Ernie while I was typing this chapter. He's too young for this kind of thing! Still I have a feeling he was peeking. *Twists fingers nervously* Do you think they'll take him away from me for corrupting an underage laptop?
Anyway, I'd like to thank all those that have reviewed the last chapter. Sadly, there are less and less reviews for every chapter. Am I doing something wrong people? Or am I updating too fast?
A special thanks goes to Mickis for catching the mistake in the aforementioned last chapter. It's all fixed now, you'll be happy to know. This chapter is dedicated to her, because I know just how big a romantic she is.
An equally special thanks goes to Meow. Your kind words are greatly appreciated. I'm glad you like my story. This chapter is also dedicated to you, because I could tell that you were looking forward to some serious Talia-Valdis action.
To everyone else: I absolutely adore reviews. They give me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. And they encourage me to keep going with this story. I would really appreciate it if you reviewed.
.
.
.
I'm not going to beg.
.
.
.
I'm not going to beg.
.
.
.
Ok, I'll beg!!! Please, please, please, please, please, please review. . .
.
.
.
Chapter 32: In the Heat of the Moment
The wind whipped Talia's hair and she tightened her arms around Valdis' waist in search of his body heat. The gesture was not lost on the demon.
It was a sunny December afternoon; a rarity by itself. There was a distinct chill in the air. For the two people on the motorbike, the cold was both positively biting and downright invigorating. As they rode through the city and towards the countryside, both young people felt their minds empty of all thoughts that had tormented them for the past few days. As the city fell far behind them and the winter sun descended from its throne in the sky, they let go of all their troubles and simply enjoyed the freedom of the moment; the reprieve in each other's company.
The long ride had lasted for hours before Talia whispered again in Valdis' ear.
"There's a wooden cabin, not far from here. Leave the main road; turn in on your right at the first gravel road we'll see. We need to talk."
Once again he obeyed and, soon enough, Valdis stopped his motorbike in front of a wooden cabin in a little clearing. The cabin exuded peace and quiet. It was surrounded by tall, evergreen trees and nearby, a stream of crystal waters sang merrily.
Talia jumped off the bike almost immediately, to Valdis' dismay. She shook her long hair and attempted to run a finger through them, but she soon gave up on the tangled mess. Instead she wordlessly jumped up the steps to the cabin's front door. From around her neck, Talia pulled off a leather cord with what appeared to be two gold keys. She looked at the two keys briefly trying to distinguish them in the quickly diminishing light of the afternoon. Then she entered one of them in the lock of the small cabin. She turned the key and pushed the door open. She paused before going in.
"Coming?" she asked without turning.
In a daze, Valdis did.
********************
The interior of the cabin was very simple yet still very homey, Valdis decided. There was a wooden floor covered by thick soft carpets and a large fireplace. The furniture was wooden and plain. The relatively large room they were in seemed to serve as both kitchen and living room.
Valdis closed the door behind him and watched Talia make her way towards the fireplace. He watched her pile a few logs from a stack nearby, summon a fireball and hurl it masterfully in their midst so that a wall of golden flames jumped from the fireplace bathing the room in warm light. Only then did she turn to face him.
"You're a demon."
Her eyes penetrated into his and her voice seemed to resonate with a grim acceptance. She seemed tired. The emotional turmoil of the past few days had taken its toll on her. It wasn't a question, but Valdis nodded anyway.
"How did you find out?" he asked.
"It doesn't matter, does it?"
They stared at each other for a while.
"Are you here to kill me?" she finally asked.
The question startled Valdis. He knew that it shouldn't have. There was a heavy bounty on her head. Every demon in the Underworld knew that, as of course would she.
"No!" He denied it vehemently.
Talia said nothing. She simply expelled a sigh. She hadn't thought so. The conversation between Valdis and Xander had led her to believe otherwise. Still, she had to ask.
"Did my father order you to watch me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"It's difficult to explain. He cares about you, you know."
For some reason that Talia couldn't explain, she felt herself growing angry. She loved her father, but what she had found out about him in the past couple of days had hurt her and confused her. Her father had put a price on her head and that was only to be expected. The price on Josh's head however, made no sense. The only reason anyone would have for killing him, would be because he was associated with her. Why had her father done it? And why had he sent Valdis to watch her?
"He is the Source. He has. . . obligations," she spat out. "One of which, is to see me dead. I can understand that, but having you watch me serves no practical purpose and makes no sense!"
"He is still your father."
"He put a price on my head! He chose his side! Things are as they should be! What does he want by ordering you to spy on me?"
"He's worried about you."
"Worried about me?! WORRIED ABOUT ME?! Is that why. . . " Talia caught herself in time. She had nearly divulged the information she had gained on Josh's hit. That would not do, she decided. That would not do at all. With great effort she managed to calm herself down a little bit, but she could not prevent herself from voicing, in her anger, the horrible suspicion that had plagued her ever since her undercover visit to the Underworld bar. "Is this some sick and twisted scheme of his to get me back?"
Her eyes bathed him in an icy glare, searching for any indication that he knew what she was talking about. Her voice dripped with venom. Fortunately for Valdis, he managed to keep a neutral expression at her words.
Talia had no illusions about her father. She knew he loved her, but the Source of All Evil did not think as other men did. After all, this was the man that had asked his own daughter to kill someone at the tender age of six.
"You don't know how lucky you are Talia, to have the family you do."
She glared at him once again. How dare he say that to her? Even if he didn't know about Josh, he knew all about the price on her own head. Everyone did. Is that what fathers were supposed to do?
"You are a demon," she hissed. "What would you know about family?"
Talia's words hurt Valdis deeply. She regretted them the moment she said them, but she was not one to back down.
Their conversation had included a certain amount of shouting from her so far, but Vadis had patiently held onto his temper while she gave hers free rein. He knew that it was her confusion and frustration that made her react the way she did. And so he had tried to remain calm and had kept his voice and facial expression neutral. Until now. Valdis felt his control slipping and his temper rising to meet her own, at her words.
"Unless I'm mistaken, you're part demon too. Princess of All Evil in fact, isn't it? The Source's most prized assassin for the past decade! The infamous Phoenix! You are not exactly a whitelighter yourself, are you Talia? No matter how much you hung around them!"
"I've changed!" she protested defiantly. "I'm good now!"
"You can keep telling yourself that all you want Talia, but you and I both know it's not true. You don't belong with them, because you are not like them. You are part demon and you cannot change that. You cannot deny that you miss the thrill of the hunt, that you miss the feeling of being bad; really and truly bad; not caring about the consequences; doing as you please, whenever you please, simply because you can."
"No!" she screamed, "I've put all that behind me!"
"Have you really?" he taunted. "Do you remember the night we first met? What were you running away from then, Talia?"
Talia narrowed her eyes at him.
"I don't run away; from nothing and no one!"
"Really?" he laughed. "Be honest with yourself Talia. What do you think you are doing by siding with the witches, if not running away from your own destiny?"
Talia's eyes glinted dangerously. Her cheeks were flashed and her hair wild. Valdis thought that she never looked more beautiful than she did at that very moment.
"I don't believe in destiny," she said softly emphasizing every word. "We make our own choices, and I've made mine! I am with the Charmed Ones because I CHOSE to be with them. Yes, I am part demon, but have you forgotten that I'm part witch too? And at least I had the strength to make my own way in life; I don't just stand around following orders. Tell me, was it my father that ordered you to kiss me that first night we met? Or was that. . ."
She never did finish her sentence. Valdis pulled her roughly towards him and claimed her lips with his own. She was surprised at first, indignant even, but suddenly she realised that it didn't seem to matter.
Her body knew him from that, all too brief, encounter months ago, but this kiss was very different from any they had shared that night. Those kisses had been kisses between strangers, they were an attempt at freedom and escape for both of them; a giving in, to their wild natures. They had been fun, and sensual and definitely memorable. Talia had been able to remember with remarkable clarity, for weeks afterwards, exactly how good a kisser Valdis was. But nothing could have prepared either of them for the rush of emotions that followed this new kiss.
Impatiently he bit her bottom lip and she gasped in a mixture of surprise and pain. She felt his tongue lap at the drop of blood that appeared, apologetically, and almost immediately his tongue was in her mouth challenging her own. Her eyes were closed as she surrendered completely to the new sensations that flooded her senses, revelling in their novelty.
Part of her mind couldn't help but compare Valdis with Josh. Josh kissed her almost reverently; sweetly; caressing. Valdis' kisses were full of his volatile and impatient nature. They were slightly rough, harsh, punishing, demanding. Their tongues seemed to war with each other in a glorious struggle for dominance. Soon she forgot all about Josh.
Talia felt herself gasp for his kisses and she was blinded to anything around her but the glorious worlds of touch and taste. He tasted of coffee, she realised, and cinnamon.
Valdis too, was lost in the sensual world of their devise. He smelled and tasted her very essence; vanilla. He remembered the flavour from the very first time they met, and it had, since then, always reminded him of her. Many were the nights he had woken in his bed with her elusive perfume tormenting his mind. And now, he revelled in it as it weaved its way around him, showing him its seductive ways.
When the two of them had come up for air, Talia found her hands tangled in Valdis' silky smooth hair. His hands trailed fire, as they made their way up and down the curves of her lower body.
His eyes bore into hers and she gasped with pleasure as his mouth found its way to her tender throat, nipping, sucking, devouring. One hand found its way to her right breast and lay there cupping it gently. She was having the same effect on him as he was having on her, she realised. Their bodies were moulded to each other leaving little doubt of that.
She wanted him. No, not wanted him, she needed him. And there were entirely too many clothes between them for her taste.
He seemed to read her very thoughts. He was struggling with the buttons on her blouse, she realised. The damned things just wouldn't work as they were supposed to, and so, he grabbed the fabric and ripped it apart, sending little white projectiles all throughout the room. Neither of them cared. He took a step back and marvelled with delight at the treasures revealed through her black lacy bra. His eyes, an unnaturally dark colour, left her body and travelled upwards to meet her own. She saw desire, lust and something else, indefinable there.
She took a step towards him and tugged at his t-shirt, the impatience in her movements mirroring his own. He took the hint and soon disposed of it. Her cool little hand travelled across his chest and she looked up at him, biting her own lip with concentration.
Perhaps it was that little gesture of hers that drove Valdis over the edge, but soon they both stood completely naked in the golden light of the fire admiring in appreciating silence each other's perfect form. The dancing shadows created by the fireplace gave the whole thing an unreal feel, as time stood still.
Talia couldn't help but take in the broad shoulders, the flat stomach and the smooth, unmarred skin which she knew covered ropy, hard muscles. Yes, he was muscular, but his were not the perfected artificial muscles created in a gym. No, his build, she could tell, came from the heat of battle. He was a warrior, her very own god of war.
Valdis' wild eyes roamed over Talia's petite form. Her skin glowed a rich gold in the firelight, and he recalled its smooth, silky texture. Her long dark hair brushed enticingly against her breasts and tumbled gloriously down her back. She was soft where he was hard, but in the core of her very softness lay a strength that fascinated him. One minute cool, calm and composed, the next a blazing, roaring fire, she was a sum of contradictions. Far from the morning dew her name suggested, she was real like nothing else, and passionate, a creature not of this world that had deigned to walk the earth among the living.
Soon the two would-be lovers were once again in each other's arms and as Valdis dragged Talia down on the thick rug in front of the fireplace with him, they both lost all sense of time, place and self as they abandoned all thoughts and surrendered to the night's delights.
Actions speak louder than words anyway.
A/N: Erm. . . I got carried away?
Do you love it? Do you hate it? Let me know!
And by the way, the search for a beta reader continues. Is ANYONE interested? You get to read the chapter before anyone else does. . .
No pun intended.
I've actually had to blindfold Ernie while I was typing this chapter. He's too young for this kind of thing! Still I have a feeling he was peeking. *Twists fingers nervously* Do you think they'll take him away from me for corrupting an underage laptop?
Anyway, I'd like to thank all those that have reviewed the last chapter. Sadly, there are less and less reviews for every chapter. Am I doing something wrong people? Or am I updating too fast?
A special thanks goes to Mickis for catching the mistake in the aforementioned last chapter. It's all fixed now, you'll be happy to know. This chapter is dedicated to her, because I know just how big a romantic she is.
An equally special thanks goes to Meow. Your kind words are greatly appreciated. I'm glad you like my story. This chapter is also dedicated to you, because I could tell that you were looking forward to some serious Talia-Valdis action.
To everyone else: I absolutely adore reviews. They give me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. And they encourage me to keep going with this story. I would really appreciate it if you reviewed.
.
.
.
I'm not going to beg.
.
.
.
I'm not going to beg.
.
.
.
Ok, I'll beg!!! Please, please, please, please, please, please review. . .
.
.
.
Chapter 32: In the Heat of the Moment
The wind whipped Talia's hair and she tightened her arms around Valdis' waist in search of his body heat. The gesture was not lost on the demon.
It was a sunny December afternoon; a rarity by itself. There was a distinct chill in the air. For the two people on the motorbike, the cold was both positively biting and downright invigorating. As they rode through the city and towards the countryside, both young people felt their minds empty of all thoughts that had tormented them for the past few days. As the city fell far behind them and the winter sun descended from its throne in the sky, they let go of all their troubles and simply enjoyed the freedom of the moment; the reprieve in each other's company.
The long ride had lasted for hours before Talia whispered again in Valdis' ear.
"There's a wooden cabin, not far from here. Leave the main road; turn in on your right at the first gravel road we'll see. We need to talk."
Once again he obeyed and, soon enough, Valdis stopped his motorbike in front of a wooden cabin in a little clearing. The cabin exuded peace and quiet. It was surrounded by tall, evergreen trees and nearby, a stream of crystal waters sang merrily.
Talia jumped off the bike almost immediately, to Valdis' dismay. She shook her long hair and attempted to run a finger through them, but she soon gave up on the tangled mess. Instead she wordlessly jumped up the steps to the cabin's front door. From around her neck, Talia pulled off a leather cord with what appeared to be two gold keys. She looked at the two keys briefly trying to distinguish them in the quickly diminishing light of the afternoon. Then she entered one of them in the lock of the small cabin. She turned the key and pushed the door open. She paused before going in.
"Coming?" she asked without turning.
In a daze, Valdis did.
********************
The interior of the cabin was very simple yet still very homey, Valdis decided. There was a wooden floor covered by thick soft carpets and a large fireplace. The furniture was wooden and plain. The relatively large room they were in seemed to serve as both kitchen and living room.
Valdis closed the door behind him and watched Talia make her way towards the fireplace. He watched her pile a few logs from a stack nearby, summon a fireball and hurl it masterfully in their midst so that a wall of golden flames jumped from the fireplace bathing the room in warm light. Only then did she turn to face him.
"You're a demon."
Her eyes penetrated into his and her voice seemed to resonate with a grim acceptance. She seemed tired. The emotional turmoil of the past few days had taken its toll on her. It wasn't a question, but Valdis nodded anyway.
"How did you find out?" he asked.
"It doesn't matter, does it?"
They stared at each other for a while.
"Are you here to kill me?" she finally asked.
The question startled Valdis. He knew that it shouldn't have. There was a heavy bounty on her head. Every demon in the Underworld knew that, as of course would she.
"No!" He denied it vehemently.
Talia said nothing. She simply expelled a sigh. She hadn't thought so. The conversation between Valdis and Xander had led her to believe otherwise. Still, she had to ask.
"Did my father order you to watch me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"It's difficult to explain. He cares about you, you know."
For some reason that Talia couldn't explain, she felt herself growing angry. She loved her father, but what she had found out about him in the past couple of days had hurt her and confused her. Her father had put a price on her head and that was only to be expected. The price on Josh's head however, made no sense. The only reason anyone would have for killing him, would be because he was associated with her. Why had her father done it? And why had he sent Valdis to watch her?
"He is the Source. He has. . . obligations," she spat out. "One of which, is to see me dead. I can understand that, but having you watch me serves no practical purpose and makes no sense!"
"He is still your father."
"He put a price on my head! He chose his side! Things are as they should be! What does he want by ordering you to spy on me?"
"He's worried about you."
"Worried about me?! WORRIED ABOUT ME?! Is that why. . . " Talia caught herself in time. She had nearly divulged the information she had gained on Josh's hit. That would not do, she decided. That would not do at all. With great effort she managed to calm herself down a little bit, but she could not prevent herself from voicing, in her anger, the horrible suspicion that had plagued her ever since her undercover visit to the Underworld bar. "Is this some sick and twisted scheme of his to get me back?"
Her eyes bathed him in an icy glare, searching for any indication that he knew what she was talking about. Her voice dripped with venom. Fortunately for Valdis, he managed to keep a neutral expression at her words.
Talia had no illusions about her father. She knew he loved her, but the Source of All Evil did not think as other men did. After all, this was the man that had asked his own daughter to kill someone at the tender age of six.
"You don't know how lucky you are Talia, to have the family you do."
She glared at him once again. How dare he say that to her? Even if he didn't know about Josh, he knew all about the price on her own head. Everyone did. Is that what fathers were supposed to do?
"You are a demon," she hissed. "What would you know about family?"
Talia's words hurt Valdis deeply. She regretted them the moment she said them, but she was not one to back down.
Their conversation had included a certain amount of shouting from her so far, but Vadis had patiently held onto his temper while she gave hers free rein. He knew that it was her confusion and frustration that made her react the way she did. And so he had tried to remain calm and had kept his voice and facial expression neutral. Until now. Valdis felt his control slipping and his temper rising to meet her own, at her words.
"Unless I'm mistaken, you're part demon too. Princess of All Evil in fact, isn't it? The Source's most prized assassin for the past decade! The infamous Phoenix! You are not exactly a whitelighter yourself, are you Talia? No matter how much you hung around them!"
"I've changed!" she protested defiantly. "I'm good now!"
"You can keep telling yourself that all you want Talia, but you and I both know it's not true. You don't belong with them, because you are not like them. You are part demon and you cannot change that. You cannot deny that you miss the thrill of the hunt, that you miss the feeling of being bad; really and truly bad; not caring about the consequences; doing as you please, whenever you please, simply because you can."
"No!" she screamed, "I've put all that behind me!"
"Have you really?" he taunted. "Do you remember the night we first met? What were you running away from then, Talia?"
Talia narrowed her eyes at him.
"I don't run away; from nothing and no one!"
"Really?" he laughed. "Be honest with yourself Talia. What do you think you are doing by siding with the witches, if not running away from your own destiny?"
Talia's eyes glinted dangerously. Her cheeks were flashed and her hair wild. Valdis thought that she never looked more beautiful than she did at that very moment.
"I don't believe in destiny," she said softly emphasizing every word. "We make our own choices, and I've made mine! I am with the Charmed Ones because I CHOSE to be with them. Yes, I am part demon, but have you forgotten that I'm part witch too? And at least I had the strength to make my own way in life; I don't just stand around following orders. Tell me, was it my father that ordered you to kiss me that first night we met? Or was that. . ."
She never did finish her sentence. Valdis pulled her roughly towards him and claimed her lips with his own. She was surprised at first, indignant even, but suddenly she realised that it didn't seem to matter.
Her body knew him from that, all too brief, encounter months ago, but this kiss was very different from any they had shared that night. Those kisses had been kisses between strangers, they were an attempt at freedom and escape for both of them; a giving in, to their wild natures. They had been fun, and sensual and definitely memorable. Talia had been able to remember with remarkable clarity, for weeks afterwards, exactly how good a kisser Valdis was. But nothing could have prepared either of them for the rush of emotions that followed this new kiss.
Impatiently he bit her bottom lip and she gasped in a mixture of surprise and pain. She felt his tongue lap at the drop of blood that appeared, apologetically, and almost immediately his tongue was in her mouth challenging her own. Her eyes were closed as she surrendered completely to the new sensations that flooded her senses, revelling in their novelty.
Part of her mind couldn't help but compare Valdis with Josh. Josh kissed her almost reverently; sweetly; caressing. Valdis' kisses were full of his volatile and impatient nature. They were slightly rough, harsh, punishing, demanding. Their tongues seemed to war with each other in a glorious struggle for dominance. Soon she forgot all about Josh.
Talia felt herself gasp for his kisses and she was blinded to anything around her but the glorious worlds of touch and taste. He tasted of coffee, she realised, and cinnamon.
Valdis too, was lost in the sensual world of their devise. He smelled and tasted her very essence; vanilla. He remembered the flavour from the very first time they met, and it had, since then, always reminded him of her. Many were the nights he had woken in his bed with her elusive perfume tormenting his mind. And now, he revelled in it as it weaved its way around him, showing him its seductive ways.
When the two of them had come up for air, Talia found her hands tangled in Valdis' silky smooth hair. His hands trailed fire, as they made their way up and down the curves of her lower body.
His eyes bore into hers and she gasped with pleasure as his mouth found its way to her tender throat, nipping, sucking, devouring. One hand found its way to her right breast and lay there cupping it gently. She was having the same effect on him as he was having on her, she realised. Their bodies were moulded to each other leaving little doubt of that.
She wanted him. No, not wanted him, she needed him. And there were entirely too many clothes between them for her taste.
He seemed to read her very thoughts. He was struggling with the buttons on her blouse, she realised. The damned things just wouldn't work as they were supposed to, and so, he grabbed the fabric and ripped it apart, sending little white projectiles all throughout the room. Neither of them cared. He took a step back and marvelled with delight at the treasures revealed through her black lacy bra. His eyes, an unnaturally dark colour, left her body and travelled upwards to meet her own. She saw desire, lust and something else, indefinable there.
She took a step towards him and tugged at his t-shirt, the impatience in her movements mirroring his own. He took the hint and soon disposed of it. Her cool little hand travelled across his chest and she looked up at him, biting her own lip with concentration.
Perhaps it was that little gesture of hers that drove Valdis over the edge, but soon they both stood completely naked in the golden light of the fire admiring in appreciating silence each other's perfect form. The dancing shadows created by the fireplace gave the whole thing an unreal feel, as time stood still.
Talia couldn't help but take in the broad shoulders, the flat stomach and the smooth, unmarred skin which she knew covered ropy, hard muscles. Yes, he was muscular, but his were not the perfected artificial muscles created in a gym. No, his build, she could tell, came from the heat of battle. He was a warrior, her very own god of war.
Valdis' wild eyes roamed over Talia's petite form. Her skin glowed a rich gold in the firelight, and he recalled its smooth, silky texture. Her long dark hair brushed enticingly against her breasts and tumbled gloriously down her back. She was soft where he was hard, but in the core of her very softness lay a strength that fascinated him. One minute cool, calm and composed, the next a blazing, roaring fire, she was a sum of contradictions. Far from the morning dew her name suggested, she was real like nothing else, and passionate, a creature not of this world that had deigned to walk the earth among the living.
Soon the two would-be lovers were once again in each other's arms and as Valdis dragged Talia down on the thick rug in front of the fireplace with him, they both lost all sense of time, place and self as they abandoned all thoughts and surrendered to the night's delights.
Actions speak louder than words anyway.
A/N: Erm. . . I got carried away?
Do you love it? Do you hate it? Let me know!
And by the way, the search for a beta reader continues. Is ANYONE interested? You get to read the chapter before anyone else does. . .