Several sexual encounters in this chapter and talk of attempted murder!

The butterflies in her stomach wouldn't stop fluttering. She was expectant, nervous and excited. All three feelings at once and they almost made her dizzy. She glanced at Skulduggery as he walked in front of her, still holding her hand. He was relaxed in a way he had never been in the hours they had known each other. It was like now that they had finally arrived at his house and he would have Valkyrie to himself all night, he could finally allow himself to feel completely safe.

Skulduggery fished a key out of his suit pocket and unlocked the front door. He turned to Valkyrie and bowed. "Welcome to my home, dear Valkyrie."

Valkyrie laughed and couldn't help but curtsy back. "Thank you very much, Mr. Pleasant."

Skulduggery raised an eyebrow but continued to smile. "I like it when you call me that."

"If you're really nice, I might start calling you just that," Valkyrie replied, smiling mischievously.

"Watch yourself. If you keep teasing me, I may have to punish you…" Skulduggery whispered, releasing his grip on her hand. He instead grabbed her wrist while pulling her forward, so her body was pressed against his.

Valkyrie gasped in surprise, but it wasn't long before she let a moan escape her parted lips as Skulduggery kissed her neck. She let her free hand wrap around his back and pushed him closer. She could feel Skulduggery's desire through the fabric of his suit pants where it pulsed against her own throbbing, waiting sex.

"Come," Skulduggery whispered, pulling her into the house. He turned on no lights but guided her with accustomed steps through the rooms until they entered a bedroom. "Lie down on the bed. I want to see you. All of you."

Valkyrie shivered with pleasure as she heard the desire in Skulduggery's voice and did as she was told. She lay down on her back and spread her legs so Skulduggery would get a glimpse of what awaited him in the near future. Valkyrie could see how Skulduggery's eyes swept over her body and how it lingered an extra-long time at her parted legs before he looked her in the eyes again.

"You are beautiful, Valkyrie Cain…" he whispered before walking up to her and starting to kiss her.

Valkyrie wrapped her arms around Skulduggery's neck and back as she kissed him back. She let her tongue explore both the inside and outside of his mouth and smiled inwardly as she both heard and felt Skulduggery's pleasure from the things she was doing. She wrapped her legs around his back and pressed her throbbing gender against his, making them both moan loudly. Valkyrie began to move back and forth slowly while letting Skulduggery's blazer fall off him.

Skulduggery was not slow to start undressing her either. He let his fingers find their way behind Valkyrie's back and untied her corset. He pulled the top of her dress down slowly, kissing each new flap of skin that was revealed. He could feel Valkyrie flinch at his touch, and this made him smile between kisses against her skin.

"Skulduggery…" Valkyrie whispered and began to move a little faster against his desire.

"Calm down, Valkyrie… We have all night…"

"I know, but I want you now..."

Skulduggery laughed and gave Valkyrie a quick kiss before continuing to pull off her dress. He could see her breasts now and he was happy to find that she was wearing no bra under the dress. He let one of his hands caress one breast while his mouth explored the other. Valkyrie arched her back and pressed her breasts against Skulduggery as she moaned his name.

"Oh, God… Skulduggery…"

Skulduggery didn't answer and just continued caressing Valkyrie's chest. He used his free hand to pull her dress down along her stomach and hips. Just as he was about to let go of Valkyrie's breast to pull it down her leg, Valkyrie kicked it off. Now that she was only wearing panties and high heels, she could move freely, and she took advantage of this opportunity by sitting up while twisting her body so that she was sitting in Skulduggery's lap.

Quickly she unbuttoned Skulduggery's shirt and pulled it off him just as quickly. She let her hands explore along his sinewy torso while kissing his face, lips, throat and neck. She let her tongue tease him every now and then, causing Skulduggery to squirm under her, but she held him down with her hands.

"Quiet Skulduggery. Like you said before, we have all night…" Valkyrie said with a teasing tone while giving him a crooked smile.

Skulduggery grabbed Valkyrie's hips and pressed her sex against his own, causing them both to moan loudly. They began to move against each other, and Skulduggery let his mouth once again explore Valkyrie's breasts as Valkyrie unbuttoned his fly. She let her hand find her way inside Skulduggery's underpants and began to stroke his desire. The feeling of feeling how much Skulduggery desired and wanted her made Valkyrie's own desires increase. She didn't know how much longer she could wait before she needed to feel Skulduggery enveloping her, but she didn't think it was much longer.

"Valkyrie… Ah…" Skulduggery moaned against her chest and pressed harder against her hand. "I need to feel myself inside you… I need to feel myself enveloping you… I need to fuck you!"

Valkyrie laughed and put her index finger under Skulduggery's chin. She lifted his face so she could look into his eyes. "Fuck me, then."

That was all Skulduggery needed to hear. He pushed her down onto the bed before pulling off her panties so fast that the draft made Valkyrie shiver. Just as quickly, he stripped off the rest of his clothes before placing his hands around Valkyrie's hips. He positioned himself and let his throbbing cock caress the outside of Valkyrie's womb, causing her to moan softly and move in time with Skulduggery's movements.

"What are you… ah… waiting for? Take me, Skulduggery. Fuck me! Show me how much you want me!"

Skulduggery smiled and captured Valkyrie's lips in a passionate kiss as he pressed himself inside her. The two lovers moaned loudly into each other's mouths the second they joined and for a few seconds neither of them moved, just enjoying the sensation their entwined sex gave them.

"God, you are truly divine…" Skulduggery whispered before he started moving in and out of Valkyrie.

Valkyrie followed Skulduggery's movements, letting her hands wrap around his hips to guide him. She didn't mind taking control in the bedchamber, but this time she just wanted to help and not rule. She wanted to show Skulduggery what she liked and how she wanted him to move, because she knew that if she was enjoying herself, Skulduggery was enjoying himself. She had quickly learned that during their foreplay.

Skulduggery immediately understood what she wanted and followed her directive. It didn't take long before the two lovers found a rhythm that suited them both and they lost themselves completely in each other. It was as if their bodies merged into one individual, and this was nothing they had experienced in a very long time.

Neither of them knew how much time had passed. All they knew was that they were both about to climax and their movements were getting faster and more desperate. They pressed their bodies desperately against each other as their pleasure grew greater and greater before exploding in a sea of desire. They screamed out each other's names as they reached their respective climaxes, and their bodies shook from the waves of orgasm that now washed over them both.

They said nothing for a long moment, just holding each other as their bodies slowly came down from the ecstasy they had just experienced. Skulduggery gave Valkyrie's cheek a tender kiss before resting his head on her shoulder. He could feel and hear Valkyrie's heartbeat against his cheek. "Your heart beats very fast..."

Valkyrie laughed. "I bet yours hits just as hard."

"I'm as cool as a cucumber." Skulduggery placed Valkyrie's hand against his chest and to her surprise Valkyrie felt he was right.

"How can you be so calm after what we just did?"

"Because I trust you completely, Valkyrie. I don't know what it is about you, but I knew you were something special as soon as I laid my eyes on you. I immediately felt drawn to you and got the feeling that you are someone I am meant to be a part of. I can't explain it any other way."

"It's like we have known each other for a long time even though we have just met." Valkyrie smiled. "I felt something similar when our eyes met as well. I have never felt this drawn to anyone else before, male or female. There's something about you that I'm drawn to, Skulduggery. What this is I do not know yet, but I have a feeling that we'll find out eventually."

Skulduggery gave her another smile before letting his lips meet hers in a slow kiss. He laid down on his back as he continued to kiss Valkyrie, so she laid on top of him. As they continued to kiss, Valkyrie could feel her desire come to life again and it wasn't long before she felt Skulduggery come to life as well where he was still inside her.

She began moving slowly up and down the length of his cock and before they both knew it they had begun another sex act…

Valkyrie awoke many hours later to the sound of birdsong outside the bedroom window. She felt the outline of another person's body beneath her own and it took her a few seconds for the memories of the night to come back to her. She opened her eyes to see a sleeping Skulduggery lying beneath her with one arm around her back. She smiled and gave his cheek a gentle kiss, not wanting to wake him.

She gently pulled out of his embrace and when he didn't wake up, she sat on the edge of the bed. She slowly began to stretch to bring her tired body to life. She turned and twisted her head to dislodge the knot in her neck that had formed during the hours she had lay on Skulduggery's shoulder as she rolled her shoulders to bring her back to life.

When she felt sufficiently warmed up, she stood up and walked out of the bedroom. She looked around and spotted the bathroom further down the hall and went there to do her morning needs. She shivered slightly as her warm skin made contact with the toilet seat. When she was done, she flushed the toilet and washed her hands.

When she met her own gaze in the bathroom mirror, she couldn't help but smile. Her cheeks were rosy, and her hair was a mess. Her eyes twinkled and she felt…satisfied. She was sore in a way she only got when she had really good intercourse and last night, she had had two, something that hadn't happened to her in a very long time. Not since Fletcher so many years ago…

She let her mind wander. She had met Fletcher when she was 15 and he was 16. Neither of them had been in a serious relationship before and they had lost their respective virginities with each other, which meant that today they had a special bond with each other even though they were no longer a couple . They were very good friends even though their breakup had not been the best.

They had been together for two years when Valkyrie got drunk one night at a party with some of their friends. At this party she had started talking to another guy who was two years older than herself and who had introduced himself as Caleb. He had black hair, pale skin and dressed in dark clothes. Something about him had caught Valkyrie's attention and before she knew it, she and Caleb had been talking for over an hour. They had gotten closer and closer and when Caleb leaned in and kissed her, she didn't stop him. On the contrary, she had kissed him back and if Fletcher hadn't seen them and stopped them, Valkyrie was sure she would have followed him into the bedroom and had sex with him.

To this day, she couldn't quite put into words why she kissed Caleb, but she suspected it was because she was getting bored with Fletcher. He was her security, but he could also be a bit boring at times, downright predictable. Valkyrie had never really liked the predictable, wanting things to happen all the time. She wanted to be involved in things, not just sit at home and let time pass.

Her and Fletcher's relationship had ended after that night, and they hadn't spoken to each other in months. The next time they had met, Fletcher had moved on and found a new girlfriend who he seemed to enjoy from what Valkyrie could see. Fletcher had introduced Valkyrie to his girlfriend, and they had made small talk. Asked how they were, what they were doing now, things like that. They had exchanged phone numbers with each other before saying goodbye and promised each other that they would hear from each other later.

That phone call hadn't happened until several months later when Valkyrie received a phone call from the hospital in Haggard where she lived. A nurse had told her that Fletcher was in hospital in a serious condition after his girlfriend had tried to kill him. He had asked the doctor to call her as she was the only person, he could call a family member.

Fletcher's parents had been murdered when he was a young boy and for the rest of his childhood, he had bounced around between different foster homes. He was an only child, and his parents had no living relatives who could have cared for Fletcher.

Ever since that day in the hospital, she and Fletcher had become close again, but only as very good friends. They had both come to the realization that they were better suited as friends than as a couple and Valkyrie knew that if she ever needed a shoulder to cry on or someone to talk to, Fletcher was only a phone call away.

Today, Fletcher was doing well and living alone in an apartment in Haggard centre. He worked as a junior high school teacher at Haggard high school and enjoyed his job. He had worked there for almost three years and Valkyrie knew he was well liked by the students, their parents and the rest of the staff. Valkyrie was happy for Fletcher and hoped he would meet a nice woman with whom he could settle down and start a family. Fletcher deserved to be happy after all he had been through.

She shook her head to dispel the memories flooding through her. She stepped away from the sink and went into the shower instead. She turned it on and as the warm rays hit her skin, she closed her eyes and sighed contentedly. She just stood there for a little while, letting the water massage her sore muscles before opening her eyes and starting to wash herself with the soap that was on the shower shelf in front of her.

She had just soaped her arms and was just about to start massaging the soap around her breasts when she felt two strong arms wrap around them. They began massaging her nipples excruciatingly slowly while the owner of the hands whispered in her ear "Let me help you, Valkyrie."

Valkyrie perked up when she heard Skulduggery's velvety voice and let out a low moan. She leaned back against his chest and let her hands cup his neck. She looked up into his eyes and could see the longing in them. This caused her womb to contract, and she felt herself getting wet. She moaned again and pressed her ass against Skulduggery's cock, which was already hard and expectant. This only made her hornier and she let one of her hands slide down Skulduggery's body until she reached his desire.

"Skulduggery, take me…" Valkyrie whispered, standing on her toes as she pressed his cock against her opening.

"As you wish, Valkyrie…" Skulduggery whispered back, lifting one of her legs before slowly pushing into her.

Valkyrie moaned loudly and pressed herself hard against Skulduggery's body. She began to move back and forth while continuing to hold his neck with one hand to support herself. Skulduggery held her leg firmly as his other hand continued to caress her breast. He moved in time with Valkyrie's movements and moaned out his pleasure in her ear.

It wasn't long before they both started shaking violently and they both knew they didn't have far to go. Skulduggery let go of Valkyrie's leg and instead pushed her up against the shower wall. He put his hands around her hips and thrust hard and fast into her again and again. Valkyrie screamed out his name as the orgasm swept over her and it wasn't many seconds before Skulduggery followed her over the edge.

They held each other as the last of the waves of orgasm washed over them and as they both regained their breath, Skulduggery pulled out of Valkyrie before turning her around so he could look into her eyes. "What is it about you Valkyrie that makes me unable to stay away from you?"

"I would like to ask you the same question, Skulduggery. I have never felt this way about another human being before. It's been a long time since I have been this attracted to another person."

"So, you've felt something like this before?"

"With my first boyfriend, Fletcher. We were together for two years and during our first time together we had a very hard time staying apart."

"One's first real relationship can usually be emotional and chaotic," Skulduggery replied.

"China was your first real girlfriend, wasn't she?"

"She was and because of that she will always have a special place in my heart, even if our relationship today is not the best."

"I understand. Fletcher and I have a good relationship today. I'm happy to have him in my life, even if it's just as a good friend."

Skulduggery smiled and gave Valkyrie a kiss. "How about we freshen up a bit before we eat something? I don't know about you, but I'm getting hungry."

Valkyrie laughed and kissed Skulduggery back. "Now that you say it, I'm actually a little hungry too."

They washed up and Skulduggery took out a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants for Valkyrie to borrow. She had to fold up the legs of it so they wouldn't drag on the floor when she walked and tie the laces around her waist so they wouldn't fall down her hips. When Skulduggery saw her tie her pants he said, "You're welcome to go without pants, I don't care."

At this Valkyrie had laughed and given him a kiss. She had then followed Skulduggery into the kitchen where she sat at the kitchen table and watched as he cooked. It was almost eleven o'clock and when she realized how late it was, her stomach started rumbling loudly. She only now realized how long it had been since she last ate anything and considering her and Skulduggery's activities during the night and a little while ago, it was no wonder she needed to replenish her supplies.

"Someone sounds hungry," Skulduggery said, smiling teasingly.

"I bet you're at least as hungry as I am."

"If I could, I'd live off of you, Valkyrie," Skulduggery said, giving her a smile that promised a lot of things.

Valkyrie smiled back and gave him a kiss. She began setting out plates, cutlery and glasses for them before walking over to the fridge where she took out butter, juice, cheese and anything else she wanted. She asked Skulduggery if he wanted anything special, but when he saw what she had already laid out, he said that was enough.

They sat down at the table and began to eat. Valkyrie sighed contentedly as she took the first bite. She could feel how the food brought her energy back and it was only now that she realized how tired and hungry, she actually had been. She looked at Skulduggery where he sat across from her. She could not understand that she had been so lucky to meet him. Not only was he attractive and good in bed, but he could also cook. He was what her mother would call "a real catch".

"What are you thinking about?" Skulduggery asked, giving her a smile.

"That you're a catch and that I'm glad I got to meet you."

Skulduggery laughed. "The same, Valkyrie. I hope you don't think I'm a little intrusive, but would you like to tell me a little about your family? You already know all you need to know about my dark family history, so it's only fair that you tell me a little about yours."

"Not to disappoint you, but my family is completely normal. My mother works in a bank and my father is self-employed. He owns a construction company that is doing really well. He is never short on customers and everyone who hires him has nothing bad to say about him. You could say that the Edgley name is well known throughout Haggard."

"Considering who your uncle was, it's not that strange."

"You're probably right, Gordon was a good uncle and I miss him every day." Valkyrie smiled a sad smile.

Skulduggery took her hand and squeezed it. "All who could call Gordon their friend mourns him, Valkyrie."

"I guess you're right." Valkyrie pushed Skulduggery's hand back. "I suppose you are aware that I also have a little sister named Alice? She is in second grade and is a real little bundle of energy. I'm exhausted every time she's slept over at my place."

Skulduggery smiled. "Gordon told me a lot about her, and she sounds like a wonderful little sister. You must be like an extra mother to her. There's quite a big age gap between you, isn't there?"

"17 years," Valkyrie nodded. "I have helped raise her from day one. It has happened that people have stopped us and said that I have a very beautiful little daughter. Then when I correct them and say Alice is my sister, they look a little embarrassed."

Skulduggery laughed. "I can understand how they think. You two are quite similar and it's not uncommon for teenagers to get pregnant, so I understand how they think."

They continued talking while they finished their brunch and well after. When Valkyrie next checked the clock, she was surprised to see that it was already half past two in the afternoon. She and Skulduggery had been sitting at the kitchen table talking for over two hours! Where had those hours gone?

Valkyrie stood up. "I'm terribly sorry Skulduggery, but it's getting late, and I need to pick up my dog from my parents."

Skulduggery smiled and stood up as well. "I understand, Valkyrie. At least let me be a gentleman and call a cab for you."

"You do not need to do that! I can…"

Skulduggery held up a hand and interrupted her. "No buts. I'll call a taxi while you get ready, and I'll pay for it too."

Valkyrie nodded as she realized there was no point in arguing. She turned and went out into the hall where she was getting her bag when she realized something. "I'd better change into my own clothes before the taxi comes."

Skulduggery shook his head. "Keep the clothes. I have lots of t-shirts and sweatpants just lying around. I can do without those. While checking your bag and making sure you bring everything, I'll go get your clothes from yesterday. I'll also take the opportunity to call the taxi at the same time."

Valkyrie smiled. "Thanks."

"No problem," Skulduggery said and disappeared into the bedroom. When he came back after a little while, he had a plastic bag with him and a mobile phone in his hand. "You are welcome. Do you need to borrow a pair of shoes too?"

Valkyrie laughed. "Not to be rude, but I don't think any of your shoes fit me. But thank you for your concern."

"As you wish. But people will stare at you funny if you have high heels on under a pair of sweatpants."

"Lucky for me then that I only need to use them when I walk from your door to the taxi. I change my shoes when I get home."

Skulduggery smiled and pushed Valkyrie against him as she placed her hand on the doorknob. "You're not going to leave without giving me a kiss goodbye, are you?"

Valkyrie smiled and pressed her lips to Skulduggery's. They kissed for a long time and Valkyrie had to use all her willpower not to drag Skulduggery back into the bedroom with her and sleep with him for a fourth time. She reluctantly pulled away from Skulduggery and broke the kiss when she heard the sound of a car pulling up on Skulduggery's driveway.

"I would really like to stay a while longer, but I really must go now. The taxi is here."

"I'll call you later tonight, if you don't mind?"

"How will you be able to call me if you don't have my number?"

Skulduggery smiled mischievously. "Because I took the opportunity to look up your number in your phone and put it in my phone before I joined you in the shower this morning. You really should get a password."

Valkyrie laughed and gave Skulduggery one last kiss before opening the front door. "Of course, you did. Talk to you later tonight then."

"I look forward to it, Valkyrie Cain."

"The same, Skulduggery Pleasant. I can't wait," Valkyrie replied before giving him one last kiss and getting into the taxi.